Conveyex Heist

[Underguard]

A man in uniform approaches the Conductor's perch, holding a datapad; the cargo manifest. The hovertrain was due to make a series of stops while offloading it's cargo. Some of it standard deliveries, some of it far more precious. As the aide makes their way up, they walk past several armed and armored security forces from Northern Gun. Hired professionals to keep the cargo safe. The aide makes it into the Conductor's room to find the Conductor reviewing the route. "Captain, the shipping manifest. As requested, a security detail has been placed throughout the cargo area with access restricted. The civilian cart is secured with passengers finishing boarding. We have one more secure item being loaded and will be ready for departure at the specific time." The aide states as the Conductor takes the manifest.

"Good work. Make sure security services are prepared for potential raiders along the route. Our route has six stops before we reach our final destination. The cargo making it all the way there is paramount." The captain states as the aide nods, stepping forward. "Forgive me, but what is so important that? Are we that sure of a raid?" The aide asks as the captain laughs. "The client paid a considerable amount to keep that secret. When someone pays that much to keep something on the down-low, expect trouble." The captain responds as the aide nods, stepping back and not asking more questions. Whomever the client was, they wanted their cargo to get there and were paying top dollar to ship it.

The aide returned to his rounds, double checking with security and the loaders before overseeing the final passenger boarding before take off. One hour, 15 minutes. The aide thought, timing out their departure time from the hub. Runs like this always made everyone on edge.

[Underguard]

Location: Manistique
Weather: Cloudy (20* Celsius/68* Fahrenheit)
Time: 9:00am

The Spooks are able to gather some basic, and not so basic information on Hover Trains but not specifics as each train's manifest is locked down. Lahz finds that his NGME card alone doesn't get him more information without some additional sweet talking. Lahz also determines that cargo manifests and shipping are locked in weeks in advance, so the Spooks are unable to simply rent out a box car with their own faux cargo. However, passenger carts take new patrons up until departure assuming the train isn't full, and most of them aren't.

The Spooks arrive in Manistique a day before the Train is scheduled to leave and scope out the area. The Train Station is a behemoth with several Hover Trains standing by, uncoupled and powered down while the next departure readies itself. From here the Spooks are able to observe the trains and finalize any plans they may want to do. The passenger carts are near the rear of the train with the box cargo coupled closer to the front. Each of the box cargo carts are huge and seem to have a small security detail for them. The business inclined can tell that Northern Gun likely cares more about protecting the cargo than the passengers in the more dire of circumstances.

The Spooks have the day to finalize their plans and observe and search for last minute intel. They must secure passage, or determine the best way to gain passage before their target train leaves.

What are your intentions?
GM Note: The target Train leaves at 9a the next day which gives the Spooks just under 24hrs.
If you want to acquire more details about the specific train, some skill rolls will be required.
If you want to observe the current trains departing and garner more than basic information, some skill rolls will be required.

Lahz:
Vheld:
Mierin:
Wayne:
Lynch:
Meg:
Orrucks:

[Lahz]

Perception [51%]: 1d100: [11] = 11 [+15% involving Electronics or Machines]
JiC D20: 1d20: [17] = 17 :
JiC D100: 1d100: [94] = 94
Telemechanics [100%]: 1d100: [56] = 56

Conditions: Telemechanics (0 ISP, Constant, 5ft, 100%), Mind-block Auto-Defense (0 ISP, Automatic), Sense Supernatural Evil & Magic Energy (1900ft if using magical or psionic powers, 900ft if NOT using powers), Radiate Nature [Weariness, Wariness] (100ft to psychics, 12ft to non-psychics), Roadrunner Power Armor (135/135 MB), Sixth Sense (Cannot be surprised by a sneak attack)

ISP: 231/231 ISP

---

On the ride up, Lahz will give a very basic primer on Hover-trains ... very basic, "A hovertrain is a series of independent hover platforms, each with its own hover systems but reliant on a powerful hover-locomotive for forward propulsion. When the thing gets moving, it becomes a modular transportation setup that can float over rough terrain, shallow bodies of water (ponds, marshland and streams), obstacles, debris, crashed vehicle-type roadblocks ... even scrub and small trees that might stop conventional land-based trucks. Hovertrains cannot cross deep water (20 feet/6.1m or greater), they are too damn heavy and sink, I understand part of our route will cross-water ... but I guess it's just shallow in those areas. They have armed "Defense" or "Weapon" cars have pretty standard dimensions, Height: 28 feet, Width: 36 feet, Length: 80 feet, Weight: 30-40 tons fully loaded ... they sometimes like to disguise these as Boxcars and Passenger-Cars ... so really the Width: 36 feet, and Length: 80 feet, are going to be pretty standard. We are going to be inside the various cars .... You are probably not going to handle things from extreme range. Plan accordingly. Rifles might not even be allowed, though Lynch, you can put on a pretty face ... or something with authority and try and see if you can get a Special Exception and convince ... someone."

