HotZone 3 - Revision history

Johnm: /* Characters */

2015-06-07T15:16:59Z

Characters

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:16, 7 June 2015
Line 11:		Line 11:
	* [[David Abirgal\|David "Dudu" Abirgal]], Eli's Israeli operative		* [[David Abirgal\|David "Dudu" Abirgal]], Eli's Israeli operative
	* [[Carter]], Paul's Russian hacker		* [[Carter]], Paul's Russian hacker
			* [[Jaxon Cash]], [[User:Johnm\|John's]] stylish negotiator

	===NPCs===		===NPCs===

Johnm: /* Vacation in Guinea */

2015-05-26T15:17:09Z

Vacation in Guinea

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:17, 26 May 2015
Line 241:		Line 241:
	With [[David Abirgal\|Dudu]] and [[Boomer Smith\|Boomer]] off to Jordan on a diplomatic security mission for Israel, [[Gevin Dredd\|Gevin]] assumes command and informs the team of their next trip -- to Africa. [[Guido Ricardo]] laments the stack of burgers he was about to cook and [[Bianca Zapato\|Bianca]] and [[Angel Zeno\|Angel]], just setting up poolside, sigh and pack some snacks for the team.		With [[David Abirgal\|Dudu]] and [[Boomer Smith\|Boomer]] off to Jordan on a diplomatic security mission for Israel, [[Gevin Dredd\|Gevin]] assumes command and informs the team of their next trip -- to Africa. [[Guido Ricardo]] laments the stack of burgers he was about to cook and [[Bianca Zapato\|Bianca]] and [[Angel Zeno\|Angel]], just setting up poolside, sigh and pack some snacks for the team.

	~~Inn~~ minutes, the team's chopper sets down near the leased jet at the airport, and minutes after that, Guido's got the plane to 22,000' over the Mediterranean. Gevin briefs the team -- it's a rescue op, [[Patrick O'Leary\|a Catholic priest]] in Guinea has gone missing, and [[Agent Zero]] has agreed to extract him for a friend, [[Otto Jansen]].		In minutes, the team's chopper sets down near the leased jet at the airport, and minutes after that, Guido's got the plane to 22,000' over the Mediterranean. Gevin briefs the team -- it's a rescue op, [[Patrick O'Leary\|a Catholic priest]] in Guinea has gone missing, and [[Agent Zero]] has agreed to extract him for a friend, [[Otto Jansen]].

	It seems that [[HotZone_Deux#Ah.2C_Africa\|another team was there a couple years ago]], and the scene isn't pretty. Amid dangerous jungle, an utterly derelict and corrupt government generally overlooks the ethnic militias, drug gangs, and mining company enforcers, resulting in a desperate and tragic brew of misery, cruelty, and violence.		It seems that [[HotZone_Deux#Ah.2C_Africa\|another team was there a couple years ago]], and the scene isn't pretty. Amid dangerous jungle, an utterly derelict and corrupt government generally overlooks the ethnic militias, drug gangs, and mining company enforcers, resulting in a desperate and tragic brew of misery, cruelty, and violence.
Line 290:		Line 290:
	Anatoly fast-draws a weapon himself, but Gevin quickly blasts two bullets through the bones of his arm and the gun drops falls on a glass of vodka, shattering it. Anatoly grimaces as Luke and Gevin wrestle the enormous round table off the the side and shrieking blood-spattered women scatter in random directions.		Anatoly fast-draws a weapon himself, but Gevin quickly blasts two bullets through the bones of his arm and the gun drops falls on a glass of vodka, shattering it. Anatoly grimaces as Luke and Gevin wrestle the enormous round table off the the side and shrieking blood-spattered women scatter in random directions.

	Undeterred, Anatoly then draws a knife from his left boot, but ~~Nadia~~ destroys that arm with her magnum.		Undeterred, Anatoly then draws a knife from his left boot, but Gevin destroys that arm with two more well-placed shots.

			The injured henchman makes a move too, but Nadia finishes him with her magnum.

	Leaking blood from both arms like a stuck pig, Anatoly snarls helplessly, and the team drags him out to a van they've prepared for the occasion. A shotgun-wielding bartender is happy for them to leave.		Leaking blood from both arms like a stuck pig, Anatoly snarls helplessly, and the team drags him out to a van they've prepared for the occasion. A shotgun-wielding bartender is happy for them to leave.

