Allen1

Yes, excellent idea on a project for Angel.  Perhaps 8-Ball should do the kicking?  <joke>

Do you have six people for the assault Team?  That question was already answered in the revised plan.

On 20/03/2023 at 12:00, Allen1 said:

This makes the assault team: 8-Ball, Cossack, Zdravko, J.J.; Viper and [new guy]. 

The Team should all fire on the guards on the same round.  If not dropped, they will get an action before the second round and you can be sure that will be to raise the alarm. 

As to the what happens on the initial rush, Suzy wants the first pair to clear that first floor, the second pair goes to the second floor, and the third pair gets the body off the front porch and then checks for a basement.  Ignoring the first floor could get the pair going upstairs shot in the back.  8-Ball's plan could be a recipe for disaster as it sends the first pair up, the second pair down, leaving any enemy on the first floor, who will now be ready for action, placed between the divided Team, that can be defeated in detail.  

Suzy, Paulie and Zdravko will attempt another infiltration with a Grid Bug overnight and try to come in through any cracks in the window frame on the other side of the back wall of the building.  The three will also continue aerial surveillance on and off.  The Team has one Oracle and its battery will need recharging now and then.  

Also, Suzy intends to pick up a couple of small mini-cams and microphone bugs tomorrow that she wants planted in the building just before the ex-fil to see who comes to respond (if anyone) to the attack.  They will be placed by Viper, since the Team's Electronic Security skills are fairly dismal and she knows Viper's are not.  

No, the band isn't to be told about the upcoming operation.  What they don't know can't be learned from them, or held against them in a court of law.  What they will be told is to stay on the barge while most of the Team is gone as a credible threat from the bokor, Ricardo Vincent, and his followers against us is being investigated.  Also, tell them it be would wise to be ready to leave quickly but not how that will be accomplished.  

As to the name of the Chrome Beret's old trawler, I did make a point of describing it when it pulled up to the dock; and I quote from my notes that I read, "Its name is the USS Brooklyn".  I also told you that below the name was a slightly faded painting of an old 'three stacker' warship that looking like it was from about the turn of the 19th to 20th century.  I was hoping that at some point in people's conversations with the Chrome Berets that someone would ask about it.  I will now assume that either 8-Ball or J.J. discussed this when they hoisted a few drinks back with that gang in Antoine's.  The U.S.S. Brooklyn was the flagship of Admiral Winfield S. Schley, commander of the US Navy’s ‘Flying Squadron’ at the naval battle of Santiago de Cuba, which was the pivotal naval engagement of the Spanish American War in the western hemisphere.  The US Fleet consisted of two parts, the Flying Squadron led by then Commodore Schley and the North Atlantic Squadron led by the overall naval commander, Rear Admiral William T. Sampson.  When the battle commenced, the Spanish fleet trying to flee the Cuban harbor, Admiral Sampson was not with the fleet but on his way to a meeting with the American Army commander and had brought three ships of the fleet with him.  Even though before leaving he had been alerted that the Spanish flagship was raising steam (possibly to sail), he ordered the American fleet to ignore it.  Also two the American ships had gone to Guantanamo Bay to re-coal, leaving Commodore Schley with only his flagship, the modern armored cruiser USS Brooklyn, four coastal defense battleships, the USS Texas, USS Oregon, USS Iowa, and USS Indiana, the armed yacht USS Vixen and supply ship Gloucester.  The Spanish sortied with their four armored cruisers and two destroyers to make a run for the open sea.  Commodore Schley immediately gave chase.  The American ships laid down salvo after salvo of withering fire.  Within a little more than an hour, five of the six ships of the Spanish Caribbean Squadron had been destroyed or forced aground. Only one vessel, the speedy new armored cruiser Cristóbal Colón, still survived and steamed as fast as she could for the west and freedom.  Only the USS Oregon could keep up with the final remaining Spanish ship.  Then the Cristóbal Colón ran out of its high quality anthracite coal and switched to it remaining low grade Spanish coal.  That was the end.  The USS Oregon began to pound the remaining Spanish ship which turned towards land, struck its colors and surrendered.  The Spanish fleet was annihilated.  They fought bravely, but were crippled by a corrupt government that skimped on ship maintenance, bought substandard coal and ammunition.

Anyway without the swift action of Commodore Schley and his flagship the USS Brooklyn, the Spanish Fleet might have escaped.  Hence the Pensacola Chrome Berets named their vessel after the venerable USS Brooklyn.  So, yes, I did give quite some thought to an appropriate name for that ship.  

               

In regard to 8-Ball's proposed modifications:

• A "no" to the Stench bombs.  8-Ball is the only person with nasal filters.  Read their full write up; they are only 70% effective and the core rules say they only give you a +4 to your save.  Gas masks are out since everyone will have to be wearing smartgoggles to access the feed from the Tactical Battlemapper.  Also, a person who is vomiting can still shoot you!  Nowhere does it say this stench bomb incapacitates you.  
• As to the number of rounds each person fires from his paintball gun on the initial shot, the assault team leader 8-Ball may give his own instructions in that regard.  You will be lucky to have one full "mag" apiece (50 rounds), so don't waste shots.  Also, if the target makes his save, he (or she) suffers a -2 to all stats.  Dropping a person's BODY to 0 or below could be fatal, hence, Suzy's suggestion for three round bursts or better yet, single shots.  This way it almost guarantees dropping them to unconsciousness without killing them.
• Excellent idea about the pry bars!  The Team should have at lest one for every 2 team members.  

Yes, the one on the porch can be dragged in by the last team man through the door.  There isn't a guard on the roof.  The other armed guard is on the second floor porch right above the first floor entrance.  The assault group should set up as three pairs.  The first two move through the door and clear the first floor, the second pair should head to the 2nd floor quickly.  The third pair pulls the 1st floor guard out of sight an closes the door.  After that the third pair should check to find the basement, or assist one of the other two teams, if they meet resistance they can't handle.  

Now, on to possible complications from this operation.  Suzy is confident that all will be well, but she sill wants to plan if it goes south in some way.  This probably means getting the hell out of New Orleans as quickly as possible.  If something goes goes south with this operation, then the Chrome Berets may also be in trouble, so her thought is to ask them to take the Team back to Pensacola with them.  Leaving by road is too risky as Mississippi isn't expecting the whole band AND all the vehicles.  Governor Braxton Lowndes of Alabama has already expressed his desire to hang Celestine and imprison the rest of the band at best, so going through even a short part of Alabama with the band is a no go in Suzy's mind.  Her thought is for Nancy Chang to call her police transportation contacts in Mississippi and Alabama and tell them that our vehicles are going to leave early for Miami to make sure they get there on time.  The four vehicles will wait in Pensacola to see if something goes wrong.  If nothing goes wrong they head on down to Miami, if disaster strikes, they wait for the Team to arrive in Pensacola on the Chrome Berets' trawler.  Thoughts?

   

I am considering these conversations here to be part of the hours of planning that occurred at the end of last session.  So, Suzy isn't happy with using speedboats, and what she views as, getting all of this gear and equipment falling on her to deal with (whether true or not).  When she realizes that 8-Ball is deferring to her, she announces that the somewhat communal plan that is being created is going to be scrapped.  Instead she presents her plan, which is what will be done.

The bare bones of the previously disgusted plan will go forward with some significant changes.  The Team will go on the mission with zip ties and black hoods carried by everyone as 8-Ball previously suggested.  Suzy will still be in her sniper's nest at a distance, but her role is reduced to a back up shooter in case things go south.  Instead, she will primarily run her Grid Bug, which Paulie will fly in on the Oracle earlier in the evening.  The Grid Bug will be doing more scouting in the hours before the assault takes place.  It will need to be picked up during the ex-fil.  Viper's shopping list will be amended as follows:  There will be NO assault rifles, but everyone will still get a silenced pistol.  The long guns that the assault team will use will be SGI "Geist" Paintball Assault Weapon or an equivalent (RIF; +1; N; C; Sleep Drugs 50; ROF 1/3/20; ST; 75m).  These are actually legal in Louisiana, so they will be much easier to get.  Viper is confident he can also get plenty of sleep pellets, which are less legal.  Also, Suzy wants her friend to try to get some flash bang grenades.  These will be harder to get, but Viper is sure he can get a couple at least.  The money saved here will allow him to get better armor for the Team.  The ex-fil will NOT be handled by speedboats, but by two of the locally built launches with small electric motors used by the local people to navigate the narrow waterways.  Again, now that Viper isn't so busy trying to run down illegal assault rifles equipped with silencers, he is confident he can get these.  These water craft, piloted by two Chrome Berets, will also be used to bring the Team to near the target house.  These craft are ubiquitous, so people riding around in them won't attract attention.  