Seeing as (per GM Post), they seem to have arrived 1 day in advance, Lahz will tap his comms, "So, do a couple folks want to rotate to watch loading of the Train? See if anything is handled with special care ... our target is allegedly something stolen from a CS Lab, and being smuggled on the down-low. So not sure if it would be in a high security area and folks paid to look another way, or in a general area and disguised ... It's a tough job, that's why they come to us, for problem solving right?"

Arriving at the Station the day-of departure though, Lahz's intelligence gathering is literally 'walk along the train front to back, reach out and tap each car with 1 finger (as-needed) and use Telemechanics [RUE Pg 183, Range: By touch or up to 5 feet (1.5 m) away, Saving Throw: None, 0 ISP for Lahz] ... to determine the total # of Cars, and for each simply determine: Defense Car, Cargo Car, or Passenger Car.

Because the size of the train is set at that stage, theoretically this gives a good idea of the overall landscape [# of Cars, and in what Order] ...

Tentative Plan

Summary for GM:
1) Check the Cryo-Container we were given
2) Go see the Psychic (if there are no recording/transmitting devices) -- Get her to share the vision and any images (since WE have a cryo-container now, it may be easier to know whether one of those appears in said vision)
3) Group Vehicle Modifications (estimating 4 days, if more time is needed then he will not attempt in this time window because the vehicles wont be delivered for 1 week, and anything further cuts things too close)
4) Repair, Repair, Repair, Repair, then, take Group-Transport from Merctown to Lazlo --- GM Please advise if Ship cannot be repaired, and new missiles are acquired so we are leaving with full kit.
5) Visit NG Store with his NGCME Card --- Download/Purchase Specifications for Hover Trains as 'study materials' for a *** Northern Gun Certified Mechanical Engineer
6) [Have Lynch do this incognito] Buy 100 MD Box/Trunk -- Decoy/Empty "Thing @ least some of Spooks are 'Guarding' and reason for being on Train"
6) Buy tickets and take hover-train from Lazlo to Manistique (so that we can get familiar with these trains)
7) Buy additional tickets for target trip ... Manistique --> Lazlo (?)
8) Day-of --- Take Train back to Manistique from Lazlo (this will also take Spooks back to their own vehicle if necessary ... otherwise we can radio the Robot Crew to return and meet us @ Merctown)
9) Pick up Magic Mace when we get back to town.

[Vheld]

JIC: 1d20: [15] = 15 , 1d100: [25] = 25
PER: 1d100: [52] = 52 vs. 79%

Once in Manistique, Vheld keeps his minions in incognito mode. Birga he will assign to guard duty about the team’s main vehicle. Really the only place for a plasma demon unless we need an artillery strike. One and two will remain invisible, floating behind Vheld, while Bakir transforms to mist and does the same. Skarrah will shape-change into a raven and fly behind the shifter, with Sil serving as his mount as always. When they arrive, Vheld will look vaguely irritated and interrupting his studies but at the same time looking forward to a change of scenery. He’ll listen to Lahz’s briefing impassively, but when the psi-tech asks for volunteers to stake the place out Vheld will nonchalantly raise his hand. ”Sil and I can remain discreet in phantom form, and I don’t normally need a lot of sleep. Happy to take part of the night shift.” Otherwise, the shifter doesn’t have much to contribute.

[Orrucks]

Perception: 1d100: [75] = 75 60/% +20% on Perception rolls to determine if an explosive device or ordnance is “live” or a “dud”
JIC: 1d20: [8] = 8 / 1d100: [72] = 72

While the lack of information he could gather on his own is mildly irritating, the Grackle takes what he can get and gets more from Lahz and together gives him plenty to work with and he thinks about what all he'll be bringing before settling on just two smoke grenades and a K-hex plastique cube that he forgets to disclose before they leave.

