I think we should walk away, we are skilled enough that I don't think it should be a problem and the police are going to look the other way so we don't have to worry about the noise too much.
Also I now want to take this guy's business and become the next big fixer in the area.
Well, the Fixer was always more of a long shot. At least we got a good hand with the security, so we don't really have to try too hard to get someting out of Pauper. I hope. So let's just be happy we got our foot into the armory access. Given the bit about patrol work, maybe Mitsu can make some cash keeping the streets safe as well. That sounds up her alley.
Disappointed the fixer contact isn't exactly great and pleasantly surprised at how much the girls got out of visting the local rent-a-cops. Time to fly, while it would not be advisable to underestimate scavs they're still scavs and the girls did survive their tenure as Lycoris.
"We'll pass. That information's too much for what we expected," You decided and rose up from your seat. "We'll figure out another way."
"I see. Good luck then." The digital image flickered, then the screen turned off by itself. You rose up from the seat and left the library with Mitsu, slightly frustrated at how rather unfulfilling the meeting had been. The Secondborn Ronin enforcers outside leered, but did nothing when you departed without causing a mess.
Mitsu waited for them to be truly out of earshot before making her complaints known. "What a charlatan!" She muttered and glanced back at the library. "I had thought Fixers to be the lords of the streets, seeking to serve the balance. Yet Pauper barley gave us the time of day, let alone provide aid against a shared enemy. What a miser."
"To be fair, we probably didn't have a solid background to work off," You mentioned and explained when she gave you a confused look. "When we were dealing with Shinohara Securities, we used our government cover to give us an in to personally work an angle. But here, we very well just can't pull out a government ID to wedge our way in, not unless we want to call down the Fixer's entire security network on us."
"They fear authority not of their making."
"Maybe if we had a reputation behind just being a Fed, we could still squeeze in somehow. As it is, we're basically just two random girls who wandered off the street to demand information from a busy Fixer," You summarized with a sigh. "In short, Pauper has no reason to believe our capabilities or our story. For all they know, we very well could be working with the Scavs ourselves, or their rivals to cause a distraction from another affair."
Mitsu grumbled at your logic but her expressions softened slightly, just a bit. "Maybe they do indeed have more pressing concerns," She conceded and crossed her arms with a huff. Then there was a dangerous light in her eyes when she glanced over to you with a sharp grin. "Then let us demonstrate they should see us as maybe a concern too. Two young petals, cleaning up a Scav Den by ourselves!"
"It'll be just like the killing house back in Kyoto," You recalled with a quiet smile before growing serious. "But we should try to do our own research as well, try to stake out the spot before nightfall. Let's see if we can't spot a pattern or opening to them. Maybe even ask our future neighbors if they could offer some useful observations."
"A sound plan! I will follow your lead!"
(New Neighbors: 10 +15 (Empathy) +10 (Local Scavs) = 35)
There was a ramen cart just down the street from your new home that served as a good enough stakeout location. You and Mitsu placed orders for some cheap synthetic noodles with heavy artificial flavoring, and then tried to nudge the owner into opening up a little bit about what he's seen. At first, he was reluctant to talk about them, until you revealed your connection to them. "Why, you're taking over the old cafe?" He asked, surprised. "Not sure why'd you want to do so. It's been pretty abandoned since the last owners closed up shop, at least until those folk moved in."
"Surprised that nobody's done anything about it, honestly," You casually mentioned with a tilt of the head. "Do neither of the gangs round here care about them moving in on their territory?"
"Much as they would love to care, especially if they start klepping members, the two here aren't exactly chooms." He looked around wildly before lowering his voice. "Word is that they're on the verge of having a big shootout with one another about something. Overheard it from some of my regulars, you see, even went to buy me some bulletproof curtains. See?"
You winced slightly at the loud rattling from the metal shutters that he banged to make his point. "Might be an investment we'll have to look into."
