Michael: |
The hell is this place? |
Lester: |
A garment factory. I needed a job that didn't require me to do anything apart from, uh, paying taxes. |
Lester leads Michael to his office upstairs. |
Michael: |
What have you got? |
Lester: |
The Holy Grail - the Union Depository. Now, they say it cannot be hit. Hasn't been yet. |
Michael: |
Look, I just owe some Mexican a couple of million bucks 'cause I wrecked his girlfriend's house. I don't need to go crazy here. |
Lester: |
He's not supposed to be very nice. |
Michael: |
Oh, when I met him, he was charming. |
Michael: |
So what do you think? |
Lester: |
Oh, erm, let's see, either we hit a bank in the sticks, or we do a store. Which do you like? |
Michael: |
Well...a store's usually easier, but I gotta make a big take. |
Lester: |
Well, gems it is, then. Let's go to Vangelico, buy ourselves an engagement ring. |
Michael: |
And we're gonna need a crew. I can round up some of the old guys? |
Lester: |
There are no old guys. Moses, ironically, he found Jesus. All those Irish crazies, they mostly just disappeared, that crew from the south, they all went down. There was a...an Eastern European guy making moves in Liberty City, but...nah, he went quiet. |
Michael and Lester go outside. |
Michael: |
Alright. Well, we're gonna need a crew. You got any contacts in LS or not? |
Lester: |
I've been working with someone, but they're too unpredictable. I'll have to reach out to some other guys. |
Michael and Lester get into Michael's car and head to the Vangelico jewelry store. |
Lester: |
The shop's on Little Portola. Your FIB buddies, they, uh, know you're back in business? |
Michael: |
FIB buddies? What are you talking about? |
Lester: |
I checked out the WPP thing. It doesn't look like any WitSec program I'm aware of. Well, for starters, they don't put witnesses up in multimillion dollar mansions in Rockford Hills. |
Michael: |
Oh, maybe they thought this would be the best cover. |
Lester: |
And most witnesses don't transfer five figure sums into a particular FIB agent's bank account every month. Of course, the money gets moved around and washed through a number of fronts, but the trail is there: deposits and withdrawals, the same sum every month. Agent Dave Norton. White middle-aged divorcee, unremarkable career except for one incident: the shooting of a notorious stick-up man, Michael Townley. |
Michael: |
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, alright. Lester, I'm very impressed. |
Lester: |
Look, we can talk about this another time. Take these glasses. |
Michael: |
My eyesight's fine. |
Lester: |
They're fitted with a camera and a radio relay. I'm going to run the operation from the car, while you're in the store getting what we need. |
Michael puts on the camera glasses and goes to Vangelico on foot. |
Lester (Voice only): |
You reading me? |
Lester (Voice only): |
Okay, we need shots of the security features - the alarm system, ventilation, cameras. |
Michael gets greeted into the store as one of the staff members opens the entrance door for him. |
Store Staff: |
(not in subtitles) Sir. |
Michael: |
(not in subtitles) Thank you. |
Lester (Voice only): |
The alarm keypad is on the left when you come in, on the wall by the side door. Glasses are live, shoot away. |
Michael activates the camera glasses and takes a picture of the alarm, vents and security camera. |
Lester (Voice only): |
Shot's come through. Camera: check. Alarms: check. Vents: check. Good work, now speak to the assistant and see if there's anything else we need to know. |
Michael approaches the store's cashier. |
Michael: |
Hey, beautiful. I need to pick up a little something for the woman in my life, well, one of 'em. |
Vangelico Cashier: |
Sir, I'm sure we can help you. Tell me about her, what's her taste? |
Michael: |
Cheap, thank God. This ain't my wife we're talking about. (chuckles) I don't know...I don't want to spend too much, I'm thinking, maybe...ten grand? |
Vangelico Cashier: |
Our rings start at eight, our pendants start at twelve. |
Michael: |
Alright. So, these things built to last, or am I just paying for the Vangelico logo here? |
Vangelico Cashier: |
Ah, no no no no no. We use perfect clarity jewels, 18K gold, 950 platinum. Nothing but the best. |
Michael: |
Alright, I think you just made a sale. I'm gonna take a look around, think about it, come back to you, baby. Don't go anywhere. |
Vangelico Cashier: |
I understand. |
Vangelico Cashier: |
Thank you, sir. |
Lester (Voice only): |
Come back to me. |
Michael leaves the store and heads back to his car. |
Lester (Voice only): |
Almost. I need to get eyes on the roof of the building, see where the ventilation comes out. |
Michael gets into his car. |
Lester: |
