2020-06-21 TPC: Cameras on Forecourts

Cameras on Forecourts

Participants: Ikal, Mariana, Artaud

Storyteller: Nate

Location: An independent gas station on the 405

Date and Time: June 21 2020

Summary: Cameras are put out to spot the GreenMotion deliveries.

This independent gas station follows the usual model; a large forecourt with a dozen or so gas pumps, and a small shop stocking all the usual snacks, magazines, hot and cold drinks (but the slushy machine is broken!) and random tourist junk. A couple cars are pulled in and being fuelled up by their drivers, and a short queue of people wait inside the shop as a man in his fifties rings up their purchases.

Coveralls, caps, and cargo van were all easy enough to obtain, given time. Mariana doesn't pull into the gas station itself, but on the access road leading up to it, stops the van and climbs in back to take a big hunk of cables and a clipboard to look like she's doing something. "Let me know if you need help? I'm just going to.. look like I'm doing something official but forgetable."

Before they had gone to rent the van, Ikal had gone over the instructions from Tiger Lily with Artuad and Mariana. While they were quite clear, he was able to suggest some clarifications here and there. And he helped check to make sure they had all the equipment they would need before taking off in Mariana's original car. He is currently parked well away from the main action, waiting should either of them call him.

Artaud has managed to take his place in the passanger seat, not as a human, but as a lupus, the beast keeping low on the passengers seat, though more than once his big tail might get stuck on the window as he manages to wave back and forth then as the beast is there to follow along in the.... well not a Van perhaps? More like a big ole truck? Something that might get caught on a overpass and result in terrible official buildings like. The Lupus will look up then and aside then with a curious expression then as he considers her then, "Just pull up yes? Figure out how get gas? Be slow yes? Not hard! Probably."

Very few people pay attention to the van. It is a van. It has a workperson pulling cable out of it. Other than a curious glance because pumping gas is boring and this is something mildly different to look at for a few seconds, the van and Mariana are largely ignored. As is the shadow that is about to ooze out of the window.

"If we go in, we'll probably get picked up on their cameras... but right here, can position our camera to see everybody that would be going into the pumps," Mariana points to the far corner of the station that looks like it might have surveillance camera. "Should work, right? And I'll just look like I'm doing something in the ditch right here while you do your thing?" She gives the lupus a second only slightly doubtful glance. "Are you going to need thumbs?"

"Only problem if seen! But.. if think here is adequate? Mean.." Artaud considers quietly as he peers up over the edge of the window then before looking back to Mariana then, glancing over his hsoulder, the furry, shadowy beast then muttering, "MEans if.. think like.. is supposed to be here! Then can.." He'll consider, hesitate even before his tail wags slowly, "Think like.. like uh.. if do nothing suspicious, nothing weird happen, then won't check? Can't get caught! Just need get close enough, put cameras in place where won't be looked.. seen touched.. but.. if.." He'll look up then, "If want there, supposes."

"Hiding in plain sight," Mariana can agree to that. "The pumps have more people around it. And people suspicious about credit card skimmers. Here... nobody comes out here on a daily basis. Just drive right by. The higher you can get it though, probably the better?" She'll keep her eyes on the cable and her clipboard and avoid making directly looking at the shadow-wolf.

Ikal nods to himself as he listens through the bluetooth earpiece. Their plan sounds solid. Though he blinks a little as he hears that question about thumbs. And the quality of Artuad's voice. "Uh. Are you... less noticeable like this?"

Artaud nods in response to Mariana, grunting then as he hums softly, "Think... yes! Just need get closer yes?" He'll muse then even as he moves to slink out of the car finally then, out the window. He moves slowly, hoping onto the front of the truck, then onto the hood, and then straight onto the back, one after another, moving not overly swiftly, but he is hurried enouh to NOT stand out. He'll then murrmur then down to Mariana, "Toss bag up yes? Yes." He'll whisper over the side then.

Artaud when up top at this point.. also has featured now.. some very disturbing human hands.. in Lupus form, the beast standing near the side, or laying really, one hand over the edge as he holds out an open hand, ready to accept the cameras.. preferably not in view of anyone nearby. Not him. No sir.

People keep pumping gas, paying, maybe getting a slushie - OH WAIT the machine is broken. Obviously. Maybe getting a coffee. They wander to and fro, from cars to shop and back again, pulling out and others pulling in. Again, few people spare more than a glance for Mariana and her cabling and her van, and nobody at all spots the wolf-sized shadow slithering around.

"He's got a ... shadow thing. It's fine," Mariana explains through the bluetooth for Ikal. She can barely keep an eye on him and she knew he was there. But once he whispers, she keeps an eye out for his hand and then //tosses// the little camera bag up.

Artaud by this point, now has the camera's in.. ugh, Hand! But he just stares at the bag, moving to unpack it bit by bit, looking up at the central pillars placed between the gas pumps, moving to angle himself and position himself to plant it hidden by the pillar from the store, but pointing over the parking lot, and entrance as well. The problem is, the Lupus has never planted it before!

