Allen1

Two more days until Episode 36.  The Universal Records 2072 Christmas Tour is well under way.  The NorCal leg is finished and you are now in Reno, Nevada at the Grand Sierra Hotel and Casino to do a Christmas Eve Show.  So far, everything has gone fairly well.  This is despite Cossack's run in with Stepan Danylovych, WNS reporter Jennifer Jones' (Bambi) bodyguard at the jump off point.  Both Stepan and Cossack used to work for Vyacheslav Morozov, a Ukrainian gangster, who threatened Celestine, Cossack's girlfriend.  Cossack loudly accused Stepan of being involved with the attempt to kill him and/or Celestine recently on the driver's last trip to the Ukraine.  Angry words were exchanged as Stepan denied any part in the attempted assassination.  He has been living in the United States for almost a year and a half now.  However, Marty's name (Martina Lupescu / Vargas) was banded about by Stepan who accused the Team's old boss of murdering his old employer, Morozov.  Cossack then defended her good(?) name.  Neither Ukrainian noticed that Jennifer Jones (Bambi) was listening very carefully to all of this.  Could it be that an experienced and skilled reporter smells a story with this group and is trying to get to the bottom of it?

So, on to the first show!  Yes, the Death Merchants were a little pissed off that the Cyber Revolutionaries were called up onstage by Jack Entropy and not them during the finale of the Oakland Show.  Attila did harass Suzy a bit, so she spun around and to kick him in the balls.  Unfortunately she botched and nailed Cossack who was acting as his bodyguard.  The Ukrainian went down, Suzy was horrified and Attila was impressed by his bodyguard's 'sacrifice'.   

The second show date at the club in Sacramento the following night found Attila and his band in all their glory.  Death Merchants' Chromer fans showed up and threw down with a rival gang during the last show.  Cossack and Jamal did their best to protect and try to get them to safety, but Attila and Genghis, dove right into the melee, and weren't having any of this 'protection'!  The two bodyguards did earn the band's respect and Nancy Chang, the tour boss wasn't too upset.  It was good publicity for the Death Merchants and no one was killed.  The Sacramento PD wasn't too happy though.  

Next stop, Reno, Nevada!  The tour buses are now parked at the far end of the RV parking lot at the resort in Reno in their standard defensive ring.  This is where we ended last week.  It will be just before 1 pm on Christmas Eve.  Another truck is waiting for the tour when it arrives at the resort.  The truck contains a small number of automatic weapons for the tour drivers and their tech.  These are from a small Nevada company that rents weapons to out-of-state touring groups.  The four drivers and the the chief Tech now have automatic weapons for which they are qualified to use.  

As stated at the end of last week, Samantha and Suzy are heading to the pool for a few hours before the show.  There is a little more to that story.  When the weapons for the tour crew arrive, Bambi comes up to Nancy Chang, who is talking with Mitzi, 8-Ball (security chief) and Cossack.  The reporter isn't too happy since she has just received word from her producer that she isn't to show any pictures of the Armadillo or Samantha and Suzy is any sort of combat gear!  The two young women may be photographed as dancers with the Cyber Revolutionaries, but not as any type of security personnel unless they sign a release.  Bambi says that her producer has cut a deal with whoever "got to" her producer.  Samantha and Suzy will do a photo shoot by the resort pool for Bambi as part of the documentary.  Mitzi, Celestine, Glenna Miller (the Heartthrobs), Cassie Banes and Kessy Ado (bassist and the drummer for the Cyber Revolutionaries) are all invited to take part in this photo shoot.  The hotel offers them free outfits from their top end clothing store.  Glenna Miller and Kessy Ado turn them down.  Cassie Banes says yes.  Mitzi and Celestine (talk with Cossack) will have to answer for themselves.  

The Death Merchants makes noises about going and watching the young women's photo shoot, but Hernando, their manager says no.  That band will be opening the shows tonight.  The Heartthrobs will dress up and head into the resort to drum up business for the shows tonight.

This location, like the Oakland Auditorium / Coliseum area, has multiple rings of security.  There is a man there to brief you when you all arrive and clearly security here is top notch.  If anyone has any questions, now is the time.  Also, send me your IPs for last week.

           

Well, actually I wasn't suggesting that 8-Ball be assigned to the Heartthrobs, but only that his gang knowledge could be crucial in making the assignments of who is with which band.  However, reading the past couple of posts, yes, the Heartthrobs would probably be best for 8-Ball.  So, here is what we have so far:

The Heartthrobs: 8-Ball and Hollow

Death Merchants:  Cossack and Jamal

Cyber Revolutionaries:  Mitzi and Rue

Vehicles and Staff:  Fawkes and Angel

I am sure the Team rehashes a number of their decisions during this second meeting.  Suzy will suggest that maybe pulling a small trailer behind the company van might be a good idea.  From everything people have said, you do have enough space to carry everything you want to, so far.  Pulling a small trailer will give you something to put a damaged motorcycle on and, to start, you could put tents, excess food etc on it and keep the company van no so full, so the people there can move around easier in case of an attack.  The van will have to have a trailer hitch attached to it (there isn't one now).  This will effect its handling a bit, which brings up another point.  That van isn't equipped with a smart-link.  It therefore has a -3 maneuver rating which will increase to -4 with a small trailer.  Just FYI here about this.   

As to acquiring camping and other goods for the trip, Cossack has mentioned the Old Timey General Store, which does have quite a collection of new camping gear.  What they don't have, they can order and have in a day (or two at most).  In Central City wedged between the Shooting Range and NCPD Precinct #2 is the Urban Ranger.  It also has some of the things you might need, but has (mostly) new stuff.   The same goes for the Pacific Outfitters at the Southland Mall.  For prices of new equipment, check Cyberpunk Reference Book V with the exception of survival clothing which may differ due to the revised prices of clothing.  There are smaller Army / Navy type stores throughout the city, but their merchandise is of dubious quality and they open and close frequently.  The Team members from the old 88th Street Neighborhood will tell you about the Surplus Shop.  It is owned by a retired member of the Thunder Gods MC.  They tend to specialize in military equipment.  Officially, they sell nothing that is illegal, but there are rumors.  The price for used goods varies according to its rarity and legality.   

Mitzi's order from Militech is due in the first week.  The Militech Mark IV revised and Dragons are already smart-linked and have slings.  There are also 2x Militech M-205 GLs and 2x Militech Mini-GLs (pump) along with mounting rails and smart link rigs for the weapons.  You are lacking the actual grenades for them, but you have plenty of time to order some.  Also, if you are planning to mount the 5.56 Machine Gun on the GevHog, you might want to buy some more ammo for it.  It has only a half a belt of standard ammunition (50 rounds) left.  As to installing a smart-link on the GevHog to help drive it, yes, you could probably get the dealer to install it, if you call soon.  

