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Post by Brian on Dec 14, 2022 2:06:23 GMT
Time being relative....its some time after Brian and Cody last met for the play....but before Brian walked his first steps upon the soil of Kolvir.
The place in Shadow was one where the tech was relatively high. Techboys a plenty going to rob a Bank. And this Bank is the sort of place where one would go if they have to convert "Ancient Money" to "Creds"
In line at the bank is a tall man with a Red mohawk. On his shoulder is an Unmistakable white Raven.
"I'm a Therapy Raven." Hal says....Brian seem annoyed at this turn of events.
The Bank is in the center of what would be called a galleria in the Earth that Brian knew well. And the galleria is in the center of well....an O'Neil Cylinder.....something Brian knew about in Books. The
O'Neil Cylinder of course is floating in space....which is very big.
Outside the Bank groups of men begin to form. They are here to break into the bank....so they can access the Bank's network from behind the firewall.
The unmistakable sound of slug fire rounds attacks the outside of the building. The common decent folks inside react as anyone unexperienced to the sound of gunfire would. Brian takes a tactical position with the Banker.
He takes a few moments to try to figure out how he can exit this situation with minimal casualties.
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Dec 14, 2022 19:08:53 GMT
Cody has been forced onto a sabbatical. ~Forced~ is a strong word but it fits. There are always points in Seminary that the Initiates are to take leave for reflection before rejoining their studies and claiming their faith in entirety. Times to reflect and consider other paths.
On other breaks Cody always returns to DaggarWays and his normal pass-times: Searching the Abyss and serving at Sheltering Coils. Occasionally getting together with Pit Divers and others to jam musically at local venues.
Cody has reached a point in his studies where he is being tutored by Lord Suhuy on the ways of the Logrus and Shadows. Lord Suhuy himself has ordered Cody to take another sabbatical outside the Courts to put some time and distance between himself and his studies.
Cody decided to take the opportunity to return home to Station. The place is the same but feels different. Eerie. Not as much time has passed on Station as in the Courts, and Cody had to put a lot of time and effort into his ShapeChange to restore himself to the way he looked before he left there. Making himself look younger, erasing many scares and forming the cyber-ports on his wrist and ankle to replace the ones that had been torn out. That's the hardest part of the ShapeShift: Replicating the implants and making them functional. When Cody was told to take Sabbatical outside the Courts, it took weeks of failed attempts and a lot of effort to form the Cyber-Ports and even longer to make them functional. In one way it would have been easier to have just gone to Station and had the surgeons replace the Cyber-Ports, but it would have been much more difficult to explain how he had lost them.
Back on Station, after the initial period of awkwardness and catching up, Cody was able to fall into his old life and was really enjoying it. Fooling himself and his Creche-Mates that M-Unit was just out Piloting in the Flux instead of being lost in the Abyss. Everything was back to ~Normal~.
Cody and his cohort graduate with honours and are immediately assigned to crew a large freight convoy through the Flux. Cody taking position as Sub-Chief Engineer on the 'Beluga Missile' Trans-Flux-Heavy.
Docked in the Circus the crew hand 'Beluga Missile' over to the hostlers and longshoremen and head ~ashore~ for some R&R in the O'Neill Cylinder. The Grand Way leads into the Galleria, which leads to the Interchange Bank. The first spot for the crew to hit before a night on the town. Fresh pay burning holes in their satchels. A rowdy bunch of spacers dressed in turquoise flight suits.
"Alright gang, time to convert our Ducats to Drachmas!" Cody calls out to his Creche-Mates as they join the queue for the cashmatics.
Up ahead in the line, Cody sees a big man with a bigger Red mohawk and hears, "I'm a Therapy Raven." Which makes Cody laugh.
Before Cody has a chance to call out, "Hal!" He hears the slug-fire.
Fight or Flight?!
The crew are trained to deal with Pirate incursions and take cover together in an alcove near the entrance to the Bank. Pulling trash cans and tables to form a barricade around themselves as they assess the situation. They grab a few other patrons that they can reach and bring them into the improvised shelter.
Several of the Robbers enter the Bank as the alarms sound and the barricades drop. Trapping the Robbers, Bankers and many panicked patrons inside. The rest of the Robber Gang form a garrison around the outside of the Bank to thwart any law enforcement and work to breach the gate to aid their compatriots exit.
