Part 1: Uninvited Guest

Arh Seattle, the Emerald City, shining crown on the UCAS, an oasis of civilisation surrounded by hostile wastelands... or so the tourism people would have you think. Between the rain and the smog the sun rarely showed it's face these days, but that suited those who kept to the shadows. So did the fact that unlike most metropolis', Seattle had a wide mix of ethnicities, metatypes, and those who felt like having a 100% natural body was boring. While for the most part you had to really make an effort to make people raise and eyebrow at you appearance there were still those who didn't like just how cosmopolitan the city was.

This is where out little story is set, but it really starts in a bar, as these things often do, called The Alabaster Maiden. The is named after Gabriella Dematto who, according to local legend, overstepped her abilities while trying to escape from a go-gang and inadvertently became permanently petrified as the alabaster statue that now stands at the entry into the club. The bar itself was small, once you got past the statue and large Troll bouncer at the entry it opened into a cosy, dark room that had a bar running along the entire length of the eastern wall.

On the western wall there were numerous small alcoves in which tables were positioned for those who wanted a little more privacy, with the rest of the floor being full of standing tables. At the far end of the room from the entrance was a small dancing area that rarely got used unless a particularly energetic group of first-timers came in. The furniture was minimalist with, simple one piece moulded plastic chairs and tables being the norm. Overall the bar was clean, the drinks cheap, the soy flavoursome and the clientele mainly kept to themselves. The music was a safe mix of popular music that avoided any extremes and was played loud enough to make overhearing others difficult, but not so loud that you had to yell to those nearby.

All this makes the Alabaster Maiden a fairly popular place for shadowrunners to come to to talk biz, though there are enough regular bar-goers to make sure the 'runners didn't stand out. Both Jane and Evan had found the place independently of each other, and the first time they'd run into each other it had been a pleasant surprise. Tonight there were a few less people than usual and the mood was a little subdued. Outside it was raining, as usual, and the sun had just sunk below the horizon. Things had been relatively quiet in the shadows, with both Jane and Evan having not had a job in a little while. That kind of thing was nice if you felt like you needed a break, but the enforced idleness was starting to grow tiresome. Both of them had come to the bar simply for something to do as much as to unwind from the day, and they'd just met at their usual table. It seemed like it was going to be another quiet night...

Motoko Kusanagi, known in the Matrix as the Major, came to the Maiden often enough. Sure, they served soy instead of real food, and they weren't Japanese, but the drinks were not completely horrible, and at least she could make contacts here. And at the moment, she needed that more than she liked avoiding the gaijin, since work had been slow recently, and she had bills to pay.

So here she was, a long leather coat and a shirt concealing the chameleon suit she wore when she was hoping to do some work, drinking a glass of the house wine, and scanning the room for people who may be looking for a hacker.

Evan had been going around presenting himself as 'Charles' for some time now, though of course when it came to runs he ran under a Handle just like everyone else in the world. In his own case he'd been running around with the somewhat odd handle of 'Molo', which was really just a short form he'd taken from 'Molotov' as in Molotov Cocktail. It had been intended as a nod towards his slightly pryomaniac tendencies that had gotten him into the demolitions buisiness in the first place. So much so he'd become rather well known for it on the whole. Time to time he'd actually make a little extra cash on the side by making a few explosive toys for other people, but that too came with a reputation of it's own. He never made car bombs, or anything else deliberately aimed at killing civillians by and large. Not that his explosive toys had not killed people, but he prided himself on cutting down on 'collateral damage' unlike so many others in the seedy undebelly of the buisiness.

But, considering his preference to avoid collateral damage, it also ment his skills were not that often in demand, and work sometimes became scarce such as now. For there were other demolition experts out there who were far more willing to blow up a bunch of people for money, where as Molo tended to just like blowing things, rather than people up. Hell he'd do it for fun time to time when he was bored. But the lack of work is what drove him here and noting a friendly face on the AR he tosses out friendly heads up to 'The Major' before actually moving to join her at her chosen table. "Hoi Chummer, how you holding up these days?" he'll ask as he sits down "Been keeping yourself buisy?"

Motoko also had a reputation. Even for a hacker, she seemed to be constantly online. At the very least, she never dropped out of AR, unless there was something critical that she absolutely had to drop out of AR for. And unlike other hackers out there, she appeared to be using the cheapest comlink available, though some of the rumors said the comlink was just a shell, and a more advanced system was underneath.

And then of course there was how she behaved in the matrix. She reacted to the Matrix much like shamans reacted to the real world, and she treated her 'agents' and drones as though they were her own children, rather than tools. There were even a couple rumors that said she was a technomancer.

Motoko saw Molo's message, and brushed aside a couple windows as he sat next to her. She'd worked with him before. Very capable with explosives, which provided a good cover for her hacking or sniping work. Nodding to him, she said, in her accented English, "I have been getting by, though I thought it would be good to line up some work. I do hate waiting until the end of the month to find the cred to pay for my rent, don't you?"

Molo simply grunts in response to Motoko, his social graces always were a little on the lacking side. While he did not really classify as a shut in, he tended to keep to himself and was never all that great at dealing with people. "Yeah well, same boat I guess." he admits after a moment leaning back in his seat as he glances over at the AR based menu and promply orders himself an alcoholic drink. "Work would be nice though, if not for the money then for the fun neh?" he adds with a slightly lop sided smirk. His own english of course being as close to flawless as it will ever get, though his grasp of other languages was rather wanting outside of sign language he mostly used for his work as a runner. "Got my drek out in the car incase something comes up, though I kinda doubt we'll wind up doing more than having abit to eat and a few drinks."