The assault team will number six people.  (Note: Mitzi will get back to 8-Ball personally on his request for another driver and will be sending one with some good combat skills.  This will be our newest player's solo, who should have is character ready, or a Chrome Beret will be serving as a driver if he doesn't.)  This makes the assault team: 8-Ball, Cossack, Zdravko, J.J.; Viper and [new guy].  Rue will be close by watching Suzy's back in her sniper nest.  Suzy will be ready to take out the two outside guards, but the principle shots will come from the Team's paintball weapons with sleep loads.  Each guard will get three Team members firing either two single shots or one three round burst one the first round.  These will be medium range shots.  Any that don't go down gets some attention from Suzy.  From there, the plan is pretty much as before; rush the house; take down any even slightly looking hostiles but with sleep loads.  The flash bang grenades, if we get some, and silenced pistols are weapons of last resort.  Suzy wants NO DEAD BODIES, if it can be helped.  The New Orleans Police will have to take murder seriously.

The clean up will be simple.  Search everyone and everywhere for IDs and take them.  Pictures of people's faces and bodies need to be taken, except if you shoot and kill them, then just their faces.  Of course, any important looking documents and computers need to be seized.  This last item is probably unlikely.  The NET Runners' surveillance has seen other apparently drugged young women brought inside and none leave.  With the exception of Marilyn, Viper's sister, they need to have their heads bagged, until we figure out who they are, but they also must be evacuated.  As to the others in the house, just take their IDs and their pictures (face and if not dead, full body).  Zip tie them both hands & feet and just leave them unharmed.  

The ex-fil will follow and if the boats are not pursued, then they can pick up both Suzy and Rue on their way out.  If there is a pursuit, lead the pursuers to certain marked channels and Suzy will cripple their boats with her silence rifle.

This is the new plan, but Suzy is willing to at least discuss any of the elements of it.         

 

Well, this plan will result in at least two dead men.  The sniper idea was from Zdravko, but in Suzy's opinion, he isn't really skilled enough to take them down with a single shot each which she feels she can easily do.  Lets face it this young woman has a high opinion of herself.  If someone has a better plan both Viper and Suzy would be happy to listen to it.  

Fast speed boats might stand out in that poor neighborhood, but who knows if that could be a problem.  

You already have a map of the area, but the NET Runners can (and will) update it from their surveillance.  The Chrome Berets don't have any real detailed knowledge of this area where the target house is so the will have to depend on the maps.

As to acquiring the speed boats and all that, Suzy is dealing will leading the NET Runners, planning and running continuing surveillance as well as paying for everything.  Viper is VERY busy trying to put together a weapons and armor package during Mardi Gras in a state where everything you want is SUPER illegal, all in a bit over 24 hours.  The speed boats, getting to the target house and ex-fil are your problem.  Viper is (obviously) a highly trained Special Forces operative and Suzy is, well, Suzy.  Both are highly skilled at disappearing if need be.

     

OK, here is what you have on the Target Location:

1. Yes, two visible guards, carrying long arms.
2. No, two men were seen in a narrow part of the room with only one pistol on the desk between them.  As to the rest of this, it is just your conjecture.
3. This makes sense from what you know. 
4. Access to the building is by a walkway that connects to another walkway.  You have lots of video footage of the area taken by Paulie.  You have found a place around the corner of one of the buildings off the lower part of the map where maybe a half dozen people can stage single file.  From that closest hiding spot, it is 25 meters (with one 90 degree turn) to enter the map, and another 8 meters to reach the front door.  Nobody on the assault team is fast enough to make that in one round.  
5. Suzy, Paulie and Zdravko will fly the Oracle drone tomorrow to study the surrounding area of the target house.  With that information and the existing footage, the three NET Runners should be able to quickly build a three dimensional map of the area with their Creator programs.  Suzy and Zdavko should be able to find a good sniper nest with that.
6. Again, the NET Runner will be able to build a fairly accurate neighborhood map with the information they have and will be acquiring.
7. Yes, there are windows, but using them as entry points is a bad idea (from Suzy).  It would take time to move up to them and get them open giving the defenders a chance to fight.  A silent take down of the two outside guards, followed by a rush of the front door, gets the Team inside quickly before they have time to react (hopefully).  Surveillance has shown that there is nothing special about the walkway leading to the house and the visitors there, just opened the door, so it s probably not locked. 
8. Yes, talking with the Pensacola Chrome Berets is an option, but there hasn't been a chapter in New Orleans in 10 years.  Also, the Pensacola chapter is made up of former members of the New Orleans & Georgia chapters plus new recruits from the Pensacola area.  Also, consider that these speed boats will be racing through the narrow channels at night, which in of itself might draw attention.  There is the fact that the New Orleans Police also use drones.  Now this house isn't in an area that gets a lot of police attention, but speeding boats might get their attention.  And then there is the question of where are you going to get these speedboats and if they are identified, can you be sure that whoever you get them from won't rat you out if confronted by the police?    

 

Here is a little more information on Cyberpunk New Orleans.  Again, I would stress reading the chapter on Dixie and especially the small section on New Orleans in the sourcebook, Home of the Brave.  The rising ocean waters and failure of the old dike system and pumping stations has put the entire city below sea level.  The population is smaller now and the people who are left have moved up a story or two.  There are just about no paved streets as they are now sunk under the waves and function as canals.   The people walk on a maze of catwalks and mostly wooden bridges.  There are many water taxis for those with the money to pay the fares.  Utilities have been raised out of the water and are strung haphazardly between the buildings in most places.  The Mississippi River serves to move much of the sewage out of the city that leaks from the old pipes, so the cleanest water in the canals in the upstream parts of the city.  Antoine's, the club and dock where you are staying is (fortunately) in the upstream parts of the remaining city.  It has a large dock where the barge you will be staying on is tied up.  A picture of the ~33 meter long water craft is pictured below.

The Barge

There is a large stern double cabin (left side of picture).  Moving towards the bow (to the right of the picture) is the pilot house, then the main living area and kitchen.  Continuing towards the bow are 8 small single cabins near the water line; 4 on the port side and 4 on the starboard side.  The bow has one double size cabin.  The masts in the picture are from water craft tied up behind the barge and are not there at the dock at Antoine's.  However, there is a crane hoist located on the barge's deck over the 8 single cabins.  It is currently down in the stowed position.   

Some of the main commercial areas in the city are sitting in raised pilings to allow people to walk around on small plazas, but these are few and far between.  Again, be warned, most of the pedestrian areas are located on a haphazard system on wooden walkways and catwalks.

One of the biggest draws of Mardi Gras are the parades that move through the major canals of the city.  Below is a listing of the ones that have survived in this ramshackle, new world, Venice:

Wednesday, February 17, 2077:  Mardi Gras officially begins and the first parade is in the afternoon: The Rex; One of the oldest parades where the official “King” of the Mardi Gras parades through.

Thursday, February 18, 2077:  The second parade is in the afternoon: The Thoth it is an Egyptian themed parade.

Friday, February 19, 2077: The third parade is in the afternoon.  It is called the Zulu since it was originally created by the city’s African American population, it is a crowd favorite

Saturday, February 20, 2077:  The fourth parade is in the afternoon.  The Tucks is named after an old bar, “Friar Tuck’s”, this parade was originally created by Loyola University students.  Later that evening is the first of the night time parades:  The Proteus: the only surviving 19th century parade.  Since the band will be performing its last show at Antoine’s, they will NOT be attending.

Sunday, February 21, 2077:  The band will definitely want to attend the fifth and biggest parade in the afternoon: The Endymion.  This is the largest of the Mardi Gras parades!  They will probably want to attend the second parade in the evening: The Le Krewe d’Edat; the only parade with a ‘Dictator” and not a “King”; it has the most new floats and is known for its originality, biting satire and fantastic flames and torches!

Monday, February 22, 2077:  The band will probably attend the sixth parade in the afternoon: The Orpheus: one of the oldest parade krewe groups and is considered the prettiest.  That night is the last parade in the evening: The Muses: One of the most popular krewes as it is all-female and draws some of the second biggest crowds.

Tuesday, February 23, 2077:  This is Fat Tuesday and marks the official end of Mardi Gras.  The band will want to attend this; the seventh and final parade in the afternoon: The Bacchus:  This parade is celebrating its 109 year.  It still uses 2 of its most famous floats, the Bacchawhoppa and the Bacchagator.  Most of the Tour is scheduled to be departing New Orleans on a zeppelin flight to Miami leaving at 11 pm later that night.  The tour vehicles will be driven to Miami.

More information will be coming during the next week before Episode 72!

 

Well, everything happens for a reason and sometimes those reasons can't be understood since various parties' points of view can't be comprehended by one another.  What should be considered is where you are going next.  The tour is about to head into the Cotton Republics, so everyone might consider looking forward.  The mores, customs and laws are different there than they rest of the country.  I would suggest reading the 'Dixie" section in Home of the Brave.  The Tour's passage through Mississippi will probably be safe as Universal Records has bribed ..... err paid the state for guarded safe conduct trough their state.  Louisiana is also a similar right wing police style state, but you will be traveling there during Mardi Gras, so the authorities are a bit more relaxed.  Still, the only person on the Team who will be authorized to carry a gun will be J.J. Hunter since she still possesses her U.S. Marshal's badge.  Nobody else is cleared to carry any sort of firearm and heavy armor is also out of the question, both legally and as an environmental issue.  With global warming, it will be rather hot and muggy in the day in New Orleans.  Carrying a taser while "on duty" might be alright, unless the cop is question takes a dislike to you.  This isn't to say no one has guns in Louisiana, but none of you are local, so expect no breaks.  Fortunately it is Mardi Gras season and most everyone is there to have a good time.  It is a week to 10 days of wild parties and parades.  The one time that the locals and visiting tourists are allowed to cut loose.  Minor brawls, drug use and public sex doesn't usually draw a police reaction, but just be gone when Mardi Gras ends.  The police take note of troublemakers.