"Ah. That works." Ikal smiles from afar as he speaks through the bluetooth. "Sounds like they chose the perfect one for the job. Moving like a shadow." He pauses, tilting his head as he takes in the nuances of the background sounds. "so remember. Fortunately these are wireless. So you just have to worry about the placement and drilling. Once you're sure you've got it where it needs to be, you can use that mounting template to drill some holes where you want the screws to go. Let me know when you're done there."

"Make sure it's angled down a bit, but not right at the ground," Mariana adds on the only technical advice she can think of. All about the camera angles if they're gonna get something useful.

Artaud is trying his best to follow the instructions then, his gaze shifting slightly to look aside then as he growls softly in contemplation. Artaud then has to figure out how to angle the screw driver, and install the camera fairly high up, angled to try and get a good look at the entrance driveway and the pumps themselves. The Lupus winces at the sound of the drill, but he manages to quickly get it in place and drill it. Always trying to be real subtle!

More concerned with speed and not getting caught then the most secure placement, he isn't quite as careful as he should be in the installation, but at least he'll get it secure, and then he'll slide back then as he grunts, glancing down. "INstall another? If so? Where thinking? Or install another here? Facing store?" He'll whisper.

Oh! He has a little clip thing on his ear! He can hear people over the radio! Or bluetooth! How convinent!

Ikal nods at Artuad's question from afar. "Sure. Yeah, we should install as many cameras as Tiger Lily gave us. That we can get away with at least. Mariana... things still look clear? Since they're wireless, onec you've got the mount affixed - we already made sure they have batteries - so you just attach them. Should be quick. These are quick."

"Probably just another one here. And the rest, we can see if we can get them set up at another couple gas stations along the 405? In case there's other stations that weren't connected with Owen or Dominic. Also, the more we put up in a single place, the more likely it would be to get found," Mariana says as she glances about, making sure the coast really is still clear-ish.

Artaud nods as he moves to install a second camera then, this one he tries to angle a bit better to see inside the store, but again, emphasis on trying to keep it out of sight of the store proper at times.. which means very high, and well.. not the greatest of angles inside the store register, but instead at the parking lot. Artaud doesn't understand cameras well, but he is good at hiding things! More drilling to be done.. and then with that second camera installed he'll draw back and nod. "Good. GooD? Good. Two good." He'll whisper, even as he makes sure they have power as instructed, at least a battery or somethin before he moves to slide back down and get to the escapin into the truck.

"Do you think it might be good to have eyes on the back of the gas station? Like. For whatever dealings might happen there?" Ikal sounds uncertain over the bluetooth.

Artaud asks, "If Drive off near side of building? Park? Can jump ontop of building maybe? Then uh.. install on backside?

Mariana begins to roll up her cables but it's not a long process since she wasn't actually doing anything. "I'll drive around and then Artaud can do what he needs to do. PRetend like I'm checking the pressure on my tires or something." She moves the van around to the back and the coin operated air pressure hose, close enough to the building hopefully the van might serve as a boost if needed.

"Sounds good. And same process there. Really... the hard part is figuring out where the cameras need to be installed in the first place." Ikal pauses as he checks Mariana's rearview mirror. "I'd better move. Sitting here long as I have... I just feel like someone's going to be tapping my window soon."

Honestly, people will ask if Artaud even needed the van at this point.. he jumps.. and somehow manages to almost OVERSHOOT the entire damn building with how far and high he has jumped, but luckily he'll slide to a halt otop of it. The speed and force is such that he almost is sent tumbling over himself once he lands and is soon clambering his way along the top of the building towards the truck- and the backcorner nearby it.

The beast is already at work to try and screw in the cameras at this point. Moving to screw them into the backside of the building, trying to follow any instructions that may be given.. and definetly trying to keep it all out of eyeline!

Ikal finds himself somewhat distracted as he starts up the car. But still. His sensitive ears register the jump and then the long pause before the landing. He blinks. "Did... he just jump as far as I think he jumped?" he asks softly.

The real shame is that Mariana didn't get to witness the full glory of the jump as she was busy kicking at the perfectly inflated tires of the van. "I think he's got springs in his paws. When his paws aren't also being hands." But whenever he jumps back down, she'll be ready to book it on out of there.

Artaud is quietly working with the drill at this point, screwing it in after he has positioned it. He'll move slowly, growling as he tries to insure that it is securly placed.. Well as securly placed as the others. Again Artaud has focused heavily on stealth over security at this point! But it should last long enough for what they need! And hey, it'll make knocking em down for recovery that much easier! RIght?

Right! SO Artaud is hard at work.. and once that is done, he is off to bolt, hopping off the building onto the truck, then squirming his way on the roof, then trying to slink his way in through the open window by basically pulling himself into the car.

He is such a sneaky wolf that when he pops up then he'll offer aloud, "HI! I'm ready to go! THank you for helping! Leading! Telling! Is good! Very good! Best." Artaud muses then even as he starts to slide into the wheel well to better hide.