Shadowrun

The sprawls of modern day 2060 have left many people fall between the cracks of the great urban jungles.   Some of these people get lost on the streets, while some attempt to do the impossible.     If you are reading this, you are probably one of the people that has chosen to run the shadows.   Do the dirty work without trying to get too dirty.

Key points to keep in mind when looking for a job in the shadows.

1st)   Know your teams strengths and weaknesses.    Do not advertise that your team is an expert at something if they are not.   Never accept an assignment, no matter how hard pressed for nuyen you are.    A group that strictly deals with wetwork is unlikely to be able to pull off a covert undercover mission without significant problems.    A group of deckers is unlikely to last long in a fire-fight with the Ancients.    A group of mundanes is going to find it difficult to locate an astral target or break into a complex with high magical security.    Know your role!!

2nd)  Never accept an assignment until the entire team has accepted it.    If the team put you in charge of accepting or declining a mission, then it is up to you to try to think for the team.   Ask yourself if you think team-member X (who you know hates water), will be alright taking the run that will put you on a boat for twelve hours.

3rd)   Stick with reliable contacts.   Your fixer is generally the main source of jobs, but keep in mind that he is a middleman and just trying to keep the nuyen coming in.   If you have gotten good jobs from him in the past, generally they will keep coming if you have done good work.     Working for former employers is also a sound way to do business.   Obviously they liked your work and want you again.    That is the best kind of employment.

Sometimes you don't have a choice.    But most times you do.    Ask questions and ask them often.   If the Johnson doesn't know too much, then I'd be a little cautious, unless it's legitimate work he's offering.    If it is legitimate work, then he's very likely going to put you directly in contact with his employer.    If he says it is legitimate and doesn't want to put you in touch with his employer, then don't take the assignment.

Remember Mister Johnson is in it for the money too.    He knows what he can pay you and still make a profit.    He never offers you the full package, so it is your job to press him for funds.    Make some concessions in dealing with him.    Perhaps he only has 100,000¥ to deal with, but the corporation that he is working for might be able to provide equipment or death benefits.    It isn't uncommon for a Mister Johnson to offer bonuses for deaths incurred by the Shadowrun team.   Another thing to keep in mind when dealing with a Johnson is that he knows many more people than you do, so he might be able to get you the latest information on that Delta Clinic you were looking for.    Nuyen doesn't have to be the final payment.

Lastly, as you listen to what he has to tell you, try and figure out what equipment you will be needing for this run.    It might be rappelling gear, or four vehicles.   It takes a good leader to figure this stuff out this early, but if it can be done....try to figure out what your expenses will be ahead of time.    Be realistic when doing this.   For example, if you know you will need a van to haul merchandise; don't tell the Johnson you need an extra 40,000¥ for a new van.    It might be reasonable to ask him for an additional 3,000¥ to have an existing van modified, or to ask him if he can arrange a set of fake license plates for the van you are going to steal.

Be very cautious of any Mister Johnson that needs you to start working immediately.   Chances are he's setting you up to take a fall for something that has already gone from bad to worse.    It isn't uncommon for corporations to hire two or three shadowteams.    The first team is used for the actual mission, while the other one causes a diversion and the third one ends up getting set up for the fall.   Don't accept those kinds of assignments, and if a mission starts looking like one of those...get out fast, because your pictures are probably already in Lone Star's hands.

The meeting place with the Johnson isn't generally up to you, but you can try to make it someplace that you are familiar with.    If he suggests noon at the Space Needle and you think the meet would be better off on deck 10 of the car garage on 71st Street....then ask.    If he says no, then either you meet him or you don't.

Getting ready for the meet is important.   Cover your six all the time.   Never go alone, but make it appear as though you have.    If Johnson isn't opposed to two of the team members going to an initial meet, then by all means do that.   NEVER EVER have the entire team meet with Johnson.  You are too vulnerable.

Make sure you have reasonable back-up with you.     Two forms of back-up I prefer are:   1st:   Someone nearby in the restaurant.   2nd:   A person outside with a vehicle watching the exits.      If you have magical security, then by all means, this is the time to use it.    It never hurts to try and tail the Johnson to see where he goes, but if it looks like he's onto the tail....abort.     The leader of the shadowrun team should never show up armed to the hilt looking for a fight, but should have enough firepower backing him up to deter any would-be doublecrosses.

