Johnny was content to follow silently and let the others answer the questions. They were better liars than him anyways. He kept his eyes open for any signs of trouble though.
Smith comes into the room and looks at the Captain and says, "Well, it looks like a springbok got loose in here now don't it. Captain, we're here because well you are the magic man with the ladies, or better said with the our Doctor and she is scrambling like Karenina. What I mean to say is, she is extremely worried about you and your dealings and she asked us to try and smooth things over between you."
Then Smith breaks out the Tolstoy in the original, ""Я думаю, что ... если это правда, что
Есть также много, как там умы
являются руководители, то есть, как многие
виды любви, как есть сердца ".
Russian
there are as many minds as there
are heads, then there are as many
kinds of love as there are hearts.”
Captain Vasily Orsov sits back in his chair, eyeing Smith and rest of you. "Your Russian is impressive for an American. I don't think Doctor Sudal has been very upfront with you I'm afraid. Whatever she told you about our relationship is more her imagining than anything. We do have a deal, yes, but it is more of a business relationship. I allow her to operate inside the warzone, she provides materials for our military efforts. Simple as that. As far as I am aware, there hasn't been a discrepancy, though you are three days early for the delivery." He pauses, running a hand through his thinning hair before continuing. "I'm starting to think I've allowed her too much leeway in who she employs for security however. You are obviously a soldier, the Frenchman is as well, but not as experienced, he,", the Captain points at Macomb, "I'm still trying to figure out, and then there's you." He nods to Cynthia. "Somehow I don't think security is even in your blood. You walked in here with confidence, but as I watch, you fidget and squirm. A clear sign of nervousness. My superiors seem to think there is somehow a leak in my own security here in Lashkar Gah. While they are correct in that matter, I should like to think it is only because I allow it to be so. Are you here to tell me I'm wrong?" It is at this point that Macomb notices the TT-33 pistol sitting under a pile of papers on the man's desk.
Smith laughs and says while tossing his Rhodesian passport and military ID on the table, "I am Rhodesian. Impressive for a Rhodesian. I never pretended to be anything but a soldier. The war in Salisbury is now over and I was out of a job so I got a new one and then our patron died. An old comrade gave me a copy of Soldier of Fortune and that's how I got this project. Being a soldier turned merc, well patrons get slotted, its tragic but I don't have time to grieve. Who is your leak? The lieutenant, one of your men, or those with all of the Lenin medals, heard Brezhnev gave himself another for no reason. Peculiar isn't it? You don't know whom to trust."
He then stops and says, "Look, maybe the Doctor is smitten, maybe you are too, or she is your mistress because you find solace with her while your wife is making it with a Politcommissar in Minsk. Ms. Betterman interviewed me for the job and I can't leave her with the jackals. Mack, well he is a damn good driver and he is also out of a job and then Louis, seemed like an old Africa hand and I always liked the French and he seemed bored and needed to get outside the wire. One could get stir crazy."
"Captain, let's have some of this fine brandy shall we?" as he takes out his flask again and offers it to the Captain.
Cynthia continues with the ruse, as things get a bit deeper. Her head turns from Smith to Orsov as she tries to understand what they're saying, bluffing that she can only gather a few tidbits. When the Captain looks at her, she grimaces, and almost whimpers audibly as she moves an inch closer behind Timothy.
Orsov raises an eyebrow at the correction, but says nothing of it. "In this business, knowing who to trust is an illusion we tell ourselves," he says as he briefly glances at your paperwork and pushes it back across the desk. "Sounds like a fine resume for work out here. What's she paying you anyway?", he asks as he takes a swig, makes a face and sits back to enjoy the alcohol going down his throat. "Doesn't matter anyway. I can pay better, I promise you that. May even have something for Ms. Betterman to do, instead of as bait for jackals." He smiles and it almost seems predatory.
Well as Smith said we are looking for employment since our original charge met an untimely, before he paid in full, end. IF you have some tasks for us I am sure we could be persuaded.
Razor eyes glance over the desk taking in the pistol underneath the paperwork. He returns to meet the Russian Captain's eyes.
The Captain nods. "As a matter of fact I do. My.. relationship.. with the doctor is coming to an end that I can't control. I will pay you and your team twenty-five thousand American dollars to take Doctor Sudal out of this country and to Pakistan. I don't care how you do it, just get her out of here safe."
Smith looks at him and says, "Да, как сказа́л Пушкин: 'Чем ме́ньше же́нщину мы любим, тем ле́гче нра́вимся мы ей.'".
Russian
And then he says, "Your tour of duty in Afghanistan almost up, are they sending you back to Minsk? Or to another assignment in maybe Vladikavkaz?"
The Captain frowns, a more serious tone taking its toll on his face. "I'm afraid it's worse than that. The rest of the 5th Guards are coming though in the next few weeks. They won't be friendly to my backdoor handling of refugees and allowing Aru... Doctor Sudal to continue operating in a designated combat zone."
Smith then says, "That would be tragic for your Aruschka to be mistreated in that way. She asked if you knew where her missing scientists were and well we could exfiltrate the Dr. for 75% upfront and then she'd be gone like maaagik."
