[OverdrivePrime]

You're in your smaller board room with the LMP team, prepping for Operation 1 before you head down to Colorado springs.

With you are 3 of your staffers, and your director, May Hanscher.

Tannim is currently elsewhere.

This post has been edited by OverdrivePrime: 02 November 2007 - 11:12 AM

[Barak]

"Well May.. I can call ya May, right? As much as I like fresh air, I don't see how us being out there would help more than hinder with those guys already out. We'd prolly be of more use here sifting through the info we get, collating it and sending out whatever it is we find, ready to jet out if it happens that the lead goes somewhere completely not Coloradoian."

[Second Talon]

"Are you sure it's Coloradoian, and not Coloradorian, or even Coloradoese?"

[Barak]

"Well to be honest, I have no clue. When that happens, I use the least likely possibility so I can pass it off as a joke. Point remains, I'd rather we stay here since the other two teams are headed out there."

[Tannim]

Text message to Logistics Master Planning: Source says cargo taken to endpoint at Francis E Warren AFB. Going to investigate. Look for railroads. Let you know what I find.

[OverdrivePrime]

May blinks and looks up at the rest of you. A vein twitches slightly in her forehead but her voice sounds calm, "It looks like Tannim has volunteered to be our eyes on the ground. He said he was following up something with a possible source - but I didn't expect him to get results this fast."

She turns to the three staffers, "Okay, collect everything you can about Warren Air Force Base and any possible involement with the various Himsati factions. Where is the normal rail dock in the base? Are there any alternative dock points? Can we get anything on satellite?"

To the rest of you, "Any of you have any contacts or dealings with the Air Force or the military in general? I know Tannim used to be in the Army - were you as well, Mador? Sara, you've got some dealings with the quieter agencies as well, from what I can tell. Eric, Lokan, what can you dig up?"

In this room are a number of top of the line computers, as well as world-band radios, and satellite feeds from around the globe.

[Barak]

I snicker at May's question.

"Hell no. And it would have been the canadian military anyway. Got some shady contacts, but that'd be only in the Montreal area, and would take me a bit to reacquaint. Then I could go up the branches, and maybe get in contact with more.. International dealers.. But we're talking months of establishing contacts here, nothing that could help with this mission. I'll have to look into it for the future, though."

[OverdrivePrime]

May types something into her computer and nods, "Thank you, that would be very useful. If, in the future, you decide to pursue that route, the company would be very happy to help you establish and maintain those contacts.

"But, as for now... we've got an agent on the ground in Cheyenne, and the other two teams are heading to the contact site and Gugnir's main R&D site. Ah, we also have confirmation of the general area of the first contact site. I'll pass that along to SCE."

This post has been edited by OverdrivePrime: 05 November 2007 - 02:14 PM

[Barak]

"Sure.. shouldn't be too hard, and most likely wouldn't require much in the way of help. And it'd be an excuse to spend some time back in Montreal, which is always nice."

I pause, puff on my cigar a bit, then asks..

"So.. if those guys are working on the incoming data.. is there anything for us to do?"

[OverdrivePrime]

"Look for information? Follow leads? Try to remember something from one of your previous lives that was similar to this? I don't quite know your full capabilities, but please, don't feel like you're limited to being cooped up in here. If you'd like to get on the site and assist Tannim, I think that'd be helpful - if we could figure out how to get you in there unnoticed. Oh yes - Tannim decided to pop into Warren Airforce base on the West Side of Cheyenne. Alone. Granted, it's at night, but I still think that it's a terribly rash thing to do without active support."

The three support staffers look at May with wide eyes, and then begin working furiously on their computers.

[sarabethv]

To May: "Can you get me an ID card and a 'yellow card?' How pissed do you think he will be if I'm able to 'pop' in there?"

This post has been edited by sarabethv: 05 November 2007 - 10:41 PM

[Barak]

I think for a moment, drumming my fingers on the table.

"If I could get close to the base, I could most likely get in unnoticed. But again, once in I think I'd be more of an hindrance to him than anything, unless we get attacked. Which, of course, is always possible. Oh, I'd need a uniform as well. The higher the rank, the better."

[OverdrivePrime]

"We've got time to create light-inspection worthy ID cards and most other pass cards you'll need. Nothing that can stand up to heavy scrutiny - we'd need at least a day of work for that."

