Approved Bloodhound Acquisitions Services

Sly

A Literal Metaphysical God
Owner
Sep 1, 2020
32
5
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WELCOME TO BLOODHOUND ACQUISITIONS SERVICES. WHAT IS THE NATURE OF YOUR ORDER?



ORGANIZATION
Bloodhound Acquisitions Services, commonly known as Bloodhound Acquisitions or simply the 'Hounds' by street gangs, is a private detective agency, rent-a-cop, bounty-hunting and repossession organization all in one. Each contract may differ from each other by its terms and pay, but must follow the same rule: a target must be specified first, before all else can follow. Open-ended contracts, such as bodyguard duties are not entertained. Among all other things, the company prides itself in providing fast and reliable service on the pains of its own field operatives: Silicon Point will drown in the blood of a thousand Hounds before they break a contract.

The organization is relatively big and spread out, although its expansion is kept in check by its sponsor, Manticore. Due to the extreme level of organizational security not much is known about its structure, much less number of support staff. All that can be verified is that the company has enough resources to continually replenish its high casualty rates for field operators.

The location of their main headquarters is unknown, although it is presumed to be located deep underground. They maintain contact with its operators through a number of Bloodhound safehouses called Kennels or 'Morgues' by those who have seen the inside of the bases.

Each safehouse has an armory that is heavily guarded by combat androids, automated turrets and Manticore enforcers as much of the equipment stems from Manticore in the first place. It also houses up to thirty sleeping 'pods' depending on size, which is where the name 'Morgue' comes from. Each pod is a Bloodhound's private terminal, refueling station and ripper-doc. Larger kennels have other facilities, including weapon ranges, actual baths (rather than quick-action chemical showers), bars and even vehicle workshops for a Bloodhound's personal vehicle. The Kennel serves as a networking hub, sleeping quarters and sanctuary for a field personnel: no business can be done on company grounds. . . but of all things the Kennel provides, it does not provide food or drinks- one day a target must leave from its premises or otherwise suffer the pain of certain death.

Kennels provide their Hounds with contracts, company orders or general information updates regarding company policies. It can also serve, although rarely, as a meeting point for a Hound's customer should they choose to brief the operator. Bloodhound Kennels are spread everywhere throughout Silicon Point, with the highest concentration of kennels located in the Downtown district.​

CONTRACTS
Contacting Bloodhound Acquisitions is easier said than done: first and foremost is acquiring their office number which is rarely handed out freely. For those with a legal reputation, inquiring at the front desk of any Manticore building will get you a business card with a single, freshly printed number. For those without, then it's a trip to Downtown District where someone in the Black Markets can fish out a number for you, for a small finders fee.

After dialing in the number, each potential customer is greeted with an intercept message telling them to try again. Should they do so, the call ends automatically.

However, if they listened to the advice of the either the front desk receptionist or the shady looking merchant and wait, their patience will be rewarded with the same robotic voice. This time however, the customer is asked a series of questions:

  1. A name of a person or object
  2. A number, usually denoting the contract's digicred rewards
  3. A date
  4. A delivery location
Customers can also request for an 'express' delivery. In that scenario, an additional question is asked: 24, 12 or 8 hours? The organization then opens the contract to multiple hunters but pays the first person to finish the contract within the 'express delivery deadline'. Failure to complete an express delivery forces the company to pay compensation to their customer.

The hunters who failed the contract are then terminated.

Failed express deliveries are then upgraded to PRIORITY LEVEL deliveries, and a 'Pack' is formed of multiple hunters who are assigned to the contract. Unlike the previous scenario however, they are now cooperating with each other as everybody receives a fraction of the original bounty upon completion. In a way, being assigned to a 'Pack' is the worse thing to happen for a Bloodhound: poor pay, and failure to complete a contract as a Pack will mean mass termination for the pack, and another is assigned to the task. This continues until eventually the contract is complete- customers are not allowed to retract their contracts. This is why at the end of the call, the automated voice will once more confirm with the caller if this is as they wish.

Once they confirm, the call ends with a single beep.

And the Hounds are unleashed.​

BLOODHOUNDS
All Bloodhounds are 'recruited' from a very young age: in truth they are usually sold to the company by their parents or orphanages looking to make quick money. The moment they are branded as a Bloodhound-in-training, or 'Pup', they belong to the company and answer to their command.

