The Game Thread

[Brian]

2.45-A DUE DILIGENCE

Jim looks at Opium strangely, as though the idea had never occured to him. "Legal ... representation?"  He shakes his head, and rubs at the bridge of his nose.  "Well," he says after a moment of hesitation, "I didn't think of that.  I guess we could, though in all honesty, I'm more worried about just getting through this in one piece."

[thepanda]

2.46-A DUE DILIGENCE

“That’s just it. We may not get the luxury of an early death, and somehow I don’t think the stunt with the police will be looked upon kindly later. We should, perhaps, get someone who can keep us in the clear, least we do their job and incriminate ourselves.”

[Bjorn]

2.56-B: DUE DILIGENCE

With a final nod to the rest of the group, Finn steps into the elevator and presses the button for the 14th floor, moving with the sort of self-possessed assurance that only someone dressed in overalls and carrying a repair kit can manage.

Finn: Heading up to the 14th floor, and from there going straight to the ice machine, doing my best to look just like your ordinary average repairmechalus.

[Brian]

2.47-A DUE DILIGENCE

"I wouldn't worry about the boys in blue too much," Jim says dryly.  "Live witness are worth mote."  Jim runs his hands through his hair lowering his head for a moment and groaning.  "I think I kinda hate this," he says after a moment, raising his head, and covering his face with his hands.  Dropping his his hands to his sides, he says, "But, you've got a good point.  I always figured they'd just throw us aside once they were done with us.  Didn't think they'd bother with what amounted to small fish when it was all over."

Jim stares at his leather boots pensively for a moment, then nods. "Better idea than anything I've had all day," he concludes.  "Let's look up a legal contact, or maybe a lawyer that can help us out."

[thepanda]

2.48-A DUE DILIGENCE

“So, you seem to have all the connections. Are there any lawyers you know?”

[Brian]

2.49-A DUE DILIGENCE

"I know a lawyer," Gammel says confidently.  "The tricky part is getting him to come here.  That might take some doing."  He rubs his chin.  "I'll look into that; in the meantime, probably any help we can get is help we can use."

[Huitzil]

2.57-B: DUE DILIGENCE

"No, dammit, it's plugged in. I checked it twice!"

"Well, something's wrong with it!"

The two hear you approach and turn. "Uh, hi, are you with the hotel?" says the one on the left.

[Bjorn]

2.58-B: DUE DILIGENCE

"No, dammit, it's plugged in. I checked it twice!"

"Well, something's wrong with it!"

The two hear you approach and turn. "Uh, hi, are you with the hotel?" says the one on the left.

"Nah," drawls Finn, "I'm a value-added feature.  Now, I got a complain' 'bout a busted ice machine.  T'is is t' one, yeah?"

Without waiting for an answer, she strolls over, and starts to thoroughly disassemble the ice machine, keeping up a steady stready of chatter around the bolt tucked thoughtfully into the corner of her mouth.  "Yeah, bank wouldn' cred it, but t'ese gears are punkin' winnow, par'on my Panda.  Had t' kludge one, di'n' have not'in' in t' way o' tools, grok, so hadda... tanj, willya scan t' dust?"

As she works, Finn keeps turning to the men, jabbing her finger or waving tools at them as if to emphasize her point.  As long as they're watching her, or staring at the newly-revealed mysterious workings of the ice machine, they're okay.  But if they keep looking down the hall....

Finn:  Trying to see if the men are watching the Rigger's door (Awareness check?  11/5/2+1) and trying to fix the ice machine, but not too quickly (Repair 3, 18/9/4+0).  

Note that no-one gave Finn a cell or gridcaster address, so she's assuming people will head up five minutes after she did.

[Huitzil]

2.59-B: DUE DILIGENCE

Finn rolls a 7 on her Repair check for a Good success

You notice the pair glancing back down the hall toward Alamein's room, when they think you aren't looking. When they think you are looking, they fidget nervously, and silently.