Famous last words?...

At that very moment there was a sudden commotion at the entrance to the bar, you can hear the troll bouncer raising his voice, clearly not happy with something that was happening. After a moment you see those near the doorway all take a step back and everything goes silent just like a scene from an old western, but this was more in shock. Stumbling through the doorway is a tall pale looking elf wearing torn and scorched clothes. As he lurches further into the room you see that he is also bleeding from numerous scrapes and laceration and is having trouble staying on his feet. His breathing is ragged and you can tell he's been running hard, and you experience in the shadows tell you it was most likely from something, not to. You see the bouncer's form fill the doorway behind him, but he's looking confused and doesn't seem to be making any effort to stop the elf as he continues to stumble across the room.

Your heckles rise when you realise his erratic path is carrying him over in your direction, and you can hear his ragged breathing as he eventually collapses to the floor only a meter from your table. He looks up, his eyes desperate, the rest of his face twisted in a grimace of pain. (English) "Help me," he says in little more than a whisper, "you must help me." His eyes search around him looking for someone, or something. Just about everyone recoils at his searching gaze, unfamiliar and uncomfortable with what they saw. However, as runners this is nothing that you haven't seen before, even if not quite in this setting, and he seems to sense this his eyes locking with yours. He drags himself closer, wincing with every movement.

When he's near enough he reaches up and puts one bloody hand on the table, the solid thunk it makes as it hits indicating that there was something in it. As he pull his hand away, leaving a streak of blood in it's wake, you see a dark black crystal of some kind and a datachip. "You must get this to Lyra," he takes a hissing breath, "of Gaia's Way. You must." His voice, while quavering with pain if full of conviction, beseeching you. His eyes start to loose focus for a moment, then you see a pendant he wears around his neck start to glow, ever so faintly. Even in his shocked and injured state he seems to be aware of this and manages to get one of his hands to it, his fingers cradling it gently. His eyes close for a moment.

When they flick open he's staring directly at Mokoto, surprise evident through the pain, "You're one of them, the one's they want to slay." For a moment he looks straight at her, confusion and bewilderment in his eyes. Then the moment is gone. The wounded elf then turns his head to the doorway, "They're coming." He looks back at the two slightly stunned runners, "you must not let our kind be slain, they must not be allowed to carry out their plan!" Then, calling on some reserve of strength you didn't think he had, he gets back to his feet, his eyes clearing of pain for a moment. "I'm sorry to inflict this on you, but they must be stopped, and my team and I have failed. Please, get these to Lyra, she will know what to do."

At that moment you can again hear the bouncer's booming voice ring out from the entryway, this time even louder in the silence that had fallen on the bar. "Hold it!"

Then another voice penetrates into the bar, thick with malice. "Kill it. We must retrieve that crystal." Then the sharp crack of automatic weapons fire splits the air.

"If you want to run I should be able to hold them a short while," the fatality in those words stops him for a moment, but he doesn't seem to be afraid of the implications. "I'm afraid they're going to know I gave these to you before too long." The wounded elf looks back at you for a moment, "I am sorry, but you simply must get that crystal to Lyra, it's the only hope for out kind." This last bit he says to Mokoto. "Everything Marcus managed to get is on that datachip, I hope it's enough..." Then you see an intense look of concentration cross over his face, feel the air around you start to crackle with energy and you realise this elf must be a mage; one who was preparing to make a final stand.

At that sight you realise you must choose; fight or flight... you might be able to bluff your way past whoever was coming, but it didn't seem like they were much in the conversational mood, but it wouldn't be long before whoever it was came through that door...

Motoko was about to respond to Molo when the commotion began at the door. As she pockets the crystal and the datachip, she looks to Molo. "Time to go. You wanna come along? There's room in the van." And with that, she heads for the back door to the Maiden, intent on getting out while the getting's good.

Oh yeah, speaking of that van? Down the street, a heavily armored Bulldog Step-Van roars to life, even as two doors open in the side of the vehicle, and launches two heavily armed and armored Steel Lynx drones. The three vehicles drive in formation, to the alleyway where the rear exit to the Maiden opens up, the drones serving to cover the escape route, even as Motoko brings up AR windows to see the situation outside, as they see it. She wasn't worried about someone shooting her babies. Unless they had an assault cannon with them, they weren't likely to get through their armor. But they did allow her to get a first-hand look at the situation, at no risk to herself. And nothing said love to people who are trying to kill you like a couple bursts of high explosive rounds from a machine gun!

At this point things start to get a little chaotic. Almost everyone in the bar starts moving away from the door where the through which the clubs bouncer had presumably just been killed. Some back away slowly, watching the doorway carefully, others turn and run for cover. In the midst of this Mokoto gets up and fires up her drones as she starts across the floor. She's about halfway to the door leading to the back alley when several men armed with MP5s and wearing armoured vests move into the doorway. Their movements tell of some familiarity with their equipment and working as a team, but is not the precise movements of military personal. Still, a step up from your regular gang members.

