Session 11: Everything According To Plan - kaseido/NeoTokyo GitHub Wiki

304 Bezos 1 Water - Wood

Hotel Slavanskaya Time to review the plan before heading out to the game.

Lane’s been considering the plan: she has some real concerns: poisoning Zhukov enough that he’s either too sick to attend the ball or totally discredits himself but isn’t too sick or discredited to go to the aerospace complex with the Crown Prince the next morning doesn’t make sense. What if they poison everybody at the ball, just enough to make them sick? It’d stop the engagement announcement and give them a means to get the girls out. But that means they’d have to get out on the spaceplane right away.

Rina notes they can’t get to people at the ball because of security. Lane says maybe infiltrate the catering staff and have somebody circulate with poisoned snacks. Kat needs to get sick, but not Kira, so Kira can get Kat out. She doesn’t need security for that!

Moopsie adds that they need to destroy the paper blueprints and documents at the Murder factory. That building’s full of explosives and stuff – blowing it up would be easy, and that’d be a hell of a distraction. Since she can’t go to the ball, she could do that as the attendees escape. Lane asks Rina if Kira trusts them enough to wait till the ball. She doesn’t know: she understood that it’d be better to not kill Zhukov ahead of time, and that even if the engagement goes forward, that doesn’t mean God’s going to strike them down.

Rina wonders how ImpSec will react to everybody getting sick: they’ll still try to do their jobs. Rook adds there’s probably backups, since the Russians are probably poisoning each other all the time.

Lane adds that they can go after Zhukov later at his lair. Rina says Kira wants Zhukov dead. Lane says they can all come along to kill Zhukov. Rina thinks she’ll go for that.

Rook adds that Markov can’t be sick, because he’ll be piloting. And he has to be at the ball. Lane thinks he can just leave when people get sick. Rina thinks the whole thing will depend on what security is doing, and they’ll probably kill all the caterers. Lane argues that they can leave a note that it wasn’t the caterers’ fault. Rook says a better note would be to tell the caterers to run for it - after the fact, as the caterers would sell them out in a hot minute.

Rina, Lane, and Moopsie realize the Okhrana is either a big help or a fatal obstacle. Lane thinks the Okhrana will get what they want, but Rina disagrees: they’re not getting any of what they want! They want Zhukov to die, and preferably the Crown Prince and Grand Duchess, and blow up the spaceplane. They won’t want future promises any more than Kira did, though she eventually got on board. Rina wants a backup plan. She reviews the original plan: poison Zhukov tonight, they wheel him in tomorrow at the ball, but get even sicker. Then they somehow get Kat out? And then the next day… he just has to show up.

Lane says they don’t know how sick he’ll be, and she’s concerned about the spaceplane event – that’s probably a setup for the Okhrana to kill them off too. They need to get the plane out!

Moopsie mentions the paper files again. Lane adds when they blow that up, the Okhrana will know the backups are gone too. Rook wonders why the need the plans. Everybody else says “backup,” and Rina adds they might have to ditch the plane in the water. Lane says if they can get the plans, they get a cut of the whole business. And Tiffany would be happy with plans, much as she’d like the plane.

Rina wonders how they guarantee they make everybody sick. Lane says Rook might have to put on a dress and go to the ball, and then she could circulate and make sure that people are eating the hors d’oeuvres.

Rook reminds them about her request for a Rent-a-Ho. They find one about her size and shape, have Moopsie knock her out, she takes her place, and is one of the Rent-a-Hos at the ball, and can make sure security is well fed. It’s worth a try!

Lane wants to give the actual girl a tip for getting knocked out.

Now, how to convince Kira this is a better plan? It allows them to get out, and they can be part of the kill. And destroy his undersea lair. If they don’t do it her way, they don’t know if he’ll be dead or really sick. First, get the girls out, get the spaceship – and then go back and kill Zhukov, with more help: Dr Madison will be there. And Jiefan will be back with them. Rook says convincing Kira is Rina’s job.

Lane says they’ll need Frost’s help to get a position on the catering staff. Rina notes Frost laughed at them already about that. Lane says Frost doesn’t need to know they plan on stealing the plane.

Rina asks how they kill the prince. Kira would like it. Rook suggests kidnapping him too and throwing him in the ocean. Everybody shoots down the idea of trying to shoot him at the ball. Rina says they don’t want anybody knowing they were in on this. Rook says she means thinking they capture the royals for ransom. Lane thinks it’s more moving parts. The most important thing is to get the girls out and get the plane, and convince the Okhrana everything was destroyed.