"These guys aren't subtle at all. Looks like they're ready to take hostages.. Or die." Cody says softly. "It'll be damned painful to get shot, but these new flight suits will keep our bodily fluids from spilling..." Cody is thankful he has collected enough Arachniform Silk to make the new suits for himself and his Creche-Mates. "We'll protect these folks and hope for an opening."
Cody sees Brian has taken the Bank Manager and some Tellers and barricaded them in an office. One of the Robbers has fired slugs into the loudspeakers to silence the alarm. Everyone, face down on the floor! Now! A pair of Robbers train their guns on Cody's location. No getting any fancy ~Ideas~ back there. Which is exactly what Cody plans to do when he gets a chance.
A couple of the Robbers take command of a couple of Computer Terminals and begin connecting their own hardware to the system. Cody recognizes that they're not after the physical currency. They're trying to crack into the currency mainframe.
This just got interesting...
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Post by Brian on Dec 14, 2022 23:05:00 GMT
I notice Cody for a split second.....before things went to Bedlam.
I look to the Manager and employees and look back to Hal.
"You were right....I needed to get one of the slug throwers. I wasn't expecting "
I look towards the manager " I am sure they give you countermeasures here." The manager nodded and handed him a small silvery disk. He spent a moment reviewing with that manager how it worked before exiting the room. The "Edgerunning" Crew turned to look at him from the office.
"Good evening. My name is Brian Kane. You are in luck.....I am here to negotiate your peaceful surrender and exit from the building."
One of them is stupid enough to come upon Brian. He headbutts him with authority and onto the floor. Picking up the man's slug thrower while holding the counter measures device in his hand.
"I've been told being hit by a plasteen foam pellet can be extremely painful. Your options are to walk out of here....leave.....if no money is taken the bank won't investigate this any further. If you continue to poke inside the bank's computer networks however they will respond aggressively. We knew you would be coming here and we are already prepared to respond firmly if we need to."
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Dec 15, 2022 19:24:55 GMT
<OOC> Well... If you already have the nuclear codes, why do you need me? </OOC>
As Brian reads the riot act, the gang outside have attached plastics to the gate.
Cody and his Creche-Mates are sheltering several Bank Patrons behind some overturned furniture near the entrance.
"Turn your backs to the doorway, they're going to blast the gate." Cody advises everyone.
With everyone's eyes averted, Cody takes the opportunity to summon a small Rift. Reaching into the Rift, a pair of super-charged plasma jets are projected out the other side and stretch across to the nearest Robber and slap the weapon out of his hand. Touching the man's forehead, he gasps and falls to the floor.
Just then the plastics explode, shattering glassteel and tear open the security gate.
Cody quickly reaches around with the plasma jets and renders several more Robbers unconscious. The smell of smoke and ozone fills the air.
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Post by Brian on Dec 16, 2022 1:56:02 GMT
OOC: Because the Robbers are the distration....OBVIOUSLY
I pop the defensive systems. Wounding several of the robbers on the inside. A few punches and hitting with the but of the gun add in to Cody and his team helping with the Gang in the bank. Brian picks up the Hacker. The Hacker looks at the strange man with genuine fear as the Raven licks its lips staring into his eye.
"Its not the mainframe.....they would track our access from here....no way we would be able to get out alive. But you won't be able to find out who did this."
The manager speaks up....now resuming control of the situation looking at Brian, Cody, and his Crew: "I can get you boys paid if you want to go after who set this up?"
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Dec 16, 2022 3:10:48 GMT
Several of the Robbers outside run in to reinforce their compatriots. They don't make it very far before Cody dispatches them.
The rest of them, outside, disburse.
Cody closes the rift.
"Looks like the worst is over. For now."
Cody's Creche-mates push out the barricade and help the Patrons get up and out as the local constabulary starts to arrive on scene.
Alarms are sounding throughout the Galleria and there is smoke and flames in several other areas outside the Bank.
Cody leads his crew over to Brian and the Bank Manager. Nodding to them, "Hello Hal, Brian... Sir." In order of seniority, of course. 🤪
Capable of 'thought-speak' (Telepathy through cybernetic link.) The Baluga Crew have already discussed the situation.
