Spoiler: Extracted from Inboxservice.Concord.net and Inboxservice.BFIndustries.com
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Recipients:
[email protected]
Sender:
[email protected]
Subject: Flake!
-unencrypted message-
Hey! Where did you go? You totally owe me a meal for helping you with your mech! I can’t find you anywhere but don’t think distance will let you get away with this! In any case, it’s pretty quiet back at Val. We should get that meal soon, get back to me ASAP!
Best regards,
Blossom
-encrypted message-
What happened the other day? Are you safe? Contact me at
[email protected]. Don’t ask how I got another email. I’ll help you if you need it, I’m guessing someone’s pissed at you since you got shot at. Tell me where you went and I’ll see if I can get you a place to stay.
Recipients:
[email protected]
Sender:
[email protected]
Subject: Yup, Total Flake
Attachments: 03012476_024147a.jpeg
Hey Asami
Bei-Fong, huh? Well, As long as it's not NRB, I'm not going to question who the heck is keeping an eye out for me. Just hope you're accessing this outside the concord network.
I'm laying low in Sung for a few Days before heading to Tir. NRB and DIS are planning a pincer maneuver to hit Tir from both sides, and DIS plans on destroying the Ra/Thor missile factory to prevent it from falling into NRB hands and to put a dent in the Bei-Fong business. I know you don't have any stake in the survival of Tir, but I could really use any back up I can get. I can't really pay you guys in credits if you decide to help out, but I'll do the whole group's repairs from now until we can't pilot mechs anymore if even just one of you guys come through. If you leave in the next 12 hours you can catch me before I shoot the tubes and run the Labyrinth to Tir. I can't really tell you where I got a map or this information. I know I'm hardly in the position to ask favors, but since you seemingly were or are a Bei-Fong employee, maybe you could inform them about the DIS part of the attack. I can only hope, however unlikely, that it might get us a few GPACs or MTs rerouted to the defense.
I've also made two major discoveries:
1) As you heard before I hijacked a VTOL and became a fugitive, Mrs. Sonnen has been replaced by a NX series based on a neural scan of her from 20 years ago. She was only installed the day before our last mission. The NX core hasn't degraded as much as most models do, and she's acting just like I expect Sonnen would be if she was kidnapped. Right now she's in a cargo compartment (I gave her a book to read so she doesn't get bored). I wish I could let her out, but she'd probably get stolen and she's my only lead I'm in a position to follow.
2) As you have not heard, someone named Daniel Torre is behind placing the NX inside Sonnen's VTOL. Or at least they told the engineers to not let anyone near it, even though it had low left engine oil pressure BEFORE I got my hands on it (now that's the least of it's worries. Sonnen's gonna be pissed). I'd look out for them, something's obviously up.
Tell the rest of the Team I'm sorry for anything I've put them through. I panicked.
Sincerely,
Herman 'Trigger' Gunther
P.S.: Speaking of the Team, I came up with a name for us. How's SONNEN’S SAVIORS sound? Other than Cheesy.
[Attached is a picture of NX-1137 glaring daggers with her single expressive eye.]
Recipients:
[email protected]
CC:
[email protected]
Sender:
[email protected]
Subject: A huge favor
-this message is flagged as urgent-
Hi Johanna,
I hope you’re well! sooo… apparently DIS is about to try to gain an upper hand on our company. I have a friend who has some inside information. Would you possibly be able to squeeze a meeting in with Corvos? I will say, he’s an interesting individual, but ultimately trustworthy. This is rather urgent because involves the attack on Tir and how we can retaliate, so please help me out! I’m getting on the next train to Sung!
Thank you!
Asami
Recipients:
[email protected]
Sender:
[email protected]
Subject: Re: A huge favor
Unfortunately, Master Corvos is in Skye City on business, and a meeting on short notice will not be possible. Given the circumstances, you may wish to visit regardless. Such matters are far too sensitive to discuss by post.