Johnm: /* Vacation in Guinea */

2015-05-25T19:07:58Z

Vacation in Guinea

Johnm: /* Vacation in Guinea */

2015-05-25T18:51:42Z

Vacation in Guinea

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:51, 25 May 2015
Line 258:		Line 258:
	Then the party splits: [[Luke Sarti\|Luke]] contacts [[Pierre LeBlanc\|Pierre]] and heads out with him for supplies. [[Carter]] hangs out with Jason in the bar. Gevin checks and re-checks his gear and does a mad amount of exotic pushups.		Then the party splits: [[Luke Sarti\|Luke]] contacts [[Pierre LeBlanc\|Pierre]] and heads out with him for supplies. [[Carter]] hangs out with Jason in the bar. Gevin checks and re-checks his gear and does a mad amount of exotic pushups.

	[[Nadia ~~Anasov~~\|Nadia]] heads out into the neighborhood to sniff around and pick up a few incidentals. As she walks out of the hotel, the assassins attack.		[[Nadia Anosov\|Nadia]] heads out into the neighborhood to sniff around and pick up a few incidentals. As she walks out of the hotel, the assassins attack.

	Four underfed locals in grubby clothes load out of a battered brown van across the street and open fire with AK-74s. Each has a 21% chance to hit with at least one of the eleven bullets sent her way at nearly 3000' per second.		Four underfed locals in grubby clothes load out of a battered brown van across the street and open fire with AK-74s. Each has a 21% chance to hit with at least one of the eleven bullets sent her way at nearly 3000' per second.

Johnm: /* Vacation in Guinea */

2015-05-25T18:34:40Z

Vacation in Guinea

@@ Line 316: / Line 316: @@
 Near sunset, they reach a floating bridge and pay the toll to cross. However, there's a contingent on the far side who decides to multiply the disembarking fee by ten and, through a system of donkeys and ropes and pulleys, detaches the bridge from the shore, stranding the Range Rovers.
-Gevin agrees to the $2000 fee, and a skinny dude poles an old canoe out to receive the payment. A debate ensues about whether to waste the whole crew. Nadia call for peace prevails and the team drives on.
+Gevin agrees to the $2000 fee, and a skinny dude poles an old canoe out to receive the payment. A debate ensues about whether to waste the whole crew. Nadia's call for peace prevails and the team drives on.
 Hours after dark, the convoy crests a ridge and Ding Ding remarks that usually he can see the lights of the church from this vantage point. The team cuts their lights and discusses strategy.

Johnm: /* Vacation in Guinea */

2015-05-25T18:14:19Z

Vacation in Guinea

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:14, 25 May 2015
Line 281:		Line 281:

	Carter hacks CrystalTech's security system and parses the last few nights of footage. Sure enough, a group of five burly Russian-looking gangsters parties there every night. Skimming through the club's credit card receipts and passing names along to Interpol, there are several hits for Russian mob affiliations, and Nadia even recognizes one name, [[Anatoly Babakov]].		Carter hacks CrystalTech's security system and parses the last few nights of footage. Sure enough, a group of five burly Russian-looking gangsters parties there every night. Skimming through the club's credit card receipts and passing names along to Interpol, there are several hits for Russian mob affiliations, and Nadia even recognizes one name, [[Anatoly Babakov]].

			The op is planned: Carter will disable the security system and keep watch, Luke will pick the lock on the alley-facing emergency exit, and then he and Gevin and Nadia will enter, move through the dancing crowd, and open fire on the henchmen first.

			It goes nearly perfectly. As the Europop-techno-trance-dance suddenly switches to [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upR7GQ5ToCs The Bitch is Back], the dancers briefly and the mobsters glance up, but then go back to guzzling vodka and snorting lines off the chests of their well-paid prostitutes.

			The team steps up to the table, fast-draws and fires, immediately killing three Russian goons, and critically injuring a fourth. Screams fill the disco and the crowd breaks for the front door.

			Anatoly fast-draws a weapon himself, but Gevin quickly blasts two bullets through the bones of his arm and the gun drops falls on a glass of vodka, shattering it. Anatoly grimaces as Luke and Gevin wrestle the enormous round table off the the side and shrieking blood-spattered women scatter in random directions.