(OOC - Sara, what the heck is a 'yellow card'? I'm not actually in the DOD :P )


"And if you could just pop in there... I'm sure he'd be delighted. Or not, I'm not quite sure about him. But... how would you get in there? Parachuting into an Air Force base is sure to be conspicuous."

Uniforms we can do. We've got Air Force unis that should fit you, and insignia up to major. Past experience shows that anything above that draws a lot of attention and suspicion."

[Barak]

"Just get me close to the base, preferably on a side that's not too busy. Then I can enter by travelling through rock. If needed, I can also make my own rock to travel through, but I'm sure I can find a patch somewhere. Once I'm in.. Hmm, major might be a bit too high, actually. Something slightly under that should keep anybody from asking me anything. Then I guess I'll just poke around until I run into our friend."

[Lokan]

I'll be analyzing the data sent back by the GPS prior to it being disabled. attempting to get more accurate location information. If there does seem to be more than just the 30 sec current location info, I'll reverse engineer the formatting and write a quick program to organize the data for human/himsati consumption, put the info into a graphical form cross-referenced with electronic mapping data and I'll flag any suspicious data I come across.

After completing that, I'll pour through the data on the people who knew about the project. Compiling the data into a custom DB for this analysis, I'll start by looking background and known associates to compile a list of groups that might want to acquire this tech. Then I'll start limiting my data by cross referencing trips taken by the list of people I'm given and see what locations match with places those groups I compiled before are known to operate. Hopefully this will provide a good list of possible leaks along with probable groups who took the device.

[Tannim]

Text Message To Team: On site. Moving towards rail tracks. Investigating rails. Will search for container. Advise team prepare for deployment, location undetermined. If not heard from in two days, send pizza and hookers. XOXOXO. VAN HALEN RULES.

[sarabethv]

"With the appropriate ID cards, Barak and I can simply drive through the gate. However, depending on which defcon they are at, it may not get us through if the are at Charlie or above, because they tend to look a little closer. If Barak gets a hair cut, he can probably pass and get us through though. It usually isn't hard to simply walk into a base either, they seldom have a completely closed installation unless they are hiding something."

[Barak]

"My hair ain't that long.. And it's not like back in the days of everyone having crew cuts, is it?"

I shrug and go on.

"I'm fine with it though, but I can't lose the beard or the wife would kill me. But like I said earlier, I can go in other ways. Might be worth it, and sneak in ST and Lokan in with Sara."

[sarabethv]

"Majors are tight asses, don't loosen up until they hit the bird, so yeah all hair would have to go. Doesn't matter to me who goes with though."

[OverdrivePrime]

May nods, "Now, are you sure that you want all of you to go in following Tannim? He seems like the type who'd grumble, 'I work alone,' and then would go back to grooming his two days of beard stubble."


Lokan, you let this discussion wash over your head, understanding that you need to get the hard data processed now so that the other teams can act on it when they get their boots on the ground. Much to your satisfaction, you discover that there is indeed a continuous feed from the gps, but the device is programmed only to report at 30 second intervals to save space and simplify the GIS interface. With not much effort, you are able to get under the hood of their source code and figure out how to tease out the continuous feed information. This seems to be on a second-by-second report.

In the last 30 seconds of data, you find no anomalies in the truck's trajectory, however in the very last two seconds, the reported signal strength becomes dramatically weaker. The signal strength drops into a steep arc until it is no longer detectable.

You recognize this to be highly inconsistent with the transmitter simply being switched off or destroyed.

Sending this information to the rest of the team, you grab one of the support staffers - Maddy Shapiro - and get to work looking up who would want this kind of tech, and try to cross reference with groups who'd be able to acquire it in such a manner. To you the idea that the Air Force would want it just seems too easy.

[Barak]

"I'm married, May, it gives me a +5 to my save against grumbling. And who knows, he might get in over his head, and in that case he'll be grumbling while we help his ass, which would be alright by me. Fine then though, Sara and I can go together. I don't mind my hair and beard being trimmed short, anyway."

[OverdrivePrime]

May smiles, "Fair enough. I don't know that you'd pass for an Air Force officer with a beard, though. A civillian specialist maybe. However, it's not like you need to be directly connected to the Air Force to get on base. They've got stores and businesses run by regular civillians there."

[Barak]

"Well alrighty then, I'll be a civilian contractor. Or just Sara's bodyguard. We better move though, or Tannim will be back here before we figure out what we're doing."

