tagpuan:// the reign of greed.

[MadameButterflyKnife]

#63(b).

>Any important looking targets in the area it could snipe as a diversion?

The first thought is, of course, sniping a guard is a diversion. But it might not exactly be the diversion you want. No incredibly important people. however, nothing that could count as a VIP. None of them are going to be working this early in the morning, they have more entertaining things to do.

Substances, of course, now that's a different story. Most of the maintenance is done around this time, where there aren't too many people in the building to make a big fuss about the smell and the noise. You find a couple of things that would be exceptionally distracting, especially given the guards' heightened senses. It was something you've noticed for a while about them. When they built you, with the powers of an aswang infused into you, they made it so you could always sense the spikes of chemicals in their blood, as if their emotions were a treat for you. An impractical treat, but one intriguing all the less.
As a result, you'd know what would distract them. Something that overwhelms the senses. And there's a couple of things that could do that, from your vantage point. The electricity that runs through this city, bottled typhoons from plugged in diwatas trapped in golden shells, is exposed right now, as people repair the frays. One shot could create a large spark, an explosion of light and fire that could distract them.
There's also the droids cleaning the windows. Target one of them, and they would burst into a nice little display, wouldn't they?
And of course, one that would be highly effective but also irritate the rest of your coworkers at best; they seem to be moving out all of the various garbage at this point. Trash, waste, impractical things that have no use but rotting away in the Patch. They're all perfectly tied up, but one good shot could get that whole dumpster spilling out, with whatever noxious and flammable gas comes up with it.

[Florien]

Last chance to object to this course of action.

The unit prepares. It's done this hundreds of times before. Cutting the power could shut off the alarm, but it would be better to be in the building when the power cuts. That's when there's the most advantage to be gained, and everyone could make sure the power cutting won't cause problems down the line, like making automatic doors stick, or setting off some fail-safe or other. Taking out a cleaning droid would be quite the display, but it's unlikely to be much of a diversion, the momentum means it might not fall far from the building, and would only move the guards a short distance.

Now, a fire, burning trash, who knows what deadly substances and explosives may be created from that? Besides, surely the guards would need to put it out, lest it damage the building.

Once again, the best course is the one the co-revolutionaries are the most likely to object to.

>Start lining up the shot towards the dumpster. Don't fire just yet, wait to see if anyone objects first.

[awe921]

"... right. I'll go secure that elemental you mention- I feel them too."... right. I'll go secure that elemental you mention- I feel them too.

"If they are the kind you suspect they are, we could use them to force our way underground in case we need to make a louder entrance.If they are the kind you suspect they are, we could use them to force our way underground in case we need to make a louder entrance.

"Generally someone we'd want to have around in case stealth is compromised."Generally someone we'd want to have around in case stealth is compromised.

... Omen takes his time to stare out at where exactly #63(b) is aiming and, honestly, he sure loves not having a face nor a nose right now.

> Look for the elemental. If they're lower, jump down and approach them- ladder issues later down the road be damned.

[MadameButterflyKnife]

> Look for the elemental. If they're lower, jump down and approach them- ladder issues later down the road be damned.

Yeah, she's on the streets below. If you want to approach her, she is there for the taking.

[Florien]

No one has objected. It's time. It's go time. Remember your orders. Get ready. Three. Two. One.

It's lined up the shot. That which was previously worthless is about to have a use. They cast aside so much, and now they've foolishly made it useful again, in its own right. Mission truly is a failure. An explosion, a fire, a distraction.

It will be amazing.

>Fire at the dumpster, then get up and help Omen grab the hostage/potential ally while the guards are distracted, then rush in to the building behind Syringe and Kartono.

[awe921]

"Okay, it's on. Follow my path, #63(b)- the path I take should not demand too much of your acrobatic skill."Okay, it's on. Follow my path, #63(b)- the path I take should not demand too much of your acrobatic skill.

Omen jumps off the rooftop, skipping from lower and lower tops until they eventually are at the same level as their fellow elemental. He's leaped off these more times than he can count, and he's only had a bad landing like, 4 or 5 times. Eventually, they start to feel less like rooftops and more like steps of a very big staircase, a staircase that Omen had climbed up, down, and maybe even sideways more times than he can count.

> Jump down to the elemental, rooftop by rooftop, making sure to descend in such a way that #63(b) can follow without too much difficulty.

[artsyGeek]

.. is he a bit worried of this failing? Quite a bit, yes. Especially considering #63(b)'s track record.

There is also the fact that it specifically aimed at the trash. That's. Certainly gonna cause havoc, yes, which would be pretty good (because yay to distractions) ... If it weren't for the potential aftermath.

Well, he better not hesitate now. If that's his concern, he should've spoken sooner. Hopefully, it'd be worth the shot.