---
Perception tests for more details on Attackers
Mokoto: 4 Intuition - 1 Defaulting + 3 Visual Enhancement - 0 Low-light = 6d6 = 1 hit
Molo: 5 Intuition + 3 Perception +1 Visual Enhancement - 0 Low-light = 9d6 = 3 hits
---

Both of you spot a man standing a little behind the 3 goons. He is a taller man wearing the same basic gear as the others but with a long white trench-coat over the top and a large revolver in his left hand. Through the mass of people Molo manages to catch sight of something, a distinctive badge that each of them is wearing on their left shoulder. He's sure he's seen it somewhere before...

---
Memory Test
Logic 3 + Willpower 3 = 6d6 = 2 hits
---

... it's some logo that he'd seen a while ago on a news cast, some kind of terrorists? Unfortunately you can't identify it, but you know you'd be able to recognise it easily if you saw it again.

The elf sees the men enter as well and he extends one hand towards them. You sense the power the elf had been mustering suddenly release, like a chain snapping under too much load, and a silent bolt of pale blue light streaks from his palm to strike the nearest goon. The goon staggers, dropping to one knee and looking very much like he might pass out. But he regains his feet, even if the effort it takes is clearly now immense. The toll it takes on the elf to cast the spell is also clear and he staggers backwards, also on the verge of collapse.

((ooc: we'd better do the rest in combat, even though you may not be fighting, knowing how far you're moving each round will be important))
---
Initiative rolls
Mokoto: Initiative 8 + 3 hits = 11
Molo: Initiative 11 + 5 hits = 16
---

Initiative Order:
Molo: 16 (3 passes)
'Leader': 14
Mokoto: 11
Goons: 10
Elf: 9

"Frag." is Molo's own response as he reaches behind him to pull out his pistol from it's concealable hoslter hidden under his jacket, though his attempt to quickdraw it out of the concealable hoslter doesnt go quite so smoothly, meaning he only gets a chance to pop off a single shot rather than the two he'd intended at the unknown attackers. It makes him at least glad he always wears some form of armour though he knows his form fitting suit wont stop anything all that serious. "Got my own car, I'll follow you, meet up somewhere and go from there." and with that he's quickly on his way to following Motoko out the door towards the alley way even as he brings his eye recorder online, figguring that trying to identify the goons later will likely be important. However, knowing that he's cybered for combat while she is not he's not about to let her go through so much open space without any form of cover, as such he does his best to fire while keeping on moving towards the exit in order to offer some form of cover in hopes that the return fire will make the other guys at least try and duck down for cover. At the very least the slugs from his Ares Predator should do some decent damage in return, but his primary focus at this point is to get the hell out of here, not rack up a body count.

(OOC: Not sure if any of the speach etc counted towards my combat actions given that I didnt have a chance to respond to Mirkon etc before the next GM post went up, and I wanted to at least get a picture or something of the attackers so Motoko could follow up on things later.)

(Pass 1)
Free Action: Speach/Activate Eye Recorder
Simple: Quickdraw: Pistols 4 + Reaction 6m = 10d6 = 1 Hit
Simple: Fire Weapon: Pistols 4 + Agility 7 +2 Smartlink = 13d6 = 4 Hits

(Pass 2)
Free action: Run
Simple: Fire Weapon: Pistols 4 + Agility 7 - 2 Running +2 Smartlink = 11d6 = 6 Hits
Simple: Fire Weapon: Pistols 4 + Agility 7 -2 Running +2 Smartlink -1 Recoil = 10d6 = 2 Hits

(Pass 3):
Free Action: Run
Simple: Fire Weapon: Pistols 4 + Agility 7 - 2 Running +2 Smartlink = 11d6 = 7 Hits
Simple: Sprint: Running 1 + Strength 5 = 6d6 = 2 Hits

(( OOC: speech is a free action as you know, I really don't mind so long as it's nice and short. In my head there's roughly 6 seconds a combat round, so if you could say it in that time all is fine, but I'm not going to get draconian about it Also I just realised the goon that got hit by the elf's spell should have been knocked down, so he'd on the ground, only a moan of pain indicating that he was still conscious... I'll assume you're shooting the next nearest goon Molo ))

While he might have fumbled his quick draw Molo still draws and levels his pistol at the nearest enemy with remarkable speed.

---
Goon 2 Defence rolls
Dodge: Reaction 4 = 1 hit.
Damage to resist: 5 + 3 net hits = 8p (since it's over modified armour value of 5)
Damage resistance: Body 3 + Armour 6 - Pistol AP 1 = 8d6 = 0 hits
Total Damage: 8p
---

His target barely has time to react before the bullet strikes him in the torso, and even when he does he only manages to turn himself so the bullet slips between two of the plates of his vest. The force of blow knocks him back and he falls back into the doorway they'd just come through. The man in the trench coat sees this and brings his pistol to bear on the man who'd just dropped his associate and fired twice.

---
Firing at Molo (he can't see the elf from where he is)
Agility 4 + Pistols 4 + Laser Sight 1 - Partial Light 2 = 7d6 = 1 hit
Agility 4 + Pistols 4 + Laser Sight 1 - Recoil 1 - Partial Light 2 = 6d6 = 3 hits

Molo's Defence rolls
Dodge: Reaction 6 = 3 hits = 0 net hits
Dodge: Reaction 6 = 3 hits = 0 net hits
---

As he's running he sees the 'leader' lining up his pistol and he drops his weight as he keeps running as the first shot sails over his head and into the wall at the back of the bar. The second shot however was far more difficult to avoid. The shift in weight limited the possible ways that Molo could manoeuvre to dodge the second bullet, even so he just managed to twist out of it's path, but he felt a pull on hit clothing where the bullet had passed through it.

