FourtyTwo

Raven Squad: Second Storm (Military/Spy-Fi RP)

Singapore

Skye Rosalind Lyons

Long Way Down

The scene was quickly turning. What with Pavel's incident, Jamie, Freya and Carl all taking care of Skye's tail, Pavel and Ingwe in one, she had managed to break across the rooftop bar, a series of guards chasing after her, guns drawn. Oh, they knew what was up, and weren't taking any chances. Skye had certainly appreciated the spot from Freya- with it, that had bought her some time, time to round more guards on her six and at the least, drag them across to her part of the roof. She was hearing Mateo and Sam at least bail out using their wingsuits, so that was good at least- they'd put distance between themselves and the situation, which was more than reassuring.

With the guards attention now turned fully to Skye, she kept her composure, hearing the rest of the team begin to make their exits, hasty-like too. There was no doubt that in her red dress Skye was a target- with Freya, Jamie, Carl using the chaos on the other side and their pure brute force, they'd be able to smuggle themselves out of the way, so the Scot had no such luck, because all the guards could tell she'd been with Pavel last. And they weren't so stupid to let her go now.

Coming to the balcony, Skye looked over, hearing the rest of the guards follow, her heart in her mouth, looking back across as she slid out of her heels, watching a few come by, pistols at the ready, shrugging her shoulders as she glanced over the glass once more.

"Well, I guess you won't take me alive!" Skye yelled back, and pushing hard against the fear that bubbled in her veins, she ran out of her heels and towards the balcony edge, leaping over and into a swan-like dive....

Freefall without a parachute was strange as hell, and not the less that she'd soon be hitting terminal velocity, if only for a split second. The trailer was there, and well, it was almost a black speck in the distance, but enough for her to go for, as she coiled over, bringing her hands and legs spread, eyes watering, the feeling palpable and just bonkers. Levelling herself out, she felt her dress tightly grip around her freefalling body, steering herself with a bit of movement as she caught air, totally, utterly, in that second.

The night sky of Singapore was a blur, and this was no regular fast ticket out, it was a chaotic, maddening blur.

"Shite!" Skye yelled involuntarily, as she saw the trailer come closer, and closer, and closer....

The canvas ripped apart as Skye fell through it and smacked into the back of the trailer's airbag, smacking hard into the floor as it deflated around her, the grey material almost swallowing her whole in its rubbery, now less stiff embrace, as she coughed, exhaling hard and checking herself, feeling the adrenaline pound so hard it made her ears feel like they were on fire. Every part of her felt like she should be dead, but right now, here she was, alive and kicking. It was another day out, but once again, that part of her brain that had told her this was an awful idea had gotten overruled again. She wasn't doing that again in a hurry. And as she composed herself, she had the moment to check her comms, hearing the team report in.

"All stations, good work tonight. Head to the RV point, and let's put the evening to a close. I'm breathing, don't worry about me, I'll see you there." With that, Skye exhaled hard, checking herself over once more, in her own moment to take it in.

Composing herself again, she rolled off the side of the airbag, finding a spare change of clothes in the back. Something completely the opposite to what she had- a black t-shirt with Slayer on it, jeans, a baseball cap and a set of prescription glasses. Skye had to admit, going from her feminine side to something almost totally androdgynous felt strange, yet well, it worked- the switch worked on people and her ability to seemingly become a chameleon, not through the use of a wig or prosthetics but simply by just taming her femininity altogether. Turning into someone else was a common part of Skye, a part that she'd used. The kind that didn't fear death, the kind that just became someone into the next when she needed it. Yet somehow, some part of her must have felt as human as ever to feel that rush, that spike.

With the disguise on, she pulled on the container's mechanism, yanking on the handle and pulling it upwards and back, the evening light coming through. With it, Skye did the last thing she needed to do- the dress, as well as her gloves and the airbag couldn't remain, so she set up a small portion of lighter fluid and with an adjacent match, tossed it in, setting a small fire up that would eventually catch on the rubber's flammable skin, and leave no trace behind as to what happened when it really caught within a few minutes. With that, Skye slunk out of the trailer, and moving off the street through an alley, making her way out of the search zone, and on foot, as far as she could go. Unlike the rest of the team, Skye didn't have the luxury of distance flying away or a car so she needed to go incognito, and that she did, knowing she'd need to be even more careful on profile now. But she'd get away. Get on a Metro, get to their RV point in the port, and from there, get home. For all most people knew, Skye Caldwell was dead, but there'd be no body to find, not when they put the pieces together.

----

Kaitiaki HQ, New Zealand

Whānau / Family

"What was I saying about you not going back to work so quick?" Sophie looked at Skye's ribs, the shirtless redhead sitting on the doctor's bed, wrapped up with bandages around her chest, clearly from the mess that had happened

"It's just bruising. Hurts a bit, but if that's what you say it is, then I'm fine." Skye almost said firmly, as if she wanted it to be better in her own words, rather than listening.

"I told you, there was no way it was not going to leave a mark. Fine. Whatever you do next, try not to get shot without your armour. Or falling out of any seventy storey buildings again. You know, I prefer it when my patients aren't so stubborn. Anyway, standard painkillers for a week, and after that, don't put too much exertion on it. I mean it, this time." Sophie retorted, the Swiss doctor a little frustrated, but alas, aware that well, Skye did as she pleased. It would end badly at this rate, but well, there'd be some sense in Skye to perhaps not go mountain biking now after more bruising. Jumping off a skyscraper came with consequences, after all.

"I do as well. Cheers, Sophie."

With that, Skye left the room, and putting on a navy-coloured t-shirt and grey hat, the redhead was out of the room once more, her red locks allowed to flow like the Highland fox that she was. A defining feature, and even despite the black-coal like dust that had once murkied it, or the dye that had turned it crimson in Singapore, it still remained as ardent as ever, her defining trait that she almost wished didn't stick her out as much as it did.

---

The mid-day New Zealand sun beat down as Skye walked along the track from the support complex up to the main homestead itself, the trees breezing gently in the wind in the small forested patch, still wet from the night's rain, a reminder of course that well, this place wasn't some verdantly green paradise without a bit of it.

It was rather a fine day in a rather fine place. The noise of the city traded for quiet, calm, ocean waves, sea breeze and rainforest.

On that note, her phone rang, and the familiar unknown caller code made it clear that through this particular burner, it could only be one person.

"Oracle, good to hear your voice again. Long time no speak." Skye blurted, knowing Oracle would have gotten the debrief from her- their involvement in the operation had been surface-level, given the need for security. The chance to catch up since Aralsk, and now this op gave them a chance to re-evaluate things, and Skye was not surprised by the call.

"It's been a while. I saw Singapore went well. Risky op, but your post-mission report reads. Confirms a lot of the intel we had, but more importantly, we've got access to a data set I never thought you'd be able to break into. Nicely done. What do you think about it?"

"Pavel seems like a pawn in a bigger machine. He's a committed freak, but they're taking him for a ride. He definitely did the hack to us, and well, the transcript says it all. Doomsday prepping, all into control, all that shit. Sees us as a threat, now we just got to dismantle his network and get what we need on the heads of Artemis, then go put them on ice. What else do you want, really?"

"See what you can get from Aralsk, and the Singapore data will come through. Pavel is going to go to ground sooner rather than later, and we'll need some leads to stop this sooner rather than later."

"Aye, and I anticipate it. Though, I have a quick question. Sol Hestia, does that mean to you?"

"That's Greek, makes no sense. Why, do you think Pavel's got some pet project?"

"I'm thinking it goes past him. Which makes me wonder." Skye retorted, knowing Oracle would think the same, the Scot confident, albeit that seed of doubt in her head still.

"Well, if he talks any more about it, we'll have him as bait. He'll be getting paranoid and closing up shop. Time to see what he does."

"Agreed. I'm gonna need a few more operatives. Stafford's RTB, so too is Hornet. Tough gigs for them recently, so I've sent them off. I'll need a Heavy at least because I think we might have a lead on a few other sites."

"I can get you one."

"Splendid. Anything else, Oracle?"

"Nothing else, just thought to say thank you for the work recently."

"First person to say it."

"Trust me, know the feeling all too well. Let's speak when we have an idea of what to hit next. I'll call you if I need you. Oracle out."

With that, they finished their brief call, the Scot heading towards the house, and after passing the biometrics, heading down into the secure section. The bit of the base that lay beneath the fancy rec room, accomodation, office and billionaire's summer house. The bit she really fancied. The yellow and grey coloured walls gave off a real cutting edge feel, reflecting the white LED light with a certain shimmer, the kind that felt brand new, without dust even. It was remarkably sterile, yet the yellow made it feel....well, like some sort of secret lair.

------

Skye headed first to the armoury and firing range, and as part of her routine for the day, had a bit of shooting to do. The SIG MCX loaded, she flicked a set of ear defenders over her ears, and popping the range open, set herself up, loading a mag, and with a confident slap, setting up the 6.8mm chambered rifle on range. With a brisk couple of taps, she started blasting, pulling the target further and checking her point shooting, aimed pickup, sighting, and her overall feel with the rifle. Important given she hadn't exactly used it in anger in a while, and currency always paid dividends. That said, she wasn't alone- the sound of a semi-automatic rifle a few booths down could be heard booming from time to time, Skye aware that the shooter didn't need to be disturbed yet. But after Skye had finished up her drills, checking the backup sight and doing some TLC, she had the chance to find her, the blonde-haired, half-Maori marksman come housekeeper cycling her Mk14 EBR, her short-cuffed shirt revealing her full sleeve of tattoos.

"Practicing your shooting? My, I'd have almost thought that was behind you." Skye retorted, watching her check her ACOG optic, the Kiwi lowering the weapon and look over her shoulder, almost unflinched.

"And kia ora to you Skye. I thought I get to enjoy my hour off without my boss interrupting. And at least you're not giving me shit on my grouping. Yet." Tahlia replied with a hint of sarcasm, very much aware she could give it back, taking her own noise defenders off, making her weapon safe on her part of the range, and finishing up her arrangement as Skye came around.

"Nah. You're not a bad shot still, Taniwha." Skye whistled, the Kiwi nodding in response. She was equally as blunt as the Scot was, if not worse, and despite how much she wanted to heap it on, the respect remained mutual at least in that angle of things.

"It never leaves you. Dad said you get a bond with a rifle, it never leaves your side. Apart from that, I guess team's been settling well." Tahlia added, the grip on the Mk14 tight in her hands, a rifle that had gone through all the fighting that she'd had in Blue Sword. A loyal, precise tool in her hands, a silenced, modified battle rifle that in her hands, was accurate as ever.

Most of all, it was a special rifle, her father's from his time in the special forces, so even though it may have been older, it still fired true and well after many barrel changes and refits. Tahlia was equal parts the warrior he was, and if anything, even more abrasive than Skye was- she was warm but in a way that only a bush-dwelling Kiwi would be, reliant, hardy, and straight to the point.

"Point taken. And yeah, they're not too bad. Cheers for keeping an eye on them. You know, for someone who keeps us turning, you seem to have a knack for the other part of working our buisness. You ever wondered about going back?"

"Nah yeah, that isn't really possible with...well, you know, the leggies. And even with an exo, it doesn't add up, it's too serious a weakness. I'm not seeing bionic legs exactly on the market either. But you know, if I could, I would, heaps."

"Doesn't mean you can't be useful, Tahlia. Keep up the shooting. I'll keep you in mind." Skye nodded, as she finished up her own, walking out with her SIG and putting it back into her section by the rest of her kit, magazines stashed next to her exo, as Tahlia followed her over, her clicking of her titanium-sprung composite legs against the concrete clear as day, as she went straight to the point seeing Skye put the gun away.

"Skye, told yous, I've got no fackin' legs. What am I good for? I keep you lot turning. What do you mean you're gonna keep me in mind?"

"Fire's still in you then?"

"Too fucking right, toa never leaves you." Tahlia replied, the Maori leaking out with a hard, aggressive inflection, Skye even raising her eyebrows.

"Then that's what I meant. Active work, maybe not, the rest, keep that in mind. I'm sure you get your share of downtime." Skye teased back, Tahlia getting the picture as she put her Mk14 back into her part of the armoury, nodding.

"Alright. I'll keep it up here." Tapping her forehead, Tahlia walked out, her legs clacking on the floor, the blonde-haired, Southlander even giving Skye a moment of a run for her money. There was no denying it, Skye could see a little of herself in Tahlia, and it was why she personally wanted her here. Anyone else wouldn't do the things Skye needed, especially given the fact that Skye wanted this team to run, and actually have what they needed. Any bootlicker, or stampkicker wouldn't do, they'd piss her off, and anyone too nice would just drop things. Tahlia actually kept a bit of fire on, and well, it made sure things ran when everyone needed what they needed.

----------

After her catchups in the armoury, Skye headed a level down- with rounds sent, the next visit was to the vehicle pool, and coming in on the team's vehicle tech, Skye found him under a Land Rover, welding away as he heard the footsteps of Skye's shoes, rolling himself from out and underneath the car.

"La Hefa, it's like you've been avoiding me or something?" The Spanish-Mexican chirped as he put the welding mask up, dusting himself off, the sight of the team lead a rare one down here, but then again, present as and when needed.

"No, just....well, you know I didn't want to see you after blowing up two DPVs with modified V8s in them. You know, that sort of thing goes really, really badly with a petrolhead like you." Skye chuckled, as he stood up, looking around back at his work, then back at Skye, chuckling.

"Si, but these things happen. I spent a lot of time on it, but I heard how it went down. Big, big boom, haha!" Javi's excitable nature never failed to give even the tacit Skye a smirk, well, he seemed to have that unescapable energy, that enthusiasm that never died. She fucking needed that today, that was for sure.