>Once the shot is made, and once the guards are distracted enough, go back down and sneak into the building using the least occupied entrance at the time. (Most likely the front door, but we'll see.)

[MadameButterflyKnife]

#63(b).

>Fire at the dumpster, then get up and help Omen grab the hostage/potential ally while the guards are distracted, then rush in to the building behind Syringe and Kartono.

We zoom in on the two guards by the alleyway. One of them is tall, muscular, with her hair shaved on both sides. The other's more lean, and about a head shorter. They could pass for human, by the bypasser, but there's a subtle hint to both of them; the harsh scales on the former's hands that could almost be mistaken for some naganata-style implant, or the golden, hawkish eyes on the latter. The more inhuman forms were always left reserved for the backburn and backstage, to show power and dominance within the ranks of the company. But for something like simple outdoor guard duty, Mission always liked their beasts to be tame, domesticated, not scaring the suits that walk past. To be tame meant to be in control, and to let that guard down meant to admit weakness, that even Mission would need to resort to the inherent chaos of the universe.

They are quiet, unyielding, against the soft noise of the city. They are focused, so focused that they don't even notice the shot #63(b) makes until it's too late, and the dumpster explodes in a celebration of waste.
The smell is absolutely horrendous. Omen, #63(b), you are both lucky that the people who created your forms had decided that a nose was superflurous.
Kartono, Syringe, and Alzena. You three are not so lucky, as are the guards, who are taken off guard by the sudden explosion and stench. It's enough to take anyone off guard, to release the natural defenses of the little gods and superficial souls that haunt this city. The place is drenched in the anitos of the old world. And trash. It is very much also drenched in trash. Flaming trash, set ablaze by the stray sparks of electricity and magic and the heat of the bullet #63(b) just shot.
All the experienced guards are running to the carnage, including the two in the front. You can tell who the unexperienced ones are, as they're the ones who are already part beast, running in a panic just like the wild animals who they invoke.
They won't notice you.

>Once the shot is made, and once the guards are distracted enough, go back down and sneak into the building using the least occupied entrance at the time. (Most likely the front door, but we'll see.)

> Jump down to the elemental, rooftop by rooftop, making sure to descend in such a way that #63(b) can follow without too much difficulty.

Kartono, Syringe, and #63(b) rush into the building, being greeted by the front lobby; a show of gilded walls and ceilings, bright neon lights that seem to move along with you as your shoes click against the tiled floors. It's not as busy as it could be, but the room still overwhelms you with just how much screens and holograms are in your face, giving reminders about company announments, new products, PSAs about security, social feeds, all the stuff that you've been used to seeing elsewhere, but has always been just the more overwhelming here.

Omen follows behind, but not before approaching Alzena. Alzena, your art, already interrupted by the near-cosmic threat that is the stench of trash on this city block, is now even further approached by this strange man, with nothing behind his brim but shadow.

[awe921]

"Bad stench, huh? I'm sure the folks who own this building wont mind us sheltering there for the time being."Bad stench, huh? I'm sure the folks who own this building wont mind us sheltering there for the time being.

Omen nods towards the building in an attempt to look cool. (He probably does NOT look cool. At all. But the more noticeable stench should disguise Omen's epic fail.)

> Nonchalantly walk into the building like you own the place, which should hopefully convince Alzena to follow along.

[Jxssie]

Alzena was scared by what was occurring, as it caused her routine to be destroyed. She looked around, before seeing Omen approach her. She wanted to run away, but felt some type of.. familiarity towards them? It was a bit confusing, but decided that if her routine was destroyed, she might as well do something else and get away from the stench surrounding the area.

"  Uhm... W-Wait for me! "

> Follow after Omen into the building with her paint supplies.

[Florien]

Right, we're in, and we haven't set off any alarms, it seems. This is better than could be imagined. This means we have time. Time is valuable.

#63(b) gathers up the group as best it can, now that they're in the building. It's not very busy, of course, but better to talk close together, so as not to be overheard.


So, the plan as I suggest it, we figure out a way to cut the power. Most of us can likely see in the dark, but the most important thing is to prevent any easy alarms going off. This will buy us additional time to locate a chokepoint and fortify it to hold the line while others of us figure out an exit strategy. We'll also need to make sure the security footage is compromised, if possible.

For the education of our new friend here,

(The unit gestures towards Alzena)

we have three targets here. Our primary target is information ON targets. Classified company information. Where their executives are, where their important projects are, home addresses if possible. The secondary target is executives. Executives should be captured on the off-chance we encounter someone of status, we can hold them for ransom or execute them in display-fashion as needed later. The tertiary target is highly skilled employees and valuable and difficult-to-replace equipment. They fall into the same category, that of "targets to destroy with extreme prejudice." They're the thing holding Mission up, not the executives, and the less stable Mission is, the easier it will be to fulfill our objectives. And of course, remember, anything valuable we can't take with us should be destroyed. We need to deny everything to Mission we can, and really make a statement with this strike. Bigger statement, more rebels, more rebels, more potential recruits for us, to use as administrators, targetters, analysts, cannon fo... "shock troops", and other important things that a rebellion needs.

