2023-04-11 HH: Crimewave

HH: Crimewave

Participants: Aidan Lucas Mike Trillium Wren

Storyteller: Elyse

Location: West of Green Meadows

Date and Time: April 11, 2023 8:22 pm

Summary: Wren connects with members of Whispers of War to do a pick-up on illicit substances that seem to be used by the High Hopes Needle Exchange.

Mood Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn3j6-yQKWQ - The Perfect Drug by Nine Inch Nails

This part of the city is a bit rundown. Green Meadows to the east is run by the Bone Gnawers of Watts. This part of the city has been largely neglected by the Garou, left outside of any nominal territory status -- but still occasionally patrolled by the Bone Gnawers which still puts it into the strange area to meet for someone who wanted to sell street methadone to Wren.

In the Umbra, there appears to be the usual Gaian spirits: cockroaches, rats, some raccoons, birds of various kinds, even a coyote. As this place is appreciated by Gaians, the spirits of Gaia are thicker.

Aside from that, there are a few tell-tale signs that things are a bit off. There are no Wyld spirits around -- possibly not an odd thing in this part of town. There are also some indications that the Pattern Web has been worn away and not repaired by the Weaver's servants. This is definitley much stranger.

A black Land Rover pulls up into a nearby parking lot and rests to idle.

A white van simple, is pulling up now as Trillium gets out of it with his rifle over his shoulder, highly illegal automatic death dealing mother fucker. It swings around his neck back and forth, as he nods at the van. "Come on boys, it's fucking party time." He leans against the van now, waiting for the others as he exhales the smoke into the air, waiting now with his coat flapping with each motion, his dark black labcoat with that large spray painted hawk.

Wren's already in place, prone on a rooftop with the baggy hood of a big raincoat protecting her scope, rifle set with a tripod.

Just some college or high school kid, covered in a baggy raincoat and carrying a yoga mat bag, heading into the neighborhood hours earlier with her hood up and head ducked against the rain. Technically, the building she entered is a church - but really it's a drab block of mostly-concrete, several stories high.

As the time gets a bit closer, her whisper comes over the earpieces: <<Radio check, welcome to the party. I don't have word from the paisan' yet, presumably he's on his way.>>

Dressed in the very familiar tactical gear of the Whispers of War pack, Lucas is in all black. A small Hawk logo also black on the shoulder. A slight exhale, the final calming breath before action.

Control. Precision. Efficiency.

Aidan climbs out of the .. white van. He's a tall guy, so getting out is kind of awkward, to say the least. He has his bow, considerably less illegal than Trillium's death machine, but far more strange. From his left hip hangs a quiver that is filled with arrows. At his right hip, a sheathed, sawed-off shot gun. As he emerges, the Ahroun looks around, his eyes studying the street for a second. The Coggie is considerably less energetic, his face somber and also more focused.

Mike dressed in his tactical gear ear piece for comms, Mike's black shirt collar has the hawk emblazoned on it. He climbs out of the van as well, he has a staff with him. He stretches out fully allowing his muscles to pop, he looks to everyone and give a nod showing that he's ready.

As Aidan hears Wren's voice crackle to life over the earpiece, he puts a hand to his own ear and says softly, <<Confirmed. Hawk four is finding a nest.>> The Coggie archer is Hawk 4, of course. And, moments after that, he gives a nod to all his packmates and says, "Gaia guide and protect us. See you all when we're done." And then, he's off at a surprising sprint, calling upon the gift of the alley cats, Hunter's Ascent, to make his way to the rooftops in a place that gives him a solid sightline to the place that the Whispers of War plans to move into.

Trillium stands there exhaling the smoke into the air from his freshly light joint using his gold plated lighter, waiting for the next steps. His eyes are watching the area, hands shoved deep in his pockets.

<<Sec.>> Wren's rasp is almost voiced.

<<Yo, we're moving to plan B. Somethin's up... and we're close to go time. So you're it, Candyman.>> Wren doesn't sound stressed at all.

<<Hawk four is in the nest.>> Aidan says after he literally went into an alley and leapt from the street level, to the top of a six story building. The Ahroun, dressed in his black shirt and jeans, moves forward to a pre-agreed upon spot that he and Wren had sighted out earlier. The two are well positioned and can get a clear shot toward the building as well as potentially catch someone in a crossfire. He settles down on his stomach, bow in hand, arrows at the ready and then focuses on the street, presumably where all of the action will go down soon.