"Yeah, pretty big boom ey....so, you got anything you're working on to replace them?"

"I might have some new tools. Got a Land Rover in, already figuring out how to fit rally raid suspension onto it, a .50 cal and a GMG, and some more power too. It'll be a beast when it's ready. And, supposedly we're getting a new VTOL to replace the V22. Something faster, stealth-rated too. Vincente will not shut up about it." Javi gleefully replied, as he showed off the car he was working on, the electric motocross bikes leant against it flanked by the black, stripped out old-school Land Rover Defender.

It sat there mounted with jump seating and a cackle of weapons, making it a hell of a tool- it was the larger variant, so it'd even be able to take two Heavies. A battle bus, no doubt. Light, fast vehicles were perfect for Raven- yes, the use of an APC or IFV would be good in heavier environments, yet nothing beat speed, firepower and aggression with the kind of team that Skye had put together. It was a nice machine, and she appreciated the touches to it, uprated and set for war.

"Damn, word travels fast, thought I was going to tell you. Yep, she's a cutting edge machine. Should be in tomorrow." Skye nodded, watching as Javi clambered around the car, sitting up on the bonnet, his happy-go-lucky attitude one that certainly added some charm to the team.

"It's easy work. You know, you gotta get Sam down here spending more time. What she knows about cars, that chica would do some serious work with me. I heard of her reputation man."

"I thought she might have visited? Then again, between her getting hurt, I wasn't sure if she would have the time."

"Sure, but you know the score. I'm always here, and I got some projects to work on she'll love. You know the deal."

"I know, I know...I might have a few bits for you to work on. Some more exotic kit. I know Freya's gonna want that..."

"Oh yeah, that thing. Yeah, I got it, that and a few more aerial options for the team. This secret agent shit, I get it, you want some cutting edge tools, but you forget, I can make fucking anything out of anything. I'm like Macgyver, but with a blowtorch, an arc welder and a tooling bench, so your wish is my command Queen!" Javi called back, as he walked around the garage, chuckling, Skye putting her hand into her face, chuckling with cringe, and in some amazement for how much energy he had.

"How many coffees have you had?"

"Four."

"Jesus, remind me to get you decaf to you instead."

----------

Collab with @LadyAmber
Samantha was sitting in the rec room at the base. She was sitting at the table with her laptop on the table in front of her. She was sifting through all the low level data from their hacked drone op. She had been busy building gear for the team and involved in more pressing hacking needs for the team. She finally had a little down time to use her analyst skills. Samantha dumped the raw data into a quarantined database on an external hard drive. She began cleaning up the data and sending in her custom built algorithms to sort the data into categories where the bad guys usually forgot to hide.

The team’s resident team lead was the next to follow in, her tired gaze from their evening out in Singapore like a hangover on her head. The op had mostly, mostly gone to plan- a few things always went to shit, but then again, that would be the way Raven rolled. They didn’t do insanely difficult without sometimes breaking a few things, and hey, there they were, back to figuring out what next. A rough debrief had followed, but Skye had a decent idea of what was going to have to happen next- and to that end, was already glad to see Sam at work.

Bringing over a small cup of decaf coffee for sam, knowing right now probably wasn’t the time for a massive hit of caffeine for one part of the team’s hacker trio, Skye took a seat as she took her own cup of Earl Gray tea to hand, dumping the teabag into an open bin across the room with a flick, making it almost look graceful and like something she’d done too many times before. The redhead almost moved with a certain je ne sais quoi, an understanding of the mindset Sam was in, analysing and working away as she leaned back on the sofa, looking over.

“You alright?” Skye must have seemed like she was far too casual for this situation, yet still, approachable and chilled as usual, even if a little sore, the Scots charm in her voice on the warmer side rather than the, kill it if it moves side today.

Samantha was startled to hear Skye’s voice as she had been in her zone as she crunched all the delightful data and made it sing for her. She looked up at Skye and blinked before smiling and nodding. “Hey boss. Yeah I’m good. I am just getting started on all that data I pulled from less secure sources from that Artemis base where the drone got hacked. I haven’t had time to clean and look at that data to see if there is any usable intel there. I usually find something.” She glanced at her screen to see that her pc was almost done with the initial sort on the data.

Skye nodded, knowing that Singapore was slowly coming through, but the Aralsk stuff would at least be coming to some conclusions, given how much they’d recovered. It was a trove of content, and digging through was leading to some interesting content.
“Nicely done. It’ll combine well with what we’re getting from the server farm.” Skye replied, nodding in a positive response, knowing she was deep at work, and no doubt, deep in mind on what she needed to do. The Scot folded her leg over her other one, looking across to Sam once more, rather appreciative of the recent work she’d been putting in.

“You know, the file I had of you didn’t tell me how capable you were with this sort of stuff. I mean, Javi and Tahlia are singing your praises. I have no idea what you’ve been up to, but if they’re impressed, it must be something.” Skye commented, taking her tea and sipping it, a bit of positive reinforcement always coming some way, knowing in that respect, it was true- Skye had every bit to be impressed, and she’d gone beyond. No doubt she’d overcome a lot of adversity- it was something Skye saw in others, and as sometimes dysfunctional as the team may have been, it was as elite as it was from a well trained nous of how to get the most from them. Perhaps it was just experience, perhaps it was almost a personal drive, from her upbringing and mentality on things. It felt like belonging, good even to do right by those who needed that next level.

Samantha fidgeted a little. She was not used to others singing her praises. She was used to doing her best and getting constructive criticism or feedback on what she could do better. She knew what her skillset was but she was still learning to be a part of a team. She had tried her best to put her skills to work for her new team and embrace that. “I grew up wrenching with my father. He was an automotive mechanic. I learned a lot about vehicles from him. It was the only way he had any time for me as a single parent. I helped him out in the garage to spend time with him. I quickly outgrew his knowledge though. I just keep adding more complex tools and knowledge.” She shrugged a little. “I am doing what I was hired for and part of that is supporting the team with gear. I like building gear. It is always a challenge of skill and intellect.” Her computer beeped at her that it was finished.

She began to look over the rough draft of the data. There was a lot in the logistics category. Artemis was moving a lot more material around than she had given them numbers for. She pulled it up and looked up at Skye with a puzzled look. “Skye, do we have any idea of the numbers of soldiers or operatives that Artemis has?”

Skye shrugged, her face blank as she looked across at it, her eyes scanning the laptop, then back to the American.
“Rough estimates are tough. Depends what terrorist, criminal or other private contractors they’ve got into bed with. It can fluctuate from a few hundred to possibly, even a few thousand. They’re rather shapeless, formless ‘wee bastards. But I wouldn’t put it past them they try and run it on a central network for their high end gear.” Skye commented, sitting up, taking a deep breather for a moment, looking across to Sam.
“You know, I remember my da’, he was like that too. Lost him when I was young. I know it hurts a lot. But you keep moving, keep doing like you say the work we do. Fills the void, but, I suppose it never really does till you find a family of your own. I guess in my own mad way, I found this.” Skye chuckled wryly, knowing the topic was fluctuating, but she had to comment. Knowing Sam’s file, it had similarities to her own. Almost too many, but then again, such was life. Special Forces operators, intelligence operatives, people like that didn’t come from perfection.
“Anyway, that’s interesting. We’ll be able to correlate the data with the satellite receiver and control stations from Pavel’s company. He might be able to move, but he can’t make a new one of those from scratch. Highly secured networks after all need a basestation and that needs protection. I wonder….those probably link together.” Skye pondered, knowing Sam was probably half thinking it too, but more likely than not her chat with Pavel, among many, many other things was tying that thread in her mind right now.

Samantha was still reading on her screen and reviewing the data as she talked to Skye. She looked up at Skye as she mentioned her father. “I lost my mother when I was born. I only ever had my dad. His loss is still a deep pain. I think I could handle it if I had lost him to disease or something like that. But to have him ripped away from me by terrorists. His life was not theirs to take. I will one day make them pay for that.” Her voice was hard and full of anger. She went back to reviewing data as their conversation turned to their most recent op in Singapore and Pavel’s organization.

Skye felt the anger, knew what it was like, and had sometimes had to admit, it was hard to not get tied into someone else’s too. Yet the stoicism in her knew that she’d never be able to. It was watching her own family collapse that got her down, but Sam’s, hers was pretty awful to say the least. Anger fuelled a fire, but Skye knew as much as it was a bottomless pit, revenge wasn’t always the way to go. It got you so far, but that ran dry and left its own void sometimes. And that, Skye knew all too well to be careful about. None of this crap about revenge making you feel happy- nah, Skye knew in her mind, her head at least it did, until that ran out. But outside, she knew the words.

“And they will, they’ll hurt plenty for it.” Skye nodded, replying in turn and looking across as Sam went back to the laptop.

She noticed some trends in the data. “Skye what I am seeing mixed into this low level data is military level logistics for soldiers or personnel. Things like food, soap, and gear. Things you would see ordered by a base or encampment of some kind. The amounts points to much larger numbers and some numbskull left delivery addresses for where to send it. We can follow up on those addresses. They might be blind drop points to hand over supplies to other organizations. They might line up with terrorist camps or organizations. We should check some of them out. What do you think?” She turned the laptop to show the indicated data to Skye for her to review.

Skye had a look and peered through, picking up the locations, including supply drops and arrangement.
“Reminds me of Tahlia’s shopping list. Looks like their own.” Skye chuckled, her dry sense of humor always finding a room in, her sultry and confident tones holding true, as she looked through the list, seeing a few uncommon ones on there.

“Chile, Andorra, Finland, Poland….those aren’t your usual places for encampments. The usual, Afghanistan, Armenia and North Korea are there too though. I’ve had enough of those places. They’re clearly disguising it if they are, using it as a backstop.” Skye added, searching through, quiet in her approach as she flicked some red hair from her face, knowing it wouldn’t be much, but enough to at least do a satellite sweep of.
“Now we just need to figure out where there might be a ground station. Satellites are going to be needing something secure, so it needs power, and some sort of access.” The Scot added, her deductive reasoning clear enough, from experience of what she would have thought to do so herself, as she looked over to Sam again.

Samantha reviewed the list of sites and frowned. She began to think out aloud. Maybe something she said would spark with Skye’s deeper operational knowledge for Raven Squad. “That is a highly unusual area of the world for their to be terrorist activity. You are right that is typically seen in the Middle East with warlord activity in Africa. You see some terrorist activity in Africa and South America. You see European nations targeted because they are part of the West and their ties to the economy and white privilege.” Samantha tapped her finger on the table as she tried to pull the puzzle pieces together. “What you do tend to see more of in Europe is crime families and syndicates. You might see political crime in Eastern Europe which fits the Poland locations but Finland doesn’t fit either of those.” Samantha felt like she was on the cusp of something. Maybe if she cross referenced this list with the data from Pavel once she finally managed to decrypt it. That man had codes on codes. She had managed to clone his laptop but getting it to give up its information was taking some time. “Well we could always search for locations in those areas drawing power from the grid. We could use satellites overhead to find hidden airstrips and smaller ports with unusual activity.” She turned to Skye to see what she was thinking.

Skye nodded, noting her train of thought, knowing it would be tough to find, but more likely than not, it would be a start.
“Good call. Chances are, they’ll try and take advantage of something already there, some of those places will be close to it. I can see what Oracle can pull for us, get us some imagery. It’ll be a lot of sifting, but I’m sure we can get it. If not, at least it’ll bring the areas into focus and give us a rough idea of what to start digging up for Raph’s contacts..” Skye replied, keen to see this sorted, as she slurped some more tea down, looking out at the overcast skies outside, and the sea shimmering in the background.

“Bloody hell. I keep forgetting how pretty this place is.” She added, standing up from the sofa, finishing her tea and putting the mug down on the table next to the sofa, looking back across her shoulder towards Sam.
“I’ll be honest with you. Pavel is an ass, and he caused us a lot of shit in Singapore. But I get this feeling, whatever it is Artemis wants, I don’t think he fully understands it. Like he seems to get one part of their goals. But if they’re decentralized, it concerns me. Means there’s a lot more hydras. And we’ll be just responding next time they decide to go for something.” Skye commented out loud, looking across, the scarlet-haired Scot open, if a little curious.

Samantha smiled at her boss. “Well if the satellites don’t reveal anything. I can always do a fly over with a drone and cameras.” She shrugged “I am always down for some decent skiing.”

Skye nodded, knowing it would be a bit of work to cover. But if anyone could, Sam and the intel team certainly could.
“Andorra or Chile this time of year would be pretty sweet. And it beats another op in North Korea.” Skye commented, stretching her hands and clicking them out, knowing they had some leads now to follow, and that would certainly come to fruition soon enough.

Raven Squad: Second Storm (Military/Spy-Fi RP)

Singapore

Skye Rosalind Lyons

The Dying of the Night

Skye lumbered on out of the of the office, the CEO over her shoulder and the Scot aware she had to get this poor, silly bastard back up top. Leaving him here would risk exposing the infiltrators if a guard found him, which was going up in estimation by the second. At the best, she had to buy some time, and she could do that- by putting him in full view of everyone.

"Ohh....." Pavel moaned on her shoulder, garbling something in Greek that she couldn't decipher.

"Hestia, Hestia Sol....they....they're....it's not mine." Pavel mumbled, slobbering now, waking up more yet not fully in control.

