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Post by skybright on Aug 3, 2006 22:05:12 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "Great. Now all we need is for Asagi to get her spectral tail back here, and we can get out of this neighborhood."
Eric nodded and shifted somewhat nervously. "Well, I mean -- she can't get caught, right?"
"Let's hope not." Daws muttered, searching the street.
A few more tense moments passed before a faint, pearlescent figure appeared, half-walking and half-drifting across the street. The figure moved slowly to the cross-legged form in the shadows and sank into a sitting position, merging with the physical body as it did so.
After another moment Asagi Tam blinked and let out a deep breath. "Well," she said quietly, "That was informative."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 3, 2006 22:12:56 GMT -5
"Well, let's not go into it here," Vance muttered. "We'll be seeing enough of this neighborhood tomorrow night. C'mon, troops."
The Grenadier led the way back to the van. The group held its silence until they were ten blocks away, and he glanced over his shoulder at the amateur spies in the back.
"So what goes, kids?"
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Post by skybright on Aug 3, 2006 22:25:16 GMT -5
Eric produced a number of folded sheets of paper from within his leather jacket and spread them on the van floor. "Well," he said, gesturing at the sketched floorplan of the warehouse, "I got the locations of the security video cameras marked out -- looks mostly like pretty standard fixed-lens stuff, but we better have someone take 'em out or, y'know, we're gonna all be stars."
Asagi nodded. "The cameras along the outer perimeter of the warehouse seem focused mostly on spots that would offer hiding places -- the main brunt of spotting intruders lies with the guards on patrol." She ran a hand over her dark hair. "There is one guard stationed at the video post, near the northwest corner of the inner 'building', and one stationed at the inside of the only working door to the outside. The others are on constant patrol -- two of them along the outer perimeter of the warehouse, and two of them closer to the lab itself."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 3, 2006 22:36:39 GMT -5
"Tiernan doesn't take any chances," Vance murmured. "We'll need some quick and powerful people to take those guards out. Have they got some kind of alarm system to yell for help to home base?"
Bender nodded. "Looks like there's a few different panic buttons inside the lab, too, so the scientists can lock down and wait for reinforcements."
Vance frowned. "We'll have to take that out. Is it on a land line or wireless?"
Bender shrugged. "I'm not sure."
"Then we'll just have to be equipped to kill it either way."
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Post by skybright on Aug 3, 2006 22:39:40 GMT -5
"I don't know about the land line," Daws said, "But we've got a guy at Our Lady -- Timothy -- who can take care of anything wireless. He was with us at the Murfeeston Bridge, so he's already had some experience under fire. Give him a little room to work, and anything that broadcasts on any wireless band is as good as buried."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 3, 2006 22:51:12 GMT -5
"Fine." Vance rubbed his chin. "Maybe we can get an electrokene to take care of the land lines--just send a jolt through to fry any modems and telephone receivers. We'll have to time it right, so the zap doesn't announce us too early."
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Post by skybright on Aug 3, 2006 22:59:43 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "Ana Cordova might be okay for that job -- she's learned a little caution since she got knocked on the head at Murfeeston. And that could take care of the cameras for us, too." She scratched behind her left ear. "Guess that leaves us with the main problem -- the guards and the scientists."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 3, 2006 23:14:07 GMT -5
Vance smiled savagely. "For that, all I've got to suggest is a mutant blitzkrieg. Between our two groups, we oughta have plenty enough people with a lot of useful tricks. Once we've knocked out communications, we assault the place and immobilize the whole crew as quick as we can. Then we can pick over the spoils at our leisure."
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Post by skybright on Aug 3, 2006 23:20:01 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "Get in, get what we want, get out -- and leave Nick Tiernan with no clue of how we found the place." She grinned ferally. "I like that."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 3, 2006 23:32:07 GMT -5
Vance smirked. "While we're at it, any objections to leaving nothing but four walls and a smoking crater when we're finished?"
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Post by skybright on Aug 3, 2006 23:36:41 GMT -5
Daws laughed brightly. "Oh, far be it from me to deprive you of your simple pleasures, Major." She replied, stretching her arms lazily above her head. "Tiernan's lackeys'll let him know what went down without us leavin' any pesky physical evidence behind us, anyhow. Blast away."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 3, 2006 23:47:32 GMT -5
Vance chuckled, but then he sobered. "Alright, well, there's just one more problem we've got to think about. Unless we want to scrag everybody in the place and leave no witnesses, it'd be pretty risky for you to be seen there. So either you're gonna have to fix yourself up a pretty nifty disguise, or..." He shrugged. "Just sit this one out. And frankly, in that case, I'd miss your company."
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Post by skybright on Aug 3, 2006 23:53:27 GMT -5
Daws grinned and ducked her head. "Nice of ya to say that, Vance. But don't worry -- I've got no intention of lettin' you have all the fun." She shrugged. "I've got a ski mask I can dig out for the occasion -- and with a little work, I can probably keep the tail outta sight long enough to do what we need to and get out. That ought to be good enough to prevent any unpleasant recognitions."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 4, 2006 0:03:50 GMT -5
Vance chuckled grimly. "Okay. Just be careful."
By now they had reached Daws' office. Once Daws, Sid, Asagi, and Eric had climbed out of the van, Vance leaned across the passenger seat to exchange parting words.
"We should meet here for another strategy session before we dive in. Just name the hour for the rendezvous, detective."
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Post by skybright on Aug 4, 2006 0:07:47 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "We oughtta plan for after dark -- say ten o'clock. I'll bring my folks, and you bring yours." She grinned. "And we'll give Nocturne somethin' to shout about."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 4, 2006 0:17:19 GMT -5
"You bet we will. This oughta be good." Vance gave Daws a small salute, then pulled the van away from the curb and headed off to take his own operatives home.
"I'll be here for the party," Sid said to Daws, and frowned. "An' so will Foxy an' the Doc. I wish..." He shrugged and smiled ruefully. "I wish we could get those two to just settle down, get married, an' forget all this. But I guess that ain't gonna happen until it's all over."
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Post by skybright on Aug 4, 2006 0:22:36 GMT -5
"Not a chance, Sid." Daws sighed and shook her head. "The Doc's determined to stay in until Tiernan's down -- and you know as well as I do that Alex'll never back out without Miriam." She smiled wryly. "We ever wanna see those two settle down, then the only thing for it is to take Tiernan out. Just one more motivation, I guess."
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Post by Jordanna on Aug 4, 2006 0:35:18 GMT -5
"As if we needed any more," Sid murmured tautly, and nodded. "Okay. I'd better get back to the Club to pick Foxy up an' go home. Either of you need a lift?" he asked Asagi and Eric, turning to them.
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Post by skybright on Aug 4, 2006 0:40:31 GMT -5
"Nah, thanks, man." Eric grinned. "Reliable Dosage is playin' down at the Black Cat. The night's still young." He raised a flirtatious eyebrow at Asagi, who blushed slightly and glanced at Sid.
"I think I'll go with Eric. Thank you for the offer, though."
"Kids and their newfangled rock music." Daws rolled her eyes good-naturedly and nodded to Sid. "I'll see you tomorrow night, then. Be careful out there."
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