Someone has to be the close by muscle, the back up, the cavalry if shit goes sideways. We can't all be Overwatch snipers. Lucas has that job, its a job he is very suited for. Despite the dark clothes, thanks to the gifts blessed to him by Unicorn he looks like just one of the crew if anyone would see him. Even still, he does his best to hide tight in the shadows, prefering to not be seen at all if he can pull it off. <<Just stay steady. I got you.>> he assures his packmate.

Trillium nods slowly his hand is taps the ear piece, removing it now to throw it into his pocket after he says one line. <Drug dealer, not my first buy.> Than he flicks it off in his pocket, as he waits by the back of the van for the meet that rifle in quick grabbing range. That british man, waiting for the arrival of the dealers, ready with a nod of his head waiting for the man with 20 bucks in his hand.

<Hawk Double-Zero scouting.>> Mike focuses for a moment channeling his energy around him and his surroundings as he seems to fade slightly. He then begins moving out scouting out the area, looking for good ambush spots as well as hiding areas which would keep anyone of their team from being easily seen. Moving quickly and quietly, like a ghost, Mike is silent while he does his circuit.

<<Four, I've got eyes on the Land Rover, you wanna be on wider scan?>> Wren speaks in her usual whisper.

In the nearby parking lot, the black Land Rover cuts the engine. The back door opens and a man in a dark suit gets out. Definitely out of place for this part of town. The man pulls out a pack of cigarettes from his jacket pocket, selects one, glances up at the rainy, overcast night sky, then leans over to light the cigarette with a lighter. He takes in a long drag, exhales through his nose, and flicks some ash from the tip in a gesture.

He looks around for a moment and then, noticing the van, begins to make his way over there alone.

The Land Rover's windows are tinted, but with thermal goggles there are two other shapes -- one in the driver's seat, naturally, and another one in the rear passenger seat.

Trillium exhales the smoke from his joint with a nod of his head at the man looking at him for a long moment, pushing off the van with a nod of his hand, as he reaches back to grab that bag filled with cash, with a nod at the man. "So, got the shit?" His voice is cold as ice, throwing down the bag right in front of him, kicking it with his foot packed with unmarked, random bills from his own account. "I got my end, you got yours?"

<<Four, confirmed.>> Aidan responds to Wren's call to sweep the field not focused on the Range Rover alone. This way they won't be caught unawares by anyone who might be waiting in the wings. His gaze drifts from the black Rover.

<<Two in the vehicle, a driver and one back passenger,>> Wren relays. She holds tight to the area around the vehicles and between them.

Lucas remains steady in his position, eyes watching the vehicle and Trillium, relying on the communication from the snipers with the better watch. <<Make sure we have a broad view. I dont want some unseen flank if we can help it.>> he whispers.

The guy glances around and puts his foot down on the bag, stopping it in its tracks; he has a shoulder holster under his coat. Probably not the guy that he needs to talk to, but an intermediary. He glances over his shoulder towards the Land Raider, then looks back to Trillium. "Just a moment." He has a thick accent. Is that Serbian? Albanian? Some kind of Central European. Two fingers on an earpiece. He nods. "On je onaj za koga kaže?" He asks into the mic.

Students of language will note that this is Serbian.

A brief nod. "You are good. Come with me. We get the package." He gestures to Trillium, then over to the car. "You are British? I like the British. Very funny. Monty Python."

Trillium stands there watching the man with a nod of his head and a soft little chuckle. "Nah, bro I drop mine you drop yours you know, classic and good way of doing deals. Yeah, I'm British MOnty Python good, watch Black adler, it's got Mr Bean in it." His voice is still cold as he watches the man with a nod of his head, picking up the money as he throws it towards the man with a nod. "See, I trust you now run it over to me, count it do what you will."

"That is funny, British. I think we should go speak by my car," he says, taking a step towards Trillium and leaving the bag on the ground. "Maybe you and I go over there together, I drag--" something cuts him off. "Da?" He puts his fingers to his earpiece again; stares daggers at Trillium. The man grumbles quietly, then turns to head back to the vehicle, almost stomping his feet. Looks like someone in the car has more finesse than this guy.

From the nearby rooftop, Wren and Aidan can see the man in the backseat making a call as Mateo down below gets a call. The one in the car doesn't gesture or make a big deal about it. He hangs up the phone and they track the Serbian tough heading in the direction of the car.

Trillium stands there watching the man for a long time exhaling the joint into the air, with a nod of his head. Hands are resting on his pistol in his pocket, watching it all the other is crushing the earbud in his pocket, destorying it quickly. It seems he is worried about something, but it is not on his face.

