<OOC> Nokomis says, "I'm going to skip past some of the formalities. Nokomis is your Johnson. You've been referred to this job by your contacts (Kesslan and Hestia: your smugglers, Ducks: your fixer)."

<OOC> Nokomis says, "I'm going to keep the Johnson RP light. She'll lay out the job, you can ask questions, and then we'll kick it off if everyone's on board. Good?"

Ducks pages: By the book, hours can seem like days.

You paged Ducks with 'Wrath of Khan.'.

Ducks pages: And the story of online RP and runs everywhere.

Nokomis is standing on an empty street corner in the Barrens under a street lamp that is (miraculously) not shot out.

Nokomis she nods to you as you arrive. "Thank you for coming. I have a job that needs to be done tonight. I believe I have assembled the proper skill set."

Hestia perks her head out once she is acknowledged by the woman under the lamplight. She now can see who is with her a bit clearer, for at first they all approached through shadow...She smiles at Nokomis and allows her to talk some more at first.

Kesslan had arrived on time, and well... on foot. Getting wheels was part of the reason he was even taking the job at all considering how little he trusted even his contacts. Or perhaps -especially - the sole two contacts he has besides knowing Ducks. That the ogre was along for the job only helped him feel a little more at ease about it, though no less worried it was some sort of setup. He simply listens to what the J has to say about the job, his head tilting slightly as he's named to do what ever the insertion portion of the job involves. Briefly taking a gander at the J on the astral.

Nokomis folds her arms across her chest. She looks businesslike. You each receive a file via commlink that has information about a shipment from a Stuffer Shack distribution center to the International District Stuffer Shack.

Nokomis says "The job will be tricky. I need something off a Stuffer Shack delivery truck. It needs to be done quietly, with no interruptions to the truck or its route."

Nokomis says "The Stuffer Shack distribution center is near the freeway, so the truck will be under constant surveillance until it reaches the freeway. The reverse is true of the Stuffer Shack itself. Thus, the best time to intercept the package is on the freeway itself."

Nokomis says "It's a two person job, minimum, but would be safer with three. It needs a driver and someone to enter the truck and retrieve the package. As you can see in the file, the truck is on autopilot the entire trip. But any deviation of course or speed will cause a company rigger to take control, blowing your cover. But if you slip in and out, no one will be the wiser. A third person, someone proficient in electronic security, will be advisable to help defeat any local countermeasures on the truck itself."

Nokomis points to Hestia and says "Driver", then to Ducks and says "Hacker", and then Kesslan before saying "Insertion".

Nokomis looks to Kesslan. "Odds are good that there will be an armed guard inside the truck, but he will likely be asleep. What I want will be a little tricky to find. It will be the one case not marked on the manifest. Ducks may need to help you identify it through process of elimination.

Nokomis says "That's the gig. Pay is good. 5k a head if you get in and out unseen."

Nokomis unfolds her arms and opens her hands. "Questions?"

Ducks looks quietly anxious. Thinks a few moments. "What's the total time window to get things taken care of?"

Kesslan considers everything, though one of the first things that comes to his mind is to ask "If we get what you want but get spotted?"

Hestia hrmms looking at the two of them first, then Nokomis. "Well.... we'll have to disguise our way to stop the truck before the first truck stop, and .." she nods along with Kesslan.." .. getting back out and away

Nokomis says "In the file you'll see that the truck leaves the distrubution center at 04:00. The travel time on the freeway is approximately 15 minutes. That's your window of opportunity. If you get what I want but get spotted, pay drops to 3k apiece. Don't get what I want, 0k apiece."

Nokomis says "I would not be overly concerned about disguising your truck. Security is passive unless there's an alert. Do this right, as I'm sure you will, and no one will be the wiser. Or you could just steal a car."

Ducks, subdued, just nods. She behaves like she's been called to the principal's office and is trying not to get asked any specific questions.

If you go through the file, you'll see that there are four entrances to the truck. There are the double doors in the back, a side door on each side of the container, and a hatch on top. The hatch is for a coolant/refrigeration system and is protected by routine electronic security that any hacker worth his or her salt should be able to defeat.

The truck's cruising speed on the freeway is 85kph. The route is fixed and timed exactly. Slowing down or stopping the truck will trigger an alert. The extraction must be done while it is in motion.

