Current Damage Track: 0 Stun | 3 Physical | -1 Modifier

Initiative: 14d6 + 5hits = 19

Sha'hGrim had known this was coming, and was unsurprised by it. - I will mourn the house later... She thought to herself, focusing on the task at hand. - They're coming in through the living room... She thought, noting two things: first that meant that they likely didn't know where the group was, at the moment. Second, it meant that they drove here. Not surprising, but also traceable. - Got ya! She thought to herself, knowing that if the group chose to make their stand here, and survived, they would have a lead on Darkon's girls. And on whomever had been tracking the team, and systematically breaking them down. Sha'hGrim realized that she may actually need to call on her Bound spirit's assistance this time. The group was smaller, by 3, than they had been last time. And without Andre's spirits, they were smaller still.

Casting: Improved Reflexes on Jenny
6 Hits, Force 4 so only 4 Hits count
Drain Resist: 5 hits, Target 4, No Drain
Full Effect: +3 IPs, +3 Reaction.

Jenny's Initiative: Jenny Reaction 4 + Spirit Reaction 9 + Spirit Intuition 7 + Improved Reflexes 3 = 23d6 + 9 Hits = 32 (I think she goes first...)

"I feel it." The Spirit immediately stated to Sha'hGrim, indicating that it knew that it had received her spell successfully.
"Good, now go. Protect us all to the best of your ability." Sha'hGrim responded. Jenny leapt forward, wasting not an instant of time nor energy. Sha'hGrim, even with her natural Low-Light eyesight, and the aid of the Vision Enhancements in her goggles would not have been able to detect Jenny moving forward if not for the fact that she knew where to look, and what to look for. Clearly Jenny had already engaged Shadow Cloak to aid her in her actions. OOC: 7 services remaining.
Sha'hGrim now turned her attention back to the group and their predicament. Jenny would be an extremely effective attacker, but completely unable to deter whatever just blew open the living room wall alone. She would need the entire team's assistance. And they would need hers.

Alexia wrote:

"Sha, if you have anything to assist communication while we're running silent, now would be the time to use it."

- Drek! Drek! Double Drek! She thought to herself knowing that, in fact, she could have helped. But there is nothing she can do now. The Spirit possessing Jenny at the moment is far too valuable to be removed, and Sha'hGrim didn't have a Spirit of Man bound. At least, not yet.
"There is one thing. But I won't be able to fight if I do it..." She said, knowing that using Watchers would do the trick, but that coordinating 3 separate Watchers, and the messages between the teammates, would in fact take all of her concentration. And it was concentration that Jenny needed right now. It was concentration that Sha'hGrim could be using to cast attack spells. It was concentration she could be using to bring in her other Spirit, if it came to that, and have it possess herself.
"I think we'll just have to shout, for now." She said, moving toward the bedroom door in support of Jenny, who was well ahead of her at this point.

Initiative roll Int5+ Reac4=9d (9d6. hits(5)=5) +9= ini 14

When the explosion happened, Darkon went away from the window. He crouched down, to be a smaller target, but he was ready to jump up and out of the way if necessary. Out of the corners of his eyes, he could see his team mates. There was a powerful magician out there. At least a conjurer. If not the others, then especially Sid would be quite helpless against a magical attack. I'll cover you. He thought. A dragons skin is cold, but the fire burns within. Outward, he now showed no sign of emotion, be it fear, agression or excitement. He was utterly calm. Inside, the fire of his anger was burning white hot. You attack me... you took my home... you hurt my friends... you killed my friends... you took my girls... you... will... BURN...

If anything magical came flying, he'd intercept the mana flow and lead it into his own defenses. And if anyone non magical would come through that door, he would let them burn.


((Free action, declare counterspelling for Alexia, Sid and Sha'hGrim. Complex action, delay action until enemies enter line of sight, then cast manaball force 7.))

"Oh! The comlinks, here." Sid said tossing Darkon and Alexia their comlinks "Their clean and ready to go, but yours I'm still working on so use this." he said, regarding Sha'grim a moment before tossing her one of the disposable comlinks that had been provided by The Exchange. "I've slaved them all to my own link so I can keep our network secure." he added after a moment, having had to remind himself that not everyone would just assume that he'd naturally do something like that.


