DownloadCastle

"Now that you put it that way mate, I'm glad I left my car at home."

"Gentlemen, from what I understand, mess and bodies are part and parcel to the business that you have placed yourselves into. And there's the key point...this is business. If you cannot abide by the terms set by your prospective employer then you shall not make it very far or long in this particular line of work that you have chosen for yourselves."

"Either you are taking the job, or you are wasting my valuable time...time that would be better spent in an attempt to locate another team more amenable to following instructions and who would be willing to accept our more than generous compensation package to do so."

"Hey! I said I'll do and I'll do it. These two have to decide of they'll join me."

Turning to the Runners, "Go hard or go home gentlemen. Are we doing this?"

'I'm in, just don't expect me to finish the run if I hear a ticking noise'

"I's in brah, lets get dis show on da road."

Mr. Johnson takes all this in stride, appears to check something for a moment on his AR, and then looks back to the team.

"Now that we have that behind us, I have some news. It would appear that the support assets that we placed on assisting you in your task have come through in a rather creative way. I am now transmitting the proposed route to each of your commlinks...if you note, it's been purposefully left rather vague to take into account improvisation and adaptation on your parts due to outside influences that might not have been predicted. However, you'll also note that there is a general gist to it."

Those checking the map file will see that the route includes several roads and highways that run through the Pueblo/CAS and CAS/UCAS borders.

"The reason for this is thus: our outside influence has managed to arrange for some traffic...peculiarities...along those roadways for the next several hours. Due to the expected traffic jams along the way, you should find that while it may take you somewhat longer to reach your destination, the border checkpoint guards should be far too busy to do anything more than a cursory examination of your papers and vehicle(s)."

"Alternatively, should you prefer I can offer you introduction letters and contact information for two coyotes, Stalker and Peaches, who specialize in crossing the particular borders in question. Whichever method you use is totally up to you...the Koshari expect results, not micromanagement."

The good news is that trying to cross the Pueblo/CAS border during the equivalent of rush hour traffic means that you can expect a more cursory inspection than at a quieter time. The bad news is that this means one extra look at your SINs and licenses than you were planning on going through today. It also means getting your working gear through a security scanner. So, decision time – try and go through on your own, or try and contact Stalker, and put your life in the hands of a coyote you’ve never met.

'I would rather trust what we have with us, than putting ourselves in the hands of contacts, I say we get through on our own.'

"Ok Mr Johnson, could you give us a minute to work a couple of things out?

The Koshari nods as he begins packing up his things

"Take all the time you feel you need. I've just transferred your initial payments to your respective comms. We are finished here unless your team is deciding to take me up on the offer of the use of our coyotes. Remember...7 pm, sharp. The recipient does not appreciate nor forgive tardiness..."

TD waits for the johnson to leave.

"Ok, fellas. We might have a problem..."

'What would that be then?'

"I don't have a Sin, fake or otherwise. It was kind of deleted when I left the R.A.A.F. But I have a plan. Sh4k4, I'm gonna need your help. Can you do a matrix search to find the plans for the old sewers under the city. Add any that are close to the routes the Johnson gave us, to the map he gave use."

Sh4k4's eye's go out of focus for a few seconds before returning to normal. As they do, TD's commlink goes off, this time playing the Legend of Zelda 'item aquired tune'.

"Ok, it looks like my plan is possible. Here's the deal, when we get close to a check point, drop me at the entrance to a sewer or subway, and pick me up on the other side. We shouldn't have too many problems, might end up cutting it fine for the deadline."

'Don know, sumting don't feel rite bout dat. You go in dere by yourself, gonna end up maki"

"Heh. Mate if I was that easy to kill, I would be dead long before now."

Thinks for a minute, then pats his guns hanging in there holster. "It's not like I'm defenceless. Plus this Jacket doesn't just look good, It's a RAAF pilot jacket. They look after there pilots."

"I could always follow you on my bike and use it to race though the subway tunnels under the checkpoints. Might be better way to do it. I could be your escort."

"'Dere be more tings on 'eaven and earth den are dreamt of in your philosophy'"

"hmph. Like I care. And I think I'm getting used to the way you talk, I understood all that. Anyway, what do you think Mister, Uh, what is your name mate?