Kesslan narrows his slitted eyes at the J just a little, though for all intents and purposes it could seem reflexive rather than intentional given that it's the pupils themselves that narrow and not his eyelids. "So basically, we gotta slip into a moving vehicle, search it's entire load while it's in transit and get the frag out of town before it gets near its destination. Null Sweat on that but... how likely are they to notice some one's been in the vehicle? I mean if we have to shift a few things around to snag the case you want it may be possible to blame it on load shift but that can get tricky."

Nokomis nods. "They'll notice it's gone once they unload the vehicle. That's inevitable. I just want to be long gone by then. Don't worry about leaving things organized."

<OOC> Ducks says, "Ducks is going to effectively just be a rather inert passenger, I think, busy in VR?"

<OOC> Nokomis says, "That's what I was thinking."

<OOC> Nokomis says, "Hestia's job is not to crash. Kesslan's job is not to fall off the truck."

<OOC> Kesslan is fucked when it comes to locks though so we'll need Ducks for that

<OOC> Ducks says, "I think we can do this."

<OOC> Kesslan says, "Or worst case we just pry the door open."

<OOC> Ducks says, "The top hatch sounds ideal -- since it explicitly has electronic security."

<OOC> Kesslan has a chameleon suit so it's possible for him to at least try and even go so far as to be unnoticed getting into and out of the truck, though the camo wont keep up with the speed the truck is going so hed' be kinda predator style blurry

<OOC> Kesslan says, "Still should offer at least some cover"

<OOC> Ducks says, "Ducks' physical gear will include her work coveralls and minor clipped-on effects, and, uh... probably no need for her to carry a firearm."

<OOC> Kesslan will likely pack light, gun (just incase), knife, chameleon armor, wiere cutters, comlink. Few other basics. One guard should be easy enough to deal with so long as he doesnt pooch his stealth rolls

<OOC> Hestialoves the plan. "Hrmm can't disarm? Wait, do you guys think that one of my jammers would be useful here too?

<OOC> Kesslan says, "Jammer may bring attention"

<OOC> Ducks says, "If I can't handle it wirelessly, jamming is the least of our worries."

<OOC> Kesslan says, "If the truck is running with a GPS link and you jam it it'll set off an alarm no doubt"

<OOC> Kesslan says, "Either of you have a stun gun, or anything like that?"

<OOC> Kesslan says, "ICly I've got few issues with having to kill some one but the char's still smart enough to know that generally that just brings uncessary heat unless the job is toa ctually kill people"

<OOC> Nokomis says, "Stealth is the goal here."

<OOC> Kesslan says, "Quite"

<OOC> Hestia says, "kk good call...well i have a mace and a weak pistol sorry. I'll try the truck I have gotta look up top speed rules real fast"

<OOC> Kesslan says, "But I gotta plan for potentially waking the guard"

<OOC> Kesslan says, "K, well then worst case I'l just have to shoot em"

<OOC> Hestia says, "Don't go nowhere without taking risks, I trust my ride. Let's do it"

It's 4am and this stretch of road is quiet. Other shipment trucks running on autopilot slide through the night, but the number of passenger vehicles in this industrial area south of Seattle is at a minimum right now. You wait for the shipment truck at the on-ramp. It will proceed north on I-5 until it reaches the interchange with I-90 heading east, at which point it will exit into the International District to make its delivery. Right on schedule, you see the truck approach. There is no driver in the cab, as best you can tell. It's a large vehicle, at least 18 wheels. The container is white and has large Stuffer Shack logos on each side. Time to go to work.

<OOC> Hestia says, "Ok people watch your step, this Gaz pickup is modified for metahuman comfort, so the cab space has been increased, but not affecting the cargo capacity. There is a searchlight and gunport in the back bed with my tools and she's a tough ol' gal. Of course the back is covered with a tarp at the moment and we can all fit up front"

<OOC> Nokomis says, "I might suggest that the truck bed would be rather idea for Kesslan's departure and return, regardless of the amount of room available in the cab."

Ducks is belted in neatly in a front passenger seet, rolling her shoulders, popping her neck. She nestles into a decent posture to fall asleep -- which is effectively what she's about to do as her job begins. She doesn't lose commlink contact as she falls into full VR. <I'm ready,> she comms, confident and prepared. <I'll start checking things out.>

Hestia pulls out after letting the truck pull out just a little more, careful to merge at a rapid pace to keep that initial distance constant as they begin their approach. With her trides on around her head, monocole's image link emitting a soft, reverse glow in the windshield. She is connecting to her truck's node as well as communicating a 'thumbs up' icon over the PAN to the rest.