I would appreciate knowing if anyone has specific plans for the next three and a half weeks beyond getting ready for the mission and continuing your normal routines.  I do have a note about the book Cossack wants to get and will be ready for that.  Anything else, I should prepare?   

 

Enough information has been exchanged here that it is now the evening of November 27th.  8-Ball has finished his Mandarin lesson, Mitzi has gotten a call from her police contact and Samantha & Suzy are back from school.  Everyone is re-summoned to the Team's HQ to continue with mission planning and new information. 

First of all, Samantha and Suzy will run drone coverage over the tour on the road.  This will relieve Cossack and any Team members on motorcycles from moving too far from the convoy.  Once at a destination, the young women will revert to being part of the tour.  They have a long range drone optimized for surveillance that has the speed to keep up with the vehicles.  They might have to stop once during a travel day to refuel / change batteries on the drone. 

Hollow doesn't wish to ride on the back of anyone's motorcycle.  He intends to buy the Harley Darkwing / Dark Warrior Assault motorcycle.  It sports built in machine guns(s) and a rear firing smoke projector.  He is the most skilled motorcycle rider on the Team and equal to all in heavy weapons.  With Mitzi, riding the motorcycle is as much of a statement as a tactic: Style over Substance!  Besides she has fired from the back of her bike before.  Much of the trip in California to Oakland is between mountain ranges and on Interstates 828 or 5.  

The dividing up of the Team into 4 pairs, each responsible to get to know a band or tour staff is a great idea.  Mitzi said she would like to be attached to the Cyber Revolutionaries since she has a preexisting relationship, but unlike Cossack it isn't a single one.  8-Ball's knowledge of general gang culture will be a great asset here.  The Heartthrobs is a poser band and posers can take any criticism of their 'character' badly and may react violently.  This group has a rep of being fairly reasonable.  As to the Death Merchants, well their name says it all.

You (the Team) are in overall charge of keeping everyone safe.  No way, you are going to keep them from partying some with the crowds, but the tour schedule is tight, so lack of opportunity to get in trouble will work in your favor.  Some of the band members are pretty dangerous in themselves so they aren't helpless.  There will be house security at every venue.  It's quality will be an unknown factor.  Usually the bigger venues and festivals have experienced people.  Normally your duty will be to deliver the bands to the stage area on time and be around when they get off.  Anyone have experience "herding cats?"  Here is where having a dedicated pair of people per band will help if the pair can establish a rapport with their band.  You will also need to guard all the vehicles. 

Now everything Mikael posted last about sleeping bags, food and Angel rigging up/building chargers is all good!   

As to the last round of questions -

1) Will the big rig be required to stop at the Nevada Port of Entry when traveling from Sacramento to Reno? - Possibly, but usually most are just waved through after a brief question or two.  Likewise when going from Lake Mead to Los Angeles? - First of all, it is Lake Mead to Palm Springs first and yes, going from Nevada to SoCal (which this is doing) you have to pass through a rigorous customs check.  So far, you haven't planned to doing (or bringing) anything illegal with you so you should be fine. 

2) Is Nancy Chang riding in the big rig? One of the buses? Or have her own transportation? - Nancy Chang will be riding in the big rig.  It is a Komatsu-Peterbilt KP=10 and it will be carrying Nancy Chang & Rusty Walker with Usman Katusi driving.  The bus drivers all have a sleeping place on their own buses.  The Team is just responsible for transporting their eight paid members. 

3) Is there any controlled entry / exit to the Reservation? - There are few roads going into the reservation.  You will be traveling south on US 95 into the Town of Schurz, but the entry points aren't usually manned on this road, but there is the festival going on, so who knows.  Since this tour is the main entertainment for the festival, you can be sure that you are being expected.  It should be noted that the Tribal Police have complete authority here which should work in your favor.  The bus driver of the Cyber Revolutionaries, Wovoka Walker, is a Paiute tribe member from this reservation.   
 

I’m trying to think of any places along the route that would (legally) require the vehicles to stop. In this environment, I’d advocate a policy of not stopping for anything unless legally required. 

Samantha and Suzy will point out that on a couple of the runs between jobs/cities, they will have to stop to refuel / change batteries on their drones.  When we have to stop then we should do it in towns and not just anywhere.  Otherwise, they agree, no stopping unless necessary.

However, the bands might have something to say about this.    

 

Now, as to new information about other things:  

On Monday afternoon, while 8-Ball is getting his Mandarin lesson, Mitzi's police contact calls and has looked into the disappearance of the gang, the Blood Reign and the change of ownership of the Burkett Mall.  The local police liaison from the 88th Street Precinct has met with two (former) members of the Blood Reign.  That old booster gang has been folded into a new gang that is now in control of that old territory.  They call themselves Loco.  This new gang has renewed the non-aggression agreement with the 88th Street Police Precinct.  Their takeover is complete.  Detective Tanque says there are no police reports of anything like this 'Blue Goo' that Mitzi mentioned.  

[GM Note:  OK, this all screams a bit of a cover-up of some sort, but who, why and how are the questions, if anyone is interested in pursuing this.]

However, this isn't all the information that the cop has.  He has worked his contacts looking for why the Voodoo Boyz were so interested in collecting information about the Team.  The gang wants absolutely nothing to do with you all!  The detective is aware of the peace agreement between Mitzi (and you) with the gang.  The current leadership have their jobs because you (the Team) decapitated the old leadership.  These new leaders see last August's street 'rumble' with the Erzulie set of the gang and you as a settled issue.  Challenge made, accepted and you won.  The (former) Erzulie leader has been disciplined for this incident.  Detective Tanque feels that the gang isn't done with the Team, but for now, they are busy with other, more important matters.     

There is one more bit of information that comes in when Samantha and Suzy show up that evening.  Those two were told about Mitzi and Fawkes seeing a member of the Baron Samedi set of the VDBs with two of this new gang, Loco.  Well, the NET Runners ran a search program with these key words and discovered that Loco is also the name of a Haitian Voodoo Loa.  Every other sub-set of the Voodoo Boyz is named after a Haitian Voodoo Loa.  

There is three and a half weeks until the tour departs.

 

Well, back to planning security for the trip. 