((OOC: Mokoto's turn is next))

Motoko cursed under her breath as she saw the gunmen come into the room. She didn't do firefights like this, damnit! She was a hacker, not a gunfighter! So she did the only thing she could do, under the circumstances. She kept her head down, and made a beeline to the rear exit, running all the way. If she had to push past a few people to do that, oh well.

--
Just running straight for the exit. She wants to get out of there, period!
--

Mokoto kept her head down and kept running for gap in the bar at the north end of the club. As soon as she got behind it she kept low for some cover but kept on running. By the time the Goons started firing she'd managed to get to the corner of the bar and had good cover. The goons however had bigger things to worry about than some chick taking cover behind the bar.

The goon that was still on his feet fired off two short wide bursts at the Elf who had been his original target.

---
Goon 3 fires 2 wide bursts
Burst 1: Agility 4 + Firearms 3 + Laser sight 1 - Partial Light 2 = 6d6 = 2 hits
Elf dodges: Reaction 5 - wide burst 2 - Wound modifier 2 = 1d6 = 1 hit
Damage = 5p + 1 net hit = 6s (did not beat armour value of 6 for Armour Vest, damage mitigated to stun)
Damage Resistance: 3 Body + 6 Armour = 9d6 = 4 hits
Result: 1s damage

Burst 2: Agility 4 + Firearms 3 + Laser sight 1 - Partial Light 2 - Recoil 3= 3d6 = no hits
---

The elf manages to sway out of the way of most of the burst, but the last bullet clips him in the chest. Fortunately the Armoured Vest he was wearing under his much damaged clothes was still in working order and absorbed most of the impact, but it still knocked the wind out of him and he staggered backwards. He probably wouldn't have been able to dodge the next volley at all but the goon was bumped by one of his associates who was trying to get up off the floor and which sent the next burst into the rafters above.

While the goon that had been hit by the mage's stunbolt reluctantly got back to his feet to continue the fight, the one that had been shot showed no such conviction and dragged himself back through the doorway into the entry hall to take cover. Even though he was unsteady on his feet as a result of the stunbolt, the goon who had just gotten back to his feet still managed to level his weapon on the mage and fire a burst.

---
Goon 1 fires 1 wide burst at Elf
Burst 1: Agility 4 + Firearms 3 + Laser sight 1 - Partial Light 2 - Wound modifier 2 = 4d6 = 1 hit
Elf Dodges: Reaction 5 - wide burst 2 - Wound modifier 2 = 1d6 = 0 hits
Damage = 5p + 1 net hit = 6s (did not beat armour value of 6 for Armour Vest, damage mitigated to stun)
Damage Resistance: 3 Body + 6 Armour = 9d6 = 4 hits
Result: 1s damage
---

Again a bullet clips the Elf in the darkness and he staggers to a kneel barely able to stay upright. His face, already twisted with pain, looks up for a moment, and his lips move as if saying a prayer. Then you sense him summoning energy to himself aagin, but this time it's even more intense and you hear him start to cry out in agony even before the spell has been cast. Again there is that sensation of something snapping as he unleashes his power once more. Again a pale blue bolt streaks out to strike one of the goons but this one is even more intense. The bolt's target (the so far uninjured goon) stands transfixed for the second it takes the bolt to arc across the room to him.

---
Elf fires force 10 stunbolt at Goon 3
Magic 5 + Spellcasting 4 - Wound Modifier 2 = 7d6 = 3 hits
Guard Resists: Willpower 3 = 1 hit
Result: 10 + 2 net hits = 12s damage
---

The bolt strikes the guard, whose eyes bulge in disbelief before he collapses to the floor, like a rag doll.

---
ElF resists drain (4): Charisma 7 +Willpower 5 + Focussed Concentration 2 - Wound Modifiers 2 = 12 = 2 hits
Result: 4 - 2 net hits = 2p damage (due to overcasting)
---

The elfs cries fade as he collapses even further, onto his hands and knees, his head bowed. Tears roll unheeded down his cheeks and you realise that he is at his limit. A small amount of smoke can be seen clinging near his skin and the smell of singed hair indicates just how great a toll that last spell had taken on him.

Goon 1:
Shot 1:
Reaction 4 - 2 = 2 = 0 Hits
Damage to Resist: 5 + 6 net hits = 11P
Armour 6 - 1 AP + Body 3 = 8d6 = 1 Hit
Total Damage: 10P

Shot 2:
Reaction 4 - 5 = 0 = N/A
Damage to Resist: 5 + 2 net hits = 7P
Armour 6 - 1 AP + Body 3 = 8d6 = 3 Hits
Total Damage: 5P

Leader:
Shot 1:
Reaction 6 = 1 Hit
Damage to Resist: 5 + 7 net hit - 1 dodge = 11P
Armour 6 - 1 AP + Body 3 = 8d6 = 3 Hits
Total Damage: 8P

Shot 2:
Reaction 6 - 2 = 4 = 1 Hit
Damage to Resist: 5 + 2 net hit - 1 Dodge = 6P
Armour 6 - 1 AP + Body 3 = 8d6 = 5 Hits
Total Damage: 1P

With his intial target out of the fight and cowering in the corner Molo simply ignores him as no longer being a threat, instead popping off a pair of shots at the goon that's still standing even as he continues to move towards the door at a run, his augmented reactions turning him into something just short of a blurr of action. The kick of the heavy Ares Predator in his hand sounding out the demise of the goon in question as first one heavy slug smashes into the man's chest, punching through the armour and into delicate vitals and sending his body into shock. The second round hitting hte man as he falls just puts the final nail in the coffin.

