The last few months have been stressful, both for the world, and for those who are considered agents of Delta Green. With wars waging on the frontlines of Iraq and Afghanistan, many support and governmental operations undertaken throughout Europe and the Middle East, not to mention nations of South and Central Americas quickly devolving into a modern day Wild West, the people who stand the HIDDEN front lines do so more alone and under-supported than ever before. At home, the President of the United States makes apologies for the greatness of a country and of a people many brave men and women have bleed and died to protect. His unduly appointed and unrepentant Intelligence Czar wages both a public as well as private campaign to root out “subversive” elements within the auspices of the federal government. Majestic 12 and Delta Green are sidelined, driven deeper underground while the world changes daily around them. Many federal agencies are forced to work together in new and confusing ways; publicly a unified and cooperative effort, while privately secretive and protective of their own respective turfs.
No one knows what will happen next, but you brave few continue onward, watchful of events, signs, and portents, anxious to get back into “real” service. Many DG assets are bored of the day to day, yet fearful of the day the call comes once more. A Cell has been quiet. Some cells have folded, others gone dark, a few even lost to the ravages of enemies too numerous to count.
For the agents of N Cell, these days have been filled with monotony and the all too tedious rigors of real life job requirements. That is until today. Today, the call came, the summons issued; N Cell is to activate, to immediately report for service. Something has happened that needs to be addressed, and immediately. A small manilla envelope arrived through the mailroom of your agency or department. Seemingly routine correspondence, nothing alarming, save for the tiny green Delta stamp smudged on the corner and a small notecard of white stationary with green print in Times New Roman. The note indicated an emergency meeting had been declared. A fellow Delta Green agent has been discovered dead, dead after having been missing for just over three weeks. His entire cell is in fact dead, deceased under what would appear at first glance to be “normal” circumstances. Connections between the victims were lost to the authorities, lost to their families, lost to everyone but those who knew what those people truly were, and who knew the efforts they had quietly undertaken for the people of this world.
Lunch plans were quickly cancelled, and you found yourselves entering Tyson's Buffet in Rockville, MD. A waitress at the door greeted you gruffly, ushering you to a table away from the buffet line, seperated by a tall tan screen. A dark-skinned man waited at the table, already piled with a variety of dishes, as well as an accordian folder with a small green M on the attached locking tag. Gentlemen, enjoy your meal, but eat quickly, some of you have a plane to catch. He motions for you to take a seat.
The file case holds basic personnel files on each victim, notes on their most recent activities, nothing DG related, and local contact information for follow-up interviews. Two sets of airline tickets and expense documents are made out for Marshall Thane and Special Agent Rhune on a commuter flight leaving Dulles in a little under two hours. A Hertz rental voucher and Microtel Inn reservations have been arranged, iteneraries attached. An official arrest warrant for Cmdr. Mitchell, dated January 13th, on suspicion of kidnapping, assault, and unlawful imprisonment of a young lady who disappeared from Falls Church on January 3rd is clipped to his file. Documents indicating further pending charges of corruption and immoral conduct, allowing for his investiagtion by the Inter Agency Legislative Taskforce on Military Malfeisance and Counter Intelligence Activities is also appeneded. Two sets of keys, a flash drive, and a utility passcard to a 24 hour storage facility, Extra Space Storage located in Rockville are also tucked into the records box.
Agent Green watches patiently as you peruse the materials, for the moment overlooking the provender on the table.
We know this news may be troubling to some of you. Some of you may have known Agent Mitchell, he was the contact lead for M Cell. He sets down his cup of warm tea, pouring a little more from a small pot in front of him. M Cell was by all accounts a competent group. As far as we can tell, they handled themselves properly, nothing indicated they had been compromised. And yet, here we are.
He adds two cubes of sugar from a small bowl, stirring the liquid without a sound. Maybe this is all just an unfortunate series of accidents, we have seen stranger things, worse things during our careers, have we not? Looking around at each of you, he continues. Dividing the workload seemed the most prudent course for the moment. Retrieve Mitchell's remains and effects as quickly as you can. The locals will play ball, for now, but don't take too long.
He waves off the waitress who starts to come around the screen, checking on your groups progress. We have already processed the homes of the other agents, but Mitchell's apartment has not been touched. His spare ring is there in the folder, as well as an access card for the group's drop box. Check them out as quickly, and as quietly, as you can.