So maybe, the deployment should perhaps unfold like this:

• outrider, GevHog: Cossack (driver), 8-Ball (observer / gunner). There are two free seats should we need flexibility (eg. detach a vehicle and some specialists for some specific task)
• outriders, Mitzi on her own motorcycle, but with no observer. Hollow will buy himself a motorcycle.  He is the most skilled motorcyclist on the Team.  If Hollow and Mitzi are riding together then firing on Mitzi's bike and knocking it out will take out two people with a single hit.  While this is also true for Cossack's GevHog, his driving skill along with 8-Ball's awesome Awareness / Notice should give that part of the Team an edge in combat.
• rearguard, van: Rue & Jamal (they may alternate as drivers as they see fit. Rue however, has an idea how to use the RPG that is going to be stowed in the van), Angel (purely as passenger). This would leave Fawkes as the 4th man on the van - which is good IMO, as the van would do good having a dedicated security operative riding it (is Fawkes qualified on the RPG, yes he is). It would be advantageous to have someone keeping an eye on the road behind the convoy (a dedicated rear observer. The driver has enough to do driving the last vehicle of a convoy - having them observe the road behind by rear mirrors is too much of a hassle. Especially given we have the eyes to spare on that).

While this setup doesn't give the Team an alternate driver on every vehicle, if the primary one is put out of action, it spreads out the number of targets to shoot at.  If you have Suzy and Samantha flying drones to scout ahead of the convoy, the odds of a potential enemy getting off a successful ambush go down considerably.  Just remember to ask them since they will not be at the initial meeting.  Well, the girls will call Mitzi when they get home from class, since they (and Celestine) are the ones who sang the praises of the Team to get you this job.

 

As to Mitzi checking with the various hotels on the tour to possibly putting you up, I will have her answer that question completely when we meet next Saturday.  She intends to buy a tent (and probably a sleeping bag).  I will point out that only four of the stops are at hotels and the closing show is in Night City at the Café Chrome which is the day after your contract ends.  You have NO duties at the Café Chrome, but do have free passes for the show.  Of the four hotel / casinos, only one (The Mizpah in Tonopah, NV) is providing rooms.   All the others are considered corporate to executive class establishments.  That would normally price their smallest rooms at €400 to €600 a night, but also you need to consider this is prime holiday time.  Two of these shows occur on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.  Places like this are generally sold out way before this. 

Take your food with you?  Well, yes, of course, most of you buy (good) pre-pack, so all you need is a microwave. 

As to someone poisoning the bands' food, well, that is a thought.  I'll keep that in mind!

 

Before I go on to new information, a few notes.  Yes, 8-Ball's little micro bike just takes up the room of a small backpack so it may be easily carried in the van.  These are all good and easily workable ideas to help Fawkes shoot from the roof hatch.  As to the helmets an external power source:

On 01/09/2021 at 16:11, senior officer Mikael van Atta said:

Giving the helmets an external power source is... complicated.

 

Now, here is an update on the tour schedule, the bands and other that will be traveling with this show:

Universal Records Christmas Tour 2072

December 21^st – Leave Night City at noon

This way everyone will arrive in Oakland before dark at the site of the concert, and avoid traffic and get a good parking space at the venue.             

December 22^nd – New Oakland Coliseum, Oakland CA.

This is a huge festival that is taking place at the Oakland Arena (capacity 19,596) inside the New Oakland Coliseum complex.  The show begins at 11 am with three local bands playing a 50 minute set each hour.  At 2 pm, the Universal Acts have the same set times.  The Cyber Revolutionaries go on at 4 pm.  At 5 pm, three known West Coast bands go on for a slightly longer set length.  At 9 pm, Jack Entropy, the concert headliner, goes on till a scheduled 11 pm ending, but it may run longer.  Afterwards, there will be a party for the acts in the facility’s hospitality suites.  Parking will be in Lot GG.  The tent in that lot will contain craft services (free food with a badge).  There are NO provided sleeping arrangements

December 23^rd – Ace of Spades, 1417 R Street, Sacramento, CA

The Ace of Spades is one of Sacramento’s oldest and hottest rock clubs.  There is (barely) enough parking in the rear for the whole tour.  The Cyber Revolutionaries open the show at 7 pm.  The other bands on the tour follow.  The club closes at 3 pm (music ends at 2 pm).  Food and Lodging will NOT be provided, but there is a parking area behind the club that the vehicles can use.

December 24^th – Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV

This is a lively Reno casino and vacation destination resort.  The show will run from 7 pm until 2 pm with each band playing twice.  The Cyber Revolutionaries will go on second and fifth.  Parking will be in the far end of the RV park.  Meals will be provided.

December 25^th – Walker River Paiute Tribe (Reservation) Music and Arts Fair, Schurz, NV

The Fair is primarily a Native American celebration that is targeting tourists to bring in money for the tribe.  The Universal Records bands begin at 5 pm.  The Cyber Revolutionaries will close the show starting at 10 pm.  A parking area with power and water will be provided but that is all.

December 26^th – Mizpah Hotel & Casino (stay at Old Brewery Hostel), Tonopah, NV

This is a small casino and hotel with lots of western character.  It’s not a big house, but they are providing use of the hostel and meals.  The Cyber Revolutionaries will open this show.

A two day window is provided here to get to Las Vegas in case something on the way delays the tour, so they can get back on schedule.     

December 29^th – Golden West Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV

Yes, back to that place!  Well, many of the Team will know much of the staff.  Again,    each band will play two sets starting at 6 pm and ending at 2 pm.  The Cyber Revolutionaries will go on second and fifth.  They will be given a spot in the hotel’s RV parking area.  All meals will be provided in the employee dining room. 

December 30^th – Outdoor Concert @ the Hatchery at Saddle Point on Lake Meade, NV

This mini-festival will be a collection of local and regional bands.  Each of the Universal Records bands will have an hour and a half (about 80 minute set).  The Cyber  Revolutionaries will go on about 7 pm, just before the concert headliner.

December 31^th – ‘New Year’s Eve show’ @ The Show in the Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs, CA

Again, the Team is back at a major hotel and casino in its premier performance space.  This will be another two show per band event will the Cyber Revolutionaries going on first and fourth starting at 5 pm.  They will be housed in the RV lot just east of ‘the Show’, which is their live music venue.  Meals will be provided. 

January 1^st – Greek Theater in Los Angeles, CA.

Destiny will be headlining this show with Universal’s new acts being the opening.  The shows start at 6 pm.  The Cyber Revolutionaries will be the second act onstage.  Parking and (RV) hook-ups will be provided.  There may be food, but nothing is known for sure. 

There is a full day allotted to travel here back to Night City (January 2^nd).  Once the bands are here, the Cyber Revolutionaries are home along with the Heartthrobs.  Jack Masters has arranged housing for the Merchants of Death.  At this point the security contract is complete.  Everyone is given a free pass to the show at the Café Chrome.

January 3^rd – Café Chrome, Night City

The tour ends in Night City at the Café Chrome.  The Cyber Revolutionaries will be the closing act!