The injured elf at least, will not die alone it seems, nor will a single of his killers escape unscaythed as Molo switches targets once more to the final standing person, the leader of the bunch and snaps off another quick pair of shots as he quickly arrives on Motoko's tail as it were in their bid to escape. The first slug landing with a solid blow through the armour to the man's abdomen, the second slipping through a gap in the armour and gouging a bloody line across flesh before punching through the other side, leaving only a deep bloody graze.

However, noting the wirlwind of damage and destruction he and the elf had unleashed uppon the men gives Molo a slight pause and he yells out a quick offer "I can save him." though his tone is questioning of this, not entirely certain. BUt if he dared to just stop and go back... the odds were good at the moment it would seem if the elf's wounds were not already fatal...

While the first target was dead before he'd even hit the floor, the man in the trench-coat had managed to narrowly avoid the death that was spewing forth from Molo's Predator. He too had been knocked off his feet under the assault however, but he did not make to get back up, nor did he try to raise his pistol. Instead you see him reach over and press something that's on his wrist before he looks up into the face of the man who could so easily kill him and says, "So you would help this creature?" The sneer on his face leaves you in no doubt of his opinion about this decision. "You are no man, and you shall die alongside them."

Mokoto senses something however when his hand had gone to his other wrist, the buzz of a powerful wireless signal. If she was paying close attention to the sensor relays from her drones she might also notice that there was a rather intimidating van coming down the street towards them. The elf is still almost immobile on the ground, on hands and knees, the effort needed to so much as raise his head clearly beyond him.

((ooc: sorry it's short, brain is fried from work... Molo starts the next initiative pass))

Realising that there's not a whole lot of time left, and deciding that he doesnt feel like screwing around with the 'leader' anymore, Molo simply calmly walks back in, shoots at the leader and anyone else who makes any move to mess with him before trying to grab the elf and run the hell out of there with the injured elf in tow. But not before firing a quick AR Message at Motoko <I'm gonna go grab the elf, he's still alive and the others are down>

Pass 1:
Free: Speach
Simple: Fire Weapon: Pistols 4 + Agility 7 +2 Smartlink = 13d6 = 7 Hits
Simple: Fire Weapon: Pistols 4 + Agility 7 +2 Smartlink = 13d6 = 4 Hits

(OOC: Provided nothing else happens the next 2 init passes will be spent grabbing the elf and running like mad.)

Molo stares down the barrel of his pistol at the body of the man whose white trench-coat was now stained red with his own blood. Keeping an eye out for the goon that had slinked off into the entryway Molo heads over towards where the elf was still somehow managing to stay up on hands and knees.

---
Perception test:
Intuition 5 + Perception 3 + Vision Enhancement 1 - Distracted 2 = 7d6 = 2 hits
---

When you get closer you realise just how surprising this really is as you spot many bullet holes in his clothing along with the tell-tale deformation in the underlying vest of impacts. On top of this he has numerous scrapes, cuts and abrasions on the visible parts of his arms and legs and other parts and discoloured by massive bruises. This man had been through a lot. As you're bending down to try help him up you notice what looks like some kind of patch on his arm. It looks like a fairly standard medical slap-patch, probably a stim-patch.

The Elf flinches away from your touch, his face turning towards you suddenly, his eyes wide with fear for a moment before a dull realisation seems to come into them before he passes out and falls to his right onto the floor of the club. You realise you're going to have to carry him... While the elf was slender, he was also tall, and you guessed he weighed about 70 kilograms (154pounds). This was going to be a little difficult.

---
test to pick up elf
Body 3 + Strength 5 = 8d6 = 4 hits
---

Bending at the knees you grab him tightly and hoist him into a position you can use to position him across your shoulders in a fireman's lift. You do the entire action in a single motion, using the momentum of the initial lift to easily get him into a comfortable position. Once you had the unconscious settled and got back to your feet you started making your way towards the exit, still keeping an eye on the injured but conscious goon who was still scrabbling across the floor away from. "Please, please don't shoot me," the goon begged, pain and fear warring for dominance of his features as he clutched the gunshot wound he'd already received.

Mokoto had made her way through the staff room/kitchen and had followed some of the other patrons out through the door to the alley behind the club. She came out of the side alley into the car park near where she'd got her Bulldog to pull up. Immediately she felt safer being in proximity to her drones. Just as she as coming out of the alley Molo, elf in tow, came walking out the front door of the club. He was walking backwards, keeping his pistol trained on the last goon to make sure he didn't try anything.