He leans a little closer, blowing over his tea. Mitchell was working something private, something off the books. Our review of the other cell members effects confirm it. What it was, we don't know. Find out, fast. He was paranoid, he was private, but in his day he was one hell of a good agent. We would trust his instincts easily two out of three times, and that's rare in our line of work.
Leaning back, You really should try the Dragon Roll or the Green Shell Mussels in Ginger Broth.
Dot. Should have time to build my profile, and post today/tonight.
Thomas motions the waitress over"
"I'll Have two of the Dragon rolls, on Mr. Green's suggestion."
" 4 Victums in 19 days, this doesn't bode well, We'll get over to Mitchell's and check it out. Should be check in with you once we do?"
You can contact me at the Zombie News Network. Just Knock, Knock before you post. I'll be in contact, the Mean Green Machine. His eyes roll slightly at the sound of his words. A tech's idea of a joke. He doesn't joke so much now, posted at McMurdo.
Mr. Green continues to watch silently while you look over the materials and pick over the table's offerings.
The waitress returns with a doggie bag for Thane, two whole dragon rolls inside, neatly wrapped and packed. Enjoy tidings of great wonder.
Thomas searches through the files, reading each snap shot resport. Every so often a little chuckling escapes despite his efforts to not appear callous.
Death by seatbelt in a low speed collision? Peanut allergy, and just happened to forget his EpiPen? Death by random stranger shooting? Auto-erotic asphyxiation? People do not just get shot, peanuts do not just fall into the food of people with allergies, people do not get their necks broken in low speed collisions and the number of cases death by auto-erotic asphyxiation, must be so low as to be epidemiologically insignificant.
Thomas' hands move around furiously as he speaks, endangering the drinks of those near by.
These deaths are all staggeringly unlikely, and the fact that they are all members of the same 'working group', just compounds the probability problem!
A tiny fleck of spittle escapes his mouth, as he speaks faster and faster, as deep and overwelming Nerd rage sets in. However, his voice remains low and controlled at odds with his body language and tone.
I mean, sure all these things do happen occationally, but they beyond unusual. And sure, if we live in one of an infinite number of universes within a multi-verse, it must happen that somewhere, this occurs by chance. Sure it is possible that maybe, just maybe, we live in that universe. But, and this is a really big but, that is so unlikely we can reasonably reject such a conclusion, right?
Thomas pauses for breath and looks around at the no doubt slightly glassy eyed expressions of the other.
TLDR; Once is bad luck, twice is a coincidence, three times is enemy action. Oh, and whoever or whatever is responcible either wants us to know these deaths are enemy action and doesn't care, or just doesn't think in a manner close enough to use to realise we'd pick that up.
Aidan takes the folder and skims through the particulars of each case and victim, trying to find patterns of how they were attacked and killed
Rubbing his chin with one hand "The most suspicious case is the death by seatbelt as an obvious cover for a hit. The peanut allergy was probably a lethal injection of some kind of drug or poison that simulates that and they dropped the peanuts for cover." as he puts down the folder "Well being shot by a stranger is more common than you might think now a days, but there is always a reason we just do not know of it yet."
Aidan looks at the rest sitting with him on the table "Auto-erotic asphyxiation is something that indeed is so rare, that most people wouldn't even look into it because of how disgusting it is and they just call it suicides, but it's also something that you can use as a perfect way to murder someone and also tarnish their reputations or whatever they stand for. Sometimes most of this cases are never even brought to light, as it "strangely" happens more often on people with money... and plenty of it too."
Nods silently to Angleton theory about the working group "The problem is what else is to the group, besides the obvious work relationship if there was really any."
Aidan struggles to follow Angleton "Blasted nerd is speaking in Nerdish, can't he just f&*^ say it's to much to be a mere coincidence, damn nerd" for that moment lost in thought he missed the last words of Angleton, but he tries to look at him like he heard him and nods "That maybe so..." "best damn answer when you don't know wtf he just said" as a tiny chuckle comes out and he composes himself.
Oh come of it.
Angleton pulls out his jesus phone and types a quick question into the search engine of choice. He pauses for a moment doing some quick maths in his head.
As I suspected, only about one person in eight thousand, three hundred and thirty something is even killed by gunshot in DC, and I think we can safely predict that 'random person shots off duty cop without provocation' as being a vanishingly small subset of that rather uncommon whole. If all four had been killed in late night RTI's or killed by their partners because of a marital dispute, it might be a coincidence but this?
