The Unseen Servant forums

helvorn wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 11:56 pm

terrymixon wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 7:10 pm
The man checks his watch and clears his throat. "It is time to begin the auction, gentlemen. Gather round. The property up for auction is Raven's Hawk Medical Services. The circular already listed the assets and liabilities, so we will open the bidding at five million Imperial credits. Do I have an opening bid?"

One of the lawyers will raise his hand. "Five million."

"Excellent. Do I have five point two five million?"

Garvin: The lawyers are all watching William. Their thoughts revolve around how much trouble he is going to be. And how to handle him if he makes too much trouble or boosts the price too high.

William shrugs. "Five and a half." Hopefully he will be able to stir up a few hostile thoughts for Garvin to read.

It doesn't take Garvin to not the displeasure from the three lawyers. They basically glare at William and continue to bid up by the minimum amount.

Garvin will detect the details of their displeasure. They only have ten million for the purchase and their boss will be very displeased if they don't get it.

A check of the property will tell him it has to be worth at least five times that. The business has a hospital, though not of the best quality or even size, and half a dozen clinics scattered across the capital. It might be worth significantly more with updates and upgrades.

Spying on two of them as they whisper to one another tells Garvin that while they can't stop the auction, it won't be valid if the purchaser doesn't take possession, even if the payment is made. Local law says the signing of receivership is a critical part of the transfer and a convenient grav car accident might solve their problems.

terrymixon wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 1:48 am"Do you think that will be enough? The security service now likely has our images. Perhaps we should use drones for this."

Jaelah sighs. "That is a better plan. Can you get into the security service's network?"

joertexas wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 1:59 am

terrymixon wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 1:48 am"Do you think that will be enough? The security service now likely has our images. Perhaps we should use drones for this."

Jaelah sighs. "That is a better plan. Can you get into the security service's network?"

"Portions of it, certainly. If it has sections that are not public facing, that may prove more difficult. Might I suggest we find a place we can do both things while out of the public eye? A location with a place I can tap into the city network and obfuscate our location would be very good."

terrymixon wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 2:03 am"Portions of it, certainly. If it has sections that are not public facing, that may prove more difficult. Might I suggest we find a place we can do both things while out of the public eye? A location with a place I can tap into the city network and obfuscate our location would be very good."

"Is there a convenient shopping district or other public venue near the funeral?" Jaelah pulls up a map of the area as she speaks.

joertexas wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 2:05 am

terrymixon wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 2:03 am"Portions of it, certainly. If it has sections that are not public facing, that may prove more difficult. Might I suggest we find a place we can do both things while out of the public eye? A location with a place I can tap into the city network and obfuscate our location would be very good."

"Is there a convenient shopping district or other public venue near the funeral?" Jaelah pulls up a map of the area as she speaks.

Not immediately adjacent, but there are both within a reasonable distance.

What are you looking for?

terrymixon wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 2:27 amNot immediately adjacent, but there are both within a reasonable distance.

What are you looking for?

Jaelah looks for a place where people sit for extended periods of time, such as a food court or a park.

joertexas wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 2:46 am

terrymixon wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 2:27 amNot immediately adjacent, but there are both within a reasonable distance.

What are you looking for?

Jaelah looks for a place where people sit for extended periods of time, such as a food court or a park.

You can find some of each within reasonable reach of the mortuary.

terrymixon wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 2:50 amYou can find some of each within reasonable reach of the mortuary.

From the map, Jaelah selects a small park next to a shopping center. "Let's get some drones and set up here. Do we have some that these people won't be able to detect?"

terrymixon wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 1:55 am

helvorn wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 11:56 pm

terrymixon wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 7:10 pm
The man checks his watch and clears his throat. "It is time to begin the auction, gentlemen. Gather round. The property up for auction is Raven's Hawk Medical Services. The circular already listed the assets and liabilities, so we will open the bidding at five million Imperial credits. Do I have an opening bid?"

One of the lawyers will raise his hand. "Five million."

"Excellent. Do I have five point two five million?"

