------------
So, To recap...
The Team has it's first run - it seems to be a firly simple smash'n'grab of some prototype hardware. After doing some due dilligence, they discover that the person who hired them is putting on a fake accent, while the memory stick with the job information on it turned out to be bugged with Sleaze action. Still, tempted by 9000 NY a head, they press on, scoping out the AGILE Microtechnology lab. In the process discovering that AGILE's reasently been taken under Lofwyr's corporate wing.... SK are running the show. Knowing they need an 'in', they kidnap the Lone Star Wage Mage -Resden- providing magical security - setting up a fake Mage recruting agency to entice him into an interview in a limousine. He next wakes up strapped to a chair in a basement....
-------------
Tuesday evening finds the team in planning, discussing how to approach the run.
Adonis is preparing for his reconnaissance, disguised as Resden. Depending on how it goes, they're running through ideas. Adonis hopes to be able to act as a 5th column inside the building, using his Mage disguise a 2nd time, while Wraith enters the building invisibly and just grabs the hardware. Secure the prototype, set off the firealarm to force all the maglocks open, then run for it. Should be simple. There is a discussion over whether Count Zero should also go in to deal with any maglocks or security systems.
Count Zero is of the opinion that being onsite physically may be a lethally bad idea for her. Instead, Count Zero plans to compile a sprite and have it use Gremlins on the security cameras.
Adonis, however, has his 7pm appointment to make. He goes through the front door, and - after a moment to check - his disguise is accepted by the receptionist as genuine.
(GM Note, the receptionist tied the roll on Limit - actually rolling higher.)
After a few minutes waiting, he's met by Max Reinhardt -a middle-aged man speaking in a polite and kind German accent whom, Adonis notes, is wearing a fairly snapping Actioneer suit. Reinhardt leads Adonis through the building, discussing security plans and warding arrangements, along with whether or not the building ward extends to the ceiling.
Of course it did - it didn't take long to check. Reinhardt is polite and friendly as he leads him around the building, before dropping a minor bomb on proceedings. He's aware of the run coming in in the near future, what with the earlier hack on the building's security systems, and the spotting of one of his former colleagues smiling and waving at him from the cafe across the street.
Meanwhile, Wraith is scaling the outside of the building with a tingle in his ears. He confirms that the ward extends to the top of the building and the location of a vent stack that could be used to access the inside - guarded by a maintenance grate with maglock - and that there's a ladder to gain access. Stealth, and Invisibility keeps him from being spotted. He also spots the Wards.
(GM Note. A minor ruling on the Earth Sphere acting as a barrier for Astral projecting. If it's penetrated by a shaft or other manmade object, it's possible for a projection to travel down this shaft. It doesn't stop at an invisible line where the earth level would've been.)
Reinhardt meanwhile, asks Adonis whether the building's internal high-security ward also accounts for the ventilation stack. It doesn't, it's only encompassed by the building's own outer ward. Reinhardt asks him to cover the gap. This is a minor problem for an Adonis, who doesn't know the spell. Still, he's good at bluffing, so gives it a go. In this instance, he gets it right. Reinhardt believes him. It also gives him a good chance to investigate the ventilation stack for a possible entry point.
(GM Note, I'm not sure I did this exactly right. I was trying to do something suspensful, while dropping a potential hint about an entry and the location of the target, and it wasn't until afterwards that I realised it might just have come across as drawn out)
Reinhardt leads Adonis down to the lower, high security, level of the building. Along the way, Adonis makes a mental note of the locations of any emplacements or security cameras, along with the types of locks along the way. First on the list are the two engineer prototype offices where highly secret tests are performed. Reinhardt has to check to make sure that nobody is performing any sensitive tests before allowing Adonis in. The Engineer's office area is locked down tight. Individual cubicles are fitted with privacy screens, shielding work theirin from what unauthorised eyes might accidentally see. A red light warns people not to enter when sensitive work is being performed. For the really secret stuff, there're the two labs.... one of which has a red-light glowing over the door. Reinhardt allows him into the second.
(GM Note: Inspiration from Apple)
In the first room Adonis is alone while Reinhardt sanitises the next one. He's able to take a few notes and discover one of the carrying cases for the Wafers. But it's empty. Again, he fools Reinhardt into thinking he's cast a legitmate spell.The second one is more of the same, with an added sprinkling of Cheeto dust. Reinhardt watches him 'cast' this time.
