At first, the terrorist resists Smith's attempt to bind him, but a sharp pain in his back and an elbow to his face allow Smith to tie him up.
"I'm not the last of us! There will be more attacks! Mark my words."
At that moment, one of the pilots comes out of the cockpit. He looks at the terrorist with disgust and then looks at the rest of you. "Thank you all. Very much. You have saved the lives of all aboard. We will be reporting this and suggesting that all of you are awarded. I must ask you to do what you have to do to restrain him, but then take your seats. We're on final approach. "
-Posted with Wayfinder
Smith says, " I wish you luck when General Zia-ul-Haq gets his hands on you, you are going to squirm like a tiny little girl, I guaran-freaking-tee you"
With that Smith elbows him in the windpipe to knock him out cold for the remainder of the flight.
He then flashes the pilot a s!~# eating grin and says, "Yessir!" and uses his belt and tie to securely fasten the man to the tray table back of the seat in front of him and then squeezes his seat belt extra tight.
Jason goes into the cockpit and gives the pilot his clothes back and walks out with his regular suit back on. Then he sits down next to Smith and hands him his dagger, "Thanks for the weapon, Smith. I hope I didn't damage it."
Upon receiving his blade he takes out his handkerchief and spits on the blade running the handkerchief up and down over it getting the blood off the black carbon steel blade and then slips it into its sheath on his left calf.
"No problem. Those boys in Oregon make a fine blade... have had it since Recondo..." tapering off as he thinks of Nha Trang in 1969 and the training mission that went awry.
Natalie quietly slinks down back into her seat without any bravado or response. She murmurs to anyone who may ask her about the situation, "I just don't like seeing people get hurt...and I'll be a lot happier when I'm back on the ground."
Bluff
Assuming her ruse goes over well enough, she returns to her more meek, worried persona.
Not long after everyone is settled in, you feel the aircraft decelerating, with much more shuddering than you are used to. After what seems like an eternity, even though your watch says only 20 minutes have gone by, the plane touches the ground and comes to a satisfying halt. A congratulatory applause begins somewhere in the back and grows with the passengers.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain. We have safely landed in Karachi, Pakistan. Unfortunately due to recent events, we are to be boarded by Special Service Group. Please stay in your seats and cooperate with them. As soon as they are finished, we will begin the deplaning process."
Sure enough, as soon as he is done speaking, a unit of operators wearing military fatigues and gas masks and carrying pistols comes into the plane and begins to secure the passengers. When they reach the tied up terrorist, the leader looks around. "Who of you is responsible for this?"
Natalie slumps down in her seat a little, trying not to draw attention to herself. She does keep an eye on the military personnel, like many of the other passengers.
"I am, sir. And might I say, that uniform looks very good on you." "Now, I believe that with all that said, you have the terrorist in your hands, so perhaps you could put a little cash in mine? Just a reward for services rendered, then I let you fine men get on your way about investigating this plane and I get on my business, too."
Notice/Awareness like a sense motive check.
Natalie slumped down in her chair, and one soldier looks at her but doesn't say anything.
The lead soldier looks at Ward, as if sizing him up. " I'm sure that the airline is grateful for your assistance, so you will have to see one of their representatives for any reward." He doesn't say anything else, but he finishes rounding up his troops and the terrorist and they leave the plane. 20 minutes later the actual deplaning process begins. As you are leaving, a flight attendant hands Ward a card.
"Meet here. ", is all she says. After you get off the plane, you are left to your own devices in the terminal.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Natalie collects her things, and departs the plane. She tries to get a basic layout of the airport, as well as find the location of our stashed gear and the like if it's on site.
Smith then grabs his leather grip that was stowed in the overhead compartment and then walks out goes through customs and then tries to help Natalie with finding the gear.
Jason reads the card as he meets up with Smith and Nat.