Garvin: The lawyers are all watching William. Their thoughts revolve around how much trouble he is going to be. And how to handle him if he makes too much trouble or boosts the price too high.

William shrugs. "Five and a half." Hopefully he will be able to stir up a few hostile thoughts for Garvin to read.

It doesn't take Garvin to not the displeasure from the three lawyers. They basically glare at William and continue to bid up by the minimum amount.

Garvin will detect the details of their displeasure. They only have ten million for the purchase and their boss will be very displeased if they don't get it.

A check of the property will tell him it has to be worth at least five times that. The business has a hospital, though not of the best quality or even size, and half a dozen clinics scattered across the capital. It might be worth significantly more with updates and upgrades.

Spying on two of them as they whisper to one another tells Garvin that while they can't stop the auction, it won't be valid if the purchaser doesn't take possession, even if the payment is made. Local law says the signing of receivership is a critical part of the transfer and a convenient grav car accident might solve their problems.

Garvin contacts William and relays all he has found "It seems that the lads from "Slimeball, Grabbit and Runne" Lawyers are so confident of themselves that they've only brought along ten million credits an' will be in 'ot water if the sale goes the wrong way. Like all honest upstanding folk their default solution to the problem is a spot of vehicular manslaughter to your prejudice before you can sign as the new owner. Ruddy charmin' that is!"

He summarizes "Well, we've found 'orrible organized criminals an' no mistake but just middlin' doers an' not their bosses!" He complains good naturedly "Can you see 'ow I was quick to get out of this line o' work once I'd made a crust? These sods just take all the ruddy style an' glamour out of what used to be an honest profession! I'll see if I can pick up on 'oo their boss is while they 'ave a wobbler when you outbid 'em".

Tiglath wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 2:57 pm

terrymixon wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 1:55 am

helvorn wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 11:56 pm

William shrugs. "Five and a half." Hopefully he will be able to stir up a few hostile thoughts for Garvin to read.

It doesn't take Garvin to not the displeasure from the three lawyers. They basically glare at William and continue to bid up by the minimum amount.

Garvin will detect the details of their displeasure. They only have ten million for the purchase and their boss will be very displeased if they don't get it.

A check of the property will tell him it has to be worth at least five times that. The business has a hospital, though not of the best quality or even size, and half a dozen clinics scattered across the capital. It might be worth significantly more with updates and upgrades.

Spying on two of them as they whisper to one another tells Garvin that while they can't stop the auction, it won't be valid if the purchaser doesn't take possession, even if the payment is made. Local law says the signing of receivership is a critical part of the transfer and a convenient grav car accident might solve their problems.

Garvin contacts William and relays all he has found "It seems that the lads from "Slimeball, Grabbit and Runne" Lawyers are so confident of themselves that they've only brought along ten million credits an' will be in 'ot water if the sale goes the wrong way. Like all honest upstanding folk their default solution to the problem is a spot of vehicular manslaughter to your prejudice before you can sign as the new owner. Ruddy charmin' that is!"

He summarizes "Well, we've found 'orrible organized criminals an' no mistake but just middlin' doers an' not their bosses!" He complains good naturedly "Can you see 'ow I was quick to get out of this line o' work once I'd made a crust? These sods just take all the ruddy style an' glamour out of what used to be an honest profession! I'll see if I can pick up on 'oo their boss is while they 'ave a wobbler when you outbid 'em".

William laughs over the link. "I will lead them on a merry chase while you tighten the noose."

He holds up his hand and raises the bidding to 9 and 3/4.

joertexas wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 2:16 pm

terrymixon wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 2:50 amYou can find some of each within reasonable reach of the mortuary.

From the map, Jaelah selects a small park next to a shopping center. "Let's get some drones and set up here. Do we have some that these people won't be able to detect?"

"I do. I can also make more small ones at need." He will do so, producing a dozen very small airborne drones.

The trip to the park is completed. It's a drab affair as this planet is filled with people of a dreary nature. The distance to the mortuary isn't great, but you think you're far enough away to not be connected.

