"Hey, that's our goal, too," Cal said. "So come sign up with us. It'll make the brass rest a lot easier. And considering how much kaboom-boom they've got pointed at this city, I think lowering their stress levels benefits all of us. Pay isn't bad, either. Plus pension."

"Can't do that just yet," Liam said, shaking his head. "I promised to keep a certain someone safe, and I can't do that following orders that take me away from where I need to be. Once we take the city though, she's kept her word and I've kept mine. We can reassess."

"Maybe by then the government will make good on my ask and furnish me with some proper documents. A pension doesn't take me far without a social security number," Liam added with a wink.

"I've already signed up," Mickey said. "Mind you, I have a lot more sins to forgive. And after two lifetimes of service to the Tremere, I can do a twenty-year hitch standing on my head."

"That's if you make it through training," Cal said. "Not that I think you won't kick its ass, what with the superpowers and all. You're working off a field commission right now."

"Look at you, pretending not to be desperate," Mickey quipped. "You know you want us."

"It's fine by me if you don't wanna join up," Cal added to Liam casually. "But just so's you know, the boss man might ask a little harder."

"Just as long as he doesn't expect me to renege on the deal they cut with Robyn. The lady likes her privacy." Liam took another drink. "Are the brass coming down for a closer look? Or is Jin running the show here still?"

Cal arched his eyebrow at the mention of Robyn's name, but made no other acknowledgement of the slip. He leapt on the opportunity to change the topic, and chortled at Liam's next question. "The brass? Come down here? Nah, they'll watch the whole thing over screens from the comfort of their offices, as usual. Jin tells us what needs doing, and I tell the brass how it's gonna get done. The brass assigns the resources, and pass on the stupid ideas of whatever politicians happen to be involved."

"So the boss man is still Jin then," Liam said. He paused for a drag on his cigarette. "Works for me."

"As much as I'm enjoying the drink, I should probably go and see what he wants. For Jacob's sake as much as my own. It didn't sound like he was planning on letting my friend go without seeing my face tonight."

"Nah, it's me that needed to see ya," Cal said. "He's waiting on the barrel y'all promised. Now that we've seen it work, and that grisly display by the pier this afternoon, they're soaking through their pants to get their hands on it. And apparently, regular-ass people can learn to make it?"

"You needed to see me?" Liam asked. "I mean, I guess. I don't know how to make it. But yeah, I think anyone could learn."

"Yeah, man, I needed to see ya," Cal said casually. "Y'know, I've been in the forces for eleven years? It's a point of personal pride for me that in all those years of service, I've never left a CO disappointed. Until tonight. It was my job to keep tabs on you, and you were off in the city stirring up trouble. I'm not disappointed you didn't tell me where you were going last night. I'm disappointed in myself for not asking for details. Mostly, I'm upset that I had to find out about it from that smug little CSIS agent. Professionally, that stings."

He chuckled mirthlessly. "If this is the deal I made with ya, we gotta rework the fine print."

"What do you want to know?" Liam asked.

"For starters, I'd like to know when you're going to be interacting with civvies, or even when you're going to be civvie-adjacent," he said. "If you're thinking of even farting in the direction of the city, I wanna know where you're gonna point your cheeks. Can you guys even fart?"

"We've burned all our bridges in the city," Liam said, pausing for a drink. "Can't resupply there any more, can't move around safely, and there's maybe two people left there who wouldn't attack me on sight and I can't think of a reason to visit either one of them."

"I do have business left in the sewers. There's a section there that got sealed off ten years ago that has a footing at the base of the Alhambra. It used to be the home of one of the Camarilla's more - distasteful clans. I say 'used to' because once the Camarilla sealed the doors the lot of them went feral and turned on each other."

"A little while back I found my way inside and did some digging. I found a couple of things. The first is a live line into the Alhambra itself. I don't know computers at all, but I know someone who does and she's pretty sure she can get us tapped into their system if I can get her to the feed."

"The second thing I found is a survivor. I haven't woken her up because I didn't have a way to extract her at the time but I'm pretty sure she's one of their's - and assuming there's anything left of her up there after her ordeal she'll be looking to get even," he said, tapping his skull.