Rook says the prince and Martine were bonus points, they’re not necessary.

Lane wonders about getting an invitation to Zhukov’s underwater lair to the Prince ,and taking them all out.

Another round! Lane wants to get out early, Rina is still skeptical about poisoning everybody. They need to talk to the Okhrana to see if they can make it happen. Maybe infiltrate their own people and have them circulate: they’re a small team, and this isn’t really their skill set. But not tell her the whole plan.

Lane doesn’t want to disclose the poison bit, just say they want in for intel. Rina suggests getting in as cooks, not servers. Rina asks Moopsie if she could develop a spray-on. Moopsie totally can. But then Rina wonders about getting it into the air. Rook wonders how many people will have nasal filters. Lane realizes the royal family and ImpSec are probably protected against aerosols. Rina wonders about fugu-equivalents and searches. Nothing. She’s disappointed they don’t have a native food that can potentially kill you that people eat for fun.

What about poisoning the drinks and the snacks? Rook can then circulate and bring people drinks. But they’ll have to poison the food after ImpSec certifies it as safe. Rook says they’d be better off doing it on the floor and not through catering. Which means they don’t need the Okhrana? But it all has to happen at once, not a plate at a time. And they won’t be able to smuggle anything in. Rina suggests something inert until it contacts the food: everybody comes in with perfume vials that won’t scan as poison.

They’re going to read Frost in on stealing the spaceplane because capitalism, but it’ll be gone and all the plans blown up. Rina thinks that this is an attack on the Tsar, so they need to read the Okhrana in to protect him. They don’t want the people whose only loyalty is to the Tsar to be mad at them. It’s part of the plan to weaken Zhukov and lower the alertness of him and the Prince for tomorrow.

The plan is: • tonight somehow convince Kira that they’re not doing the plan she agreed on, but get her buy-in to poison everybody and get Kat out to the spaceplane, but kill nobody she wants dead, so she’ll synthesize the drugs for tomorrow. • Lane will talk to Frost, read her in to ensure the Tsar isn’t poisoned, and let her know they’re stealing the spaceplane. • during the ball, Moopsie and whoever isn’t going scan the plans and blow up the bomb factory. Kniffin will drive the getaway car. • the group who’s going enters with random cosmetics. • at the ball they spray food and drink. • Kat gets sick, Kira gets her out • the team bugs out • they go to the spaceplane • if the Okhrana is read in, they’ll get Rina the login access to wipe the servers while they hotwire the spaceplane.

Rook is going to hire a prostitute for a couple days. Moopsie and Kniffin will stay at the hotel and watch cooking shows.

Lane and Rina are going to the game. Rina’s going to be in a big fluffy hat and sunglasses. They picked up good outfits during the shopping. They picked up normal blue contacts for Rina too. She’s going to blend in!

Frost comes to pick them up. Lane says she has something to tell her that will meet everyone’s needs. They really want her help, and believe this will benefit both of them. She lays on all the butter.

Frost accedes. She’s good with the destruction of the spaceplane plans and the theft. But that leaves the Yuri/Zhukov alliance still with power. How serious are they about killing Zhukov?

Lane reassures her they’re serious – and have an idea for the Crown Prince.

Frost offers a bounty. 250k NB for Zhukov and 750k NB for the Crown Prince.

“Would you like one of Zhukov’s legs, because there is a chance his legs will be ripped off.”

Frost lets her know that her cousin is next in line for the throne, though it would have been the Princess were it not for the new religion and Grand Patriarch Armitage, who have removed women from the line of succession.

Frost says to mill around, but don’t worry, probably people will leave you alone if they don’t see any advantage in chatting you up. Just wait. But – “Oh. My cousin is here. That should make for an interesting evening.”

She waves over a ruggedly handsome man with a distinct twinkle in his eye. Frost: “My cousin, Prince Grigorii Morozov. Grisha, one of the team recruiters, Lane Bly.”

Lane, Morzov bends with a flourish to kiss your hand, then continues to hold it lightly. Lane smiles winningly at him and gives him a wink. “Aren’t you charming?”

“One tries, my dear lady, one tries.”

She turns to Frost. “You didn’t tell me how charming your cousin could be!”

“Oh, he has his uses.” They smirk at each other.

