In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 224):

He sighs.  "Deal..."

Just to make sure I'm on the same wavelength...

You will try stealing a uniform from the apartment below yours.

Vic will handle contacting the Commandos and running the distraction, signaling you when to start.

You will try to enter through the apartment basement or the school basement.

You will be carrying your new goodies under the Scales uniform.

Did I get that right?  Thanks

Ooc. Perfect....:)

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 226):

Did not want to assume.  Let's go.

Let's start with your favorite:  pick a number between 1 and 10

Vic texts you on Wednesday morning.  Hey! Hugh is going to be in town tonight.  Drinks?

'Hugh' is the Commandos.

'Drinks' means proceed with caution.  You were hoping he'd say 'dinner' which meant things were optimal.  Well.  You can't essentially crank call a secret government sponsored black ops super team and expect 'dinner', can you?

Around 3, Vic messages you.  Hugh missed his connecting flight.  Won't be in until about 7.  Still okay to meet us?

Missing the connecting flight means roll the time ahead an hour.  He's telling you to be ready to move by 8 PM.

You've spent the daying listening through the floor to your downstairs neighbors.  Seems like they head out for dinner at 5:40.

You listen for five minutes.  Not a sound.  Using a small drill you make a peephole in the floor.  No movement below.

Time to move.

Using your new spyball friend, you can see the room has pretty obvious cameras.  There's one in the corner to the left of your peephole and one above the front door.  You will need to ghost both to get down.

The ball rolls along the ceiling, staying above the range of each camera.  You study what you see.

These cameras are pretty standard.  You just need to cut the appropriate wire and the camera will go down.

Alternately, you can drill through the ceiling above each camera, reach down, and hack the feed.  That will take more time, but you estimate it will run you about thirty minutes.

It just depends on how long those guys will take to eat dinner.

Ooc number 4 and 7

Ic

Aubrey listens to the message and responds back with the affirmation code. It was especially hard to wait for just the right time to move. Slipping her cute ball in Aubrey moved it around until the option to hack into the feed presented it self. Aubrey decides to do that and take down the cameras later. Perhaps she can set up something to redirect them later in a different direction

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 228):

The ball turns out to be much more dexterous than the spider (rest his soul).  You're able to record a minute from the camera feed and then set it up on a loop in the camera's computer.  Both cameras are essentially showing the same prerecorded footage.

You can cut through the floor now and descend.  Or you can head out to the hall, down the stairs, and try picking the lock on the door.  Going through the floor would be easier, but means you're on the clock:  once these guys come back and see a hole in their ceiling, you're committed.

Aubrey makes her way out of her apartment and tries to move through the halls avoiding the cameras. She takes a good look in the hall of the apartment she was going to "borrow" some clothing and if it seemed clear and she could move to it avoiding most of the camera's she would then pick the lock an try to go in that way. Otherwise she goes back to her apartment and goes through the floor, but at a last resort.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 230):

Taking the tough route huh?  Let's see...you're pretty skilled and you have a decent idea of the layout...

Pick a number 1 to 6.  Only one bad choice in the bunch

You slide down the stairs, watching for the subtle signs of the hidden cameras movements before ducking around the corner.  The hallway below is clear.  You slide along the wall in the pattern you think will best deter detection and reach for the door knob...

Ooc. So nervous I'll pick the wrong number..... 5


Ie
Aubrey listens and does her breathing exercises to stay calm as she looks at the door. Lockpicks in hand she goes to work.

There's a clicking sound...

You're so keyed up, it takes you a second to realize it's not a creak on the stair, but the door latch coming open.  You slip inside.

The layout of the apartment is similar to yours, though these guys have a bigger bathroom. But that's where any similarity ends.  Where your's, even though it's a false sense of hominess, is made to look lived in, this apartment is meant for sleeping during shift changes, and that seems to be all.

There is a set of bunk beds pushed against one wall.  A couple of small computer desks with utilitarian looking swivel stools are set against the other.  There are a few changes of clothes in the bedroom closet, half pushed to one side and half to the other, with the desired Scales Uniforms hung in between them.

Other than the flat screen TV, that's it.

It's that flat screen though...

The TV isn't set to receive cable, dish, or even local.  It's plugged in to a local feed.  Even with no one here, messages are scrolling across it.