With best wishes,
Johanna Venito
At Maglev speed, it was about an hour and a half ride from Val to Sung City. This includes a stop in Arcadia, where some miscellaneous passengers filtered in and out. The Sung City Rail Station was located on the east side of town, in a "neutral ground": A district whose representative had no particular allegiance to DIS or BFI, though he was a shareholder in the Sung Rail Company.
Blossom and Thunder passed through the Customs department with little issue: Blossom was a Citizen of Sung City and the guy running Customs gave Thunder a wink and "forgot" to check his passport. The pair found a bench to sit on and catch their breath, planning their next move.
Thunder: "Alright, so what now? Who do we contact?"
Blossom: "I've scheduled a meeting with Johanna Venito, Corvos Bei Fong's top aide. Corvos himself is in Skye City right now, but she'll have the authority to move resources for us if we can convince her."
Thunder: "And how do we intend to do that?"
Blossom: "Trigger's got our evidence. We'll need to pick him up first."
Trigger didn't write down his specific location in his correspondence, but Blossom had enough local knowledge to track him down: Dropping by the a bank of payphones near the Rail Station, she placed a quick call to the Sung City Transit Department. A few choice namedrops later, she learned that Bay 03 on the East side was rented out to a Trigger. It wasn't far; the eastern entrance to the city was in the same district as the Rail Station.
They found the place on foot in minutes. The mechbays on the east side were arranged around a central area not totally unlike an airport terminal, with a lot of people moving about at any given time. Blossom and Thunder made their way to Bay 03. The door was locked and password-protected, so they knocked.
Blossom: "Trigger, open up, it's us and we have an appointment. Tardiness is not acceptable in Bei Fong Industries."
Trigger promptly threw the hangar door open, brusquely saluting the pair.
Trigger: "Hey, great to see you guys again. Figured you would have abandoned me after that last stunt. How long do we have until the meeting? there's something really important I need to show you."
Thunder: "ASAP. How important is it?"
Blossom (gruffly): "...Just show us."
Trigger: "Beyond important. Come on in, there's someone you need to meet. 1-1-3-Sonnen, we have guests!"
Blossom: "Wait...is this why you're in hot water? You dragged her with you?!"
Trigger: "...Yes..."
Blossom (facepalming): "Ugh, this is a mess."
Trigger: "Sometimes a cause is more important than a clean slate."
Blossom: "...I need to know everything. We're appealing to Bei Fong to help out Tir and we need to figure out what to tell them."
Trigger: "Well, you already know Sonnen was replaced by an AI core. Just thought you'd like to meet her in person."
Blossom (sarcastic): "Okay, hello Sonnen. Has Trigger kidnapped you?"
NX-1137: "Yes. I am not sure what other answer you were expecting."
Blossom: "Right then, we need to figure out what to do. I'd like to help you but we're in a bit of a hurry. Do you mind waiting a bit?"
NX-1137: (indignant) "Of course I mind! I'm a hostage!"
Blossom: "How rude, I was planning on taking you home but we need to try to save some lives first. I'm sure you can understand that you're safe now that the sane people have arrived. You can be cooperative, I'm not necessarily on anyone's side and I'm rather preferring to make right of the situation. Please consider how indignant you'd like to be."
Spoiler: Whispered Side Conversation
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Trigger (whispering to Thunder): "I think she's testing if Stockholm Syndrome's set in yet... I dont think robots can get Stockholm Syndrome."
Thunder (whispering back to Trigger): "What do you plan on doing with her?"
Trigger: "Well I was hoping you could ask her questions or something since you're... you know, not someone whose interrogation methods involve a sledgehammer..."
Thunder raised an eyebrow.
Trigger: "Or maybe you are if you work for Bei Fong."
Blossom (to Trigger): "Hush! You're being rude too!"
NX-1137 was quiet for a long moment.
NX-1137: (Suddenly cold, audibly sneering) "I am exactly as indignant as my situation warrants. I have been manhandled, taken against my will, and forced to tolerate the company of this lunatic for nearly a day now."
Blossom (adding pressure): "You know, suddenly I don't feel nearly so sympathetic. While I'll agree that Trigger is insane, you should reconsider your situation now that I'm in charge. Sassiness can only get you so far."