 

The Bands on the Universal Records Tour

#1 – The Heartthrobs

A Poser ‘Crooner’ Band

Lead Singer – Frankie S. (a Frank Sinatra poser)

Guitar – Ricky Nielson (A Ricky Nelson poser)

Keyboards – Harvey Connick Jr. (A Harry Connick Jr. poser)

Trombone -  Glenna Miller (A Glenn Miller poser & x-dresser)

Bass – Paul McGear (A Paul McCartney poser)

Drums – Gene Koopa (A Gene Krupa poser)

Tour Manager – Katharine Tracy (mid-twenties; 40’s & 50’s retro style)

Tech – Gracie Park (young twenties, Korean – American)

            This band (like all posers) are always in character, which can be a little annoying.  There manager is a Katharine Hepburn poser, but easy to work with, so it is said.  Gracie Park isn’t a poser, but supports her band and their ‘identity’ issues.  The band does attract poser gangs, especially ones that also emulate one of the band’s personalities.  They are a local Night City Band.

 

#2 – Death Merchants

A Heavy Metal Band (mega-violence)

Attila, the Hulk – Lead Singer; another large and strong type that reveals in his singing of violence.  He puts on the aura of no fear, which may or may not be an act.

Vlad, the Railer – Guitar; a tall gaunt goth type who considers himself quite the lady’s man.   

John Wayne Gracey (the Clown) – Bass Player; a man who scores 100% on the creepy meter.  He exudes an aura of a cross between (Stephan King’s) It and a Killer Clown from Outer Space.  This man might well be a Bozo in training.   

Genghis Kan – Drummer, percussions – a large man of mixed race (Mongolian/American) origin who styles himself a ‘conqueror’ and killer.

Tour Manager – Hernando Montoya (a Mexican American in his early 30’s and former champion Lucha Libre wrestler.  He does his best to keep the band in line.  It helps that he can ‘beat the shit’ out of all of them and they know it.  Hernando himself is a bit of a macho asshole, but is generally very professional.

Tech – Igor (yes and it is pronounced – eye-gore) is a mishappen little troll who is verbally abused by the band, but he puts up with it.  No other band will hire him do to his physical deformities (ATTR = 1).  The man is very competent.

            This band does have a few Chromer gangs that follow them.  These groups do occasionally cause some trouble, but it isn’t generally directed at other performers.  There have been fights outside of the venues that they play, but not often.  This band is from Los Angeles.

 

#3 – Cyber Revolutionaries

Political Activist Band

Billy Chou – He is the keyboard player in the band Cyber Revolutionaries, and a music student at NCU.  He graduates at the end of 2072.

Donny Clarke – He is the guitarist for the Cyber Revolutionaries. 

Cassie Banes –  She is Tom and Ari’s sister and the bass player of the Cyber Revolutionaries.  Tom and Ari Banes are members of Mitzi’s (Jake’s & Suzy’s) old team.

Kessy Ado –  Is a young woman whose parents are from Ghana.  She is the drummer of the Cyber Revolutionaries.  The young woman also acts as the band’s manager.   

Loco Skysinger – He is a male Chiricahua Apache and lead singer of the Cyber Revolutionaries.  He isn’t happy when someone asks if he is a Mexican.  He is, after all, a full blooded Apache.  He and Suzy have a (non-exclusive) personal relationship that has gone on for years.    

Tech – This band doesn’t have a dedicated tech.  Each band member has skills in that direction.  Their former tech, Olivia Williams, was murdered by Marco Baronti along with that team’s late mentor, Karl Gruber (the Watchmaker).

 

Universal Records Staff

Nancy Chang – She is the tour manager is charge.  Nancy is in her mid-forties and very experience in the music business.  She has worked for Jack for years and knows his mind.  The woman is smart and tough.

(Roland) ‘Rusty’ Walker – Is the tour’s chief tech and sound man.  Already in his fifties, this man well experienced in the intricacies of the road and the music business.

Usman Katusi – He is an immigrant for Nigeria, probably in his late twenties.  He is the driver of the tractor trailer which is hauling all of the band’s equipment. 

Rajneesh Sudha – Is a large, smiling man from Night City born of Indian parents.  He has retained his Hindu beliefs and is a decent mechanic.  He is driving the bus carrying the Heartthrobs. 

Herbert ‘Sully’ Sullivan – This driver is burly, red haired Irishman who fled Northern Ireland years ago to avoid the violence.  He drives the bus containing the Death Merchants.

Wovoka Walker – The man is a Paiute Indian and friend of Loco Skysinger.  The band and most of Mitzi’s old team know him.  He drives the bus carrying the Cyber Revolutionaries.    

 

More Notes on the Tour

            On this mini-tour all three bands are considered to have equal status.  The numbering reflects the order they will appear on stage for the first gig (the Oakland stadium show featuring Jack Entropy).  At the next gig the closing band moves to the opening slot, the middle band will close and the former opening band will move to the second (middle) slot.  This shift in order occurs at each new venue.  All three bands are aware that Jack Masters is testing them for audience reaction and performance chops.

 

 

 

 

I response to your first quote, yes, you have 'interpreted' this correctly and put it much better than I did initially. 

As to your second quote, yes, the helmets could be powered either of those ways.  In fact the Team has two members that could do this, but skill-wise, Angel, would be the best choice.  He has worked on this style of suit earlier in the campaign (after the Detroit job).  There is the cost, of course, but these 'adaptation' costs are minor.  The helmets themselves cost €2299 each.  In regard to Fawkes' questions: 1) A normal size person (such as Fawkes) could stand inside on the bed of the van and fire a weapon.  If you are standing in the hatch for hours, that could be very tiring, so....   2)  In regards to the M-90, firing in the forward or rear arc would be no problem.  Shooting to the side can be done, but there is no place to rest or stabilize the weapon.  This could have a minor effect on your to hit roll.  You might want to consider that if you fire from the hatch while moving, you will be shooting a non-stabilized weapon without a mount from a moving and (probably) bouncing vehicle.  Hitting a man-sized target (or a motorcycle's forward or rear facing) will be difficult.  Shooting at a larger vehicle will provide less problems.  This is FYI and not a 'hint' from the GM about this being a bad idea.  In fact, using the M-90 is a good idea!  3) Yes, you could fabricate a chair or some kind of platform to help with being up and out of the hatch, if you felt that was necessary.

On to your third quote:  Why take the RPGs?  I am trying to remember the exact quote and circumstance, but the question of bringing some heavy firepower came up before and (I think it was) 8-Ball responded with something like "I'd rather have them and not need them, then need them and not have them".  This is wise advice!