<OOC> Ducks is, of course, running in hot sim VR. No jamming systems, please.

Kesslan isn't just sitting pretty in the back of Hestia's truck, rather the 'man' busily goes over checking and double checking his equipment. Making sure he's got his wire cutters, pistol, some ammo and a few other basics good and ready. His contacts provide him with the necessary image link to stay in touch with his compatriots while a few spots of nano trodes lets him interface mentally with the comlink safely tucked into his belt and running in hidden mode. As the target is spotted he tries to figure out the best way for him to approach the truck, trying to figure out if going at it from the back, or the front would offer the most hand holds.

You paged Kesslan with 'The back of the truck is flat and would be hard to access. It seems like it would be pretty simple for the truck to get in front of the truck, back you up the cab, and then you could scamble up the hood, top of the cab, and then onto the container from there.'.

Hestia pops in a message over PAN. < Ready for approach on your call Sprout>. That seems to be hinted towrds the Hacking portion of the group. The Satyr follows with another message. "<You good back there, I'll have to sweep as tight on the mark so be wary on turns.>

Kesslan surveys the situation a little more before chiming up over the AR interface with the team. 'Get me infront of the truck and as close as you dare. I'm gonna have to go up the cab. Best way it looks like to get at it without getting severe road rash.'

<Okay,> says Ducks, and now her synthesized voice is strictly business. <We have weak signal from the truck's contents. We will have to stay within just a few meters from it -- else I won't be able to get a read. Attenuation. The closer the better as far as what I'm trying to do. We'll have to be real close for me to pop the lid on top, as well.>

Via AR Ducks goes so far as to indicate maximum safe distances between truck and rig for boarding, hatch-hacking, et al.

Hestia stomps her big hoof down on the gas and kicks her pickup into gear, Hestia popping a kph gauge up on the PAN for everyone to watch in the corner....nearing 80.....82....<Ok guys get ready back there, im making the pass> 83....84..85...
The pickup swerves out to pass the larger rig as it approaches from behind, Hestia focusing through the monocle and trusts her skills.... As she passes and beginds to pull in front, she starts to ease on the gas, then her monocle flashing as she begins backing up and braking slightly.....<Hold on!> The pickup has to spurt once or twice to avoid the truck, but eventually she straightens it out...

Kesslan fidgets a little as Hestia starts to back up towards the front of the large truck, kinda like a cat waiting to pounce, and he practially does as the vehicle gets close enough and gets into position. Once he's sure Hestia is gonna stay in place long enough he takes a short jump, landing on the hood of the truck, crouching down against the wind. His camouflage already active as he starts the careful task of trying to climb up to the top of the cab.

Hestia swallows hard once she notices a shift in the weight of the truck, making her calibration a little shakily. Her monocle is glowing bright now, as if she is having to focus hard. Perhaps she isn't entirely used to driving like this after all? Either way, when the truck's bearings are readied once again, Hestia pulls out to the passing lane, and begins to let the mark pass -her- , drifting back to about the midpoint of the total carrier's length, then holding that speed. She lets out a deep breath, and takes a moment to check her sensors and mirrors. To All on PAN : < Ok, let me know the color for next action, at yellow if you scan.>

Kesslan has to stop and actually think on how to proceed a moment as he's on top of the truck's hood, but it doesnt take him terribly long to figgure out the best way is to just shift as close to the windshield as he can and then grab on to one very small ledge like protrusion for a faint hand hold. While holding onto that with his left hand his right comes up to rest on top of the truck cab itself before he gives himself a quick boost like he was leaping over a fence, his right foot coming to rest against the trailer for support and to stop his momentum before the left foot joins it a little ways off as he slides completely atop the truck cab on his back.
Wating a few seconds untill he's sure he's not about to slip right off he then simply sits up, using the wind resistance blowing at his back to help keep him steady as he draws his knees in to bring him closer to the trailer itself, his hands trailing over the top of the truck as he prepares to try and actually get on top of the trailer itself without getting blown right off the top of the truck, or slip....

Ducks marks the hatch a slightly different brightness of glow to show she's on the job, keeps simple markers showing where the truck should stay during this process. The glow around the hatch in AR changes to green. <Lid's popped,> says Ducks laconically.

Ducks changes her sketched-in AR guide markings silently to indicate the pickup need not be alongside anymore, and can roam around within certain range markers to keep signal strength at healthy levels, for the next phase of things.