			Undeterred, Anatoly then draws a knife from his left boot, but Nadia destroys that arm with her magnum.

			Leaking blood from both arms like a stuck pig, Anatoly snarls helplessly, and the team drags him out to a van they've prepared for the occasion.

			Warnings of dire repercussions are exchanged as Nadia concocts an intravenous potion that will cause excruciating pain for 24 hours. First, she sedates him, and then injects the pain concoction, and then the team ties him to a downtown monument with a note for police, and leaves him there.

			The team heads back to their new hotel, catches a few hours of shut-eye, and then lets Pierre know it's time to roll.

			Still before dawn, they arrive at the border, where desperate Guinean families sit in squalor on the other side of the fence. The guards accept the team's generosity and waves them through.

			Hours of slow, muddy driving later, they roll into Conkary, the miserable capital city, home to two million grim souls. The heat is oppressive, sewage sloshes in gutters, and shoeless children pick through garbage around the wreckage of burned out cars.

			A gang of bicycling youths extracts some cash from the team, as do some bored soldiers in ill-fitting uniforms, who also provide directions to the bar where [[Brian Britsworth]] is likely to be found.

			Gevin and Nadia enter, while Carter and Pierre wait out front and Luke drives the second Range Rover around the block.

			The unmarked basement establishment is brimming with professional mercenaries, economic hitmen, oily military bureaucrats, and wily smugglers. A British flag is on the wall, soccer is on the telly, and Britsworth is holding forth about his activities as a translator for British special ops in Desert Storm, back in the day.

			Gevin calls for more scotch and develops a rapport with Britsworth in Arabic. He's happy to help, of course, old chap, and has met Father O'Leary. He says the North Koreans are helping with logistics for ''both'' mining companies, and that his friend [[Ding Ding]] has been to the church and can help.

			An hour later, the convoy is en route with Ding Ding's accompaniment.

			They roll through a dozen desperate and awful little towns, snaking through the rust-colored mud roads slowly but surely up into the hills.

			Near sunset, they reach a floating bridge and pay the toll to cross. However, there's a contingent on the far side who decides to multiply the disembarking fee by ten and, through a system of donkeys and ropes and pulleys, detaches the bridge from the shore, stranding the Range Rovers.

			Gevin agrees to the $2000 fee, and a skinny dude poles an old canoe out to receive the payment. A debate ensues about whether to waste the whole crew. Nadia call for peace prevails and the team drives on.

			Hours after dark, the convoy crests a ridge and Ding Ding remarks that usually he can see the lights of the church from this vantage point. The team cuts their lights and discusses strategy.

Johnm: /* Vacation in Guinea */

2015-05-25T17:42:28Z

Vacation in Guinea

@@ Line 245: / Line 245: @@
 It seems that [[HotZone_Deux#Ah.2C_Africa|another team was there a couple years ago]], and the scene isn't pretty. Amid dangerous jungle, an utterly derelict and corrupt government generally overlooks the ethnic militias, drug gangs, and mining company enforcers, resulting in a desperate and tragic brew of misery, cruelty, and violence.
-The team flies into Dakar, Senegal, and is pleasantly surprised at the modern hospitality and infrastructure.  A polite soldier drives out onto the tarmac to greet them and inform them of the fee to bypass security and customs, and, after a brief conversation, delivers the team to a locked gate at the perimeter of the runway, where a shining black SUV awaits them. The driver, [[Pierre LeBlanc]], is a well-dressed black gentleman who delivers them deftly to the Blue Flamingo, where the mission briefing says a contact awaits, [[Jason Eder]], who was part of the previous mission.
+The team flies into Dakar, Senegal, and is pleasantly surprised at the modern hospitality and infrastructure.  A polite soldier drives out onto the tarmac to greet them and inform them of the fee to bypass security and customs, and, after a brief conversation, delivers the team to a locked gate at the perimeter of the runway, where a shining black SUV awaits them. The driver, [[Pierre LeBlanc]], is a well-dressed black gentleman who delivers them deftly (including a stop for lattes at Starbucks) to the Blue Flamingo, where the mission briefing says a contact awaits, [[Jason Eder]], who was part of the previous mission.
-Jason is a fountain of [[http://www.goodbadjokes.com/ bad jokes]] and [[http://www.djtech.net/humor/useless_facts.htm useless facts]], which endears him to [[Carter]]; and a budding bromance forms throughout the day.
+Jason is a fountain of [http://www.goodbadjokes.com/ bad jokes] and [http://www.djtech.net/humor/useless_facts.htm useless facts], which endears him to [[Carter]]; and a budding bromance forms throughout the day.

