It's (Still) Honestly A Terrible Plan.

[goneawaymod]

Who: Saturday, Gambit, York, North, Shelly, Brainy
What: A daring infiltration of the executive deck
Where: Exec deck
When: Simultaneous with the riot
Warnings/Notes: None so far.

Saturday watches from the edges of the riot, making a great show of moving furniture and snatching bystanders away from the rolling ball of chaos, until South slips by and murmurs something in her ear.

Then she begins to move, touching a shoulder here, giving a significant look there.  Time to go.  One by one, everyone can slowly depart.  Secrecy is essential; even Jorgmund can add up riot and murder and break-in and get “kill them before they kill you.”  

They can all meet Saturday at the appointed place.  It’s a less-used service entrance to the upper deck, which some may not have even known existed.  She stands with her hands in her pockets, wound tight as a sprinter before the starting pistol.

“Okay,” she says quietly, once they’re all there.  In an earpiece cobbled together by Alia, a New Hire now gone, she says, “Brainy, you ready?  Good.” She looks at the others. “Right.  So.  You all know the plan, an’ the stakes.  Go in, grab as much as you can, get out.  No unnecessary risks, no heroics.  Brainy’s our eye in the sky; once the door opens, we scatter.  He’ll be the only one with the full picture.”

“We’ve got a private channel, but keep it quiet.  No chatter.  If you cut comms, it means you’re burned an’ the op is over.  We will try to get you out.  It might not be possible.  If Jorg realizes what we did, we’re all fucked.  If that’s too much heat, go back.  I won’t judge anyone for it.”

And she means it, too.  Risking their lives in battle is one thing; risking torture and god knows what else at the hands of an enemy like Jorgmund is quite another.  They’ve all heard a variation on this speech from her before, of course, when she approached them with the final plan.  But she seems to need to make sure she says it again, one last time.

“Okay.  Right.”  Saturday turns to the door.  Her hands are too disciplined to shake as she draws out the keycard, but she can taste her heartbeat on the back of her tongue.  It’s always like this before a run, or a fight, in the moment when the ground starts to shift and anything becomes possible - provided you don’t fall.

It makes her feel a little guilty, how much she loves it.

The alarm panel blinks a challenge, and South steps forward.  Planker’s voice emerges from her mouth, speaking the code-phrase stolen from his mind by Stacia and Kerrigan.  The lock processes, taking almost too long.

But the door opens, revealing a branching hallway lined with doors.  Time for everyone to get into their groups, and set off…

Comments

South & Gambit

[goneawaymod]

The path they’re assigned to take aims them around a corner to a flight of stairs leading to an open office filled with dogs (one of the benefits of working at Jorgund: a pet friendly workplace), balloons, and a handful of scattered workers at their desk. It’s dinnertime, but those TPS reports just can’t wait. On the other side, they can see a glassed-in executive-looking office, with papers left temptingly out in the open. It’s behind the office workers, not in their line of sight, though if they turn around for any reason they can see right into the room. Getting to the office in the first place will require some sneaking, too.

Alternately, just a bit down the wall from where they are, there’s a utility door. There’s no way to tell where it leads.

[ownperson]

After they've got a sense of their options and are safely out of sight, South says, making sure to keep her voice in a low whisper: "Imperceptibility lasts me a minute once I get like, 10 feet from you; I could probably make it across to the office at the back, but getting back out would be cutting it damn fucking close."

If it worked as well with everyone else as it did with her brother, she'd have more time, but nope, of course it fucking doesn't. She doesn't even have Delta to time the minute for her anymore, which... well, she doesn't regret giving Delta back, but wow her fucking timing could've been better.

"Still, I could risk it. They won't even notice me if I don't fuckin' bump into something. So if I'm quick enough making it across..." she shrugs a shoulder.

[kingofneworleans]

"More worried 'bout de dogs catchin' scent of you." Remy doesn't speak any louder, but it's certain that the thoughts are turning over in his head. He glances upward, obviously giving it some thought. "Might be able to make sure you ain't more dan ten feet from me at any time. Ceiling's ain't dat high." And vents were easy enough to get into.

[ownperson]

South follows his eye, brow raised curiously, then it clicks what he's suggesting. Huh, yeah, she wouldn't have thought of that. "...that could work. The dogs catching my scent's a risk, but if they're people's pets, not trained guard dogs, they might not give enough of a fuck to give me away even if they do."

[kingofneworleans]

"Even pets might pick up t'ings dey ain't used to." Which is why he normally would carry dog treats with him when he broke into homes. Not very often these days, but it worked. "We manage dis without gettin' pulled, wouldn' min' a look at dat utility closet." But that's for later.

