There's a woodwind quintet playing the second movement of Dzodi's Hollowed Moon Suite.  Say what you like about the Zhodani Consulate and mind control.  They produce some great composers.

A serving girl dressed in almost see through sheensilk offers a tray of various real meats and cheeses on crackers.  She smiles invitingly.  Both to Ledo and to Tepha.

The main hall is large.  Booths and attractions are set up along the perimeter.  And the party, such as it were, is going on in the middle.  The crowd isn't very lively yet.  It's still too early and there hasn't been enough alcohol consumed.

The entry to the VIP auction is at one end, discretely hidden from view by an unobtrusive screen.  A lone security guard stands by it.  As Ledo approaches, the guard smiles and asks politely, but firmly, for his invitation.  The invitation must have a code chip in it, because after he scans it, the guard doesn't hesitate but holds the door open for Ledo.

There's a flight of stairs up.  From above, Ledo can hear the hum of conversation.  At the top of the stairs is a security console.  A guard sits behind it and two other flank it.  The seated guard smiles and asks for his invitation.  Again, after only the briefest of inspections, Ledo is waved through.  The seated guard hands him a brochure.

On the other side of the desk is a small bar.  There's a decent sized crowd gathered around it.  Ledo recognizes some of the patrons.  Not from personal acquaintance.  More like they're in the news vids often enough everyone knows their name.

Wandering down the hallway, he passes the mens and ladies room before coming to the auction hall itself.

There's a lot of activity.  Drones and a few station staff are finishing putting together some display stands.  It does not appear anything has been laid out in any of the exhibits yet.

There are three...no.  Four security guards.  That fourth one was nearby and almost sneaks up on Ledo.

"My apologies Sir."  The guard says with a cordial smile.  "We're not quite ready for the pre-sale inspection.  Please come back in a half an hour."

The Brochure lists the individual lots and provides information on them.  Well.  Some information on them.  There's surprisingly little to go on.

The following lots seem to be the most interesting.

Lot A05                  A set of masks unearthed by the late professor at an Ancient's dig
                         site.  The set is made up of four masks, each in varying states of
                         repair.

Lot A11                  A complete collection, including translation, of Old Solimani
                         literature.  A collection of plays by an ancient scribe named
                         'Stakz Peer'.

Lot B9                   The Al'ghotti mis Hepadhi.  A painting by the Vargar painter
                         Scurz

Lot C19                  A copy of the professor's notes about translating Ancient dialects.

There are other lots.  But they mostly sound like they are small change.  Or not very portable.

Ledo tugs at his cuffs, his naval dress uniform in full regalia with medals and ornate brooch to boot.

"Of course."

He glances the guard up and down as if doing a uniform inspection but in reality he is getting a gauge on training and weaponry. Potentially four guards were a lot of potential heroes for one person to keep locked down. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to have Tepha cause a scene to draw some of them out of the area before the door shuts.

He gave a nod to the security guard and wandered back out. Time to relay the message to Rig and Silver as they were gearing up. He could only hope Silver was up to the task.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 22:26, Thu 06 Feb 2020.

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 3):

Interesting observation regarding the guards.  Ledo needs to make a Leadership/Edu roll.  Because of his rank and the fact the guards aren't trying to hide their level of competence, I'll give you a boon.  Remember to roll twice and discard the lowest result

A few moments after Ledo sends his message, a soft Gong gong echoes through the main exhibition hall.  It's a signal to alert those for the private auction to gather in the side hall.  The auction will begin within the hour.

Ledo heads to the appointed meeting ground, sending another text signaling that the auction would being in one hour.

OOC: Wasn't sure if I interpreted that right but either got an 8 or a 12:


23:17, Today: Ledo Typhin rolled 12 using 4d6+2, dropping the 2 lowest rolls of 1 & 1 ((1,1,5,5)).


I didn't know if you meant roll twice (as in 2d6 then 2d6) or if I was to roll 3d6 and take the highest two. So I either got a 6 or a 10 before the +2 bonus

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 5):

Sorry for the confusion.  Boons and Banes will always be two seperate rolls:  2d6+DM then 2d6+DM.  With a Boon, you can keep the higher value.  With a Bane, you have to take the lower roll.