 

Now, I have been reading these planning posts to Wyn.  First, yes, Mitzi is planning on going.  This is a great 'networking' opportunity for a Fixer.  So far, everything sounds good in your planning to her except for one thing.  She will be riding her own motorcycle and not 8-Ball's.  Yes, the Bermuda has a better maneuver rating, but that matters less than the familiarity a 'biker' has with her (or his) own machine.  This is "role playing" over "roll playing".  

Also, as a note, Mitzi will get this job offer on the morning Monday, November 27th (the day we restart).  She will call a Team meeting almost immediately, so this meeting will start just before 1 pm.  By this time 8-Ball and Fawkes will have completed their morning run on the beach.  The summoned attendees are: Mitzi, 8-Ball, Cossack, Hollow, Jake, Angel, Fawkes and Rue (who will take a little time off her shift at the South Beach Medical Center).  Jamal, Samantha and Suzy are in class at this time, so they will not be in attendance.     

      

Man-buns make me want to pull out some sheep shears!

No matter, though, each to his own (no matter how stupid looking)

As I read the first Cybernetic Jesus post (and TigerGuard's following one), I asked myself, "Well, where are the cyberlimbs?"

Then I saw the University of Michigan's School of Engineering prosthetic hand that is controlled by the user's mind https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/health-tech/its-like-you-have-a-hand-again   and realized both of them are right!  Cyberpunk dystopia crept right up on us!

 

My comment should have had a question mark at the end of the first sentence in the quote you pulled up.  I was just pointing out that his lack of vehicle skills perhaps reflected his unfamiliarity with them.  Please consider my suggestions about expanding your knowledge base here an attempt by the GM to get Angel out of his basement and interacting with other characters; at least with a librarian.  Do whatever you want with hanging a 100 kg. load on the back of the van.  

Oh, as I have stated before the van is already equipped with rifle racks!      

As far as who is riding with whom on the various motorcycles and the GrevHog that is up to the Team, so no more comment from the GM (me) is needed.  Everyone on this thread and in the PMs has their ideas.  The important point is that they are all well thought out.

Yes, Angel has the skill to build a carrier, but the question would be does he have the knowledge to do it.  One of the problems with Angel is he has no vehicle skills, so he has no basis to know how to build it.  Normally that would be no problem for a Tech, but he also has no Computer Use or Library Search to quickly acquire the information needed to apply his skills to.  Of course, he could always go to the library and look for this information, but that takes time.  Hanging a 100 kg. motorcycle (plus the weight of the carrier) off the back of the van will definitely effect its handling; how much is the question.  Angel might want to make an effort to acquire these skills (Computer Use & Library Search) for himself.  The van doesn't have a trailer hitch, but one can be installed.  Putting the spare motorcycles on a small trailer is a good solution, but that means acquiring (buying) a trailer.  All of these solutions are easily doable.  

Fawkes, Rue and Jamal are all qualified on the RPG.  As to the rest of the suggested deployments above, that is up to the Team and not me.  

So, I will stop "harping" on whether or not the Team should take the job.  I just wanted to be sure that everyone realized that taking this job was more of a choice, not an order.

As to the "expectation of trouble", Mikael has a good handle on what to expect in the matter of opposition.  I'm not saying he is completely correct, but his estimation does cover most of the likely possibilities.  

   

22 minutes ago, TigerGuard said:

Ok, so as I read the write up, the helmets can function separate from the body armor.

Except the helmet has no power/battery of its own, so, it won't function except as an armored head piece. 

 

24 minutes ago, TigerGuard said:

Does our team have the know how to create a carrier to mount to either the front or rear of the van to transport Mitzi's LongRider? 

Well, that is a good question and I think the answer is obvious.  Suzy runs a garage and rebuilds vehicles.  I think a carrier for Mitzi's Long Rider would be a piece of cake for both her and Angel.  (8-Ball will have to officially answer for Angel.)  Putting the Long Rider inside the van will remove its ability to transport anyone, but the driver and the front seat passenger.  Also, as TigerGuard points out, you will lose a lot of room to transport gear if you do.  Mounting the bike on the outside of the van will slow the vehicle a bit, but it is doable.

Mikael points out in the post two previous that he didn't want Mitzi riding on 8-Ball's bike (for good reason).  Well, Mitzi has NO intention of riding 'bitch seat' on anyone's bike.  Her raw roll is equal to 8-Ball's and she feels she can handle the bike as well as anyone else.  As a note both Hollow and Jake are the best bikers of the group (in that order).  Regardless, everyone who has a motorcycle is competent with it.

It would be good to have a little more detail on 8-Ball's plan as TigerGuard suggests.

Now, with this last paragraph I detect some worry about whether the Team is up to the job should something go really wrong.  Well, things can go bad, but your concerns are valid.  As I stated twice when talking about this job, you don't have to take it, if you feel the risk outweighs the reward.  Saying no to Jack Masters won't be a major problem for Mitzi since it was really Celestine, Samantha and Suzy that pushed for it.  

    

For what its worth, maybe delaying Fawkes surgery and going on this mission would be a good thing.  He could use the money and your idea of 2x2 on the outriders with Jamal and Rue in the van and Fawkes on overwatch looks like the beginnings of a good plan.  8-Ball has suggested something similar, but not so detailed since the planning is now moving farther along.  BTW, Hollow has only Heavy Weapons +2, but that still gives him a raw roll of 14+ which is OK.

Angel's tech abilities are good but very specific.  He can certainly run a radio, but scanning and detecting for enemy communications is a specialized skill.  If those transmissions are coded that also requires two other skills to understand effectively.  Yes, he could 'spin the dial' and look, but it would be just luck if he detected any sort of ambush.  

The helmets that Whyte Hat uses with their Militech EMA-1 "Softshell" armor are Militech M-88A2 Enhanced Combat Helmets.  Yes they have superior communications ability and a lot more.  Look on pages 35 & 36 of the Fourth Corporate War Book 2 - Firestorm - Shockwave.  It is described there.

   

Yes, there is reciprocity on weapons licenses between those four entities.  Nevada doesn't really have much in the way of weapons laws.  No nukes, poison gas or biotoxins are tolerated there, but that's about it.  However, the police don't put up with any bull$hit though.  If they feel you are a threat to the public good, they can just kill you and bury you in the desert, but this doesn't happen often and almost never to legitimate companies, which you are.  Especially to employees of recognized companies doing legitimate business (Universal Records, for instance). 

Ah, the company van already has a roof hatch towards the back of the vehicle and hidden gun ports on each side and the rear.  These side (& rear) ports are sized for nothing bigger than a rifle.  Your corporate permit covers your MG, but you don't know where it came from.  The RPGs are NOT covered by your corporate permit, but they will probably only be a problem if you piss off the local LEOs in some way and they know you have them.  