Kesslan at this point, still not responding over the AR, likely too busy trying not to DIE HORRIBLY does a quick flip and leap of sorts, his hands gripping the top edge of the trailer even as his feet shoot out to the sides and he starts to slide his way down along the top of the trialer bit by bit, he spins again once he's a little further ontop of the trailer so that he's facing the hatch, and reaching out to grab onto it, another slight flip around, spins him around so he's actually facing the way in. Only then does he slowly and carefully push himself up to a kneeing crouch on top of the trailer before trying to open the hatch and see if he can't hop on in...

Ducks begins the process of mapping out the trucks' contents in AR for Kesslan as he performs his risky acrobatic maneuvering. <So long as we stay in range I should be able to map my way through the cargo fine.>

Hestia keeps the truck steady as needed, her AR Icon now visible to those watching. It seems she has a little more control over the AR version of piloting this ride, she is definately the manual type of driver normally. Nontheless....her icon is that thumbs up again, still with the yellow hue around it. <Wow check out the cat-man on the hot tin roof.....No Simsense can capture ' dat one> She lets out an audible grunt and begins to stare out past/into AR again soon enough.

You paged Kesslan with 'No more visible security, other than the snoozing guard in the back. It's dim inside the truck, and the smooth motion just rocked him to sleep. You might want to get in and close the hatch ASAP though.'.

Kesslan can be seen taking a quick look around through the hatch before he starts to drop down through it, one hand reaching up to close the hatch behind him as he does so, likely so as to not distrub the guard inside that the J mentioned. After that, he's out of sight for a little while. Though he does finally pop up on AR with a response. <I'm in.>

You paged Kesslan with 'This is a nightly shipment and the container isn't exactly full. There's a channel in the middle that you can walk up and down the length of the container.'.

In a cute AR overlay effect, the rig's cargo begins to light up crate by crate, showing its current status: blocks of RFIDs light up with clear bright circles to show they've been looked at, then each circle in turn is filled by a simple check mark in a different color to show it's been verified. The mapping progresses from front to back as the pickup makes a slow pass the length of the rig. <Searching,> says Ducks, via AR. And she never lisps in VR-driven AR, either.

Hestia jerks the wheel a little and just manages to turn along a sharper section of the road, narrowly missing a very dangerous bump on the side from the transport, which is now apparently transporting the third member of their team as well. Hestia furrows her brow, trodes dancing a little as she focuses hard again. <Pulling back now, hold your hats!>
The truck slows starts to gradually, though erratically, slow itself to move down the full length of the mark, still staying within the marked guidelines provided by Ducks' AR

Kesslan meanwhile is slipping through the truck, trying to help locate the cargo without distrubing the guard inside. Best to let the sleeping guard be, so long as he shows no signs of waking, and Kesslan is careful, he need never have to worry about how to deal with him. Because in these tight quarters it's either going to be hand to hand, or he's going to have to shoot him. Neither option something he's looking forward to having to face. A brief search of the back half of the truck turns up nothing as far as he can tell and he tosses out a quick AR update to his team <Checked the back, neg on the prize so far. Gonna move up towards the front and see if I can.>

You paged Kesslan with 'You find something at the front that doesn't belong. Looks like a simple black suitcase, wedged at the very top of a stack of boxes. It's out of sight from the ground.'.

You paged Ducks with 'Looks like the hatch reactivated itself once you dropped out of signal range.'.

Kesslan slips further along inside the truck, still looking while trying not to make any noise. Beyond that, even on AR he's dead quiet as he hunts around. At one point he pops up a brief <How much time left?> before going silent once again regardless of a response or not. A few moments later another notification from him. <Found it. I think. Gonna see if I can snag it.>

Ducks: <The lid automatically resealed, Kesslan. To open it wirelessly again we'll have to draw back up closer alongside. Don't try to pop up it until then. Sound fair, hoofess?>

Inside the truck, the guard murmurs and snorts. Still asleep, but shifting.

Hestia keeps her speed steady as best she can, waiting for the cue from her teammates. < Back up along the side, and closer? Can do on green >

<10-4> Comes the response from Kesslan as he glances over towards the guard and then the case he's found. A brief look around before he decides to try and make the grab, hoping there's nothing he's missing in the meantime....

And the gaz pickup goes, pulling closer, much steadier now on this move than any of the others. Hestia -wants- to get this right, her past actions though successful were sloppy from her standpoint. Her AR display shows her speed as well as the current time now as her Icon, much more effective. < Keeping an eye out on the road, I've pulled as close as I can .> The trucks are moving streamlined through the night, down the span of interstate in a gradual harmony...

