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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Jul 20, 2006 3:27:29 GMT -5
Pelch watched quietly as Quick walked out the door. He took the drink from Mao. He spoke quietly.
"Before you guys all go off fifty different ways, like Quick. I want you to consider this. First, you all have the option to walk or stay. I think we all want to put a team together and despite everything we have had TWO successful runs. If you people walk out the door without casting a decisive vote you may be bound by the votes that do remain. The only way you have a voice is to use your vote to express it!"
"Now Widow offered her plan as leader, don't take the job, reorganize, and get trained. Mao backs that up with his latest vote. Most of us don't like that plan so we need a new leader. Widow has two votes. If she gets a majority, then she leads and we all do what she says and she negotiates for us with no interference and we accept that! First though people have to vote!"
"Now Freddy wants to do a partial run. Not sure what PART he is contemplating but he won't step up and lead. Henri seems to go with that idea and MIGHT lead but he has cast no clear vote either. They might have two votes, but they are no where near a solid voting point because they have no possible leader to promote their plan! To even have a prayer of there plan going forward, they have to have a clear leader, a solid plan and more votes. So far that is not happening, and I don't think anyone wants to go into any negotiation with no clear plan and no clear leader! You negotiate from a position of strength and not weakness. You have to have a clear goal and we have THREE! That's two, to many when they conflict as much as ours does."
"Finally there is the take the job crowd. That's Wheels, and me and our newest member BB. That's three votes, a clear majority! I have stated I will lead unless Wheels wants to but he ain't said yes or no yet. Makes no difference! We have a leader. We have the majority votes whether you like it or not! So unless you guys want to go with my plan and my action then you better combine behind one of the two remaining plans or consider walking if you are not going to back MY agenda. Otherwise you better get behind my plan real fast so we can get started on it."
"Now Widow has made it clear, whoever the leader is she will back him. That's me by current vote. If Mao stays with her, then he is most likely with me and that is a full five votes, especially since Quick seems to have walked out to let the dust settle. He don't care who leads, he just don't like me leading. To bad if I come out leader, the first thing I negotiate with Dom is that he takes MY fragging orders. So despite what you guys THINK about me leading you have to decide which way to go."
"Last chance to change the trend people. No more talk or weaseling,we are going to do a final vote NOW. You have one last chance to make your plan supreme before JJ shows up to negotiate.
The Pelch/Wheels plan: Take the job. (Pelch Leads.)
The Widow/Mao plan: Don't take the job (Widow Leads).
The Freddy/Henri plan; Pick and choose the job. (Find a leader!)
So let's here it and make it Crystal Clear or you got me!" Pelch smiled an evil smile.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Jul 20, 2006 3:39:42 GMT -5
OOC: Pelch, "Outside of filler why am I pushing this? Simple. The next scenario will see an increase in pressure. As Freddy has pointed out to Henri, we are on a crossroad. Before we can take either branch or even make our own road we have to have a clear cut mandate from the group to back a leader. It is going to be much to dangerous for any of us to work without support from each other, and that means the elimination of side trips. We have to have a leader to take overall control of the mission and use their assets wisely and to the best advantage. I really don't care who the leader is, but the leader is then going to be TOTALLY responsible for the success or failure of the group in the next mission no matter what it turns out to be. The GOAL is important because it will establish with certainty your next mission. If you don't know your goal or leader, Dom is not likely to have confidence in any of you.
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Post by wolflet59 on Jul 20, 2006 6:48:18 GMT -5
I dont think we have the luxury of time to train, we dont have a few months spare - My vote goes with Pelch - take the job.
I would put myself forward - but none of you have seen what I can do - and even when you do see it you wont know whats happening, so theres no trust in magic, just a lot of smoke an mirrors.
if you want someone competent in a field we do not have, I am skillwired, buy me a chip and I can do it. Like bomb disposal..
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Jul 20, 2006 6:54:36 GMT -5
OOC: Pelch, "YES! Another vote for Hitler.... if Krass can get ahead by being a total horse's posterior, why can't I? All kidding aside I had hopes that someone else would step up but...Oh well."
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Post by Mao on Jul 20, 2006 15:13:19 GMT -5
OOC: Aw man...I hope you don't get to play leader either...