NX-1137: (Losing a bit of edge) "Your carrot is basic decency. Do you think I've never seen a good cop routine before?"
She paused.
NX-1137: (Exasperated) "Fine. I'll play along, since I'm at your mercy. What do you want?"
Blossom: "I want your trust for now, or at least your patience. I'll get you back to Val City as soon as I can, but I have some other business here. If it reassures you to know it, Trigger WILL be punished."
Blossom (to everyone): "If Miss Sonnen is willing, I'd like to take her to my personal residence in Sung before we meet with the Bei Fong representatives."
NX-1137: (Resigned) "I can't imagine it's worse than being left with this brute."
Blossom: "Any questions, or shall we be off?"
Thunder: "Nope. Let's go."
Trigger: "We should be off. Just make sure she's safe, she's our only lead."
Blossom: "I have an apartment out here for my visits. She can reside on a pillow desk, or the couch, or wherever."
NX-1137: (Sarcastic) "This day has been perfect."
---
They hailed a cab easily enough, and traveled to a little safehouse Blossom had prepped months ago for exactly these sorts of situations. It was well-furnished with fine synth-wood, though it could certainly do with a little decoration. Blossom caught Trigger wringing his fingers. She knew that tell.
Blossom (Sighing): "What is it now?"
Trigger: "Er... I know Bei Fong already knows... but I accidentally murdered an Iron Clan Assassin who attacked my escort... sorry about that."
((OOC Note: Blossom's player literally facepalms.))
Blossom (groaning into her hand): "We'll figure something out. We're meeting with a Bei Fong rep...damn it, Trigger. Just...damn it."
Trigger: "I know, just thought I should come clean about that. Because I'm apparently the worst at laying low."
Blossom: "Right, so the Bei Fongs like to be sure their sources are credible. How do you know that Tir is being attacked by DIS?"
Trigger: "I can't say. The meeting where I learned it never happened. But it's on the Concord boards, so Let's just say Drake has a mole."
Blossom (staring in disbelief): "Please consider whether your 'nonexistent' meeting is more inportant than getting reinforcements to help Tir City."
Trigger: "Yes, a mole. Hold on... would you mind disconnecting everything in the room with a land line?"
Blossom (motioning around the safehouse, as if to point out that it was designed for exactly that sort of security): "Done."
Trigger: "They're high up in Kind Red. You might remember that they have an interest in us for whatever reason."
Blossom (caught off-guard): "Luna? Jill Luna asked you for help?!"
Trigger: "Legally... no. Friend to friend? Yes."
Blossom: "None of this is legal, we're playing Bei Fong rules."
She paused.
Blossom: "Well, I suppose I can back up your source's credibility without disclosing names."
Trigger: "Thank you, Blossom."
Blossom: "Right, let's go see Ms. Venito. She's lovely, but hates be kept waiting."
Trigger (suspiciously): "So... how'd you get a meeting scheduled so fast? I know that Ra/Thor is important and all, but you didn't have any proof."
Blossom: "I called in a favor. Ms. Venito works personally for Corvos Bei Fong and should be able to help us out."
Trigger: "Who's Corvos? Other than being, y'know, a Bei Fong. Obviously."
Blossom: "Unofficially? He might as well be CEO of Bei Fong Industries. He's mostly involved with the law-abiding side of the business. Personally, I think he's a bit of a cad."
Trigger: "I thought Tiberius Bei-Fong was CEO? Then again, I'm not a Bei-Fong employee."
Blossom: "D-Tiberius can't handle everything on his own, and Corvos is practically the heir."
Asami caught herself quickly; it was little more than a stutter. Trigger caught a hint of hesitation but nothing more detailed than that.
Trigger (pressing): "So... how do you know all this stuff? How high up are you?"
Blossom: "Well, I'm not actually a Bei Fong employee, and I don't have any sort of title. So you could say I've run into a bit of luck."
Trigger (assuming she's involved in Sung High Society): "Ah, socialite, are we? Anyways, we don't want to keep them waiting..."
