Chapter 10: Year 300, Days 7 and 8

[BackworldTraveller]

Noor

Having kept up with her sister, and having played this ruse many times before, Noor is quite comfortable being her twin.

She orders drinks for the group and graciously fulfills requests for autographs. Noor keeps an eye on the carriage door window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the situation.

Noor takes a moment to catch a breath and radios over to the others. "Are we good?"

The small gathering starts to grow causing a knot of people making passage through the restaurant car tricky. Nothing attracts people to look like people gazing at something! Thaco is a bit nervous of the numbers but plays the "Quiet and Brooding" type - making sure no one is likely to threaten his charge.

From his vantage point he can see that Nālani, Pranit and Hebden are on edge, but they don't look like they are about to fight - well Hebden isn't.

After a short time, one of the staff is prompted by the supervisor and starts moving round, clearing tables of debris left by those crowding around Noor.

The next station will be Yaoley Crater. All change for local services and the Green Line. This train is heading to the North Pole. Yaoley Crater, Next Stop. Please disembark promptly and take all you baggage with you.

In this time of heightened security, if you see any suspicious items, please contact a member of the train staff immediately or report it to Civil Defence on their website.

[ateno]

"Are we good?"

Pranit types back; 'Yep Getting out.'

"we are getting out here, right? Any problems, we will stun you twice or three times, not a peep, alright? We are heading for your tunnels."

Pranit

[BackworldTraveller]

OK - Then we need to move to the second from rear car: Car 11 and exit from the first set of doors. There is a maintenance door opposite. We start there.

And we need to get past that crowd - promptly.

He gestures at the people trying to get Noor's attention!

---

Meanwhile, back at the ship....

The 4 of the air-cars have now touched down. One in a garage so you couldn't see who exited; the others on pads where the occupants had to walk to an airlock.

Can the sensor operators please see how good their use of optics are at orbital range!

...The Queen confirms that of the 4 vehicles, three are at airlocks near the station while the 4th is at the town-police's landing pad.

[The Bindoner]

OK - Then we need to move to the second from rear car: Car 11 and exit from the first set of doors. There is a maintenance door opposite. We start there.

And we need to get past that crowd - promptly.

He gestures at the people trying to get Noor's attention!

Then we had better start now.

Group text to Noor and Thaco: Break up the party, fast. We are leaving the train at Car 11.

I warn you, Hebden, the stunner is a friendly hello. I have a callous goodbye in another pocket.

[BackworldTraveller]

Hebden: I don't suppose the bit in the middle is any friendlier, these days, either! Lets get this over with...And I'm taking my bag as I'll need it if we are to get very far.

There's a fair bit of glaring between Pranit and Hebden at this point!

[ateno]

"So what's in the bag, what do you need?,"

[BackworldTraveller]

This and that - come on: If we are going to be ready to go we'd better move...
The train is clearly now slowing - a definite 0.1G pull towards the nose which makes the trip to car 11 an uphill trek. Not a strain but an inconvenience.

It takes a few moments to move past the crowd and then the carriage is clearer. Noor and Thaco move along behind, finding it harder to lose the crush as they are the centre of attention! But they also manage to get free of people and move down the train.

I was really surprised to see you guys. How did you track me? I'd have thought you'd have been running for Orbit by now. You do know that you are "Target of the Week".

[ateno]

This and that - come on: If we are going to be ready to go we'd better move...

"Your not making any friends, what is it you need? We have what you stole, what do you need us for?"

I was really surprised to see you guys. How did you track me? I'd have thought you'd have been running for Orbit by now. You do know that you are "Target of the Week".

"Yes and only one casualty vs. what a few dozen, what are those betting odds?"

Pranit is really not happy.

[BackworldTraveller]

This and that - come on: If we are going to be ready to go we'd better move...

"Your not making any friends, what is it you need? We have what you stole, what do you need us for?"

I was really surprised to see you guys. How did you track me? I'd have thought you'd have been running for Orbit by now. You do know that you are "Target of the Week".

"Yes and only one casualty vs. what a few dozen, what are those betting odds?"

Pranit is really not happy.

You are right - But then The non-friends option was somewhat thrust upon me before I "died"! It was that or actual dying - Well a move to a nice new prison and an untimely demise at the hands of a dodgy inmate. I'm too pretty for prison.

What I'll need first is the Faraday-Cage bag and the lock pick.

You have my stuff. True. What do I need you for?

• Keeping the sensitive stuff away from those that it can hold in check. 'Cause if they get the stuff then my ability to negotiate goes south.
• And as tethered goat, maybe

Betting Odds...They were looking for a quick kill of a small fluffy bunny and completely under-estimated you. But that seems to be becoming a habit for them. You gave them a bloody nose. Using the Cavalheiros as mercenaries was a miss-step. Trashed an asset for no gain. I must admit I didn't see that coming though. I'd heard rumours that something was coming, but killing the port was like "What?".

What do you reckon they paid for their participation? Just the legal costs at their trials are going to be spectacular. Still it will give the commission an in and might be the beginning of the end for the Adoks. What do you think?