Your drivers and your gear will have to move through the Gulf sections of Mississippi, Alabama, the Florida panhandle and central Florida.  Universal Records has paid a "transit fee" for your vehicles to cross through the Gulf coast section of Alabama, but they insist that all weapons and armor will be transported by the Alabama State Patrol who will be escorting your vehicles through their state.  In Florida your weapons licenses are good and Central Florida isn't as dangerous as the Panhandle.  Of course the Team and the band will be taking a zeppelin from New Orleans to Miami, so none of this should be a problem for the band and the Team.  This is a good thing since Governor Braxton Lowndes of Alabama is currently raging against the Cyber Revolutionaries as a threat to the moral fiber of Dixie; tin pot dictators always have to "gin up" enemies to justify their repressive tactics.

Regardless, Mardi Gras is always a fun time for most.  Just be careful.        

Well, I can't comment on the Elvises, since maybe this conflict isn't over.  Yes, the obviously had a plan, but didn't come armed with any firearms, which is a bit unusual as the gang is often known to carry guns. 

As to the kidnapping, DMS is a very viable suspect, but there is NO hard evidence hat they were behind it.  It was an eight person extraction team plus a van driver and you assigned a single person to protection detail.  Nothing against the other band members, but your two most valuable "packages" are Celestine and Suzy.  Celestine is the new "soul" of the band.  Without her, the band is just a very talented group of musicians.  Yes, Cassie Banes, the bassist, songwriting is becoming important, but still it is Celestine that is the driving force.  Suzy is an adequate musician, but really just serves as "eye candy" with her superb dancing skills.  Also, her rising career as an actress / model is just an audience draw.  More valuable to Whyte Hat is that Suzy is rich and 1/2 owner of that company and the co-founder of B&B Technologies.  Suzy has been carefully crafting a public persona of a "wild child" and irresponsible, little rich girl.  Now, thanks to DMS news, the perception that company is pushing is that she is a dangerous and talented combat specialist (which is quite true).  This incident has worked out for Whyte Hat's reputation, because if the extraction succeeded all of the company's enemies would be harping on this failure.  On the downside, any future attempts will have to take into account a young woman who killed four talented solos in 6.6 seconds, picked up an unconscious Celestine and moved her out of harm's way at an inhuman speed.  If Paulie had been assigned to fly his drone covering the DMS visit, 8-Ball might have been able to track down the escaping survivors of the extraction team.

In regard to the question, if DMS will try again, who knows? 

          

Just a quick reply here.  Yes, it would be possible to hire a driver to take the T-Bird on those two legs of the trip.  Since Rusty is the music engineer and the bus driver,  he is slated to be on the River Steamer for that show.  You might ask Nancy how she is solving her bus transportation problem.  

The Mississippi Highway Patrol will escort the entire tour from the Tennessee line (after the Memphis show) to the Louisiana line.  Also, after Mardi Gras, they will escort the vehicles when they drive from outside New Orleans across the coastal area of Mississippi to the Alabama line where the Alabama State Police will take over until the Florida line.  In Florida the vehicles will be on their own to reach Miami.  However, they will be under no burdensome restrictive weapons restrictions in Florida.

Your rental company doesn't operate in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and the Florida panhandle so dropping them off in any of those areas isn't possible.  As it stands now, you will drop off all of your current vehicles in Atlanta, Georgia before the tour boards the MagLev for Saint Louis, Missouri.  In Saint Louis, you will pick up similar new vehicles, except your Armadillo will have the mini-turret with a 40mm Auto GL installed.  

Of course, you never know what might happen on the way, but so far, this is the plan.  

 

As to 8-Ball's estimation of the continuing possible threat of the Shit Eaters ...err... Trash Chippers, I can't comment.

The tour has quite a number of cities yet to visit.  You haven't "raised a havoc" in any of these until you get out west, and out west you do have the "fear factor" on your side.

Yes, you can't predict what criminals / rivals / crazies will try.  Something you should know:  From Cincinnati to Louisville the band will be traveling by luxury river steamer.  Heavy armor and automatic weapons may NOT be brought on board unless they are turned over to be locked up in the ship's armory.  It might be best that those items remain with the vehicles as they make their way to Louisville by road.  Remember, the Team is responsible for getting the Ford-Mazda Thunderbird IV from Cincinnati to Louisville. 

Also, your corporate permits aren't any good in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.  Technically the same applies to Georgia and Florida, but Universal Records has negotiated an exception for the tour security personal in Georgia and Florida.  In Mississippi, the deal is that the heavy armor and ALL weapons must remain in locked, sealed containers.  They must be transported in the back of your Tractor Trailer but NO ONE may ride in the back of that trailer which will be also sealed.  The convoy will have an escort of the Mississippi Highway Patrol.  They will be there to protect you from any attacks and also protect the citizens of Mississippi from the "evil, pernicious influence" of the band.  This is a quote from the latest speech by Alabama Governor Braxton Lowndes.  This man has taken a particular dislike to the Cyber Revolutionaries and their "foreign and criminal elements".  You will be in Louisiana during Mardi Gras when these restrictions aren't often enforced.  However, the use of heavy armor and automatic weapons will still bring a strong police response.  The southern police officers in this Cyberpunk world are often of the "shoot first and cover up the incident later" school of policing.  You do realize that NO WEAPONS or heavy armor can be brought aboard the zeppelin that will transport you from New Orleans to Miami.  Universal Records has arranged for these weapons and armors to be sealed up.  They can be shipped as cargo on the airship or be shipped with the vehicles that are going by road to Miami.  Alabama insists that they will hold them (sealed) when that convoy passes through their territory.  They will be returned to the convoy when it crosses into Florida.  Again, the question is, "Who will be driving the Ford-Mazda Thunderbird IV on that leg of the trip?"

     

In regard to your "Two notes":

• It will take ten to fifteen minutes to properly scan each hotel room for "bugs and such stuff".  Most of the hotel rooms you will be staying in will be doubles making a usual total of 7 rooms.  This will take 70 to 105 minutes a stop for the initial night.  Scanning the venues could be problematic and even more time consuming.  Still, your choice.  Paranoia can be helpful. 
• Well, as you state, Paulie would need to get a proper long gun to practice.  Then the two of you would have to find a range, which would be not much of a problem.  The minimal lesson time is 3 hours not including to and from the range.  The cost would be ammunition and range fees.  This is all very doable.  Let me know if you are going to start pursuing this and when you what to start.   

 

Ah, it brings great joy to any Game Master to create some villains that inspires his players to plot their revenge no matter how insane it is!  <joke>  In four days, the Cyber Revolutionaries continue their tour.  There is one more show in Detroit, but your transport to and from the venue will be by AV, while many of your vehicles get repaired or replaced.  This will make it difficult for the Trash Chippers to get at you, unless.....  never mind.  After Detroit it will be on to the capital of Ohio, Columbus, for two shows in a medium size venue, before heading on to Cincinnati, Ohio for another pair of shows in a big riverside rock club.  From there the Tour boards a large luxury steamboat for an overnight cruise down river to Louisville, Kentucky.  There will be a performance in the ship's Grand Salon.  Now, the vehicles will have to go by road, so you might want to give a thought to who is going to drive them.  

As I have stated in game, Nancy Chang, the tour manager, is so very happy with the tour so far.  After Loco Skysinger split with the Cyber Revolutionaries to go solo, his old band slid back into being just a popular local (Night City) band.  With the addition of Celestine, who is now their front person, the band has ignited quite the buzz when their first small Nevada / California Tour that ended with the riot at the Smash Club in LA.  Celestine and Cassie's song, Riot for the Smash Club, which touched off that LA riot, is the lead single off the Cyber Revolutionaries new record of the same name.  This album is now at #48 in the top 100 nationally and the lead single is now #17!  So far every show on the tour has sold out!  The band, 8-Ball, Cossack and Suzy have been constantly in the news. 

Why?  Let's see.  Suzy beating up a man who attacked her with that girl breaking his cyberarm on camera and then the band writing a song about it, leading the 'cyberarm guy' to try to shoot Suzy onstage.  The media was there to record 8-Ball's rapid take-down of the assailant with an assist from J.J. Hunter.  Your NET Runner, Paulie's arrest for illegal Net Running, which normally wouldn't be much of a story, has now been folded into the media circus building around this tour.  Then the Cyber Revolutionaries played on stage backing up Jack Entropy on his induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in front of a national video audience.  Add to this the media coverage of Jack Entropy punching out Loco Skysinger over his perceived insult to Suzy.  Again, 8-Ball stepped in and took down many of Loco's entourage with an assist from Cossack.  This incident in particular has caught the national media's attention.  Jack, Rock's #1 bad boy, defending the "honor" of Suzy, the rich, murderous, ex-gangster moll, who is seen by the media as his new girlfriend made a great news story.  The fact that Suzy is appearing as the villainous vixen on this season's U.S. Marshals - Night City, which is rising in the national ratings doesn't hurt the tour's publicity either.  Now, the Team has delivered a blow against one of Detroit's most dangerous gangs, the Trash Chippers.  8-Ball re-christening that gang as the "Shit Eaters" is trending nationally.  Oh, yes, boys and girls, you have the national media's attention now!