Another beautiful deception. Adonis fakes the drain, asking for a few minutes rest. They have a break in a small employee locker-room. Reinhardt chats about the benefits employment with Saeder-Krupp could bring - a job which rewards success, though punishes failure. It's a 'friendly' chat.
(GM Note. I was trying to create tension here. It was somewhere around this point that Hollywood's player pointed out there wasn't a single toilet on the floorplans I created. This is the future...we have the three seashells for that sort of thing. )
Last stop on the tour is the Secure Storage room, behind a guarded desk. Adonis spies two more wafer cases, one of which is obviously locked. Again, Reinhardt watches him perform the warding 'ritual'. Something catches his attention for a moment, and Adonis tries to pass his slip off as the effect of drain induced fatigue. Reinhardt cools, quickly concluding their business
(GM Note. Reinhard pulled enough success to realise this instance was a deception, but not that Adonis was anyone but who he appearred to be. He actually rolled very well, but his social limit kicked in hard. So, Reinhardt allowed Adonis to leave, before getting in touch with his employers to complain about shoddy service. Which then revealed the truth. Reinhardt's plan was to set a trap, welcoming Adonis in disguise back, allowing the run to proceed, and then springing a trap when everyone's inside. One full captured Shadowrun team. Or an awesome complication for the team to beat. As it would happen....)
Wraith aquires a grappling hook and climbing gear.
Adonis returns to the shop the team are using as a base and fills them in. Reinhardt knows something's up and expects a run coming in. He lets Wraith know why exactly he expects a run is coming.
Wraith: "Makes it fun"
(GM Note: If anyone asked Adonis anything he hadn't specifically noted on his original walkthrough, I asked him to make a memory test. It seemed like a good idea at the time, to account for things noticed, but not specifically looked for.)
Based on this, their first idea to deal with this, is to create a distraction run, to divert attention away from their real attempt.
Hollywood: "What about Hiring someone to do a fake run?"
GM: *Nervous laughter*
Their second idea is to attack Reinhardt's car and go after him directly, take him out of the picture. But that would definitely give the game away. AresPredator suggests using knockout gas on the complex - but that would involve hauling something heavy up to the ventilation system without getting spotted.
By the end of the night, they have a plan:
*Adonis will infiltrate the office as Resden again, under the guise of detecting something crossing the Ward. He will palm his key off with someone in the security office, to get better access.
*Hollywood to listen to conversation in the Cafe to determine who has what access
*Count Zero will hack the lock on the roof, then compile a Gremlin sprite to hit the surveillance system.
*Adonis gains entry to the Secure storage room and grabs what he thinks is the hardware.
*Wraith will then repell down into the vent shaft on a rope, to wait for Adonis
*Adonis hands Wraith the hardware.
*Trigger the Fire Alarm to unlock the doors. Then escape
*AresPredator is nearby incase things go south and guns get needed.
*Scorch is in the van listening to Spanish Flea while all hell breaks loose inside.
---
Wednesday. The run should happen tomorrow.
AresPredator53 spends some time on the roof of the building, using his cybernetic augmentation to listen to what's going on inside. He managed to capture snippets of five conversations:
*Someone complaining about how they've been told to move wafers to secure storage, but don't have access.
*A german accent "Act as if his card has been accepted, the call me"
*Another voice "We are emptying the clean room until the situation has passed"
*A German Accent "It was definitely not legitimat"
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Resden earns an invisible boot to the head after his attempt to get enough attention to get a meal ends up being mistaken for an escape attempt. He tries to inquire about the PC's plan...
Resden: "Who am I going to tell"
Adonis: "This isn't one of those movies"
(GM Note: "We did it, 35 minutes ago.")
Finally, Adonis manages to track down a lead on the Autopicker he's been looking for. It's good. Still in stock, ready to go.
AresPredator53 returns, reporting in. It's quickly obvious that Adonis has been made in some way. Reinhardt is expecting them to come in disguised as Resden.
The planning begins again, wondering how to get through when Reinhardt is expecting Resden. Thoughts turn to the Wage Mage himself:
"There is one person who has no choice but to look like the son of a bitch"
Hollywood's first idea is to puppet Resden in through the front door, but it's quickly pointed out that the building's wards would release him from her spell - and he could then blow the whole thing.