Initative:
Jenny: 32
???: 28
Alexia: 23
Shah'grim: 19
Sid (NPC): 16
Darkon: 14

At this point assume the group is more or less 'together' near the bedrooms. As the life style necessities is set to high in this instance, your combat zone de jour is a 200 square meter home with two car garage. The kitchen is also well stocked with the latest in high end appliances and the home may be one or two stories (Up to Gala on that one)

Jenny surged forward, at once both upset and disturbed as a prisoner in her own body, and excited by the change that the Spirit brought about in her body's capacity. The Spirit was at the steering wheel, with Jenny an unwilling but delighted passenger.
"It's so much more powerful!" She thought, projecting the thought outward to Sha'hGrim. The thought came as a mixture of the excitement she was feeling, combined with a kind of child-like wonder, finally being completed with the surge in strength and speed which came from the Spirit. Obviously, Jenny had been possessed before, though admittedly less often than Chasky, but apparently the feeling was no less wondrous, no less exciting, and no less uncomfortable each time.
"It's amazing!" Sha'hGrim replied, just as excited. She was.more than delighted with the new level of communication she and Jenny had achieved, and was perfectly willing to sacrifice the minimal thought-time needed to encourage Jenny to keep communicating.
"Going!" The Spirit sent to Sha'hGrim in response to her directive. likely her direction had been unnecessary, but it had at least informed the Spirit that she had finished casting, at least, finished casting enhancements. Knowing it would need the extra edge it's Enhanced Senses would bring, the Spirit immediately activated it's powers.

Jenny Perception roll:
7 Hits

As soon as Jenny was through the bedroom door and in the kitchen, she started looking around for the threats.

"Jenny, wait at the top of the stairs, I'm coming to help." Sha'hGrim sent the thought back, knowing that the team's best chance at this point was to work together.

While the entrance had been loud and obvious, there came no rush of boots, no yelling, no sounds of guns cocking or anything more than a brief patter of debris falling down, broken glass tinkling and then...

Silence.

The living room remained empty save for a slight shimmer of dust particles as they drifted towards the ground while the smell of burnt explosives hung in the air. Some one was around, some one had to be to have blown the hole in the wall, yet the typical rush of troops never arrived. There was a slight flicker of flame from where a flash bang had started a small fire, and all the smoke soon set off the smoke detectors. This in turn caused the home's central control unit to dispatch a drone to investigate, and if necessary put out the fire or notify the fire department if it was something more than a 'minor' issue.

None the less Jenny could feel herself getting riled up yet the spirit possessing her detected.. nothing, nor did it even notice her discomfort (or if it did, it didn't seem to care). It was just an inexplicable 'something' that disturbed Jenny. Chasky on the other hand, elsewhere seemed by and large entirely undisturbed, except perhaps by the recent commotion.

Initative (1st Pass):
Jenny: 32
???: 28
Alexia: 23
Shah'grim: 19
Sid (NPC): 16
Darkon: 14
Household Drone

"I see nothing obvious.." The Spirit reported, continuing forward albeit at a slower pace.
"I'm headed down the stairs." It said, starting down the stairs cautiously. The Spirit didn't quite know what to make of this situation, but expected there would be precious little time to react fully.
"I am moving slowly." It updated Sha'hGrim again. Clearly the Spirit recognized that discretion is.often the better part of valour. Despite how un-shadowrunner that sentiment may be.

Actions:
Free: Perceive (not in detail)
Simple/Complex: held.

something about the whole situation sent Alexia on edge, they blew holes into Sha's house but whomever was behind it wasn't showing themselves. well two could play at that game, best to wait for the attackers to make their first move. nothing else would be helpfull now.
they know we're in this house. if i tried to get out because of what they might be tossing in i run right into the fatal funnel that was created. and i doubt my healing would be fast enough for what they might be able to dish out.

Staying put was the obvious choice but in the situation they were in the obvious choice was the safest at the moment unless...

Perception(12d6.hits(5)=3)
looking around quickly for any sign of movement heading to the doorway she was facing then she quickly moved to the closes window
quietly whispering to Sha Im going to drop out the window, watch my back. maybe i can get them off guard.
She prepared to jump out the window and move around quietly to the side of the house where the hole was blasted

Current Damage Track:
0 Stun | 3 Physical (-1)
Modifiers:
1 Sustained Spell (-2) | Physical Damage (-1) | Total: -3 Modifier
Stealth Threshhold: 2