Fame can be a great thing, but it does have its downside.  For the band, the exploding record sales and sold out shows will give these mostly combat zone kids a taste of the good life, when the royalties come in.  Of course that makes everyone a target for whatever crazies, criminals and rival corporations who might see an opportunity here.  See you all this Saturday!

    

Exactly how the Trash Chippers figured out Whyte Hat was responsible for the raid on the Raven MicroCyb Tower is something that I can't speak to directly, but I can tell you what you do know.  A lot of this may have seemed unimportant at the time, but the seeds for this recent ambush where planted in the Team's past.  The truck the Team used to move its gear during their first mission in Detroit was supplied by one of the two friends of Jamal's brother-in-law.  They brought your gear to and from the building just over the wall around the combat zone and close to the old Raven office tower where you set up your mission HQ.  You spent a couple of days with these two.  The van was parked there for the length of the operation and left as the Team ex-filled from the location.  The odds of no one ever seeing that truck is 'slim to none'.  How much effort do you think the Trash Chippers put into finding out whose truck that was?  Later in Episode 45, just after the Team destroyed the last of the Voodoo Boyz, on June 26, 2073 Suzy was arrested for Manslaughter while picking up Jamal's sister's family at the MagLev station.  The sister, her children and her husband, who provided you with the sewer plans that allowed you to enter the old Raven building unseen, said they had to flee Detroit because the truck owner had been kidnapped, tortured and killed.  The remaining friend of the brother-in-law said he heard it was probably the Trash Chippers and advised them to leave Detroit, which he also did.  If it was the Trash Chippers who tortured and killed the truck owner, how quickly did it take for him to "give you up"?

Even with this information, what could the Trash Chippers do, back then?  A local gang from the Detroit combat zone had NO way to reach across the country to strike at you.  In the past four years, the Team's (and especially 8-Ball and Cossack) reputations have grown.  The media covers your exploits regularly.  With all the publicity around the Cyber Revolutionaries Tour and Whyte Hat's involvement (remember the press coverage of 8-Ball foiling the attempted shooting of Suzy at the Skeleton Club?), imagine their joy at learning that the objects of their years of smoldering hate were coming to their city.  As security chief, 8-Ball should have seen this coming or at least the possibility of it.  You did have EMA-1 Armor available which would have made a big difference in how much damage Cossack took.  

As it was, the Trash Chippers have regained much, but not all of their previous strength over the years.  The Team, however, has become much more skilled.  This accounts for the speed in which the Team crushed the attempted ambush of the band.  The majority of the attackers (10 out of the 20) concentrated fire on the Ford-Mazda Thunderbird IV with Cossack, one of their priority targets, clearly seated in the front.  The bus got 5 gangers, dedicated to killing Suzy, another target.  The Armadillo got the remaining five gangers where they guessed 8-Ball would be.  This last group's job was to keep the relatively heavily armored vehicle busy.  They expected to make short work of the lead car so they could then easily take the bus to get Suzy and finally deal with 8-Ball.  Well, it was a decent plan, but both Paulie with his superb skills with his SMG and Dr. Rue with her military training was not taken into account.  They didn't expect the new NET Runner and a doctor to be a serious threat.  Those two along with 8-Ball made short work of this holding force.  Suzy did bring her assault rifle and was finally wearing some armored clothes.  Rusty is much more than just a music engineer and bus driver.  J.J. Hunter did wear her EMA-1 Armor, which made her well protected by the ganger's fire.

Without Paulie's and Rue's unexpectedly accurate and effective fire the Armadillo would have been pinned down.  They did expect 8-Ball to be big trouble for them and they were right; he was.  Suzy's opening blast from her assault rifle crippled the attack force dedicated to the bus.  She still took a lot of shots which severely damaged the bus's side wall she was hiding behind and delivered some damage to her.  8-Ball was able to get to the bus quickly and take down the rest of the bus attackers.  All of this forced the three remaining conscious gangers to attempt to flee, but Paulie shot one of them down before that retreating shooter to get out of sight.  Without this, Cossack might have been killed or at least headed to the hospital with massive damage.

The Team has again given the Trash Chippers another bloody nose, but the gang is still in business.  This defeat has certainly stoked the flames of their hatred for the Team.  8-Ball's re-christening the gang as the "Shit Eaters" has just poured gasoline on those flames.  Was this a good idea for 8-Ball to do?   Hell yes, of course, it was!  This is Cyberpunk!  Will the Trash Chippers try another attack while you are in Detroit?  Maybe.  If so they will have to deal with you all again along with the entire Detroit Chapter of the Chrome Berets, who will have the police's permission to carry their long guns to protect you.  While the overworked Detroit police can't assign any more officers to this, you can be sure that their C-SWAT will be on stand-by.

Although Nancy Chang took a couple of impact damage points, she is extremely pleased, well ecstatic actually.  This incident will translate to more publicity, bigger crowds for the remainder of the tour and increased record sales for the band!  

                   

In answer to these questions:

• Cossack suffered 15 pints of damage, but most of it was Impact, which will go away at the rate of 1 point every hour with his cyberware.  The rest (7 points of lethal I believe, but Cossack may know better) will put him in Serious condition by the next show.  That is only a -2 to stats, which will be gone by early Thursday morning.  He will have his full Reflexes back by the time the Tour has to drive to Columbus, Ohio for the next show.  Paulie could find him a clothing store that repairs fine armored clothes.  You arrive in Columbus on a Thursday and leave the following Monday.  Normally businesses have a bit of a back log, but with Cossack's high Reputation and recent heavy media coverage, the shop will bump him to the front of the cue.  Your only real "fatality", besides the Ford-Mazda Thunderbird IV, was Cossack's fedora.  That can be replaced in Detroit or Columbus.
• Suzy has only 6 damage.  Four of that was impact, one lethal was from a penetrating hit and one lethal from her activating her Auto Injector for a Stim after coming down.  She will want Rue to get her another and reload her injector at some point.  She will be at full health for the next show. 
• Others members of the band took an impact hit or two from mostly flying glass and spent rounds penetrating the bus.  They were all wearing armored clothes, so they are just fine. 

Actually, no one is "running around in circles, waving arms and shouting".  This is Detroit, after all, is not an unusual event for the city.  The Thunderbird is totaled, but it was insured against just such an incident.  The police have no issue with the Team over what happened.  Paulie had the drone on automatic hover so it continued to record the whole incident.  There were witnesses in the buildings who all corroborate the ambush story.  If anything, the police and locals are grateful that there are 18 fewer Trash Chippers in their city.  

Nancy Chang is handling all the insurance and repair issues.  When you leave Detroit on Thursday, January 28th, Cossack will have a 'newish' Ford-Mazda Thunderbird IV with run flat tires and bullet resistant glass, just like the last one.  The tour bus is being repaired, not replaced.  It needs some minor engine work and some motive gear repair, but will also be ready on Thursday.  Arrangements have been made for some structural repair (on the SDP) and armor replacement on the bus and also on the Armadillo at your next stop in Columbus, Ohio.  This isn't the first time Nancy has had to deal with a situation like this.  

Paulie is doing just fine I imagine.  He is from the Duck Valley Reservation and has been out in world.  As to the turret on the Armadillo, this vehicle doesn't have a turret.  It does have a roof hatch, which he was smart not to use as he would have been more more exposed up there.  

Skip, your new driver isn't really combat experienced and this was his first serious mass gunfight.  He did take a hit from one penetrating round, but his personal armor turned the almost spent bullet.  8-Ball being "Being sympathetic and motivating" is an excellent approach.  It may take him a bit to be fully 'combat acclimated', but he is eager to prove himself.  As you say, Rusty is a combat veteran and completely dependable in a fight.  Usman wasn't at the fight since he was back at the venue guarding his tractor trailer.  You did see him in action at the Battle for Rachel (NV) back in 2072 during that Christmas Tour and you know he is rock solid in a fight.

Of course, 8-Ball is interviewed by the press when they arrived on scene after the ambush.  No one corrects you, when you refer to the Trash Chippers as the "Shit Eaters".  In fact, in the news stories the next day, the media makes a point of you re-christening the Trash Chippers as the "Shit Eaters".  It makes good print and besides, that gang couldn't hate you any more as it is.

