(On the Hunt) Bridge Burning

**Yumyumcrow** · Nov 24th, 2018 06:06 PM

Out past the city, the landscape flattens to flood plain. Out past the city, the night is heavy and thick. Street lights are few and far between: lone ghostly sentinels on empty roads. Out past the city, dams and canals criss cross the land - Sacramento's flood defences. There is a bridge out there, among those canals and flood defences. It is a crossing point, passing over a minor trackway that would become a channel for rushing water if an emergency arose. Right now, the trackway is dry and it is there that a clandestine meeting is taking place, under the bridge.

A new local gang is sourcing weapons and supplies from a pack of desperados fresh from San Francisco. The trackway has easy access in both directions (north and south). The two groups are driving up, meeting under the bridge, and then going their seperate ways.

The Gang Task Force is mired in troubles of its own. This is one deal they cannot stop. The local police force is working on other things and there is simply not enough resources to close down every rumour circulating in the city right now. The Family can, however. And they are. A new gang, going outside the prescribed channels is a potential threat that must be dealt with.

The Kindred are also gathering. They know that the new gang is actually a Hunter outfit. They also suspect the whole exercise could be an elaborate trap. For the Hunter's know. Wheels within wheels. Traps within traps.

The question is, who is going to get burned?

And some notes for later...

For when I have to narrate stuff

Nov 24th, 2018 07:24 PM

Photographs. Maps from Google. A scene investigation a couple of nights in advance, posing as a passerby. Lina Moretti was a private investigator who knew her business. Find the places of cover ahead of time. Set up sight lines ahead of time. Show her team their optimal positions. Blackbird and Davis on long rifles at a distance, setting up overlapping fields of fire. A convenient place to hide, to listen, and to intercept runners without taking any risks if risks did not have to be taken.

These were the things that the Sheriff of Sacramento brought to bear. Thoughts over fists. Plans over guns. The Masquerade was easiest kept if the Kindred minimized their exposure. Her contacts had shown her when. Her contacts had shown her where. Her team was in position well in advance, eyes on and ready at rifle-scope and binocular range.

Comms were simple. Bluetooth earpieces connected to cell phones would do the trick, backed up with cheap walkie-talkies if they brought a jammer.

Disguised and dressed in black, with eyes on, Lina did what she did best. Observe.

In a whisper, the Sheriff muttered to the team over the comms, "Tell me what you see out there."

Naturally, she'd taken a minute to show Davis how to use his properly. No need to yell. Just whisper. The technology would do the work, even if it was alien to him. She had even shown him how to re-up and shut down the link, just in case.

Lina is going to split the team into three units. Blackbird and Simmons covering one angle on guns. Davis covering another on his gun. Lina and Mable as physical close swings to intercept any runners. Yumyumcrow , the investigation roll attached represents Lina's planning. Please advise of any bonuses/situational advantages that she might have been able to find with her preparations, since Moretti knew about this location in advance due to Johnny Law's great work.

Lina is wearing suitable black attire to take advantage of the night, with her athletic shoes and Kevlar vest on. She is carrying her cellular phone in her pocket with a Bluetooth headset for communications. She has a flashlight in a small backpack, as well as binoculars. She also has a crowbar, secured tightly to her backpack with straps, and zap straps in her pack. Her Bowie knife is on her hip, and her combat knife is concealed in an ankle holster. She is carrying a telescoping baton in a holster on the other hip. She has a black balaclava in her pack.

Objective? Make sure the buy is destroyed, and support the Mafia's push.

-1V for Vigor.

2 sux for preparation investigation, fail to perceive non obvious stuff now, 3 sux to feed, successful disguise!