"Wish you the best of luck then, you're going to need if it you're going to convince Shinohara to come swooping in for you," He snorted and rummaged around before tossing something into your ramen bowl. "Have another boiled egg, on the house. You'll be needing it with how long you'll be waiting here."
"Would you really complained about our extended patronage?" You lightly joked and he chuckled before returning to watching television on a little screen behind the counter. It was slightly disappointing that he couldn't offer much more information, especially given what your opticware was saying. Apparently gossiping was a talent, and to be honest, it nearly made up for how heavy the broth was.
You turned your attention next to the building in question itself, giving it a long searching look. It did look a little more rundown from what the provided pictures had depicted, but you couldn't fault them for not keeping it constantly updated. Now though, seeing it physically on site, you gave it a long study with the appraising eye of a Cleaner.
Instantly, you spotted a few big things that clearly weren't on the original layout blueprints, but maybe have been added discretely and off the record over time. The first was a little side staircase that lead directly up from the street to the upstairs living area, carefully built with a slight warp to disguise it as a little hedge bush at casual glance. If you had to guess, this was likely a modification installed so that whoever lived in the shophouse didn't need to necessarily go through the downstairs every time they wanted to leave the place, or likewise if they wanted to go straight to relaxing without needing to trudge through a busy shop. Maybe in the past, it was used for personal family reasons for such privacy.
Whatever it was, it was possible a security flaw, one you could perhaps seize upon to enter through the upstairs, if you so wished. That was your first thought, then you looked harder and noted the rather flimsy nature, likely not meant to support the weight of more than one person at the time. Given that you didn't have such privacy concerns, it could be best to tear it down after all was said and done.. It certainly looked like it hadn't seen proper maintenance for a while.
The next thing you spotted was the odd foundation stonework. It looked fine from a regular eye, but to you, it looked disturbed, like somebody had adjusted them after they had been laid down. It wasn't that unusual, you saw it all the time while working as a Lycoris Cleaner. The big thing was that it strongly correlated with the presence of an underground space dug out after the initial construction project. It looked like your property had a little nice secret addition in the form of a basement, perhaps one built for more secretive purposes.
You wondered if the Scavs knew of it, and decided to assume so. That meant in total, you had to consider three potential combat zones for the upcoming raid: the shop, the upstairs, and the basement. If you could clear out all three areas of enemy presence, then that would definitely be mission success. But you frowned, it surely couldn't be that simple.
Then you saw it, in the torn up dirt front, and your eyes narrowed. It was getting a little harder to see now as daylight was fading, but you think you could make it out, a rather important detail
"Mmh. Mmhhhhh?" Mitsu slurped down a mouthful of noodles and licked her lips. "My tally is at maybe two groups of Scavs infesting our rightful claim. A paltry fight, all things considered."
"It's not two. It could very well be more," You muttered and flicked what you saw her way. "Look, over there. That's tire tracks. They have a vehicle, and they also have more room in the place than it seems. They could very well have three, maybe four groups."
In response, Mitsu shrugged and swallowed. "Best we go in quietly then, or so as long as we can. Then when it gets loud, we get to work."
"A sound enough plan."
From behind the counter, the ramen cart owner overheard your last phrase and frowned. "Hold on, are you two actually thinking about storming the place? You're insane, you're just a pair of schoolgirls, aren't you? Come to think of it," He rubbed his chin and frowned. "Your accents...you're not from around here, are you? That explains why you can't just call for help from one of the gangs."
"Nay, we hail from a land faraway!" Mitsu chirped while placing her empty bowl to the side.
"We're from Kyoto," You added and popped the last egg in your mouth before pushing the leftovers away. "Thank you for your concern, but we'll be just fine."
"From the flower city?" He muttered while the two customers strolled off. "Just what are they teaching those girls to do up there? To become gonks?"
To become Lycoris. You answered in your head while dipping to a little side alleyway. Mitsu shared a nod with you, then, as one, you both flicked the side of your schoolbags open to reveal the hidden pistol holsters. You drew your trusty Towa 14 with practiced ease and idly checked the loaded magazine. It was full and you neatly slid it back in with a quiet click, not even needing to keep a thumb on an ejection port to not waste a bullet. Caseless was convenient like that.