You paged Ducks with 'Should have upgraded that Stealth program.'.

Ducks says, distinctly, <Shit.>

Kesslan does a brief jump to the edge of one of the cargo skids, using it for support while his left hand and right foot reach out to support him as he pops up higher up so he can snag the case, his right hand gripping it and pulling it towards him, slowly and carefully sliding it over up onto his arm before pulling it over and down, his right arm hugging it to his chest before he slips back down to the trailer bed, only then pausing to look at the case a little closer and try and confirm it really is what they are after. <Got it. Doing quick check to make sure it's the right stuff.>

You paged Kesslan with 'It's a briefcase with no RFID tag suspiciously located in the midst of a container truck full of boxes and crates. Pretty sure you got it.'.

Hestia blips to Ducks. <We got issues?> Then to Kesslan. <Careful, keep keen about you>

Ducks: <System's on passive alert. Stand by. I'm on it.>

You paged Kesslan with 'The guard has removed the earbud of his commlink to better sleep. You hear radio chatter, trying to get the guard's attention. It's not working so far.'.

Ducks: <Any opinions on using a door other than the hatch up top? Things are cranking down a bit, so I'm staying on the lookout for easier options. Side, maybe? What about that guard?>

Kesslan is worried about the news comming down the pipe. As Ducks gives a run down and he picks up the sound of the guard's radio, he sneaks on over to try and carefully slip it out of the guard's posession and into his. Risky move yes, but you just can't beat inside intel and in a case like this, the risk may be worth a whole hell of a lot. Especially if everything goes to hell. <He's still out. Gonna try and steal his radio, there's some chatter, I think their trying to get ahold of him.>

Hestia will be continuing keeping her position as close as Ducks needs them to be, careful to watch their travel path as well as keeping her sensors on alert, filling her monocle with several sub-screens. <Just keep our-selves together.. the load point is no good, what do we have to do on our end?>

<Well we got two options as I see it.> Kesslan responds as he slips the radio into his posession, careful not to key the microphone. He pops out one his own ear buds, pocketing it quietly and carefully before finding a spot for the guard's radio on his webbing and then running its earbud up to his own ear. <We use the same door, or I geek the guard and we use what ever door we want. We use any other door I'm worried we'll wake him up. Though I'm open to suggestions.>

<OOC> Nokomis says, "The inner doors are manually locked, but luckily from the inside."

Kesslan pages: Any specifics of what their saying on the radio? Or have they gone quiet?

You paged Kesslan with 'They just repeat "Unit 401, please respond. Unit 401, are you available?" There's some muttering in the background about these jokers always being alseep on the job.'.

Ducks sez: <Security is much more alert on that top hatch than it was. I don't know if I'll be able to sneak it open; if I can't manage it it'll no doubt set off an alarm and you'll have to, ah, handle the guard anyway. I'll risk it if you really want it that way, but I don't know what will happen with their system at all.>

Kesslan pages: Also, does the guard just happen to have a tazer or something? Just trying to see what all my options are with the guy. Cause don't you know, the ONE time I dont buy zip ties with left over money in CG....

You paged Kesslan with 'He's got some pepper spray and a baton. Doesn't look like he's packing heat. He also has a ring of keys. These are likely the ones used to lock himself in the truck for the duration of the journey.'.

<Alright, I'll deal with the guard then. Give me a heads up if were gonna run out of time. Gonna see if I can avoid killing him but I'm low on options right now so I may have to just slit his throat and we'll have to deal with the heat.> Kesslan responds over the AR as he does a brief check around to see if there doesn't happen to be some non lethal weaponry around, or hell even just rope or something he can use to tie up the guard. Failing that, well.. he'll just slip out his survival knife and try and slit the poor guy's throat.

The rig starts to signal a need to merge into the center lane, as its right lane travel will be impeded by some leisure induced bikers, moving slower than this dark convoy. Hestia is ready, the highway seems to move with her instead of the satyr directing everything through that rickety old pickup truck. The two vehicles sway, right moving center and center moving left. The road seems to be opening before them, Hestia's fingers flexing on the steering wheel.

Ducks asks, a little less confidently, <What if I give the hatch one final go? Do we risk it?> She doesn't sound sure of this plan at all, though.

You paged Ducks with 'Roll 2, please.'.
Ducks pages: 2... what?
You paged Ducks with 'Dice, genius.'.