As to Fawkes going, as GM, I have no opinion on him being there or not.  That is a Team (and player) decision.   

 

As to the other Character's skills:

Hollow: Drive 3 & Motorcycle 4 and is chipped for Pilot: Hover +3.

8-Ball: He does have Drive and Motorcycle, but I will let him tell you his skill levels.  He also is chipped for Pilot: Hover +3.

Mitzi: has both Drive and Motorcycle at Level 3

Rue:  She has Drive +3, no motorcycle

Jamal:  He is also Drive +3, no motorcycle

Angel:  He has no vehicle driving skills at all. 

As you can see there are four candidates to drive the van.  No one's skills are great, but all are competent.  This van isn't smart-linked so it has a -3 maneuver.

 

As to security in the venues, each one will probably be different, so it will take some role playing to establish how each of these places work security.  Usually the venue takes care of the performers security once inside the performance area, but someone will need to talk with each venue when you arrive.  So, when you look at it like that you will have to liaise with the local security, but each place will have its own methods of doing things.  Also, leaving the vehicles unguarded opens you up to sabotage, so keeping your eye on them is a good idea. 

 

2 hours ago, senior officer Mikael van Atta said:

When I talked about San Morro sewer rats, I meant literal rodents  Consider it a tongue-in-cheek personnel equivalent of "everything but the kitchen sink"

Oops, sorry, misinterpreted that.  I like the phrase though!  

As to bringing Angel, a Techie is always useful.  Besides he needs to get out and socialize at least with the Team.  By keeping him holed up in the basement workshop he has missed opportunities to get items he wants and learn about the city.  I am well aware of his personality "issues", but good characters need to grow.  We can talk about this later.  If you bring Angel, you will have to decide how much and many of his tools you can bring and how much room they will take up in transport. 

As far as command structure is concerned, it may not be an issue since Wyn is considering bringing Mitzi along.  Suzy isn't at all interested in being in command of the security Team on this one.  Her primary role on this trip is as a member of the "package" and secondary (along with Samantha) as the Team's drone operators.  Suzy actually has respect for 8-Ball as a bodyguard.  All three of the young women will be busy with performance and social duties when not traveling on the road.  Perhaps a conversation between 8-Ball, Mitzi and Suzy would help straighten out command order for this mission.

Each band consists of about 4 to 6 performers, two of the bands have a dedicated techie (not the Cyber Revolutionaries), there are three techies from Universal Records and one of Jack Masters' assistants, and four drivers for the three buses and one tractor trailer.  That is about 27 people before counting any on your Team.  They are generally non-combatants, but most have some weapons skill.  After all this is Cyberpunk America. 

Again, how many you bring is up to you all.  You still need to guard your HQ, which Jake could do, if you don't want to bring him.  If you brought every one else (Mitzi, 8-Ball, Cossack, Fawkes, Angel, Rue, Jamal and Hollow) that would probably divide up to €3,000 apiece with €1,000 for Whyte Hat.  Samantha and Suzy are counted as being included in the "package" so you don't have to pay them.  They are quite willing to run their drones for the Team, but will be less than enthusiastic about taking any other guard shifts and such.  

In regards to camping and feeding the crew - that is your problem.  Universal Records isn't going to put you up in a hotel or feed you unless the hotel "comps" the charges.  Actually the same applies to the bands, but each band's bus has sleeping accommodations for the band members and their Techies.  

I consider sleep inducers to be an almost "must have" for the competent Edgerunner (I know 8-Ball has one).  If you don't have one, then buy it!  

Vehicle-wise, it is up to you what you take.  The Team van is a mostly standard Pre-Collapse one with the following changes:  Speed = 80; Acc/Dec 15/40; driver, one more seat up front, bench seats for 4 more in back along with weapons racks; range = 300 miles; extra spaces 1.5 (for some cargo); SDP 40 (2); SP 20 (1).     

   

As to the exact personnel package you will be bringing, that is up to you.  Besides fuel, some food, occasional shelter (be prepared to supply sleeping quarters: tents work or pay for a hotel/motel yourself, if you want comfort) and replacement of reasonable ammunition expenditures; the company is being paid €25,000 total for successful completion of the job.  How you divide it up will be up to Mitzi (technically), but I am sure everyone will have an opinion.

The Team has sold itself as "bodyguard and security experts". so you are being hired for your "expertise".  Bringing a half a dozen or so "San Morro sewer rats" (I assume you are talking about the Chrome Berets) isn't what Jack Masters had in mind, but again, that would be alright.  After all it won't really cost him anything (maybe a bit more on the insurance), since the pay rate is the same (€25,000) no matter how many you bring.  Universal Records has NO responsibility to transport, feed or house them.  If some of the venues (mostly the hotels) offer food and/or lodging in some form or other, your security personnel can be included.  

Yes, tour security will probably need combat personnel and a medic would be a good idea.  Samantha and Suzy will be there, but they are there as band members and not official security people.  They will certainly be willing to help you in this regard.  I should point out that the Team doesn't actually own any drones.  The ones you seen so far are the personal property of the two NET Runners.  They will be quite willing to do scouting with their drones while on the road and will be bringing weapons themselves.  

A note on vehicles:  Mitzi doesn't have a Thundergod, but rather a 500cc Long Rider.  The work on your Bermuda will be finished in time for this job.  As to Cossack's GrevHog, that is the owning player's decision whether to bring it or not.  This also applies to Suzy's Shiva and all personal vehicles.  All the 6.5mm rifles (the Dragons and Mark IVs (revised) will also be arriving on time.  They are coming smartlinked for the 6.5 ammunition, but will be delivered with kits to smartlink the Mark IVs' for a grenade launcher.  During some of the gigs (especially the fancy hotels and casinos) waking around with assault rifles will not be permitted.  The Dragons can be hidden under long coats in situations between a heavily secure casino and an outdoor festival.  Each situation may be different, so you will have to adapt to each.

For any questions about the moving order inside the convoy, those are for you to solve.  Your planning and expertise is being called on.  You need to get the convoy to the gigs on time and provide overall security.  At the gig venues, there will probably be some local security to back you up, especially at the big hotels and casinos.  Whoever is in overall charge of security will have to deal with them (and their egos).  This is a job that the Team needs to plan themselves.  Who comes is up to the Team.  You have a budget to plan around.  There is a little room for negotiation on some things, except for the fee (€25,000).  As I have communicated to TigerGuard, you don't have to take the job, if you feel the risks outweigh the potential rewards.  This is an offer, not a command performance.   

