Natalie Burns |
Natalie huffs, "I still don't see why our established covers won't work here. There's nothing tangible about these at all." She fumbles out a cigarette as she drives, lighting it as she leans forward to the wheel, "I'll go with Emma Kane, I guess...what's the play? Maybe report in something stupid like we got mugged, but demand to see our contact anyway? We can't come in too high in any chain of command, because they'll see through it...if they're any good."
DM ShadowBloodmoon |
Macomb notes that the ISI headquarters is in a very non-descript building. Nothing like Langley back home. Instead, it blends well with the apartments and storefronts nearby. If you didn't know what you were looking for, it would be easy to miss.
There are street vendors nearby, along with many civilians, but it's difficult to tell how many are actual street vendors and how many are actually security personnel.
DM ShadowBloodmoon |
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DM ShadowBloodmoon |
The man nods as he fills the order.
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DM ShadowBloodmoon |
The man gives a slight frown.
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DM ShadowBloodmoon |
The vendor seems genuine with his words.
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DM ShadowBloodmoon |
"Some. Your Pashto isn't bad. Accent is off though. I am called Verun. Good to be meeting you. "
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DM ShadowBloodmoon |
Johnny would know that a handshake is not an acceptable greeting where you are. ..
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Johnny "Razor" Macomb |
Sorry. I did really think handshakes between the same sex was acceptable in Pakistan. All research I did confirms this but feel free to retcon with an appropriate farewell. I looked online for 10 minutes and couldn't find any alternative to handshakes.
DM ShadowBloodmoon |
So far, everything seems as ordinary as sitting on the street people watching would be. Macomb farewells the man and he responds in kind. "I look for to meeting your friend he calls after you. "
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DM ShadowBloodmoon |
My apologies, I thought that I had included everyone in this scene. Maybe I misread, but I have at this moment Razor walking back to the car, Smith in the car keeping an eye out, Natalie and Ward discussing buying food to take to the front door. If I missed something, I'm sorry.
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Jason "Snake" Ward |
That's it, I think. I just need to borrow some money from Nat to get the plan going :P Well, it's more like a few ideas arranged in a sequence. 1) Get food, 2) Have Nat use her face at the door, 3) I walk up with food or drinks, say they're for the guys working, 4) Give food/drink to guards, 5) Go inside and use bribery as needed
Johnny "Razor" Macomb |
After paying for the breakfast Johnny brings the food back to the Smith waiting in the car.
The food vendor says his friend is looking for Americans. That they are from the East Coast. Not sure who is friend is but I am Canadian from the West Coast. I think he bought it. I told him that you were an American and that I would bring you over after we eat. Any problems following that plan? Maybe he knows our guy maybe he is one of Antonova's guys. Not sure and couldn't get a good read.
Johnny "Razor" Macomb |
We are in the truck. Not sure what happened to the hostage. Let go? Left tied up somewhere in the wilderness?
Alright well do you mind saying hello to this guy after you eat and we can leave. I told him I would bring over my American coworker maybe that was a misstep, but I think leaving without doing so might cause suspicion.
Natalie Burns |
I must've missed all of that too, well we're up to speed now. Oh, it's recent, nvm, I'm in
Natalie frowns as she looks over to Ward, but already she's resigned to trust him, "Alright..." She pauses, " Wait, you're telling me you're pretty much broke? All those clothes and nothing to back it up?"
A bemused smile crosses her face as she hands out a few bucks.
Jason "Snake" Ward |
You'd be surprised how far a nice smile, a good outfit, and a fancy car will get you. Richard takes the money. Thanks for this. Now, I'll go buy us some treats to bribe the guards. You pull up and approach the guards. Use some of that advocate training of yours to get them to believe we're new interns or something. The ball is in your court now, Nat. Once pulled over, Richard looks for a street vendor selling coffee or pastries or something. If he hears them speak English, then all the better.
DM ShadowBloodmoon |
Ward finds a street vendor selling the treats he is looking for. Though the English is atrocious with the heavy accent. Ward is able to muddle through the exchange though and comes away with a few coffees and a bag of pastries, which smell as if they were actually made a few days ago.
Moving ahead...
Natalie and Ward approach the front entrance of what passes for the ISI headquarters. Two men stand outside the front door, one smoking a cigarette and the other playing with some sort of electronic device, growing frustrated with it by the moment. As you get closer, they both look up at you, saying nothing, almost as if expecting something.
