Writing sample: Thief of Thieves

INTRO Cast * Celia: The protagonist and the protege of the master thief Redmond. * Altamura: The boss, an Italian eccentric. * Sonia: An Italian-American safecracker and driver. * Chip: An insufferable British lad. The hacker. * Han-Jae: A South-Korean pickpocket and the muscle. Setting The briefing of the first job for this team. Celia helped with casing the joint, a train station office. It was a surprise test of Celia's skills, and how she did reflects on the dialogue both here and in the future. [[Begin]] (set: $alt to true) (set: $car to true) (set: $cli to true) (set: $who to true) (set: $residence to true) (set: $leverage to true) (set: $smmovingon to false) (set: $guards to true) (set: $cameras to true) (set: $safe to true)

ALTAMURA We need to go through what we learned today. But first, let's bring Celia up to speed. This job is a commission and we will be paid 400,000 euros upon completion. A company called Seidler-Koch is transporting valuable cargo to Switzerland on the Alpine Express train. It is an equipment case, the size of a briefcase, containing a fragile device. It will be stored overnight in the Tirano railway station safe. This is a two-man job. Celia will lead the intrusion, we will choose the other team member later. Everything clear so far? { $alt[(link-goto: "Alpine Express? ","Alpine Express")] $car[(link-goto: "The Cargo? ","The Cargo")] $cli[(link-goto: "The Client? ","The Client")] [[Go on]] }

CELIA: What's the Alpine Express? ALTAMURA: It is a scenic train route across the Alps to Switzerland. Maybe we can take it after the job. { (set: $alt to false) $alt[(link-goto: "Alpine Express? ","Alpine Express")] $car[(link-goto: "The Cargo? ","The Cargo")] $cli[(link-goto: "The Client? ","The Client")] [[Go on]] }

CELIA: What are we stealing? ALTAMURA: We do not need to know that. We get it, we deliver it, we get paid. SONIA: Boy, will our faces be red when it turns out it was 100 million euros worth of diamonds. { (set: $car to false) $alt[(link-goto: "Alpine Express? ","Alpine Express")] $car[(link-goto: "The Cargo? ","The Cargo")] $cli[(link-goto: "The Client? ","The Client")] [[Go on]] }

CELIA: Who's the client? ALTAMURA: Someone who prefers to stay anonymous. CHIP: How do we know he'll fork out the dosh? ALTAMURA: I know him personally. He is very trustworthy. { (set: $cli to false) $alt[(link-goto: "Alpine Express? ","Alpine Express")] $car[(link-goto: "The Cargo? ","The Cargo")] $cli[(link-goto: "The Client? ","The Client")] [[Go on]] }

ALTAMURA: So, what did we learn about the security? Chip? CHIP: Dank. Total rubbish. ##### IF THE PLAYER SPOTTED ALL THE CAMERAS WHEN CASING THE STATION Celia spotted us a route through the cameras outside, no problem there. IF THEY MISSED SOME Celia spotted us some cameras. The coverage's a bit sparse, innit? Pretty sure there should be more. ##### As for the upstairs, Celia? THE PLAYER [[Spotted everything]] [[Spotted nothing->IRFailureTotal]] [[Spotted the sensor but not the keypad->IRFailureKeypad]] [[Spotted the keypad but not the sensor->IRFailureSensor]]

There are old IR sensors, and a keypad next to the elevators. [[Avoid IR]] [[Disable IR]] [[Say nothing->Damiano input]] (set: $who to true) (set: $residence to true) (set: $leverage to true) (set: $smmovingon to false)

CELIA Uh, I didn't think to look around... SONIA: Jeesus, really? Even I spotted the IR domes and the keypad next to the elevator. HAN-JAE: How do we get past them? [[Avoid IR]] [[Disable IR]] [[Say nothing->Damiano input]]

CELIA There was a keypad next to the elevator, but I didn't see the sensors. SONIA: Jeesus, really? Even I spotted the IR domes and the keypad next to the elevator. HAN-JAE: How do we get past them? [[Avoid IR]] [[Disable IR]] [[Say nothing->Damiano input]]

