7403/Norton's Adventure

Norton's Adventure
Date of Scene:	05 May 2019
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Norton alters the deal, Lara prays he does not alter it further! - DARTH VADER wrote this
Cast of Characters:	Wolverine, Lara Croft, Megatron

---

Wolverine has posed:
    Witherstone might not have the reputation of other corporations, but their operations budget and supply division is first rate. Before her trip she'd been given gear as well as a carte blanche to augment what she chose to take. Portable tablets, top of the line laptops, a briefcase chemical composition exam set, as well as a bevy of electronics suited to fit her needs.
    Then, once she was in the air, she got an intel packet sent her way just in case she had been stopped before leaving the country. It wasn't illegal information, per se, but people might question how they gained it. It was all an outline of the mining expedition, their home base of operations, as well as biographies on the people there.
    Perhaps, noting her curiousity, Mr. Agamemnon had included some information about the ruins in the area as well, as well as the contracts that had been drawn up between Conglomco INC. and the natives of the area.
    Her objectives were direct, straight forwards. To acquire information about the strike, gain samples of any new finds, and if there was anything of remark outside the parameters that might be of use a generous bonus was included.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara was thrilled to have as much information on all of this provided to her as possible. It'd take up the entirety of her travel time reading it and re-reading it, with only minor public distractions such as a particularly chatting man on the flight out of New York, he'd seemed quite happy to get seated beside her and he'd made sure she knew that through endless chatter, jokes and other banter all about himself at first, but eventually about her and when he found out who she was? Well it got a lot more chatty then too!

But, Lara progressed through the information that her employer had sent her way and she felt she was ready for the challenges ahead. The area itself was fascinating alone to her and she wanted to find time to get additional 'sight seeing' done to plan future trips here, if possible.

For now though, Croft focused on studying what was given to her and hoping to find the contacts that she'd been setup with upon arrival.

Wolverine has posed:
    When she landed she was rushed through customs, one of the Federales had taken the time to peruse some of her carry-on luggage, but did so half-heartedly. He was much more intersted in asking her about herself, whether she was here for business or pleasure, whether she might need a friend to help her see the sites. And, to be fair, he wasn't entirely unattractive.
    But afterwards, when she made it out of the small airport and out onto the red clay roads of the town, she had any number of taxi drivers vying for her attention asking to take her to the hotel. Since there was only one in the area. It was visible from where she stood, old and white, three stories tall and colonial. It had probably been there for the last several hundred years.
    But with her savvy and awareness, she'd be able to navigate the obstacles to her room and out of the chaos.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara had her SHIELD credentials on her which allowed her to carry a side arm which she had all the proper papers and authorization to do so, it gave her the ability to carry it onboard planes as well and she had received (and passed) sky marshal training... though she's loathe to the thought of ever being onboard a plane where something that would require her to ever have to use that training...

Nevertheless, after arriving, she was happily pleasant to those who were equally so toward her. She's fairly used to it in her travels too, and though it has its bonuses it certainly has its setbacks too... she usually traveled with Jonah as well, but he was too busy to come on this trip so she was on her own.

Lara wouldn't fight over who would get to taxi her, she'd just choose the one that looked the most well kept and hope for the best. A light jacket on over simple clothes, a pair of dark aviators on over her eyes and her hair back in a ponytail that kept it out of her face and off of her ears... she scans her eyes about and makes simple chit chat with the taxi driver, it helping that she speaks the local language quite well.

After arriving at her room though, she deposits her belongings and makes sure to keep them locked and secure, only having out what she needs out in the moment. She spares a second to step to the windows of her room and to raise her sunglasses up to look out at the city.

Wolverine has posed:
    The driver, once he learns that she speaks Spanish, he smiles and falls all over himself trying to please her and telling her the latest news in the area. Apparently a festival is to take place over the next few days, and everyone is excited. There's a cooking contest to go along with the festival and he teases her about gaining weight if she stays through it all. He even tells her about her family and there's a brief moment of terror when he turns around in his seat to show her pictures all while the car is still going.
    But luckily they make it to the hotel. Yet while they are driving she goes past the offices of Conglomco, or rather the ones they've rented out in one of the local buildings. A few jeeps are parked outside, military ones complee with .50 caliber Browning machine guns on the back. Within she'll see some people but the shades are mostly drawn so hard to make out.
    Then it's at the Hotel, where she's shown to her rooms by the bellboy. It's definitely a place that could use some work, but it's open and airy with this time of year. All the windows are open, all the balconies as well. Spacious, and quaint.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara had certainly enjoy the conversation with her driver too, especially the part about the food and his family... even if the handsless steering had been more than a little unsettling... she was a good sport and didn't speak of it!

The bellhop who helped her too her room got a nice tip with a few large bills slipped into a hand and once inside she did continue to move around, inspecting the room idly while she sets her phone down upon the table, she assumed she was waiting for a call at this point but would give it a few moments before she investigated that further because she wanted to step outside onto the balcony.