At this point, the Captain takes on a different tone. "Missing scientists? I knew some researchers got lost in the mountains a couple weeks ago, but I did not know that they were hers. That changes things. A lot. Let's change the plan. You bring her to me directly. Fifteen thousand up front and another fifteen when she arrives in my custody, safe and sound. As for the camp, I will have Lieutenant Ursumo deal with that." He reaches into a drawer in his desk and withdraws a lockbox. After digging the key out of his chest pocket, he unlocks the box and counts out stacks of hundreds to the amount of fifteen thousand American dollars, before putting the rest away. "Do we have a deal, tovarisch?"
Johnny casts a nervous look around. I doubt she'll like leaving her camp very much. How much persuasion should we use and how much of this information are we free to pass on? Can we share the bit about the 5th Guards coming.
Cynthia studies the Captain at this point, evaluating his demeanor. From a layman's stance, she may just be afraid of him. She even shifts unwarily as she stays behind the two fighting men.
Sense Motive/Detect Lie
Smith now in negotiation mode says, "How about this? We go into the mountains, slot some Muj for you, rescue these scientists, run pick up your Dushenka and bring everyone back to base for a cool 50,000 and then after you have some good bye loving, and if you want us to bring her across the border, tack on another 10,000 even cheaper than before. 35 up front."
"Rescue the scientists? That would require you knowing where they are, and unless there is something you are forgetting to tell me about our mutual friend, the doctor, that isn't possible." He leans back in his chair, Natalie notices him quickly glance at the pistol on his desk and then back at Smith. "You drive an interesting bargain. If you do happen to know where these scientists are, I want them here as well, along with Sudal." He pulls out his lockbox and stacks another fifteen thousand on the desk, totaling thirty thousand US dollars. "Thirty up front and you bring me the head of one of the local Muj leaders. I'm not concerned with getting the doctor across the border now. Circumstances have... changed. Do this for me and another thirty is yours." He pulls out a sheet with several black and white photos on it and places it on top of the pile of money.
Smith says, "We aren't really sure where they could be but.
he then takes out the map of the area that they have and puts it on top of the desk in front of the Captain and says while handing the man a felt tip pen, "if you give us a general idea where they went missing, we could find them and do it for you."
He then looks at the cash, grabs a rubberbanded stack, shuffles them like cards, hands a bundle to Macomb and says, "Are these real?"
The Captain circles the area in the map that your group found the base camp. "Somewhere in this area.", he says. "And yes, it is real. The Americans don't keep a close eye on where their money goes when it gets sent over here."
Razor fins through the money stack and nods his head to Smith.
The captain's right the money's good. Where do we find this local leader?
Macomb puts the stack of money back on the table.
The captain smiles. "If I knew that, I wouldn't be paying you to find them, I'd be sending this unit to flush them out."
Smith smiles, "You're paying us cuz your troopers can't go where we can. Let's go."
"Fair enough. Then we have a deal." With that, he pushes the money forward on the desk and goes back to whatever he was doing before you entered.
Smith stashes the cash in his Rucksack and after they leave the office of the Captain, hands it to Macomb and says, "I want a word with that damned LT onder vier oë, alone." he then shows the Rhodesian award to the team that he received from the man earlier.
Agreed. But are you serious about putting a hit on a local Muj and handing the Doc over to this Red? Razor says shaking his head as rearranges the cash in the rucksack once out of earshot.
Smith being somewhat paranoid and implementing "Moscow Rules" protocol which he mentioned before gives Macomb a hug using his thumb to tap in morse code
Then Smith goes into the LT's office.
Cynthia gives a fearful look to Macomb, "I just want out of this country, okay? I mean...I'm no soldier..." She looks around, "and I don't feel safe here nor out there in some dang warzone..."
The poor aide is in the greatest crisis of her life.
The guards outside the Lieutenant's office don't seem to mind as Smith barges in. The Lieutenant however is a different story. "That was fast. Did you leave a mess?" He stands up from his desk, smoothing his uniform.
Smith throws the pin at the LT and says, "A mess, the man is a friggin slob. Pin, where did you get this?"
He smiles for a moment. "Was a long time ago, 'bout fifteen years now. Green in the boots and ready for action. Or so I thought. Long story short, I've been to where you're from chummy and you aren't just here checking on the doctor and Captain What-his-nose-into-now. Far as I know, she hasn't got any friends in the Rhodies. Only with Orsov and some French Commandant who managed to get a few Legionnaires off duty to run interference for the UN to not get uppity about a civilian operation in the middle of a warzone." At this point you notice he's dropped his Russian accent and is speaking almost fluent English with a Transatlantic flair. "Just be aware that you aren't the only operation in the area. You might want to do some research before running around this minefield. I'm being nice as a professional courtesy, as long as your op doesn't interfere with mine." With that, he hands Smith back the medal. "It's not the medals you wear, it's what's inside that counts."