Sha'hGrim stopped dead in her tracks. - Split up? I don't think that's such a good idea... She thought, turning her head to argue. Her mouth was open, and the look on her face (if you could see it) would have shown concern. But her attention was pulled back to the situation for just long enough to forget that Alexia was about to do something dangerous. - I wonder if the Drone coming to check out the fire will provide a useful distraction? And If I'm there to take advantage... She thought, realizing that the explosion would definitely trigger the clean-up drone, and might actually be enough to pre-emptively call the Fire Department. - This could work for us... She thought.
"I'm coming." She sent to the Spirit, resuming her forward motion toward the staircase. She walked several steps, exiting the door before she again realized that Alexia was putting herself in danger. [color=green]- Oh! Drek! Alexia...![/b]
[b]"Darkon, Sid. Watch Alexia's back."[/i] She hissed over her shoulder as she heard the muted sound of the Window being drawn open. She was the furthest forward at this point, already best in position to back up the Spirit. And Darkon was already in better position to watch Alexia's back. - I do feel bad though... She thought to herself, as Alexia had specifically asked Sha'hGrim for cover. Even though Darkon was clearly the best option at the moment. - Freakin' focus... She thought to herself, making a further mental note to purchase and bond another Sustaining Focus, or two, so that she didn't have to concentrate so hard on the sustained spells during battles.
By the time Sha'hGrim got to the top of the stairs, she no longer had any idea where Jenny was, and she wasn't about to switch to Astral to find out. - The Spirit can see Astral; it's dual natured. That's better than I can do at the moment anyway. She told herself, carefully taking the first step. Sha'hGrim was as focused as she could be on being silent. That is, with whatever leftover concentration she had.

Sha'hGrim's Infiltration:
Infiltration 2 + Agility 4 - Wound 1 - Sustained Spell 2 = 3d6
Infiltration: 2 Hits

Actions
Simple: Infiltration: 2 Hits
Simple: Move
Free: Speak

With the others already on the move, Sid wasn't about to sit idle. He checked his weapon before pulling up his AR interface and double checking the network status to ensure it was still secure. Hopefully with him bearing overwatch on this, even though it was bogging down his network connection speed, he'd be warned ahead of time of anyone trying to compromise the group's network. For an added bonus he reached into a pouch to pull out a small box containing his modified Flyspy drone and ordered it to launch. With the drone helping with seeking out contacts the group would at least have an extra set of eyes through the drone's improved sensor array. And while it lacked any autosofts at the moment, it was small enough and equipped with ruthenium polymers to help make an already difficult to spot drone, almost impossible.

Darkon stood there. While Sha'hGrim went down the stairs with her cat, Alexia went out through the window on the other side. Sha'hGrim at least had Jenny. He turned to look out the window, following Alexia with his gaze, looking out for any enemies hiding in the bushes. Still he was prepared to redirect any spell aimed for Sid or Alexia. Sha'hGrim unfortunately, has left his line of sight and he could no longer protect her.

Perception roll: Int5+ Perception2 -situational modifier2=5d (5d6. hits(5)=0) (ouch)

Nothing but landscape... come out, come out, wherever you are. The shaman was ready to compress mana into a spiky ball that would tear apart his enemies. That is, if he found any.

((Free action, declare counterspelling to protect Sid and Alexia. Complex action, hold until Enemies are visible.]]

A few blocks of shattered masonry fell to the ground from the hole blasted in the wall while small particles slowly settled down. The fires in the living room seemed to be more or less contained, most of the debris on fire sat in a blast zone that had burned up everything else, or at least gotten sufficiently scorched as to actually impede the spread of the fire. The house hold drone dispatched to check things out zipped along and promptly started spraying fire retardant foam from a tiny canister. It wouldn't help in a large fire, but it was more than enough to start dealing with the small fires or at least contain the situation for a little while, which was all they were actually designed to do. So far, try as they might the defenders could not see any sign of attackers, nor did they seem to make any sound. It was possible the breach was a diversion, or perhaps something else entirely as this was certainly and quickly not turning into your typical attack.

(Gala, if you have Jenny move into the Living room, please be sure to provide a perception check be it free or observe in detail action)

Locations:
Top of stairs: Gala
Bedroom: Darkon
Ouside, side wall: Alexia
Kitchen: Jenny
Guest Bedroom doorway: Sid
Living Room: Home Fire response drone

Time Elapsed: 3 seconds
Combat Turn: 2

Initiative: (1st Pass)
Jenny: 32 (0/4 Passes)
???: 28 (?/? Passes)
Alexia: 23 (0/4 Passes)
Shah'grim: 19 (0/4 Passes)
Sid (NPC): 16 (0/3 Passes)
Darkon: 14 (0/1 Pass)
Household Drone (0/3 Passes)

