Jason sits passenger-side as Nat drives, thinking over his fake persona to get into character. "I've settled on my Ronald King identity. What identity did you settle on?" Ronald motions to the stack of fake IDs on the dashboard.
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."
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.
Sounds good to me says Smith ready to eat anything secretly wishing for some braai.
Razor walks up to the nearest vendor speaking in Pashto.
"They call the me Snake for a reason, but if you'd rather play it safe, it's your call. I'll follow along."
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Razor opens his wallet to bring out cash to pay.
The man nods as he fills the order.
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Nat remains silent for a moment, " I just don't see the angle you're shooting for, but I said I'll back your play. Let's just do this."
North American I come from Western Canada.
The man gives a slight frown.
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"I think I'm a bit more adaptable than you, Miss Burns. Do whatever would be easiest."
"Well for both our sakes, let's hope you're wrong."
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"Do you have any money on you, Nat? We just need enough to buy us maybe half a dozen coffees or danishes."
"Some. Your Pashto isn't bad. Accent is off though. I am called Verun. Good to be meeting you. "
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"Your English is very good Verun. Would you like to meet my American coworker? I can bring him over after we eat. I think he is from the East Coast. Very good to meet you too.
Johnny offers his hand for a parting handshake.
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Smith sits in the car looking out for trouble Notice
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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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.
Smith starts munching on his food and then says, "This all sounds a bit dicey to me. I feel we are splashing out a bit much we need to be a little more covert. I am originally from the east coast but that is irrelevant."
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.
Smith nods, checks his pistol and then tops off his .45, eight in the clip one in the hole.
"BOHICA, rangers getting it done." as he puts his pistol in his waistband and unasses the truck.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jason looks for nametags on them.
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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."
...
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:
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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"Thank you, um...what's your name? Oh, and we also brought some pastries for you guys. We figured you could use a snack." Jason offers them the bag so that they may take a pastry.
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.
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...
Jason slides the bag across the table to Al-Salahar after taking out two pastries for him and Nat. "Is this room secure?" He reaches into his jacket, grabbing an ID card above his concealed gun.
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."
Smith tries see what is going on and see if they are guards for the ISI or terrorists
Notice
Inside.
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.
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.
"Gawddammit, do we just ATTRACT random gunfire?"
She makes for the door, cursing about leaving her gun in the car. "Some of our team is out there!"
Jason throws his gun to Nat then turns to Al-Salahar, "Can we get to the armory without getting in the line of fire?" Jason pulls out his swiss army knife, because an improv blade weapon is better than fisticuffs in a gun fight.
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, , winging him. If they didn't know you were there before, this one certainly does now as he turns in your direction.
Smith up!