They decide to stick closely to their original plan - as close as possible anyway.
*Adonis will slip in using a stolen ID card
*Trigger an Evac with the fire alarm.
*Taze a Guard
*Use his key to get access to the goods
*Meet Scorch outside.
*Resden is a liability before the run happens.
----
Thurday. Run day.
Aware that Resden's access card is now definitely Non-Grata, Adonis follows one of the security staff he recognised leaving the building after a shift change. His attempt at grabbing the guard's wallet unnoticed fails. The guard doesn't push the matter when Adonis just hands the wallet back to him - and doesn't notice his missing security card. He's lucky enough to get his wallet back without a fight.
(GM Note: Nicely pockerfaced. Nicely done. The way he said 'I give him his wallet back', had me fooled. )
It's only when he makes it back to home base that he realises it would've been easier to just replace the guard.... maybe have him go back for something he forgot on-shift. But, it's too late for that now.
Runtime is 6pm. A little bit early compared to what was suggested, but should suffice.
(GM Note. And a perfect explanation for what happens next.)
AresPredator, Adonis and Wraith sneak up onto the roof, followed by Hollywood and Count Zero. Count Zero quickly and competently obliterates the security on the lock, hacking on the fly within two seconds, shutting it down, then mentally rebooting her persona before GOD even wakes up..
Meanwhile, AresPredator manages to capture a single snippet of conversation with his augmented hearing.
"Reinhardt will be back in 20 minutes"
Adonis immediately changes his disguise.
A few minutes later, 'Reinhardt' walks through the front door of the building.
---break for the night.
(GM Final comment. I like the plan here. I especially like how it's been continuously amended and adapted as things went on. With Reinhardt, I was hoping to create someone who came across as competent and planning, without being omniscient. Going into this, I was concerned that his stats might've been a little bit too tough, but he rolled honestly the whole time. Like I mentioned, I was hoping for Adonis' scenes to come across as quite tense. As it was, this meant for a fairly Adonis-heavy session since it took longer than I thought.
Next week is run-week. This plans to be an interesting one. )
________________________________
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?
So, To recap...
The Team has it's first run - it seems to be a firly simple smash'n'grab of some prototype hardware. After doing some due dilligence, they discover that the person who hired them is putting on a fake accent, while the memory stick with the job information on it turned out to be bugged with Sleaze action. Still, tempted by 9000 NY a head, they press on, scoping out the AGILE Microtechnology lab. In the process discovering that AGILE's reasently been taken under Lofwyr's corporate wing.... SK are running the show. Knowing they need an 'in', they kidnap the Lone Star Wage Mage -Resden- providing magical security - setting up a fake Mage recruting agency to entice him into an interview in a limousine. He next wakes up strapped to a chair in a basement....
-------------
Tuesday evening finds the team in planning, discussing how to approach the run.
Adonis is preparing for his reconnaissance, disguised as Resden. Depending on how it goes, they're running through ideas. Adonis hopes to be able to act as a 5th column inside the building, using his Mage disguise a 2nd time, while Wraith enters the building invisibly and just grabs the hardware. Secure the prototype, set off the firealarm to force all the maglocks open, then run for it. Should be simple. There is a discussion over whether Count Zero should also go in to deal with any maglocks or security systems.
Count Zero is of the opinion that being onsite physically may be a lethally bad idea for her. Instead, Count Zero plans to compile a sprite and have it use Gremlins on the security cameras.
Adonis, however, has his 7pm appointment to make. He goes through the front door, and - after a moment to check - his disguise is accepted by the receptionist as genuine.
(GM Note, the receptionist tied the roll on Limit - actually rolling higher.)
After a few minutes waiting, he's met by Max Reinhardt -a middle-aged man speaking in a polite and kind German accent whom, Adonis notes, is wearing a fairly snapping Actioneer suit. Reinhardt leads Adonis through the building, discussing security plans and warding arrangements, along with whether or not the building ward extends to the ceiling.
Of course it did - it didn't take long to check. Reinhardt is polite and friendly as he leads him around the building, before dropping a minor bomb on proceedings. He's aware of the run coming in in the near future, what with the earlier hack on the building's security systems, and the spotting of one of his former colleagues smiling and waving at him from the cafe across the street.