              

8 hours ago, senior officer Mikael van Atta said:

But I'm just guessing and voicing my opinions. For what they're worth.

I've always thought your opinions are worth plenty!  I have always viewed the Barret-Arasaka Light 20 as a gutter style heavy weapon for the 'punks that didn't have the connections or cash for a real mil spec heavy weapon.  It is a weird weapon, but very usable for a beginning character, if they can get their hands on it.

The answer to both is: I don't know.  Whyte Hat's cut has been either a PC size share or between 5% and 15% of the total contract.  This is the first flat rate job the Team has gotten, so we are in uncharted territory here. 

Also, you don't have to take this contract.  Next question?

Since I have mentioned this to some on the Team, I feel it would be best to make this as a official announcement.  When we restart the campaign, one of the first things will be Jack Masters, head of Universal Records, will offer Mitzi and the Team a job.  Some of you may know that Jack has signed the Cyber Revolutionaries, the band that Samantha and Suzy dance for and Celestine serves as choreographer.  He has signed two other new bands recently and wants to take all three groups on the road for a short tour of the NorCal, SoCal and western Nevada.  These will all be full band shows, meaning that Samantha and Suzy will be going (and Celestine will insist on going too).  So, the three young women have convinced Jack Masters to hire the Team as security for the tour.  This tour starts on Thursday, September 15th in Monterey, Norcal and ends on New Year's Eve at the Cafe Chrome in Night City.  

Everyone on the tour will be covered by Universal Records Health plan for length of the tour.  There will be some meals provided, mostly by craft services at the various gig locations.  Sometimes, there will be housing provided, but be prepared for some 'camping'.  Four vehicles will be provided: 3 are tour buses (one for each band) and a tractor trailer rig to haul the bands' equipment.  Each of these four vehicles comes with a driver.  The Team won't have to worry about transporting or paying Samantha, Suzy or Celestine as the record company considers them with the Cyber Revolutionaries so they are paying and transporting them.     

The Team will need to provide their own transportation.  Fuel and road use repairs will be covered by Universal Records for the Team's vehicles.  The Team is being paid a flat fee of €25,000 total.  Legal ammunition will be replaced if there is a gunfight that occurs during the Team's duty protecting the tour.  And, yes, Jack Masters expects there might be trouble.  His 'rag tag' operation isn't loved by the major entertainment mega-corps.  There is NO specific threat, but Jack always likes to expect the unexpected.

There is some room for discussion.  Such discussions are possible until noon on Monday, December 5th.  After that you must have accepted the contract or Universal Records will find someone else.  

Here is the Tour Schedule as it now stands:

 

Universal Records Christmas Tour 2072

December 22^nd – New Oakland Coliseum, Oakland CA.

December 23^rd – Ace of Spades, 1417 R Street, Sacramento, CA

December 24^th – Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV

December 25^th – Walker River Paiute Tribe Reservation Music and Arts Fair, Schurz, NV

December 26^th – Mizpah Hotel & Casino (stay at Old Brewery Hostel), Tonopah, NV

December 29^th – Golden West Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV

December 30^th – Outdoor Concert @ the Hatchery at saddle Point on Lake Meade, NV

December 31^th – The Show @ the Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage

January 1^st – Greek Theater in Los Angeles, CA.

January 3^rd – Café Chrome, Night City

 

I will consider this space a discussion by the Team members on their thoughts about this job offer.  Others NOT participating in this campaign are also welcome to put their opinions in if you like.  This should be a fun little tour!

 

 

And I would agree with you about it NOT being caseless ammunition.  I asked because most weapons that are cased say so and the Nomad Long Rifle didn't.  I think the 15 BMG round is probably considered marked cased by the BMG designation, but that matters little.  For our purposes it will be cased ammunition.

I don't think that this round (15 BMG) is a type of sabot round as the damage (7d10) is way too much damage as the sabot 20mm round of the Arasaka Light 20 is only 4d10 damage and not close to the 8d10 damage of a standard 20mm round. 

 

Is the 15 BMG round for the Nomad Long Rifle cased?  My guess is yes, but its good to ask.

Well, let's see what everyone thinks, but I wouldn't be adverse to you coming on a little late on September 11th. 

 

This is all interesting stuff here!  Obviously 8-Ball has been putting some serious thought into how to proceed.  It would be inappropriate for me (as GM) to comment on the reaction that any of this would have 'in game'.  In situations like this I can only make comment as an NPC who is asked and or talked with in game.  However, I would be remiss not to correct what I see might be a misconception on the facts.  There really isn't a 'sniper problem' on the Interstate 16 loop through Night City.  All the highway shootings occurred on Devil's Night and in the morning of Halloween.  In the past ten days there hasn't been any 'sniper' incidents and the highways were reopened on November 1st.         

I will definitely take all of this into account in my planning for the next sessions.  Do I see war on the horizon?

 

The new weapons can be smart-linked if you want them so.  Underslung GLs can be smartlinked too, but they are paid for separately.   The Dragon could technically have a small underslung GL, but it would make its conceal-ability N.  This could only be done by a weaponsmith with the Jury Rig SA.  Depending on the GL there might be an additional minus to hit also.

Whyte Hat LLC currently has a Class C Corporate Weapons License, which covers automatic weapons: submachine guns (up to 12mm), assault rifles (up to 8mm) and certain heavy weapons (Barrett-Arasaka Light 20, ET or not, small single shot grenade launchers etc.) may be possessed, but each weapon and user must be licensed.    

Cossack's Two Maxims bring up some interesting ideas and do suggest some ways forward.  I am not endorsing them, or condemning them, since that isn't my role as GM.  I am sure you have all figured out that the Voodoo Boyz thread is a major one.  This gang is one of the largest and most powerful in Night City.  Taking them down (should you decide to do that) will not be easy, but, so what?  This is Cyberpunk; nothing is easy!

  

Since we are heading into situations where Reputation is becoming more important, I have reviewed my rule set regarding this and modified it slightly.  I have trimmed my original monthly Reputation maintenance costs for levels 5 and above as they were created in a time when I was extremely overgenerous with the PC's money.  This will have no effect on what has been paid before as the levels the Team is at now have been unaffected by this slight change.