The unit pauses for a moment, then starts clarifying.

This means if you have a choice between the primary and secondary objective, you choose the primary. If you have a choice between the secondary and tertiary, you choose the secondary, by the way. Any objections to this plan, any additions? Because now is the time.

[awe921]

"We should look for a way to identify the targets you mention first."We should look for a way to identify the targets you mention first.

"It'd be far from efficient if we just looted each and every document possible, hoping to find something good amidst all the random stuff we grab."It'd be far from efficient if we just looted each and every document possible, hoping to find something good amidst all the random stuff we grab.

"The secondary and tertiary targets you mention, that being the executives, employees and equipment- the three Es should be far easier to locate however."The secondary and tertiary targets you mention, that being the executives, employees and equipment- the three Es should be far easier to locate however.

"Perhaps we can hold up and interrogate an executive on the locations of the primary target? Then we can find out where's where in this building from them."Perhaps we can hold up and interrogate an executive on the locations of the primary target? Then we can find out where's where in this building from them.

[MadameButterflyKnife]

You all stand underneath the lights of the lobby, and you contemplate your plan.

Information is the most important thing, you remember. And you recall that Mission tends to put the most important information on the higher levels of the building; it's meant to be easier to extract from an office if the time comes, but the unspoken reason was that it was far from the filthy masses on the ground, and with height came defenses and prestige from such people unworthy and unqualified to touch it.

As for executives, well. They would also be on the higher levels; if you find high-access information, you'll find an important cog in the machine along with it. Very few of those office drones would be trusted with it.
As to how to get up, well, the elevator is the most obvious way. But it comes with its risks, the main one being how heavily used it is. If you go up it, you'll probably end up having to risk interacting with other suits, unless you successfully pass yourselves off as belonging here.
Of course, there's also the stairs. Less security, less cameras, less interactions, but there's one major, major downside.

No one likes taking the stairs.

[Florien]

We're taking the stairs, obviously.

says the untiring robot who doesn't get tired and probably has very exciting stair-climbing technology installed.

Chances are the elevators need clearance to get to the higher levels. We'd need keycards. Whereas on the stairs, the biggest impediment is likely to be a security guard blocking the upper floors, who we can just cast down the stairs if needed. Unless Mission wishes to be flashy, and have high-tech security but nothing low-tech up there, in which case we can likely just punch through and escape through the roof.

>Start Moving towards the stairway. How many flights could it be, Michael? Fifty?

[artsyGeek]

>Follow the bot up the stairs.

"Wait, so," Kartono says, lowering his voice just enough that only the gang can hear it, "Sorry if this was brought up earlier, but, are we going to split up for this plan or are we sticking together? 'Cuz on one hand, splitting up might save us some time doing each task, but in the off chance we get caught, we wouldn't have as much defense as we would if we were to stick together."

[awe921]

"It's best we stick together for now. A more split group also means more ends where our stealth can be compromised."It's best we stick together for now. A more split group also means more ends where our stealth can be compromised.

> Follow the bot up the stairs. Nobody likes taking them, and that's why it's the safer option.

[MadameButterflyKnife]

the stairs.

(before we begin i am. very sorry about how long this took to update. i was very busy with my actual job and i didn't realize i would be so. sorry.)

You in fact, take the stairs.

The building is tall, reaching for the skies, and the stairs are almost abandoned. They're for the purposes of emergencies, you all recall, in case something awful goes on, but since Mission likes to present itself as free of the flaws and incompetencies that create such an emergency, the stairs are almost never used, and barely maintained. You step upon trash and dust as you make your way up.

Omen, your undead vigor and the many souls that surround you keep you spry throughout the trip. As does your mechanical making and the power of the aswang that runs through your circuits, #63(b).
The same cannot really apply to the rest of you. Alzena seems the worst off; having never known a life outside the plugs and the chains of a Mission power generator doesn't really help the stamina. But it works. You sneak through to the top, only to find a gate, asking for a biometric scan or a permit card. Behind the gate, sits some Missionaries who seems to have had the same idea as you five; that since no one likes the stairs, anything is fair game. One has the metallic and stone eyes of a duwende, seeking any sort of break or respite. A little metal vapor pen sits in their hands; Mission never approved of that sort of thing while on the clock. The other, however, seems to have the steel heart of a mortal being, looking down on them.
"Get up. Get up. You're due to be sent up to repairs, anyways, you need to fix the boss up. He'll collapse if you don't get off your butt."

You could get a pass from one of them, to get pass this gate. Persuasion, threats, those might work. You could also just break through the door if you want, but that might attract attention.