Blossom: "Right, well then Thunder, ready to go?"
Thunder (bored on couch): "Yes."
Trigger: "I should leave my AMR here, huh?"
Blossom: "Do try to look presentable."
Trigger disarmed, grumbling, leaving behind his armor and weapons. He slipped his cannibalized Five-seveN into his jeans, though. Thunder set down his own SMG. No need to start a fight by showing up to a meeting bristling with guns.
---
(Musical Suggestion)
It was a short cab ride to Bei Fong HQ. The place was once a hotel about half a century ago, but was acquired by Titus Bei Fong and converted into a base of operations when the Syndicate opened its most grandiose front. The cabbie let them off next to a little green coin-operated newspaper stand. Today's Sung City Caller front page headline was "Kri City Liberation Front attempts bombing in Downtown Sung." Trigger couldn't help but grin at that
Following Blossom's lead, the trio walked in through the front door. Bei Fong Industries Headquarters was once a hotel, and while it had since undergone extensive renovations the lobby retained a distinctive look of opulence belying its origins. Crystalline chandeliers ensured the room remained well-lit, and the flooring was either pure marble or masterfully mimicking it. A number of security guards lurked in the corners of the room unobtrusively, but most of the people moving about appeared to be personnel coming and going from their shifts. Conspicuously missing was Ms. Venito from her desk by the penthouse elevator.
Blossom: "What..."
Trigger: "Is something wrong, Blossom?"
Looking around frantically for any sign of her, Blossom managed to spot Johanna on the far side of the room, exiting a different elevator from one of the upper floors. She looked like she was taking a deep breath. Trigger and Thunder's eyes, meanwhile, fell somewhere very different: The guards. Usually, the guards kept out here in the lobby were just people wearing clothes and carrying a pistol. The guards posted today were...not those guards. These guards wore simple greenish ceramic-reinforced suits of combat armor, which weren't terribly bulky but did hide most details of their forms. They were also armed with Model 84 Assault Rifles. They didn't have long to consider it, as Johanna quickly put on her business face and approached.
Johanna: "Blossom! There you are."
Johanna Venito was a tall, fair-skinned brunette woman with glasses, freckles, and a slightly hooked nose. She wore a waistcoat over a pinstriped blouse with a tie, as well as a gray pencil skirt and flats (more rarely seen since she's usually at a desk).
Blossom: "Johanna! How are you?! Shall we confer in Corvos' office? I'm sure he won't mind! Oh, and these are my friends, Trigger and Thunder."
Johanna: "Oh, I'm doing well, thank you for asking." (Nodding to Trigger and Thunder in turn) "Pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Thunder: "Nice to meet you too."
Trigger: "A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Venito, I presume?"
Johanna: "In the flesh. My apologies, but I need to confer with your compatriot in private. It's a matter of some urgency."
Trigger and Thunder reluctantly nodded, with Trigger even throwing in a little salute as they shared a glance. Johanna turned her gaze to Blossom, who quickly nodded herself.
Blossom: "Of course."
Johanna (gesturing to one of the green-armored Guards): "The penthouse will do, and I must apologize again for the inconvenience. Mr. Jong-Soo, would you please show these two to the break room? We may be a bit and I wouldn't want you to starve."
Mr. Jong-Soo: "Can do."
Blossom (uneasy): "Sounds good. Behave, you two."
Johanna smiled, and punched in the code to call the penthouse elevator. Meanwhile, the guard that Johanna addressed as Jong-Soo waved over another guard named Galimberti to lead Thunder and Trigger toward one of the other elevators. While Jong-Soo waited for the elevator, Galimberti started to lean into Thunder's personal space, just a little.
Galimberti (whispering to Thunder): "Hey, I know your face. You used to run in New Rhodes, yeah?"
Galimberti's voice was unmistakably feminine. It's very form-concealing armor. Thunder couldn't place it immediately, though it sounded vaguely familiar. After a few more moments, it hit him: Irina Galimberti, a Bei Fong Syndicate Enforcer. Normally her job is more taking sledgehammers to kneecaps when people don't pay protection money than corporate security though. That...bode ill.