---
Perception tests,
Mokoto: Intuation 3 - Defaulting 1 + Vision Enhancement 3 = 5d6 = 3 hits
Molo: Intuition 5 + Perception 3 + Vision Enhancement 1 - Distracted 2 = 7d6 = 1 hits
---

Molo was too preoccupied keeping an eye on what he had his pistol pointed at to notice the van heading their way at speed, but Mokoto saw it. It was large, heavy, black and looked to be reinforced and modified in several ways. The glass was tinted, and you suspected bullet-proof, and there was definitely enough room inside it for it to be bringing a whole heap of trouble; and that was assuming it didn't just try to run you over which seemed like a distinct possibility considering it was only a few blocks away and was coming towards you at quite a speed...

Molo decides to try and husstle it as best he can while carrying the elf, knowing he doesn't have much time. Though at this point he's slightly more concerned about the stranger than he is about himself. That doenst mean the new lot of goons are going to be just as easy to deal with however. That said, he'd really, really like to know what the hell is going on, and what the frag this elf put them in the middle of, and the best way to do that, is to keep his dandilion eating hoop alive.

Free action: Via AR To Moko: <I dont think we are going to get out of here before his backup arrives.>
Simple Action: Sprint: Running 1 + Strength 5 = 6d6 =
Simple Action: If possible open van door (if it's not already, otherwise toss the elf in)

(OOC: Wanted to get the post up, apparently the dice roller site is down atm. Or at the very least, I can not presently access it)

The van door opened itself in front of Molo, allowing him to toss the elf in. Moments later, Motoko leapt into the van herself. She left the door open long enough for Molo to get in, if he wanted, and then it shut on its own, even as the van and twin combat drones drove off, away from the oncoming nastiness. That van looked as rugged as hers was, and she was willing to bet that it had better guns on it.

She didn't bother with the elf, for the moment. She was busy dealing with the AR feeds of the van and three drones, directing them in a standard formation. After they turned a corner, the van's exterior changed color, taking on the colors of a Renraku corp security vehicle.

As they started moving, Motoko's eyes closed, and in the comfort of full VR, she reached out with the Resonance, to get what she needed to take care of this little pest.

--
Threading a Scan CF. Resonance 5 + Software 3 = 8 Dice = 3 hits
That gives me a rating 3 Scan CF.
Resisting Drain 3S. Resonance 5 + Willpower 3 = 8 Dice = 2 hits
I take 1S.
Scanning for trailing vehicle's node. Electronic Warfare 3 + Scan 3 - 2 Sustained CF = 4 dice = 2 hits
--

With the unconscious elf unceremoniously dumped in the back of the van Mokoto had waited just long enough for Molo to decide if he too was going to get in or not... whatever he decided they couldn't afford to wait long, so after waiting a few heartbeats she punched the van around the corner, the tyres screaming as they channelled the engine's power to the road.

Mokoto's almost unconscious reaction to switch the outward appearance of the van after they'd rounded the corner might well have confused the pursuing vehicle if it hadn't been for the two combat drones still flanking it and the fact that it was the only van speeding down that particular road didn't help either... but you did feel the familiar tingle of increased comm traffic when the van comes around the corner behind you.

Stretching out with her innate senses Mokoto tries to locate the node of the van behind her, guessing (correctly) that it's running in hidden mode...

----
To find hidden node, Electronic Warfare + Scan (4) Test...
= 2 hits (you might need to roll for another 2 dice if you were actually Hot Simmed, since you didn't say if you were hot or cold simming.)
----

... but she couldn't sense the node over the ambient signals that washed around her. She could go around and isolate each and every signal around her to pick out those that were hidden, but that would take time ((Electronic Warfare + Scan (15+, 1 Combat Turn) Extended Test)). '

The most pressing thing right now would seem to be loosing the pursuing van, and that might take some doing. They'd been a fair distance back when Mokoto had first gotten in her van, but with the time it took to get up to speed the pursing van was now distressingly close. In fact if they got much closer there was the real risk of them trying to ram one of the drones that flanked her, or maybe even try to tap the back of her van.

---
Chase combat, starting distance 'medium'.
Opposed vehicle test.
Van1: Reaction 3 + Pilot Ground Vehicle 3 + Handling 0 = 6d6 = 1 hit
---

((ooc: Mokoto needs to make her roll on the vehicle test... and let us know if you want to make any 'stunts' etc... if you manage to get more net hits on the opposed test you can pull away to 'long' range ))

--
Rolling the extra 2 dice, then. And technomancers are pretty much automatically hot sim, I believe.
1 hit
Only 1 hit, so I still didn't find it.
--

She was having no luck finding the vehicle's node. There was just too much clutter here. Fine. She didn't have to hack it to beat it. As she thought, she dropped the Scan form, and the Bulldog sped up, increasing its lead on the pursuers.

--
Opposed Vehicle test:
Reaction 2 + Pilot Ground Craft 1 + Handling 0 = 3d6 = 2 hits
Got one net hit, so we go to Long Range.

Initiative:
Matrix init 9. 9d6 = 2 hits = 11.
--

The drones kept their flanking positions by Motoko's van, having had no orders to do otherwise. But a third panel opened in the roof of the van, and from another drone rack emerged a third drone, moving on its gecko tipped feet to stick to the roof of the van. Turning to face the van well behind them, it aimed at the driver's side of the windshield, and fired two rounds from its sniper rifle. Though the flash of light and the sound were dimmed by the internal silencer on the weapon.

--
Using my third drone to shoot at them. Pilot 3 + Tacsoft 3 + Smartgun 2 - Long range 2 = 6d6
0 hits, 1 hit
--

The long range made the shots count for little, but then, they were primarily a deterrent, to get the pursuers to back off.