Johnm: /* Vacation in Guinea */

2015-05-25T17:14:16Z

Vacation in Guinea

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:14, 25 May 2015
Line 241:		Line 241:
	With [[David Abirgal\|Dudu]] and [[Boomer Smith\|Boomer]] off to Jordan on a diplomatic security mission for Israel, [[Gevin Dredd\|Gevin]] assumes command and informs the team of their next trip -- to Africa. [[Guido Ricardo]] laments the stack of burgers he was about to cook and [[Bianca Zapato\|Bianca]] and [[Angel Zeno\|Angel]], just setting up poolside, sigh and pack some snacks for the team.		With [[David Abirgal\|Dudu]] and [[Boomer Smith\|Boomer]] off to Jordan on a diplomatic security mission for Israel, [[Gevin Dredd\|Gevin]] assumes command and informs the team of their next trip -- to Africa. [[Guido Ricardo]] laments the stack of burgers he was about to cook and [[Bianca Zapato\|Bianca]] and [[Angel Zeno\|Angel]], just setting up poolside, sigh and pack some snacks for the team.

	Inn minutes, the team's chopper sets down near the leased jet at the airport, and minutes after that, Guido's got the plane to 22,000' over the Mediterranean. Gevin briefs the team -- it's a rescue op, a Catholic priest in Guinea has gone missing, and [[Agent Zero]] has agreed to extract him for ~~his~~ friend [[Otto Jansen]].		Inn minutes, the team's chopper sets down near the leased jet at the airport, and minutes after that, Guido's got the plane to 22,000' over the Mediterranean. Gevin briefs the team -- it's a rescue op, [[Patrick O'Leary\|a Catholic priest]] in Guinea has gone missing, and [[Agent Zero]] has agreed to extract him for a friend, [[Otto Jansen]].

			It seems that [[HotZone_Deux#Ah.2C_Africa\|another team was there a couple years ago]], and the scene isn't pretty. Amid dangerous jungle, an utterly derelict and corrupt government generally overlooks the ethnic militias, drug gangs, and mining company enforcers, resulting in a desperate and tragic brew of misery, cruelty, and violence.

			The team flies into Dakar, Senegal, and is pleasantly surprised at the modern hospitality and infrastructure. A polite soldier drives out onto the tarmac to greet them and inform them of the fee to bypass security and customs, and, after a brief conversation, delivers the team to a locked gate at the perimeter of the runway, where a shining black SUV awaits them. The driver, [[Pierre LeBlanc]], is a well-dressed black gentleman who delivers them deftly to the Blue Flamingo, where the mission briefing says a contact awaits, [[Jason Eder]], who was part of the previous mission.

			Jason is a fountain of [[http://www.goodbadjokes.com/ bad jokes]] and [[http://www.djtech.net/humor/useless_facts.htm useless facts]], which endears him to [[Carter]]; and a budding bromance forms throughout the day.

Johnm: /* Mediterranean Mayhem */

2015-05-25T17:06:08Z

Mediterranean Mayhem

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:06, 25 May 2015
Line 187:		Line 187:
	Hours pass without any sightings of the Doctor nor his Romanian tramp girlfriend, [[Angela Rossi]], though Carter's reservation hacking confirms that Angela has a room on the 48th floor. A little further research turns up her casual affiliation with [[Divine Disorder]], and a fuzzy-logic psuedo-AI polynomial matching algorithm that Carter whips up further reveals that [[Mickey Farnsworth]], another Divine Disorder operative, is staying in the room across the hall from her.		Hours pass without any sightings of the Doctor nor his Romanian tramp girlfriend, [[Angela Rossi]], though Carter's reservation hacking confirms that Angela has a room on the 48th floor. A little further research turns up her casual affiliation with [[Divine Disorder]], and a fuzzy-logic psuedo-AI polynomial matching algorithm that Carter whips up further reveals that [[Mickey Farnsworth]], another Divine Disorder operative, is staying in the room across the hall from her.