After a moment of thought, you reached your hand back and sent a prompt to your schoolbag. With a neat click, the bottom deployed a suppressor that you screwed onto your pistol to help keep it quiet. It would be useful for keeping other Scavs unaware of your presence so long as possible, but you would ditch it the moment things got loud.
Across you in the alleyway, Mitsu was doing the same thing with her own service pistol. She also felt and made sure the bokken slung over her back was in easy reach and could be swiftly drawn without issue. She nodded happily and looked at you with an expectant look. "Orders?'
You blinked, then frowned. "We're not in Lycoris anymore, so we don't have ranks. Plus, I don't have as much combat experience as you."
"You still were an honored Second Lycoris with your abilities," She mentioned with a shake of the head. "Honor your calling, and tell me what to do," Mitsu insisted and you pressed your lips together with a sigh. She really was sometimes too stubborn for her own good.
Now then, how best to channel that stubbornness?
Choose an overalls strategy: -[ ] [Strategy] Stealth and Shadows. Keep quiet as long as possible, even hiding in the shadows if alarms are raised.
-[ ] [Strategy] Stealth and Gunfire. Keep quiet as long as you can, but then don't hesitate to go loud when discovered.
-[ ] [Strategy] Bullets and Gunfire. Kick in the doors for maximum effect on a surprise round, followed by an intense firefight to eliminate the opposition.
Assign your starting combat zone locations: -[ ] [Zone] Anzai Yuuki
--[ ] Upstairs Living Area
--[ ] Ground Floor Shop
-[ ] [Zone] Ryouji Mitsu
--[ ] Upstairs Living Area
--[ ] Ground Floor Shop
- There would normally be ammo expenditure and operative equipment (and costs) to take into account, but this is your first fight entirely. So both you and Mitsu will be heading in with just Towa 14 at full ammunition. She does have a wooden sword to whack people over the head if things get too close, but otherwise, she'll stick to gunplay as well.
- The rooms are small enough that Minerva Optics will more than likely activate at such close ranges.
-[ ] [Strategy] Bullets and Gunfire. Kick in the doors for maximum effect on a surprise round, followed by an intense firefight to eliminate the opposition.
-[ ] [Zone] Anzai Yuuki
--[ ] Upstairs Living Area
-[ ] [Zone] Ryouji Mitsu
--[ ] Ground Floor Shop
I think we take our MCs advice and roll low and slow. If we assume a 'group' of Scavs is four or five, we're looking at a two vs 12-20. Even on a suprise round we'll be outgunned quickly when the alarms raise.
-[ ] [Strategy] Stealth and Gunfire. Keep quiet as long as you can, but then don't hesitate to go loud when discovered.
I don't know how good Mitsu's Stealth is, but we don't have any. I think the right call is using what we know of the layout to get into a stealth position, take out hopefully a full group before we inevitably get caught, and roll lead.
-[ ] [Zone] Anzai Yuuki
--[ ] Upstairs Living Area
-[ ] [Zone] Ryouji Mitsu
--[ ] Upstairs Living Area
Top down, one zone at a time. Neat and professional. With one exception: @Celeshiro, when we noticed the stairs could only handle one person, do we think that we could both use them one at a time to get to the Upstairs zone before Stealth started? Also, did it seem creaky, since the update mentioned they weren't well-maintained?
Mmm... assuming there are other groups speed is of the essence here but so is caution. If the girls go in guns blazing those other groups are probably gonna speed straight back to the shop and personally I do not like those odds if that does happen.
No stealth skills at least but cool is the stealth related stat and is +12 which should apply for the duration of infiltration.