Angleton's tone is more level now, though he still has a weirdly intense air about him, like he never experiences anything as human as has doubt, or fears.
Agent Green smiles briefly, sipping his cup of tea. I told Miss Green N was the right team for the job.
He looks at Angleton, as if he had expected him to respond so. Yes, Agent J, we do recognize this was a clean sweep op. We know these victims, and what they did for this country. The local leos haven't the faintest clue. Four strangers dead in four different ways, on four different days. To the world, this was random bits of nothing.
He sets down his cup, taking on a more serious mein. To us, four good people are dead. We need to know who, we need to know why, and we need to know yesterday. There is always a reason, a method to the madness. Once we know them, once we know that, we can do something to make sure M didn't die in vain. But we can't do that until N takes care of this assignment.
He pours the last of the tea from his little ceramic pot, and adds another sugar cube. Looking to you all, N, Bag it, tag it, and get it out of sight of the world. We'll take it from there. We have top people waiting to figure out what M was working on.
Glancing at an antique timepiece he pulls from his pocket, We have a few more minutes, but then I'm afraid we will all have places we need to be.
Ted watches the exchange with his usual feigned indifference. As the files are passed around he take one of his always present index cards from his front pocket, and makes a few notes mixing in several languages, so that it makes no sense to anyone but him. A little research ahead it seems. And to think he was only hours ago setting in the mobile field lab on Lake Lure running samples through the analyzer...still it was good to be doing something different for a change.
"Well I'm all for checking out his pad". "Might come up with something there". Maybe a cell phone or computer I can work on".
Ted is dressed in torn jeans, hiking boots, and a faded Aerosmith T-shirt. He has long hair, and a scraggly beard, and looks much like a drop out from the 70's...till you see his eyes, and the keen intellect behind them.
Thomas Finishes his Roll Quickly, And Downs his shot of Warm Saki..
"I'll Drive, let Roll, I'm eager to Check out the Crime Scene."
Angleton reachs over and grabs the passcard, then springs to his feet. He then stretches a lightly and looks back to Marks
Well take the Greenbox. Your driving.
Aidan finishes drinking his tea "I don't have anything against tea, but I rather have a beer when this kind of moments come by" as he places the tea cup down "Well let's get moving then, it sounds interesting enough and I'm not driving"
As Thane and Rhune move to leave, the waitress hurries to catch them. She holds in one hand Thane's takeout bag and a to-go styrofoam cup for Rhune. You cannot begin your journey if you do not have what you need.
The bag contains the Dragon Rolls, the cup, about a single bottles worth of Aidan's favorite beer.
Aidan smiles backs and nods to the waitress Thank you! "I should had asked her phone number" Aidan thinks to himself and smiling to himself as he leaves. "We are ready now for sure."
To Angleton and Marks, Agent Green comments, Remember gentlemen, files and records relating to DG activities need to be turned over to me quickly, we have people ready to look over everything. We need to know if this is related to an active case, something closed, or if we have a more serious threat on our hands. Good luck and to all of you, good hunting.
The last pair makes it as far as the door, when the waitress stops Marks. Sir, I think you dropped this. It is a small RFID token. Turning back towards Agent Green, you see he is already gone, and a small horde of wait staff are clearing away the remains of your luncheon.
"Oh thanks". Ted throws down a couple of extra bucks, "Let's get out of here". "I'll be glad to drive". "Got some new Incense it there...you should like it".
Upon arrival at the Green Box, Thomas clambers out of the car and walks around to the boot, where he grabs his go bag. He slings it around his shoulder and leans against the car waiting for Marks. The file doesn't mention this places parrot having sounded, so it's probably secure.
Once the back pack is secure, he pushes of the car and start walking towards the lock up. He doesn't even acknowledge the guard.
Aidan stretches for a moment before boarding "This sounds like an interesting job to crack, what do you think it could be?" knowing full well it can be anything Aidan just want's to know how crazy does Thane imagination goes or how objective he is in this kind of situations.
I've seen some things in my time, so anything is possible. But I seriously doubt this guy did himself in by some sort of deviant sexcapade gone wrong. He looks at Aidan, appraising him while trying to think best how to proceed. If he was killed, staging it this way says something about the mindset of the killer. They didn't just want him dead; I think they wanted to disgrace him, his work, and those around him in the process.