Once outside, her sunglasses now rest ontop of her forehead, her dark brown hair gently sweeps about her brow and the sides of her face as she places her hands upon the railing and sweeps her eyes up and down the street, she tries to get a better view of that heavily guarded area, but there's not truly much to see... She's all too familiar with how dangerous these cities can be, if one noses around in the wrong places and the wrong way.

Wolverine has posed:
    From where she stands, looking out across the town with its white walls and its red roofs, she can see the steady hustle and bustle of the farmer's market not too far off, can see the preperations for the coming festival. She can even see down towards the valley, where the ruins are and the jungle. It might be best to rent a jeep of her own, though a hike might not be so bad if she intends to take camping gear with her.
    The other direction is the mountain range that stands tall by them, casting a late shadow over the township as the sun begins setting behind it.
    She had options before her, spread out like that burg. She could investigate the base of operations in the town, or go towards the ruins and the mining base...
    Or she could call up that federale from the airport too.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara decided she should get ahold of a transportation vehicle for herself, by the time she got one it'd probably be night time in which case she'd perhaps go and visit the festival for a little while, then get some rest and head out to the ruins in the morning.

She steps back into her room and gathers up her phone once more, takes a second to sort of her belongings and then stuff her luggage into the back of the closet before she slides the slotted wooden shutters closed over it.

Her room door opens a moment later and she sets out, moving through the hotel back toward the lobby and out toward the street, a light gray jacket on her upper body, a dark gray tank top and some tan slim fit cargo pocketed pants, Lara looks the part of a tourist... but one who's likely here with some kind of University. She stands out, but looks comfortable as she moves to find that vehicle rental place, scanning the streets and locals as she walks.

Wolverine has posed:
    When she reaches the rental place, a slim 'Hertz' sign wedged into the window to help guide her, she isn't exactly overwhelmed with the selection that she is offered. The woman there is helpful, of course, moreso whens he realizes that Lara speaks Spanish. But she is very vociferous about explaining to the adventurer that with the recent tourist season and the arrival of the corporate suits... they are left with what they have.
    Which isn't much. There's a small moped on hand, looking like something from the 80s. There's an old white VW van with the back lopped off for a makeshift truck bed, liner included. And there's a 90s Chevy Nova with the paint mostly peeled off. She does recommend the moped for economy, or the van for its ability to drive in the mud.
    Whichever she chooses, it may well serve. Unless she decides to go by foot.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara was pretty used to places like this not having a great selection, this wasn't that big of a town so she wasn't too surprised to find such slim pickings. Disappointment was still there, how could it not be? But still, she had to choose the VW van and did explain in-part who she was and why she was here, she needed it for its mudding capabilities.

Lara had smiled at the moped though, it was cute and it reminded her of her shortlived days as a bike delivery rider in London during her college days, which both seemed not that long ago... and another life time ago all at the same time.

The Chevy Nova didn't even get so much as a brief once-over before she went back to the VW van and motioned to it. She even paid a little extra for it just to be kind to the woman who was kind during her touring of the lot.

Once she had the vehicle though, Lara would climb inside and get it revved up. She'd take it out on a test drive around the small city block before she'd head back in the direction of her apartment, moving at a casual speed limit speed, if not slightly under it.

Wolverine has posed:
    With her gear stowed she was able to take the vehicle out for a small spin, along the red clay streets of the town and around the small farmhouses on the outskirts of it where much of the construction becomes hovels and temporary structures.
    It's on the road that she'll see armed men walking along it at one point. A quartet of them with rifles, though they also have cigarettes and beer bottles, taking their time walking the route they'd been assigned. Not too out of the ordinary in a place like this, but the CG symbol on their shirts and gear might tell her who pays them.
    Then it's back to her room at the hotel, where she's able to park the van beside the hotel in its small lot. The rest of the evening is hers to do with as she would.

Lara Croft has posed:
Once the VW was parked in the lovely little lot made for parking of things, Lara took a moment to go over it a bit more closely. She had a decenter understanding of car mechanics and she wanted to make sure that the vehicle was in fair condition before she'd head out in the morning, this ate up a little more time. Nearing completion with that she ran into a few kids in the side street beside the lot who were playing football, they asked her to join... begged her to really, so she relented and spent the next twenty or thirty minutes playing the soccer youth of the twon. When they were called away, she went back to her room where she'd spend another little handful of minutes cleaning up.

But once the sun had set, Lara was heading out of her room and the hotel, on the way to the festival with a leather bag slung over her shoulder filled with some of her research material, she'd intended to find a place to have a drink and a bite to eat while she could enjoy the music and continue to read and cross reference her work to learn as much as she could about where she'd be heading out in the morning to!

Along the way though, Lara would certainly eye the security of the CG marked individuals... they are wholy unprofessional and she gets a sense of nothing but trouble from them.