[X] Plan Thinning The Herd -[X] [Strategy] Stealth and Gunfire. Keep quiet as long as you can, but then don't hesitate to go loud when discovered. -[X] [Zone] Anzai Yuuki
--[X] Ground Floor Shop
-[X] [Zone] Ryouji Mitsu
--[X] Upstairs Living Area
I like the idea of them coming in from two different directions. Mitsu having some fairly substantial cyberlimbs means if she needs to bail she can just jump off the side of the building, so I'll put her in the top floor while Yuuki takes the ground floor.
Hopefully the basement isn't hiding horrors beyond human comprehension...
[X] Plan Thinning The Herd -[X] [Strategy] Stealth and Gunfire. Keep quiet as long as you can, but then don't hesitate to go loud when discovered. -[X] [Zone] Anzai Yuuki
--[X] Ground Floor Shop
-[X] [Zone] Ryouji Mitsu
--[X] Upstairs Living Area
[X] Plan Thinning The Herd -[X] [Strategy] Stealth and Gunfire. Keep quiet as long as you can, but then don't hesitate to go loud when discovered. -[X] [Zone] Anzai Yuuki
--[X] Ground Floor Shop
-[X] [Zone] Ryouji Mitsu
--[X] Upstairs Living Area
With one exception: @Celeshiro, when we noticed the stairs could only handle one person, do we think that we could both use them one at a time to get to the Upstairs zone before Stealth started? Also, did it seem creaky, since the update mentioned they weren't well-maintained?
You could go in one after the other and be fine now, the fact you noticed it and can be cautious around it gives a single turn positive modifier to your stealth roll.
I think we take our MCs advice and roll low and slow. If we assume a 'group' of Scavs is four or five, we're looking at a two vs 12-20. Even on a suprise round we'll be outgunned quickly when the alarms raise.
-[ ] [Strategy] Stealth and Gunfire. Keep quiet as long as you can, but then don't hesitate to go loud when discovered.
I don't know how good Mitsu's Stealth is, but we don't have any. I think the right call is using what we know of the layout to get into a stealth position, take out hopefully a full group before we inevitably get caught, and roll lead.
-[ ] [Zone] Anzai Yuuki
--[ ] Upstairs Living Area
-[ ] [Zone] Ryouji Mitsu
--[ ] Upstairs Living Area
Top down, one zone at a time. Neat and professional. With one exception: @Celeshiro, when we noticed the stairs could only handle one person, do we think that we could both use them one at a time to get to the Upstairs zone before Stealth started? Also, did it seem creaky, since the update mentioned they weren't well-maintained?
[X] Plan Top-Down Tactical Espionage Action -[X] [Strategy] Stealth and Gunfire. Keep quiet as long as you can, but then don't hesitate to go loud when discovered. -[X] [Zone] Anzai Yuuki
--[X] Upstairs Living Area
-[X] [Zone] Ryouji Mitsu
--[X] Upstairs Living Area
No huge point in a dissenting plan so close to close, but see above for my reasoning.
Scheduled vote count started by Celeshiro on Nov 25, 2023 at 2:13 AM, finished with 11 posts and 8 votes.
[X] Plan Thinning The Herd -[X] [Strategy] Stealth and Gunfire. Keep quiet as long as you can, but then don't hesitate to go loud when discovered. -[X] [Zone] Anzai Yuuki --[X] Ground Floor Shop -[X] [Zone] Ryouji Mitsu --[X] Upstairs Living Area
[X] Plan Top-Down Tactical Espionage Action -[X] [Strategy] Stealth and Gunfire. Keep quiet as long as you can, but then don't hesitate to go loud when discovered. -[X] [Zone] Anzai Yuuki --[X] Upstairs Living Area -[X] [Zone] Ryouji Mitsu
[X] Plan Thinning The Herd
-[X] [Strategy] Stealth and Gunfire. Keep quiet as long as you can, but then don't hesitate to go loud when discovered.
-[X] [Zone] Anzai Yuuki
--[X] Ground Floor Shop
-[X] [Zone] Ryouji Mitsu
--[X] Upstairs Living Area
"We'll clear them out at the same time. Take the top floor through the stairs, I'll go at it from the shop itself. I'm thinking they probably haven't done much security for their place, so it shouldn't be too hard to find an entryway in. Don't be afraid to get messy if it's too complicated, we're prioritizing success over discretion."