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Post by wolflet59 on Jul 20, 2006 18:24:32 GMT -5
Looks like my vote swings it to you Pelch, Quick abstains .. Wheels You BB and me - 'go for the job' gets it - even if anyone else is still undecided. Congratulations Pelch - I dont want to have to do this every time a job comes up though.
If you are going into negociations with Dom then I do know a professional negociator, if you want to try to up the stakes, or arrive at a more beneficial contract - My wife Meg does have the gift of the gab - something to bear in mind if you want to trade any expensive items in the future.
Lets get to it !
Pelch drops his jaw, as the enormity hits him.. for the first time in a long long time he has been voted for , trusted, elected even.... they wernt out to get him.. for a fleeting second a tear nearly sprung into his eye..
Wheres my beer then ,and a tray of those bitty cracker things.. and ..
Leader doesnt mean we get to slave on you - it means you take the flack, make some decisions and represent this team - you are the new figurehead Pelch- what other people see in you is what this team is all about. Professional attitude, professional looks -- or do we become 'team foul mouthed beer swillers' ? jobs a-plenty in the gutter, pay isnt too good though..
Widow's comment cut through Pelch, allowing the responsibility to settle - it was not a joke , or a foul trick being played on the street dwarf - something that he could handle easy enough.. this was different. Un nerving
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Post by Wheels on Jul 20, 2006 18:39:19 GMT -5
"Now wait just a second here. I think I was misquoted. I was merely responding to the original question of what everyone thought we should do. I said that I thought we should take the job, but I definitely qualified my input by saying that the decision was up to our esteemed and established leader Black Widow. I am sure as Drek not endorsing Pelch here as our de Facto Leader. I am behind Widow's decision. If she says we bail on the contract we bail, though I think we should hear the offer before we do bail. I am 100% behind that decision either way. I just thought, that, since I was asked for my input, I'd give it. My vote is for Widow to remain leader.
I don't think that we can afford to take the time off, but it'll be even worse if we go into something big with a Leader that no one trusts, like Pelch here. I trust Widow. She's made some mistakes, but the truth is, she learned. And no one died. Yah, death, as I said before is part of the job description, but we don't have to embrace it for sure." Bobby stands up, stretching. "I need to have a word with Quick here for a moment. Anyone need drinks? Excuse me please."
Bobby got up and Pelch waved his nearly empty beer bottle at him. Nodding at the dwarf, Wheels moved to the door and left the room, with the door slightly adjar. Seeing Quicksilver working behind one of the nearby bars, Bobby trunddled over and climbed labourously up onto a stool. Quick looked up and gave Bobby a tired smile.
"Well chummer, they decide anything yet? Quick asked.
"Nah, they are still batting around who is gonna be boss and drek..." Bobby pauses for a moment, hesitating. "Unh...Listen chummer. I got a question, and I don't really wanna ask it, but given the conversation going on in the other room, it's kind of important." Quicksilver put down his hand held computer and gave the dwarf his full attention.
"My question is, who am I answering to? See, Widow is the boss after that other dwarf techie ran off. But you brought me in on this drek. But you answer to Dom. I also have a deal going with Dom for which he pays me good nuyen. But this is walking the fine line between working for him, and working for me. Dom is paying my bills, but do I answer directly to him thru you or am I dancing to his tune thru the group, who seem to have allegences with a few other groups, Ace and the NAN for instance." Bobby drops his voice and looks around at this last part. "Ultimately, my allegiance is to Dom and by association you, but I am still a runner, and the nuyen pays the bills. But I need to be clear on this, so that I can give my honest vote over there. If 'we', and that is you, me, and Dom, have a separate adgenda, I am going to have to know what that is, and what I am getting out of it, to make that adgenda happen."
Bobby leans forward over the bar and points at a couple of bottles of beer in the open cooler behind Quick. It looked like perhaps the elf had been inventorying them. "Gimme two of whatever you ain't counted yet please..."
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Post by emyaj on Jul 20, 2006 21:29:59 GMT -5
Quick grabs a couple of beers and puts them up in front of Bobby.
"Well as I see it we are loyal to Dom and the Siren as long as as the things to keep it up and running Dom is kinda indisposed and J.J. is doin a hell of a job on her part. So for now I figure we are free to go on and do what we can handle without it adversely affecting either Dom or this place. As far as Widow goes I will follow her if it comes down to it she is doin her best and we all got out alive and as long as she understands the nature of my responsibility , our responsibility, then all should be ok but in the end you ARE your own man I trust you enough to know you will make the right choice and most importantly be there when the drek hits the fan. As for what we are gettin out of it we do have a somewhat good cover here ok pay and good connections."