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2018-11-24 19:19:56	Lina Moretti rolls 5 to Feed (Str+Sub) (10 Again)	10, 6, 1, 1, 10, 1, 10, 2	3 successes
2018-11-24 19:19:23	Lina Moretti rolls 6 to Disguise! (Dex + Sub + 1) (10 Again)	6, 6, 2, 7, 2, 9	1 success
2018-11-24 19:19:10	Lina Moretti rolls 6 to Perception (Wits + Composure + 1 Binoculars, Trained Observer with Heightened Senses) for followers/surveillance! (10 Again)	1, 5, 5, 2, 5, 4	failure
2018-11-24 19:08:55	Lina Moretti rolls 6 to To Surveil in Advance (Wits + Investigation) (10 Again)	7, 7, 9, 3, 8, 6	2 successes

**Mable Wood** · Nov 24th, 2018 08:29 PM

Mable pulled her hair back into a tight braid. She has her work pack on her. For clothes she is wearing her navy blue work shirt, hat, work boots, and jeans. She also has her phone connected to a small blue tooth ear piece. Her phone is on no alarm and the lights are off.

Mable figured she could use her work uniform as a cover if needed. She watched and waited.

Nov 24th, 2018 11:23 PM

Davis absorbs everything Lina says to him. Where the best vantage point is and how to operate her new-fangled wireless telegraph equipment. The equipment he brought with him, he knew how to use. It was fun playing dress up again, this time as a Russian mobster he had read about and resembled close enough to pass as.

Davis takes a position at the optimal vantage point. Dressed in an all black tactical suit, all trace of his Southern Gambler personae erased. He sets up his newly acquired sniper rifle, focuses his sight, and scans the scene and prepares to report back what he sees to the Sheriff.

In preparation for tonight, Davis first disguised himself as former KGB expatriate and Russian mobster, Aleksandr Stepanov (6 sux). Under this impersonated identity, Davis looks for a Black Market contact to purchase weapons from. Finding one (4 sux) he purchased a Barrett M107 (.50 BMG) Rifle (Armory p. 74) with Suppressor (Armory p. 167), Bipod (Armory p. 163), and Telescopic (Thermal) Sight (Armory p. 166) and the unlicensed vehicle the contact was driving.

Davis takes a position 500 yards away in a concealed duck blind not far from where he parked his getaway car. In addition to his sniper rifle, all black tactical uniform, phone and blue tooth, he is carrying his bowie knife. He also uses Touch of Shadow on his Sniper Rifle (1 sux).

6 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2018-11-24 20:15:49	John Davis rolls 9 to Disguise ( Wits + Sub + 2 (professional makeup kit) (10 Again, WillPower)	7, 9, 10, 9, 8, 6, 10, 3, 9, 2, 7	6 successes

4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2018-11-24 20:28:02	John Davis rolls 8 to Working the Black Market (Man + Streetwise + SL + Tattoos) (10 Again)	9, 6, 2, 6, 9, 1, 2, 10, 9	4 successes

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2018-11-24 22:34:14	John Davis rolls 5 to Perception (Wits + Comp) (10 Again)	2, 7, 9, 9, 8	3 successes

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2018-11-24 22:57:55	John Davis rolls 4 to Feeding (10 Again)	7, 1, 7, 5	failure

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2018-11-24 23:21:58	John Davis rolls 3 to TOS BMG (10 Again)	8, 5, 3	1 success

**Blackbird** · Nov 26th, 2018 10:38 AM

Blackbird had arrived on the scene with a new toy, opting for a simpler approach for the job than Davis by purchasing a lever action hunting rifle, a Browning BLR Lightweight '81. Common cartridge, less distinct than a tried and true sniper rifle, at least in BB's eyes.

Like many of the others, she was dressed darkly, opting for a pair of black tactical pants, boots, and a black, fitted combat shirt. On her hands, black tactical gloves and her hair was hidden beneath a black beanie. Her bluetooth was mostly hidden underneath the beanie, but the microphone was poking out so as not to interfere with her speech.

Per the Sheriff's instruction, Blackbird did her best to find an optimal position some distance away from Davis in order to provide overlapping fire. In particular, she focused great effort on establishing her post quietly and out of sight. It would be better if it took the kine more time to figure out where her shots were coming from. Once secured, the deputy looked down her scope, searching the camp in order to gain a lay of the land as the Sheriff's quiet voice spoke through the bluetooth.