Lane thinks he’s kind of an empty suit. Rina sniffs him: weird, he smells trustworthy and all knight in shining armor.

“But of course. Recruiting. Hmmm.” He looks around the box. “Hm. Unlikely. And not my Imperial cousin, or I would have been read in. Zhukov?” He looks at Lane and Frost appraisingly. “Interesting approach. May the deep ones be with you. And if you do nick Yuri, much as I would dislike the attention, I am always ready.” He bows again to Lane and heads back into the crowd.

Rina says to Lane: “He smells weird, like a good person.”

“Well, if he has the Rina seal of approval – “

“I didn’t say that!”

Lane asks Frost if they can invite the Prince to sit with them. She says yes, and fetches him. Lane notes he’s not escorting anyone tonight. He keeps up a very voice-carrying chatter that reinforces Frost’s cover as a Tourist Bureau escort.

A few minutes before the game starts, Yekaterina and Kira swan it, immediately drawing a crowd of wasted youth. The Princess doesn’t look much like all the glossy promo images on The Tsar’s Own Truth: she looks young, and sad, and tired. Kira keeps looking over at her, with a very particular expression. Rina smells the sadness on Kat and the despair on Kira.

Rina goes to get three drinks at the bar and brings them over to Kira and Kat. They are just glasses of milk. Kira introduces her, and Rina uses her full name. Rina chats about horses: They don’t have horses or trees where she’s from. Kat is disappointed to learn that the Imperial propaganda is true. But Rina’s looking forward to her coming out party! “Coming out is special, when you know who you are.”

“There is a difference between knowing who one is and knowing what one’s role is. Here, I am little but my role.” She gives a deep sigh.

Rina asks Kira about perfume, and if they can discuss the situation in private.

Kat puts on a bright fake smile and heads off to chat with the other aristos.

Rina says they have a different plan for coming out sooner. And they’re booking air travel, that’s faster than anything here. She sends over a file to Kira’s agent. Kira can also get appropriate containers. She likes the new plan a lot. She’ll make sure Yuri feasts!

“Once you and Kat have your coming out, we’ll go kill Zhukov in his lair!” Rina explains that Moopsie wants in on the kill, as does Madison. Who’s Madison? Another doctor, but she’s a fish-person.

Kira asks if Rina wants to eat her. She says, “No that’s Lane.” 😊

“You tell us how best to meet you when you get Kat out, that’s your job.” Kira can totally get a car out of the Imperial Palace. And send a gift of perfume tomorrow to her new foreign friends.

They discuss the possibility of Kat being next in line for the throne.

“Go take care of your Kat”

Markov reports in from courtside, where he’s coaching both teams. He says that Zhukov is in the building, in the Imperial Box, court-side with the Crown Prince. Lane stops to think. She doesn’t need to interact with either tonight. She fills him in on the plan. “Yeah, sure.”

He says over his internal agent, “That was ImpSec. They want me to meet Yuri. Want me to just kill ‘em both now and call it good? I can fight my way clear to Red Sonja, no problem.”

“Be your charming self with them, get them to trust you, keep them off guard. Don’t kill them yet. If you like, you’ll have a chance to kill them later, but not tonight.”

He whines.

“We’ve got a lot of people who want in on the fun.”

“You know, me , the boss, I want to be in on it all the way.”

Everybody sings along to God Save the Tsar.

Markov calls back: Zhukov just offered him a million NB to come coach the Haiphong Howitzers - and he said “before Bly and the catgirl get you killed – that would be a real shame. I totally could’ve killed him! Ow! OK, I didn’t, right?” Butina is clearly with him.

The game is on, between the Rostokino Robots and the Metrogorodok Madmen. The Robots are working-class and the Madmen aristos - it’s not exactly a grudge match, but passions are high. The chief of police’s daughter, Yuliya Orlova, is captain of the Robots, which maybe means something, but you have no idea.

Orlova hands the ball off to a teammate and drives right into the Madmen! She spins her bike and two of them go down! The path to the goal is clear – but a Madman is riding up fast behind Orlova! She’s got her eyes on her teammate, who’s almost close enough to make the throw – does she see what’s coming behind her? The Madman leaps from his bike! Without even looking back Orlova swerves, jumps onto the Madman’s bike which is about to spin out of control, and rides right over the Madman! The spinal crunch is loud over the player’s mics! The crowd goes wild! Her teammate makes the throw! The Robots are on the board and the Madmen are a player down, barely a minute into the period!