<b>LEADER LOVES YOU AS YOU SHOULD LOVE LEADER

Remember:  You Were Nothing To Them.  You Are Everything To Us.

After the Day that We Arise, there shall be no more lonliness.  No one shall weep.  No one shall mourn.  We fight not against the World, but for it.

You have your uniform.

Aubrey held her breath as she moved into the room. She frowned and rolled her eyes when she saw the bigger bathroom,  but kept moving. Inside her mind she knew there was a time limit.  She collected her uniform and took a photo of the crazy message.  As tempting as it was to leave some sort of surveillance or to take a hard drive, she resisted.  She peeks to make sure her way is clear after shoving the uniform inside her oversized outfit. If clear she moves to her room. Otherwise she looks for another exit

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 234):

You shut the door softly behind you.  Getting back up the stairs is easier than going down.  You can always act like you were just coming back home or coming up from the laundry room.
But you're pretty sure you were able to avoid the cameras a second time.

Once you're behind closed doors, you get to work on the costume.  Vic should be contacting the Commandos soon.  You'll be on their time table after that.  Once they move, you'll need to be ready to move.

Speaking of, pick a number 1 to 10.  Than do it again.

You're in the middle of seamstress duty when there's a knock on your door.  Out the peephole you can see Alan from the other day standing there.

Aubrey took a moment to quiet her heart as she leaned against her own door. There was no time to daddle as she quickly moved the item into her room to start the seamstressing that would be needed.  Hearing the knock on the door Aubrey set something over her costume and peeked out the peep hole. Seeing Alan was not what she was expecting. So she grabed a rope to give herself a 'getting ready to go out' look and open the door with a smile

"Hey neighbor! You need some sugar or salt?"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 236):

Alan has a slight smile on his face.  "Nah.  Doin' fine with my seasonings, thanks.  Hey.  Lissen.  There was a break in here.  Just askin' everyone if they heard anything this afternoon.  Maybe about two hours ago.  Were you home about then?"

ooc: forgot about the numbers 7 and 5.. unless those are unlucky.... :)


IC

Aubrey frowned

"Wow... that is kinda crazy. Can't think of hearing anything that stood out this afternoon. Was anything taken? We all seem to be living paycheck to paycheck"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 238):

"Just some clothes.  But it's still the principal of the thing.  We're very Neighborhood Watch here.

"Did you go downstairs today?  Like to run errands or do laundry?  You remember what time that was?  If you didn't see anybody strange during that time, it might help narrow down the exact time of the break in."

He smiles, though you can see the crocodile in it.

Aubrey nodded her head

"Clothes... yeah clothes can be expensive but they are replaceable. Totally get the principal thing but the person was probably desperate or something. Kinda sad, not taking away how bummed out I'd be if someone took some of my clothes"

Aubrey continues

"I almost went all the way downstairs. Was going to go wash some clothes and decided to do my load tomorrow"

Aubrey shrugged

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 240):

Alan takes a moment, the smile not leaving his face.  He nods.  Slowly.  But he nods.

"Okay.  Sorry to bother you.  Keep your door locked and let me know if you see anything suspicous."

He gives you a little wave and walks away.

Your cell buzzes.  Vic.

We should be go within the hour.  Be ready to move.

You've only got a little bit left on the alterations.  You hurry through and start to suit up.

Any last minute changes to the plan, etc?  If not, we will commence operations tomorrow.

Thanks

Ooc. Can't think of anything,  which makes me worried that I didn't think of anything.

Ic
Aubrey gets ready and goes to her own feed to look for any issues

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 242):

Your phone goes off at almost the same time the building shakes and there's a loud boom.

Vic has texted you.  Go Time

From outside, you hear a number of doors opening and the sounds of feet hitting the stairwell.

Tell me where you're going and how you're going (sneaking, boldly, etc)

Also give me three numbers, each between 1 and 10.

Thanks
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:17, Tue 16 June 2020.

Aubrey hides her femaleness as she looks once again at the text message.  She, having backed her phone up before the go time, cleans out the rest of names and numbers leaving only Vic's number labeled bus driver. Aubrey peeks to see who is leaving.  If they are in uniform she will go out with them, boldly hiding in plain sight and taking the stairs down in the apartment.  Otherwise she sneaks out and heads to a typical less buzy entrance into the school. Being sneaky up until she needs to go in front of any cameras.





