((I've been working on assignments all day that one of my professors was kind enough to make due at the end of spring break. Sorry there hasn't been much in the way of updates these last two days.))
Valkyrie: [B]6[/B] x (No Feat Applicable) = [B]6 DMG[/B]
Val kicked the mobster, who had shielded his head at the last moment to take the impact in his upper arm and shoulder. It did little to deter him from continuing his crawl, although it did slow him down briefly. He was in no position to strike back. Valkyrie was becoming nervous- at any moment, someone might come into the restroom and find her in a compromising position.
---
Yuga:
CH Estimate: 1/2
[B]Actual: 1[/B]
Roll Failed.
Yuga searched the thoughts of all the well-dressed mobsters nearby, hoping to catch one thinking about the race. Unfortunately, even if one of them had connections to the rigging of the race, none had the event on their minds. Yuga concentrated harder, reviewing their memories in an effort to find a common theme... Many names surfaced, most of which were probably unrelated. They included Lebedz, Bledsoe, Schafer, De'Valga, Farcau, Jackson, and Sadri. Connections proved cryptic and multiple meanings and impulses followed each piece of information. Without being able to find a concrete link between the names and the mysterious bet, Yuga was left frustrated. Someone knows something... who is it?
Bucky:
CH Estimate: 1/5
[B]Actual: 2, 1, 5[/B]
Roll Passed (Multitasking).
Using vision beyond natural eyesight, Bucky was able to accomplish what Yuga wasn't able to. Scanning the room with lightning speed, Bucky was able to identify a pattern in the clothing of all the present Mafia men: all except for one were wearing ties in the four-in-hand knot, with the exception wearing a Windsor knot. That same exception was wearing a three-piece suit and a ring on one of his fingers. Zooming in on this ring and analyzing, Bucky noted an emblem containing a pistol, knife, and eye within a triangle, perhaps the classical "eye of providence." If anyone in this room was in charge, it was clearly this man.
---
((Blorgy, your post involving Hariim is a bit confusing because the event isn't set to start for another two days in-game. We can assume that his hacking of the surveillance systems is a preparatory measure. You can also roll to watch for something in particular, if you like.))
[Sorry, I guess the preparatory measure idea works well.]
Bucky nudges Yuga discreetly, and tells her about the man in charge. "Look over there, the man in the three-piece. He's in charge. Look at the ring too, what do you think it means?"
She focuses on the man's ring, and dips into her internal databases and searches the internal networks in an attempt to figure out what the ring's iconography might represent or refer too. She also takes a snapshot of the man's face with her eyes, and searches him too. [Roll for figuring out the meaning of the ring with available info, and also roll to look for history on the man.]
Damn, this needed to end and [I]NOW[/I]. Valkyrie looked around the bathroom, looking for something to hit the mobster with to make him stop. Wait, she still had her knife. She looked at the knife, then the mobster. Fuck, she was going to have to stab him if she couldn't get him to stop. She moves around, and prepares to drag the mobster back to the stall. If she can.
...
Taylor shifted in her stance, as Yuga and Bucky looked about. She then leaned in and whispered to Yuga. "I'll be right back. Bathroom." she said, before turning and heading past the doorman back out into the club. They seemed to have it covered, so she could go relieve herself in peace. She strolled across the club, passing various patrons, before arriving at the unisex bathroom. What she found when she stepped in had become a pretty common sight for her. "For fuck's sake..." muttered Taylor, as she looked down at the man attempting to crawl his way out. Valkyrie cut her a look. "Help me with this idiot!" she said. Taylor sighed loudly, before stepping over and attempting to kick the man in the face.
Maddox roared and tossed several tools across the room as the holoscreen showed a newsreport from Novithus, his home, regarding a Divinity Creed siege.
-----
Vakarus silently looked out from the bridge window while sipping his tea.
[Heading to bed for the night.]
[Also heading to bed for tonight. Will be back on in about 12 hours]
Frosty docked on top of the Muramasa, and climbed down inside it. He had prepared a report detailing everything he had seen at the stadium. He ran to the bridge to see if there was anyone he could report it to.
There was yelling and loud noises coming from the armory. Frosty decided [I]not [/I]to head in that direction.
"Greetings, Frozen-one." Said Vakarus as Frosty entered the bridge.
He was now sitting at the gunner console, next to him was a small plate with two metal cups and one transparent jug.
Vakarus pointed at it. "Tea?"
"Ooh, yes! Thank you."
Frosty poured himself some tea into a cup, and started to drink it.
"So I did some reconissance work around the stadium, and I managed to discover something [i]very[/i] interesting. Where are the others, by the way? I'm very certain the boss would love to hear my report."
