Cyberpunk RED Hooks

A collection of Cyberpunk RED plot hooks originally shared in the /tg/ Cyberpunk RED general thread

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From https://desuarchive.org/tg/thread/76198116/#76241001

PCs are just some scummy Edgerunners, doing jobs to get by in Santo Domingo. Party composition isn't too important, but the usual combo of a Solo, a Tech, a Nomad and a Netrunner would go down well.

Just their luck; the local Fixer has a job for them. It's an easy one too; break into a storehouse in the Heywood Industrial Zone and burn the place down. Expect 2-4 private security to be on the storehouse. The client is offering a bonus for no casualties, but the most important order is "nothing inside can be salvagable, and it has to be done tomorrow".

So the PCs may wanna scout the place out first. It's a pretty non-descript storehouse sandwiched between hundreds more just like it, maybe 20x40 yards in size (the exact layout is really the GM's purview, just be sure to have a main floor, a gantry, a set of offices attached etc). Security seems to be two men inside and two men making rounds outside at all hours (just bog-standard security, nothing too fancy). There's a shift change around sun-down and again at sun-up.

The PCs can go about this however their skills best apply; kidnap and impersonate one of the security teams, go in guns blazing (hey, no casualties was optional), sneak in all sneaky like, make a big distraction to draw the security away etc. Really up to them. The security could have pass keys to get through any security (which could be lifted), or the Netrunner will need to hack the local network (with the Tech doing any physical lock-picking). As the GM just make sure you've adapted this to suit your PCs' skillsets. If there is any Hacking, make sure the Difficulty Rating of the NET Architecture is one step higher than what is rated for the PC. This should be the first clue something is off.

(Depending on HOW they get in, the PCs might trigger a Daemon-controlled Spider Drone or Turret, another hint that the job is going sideways).

Regardless of how, the PCs will get into the storehouse and deal with the Security. Inside are banks of servers, way too much for just a few rent-a-cops to be protecting in some storehouse on the docks. PCs who are into that sort of thing can break into the adjoining offices and a little digging. Again, the NET Architecture is way too advanced for what the job entailed, but provided they can crack it, they can learn that the storehouse and its contents are owned by an up-and-coming local Corp out of Taiwan called Chia-Ling which provides cyberoptics at a fairly bargain price. Also, the servers seem to be housing visual user-data recorded from their optics... In any case, the PCs can either wipe the servers clean, or literally burn the place to the ground.

No matter how careful they were, this is when the Corporate Solos show up. It's a god-damn set-up. Have a tough team of Solos ambush the PCs (or maybe not too tough if the PCs are a little wrecked) and they're playing for keeps. The PCs will either run or fight (running might be more appropriate, also gives you a chance to run a nice little chase sequence through the industrial zone with all manner of heavy machinery and drones).

Hopefully the PCs can smell a rat and will direct their frustrations towards the Fixer who gave them the job. The Fixer has gone to ground, but a little digging and a few busted knees will reveal their location. The Fixer didn't get a name, but was on their way to collect the other half of the fee. Obviously the PCs will want to get in on this. The meet is taking place on the border of Heywood and New Westbrook at a disused community centre. The Client is a typical Corpo-type, well-dressed, nice car, a bodyguard. The PCs will do whatever they do, but in the end the following can be revealed; the Client works for Chia-Ling, and they've been fighting from the inside to stop the Corp from recording and storing the visual data of users (violation of privacy rights - I know, shocking social commentary). Unfortunately for them, another Junior in the company has been making moves against their efforts (the rival is the one who sent the Solo team), but in the end the servers were destroyed, but they're just one bank of many many server rooms.

Looks like the PCs might have a chance of ongoing employment with this Junior Corpo, provided they are civic-minded of course... They may just snatch this person and give them up to Chia-Ling for a reward. Who knows?

Alternatively

Might like it better if the other exec is just trying to wipe out the evidence because he knows it’s illegal and INSERT ORGANIZATION is investigating and he put out an insurance claim on the data stacks anyway.