Thunder: "I did, and I was one of the best too. You used to do work in New Rhodes too, right?"
Galimberti: "I thought you looked familiar! Yeah, back in the day. New Rhodes cracked down, a lot of us got shipped back to Sung. Some by train, some by body bag. More than one reason they called us Gravers, eh?"
The elevator opened and Jong-Soo stepped in, motioning for the others to follow. Trigger was the first to step in, listening to the conversation quietly.
Thunder: "Yeah, them's the breaks. Then got my hands on an AC."
Galimberti (following, somewhat enthusiastic) "You don't say? Man, that must have been a score. Those things aren't cheap."
Jong-Soo merely shook his head and hit a button. It was a fairly roomy elevator, at least.
Thunder: "Like you wouldn't believe. I ain't bad with making deals for myself."
Trigger: "Heh, tell me about it. Took a year of Muscle Tracer contracts to save up for one."
Galimberti looked a little startled when Trigger chimed in, like she forgot he was there. Trigger merely waved.
Galimberti (embarrassed) "Heh, maybe we shouldn't be talkin' about old times in mixed company."
Trigger: "Hey, I admire the balls you Gravers got. I'm from Tir, and we'd be dead to rights without you. Should've told me you worked the graveshift, Thunder. I'd've paid for more of your drinks."
Jong-Soo: "The living should take care to hear little of grave words, lest they find themselves buried."
That sounded suspiciously like a threat. Jong-Soo has a very deep, very intimidating voice. It's no wonder he didn't speak much. It would frighten children. Trigger quickly nodded and shut up. "Yes sir."
The elevator opened, and another pair of guards wordlessly entered. Galimberti simply asked, "Break Room?" and both nodded. It's getting a little cramped now. Galimberti audibly gulped in response to Jong-Soo's stare, and quietly asked Thunder if he would like to get a drink.
Galimberti: "You know, when we get there. Hate this slow-ass elevator..."
Thunder: "Yeah, I'll always take a drink, maybe reminisce a bit. Don't get to talk about the old days much."
Thunder and Trigger both caught that the guards who just entered weren't carrying M84s. Trigger spotted a little black gadget hidden on both of their belts: Something he managed to identify as a SpiralTech-made Stun Gun - one specialized for taking down cyborgs, though fairly effective against fleshy targets as well.
Trigger: "Huh, thought Bei Fong used sponge grenades and beanbag rounds for non-lethals..."
The two guards looked at each other.
Left Guard: (Jokingly) "Why, Mr. Katz, why didn't we think of that?"
Katz: (Outright silly) "I don't know, Ms. Volkov. We are the worst spies."
Then they broke out in gales of laughter. Jong-Soo was not amused...but Galimberti was. That's about when the elevator door opened, revealing a deserted hotel continental breakfast hall. Galimberti all but tried to drag Thunder out.
Galimberti: "Come on, I'll show you where the bar is."
There was a twinge of anticipation and nervousness in her voice. Thunder looked back at the other three guards a moment, nodded, and followed. Neither Trigger nor Thunder saw Jong-Soo move until it was too late. With practiced ease, as soon as Thunder and Galimberti were out, the elevator doors closed...because Jong-Soo pressed the button. Volkov and Katz lunged, pinning Trigger to the back wall with their stun guns.
Katz: (Spitting) "They're for dirty spies, that's what!"
Trigger was out cold before he hit the ground.
---
Thunder (confused): "Where is everyone else going?"
Galimberti: (Apologetic) "Sorry, I couldn't say anything with him right there."
Thunder (dreading): "...What?"
Galimberti: "Ms. Venito wanted us to deal with the spy. I was just expecting an enemy agent, not you too."
Thunder (laughing slightly): "Spy? Trigger isn't a spy"
Galimberti: (Still apologetic) "Intelligence says he's a Drake Sleeper Agent. I'm...not actually supposed to be telling you this and the usual policy is to clear witnesses too, but it didn't seem right with you."
To be continued.
Re: Hot Mech-on-Mech Action: A Campaign Journal
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