"They are thieves of the night, they are arrogant in confidence!" Mitsu agreed with a grin. There was a final nod shared between the two Lycoris, then you and she got to work with quiet runs to dart into cover around the property. Your partner approached the old stairs and quietly stepped up them, gingerly making sure to not accidentally put a foot through the floors.
She almost made the entire way up when the last step creaked and Mitsu's eyes grew wide when she heard an angry voice from inside complaining about cats. She tried to rush for the shadows, but there weren't any ledges on the small platform at the top of the stairs. The door right in her jiggled, then a grumpy looking Scav poked his head out to see the barrel of Mitsu's pistol. "What the-"
Her pistol fired and pierced the Scav's chest, punching through his flimsy shirt and into his heart. He immediately collapsed, unable to warn his buddies. Mitsu's arm then shot forward and pulled the limp body backwards, shoving it off the side platform and letting it fall to the ground below. It landed with a thump as she caught her breath, eyes wide and ears straining to hear anybody getting suspicious. When nothing came of it, she grimly advanced and found her quarry sleeping in the rooms. It looked like the only one who had noticed her had been that one Scav.
A few barks of the Lycoris' pistol made sure none of them would wake up.
While she had been climbing the stairs, you approached the shopfront and gingerly tested the front door. It pulled open with ease and you grimaced, making a mental note to perhaps install a digital lock for the future along with all the other restorations. Then you pushed in with a focused look, pistol raised while you swept the customer area.
It was empty, but you could hear somebody chatting away in the adjacent service area. Slowly, you approached as close as you dared and counted three voices within, perhaps making food. You sucked in a deep breath, then swiveled in with the pistol leveled at their heads.
Three heads snapped back with perfect holes drilled between their eyes, food still in their mouths while the bodies fell to the ground. You kicked your foot into the sides to make sure they weren't faking it, and pushed on. After a moment, you were sure that the shop was cleared and opened up a line to your partner. "Ground floor, clear."
"Top floor, all enemies slain," Mitsu reported with a pleased note to her voice. "Twas a hair's length from disaster, but all worked well. Moving to you."
"Got it." You blinked, then threw yourself to the side when you heard something open. "Hold it, basement coming up!"
(Hiding: 20 +12 (Yuuki) = 32)
In hindsight, there was no way you could have totally avoided being noticed, not when there were just three corpses laying right there on the kitchen floor. The Scav emerging from the basement caught sight of them across the room and yelped, clumsily drawing a pistol. "What the hell?!" She muttered and you carefully lined up a shot from the side.
Your missed shot had been the perfect distraction to turn the Scav's head, making it a wider profile so that your partner could nail her straight in the temple. She crumpled and dropped to the ground with a loud clatter and both Lyocris held their breaths. Then there was a shout from down in the basement. "Stop wasting time up there while I work! Honestly, you lot…" The voice trailed off and it didn't seem like whoever it was didn't want to come upstairs.
You let out matching sighs of relief with Mitsu and shared nods. Then you frowned, catching something from the end of that sentence. "Work?" You mouthed to Mitsu, who blinked. Then pure panic and alarm came over her.
"A Scav victim!" She hastily whispered back and you cursed while your partner quickly moved to enter the basement. You followed close behind her and noticed she was menacingly taking off her suppressor. Your emotion detection software calculated that she beyond furious, likely wanting to make an entrance and send a message.
Which she did by kicking the basement door violently open and taking aim at the Scav bent over the operation table. It was a surprisingly large basement, filled with various crates and ice coolers scattered about. The walls were padded and you recognized them as soundproofing, making anything that happened down here silent to the outside world. But most distressingly, you noticed a familiar looking set of bags to the side and your expression hardened. Those were body bags.
The Scav looked up from his current 'patient' with a displeased look. "Hey, I told you gonks to stop making that noise-" He cut off and his eyes widened at the sight of a furious Lycoris pointing a pistol at him.