IOC 7,5,4

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 244):

The guys heading down the stairs are in various states of dress.  Uniform dress that is.  One guy is in full gear.  Others are pulling on shirts and vests.  One guy is even sliding into the trousers.

They all seem to be headed for the basement.

Alan is at the foot of the first floor stairs, directing traffic.

"If you're in Adder Squad, head for crossroads 7.  Mamba and Bushmaster squads cover grids 8 to 12 of the monorail.  We have a Zeta Code people.  Don't fuck this up. Leader is counting on us."

He glances your way as you come down, but someone asks him something and he looks away.

Most of the traffic seems to be heading down to the basement.  A couple of guys are heading for the front door.  You will have to go that way if you want to infiltrate via the school.  But you will have to break from the crowd to do that.

Stay with the crowd and head for the basement or break from the crowd and head for the front doors.  Let me know.  Thanks

If there is anything on the uniform that is similar to the others she will stay with the herd of that indication. Some sort of coloration or badge that indicates some sort of sorting. If there is nothing, then if Alan keeps a swivel on his neck she will head to the basement with the others. If he seems to be more alert and watching she will head out the door with the others and either head to the school or follow a group to see where they get in.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 246):

Just to clarify:

The group is moving to the basement.  Going out the front doors would be the odd man out move.

Your uniform doesn't seem to have anything marking it any differently than the others.  In fact, all of the suits are Stepford Wives similar.

It occurs to you that you aren't sure how they recognize each other.  Unless they take off their masks.

The group heads for the basement and into the storage room door.

The room beyond seems to be the standard boiler room.  But there is a large slab of the floor that is popped open.  A stairwell leading down is underneath.

The group handles the stairs in perfect precision.  Two by two, moving in what is clearly a practiced order.  They even left, right, left in perfect unison.

You manage to catch the procedure in the duos that head out before you.  Then you and your partner head down the stairs.  You have to concentrate to keep in sync.  These guys must have trained for hours just to go up and down these stairs in the most efficient fashion.  It's almost exhausting.

The stairs end in a hall that runs straight ahead and to the left.

Most of the guys are heading straight, but quite a few are moving to the left.  About a third of the group by your estimate.

So...straight or left?

Aubrey tried to keep with the steps of the others, knowing that it was something that identified themselves to each other. To not step on pace would be something that stood out. There didn't seem to be anything else that really made an identifying mark from one another. It felt like a Stepford wives sort of thing. Aubrey felt the fatigue in the strain in being in step and tried to listen to what was being said around her. Aubrey makes the choice to move left and moved off in that direction. She had to keep some sort of rhythm to her decisions if she wanted to get out of there. But until the need to leave she would look for Charlie.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 248):

The left hall starts to curve and descend.  After a moment, you can hear it:  that monorail.  It's very close.

The station almost magically appears.  You round a bend in the curved hallway and next, you're stepping out onto a platform.  You check the mental map in your head.  This must be in the street between the school and the apartment building.

The guys who were here before you are setting up a defensive perimeter.  Three machine gun like nests with a fourth one quickly going up.  Two facing each direction down the track.

The guns aren't actually machine guns.  Whatever they shoot-death beams, lasers, nuclear missles-it's not tech you've ever seen before.

One of the Scales has a slightly different uniform. His shoulder pads and helmet have streaks of blood red and black.  He must be a CO.  He's barking out orders.

"The fighting started over on 5th Street. We don't think it'll take them long to get this far.  One last rail is coming.  It needs to get through for transport.  I need a squad to act for bodyguard and a squad for prisoner transport.  Let's get the mines set up. After the rail car comes through, we're blowing the line.  If you see Boogies, blow 'em."

Groups are starting to form.  Two groups are forming on the end of the platform, where you think there would be a loading and unloading area.  One to the left and one to the right.

There's another group opening crates and taking out what looks like mines.

You can hear the scree of the train car coming.  You need to move.

Another choice.  You need to merge into a squad.  The mine layers.  The departing squad on the left.  The departing squad on the right.  Or you can help with the gunnery positions.

Decisions, decisions