"They too are scouting our area of operation." Vakarus took a sip.
"What do you think of the tea? It is from my homeworld of Adanis."
"It has a perfect balance of sweetness and sharpness to it, I must say."
Frosty tea cup sippy count: 2
"Still, do you think it would be a bad idea to call all of them on comms? I worry some of them are rather busy doing scouting operations as you said, and it would be rude to interrupt. Though what I learned is rather important. It has to do with four racers I saw on the track driving rather aggressively."
"I will do as you wish, Frozen-one." Said Vakarus with a nod.
He tapped on his console and opened up a secure channel.
"Yanim'atvan! What is your current status and whereabouts?
Yuga viewed the man Bucky was referring to. He certainly looked like would be in charge.
Yuga looked over his memories to find leverage that she could use in a confrontation with him.
The person in question, Philip Grundar, local supervisor for the Mafia. Answers to Ksenia Bolgan, Vice president at the Khrosus Industrial Inc. subsidiary on Prospera.
Additionally, both Philip and Ksenia knew of a high ranking, shadowy member in the mafia know to them as [I]Donatello[/I].
Yuga had now formulated a plan. Bucky would remain seated and Taylor was away. Yuga would arrogantly walk over to Philip's table and sit down. When confronted she would tell him that she was there on business on behalf of Donatello to assure that everything was in place for the race.
He was supposed to be sitting with a Mr. Pyer, who seemed to be using the bathroom.
She opened up the compass to see both Taylor and Valkyrie being occupied in the bathroom.
Perhaps they had engaged Pyer there. This could contribute to her chances of success.
Yuga walked over to Philips with János as her a menacing bodyguard.
As she sat down, Philip looked up from this tablet and frowned.
"I'm afraid that seat is taken" he spoke, calmly.
Yuga narrowed her eyes while eyeing Philip, "On the contrary, this set has just been made free. Mr. Pyer will not be needing it anymore."
A confused look on his face soon turned into a expression of minuscule paranoia, he looked at both Yuga and János but before he could ask anything Yuga spoke up.
"Mr Pyer's actions of late have not lived up to my benefactors standards, and as such he has been... [I]reassigned[/I]."
Philip was getting somewhat noticeably distressed, but remained collected.
"And why does this concern me?" Philip asked firmly.
Yuga squinted her eyes and took out her compass, which she placed in front of Philip with the racer listing open.
"My benefactor has invested quite a sum into this operation. He also dislikes doing detective work and prefers to have a list of names in case things do not go as planed and if certain peoples position within the organization and physical health need to be evaluated."
Philip kept a stoneface to conceal his current state of mind, but it was useless now. Yuga had already read it to act out how Donatello usually would conduct his business, and Philip Grundar was none the wiser.
He looked at the list of racers and at a sum of 100.000 credits entered into the betting field.
"To complete the list I need a few names, names which I am sure you can present to me" she explained and gestured to the compass' holoscreen.
Philip inspected both the holoscreen and Yuga.
((Gonna use the 100% persuasion roll here.))
Philip raised his finger and was about to input the name or names of the racers involved.
Yuga made a final input to seal the deal, "And please, Mr Grundar. My benefactor does not take kindly to people wasting his money."
((Didn't feel like playin any games before going to slowsurf on my tab in bed so I did some photoshopping, which I haven't done in a while. Got keep those hobby graphic design skills from deteriorating. In short, yes, I made this.))
(( I endorse this ))
((Nice logo, Radley. I'm probably going to add it to the OP sometime tonight, if that's alright with you.))
[quote]Yanim'atvan! What is your current status and whereabouts?[/quote]
"We're just outside the ship, Vakarus," Yanim answered. "I've brought back another recruit, by the name of Sledge. We're going to enter his biometrics into the ship's security system, and then he's apparently going to go look for his pet. He's been... incapacitated for some time."
---
Valkyrie grabbed hold of the mobster and tried to drag him back, but his body was heavier than hers by a significant margin. She needed to force him into cooperation, and so she held her knife to his throat.
CH Estimate: 7/10
[B]Actual: 9[/B]
Roll Passed.
The Mafioso finally realized that he wasn't going to escape from the restroom. His only hope was that someone would arrive through the door and save him, so that he wouldn't divulge his critical knowledge of the race. The door opened, and Taylor entered.
"For fuck's sake," she complained.
"Help me with this idiot," Val demanded. Taylor sighed, and reared back to kick the mobster in the face. At the last moment, Val released her grip, preventing Taylor from kicking her in her knife hand.