"You bastard!" Mitsu howled and tried to put a bullet in the Scav Surgeon's skull. But of all the times, her pistol jammed and she stared in shock, along with the Scav at somehow being alive.
Mitsu Towa 14 Ammo: 13/16
You attempted to remedy this and fired shots over your partner's shoulder.
It was a close thing but you managed to nail him in the inside and he toppled, crashing into his own surgery tools with a loud clatter. Without hesitation, Mitsu was already there and violently slamming her foot into his throat to make sure he didn't get up, for good. "Scum," She spat with vitriol, all the good cheer gone as she looked at you with intense hatred.
You couldn't blame her, but you needed her to focus. "The victim, are they okay?"
The flames disappeared from your partner's eyes and she spun around to frantically check. There was indeed a young woman being operated on, looking rather pale and clammy with nothing on her. Parts of her flesh had already been cut into, but her chest was still moving up and down. You anxiously waited for Mitsu's assessment while casting your own look from afar, more focused on keeping an eye out for any unwelcomed surprised.
"Alive!" She called out with a relieved sigh. "Lots of cuts though, and some of the chrome has been removed already. I think she'll pull through though"
You let out a matching exhale of relief. Even if there were bodies all about still, at least there was one less corpse tonight. "Good. Try to bandage her up best we can, then maybe I can call Azumi-"
Both of you froze when there was a rumbling sound, like an engine drawing near, from above. "The other Scavs," You swore and quickly checked your magazine. Still enough bullets. "Stay here, clear your gun! Cover the victim until I give the all-clear."
Mitsu nodded and quickly began to try and force the jammed pistol clear while you darted back upstairs. The rumbling grew closer and you realized they were parking in the front, at a fairly short distance away. You neatly pressed yourself to the side of a window and tried to listen in as they got out of their vehicle. You frowned when you picked up on the coughed chokes of the vehicle engine, which sounded like it was about to go out at any moment from mechanical failure. Already, it was evident there had been chaos, but not of your making.
"Literally walked into a crossfire-"
"Who the fuck thought it was a smart idea to take a right there-"
"Bunch of stupid gonking students! I call bullshit!"
"Shut up! They're closing on us, get in and hide it out! With any luck, those two idiots will blame each other!"
Your eyes narrowed. It sounded like the Scavs were trying to slip between a gang conflict between the Vendetta and the Secondborn Ronin, with plans to use your new home as a place to lie low. Well, it was yours now, and you didn't accept their roommate application. Their footsteps drew nearer, closer, and you inhaled.
Then you spun out of cover to fire away with barks of your pistol and punching through the already cracked shop windows. This time, you didn't bother with your suppressor, feeling that this had to be the last group of them. Your gunshots rang out and the Scavs were clearly taken by surprise from your attack.
Your shots landed among them and there were cries of surprise and pain. One dropped but the others, perhaps still riding an adrenaline high, managed to only get winged or glanced. They quickly scrambled back and dove into their van, intent on using the thing as cover. You frowned and dove back in cover, taking in a deep breath.
It was fine. You still had better cover than them. To help center yourself, you ejected your pistol magazine and loaded in fresh one, wanting to have a full load for the firefight. Though could it really be called one if it was just you and a few others? That little joke helped put a grim smile on your face and you readied yourself for the draw.
(Initiative (Yuuki vs Scavs): 82 +10 (Reflex) = 92 vs 73 )
They may be still hyped on adrenaline, but they weren't cool and professional like you. You neatly slid out and fired before they could pull their pieces out on you. You fired through the van's windshield, trying to hit the ducking Scavs inside.
Your Towa 14 barked in automatic mode and sprayed a narrow stream of bullets that punched through the van's dashboard and into the Scavs. They cried out before becoming limp, collapsing in the seats. You waited a moment and scanned the van, but it seemed like you got them all. You exhaled to let the tension exit your body while you lowered your pistol. "Mitsu. All enemies, taken care of."
