(Played on 27^th August 2023)

Tremen's log

Something we did in the background of our crime scene investiagation

Team Members: Spooky Witch (tech), Tharbinsan (medtech), Wakiya Kiku (Sniper/Paranoid), Ricky (Lawman), Tremen (Lawman)

As our investigations continued I was distracted by a faint buzzing sound comming from next to where I was standing - this turned out to be a burnt out listening bug planted between the (very) large screen TV and the light bar above it. The bug had burned out before we arrived in the apartment and had probably burnt out shortly after it had been placed.

Closer examination of the body by both Spooky and Ricky showed (after some initial contamination of the scene by Ricky) that the body had been shot from some range, most likely from about the bathroom door. Ricky also confirmed that the body was that of Hayato Kita. Kita was employed by Sato Imports, a import/export business dealing in alcoholic drinks¹. Kita was wearing ordinary street clothes with no sign of any robbery (other than that of his brain) as his rings and other items were still present.

Current theory is that the Victim let the perpetrator into the apartment who then shot Kita as he returned to the lounge. The perpetrator then removed Kita's brain without finesse and left.

Tharbinson reported that in addition to the cash² and cards, there was a little black book of contacts and dates. While almost all the dates are in the past there is an entry for tomorrow: Maria, 12:30 tomorrow, Shinchuko station, pink carnation

Spooky examined the brain case found earlier by Wakiya in the bedroom³. This was battery powered whose battery was capable of running the brain case for seven days (and had about four days of juice remaining). She reports that this brain case was made in america (as opposed to the cybertech of the victim which was manufactured in Japan).

Examining the lobby CCTV and the apartment building's records shows that Kita had lived there for about six years. He returned to the apartment at around noon and was murdered at about 1pm. Her returned wearing a business suit. Close exmination of the CCTV showed that the front door closed a fraction of a second later that it does normally after an inhabitant of an apartment on the fourth floor returned from getting some supplies from the local store⁴. With the help of Wakiya cameras watching the street were identified and their footage checked - these do not show anybody unexpected arriving (and in particular then disappearing behind any form of stealth technology). This suggests that the individual who presumably entered the apartment block was both stealthed and competant.

After some discussion a through search of the apartment for more survelliance devices leads to a well hidden and still operating bug. Spooky tracks the signal it is sending to the Jonanjima Port District which, as it happens, Sato Imports has a building. She believes her tracking was not detected.

Tremen's current theory⁵

Hayato Kita was involved in Sato Imports illicit business but had betrayed Sato Import (either by defecting to another gang or selling some of the illicit goods on the side). He had betrayed Sato Imports because he was being blackmailed by someone relatively imcompetant who got their blackmail from the first, now burnt out, bug. However Sato Imports are much more competant and had placed the second functional bug, possibly when they recruited Kita, They discovered Kita's betrayal and took him out in a way that demostrated to others working for Sato Imports that you don't betray them. They took the brain to find Kita's other contacts. However by making a noisy demonstration they did not leave themselves enough time for a search of the apartment.

Items taken by us from the crime scene

Getting ready to investigate our finds back at the lab

• Fake ids
• Money found at the scene
• Bugs (both the broken one and the second one⁶
• Brain case found in the bedroom
• Black Book found in the bathroom
• Blood samples
• Brain Dances
• Copy of the lobby security footage
• The body
• Photographs of the apartment

Follow up actions

• Meet and/or follow and/or surveil Maria at the train station
• Keep ear to the ground/street for any rumours swirling about Kita and/or Sato Imports

(Played on 30^th July 2023)

Tremen's log

Could this be our victim?

Team Members: Spooky Witch (tech), Tharbinsan (medtech), Wakiya Kiku (Sniper/Paranoid), Ricky (Lawman), Tremen (Lawman)

My team called to assist in the investigation of a murder at apartment block. Traffic to get to the scene of the crime terrible (so terrible that Spooky Witch (who lives nearby) was able to easily beat the rest of the team to the scene. Local attending police numbers six (and three squad cars and Crime Scene Investigation Van).

Inhabitants called in the Police after an altercation on the tenth floor. When the Police attended there was no reply from the relevant apartment but there was a blood and cyberfluid trail (of droplets) leading to (or from) the apartment to the lifts. Given the lack of response a drone was deployed through the mail slot to scan the inside of the apartment. My team called when the drone spotted the body of a male with both a gun shot wound and a head split open to reveal an empty brain case

Entered the apartment building and checked out the entryway and the lifts to assess risks and whether the perpetrator was still present at that level. No sign of either the perpetrator or of any additional blood/cyberfluid.

Proceeded up the stairs to the tenth floor, checking as we went for more signs (none found)

Entered the victim's apartment and conducted a search. Victim was Hayato Kita. Outward signs of just being a low level corporate drone but Tharbinsan discovered (hidden in the bathroom) a considerable quantity of cash and credit cards which suggests that the victim's could be something much more important. Investigations continued in the next session.

Screen shot of FGU as at the end of the session

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