No one is able to identify any of the corpses as leader of the Shit Eaters, opps, I mean Trash Chippers.  That will take a few days at least by the gang unit.  On the subject of another attack while you are in Detroit, the police say its possible but unfortunately they don't have the manpower to increase security at your venue or hotel.  At this point the local leader of the Chrome Berets offers to do this.  The police lieutenant says that this will be fine as long as the gang serves as external security around the hotel and venue and doesn't interfere with regular citizens coming and going.  This officer will try to clear it so the Chrome Berets can carry their M-1 Garands openly as long as they are in uniform so they will not be harassed by the patrol division.  From this exchange it is clear that the local Chrome Berets have at least a respectful relationship with the local police. 

               

Anything might be possible, but how isn't a question for the GM.  Cossack and 8-Ball finished their business with the Sewer Rats about 10 am on Friday.  After that they both spent at least two hours using their sleep inducers to refresh themselves.  This question can be addressed after noontime when the two wake up, adding a little time for getting ready and having breakfast, if they want to pursue identifying the punk Suzy (and Cossack) slapped down.  Manhattan Livery is scheduled to pick everyone up at 4:30pm to get to the venue.     

The Skeleton Club isn't a huge venue.  The Cyber Revolutionaries are being booked there since playing here will get a lot of press, especially the underground music press.  The top single off their new record (of the same name), Riot for the Smash Club, is starting to get a lot of airplay.  It was this tune that touched off the riot in LA that led to the destruction of all the development / construction company's equipment.  This song was written by Celestine and Cassie Banes, the bassist.  Of course, having Suzy in the band with her recent (and continuing) appearances on the hit video show, U.S. Marshal's Night City, has also stirred quite a buzz about this tour. 

Interest in the band's show has also been raised since one of the guests in the Rose Bar last Wednesday night recorded the incident (with a cybereye probably) between Suzy and the drunk dude, who harassed and shoved her.  The video clip shows his assaulting the girl, her slamming him to the floor and crippling his cyberarm, while Cossack jumps in and keeps the man pinned.  It came out Thursday in the underground media, but by Friday (the day of the first show when we restart) it has been picked up by all the local media.  Nancy Chang, the tour manager, is actually very happy about this as it will certainly bring much more publicity for the band and whole tour.

As to the band's opinion about fans and security, they never have had anyone come onstage with hostile intent.  They will leave that question up to you (tour security); just don't hurt the fans too much.  

      

There is another building to the west of the club and the wharf continues along that part of the building to the Hudson River.  That building is storage for the business next door to the Skeleton Club.  The wall is solid between this old warehouse and the club.  So any evacuation route will lead to the front of the club and 11st Avenue.  You can always jump in the Hudson River to escape; just don't swim west out into the river.    

No, Manhattan Livery will drop you off and pick you up; they will not wait around during the show.  This business is heavily booked in advance.  There is NO egress from the building underground.  As you point out, anyway out is another way in to be guarded.  Also, there is no entrance to the roof area from this building. 

 

In response to your initial security concept:

• Rue backstage in the green room; check.  Paulie can run the Oracle drone from there, but it should be launched from the loading dock or wharf when you arrive and he can concentrate on just that.  It has a ten hour battery, so i will last for the set up (on the first night), the whole show and the breakdown (on the last night).  There will be plenty of time to recharge the drone in the day between shows.  In regards to Paulie's skills, his rifle skill is adequate for a civilian and his Handgun skill is beginner.  However, his SMG skill is excellent; much better than anyone else on the tour.  Besides his company issued Militech Dragon and Colt AMT 2K, he also drew a smart-linked Bushmaster SMG from the company reserve.  With this weapon, which is in Port Authority custody, he is a serious combatant.
• Cossack in the storeroom next to the loading dock; check.
• There is a door from the main room to the storeroom where Cossack is at the west end of the bar by the stage.  You could post someone there posing as a patron.  Having someone under the Green Room wall puts them at the east end of the bar.  That is where club security posts a man, but they will relinquish that spot (reluctantly) to the band security if requested.  The club is expecting quite a large crowd.  

In response to "If there's trouble"; check 

Yes, gear is replaceable, dead band members are not, at least immediately.

 

A question for after the New York City gigs:

I will need up to three convoy orders (which vehicle is where in the line of travel).  The first is when traveling on the highways.  The second will be moving through towns and cities that are off the highway (all vehicles).  And third, traveling from the venue back to the hotel in the cities (here the tractor trailer rig will be left at the venue especially when there are two days worth of shows). 

 

After a bit of a slow start, the Team came through with a stellar rescue!  The player characters only suffered some damaged armor clothes and mostly just a little Impact Damage.  This just now leaves 2 full days and a morning in the Manhattan Combat Zone before heading off to a show in Philadelphia.  Of course, two of the nights in Manhattan are shows at the Skeleton Coast, a combat zone Cyberpunk club.

On 12/02/2023 at 07:15, senior officer Mikael van Atta said:

As for situation at hand - by 8-Ball's grasp of things - how big are the chances of Garden Men collecting all their marbles, adding two to two, and coming after us while we are still in New York? 

Well, this isn't a question for the GM.  Any possible immediate blow back from the group's actions in New York is something you have to decide yourselves.

The only location you are scheduled to visit for the rest of your stay is the Skeleton Club.  The club is located in the southernmost building on the old Chelsea Pier along 11th Avenue.  This place is about 7 (long) blocks west of Gramercy Park on the Hudson River.  To help your planning, below is a picture of the layout of the Skeleton Club.

 

Skeleton Club

This map orientation is the top is east, left is north, right is south and bottom is west.  On the right side of the map, the large dark area is water, where boats used to tie up.  Since the Port Authority and Navy patrols sink any craft approaching Manhattan, there are no craft of any kind at any of the docks.  The main entrance to the club is in about the center of the east wall (top) at the end of the entrance ramp.  There is also a loading dock at the southwest part of the building with two large double doors.  The non-public areas of the club are located along the south part of the building (right side of map).  They are from the top of the map: the manager's office; the band's backstage waiting area ('green room'); bar storage and stairs to the basement; more storage for items brought in through the loading doors (this is where the band's road boxes will be stored).  The area just to the left of the stage is the elevated V.I.P. area.  There is a cloak room, where patrons can also check any long guns they have.  Pistols and legal blades are permitted here, since this is the combat zone and getting here without them could be problematic.  Many patrons who fire off their weapons are at best banned from the club, but most often their bodies are found floating down the Hudson River, especially if they hit anyone.

The club's own security will be responsible for all entrances and exits from the club.  A couple will be stationed towards the back of the main room and others will be guarding the stairs to the V.I.P. area.  There is also one discrete guard up in the V.I.P. area.  The Team's personnel is responsible for stage security, the areas backstage, the band's 'green room' and equipment storage.

As usual, I am available to answer any basic questions you all might have.    

 

First of all, yes, your archery and some of your Wilderness Survival training was done with your local friend (whose name is buried in my notes) and you continued going out hunting with him and his friends (now becoming your friends).  There are no IPs for this, but this is how you keep those skills fresh.  This was established in-game, so you do have skills in processing (known here as 'dressing') various game animals.

As to anything else to consider before heading out to New York, I can't say any more without giving plot away.  I will tell you always read carefully any information that I post since somewhere in all that 'fluff' I often include clues to handle possible upcoming situations you might have to deal with.  Also, be familiar with the situations in various states you will be moving through in Home of the Brave; 95% of that book is applicable to this game setting.

 

I can't speak to pythons in Louisiana, although they have become a major problem in South Florida IRL.  However there are gators in Louisiana and the problem with them are they are quite delicious!  I speak from experience here.  On page 103 of Home of the Brave it says. "This (the Collapse) had the unfortunate effect of obliterating the Louisiana ecosystem, as everything that moved (and most things that didn't) became fair game for the dinner plate."

Of course the ecosystem has rebounded a bit, but an alligator in New Orleans has a lot to fear in a city full of hungry Cajuns!  I am not saying that pythons and gators won't be a threat.  In fact, thanks for the idea!  😃

As of now, no one in the band has any plans to go anywhere without security being informed.  This is a very important tour for them, since it has brought them back into musical prominence which they lost, when their old lead singer, Loco Skysinger, dumped them to go solo (and Suzy as is girlfriend).  Well, dumping Suzy didn't hurt the band, but did help Loco with his new supporters.  

The tour schedule is tight.  There are a few days in New York City, but the band plans to use most of this time to ready their show for the tour.  None of the band are innocent kids and they all grew up in a combat zone, so they are very street smart.  There will be a few days in Memphis that will need some thought on security.  The band has scheduled meetings with various media personalities and industry executives.  It is also the music capital of Cyberpunk America so none are going to want to stay in their hotel rooms.  A real issue might come up during Mardi Gras in New Orleans where they have a couple of days when they aren't performing.  This occurs at the height of the various parades and celebrations.  It could become an issue of "herding cats", but we will see.  As I stated above, these are all 'combat zone kids'.  

 

I have some general information about New York City in this Cyberpunk setting mostly relating to Manhattan and its walled combat zone which stretches from 14th Street to the northern tip of that island.  In an earlier campaign years ago another Cyberpunk group I was in did a New York City adventure.  I have dragged out some old files from that time and updated them to our current timeline.  A lot of this work was done by a vfte member, Destecado, so I want to give proper credit for the amazing work he did on this.  So on we go!