Taylor: [B]9[/B] x Versatility(CH1/4, 1, Failed, x1) = [B]9 DMG[/B]
The boot to the forehead was enough to knock the man out cold. Whatever information they would have gleaned from him was now locked away behind a lead curtain of brain trauma.
[B]Enemy Neutralized.[/B]
---
Meanwhile, in the VIP room...
Bucky:
CH Estimate: 9/10
[B]Actual: 5[/B]
Roll Passed.
CH Estimate: 2/5
[B]Actual: 3[/B]
Roll Failed.
Bucky searched for information regarding the ring's emblem and was immediately greeted by a simple and effective explanation. The three items, the pistol, the knife, and the eye, were a reference to a Mafia tradition which originated on Terra at least five centuries prior. Inductees to the crime family would be made to swear a blood oath after being presented with a pistol, knife, and picture of a saint; their blood having been smeared onto the picture, the handler would then light it on fire. Those who betrayed the Mafia would burn like the saint- so the warning goes. Given the difficulty of translating a saintly image onto such a small surface, the ring on Philip's finger was graced with the Eye of Providence, implying God's watchful presence in the world of man. Should the Mafioso betray his brethren, judgement would follow.
Philip himself was more mysterious. Although his face was found in a database of mugshots dating from a minor arrest six years prior (for suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, although the charge was quickly dropped,) Philip was something of a man from nowhere. He was listed as being on the board of trustees for an obscure financial institution, but that was all. From the lack of information, Bucky could only conclude that Philip was a man of little public presence, and was probably tight-lipped about his work. It would take an extraordinary liar to convince him to speak.
Luckily, Yuga was on hand.
CH Estimate: 1/1 (Suggestion)
"...And please, Mr. Grundar. My benefactor does not take kindly to people wasting his money," Yuga said at the end of a short speech which set the well-dressed Mafioso on edge.
Sighing for a moment, he looked into the distance. [I]Dammit, Pyer... I should have handled this job from the beginning.[/I] As soon as Yuga heard this thought echo through Philip's mind, she knew she had hooked him and that he would divulge the information she wanted. As he punched a set of names into the device, he spoke in a low, frustrated yet restrained rasp, "Bolgan advised me of the overruns last night over a plate of Orecchiette... Pyer was due for an earnest explanation, but I'll be more than willing to provide additional assurance to Donatello that I don't take our family's investments lightly..." He placed his hand on the table next to the compass.
Yuga snapped the compass closed. "Let us hope so," she replied, before standing.
"Arrivederci, sorella." As Yuga and her silent companion János walked away, Philip was alarmed to not hear a response. In truth, Yuga was simply unsure of what Philip had just said, but nonetheless, it convinced him that he had very truly fucked up. As the duo reconvened with Bucky, Philip could be seen dabbing his forehead with a cloth napkin and downing a glass of Marsala.
According to the information Philip provided, Pyer had been eager to please the higher ups, and had begged for responsibility over the ground-level operations of rigging the race. Money flowed from Bolgan, through Grundar, and onto Pyer, who then bribed individuals involved with oversight, security, and raceway maintenance. Additional payments went out to low-level Mafia enforcers who saw to putting the plan in motion. Insurance policies were taken out against individual failure points in the plan... four racers were under agreement to wreck their vehicles in such a way as to remove key competitors. These four were Ryan Schafer, Leo Farcau, Aleksi Lebedz, and Vran De'Valga, and if any were injured in the process, their Mafia benefactors would reimburse their medical costs, in addition to the payment.
Others were simply paid enough money that they would earn more to finish in the middle of the pack than they would at the front. The operation was designed from start to finish to ensure that a single competitor, Jeb Jackson, would win the race in a stunning upset. It was unclear if he knew about the operation taking place around him. In addition to the names, the flows of cash indicated by Philip Grundar helped to explain how the Mafia concealed its massive income from the racket: instead of placing a single, large bet, individual members of the Mafia's upper echelons had placed large bets on Jackson as well as several "dummy bets" on other, more likely winners. Some lower-level actors were provided false information that other competitors would win. Despite the wide scope of the operation and the mass expenses involved, the odds were so long on Jackson that the combined total winnings raked in by the Mafia would outweigh the costs considerably, at which point all accounts would be settled.
The trio sat entranced as they regarded the windfall of information. Spoiling the Mafia's plans to fix the race wouldn't just cost them a catastrophic loss, as Yanim predicted; it would set off a chain of retribution within the organization as indebted players turned on one another to recoup their losses. Even worse, the operation also seemed to include outside collaborators, such as Krosus Industrial. In exchange for advance payment to the Mafia, these organizations would see a similar return on investment, so long as Jackson emerged the winner. Should the Mafia lose the race, it would also constitute a massive blow to the organization's prestige.