	Suspicions aroused, Dudu returns from the nightclub where he was throwing around cash and booze with a bevy of beauties, and the team hatches a ~~surveilance~~ plan. Sunflower-seed-sized A/V nanobugs are placed under Angela's front door, outside Mickey's balcony door (via Gevin's daring climb), and in the hallway between the two.		Suspicions aroused, Dudu returns from the nightclub where he was throwing around cash and booze with a bevy of beauties, and the team hatches a surveillance plan. Sunflower-seed-sized A/V nanobugs are placed under Angela's front door, outside Mickey's balcony door (via Gevin's daring climb), and in the hallway between the two.

	Soon, the scenario becomes clear. Angela is getting the Doctor boozed and drugged up, whereupon Mickey and another man join them for an interrogation session concerning ~~checmical~~ weapons.		Soon, the scenario becomes clear. Angela is getting the Doctor boozed and drugged up, whereupon Mickey and another man join them for an interrogation session concerning chemical weapons.

	It's after midnight, but Dudu rallies the team and they resolve to rescue the Doctor. Unable to hack the hardwired security system, Carter goes to work on infiltrating the safety systems to create a distraction. The rest of the team breaches Angela's door with several hard kicks, Mickey confronts them with an extendible baton, and Gevin puts him down with two shots to the chest from the Holdout pistol mysteriously smuggled in by Boomer.		It's after midnight, but Dudu rallies the team and they resolve to rescue the Doctor. Unable to hack the hardwired security system, Carter goes to work on infiltrating the safety systems to create a distraction. The rest of the team breaches Angela's door with several hard kicks, Mickey confronts them with an extendible baton, and Gevin puts him down with two shots to the chest from the Holdout pistol mysteriously smuggled in by Boomer.
Line 201:		Line 201:
	En route over the Adriatic at 200mph, they replay nanobug audio from Angela's room after their departure, and learn that she makes a call to someone named Roddy, who advises her to grab the laptop and head back to Lyon, which is what he's doing as soon as he finishes "burning down his station".		En route over the Adriatic at 200mph, they replay nanobug audio from Angela's room after their departure, and learn that she makes a call to someone named Roddy, who advises her to grab the laptop and head back to Lyon, which is what he's doing as soon as he finishes "burning down his station".

	Back at HQ, Dudu ~~visciously~~ interrogates Darrel Blake while Nadia administers stim drugs to bring Dr. Ashad down from the clouds. Unfortunately, once he's somewhat sober, he can't remember a thing, though he inquires about Angela's whereabouts.		Back at HQ, Dudu viciously interrogates Darrel Blake while Nadia administers stim drugs to bring Dr. Ashad down from the clouds. Unfortunately, once he's somewhat sober, he can't remember a thing, though he inquires about Angela's whereabouts.

	Darrel quickly spills his guts, terrified by the array of tools on the wall of Dudu's underground interrogation chamber. [[Roddy Piper]] is a [[Divine Disorder]] cell leader, and Darrel's job was to help with the technical questioning of Dr. Ashad concerning the location, retrieval process, and handling tips of six barrels of nasty 20th-century nerve gas. The retrieval process is already under way, in the Calypso Deep of the Ionian Sea, just a hundred miles away or so. The retrieval operation is already underway.		Darrel quickly spills his guts, terrified by the array of tools on the wall of Dudu's underground interrogation chamber. [[Roddy Piper]] is a [[Divine Disorder]] cell leader, and Darrel's job was to help with the technical questioning of Dr. Ashad concerning the location, retrieval process, and handling tips of six barrels of nasty 20th-century nerve gas. The retrieval process is already under way, in the Calypso Deep of the Ionian Sea, just a hundred miles away or so. The retrieval operation is already underway.
Line 236:		Line 236:

	After some much-needed shuteye, the team shares a mid-afternoon poolside breakfast with Angel, Bianca, Guido, and Dr. Ashad. Lizzy herself arrives (looking positively resplendent in her yellow sun dress) to congratulate the team and collect Dr. Ashad. Mission Accomplished.		After some much-needed shuteye, the team shares a mid-afternoon poolside breakfast with Angel, Bianca, Guido, and Dr. Ashad. Lizzy herself arrives (looking positively resplendent in her yellow sun dress) to congratulate the team and collect Dr. Ashad. Mission Accomplished.

