Locations of Note: The Peppermint Troll

The Peppermint Troll is a strip club located in Near Town Houston.  It caters to all meta-types.  It is often used as a meeting point for two parties wanting neutral ground.

The Peppermint Troll is run by a female troll named Lacey Hood.  Lacey is definitely a Troll, however, she is of less radical stock.  In the right lighting you would swear she is a rather large and beautiful human woman.  Lacey runs a tight ship and employs troll bouncers to make sure of it.  The main room has 2 bars, tables, a large 3 polled reinforced stage and several private booths.  She also maintains several back rooms for more privacy and shady meetings.

Lacey makes sure that her dancers are taken care of and treat them like family.  They tend to break her heart from time to time but she wouldn't have it any other way.  It is well known that if you mess with one of Lacey's girls she will mess with you back and it usually involves some kind of heavy machinery like a wood chipper. 

The Peppermint Troll has all meta-types of dancers and is an equal employment operation.  As such, all meta-types frequent the establishment.  There usually is a good mix of Human, Dwarf, Orc, and Elf in the crowd on the weekends. 

 

 



Locations of Note: Bottom Burgers

Bottom Burgers is what one would affectionately call a "joint."  It is located in an area of Houston known for local business, bistros, art galleries, and upper-class living called the Heights.  Most runners wouldn't be caught dead in a place that trendy up-and-comers would patron but its not "Boss's" fault that the yuppies, hipsters, and wage slaves frequent his joint.  He just stands behind the grill and makes the best burgers in Houston.  He and everyone knows this because he has been voted best burgers in Houston 8 years running.  Stop by when you are in the area....your stomach will thank you....Stop by too frequently and you "bottom" won't.

Locations of Note: "S" BAR (Not Your Typical Runner Bar)

"S" Bar is located on the corner of Tuam and Helena in what is called Near Town Houston.  It is one of many trendy bars and clubs in the area.  "S" Bar is a rather large club with several dance floors, a stage, and several private rooms.  It is decorated in a modern version of a 1920's dance club.  Large red high backed booths line the walls for comfort and privacy.  The main bar is a large square, dark wood, structure in the middle of the club and affords the bartenders there a commanding view of the whole club. 

Owner and Manager Sammy "Two Tone" Jones opened the club 10 years ago after the previous place burned to the ground.  Sammy in his day was a Prime runner in the shadows of Houston and will tell you himself that he was one of the lucky ones and got out and retired at the height of his career.  "S" Bar is definitely a "runner" bar and has several rooms in the back where Johnsons and Runners can meet in safety and privacy.  Each room is available at a price and comes equipped with noise generators and are routinely swept for listening devices and cameras. 

What's unique about the "S" Bar is that it is a Drag Bar.  The male waitresses are all dressed as fictional females and several nights a week the "S" Bar features some of the best Drag Queens and entertainers on its stage.  Don't let this fool you, however, if you start trouble in the "S" Bar the employees there are ready to finish it.  "Pippi" the rather large troll who runs the front door is more than capable of breaking some troublemaker in half.  "Red" operates the bar and is one capable martial artist.  Most of the staff were runners before they started working there. 

Reference Map of Houston 2075

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zSQhVAM2lqKQ.keU_aWqJb8IQ



Oi Chummers....the above link will take you to the Houston 2075 reference map.

If you mouse over the sections some are detailed, and some will follow.

Cheers.....



**DISCLAIMER**

The Topps Company, Inc. has sole ownership of the names, logo, artwork, marks, photographs, sounds, audio, video and/or any proprietary material used in connection with the game Shadowrun. The Topps Company, Inc. has granted permission to Shadowrun Houston to use such names, logos, artwork, marks and/or any proprietary materials for promotional and informational purposes on its website but does not endorse, and is not affiliated with Shadowrun Houston in any official capacity whatsoever.

Houston Companies of Note: Mercury Express

Mercury Express

A Subsidiary of Ares Macrotechnology

Mercury Express, a subsidiary of Ares Macrotechnology, specializes in global shipping.  Ares being a AA Megacorporation its transports are extraterritorial.  This means that they are not scrutinized as hard as other shipping companies that go through the Port of Houston.  This being the case many smugglers would like to get their claws into someone who works at Mercury Express, especially supervisors who work at the Port of Houston itself.  Slapping on an Ares Express shipping label and doctoring up a manifest are perfect ways of getting contraband through the port.

Mercury Express has a large office in Downtown Houston and field offices at the Port of Houston.

<<INCOMING DATA>>

<<PortMonkey>>
--The Port of Houston is the largest Container Port along the Gulf Coast and Mercury Express ships about 70% of those containers....it makes you wonder what's in them all....that's a lot of tonnage going through virtually unchecked....

<<PortSuPuesto>>
--A friend of a friend shipped some illicit cargo through there with a home brewed Mercury Express sticker on the container.....He said that it made it through with no problem....the hairy bit was getting it passed Knight Errant....they are all over that port.



**DISCLAIMER**

The Topps Company, Inc. has sole ownership of the names, logo, artwork, marks, photographs, sounds, audio, video and/or any proprietary material used in connection with the game Shadowrun. The Topps Company, Inc. has granted permission to Shadowrun Houston to use such names, logos, artwork, marks and/or any proprietary materials for promotional and informational purposes on its website but does not endorse, and is not affiliated with Shadowrun Houston in any official capacity whatsoever.

Houston Based Companies: AresSpace

AresSpace

Headquarters: Houston, Texas (CAS)

Executive Vice President: Charles Pollack

Subsidiaries:

Ares Global Comsat
AresSpace Lifters
AresSpace Security
AresSpace Special Operations Division


AresSpace was headquartered in Houston, TX because of the acquisition of NASA by Ares Macrotechnology from the US Government.  Nicholas Aurelius (CEO and Chairman of the Board) purchased NASA and turned it into a highly profitable satellite recovery service among other things.