Even up in the party box, everyone is rapt, though there was a lot of cursing and screaming when the Madmen went down.

The Madmen get on the board, but not before the Robots score another point. The first period ends, Robots 2 Madmen 1.

At the half, it’s tied, 4-4.

The party is going strong in the box – and you can tell why the guards aren’t paying much attention. This is drunk noble kids. There’s couple clearly fucking up against the wall in the hallway while the ImpSec guard Does Not Watch.

Lane, Zhukov clearly catches your eye first. But he goes over to Kat and tries to grab her. Kira steps in and blocks the grab, putting herself between Zhukov and Kat. “Mr. Zhukov! Surely you know it’s bad luck to see the betrothed the day before your engagement is announced – you wouldn’t want to curse your marriage, would you?”

Yuri laughs at Zhukov getting cock-blocked by a tiny 15-year-old. Zhukov backs down.

Zhukov – and Yuri, and their respective bodyguards – come over to Lane. “Miss Bly. How charming that you took my bait. I could snap my fingers and have Imperial Security gun you down right here, you know, but I intend much worse for you. Tell your friend the next imperial event will be a banquet to celebrate my marriage to the Princess - and the feast will be roast cats, with their cybernetics as party favors."He doesn’t gloat, he’s practically expressionless, aside from a tight smile and a deep gaze into your eyes.

She takes the Prince’s hand, says “Thank you for the information, now I would like to enjoy the game,” and smiles winningly.

Zhukov sees whose hand she’s holding, turns brick red, turns awkwardly and walks off.

She turns. “Prince Gregory, thank you so much for being here with me tonight. Now do you understand what we’re dealing with?”

“I have known my cousin since childhood, and I know his friends, so yes I do. And if you have a solution, much as I have always avoided responsibility, I would be grateful.”

She’s trying to get over her nausea at dealing with Zhukov. Grisha knows he’s holding a very clammy hand, and keeps running chatter going to reassure her.

The Madmen end up winning, 10-9, but Orlova is voted MVP, and Markov announces from the track that both team captains will be recruited into the Dome Demons. The crowd goes wild!

Orlova seems glued to Butina – looks like she’s determined to get out too.

Rook managed to find the extremely elite escort service. She describes someone about her height, size, and general appearance. They’re more than happy to provide service to elite foreign customers paying in global currencies.

There’s a knock on the door within the hour, and it is someone who looks like Rook.

“I have a proposition for you, how would you like having a spa weekend for the next three or four days?”

“Would we be going as a couple, then?”

“Let’s just say, I have reasons for wanting someone to go to know if it’s okay for someone like me. Come back and tell me all the details about every single thing. You have to do it all!”

“Are you sure I can’t provide more customary services for you along the way?”

“Let’s take a shower!”

Rook tries to fish her keys out of her dress, but gets busted.

She confesses she has a horrible crush on someone who’s going to be at the ball – but the woman doesn’t believe her. Rook is clearly a foreign spy – is she going to kill her. “No, we’re just trying to steal something large.”

She reaches into her tiny little purse and flips her her house keys. Rook says she used to do that kind of work too, and won’t disgrace her.

“Sure, go be me.”

“But you have to pretend to be me at the spa.” She gives herself a makeover to look like Rook, and gives Rook a makeover to pass as her to get out of the hotel.

The babushka at the desk saw somebody who entertains foreigners come in and then leave about an hour later, so no problem.

Hotel Slavanskaya

Markov and Butina do return with another stray. Markov says she knows something’s up, and her dad’s the police chief. Rook says welcome to the family. Rina wants a shiny beetle from the forest. That’s on tomorrow’s agenda. She wants it in a glass vial around her neck. The entertainer, as Rook, leaves for a spa vacation.

The next day, Rina goes beetle hunting, and gets bitten hard. She squishes it. Eventually she finds a beetle and pops it into a vial around her neck. She’s got a little Junebug in glass.

Lane just makes sure the dresses are ready , and reviews the plan again. She checks in with Moopsie and Kira.

Rook hires hair and makeup people to come do her up for the ball. She hates other people touching her, but for the cause it’s all good.

Rina is going as Lane’s plus-one, with the ears out, and a beetle on a necklace. Rook is going as Markov’s plus-one: bodyguards don’t count. This way he looks available but not so pathetic he couldn’t land a date.

They’re ready to go!