			=== Vacation in Guinea ===

			With [[David Abirgal\|Dudu]] and [[Boomer Smith\|Boomer]] off to Jordan on a diplomatic security mission for Israel, [[Gevin Dredd\|Gevin]] assumes command and informs the team of their next trip -- to Africa. [[Guido Ricardo]] laments the stack of burgers he was about to cook and [[Bianca Zapato\|Bianca]] and [[Angel Zeno\|Angel]], just setting up poolside, sigh and pack some snacks for the team.

			Inn minutes, the team's chopper sets down near the leased jet at the airport, and minutes after that, Guido's got the plane to 22,000' over the Mediterranean. Gevin briefs the team -- it's a rescue op, a Catholic priest in Guinea has gone missing, and [[Agent Zero]] has agreed to extract him for his friend [[Otto Jansen]].

Johnm: /* Characters */

2015-05-25T17:00:27Z

Characters

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:00, 25 May 2015
Line 12:		Line 12:
	* [[Carter]], Paul's Russian hacker		* [[Carter]], Paul's Russian hacker

			===NPCs===
			Home base support team:
			* [[Guido Ricardo]], chef, pilot
			* [[Bianca Zapato]], spicy Italian maid
			* [[Angel Zeno]], Greek style consultant, executive assistant

	<!-- note to editors, here we transclude the background portion of the original: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Transclusion -->		<!-- note to editors, here we transclude the background portion of the original: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Transclusion -->

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:07, 25 May 2015
Line 258:		Line 258:
	Then the party splits: [[Luke Sarti\|Luke]] contacts [[Pierre LeBlanc\|Pierre]] and heads out with him for supplies. [[Carter]] hangs out with Jason in the bar. Gevin checks and re-checks his gear and does a mad amount of exotic pushups.		Then the party splits: [[Luke Sarti\|Luke]] contacts [[Pierre LeBlanc\|Pierre]] and heads out with him for supplies. [[Carter]] hangs out with Jason in the bar. Gevin checks and re-checks his gear and does a mad amount of exotic pushups.

	[[Nadia Anosov\|Nadia]] heads out into the neighborhood to sniff around and pick up a few incidentals. As she walks out of the hotel, the assassins attack.		[[Nadia Anosov\|Nadia]] heads out into the neighborhood to sniff around and pick up a few incidentals. As she walks out of the hotel, '''the assassins attack'''.

	Four underfed locals in grubby clothes load out of a battered brown van across the street and open fire with AK-74s. Each has a 21% chance to hit with at least one of the eleven bullets sent her way at nearly 3000' per second.		Four underfed locals in grubby clothes load out of a battered brown van across the street and open fire with AK-74s. Each has a 21% chance to hit with at least one of the eleven bullets sent her way at nearly 3000' per second.
Line 268:		Line 268:
	Hearing the gunshots, Gevin leaps to his feet, grabs a gun, rushes out the door, kicks open the door across the hall, and gets eyes on the shooters from the fourth floor window. Meanwhile, Carter and Jason in the bar below peer out the front door to see Nadia pinned behind the column.		Hearing the gunshots, Gevin leaps to his feet, grabs a gun, rushes out the door, kicks open the door across the hall, and gets eyes on the shooters from the fourth floor window. Meanwhile, Carter and Jason in the bar below peer out the front door to see Nadia pinned behind the column.

	After telling Nadia to get ~~read~~ to run, Gevin sprays a burst across the shooters' general area, and it has the intended effect -- they jump back into the van and the driver stomps the gas.		After telling Nadia to get ready to run back inside, Gevin sprays a burst across the shooters' general area, and it has the intended effect -- they jump back into the van and the driver stomps the gas.

	Gevin continues to fire at the van, unloading most of his clip. The van continues to accelerate, gradually drifting off course, clipping a parked car, spinning first, then rolling over several times and coming to a rest, smoke and dust rising languorously through orange sunset light. Carter and Nadia move towards the vehicle cautiously, guns drawn, while Gevin aims carefully from high above.		Gevin continues to fire at the van, unloading most of his clip. The van continues to accelerate, gradually drifting off course, clipping a parked car, spinning first, then rolling over several times and coming to a rest, smoke and dust rising languorously through orange sunset light. Carter and Nadia move towards the vehicle cautiously, guns drawn, while Gevin aims carefully from high above.

