//------------------------------// // Chapter 69 - Hidden // Story: The Freelancers // by OverHeart //------------------------------// The skytrain had been stopped no less than three times along its route to the Arcology by a mixture of corporate security and Arcology staff. Each passenger was searched and their credentials checked, which Phantom had cleverly prepared for by handing out some convincing enough fake ID cards when they first boarded. After a cursory glance at each of their cards and being asked what their business at the Arcology was, they were allowed to remain. Some of the other passengers were removed, some willingly, others with a swift strike to the back of their skull and dragged out by force. It was unusual to see Arcology police forces out this far conducting so many extended stops so often. By the third time, everyone was thoroughly tired of repeating the same answers over and over. Except after the third time, Arcology security didn’t leave, they remained at the doors of each skytrain car while Canterlot corporate security left in a real hurry. They probably lacked the jurisdiction necessary when the skytrain finally crossed into what was Arcology territory and didn’t want to rile up the Bat Pony officials further by staying. It was odd that Arcology security were present at all when they were stopped in Canterlot, but those present knew better than to ask why. Four doors, four heavily armed goons with an expression only a lifetime of eating synth-lemons could cultivate, clearly something was up. Unsurprisingly, there were no announcements to explain why there were armed goons on a skytrain full of tourists, nor was there any indication or clue as to who all this security was for. Phantom believed Sheet Rock when she said they had nothing to do with it, as such a strong response would’ve taken time to co-ordinate following an alert. “They aren’t your run-of-the-mill police.” Matterhorn muttered. “Arcology Counter-Intel. They’re the kind of ponies that make other ponies disappear without a trace.” “You’d know better than I.” Star replied just as quietly. “I suppose you’ve run into them before?” “More than a few times.” Matterhorn replied grimly. “They’re only called in when the circumstances call for them or if someone’s really screwed up, so trust me when I say, you don’t want to piss them off.” “So what’s the plan?” “We keep our mouths shut and give them no reason to suspect us.” Phantom remarked. “Once we’re somewhere a bit safer we can go over the job again.” The skytrain slid into the Arcology’s Transport Hub in short order and came to a gentle halt to an empty station platform. Unsurprisingly, the goons at the doors were the first to leave, but remained in clear sight as if to dare someone to start trouble. Outside of the transport hub was a single steel panel walkway leading up a small hill to the Arcology proper. Star eyed up a couple of anti-air sentry weapons, the same kind that had blown them out of the sky not too long ago as they tracked objects in the sky for a while until they went out of range. “Safest place in Equestria, apparently, at least if you ignore the predatory corporate culture and automated weaponry trained on you at all times.” Phantom pointed out. “Feels weird to be home though.” “I was born in a corporate compound in the middle of the desert, so think yourself lucky you didn’t have to deal with that as well.” Star said. “You know what I miss about my corporate life though?” “Air Conditioning.” Matterhorn stated flatly. “Tell me I’m wrong.” “Funny what we take for granted, huh?” The pathway up to the main gate was pockmarked with small dents and dings, and the markings delineating space for those on hoof and those in vehicles were heavily worn and barely visible. Firefights regularly broke out here, although the heavy presence of drones and armed riot police normally made short work of them, so the damage to the road could be considered more of a warning than anything The three were behind a group of noticeably drunk and noisy tourists, who despite being ordered to calm down before entering, one of their number decided to berate the gate guard. He let this continue for a while before he nodded to an officer in slate gray riot armor, who despite his considerable bulk, moved with shocking dexterity. The would-be assailant suddenly found himself sailing over a low railing and ended up at the foot of a small tree with a very big headache. Seeing this, his friends made a number of excuses on his behalf, all of which were ignored. Amusingly, the gate guard chuckled that perhaps a few hours in a cell will correct their friend’s attitude before he ordered them inside, lest they join him in a cell of their own. They complied and entered without further incident without their friend, who was busy being dragged away. “Anyone else feel like being funny?” the gate guard said to the line of waiting ponies. “No? Good. Next please, and have your identification ready.” “Act natural.” Phantom said, smirking a little. “Don’t be like that guy.” The stallion eyed up their IDs in a disinterested manner until he got to Matterhorn’s, his face turned into a mixture of amusement, then surprise, then to panic. Most of the information on the card was correct, except his name of course, but there was one crucial detail that probably shouldn’t have been on there. “You’re a Class Five arcane talent?” “That’s what it says.” Matterhorn said flatly, glaring at Phantom knowingly. “I hope that’s not an issue?” “I’m required to warn you by law that usage of any arcane abilities at that level will be met with the same outcome as pulling a firearm, being Class Five I expect you already know this.” “In