"I ain't gots none of those fancy scopes, but I'd think I can tell a guy with somethin' ain' s'posed ter." He answers the call for volunteers for recon.

Orrucks takes his time to get to know the area; mapping out the path of the cargo-packing vehicles and paths of least resistance that people walk or maybe run if they needed to be there in a hurry in his head. The better he knows the ways traffic flows, the less likely extra lives get involved he doesn't to count if something happens.

The Grackle Tooth being a Grackle Tooth might at some point find himself among conversation which surely can't be avoidable ad he finds himself in it, staying with the topic best he can without giving away what he does, exactly why he's there, and who he's with. He acts like he's supposed to be there and as present as a Grackle is wont to be. More information on his train would probably only be a unlikely bonus.

Trust: 1d100: [8] = 8 /75%

[Lynch]

Perception: 1d100: [89] = 89 /49%
JIC: 1d20: [18] = 18 ; 1d100: [100] = 100

Current ID: Lynch

Lynch thinks over the information provided by Lahz. Hmm...good information but nothing on the security systems employed by the train...should try to get into the personnel records. See who I could impersonate. Lynch gives a smirk as he thinks of a way to gather more information. "I'll take a look at the RF in the area. Should be able to find the security frequencies and key card usage. Might be able to clone them. I'll also check out their employee data base. See if there's anything we can exploit.

Lynch will find a quite area near the train and set up his laptop and spectrum Analyzer. Lynch will get a baseline recording of the RF spectrum to see which frequencies are being used. Lynch will record for an hour while he plays on his laptop. The scan should reveal the frequency that the train radios, keycards, and other wireless signals are using.

While the scan is running Lynch will use his laptop to gain access to the personnel files of the trains employees. Lynch is looking for general information and performance reports.

Radio: Basic 1d100: [27] = 27 /94% (record and analyze local RF spectrum)
Computer Hacking 1d100: [35] = 35 /64% (obtain personnel files on train employees)
Undercover Ops 1d100: [66] = 66 /89% (if approached Lynch will claim to be confirming radio traffic in the area in order to set his squads radios to an unused section of the RF spectrum to avoid interference)

[Wayne Northblade]

Perception: 1d100: [86] = 86 /49%
JIC: 1d20: [4] = 4 / 1d100: [83] = 83

So this is Manistique…so far, unimpressive. I’ll hold my judgement until I try the food. Wayne listens to the intel that Lahz provides and then chimes in with his own plans. ”I’ll need to outfit myself more appropriately if we are to fit in on the train. I’ll be hitting this nation’s excuse for an arms district and will return immediately thereafter.”

Wayne heads into town and looks for the following items:

N-F20A Medium Force Field – uncommon

Rarity Rolls

Appraise Goods: 1d100: [41] = 41 /54% - PASS
Anthropology: 1d100: [52] = 52 /79% - PASS
Barter: 1d100: [77] = 77 /59% - FAIL
Find Contraband: 1d100: [49] = 49 /59% - PASS
Invoke Trust/Charm & Impress: 1d100: [53] = 53 /25% - FAIL
Lore – Demons & Monsters: 1d100: [49] = 49 /84% - PASS
Research: 1d100: [33] = 33 /79% - PASS
Streetwise: 1d100: [89] = 89 /48% - FAIL

Streetwolf Combat Trench Coat – common
Streetwolf Armored Executive M.D.C. Business Suit Coat – common
Streetwolf M.D.C. Combat Pants – common


If he’s able to find these things, he’ll swap out of his armor and into some more normal seeming clothing, in order to blend in on the train better.

Once outfitted, he takes whatever watch shift is assigned to him. When not on watch, he goes to the train station to figure out how to procure tickets.

[Lithium Meg]

Perception 1d100 /24%: [21] = 21
JiC 1d20: [18] = 18
JiC 1d100: [72] = 72

Current: Sixth Sense, Current Guise:

So, the first job with the Spook Squad will be quite a challenge. Well, she did not join the best to get cold feet now. She listens to Lahz lay out the layout of the train, scratching notes in a small notebook. She intends to memorize and leave one at the base when they get going on the job. An important skill she learned while running with the Syndicate is never to leave behind physical evidence. The train ride up to their intended target will help them get familiar with everything. Her will goal will be to scout out the train they will hit and see if she can locate the bomb. She is loath to get near it, but she also hates the idea of it going off and killing her later down the road with its magic-eating disease.