At this point, Skye had no idea what he meant - any trace of that they would find on the computer probably, because Skye didn't really have time for the rest. His details, dealings, emails, all of it. There was good chance that the human touch of his biometrics would open up the computers like they were nothing and find that out. All shite, but hey, it was entertaining as she stayed back around a corner, a suite of guards moving through, Skye staying in the shadows and keeping her hand over his mouth, the tough Scot feeling able to at least dart past. And that she did, up the stairs, as elegantly as she could in heels that were beginning to hurt, her dress thankfully corrected by Sam and not too rough at least. That was, aside from the man she fireman-lifted up a set of stairs, straining under his weight but using the bannister, just about pulling it off.

At the top of the narrow stairwell, Skye peered round, and moved in, coming through an auxillary exit back into the party, the hubub of it making her almost seem like she was just part of the crew. Well, until a few heads turned, and Skye lumbered down his body, the sight of a few more partygoers coming over clear to see, as well as in the corner of her eye, a series of guards.
"What the hell happened to him? Is he alright?" One asked, Skye shrugging in response, looking down at Pavel, then back at the Chinese-accented, tuxedo wearing guest and his partner wrapped up against his side.
"Promise, I found him like this. I have no idea."
Skye's sultry Highland tone carried like a light breeze, innocent and dainty, yet certainly carrying the underlying dagger that she always held back in there. With that reply, Skye could only back away, and moving through the crowd, tried to look for Freya.

To that, Pavel stumbled up, bowling about, and moving into the crowd. Perfect, he was coming to life just when she needed it, the guards squarely looking at Skye and her movement using the bodies to her advantage, now finding a denser part of it, as she heard the man come to life behind him.
"Eyyy! Gettaoutamyway, peasants!" Pavel yelled, and then proceeded to retch, fumbling drunk across the floor and rather spectacularly, through multiple people. He was playing it utterly perfectly, and the minutes this would buy would get the team over the line, Skye watching Pavel climb onto a barstool and to that, she stopped in the crowd to observe.

"I'm the king of the world! And you know it!"

And poetically, and if almost, with a hint of perfect, sweet, beautiful irony, he fell forwards and to no guest, guard or anyone even trying to catch him as he fell flat onto the bar, and off it onto the floor in a heap. And the cocktail then did it's worst. The worst that a guest loudly yelled with the best Canadian accent Skye could have imagined.

"Oh god.....he's crapped himself!"

Skye was now dying of laughter the guards coming in closer, the red-dress, red-haired Scot holding back the scene yet it was etched in her memory, permanently. She could spy Freya talking to Ingwe, but all of a sudden, it was clear, well, he had bigger priorities to deal with. As fast as Skye moved, he seemed to move like a bowling ball through people, and while the team's giantess had certainly pulled him close, right now, Skye had no priorities but to put people, space, and room between her and him. Not if she wanted to have a spinal cord that worked.

"Crap! Team, grab what you need and get the hell out! Frigga, follow on my lead! I'm going for Plan B!"
Skye left her comms open, knowing it was the last chance. Security was going to swarm now. And the sooner Freya picked up the redhead in the crowd, she hoped the better.

And with that, the fire alarm came off, the sound of a loud klaxon making it very clear everyone was getting evacuated. Guards would swarm from beyond, and likely, the police were on their way.

The building was going to go into lockdown and wherever the team was would get an increased presence. Downstairs, the sound of more suit-wearing guards with 9mm pistols and a view to ice anyone they could find were flooding the office, and soon, they'd make it down to the server room. Guards like that weren't exactly ready for a full on firefight, but neither would much of the team. So it was probably better to run, than fight.

There were options here. An emergency stairwell would be available for anyone, but it would be guarded and no doubt very tricky to get through.

The infiltrators had the option of wingsuiting out- certainly, Sam was set for that, but Skye had left it open to the others. From 68 storeys up, it was more than viable and the fastest, albeit longest to setup for which came with risks. Alternatively, they could probably rappel down or use the elevator shaft, but against all odds, they were probably even riskier than literally flying out.

Xan probably had the best option- hide with the staff and eventually get out. It would work, well, unless he wanted to break from here and follow Skye's lead. She hadn't seen him in a while, but no doubt, she'd been helping Freya keep her intended man occupied. Freya would have had that luxury, if it wasn't for the passed out guard from earlier. Which her options limited. And fuck, Skye knew Freya was gonna hate her even worse after if she followed on the team lead's direction.

Skye's current option, the one she knew she was likely going to have to gun for? Well, that was one she really, really didn't want to use. Pretty much suicide, but then again, in this game, you had to think creatively. She'd done it once, but from at least a quarter of the height of this, and it was effectively like the greatest circus act you could probably think of. Doable, but one hell of a way out.

Leap of faith it was into an airbag in a semi truck trailer, a very, very long way down. Last time she had checked, it hadn't been towed.

Raven Squad: Second Storm (Military/Spy-Fi RP)

Vale Systems Offices, Singapore

Skye Rosalind Lyons

Two to One

Skye felt the fear, but whatever it was, kept it down. That stoic nature, trust. It came from doing this over, and over, and over. The term "operative" covered a lot, but you killed people, lied to people, stole information, did everything, Skye knew the members of her team had seen it themselves, but in that regard, Skye had to be one of those who still played it her way.

They were in the same area as the infiltrators were now, and Skye knew that they would be sneaking out of the way, and staying out of Skye, Pavel's and Alexei's reach, knowing they were unmarked and unfollowed aside from the occasional patrol. But then again, no better place to get the support if things went to shit. Though knowing the fact it was likely soundproofed, it would be risky. Worse so, because Skye knew with this chat, she had to get what she could, and play the situation out. The office was like a house almost, wooden decor reducing the wide open spaces down on this area, with Pavel's office being a large, tinted glass suite of its own kind in his own area.

Entering the office, Alexei standing at the back, Pavel took a seat, his strength clear to see in this position, the power a CEO had in his lavish, almost luxurious Singapore office one to behold. It was clad in a modern style with wood finishing and a soft wooden floor that felt like it bled money, without being tasteless. The sort of guy who didn't fly Emirates clearly, because he valued warm, clean aesthetic over garish, loud noise.

"So, you're in the presence of a CEO, a man with power. You are lucky indeed."
His voice carried, as Skye shook her head, now knowing pretenses were off. She needed Alexei out of the picture. This wasn't going to go perfectly, not the way she envisioned. He wasn't going to leave Pavel alone if she asked nicely, so she'd have to force the matter. It meant being a bit difficult, and well, setting her expectations a little too high.

"Is that how you address a lady like me?"

"I address you how you I like. File please. Before we talk anymore, I need trust. Then we talk terms, conditions, and all that shit." Pavel couldn't hold back his tone here, seeing the girl across from him as just another pawn in his game.
He felt angry to be doing business here, but he'd get his way, after all, he held all the cards and if she was so desperate to come into his clutches, he wasn't taking her tone. And she would come around after the money, just that he didn't like being spoken to like that first. Skye knew it was his weakness. And she was using it against him.

"You know I'm not giving you that. Not without you telling me what it's worth to you."

"It seems to be going down in price, as well as your life. And such a pretty lady, too. I would make a woman out of you." Pavel slyly retorted, leaning over the table, his womanising gone and now something far more sinister. It was like a switch tripped and out went the rich CEO, in came in the monster that had done what he did to Freya's workmates, and the other girls that were rumoured about.

"They commonly say that, but I'm smarter than you think. No dice. It's 50 million, and that's the preliminaries, only." This was a rather aggressive interview, but Skye was driving it up, not down. It would put Alexei in position and she'd know if he was armed, or not.
Skye retorted, as Alexei walked behind, Pavel sighing.

"I don't accept a waste of my time. I always get what I want. Alexei, if you would remind her of the situation." Skye smirked at him, watching as he went for his Sig Sauer pistol, Skye rolling back on the chair as she drew her own chunk of acid out of her handbag that was contained in her purse, swinging out simultaneously and grabbing his arm, twisting it over and smacking the weapon out, though the big man certainly had his wits on him. A hard hit came from him as he twisted out and threw Skye against the glass of the office, hurting plenty as he walked over, dusting himself off, pushing her back up the cracked glass, and wrapping hands to throat and up her neck, the air beginning to be squished out, Skye watching as he silently pushed tighter.

"Not my kink!" Skye wriggled, using a heel to get him in the groin and smashed the acid-filled perfume against his throat, allowing her to pull him down like a mountainside, wrapping herself up on top, punching him hard in the head. It wasn't enough as he rolled back, hitting Skye hard in the head with a response, enough to push her off and roll across and grab his pistol. With a pickup of the pistol by Alexei, Skye had no other options left, the whip cable off her purse taken as she charged, Alexei firing a couple of rounds at her, and yet unlike the anticipated effect would be, Skye didn't stop. She simply lept up with a kick, aware nobody normal would do this. The whole getting shot thing, that is.

It was why you had a ceramic lining in your dress, because it helped that idea out.

Alexei tried to grab but the kick sent him down as she wrapped the cable around his throat and pulled, winded as Skye lept onto his now weakened grip and turning the Sig Sauer in his hands out into her grip. The cable she held with her legs and knees was working, but this pistol was faster. With it, she pulled his hand back towards him and clacked him in the head, tapping twice with the trigger in his hand bent back towards him, the claret spilling bloodily from the bald Russian at point blank.

With Alexei out, Skye panted, exhaling as she drew the pistol up again, seeing Pavel try to get up and past the mess, of course, Alexei making it easy for the two to block the way out as they were at the door of the room. He'd been scrambling through his drawers, but his draw wasn't fast enough as he fumbled the pistol into hand, Skye already having hers raised before he could take hold. He wasn't even holding it right.

"Sit the fuck down. You're not going anywhere."

---

One to One

"You work for a competitor? Then I'll pay double what they want. Jesus!" His shock was palpable seeing his bodyguard get iced, but even more so, how easy Skye made it look, considering the size of Alexei and his talents. It seemed freakish, his nerves clear to see.

"It's not money I want, Pavel."

"Then who the hell are you? And what are you after then? This is in the way of a greater good, whatever you think you're doing, this goes so much bigger than what you are!"

"The greater good? You mean how your tech is in the hands of a shadowy organisation?" Skye's voice carried, as she knew the exact words she'd let slip.

"No idea what you're talking about....."

"Bullshit. I know you're in with Artemis."

"Well, it's like I don't have a choice. Artemis want the same thing, and nobody is going to change a thing. You can't see this, can you? The world is going to shit. How do you think the world keeps turning with all the gadgets, everything you get?"

"And you think that makes it okay to fund organisations trying to create a dirty bomb? Or is it just so convenient your algorithms are all over their work?" Skye was fuming- oh, she knew what Artemis might be like, probably enriching the rich for their own good through anarchy, but this, oh this was pandering to the worst.

"Because nobody will do what is needed. You live in fear, I live in opportunity. So tell me, what do you want? If you want to kill me, do it. They'll eat you alive by the hour. You do not know what you're messing with, MI6, CIA, whoever the fuck you are."

"None of the above. And I'm not going to kill you, Pavel. You're more valuable to me alive."

Skye pulled up her handbag once again, containing a vial that was encased inside a lip balm canister, drawing it out. This was nothing like what Sam had prepared- nope, this was a Skye special, from back in her day. She didn't want the team knowing she had something this awful, given that well, if Xan got his hands on it, the pranking would be terrifying.

"See this? I think it'll tell me a lot. It's a truth serum, I put this in you, and you tell me everything you know about Artemis, what you do, and who you've been hacking lately. Side effect is though in about five minutes, you'll be in a state of mind that is what you feel like after ten shots of vodka...and you will crap yourself. Choice is up to you if I inject it, though."

"What?"

"You'll need to go back to the party after our little chat. Your security isn't coming for you because you're not to be disturbed. I can get you up there, but what happens to your image, reputation, all of what you are is up to you."

"So that's it? You think Artemis will let me live if I tell you. I'd be a dead man walking."

"That is it. It's a risk you have to take. Gut tells me you'll live because you're too important to them. And to yourself, Pavel. Just get better bodyguards, yeah?"

He sighed, knowing he was truly screwed. There was no way out of this. And to him, his image was all that mattered. Being the best, on top. There was no fighting his way out of this. If Skye could do that to his henchman, and the pistol that she had was centred right at his head, there was little chance he would have.

Trick was, she had to engineer him a little here. Skye knew what she had spilled was risky, but it was enough to make him scared because she knew what he was involved in. It was enough to make him run to his network, rather than hide- the fact that someone like Skye had come in and done this would make him talk to his friends in a panic, realising he was under threat. It was more the idea of the fact that the bad men were coming after Pavel, more than anything. Making a man who thought he was invincible feel very mortal, and save his skin for now, before the team got the details they needed of him and his wider connections.

"Alright. After a few years ago and the original setup of Artemis fell apart, a group of government officials, CEOs, companies, realised that drastic measures need to be taken to protect us from our own mess. I heard it was much worse, what is on the table is better, and that is all I know. Artemis is going to put the world back on course, after some....setbacks. I'm just a supplier and I don't know shit, I promise, but the cabal on top in Artemis, they want to fix this whole thing. They don't want anarchy. They just want an order."

"What are you fucking talking about?"

"None of these solutions are going to work to solve all of our problems. They're all linked. Governments that don't work. Overpopulation. Climate change. Inequality, resources, water, food scarcity, all of it. There will be anarchy soon. People fighting over basic amenities let alone smartphones. And nobody wants to do a thing. We are out of time for the solutions. The only answer is to control, and that is down to people like us. People won't listen to speeches, technology, promises, they listen to fear. People will die, but we might keep things intact, and ourselves too. You kill me, there'll be another tech billionaire who has the same idea." Pavel paused, clearing his throat, his swear and fear dying back as he backed himself, Skye respecting that bravely enough, he was trying to justify it.

"Listen, you seem clever enough. Whatever your name is. You don't have to do this. You can replace Alexei, call it here and give in to reason. If you want to stop Artemis, I don't care what government, company, anyone you work for, it won't stop. It's inevitable. Because if they don't the wave of shit comes for us all and it all burns."