Roscoe will make a handful of drones and release them without being noticed. He can pass control of them to you and you can use your neural link to control them. Getting them to the mortuary takes a bit longer than you'd planned for, but the service still hasn't started.

The place is a low building with a hall for the service. Getting some drones in is doable and you have a view of the service getting ready to start. The dead woman is in a closed casket at the front of the room and there is a lot of weeping, as one would expect. At the back of the room are two people--a man and a woman--who scream undercover security officer. They are scanning the people in attendance.

What now?

helvorn wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 11:32 pm

Tiglath wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 2:57 pm

terrymixon wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 1:55 am

It doesn't take Garvin to not the displeasure from the three lawyers. They basically glare at William and continue to bid up by the minimum amount.

Garvin will detect the details of their displeasure. They only have ten million for the purchase and their boss will be very displeased if they don't get it.

A check of the property will tell him it has to be worth at least five times that. The business has a hospital, though not of the best quality or even size, and half a dozen clinics scattered across the capital. It might be worth significantly more with updates and upgrades.

Spying on two of them as they whisper to one another tells Garvin that while they can't stop the auction, it won't be valid if the purchaser doesn't take possession, even if the payment is made. Local law says the signing of receivership is a critical part of the transfer and a convenient grav car accident might solve their problems.

Garvin contacts William and relays all he has found "It seems that the lads from "Slimeball, Grabbit and Runne" Lawyers are so confident of themselves that they've only brought along ten million credits an' will be in 'ot water if the sale goes the wrong way. Like all honest upstanding folk their default solution to the problem is a spot of vehicular manslaughter to your prejudice before you can sign as the new owner. Ruddy charmin' that is!"

He summarizes "Well, we've found 'orrible organized criminals an' no mistake but just middlin' doers an' not their bosses!" He complains good naturedly "Can you see 'ow I was quick to get out of this line o' work once I'd made a crust? These sods just take all the ruddy style an' glamour out of what used to be an honest profession! I'll see if I can pick up on 'oo their boss is while they 'ave a wobbler when you outbid 'em".

William laughs over the link. "I will lead them on a merry chase while you tighten the noose."

He holds up his hand and raises the bidding to 9 and 3/4.

To say that William gets nasty looks is an understatement. The auctioneer, on the other hand, looks pleased. "Excellent. Ten million, anyone?"

One of the lawyers will make the bid.

Garvin can get that they are moving to plan B. They don't have a plan yet, but they'll be calling in some hitters to eliminate the troublesome outsider and his sidekick.

terrymixon wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 1:46 am

Thumper wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 10:26 pm Walt intends to play a series of hands at an “average” player level while monitoring to see who runs a streak of “good luck”. He maintains a facade of surface thoughts between admiration for Bona and what his cards read and his planned strategy. He sends this intent through the neural link to Arkar and Bona.

Gambling: [2d6+9]=6+9=15

It's not hard to see that there are others looking for runs of inexplicable good luck. A couple of floor managers is making the rounds to make sure nothing hinky is going on. They seem vigilant. Perhaps too vigilant.

You've been gambling for a bit and nothing has stood out. Changes to actions?

terrymixon wrote: ↑Sun Mar 16, 2025 9:26 pmThe place is a low building with a hall for the service. Getting some drones in is doable and you have a view of the service getting ready to start. The dead woman is in a closed casket at the front of the room and there is a lot of weeping, as one would expect. At the back of the room are two people--a man and a woman--who scream undercover security officer. They are scanning the people in attendance.

What now?

"Try to identify everyone you can while I manage the drones," Jaelah says over their link. She sets her datapad on the park table and pretends to read as she focuses on the drones. "Hopefully, we look like the typical couple with their heads in their own media instead of speaking to each other." She maneuvers the drones to unobtrusive spots where they can cover the room without being spotted, such as the tops of doorframes, light fixtures, or similar items.

joertexas wrote: ↑Sun Mar 16, 2025 9:43 pm

terrymixon wrote: ↑Sun Mar 16, 2025 9:26 pmThe place is a low building with a hall for the service. Getting some drones in is doable and you have a view of the service getting ready to start. The dead woman is in a closed casket at the front of the room and there is a lot of weeping, as one would expect. At the back of the room are two people--a man and a woman--who scream undercover security officer. They are scanning the people in attendance.

