Flying Under the Radar

[Aron "Fox" O'Shae]

Fox stood in the darkness of an alleyway across the street from the Police Station. He adjusted the tie around his neck and shifted uncomfortably in the police uniform. He looked over and examined himself in a nearby broken mirror. All in all, he looked like a regular cop. He was young, but he'd be able to pass as a rookie cop fresh out of the academy.

"Damn these clothes are stuffy," he said absentmindedly into his earpiece, "you ready to do this, Chance. Once I get inside, you've gotta let me know where to go. If we can pull this off, we'll be in one of those runner gangs for sure."

He adjusted his badge and quickly crossed the street. Luckily he had managed to find a cop that looked like him...it had also helped that the cop's last name was "Johnson," a fairly common name. He stopped and took one last, deep breath before walking through the front doors. He proceeded immediately down the hall.

"Alright, Chance," he whispered, "where to?"

[Gabrielle "Chance" Coleman]

I had decided to set up my base somewhere not too far away from the Police Station. I was seated on the catwalk of a water tower, watching the Station from afar. The railing offered good cover, and from this height, I doubt someone could see me. But because I was this close to the Blues’ base of operations, I chose to bring my pistol with me, just in case I was spotted. I really hoped I wouldn’t have to shoot anyone, but if that time comes...I’ll do it.

I smiled lightly as I heard Fox comment about the police uniform. Honestly, it really helped with the anxiety I was feeling right now. We’re directly invading the Police Station, the Blues headquarters, and it was a pretty crazy idea. But we have motivation, I reminded myself. When Fox gets in there, and when I hack the Blues computer core, we’ll be able to join a side, Red or Green. And, less lives will be lost...hopefully.

“You ready to do this, Chance?” Fox then asked, and I nodded, muttering, “ready,” before Fox continued. “Once I get inside, you've gotta let me know where to go. If we can pull this off, we'll be in one of those runner gangs for sure.”

I saw Fox appear on one of the Police Station’s security cameras, and I mentally gave him a round of applause. He did a great job finding a disguise, and he fitted in perfectly. I leaned forward in my seat, holding a hand up to my headphones while bringing up a map of the Blues’ headquarters.

“Alright, after the first two doors on your right, there should be another hallway. Go through there.” Scanning the map, I added, “Remember, the virus program I gave you can only suspend that alarm for thirty-five seconds. We’ll have to act fast.” I sighed. “I wish I could’ve made the delay longer, but it wasn’t possible.” A small silence followed, and as I watched Fox proceed through the Station, I was reminded of a plan similar to this, only...it went terribly wrong. The shouts of a comrade, the sounds of a struggle, before complete static. That was the first time I lost an ally, and I only sat there with wide eyes, listening to the loud audio feedback from my headphones.

I shook my head, glancing back and forth to get the images out of my mind. C’mon, Chance, pull yourself together. Now’s really not the time... After a calming exhale of breath, I uttered, “I just hope you’ll be able to get out of there safely.”

[Esme "Shorts" Hale]

((hope you don't mind if I come on in))

As soon as one of her subordinates mentioned unrated Runner activity near the Blues Station, Shorts became immediately interested. Nothing happened in the city as of late, and she was always looking for some raw talent.

Details were scarce, but what she had, info on infiltration, that was all she needed. A simple disguise, a dress suit, dark-framed glasses, and dark brown wig pulled back into a bun, as well as a green hair pin, and green painted nails, and she was able to go in to the police station with little trouble. With a briefcase in her hand, she came in, said hello to the secretary, who she was actually familiar with, and under the name of 'Leslie', the woman who fixed the radar, she came in every once in a while slowly picking up information and fixing whatever problem she left the last time she was there.

She never came in too much, and wasn't able to do a whole lot without the risk of blowing her cover.

There were a lot of new recruits today, there were a few that she had seen before, a few veterans, and on duty as well as off duty cops roaming around. She found her way to the hallway, into the room of new recruits, and sat behind the counter, with her 'paperwork', sheets with general info on the radar. Quickly running her eyes over the new recruits, she waited for some sign of an undercover runner.

((just pretend I am not "here"))

[Aron "Fox" O'Shae]

((Sure, Shorts, I don't mind. Even though it's way too cliche for me, the more the merrier! Feel free to make yourself "known" whenever you want.))

"Yeah," Fox replied under his breath, "just make sure that you're ready to move when everything hits the fan and that you've got a back door for me to go through."

He continued down the hall, taking cursory glances at the security cameras as he listened to Chance's directions. Occasionally, he tilted the brim of his hat at a passing cop to try and fit in better. After a few minutes, he finally reached a door that had the words "COMPUTER DATABASE" emblazoned on a small plaque hanging off of it. Fox could feel his heart beating faster and his pulse increasing. Stop it, he mentally scolded himself, you're better than this. You don't have time to be nervous; so many runners are counting on you to finish this job, and you're so close to having a family again. Stop with all the nervous shit and let's get this over with.

Fox place his hand on the cold brass of the door handle and began to turn it as he heard a voice from behind him yell "Hey!" Mildly nervous, Fox turned to face whoever had hailed him.

[Gabrielle "Chance" Coleman]

((I don't mind either, so go ahead.))

I continued giving Fox directions, watching as he got nearer and nearer to the computer core. My hope was rising at this point, and I watched as my ally finally reached his destination.

"So far, so good," I muttered to myself, scanning the map of the Police Station for an escape route. I need one that's not so close to other Blues, one where Fox's path won't be easily blocked... As I continued to search for a way out, I felt the night wind brush against my body, and I shivered, trying to ignore the cold. I narrowed my eyes at the screen, biting my lip in the process. Damn it. There's offices everywhere. I'll have to find a different way, maybe there's a vent, or a window where there's no one around.

I determinedly scanned some more, until I found what seemed like a large gymnasium. Curious, I opened up a video feed of the gym, and I immediately took notice of the large lights suspended from the ceiling. They were large platforms, and they looked sturdy enough to hold a person. They probably wouldn't even shake if that person was fast on their feet. I also noted the large skylights, and the catwalks that bordered the walls. Connecting them all together, I was able to formulate a perfect route for a Runner.

There's still about several Blues in there, but it's the best I can do, I mulled, memorizing the path. Fox will have to move fast, and with luck it'll take some time for those cops to react.

I moved to tell Fox of my escape plan, but I was interrupted by a loud shout. "Hey!"

"Shit," I cursed as I saw someone approach Fox on the security cameras, and I could only watch as Fox turned to face the person, hopefully preparing himself for an attack if it was needed.

[Aron "Fox" O'Shae]

((Just to let you guys know, I'm gonna give the blues a chance to get on here. If no one replies in a few more days, I'm gonna move the story along, if you all don't mind.))

[Gabrielle "Chance" Coleman]

((That's fine by me. I just hope the blues will be back soon.))