'Boys?' Most of the crew is female... Manager needs optical enhancements.
"Short of killing anyone, but willing to die for their cause? Sounds more like fanaticism leading to terrorism. The crew are at your disposal to help sort this out. Terry and Gene are our wonks. They can help with the digital issues. Weed out what they were doing on the terminals."
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Post by Brian on Dec 16, 2022 4:56:07 GMT
I nod to the manager.
The manager looks at the Crew and Brian.
"There is only one other place that has access to the network with a secure Datalink. The people who build the cylinder hid it in another location." he handed Cody a Data pad. It points towards....the Holo Arcade.
Brian evaluates Cody's crew for a moment. "Should I worry we always find trouble when we are together?"
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Dec 16, 2022 17:14:03 GMT
Cody laughs, "What trouble? We don't create trouble, we fix it. As I recall, when we first met, we ended a war and saved a kid. The other time I fell out of a rift while wrestling an Arachniform. There was some property damage but the theatre audience loved the action and I was forgiven by the management. We had a nice peaceful evening after that..."
"By the way, how is Wolfram? And your Lady-Wife?" Cody pulls some jerky out of his pocket and offers it to Hal. "In the family way, yet?"
Looking at the Data Pad Cody comments to the Manager, "Weird setup you have here. Sloppy or paranoid? Or, did you have the AI design itself? I'm guessing the last one. Which means that the Holoprojectors are beaming mass into the forms to give full feelie."
To Brian, "This isn't good. We won't just be walking into a light show. If the terrorists have any control over the Central Core, the Holos will be hostile and possibly lethal."
Looking at his crew, "Maybe Terry and the others should stay here to work on things from this end and help clean up. Captain Jessop and Gene should come with us to the Holo Arcade."
All of Cody's crew are female. The flight suits are more functional than flattering and they all have shaved heads, so they are mostly androgynous at first glance. Cody is the odd one out with his long hair, currently tied in a tight man-bun to expose the cyber-ports on his temples and the nape of his neck. Jessop is the shortest, and curviest while Gene is very tall and slender.
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Post by Brian on Dec 16, 2022 22:50:49 GMT
"She is likely well." I look at Cody's crew and think a moment "Its been a couple of weeks for me....How long was that for you."
The Manager shakes his head "Each Holo Arcade pod has its own AI. Full Solid Light holograms."
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Dec 17, 2022 3:15:30 GMT
"Time? In the Abyss? Subjectively, a few dozen turnings in the Courts, a quarter orbit back on Station and a few days in Flux. So add that up and translate it into a planetary cycle... Roughly six of your months. Maybe eight. You have to factor in some elasticity. I try not to think about these things."
Socializing aside, Cody looks at the Manager. "Multiple Pods. Good. The redundancy will help. Hopefully we can get to one that hasn't been corrupted yet."
"Let's go."
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Post by Brian on Dec 18, 2022 5:47:52 GMT
I give Cody a fist bump and make a way with Cody and his crew to raid the Holo Arcade.
The Gang members seeing the forces making their way out falls back and doesn't make an effort to stop them.
The Holo Arcade is sort of a haunted house...the flickering of lights. The eerie music and sounds. The moaning and wheezing noises came from inside.Along with the sound of a mall santa-like figure robot that was half crumpled over
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Dec 19, 2022 1:57:32 GMT
"This place looks pretty crusty even without the terrorist threat."
Jessup pulls on Cody's arm, "C'mon Rat, you realize we're walking into a trap. Right?"
Gene is more interested in Brian's biceps.
"Of course it's a trap. But this Rat knows how to get out of 'em." Cody replies, thumping his chest.
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Post by Brian on Dec 19, 2022 3:16:37 GMT
I turn to Cody "So how do you want to take it?"
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Dec 22, 2022 0:19:35 GMT
"They want us to walk in the front door. They think they've already won. They weren't expecting us."
"No sense wasting time looking for the back door or sneaking around. Let's just get in there and clean up their mess."
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Post by Brian on Dec 28, 2022 0:05:54 GMT
As the Squad plus Brian enters a familiar song starts to play. An ominous tone fills the Arcade. Doors are sliding open and closed in rapid succession. Inhuman and guttural noises emanate from the various pods.
"Left side or Right side?" I ask Cody
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