What now?

"Try to identify everyone you can while I manage the drones," Jaelah says over their link. She sets her datapad on the park table and pretends to read as she focuses on the drones. "Hopefully, we look like the typical couple with their heads in their own media instead of speaking to each other." She maneuvers the drones to unobtrusive spots where they can cover the room without being spotted, such as the tops of doorframes, light fixtures, or similar items.

Easily done. These drones were designed to be unobtrusive. You'll note that one drone is different than the rest. It is one with a needle and can inject or draw a sample. As it is empty, it is in sample mode.

The drones capture all the faces. None of them mean anything to you, but you have them to run when you're ready.

The service is as such things are. Sadness and stories of the deceased. One girl in the crowd--young and dressed in clothes a little brighter than the average on Aki--just looks pissed. She is looking around the crowd like she expects to see someone and plans to do them great harm. The security officers are interested in her, but you think it's because she is glaring rather than something else.

terrymixon wrote: ↑Sun Mar 16, 2025 9:56 pmThe service is as such things are. Sadness and stories of the deceased. One girl in the crowd--young and dressed in clothes a little brighter than the average on Aki--just looks pissed. She is looking around the crowd like she expects to see someone and plans to do them great harm. The security officers are interested in her, but you think it's because she is glaring rather than something else.

"Roscoe, can you identify her," Jaelah sends the young woman's image as she speaks. While awaiting her husband's reply, Jaelah looks to see if anyone is reacting to the woman's behavior - or attention.

joertexas wrote: ↑Sun Mar 16, 2025 10:12 pm

terrymixon wrote: ↑Sun Mar 16, 2025 9:56 pmThe service is as such things are. Sadness and stories of the deceased. One girl in the crowd--young and dressed in clothes a little brighter than the average on Aki--just looks pissed. She is looking around the crowd like she expects to see someone and plans to do them great harm. The security officers are interested in her, but you think it's because she is glaring rather than something else.

"Roscoe, can you identify her," Jaelah sends the young woman's image as she speaks. While awaiting her husband's reply, Jaelah looks to see if anyone is reacting to the woman's behavior - or attention.

"I cannot. I'm not into the protected area of the security service servers. They are not as open as one would expect."

The girl is getting attention, but of the kind that no one wants to see a ruckus at a funeral.

terrymixon wrote: ↑Sun Mar 16, 2025 9:33 pm Garvin can get that they are moving to plan B. They don't have a plan yet, but they'll be calling in some hitters to eliminate the troublesome outsider and his sidekick.

Garvin makes sure to save some psionic "juice" to monitor the thoughts of whichever scumbag makes the comm call after the auction ends. He will also want to know if they've somehow "made" him despite his lack of contact with William.

His initial tactical plan is to learn the expected time and arrival location of the summoned "cavalry" and be on hand to make a "personal introduction". He therefore makes ready to move outside the auction house.

terrymixon wrote: ↑Sun Mar 16, 2025 10:51 pm"I cannot. I'm not into the protected area of the security service servers. They are not as open as one would expect."

The girl is getting attention, but of the kind that no one wants to see a ruckus at a funeral.

"How about social media?"

Tiglath wrote: ↑Mon Mar 17, 2025 12:27 am

terrymixon wrote: ↑Sun Mar 16, 2025 9:33 pm Garvin can get that they are moving to plan B. They don't have a plan yet, but they'll be calling in some hitters to eliminate the troublesome outsider and his sidekick.

Garvin makes sure to save some psionic "juice" to monitor the thoughts of whichever scumbag makes the comm call after the auction ends. He will also want to know if they've somehow "made" him despite his lack of contact with William.

His initial tactical plan is to learn the expected time and arrival location of the summoned "cavalry" and be on hand to make a "personal introduction". He therefore makes ready to move outside the auction house.

You're not bidding, so they assume you're with William. They haven't even called for the hit yet, so I'll let you know when that happens.