"I guess I shall use my skills of being sight unseen to scope out the contraption we're looking for. Maybe bribe, browbeat, or whatever information I can glean.

She perks up at the idea of shopping for new clothes. "I'll join you, Wayne. I think I'll go up business class and return to Mercenary Chic when we pull the job. Though with a different face.

Streetwolf Light Executive Trench Coat – common
Streetwolf Light Executive Business suit – common
Streetwolf Executive Slacks – common

And once she is done clothes shopping, she will get something with a little more bang for the trip back will looking totally unsuspicious:

TX-A1 Concealed Shotgun - very rare

Rarity Rolls

Appraise Goods 1d100 /60%: [100] = 100 - Pass
Seduction 1d100 /82%: [31] = 31 - Fail
Find Contraband 1d100 /53% (w Black Market Channels): [93] = 93 - Pass
Streetwise 1d100 /50%: [21] = 21 - Fail
Invoke Trust/Intimdate 1d100 /97%: [31] = 31 - Pass

[Underguard]

Location: Manistique
Weather: Cloudy (20* Celsius/68* Fahrenheit)
Time: 8:00am

During the day of overwatch, Lahz is able to identify four defense cars, eight cargo cars and two passenger cars. One defense car near the lead, one in the rear, then one in the middle of the cargo cars and one separating the cargo and passenger cars for a total of 16 cars being hulled by the main transport head. The Train that departs appears to have at least four flying power armors actively flying with it as it leaves. The next train being loaded has a visible total of eight power armors that operate in shifts in the otherwise heavily guarded train station. Lahz can easily see it'll be nearly impossible to get close to the cargo cars without being spotted.

Orrucks walks the public paths of the Trains and goes as close as he can to the cargo cars without arousing suspicion, though a pair of armored guards do seem to notice him. Fortunately when approached, the Grackle is able to deter them with the provided tickets for the following day's trip though the guards guide him away from the cargo cars towards the passenger cars. Meg and Wayne both take the day and instead go shopping for some basic and common gear that they can take onboard the train. Each acquiring a pair of Streetwolf cloths. Wayne is able to track down a Naruni Forcefield from a black market vendor with the help of Meg who is unable to find a concealed shotgun. [Nat 100 is a crit fail, not pass. You passed Seduction and Streetwise but listed it as fail, failed Find Contraband but listed it as a pass.]

Lynch takes the information provided by Lahz and then sees about passively scanning radio frequencies in the area. Something Lynch can readily identify is that the cargo cars appear to be dead zones. When someone enters them, the radio frequency that he had been tracing completely vanishes. Most of the radio frequencies are encrypted though Lynch is able to at least record them [Need Cryptography to try cracking them; there are three frequencies that are encrypted, three rolls. There is one unencrypted frequency Lynch can immediately access, it being a public one.] Lynch is able to gain personnel files on the Train Conductor, the wait staff in the personnel cars, and the dock workers. However Lynch finds that none of the cargo cars security detachments are listed as anything but "Security Personnel" with various numbers and no other identifiers assigned to them. [Security Personnel -- 1-A1, 1-A2, 1-A3, ... 1-A10, 2-A1 etc etc.] Lynch does find himself approached before the days end and while the guards appear skeptical of his answer, they ultimately leave him alone.

Overnight Vheld watches the train with Silhouette and does see a heavily guarded delivery take place at around 2am. As Vheld attempts to get closer, his peripheral catches the eye of what appear to be Psi-Stalkers on the security team actively sniffing out potential threats that deter him from getting much closer alone. Ronan and Mierin scope out the place overnight with Vheld but don't get much closer than Vheld does to avoid suspicion before their train ride the following day. The next morning comes quickly and the team finds themselves on the platform an hour before departure ready preparing to board. The passenger cars are being loaded and most of the cargo cars are sealed and secured. One of them is still doing a final inspection, but a passing glance shows it to be holding NG equipment.

What are your intentions?
GM Note: Train boarding is underway. You have an hour before departure.

Lahz:
Vheld:
Mierin:
Wayne:
Lynch:
Meg:
Orrucks:

[Orrucks]

Perception: 1d100: [34] = 34 60/% +20% on Perception rolls to determine if an explosive device or ordnance is “live” or a “dud”
JIC: 1d20: [15] = 15 / 1d100: [49] = 49

He has his hands up no higher than his head sits on his body when he is met the guard more reactionary than defensively and remains as calm and more or less innocent as he already was momentarily. "My bad guys, was lookin fer mah car an' don' musta missed it."

