CAPÍTULO II. MARCO TEÓRICO
2.1.2 Antecedentes de la Investigación
The
Mile High Stadium Complex has been around for for- ty-five years, and the same-named forefathers it replaced have occupied the site since the early 1900s. Its current in- carnation is a massive domed complex (much to the chagrin of many diehards) and currently acts as the primary field for a dozen Free Zone-area sports teams. When the city was split, the stadium landed smack-dab on the border between the Hub and the PCC Sector on the PCC side. Downtown wanted the stadium, but the PCC made a deal that if the sta- dium (and its revenue) stayed in the PCC, they would allow the stadium to be home to teams from all over the zone. It was portrayed as a gesture of peace that just happened to work out in favor of the PCC’s bottom line. The Hub still got the rest of Denver’s major sports stadiums, but Mile High has been the most profitable by far. This is attributed to thePCC’s advertising focus on major rivalries, the simultaneous virtuacast of every event, and the unrivaled efficiency and massive size of the Mile High Stadium complex.
The central stadium boasts seating for 89,126 fans during football, American and international, and rugby, as well as special events that require the whole field such as drum corps and marching band competitions; 95,345 for stickball with additional seating at ground level; and allows occupan- cy up to 125,003 for concerts with standing room being sold on the field around a stage. The stadium normally has a large team of riggers and drones to change over the seating be- tween events. The switch can be made fast enough to host a graduation ceremony on the field at noon, a stickball match at 1500, and a soccer game at 1900 and events are often scheduled that close together. The PCC runs Mile High with their legendary efficiency.
At least they did until February 10, 2079, the day Ghost- walker said “Get out!”
The dangers left the PCC with no choice but to temporar- ily cease operations at the site. They laid down the protec- tive stage that is used for rougher events and to protect the field when not in use. This stage sits 2.5 meters above the field and has plenty of room to move around underneath it, which is what’s going on here. The location staff, including the riggers, tech, security, and even grounds maintenance are all off.
To the north, the PCC has built a small arcology that hous- es most of the stadium staff, several hundred PCC govern- ment staff and a small contingent of PCC security. It is also the location of a small nuclear power plant that supplies all the power needs of the arcology and the stadium.
To the southeast is a smaller field, this one open to the elements, where many of the teams practice in order to be ready for more natural environs. This is also the field used for court ball, the famed Aztlan bloodsport. The structures were considered “too difficult” to integrate into the main stadium.
The northwest and southwest side of the stadium complex are massive parking lots kept for tailgating and other custom- ary activities. Beyond those lots is the real parking complex, a three-story parking garage operated by GridGuide.
Inside the main stadium, the Aztlan group is setting up a massive ritual site and a huge lodge by creating an intricate design below the raised stage inside the stadium. The stage
covers the entirety of the football field and the design covers the center of the field, from twenty-five-yard line to twenty- five-yard line and both sidelines. The stage extends twenty yards beyond each sideline and the end zones. These areas are being used to store large buckets of powders, dusts, dirt, and other materials being used for the ritual lodge. The lodge is Rating 12 and encompasses the entire under-stage area providing a barrier against astral snooping.
Prior to the evening of the countdown’s end, there are a half-dozen mages on site preparing the complex ritual di- agram on the field underneath the protective stage, a pair of Force 6 guardian spirits monitor the astral, and a dozen guards stationed in pairs around the stadium seating watch the physical realm. The guards are sitting in the areas by the two end zones and both sides near the twenty-five-yard lines, evenly spreading them around the stadium. In the light of day, they can see each other but at night they can’t make out the other guards from the dark background at a distance (–10 on Perception Tests for lighting, shifting down a cate- gory for low-light or thermographic). They aren’t robots and one may need to use the bathroom at some point. They will then head down into the halls below and use a washroom, giving runners a possible opening. Gunfire or flashy spells will be visible across the distance. The guards check in every five minutes, and their commlinks are currently slaved to their decker’s cyberdeck for extra protection.
On the evening of the end of the countdown, there are twelve blood mages on site, each with their own Force 6 blood spirit, the internal security bumps to eighteen mem- bers, and a special security team is stationed a short distance away, inside and on top of the parking garage, ready to roll in at a moment’s notice (they fast rope in through breaches in the dome two minutes after they are called). The blood mag- es are there to perform their own ritual that will focus all the energies being provided by other rituals.
Beneath the stage the mages setting up the ritual site are using lamps and flashlights. The lighting available should be based on the time of day the runners come. During the day, the dome lets in a small amount of light, meaning Partial Light above the stage in the stadium area. At night in the stadium area and all the time in the complex, the areas not currently in use are either Total Darkness or Dim Light on the Environ- mental Modifiers table.
The electronics here are all running on minimal power, in- cluding their security systems. They are also unmonitored by the normal PCC security and are currently not being as close- ly monitored by GOD (Overwatch Score of 60 to be noticed). There is still IC loaded onto the node along with a hacker, working for Aztlan, also hanging out in the node watching for any other visitors. The hacker calls in two additional electron- ics specialists if they think the runner’s hacker is skilled.
Discovering the purpose of the ritual requires an Arcana + Logic [Mental] (16, 1 hour) Test. To perform the test, the run- ners need time to investigate the materials, designs, and auras of the site. They don’t need to have the place empty, just be able to sneak around and get a good look at all the work being done. While sneaking around, make a single Perception Test for the guards versus the lowest Sneaking Test among the run- ners—but don’t forget those Environmental Modifiers.