"Granted, her knowledge of the inside is ten years out of date and Mickey can do us better but the bigger deal is her testimony. Her clan has always been at arm's length with the Camarilla. If the rest of them get wind of what the Cam's did to their kin in Verdant Falls there's a good chance they cut loose and leave them hanging. Or better still, work to actively sabotage them."

"I can get myself in and out on my own, no problem, but if I'm going to sneak in anything bigger than a rat I need someone to disable the wards the Tremere have set in the sewers - someone like Mickey, for instance. And I need someone to deal with the hard wiring. I don't do that."

"I know a thing or two about navigating through sewers," Cal said. "And I'm no slouch when it comes to countersurveillance. Plus, if you get caught they're liable to send suicidal mooks through "

"I put up some of those wards personally," Mickey said. "And I know they've beefed up security down there since the blockade. They're turtling up until they can find a way to make a break for it."

"Most importantly," Cal said. "In the event we get nabbed, what are the odds of the Tremere are gonna start killing hostages?"

"Pretty good," Mickey said. "If they know someone was there, they're going to assume it's you guys - us guys... and issue reprisals. Not the whole town, of course. But expect another display like the one at the docks. They've got ways of communicating with people that don't require cell phones. They may very well just cry Jericho somewhere and kill whoever hears it."

"So lets not get caught," Liam replied. "I'm not looking for a fire fight beneath the city. I want to get in, get what we came for and get out before they ever figure out we were there."

"I gotta say eyes into the Alhambra alone would make a lot of people less tense," Cal said. "The first thing they did when we arrived was fill it with civvies. Guess they figured out we were planning to blow it up. I'm pretty sure I can convince the brass to go along with it.

"If there's a Nosferatu left alove down there, they're going to be hungry," said Mickey. "I think we can meet their needs between the two of us, but we better bring top-ups."

"Plenty of fresh blood in the base infirmary," Cal said. "So when are we doing this?"

"Probably too late to get cracking tonight, even if their eyes are all turned elsewhere. We could do it as soon as tomorrow if you can get sign off."

"I wouldn't mind calling in help on this if you're not opposed. I'd been making my own plans already, and a couple of extra bodies might make this go more smoothly. The assamite and the malkavian. I'd have the former join us in person in case we run into trouble. The other one can patch in remotely. I've already got her a foothold in the system."

"Presuming they're willing, what do you say?"

[Pockets had said she can't patch in remotely. She needs to hook up the camera herself, unless you're entrusting Cal to do it.]

"Don't worry, man, I already took an airbase today," Cal said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "I'm done stompin' around for the evening. Tomorrow's soon, but I'll be ready. I'll get Mickey to bring me up to speed on what to expect down there. Provided, of course, we get access to the camera feed, too."

"Give me a second," Liam said. He dug out the pebble and stuck it beneath his tongue. "You still at the village?" he inquired.

"Just about to leave," Hasan said. "I'm about ready to take this barrel over to the government goons for Tart 'n' Tiny. What's up?"

"I'm at the base," Liam replied. "What do you say to doing the warren job tomorrow with Mickey and one of the special ops boys? I can either patch Pockets through on my phone again and she can watch remotely, or she can come if she insists on it. Cal here thinks he can manage the hardline."

"Gimme a sec," Hasan said. There was a long pause. And a longer pause. "She says that if I'm in she's in. She's pretty insistent on installing that hardware herself. But she wants you to tell the 'fascist murderbot' to bring a rope and harness."

"I'm assuming I'm going in quiet, and I'll kit myself accordingly. Anything else?"

"Give me a moment and I'll tell him," Liam replied. He looked over at Cal. "She wants you to bring a rope and harness. I presume that's no big deal?"

"We're going in quiet as church mice," Lam concurred. "I think we can safely leave Magilla Gorilla out of this one."

Cal waved his hand, indicating it was no big deal.

"Just as well," Hasan said. "He's still gone. Got tired of us waiting to go follow Trent on his little tantrum and went after him. Bout as subtle as a dump truck full of dogs, that one. Where should we meet?"

"I accessed the tunnels from the Iron Graveyard last time. Its the route I know best. We'll start there. Bring Pockets back with you tonight. I still intend to stay at your place."

"We'll get Mickey and Cal to meet us in the Graveyard tomorrow."

"I guess I can manage that," Hasan said glibly. "I need to run back with Robyn's goods at any rate." There was another pause. "D'you know what she's doing with all of this?"