"Gah, just when I finished unjamming?" She complained, but she was obviously glad. "Good. I've tended our guest best I can, she'll need proper aid beyond what we can provide for more."
"Very well." You frowned when there were shouts from afar with flashlights going about and you sent a message to your partner. "Hold on, keep your head down. Something's happening on the street."
"Ah, do you need help?"
"Keep on standby for now, I'm going to listen in." You darted through the door and behind the now-inert van engine. If you had to guess, those unhealthy sounds from earlier were from earlier bullets punching into the machine and now with your own, it had flatlined for good. It might be a bit complicated to fix, but you were relatively confident you could maybe do it.
Then again, did you really want a cheap white van that used to be a tool for Scav kidnappings?
You shook your thoughts out of your head as the two groups of voices drew near and risked a peak around the corners. On one side were a bunch of people wearing a mix of corporate wear and school uniforms, matching what you've seen of the Secondborn Ronin so far. Your identification software confirmed it so, with many of the young faces in the group recorded by the police as having strong ties to the gang. They were wielding an amalgamation of bats and pistols with very few real weapons among them. They looked determined, but your eyes could see the underlying nervousness and fear in the confrontation.
On the other side was a group that couldn't have looked more different. They wore long trench coats over suits with fedoras in dark colors, almost like they had walked straight off a movie set in the dark alleys of Italy. The weapons they carried certainly weren't antiquated though and you had to restrain your inner Lycoris instinct to seize the very illegal weaponry they were carrying around. You observed how cool and collected they all were even in the face of this showdown, with an underlying hint of bloodlust beneath their focus visage.
The one leading the Vendetta, you focused and scanned in particular. Or rather, you tried to, only to realize with slight shock you couldn't, because they were wearing a mask. An...interesting mask, one that resembled the hooked beak of some sort of avian. You recalled it being used historically for plagues or something like that. Your more pressing issue was that you didn't know who this was.
Thankfully, you caught the whispers from the Secondborn Ronin that at least knew this one's moniker. "That's La Peste…"
"The personal Ripperdoc of the Vendetta? No way."
"What's with the getup?"
"They say that he's scarred beyond belief from a botch cyberware installation, so he wears something to mask his face."
"I've heard he can operate on a screaming assassin without anesthesia in a dumpster, if need be. He's good."
"I do prefer my patients sedated and unfeeling to the procedure, and my preferred operating table is one that is sterile, thank you very much." The masked individual dryly called out and the corporate students tensed up. "Nevertheless, that is neither here or there. Tonight, I am here on personal business and to exact justice."
"Justice?" One of the Secondborn Ronin came forward, carrying a portable projector akin to those seen in antiquated classrooms. Through the projector screen, the book with a human face that symbolized Pauper flickered to life, their voice echoing through the system. "You trespass on Secondborn Ronin lands with a large amount of killers. How can it be seen anything short of an attempted takeover by the Vendetta?"
"They? They are simply my patients who've decided rather generously to accompany me tonight. I would have approached alone, with maybe one or two hired hands to help me out. But one thing led to another, and now I've got some of the best hands of the Vendetta here," La Peste smoothly replied and gestured. "But we're not here to take your territory. We're here for vengeance."
That word seemed to rippled through the assembled Vendetta and there were more than a few eager grins. You gritted your teeth, remembering that despite how noble Mitsu thought of their code, the Vendetta really were in it for a way to sate their bloodlust and just needed the slightest of justifications to pull the trigger. You focused on Pauper and listened in on their response.
"Vengeance? I am very much unaware of any serious grievances held against us by the Vendetta. If anything, I believe us to be generous." The icon flickered. "We have so gracefully allowed you to operate in the neighborhood on a case by case basis, purging corporate targets who you have taken contracts out on. We have done so despite us having every right to deny your pursuits and move to cooperate with the local security forces."
"But you know that the moment you go to them, they'll come for you afterwards." The Ripper simply stated and Pauper stayed silent. "So let's not get them involved. Once again, this is a personal thing- I am after whoever klepped Vendetta members in the neighborhood. Simply turn them over, and this can all be nicely resolved."
