The Crew is a Shadowrun fanfic written by Not-So-Badass Longcoat and set in Los Angeles of the 2070s. The titular crew consists of ork "Matrix specialist" Seriously Mike, no-nonsense Russian ex-commando Kestrel, yojimbo adept Nicks, Iraqi Classy Cat-Burglar Leila and Wrench Wench slash wheelman Lex. Assembled by a mysterious client, The Crew ends up in the middle of a conspiracy and turns the tables on their employer.
The beginning can be read here
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Tropes:
- Artificial Limbs:
- Kestrel has cybernetic arms similar to those of Adam Jensen.
- Leila has cybernetic hands.
- Beauty Is Never Tarnished: Kestrel has burn scars all over her body, but not the face. Justified Trope, as the doctors rebuilding her decided that at least her face needs to look normal.
- Berserk Button: for Mike, it's racism. And a lot of minor others."You say the H-word, and I break out heavy artillery."
- Covered with Scars: Kestrel, the only survivor of a combined missile barrage and napalm strike.
- Dare to Be Badass: Mike. Spent three years working in IT support for the Department of Motor Vehicles. Minored in Ass-Kicking.
- Do Not Call Me "Paul": Mike.Mr White: Good morning, Mr Jo...Mike: Finley. The name’s Michael Finley, and you best write it down, cholo. Seriously.
- Eerie Pale-Skinned Brunette: Lex. She's an albino with a dye job, which explains her Cool Shades and dislike for going out in daylight.
- Expy: Kestrel, Nicks and Lex.
- Kestrel is part Balalaika, part Adam Jensen.
- Nicks is based on the Phoenix clan samurai from Legend of the Five Rings. Not only his surname is Shiba, but he also trained in "Phoenix Gate Institute", an adept school for Isawa Research. He's also magic-resistant.
- Lex is pretty much the author's Vampire: The Requiem character (foul-tempered Californian car thief/street racer), but Actually Not a Vampire this time.
- Fake Nationality: Leila is Iraqi, but pretends to be Latino-Pueblo. Nicks is Japanese, but pretends to be Korean. Mike is Croatian, but pretends to be Californian.
- Gratuitous Russian: when Mike is planning how to approach Kestrel, he mentions a few basic Russian words like "hello", "thank you" and "goodbye", and then drops a phrase meaning "blow shit up for big money".
- Gratuitous Spanish: Mike often uses Spanish slang words and expletives like "cholo" and "pendejo".
- Hidden Depths: Kestrel admits she dropped out of college to join the Army.
- Katanas Are Just Better: Nicks' magical katana, the Phoenix Feather.
- The Musketeer: Nicks. Usually, pistols are enough, but in some cases, Katanas Are Just Better, especially when they're powerful magical artifacts.
- The Squadette: Kestrel is a former one. What's worth noting is the fact that she was the squad leader.
- Theme Naming: the aliases provided by Mr White. Surnames Demrikov, Vetaura and Torivos, and first name Heleyne come from Guild Wars. Other teams also have themed aliases.