Megatron has posed:
    Purposeful recon helps her solidify her understanding of the assets that CG has on hand. Measuring the routes and the time of the patrols, the personnel on site, and the shifts needed for the workers, all valuable intel for an infiltration. Sometimes she has others to do the footwork for her, but when she needs to keep a low profile then it falls to her.
    Once it's done, she's ready but before she's about to embark she receives a phone call that illuminates the display with the man's name. 'N. Agamemnon.'
    Should she answer she'll hear his voice on the other end of the line. "Ms. Croft. Matters seem to have changed I believe."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara had woken up the following morning and she'd said goodbye to the gnelteman who'd come back to her hotel room with her, a kind man she'd met first at the airport. Nothing serious, just a casual night of interacting together with one another. She'd then gone to take a shower and clean up to prepare to go for the trip ahead.

Once she was lacing her boots up, her phone rang, buzzing on the corner of the bed beside her backpack. She stands and moves over to retrieve. Once she realizes who's on the other end she turns and sits down upon the edge of the bed.

Listening to what he has to say, Lara's eyes widen a bit at his voice. "Changed?" The British woman asks. "Changed how exactly?" She inquires, quite curious what has gone on now since she's come all this way!

Megatron has posed:
    "The parameters of the assignment," Mr. Agamemnon's voice is still that stady melodic British one, telling her politely about the situation even as outside she can see the jeeps of Conglomco parked in front of their town base of operations. The sun's still rising, barely over the horizon, but the time seems not to matter to Norton.
    "We have an informany imbedded with the mining group and apparently they made a discovery in their efforts. A large three pound sample of the combined ores found in that mine. If you find it amenable, I would prefer you set that as your primary objective."
    There's a pause, then he elaborates, "Securing it will have many positive repercussions for myself and yourself. Do you have any objection to this?"

Lara Croft has posed:
While Norton continues to speak through her phone, Lara of course holds it to the side of her face and listens while she finishes lacing her boot up. "Of course not." She says to him then. "I was just about to head out now, I had hoped to find a better vehicle for this expedition, but their pickings were rather slim with what they had available. I'm guessing the better choices have already been taken and are already at this site as we speak." She responds then as she rises up and moves to the night stand to get her watch and her pair of sunglasses.

"So what is this Informant's name?" Lara then asks while turning back around to move for her backpack and belongings attached to it.

Megatron has posed:
    "It would be best that you don't know their identity in case matters take a turn. But if you clash with security forces you will not need fear of injuring them." That having been said there's a faint electronic squeal, then a subtle shift in volume before he's able to continue. "The nugget is in storage currently in the main office. The combination for the safe is 11-17-11. Do you have any further questions, Ms. Croft?"

Lara Croft has posed:
With her things all ready, Lara starts toward the doorway of her hotel room herself now. "I understand." She says to Norton over the phone. "I don't believe I have any further questions then, other than..." She pauses at the doorway and turns away from it a second so she's not speaking directly to it and anyone who might be in the hallway. "Are these individuals who I'm not supposed to be afraid of causing harm to... looking to instantly cause harm onto me?" She says with a slight bit of levity to her voice. "Thats to say, precisely how much resistance am I to expect as I go for this vault kept sample?"

Now, Lara turns toward the doorway and opens it, she moves to exit her hotel room and shut the door behind her where she'll relock it and start to leave the building.

Megatron has posed:
    The quiet melodic voice on the other end offers helpfully, "Upon entering, you should not be treated poorly. Their rules of engagement are limited. The previous times they've captured intruders they took them for processing at the local sheriff's office in the town." All sounds good, nice and normal.
    "However," There's a firmness in the voice, "If you make a move on the item and they capture you on the way out, then I would not trust them to be as lenient. It is important you acquire the artifact and make your escape. Before then you shall at least have deniability on your side."
    There's that faint electronic squeal and a twist of sound that might speak to an error along the satellite link. It takes a moment to clear before he speaks again. "I believe their mission parameters may also be in a state of flux. Time is of the essence."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara is in the lobby of the hotel by the time he speaks of time being of the essence and she has to release a light exhale. "I understand." She says, feeling a bit of discomfort now about how much more complicated this has become. "We'll talk about alterations to my payment when I come home." She adds further, indicating she expects to be paid more... Not that she plans to keep the money, everything she's getting paid on this job is going to Jonah's restaurant in Manhatta, she wants to get him that new kitchen that she knows his place needs.

Once outside, Lara finishes the conversation. "I'll call you once I'm on my way back." She says before she lowers the phone to deactivate it. She then tosses her backpack into the van she'd rented and moves around to climb inside of it, lowering her Aviators down over her eyes to shield them from the morning sunlight as she prepares to set off.

Megatron has posed:
    The voice on the other line replies, "Of course," None of his casual politeness is damaged by the situation. He simply maintains and continues on, "I await hearing of your success. Good fortune to you, Lady Croft."
    It's with that wish for victory fresh in her ears that the phone line goes dead and the connection is broken. With the change of focus it at least ends up on putting some spice on this perhaps too normal eneavour. The worst lies ahead of her, but now... she has a clear objective, engagement parameters, and with a little luck she should make it in to that site and be gone within the space of several hours.
    That is, if all goes well.