"No thanks, you seem like an asshole to work for. You know, I know about Pascha and Talisa. They thought they could do the same after they did what they did. They were going to fucking nuke major population centres, and kill billions for their cause. Because they believed they could repopulate the world with perfect people, and rule the ashes. And you think otherwise? Or did your overlords not tell you?"

"Not like that. They were a rogue element. They don't want to kill everyone, but you know as well as I do, the brakes need to be put on all of this. And it keeps me where I need to be. And the rest."

"Sure there's no more? You want more power for yourself in your crypto-fucking-fantasy? Control corrupts, and soon you will kill plenty more than you imagined. Starts with a few, ends with everyone. Way I see it, you're part of the fucking problem."

"Not just me then. I just host their servers and they keep me off hitlists of people like you, and keep business going. I promise, I've got nothing to do with any of the dirty work. Just a lot to gain if it goes right. And it's so much bigger than you think.....all of it. All the people in this. Listen to me, you can't stop this. You're either with them, or you'll be next. I have my bunker when it all goes to an end. Do you?"

"Well, clearly it's not working, keeping the riff-raff like me away. I feel fucking sorry for you, Pavel. All that money, status, power, everything. And yet you talk you're above it all, keeping your hands clean of blood and talking about people like they're things. At least I'm honest about killing Alexei. Not sure about you."

"So you'll join that world of hurt then. Whoever it is that is paying you will too."

"That's not for you to decide. I'm not getting any answers I like, so let's cut the crap."
Skye pulled the vial out, and knowing Pavel was scared, would get the last bits she needed, one way or another.

"Shit.....wait." Pavel mumbled, as he put his hands up, now the shoe being firmly on the other foot.

"There's my satellite network. It got used in a hack on an organisation I don't know anything about....a difficult one. My contact wanted it stopped badly. They came for something that was valuable to the organisation, and whatever it was, it was critical enough for me to throw everything I had at it. I want you to know that, before you do whatever you do to me, you won't be able to do anything with it, given it's out of reach. Even if you hack my computer, I don't see you living long enough. That's how it happened. Look, now you know, it won't matter." He retorted, chuckling, yet somewhat still in fear and worried. Gloating now was probably worth it, given he knew he'd done enough not to die.

Pavel knew his security would pick up the pieces quickly enough for this chancer, well, if Skye was alone they would. Little did they know that they were occupied, disabled, or worse, being snuck into.

"The security will lock this place down, or Artemis will find you again. They seem to know you personally. And I bet they're trying to send a message, whatever it is the Cabal want. It must have been you. Make them know they noticed whatever you are. So good luck putting it to use. With or without me, they get what they want."

"That sounds like you can't even own up to it. Like you're scared of what you gave them, and have to lie to yourself to keep it going. You know what I said about lying?"
Skye retorted, eying him up, rather sick of his semantics. Fuck, he was so much like a Bond villain, he had gone DOWN in her estimations. At least he'd just been a regular twat before that, but right now, he was a weaselly, snarky little bastard.

"You really deserve a bit of clarity."

With it, Skye took the concealed balm and with a flick, pulled the syringe and dabbed it straight into his neck, pushing him against the wall as he squirmed, before leaning back.

The cocktail wasn't exactly a truth serum, but more like a mix of rohypnol, anaesthetics and other psychoactive drugs from the time of MK Ultra, fused in a chemical cocktail known in the industry as "Runner's Martini". It would put him under for about three minutes, and waking up after that in recovery would feel like getting roofied, being so drunk, high and out of his ass, he'd start spewing all kinds of nonsense, as well as in time, fluids and other bodily functions that didn't need thinking about. There was no antidote, and it lasted for a good hour of utter comedy till his stomach was cleared. The sort of thing you used because you wanted a target incapacitated, and then very much awake, but a bumbling, utter train wreck. The sort of drug that wasn't a sleeping agent, but more like a spy's wet dream. A perfect distraction that ruined people.

Pavel had spilled some interesting details too. The satellite launches and network that everyone knew about clearly had some effect on the mission in being able to tap into comms and could have some wider impacts beyond that as well as other activity that Artemis had for communications or untrackable data, but they wouldn't be everything that they needed. That was likely to be on the servers, and computers, including right here, in his office. That was one part- and likely it held much of Artemis's information, not just the hack itself. That bit was small change, what was more important was who was tangled in it- namely, this shapely bastard and his role in it, and the wider network would emerge from that. That, and the fact that they weren't done here for information. Sam had bugging to do, and they would find out who, what and where he was calling when all was said and all was done.

What concerned Skye was the fact Pavel clearly wasn't all the way in with Artemis's activities. He was involved, but more likely than not, doing it for his own protection, and everything pointed to that. Like he was paranoid about people coming for him and taking his crown. For his own defence, which in some way, scared her a hell of a lot more. If even Pavel couldn't look after himself, then who the fuck was in the middle of this? It suggested Artemis's motives were far darker than anyone knew. Not just some corrupt government, but if they'd convinced Pavel he was safe from what was to come, Skye almost wondered how bad it would get.

A few years ago, a black on black debrief document came out after a mission involving a suspected set of nuclear launch sites in Kerala and Idaho being hijacked by fringe elements of Artemis, the kind that Skye's predecessor had to go and deal with- even then, most of it was redacted. It was a lunatic thing to have read, but it had been stopped just in time, and very, very quietly, everyone had been sworn to secrecy given the world as everyone had known it had almost ended. And it probably wasn't the first time. Not that the main elements of the team knew this, of course. What she wondered was that perhaps Artemis were thinking the same. If at all something like that could happen, then it wasn't just some shady anarchist group. Perhaps they were even bringing modern day feudal lords like him over the table. Live, in a new world, or die, with the old. Just how they were doing it, Skye didn't know. But it didn't sound good, and Pavel had been convinced he had to be there on the right side of things, and blackmailed to whatever was required.

The last bit though, that one sunk in. Skye had to wonder. Maybe it was a nudge, to let whoever she worked for know, they were being noticed now. Pavel probably had no idea, but perhaps, he'd put the dots together and finally saw his enemy in the flesh, not on other side of a screen.

---

One to None - A Workplace Guide to Human Resources, Project Management and Motivation with Skye Lyons

On that note, Skye started the process for any HVT's personal details- biometrics for scanners in particular, and anything on his person. There was no personal alarm on him, and his security team were probably too busy with Freya, as she got to work. In the field it would have been too much work given it took time to do a full scan, but with the hidden phone, she could do that, starting to get his handprints onto their network, as well as his eyes, where he sat out cold.

It was going to be an interesting process to say the least- Skye now had clear space to properly talk, and address the team properly given they were all at work.

@Wayward@LadyAmber@Theyra

"Change of plan, team. I had my chat and I'm in his office, currently with a very out of it Pavel. Guard details are minimal, but keep your eyes open. Hornet, Chaos, Jaguar, I'm getting his fingerprints and his retinal image. I need to get him back upstairs soon, so I might need a hand sneaking up to drop him at the top of the stairs. Recommend you get to me soon as you can, that gives you time to hack his computers. Jaguar, the servers the next level down will be more difficult to break into, but Chaos might be able to help from Pavel's computer. We do not have much time, so everyone, hustle your shite."

Skye seemed confident as ever, firm as ever even as the team lead dusted herself off, the marks on her neck clear to see that she'd nearly been choked out, but hey, once again, not dying was always a top thing to do when you were held by a Russian bodyguard.

Could recommend that, checking her dress and the metal rounds falling out from where the weave had stopped the rounds. If they weren't hollow points, she'd be hurting a hell of a lot more, when the adrenaline wore off.

She felt for Mateo, who clearly was going to be a little more pissed at Skye than she was comfortable with, yet couldn't blame him for. No doubt Freya might be the same. She had a lot of apologies to make, but sometimes, the greater good like Pavel said, needed a few sacrifices in the short term, as awful as she had to agree with him there was. Besides, she knew she'd have the details for them both soon, there'd be a way back at some more revenge. Opportunities and all that, and she hoped that she'd make it up in the long term as a result of this work, as likely the network might include some people they wanted to see.

@Awesomoman64@BigPapaBelial
"Frigga, Glitch, recommend you tell Carl to short Vale stock, and stay on top of their security until you see me. Trust me, it'll be the best financial investment you ever make, so Glitch, make sure the cameras are all eyes on Pavel when he comes back. We may need to go with Plan B for our way out. When we do, follow my lead and don't stop. That's a way I don't want to use if the alarm goes off, but we might not have a choice."
Skye looked around after she'd finished up, and pulling up his computer kept her eyes open, knowing that Sam, Mateo or Michelle could get to her now- likely it would be Sam in here and Mateo to the servers, though she knew that they would figure that out for themselves, as she cut the comms to Mateo, last of all.
@Theyra
"Just trust me on this one, Mateo. We'll get him, we'll have ID on the cameras but not here."

She began to pull the slobbering Pavel up against the desk, and with an uncomfortable pull, got him in a position that could be fireman lifted onto her shoulder when ready, sighing, as she murmured to herself. It wasn't the first time she'd done this.
"The things I do for drunk people."

Raven Squad: Second Storm (Military/Spy-Fi RP)

Singapore

Skye Rosalind Lyons

Social Butterfly

The atmosphere was certainly getting busier, as more guests came in, the sleek wooden floor getting more busy as the team were getting caught up, one by one. From Freya tangling up with the guard, Carl keeping watch over the rest, Xan serving drinks, Sam breaking and entering, and well, the others doing what she hoped was their little part to play, Skye kept her own attention turned to the fact this was business, not pleasure. Though the sight of Xander with a tray of drinks, including champagne, as she took the glass, sliding the keycard under.

@Awesomoman64

"Why, thank you...Henry." Skye replied back to the waiter, the incognito Australian fitting in just perfectly. The handoff was slick as anything, the pass sliding across under the other like it was barely a thing, the two proficient at their craft. They had to be, because any slip-ups here meant it was certainly going to hell.
"You seem to be a rather dashing waiter, out of all of them. I'd say you'd almost have a knack for it." Skye added, giggling, making it out she was flirting with him as she walked up to his ear, her height allowing her to just lean in and peck him on the neck, then whisper up in his ear:
"Pavel's behind you. Leave me to this one." She whispered to Xan, using the chance to look over and see him.

And there he was, Pavel Andros, talking to two other businessmen, the late 30-something tech billionaire exactly the depiction of wealth you could imagine. Smart casual with a shirt that on the surface looked not that expensive, but in reality, was in the thousands of dollars, with a watch to match, and sunglasses on his temple that followed. A sharp look in his eye and obviously some physical training at the gym, but one that of course, just masked the nerd underneath. He was a weasel trying to play at being a big man.

Looking back into his eyes, Skye gave a wry blush and left him with that, walking across to the bar, champagne glass in hand and one keycard lighter. The piano playing away, the soft tones filling the void between conversation, it was a rather classy place to be. The redhead certainly felt the part, her presence unlike her usual warhawk self, in this instance, smooth and easygoing, like she was a part of this. A chameleon, moving like any of the bastards she didn't like did.

@LadyAmber
With that interaction, she kept her ear out, hearing Sam's voice call in her ear, knowing she'd already started her way in but being unable to respond. After taking a separate entry, Sam was headed down into the gutter of the offices, and had gotten her kit, as well as already getting into the cameras. Not bad at all, considering everything- and well, making her moves. No doubt Michelle would be following Sam down into the gutters, the master thief so quiet Skye sometimes forgot how quiet she was in these situations. Alas, you let professionals do their thing, and they got results. Skye knew that all too well in her own method.

-----

While unable to reply just yet, Skye looked back over to Freya, Carl, Jamie and Geza, the sight of them getting together and interacting on certainly enough to turn the heads of the party. Including guards. But not Skye's, as she took her champagne and sipped it down, the red-head, red-dressed Scot moving towards the group, glass in hand. There were security around, but well, it was free-flowing. They were talking all kinds of tech, as Pavel cut away from the group, Skye watching as she knew she'd missed this chance. That was because the twat had something to say, heading towards a raised podium across the floor, where one of his lackeys held a microphone, hooked up to the speaker system of the place. The vibe died suddenly as the speaker kicked in, the pianist finishing his piece, anticipating as the man on the platform put mic to lips.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we thank you for coming to our party tonight, and hope you are enjoying your time! We hope you enjoyed your free drinks, and that the music is to your liking, please give it up for James Nicholls on the piano! And now, for a special speaker, the Chief Executive Officer of Vale Systems, Pavel Andros!" The suited man stepped down as Pavel emerged from the group of suited men he was talking to, the small crowd applauding as he took the microphone, hand up, waving to the group, this corporate little bit of hand waving inevitable. Of course there was something like this.

"Thank you, thank you Christopher! Hello all, once again, thank you for coming and taking the time out of your busy schedules, but I know many of you will have been on our journey as key investors. So many faces I recognise, so many people working to make the world a better place, and without you, we change the world. Vale has been recording record share prices this year, and through my leadership, where would we be?!" Pavel started, the crowd chuckling to his more likely than not, sarcasm that was probably really how he saw himself.

"We have been at the cutting edge of technology for over ten years, and our time in Singapore has been one we have seen particular growth in our design and sustainability sectors, through engagement with the local market. Our journey has proven that we can disrupt the market, and do things better, cleaner, faster. From cutting edge solutions in electronics and computing, to our proven record in ore to chipset management, we have proven that the future is Vale."