[awe921]

"Hold on. Stop for a moment."Hold on. Stop for a moment.

Omen halts his ascent he picks up on the sounds of the conversation, faint as they may be.

"... they must be employees. Missionary, enforcer, whatever they may be."... they must be employees. Missionary, enforcer, whatever they may be.

"First idea was to get Syringe to act like a Missionary, but they likely caught onto your missing status by now."First idea was to get Syringe to act like a Missionary, but they likely caught onto your missing status by now.

"Which leaves me this idea... if we're fast enough, I and likely #63(b) could hold the both of them up. I'll take the speaking one. Any objections to this plan?"Which leaves me this idea... if we're fast enough, I and likely #63(b) could hold the both of them up. I'll take the speaking one. Any objections to this plan?

[Florien]

Hold up as in hold hostage, or hold up as in lift up physically, or hold up as in distract them? Clarify.

#63(b) whispers at Omen, clearly skeptical despite not having planned for the eventuality of encountering two employees at once.

[awe921]

"Hostage. We'll hold them hostage, interrogate for information and then knock them out so we can loot whatever equipment they have."Hostage. We'll hold them hostage, interrogate for information and then knock them out so we can loot whatever equipment they have.

Omen glances towards Syringe. He surveys the former missionary- while they did have the voice of one of them, their leave must have been noticed by the rest of Mission at some point.

Omen then looks down, to the dust and garbage collecting on the stairs he's on. While Mission may care about how the machine looks from outside, they certainly do not care about the inside workings- the parts that could damage that pristine image of theirs too much. Perhaps Syringe's escape went unnoticed by all but the higher ups?... Mission certainly seems to be a company that withholds information from their own.

"... No other ideas right now. So, shall we? Or does one of us have a better idea?".. No other ideas right now. So, shall we? Or does one of us have a better idea?

[Florien]

#63(b) approves of this plan, clearly, though it freezes for a good while trying to find an objection. Eventually, it moves slightly and gets ready to attack.

Seems reasonable. If one's valuable though, we may have to kill a hostage. As said, the non-elemental will be yours to claim. I'll take the Duwende out of commission as soon as possible. Ready? 321go!

>Draw the combat knife and tackle the Duwende, and try to cut some motor nerves in their wrists to prevent things being built and protections being granted. That one's probably the more dangerous of the two to leave standing.

[awe921]

Omen nods, and sets his sight on the non-elemental. He takes a step up on the staircase.

His sheath and holster shakes.

Draw.

> Rush up the stairs, and OH SHIT THE GATE

Omen brakes. Time slows down- there's only mere fragments of a second for him to make something of the fact that he forgot the gate existed.

And then, it comes to him. His lack of limbs are the greatest boon he can possibly have in this situation.

> Using your ghostly grip, pass both your revolver and your sword through the bars of the gate, and hold both the Duwende and the non-elemental at the point of your weapons- the gun for the Duwende, and the sword held up to the non-elemental's neck.

"Open the gate, and I'll make sure you two live."Open the gate, and I'll make sure you two live.

[MadameButterflyKnife]

#63(b) and Omen, you two lunge, taking the two hostage. #63(b), you do an excellent job at cutting the wrists of the duwende through the barred gates, leaving it bleeding on the ground and clutching their hands. And Omen, just like the shadows that make up your body, you hold your weapons at the two of them, and give your conditions.

The duwende, for its part, seems to comply. An obedient little thing. Perfect for Mission, but in a way, good for you. It doesn't seem to want to try and fight what's about to happen, and simply leans its head against the cold barrel of Omen's gun, clenching its wrists as the little pen drops to the ground, cracking open, blood mixing in with the oil spilling across the floor.
The mortal seems a little more persistent.
"...Looks like the boss really is going to have to wait. I feel bad for him. Now. Before I deal with you, it would be nice to know who you two are with. Just for the report. You'd be kind enough as to tell us, right?"

[Florien]

#63(b), who is surprised at how well that worked out, tries very hard to think of a plausible rebellion movement name who should be targeted for reprisal instead of them, on the off chance this one lives. Start Generating List of plausible names...

The Popular People's Front for Liberation, of course. Now, would you inform us of your qualifications, human of Mission, so that we may know to whomst we shall owe our defeat?

[MadameButterflyKnife]

The "Human of Mission" just stares up at the two of them. "Never heard of your group. Sounds like a perfectly generic name, good publicity. If we're dealing with formalities, you can refer to me as the Agent_CC. Most of you crazed elemental groups aren't so polite."
The employee is feminine, and tall, especially compared to the duwende curled up in a ball on the ground. She's wearing rose gold accents on a simple, monochrome suit, and grabs Omen's sword in her gloved hand. "Now, we can put the swords down. A bit silly for you guys to resort to violence so quickly."