	The back door of the van flops open, a survivor with a broken femur slithers out. Gevin puts a bullet in the pavement 2 feet from his face, and he pancakes down in terror. Nadia and Carter assess that there are no other survivors. They drag their prisoner back to the hotel and into the empty room from which Gevin was shooting.		The back door of the van flops open, and a survivor with a broken femur slithers out. Gevin puts a bullet in the pavement 2 feet from his face, and he pancakes down in terror. Nadia and Carter assess that there are no other survivors. They drag their prisoner back to the hotel and into the empty room from which Gevin was shooting. Locals collect the weapons from the corpses in the street.

	Interrogation takes less than a minute. They were hired by 'the Russian', and hoped to collect payment in the alley behind the CrystalTech discotheque at midnight tonight.		Interrogation takes less than a minute. They were hired by 'the Russian', and hoped to collect payment in the alley behind the CrystalTech discotheque at midnight tonight.
Line 278:		Line 278:
	The team decides to leave him there and bug out for different lodging before the authorities arrive.		The team decides to leave him there and bug out for different lodging before the authorities arrive.

	A debate ensues about whether to get out of town immediately, or unravel the Russian connection. Nadia informs her colleagues ~~that there's a good~~ reason she was targeted, and she's furious, and wants the Russians to feel her wrath.		A debate ensues about whether to get out of town immediately, or unravel the Russian connection. Nadia informs her colleagues about the reason she was targeted, and she's furious, and wants the Russians to feel her wrath.

	Carter hacks CrystalTech's security system and parses the last few nights of footage. Sure enough, a group of five burly Russian-looking gangsters parties there every night. Skimming through the club's credit card receipts and passing names along to Interpol, there are several hits for Russian mob affiliations, and Nadia even recognizes one name, [[Anatoly Babakov]].		Carter hacks CrystalTech's security system and parses the last few nights of footage. Sure enough, a group of five burly Russian-looking gangsters parties there every night. Skimming through the club's credit card receipts and passing names along to Interpol, there are several hits for Russian mob affiliations, and Nadia even recognizes one name, [[Anatoly Babakov]].
Line 284:		Line 284:
	The op is planned: Carter will disable the security system and keep watch, Luke will pick the lock on the alley-facing emergency exit, and then he and Gevin and Nadia will enter, move through the dancing crowd, and open fire on the henchmen first.		The op is planned: Carter will disable the security system and keep watch, Luke will pick the lock on the alley-facing emergency exit, and then he and Gevin and Nadia will enter, move through the dancing crowd, and open fire on the henchmen first.

	It goes nearly perfectly. As the Europop-techno-trance-dance ~~suddenly switches~~ to [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upR7GQ5ToCs The Bitch is Back], the dancers briefly and the mobsters glance up, but then go back to guzzling vodka and snorting lines off the chests of their well-paid prostitutes.		It goes nearly perfectly. As Carter remotely switches the Europop-techno-trance-dance to [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upR7GQ5ToCs The Bitch is Back], the dancers pause briefly and the mobsters glance up, but then go back to guzzling vodka and snorting lines off the chests of their well-paid prostitutes.

	The team steps up to the table, fast-draws and fires, immediately killing three Russian goons, and critically injuring a fourth. Screams fill the disco and the crowd breaks for the front door.		The team steps up to the table, fast-draws and fires, immediately killing three Russian goons, and critically injuring a fourth. Screams fill the disco and the crowd breaks for the front door.
Line 292:		Line 292:
	Undeterred, Anatoly then draws a knife from his left boot, but Nadia destroys that arm with her magnum.		Undeterred, Anatoly then draws a knife from his left boot, but Nadia destroys that arm with her magnum.

	Leaking blood from both arms like a stuck pig, Anatoly snarls helplessly, and the team drags him out to a van they've prepared for the occasion.		Leaking blood from both arms like a stuck pig, Anatoly snarls helplessly, and the team drags him out to a van they've prepared for the occasion. A shotgun-wielding bartender is happy for them to leave.

	Warnings of dire repercussions are exchanged as Nadia concocts an intravenous potion that will cause excruciating pain for 24 hours. ~~First, she~~ sedates ~~him~~, and then injects the pain concoction, and then the team ties him to a downtown monument with a note for police, and leaves him there.		Warnings of dire repercussions are exchanged in the van as Nadia concocts an intravenous potion that will cause excruciating pain for 24 hours. She sedates Anatoly, and then injects the pain concoction, and then the team ties him to a downtown monument with a note for police, and leaves him there.