He pulls out a pack of Juicy-Fruit, puts in a piece, then offers one to Aidan, before continuing. The others died in unusual but non-damaging ways, as far as credibility and reputation go. This swabbie was given a full treatment if he was set-up. If not, well then, we bag him, tag him, and put this all behind us.
He looks out the window, as the ladder is rolled up to take them down the ramp and out to the plane. Should be just a few minutes more.
He turns back to Aidan, But really, how many of these cases rolled themselves up nice and neat for you? We're stepping rightt into the deep end on this one, I can feel it.
As you approach the storage unit, you notice the area seems quiet and well kept. The place seems to be fairly well rented, with many units appearing to have little traffic, but from the level of dust and weathering, long term use.
Using the key, you open up and remove the lock, roll up the door, turn on the overhead lamp, and roll down the door behind you. The 10 by 12 unit is dominated by three metal storage lockers, the kind you might find as a kit in any big box store, set to the back corners and wall. Nearby the rolldoor stand three metal folding chairs, folded up out of the way. A small advertising magnet holds a small hand-written note to the center locker. The magnet represents an Alexandria attorney’s office, Barrera Law Firm. None of the lockers are locked, though they do have such capabilities. Scattered throughout the lockers, you find the following items:
A set of locker keys, six identical keys altogether
Two AN/PRC-152 multiband handheld radios
Three Princeton Tec EOS headlamps
A pair of Yukon Optics 2x24 Tracker night vision binoculars
A pair of AN/PVS-5B night vision goggles
A large Mag-light flashlight, black, with a package of fresh batteries, unopened, adjacent
A small wooden gun case, locked, holds a Liberator .45ACP pistol and silencer. Two fully loaded clips are included in the case
In a small plastic travel folder you find a set of maps from the local area - road map, geographical map, tourist guide, transportation routes
Laying loose in the bottom of a locker you find one red and three green flares for a missing flare gun
A pre-paid Nokia X2 cellular phone, with a single programmed, Nevada telephone number, 91 minutes remaining on the account
A well-worn first edition original copy of Lewis Carrol's “Alice's Adventures Underground” with a small scrap of orange paper sticking out like a bookmark
A rewritable CD labeled “Cairo June 15, 2011”
An 8 GB USB drive, set inside a little brown plastic monkey, attached to a plastic carbineer
A box of non-sterile surgical gloves, unopened
A large trauma bad, similar to the equipment used by ambulance personnel
An authentic medieval broadsword hangs in the back of the largest locker
"I was hoping that sexcapade case was a "normal" one for a change" as he takes the Juicy-Fruit and nods in thanks.
"Well I've seen some things, mostly human made... and I wish those were monsters sometimes, and some other more creepy looking things as you might think..." as Aidan keeps walking with Thane.
"In regards of the case, it was my first thought that he was set up to tarnish his reputation and probably credibility, but then another question I have no answer yet came out... What did they needed to become unbelievable and what are they protecting" as he rubs his chin "I really must find that reason and we might hold a very important part of this puzzle that can help us find the other ones."
"I've never had nice cases Thane, they never are in my line of work... that includes this one too" as he says it with a somber look on his face.
/Thomas walks across the room, pulling out his wallet, and removing his credit card as he crouch down next to the book.
"'Curiouser and curiouser!' cried Alice"
He is so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgets how to pretend to be one of the Sheeple, licking the corner of his mouth in anticipation. First he slids the card under the cover and confirms his suspicion that it is indeed a first edition and then slides it lower opening the book at the book mark with the card, careful at all times to not touch the book itself with his bare hand. He scan reads the page looking for notation, water marking and pin-pricks in the paper. He then scans reads again for content. Even as he reads, he is reaching for the near by surgical gloves, which he slips on carefully.He picks up the book with his newly gloved hands and straightens up as he speaks.
"'now I'm opening out like the largest telescope that ever was! Good-bye, feet!'"
Is this thing dead ??????
Angleton notices a few things about the tome as he picks it up and examines it.
The book appears to be a handwritten copy of the beloved children's tale, bound as a sturdy, well maintained hardback book, dated September 1863. At first glance, this edition seems longer than the original given to Alice, as well as the final printed edition.
The dedication page does not match that which most remember, but instead is made out as follows: Stevon, thank you for returning her safely to me. My life would be over were she gone. I am in your debt. Charles.
A cursory glance, followed by more indepth observation, notes that every time a word relating to felines, cats, or things associated with such creatures, the word is written in red ink. Next to each is a small superscript four digit code or sequence, penned by a different hand.