Looking at the card, you note that it is a simple business card. Though most of it is in Farsi, you can tell it is for a deli shop in Karachi, conveniently located in the airport. On the back of the card is written a single word, fahsal.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Hey guys, a flight attendant gave me this card and says to meet here. I've been in the field long enough to know that there's not enough of us to secure the meeting point with snipers and suspicious vans. So, do we take the risk and assume that we're supposed to meet this person, or look the other way and possibly have no leads."
Natalie looks at the card with a frown, "I think we haven't much choice. Could be our basic point of contact here. I guess we need to validate our roles here. Jason and I are both with the Red Cross, so Timothy, sir, if you're willing, I think it's easy to say that you're our guide....{/b]" She grimaces, "[b]I think we all implied that, but I wanted to make sure."
Let's go check it out.
Smith shrugs his shoulders and says, "We're in Indian territory now, I propose Moscow rules be put into effect. Remember Murphy is alive and well. I will go to counter and get some chai and some cured lamb. It would make sense for you two to act close and I be somewhat of an outsider. Keep your heads on a swivel."
"I am Richard Chandler, CEO of Chandler Global Exports. I am here to negotiate oil exports and to donate large sums of money to charity. I am here working with the Red Cross to feed baby orphans and such. And yes, my ego is so big I named my company after myself, I may or may not be having an affair with my accountant, and the Red Cross lady and I certainly are closer than we appear to be." Richard winks. "Now, Miss Burns, does the Red Cross object to having a drink with a rich man?"
Natalie takes a moment to slip into character, drawing on her acting training.
She raises up her head, an amused smirk on her face that fades quickly. "Cynthia Betterman, Sir. If it means you're willing to finalize some sort of arrangement, Mr. Chandler, then I suppose I'll do as I must." She glances about the area, "I've had to do far more to get my goals met, and this is my chance to become regional director, and out of these crummy field assignments."
Smith makes his way away from the other two and orders his food and drink and then tries to be inconspicuous and uses his culture skill to try not to offend anyone
He sits in the corner where he can see every corner of the room,
Awareness
Arriving at the deli, whose name translates into 'All the Meats', you find that it appears to be pretty popular. While not over crowded, it does take some time to find seats. Once you do however, the waitstaff is fairly quick at taking care of you.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Could one of you order for me? I'm afraid that I don't know the local language. If you could, ask if they have Fahsal, would you?" Jason is clearly telling you to ask if someone knows who Fahsal is.
Natalie laughs softly, "I'd be delighted." She gives Jason a charming look as she sits down across from him, playing up how Cynthia is willing to do just about anything to get Richard's support here...It's a role she's had a lot of practice with. Natalie looks over the menu before the waiter arrives, then orders. "I'm sorry, I'm not very good at the language here." Nat manages a grimacing laugh, "Let me try...ahhh, three of the seekh kebabs, two of the ashak, and...is this fahsal?" She points to something on the menu that could possibly be misinterpreted as such.
At the mention of the word fahsal, your waiter's constant smile suddenly turns to a frown. He shoots a look over to one of the clerks behind the counter. This man nods, wipes his hands with a towel and approaches your table.
"Ah my friends! My humblest apologies. My ignorant waitstaff did not realize who he was talking to." This is emphasized with a thump to the back of the waiter's head. "Please come into my office, that we may speak and catch up. "
-Posted with Wayfinder
Natalie turns to Jason, translating. "Mr. Chandler, the clerk here says that your brokerage firm just put a call through to here. Said it was important. If this is about backing out of financing...." She is obviously intent on going with the clerk as well.
"Ahem, yes, let's go into the back and discuss this, then. Smith, I would value your input on this matter, as this concerns the area you're a guide for. I promise, though, I will continue funding the local orphanages." Richard walks back with the clerk.
-Posted with Wayfinder
As you had back with the clerk, he closes the door behind you in his office. It is what you would expect from an office in an airport deli: cluttered, smelly and dingy. The clerk somehow finds a seat among the mess and regards all of you.