Smith laughs and says, "Megic, new friends, old friends whats the matter, we's a group whose patron is playin' wit da big Springbokki in da sky. Needed new patron, got a matron instead, solang as de cash be right. Magic. You spooks have yer fun. I itn't one. Your fake boss, well hesa back and ferth. Anyway, we have to agitate gravel. Well, If I see you in Salisbury, we can eat some mieles and a gallon of palmers. Dasvidanya"
Smith returns to his team.
After the group clears the wire, Smith says let's go get the scientists
.
Natalie shakes her head, "Ugh, the whole helplessness of that situation was infuriating. Should've gotten a second cover to work with or something." She lights a smoke as she muses, "Something a little less helpless. Okay so they're up in the hills, and they know we're going to be up there. I've got my workteam of survivalists, so maybe we can just canvass the area and come up with a trail?"
Smith says, "I agree. Well, let's get these scientists, grab the doctor and beat feet back to P~%@.
He looks at Louis, mon amis, I have a feeling the Captain is going to sweep and clear the camp. I figure we have about ten days before they send in the Alfa group.
Razor looks down at shoes and wonders what he got himself into. We don't have much time lets go find the doctors. Hey say mate you wouldn't happen to know where they went? He says to Louis.
Louis looks down at his feet. "The scientists? No, I thought I mentioned that a while ago. You know more than I do. Thing is, this whole thing seems way bigger than I thought. I could've sworn we were done for with that Captain. You guys are good friends though, so I'm in, whatever it is. We should do it fast though, sounds like a lot of trouble is coming. "
-Posted with Wayfinder
She mutters to Timothy at another opportune moment, "Maybe if we take that old labcoat back up into the hills, he may recognize something."
Razor moves close to Natalie and whispers. Are you talking about the babbling idiot? He didn't seem like he was making to much sense the last time we talked to him. We can try again though.
Nat shrugs, "Any reaction would be better than nothing. We're working blind for now, and I'll take a madman over nothing."
Nat used her broad recon for the area already, so we have a map, and we have a survival team.
She looks over at Louis, her shrinking violet persona manages a weak smile as she worriedly looks around the rugged terrain. Was this guy just a friendly, or did he have his own motives.
Sense Motive
-Posted with Wayfinder
Cynthia mutters under her breath, "I can't believe that just happened. I almost had a panic attack..."
Smith shakes his head and says, "Walking into the lion's den was a bit much, brandy?" as he proffers a swig to everyone in the vehicle.
Johnny lifts a hand off the wheel to grab a hold of the flask and take his swig. Aye mates that's for sure. So back into the mountains then?
Smith says, "Agitate the gravel!"
You drive back to the Red Crescent camp and notice that the front gate is wide open. Several FFL troopers are outside looking at tracks on the ground. You spot a few of them with bandages around wounds on their bodies. Louis' CO comes marching up to your truck, a very fierce look in his eye. "Merde, Louis says under his breath. "I'll catch you guys later, no?" He gets out and salutes the man and then heads towards the barracks. The capitan watches him go and then looks to your group. "I don't know what kind of pull you think you have here, but you can't just go bringing one of my men off duty into the desert on some errand for that doctor. She may be the head of the medical teams, but I'm head of security. It's about time she gets that through her head. It's because of her I lost two men half an hour ago. Seems the Soviets have decided they don't like us in their backyard anymore. Two trucks pulled up, troops came out, started barking orders. Anybody who stood up got shot down. We fought as best we could, but we lost two and have several wounded. Once they got what they wanted, they beat a hasty retreat. They took the guy you brought back and several other patients. You want to tell me what this is all about now? Doctor Sudal is incoherently yelling and trashing her office, so now I'm asking you."
It is then you notice several shell casings on the ground, along with blood spatters and a lot of boot prints and tire tracks. The French captain is staring at all of you expectantly and you notice one of his hands is on his pistol.
Smith says, "Mon Capitan, cards on the table. The doctor asked us to go see the Soviet captain with whom she may or mayn't have had a tryst on her behalf and asked us get some concessions for the camp and some supplies. One old soldier to another, armies run similarly the world over, in Sovie town they are most likely going to close this camp and I would suggest you and your men make your ways across the border to Pakistan. The captain told us he was going to close the camp."
Notice
He looks around, sees the pistol and most likely how the Russians handled things and says, "They may ask nicely next time or just send in the choppers. You wouldn't happen to have any STRELAS or REDEYES floating around would you? Here is the situation, we need to get the doctor out of here."
The Legionnaire captain keeps his hand on his pistol, but takes a trepid sigh. "I will be happy to get my men out of here. We have stayed far too long and our contract with Doctor Sudal is about up anyway. If it wasn't for her friendship with the Commandant, I wouldn't have authorized this foul-up in the first place. Thing is, we still have refugees and wounded soldiers here. Any idea what we should do with them? Last I checked, we were a long way from Pakistan. We have trucks, but not many, and I know a whole caravan will be easy to spot and easy to pick off. And no, I don't have any of that kind of firepower here. Best we have are the MAS49s on our shoulders and La Belle." He pats the pistol.