The tour will fly in from Washington, DC to New York City and get licensed AV transportation to the Gramercy Park (walled) neighborhood which is inside the Walled Manhattan Combat Zone.  This guarded oasis of calm in the Zone is a result of its rich residents NOT fleeing and making a stand against the rioters that had almost destroyed Manhattan island.  The band will be staying at the Bohemian style Gramercy Park Hotel (Building #2 on the Gramercy Park Map).  They will be rehearsing in the basement of the National Arts Club, which is located in Gramercy Park.  This is being done mostly for promotional reasons and the fact that they will also be performing at the Skeleton Coast (club) that is also in the Walled Combat Zone, but very close to the Wall.  Below is a map of the area around the park and its distance form the 14th Street Wall.   

Although this whole area is inside the Walled Combat Zone, the areas close to the Wall are generally considered 'Combat Zone - Light', but that doesn't mean they can't be dangerous.  As you move north on Manhattan from here the island gets more and more dangerous.  There are large areas devoid of people north of here, but those areas change rapidly.  Gangs are a huge problem, so Universal Records has put together a short list of those in the immediate area that the Team should be aware of.

Some Gangs for NYC in 2077

 

The Slaughter House - Slaughter Housers

Yes, this is the name of a gang in Night City, but it was originally a prominence gang in New York's fourth ward (a working-class district by the East River waterfront of lower Manhattan, which is now bisected by the approaches to the Brooklyn Bridge) during the 1840's and 1860's. The new Slaughter House gang was partially inspired by the historical gang, but the name also came from the slaughterhouses and butchering plants in the (new) gang’s territory (the Meat Packing District).

Machismo is a driving force within the gang. Unlike their Night City counterparts, the NYC Slaughter Housers are not Boosters (Booster gang). They dislike any attempt to link them to "those candy asses" on the left coast. The gang views most forms of cyberware with disgust; making one less of a man. They are not anti-cyberwear, but view it as the tools of weak men, not true "bulls" (which is what gang members call themselves).

The gang is know for extortion, muggings and murder and is heavily involved in blood sports. Members have to be tough and hard. They have to be able to take punishment as well as deal it out. Only by being hit can you really know where and how to hurt someone. While there is a large Hispanic presence within the gang, the membership is mixed, making the Slaughter House one of the most ethnically diverse gangs in the zone.

The Meat Packing District is now officially out of the Combat Zone since The Wall which has been recently moved up to 14^th Street.  It is still a very dangerous area and police response is very slow.  When the police come, they arrive in force.  It has been rumored that this gang is considering moving to north of 14^th Street.  The NYPD and the Port Authority would be happy to see them do just that. 

This gang is in a way is Destecado’s homage to Fight Club. A lot of the symbolism in the gang is based around the bull fighting and gladiators. Gang members view themselves not as the cattle (or slaves) lead meekly to the slaughter house (accepting ones lot in life) but being a bull (gladiator) that fights for freedom and honor (as the gang views it). Gang members even take an oath to their fellow gang members, similar to that of gladiator oath ("I will endure to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword")...


Rollendonner - Rumbling Thunder

Rollendonner is a heavy metal rock band that has taken over and refurbished a building at 190 3rd Ave., in the combat zone. While the band are not an actual gang, the bands fans and hangers on can be rowdy and dangerous (consider as chromer gang) If they were of a mind to do so, the band could use their influence over the crowd to turn them into an angry mob, bent on destruction.

The group's name comes from the heavy bass lines employed in their songs and the pyrotechnic displays that accompany their shows. The band appears to have access to large quantities of black powder and several cannons (swivel guns as well as some larger), which they use in their act and to defend their club, The Dreseden

The Dreseden is located in building which use to be known as Scheffell Hall.  Some of the letters can still be seen on the facade. The building was, at one time, a German beer hall and had most recently housed Fat Tuesday’s Jazz Club (before the bomb). The German Renaissance facade was appealing, as was the desolate landscape to the east. Years before, fire had raged down the east side of the island, consuming most of the structures from 2nd Ave. to the East River. Only rubble and the gutted husks of buildings remained, which is what had inspired the club's name.

Violence is not unknown at the club, but few of the altercations are aimed directly at the club or its staff. True, the cannons and weapons at their disposal are formidable, but most gangers are more worried about losing bar privileges. The Dresden is one of the few breweries in the combat zone that will sell to pretty much anyone and at a reasonable price.

The brewery is located on the main floor of the two-story structure to the right (facing the building from 3rd Ave) of the club. The second floor and basement are used as storage. There is a large bar with seating on the main floor of the Dresden. The primary stage for live music is located in the basement. A second floor VIP lounge offers a smaller stage and several private rooms. There is also a weathered old pool table. The third floor is used as office space and studio.


Los Dedos De Dios - The Fingers of God

The name derives from the nickname given to the destructive power of a sever tornado (F5) or the flight paths of the MRV (multiple reentry vehicle) warheads of a Trident missile...where they touch down, they wreak havoc upon the world. This gang is a mixture of boosters and juicers, who act as foot soldiers and more often then not guinea pigs for the "physicians" at Candyland

Candyland is the nickname of an area in the combat zone surrounding the former medical facilities of NYU Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital Center (area east of 2nd Ave. between East 25th St. and East 34th St.) It is the domain of Dorphers, Dopers, Crazies and Fiends. A loose grouping of ripper docs, cookers and chemists operate out of the derelict medical facilities. Hardy souls looking for drugs or cyberware may brave the trip to Candyland. Many more go there unwillingly.

Many have had their bodies pumped to the maximum by steroids and cyberware. A typical piece of cyberware for all gang members is that their left hand has been replaced with a cyberhand. This may actually be on the end of a full cyberarm, but more than likely, it is only the hand that has been replaced (or possibly just the fingers). This is usually on a quick-change mount and also features several quick change mounts for fingers. So that they can employ different tools or weapons as needed.

One of the oddities is their fighting style is that most of them know kung fu, focusing on Iron Hand and Southern Snake Style. Part of the attacks are done using their cybered hands, in which would either have fingers with hypodermics to administer a "Biting Fang" attack, where on a successful hit, they might be able to inject poison or other drug into their opponent. An alternative to the hypodermics would be fingers equipped with a "Bones McCoy" hypo.

When not dealing out punishment, the hypos can be filed with hallucinogens or other drugs, which they can casually dispense to the rabble that congregate in Candyland...like alms for the poor or "manna from heaven".

 

Heavy Metal Queens

Members of this booster gang are predominantly transvestites, but there are a few "real" girls among their ranks. Some say they "went metal" to defend themselves from gangs like the Slaughter House, who had moved into the territory near the bars where they hung out...in the Meat Packing District (area bounded by Gansevoort St. to the South, West 14th St. to the North, Hudson St. to the East and the Hudson River to the West).  

This gang was, in part, inspired by Ralpie's bodyguards from Johnny Mnemonic


Rad Hounds

This name has been given to a group of borgs that live near the blast crater. It's really not known what they call themselves. No one that has encountered them has lived long enough to find out. What is known is that they are very dangerous and territorial. They began to show up a couple of years after the bomb, staking claim to the area near ground zero. They were scavengers just like thousands others, trying to find something valuable in the wreckage. As the years past, their numbers grew. There are probably about 15-20 up there.

It's hard to tell their exact number, because they rarely move in packs, unless it is to track back to their home, those that have "violated" their territory. Their also seem to be ever changing...here an extra arm or a gaping maw with rows of scrap metal teeth. Their metal bodies may be proof against radiation, but their minds seem to have gone around the bend. Some say they have a bargain with Candyland. Whether true or not, if they come for you, pray they kill you quickly.

These guys are the boogeymen of the Manhattan combat zone. While there is a rough community among the borgs, they are more like mountain men or solitary prospectors (which was part of my inspiration). They can go weeks or even longer without associating with other members of their little community. External threats however, will bring them all together. They are paranoid, possessive and territorial. There is no humanity left in them. Humans are a means to an end...something to be traded (like beaver pelts) for tools, part, repairs and "upgrades".

People are afraid to try and kill them. Even if you succeed in bringing one down, it may bring the rest of them down on top of you. This isn't mere speculation, a gang took one out in 2065. Within three days, the gang's clubhouse and half the block was a smoking ruin. People in the combat zone hate borgs because of these guys.


HIGH SOCIETY

This is a catchall term used by gangs and communities that live near the top of the Arcologies among the catwalks and scaffolding. Several have migrated across the river (for territory) to take up residence in the tops of Manhattan's skyscrapers.


Gossamer Girls

The name comes from the delicate film of cobwebs created by spiders and to the style of clothing worn by this all girl gang. The symbol of the gang is a silvery cobweb, with a ruby lipstick kiss near the top left-hand side of the web. Base-jumping and paragliding are a popular sport among the gang, although they try to stay near the middle of the island when doing this (usually near the park) so as not to draw the attention (or gun fire) of the Port Authority. They sometimes encounter shooting from low town (street level Manhattan), but that's part of the challenge.