AresSpace is located in Clear Lake where the old JSC (Johnson Space Center) was located.  They also have offices in Downtown Houston as well.

The tsunami of 2068 didn't quite wipe out clear lake but there was a lot of flooding and subsequent damage. This gave Ares Macrotechnology the opportunity to purchase the land surrounding old JSC and most of the lake front property.  Ares then took the land once called Nassau Bay and shaped the peninsula and constructed a large airfield extending into Lake Nassau.  They also constructed a secure bridge to the once connected Nassau Bay Peninsula Wildlife Park and build a large research facility and an advanced engineering and manufacturing facility there.  The main administration buildings and mission control at old JSC proper were gutted and rebuilt with the latest security and technological advances as well.

AresSpace has 8 manned facilities in space currently.

AresSpace built and runs the Kodiak Island Spaceport in Alaska, Athabaskan Council

AresSpace unveiled Apollo Station on the 12th of April 2019 - the Crash Virus disabled the station killing all on board the 8th of February 2029.\

AresSpace owns and operates Icarus Station in geosynchronous orbit.  Little is known about the stations purpose and the facility itself.

AresSpace owns and operates Artemis Lunar Arcology which is their presence on the Moon.



<<INCOMING DATA>>

<<SpaceCityRover>>
-- Houston has an old nickname "Space City" thanks to AresSpace we can still call ourselves that...to survive as a species metahumans have to colonize space, I for one am proud that AresSpace is reaching for the stars...

<<SpaceFreak2099>>
--SpaceCityRover, your post screams AresSpace employee...you mind telling us where Ares is hiding the Aliens?

<<SpaceCityRover>>
--SpaceFreak2099, There are no Aliens here on earth.  Do you actually think that a highly intelligent race that can cross tens, hundreds, thousands, of light years would come here to this po-dunk planet?  Get probed chummer....

<<SpaceFreak2099>>
--SpaceCityRover, Sounds exactly what a corporate shill would say...thanks for the confirmation boyo!




**DISCLAIMER**

The Topps Company, Inc. has sole ownership of the names, logo, artwork, marks, photographs, sounds, audio, video and/or any proprietary material used in connection with the game Shadowrun. The Topps Company, Inc. has granted permission to Shadowrun Houston to use such names, logos, artwork, marks and/or any proprietary materials for promotional and informational purposes on its website but does not endorse, and is not affiliated with Shadowrun Houston in any official capacity whatsoever.

I garnered some information off of the Shadowrun Wikia: Mad props to those who compiled the data you made my life easier.

http://shadowrun.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

Houston's Mass Transit System: METRO "On Time...Every Time!"

Houston, being as large and spread out as it is has always relied on mass transit to get people around.  The bus system is one of the best in the world and a light rail system was established in the early 21st Century. 

By the year 2075 the light rail system is well established and carries thousands of people around town and in and out of the outlaying areas.  Surprisingly the light rail still runs in the more rougher neighborhoods with little or no incident.  Houston Metro staffs their own security and are notoriously harsh on anyone who violates the rules or tries to commit a crime while on the train.

The Houston Metropolitan Transit Line also runs buses throughout the city.  The buses run on Natural Gas exclusively and as with the trains they even run in some of the worst areas of Houston.  Buses are run by Metro Riggers and have at least one armed guard and in some cases two riding along.  They are lightly armored as well.  Not only is this a deterrent for shenanigans on the bus, it tends to dissuade any on from trying to stop the bus on the outside.  METRO has a schedule to keep and its their opinion that deadly force is authorized to keep that schedule.

There have been hundreds of cases throughout the years of METRO Security stopping crime along their routes and on the bus.  They have a reputation to uphold and they take that reputation seriously.

Game Data:
The typical Metro Officer wears black tactical overalls similar to the explorers jumpsuit in conjunction with a black armored jacket.  They are equipped with issued Ares Predator V's, 2 extra clips, handcuffs, and plenty of zip-tie restraints for the large jobs.  They carry official badges and identification that identifies them as peace officers.  They have arrest powers and authorization for deadly force in relation to interruption of their appointed routes and keeping the peace on the trains and buses.

The typical Metro vehicle security or "door gunner" is equipped with the same armor as above, however along with the Predator V's they carry Ares Alphas with a combat load of 210 rounds.  They also carry a typical assortment of micro grenades for the launcher.  (HE, Flare, and Smoke)

<<INCOMING DATA>>

<<TheR34lKorjik>>
--I think the reason the Azzies never invaded Houston was because they were scared of Metro Security and those battlewagons they drive....

<<BusMuncher365>>
-- I saw a group of Shadowrunners try and stop a bus to get a mark off of it.  It didn't turn out to well for them the driver ran over one and the guards on the bus popped the windows and started firing their assault riffles at the rest.  It was a bad day for them....

<<WalkerTexasWanger>>
--On Time....Every Time, that's what they say....I was riding the cross town #295 when the driver came up to an accident, be barreled through without hesitation....the participants just stood there gaping...jaws dropped...stopped their argument real quick....


**DISCLAIMER**

The Topps Company, Inc. has sole ownership of the names, logo, artwork, marks, photographs, sounds, audio, video and/or any proprietary material used in connection with the game Shadowrun. The Topps Company, Inc. has granted permission to Shadowrun Houston to use such names, logos, artwork, marks and/or any proprietary materials for promotional and informational purposes on its website but does not endorse, and is not affiliated with Shadowrun Houston in any official capacity whatsoever.