Ledo recalls one of his staff sergeants once making a comment about how to tell if a you had a good soldier or not: look at their boots.  If their boots are too polished, then that soldier doesn't have enough to do.  Not polished at all, the man is lazy.  Just polished enough...meh.  But a boot that's just polished enough and looks like it's seen some wear and tear?  Now that's a man who will do what he needs to do and works for a living.  In that sergeant's opinion, that was a good soldier.

Whether that's an accurate test or not, the guard who stopped him...the name plate read O'Henrix...he had boots that were just polished enough for the situation.  But they looked comfortable.  Broken in.  He wore his gun in such a way it would be easily accessible.  And he stood lightly on the balls of his feet.

In other words:  O'Henrix might be trouble.

The other guards?  The two flanking the desk are looking at the ladies a little too much.  They aren't even trying to be coy about it.

The one behind the desk seems more like a bureaucrat.  He's not even wearing his gun.  It's on the console beside the stack of papers.

Any other questions on the guards or arrangements?  If not, we'll move along.
 Thanks.

Ledo gives a nod and texts his communique to Rig via Tepha's phone: Meet me by booth #41.

He then heads to the aforementioned booth pretending to look around. Meanwhile Tepha is doing continual rounds and periodically glancing at her phone (actually Rig's) until she spies Ledo standing in position. It was time for the pair to make their way to the auction and prepare themselves for being taken captive and barricading the ladies room respectively.

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 7):

The staff seem to have finished laying out the items for display.  Each one is in a special container that is on wheels.  There are ramps that lead up to the stage on both sides, presumably for moving the items on to stage when it is their turn, and then backstage.

The four lots that caught Ledo's eye before seem to be the ones getting the most attention.  Especially A11 and C19.  Those two and the painting, Lot B9, seem the most portable.  The mask collection, Lot A09, is larger than one would think.  Doable, but some of the masks are as large as Rig or Ledo.  There are other lots. But even to the untrained eye, they seem more run of the mill.

As the crowd swirls around, a man walks out on stage.  He isn't dressed like the staff.  Instead, he looks like he should be in the crowd.  Nice silk shirt.  Fine boots.  Manicured hair.

"Ladies and Gentlemen..."  His voice is mic'd up.  It comes out over the loud speakers.  "On behalf of the Estate of Professor Val Gryers, I welcome you.  I am her nephew and executor, Mirik Alton.

"We are excited to be able to share the treasures and fruits of my Aunt's work with people who will appreciate them.  We hope you will find something that will pique your interest.

"Speaking of..."  Mirik gives everyone a bemused smile.  "We have a last minute entry.  It's not listed in the program.  But we believe that it is perhaps the prize catch of the evening.  It was something my Aunt acquired during her final survey of the Droyne colony at Candory.  As you may know, she was an ambassador to our Droyne allies.  And one of the few who was allowed in their homes.

"At the end of her last mission, the colony presented her with a...unique gift.  And tonight, the Estate is parting with it.  Those who have VIP passes may inspect it.  If you have the pass and are interested, please come up to the stage.  Otherwise, the auction will begin in twenty minutes.

"Thank you all."

Ledo gives the nod to Tepha who stands up and departs with haste towards the ladie's room. Time to clear it out, barricade it and, if possible, spy on the backstage area to find out what is going on with the new surprise activity.

OOC: Time to secure her alibi. Note she has a small utility tool to remove the screws from the cover if necessary

In reply to Tepha Pezal (msg # 9):

There are a couple of overbreed society types in the lavatory as Tepha walks in.  She can hear them.

"Well I'm sure she's had work.  Probably had them custom grown."

"I agree.  Someone should tell her red hair is so ten years ago-"

They both stop talking when they see her. Then they finish up and leave.