 

 

The Rat Packs

This isn’t a single gang, but rather a collection of associated gangs.  They invest the sewers and tunnels predominately under the Walled Manhattan Combat Zone.  The Port Authority has succeeded in clearing this gang out from Houston Street south where the old wall was located.  The battle continues under the city from Houston Street north to the new 14h Street Wall.  They are not heavily cybered, but most do have some kind of night sight whether it be from gear, cybereyes or Nano Optical Upgrades.  They are not very aggressive when encountered above ground, but fiercely defend their territories (which are in constant flux0 below ground.

 

 

Metal Disciples

Supposed followers of the Church of Transfiguration...a transhumanist cult that advocates man's advancement through technology. The gang’s leader (Rod Bodi) has cherry picked the passages to advance his goals and convince his followers that they are on the path to something greater...the transcendence of flesh.

The Church of Transfiguration is loosely based around the works of David Brin. I have long admired his writing and views on how we should treat AIs (The Real Way to Feel Safe with Artificial Intelligence) and species that we help to "Uplift". The "Church" is founded in seeking integration...social and technological. It is the new civil rights movement for AI and others that society oppresses with labels, such as "cyberpsycho"...which allow police to gun a man down in the street for no reason. It's an attempt to create an alternative explanation of the concept of cyberpsychosis, framed in the oppression of mainstream society, trying to keep the future at bay. Well enough of that, let's get back to the Metal Disciples

The Metal Disciples occupy the former "Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion" on the corner of 6th Ave. and East 20th St. This deconsecrated church was the Limelight Disco, prior to the Blast of 93 (Nuclear Detonation of 1993). The gang claims a territory that is bounded by West 21st. St. to the North, West 19th St. to the South, 7th Ave. to the West and 5th Ave to the East. Those living within their territory must make a contribution to the church (willingly or by force).


Brass Monkeys

Nickname for employees of Harry's Ammo Emporium & Shooting Range at 215 Park Avenue South (1^st Floor).  Recognizable by their "safety orange" bowling shirts with a gun toting monkey on the back...affectionately known as Callahan. The shirts were to make them stand out in a crowd and to prevent accident on the range, but oddly enough, many of them do bowl, up on the 11^th Floor of their building.  There are a few other small business in that building, but it is mostly apartments of the gang or their friends.

Not really a gang, but might as well be, since they usually hang out together and typically walk around armed. Harry's first rule: if you work in a gun store, you have to know how to fire and weapon. Harry's second rule: If you wear the shirt (bowling shirt with the company logo), you best be packin...of course the shirt and lessons are free, but you either have to buy or build your own gun. You can't take home your shirt or be on the bowling team till you do.
 

Garden Men

Despite their innocuous name, this is a very dangerous group.  The have taken over the old Madison Square Garden on the corner of 8^th Avenue and West 31^st Street.  Although most of the old Garden is in shambles, the main area is still functional.  The horrific ‘Blood Bowl’ league’s Eastern Conference has a Team based her called the New York Night Elves, which supplies this gang with a veneer of legitimacy and a good bit of money.  However, the season only runs from June (with four pre-season games) to the end of October.  Following that there are two playoff conference games from Halloween to mid-November.  The World Championship game is played around Thanksgiving.  Needless to say, these “sport” is highly illegal in most states, since it is just a thinly disguised blood sport with many fatalities during its season.  (FYI – Night City has the Night City Marauders & Las Vegas has the Las Vegas Hellions.  There are also teams in San Francisco and Los Angeles.)

When the Blood Bowl isn’t running, it is rumored that the gang holds gladiatorial games, which, if stories are to be believed, are even more horrific than a Blood Bowl game. 

 

The first map above shows the location of Gramercy Park in relation to the wall and it surrounding area.  On the map below you can see the exact location of the wall surrounding Gramercy Park.  There is gate on Lexington Avenue to the north and another on Irving Place to the south.  There are matching gates both on the east and west on East 20th Street, East 21st Street and East 22nd Street.  During the day only one of the both East and West gates are in use, and that is never announced which it will be.  Both the North and South gates will be in use during the day.  At dusk and through the night only the South Gate  and one of the West Gates remains in use.  Again, which of the West Gates is never announced beforehand.  It is easy to tell on approaching these gates which are available for use.  

     

For Reference, building #2 just north of the green space in Gramercy Park is the Gramercy Park Hotel.  An interesting fact about the park itself is that it is NOT a public park.  It has a wrought iron fence around it and a few locked gates.  The fence is very easy to get over, but doing so will get you ejected from this walled enclave at best, or shot by one of the security forces snipers at worse.  The Gramercy Park Hotel has access to a few keys and Universal Records has reserved one for the band (and Team) to use.  You can see the National Arts Club on this map which is where the band will be rehearsing (in their basement studio) for the Tour. 

A major problem in this New York / New Jersey is the overlapping legal jurisdictions.  The Port Authority has power in both the State of New York and the State of New Jersey around New York City.  Both the New York City and State government also has a say in many matters along with local New Jersey city and state governments.  The Federal government has responsibility through their US Navy to patrol the waterways, but the Navy and the Port Authority do cooperate and work together well.  Then there is the Free City of Newark, which you are not scheduled to visit.  All of these organizations squabble with their rules and regulations.  The following is the best and most current assessment of how things stand now.

 

Things to Know About New York City

 

Cyberware:  What is legal here is the same as everywhere else.  Illegal cyberware that can hurt or kill is especially frowned upon.  You will be arrested if it is detected.  If you go peaceably, they generally just take it out and give you the minimum for the first time offender.  If you use it, expect no mercy, especially if someone dies.

For the Team:  No one has any cyberware that will get them in trouble.

 

Guns:  A United States gun permit (which foreign nationals can get also) is mandatory.  Heavy Weapons with the exception of the Barrett-Arasaka Light 20 (and ET version) are illegal without proper permits.  Carrying the Light 20 will always get you arrested on public transportation, corporate and executive zones, and sometimes in a moderate zone.  It is considered a home defense weapon.  It is illegal to bring a Barrett-Arasaka Light 20 into the Walled Combat Zone. 

Handguns above 12mm are also illegal, as are any fully automatic weapons.  Long guns are controlled in a similar manner as the Barrett-Arasaka Light 20.  If you are going to the range to shoot, and have an appointment at that range, the police might cut you a break, but they don’t have to.

For the Team:  Here you have a real problem.  Both New York City and the Port Authority won’t recognize your automatic & heavy weapons permits.  These agencies have had trouble with Rocker tour security groups in the past, but the Universal Records lawyers think that maybe Helen Jamieson, the WNS media reporter from Night City with her apparent campaign against Mitzi, might have something to do with this denial of permits.  Any automatic or heavy weapons must be surrendered on arrival in New York City where they will be held until you depart from Jersey City to Philadelphia.  Your tasers are legal and pose no problem.

    

Bladed Weapons:  Any concealed blade over twelve inches is treated the same as a gun.  Swords may be carried most places, but drawing them (even if they do not clear the sheath) is considered to be felony assault.  Again, swords may not be carried on public transportation.

For the Team: Cossack’s Bowie knife is 12” long and can be carried concealed in his back sheath.

 

Permits:  In addition to the Federal licenses, carry permits for larger handguns, automatic weapons, and heavy weapons are issued only to legitimate recognized corporate entities for use by their security employees.  These permits are considered a privilege, not a right.  The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the City of New York, and the various municipalities in New Jersey all issue permits.  The permits are only good in the issuing agency’s jurisdiction.  A Jersey City permit will count for nothing in New York City, for example.  Needless to say, a Port Authority permit is the best.  There are exceptions such as Union City, NJ, which has a much stricter policy.

For the Team: Jersey City will turn over any weapons that were surrendered on arrival in New York City when you depart for Philadelphia.  You will be issued proper permits for your handguns that will be good in NYC and Jersey City along with a Port Authority permit.

 

Walled Combat Zones:  To enter or exit a walled combat zone (primarily Manhattan), you must use a manned Port Authority checkpoint.  You will be completely scanned as you enter and exit.  If they detect any shielding that the scanners can’t see through, you will most likely be searched.  You CANNOT refuse on pain of arrest.  Reasonable legal weapons are permitted to pass, but heavy armor is not.  Any pistol that scans larger than a medium handgun will be visually inspected.  ACPAs cannot enter without prearranged and approved corporate clearance.  No ground effect vehicles are allowed in the combat zone, but permits can be obtained for AVs, helicopters, ospreys and spinners to land at approved (and guarded) sites in the zone, where the Port Authority maintains inspection stations.  All of these sites are privately owned by registered corporate entities, which must approve landing requests.  You do not have to produce an ID to enter the zone, but you must produce one to leave.  If there is no record of you entering the zone, you may be arrested for an “unregistered entry”, which is a Priority 6 crime.  However, every 5 convictions for this crime will raise the Priority Level by one for future infractions. 

There is a large list of contraband that may not enter the zone.  You must check with the Port Authority for details of the current list.  There is a limit on the number of legal items you may bring in.  Clothing (NOT armored), food, and medicines (with a proper permit) may pass in large amounts for humanitarian reasons. 