"But most of all, I wanted to take this opportunity to say to you now, that your trust in Vale's values is one I take to heart, and it's why I take the opportunity to announce our investments in our new, large-scale, Vale Systems, World Engineering team. For too long, we have suffered the effects of climate change and resource scarcity. No more. Our Ferrovia One project starting later this year in the Canary Islands is on the front line against our changing climate, stabilising and bringing frequent rain back to North Africa and Spain after years of drought, and with our new satellites, we are finding new deposits of rare earth minerals that will better humankind and allow us to optimise the way we find, mine and manage our vulnerable resources, making Vale a market leader. We are investing in AI systems to help us fix the big problems, the challenges of the world through connected, linked systems for major infrastructure providers. "

The bit people didn't mention, or at least, if you were somewhat read up enough was that Pavel was full of shit. Ferrovia-One was an overhyped idea of hybrid iron fertilisation blended with wind, solar and seed fertilisation for clouds- and was incredibly inconsistent as an idea. Incredibly risky even, and even national governments had an issue with it in dealing with multiple heatwaves, and given it was being funded to protect agricultural interests, was rather closed in on a certain problem of other companies Vale worked with. So too was the satellites, that bit in particular, Skye knew something was sneaky there. And the AI? Shit, he was getting his claws inside the system. Not because he was with Artemis as a goon, but no doubt, it would be rather handy.

The crowd took it in, but deep inside, Skye had her concerns- sure, it was noble, but once again, overpromise, lie, and turn the wheel. Oh, what a guy.

"We are delivering the future of that world you once dreamed about, today, and we have natural computation models that are years ahead of the curve. We have invested in computational power that now makes us a market leader, and we are putting that to use, while generating record growth, return and achievement. And I thank you for your investment, because you're with us on this journey to make a better world."

"You can all sleep easy that you may be drinking champagne, but you are all making real change. So please, enjoy yourselves, and enjoy your evening with Vale. Thank you, once again for coming, and thank you for your support."
Pavel finished to the crowd's applause, stepping down from the platform after drinking it in, the crowd calming down and back to their conversations.

After Pavel's little speech, Skye knew he would be swamped. So she gave it a little while, finding a corner to drink her champagne in, before looking back to Xander, then back at Pavel. In time, she'd make her move, as the team went through the site.

---

Skye had the chance in the interim to chat with other guests, keeping up her façade, aware that right now she needed to move off that whole idea of a bodyguard, and well, someone who fitted in here. She was a ghost, and no doubt, she'd have a fair amount of bullshit to get through, but if you believed your story well enough, it worked. As Sam would have seen, this place was full of well to do businessmen, Vale employees, execs and directors, even a couple of Sheikhs, but worse than that, well, Andreas Tejador. Shit. That one wasn't part of the plan, but then again, he was milling around the rest. She adjusted her frequency, picking up Mateo. She'd seen him come in, and mingle a little himself before likely going downstairs to join Sam on the servers.

@Theyra
"Mateo, recommend you don't come back up. There's one of the Tejador boys up here. Looks like he's out of the way, but don't get tied into anything. Stay focussed on the task at hand. We'll sort him another day." Skye commented calmly, out of earshot and mumbling into her comms, before recentring herself, looking around, and then finding Pavel once again. Right by the side of a bar, under a little porch area, and right for the taking. She had to hope Mateo had his wits on him- he'd figured it out no doubt the sort of crowd that was here, and she hoped he trusted her enough with her word. There were bigger fish to fry, and Skye was very aware she was depending on a lot of trust here to get this done.

It was a strange place to be. Skye knew that the themes that Pavel had touched on were the very real problems that many wanted answers for. Inequality, climate change, all noble things to try and fix. Even she had to admit, some of it felt needed. But the encroachment of that world on politics, the order of things, it felt like it was in the tipping point. Artemis was chaotic and fuck, they weren't eco-terrorists, they just wanted carnage. And to make money, which just felt at odds with Pavel, and what he was doing. If they were tied up, then Skye's concern was more significant than that. They were up to something in the end, and while Skye knew how close previous groups like Artemis had come before in establishing a new world order, or straight up destroying the world as they knew it, just bombing things felt like a misdirection for a greater play. One that needed some answers.

With a sly move through the crowd, Skye came up through, seeing Pavel just about finish up with one group, making her way through, seductive as ever, her Scots accent sticking. There was relatively little in the way of guards, now that Freya had most of their attention, leaving a only a couple of bodyguards in the close vicinity.

"Pavel, that was an excellent speech, aye, no' bad at all. I think we met last year, back in....Dubai, I recall?" Skye introduced herself, knowing full well that well, rubbing ego was the way to go. When you were working on social engineering, you became an echo, and slowly, but surely, you crept in. It was confidence trickery- you made them believe you, get in close, then bam, get them. You play a very specific game, Skye said to herself. This wasn't like trying to convince someone in her team to work, no, this was getting inside his head without losing your own. Making rapport, getting confidence, and then in exactly the right moment, making them do what you want.

The fact she was also a redhead in a red dress, and rather ripe for the taking was always a thing. Pavel was a serial womaniser, suppressed enough by an army of lawyers to make sure nothing ever got out, and while his business mind would tick, Skye's mere presence would start it away. A sultry-toned Scot, her voice like a Highland breeze just being enhanced by the champagne she'd been drinking. She looked every part of the elegance she was, and Pavels' heart rate only increased, even in his confusion.

"Maybe? I am not sure, but thank you. Sorry, who are you again?" Pavel replied, turning his head across, Skye standing at the same height at him, and no doubt catching him off guard, her charm back on again.

"Skye Caldwell, freelance consultant. Used to work for Jottunheim a while back, but doing my own thing...we met while I worked there. I heard a lot about your own work on superconductors, so just had to meet the man who's big in the game for them again, we chatted a bit about it last time?"
Skye remarked, back to her usual game. There was a way to play social engineering off, and she was experienced enough a field operative to know how to do it. Her stoicism paired with a little ability to play naive, be someone she wasn't could come out to full effect.

"Really? I had some run in with your old boss....she is quite the character, hey? Talk about dominating the workplace....it could make someone want to get out there." He smugly remarked, not giving anything away, but oh, Skye knew it all in the here and now, and played along.

"Yes, you could say that....I was in her R&D team, a while back. Needed my own thing after a while. But your business is certainly doing well. The industry turned their heads after your work in South Korea on their new Maglev line."
Skye started, making sure she could tap into that ego of his. It got him good, that was for sure, the Eastern European accent of Pavel broken up with the Greek Cypriot and predominantly Americanised, Silicon Valley exec tone he held.

"It did very well, yes. You know, I don't think I'd get anyone who knew superconductors here. Tell me, where was Freya up to?"
Skye had him in. Oh, but she didn't know much, but well, this was what she had gambled on a little. That initial confidence, curiosity would just keep digging.

"Well....NDAs and all that, but she was doing some very interesting tests. I can't say, but near room-temperature superconductors for coil and electromagnet systems. Really interesting. The industry will be certainly changing again when that stuff gets to market, including your material sciences program and engineering consultancy." Skye knew a little jargon, she'd gone in prepared, well, enough to hold her own here.

"Well...whatever NDA it is, I'm sure I could pay off her lawyers. That is, if you were willing to discuss a little more?" His business brain turned, because well, that instantly got something going, as he leaned in close, a little too close. Fuck, he was a freak. But of course he was, with his history and Skye looking the way she did, the athleticism rather than sheer muscles making her look like she was just some runner of some description while out at the party. He got in close, eyeing up Skye, already giving her absolute creep vibes. It felt odd, he wasn't obviously attracted to her like the 20 year old girls he probably courted, but hell, even this felt weird. Skye had dealt with worse, but hey, you did what you did to keep their attention, as Pavel put a hand on hers, Skye slowly pulling back as she replied.

"Uhhh....we get on well. In fact, as an old colleague, and she invited me too.....shit, I wasn't sure about this. Feels bad. But...I guess I kind of made most of it happen. So thought you might be partial to it. Though if anything, purely because I'm looking for work..." Skye played that fiddle rather well, the other one that didn't have strings and was quite small. Pavel had strict orders to his team to not let in anyone else beyond Freya to this party, given their past run in, but right now, this was too interesting. Skye knew that she had to risk it with that, but it gained trust, and established that well...maybe she was smarter than she seemed. Unluckily for Pavel, this was working nicely.

"You don't need to worry with me. It is more than consulting makes, yes? I get it, you're worried about trade secrets you worked on, and you sound honest. Come on, let's grab a drink and talk more. I'm rather interested in what you have to say, and make some introductions. Dave Harris there, Director of Materials Science there would love to..." He started, Skye putting her hand up, shaking her head knowing this had to be contained- the guy across the other side of the bar couldn't join. Not for their chat.

"Oh no, that's ok. Look....if it's alright, I don't want anyone to know. I'd prefer if we could talk about it in private. " Skye added, pulling out a document from her handbag, sliding it in front. This was a bad time to realise it, but she'd....borrowed? Borrow, yes, borrowed, one of Freya's documents. And it looked like one of the composites that Freya had gotten from Vale, albeit modified, in a way that no doubt, would raise some eyebrows. A glance from Pavel confirmed it was the real deal, well, passing enough to look like something confidential.

"Interesting. Why pick this party, Skye? You could have just gone to Dave if you were looking for work, and look, he knows..." She had him now. Hook was in, line....now...

"Because any other way gets me sued to oblivion by her. And this got me in. I know what Freya does to people too......so could we grab a quiet spot downstairs instead? I'm not sure how else this works, without the two of you killing each other, and she is over there, your security looks like they've got a handle on her. It's not something I can do easy. Then we can get the contract drawn up with lawyers tomorrow morning, and get back to this party." Skye astutely responded, knowing this was tapping into all of it. She was making it clear she wasn't stupid- no, she got this full well, right when it mattered.

The history with Freya, and the others. In a way that suggested she knew the rumours, and yet was on Pavel's side, with a goldmine of something he wouldn't be able to turn down. That and for him, it was a spot of revenge. Skye knew how to get inside people's heads, and very expertly, knew she could make Pavel see things in a particular way. No matter how clever he was, no doubt he'd made his own hole and right now, Skye was giving him the option to be clever about it. That, and well, her charm had burnt through the remainder of his defence, leaving him fixed on her, and wanting only that time. She knew what she was doing, Skye very much aware while she wasn't some casanova, she was honeypotting him quite well.

"You have my interest. Fine. You don't mind if Alexei comes with me?" Pavel suggested, looking over his shoulder, the bald-headed guard coming through.

"Sure." Skye replied, letting it sink in.

Ahh fuck. He may not have been as big as the giant Freya was currently holding up, but he was at least 6"8, and an absolute beefcake. There was no way in hell that the pepper spray would work on him. The sleeping agent would basically be like trying to use it on a bear, and the acid, maybe that would hurt a little. Which left the other tools. And putting them together. Finding a way to do that would be tricky, but it would get her the seclusion she needed.

With that, the three broke from the crowd, and heading down to another set of stairs, headed down, into the offices. Where they were going, Skye wasn't too sure, but she made sure Freya had seen them going, as well as Xan. They were headed down to a meeting room from the mumbling Skye heard Pavel call to Alexei, and the Scot only hoped they weren't going to get into the way of the others.

The Conflict

"Noted, but from what I remember, these savages don't really take a PID the usual way." Sean called back to Yekatarina, the Russian's disgust met with only a wall of of apathy, as he looked across to Bethan, following Hayden in. Not that Hayden was in a good way. Even Sean had to admit, he felt like he was in his own deep end, but the Canuck was in deeper.

The noise of the hostages yelped out as they headed through the insides, and Beth was pulled to it, just the same as their half-appoitned leader. She ran over, the ex-Marine holding her worry the same as Hayden, for a moment seeing the skeleton-thin like hostages in cages, in shock at the sight of it but trying not to let it take hold of her. All she could do was do something, not talk in shock, whatever Kat, Sean, or Hayden had to say.

They looked awful- starved and certainly held as a pawn against whoever their respective governments were. This was an awful place to be stranded, and no doubt, she could feel the pain they felt, given their situation earlier. Doing something felt natural, to Beth at least, as Sean looked on at the scene, watching as she took a prybar from the floor to try and pull off a lock, yelling as she pulled the chain out, opening it and freeing another cage.

The scene escalated quickly, as the sound of SUVs crowded into the compound- whatever hell they'd started, the reinforcements had arrived.

"Fuck. We have company. Hayden, Kat, we need to go, now! Put the hostages between us and them, fuck this!" Sean yelled, his voice barking, not interested in the captives and certainly not interested in staying here. They had to make a move, and Sean was ready by the door, steady to make a move quickly whilst keeping an eye out on the approaching cars, far enough for them to get going.
"If we have the time, chances are, they're more likely dead with us....shite." Beth muttered out loud, looking at Kat, trusting her call on this one, yet fully aware of the circumstances.
"No time for that, these goons look geared, it's fire or run, make your call!" Sean yelled back at all of them, raising his FAL, steadying it at the vehicles coming in, ready to cover fire and make sure the team could bolt, or at the least, steady himself to do so if they fucked around anymore. He wasn't dying here over some poor hostages. They got their job done. They needed to go, and now.

Raven Squad: Second Storm (Military/Spy-Fi RP)

Kaitiaki HQ, New Zealand

Skye Rosalind Lyons

The Briefing

With a click of the slide, the presentation started, Skye knowing it was a little bit of an exposition at this point, but it was time to go from the top, one more time, over how they were hitting this place.

"Okay, so we know the score."

"Here's the plan. All of us, bar Xan are up top with invites. We arrive separately, and keep a low profile, apart from me and Freya. Recommend you use your alternate names throughout, first names can stay if you haven't been too naughty. Xan, just for the Uzbek whiskey, I got you onto a catering detail...because I need someone behind a bar to help us lubricate the social situation." The slide clicked, as Skye turned to the team, the blue hue of the AR display lighting her up as well, framing her freckled and worn features.