[OverdrivePrime]

Sara and Mador rush to get their gear together (gimme a list, you've got fake ID cards) and get on the plane. The two of you are given head-sets like the other teams have which allow you secure communication back with the Paradigm Logistics teams. There are a number of channels you can switch between.

The rest of you research your keisters off.

Lokan, Eric and the staffers are getting a number of leads which suggest that there are a few shadow groups similar to quiet cultures that operate hidden within the structure of the US Airforce and other military groups around the world.

[Barak]

I'll need a handgun with shoulder holster, don't really care about the make, but would like a 9mm with 10 ammo and a spare cartridge, but only if they can provide me with a carry-concealed permit, real or fake or whatever. If they can do that, then I'd also like a bullet-proof vest of some kind. I know jack about them, and it's really more for show, so I'd take whatever they suggest that ain't too bulky and can be worn under clothing. Also a set of lockpicks, hidden in someway (a canteen with a fake bottom and real coffee works well). Black clothing with paratrooper combat boots and a black ski mask (light material) for clothes. 2 packs of menthol and a Zippo.

Also I'd suggest to have some sort of black SUV waiting for us as transport, but would easily let Sara override me on that point.

[sarabethv]

"Make it a white SUV grocery hauler (less conspicous) with a lot of dust on it."

.45 with extra clips (my compact)
some stars
a bullwhip
hip holster with a tie down

I want two sets of clothing
black tights
a black tank top
black mocassins

Then to wear on top:
flowered 60's modern type of frilly flower girl top - way too young for me to be wearing

Like this in blue

and a skirt

like this - sorta but not quite matching the top

I need a couple beaded necklaces and a hemp shoulder bag also.

After I'm dressed: To Barak; "Ready to rock daddy - o?"

[OverdrivePrime]

Equipment with Sara's override is approved! Clothing... Hey, let's say that you've amassed a decent wardrobe for different situations and this is in it.

Hurry! You've got only ten minutes to get to the plane!

You two will be dropped off at the Cheyenne airport in the jet's return leg, hitting the ground around 7:20 AM, and getting to your truck around a quarter to 8.

This post has been edited by OverdrivePrime: 08 November 2007 - 11:42 AM

[Barak]

"Sure thing ma'am."

On the plane, I make a couple phone calls. One to my wife, let her know I'll be late. The other is to one of the twins, only to get a phone number, that I then call. I let Martin know that I'll be in Montreal in a few days or weeks, and that we should go hit our hold hang-outs, on me.

Once at the truck, I grab the keys.

"Sorry Sara, actually you prolly drive better than I do, but it'd look weird for you to be driving when I'm there for that."

(Obviously I ain't wearing the ski mask.)

[Tannim]

Text to Team: Cargo transferred to flatbed. Following leads. See attached photo of tread. Maybe you can find a reference to a specific model truck. Any incoming personnel should be aware that the password of the day is "wild weasel." Continuing investigation.

[OverdrivePrime]

The picture shows a very fat set of tire tracks in dirt and weeds that leads up the the rocks of a railroad bed. The same tires lead away, now a bit deeper. The treads are pretty thick.

After about 20 minutes (Barak and Sara are on the plane by now), the staffers come up with the most likely match: The Clark Gen2 series diesel forklift truck.

They relay this, and a photo, back to Tannim.

This post has been edited by OverdrivePrime: 09 November 2007 - 06:23 AM

[Barak]

On the plane I'll look quickly through my new equipment, making sure all is up to snuff. I'll then try to catnap.

[sarabethv]

I look over at Barak, who seems to be perfectly comfortable and silently say very bad things about his ancestry. I lean back and close my eyes hoping that if I don't move very much the plane won't crash.

[OverdrivePrime]

While Barak and Sara are on the plane, the whole team gets a text message from Paul/Tannim. It reads:
DOING SOMETHING FOOLISH. HOLD MY CALLS. DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA.

[Barak]

My phone playing "You're so beautiful, Girl" wakes me up. Looking at the text message, I shrug, and wonder if an alarm would sound off if I sneaked in the bathroom to light up. I figure it probably would, and try to go back to sleep.

This post has been edited by Barak: 12 December 2007 - 09:47 AM

[sarabethv]

Returns Tannim's text with "You were supposed to have been immortal."

Looks over at Barak, winces at song, and tries to find a bit of sympathy for his nicotineless state, then decides that nope not a whit when I can barely breathe. Thinks: "planes are not supposed to fly, it is aerodynamically impossible."