Meanwhile, Wraith is scaling the outside of the building with a tingle in his ears. He confirms that the ward extends to the top of the building and the location of a vent stack that could be used to access the inside - guarded by a maintenance grate with maglock - and that there's a ladder to gain access. Stealth, and Invisibility keeps him from being spotted. He also spots the Wards.
(GM Note. A minor ruling on the Earth Sphere acting as a barrier for Astral projecting. If it's penetrated by a shaft or other manmade object, it's possible for a projection to travel down this shaft. It doesn't stop at an invisible line where the earth level would've been.)
Reinhardt meanwhile, asks Adonis whether the building's internal high-security ward also accounts for the ventilation stack. It doesn't, it's only encompassed by the building's own outer ward. Reinhardt asks him to cover the gap. This is a minor problem for an Adonis, who doesn't know the spell. Still, he's good at bluffing, so gives it a go. In this instance, he gets it right. Reinhardt believes him. It also gives him a good chance to investigate the ventilation stack for a possible entry point.
(GM Note, I'm not sure I did this exactly right. I was trying to do something suspensful, while dropping a potential hint about an entry and the location of the target, and it wasn't until afterwards that I realised it might just have come across as drawn out)
Reinhardt leads Adonis down to the lower, high security, level of the building. Along the way, Adonis makes a mental note of the locations of any emplacements or security cameras, along with the types of locks along the way. First on the list are the two engineer prototype offices where highly secret tests are performed. Reinhardt has to check to make sure that nobody is performing any sensitive tests before allowing Adonis in. The Engineer's office area is locked down tight. Individual cubicles are fitted with privacy screens, shielding work theirin from what unauthorised eyes might accidentally see. A red light warns people not to enter when sensitive work is being performed. For the really secret stuff, there're the two labs.... one of which has a red-light glowing over the door. Reinhardt allows him into the second.
(GM Note: Inspiration from Apple)
In the first room Adonis is alone while Reinhardt sanitises the next one. He's able to take a few notes and discover one of the carrying cases for the Wafers. But it's empty. Again, he fools Reinhardt into thinking he's cast a legitmate spell.The second one is more of the same, with an added sprinkling of Cheeto dust. Reinhardt watches him 'cast' this time.
Another beautiful deception. Adonis fakes the drain, asking for a few minutes rest. They have a break in a small employee locker-room. Reinhardt chats about the benefits employment with Saeder-Krupp could bring - a job which rewards success, though punishes failure. It's a 'friendly' chat.
(GM Note. I was trying to create tension here. It was somewhere around this point that Hollywood's player pointed out there wasn't a single toilet on the floorplans I created. This is the future...we have the three seashells for that sort of thing. )
Last stop on the tour is the Secure Storage room, behind a guarded desk. Adonis spies two more wafer cases, one of which is obviously locked. Again, Reinhardt watches him perform the warding 'ritual'. Something catches his attention for a moment, and Adonis tries to pass his slip off as the effect of drain induced fatigue. Reinhardt cools, quickly concluding their business
(GM Note. Reinhard pulled enough success to realise this instance was a deception, but not that Adonis was anyone but who he appearred to be. He actually rolled very well, but his social limit kicked in hard. So, Reinhardt allowed Adonis to leave, before getting in touch with his employers to complain about shoddy service. Which then revealed the truth. Reinhardt's plan was to set a trap, welcoming Adonis in disguise back, allowing the run to proceed, and then springing a trap when everyone's inside. One full captured Shadowrun team. Or an awesome complication for the team to beat. As it would happen....)
Wraith aquires a grappling hook and climbing gear.
Adonis returns to the shop the team are using as a base and fills them in. Reinhardt knows something's up and expects a run coming in. He lets Wraith know why exactly he expects a run is coming.
Wraith: "Makes it fun"
(GM Note: If anyone asked Adonis anything he hadn't specifically noted on his original walkthrough, I asked him to make a memory test. It seemed like a good idea at the time, to account for things noticed, but not specifically looked for.)
Based on this, their first idea to deal with this, is to create a distraction run, to divert attention away from their real attempt.
Hollywood: "What about Hiring someone to do a fake run?"