Not seeming to have much choice, Molo hopped in the van shortly after. THough he'd much have prefered being able to try and get some better firepower out of the trunk of his car, there was simply no time. And so he'd have to come back for his vehicle later some how. As such he was left feeling like a little bith of a fifth wheel at the moment, but he wasnt about to complain. This was how the pair usually worked. Earlier he was in his element, now Moko was in hers. "Please tell me you got some heavier firepower in here somewhere.." Molo will ask over AR as he looks for a decent vantage point to fire at their persuers from the van, hopefully without having to risk being thrown from it durring the chase.

Mokoto guns the van to top speed and races down the side-streets of the city. Slowly she begins to pull away from the van behind her, even as she commands her sniper bot onto the roof to discourage pursuit further. Through the relay from her sniper bot she notices something unusual about the van behind; a hatch opening slowly to reveal a vehicle mounted machine gun.

While the bot failed to correct for a manoeuvre Mokoto had had to make on the first shot, the second is more on target and the van behind has to try to dodge out of the way...

---
Van's Defence roll: Reaction 3 - Handling 0 = 3d6 = 2 hits
Result: Attack misses
---

... the driver of the van, seeing himself looking down the barrel of a sniper rifle, made the wise choice to try to be somewhere else. With a tug on the steering wheel he managed to swerve just enough to make the shot go wide, shattering the rear view mirror that stuck out from the driver's side of the van. As he straightened back up the hatch covering the machine gun on the roof of the van finished opening, the weapon tracking towards Mokoto's van before lighting up the street with a burst of weapons fire.

---
Van's attack roll: Agility 4 + Gunnery 2 + Smart Link 2 - Long range 2 = 6d6 = 2 hits
Mokoto Defensive Roll: Reaction 2 + Rigging 1 = 3d6 = 0 hits
Result: attack hits
Damage: 6 + 2 net hits = 8p damage
Armour value: 28 - 1AP (Weapon) - 4AP (Ammo) = 23
Result: No chance of penetration
---

The burst was fired just as Mokoto was forced through a narrower gap on the street and didn't have any chance to react to the attack, but the van's systems report no appreciable damage from the attack. Inside the van Molo hears the report on numerous high velocity rounds impacting on the van's exterior, and recognises the distinctive twang of armour piecing rounds. Molo is familiar enough with Mokoto to know what she sometimes uses a mighty impressive sniper rifle on occasion, and he tries to locate it while he waits for Mokoto to respond.

---
Perception test to locate rifle
Intuition 5 + Perception 3 + Vision Enhancement 1 = 9d6 = 3 hits
Results: see OOC thread for threshold
---

Mokoto focuses on her driving, trying to open the gap some more and hopefully loose their pursuers.

---
Chase combat, distance 'long'.
Opposed vehicle test.
Van1: Reaction 3 + Pilot Ground Vehicle 3 + Handling 0 = 6d6 = 3 hits
---

--
Vehicle test - 3d6 = 1 hit
--

Seeing Molo talking in her VR field, Motoko chuckled to herself, before she called out into the Matrix. "TACHIKOMA! Take control of the Lynxes, and convince that van to stop following us!" She was a decent driver, afterall, but the guy driving was better than her. Leastways, better than her when she had her attention split like this.

To Molo, Motoko sent the simple message, "Rifle under back seat. But shouldn't you keep an eye on the elf? He looked half-dead, and I don't have time to go and try my hand at first aid right now. My friends will take care of the van."

Next to her the resonance rippled, and a blue tank appeared, before saluting her, calling back in a cheerful, childlike voice, "Right, Major!" Taking control of the slaved drones, Tachikoma slid them forward in a combat formation, and in unison, they opened fire.

--
Drone 1: Firing 2 Narrow bursts. Recoil compensated.
Pilot 3 + Targeting 3 + Smartlink 2 = 8d6 = 2 hits
Pilot 3 + Targeting 3 + Smartlink 2 = 8d6 = 3 hits
Deals 8P+1/net hit damage, -3 AP, for each shot. +2 DV for narrow burst

Drone 2: Firing 2 Narrow bursts. Recoil compensated.
Pilot 3 + Targeting 3 + Smartlink 2 = 8d6 = 1 hit
Pilot 3 + Targeting 3 + Smartlink 2 = 8d6 = 5 hits
Deals 8P+1/net hit damage, -3 AP, for each shot. +2 DV for narrow burst.
--

Almost at the same time, Motoko commanded her third drone, which she still controlled, to fire again, once more aiming for the driver's side windshield.

--
Sniper rifle action. SA fire.
8d6 = 3 hits
8d6 = 6 hits
Weapon deals 10P+1/net hit, -5 AP.
--

Molo simply shoots back a quick "Dont know the first thing bout patching people up." though he does take a quick moment to check on the elf and see if he's stable or not. "Unless you got some trauma patches kicking round. He's on his own for a while." he relays while grabbing the rifle and trying to see what (if anything) may be fatal to the elf.

Perception Check for Elf's Condition: Perception 3 + Intuition 5 + Visual Enhancement 1 = 9 = 5 Hits
Default to Logic for first aid: 3 - 1 (defaulting penalty) = 2 = 1 Hit

Of course given his lack of medical supplies, even if he spots something there's not much he can likely do, beyond relaying the elf's condition (as best as he can figgure out at least) to Moko. And so Molo just simply switches his present task to making sure the large rifle is ready and loaded and linking up with it before moving to the rear firing port in order to try and help offer some cover fire.