Drive us around the block. We gotta find a way up to the roof. |
Michael checks around the block to find an access point to the rooftops. |
Lester: |
Look, there. Some construction. |
Michael: |
Ah, if they're gutting the place, I might be able to get to the roof. |
Michael leaves his car and heads to the rooftops. |
Michael: |
So, you keep up with the old crew? |
Lester: |
Well, after your death/disappearance, there wasn't much holding us together. |
Michael: |
Yeah, you see him at all, after the incident? |
Lester: |
I kept tabs on him for a while, needed to know that he didn't blame me. |
Michael: |
Yeah, where'd he go? |
Lester: |
North, south, east, west, whereever there were liquor stores to turn over and hitchhikers to disappear. |
Michael: |
Where did they bury him? |
Lester: |
They buried him? Not as far as I know. |
Michael: |
He's probably a John Doe then, right? What do you think? OD? Shootout? Maybe just a car crash, right? |
Michael finds a ladder to the roof. |
Lester (Voice only): |
I saw a ladder. Climb up and see if you can get to the roof. |
Michael: |
I'm on the roof. |
Lester (Voice only): |
Alright, use the glasses to get a shot of Vangelico's roof unit. It'll be right above the store. I've pulled up a satellite image. It looks like the highest point is on the north west side. Get a shot from there. |
Michael heads to the vantage point. |
Lester (Voice only): |
Right, you're well placed to take the photo of the system now. Okay, capture an image of the system and we're done. |
Michael takes a picture of the ventilation system. |
Lester (Voice only): |
We've got our shot of the Vangelico unit, looks good. Okay, that'll do. Now, come back to me before someone spots you up there. |
Michael goes across the rooftops and heads downstairs back to his car, and gives the camera glasses back to Lester. |
Michael: |
Here, take your glasses back. |
Lester: |
Let's go back to the garment factory, I called ahead and told them to start setting up the information. |
Michael and Lester drive back to the garment factory. |
Michael: |
So, what did you see? |
Lester: |
Nothing that'll cause undue complications. |
Michael: |
Yeah, it looked like a simple set-up: cameras broadcasting to a remote server. We might be able to wipe 'em remotely. Security guard on the door: he won't want to die for rich assholes that rub his nose in it. |
Lester: |
Good. The alarm system's linked to the door lock. We'll get a good window if someone talented hacks it. |
Lester: |
Well, the, uhh, more valuable merchandise is in the cabinets in the center of the store by the register. so I'd start there. Umm... Glass in the cabinets wasn't bulletproof, means you can smash 'em easy enough, but the stones'll be in the safe at night. |
Michael: |
So, we go in when it's open, then? |
Lester: |
Right. Once we melt down the gold, re-cut the rocks, that's an okay score. |
Michael: |
Yeah, shame we can't go in after hours, man. Those vents looked promising. |
Lester: |
Might be able to flip that another way. |
Lester: |
Wait 'till we get back. |
Michael: |
About the crew... |
Michael: |
There's this kid who's been helping me. Maybe we could cut him in. |
Lester: |
I don't work with amateurs. |
Michael: |
He ain't an amateur. Or, if he is, he's a gifted amateur about to turn pro. He's a good kid, Lester. |
Lester: |
You know what they say, it's your funeral, one of them, at least. |
Michael: |
(nervous chuckle) |
Michael and Lester arrive back at the garment factory. One of the factory's workers hands the processed photos to Lester. |
Factory Worker: |
Here are the photos. |
Michael and Lester head into the office. |
Lester: |
My workers have their uses. Okay, let me set this up. |
Lester puts the photos on the planning board, which already has Vangelico's blueprints, an EyeFind Maps satellite photo of the rooftops, a part of the map of Downtown Los Santos stiched to go along with a map of a subway path as an escape route. |
Michael: |
(chuckles) Nice to see the methods haven't changed. |
Lester: |
Well...we gotta figure out what we're doing somehow, all the crews, the roles, prep work. Don't want to leave evidence behind on a hard drive. So, yeah, the er...methods don't change. |
Michael: |
Right, not for a pro. |
Lester: |
(chuckles) Well, mapping out the options and showing you all the angles, that's my area of professional expertise. But making decisions, that is your domain, my friend. Here. |
Lester finishes putting the photos on the planning board. |
Lester: |