"Champaign?" a server offered, suddenly interrupting their astonishment.
Yuga was surprised by the waiters sudden entry.
She politely declined his offer and began heading for the exit.
Well outside of the club she began walking towards the muramasa, taking a few detours in case she was being followed.
Yuga released vapors from her compass and absorbed them, after which she activated its comms.
"Sufficient information has been acquired, independently return to the vessel for assembly."
Yuga now sighted the entrance to the landing pad sector and was walking with a brisk pace.
(( gonna get some sleep now.
Cheerio and do as you please with the logo, Sega.
And for the record it might have come out a bit unclear, but Ksenia Bolgans company is not the OG Khrosus, which is based on Rigel, but an associated subsidiary contruction company with a legitimate front that is controlled by the mafia))
"Fucking hell, Taylor! I wanted you to help me interrogate him! Not knock him the fuck out!" said Valkyrie, as she looked down at the now unconscious mobster at their feet. "Well, just saying 'Help me with this idiot!' doesn't tell me much, now does it?" said Taylor, folding her arms. "Fuck...well, help me get him into the stall." muttered Valkyrie, as she reached down and tugged on the man's legs. Taylor walked around, and grabbed the other leg.
Minutes later, they strolled out of the club as quickly as they could, heading down towards where the ship was. They made brief stops and detours along the way, in case that mobster had woken up early and sent someone after them. Soon enough, they spotted Yuga and decided to link back up with her.
(( Oh. Well I guess this made Frosty's observation useless. Gee, THANKS YUGA, you and your stumpy psychic powers. *skronks* ))
The rovers pulled over outside a command bunker positioned at the heart of the base. Several guards opene dup the doors as Lord General Cross, Lieutenant Warren and Mercury stepped out followed by a group of SSFD soldiers whose task was to protect Kaspar at all costs.
As the Lord General stepped out all of the guards saluted.
"Bunker has been refitted and is ready for operations, Lord General." Said the sergeant. Kaspar nodded. "Good." He looked at Warren and Mercury. "With me."
With decisive steps the walked through the entrance and numerous corridors at a solid pace untill reaching the main operations room; a hexagon-shaped room with termianls of varying sizes lined up along the walls and with a large holomap at the very center of the room.
Several of Warren's fellow officers alongside two Boome Marine shocktrooper company leaders were already at the map, alongside a small group of other high-ranking SDF officers which were likely a part of Kaspar's command group.
Those from the SDF did a quick salute while the Boome Marines nodded as the Lord General walked up to the map with Warren and Mercury in toe.
"Good, you are all here."
Warren walked over to his fellow officers while Mercury walked up to his brothers, tapping them on their shoulders with a smile.
Kaspar continued.
"Some of you have already been briefed regarding the current situation but most of the people here have not."
He tapped on a console quickly, transforming he holomap into a hologram showing the planet of Novithus with the Divinity Creed's area of influence marked in a bold red circular area.
"The Creed has invaded Novithus as you all know, thier crusade fleet currently has a hold of the city of Hoxith which provides them with sufficient cover to withstand several assaults while also giving them enough resources to bunker up for at least a whole year."
He paused and looked around.
"What most of you don't know is that the SSOID have intercepted several transmissions from the Creed forces here on Novithus to several points of interest. Using advanced decryption techniques the intelligence branch of the SSOID managed to gather several pieces of intelligence. To begin with, we have identified the key figures in charge of the Hoxith assault force."
The hologram transformed yet again, showing two faces. "Meet Zealot Hector Roth and Zealot Stanislav Korunov, the two ugly SOB's responsible for this siege."
Many of the officers, including Warren, nodded understandingly. Both Roth and Korunov were known right hands of Arch-Zealot Hazadok and were wanted for carrying out surgical, and suicidal, attacks towards SDF targets in the past not to mention comitting several acts of terrorism on the order of Hazadok himself.
"To most of you it is no surprise that these two fellows are at it again, although it does raise some concerns as they often operate directly under Hazadok."
The hologram changed, showing a man and a woman. "Efforts are underway to locate and secure Alex and Amy Korunov as we fear that Stanislav might attempt something when he's this close to Sol and not out in the south-eastern fringes."
Suddenly the hologram changed again. "As for the other intel, we have determined that they've been in contact with someone on Terra as well as a known associate of the Lunar Children. If you ask, it's no good sign when two of our most organized enemies are banding together."
-----
The soldier clicked a button. "Go ahead."