"This Shadow-thing; can I do that myself?" The words floated in to Sha'hGrim's mind on the thought-wavelength she was starting to attribute to "Jenny". - I gotta say, this is nice. Sha'hGrim thought to herself.
"No sweety. That's the Spirit's power - I bring them around to make you more dangerous, and less vulnerable." Sha'hGrim replied, continuing to slowly work her way down the stairs. - And because I couldn't bear to lose you... Sha'hGrim didn't add, hoping that Jenny already knew. Sha'hGrim wasn't terribly good at talking about her feelings; even with the Cats.
"The Cat is speaking with you now. This is good." The Spirit noted; the communication carried with it a palpable feeling of approval, and a mingled, partially hidden feeling of satisfaction. It was almost as if the Spirit could further trust Sha'hGrim because the Cat did. Like, her relationship with the Cat was further evidence that her magical relationships were mutually beneficial. Sha'hGrim had worked hard to foster that behaviour in herself, knowing that there were plenty of examples of Magicians who had been willing to "use" the magic they had toward their own short-sighted ends. Building the relationship, however, usually worked out better in the long run. And as an Elf, Sha'hGrim did need to concern herself with the long-run - even though she was also a Shadowrunner...
"I will look to you for guidance on how to further build this relationship. Later." Sha'hGrim responded to the Spirit. She could tell from it's mind-voice that it was focused on the task at hand, and that it's observation was nothing more than that. Her response was in-kind.

"This situation is confusing." The Spirit reported in a more "business-like" mind-voice. It was more curt, and to-the-point. It was clearly reporting, letting Sha'hGrim know that it was on-edge, and that she should be too. Not like a huge hole in the wall of her living room was insufficient indication...
[b]"I am going to look around carefully before proceeding."[/color] It stated, pausing as it entered the Living Room. Sha'hGrim took that as the perfect oportunity to peer at the room through Jenny's eyes.

Actions:
Simple: Spirit Perception Check, in detail, Astral: 4 Hits
Free: Communicate
Simple: Held

Sha'hGrim's Perception:
- Actually... I'm not quite sure how this works, and need to do some detailed reading on this... Not sure if I should use my own Perception+Intuition; or if, like using a Drone, I should use my Perception, but Jenny's Intuition; or if there's some other way to apply it. I will post my thoughts on OOC once I have a better idea of how this works.

The spirit posessing Jenny knew there was something off about what it saw in the room but for what ever reason it couldn't quite place it. Something was there, flickering but.. where? In the room certainly but... THere! Out of the corner of the eye it was there! Life, large and glaring as any aura in an otherwise lifeless room could be!

And then suddenly the thing, the man was upon it!

GM Note: Ok so the rules are really not at all setup for handling infiltration vs astral sight when both can see/interact with astral, much less anything else. Technically you could be naked in the middle of a room and with a high enough infiltration some one could completely miss you going by the perception rules but that's just silly. That said it's entirely possible that sneaking around the edges of a room one could briefly stay out of sight. In this case the infiltrator, even with a retarded penalty still got 1 more success than the perception hit. As a result I'm going to resolve this as a surprise attack scenario that allows Jenny/Spirit to act in response to it. As such using the suprise rolls I'm going to rule that she gets to have the +3 alerted bonus to her initiative roll

Responding to the Spirit's Perception only, the eyes, followed by the head, of the Cat snapped sideways, looking at... something.
"What is it? Do you see something there? Sha'hGrim asked Jenny. The response, however, was not one she would expect.

*GROWL*

Shocked, Sha'hGrim noted that the Spirit and Jenny had responded in precisely the same fashion. - At least I know they're acting in unison... She thought to herself while whatever was happening began to resolve before Jenny's eyes; through which Sha'hGrim was peering. She tried to concentrate harder, but could only see the room, the flickering flames, and the dancing shadows. - Wait... is that...? She thought as one of the dancing shadows started moving in a much more metahuman-like way. Sha'hGrim let her vision snap back, severing the Shared Connection for the moment to concentrate on getting to Jenny as quickly as possible. Though, this particular battle may be better fought without her...

Surprise Test: 9 Hits; Surprise Score: 35

Dodge Tests: First attack: 7, Second attack: 4
Damage Resist rolls: Roll 1: 10 | Roll 2: 12

If the spectre that had turned into a metahuman was real on both realms, it was uncannily fast, and most certainly using something to hide itself from normal perception. To say that their actions were blindingly fast, at least compared to most metahumans or anything else for that matter would be quite true, but Jenny wasn't just any ordinary creature at the moment, nor really was the spirit that currently possessed her. The differences in timing were literal fractions of a second, but even such tiny measurements gave Jenny the upper hand, at least for the moment. While the spirit seemed unaffected by it, Shah'grim knew, some how, that were Jenny in control she wouldn't hesitate to attack, wouldn't even consider backing down. Something about this being frightened her, made her hate this.. creature. What shreds of unwillingness there might have been before were gone on her part, not that it really mattered at the moment but she wanted this thing dead. Dead and in bloody tatters! The spirit on the other hand recognized that it had just narrowly avoided an ambush, had it not seen... had there been even a fraction more to draw its attention away to other things? No, no sense in worrying about that now.

GM note: At this point Jenny may make use of the simple action left to her this pass and combat will proceed normally. Initiative order will remain unchanged.