You paged Hestia with 'Someone is gunning their engine behind you.'.
You paged Hestia with 'The two motorcyclists, having been passed by the semi. Have taken an interest in your vehicle. They're behind you now.'.

Hestia pages over PAN. <Got some cyclists on our tail.... if we can pop you out somehow might be best to do it quick, I don't want to have to engage them direct scan?>

You paged Kesslan with 'Ready to pummel the working man, father of two, good friend and loyal husband?'.
Kesslan pages: aye.
Kesslan pages: actually.. does he have handcuffs?
You paged Kesslan with 'Nyet.'.
Kesslan pages: drat. Oh well worth a try. Ah well only one thing left. BEATINGS!

Kesslan does, at least find a suitable alternative to killin the guard. Something he's midly glad of, not becuase he particulairly minds the idea of killing him, but very much minds the problems killing people creates with the law. That's the real stickler. And hey, in some ways he's doing the sleeping guard a favour. Now he can claim he got beaten up -before- the shit got stolen. And so, Kesslan sneaks on over to the guard again, cautiously and carefully slipping hte man's own baton from its holder only to bring it down hard on the man's head. Which, wakes him up, but only enough intially for Kesslan to beat the man about the head yet again and send him crashing to the floor as Kesslan readies one last swing to hopefully make good and sure the guard's lights are out without actually killing him.

Kesslan gives the guard another solid whack, fortunately if only becuase Kesslan caught him napping, the poor man never had a chance. That doesn't mean there isn't any noise made however, though it's hardly audible outside of the trailer. The solid meaty thunk crack as Kesslan slams the baton down on the man's head, another thunk as he slams him in the gut leaving him whimpering and a third blow, this time to the head again has the man at least out and for the count. Blissful unconciousness rather than sleep keeping him under this time, though not without a few pained wimpers. Kesslan meanwhile, breathing just a little hard just goes to grab the guard's keys and quickly check for any pass cards or anthing else he may actually need, not really giving a damn about the man's money or anything else (After all, they're getting paid more than enough for this job and all he wants to do is get the hell out of there). Before he makes for one of the side doors. <Guard's done. Going for a side door, let you know which in a sec.>

The two bikers rev their engines behind the truck. They're smiling at each other, looking like they're in the mood for a little 4:10am fun.

Having gained Keys +1 from; Guard: Beaten but not stirred, Kesslan makes for the side door near the team truck. He does a quick scan of the door before moving to open the side hatch, and assuming he gets it open he uses the guard's now slightly bloodied baton to help prop the door open so it doens't shift (assuming such is necessary). Only then does he double check to make sure he's got the case, hasn't forgotten anything and then messages over the AR <Good to go>.

Hestia chimes in before changing position. < Ok.. I'm gonna back her up and pull close... Take care of the light in the back for me? Keep those bikers from mucking up a rather elegant operation, I'm adding you to the truck's node. Everyone... the music is wonderful, we can't rush the crescendo, it has to be just right....>

Hestia's pickup truck whirs as she shifts gears, the demanding pilot continuing her dance with the mark next to hers. The breeze around the back of the tarp snaps the material as the searchlight glows hot and bright, a precursur to the auburn sun that peeks up through some of the earliest clouds in redmond. The door that Kesslan has propped open starts to line up with the loading bed of the truck, Hestia staring sharp ahead.

The bikers see the door of the truck opening. Now they are getting very interested. They point to each other and watch the proceedings as a shimmering figure props the door open and leans out.

Kesslan not knowing what's in the case gives him some concern, more for breaking the contents and screwing the run. And he really needs that money. And so Kesslan does the only thing he can think of that's expedient and simply jumps to the truck, balling up slightly to protect the case from any damage in the event of 'really bad things'. Fortunately the worst he suffers is a rough landing and a solid *THUMP* that probably left a small bruise or two as he lands in the back of the truck on his back, the case held safely in his arms. <Time to go.>

Ducks gets control of the searchlight on the back of the pickup from Hestia and, using the appropriate slaved cameras or sensors to watch: fires it up to full intensity on the bikers' lovely faces, best she can. Tries anyway.
The spotlight tracks, tracks, but there's some calibration errors in Ducks' command software, maybe, or maybe its servos are a little stiff from disuse, looks a little sloppy, but then: bingo. One of the riders is lit up by brilliant light, shadows washed away in the intensity of it. The rider swerves, swerves again, but Ducks keeps the light full on him. The rider keeps swerving.