CELIA I saw some IR sensors, but not where to disable them. SONIA: Jeesus, really? Even I spotted the IR domes and the keypad next to the elevator. HAN-JAE: How do we get past them? [[Avoid IR]] [[Disable IR]] [[Say nothing->Damiano input]]

If it's just passive IR, we can mask my body heat and I can just walk past them. [[Continue->Pane of glass]]

CELIA Can't we just turn the alarm off? Can't you hack it or something? CHIP: Nah, the thing's practically analog. You need to enter the code with the keypad to turn it off. HAN-JAE: We need the code, then. Or to sneak past the detectors. [[Continue->Avoid IR]]

CELIA Any input here, Damiano? ALTAMURA: I have a question for all of you. What is the easiest way to get through a locked door? Celia? [[Pick the lock]] [[Kick in the door]] [[Steal the key]] [[Go around it]]

CELIA You can do that with a pane of glass, but I'm not lugging one with me. Thing is, if you wear a spa-- CHIP: SPACE BLANKET! Yeah, I was just going there. Damn, Redmond really taught you something! Just wear a space blanket and vent the body heat somewhere the IR won't see. SONIA: Sounds nuts, but if you both say so. [[Continue->Damiano input]]

CELIA Well, I would pick the lock. SONIA: Ditto. Or drill it. CHIP: What if it's one of those super secure locks? I would just blow it up. HAN-JAE: Too much noise. Pick the lock or drill it. ALTAMURA: Oh dear, I am happy we had this conversation before heading out. [[The Answer]]

CELIA Brute force. I'd just kick it in. SONIA: Hah, good luck kicking in security doors. I'd just drill the lock. CHIP: I'd just blow the door off the hinges. BOOM. HAN-JAE: ...what? You're all waiting for me to say I'd kick it in? No, just drill the lock. ALTAMURA: Oh dear, I am happy we had this conversation before heading out. [[The Answer]]

CELIA I'd figure out who has the key and go steal it. SONIA: Coming back you'd find me inside waiting for you after having drilled the lock. CHIP: I'd blow the shit out of the door. BOOM! HAN-JAE: I'm with Sonia. Drill it. ALTAMURA: Good, good. Celia was closest, but not quite there. [[The Answer]]

CELIA Just find a way around it. ALTAMURA: Yes, very good, but for the purposes of this lesson we need to go through that door. [[The Answer]] (set: $who to true) (set: $residence to true) (set: $leverage to true) (set: $smmovingon to false)

ALTAMURA: The easiest way to open a locked door is to pressure the person who has the key. CHIP: What's this have to do with the alarm cod... ooh, right. SONIA: So, who are we gonna lean on? ALTAMURA: The person with the "key", or the alarm code in this case, is the station master, Erasmo Nicchi. Correctly persuaded, he can even call the station for us and thin out the security. { $who[(link-goto: "Who? ","Who")] $residence[(link-goto: "Residence? ","Residence")] $leverage[(link-goto: "Leverage? ","Leverage")] $smmovingon[(link-goto: "Let's Blackmail", "Blackmail" )] }

CELIA Do we have any more intel on the guy? ALTAMURA: Mr. Nicchi is in his 50's, lives alone and seems to be a very ordinary kind of a man. { (set: $who to false) $residence[(link-goto: "Residence? ","Residence")] $leverage[(link-goto: "Leverage? ","Leverage")] $smmovingon[(link-goto: "Blackmail" )] }

CELIA Where does he live? ALTAMURA: Mr. Nicchi lives alone in a house of his own south of the river. It is a quiet neighborhood, even by Tirano's standards. HAN-JAE: Good, we can work without interruptions. CHIP: Uh, blud, the way you say "work" makes me worried. { (set: $residence to false) $who[(link-goto: "Who? ","Who")] $leverage[(link-goto: "Leverage? ","Leverage")] $smmovingon[(link-goto: "Blackmail" )] }

