//File 1.1 - Better Than Life//

"Mr Westwood, your friend Mr Ozaka has asked me to manage a matter of great concern on his behalf." It was interesting that the elven woman did not introduce herself, as was always the case when anonymity is needed. In the shadows, they were known as Mr Johnson, which could refer to any gender, race or nationality. "The swords you have been gifted bear the crest of the Wanabuchi-gumi, and while they are given freely as a gift to you, they also represent the duty you owe in return to Ozaka. If you are unable to bear that duty, then you have no right to bear the swords as well. I explain this to you not to place any obligation on you, but simply to explain what Ozaka's honour would not allow him to so openly elucidate." It was then that Clint noticed that the metallic clasp holding her hair in place bore the same crest.

The woman let that sink in for a moment, then continued. "As you know, Ozaka has had some property stolen from him, and he wishes to recover it. The cases that were lost from his plane are now in someone else's possession. While I know who the likely culprit is, it is inappropriate for myself to take action against them directly, without escalating hostilities into open violence amongst the clans. This is where you come in Mr Westwood. You can take action on our behalf without implicating a larger conflict. For this you will be paid handsomely, and more valuably, gain our favour.

In fact, I have just been alerted to an incident which is happening as we speak, related to this theft. It would be a good starting point to your investigations."

I understand. Then I suppose you should give me more info on this incident to see what I can do about it...

"We can do better than that. Hayasa here will take you there straightaway. I will continue to brief you over your commlink. Please forgive the urgency and the impropriety of not formalising this arrangement properly. Clint saw that drinks had been prepared at the table for the occasion. This assignment would've been much simpler had the courier stuck with his original instructions." The man next to Mr Johnson stood up and showed Clint out through one of the inner doors, through a corridor, and finally out to a parking garage behind the club. Of the various vehicles parked there was the Skyline GTi. "Seatbelt." Was all Hayasa said when Clint got in, and immediately they were off. The car was one of the fastest on the roads of neo-Tokyo, even faster in the hands of an experienced rigger as Hayasa was. It was only through Clint's improved reflexes that he could still see the streets of the city, which would've otherwise been a blur to him.

The voice of the elven woman spoke. A courier has arrived from London with a package to be delivered to Tengu Corp. We have reason to believe that an attempt will be made to relieve him of that package, which contains dangerous biochemical material, by the same culprit as those who hijacked your plane. We had made preparations to intercept him ourselves, but two hindrances occurred. The first was that the courier was initially detained by the airport authorities. The high alert at the airport meant we did not have the opportunity to get to him. The courier was reported to have resumed his task,and boarded the train to Akihabara. We also have agents ready there. However, he decided to get off the train at Tennobashi-zu station instead, many stops away. I suspect he will be ambushed there. Hayasa is taking you there now. Prevent the package from being stolen. Take it yourself if you must. Stop the thieves by any means necessary. IF the courier is himself an accomplice, deal with him."

Making sure to get back his swords on the way out, Clint follows the instructions and listens silently until is Ms. Jonhson had finished speaking to ask a few questions...
I'll need a little more info to augment the chances of success. What can you tell me about the courrier, any picture, name or codewords he was given? What kind of container is used for package, a suitcase, a backpack or something else? Is there a way to confirm I have the good package and no exchange as been done ? Any idea on what kind of force the opposition could be deploying? Can Hayasa stand-by for rapid extraction? And lastly, does he have a spare gun on him ? Every answers here will add to the succes of the mission.

One Jacques Etienne. Here's his picture from the airport records. The image on Clint's commlink showed a young man, barely twenty, wearing a light-coloured hoodie and denim. Medium-sized luggage case on wheels. We neither have the codes to open the package nor further means of identifying what is inside. No idea about the opposition, but it'll likely be a fast-response mobile unit, given that they would've had to track him swiftly and adjust to his sudden detour. It is more likely that the courier, Etienne, is not an accomplice, but we smell police involvement as well, apart from the opposition. Avoid harming the police, for obvious reasons. Anyone else is fair game.

Hayasa spoke up. "I'll be ready at our agreed upon extraction point and stipulated time. If you miss it I can still circle back, provided the zone isn't too hot. Here, we have cowboy guns for you." The rigger smiled, and one of the vehicle compartments opened. Inside was a small box, and within the box a pair of Ruger Super Warhawks and spare ammunition.

Clint takes the guns and ammo and puts them into his duster... Those should do just well... Now, let's do this Mr. Etienne Hayasa. Stay ready at the exit and keep your comm open in case I need to change the extraction zone.

They had arrived at the Tennobashi-zu station in record time. Clint could tell Hayasa was secretly pleased that he got them there so quickly and efficiently. It was one of the stops in the outskirts of greater neo-Tokyo, along the bullet train line that shuttled from Narita airport to the main city centre, serving to move thousands of travelers arriving in Japan to the city in an affordable way. It made sense for a courier to use the train if they wanted to remain anonymous about their arrival and blend in with other travelers. Still, it was a dangerous, terrorist thing to do to have brought in a biohazardous chemical which could only be used for nefarious purposes. Clint had to make sure it did not fall into the wrong hands.

Hayasa drove off immediately after Clint alighted. The station on his side had only one large entrance, an open ground level entryway. To his far left were escalators, his far right was an elevator. Directional signs indicated that the turnstiles were one floor down, and the platform level was two floors down.

Incredible driving Mr. Hayasa. Not its my turn... Clint gets off and goes for the first wall map he sees to locate where his courier should arrive from... Of course, he's already scanning the crowd for any suspicious individuals and he removes his hat to try to blend in as much as he can...