"Here's the plan. All of us, bar Xan are up top with invites. We arrive separately, and keep a low profile, apart from me and Freya. Recommend you use your alternate names throughout, first names can stay if you haven't been too naughty. Xan, just for the Uzbek whiskey, I got you onto a catering detail...because I need someone behind a bar to help us lubricate the social situation."

"Once we get through, Sam, Xan, Michelle, I need you downstairs to start work on the server farms, and Pavel's PC. I want whatever intel you can get off it- likely it'll be encrypted so you won't know what it is straight away, but get what you can and don't raise any alarms. Be incredibly careful- intel from Mateo and Raph suggests they've got guard details, motion cameras and all sorts of tech that will hamper you, so take it steady, drop guards lethal or non-lethal, and don't get caught. We get compromised, the op goes under. I'll get my time with Pavel, and we can learn what we might be up against. Because believe me, we still have plenty to learn."

"Plans came through from Raph and Mateo, so cheers for that. It is a 70 storey skyscraper, right in central Singapore - there's an office below the top two decks, which are a bar and a company breakout room. Guy is running his place like Google, but with the frat parties that come with it. Expect a lot of high life, and . The office is on the storeys below- lot of high modernist infrastructure, and open offices, mixed in with a few technical server rooms and compartments. Filled with halide gas if there's any fire too, and expected to be incredibly secure. So not something you can hit so easy. If you even trip anything, they're gonna gas you out- so be ready with respirators once you're infiltrating. If that happens, there will be an alarm and a lockdown, so moment you trip it, we're all gonna be evacuating. That might work for me, come to think of it, but hold until I'm near him."

"Extraction is back the way we came, via the lift. In an emergency, there's a trailer parked on the adjacent street with an airbag inside it. It's a rough landing, but a fast way down if you have to get out. Sam, Michelle, I believe you've got wingsuits to use for your way out. Make a scene if you have to, but those things will get you out of there quick if you need it."

"Everyone clear?" Skye rounded the presentation out, the AR screens giving a highlight of the setup, the tower, and entry points. The team had plenty to digest, and it was certainly a lot more to take in. The rest of the team had a chance to show off their bits too, as part of the briefing- tools, equipment or sub-routes they were taking.

---

Tsai Wen Tower, Singapore

Behind the Vale

2000 Hours, Two Weeks Later

The night sky was lit up with the skyscrapers, so numerous that they were almost alike the stars in the sky if you squinted, such were city lights that seemed to trance and weave through on the small south-east Asian island port among the background of Singapore's metallic "trees" and Marina Bay Sands.

Singapore was a city of money, and while it wasn't Dubai, there was this underlying feeling of banks, money and just everything being clean beyond measure like it was some sort of sterilisation chamber. It was a place for Vale Systems to base one of their many offices, and the party was quite the event, attracting many from near and far. They didn't own the whole building, but a serious part of it belonged to them, and it was their own.

And in the midst of it on the tower that stood among the urban high rise jungle, the lift doors opened. Out into the open, the hubub could be seen, the high life and classical piano music playing, yet this was no pleasure- this was only business for Raven Squad.

In it stood Freya and Skye, the red dress wearing bodyguard wearing a fetching pair of black tight gloves to complement her dashing red and black dress, her red hair tied into a simple bun and the Scot almost a mirror image to the larger girl next to her. A little makeup to hide her freckles and some jewelery too, all of which had sleekly got through security- containing comms, and a few other gadgets.

It was almost comical, the way Skye walked in front of Freya, like a miniature almost, a sideshow to the large and far more famous redhead. But they were here now, and only had security to go through. A concierge check, manned by two men, one of whom brashly spotted the pair like the least-incognito couple they were. A standard check, given well, even despite the metal detectors downstairs, this was the last point at which any interlopers could get in.

"Hey, welcome to the party. IDs and invites, please." One of the men asked, as Skye reluctantly showed hers, the guard looking down at Freya's, then at Skye's, the invites and paperwork all in order, as it should be. This was an ultra-exclusive event after all, and well, security was tight. It felt like it, the sunglasses wearing, sharp-dressed American accented guard looking down at Skye, taller than her yet towered over by Freya nonetheless. The invites were of note- the guard noting that they had a warning to look out for Freya's guest, given what had happened last time.

"Miss....Caldwell? Interesting. Hmm.....may I have a word? In private?"

"What's wrong, the dress too revealing? Oh please, you're not the first one to hit on me. We don't need any distractions." Skye seemed arrogant, but well, in this society, you acted your part. Confident, arrogant, asshole. Like the man on the other side.

"No, it's a security check. I need you to come with me. Alone."

"I don't leave my client. I'm here to guard her, after all. Don't take me as stupid, my client is important and needs to go through, so do I."
Skye barbed back, knowing it was out of turn now, but this was, frankly, bullshit.

"She can come with us then. If she can't defend herself, that is."

"Sure. Sorry, Freya. My paperwork is in order...I'm sure it won't take more than a minute." Skye feined an apology to keep cover, as they walked over, Skye this time around joined by Freya- it was rather a sight to see but the guard carried on, not backing down. He couldn't here, and was in control of the situation. So much so he told the other guard to stay, he could handle this. He was armed, they weren't, and they weren't stupid. So he thought.

Following, Skye would have been easily able to be worried they were off to a dark room and compromised. But in some fucked up way, oh, this was perfect.

-----------------

A Caged Bird

Sitting down in the dark windowed room after heading downstairs from the roof suite into the office and as part of a wider security network, Skye looked across the table, as the security man took a seat, eyeing her up, pistol at side after leading past a couple of other guards. The security room was a bad start to the evening, but things were what they were. It helped knowing the layout, and some of the guard detail. Like the man who had told them to sit looking across.

"So, I did my work into who was attending. And your name, it doesn't come up. See, I know everyone in the VIP protection game. Everyone."

"You're a ghost, Skye Caldwell. Question is, why are you protecting Freya Kantaario? What, you think she needs it? Do you even understand what kind of a social event this is? And what she did to Pavel? There aren't plus ones here. This isn't a bring your friends gathering. Your client may be lucky enough to get an invite, but she knows, this isn't how it works. A guard for her isn't on the cards. This is a chance for her to be civil. And the invite is a courtesy, so after happened to just pretend it's all fine to have anyone here ain't gonna work for my boss. So what the fuck are you doing here, pretty girl? Here to cause another incident? Some tagalong? The man coolly said, his anger palpable in the soundproof office.

The mistake he'd made was already becoming a bit evident by the second, Skye putting her sheepish face on, and lying through her absolute teeth.

"Well....I'm doing my job, because my client wants me here? Check my paperwork."
Skye looked over her shoulder at the towering hulk, and could only smirk. Oh, Freya could do something. But she knew Skye well enough. Well enough to know this was Skye's game, it was the look in her eyes. Play dumb, and play him out to see what happened next.

"Really. I highly doubt that you are, because finding reference for you, hell, even CCTV footage is hard. Anyway, I think you ain't got shit to protect. Pavel wants no trouble. You look like it, because this don't add up. And I'll offend the great Freya Kaantario to do so, because my client comes first." The man laid his pistol on the desk, a nicely ornimental RSh-12 revolver, and the size of the fucking thing said it all- his mannerisms, his brashness, his sigh as he looked into Skye's eyes, knowing he had her on the ropes. Or so he thought, because well, Skye was leaning into this exactly like she wanted. The way only she could.

"I bet Freya hasn't realised she's hired a ghost. Tried to walk in here, thinking we don't care about last time. And given the man I look after wants no trouble....this stinks."

"Och...uhhh, yeah, you're right!" Skye responded straight, as the man bolted upright.

"What?" It was too good from him because he was leaning in, and the fire that burned just burned in all the wrong places.

With that, Skye launched quicker than he could react forwards and towards the revolver, throwing her left arm at his windpipe and right onto the sidearm, using him as weight she went hurling herself over the table and yanking him down, grinning as they both carted onto the floor. He tried to push back, but there was no stopping a surprise, as she jabbed hard into his lungs, quickly neutralising him as he tried to throw her back off him.

Skye was exactly where she wanted to be. Right on top with her legs pinning his gut, and with a hard swipe at his throat to hit his windpipe, he wasn't going anywhere, Skye keeping her gloved hand tight against his neck, able to push a little harder and end it all here and now. Maybe she didn't have his strength. But she had something more, and that was an experience of dealing with bigger bastards than him. It was no short reminder that Skye wasn't some princess, she was fierce, and hiding it rather well up until that moment.

"Make a move and play hero, it doesn't end well for you......oh, Jim Wickers, Ex-FBI, strong ex- in fact. You're pretty good as his Senior Security Liason....so far, ey?" Skye started, taking control of this situation, knowing that right now, any dumb looks were gone.

"What that means is I can really embarrass you to your boss. I'll find him and tell him Freya right there is coming to beat his 'wee heed into a fucking pulp. Your worst fear. And you know, she just might. Or maybe she won't and she'll grab a vodka and leave. She is really elusive like that. You're a smart cookie. Problem is, your little warning didn't figure me out all the way." Skye chuckled as her resolve tightened, looking dead into his eyes, revolver pushed aside, the man choking out as he sprawled, frankly embarrassed by what Skye had gone and done. It was a classic move, but they never saw it coming.

Nobody ever did.

"And you'll do nothing but watch on those cameras on that wall no matter what. You think that works as a successful evening?" Skye retorted to him, very, very much aware that he was no doubt in shock, and the fact he was barely conscious added to it. Skye's physique didn't scream what Freya's did- sure it was beaten but it looked more like a runner's, more than someone capable of the damage she was.

"Don't worry. If I was here to kill him, he'd already be dead. I'm just not interested in security staff causing me hassle tonight. So, I'll going to tell you to reconsider before I think about moving onto you. Understood?"

"Shit.....ok, ok. You realise I ain't it, huh? You think you can just waltz in? I ain't telling you shit, anyways, you're both fucking dead if you try and get out....fuck you! His whimpered yell was something, as he knew there were no good options, and well, he had reason for that given the position he was now in. Play it long, and wait this out.

Skye chuckled in response, looking to Freya, looking him dead in the eyes, Jim choking as Skye pushed down on his throat again, pushing hard as he tried to recoil, then easing up, putting his head straight against his.

"Shhh.....you hear that? Nah, me neither. That's because you took us into a soundproof room. Thank you for that. And nobody is coming for you in the next twenty. Remember, you got it wrong...I'm protecting you from her, not vice versa. If we did it her way, she'd be scalping you alive. I've seen her bench a fucking jeep, not even glue would put you back together if she did. And that would be far better than the entertainment up there." Skye gently sat by his side, putting her hand to his throat, aware she could push on his damaged windpipe and just make it hurt so, so much more once again.

"Whatever he's paying you, your ex-wife and two kids are worth a bit more than what might happen next. Oh yeah, the ones you didn't tell Pavel about so you could get his clearance. I know, which I guess makes me more important than your client right now. So do tell me something, Jim, because it'll save you a lot of hassle. Where's Pavel, and how many guards are around him? Lie, and Freya here, she comes back and opens you like a tin of sardines."
His face changed quickly, that very second, because the threats went from violence, enough to get most, to something else altogether.

It was a situation he had no energy to react to, but then again, he had no reason to doubt it. You did Carrot, and you did Stick. Sometimes, you did both at the same time. Same place. And when you got your hands dirty in this game, you did bad things. Nothing bad would come to his family of course given Skye had no idea where they were, but she'd made sure to keep it in mind as a weak point from her reading of the security detail they did know about. His weak point wasn't his strength or ability, it was in blood. Sometimes, social engineering worked a hell of a lot more than violence. Right now, that approach was about to pay dividends.

"You piece of shit...don't do shit to them, y'all hear?"

"Temper, temper. Nothing is going to happen to them. Just start talking and you'll stay employed, and if you're lucky, might even get a pay raise. Try and focus on positives, Jim, and you might live. Talk to me." Skye's voice was back to reassurance, backed by almost that same spirit that made her the team mum, yet somehow, inexplicably, underlined with threat.

"Alright...they're on the top floor. He's got more guards, ten more. You ain't got a hope in hell. He's got a giant in the team after last time with Freya. Big dude. Like I said, big mistake. You won't stand a chance, whatever you're doing. You fucking do anything, I'll kill you....you can rot in hell!" Skye looked to Freya, then back at him as he tried to yell, Skye throwing her hand against his mouth, his other one against his throat.

"That's better. But a bit rich coming from you. You really are such a lucky boy for someone who treats a so called, 'pretty girl' so poorly. I thought we really could have something, might even let you stay awake but you really are foul. Please do me a favour and don't remember my face. I'll try and forget yours pretty quick." Skye grimaced as she peeled back off him, as she drew her handbag from across the room from off the table, and flipping the perfume bottle, rammed the top of it straight into his nose, spraying a full, if not over-dose of the sleeping agent, the fast-acting tool taking the dazed guard out, as Skye looked almost deflated. She expected more.

"That was eventful. Bloody awful, even. Is my makeup still ok? Because we have this guy to move, and not gonna lie, he is fatter than the file said he would be. He's like fucking Steven Seagal." She asked, knowing the disapproval would be on Freya's face, yet in some ways, she'd be entertained. Skye didn't like parties a lot, so this must have made for a little bit of change.