other words, no magic, yeah I get it.” “That said, what’s your business here?” the guard said, returning to being disinterested. “Just need something to put in my ledger by your names and ID numbers.” “Business.” Phantom answered. “Maybe a bit of recreation afterward.” The stallion hummed. “Fair enough, go on inside.” Matterhorn waited until they were out of earshot and laid into Phantom. “Class Five talent, seriously?” “It’s true isn’t it?” “The amount of ponies that have a Class Five rating number maybe in the thousands, a quarter of which work for the Crown at minimum.” Matterhorn growled. “You couldn’t go for anything more believable?” “Excuse me, I don’t quite understand the issue here.” Star interjected. “It’s essentially a measure of a Unicorn’s raw talent, it very rarely aligns with their actual skill level if they aren’t given training, but let’s just say that Class Five rating is well deserved on my part.” Matterhorn pointed out. “Every Class Five ‘s biometric record is held by their employer, assuming they’re above board. I trust you see the issue here.” “Oh shit.” “Shit indeed, Phantom. You’ve effectively advertised the fact I’m an unregistered Class Five to the largest security-focused city state in the world.” Matterhorn said with a heavy mocking tone. “You better hope this mug isn’t on a wanted poster or anything.” “I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a squad behind that door at this point.” Star said, getting a little angry now. “I see now why Access can be so damned reckless if this is who he learned from.” “It was either a Class Five arcane talent or a Dash-type flier, I didn’t have much to work with!” Phantom half-shouted. “These cards aren’t easy to come by, especially so if they’re blank, so it was part-filled or nothing. I had to come up with this plan short notice, so you’ll just have to get over it.” Before the argument could heat up any more, Phantom went over the plan again with this so-called screw up in mind. First, they’d need access to someone’s residence or access to a router in a public area so Phantom could set up the bridge between the Arcology’s public and private systems. Next, find GeneTech’s office in the administrative section and get inside. Sheet Rock and Access would then disable security and unlock doors where necessary, allowing Phantom to exfiltrate the data they needed. If need be, Matterhorn could crack some heads, if someone could be talked down without having to resort to violence, Star could handle that. In theory it was a solid plan, but there was a lot of room for things to go very wrong given the chance. Phantom could investigate why the Arcology let loose its ICE early once she found a router to hook into, but until then, they’d need to tread very carefully. She couldn’t very well go pulling panels off of walls or tear down cables from the ceiling in plain view, but as they walked into the brightly lit atrium she spotted a small bar that catered to new arrivals fresh off the skytrain as it were. “Are we clear on our roles?” “Act natural, keep you in sight, warn you of trouble.” Star repeated. “Keep a call open to all of us, okay?” “Sure, Sure. I’m going to find somewhere discreet to hook in, until then, find a good vantage point and keep a lookout.” Phantom stressed. “Get a drink or something.” Phantom casually sauntered away, acting like she had nowhere in particular to be. Matterhorn and Star took up a spot at one of the bar’s tables, which had decently good lines of sight to most corners of the atrium and waited. There weren’t many guards, but there were a number of cameras placed in plain view at strategic points along the walls. After a few moments, Phantom seemed to spot a maintenance panel behind an empty reception desk judging from the signals she was giving. She pointed at the ceiling, as if to ask if anyone was watching. Nobody was as far as they could tell, and she’d probably be shielded from view if she could get behind the desk, assuming nobody walked up to it. She couldn’t be sure where the point at which Sheet Rock and Access could cross to the private subnet would manifest, assuming it did at all, but she was sure they’d know it when they saw it. Beneath the desk was a battered network hub, presumably the one that served this reception desk’s computers and phones. To her surprise, this hub seemed to have a physical connection to the private portion of the Arcology’s subnet, so it was a matter of bridging the two connections with a little software patch. She slipped a cable out of her jumpsuit’s pocket and connected one end into the hub and the other into her neck, and with luck this should only take a moment. The progress bar overlay on the hub slowly climbed, and it felt like an eternity had passed by the time it filled completely. “Sheet, I’ve bridged a connection to the private portion of the subnet, I’m gonna go see if I can locate a couple of others just in case.” she spoke to the shared call. “How much of that did you hear back there?” Sheet Rock’s response came quickly. “Pretty much all of it, didn’t know you were that sloppy.” “I know it was a bit slapdash, but it really was that or nothing.” “I believe you.” Sheet Rock soothed. “Coincidentally, there’s a network hub above you somewhere in residential, and another under the big staircase in the back.” “Didn’t I say lay low?” “Saves you having to wander around like a lost puppy.” Sheet Rock said blankly. “It seems like that patch you deployed gave us some access, but not a proper direct connection, you’ll have to find another so we can verify.” “You find a map too?” Phantom said after a noticeable pause. “I could use some help here.” “Sure, I can guide you, just leave it to me.”