The bookmark, tucked between pages 64 and 65 is a well worn, Monopoly "Get Out of Jail Free" playing piece. A small scrawled note on the back reads, Rip in half to use. Good once only. S A. The page discusses the white rabbit threatening to burn down a house, with Alice threatening him with a "red inked" Dinah(4916).
The flight passes quickly, taking approximately an hour and a half to arrive at Yeager airport. During that time, it is discovered that while Rhune received his beer from the waitress, Thane received, rather than his dragon rolls, white butcher paper wrapped bundles containing a pre-paid cellular phone and an abbreviated dossier.
The phone is loaded with 60 minutes of talk time and only three numbers in the contacts list... The State Medical Examiners Office for West Virginia, the home telephone number of Dr. Todd Allen McDaniels, and a mobile number for Alfonso Green.
The dossier is for Dr. McDaniels, listing him as a Delta Green friendly that has consulted with the group on two other cases in the past four years.
Waiting at the passenger baggage claim of the airport is Kanawha County Sheriff, Lt. Shawn Crotzer. Hello gentlemen. I hope your flight went well. This way and I will show you to the rental car terminal. My cruiser is parked outside, and once you are ready, I can either show you to the crime scene, your hotel, or our offices. I have been assigned to assist you in this matter, so, how can I be of service today.
Although he speaks politely and professionally, seasoned agents yourselves you sense he is anything but pleased to have been given this duty. He is too clean and polished to be a regular patrol officer, so you suspect he is either in administration or public relations.
Thomas run his tongue along his teeth as he reads the book carefully.
This is quiet the find, I'll need to scan it so A-cell can hav it analysised. You got a bag?
He does not wait for an answer, as he dives into making a list of everything, photographing each item and finding boxes for everthing.
I'm going to need some time with this book, I'm pretty sure it is as ciphered tome.
A quick look confirms the keys fit the locks on all three lockers.
Checking over the miscellaneous equipment, most everything seems to be at nearly a full charge. Whoever was responsible for maintenance and upkeep seemed to know their stuff, and paid attention to detail.
The handgun does not bear a serial stamp; it was not removed, it does not appear to have ever had one.
Assuming you check out the cd, it seems to contain footage of a protest and riot that occurred on that date. A subtitle track has been added, attempting to translate some of what is being shouted or chanted by the crowd. You viewed only about a minute or so, so further review would be needed to learn anything substantial.
The USB drive is encrypted, but appears to contain some kind of searchable database, as best can be determined by the file structure.
The trauma bag could be used to do most field medical work, just short of meatball surgery.
The broadsword bears an inscription, Amoracchius, down the length of the blade.
Thank you Sheriff Shawn, I think I will go ahead and take a look at the scene first, what do you think Marshall? as he looks at Thomas to see if he wants to go and check in with the local authorities to find out more about the victims or the evidence for a more appropriate forensic approach we could find.
Yes, I agree, the sooner we get started, the sooner we will be out of everyone's hair. Thane swings his bag over his shoulder, adjusts the strap, and turns towards the car rental check-in. Shall we get our rental, then follow you to the scene, Deputy? Special Agent Rhune, I believe it is your turn to drive.
Please, allow me to lead the way, says the trooper, slightly at a loss in dealing with the two imposing figures. And well, um, the name is Lt. Crotzer, but I suppose you can call me Deputy Sheriff,...or maybe Shawn, if you'd like. I guess. He moves ahead of you, quickly closing on the rental area. I checked in and found your car is ready, it's parked out this way.
"Alright, let's hope to it and get this over with already" so we can hit the pub for a beer and a chat"[/b] remembering the Deputy or whatever his title was They all look the same somehow... "Deal Shawn" more in a question like to see if Rhune got the name right than anything...
Once the car is ours we will follow the sheriff to the scene.
"Don't they all look kind of the same... like they are all just sheriff or deputy. I've dealt with some that are so annoying and anal about "call me Sheriff I'm da boss in dis town." but Lt. Crotzer is not a bad man I hope we can get off his hair soon enough with this and hope it's nothing." as Rhune keeps driving.
If my assumption that this game is dead is correct, would the GM please make it inactive so it won't show up on my active games thread?
I am not sure if I am doing this correctly, but I am trying to set Mr. Armstead's affairs in order, and deactivating this online thread. On his behalf I do apologize to all involved.