Training begins, with a Litter of anywhere between 200 to 50 Pups. Physical training weeds out the weak, builds core muscle strength and develops their endurance- those that fail are usually disposed off. Pups are also provided with the best education that the company can provide to build their thinking processes: it is not enough to only be able to out-punch the opponent, but to out-think them as well. Lessons vary from mathematics to investigation classes to hone their tracking senses. By the time they are 14, Pups will begin to participate in mock exercises where they hunt and apprehend each other as quick as possible.

At 18 years old, a Pup is given his first cybernetic augmentation: the 'Kariudo'.. The surgery is dangerous, and often kills the Pup before his body has time to adjust to the new augs. Surviving the surgery marks a Pup's graduation to Hound. They then spend a few months to a year getting use to their main aug and its quirks, as well as being informed of the price they pay for each contract. Then, armed with their basic Luvo-10, ballistic vest and the 'Kariudo' the Hound is dumped on the streets of Silicon Point where they are to make their way to their sleeping pod at a randomly chosen kennel. While they are technically a Bloodhound agent, it is an office custom where a fresh agent is only called a Hound until the completion of his first ten contracts, by which point they are officially a 'Bloodhound'.

All agents are ranked in an ever-constant updating list. Their ranking tells a Bloodhound two things: how skilled they are (usually tied to the number of successful contracts) and how likely they are to receive a Corporation job. Those looking to rise in the ranks usually look out for contracts from Manticore employees: complete enough and they may get lucky enough to be sponsored by Manticore. Rankings are as shown:

  • 1st: A legend, a name that even Manticore CEOs know not to speak carelessly about. This Bloodhound has likely completed hundreds, if not thousands of contracts and bled more corpses than a recycling facility. This position is currently held by a mysterious being known only as 'Old Dog'. Who he-or she- is, it is likely they're living the dream in the rooms of a Manticore paid apartment.
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  • Top 10: A highly respected position, climbing to this position is already considered a near-impossible feat given the attrition rate of most Bloodhounds. Somehow, these people-or maniacs- have long overcome their own weakness and resisted the Grim Reaper. Hundreds of contracts have been accrued at this stage, and many more from Manticore and other megacorps are sure to fly in to the Bloodhound.
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  • Top 20: The mark of a seasoned veteran who often acts as an advisory role for the younger Bloodhounds. Most don't remain in this spot for long as they often overestimate their own capabilities. It is around here when they start to receive Corporation contracts, and the stakes have never been higher than before as each completed mission is one more step towards the Unholy 10th seat.
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  • Top 50: Hardened hunters who have seen all the streets can offer to them. Many have seen their old friends succumb to their 'Kariudo' augs, and even more to the deadly combat high. A Top 50 hunter is often characterized as bitter, cynical and nihilistic and don't try to go over and beyond. They are comfortable here as they have access to higher paying contracts while staying clear out of corporation politics, which is arguably even more dangerous than the streets they patrol in.
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  • Top 100: Hunters of relative worth and distinction; they haven't succumbed to their 'Kariudo's' yet and have completed several difficult contracts to reach this spot. Most have started to upgrade their bodies and equipment, but the smarter ones keep themselves to a precious few. Too much, and they get closer and closer to losing their humanity: they already have 'Kariudo' to worry about. No need to add more to worry about.
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  • 200 - 300: Who the hell are you again? Get out of my face before I fuck you up.

All Bloodhounds are expected to pay for their own equipment and cybernetic augmentation. Furthermore, upon the beginning of their career they are laden with a hefty debt of 100 000 Dgcs (Digi-creds): the price of their 'Kariudo' augs, starter Luvo-10s and their housing accommodations in the Kennels. 5% of their contract payments goes towards clearing their debts, while another 5% goes to their retirement plan. Bloodhound Acquisitions also claims a further 30% for themselves, leaving a hunter with precious little from their original amount.

Not all is dark, gritty and unpleasant in the life of a Bloodhound agent. After surviving several decades of bloodshed, the constant toll on their mental health and treachery from their own kind during open contracts, a Bloodhound can officially retire at the age of 65. There, they are given a comfortable apartment in the Uptown district to live in, paid their pension and given a priority tag for medical services.

Anyone who can even last that long deserves that much at least.​