The grille is one of those ornate numbers that looks like vines choking a flower.  It comes off easily enough.  The shaft is short.  There's another grill on the other side, but this is a regular one.  Tepha could reach through and pop it out if need be.  But it's easy to see through from her side.

The backstage area is suprisingly bare.  There are a few technicians walking around.  But no guards.

After a few minutes, Mirik leads a small group of about eight to a spot not far away.  He stops and turns on his heel, neatly and cleanly, before facing the VIPers.

"Ladies and Gentlemen.  Thank you for your patience.  It's heartwarming that some of our most prominent guests all elected to take the VIP option.  It makes things so much easier.  This piece is, I think, guaranteed to come as a shock.  Anto?"

Mirik gestures and one of the security guards approaches, carrying something in one hand with a kerchief draped over it.  "Now pay attention..." Mirik drawls.

Anto, the guard, stops right before the group and with a florish, removes the kerchief.

It's a gun.  In his hand.  Pointing at the VIP crowd.

Mirik has produced one as well.  He points it at the crowd as well.

"Hush now.  No one make a noise.  It would be a shame to start shooting."

Many of the VIPers start to make noise.  But the more levelheaded among them quickly shush them.

One of the women, an older looking woman who looks like she has more balls than most of the men around, shakes her head.  "So this was just a cheap set up to get us all in one place."

"I said no talking," Mirik shrugs and grins at the old woman. "But the auction is real.  That crap out front is from the Van Gryers estate.  But the Estate representatives and their security detail...well they're indisposed.  So we offered to help out.  Now then.  Here is what is going to happen.  Pay attention.  Obeying orders is the only thing that will get you through this.

"You over pampered Empire Lovers have grown wealthy and fat off the populace you've helped oppress.  Now, you'll get the chance to return some of that money back. In a moment, we are going to bring a portable bank com back here.  Each of you will take a turn entering the codes to give access to your primary accounts.  And we've done our homework.  We know who has accounts where." He smiles nastily at them all and then continues.  "You will transfer the amount I tell you to an account with Haas Financial Corp-"

"Hmph! You're with the CFA, aren't you?" The old lady chimes in.

Mirik keeps the smile on his face, staring at her.  He continues, not dropping his gaze from hers, but addressing the group.  "...And if you all do as you're told, you can leave this place alive.  If not..."

He nods.  One of the techs who has approached unseen pushes a rod against the old woman's arm.  There is a small sizzling sound and the old lady falls to the floor, convulsing.

Mirik watches her a moment then asks the tech.  "That wasn't a lethal voltage, was it?  That's Myra Offenbohm.  She's the lead stockholder of Aarvo Systematics."

The tech gives him an A-OK thumbs up.  Mirik looks at the rest of the group. "Now.  Anyone else want to show us your gumption?  No?  Okay.  Let's get this revolution financed, shall we?"

Now aren't you glad you didn't get the VIP tickets?

Tepha can’t tell if she should be excited or scared at this turn of events. She quickly locks the bathroom door and calls Ledo. Some things were too complex to text. When he answered she whispered quietly about the stick up in the back.

”Mother fucker... he tried to upsell me as well. Alright I will let the others know.”

Tepha hung up and went back to spying on the CFA bandits and their hostages.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 23:49, Mon 10 Feb 2020.

Ledo checked his watch. He needed to time this just right. The new plan was to sic Captain Competent on the backroom bandits just prior to the security lockdown to get him out of position. With any luck the rebels would handle him and stay out of the way of the heist.

As Tepha watches, the VIPers are forced, one by one, to step up to a handheld comm unit Anto is holding.

Mirik checks each guest's pass and compares it to a list he has.

"Edwina Osolyx...Ah.  That's right.  The daughter to Max Osolyx.  Blacklights CFO.  How nice to meet you.  That will be 150 thousand credits."

The amounts he's asking vary. But Tepha realizes, that just in the five minutes since this began, they've logged in a little short of 1 million credits.

And there's still ten guests left to go.

Eleven, if you count the old lady on the floor....

Tepha doesn't have any electronics scores does she?  Give me an Electronics/Education from her please.  Thanks