With that he smiles at Bobby and pulls out his pocket secretary again.
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Post by wolflet59 on Jul 21, 2006 8:24:35 GMT -5
Wheels, BB in tow, Mao and Widow snatch victory from a gobsmacked Pelch and me.. nailbiting right down to the wire... Henri - you dont have to vote, but youre opinion would be welcome !
Youre still the boss Widow.. what you say, goes.
Welcome back !
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Post by Mao on Jul 21, 2006 14:03:48 GMT -5
OOC: Phew...lesser of 2 evils...
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Post by gremlin on Jul 21, 2006 16:30:06 GMT -5
OOC: Sorry guys, woman trouble (Yes Braddoc, more ). Might be a few days before I can post.
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Post by wolflet59 on Jul 21, 2006 19:39:41 GMT -5
too weevils?
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Post by Wheels on Jul 22, 2006 19:30:50 GMT -5
Bobby nods a thanks to Quick for the beers and heads back to the room, a few minutes only having passed, but still the confusion remains. Was he working for Dom directly? or thru the team? or thru Quick? All Quick said was he trusted Bobby to make the right choice at the right time....Sighing heavily, Bobby pushed his way backwards thru the door, kicking it closed behind him. Plunking a bottle down in front of Pelch, Bobby takes his seat again, smiling distractedly at BB.
"Well, what did we decide? God that piss felt good. I been drinking too much of this swill..." Bobby says, waving his beer around.
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Post by Pelch Gobwit on Jul 23, 2006 3:28:58 GMT -5
OOC: Pelch, "Votes flying all over the fragging place. So everyone votes for Widow? Let's see now, Widow, Mao, Wheels, BB, and Freddy. Quick and Henri seem to be abstaining. Pelch of course only gets to vote for himself. What a bunch of disloyal rebels. Anyway, looks like Widow is confirmed as leader. Now we can see about getting down to business."
Pelch looked at Wheels, "We decided that Widow leads. Well there goes a cool million. Easy come, Easy go."
Widow nodded, "Now that we have settled that, it's time to get to work. I will stay and negotiate with Dom and JJ. Wheels I want you to take BB to "The Lair". I want her to start researching whatever she can find on Nestle personnel files and operations then match those with incoming ships and flights to include the Zeppelins. Let's find out if Nestle's is sending people this way. Then I want you to see about getting us 'UN-BUGGED' in 'The LAIR'. After you do that I want you and BB to come up with a non commercial communications rig that the enemy can't tap easily and it has to be so simple to operate even PELCH can use it. No one leaves the Lair until everyone has such set. Off you two go." Wheels nodded and BB followed him out the door."
She waited till they left and then turned to Freddy and Henri, "Henri and Freddy, I want you two to also go back to the Lair. You will insure that no one leaves once they come in until I OK it. I want the Lair examined magically to make sure the FAB IV treatment is still good, If not get on to building maintenance and have it fixed. Stock up for a siege and start thinking about building defense. While there I want you to start working up some of the questions you want answered on insect Shaman. As everyone comes in, take all the commercial communicators away from them, they may be bugged or traced. Either deactivate them yourselves, or have Wheels do it. If you can't do that then destroy them by melting them down! We may be followed because the cell phone units are giving away our locations. Have everyone and their equipment, that includes transport, checked for bugs. No exceptions. Get cracking."
Widow looked at Pelch and Mao, "You last three are a real problem. The skills you have aren't usually the type we can readily use inside the Lair and it's too dangerous to send you two out sniffing around until we tighten things up."
Pelch smiled and laughed, "That's OK, I'll just eat a lot and catch up on my Z's."
"I think not." Widow stated with a hard slight smile, "I said not usually, but I have plans. I want Mao to round up Quick when you go out the door. You three are to go to the Lair and sit tight. I want you guys to do eight hours rotating guard shifts on the inside tunnel entrance. No one comes in or leaves unless ACCOMPANIED by Freddy or I. I want you to stay sharp and be careful. Whoever came after us in Denny Park may just decide to take a run at us in the Lair. Pelch you have a data-jack, I want BB to start training you how to use it when you are NOT resting. It may be a way of educating yourself. That will be when you are not on guard. Mao on your spare time I want you to check and see if we have any demolitions. If not make a list of what you need. You will also help Freddy in your spare time with the communicators. Mao, you can also tell Quick, in his spare time that I want him to work with Freddy and Henri on the magical end. On your way."