Be alert to other people listening in or watching.   Be magically alert to watchers and other spirits that might be present during a meet.
 

As soon as it is determined that you have a job to do, each person should have a set thing to do.   One person should begin to get team equipment together, including purchasing new stuff if needed.    Other people should be assigned to check with contacts and gather information about the mission.   Information about the mission should include the following:

1)  Anything pertaining to the mission at hand.   Maps, building layouts, people's names that work there, work schedules, etc.    Security details are also important.   If you have a mage, he can do a preliminary astral recon at this point.   If you have a decker, this is his moment to shine.

2)  Information about who you are working for.   This is more difficult to determine in some cases.    Use you decker.   During the mission look for clues that would enable you to figure this out.

3)  Try to figure out what it is you are actually doing.    For instance, if you were hired to disable the back-up generators at Seattle General Hospital, try and figure out what the repurcutions will be.    Prepare yourself for unexpected trouble.    Have your decker go through the patients list at the hospital.    A mission like this might very well be a diversion mission, meaning someone else is doing the main job.    I you find out that the Governor is in that hospital, then the odds go up that you are being set up for something.    Prepare for that.

4)   Work your contacts and work them hard.   If news has already hit the streets about your current run, then the drek will certainly hit the fan.    Don't advertise about the run, but ask pointed questions that would lead you to believe that the mission is still unheard of/well known.

If you get information that seriously hinders the mission, or reveals an extreme risk....it is still not too late to give back any front money and back out of the mission, or renegotiate the final price based on the new information.

This is the part when the team all sits around with cuy of soycaf and lays down the plans for executing whatever it is they will be doing.    Every runner knows that plans are subject to change at a moments notice, but they also know to build the plans for ease of change.     If your plan includes phrases like, "Person X must be at the service door at 2031, while person Y has to have cleared the six floor window by 2032."    You have overplanned.    The basic rule of thumb is to Keep it Simple!   The more complex the plan, the more chance it has of going bad.

Get your story together now.   If you are using fake identies, make sure each of you know who each other are.     It would be terrible to call a runner by his real name during an undercover operation.

Prepare communications and contingencies in case of separation.   Prepare your secondary regroup points.    Know where you are taking the injured.   Have a safe-house prepared with extra equipment and food.    Be ready to lay low for a couple days there.

During a mission planning, it is not uncommon to have a dry run at something.   Practice practice practice.    Finalize your equipment checks and go over each persons assignment.    Lay down the rules to each team member.    If the rule is "No killing."  Repeat it over and over.    Make sure you have plenty of gel rounds and tasers.

Never forget to pack a medkit.

This is the meat of the run.   Follow your plans to the letter.   Take notes as you go along, as all information is important.

If things go awry, then abort the mission.    Never press on when police sirens are drawing nearer.    Make sure you are covering your tracks as you go.

Know where you are meeting.   Have a plan to check to make sure you haven't been followed physically or astrally.    At this point you would make your contact with Mister Johnson for final payment or delivery of a person/item.   Do not conduct any business until you are sure you haven't been compromised in any way, either by your Johnson, or the people you just ran against.

It is a good idea to check contacts again at this point to see if news of your actions has hit the streets or news media.   If it has, it is a good idea to lay low.

This can be a Catch-22.    If your objective was to destroy something or kill someone, then the ball is in the Johnson's court as the the when and the where's.   If you are holding an item, or person.....you have the ball and you call the shots.     If he doesn't like it......drek on him.

Try to make the meeting someplace that you can secure with your team.    Verify payment upon receipt.    Certified Credsticks are the best way to do things, but some runners find that script is a better way to go.

If nothing physical has to be transfered, the Johnson can have the nuyen electronically transfered to an account or slot your credstick right over the phone.   That is the safest way to do things if you have a good stick.    You can always slot the rest of the team later.

If you have something physical to be transferred, then make sure you review the mission and your losses now.    Renegotiate your contract with the Johnson.   After all, you have the merchandise.

Don't get greedy, because chances are the Johnson has had his people watching you from the beginning.

Make sure to sit down and discuss what went wrong and what went right.   Modify your SOP according to that.   Make sure that all of your tracks have been covered.   Keep checking your six for a couple days....and watch the trid.