<<Good boy,>> Wren whispers. <<Can anybody hear the principals? Like, what they sound like? Cartel, Russian? All I can tell on IR is 'not Asian,' really.>>

Aidan sees things getting a bit questionable and calls into the earpiece - so everyone but Trillium hears it, <<Head's up, it looks like something might be wrong.>> He actually takes the time to get an arrow in his hand and ready to nock. No action yet, but he's ready if something does break out and this becomes messy.

Mateo reaches the Land Rover and pops open the back. He reaches in to take out a briefcase. In the man's hands, it looks like a little toy. He's huge, about Trillium's height, but with about three times the muscle. The guy starts to walk back to Trillium and the bag.

From the rooftop, one of the doors opens. From Lucas' and Mike's vantage, they see the other man from the backseat getting out. He stretches his arms and gives a large yawn.

He has an odd look to him, something about him seems off, but it's hard to place it. Despite that, he is dressed very well. Tailored grey suit with black belt and black loafers, a black tie around his neck. He has a little Serbian flag pinned to his suit jacket lapel.

Lucas tightens up, shifting slightly preparing himself to take action if necessary but not yet, simply steadying himself. The warrior wont take action until its time. Trillium exhales the smoke into the air as he watches the man walking towards him waiting now his hand are still in his pocket. "Yeah, got my stuff bro." His eyes looking over the man as he waits, to see what is going down next.

"I do. This is highly unusual, but what the boss says goes." The Serbian bruiser unlocks the briefcase by spinning the dials on either side of the handle, resting the case on his knee. He clicks it open and turns it towards Trillium.

Maybe it is better that Trillium is the point man instead of Simon, given that what is being offered is apparently methadone precursor, for mixing in a local laboratory. Judging from the chemicals secured into little foam inserts in the case, you could maybe make about a liter's worth of methadone. "If you cut it like normal then you will get four times as much," Mateo explains. "You are from clinic, yes?"

Mike watches from his vantage point, he notices Lucas tense and he continues to watch as the scene unfolds below. Mike's eyes focuses on the two getting out of the vehicle and he eyes the one who doesn't seem right, taking him in but not trying to give up his hiding spot.

Trillium nods slowly exhaling the smoke into the air looking it over with a nod of his head. "Yeah you know of course bro, aint' no reason to lie we all buddies here and shit." He drops the name, as he nods slowly reaching for it with a nod of his head. "Nice doing biz, chum. Stay safe, if you like ramen good place up there, egg is to die for and shit. Stay safe, got to get back my shift is about to start."

The drugs are definitely what was described: it's methadone precursor. One bottle of alkylation of diphenylacetonitrile, another of 1-dimethylamino-2-propylchloride and a bottle of sodium amide, all in liter portions. It's a heavy briefcase if you're not a massive Serbian dude.

Really weird that the guy didn't bat an eye about selling drugs for medication-assisted drug treatment to a hospice.

<<Packin' up, I'll be in touch,>> Wren says. <<Gonna meet up to see what happened to our suit-wearin' friend.>> <Not mafia, corpo bastards.> That voice is the High Times coming out of the backup mic.

<<Hawk four is coming down.>> Aidan says in response to Wren saying that she'll pack it in. He heads back to the same spot that he lept up and just drops down to the alley floor, landing like a cat that just fell out a window, totally uninjured. The Coggie then skates around to where Trillium was going to park the van after the meet. He moves as quietly as he can, sticking to the shadows as he goes.

Lucas will make his way back to the van, but he takes a wide circular route, just in case someone spotted him and saw through his gift. <<No threats eliminated but we took a step towards it. Lets take the win.>>

<<I'll ask about that later, good t'know. Whiskey out, don't do anything I wouldn't do.>> Wren flicks the switch off and starts packing up rifle and scope.

Mike follows suite after a while, he doesn't come out for a bit but then makes his appearance down on the ground. Mike looks around still keeping hidden just in case.

Trillium sits there in the van music is blasting as he looks out the window with a little sigh of pleasure. "Fucking corporate motherfuckers." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdCmaAG-vYg) His fingers bashing against the wheel to the beat with another exhale of the joint out the window as he waits for the others with a shake of his head. "That shit was fucked, who the fuck be that mother fucker." His eyes on the pack as he pushes the button to open the back of the van, once they are louded he blasts the music louder chain smoking his way back to the Echo Park, not speaking lost in the thought of what the fuck just went down. Racing, his thoughts almost as much as his foot on the gas.