Two motorcyclists on Scorpions follow the truck. Up until now they were just curious, but having seen a ghostly image jump from one truck to the next, followed by a spotlight beamed right into their faces, has promoted their curiosity into outright interest. The one on the right, closest to the Stuffer Shack truck, is swerving erratically. It would be bad for him to hit the truck, as the slowdown it would register in the truck's systems would trigger an alert.

Hestia has her hoof to the pedal, Ducks is still in VR controling the spotlight, and Kesslan is laying in the bed of the truck with the goods.

Noting (if only because of the whole oddity of the spotlight thing going on) the bikers are being a problem, Kesslan takes a quick look around the truck, finds a secure place to just shove the case before pulling out his handgun. <If they dont frag off I'm gonna start shooting tires.>
The spotlight tracks left, leaves the one swerving rider closest the Stuffer Shack rig to his own devices. That shaft of all-but-sunlight centers on the other Scorpion's front tire, then slowly rides up the forks onto that driver's face, dead-on, square on. Such driver slams on the brakes, tortured sound of synthetic rubber on pavement goes here, and he drops back. Probably. And quick.

Ducks : <Hestia, we get out of here, any work you might like done to your truck I'll do at cost. No joke.>

Hestia : <Oh? You a gear head? Well drek sprout, why didn't you say so before? I'll take you to meet a friend a mine while we get new plates and some paint. >

The goon on the right, who was just spared the spotlight, happens to have a shotgun sitting across his lap. Standard for this time of night, you know. He scoops it up and aims squarely at the light, enraged by it. He's not aiming for the truck or the passengers, but he really wants to shoot that light out. Hestia sees what he intends to do and executes a neat little zig-zag at the last second. She stays away from both the Stuffer truck to the right and the barrier to the left. The guy's shot goes wide, missing the light and leaving it in play.
The second biker, having escaped the spotlight, slams on the accelerator to catch back up.

Kesslan holds his fire for the time being, what with the bikers presently out of the way. He does take the respite however to settle himself in however, and get a good firing position. After all, if they're gonna start shooting at them, even to just take out that spotlight, that means their trouble. And Kess has no qualms about shooting right back at them.

Hestia's fingers grip on the wheel, her gaze locked. The sound of the shotgun blast has caused her to spark something inside her that is definately a 'flight' response. She needs to get them out, and its time she did something about it. Stepping on the gas some more, she begins to accelerate, the gauge around her icon pushing the limits of the gaz at 89/90 with an almost blinking nanosecond 91 here and there as she reaches top speed.

The gaz pulls ahead....
                        ....and passes the truck....
                                ...and pulls into the far right lane. Hestia then grunts, tapping the brake and trying to time her exit just right, using the truck to block the LOS from the hopefully advancing bikers...

Hestia : < Ok, next exit we gun it and we're off, hold tight!>

Ducks sez, <We get out of this alive,> wry voice, <I'll buy stuffers for us all...>

Kesslan retorts <I'd rather you buy me a nice real piece of steak.>

Hestia : <Fancy!>

Ducks kills the power to the chained little ray of hell that is the combat spotlight. <I like this thing.>

Ducks looks pretty peaceful, "sleeping" in the front seat of the Gaz. Line of drool under one tusk. Aw. Adorable.

Hestia ceases her sputtered braking to move counteractive to the now passing by mark and tilts the wheel, taking the offramp that has come into view. Hestia keeps a lump in her throat as she starts to plan the next series of roads to take as she merges off the interstate...

Kesslan meanwhile just hangs back, gun at the ready. Momentarily the man leans back to check on the case and be extra sure it's wedged in nice and safe, and not about to go flying off in the event that a real fight breaks out.

The bikers are definitely not willing to cut in front of the huge truck as Hestia just has. They have less margin for error, and probably have spots in their eyes. Instead, they slam on the brakes. They emerge from behind the truck and swing to the right. But what's this? Sacrebleu! The Gaz is gone! They yell and point to the truck exiting on the offramp that they missed. The road being empty, they slow their bikes and turn them around, but they're quickly losing ground.

The engine of the Gaz is finally purring with a noticeable whir that fills Hestia with delight. She steps down on the gas as she passes a rusted yield sign, then a rusted lane merging ahead sign and past the first yellow light. "C'mon!" She yells as she puts more weight into the pedal, veering down a straightaway to another light turning yellow.....then Re --

Hestia keeps moving,noticing a small electric commuter turning around and forcing her to merge around the shoulder.....Hestia is gunning for that last light ahead, the bikers just popping out three lights behind at the off-ramp...