Skye was that kind of character- she had learned how to be a spy and be a ghost, a spectre and an asset that blended in, turned into something else, someone else when she had to be. But beneath that, she never forgot she was capable of these things. Capable of doing what was needed to get it over the line, and beyond guns and firepower, she had learned how to use their ability against them. Right now, that was what had done it- and while it didn't always go smoothly, this one had to- otherwise, their operation was compromised. Skye would have been held for longer and if more security joined, they'd be shit out of luck. Then there was no talk, and no chance of finding out what they needed. No server farm check, and that was that.

After hiding Jim's knocked out body in a nearby cupboard, out cold for at least the next half an hour, Skye had the chance to get the rest of her equipment set up, instead of in some toilet probably full of old coke lines on the toilet seat. And enough to spy an IP address, on a CCTV system, among a few other things. By being in a secure room, Skye knew they were off camera. It was almost as if gambling on his confidence had payed dividends. She adjusted the frequency on her phone, linked to her ear-ring, a beautiful pearl piece that concealed a mic and earpiece that gave nothing away beyond its user- to activate the mic all she had to do was push on a signet ring on her hand, and it felt as fluent as anything, while the earpiece used a oscillatory segment in her piercing to allow her to silently listen to the team, and so far, it was coming through crystal.

"Team, me and Valkyrie are in. Security is tight here, but we dropped one. Gave us a goldmine though, we got into a security booth. Glitch, Chaos, I'm pinging you an IP address for CCTV and their admin server network. Careful around it because likely it's protected. Everyone, get to work, get to know some faces, and do our jobs. You know the score. Infiltrators, when ready, make your way down and get your gear recovered." Skye's tone was authoritative, sometimes harsh but in this environment, it had to be. Plus, she'd only gone and knocked out a guy at the party when she tried to be more incognito than raiding a beached cargo ship.

Within five minutes.

With that last communication through her earpiece built into her earring, Skye and Freya emerged back out of the small booth and out of the mostly quiet security complex without further hastle, heading through the corridors and back up the stairs out of the top floor of the offices onto the veranda, the skyline once again visible as the party raged on, suits and dresses everywhere, eyes beckoning on Freya, and less so on Skye, who strutted her stuff with confidence. No more bullshit, as they were on the other side of the fence, and well, the other guards hadn't seen them. They were unlikely to get any more attention, until they realised that Jim had gone for too long of a break, and by that point, things might get spicy.

They knew where he was. They knew what to do. And Skye, Freya and the team going into the party had that to enjoy. The Scot craned her head up to the giantess by her side, knowing she had thoughts on her mind after that, and no doubt, plenty of thoughts of what the update on security meant for them.
"Keep an eye on that giant. Try not to fuck him either, because when he sees you he's gonna be like Casanova. But if you can keep him away, that helps me plenty. We are gonna need to play it cool around Pavel, and our guy on the inside of the bar staff isn't fucking up my drinks order this time either...."
Skye wryly commented to Freya, knowing that the situation was gonna escalate with one of them around- but having Xan on the inside, well, that could change things quickly...

In the interim, the rest of the team were no doubt making their way in, to significantly and likely less drama than they were. It would be a bit of time to get into the party and get used to it, but they had a crowd to mingle with on the upmarket cocktail-bar, come wine-bar, come rooftop piano session that was a high society party at a tech firm.

The Conflict

Nice! Sorry for the delay my end- feeling a little creatively quiet at the moment. Will get a post out hopefully tomorrow :)

Raven Squad: Second Storm (Military/Spy-Fi RP)

Kaitiaki HQ, New Zealand

Skye Rosalind Lyons

The Office Party

The team gathered in, Skye knew it was good to have everyone back in somewhat of one piece, and that with a little time till their next mission, they could rest up and recuperate before getting after it. That included Michelle, her first mission in Raven going so far so well, Skye aware of the capable infiltrator taking on a different role shadowing her in Aralsk.

@Wayward

"Good to have you back, Michelle. Held your own on that op. I know it's not easy being thrown into the deep end straight away, but you kept it together." Skye called to her, knowing she was no doubt a little shell shocked from the experience, but considering she'd followed well on Skye's lead, it had to be said, she'd done well.

@LadyAmber@BigPapaBelial

Skye kept a mind out to Sam's response, giggling a little as Freya was then on the phone, chatting to her team. And clearly having a fun time doing it. Skye didn't people watch, that was a professional thing after all, but even personally right now....she had to admit, Imran was right. Giants were a freaky kind. But there was no denying it, the girl that smashed IFVs was also hot in a Gladiators pinned up on her bedroom wall kind of way. As she put the phone down, it was like Skye replied to both Freya and Sam in the same breath, smirking.
"Remind me to never ask how your company does HR complaints."
The Scot chuckled, as she sighed, looking across the team, noting Mateo's comment also, the Colombian silent throughout and then having his own note.

@Theyra
"Sounds like a plan. Let me know how you want to play it. If you want your infiltrator's kit on the other side, Sam and Xan will join you in that. Raph might have some stuff on that front for you in terms of plans."
Skye mentioned, knowing his more laid back, chilled style would take that rather than the beef she had to throw back at the other redhead, and the team leader's thought that she had spent a little too much time here with the team as is. On that note, Skye knew that the evening had to either wind up...or wind on.

"Right...enough misery for us. I've got some Swedish vodka sitting in that fridge. And for a certain someone...I got something even more lethal." Skye added, giggling, going to the fridge and drawing first a bespoke bottle of vodka, followed by a mystical looking bottle of a green looking absinthe, the kind that was not for mere mortals like Skye and the rest of the relatively functioning alcoholics. Oh no, this one, this was for the kind of girl that would need a few bottles to feel. This would make her feel much faster than that.

"One for you, Miss Kaantario?"
The wry grin on the redhead's face went up as she popped the green bottle onto the table and looked directly at Freya, and for the briefest of seconds, the look in Skye's eyes was not of a boss anymore, but of someone wanting to indulge in a bit of team bonding.

---

A Significant Quantity of Alcohol Later

"So I says to the guy, size of Valkyrie, yeah, right....fuckin'....yous having a laugh? This is what you keep in your bedroom after I sneak into your little compound full of Ruskies, to keep you occupied? Anyway, I caved his head in with his ten-inch rubber dildo, guy thought he had me on the ropes, but you see, he was thinking with his 'wee fuckin' baws!" With that, Skye slugged the vodka shot down, giggling away, the redhead now well and truly gurning away, utterly lost for a second, because to get her this far, the bottle had been cleaned out with everyone else. Skye had lost any formal demeanour, at this point, what was left was a feral special forces soldier, that happened to be Scottish, and rambling.

"Anyway, that's the reason I don't like Uzbekistan, and how I ended up blue balling some Russian giant with his own instrument, aye! Because it's a shithole, it's sandy, and that wee fuckin' fella! In that order!"

It's pretty obvious to everyone there that while she isn't going to let anything operational slip, she is in that drunk storyteller mode, and right now, it's the most pissed she's been in a while.

So much so, that even narratively, the writing style here is even deviating.

An obliterated Scot is a terrifying thing, because someone of Skye's capacity doesn't let it happen, almost ever. Aside from today, because after all, they had gone out and barely avoided getting killed, and well, the team were just gelling so well. No immediate mission either, or at least, one they could just about recover on the hangover from tomorrow morning, Skye's corner of lucidity reminds her. Irrespective of whatever state the team had decided to go to, this night had clearly escalated heavily, and in a way that definitely wouldn't be sanctioned in any other special forces or intelligence team.

A good old fashioned piss up never disappointed.

Before then going to stand, and in the most unapologetic way, clattering down in front of the sofa, Skye spills a bit onto the table, with a wry chuckle, before barely clambering up again.

"Ahh shite....you know.....you're a good bunch. Top team of people. And there are things I'd let Freya do to me that's probably illegal. And Mateo too, probably. I dunno. Like this whole workplace policy shite says we can't.....bloody legal crap. I remember when I used to be out in the field, none of that....ah bloody hell. Don't get me wrong, all with consent, but I'm no stranger to any silly ideas." Skye blurted, probably revealing a bit much. The kind that didn't normally come out of Skye, and no doubt, flooring the team a little, as she giggled.
"Anyway, you're all about as pissed as I am. Enjoy tomorrow, eh!"

---

Office Work

Skye did have to think to herself as she worked in the office, if her immune system wasn't as powerful as it was, she'd still be bawling on the floor.

What happened that night, she didn't want to reminisce too much on, but hey, she hadn't done anything TOO silly. Well, the bike ride, catchup with Raph, and other things had flushed most of her regret out of the system, but sometimes, she had to let go. As Xan had said, show her colours a bit more. But then again....that was probably a bit further.

The team were working away in the background on their own kit, with support team, together or on their own, whilst

On that note, Skye took the break from her office to check over her dress, the form-fitting crimson red and black dress matching lovely with her hair, and even more creatively, having a tactical slant to it. Interwoven ceramic plating with silicon carbide disc plating, it seemed almost seamless with the material of it, and no doubt, the other members of the team would for their formal garb. Kept off metal detectors too, and almost felt like padding of some kind. An extravagance, because why not....just as the boys had their stuff, Skye knew she had hers.

The other tools, including a hidden taser, hidden inside a bag, alongside a makeup kit made up of a few hidden tools was always useful to have- some had been brought to her recently by Sam, who had worked on some of these in the background, some were old traits. The classic knife in stiletto was on again, and a perfect little after-dinner tool to use. Not a bad little contingent, and all importantly, flight safe and metal detector safe.

Running through the rest, she checked over the office layout, and taking her time, looked at entry points, more details to do with the party, and got to pondering. There was a plan afoot, but as far as she could tell, they could take this on. She'd get her audience with Pavel, and the others would have a variety of tasks. Freya and Stafford on running distraction, with whatever detail they came into- that they didn't know much on, whilst Sam, Xan, Mateo, Michelle had the task of getting into the party through their method, retrieving their kit and infiltrating downstairs, getting onto Pavel's network, the company network and finding out what they could. That was uncertain, but they had some detective work to do, and no doubt, as the mission went on, Skye could fill in the blanks from what she got from social engineering with Pavel and co.

The skyscraper definitely had methods in and out- vertical enough for a BASE or wingsuit flight out, and also, for another secret contingency if the team needed it. The office below was on two levels, and relatively vast- including Pavel's own network, which would need handling. An elevator also would be in operation but no doubt it was secured, and getting around the skyscraper would be tricky. But no doubt, with the right tools, it could be turned inside out. They had plenty of methods, and while Skye could monitor them, it would be tricky to do so, even on her phone while in the party. It being a social event and all.

A standard social occasion for Raven, and Skye had no doubt that more booze would be on the cards. For them, not her, thankfully....

---

A Prelude

With the team making their prep, the evening came about fairly quickly - they'd been able to get some leads, and some chats to Raph later, Skye had some idea of what to do.

With that, Skye called a team meeting- they had their opportunity to catch up and with that, they were all in the same briefing room, comfy chairs laid out and Skye at the front, dressed in her blue shirt and khaki trousers again, red hair tied into a bun, her rosy cheeks and adamant look once again back to business.

"Alright everyone. What have you got for me? All recovered?"
Skye asked, looking across the team, knowing that so far they all had a method in, or at least, a method to make their way to the party. And hopefully out.

"Because now's your last chance for any questions. In terms of operational setup, I've identified some objectives. But details are scarce right now. Pavel is the main objective, but I need a possible server connected to the company network, and Pavel's own looked at. Which is going to be guarded, by both electronic and physical means. Anything to add?"

Raven Squad: Second Storm (Military/Spy-Fi RP)

Kaitiaki HQ, New Zealand

Skye Rosalind Lyons

Dinner is Served

The team raised lots of valid points, their commentary revealing that well, they all certainly had a bone to pick with Pavel too. That was good, Skye thought to herself. Who wouldn't hate on a billionaire frat bro.

@LadyAmber

"That could be something of a lead. Though hopefully it doesn't lead to us having to go to space to dismantle those things...for a starter, I don't think we have a rocketry programme yet!"
Skye chimed back with a little sarcasm, flipping a burger, having a moment to ponder it over, knowing what she knew roughly about the market for such communications. After all, if Pavel was using it for that purpose too, all sorts of shenanigans could be going on, and hacking their comms could be on.

"Though it's a good point. There has to be some kind of ground station, and no doubt there's more intel on that network. It might open the door for us, especially if the data is on one of those satellites and we can get it down to us if we can't visit ourselves."
Skye added, knowing it might be something to circle around to, but in the main, it gave them something to look for on the next operation. Pavel was a vested target, purely as there was possible association to Artemis, but the fact his fingers were on this meant something else had to be going on. Skye wanted answers. And she'd get them, first by asking, then by telling, and only then, maybe by doing something more than that.

@BigPapaBelial

It didn't sound like much fun wither with what Freya was saying. Once again, Skye reminded herself that the giant could probably have done far worse, and in some ways, she hoped for Pavel and his memory's sake...

"Sounds like a method in. And damn....well, he might be rich but he can't be too intelligent if he thought that would end well. Jesus, if your brother found out, he'd be turned into some wee Spam alright." Skye remarked, sarcastically as she knew full well the score of Freya's family- once again, she wasn't the only one that was that tall. And freakishly strong. And have a waistline like she did...Skye couldn't deny, it was quite something.

"Oh, and for dresswear, it's gotta be the former. If they're craning their necks, it's all eyes on you, girl, near, far, wherever you are...keeps you professiona tool and reminds you you're not to be fucked with. Whatever the hell they feed you back home, remind me to try it sometime, Freya!"
Skye remarked, cheerfully than prior, knowing Freya would hopefully take it well, the other redhead of the team making Skye sometimes feel like a mini-me in comparison. Well, with an accent of her own, it made her stick out at least, somewhat?
"Your invite should work. I guess it'll be guarding you, and in some ways, it keeps the attention directed at you. That will come in handy, aye." Freya was certainly going to be of help here- her company and her reputation would make her a glowing target in her suit, but no doubt, that was the point. You didn't hide a giant. You made them front and centre, and in the complete opposite of working in espionage, you put someone like Freya out like a parade float, for all to see. So that well, Skye and the others were in the shadows.