There is one “cab company” in the southern part of the zone.  Manhattan Livery is a small “combat cab” style operation.  They are extremely expensive and go no farther north than 26^th Street.  When you call them, the GM will roll a d6-1.  That is the number of days it will be before you can get a cab.  If the result is a zero, then the GM will roll a d10-1 and that is the number of hours you will have to wait until a cab is available.  The Manhattan Livery runs from sunrise to one hour before sunset.  During the Blood Bowl season, Manhattan Livery will run charters to Madison Square Garden, but they must be booked months in advance.  In the Manhattan Combat Zone most people walk.  Private vehicles are not permitted to go through the checkpoints.  Certain corporate vehicles may get an occasional clearance, but this is very rare.

The waters surrounding Manhattan (the East, Harlem and Hudson Rivers) are some of the most patrolled and sensor ridden in the world.  Nothing is on the NET, and the hardwiring is checked regularly.  The equipment is the finest in the world.  No submarines are allowed in those river ways (or in any part of the New York or Newark Harbors).  Unidentified or non-United States Navy craft are fired upon and sunk immediately.  A diver might slip through with a sonar baffling suit and the following skill checks: a Swimming roll of 20+, a Nuscuba (or Hardsuit) roll of 20+, and a Stealth roll of 25+.  A failure on any of these rolls will bring a quick and lethal response from the Port Authority (and possibly the United States Navy).  

Most businesses in the combat zone do not use cred chips of any kind.  Cash is king here, but sometimes barter is used.  You will see the United States dollar more often here.  Also, there are no banks in the zone.

For the Team:  Again, you will have a problem.  Your normal armored clothes will be fine crossing into the Walled  Combat Zone, but your EMA-1 armor and/or your soft camo combat armor is not.  They must be checked on arrival and will be returned when you leave Jersey City for Philadelphia.

 

Public Transportation:  The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey controls most public transportation in the area.  Three exceptions are Linden, Bayonne and the Shore Rail Line south.  These are controlled by the City of Linden, the City of Bayonne and DMS respectively.  The following guidelines apply to all these entities with the exception of Linden.  Scanners cover the entrances to all subways and train stations.  Anyone possessing illegal black cyberware will be detained.  Anyone with a long gun will be stopped and questioned.  There is a 1 in 3 chance that anyone with attempting to bring a normal borg handgun (like a Big Government) will be stopped.  Any other Borg handgun will immediately set off the alarm.  Wearing any sort of combat armor will probably get you detained, and you will be refused service for sure.  Needless to say, explosives will get you arrested (if not shot on sight).  The Linden Streetcar Company has no scanners; so hidden weapons usually are not noticed.  All the previous restrictions still apply.  Locals known to the streetcar conductors are generally given a pass, but not always.

Getting on a bus is not as difficult as the scanners of a lower quality.  However, buses run only in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Free City of Newark.  There is bus service out to spots on Long Island, but you are scanned as if it were a subway/train station on the New York City end.   

For the Team:  I don’t see any problems here for anyone.     

 

People will probably have a lot of questions about all of this, so I have posted this now so we can get most of the questions out of the way before next session.    

 

Of course the head of tour security would have a say on how the the Bumblebee Drone is outfitted.  For what you will be using it for (road surveillance), you are right.  It couldn't carry enough ordinance to make much of a difference in a fight, so a robust sensor suite, like you suggest, is the right call.  It can be mounted with 4 options: IR, Thermo, LL & Tele-optics (on a stabilized rotating mount).  This is what the Whyte Hat drone operators suggest.   

Thanks for the list.  This is a good example of what I am looking for.  I should note that hiding grenades under clothes is not an easy task depending on what you are wearing.  Having one scatter and one flash-bang under 8-Ball's Memphis Bell jacket is a good example of what you CAN do.  An alert solo may notice it, but most will miss it.  Often, the lighter the clothes, the more difficult things are to hide; depending on the cut of the clothes.

I did post the Tour schedule already, but there will be a few other events / meetings that will occur.  Some of these you will know of before you leave, others will come up while you are on tour.  Your first stop is New York City, which was the victim of a small nuclear blast but the timing differs from Cyberpunk 2020 canon.  I will put a date on it later.  The Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island boroughs are all up and running; a total shit dystopian show mostly, but still there.  Manhattan north of 14th Street is a walled Combat Zone.  You will be staying in the Grammercy Park neighborhood that lies just inside this combat zone, however, Grammercy Park is itself a walled zone as the wealth residents hunkered down and kept this area with much of its Old New York architecture intact.  The Grammercy Park Hotel was reknown as a 'faded glory', very popular with the Bohemian set.  Inside the walls of this old neighborhood is considered very safe.  However, flying low over the Manhattan Combat Zone is strictly forbidden.  There is a air small corridor running from Union Square Park over the three blocks to Grammercy Square.  Only licensed AV taxis & a couple of AVs owned by the wealthy residents can use it.  I should also say that while Union Square Park is just inside the wall of this Combat Zone (its south edge is on 14th Street), there is often a large open air market there, street musicians and people just hanging out.  The NYPD does respond to trouble there very quickly.  Walking around Grammercy Park dressed like a 'bad ass' will draw the ire of the area's heavily armed security.  It is a NO open carry area.  However, what 8-Ball intends to wear as listen above, would be fine.  8-Ball might want to introduce himself to the local security chief for Grammercy Park when you get there.  The walled Manhattan Combat Zone can be very dangerous, but that danger increases the farther north you go from the 14th Street wall.  While the Band will be rehearsing a lot while at the hotel, they will have a few interviews for local video, radio and podcasts that are being arranged by Universal Records. 

There may be more of these interviews and promotional appearances for the Band in various cities running from the laid back to the very formal.  Of course, at the induction of Jack Entropy into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland will be a very big deal.  The Team's dress will reflect on the Band and (more importantly) Whyte Hat.  The same is true for the stop in Nashville, Tennessee.  This city is the music and film capital of the United States.  The Band will have a number of meetings and interviews with media and entertainment industry executives.  Then there are the fans, yes, the Cyber Revolutionaries are back on the charts and rising from their crash in popularity after Loco Skysinger, their former lead singer, dumped the band (and his girlfriend, Suzy) for a solo career.  

The tour will be New Orleans, LA for Mardi Gras for a week.  This is possible security nightmare, or not.  Antoine's, where the Band is playing and you will all be staying (on a moored barge on the club's dock) is one of the biggest Cyberpunk clubs in the country.  Even the New Orleans Police tread carefully there.  Some of the regulars are South Am war veterans.  Since the Band will be performing for 3 shows there, you all should be fine, but it is Mardi Gras.  This city is the Venice of America, so just about all movement around this town is done by water taxi or along often shaky walkways among the buildings that are all flooded on their lower floors.  

In Atlanta there will be some important meetings for the Band, but mostly for Celestine and Suzy.  The same holds true for Las Vegas.  Because of the riot at the last Cyber Revolutionaries show in Los Angeles, Universal Records plans to airlift the Band (and all of you) out right after the show to avoid complications will the LAPD and any retaliation by the company whose equipment the mob destroyed.  Those company executives are still dealing with investigations into their role in the kidnapping of the owner of the building where the Smash Club is located, but they might want to find time for revenge.

The moral here is everyone should be ready to dress for every occasion from the northern Combat Zone, formal occasions like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, bodyguard duty at business meetings and a wild week in hot, sweltering New Orleans during Mardi Gras.  So, yes, 8-Ball, bring your businesswear suit.  I hope this helps everyone's planning. 

    

Yes, I do believe you are right about that.  Hence my comment that my equipment lists were probably not up to date.  With all the campaign bookkeeping I have I tend to concentrate on skill development rather than equipment.  So, Cossack and Jamal, who isn't coming on his one, have Sleep Inducers on their sheets.   

 

First of all, my apologies, I forgot to mention in one of my posts that Rue will also be with the Team.  You should always have a medical person with the Team.  I did mention that she was going when I listed the various driver skills, but failed it to mention it in other places.  Regardless, if Cia (Rue's player) can make it, she will be along for the Tour.  So, on with this post.

We are settled on vehicles and such.  The next question is: what are you bringing with you gear, clothes and equipment wise?  Those who have sleep inducers are bringing them.  According to my notes only 8-Ball owns one, but my copies of the gear lists can sometimes be not up to date.  

8-Ball has declared that he is bringing his (registered) Armalite 44, a Militech Mk IV (rev.)[company issue] and all on the Whyte Hat security Team will be issued a Militech (ranged) Taser [P/-1/J/C/Stun -2/10/1/ST/10m].  On the issue of clothes, a simple statement of 'assorted underwear & socks' should do unless you are going 'commando'.  [American slang here].  What is important is what kind of clothes (shoes/boots also) {Style, SP [if any], Quality & any Options} along with how many of each.  I will assume everyone has a personal grooming kit.  If you don't list any carrying cases specifically, I will assume that you are carrying your gear in one (or more) duffel bags.

I think that covers it for now.