"I didn't think you would actually come. Al-Salahar said you would, but I didn't believe him. You have no idea what this means to me and my family. There is a van outside in the waiting area to take you to the safe house, he will meet you there. Please, tell my Asha I love her. "
-Posted with Wayfinder
Smith smiles and says, "Of course. Why does meeting us mean so much to you and your family?"
"Did they not tell you? My daughter is among the missing. "
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Nurp, I am just a guide. Am genus in the pine forests of the tora bora mountains. I thought Zia was very conservative. Your daughter must be very special to be included in the delegation." says Smith
"The name's Richard Chandler, sir. CEO of Chandler Global Exports and I'd be delighted to help find your daughter, but I'd like some proof of identification before I go hopping in vans. Surely you get that? Is there some pass-phrase you can use, perhaps? Just something to assure me that we're not running into a trap."
"She is very special. At least to me. She just went as an assistant researcher, but I think this could make her career. Al-Salahar said nothing of pass phrases or whatever you call it. We've been friends for a long time. He just said that he had some friends coming in to help and they would ask for Fahsal. He then told me what I just told you. That's it. "
-Posted with Wayfinder
Smith wrinkles his nose and then says, "I have a better idea. You can provide us with the address to meet with Al-Salahar and if Mr. Chandler of the aforementioned CGE, Inc. thinks prudent we shall undertake said assignment. You see, sir, we must be extremely careful for Sovis are a savvy bunch. I personally do not want to be executed in Omsk for no reason. "
Sense motive
The man looks as if he is genuinely shocked. "Sir, I do understand the need for your safety, but I assure you that I mean you no harm. The only thing I know is that the driver is supposedly one of your own. I do not know where you are going or even if Al-Salahar will be there. " He pauses. "Please. My daughter is still missing and the longer she is gone. ..", he trails off.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Smith pulls the man to the side and says in a stage whisper, "If it were up to me, I would totally accept your offer for the correct amount of bakshish... inshallah. Our friends to the west have been infiltrated with that vile ideology from those two kraut windbags and then brought there by those borscht slurping clowns up north, fitting to make a man sick if you ask me."
"I believe you, sir." Richard shakes the man's hand. "It's been good doing business with you. We'll get on our way and get to work. Mister Smith, Miss Betterman, are you ready? I did try to bring over some of my own personal vehicles, but there was a problem with my papers, so I'm afraid we'll have to rely on what we have here."
Ahhh. Yes. Yes I am fine just lost in thought. Johnny Mac. He says as he reaches his hand out to shake the hand of the crew man with the other hand he takes the keys and message.
Snap out of it man that was years ago. He thinks to himself as he remembers that time she left him at the airport never to come back to him again. He unfolds the message and reads it.
The man nods. "Thank you very much. I await your safe return. "
-Posted with Wayfinder
Natalie quietly regards the situation while with the informant. After the team gets back on the move, she seems lost in thought for a few moments, "The sooner we get in contact with someone 'in the know' the better. "
Smith smiles and says, "I concur!"
"I haven't done much field work, at least nothing quite like this before. I keep seeing a thousand options and a thousand ways each one can go. Are people watching? Do they know? Who's really whom? I'll be a lot happier when we can narrow down our first objective."
Smith says, "It can be confusing. The field is fluid it is grey... it is ever changing. The reds are tricky and they are clever. As I said before. Moscow rules are in effect."
He says that as he uses a window to try and catch the reflection of a possible tail.
Awareness
"Beats being held captive by terrorists on an airliner, though."
"Yes and No, on the airliner everything became clear quickly. Enemy, neutralize, finished. Karachi is ambiguous, dangerous because we do not know where or who exactly the enemy is. Reminds me of the 'Nam'" he says wistfully.
"Look, it's...uncertain, but I was held at gunpoint over three days, after I botched the negotiation. Their prime hostage, at least here I don't see a muzzle pointed at my throat constantly."
She adds after a moment, "Yet."
Smith chuckles and now says, "So you weren't referring to today, got our wires crossed. Sorry"