Hestia lets out a laugh as she soars past a freshly turned red light and onward towards Redmond Proper, care of a special route she used to take picking up scrap not far from this section of town... <Back to J, Cargo Safe?>

Ducks "wakes up" and, ick. Drool. Ehhh, wipes that away. Rubs her forehead. "I thought that went well," she says, and it's hard to say if she's being entirely serious or not. Flinches at the running of the red light -- not what you want to wake up to.

<Sounds good to me. Just beware of the J though. May try to fuck us and I dont care to tangle with an adept of their caliber.> Kesslan responds as he holsters his gun once more now that the danger has past and simply lays back in the truck so he isn't some big, giant, attention-drawing blurr in the back.

You find Nokomis under the same street lamp where she was before. The streets are even quieter than usual. It's 5am and Redmond is not known as a town that rises early.
She waits patiently. You're right on time. She has no visible backup. No muscle, other than herself.

Ducks does fine up until Nokomis comes into sight. Then she just looks guilty as fuck.

Hestia pulls the gaz up slower as they approach, and gives some space between the vehicle and Nokomis. <Kess, you stay in the back, I'll get out and do the handoff, watch my back>

Hestia kills the headlights.

Ducks sez, <You have nothing to fear from her at all. Trust me. She's gold.>

Nokomis leans against the lamp post. The corner of her mouth edges up in a smile when she sees Ducks ducking (dear me). Her eyes move over to Hestia. "How did it go?" she asks simply.

<You stick to what you know Ducks. I'll stick to not trusting anyone till they've proven safe. This may not be a jungle of trees but it's still a jungle. And any jungle has it's predators.> Kesslan shoots back as he remains where he is in the back of the truck for the time being, playing the waiting game with supreme calmness.

Hestia smiles and nods, her symmetrical tusks flashing a bit in the lamp-light. " Next stop, the junkyard to take care of some postwork details, but we met the criteria presented. " She moves to the back to retrieve the case and bring it out to Nokomis. "Would you like us to take you somewhere with us or do you have transportation home?"

Ducks makes a stricken giggley sound for no spoken reason, and looks away.

Nokomis smirks. "I'll find my way." She accepts the case and bounces it in her hand gently, weighing it. She glances at the latches. "Looks like you got it. And I don't see you being trailed by three Lone Star cruisers and a helicopter, so that's a good sign."

Nokomis asks, "Was there any trouble?"

Nokomis tilts her head to look at Ducks.

Hestia says "Doesn't mean we will stick around much longer, this gum can still be chewed some so its on the go go go! Trouble? We used more than one exit but there was no sign of radio chatter noticing us. Some late night go-gangers wanted to race us but I annoyed them enough to plan my route off the road...."

Ducks is looking thoughtful, weighing answers and being generally kind of calm until she looks up and catches that gaze and all but panics. "They were just biker goons!" she whines.

Kesslan settles in for the long haul as the conversation picks up. Typical chatter so far. That was good at least, but it didn't mean he wasn't ready to pop out and pop a few rounds into the J if it turned out to be some sort of double cross. But beyond his paranoia... so far so good...

Nokomis cracks a smile. "Ah, those gangers! Irrepressible. Well I pay for good work, and it seems that's what we have here."

Ducks almost leaves in the wrong direction, corrects, then hits her head on climbing into the truck. She pauses there. "Ow," she says, quiet. Gets into the truck.

Hestia bows her head a little, her face warm and happy. "We hope you can trust us again, in a way we are always in touch, just gotta talk to the right people. No one can escape it, everyone is connected in this place." She smiles and nods to Ducks, then goes to walk away from Nokomis and her lone spotlight. Once in, the gaz fires back up and they begin to find good spots to split company. Back on the PAN <Well... we can meet and talk shop later, I gotta get to a garage like I said. Tell me where ya wanna get dropped off">

Kesslan calms down a little as the exchange is made and done with, and there's no expected doublecross. You just never knew with these damn J's. <I'm still living in the dregs, so where ever is good.>

Hestia nods, and exchanges a passkey to both of them for connecting with her PAN while they're all still together. "Fine then, the road will tell us where we should go next en route to the scrapyards' The Gaz is a black spot in the morning , seeking the shade of older and more condensed building saturation.