[ownperson]

"Oh, yeah, definitely looking in there if we get the chance. This is our one window to dig around up here, better make the most of it."

She glances back the way of the office and sighs to herself. Alright. No more wasting time.

"Ugh, as if stealth ops weren't complicated enough without shit like dogs around..." she shakes her head, whatever, it's a risk they've got to take. At least if she gets busted she can spin some story to Jorg and hopefully get herself out of real trouble, so better her take the risk out in the open than him. "Let's see if the vents are accessible and then once we know you can be in position, we can make a move."

[kingofneworleans]

"You got de right tools, anyt'in' is accessible, mon ami." A half smile as Remy straightens, looking up at the ceiling. Just needed to find a vent opening and maybe get South to boost him up. Though he could probably manage that much on his own.

[goneawaymod]

The ceilings are about ten feet high, unlike the cramped New Hire corridors. Ventilation grates sit in the industrial ceiling tile at regular intervals, hopefully indicating that the HVAC tunnels go straight through the larger room.

To reach the closest vent, he'll need to shimmy up a bouquet of aesthetically-exposed piping and reach about three, four feet out. The grate will need to be jimmied loose and he's definitely gonna have to jump to catch the edge and pull himself up into the tunnels. All without making a sound.

But hey, he's a master thief, right?

[kingofneworleans]

He is a master thief. And, most days, this wouldn't even normally be a problem. Might be a bit awkward, but South could probably have helped enough to keep it mostly quiet.

However, this place has gifted him with an even easier way to handle it.

Remy takes a moment to stow his boots, then reaching into his pocket to pull out a set of oddly textured gloves and socks. Giving South a thumbs up, he made his way to the wall, though it took an extra few moments because the socks...were sticking to the floor. And then the gloves and the socks were clinging to the wall as he made his way up the wall and across the ceiling. Though, perhaps, not in the most comfortable way as it was only his hands and toes. Still, the vent was just in the right place he could plant his feet properly against the wall to give himself a better foundation.

It also lets him position his body so that the vent cover will fall against his chest.

One glove has to come off, dropped onto his chest, so that he can pull out a screwdriver he appropriated some time before. While getting the screws off is a thing he can do with his powers, it could be finicky. Better to use the actual tool for the job. It's still slow going as he can only use one hand, but Remy doesn't hurry it. Hurrying would make unwanted noise. And if they wanted THAT, he'd have just exploded something to get people out of the way.

Eventually, though, the vent cover falls against his chest and Remy breathes a sigh of relief as he picks it up and holds it down to South. Just to be set aside until they're back out.

[ownperson]

Well, that's certainly a way to do it.

South's not a patient person, whatsoever; she's not really built for this kind of delicate operation. Oh, she can do it, 'course. Hell, she ran stealth and recon ops a lot back in the Project—but it was pretty much all against her will, and she's still not pleased that her power is tailored to it. So she waits with barely restrained restlessness as he makes his way up the wall and gets the cover off.

It's a relief to get to do something, no matter how small, when he hands down the cover. She takes it and sets it aside, careful not to make any noise, then turns her eyes back to him.

[kingofneworleans]

Getting it back ON is going to be another trip, but that's a bridge they can cross when they get to it. For the moment, Remy concentrates on getting into the vent, taking a quick look to be certain of where it goes.

[goneawaymod]

As far ahead as he can see - about 20 of a hundred or so yards from them to their goal - it's straight, with occasional intersecting passages. Ducking down to look at the vent placement on the ceiling, it seems most likely that the HVAC is placed in a grid pattern across the ceiling. Assuming everything is in good order and properly maintained (it is Jorgmund), he should be able to follow whatever path South needs to take while keeping her within a ten foot radius.

Which is good, because here comes an employee, rubbing at tired eyes, heading for the coffee station right below him.

[ownperson]

South doesn't say ah, shit out loud, but she thinks it really hard. Well, now or never.

There's nothing special she has to do to turn her power on, she just has to think about it. If Remy still has line of sight on her when it flips on, she's there one second, and then the next his eyes skip right over where he should know she was once standing.

It's a weird sensation, but it's only something you notice if you were already aware of where she was. To anyone who didn't, their eyes skim past without any indication that they've missed anything at all. South is, for all intents and purposes, invisible.

York & Shelly

[goneawaymod]

They take the second path, which curves around past the executive lounge (one man sleeps there, in a rumpled suit, head covered by a linen napkin. Very Don Draper). A little farther on, and they’ll come to a door set in an odd corner and sporting a very large, very exasperated sign.

IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, it says, PLEASE SEND A HELP DESK TICKET TO JORGMUNDIT@INTRANET.HELP

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES CANNOT AND WILL NOT ASSIST WITH ISSUES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DOCUMENTED WITH A TICKET.

YES, THIS MEANS YOU!

There’s also a faded Dilbert cartoon. Congratulations; you’ve found IT

[drladysounds]

Sneaking past a sleeping man is easy enough. Shelley walks in a hurry, making as little noise as she could. That may have been the easiest obstacle they're going to find, it's going to be an uphill battle from there on. Probably.

That door, though, is the real objective here, the one they have to cross. Shelley regards the sign.

"Oh my, I see the IT plight is an universal constant"

These may belong to Jorgmund, but she's sympathizes nonetheless. Blessed be those who have to deal with this sort of thing.

When she speaks it's whispers, with her guard up. You never know when someone may be approached, but she's ready to try to hide them if someone comes. It's got her a little jumpy, but other than that she's managing to stay rather casual about the whole thing.

"I imagine the ol' trick of walking confidently like we're supposed to be here isn't going to fly. You think there's someone in there right now?"

After having seen South have to deactivate a lock with a voice command, she can't take for granted Jorgmund is cutting any corners around here. She's imagining if there's nobody inside, then there may be an alarm at worst, a lock at best.

[infailtration]

"No idea, but I can find out."

York hasn't disclosed his ability yet, but he's been practicing with it enough that he's pretty sure he won't be seen or get stuck in the wall. He kneels down and braces himself on the floor.

"I can phase just the top of my head through for a few seconds to look around. Shouldn't set off any alarms. If there's nobody in there, I can take you with me through the wall."

[drladysounds]

"Awesome!" Now that's the kind of power that comes useful. It saves the hassle of having to break the lock of the door or something like that! Having interpreted York kneeling down as him preparing, Shelley takes the chance to examine the corner they're in right now.

Going inside through the wall will depend on there being nobody in there. If there's someone, though, they're going to have to make their way in by force or by cleverness, or search for an alternative to their exploration. For now, though, she looks for anything that could be worth noting -- security cameras already watching them, ventilation ducts...

...it's mostly cautionary, to be aware of their surroundings. You never know when you're going to notice something that can change the situation.

[infailtration]

It's convenient right now. There won't be any signs the lock was picked, which York can also do but this is faster and easier. He nods at Shelley.

"Keep watch out here, tap me on the shoulder if I have to come out sooner."

And then he's leaning forward, his head passing through the wall rather than bumping against it. He angles it so only his forehead and eyes (and a little bit of nose) are poking through -- hopefully not enough to draw the attention of anyone who might be inside, especially this low to the ground.

[goneawaymod]

To one side, a rack of wire storage shelves. To the other, a desk looms over him. The tinny sounds of electronic violence waft from behind it, and he can see shoes underneath; the feet are facing away from him. Right ahead of him, a glass sliding door. Beyond it, all sorts of interesting blinky lights, and racks upon racks of servers.

[infailtration]

York pulls back out, releasing the breath he'd been holding while his face was inside the wall. Shelley is still keeping watch, and he stands back up and whispers.

"I think there's only one person in there, and they're facing away from how we'd enter. We might be able to slip in quiet and knock them out."

[drladysounds]

Shelley turns her head, an excited smile crossing her face. "Good, good. Can you do it with your bare hands or will we have to do the true and tried blunt object to the head route?"

She's quite partial to bludgeoning people, admittedly.

[infailtration]

"Blunt object to the head, I think. Anything else I don't trust myself to get right without causing noise."

He holds out his hand to her -- ready to phase through a wall, new friend?

[drladysounds]

Certainly ready. Shelley grips the hand strongly -- a little concerned if he lets go while crossing she's going to get stuck on that wall -- and nods.

"Onwards"

It's been a while since she did anything like this. Although her success rate in infiltrations and general mischief is pretty much a coin toss, she's kind of looking forward to braving the depths of the IT department.

[infailtration]

York holds on tight and focuses, one hand pressed against the wall... and then phases through and steps forward, making sure Shelley's coming with him. They emerge into the office in the space right beside the door all sneaky-like, and his footsteps at least are soft enough not to be heard above the electronic noises.

Immediately he's making sure Shelley is clear of the wall and any desks or chairs or what have you, then glancing around for something he could use as a bludgeon.

[goneawaymod]

There's a half-dismantle keyboard, a few loops of wiring, and wrench on a nearby worktable. Better move fast; the IT guy - oh, girl, actually - is coming out of her coding stupor. She stretches, starting to glance around in the confused way you do when you've been deep in Code Farr.