The initial (optional) basic lifestyle charge (€400 edit - now only €300)  covers any minor incidentals that a character may has to pay.  This covers reasonable cab rides, most nights out at a bar (the low end ones), normal laundry charges etc..  Paying at the monthly €500 allows lower Reputation characters to get through to the higher levels (4+).  Over the years we discovered that many 'support" characters (Techs, NET Runners etc.) rarely got the opportunity to advance without taking ridiculously stupid and lethal chances to advance.  Since these character types (especially Techs) often have the opportunity to pick up outside work building things for outsiders, without a Reputation no one will know about you and you will never be approached by an outsider.  This allows those character types to rise up and not fall too far behind the other more flashy, combat oriented members of the Team Reputation-wise.      edit

It would be best to explain here that I use two "types" of Reputation.  A positive Reputation is good, but if you get noticed for doing 'bad and evil' things, you can acquire a negative Reputation, or what  call "Infamy", which doesn't need a maintenance payment.  But except for spreading your name around, its effects are all very BAD.  All of the pluses you get from a good Reputation become minuses and work will be hard to get except from the most brutal and treacherous of possible employers.  Infamy is very, very hard to get rid of.  I don't recommend it.

I hope to finish the extensive rewrite of my House Rules soon, but it is proving to be an exhausting (but necessary) project.  This said, here are the Reputation Rules (or, Guidelines for any Pirates of the Caribbean fans):

C.  Reputation   

1)    Reputation is a measure of two things: 1) how well you are known and respected (or hated), and the world’s (relative) opinion of your abilities; and/or 2) Your own self confidence in your abilities as judged by the GM through your game play.  Just because you think you’re a badass, doesn’t mean shit!  In this way you might have a high Reputation but still no one will recognize you by sight; hearing your name might be a different matter especially at higher levels. 

2)    Reputation is gained thru game play as judged by the GM, and is not so much a measure of competence, but how the world perceives you.

3)    It is maintained (in the mid and upper levels) by paying a monthly maintenance cost.  This cost represents a combination of lifestyle, cost of living (beyond the monthly basics), and on the higher end, what you pay out to keep your name in the spotlight and on everybody’s mind, or, if you are a wanted person, bribes, hush money and payments to “keep you safe”. 

4)    In the mid levels it is frees you from the nit-picking details of paying for cabs, drinks, evenings on the town, restaurant meals etc.  It also covers general maintenance and upkeep on the gear that one acquires (at the GMs discretion).

5)    At the GMs discretion, Reputations for beginning characters can be raised by paying (at least), either the next highest monthly Rep cost, or 2x your current Rep cost, whichever is less.  To get from 1 to 2 just three month is the minimum, to get from 2 to 3 is at least six another months, and to get from 3 to 4 is a least another full year. Rising above 4 takes role-playing but paying an increased maintenance cost can be a factor that the GM may consider. 

6)    Failure to pay Rep maintenance lowers your Reputation eventually.  For every 3 months the Reputation Maintenance is not paid, it will drop one.  Once lost, it must be regained in the usual manner.  Missed months of maintenance must be made up if you wish to further increase you Reputation.  The GM may wave that requirement for EXCEPTIONAL role-playing.  Reputation 3 is the lowest it can fall due to not maintaining it.  A Bad Reputation usually follows you regardless of cost maintenance.  A Reputation for cowardice can actually be applied as a negative modifier in a Facedown roll.

7)    Reputation 1 to 3 has no maintenance cost.  Rep 4 is €500 per month.  Rep 5 is €1,000 per month, Rep 6 is €2,000  per month, Rep 7 is €4,000 per month, Rep 7 is €6,000 per month, and Rep 8 is €8,000 per month.  Rep 10 is €10,000 per month.

😎    Reputations do not apply as to recognition of who you are outside your areas defined by your REP #.  Reputations of 1 to 3 are local.  Reputations 4 & 5 are more regional, and you (at the GMs discretion) may be recognized beyond your region at ½ your Rep (rounded down).  Reputation 6 is a larger regional area and you are usually rated at a 3 internationally.  Reputations 7+ are international and (the higher you are) the more everyone (in the know) will have heard of you.  No, African Bushmen probably haven’t heard of even a Rep 10 (although you might find one with a Johnny Silverhand or Cheap Sex tee shirt).

9)    Reputation modifies your monthly pay rate on a month when you are “blue booking” (or have a minor job month).  Rep 1 to 3 = 25%.  Rep 4 & 5 = 50%.  Rep 6 & 7 = 100%.  Rep 8 & 9 = 150%.  Rep 10 = 200%. 

10) To qualify for a small monthly job (blue booking), you must roll (1d10) under the average of your SA and Reputation.  If the character has a Fixer looking for jobs for them, then the monthly roll to qualify for a job is modified by the Fixer’s SA.  Levels 1 to 3 = 0 (no bonus),  Level 4 to 7 = -1, Levels 8 & 9 = -2, Level 10 = -3.  On a base roll of “1”, you always get a job; on a base roll of “10” you don’t get a job regarding of modifiers

 

I hope this is helpful.  As always, questions and comments are welcome!

 

I don't see any problems with Fawkes' weapons requests.  Cossack feels set and has some similar ideas as 8-Ball on having Mitzi dispose of the excess surplus weapons and use funds to upgrade the Team's armory situation.  I would like to remind Cossack that part of his employment agreement is to participate in the "Thou Shalt Not Get Away With It" program where the Team will be taking 'righteous' jobs to help the 'poor, down trodden and powerless' against 'the Man'.  It is Mitzi's responsibility to balance the Team's work between these and the high paying gigs to keep everyone in cash and the Team solvent as a entity.

As far as Cossack's opinions on the "dangling treads": 

The Team's decision not to pursue the Voodoo Boyz after the initial encounter on your return to Night City was probably good.  An attack by the Team at that point would have most likely crushed the set of the gang that hangs out near NCU, but at that point you didn't know about the other sets of the gang around the city.  They would probably have mobilized and the remaining 60 or so members of this highly organized and dangerous gang and struck back with all their extensive firepower.  You would never have seen it coming.  The only set of this gang you have faced is the one that sells drugs in the central city and they (as you now know) are one of the weakest parts of that gang.  In regard to this current situation, does anyone find it odd that after you (well, Mitzi did the deed) killed one of the gang during the fight outside of the Paragon Club and all of you sent that whole set running for their lives, that there has been NO reaction from them?  You have seen a few in the Central City after this incident and you know they saw you, but no reaction from them to your presence.  You have been informed that the Voodoo Boyz have been making an effort to learn as much about all of you as they can.  Of course, it must be that they are overawed by your awesome combat abilities.  Whatever is going on, Cossack is right, this is now Mitzi's quandary.

Cossack seems to have a good handle on the Ukrainian Mob situation.  As of now, the Team doesn't know enough (or really much at all) about who or why Cossack was attacked.   

The Blue Goo doesn't appear to be much of a threat to the Team but again, this is a Mitzi problem, for now.

In addition, 8-Ball's explanation of why he uses a mix of laser sight equipped and smartlinked weapons is a perfect example of an experienced solo choosing the right "tools" for varying situations!