There's two ways I see of doing this - we go in smart, or we go in loud and dumb. Remember the vents? If we're gonna be smart, we pump a little knockout gas through the air system, then hit the cabinets while everyone's out. You'll have to source the gas, of course, but crowd control won't slow you down, and that might improve the take. The cover is pest control, so no one will look twice when you're wearing gas masks, that means getting a pest control van, though. You go in dumb and you'll need your famous way with people and four carbine rifles. We can't buy 'em and risk 'em getting traced. No no no, we gotta find some in circulation. It's awkward, it's real awkward, but this is the gun favored by LSPD tactical teams, so one of their vans is probably a good place to look. A hacker can disable the cameras, the length of time depends on their ability. The alarm will be operating on the same window. The exit strategy is more or less the same for both options: the driver you pick will, of course, source some bikes. You come out of the store, and make your way through the new subway tunnel they're digging off the Del Perro freeway. You lose the cops in there and meet a truck in the LS river. |
Michael: |
Alright, I want my guy, Franklin, on the getaway. He can handle a bike. |
Lester: |
Alright, if you vouch for him, I'll take the risk. So, how do you wanna do this? Run in through the front door, or try to play it smart? |
The player decides on the approach. |
Lester: |
(If the player chooses the Loud approach) Ah, still a hothead? Some things never change. (If the player chooses the Smart approach) Ah, you've grown wise and cautious in your age. Okay. |
Lester: |
Select personnel with that in mind. As ever, the better they are, the bigger the cut. Now, the driver, they'll source the bikes, lead you out through the tunnels. |
The player decides on the getaway driver. |
Lester: |
(If the player chooses Eddie Toh) Eddie Toh. Well, you can count on him to get you out of a spot. (If the player chooses Karim Denz) Ah, okay. This one's new blood. I've seen him drive, but I haven't seen him under pressure. |
Lester: |
(If the player chose the Loud approach) Guns. It might be hot and heavy in there, this guy'll keep it from going bad. (If the player chose the Smart approach) Guns. We're hoping to keep quiet, so this guy shouldn't make much difference. |
The player decides on the gunman. |
Lester: |
(If the player chooses Gustavo Mota) Gus Mota. He's a pro, not much else to say. (If the player chooses Norm Richards) Ah, Norm, came across as a bit of an idiot, but could be useful. |
Lester: |
McReary? He was part of a well-known Liberty City stick-up crew. Small world. |
Michael: |
(If the player chooses Patrick McReary) I got a good feeling about him. |
Lester: |
Hacker. Back office, but this is the person who will determine how long you'll get inside. |
The player decides on the hacker. |
Lester: |
(If the player chooses Paige Harris) Harris. Good. Feminine touch. She'll be able to find any back doors they got. (If the player chooses Christian Feltz) Feltz. Okay, he's not the best, but if you move fast, that won't matter. |
NOTE: The following dialogue will play only if Michael receives Rickie Lukens' phone call prior to the mission. |
Michael: |
This guy - Rickie. I met him at the Lifeinvader office. He may not be that good, but he's enthusiastic. (If the player chooses Rickie Lukens) Let's take a chance on him. |
Lester: |
*If you're happy, I'll start making the arrangements. *That look good to you? Are you sure? |
The player confirms their choices. |
Lester: |
(If the player confirms their choices for the Loud approach) Okay, I'll look into how you can find a tac team and get their weapons, and I'll be in touch. (If the player confirms their choices for the Smart approach) Great, I'll do some research on a pest control van and the knockout gas, and I'll be in touch. |
Lester: |
Ah yes, good...good. I'll call you when everything's ready. You'll need to pitch it to the guys. |
Michael: |
Whoa, what, my rep don't count for nothing no more? |
Lester: |
You're a dead man, Michael. I'll call you. |
Michael leaves the garment factory. Upon doing so, he calls Franklin. |
Franklin (Voice only): |
Eh, wassup. |
Michael: |
Hey man, it's me, Michael. |
Franklin (Voice only): |
What's going on? |
Michael: |
Listen...err...I gotta get hold of the money for that house we pulled down, so, well, I'm getting a crew together for...you can guess. The pay'll be awful, and the risk'll be high, but you might learn something, if you're interested. |
Franklin (Voice only): |
Man, that's not exactly a great sales pitch, dog, but I guess I gotta start somewhere. |
Michael: |
Thank you. Maybe one day you can put together your own deals, your own...jobs. So, there's still some preparation I gotta do, sit tight for a while, my buddy Lester will get in touch with the details. |
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