GM: *Nervous laughter*
Their second idea is to attack Reinhardt's car and go after him directly, take him out of the picture. But that would definitely give the game away. AresPredator suggests using knockout gas on the complex - but that would involve hauling something heavy up to the ventilation system without getting spotted.
By the end of the night, they have a plan:
*Adonis will infiltrate the office as Resden again, under the guise of detecting something crossing the Ward. He will palm his key off with someone in the security office, to get better access.
*Hollywood to listen to conversation in the Cafe to determine who has what access
*Count Zero will hack the lock on the roof, then compile a Gremlin sprite to hit the surveillance system.
*Adonis gains entry to the Secure storage room and grabs what he thinks is the hardware.
*Wraith will then repell down into the vent shaft on a rope, to wait for Adonis
*Adonis hands Wraith the hardware.
*Trigger the Fire Alarm to unlock the doors. Then escape
*AresPredator is nearby incase things go south and guns get needed.
*Scorch is in the van listening to Spanish Flea while all hell breaks loose inside.
---
Wednesday. The run should happen tomorrow.
AresPredator53 spends some time on the roof of the building, using his cybernetic augmentation to listen to what's going on inside. He managed to capture snippets of five conversations:
*Someone complaining about how they've been told to move wafers to secure storage, but don't have access.
*A german accent "Act as if his card has been accepted, the call me"
*Another voice "We are emptying the clean room until the situation has passed"
*A German Accent "It was definitely not legitimat"
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Resden earns an invisible boot to the head after his attempt to get enough attention to get a meal ends up being mistaken for an escape attempt. He tries to inquire about the PC's plan...
Resden: "Who am I going to tell"
Adonis: "This isn't one of those movies"
(GM Note: "We did it, 35 minutes ago.")
Finally, Adonis manages to track down a lead on the Autopicker he's been looking for. It's good. Still in stock, ready to go.
AresPredator53 returns, reporting in. It's quickly obvious that Adonis has been made in some way. Reinhardt is expecting them to come in disguised as Resden.
The planning begins again, wondering how to get through when Reinhardt is expecting Resden. Thoughts turn to the Wage Mage himself:
"There is one person who has no choice but to look like the son of a bitch"
Hollywood's first idea is to puppet Resden in through the front door, but it's quickly pointed out that the building's wards would release him from her spell - and he could then blow the whole thing.
They decide to stick closely to their original plan - as close as possible anyway.
*Adonis will slip in using a stolen ID card
*Trigger an Evac with the fire alarm.
*Taze a Guard
*Use his key to get access to the goods
*Meet Scorch outside.
*Resden is a liability before the run happens.
----
Thurday. Run day.
Aware that Resden's access card is now definitely Non-Grata, Adonis follows one of the security staff he recognised leaving the building after a shift change. His attempt at grabbing the guard's wallet unnoticed fails. The guard doesn't push the matter when Adonis just hands the wallet back to him - and doesn't notice his missing security card. He's lucky enough to get his wallet back without a fight.
(GM Note: Nicely pockerfaced. Nicely done. The way he said 'I give him his wallet back', had me fooled. )
It's only when he makes it back to home base that he realises it would've been easier to just replace the guard.... maybe have him go back for something he forgot on-shift. But, it's too late for that now.
Runtime is 6pm. A little bit early compared to what was suggested, but should suffice.
(GM Note. And a perfect explanation for what happens next.)
AresPredator, Adonis and Wraith sneak up onto the roof, followed by Hollywood and Count Zero. Count Zero quickly and competently obliterates the security on the lock, hacking on the fly within two seconds, shutting it down, then mentally rebooting her persona before GOD even wakes up..
Meanwhile, AresPredator manages to capture a single snippet of conversation with his augmented hearing.
"Reinhardt will be back in 20 minutes"
Adonis immediately changes his disguise.
A few minutes later, 'Reinhardt' walks through the front door of the building.
---break for the night.
(GM Final comment. I like the plan here. I especially like how it's been continuously amended and adapted as things went on. With Reinhardt, I was hoping to create someone who came across as competent and planning, without being omniscient. Going into this, I was concerned that his stats might've been a little bit too tough, but he rolled honestly the whole time. Like I mentioned, I was hoping for Adonis' scenes to come across as quite tense. As it was, this meant for a fairly Adonis-heavy session since it took longer than I thought.
Next week is run-week. This plans to be an interesting one. )
________________________________
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?