"Klepped?" The Fixer asked through the monitor, a hint of surprise leaking through. "You've lost members here too…?"
La Peste tilted their head. "I see that this is a shared issue."
"Yes, but as much as I've wanted to track them down, a certain gang's pressure on us has me rushing to focus on getting as metal as possible into the hands of my numerous clients," Pauper electronically growled. "So it seems we both can work together then. Stand down and let us search in our territory-"
"No." The Vendetta member simply declared and behind him, their patients eagerly flicked safeties off. "We've lost enough here already and can abide no more losses. Let us hunt for the culprit ourselves. It will be much faster."
"Absolutely not! Not in our lands!" Pauper barked and the students nervously flicked their own safeties off as well. The tension in the showdown was rapidly escalating now, and all it could take is one itchy trigger finger to set it all off.
You noticed all this while frantically messaging Mitsu. "Quick, send me a picture of the victim we rescued. Also zip open those bags and crates, send me all the pictures!"
"An odd request, but one I will do so." Moments later, the picture came through and you pushed it through your analytical software, comparing the picture to known profiles in the Kagoshima law database. Moments later, you had a match.
That had to be one of the kidnapped Vendetta members. A few heartbeats later, then a series of gruesome images featuring a very displeased Mitsu came through. As expected, the bags were bodybags filled with dismembered limbs, heads and torsos. Facial recognition pinged them as a mix of both Vendetta and Secondborn Ronin identities. Then came the harvested cyberware, a mix of both legal and illegal augmentics of both street and corporate make. These also were undoubtedly from the gangs. A picture was being painted now, one that made too much sense.
The Scavs were kidnapping members of both gangs in the neighborhood and trying to frame both sides. Given their soundproofed basement, there was no chance of them being discovered and the bodies were being properly disposed of through bodybags instead of throwing them in dumpsters to call a day. It was a slick and clever organization, one that set the two gangs at each others throats while the Scavs scored paydays.
The question now was, did you want to take advantage of this dangerous situation to possibly eliminate one of the two? It'd likely end up being the Secondborn Ronin, but perhaps you could try for a flank of the Vendetta while their backs were turned. You could also call out and introduce yourselves, along with explaining how the entire situation came be. The immediate return of the victim Vendetta would likely immediately prove your story and defuse the situation, and perhaps an offer to return the harvested cyberware. That could earn you a bit of respect from both gangs, a show that you were being very open about your intentions.
Or...you could tell Mitsu to keep that tucked away. It'd certainly make for a very nice sale under the table, if you could figure it out. After a moment, you sent a message to Mitsu with your decision.
[ ] [Showdown] Let the two of them fight it out.
--[ ] Take no sides
--[ ] Take the side of the Secondborn Ronin
--[ ] Take the side of the Vendetta
[ ] [Showdown] Break up the fight with an explanation, and a return of Erika as proof.
--[ ] Return the harvested chrome to the gangs
--[ ] Keep the chrome to sell later
[ ] [Showdown] Call them out and offer to sell them the solution to their situation...for a price.
- Hm, the rolls do seem high, but that's mainly because it's very close range + surprise + Towa firearms are just very accurate guns. I might experiment a bit more, but I'm fine with mostly accurate pistols at closer ranges, especially with your service weapon. At most, maybe just tweak the range bonuses.
[ ] [Showdown] Break up the fight with an explanation, and a return of Erika as proof.
--[ ] Return the harvested chrome to the gangs
We've got absolutely zero leverage to hold over these people in regards to the last option, they'll just shoot us if they believe we have the gang members. Murdering the Secondborn Ronin is certainly an option, but Pauper is clearly on their side and not physically present, so we'd have a very pissed off fixer on us likely for the rest of our days. Taking down Vendetta would be fun, but not super viable.
Keeping the Chrome back to sell might've been a play in the world where we didn't have Mitsu with us.