Giving them zero hassle, Orrucks goes in the direction he is actually supposed to go and kind as a Grackle Tooth ever is, bids the guard that caught him getting to close to where he is not supposed to be a fine rest of their day. If or when he meets up with other Spooks he tells them, "These fine folks workin' here are kind enuff folk and real helpful."

If he comes across Meg or Wayne in their near cloths he only smirks with, "Why's you all gussied up? I fergit somethin' formal and now I look dumb?

As he boards the train he acts like he isn't there for questionable reasons and even offers a hand to some of the strangers that appear to need the assistance or cracks a joke about himself being a bit as he moves in whatever way necessary to not be unnecessarily in the way of the boarding people.

[Lahz]

BACK << DEF4 -- P2 - P1 -- DEF3 -- C8 C7 C6 C5 -- DEF2 -- C4 C3 C2 C1 -- DEF1 --[[LEAD-ENGINE]] >>>> FRONT


Perception [51%]: 1d100: [49] = 49 [+15% involving Electronics or Machines]
JiC D20: 1d20: [12] = 12 :
JiC D100: 1d100: [47] = 47
Telemechanics [100%]: 1d100: [81] = 81

Conditions: Telemechanics (0 ISP, Constant, 5ft, 100%), Mind-block Auto-Defense (0 ISP, Automatic), Sense Supernatural Evil & Magic Energy (1900ft if using magical or psionic powers, 900ft if NOT using powers), Radiate Nature [Weariness, Wariness] (100ft to psychics, 12ft to non-psychics), Roadrunner Power Armor (135/135 MB), Sixth Sense (Cannot be surprised by a sneak attack)

ISP: 231/231 ISP

---

Lahz will get whatever info the others have to turn in, then snaps a screen-image of the open cargo car (OOC: is it the one where the high-security delivery was previously made? which Car is it?) as he spends a couple minutes watching the final loading (OOC: are they loading with Droids? Automated systems? or Workers?). *Let's see, if they are going to have Droids handling loading or other automated tasks on the Train, I can get access to one of those via possession ... do some recon that way ...* He taps the radio, "Ok folks, we're gonna hop aboard. Lynch, what name are you using so we can all say we are on ________'s security team."

He boards the train clad in a large reversible trench coat over the lightest PA on the market (his weaponless 'Roadrunner' PA). The Psi-Tech is armed with a heavy looking pistol, and a knife, but no long-arms. He boards from the last passenger car [P2] so that he can look over the spacing and where people are seated, but will move up to get seats in several of the rear-rows of the 1st passenger car [P1].

If/when provided with info on the radio frequencies that Lynch previously located, Lahz will try to decrypt them:
Cryptography [75%]: 1d100: [59] = 59 , 1d100: [98] = 98 , 1d100: [43] = 43
Electronic Countermeasures [66%]: 1d100: [13] = 13

Tentative Plan

Summary for GM:
1) Check the Cryo-Container we were given
2) Go see the Psychic (if there are no recording/transmitting devices) -- Get her to share the vision and any images (since WE have a cryo-container now, it may be easier to know whether one of those appears in said vision)
3) Group Vehicle Modifications (estimating 4 days, if more time is needed then he will not attempt in this time window because the vehicles wont be delivered for 1 week, and anything further cuts things too close)
4) Repair, Repair, Repair, Repair, then, take Group-Transport from Merctown to Lazlo --- GM Please advise if Ship cannot be repaired, and new missiles are acquired so we are leaving with full kit.
5) Visit NG Store with his NGCME Card --- Download/Purchase Specifications for Hover Trains as 'study materials' for a *** Northern Gun Certified Mechanical Engineer
6) [Have Lynch do this incognito] Buy 100 MD Box/Trunk -- Decoy/Empty "Thing @ least some of Spooks are 'Guarding' and reason for being on Train"
6) Buy tickets and take hover-train from Lazlo to Manistique (so that we can get familiar with these trains)
7) Buy additional tickets for target trip ... Manistique --> Lazlo (?)
8) Day-of --- Take Train back to Manistique from Lazlo (this will also take Spooks back to their own vehicle if necessary ... otherwise we can radio the Robot Crew to return and meet us @ Merctown)
9) Pick up Magic Mace when we get back to town.