@Awesomoman64

Helping out with the hallumi, Skye responded in turn to Xan, hearing out his story, and his possible approach method.
"And I thought he was just a regular an asshole....sounds rough, Xan. Glad to hear I don't need to give you all more motivation, team."
Skye responsed to Xan, then more generally to the group, as she finished up helping him out, finding a set of plates.
"Sounds like something good, Xander. Keep me informed what you're up for doing."
She retorted back, knowing him and Sam were more likely than not going to be spending plenty of time reassembling their electronics. Having lost it in the buggies, they'd need some bits to work on, and knowing the resourcefulness of Tahlia and their own, they'd be back in no time.

@PerfectThought

Last but not least, the other Brit had stayed quiet, Stafford probably taking his time to absorb the conversation, and the goings on around here. Of course, he'd be back to his usual soon enough, given the injury though, he wasn't probably giving shit today. She almost missed that, almost.
"Possibly. But if not, keep your head on a swivel. I'll appreciate getting a whisky with you there, mate. And you'll get some up close action too."
Skye warmly commented across to him, getting the table set, turning to the team in general now, knowing they'd all be wondering what next.

"Well.....that's no' bad. Eat up, team. We got some healing and work to do. Sounds like a few of us might have invites then. I'll get to work on a more concise extraction method tomorrow. In the meantime, install any of your upgrades, get back onto recovery, start figuring out your method in, out, and what we have on the line. We'll be there soon enough. For now, eat up, because that looks delish!"
Skye called out, for a moment the redhead of the team enjoying this little atmosphere, this evening, and each and every face that was here.

----

Thistle in the Rough
The Next Day

The next day came as a slightly better one for Skye Lyons, given her ribs weren't hurting so much, either from the light use of painkillers, or sheer bloody mindedness. Some did have to ponder if Skye was just some sort of machine, but there wasn't much more to it than the fact she just harnessed, took life by the core. An introspective view was that it made her feel somewhat alive, and by this point, she was so accustomed to it, not doing it felt even weirder.

Skye didn't muck about. Same thing as usual, porridge oats, fruit, cranberry juice, and a shot of a blended smoothie from the kitchen, followed by the early morning briefing, it was a nice little routine to have as the sun barely rose. The kind that sort of gave her a basis, because it was a job after all. A full time one, with no holidays, but a hell of a lot of perks. Like how right now, she was free to act how she needed to. The team were in the same boat, given they were awaiting the date of the party, and had jobs to do in the interim.

And it was the a slightly varied routine for Skye, a different route but still the same. Skye was back out and with the black and orange triathlon suit she had on over her athletic and weathered frame, she looked slick, the mark of efficiency. It may have seemed she embraced some sort of luxury rather than doing this in usual combat conditions, but Skye didn't need that every day. Nah, today was about getting back on the horse. Irrespective of what the doctor's orders were, Skye would allow herself to break that. She may have been a stickler for the rules, but what fun were they if you couldn't break them?

It made running a team hard as hell, that was for sure.

A swim kicked things off, with the dawn chorus of birds chirping and the raging sea giving Skye all she could, drowning her red hair into the salt water, the muscles burning and aching, but coming back into posterity once she'd kicked off the first two hundred meters. A kilometer would do, but against the raging sea, it was like trying to fight Posideon throwing bricks at her shoulders every few seconds once she was outside the reach of the bay and into more open water, swimming to the next. She didn't care. It just made things more entertaining, and after all, she wanted this to be a reminder to her she wasn't going to let the idea of ribs hold her back. The others may have rested up, but she wasn't going to let go.

So coming off the swim, the next step was the bike ride of this little biathlon sans weapons, with a full face crash helmet attached to the carbon-black bars of the parked bicycle. Left back down by the small airfield that the team had on the far side of the bay, her mountain bike was a formidable little tool, carbon-framed and with a rear shock to boot, but still, very human powered and tricky to use on the trails of the island. On the trails around the place, Skye could put it through its paces, not needing engines or electricity to pull the bike up the hundred meter hills that formed the spine of their home, the jungle and fine tracks being a good place. With all the uphill, Skye had to ration the energy she had left, the burn now setting in, her heartrate rushing past 160 from pushing on the slippery, rooty and rocky climb in the foliage, the little hiking trails that shouldn't have taken a bike still being put to use by her. Every part of her body felt like it was on fire, screaming, but the glimpse of orange and black was a blur in the early morning paths. Rubber skidded on dirt, and the sight of Skye pushing through her ribs kicking back was visible and very much audible.

These moments mattered. They reminded her of being alive, and directed her thoughts into something more positive than the dwelling thoughts she always would circle over again sometimes. Showing any weakness to anyone in the team was going to be the end of her- at least, it would be, and sometimes just pushing into that physical endurance was like it made it all fade, like nothing mattered at all, and it pushed her to be more. It was being stubborn, and if being in control that mattered, if not her team then very much her own mind felt good. Kept her able to resist thinking about some of the past. Her mum's state, and her dad's death. A break with the past had worked, but it always felt like she had to run even harder to just put things between her and that. Literally go to the antipode of the world to put that between them, and well, turn inside out. Become some arbiter of good and immerse herself into a stress that completely wiped the past clean out. It felt hard but then again, she had no reason to doubt herself when she pushed.

And Xan was right, when she spoke to him a while back. She had to relax. Let things in. But Skye knew that was going to take losing a part of her she wasn't ready for yet. Maybe the tectonic plates would move, but that was going to take time.

On that thought, Skye stopped at the top of the ridgeline, looking down at the dawn sky, and the Homestead on the horizon. The expansive view, the wind blowing her sodden hair back, the feeling of sweat in every orifice and the near echoing of her heart returning down to a low, thumping rest rate. Her ribs hurt, but not as much as it would to not make the most of this moment, right here, right now. Being alive in it all. Final stretch now.

And it was downhill, a rush that pushed her hard, as Skye whipped the mountain bike through the undulating terrain, catching air over a boulder and leaping the bike through the track, giggling and grinning with pride, the endorphin rush of this not dying yet. Sure, it didn't beat getting shot at, wingsuiting into a North Korean radar site, or all manner of stupid shit she'd done before, but it was something new, and novelty was always fun.

If ever Skye enjoyed moments like these, it was odd to see her be somewhat at ease with herself, completely hooked on that high, and it was clear whatever that high was, it was from being absolutely on that ragged edge. She liked learning new things, and this was her most recent- integrating it into her routine had certainly been paying dividends, and as she made her way to the bottom of the trail, before the team had probably even woken up, she'd gotten her fill. Mountain bike parked in the hallway, she got a morning shower in, and back into her more usual casual clothing, got to work on making the round of work she had ahead. The only thing that came close was skydiving, but given her state and the fact they had work to do, she thought better of that.

---

With her morning madness out of the way, Skye returned inside the intelligence centre down in the support complex, the Israeli signals intelligence operative hunched over his desk, four monitors plus another to his side revealing he was deep in flow, but Skye was having none of his indifference.

"Morning!"
Skye cheerily greeted him, the redhead wearing a crimson red t-shirt, complimenting her red ponytail, as well as her usual cargo pants and trainers, her stance one of warmth yet an underlying air of authority, one that never really left despite how casual she may have come across.

"Someone's been for a run. Against doctor's orders. Tut tut, Skye." Raph sarcastically remarked, the dry Israeli replying, only then breaking from the screen.

"Oh, way more stupid' tha' that. I don't know when to stop. So keep that on the down low, yeah?"

"Well, I'm sure I can keep that secret. All good, chief?"

"Somewhat normal. Have you started to look at what I sent across to you?"
Skye enquired, breaking the chat to another subject quickly, not wanting to fuck around, given she knew Raph wasn't going to keep the smalltalk going without being more awkward.

"It looks positive. Certainly got some options to look at, the party itself looks like a hell of an event. He doesn't come out of his shell often, and while the security is tight, it's not impossible to beat. Plenty of spots you can get him one on one. I assume you have a plan for that."

"Indeed. Then that settles that nicely. Tahlia's got me a taser I can conceal, and a few other goodies. Team'll know what to go for- data, and well, keeping the party going to get me my opportunity. Then we'll have him to chat to."
Skye commented, Raph sitting up in his chair a little and turning completely to her, knowing while it wasn't his place to ask, he had to get it out of his system.

"Why are we going after him, Skye? I thought talking to billionaires wasn't our forte, I thought it was dropping people? Surely we'd find a better way to get this data, just find a datacentre and break into that if you want to stop us getting hacked again? Don't get me wrong, the man is an asshole but this feels unpredictable."

"You know as well as I do, some secrets, they're not on flash memory, they're up here. And they are just....well, they're so much easier to get than a hack." Skye pointed to her temple with that, the redhead smirking, knowing she was winding up Raph, the Israeli a little puzzled still.

"Right....but you do realise, if he doesn't play ball and you get nothing, this is going to backfire, big time...and there's no easy way back from that. Brave as you are, are you sure you're gonna get something?"

"Never was going to be without a little risk. But it's a measured response, the alternatives you know will be too difficult to do remotely, even at a datacentre. We can figure out what happened to us in Aralsk from the horse's mouth, and we take Artemis apart...because it's a hydra after all, with lots of heads. Killing him isn't going to help us. It's getting the root, and it's not his money I want....it's their network. Once he gives me what he needs, he'll be compromised enough, and we can set him loose and see where the trail goes because he'll be impossible to hide afterwards. We can see what happens. Let them run riot. Then stamp on the lot."

"That's some social engineering you got going there?

"I do try my best." Skye was steely, before cracking a grin, just knowing she could really get at their intel guy, and well, relish in that.

"Fucking hell....you got intense quickly. Like, that's so evil....shit, normally I would have thought of that first...."

"Like I said....there's lots of ways to get a job done. This happens to be the best one right now...and for a man who has an image to protect, it would rather be a shame if he couldn't return to his party without....oh, I don't know, something happening to that very thing."

"What do you mean?

"Oh, they're just details, I'll let your Mossad brain think on what I said. I don't muck around."

"Skye...."

"Thank me when I get you an insight into why our supposedly invincible network got hit. Anyway, I'll leave you with finding us some more intel, and some low-level backdoors to get Xan, Sam and the hackers over the line. Enjoy."
Skye added, a wry smirk on her face, giving absolutely zero away. Need to know basis, and all that....and the satisfaction was going to be all hers.

------------

With a return out of the intel hub, Skye knew the team were at leisure- well, the sort of leisure that wouldn't mean it was all downtime. They had options- Raph was in his hub doing his thing, Javi was down in the motor pool with a new couple of buggies that had been brought in, Tahlia was in the armoury and well, Doctor Keller was probably having some rest after the insanity that had been the last couple of days of people coming in various states of repair. Checking weapons and gear, recovering their past equipment, even some more activities together were on the cards, so she left it open to them, knowing this was a brief interlude before they'd have a plan and be back out on things to come.

It was as good as any opportunity for Skye to let them enjoy time without her being on top of them, let the team settle themselves in. For the time being, she had some work of her own to do in the office once again, and this time, figure out an extraction plan. Best case? They walked out of there, no skin off back. But if there was hacking taking place below, then Sam and Xan were going to need a fast track way out of there. And in an emergency? Well, Skye was working on that method...and really hoped it didn't come to that. Door left open, Skye clicked on some music, and the soft sound of James Blake keeping her ears company.

Burning Rubber Three (Bee and kingkonrad)

Max sat back, looking into the horizon, then back at the reply in front of him.

"That'd be good. Cheers!" Max typed back, putting in his address, sending it across with a satisfying ping of his phone. Shit, that had worked....well, it was someone to call a friend. Well, beyond the other one, as his phone buzzed...

Standing up, the phone rang, this time with the nametag coming up.

"Hey, Max, you alright?" The Faroese voice on the far side reminded him that yep, that one still was in the game- still relevant somewhat.

"Yeah, been worse." Max's response was blunt, but as British as ever...an understatement.

"Look, thank you for coming out a few nights back. Appreciate seeing you around here. From what I heard, you seemed to adapt well to the local conditions." Magnus's voice was reassuring to hear, but Max wasn't feeling that way, a little deflated from it all- it was a lot to take in, the heat, the environment, all of it.

"Kind of. Keeping it low-brow at the minute. Yous know how it goes." Max replied, sighing as he knew that well, there wasn't going to be much racing. For a little while, at least- he could run his gamble out but right now, shit had gone feral after that street race. Views were mad, and people were going off, but it was far more heat than he was used to, even back home.

"Look, if the car's hot, I might be able to fix you up with something local. And some more work. You know, I'm just a respectable businessman. But I might have something your flavour, if you know what I mean?" Magnus's suggestion piqued Max, as he sat back down again into the beanbag across the room, looking out the window, then back in. The Faroese voice was certainly warped by the West Coast, and that American twang was coming straight into his language.

"Oh, you mean something....right, I'm with you. I'm interested." Max realised the code right there. It wasn't a race. It was something else. Probably not a drugs run either...because that wouldn't be what was on the cards.
"We can talk cars later. You free tonight?"
"Yeah, I can do that."
"Alright, we'll sort you a ride, then. Take it steady, brother."
"You too." Max cut the phone, as he stared at the wall.

Shit was going to possibly get real tonight, but Kaitlyn would be good to meet, good to keep him grounded. Then whatever worked was planned out, well, he just hoped it wasn't anything too heavy.

Things never worked out quite that way.

(Really sorry this took ages!)