Action set 1:
Free: Speach
Simple: Perception of elf (Observe in detail)
Simple: Pick up Rifle

Action set 2:
Free: Remove weapon safety
Complex: First aid assesment of elf

Action set 3:
Free: N/A
Simple: Ready Weapon
Simple: Fire at van: Firearms 4 + Agility 7 + Smartlink 2 - Attacker firing from moving vehicle 3 = 10d6 = 3 Hits

Potential Damage (If hits target: Not sure what to roll for the vehicle's 'dodge')
11P with - 5 AP (Firing EX-EX Rounds) + 2 net hits

Molo looks down at the unconscious elf where he lies on the floor and take a moment to study him as he rummages through the van. The elf has been sorely treated, almost every exposed part of his body bruised, scraped or marked in some way. His clothes are also worn and dirty, but on closer inspection you can make out an armoured vest the is still secured under his shabby apparel. You can still see his chest rising and falling in regular, if shallow breaths.

Blood oozes from numerous cuts and abrasions, but none of them seems to be loosing any substantial amount, and you conclude that he has simply been pushed passed his limit. This thought it brought back to you by the fact that the thing that seemed to cause him to fall unconscious was his own spell... but hee'd been conscious for a moment after... perhaps what you assume is a basic stim-patch that you can make out on his left upper arm is the cause of his collapse... it would also explain why he'd been able to function that close to unconsciousness... but you are far from sure...

As Molo collects the rifle his attention is drawn to the van behind them. After recovering from the initial confusion regarding Mokoto's chameleonic vehicle, the pursuing van quickly regains the ground it had lost and starts to menace the rear end of the van once again. In response the drones, under the command of the sprites bound to the technomancer, unleash a torrent of fire on the van that was pursuing them.

---
Defensive rolls for Van1:
Drone 1, Burst 1: 2 hits = 0 net hits
Drone 1, burst 2: 2 hits = 1 net hit
Drone 2, burst 1: 2 hits = 0 net hits
Drone 2, Burst 1: 0 hits = 5 net hits
Sniper 1, Shot 1: 0 hits = 3 net hits
Sniper 1, Shot 2: 0 hits = 6 net hits
rolls

Damage resistance tests
Van Armour = 15
D1 B2: not enough to penetrate armour
D2 B1: damage = 13p (vs 12 armour) = Body 16 (4 hits bought) + Armour 12 = 4 + 8 hits = 12 = 1p damage
S1 S1: damage = 13p (vs 10 armour) = Body 16 (4 hits bought) + Armour 10 = 4 + 2 hits = 6 = 7p damage
S1 S2: damage = 16p (vs 10 armour) = Body 16 (4 hits bought) + Armour 10 = 4 + 5 hits = 9 = 7p damage
---

Sparks fly as numerous rounds strike the vehicle, and while the vast majority of the rounds went wind or were deflected by the armour the van protected itself with, a few rounds managed to find chinks through which they passed... thick white smoke started to bellow from the van as one of the guards over a wheel was shot into jagged pieces, one of which started to dig into the wheel as the vehicle sped along... then Mokoto lined waited for the reticle from her sniper drone to line up showing optimum firing trajectory, and fired twice... the high velocity rounds shot from the barrel, spinning through the air before smashing themselves against the vans reinforced window.

The first round fell low, but still punched through the reinforced armour on the front of the van like it was little more than tin foil and proceeded to smash through the interior of the vans front section, severing electronics, tearing through fuel pipes and sundering essential drive shafts and other mechanical joints. The second round smashed right through the windscreen of the van, the 'bullet proof' glass, little slowing, but not stopping the round from it's deadly course.

---
Driver Defensive roll:
Dodge roll: waved (caught by surprise)
Damage: 7p
Body 4 + Ballistic Armour 6 = 10d6 = 3 hits
Result: Driver takes 4p damage
---

The round passes through the windscreen and slams into the disbelieving driver who thought his van impregnable to such small arms fire. The burst of pain caused by the impact of the round causes him to yank the wheel involuntarily, causing the van to veer dangerously off course and towards a pair of parked vehicles on the side of the road.

---
Driver test to avoid crashing (threshold 2)
Reaction 3 + Pilot Ground Vehicle 3 - Damage Modifier 1 = 5d6 = 1 hit *critical glitch*
---

Seeing the impending disaster the driver of the van manages to yank back on the wheel, but instead of causing the van to go into a power slide as he'd intended the damaged wheel instead gets too much pressure put on it causing it to blow with a bang that could be heard even over the gunfire. This causes the van to not only not turn as the driver intended, but causes it to pitch dangerously just as it impacts the parked vehicles. The squeal of tires and the sickening crunch of metal on metal is heard in the street followed by the tortured cry of metal being rent as the van then tips over onto it's side, it's armoured flanks pouring sparks as the momentum of the van causes it to careen a further 50 meters down the street. And this is the sight that greets Moplo as he sights down the barrel of his borrowed sniper rifle...

The vehicle slowly grinds to a halt and starts to disappear behind Mokoto's van as she continues to speed down the road... it would seem that the pursuit had ended...

Now what would happen?...