CELIA So, do we have any leverage on this Mr. Nicchi? ALTAMURA: Therein lies the trouble. He lives, for the lack of a better word, a very dull life. No vices, no family, nothing like that. HAN-JAE: I don't see the problem. Let's slap him around and threaten to come back. Simple. SONIA: I like it. CHIP: Hmm, I might have an idea. { (set: $leverage to false) (set: $smmovingon to true) $who[(link-goto: "Who? ","Who")] $residence[(link-goto: "Residence? ","Residence")] $smmovingon[(link-goto: "Blackmail", "Blackmail")] }

CELIA Hmm. Can't we make up some blackmail material? Chip? How 'bout you dig up some sick shit from the net and hack it to his computer? CHIP: My idea exactly! Except why hack, can't you just break in and copy the stuff on his computer? CELIA That's... pretty elegant, actually. I mean, we need to break in there in any case to have a little chat. HAN-JAE: Too complicated. SONIA: I agree, let's just slap him around. [[Insist on violence]] [[Go with hacking]] (set: $cameras to true) (set: $guards to true) (set: $safe to true)

CELIA Yeah, let's keep it simple. Breaking and entering plus an assault it is. ALTAMURA: I have to say I am disappointed. # IF CELIA LOOKED AT A PAINTING BEFORE: ALTAMURA: "Sans armes, ni haine, ni violence." Do you know what that means and who said it? CELIA I still don't speak Italian. IF CELIA DIDN'T LOOK AT THE PAINTING ALTAMURA: Do you remember the quote I told you, Celia? "Sans armes, ni haine, ni violence." CELIA Yes, but I don't speak Italian. # ALTAMURA: It is French. "Without weapons, nor hatred, nor violence". Written on the wall of a vault by Albert Spaggiari, as they had a picnic lunch of wine and pate in middle of the break-in. Since I am the boss here, I demand you try a peaceful solution first. Then, do what you must. [[Continue->Continue2]]

CELIA No, let's try to do this without violence. HAN-JAE: Hmh. Have it your way. ALTAMURA: Excellent. We are not thugs, after all. SONIA: As good as that non-violence sounds, thugs get the job done. This sounds unnecessarily difficult. ALTAMURA: Celia is right, and the final decision is mine. No violence. CHIP: Bangin'! I'll start looking for some peak stuff, yeah? [[Continue->Continue2]]

Before Celia chooses who goes with her, are there any more questions? { $guards[(link-goto: "Guards ", "Guards")] $cameras[(link-goto: "Cameras ", "Cameras")] $safe[(link-goto: "Safe ", "Safe")] (if: $safe is true and ($guards is not true or $cameras is not true)) [(link-goto: "That\'s all ", "That\'s all" )] }

CELIA What can we do about the camera surveillance? CHIP: Pop in to the security centre and snatch the tapes. CELIA That's it? CHIP: That's it. (set: $cameras to false) { $guards[(link-goto: "Guards ", "Guards")] $safe[(link-goto: "Safe ", "Safe")] (if: $safe is false) [(link-goto: "That\'s all ", "That\'s all" )] }

CELIA What about the human component, are there going to be guards in the station? ALTAMURA: According to my local contacts, ordinarily no. A patrol will visit the place a couple of times per night. However the company may have insisted on additional security for this occasion. CELIA So we'll see when we'll see. Gotcha. { (set: $guards to false) $cameras[(link-goto: "Cameras ", "Cameras")] $safe[(link-goto: "Safe ", "Safe")] (if: $safe is false and ($guards is not true or $cameras is not true)) [(link-goto: "That\'s all ", "That\'s all" )] }

CELIA How do we crack the safe? Sonia, should I clear the way for you, or what? SONIA: Pffh, I'm not a ninja. I'll just leave the sneaking around in a tinfoil tunic to you. ALTAMURA: You will have to do it sooner or later, Sonia. SONIA: I'll go with later, thanks. The box is dirt simple, the master thief there can handle it. I can be on standby, if not. { (set: $safe to false) $guards[(link-goto: "Guards ", "Guards")] $cameras[(link-goto: "Cameras ", "Cameras")] (if: $guards is false or $cameras is false) [(link-goto: "That\'s all ", "That\'s all" )] }

CELIA I think that's the gist of it. As for who to take with me, it's hard to say, since I don't really know you. ALTAMURA: A good point! We have some time, so feel free to settle down. Get back to me before evening. *THE END*