1 sux to Find good Sniping Position

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2018-11-26 10:34:56	Blackbird rolls 4 to Find an optimal post (Investigate+Int) (10 Again)	10, 2, 5, 6, 7	1 success

3 sux to Hide

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2018-11-26 10:34:11	Blackbird rolls 6 to Hide (Sneak+Dex+Will) (10 Again, WillPower)	9, 4, 4, 5, 8, 8	3 successes

4 sux to Survey the Meeting

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2018-11-26 10:36:38	Blackbird rolls 5 to Survey the Meeting (Wits+Comp) (10 Again)	6, 10, 8, 2, 9, 9	4 successes

Edit for WP expenditure. BB's WP is now 4

Nov 26th, 2018 02:15 PM

Rebecca had been backup before, but never like this. She wore all black, as was expected, and she had brought along her new rifle. She hadn't had a real opportunity to get used to it, but from what she had seen in her test shootings it was heavy. A little too heavy. She would have to do the best she could. Luckily she wasn't the only one here. She made herself to the location, and using Lina's intel she tried to find a place to station herself. Somewhere overlapping with the rest of the team, but in a different direction. She felt the blood within her focus her vision, providing a natural scope. She also focused her sense of smell to use as an impromptu warning system. She also focused her hearing, at least for the moment. She would need to turn it off before the shot, but for now it would tell her if she was being ambushed.

With her location chosen, her place taken, her gun in hand, she was ready.

failure

1 success

2 successes

Rebecca has her kevlar vest on, her rifle, knife in sheath in pocket, running shoes, phone with bluetooth and link to Lina

**Yumyumcrow** · Nov 27th, 2018 03:23 AM

The land is flat. A road. A bridge. A trail cutting under the bridge that is too regular to be natural with a number of points of egress upon its length close to the bridge. Trees and shrubs lined fields that cut across the landscape and these provided the only real cover. By night the light was poor: a few lights on the bridge, more to indicate its presence than anything else.

The meet is organised to take place under the bridge - that much is clear one the Kindred gather in strength. The Hunters are there, making last minute preparations and then they depart. They return a short time before the Arms Dealers. Whatever they are preparing draws their attention and the group fails to notice the Kindred as they lay their own ambush.

The Familia is out too. One group in cars, who nearly get to close. Quick thinking on their part sees them drive slowly off and circle. Another group is on foot, moving quietly through the shadows.
Rebecca Simmons Blackbird John Davis establish themselves close by. The bridge and its shadows complicate things - they won't be able to see the main meeting but they will definitely be able to pick the Arms Dealers and the Hunters off once they withdraw. @Mabel Wood is closer still - lacking firearms she has to be in a position where she can get in amongst the action quickly. A slope near the bridge has enough shrubbery... So long as no one looks too closely.
Lina Moretti establishes herself further out. She does manage to make a sweep of the bridge and its environs before the meeting (and before the Hunters return). The bridge does not look to trapped or tampered with. There is some brush and scrub where there should not be and there appears to be a damp patch under the bridge. Lina is unable to get much closer than that. She finds a position that gives her an even poorer view under the bridge but lends itself to a better view of the landscape.

At last the Arms Dealers arrive, driving up the track from the south in two very battered cars. The assembled Hunters meet them. Four (4) arms dealers and five (5) Hunters. The group seems to have shrunk again. John Davis , Lina Moretti and Blackbird will recognise Lindasfarne reluctantly tagging along with Pinzon. Giuseppe looks like the mafiosi with his leather jacket. That would leave the two women to be McGregor and Cochrane.

They talk as they close the deal under the bridge. Giuseppe keeps things professional. He has to. Both groups are on edge.

Around them, the net is closing as the Familia begin to make their move...