Widow waited till they went out the door and then taking out her contact communicator with JJ spoke quietly, "Sorry for the delay. You can come in now. I think we are ready for some SERIOUS renegotiation."
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Post by wolflet59 on Jul 23, 2006 11:30:16 GMT -5
On the way, Freddy and Henri stopped off at the mall to buy kibble nutrient in the big industrial five litre containers, ten of those would keep the wolf from the door, and an extra cab to carry it back.. a fries mould and Freddy's favourite, a broccolii mould. Back at the Tomatoe they had a burger plate that made the bun and burger in three pieces. There were a few older moulsd there as well.. the Halloween plate caught his eye batwaffle shape, sickle moons and pumpkin rounds... And a gourmet colour/flavour carousell of sachets with the big squeezy bun and fries taste squirty bottles.. supplies sorted ! They had to wheel the stuff in on a trolly.
Off to the Tomatoe Lair through the security screens and down into the basement... the physical security is well hard but we havnr checked out the magical....
He expresses his concern over BB attempting to access Nestle personnell - just be very careful if you are going in BB - I can get into the matrix but generally I woulg get into their building, steal the local security codes then use them from inside - I dont hack, for a start I dont have a deck - but I have done data steals before..
Freddy collects the new comms links to check them all over -it will not take long to see if they are carrying any frequency jumps or tracers. As they were off the shelf they should be clean but it is a good time to check them all out. SHould take an hour each for a thorough dissemble and reassemble Freddy completed them in an hour. Upgrades will cost.. just a case of buying in the parts and reassembling them, creating more complicated and powerful linkups, so he leaves the units with wheels until they get the go-ahead for the parts.
A bug detector is needed, a nice big powerful one that does the biz
He warns Henri to check only the Lair -as Freddy had been dissuaded from investigating the higher levels by Mr Smythe. Once Henri has given the place a good going over, together they can thoroughly check beneath the floors and behind the walls.
Being underground will dissuade astral snoopers anyway as burrowing through earth takes hours! The lax areas that need covering are any access areas - doorways, air conduits, lift shafts.. anywhere there could be an easy access that is not filtered - drains and piping is a good one, an astral traveller can use a sewer, tube, pipe or a drain to travel through the concrete or earth with ease. If there are gaps, they can be travelled .. bit like rats and roaches being able to squeeze through the cracks - unlessit is watertight then it is open to astral.
nevertheless it is worth noting all of the gaps and potential access routes. Freddy jacks in to create an image of the lair and flags up all the access routes they find in and out. The hard part is pushing behind the brick and under the floor, so they leave that to last.
A good method of stopping tunnel-running is to put a water filled u-bend in - it will take an hour per metre to push through, dissuading interlopers. problem being most u-bends are exposed for maintenance, though they could be boxed in using biofibre - though at 600 a square metre for good stuff it is expensive.
Freddy wasnt sure about the remarks about FAB IV - He and Henri flinched at the use of its name - FAB III was a leech construct that fed off magic potential, draining mystical essence, leaving a husk - an anti-magical form of bacterial warfare ... they agreed that she had to be talking about biofibre.. they hoped.
Searching the Lair for magical leaks took the rest of the day. time to try out the new meal shapes ! He quite liked the light toat colour batwaffle with fries flavour, but strawberry taste orange broccollii was a firm favourite.
Over the course of the day they had all got into their tasks with little time for chat - they could leave any discussion of plans for when Widow returned - depended on how much she wanted to let Smythe know...
Later on he and Henri could search the matrix for information on insects.. Henri knew a ruck of stuff about them, he may have access to millitary files - to give them an insight of what they were up against
He put a fone call through to Meg - they were beach-combing! having a great time collecting pebbles, already nearly three bucketfulls ! what the heck for? He made a mental note to learn something about alchemy, though he knew something about it - collect and refine different materials that took months to cook into anything useful. Freddy was more immediate, he diddnt have the long term patience... yet...
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