Natalie Burns |
Nat gives Jason another blank look, incredulous. "You're dumping this on me? Fine, alright, but I'll use my actual cover as Cynthia then."
After Jason gets his goods. Also I'll leave my gun in the vehicle, as much as I am loathe to do so.
...
Cynthia Betterman |
Had a better post here, got eaten
Cynthia, after making herself look somewhat clueless and lost, approaches the guards uneasily, and tries to use her disarming smile to promote good graces.
"Uhm, hello. I'm supposed to meet someone here, but..wait do you speak English? I'm not from around here..." She meekly points to her Red Cross book, "you know, Red Cross? Anyway, I was supposed to meet someone here."
She repeats herself intentionally.
Impress: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19
Charmer - can make a 1 minute impress/influence as a full action regarding an NPC who is neutral, intrigued, or friendly
DM ShadowBloodmoon |
The man smiles at the obviously lost little woman he sees before him. "Yes, I speak some English. You are Red Cross? Have you been to the consulate? Did they tell you to come here? Come in and we'll get you where you need to go."
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DM ShadowBloodmoon |
The man nods as he takes a pastry and escorts the two of you into the building. It looks fairly similar to almost every other office building you have seen. Closed doors, blank halls, etc. After several turns and a flight of stairs, you are shown to a room with a table and three chairs, two of them next to each other. "Please, have a seat, my supervisor will be with you shortly."
True to his word, another man in casual business attire shows up. You both immediately recognize him from his dossier. "Al-Salahar. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintances. Though, I'm told there are more of you in my country. Care to elaborate?" As he asks the question, he tosses down a file folder and some paperwork spills out, along with a photo of a man, or rather the body of a man you had seen recently.
DM ShadowBloodmoon |
Outside, meanwhile, Smith and Macomb notice a white van pull up in front of the building that Ward and Natalie just went into. At first, no one gets out. After a brief minute though, you notice that the back doors open up and two men get out with what is unmistakable for assault rifles...
Natalie Burns |
Only after we're pretty certain that the room is, indeed, secure. Though admittedly Nat doesn't know beans about security
Natalie's demeanor changes. "We've already encountered problems. Our safehouse was compromised, with a body in the trunk, and it seems there's been people hired to keep tabs on Americans."
She looks aside to Jason, "I think we were made the moment we intervened on that plane."
DM ShadowBloodmoon |
Inside. For all intents and purposes this looks exactly like the guy in the dossier for Al-Salahar.
Al-Salahar smiles. "As secure as our government will pay for. Your troubles getting to me are not surprising, though we hadn't intended on any bodies showing up. My agent was supposed to meet you at the safe house. I was worried it had already been compromised, but not at this level. What do you have so far?"
He is quickly interrupted by the sound of gunfire...
Outside.
The men from the van immediately take cover behind the van and start pouring lead into the front door. The locals scatter, screaming and ducking for cover while a few of them take cover first and then draw weapons.
Johnny "Razor" Macomb |
Well Smith time to do the dirty work. Macomb says softly as he pulls out his PPK and moves into a flanking position behind some cover. Once behind cover he will make a final attack against closest target hopefully his movement will bring him within 15'of a target.
PPK Attack E1-2 T20 R15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
PPK Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5
Initiative if required: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Have Smith and Macomb been made? Any guns pointed in their direction? Macomb has Mobile Offense feat so actions are Draw (1/2 Action) Standard Move (30' towards cover and targets) 1 Free Final Attack per turn when I take a standard move. YAY! No error this time.
DM ShadowBloodmoon |
In the interest of time, I rolled initiative...
Ward: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Burns: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Macomb: 5 + 6 = 11
Smith: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Al-Salahar: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Gunmen: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Bystanders: 0 = 0
Al-Salahar looks unfazed as he responds. "As long as they don't get through the front door. Follow me." He turns and heads for the door.
Ward tosses his gun to Natalie and draws his Swiss Army Knife.
Gunmen continue to rapid fire 7.62mm rounds into the front door of the facility, sending shards of plaster and wood in all directions.
Natalie makes for the door of the room, Ward's gun in hand.
Macomb runs for cover and makes a potshot at one of the gunmen, Shot v. Def 13: 20 = 20 Damage Save v. 12: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25, winging him. If they didn't know you were there before, this one certainly does now as he turns in your direction.
Smith up!