The chatter about the Adoks brings Noor's antenna to high alert. The Adoks are big-time shakers and movers. Never the president, always the aide types. And them and her Mother were Rivals: competitors for power.

So, here we are. Keep faces hidden and watch for the watchers. We'll be going out of the door - across the platform, crack the lock of the maintenance room opposite and then into the tunnels we go. And mind the HT cables as we go.

[Monsieur Rose]

Noor

"Wait, so this has all been the Adoks? At least run by them? And then we went to the south port run by them? Remind me to tell the Captain that she made the right call."

Noor follows along. "What the hell is in that plant, that you need a cage for it? That gem-chip? What is it really?"

She remembers during the flight that Anne sent her a message. "The Queen now has a debt collection against her from the South Port. Ten thousand for retrieval." She sends Indrani the same.

[joertexas]

Noor

"Wait, so this has all been the Adoks? At least run by them? And then we went to the south port run by them? Remind me to tell the Captain that she made the right call."

Noor follows along. "What the hell is in that plant, that you need a cage for it? That gem-chip? What is it really?"

She remembers during the flight that Anne sent her a message. "The Queen now has a debt collection against her from the South Port. Ten thousand for retrieval." She sends Indrani the same.

Wonderful. Did you catch Hebden? What's your exit plan? Indrani sends back.

[The Bindoner]

Nālani comments: There is an Adok on the kill-list. Jason Adok. He runs the business side. If he is on the list it is unlikely his family put out the contract.

Leaving the carriage, she keeps a little apart from the group, hoping to make them less conspicuous. She watches for anyone paying them attention.

[BackworldTraveller]

Nālani comments: There is an Adok on the kill-list. Jason Adok. He runs the business side. If he is on the list it is unlikely his family put out the contract.

Leaving the carriage, she keeps a little apart from the group, hoping to make them less conspicuous. She watches for anyone paying them attention.

Right, ditch your comms or drop them in the faraday bag...

...here we go...


The five exit the doors as soon as they open. There are passengers, in small number, waiting to board at each train door.


There is a corridor marked "No Entry" directly ahead - with a corridor parallel to the platform behind. There is a round, airlock style, maintenance hatch beyond that.

Above the entrance to the "No Entry" corridor is a drone, humming quietly near the ceiling.

If anyone wants to try locating the drone's partner(s) they need to roll for Recon or Tactics.

Lock pick? says Hebden, holding his hand out for the bag.

[The Bindoner]

Nālani :

I have a foil-lined pouch in my bag, and we should not put all our devices in one place.


She briefly looks around for drones, but is really concerned with looking for approaching people.

[_2d6]=(3+2)=5 Unskilled -3, Int +2 = 4?

[BackworldTraveller]

Hebden acknowledges Nālani's point and looks for other comms. Thaco looks to Noor for a lead.

[ateno]

‘Going out of comms, luck. was sent to Captain before turning his phone odd and handing it to his partner.

[Monsieur Rose]

Noor

With target. Apparently trying to avoid another hit squad, not sure who for. Talk soon. Noor quickly sends off to Indrani, then reluctantly puts her comm in Nālani's bag. She nods to Thaco to do the same.

She remarks to Thaco "Hey. There may be other drones nearby. Can you spot them?"

[2d6]=5 Minus the nonproficient penalty means no dice.

"Here, lift me up and I'll grab this one."

[BackworldTraveller]

The 5 of you rush from the train as soon as it halts and the doors synch open.

Noor is lifted by Thaco and nearly grabs the drone. The Drone, is grabbed and Noor end up holding it with the cameras pressed against her chest. It buzzes angrily. Stuff it in Hebden's screened bag?

Hebden arrives at the maintenance hatch Lockpick! he says, holding his hand out like a surgeon demanding a scalpel.

Pranit will have to fumble about in Hebden's bag if he's to find it.

Nālani is caught between the two pairs - the corridor is empty apart from a mother and child making their way along from the station plaza, hand in hand. Behind the pair with the drone a couple of other people from the train are heading down towards the middle of the platform as directed by the "WAY OUT" signs.

Sorry - amended as I'd misread the die roll entirely!

[ateno]

"Cut your whining, here."

Fumbling not so much

Dexterity:[2d6+3]=11+3=14

[BackworldTraveller]

Hebden quickly gets the lock open.

Quick - come in



The maintenance room appears to curve off round and down.

I'm looking for two things - a data port and a door marked "Shaft 7".

The space itself has a steady flow of warm air from the station to a large grille at the far end. The room is clearly well used as it looks clean. There is a kettle on a shelf, some crates with labels suggesting this is acting as a cleaning-material store, and 6 racks for charging Life Support Backpacks. There are Backpacks in three, but no sign of the breathing apparatus/vacc suits that would go with them. There is also a power-frame for lifting heavier crates, and what looks like a small workbench for life-support systems and a series of cupboards with standard spares for the rail system's air/vacuum systems.

Also, there are piles of orange and black plastic barriers and associated poles - and a two-seater sofa!

Having taken all this in - the data port is found by the workbench and the door is part way down on the left. It's locked.