@JonReeves I'll run with it for now but for future reference, black market weapons are dealt with through the Allies (Arms Dealers). The skill Streetwise will help setting a meet or locating the black market, but purchasing weapons is done through the Allies merit. Also, that particular gun is a Resources 5 buy. I'll go with it to speed things along but the weapon Davis gets is at -1 penalty due to some customisation that simply doesn't work for the Colonel (the stock ain't quite right...) Should not be too much of a bother with the accessories (they all came together to make things simple)

If anyone wants to do anything, now is the chance to act. I'll move things forward in a day or two.

Nov 27th, 2018 10:39 AM

Everyone was in good positions. Snipers on, to put lead down as people inevitably withdrew from the firefight that was to come. Lina, on overwatch, knowing her supernatural speed could get her anywhere in the fight with no effort. Football fields were mere blinks to her. But they had one person who was exposed. One person, too close to the fire-and-tinder trap Lina was pretty sure she saw.

"Snipers, keep eyes on. If they make a run for it, kill the Hunters. Giuseppe and Cochrane are top priorities, but we should be able to get 'em all, especially if we disable their cars when the fighting starts. I think they've got the area rigged to burn, so Mable, shift into a bat and stay safe. Over at [LOCATION], you'll see a damp spot and some scrubbery that doesn't belong there. Take a peek and sniff at it from flight and if it's a part of their trap, fly away quick. If not, then you can watch the meet as a bat and let us know after what happened. I don't want us close up if the area is fire-trapped."

There was more than one way to deploy your Gangrel. Do the thing, Priscus. She was their best bet at getting a close watch... and if Lina had a means of triggering the trap in a way that would use it against the Hunters, then that would be helpful, too. She put her binoculars on that odd scrub, scanning around with heightened eyesight to see what else was out of place and suss out the trap.

After all, a match thrown by an unexpected, unseen speedster could create all manner of chaos with the right help...

Yumyumcrow, if you need a Stealth draw from Lina, let me know. I know she's quite at a distance.

3 sux to suss out the trap

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2018-11-27 10:38:21	Lina Moretti rolls 7 to Wits + Investigation + 1 binoculars (Heightened, Trained Observer) to suss out trap! (10 Again)	7, 10, 9, 5, 2, 1, 6, 9	3 successes

**Mable Wood** · Nov 27th, 2018 11:25 AM

Mable listened to Lina, "Got it. shifting now so I will be out of contact."

Mable shifted to her bat form. For a brief moment she felt a little claustrophobic in her new form. She adjusted her shoulders and stretched her wings. Her senses had shifted to those of a bat. Feeling like a very cute bat she flew to a high perch. Assessing the situation then flying to the damp area and shrubbery. She did a little bat glide down to get a good sniff at the scrub.

Nov 27th, 2018 05:52 PM

Davis listened to Lina's instructions. Davis activated his thermal scope and scanned each of the assembled Kine. He would be able to detect body temperatures of all but the dead. "Name the target and I'll make the shot." Davis was prepared to take down whoever Lina marked for death. Giuseppe and Cochrane were primary targets. Both were outside Davis' current plans. He needed Lindasfarne and that left McGregor as a wild card. The arms dealers could be a future resource too, one Davis would hate to risk losing should they be a source of future toys like the one he was holding.

Let me know if there are any missing heat signatures or if there are more signatures than there should be, like someone hiding in a vehicle, or stuffed in the trunk.

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2018-11-24 17:47:31	Leon's guy's to sneak up! rolls 5 to Dexterity + Drive + Speciality (10 Again)	7, 7, 3, 1, 7	failure
2018-11-24 17:46:10	Ferdinands Boys to sneak up! rolls 4 to Dexterity + Stealth - 1 (10 Again)	5, 8, 3, 2	1 success
2018-11-24 17:44:56	Arms Dealers to be on their Guard rolls 3 to Wits + Composure - 2 (10 Again)	9, 2, 3	1 success
2018-11-24 17:44:24	Hunters to be on Watch rolls 3 to Wits + Composure - 2 (10 Again)	1, 1, 7	failure
2018-11-24 17:41:24	Hunters to Set Up rolls 6 to Wits + Crafts (10 Again)	3, 7, 9, 3, 1, 9	2 successes

(On the Hunt) Bridge Burning

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