You also notice, just about as soon as you take off the case, that nothing is wrong with the machine. Were you to press the button, ice would be deposited into the hopper quite normally.

[Bjorn]

2.60-B: DUE DILIGENCE

Finn straightens from the ice machine, stretching out the limited extent of her full height as if to work out the kinks from her back, and then stares thoughtfully into the guts of her partly-disassembled putative metaphorical foe, casually bouncing a wrench off her palm.  A long second passes, and then she pronounces, "T'is is gonna be a tough one."

Tucking the wrench into a handy pocket, she turns her head partway towards the two men, fingers flickering over her gauntlet as she speaks.  "I'm gonna hafta ping t' shop t' get some more tools'n'parts."  She shakes her head slowly, the living incarnation of the soul who really, truly feels deep sorrow and regret that this will be a five-man plus overtime job, sorry, but that's union rules, what can I do, it's time for my coffee break.  Punching in Gammel's phone number, she continues, "It's gonna be more'n'a bit, y'know, an' I ain' bein' payed for en'ertainment.  Mebbe you faces'd be better off gettin' yer ice from t'next floor, y'know?"

She stares at them expectantly as she waits for the call to go through.


Finn:  Phoning Gammel, trying to bluff the guards out.  This would work better if I, y'know, had any bluff-related skills whatsoever.  As it is, I'm forced to appeal to my intrinsic plumber soul.

[Brian]

2.61 DUE DILIGENCE

Gammel looks like he's about to say something else to Opium when his phone rings, and he pulls it swiftly from one pocket.  He checks the screen and blinks repeatedly while it rings.  "Gunna-- WHAT?" he says aloud skeptically, then: "Oh!  FINN."

Activating the phone, he pops the ear-bud into one ear, tapping the sticktite cord to pass over his throat and pick up voice.  Pocketing the phone, which is now displaying a screen saver, he says, "This is Gammel, go."

Threads A and B ... COMBINE-ATED!

[Bjorn]

2.62-B: DUE DILIGENCE

"This is Gammel, go."

Silently, Finn says to Gammel, "Outside t' Clockwork's room.  Got two faces watchin' his place, tryin' t' get them t' budge.  You got any way t' contact t' rest of my group in t' next two minutes?  If t'ey come up and t' bullyboys are still here, might be difficult."

What she says out loud, for the sake of the two men, is a bit different.  "Yeah, Jim?  The Marriott job, 's lookin' pretty damn tricky.  Ya wanna send over, tanj, maybe two or t'ree guys, an' a full parts list?  Find out if t' hotel wants ta close t'is hallway off, too.  Gonna get dirty, y'know?"


Finn has a Cunning Plan which can Solve Our Problems.  Ph34r.  Unless , of course, Gammel can get in contact with the rest before they come up the elevator.  Which I don't think he can.  The clock is ticking!

[Brian]

2.63 DUE DILIGENCE

Jim frowns, and checks his phone quickly, scrolling through the lists of phone numbers.  "I don't think anyone else bothered to give me their NFO, so we're a little SOL on that count."

[Bjorn]

2.64: DUE DILIGENCE

"I don't think anyone else bothered to give me their NFO, so we're a little SOL on that count."

"No problems," Finn replies subvocally, and then disconnects.

Out loud, she says, "Ten minutes?  Sounds good.  See 'em t'en."  Picking up the wrench again, she turns back to the ice machine, keeping half an eye on the two goons as she reaches in to fiddle with its innards.

Finn is preparing to make the ice machine fail as spectacularly as she can arrange (smoke, water flying all over the place, sparks, whatever) if the watchdogs don't move in the next minute or so.  If she can't get rid of them, she can distract them.  What skill applies here?

[Prince Herb]

2.65-B DUE DILIGENCE

Nancy looks at her fancy navigator's chronometer.   "It's about time to head up, I guess.   C'mon, Zippy."

Nancy presses the lift's call button and when it arrives steps inside.   "You coming, honey?" she asks Sean.