"It's a negative on Duroma, he's freelancing. New intel has been relayed. Strikeforce Zeus out." Said a voice over the other line just as a datapacket was received.
"Copy, Strikeforce Xerxes out."
He looked at the intel before turning to his men. "Gear up, we're heading out."
Markus sat on the floor in his room with this rifle taken apart in front of him, the parts laid out in some sort of order.
He casually inspected the parts whilst cleaning them and then oiling them, humming some incoherent song with his deep voice.
He did everything slowly, seeing as there was no rush to get anywhere any time soon.
With the door open he heard Maddox throw tools about, wondering what that bloke might be throwing a hizzy fit about.
Not that it concerned him.
He had now began putting the rifle back together in a leisurely fashion.
The rifle in question, the Kerssant Armaments 300 was a fairly outdated rifle.
However, it's reliance on old mechanic principles made it a formidable weapon.
Few, solid moving parts made it easy to maintain, and it's sturdiness amplified by the fact that it was not reliant on complicated procedures to operate.
It was simply a easy to use rifle with a high caliber and stopping power, mid to long range.
With the rifle assembled he pulled the trigger, the rifle clicking to indicate that everything functioned.
Markus got dressed in his only attire and slung the rifle on his back and exited the room.
Walking through the armory to the bar he noticed Maddox looking at some news.
"What's that, greaser? Them nutjobs blast another freighter?" Immediately after speaking Markus regretted opening his mouth. Why do I even care to ask? Oh well, it had slipped out so he might as well wait for a response, least the jarhead get his nickers in a bunch.
Maddox turned and stared at Koval with fire in his eyes.
"These [i]fucking[/i] terrorists are attacking Novithus. My home."
He took up a rifle and unloaded an entire magazine on a target spraypainted to remotely resemble a Creed crusader.
After emptying the magazine in complete silence Maddox started to take deep breaths.
"They've taken the city of Hoxith meaning that they'll starve half the planet if they're not stopped."
He pointed at the screen now showing two SDF marauders airstriking a makeshift bunker.
"The SDF have pushed them back but the Creed are apparently dug in deep. Fucking scum."
"Not quite surprising that when ya try to force people into line, they might come back and piss ya in the eye, innit?" Markus said with a slight grin.
Folter had never had much of a problem with zealots, a feat their backwater location and general neutrality had contributed to.
"Look mate, I ain't a fan of the facist regimes way of controllong though and belief. But when people go as what I would call snooker loopy, that's when my opinion swings the other way." Markus looked over at the screen showing the news. He Stared down Maddox, "If they're over there fuckin ya homestead without lube, then what are ya doin here?"
Markus walked to the entrance that lead to the bar.
Maddox thought about punching Koval but instead decided to continue breathing calmly. "You may think that the Sol government is facist, I obviously can't make you think otherwise, but there's two key factors you're leaving out:
One, it's your own fault you got locked away and two, the SDF don't kill innocents while these Creed fanatics slaughter people because they're not human or because you're not breathing their "sanctified" air."
He pointed at the screen which was now showing SDF soldiers hauling out wounded from reclaimed cities on Novithus.
"I'm not gonna debate with you wether banning religion was or wasn't a good idea, but I am gonna tell you that anyone who sympathize with bloodthirsty nutjobs over honest men and women who protect something which took generations to build is both naive and stupid."
Alex was looking through the shops as they passed them by. He had already bought and organized for more supplies to be send to the ship. More attention was given to the more alien foods. All he was doing now was following Ahaz around. Both curious about what he planned to buy and watching for him not to stumble into trouble. He stopped when he noticed the news monitors.
[QUOTE]Divinity's creed's siege of Novithus underway. Humanity fractured?[/QUOTE]
Alex adjusted the end of his sleeve a bit. Making sure his wrist was covered. "Somehow I know he's involved in this." He looked around and noticed that Ahaz was getting further away. He picked up the pace behind him.
"So what are we looking for?"
Markus stopped in the doorway and turned around.
"Be as it may, but religious nutjob or not their lives are laid down for high priests and suits who manipulate circumstance to their advantage."
Markus walked up to Maddox, standing only some inches from his face. "I'm the captain of my own ship, mate. I don't give a rats arse who thinks what, if the river of blood don't land credits in my pocket or prolongs my life it don't concern me."
((Yeah, maybe I'll join in one day, but I've got too much, or maybe not enough going on in my life right now, I'd just get in the way))
Frosty excused himself from Vakarus as he handed him a bunch of papers detailing what he saw. He headed to the armory as he heard some loud crashing and clanging.
He saw Markus right up to Maddox's face, as if they were about to start brawling right there.
"Is something wrong?"
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