	~~The team heads back~~ to their new hotel~~, catches~~ a few hours of shut-eye, and then lets Pierre know it's time to roll.		Back to their new hotel for a few hours of shut-eye, and then the team lets Pierre know it's time to roll.

	Still before dawn, they arrive at the border, where desperate Guinean families sit in squalor on the other side of the fence. ~~The~~ guards accept the team's ~~generosity~~ and waves them through.		Still before dawn, they arrive at the border, where desperate Guinean families sit in squalor on the other side of the fence. After making sure the team actually intends to enter Guinea, the guards accept the team's generous cash payment and waves them through.

	Hours of slow, muddy driving later, they roll into Conkary, the miserable capital city, home to two million grim souls. The heat is oppressive, sewage sloshes in gutters, and shoeless children pick through garbage around the wreckage of burned out cars.		Hours of slow, muddy driving later, they roll into Conkary, the miserable capital city, home to two million grim souls. The heat is oppressive, sewage sloshes in gutters, and shoeless children pick through garbage around the wreckage of burned out cars.
Line 308:		Line 308:
	The unmarked basement establishment is brimming with professional mercenaries, economic hitmen, oily military bureaucrats, and wily smugglers. A British flag is on the wall, soccer is on the telly, and Britsworth is holding forth about his activities as a translator for British special ops in Desert Storm, back in the day.		The unmarked basement establishment is brimming with professional mercenaries, economic hitmen, oily military bureaucrats, and wily smugglers. A British flag is on the wall, soccer is on the telly, and Britsworth is holding forth about his activities as a translator for British special ops in Desert Storm, back in the day.

	Gevin calls for more scotch and develops a rapport with Britsworth in Arabic. He's happy to help, of course, old chap, and has met Father O'Leary. He says the North Koreans are helping with logistics for ''both'' mining companies, and that his friend [[Ding Ding]] has been to the church and can help.		Gevin calls for more scotch and develops a rapport with Britsworth in Arabic. He's happy to help, of course, old chap, and has met Father O'Leary. He says the North Koreans are helping with logistics for ''both'' mining companies, and that his friend [[Ding Ding]] has been to the church and can help with navigation and local dialects.

	An hour later, the convoy is en route with Ding Ding~~'s accompaniment~~.		An hour later, the convoy is en route with extra candy bars, cigarettes, and whiskey, accompanied by the faithful Ding Ding.

	They roll through a dozen desperate and awful little towns, snaking through the rust-colored mud roads slowly but surely up into the hills.		They roll through a dozen desperate and awful little towns, snaking through the rust-colored mud roads slowly but surely up into the hills.
Line 345:		Line 345:
	The team extracts from the valley as quickly as prudent.		The team extracts from the valley as quickly as prudent.

	On the way back, Luke and Gevin decide to ~~exact revenge on the~~ bridge extortionists, leading Pierre to remark later, "You guys give de hard justice, mahn."		On the way back, Luke and Gevin decide to use bridge extortionists for target practice, leading Pierre to remark later, "You guys give de hard justice, mahn."

	After dropping off Ding Ding with a roll of hundred ~~dollars~~ bills and paying their way back into Senegal, the team checks in with Agent Zero and is advised to drop Father O'Leary at the Catholic hospital. Hand off complete, the team next checks in at the Hyatt Regency near the airport for some R&R.		After dropping off Ding Ding with a roll of hundred dollar bills and paying their way back into Senegal, the team checks in with Agent Zero and is advised to drop Father O'Leary at the Catholic hospital. Hand off complete, the team next checks in at the Hyatt Regency near the airport for some R&R.
	* Nadia turns the AC down near freezing, takes a two hour hot bath and then cuddles up in a bathrobe and blanket.		* Nadia turns the AC down near freezing, takes a two hour hot bath and then cuddles up in a bathrobe and blanket.
	* Gevin heads to a raucous club for debauchery, convincing a pair of Spanish college dropouts to cavort with him overnight.		* Gevin heads to a raucous club for debauchery, convincing a pair of Spanish college dropouts to cavort with him overnight.
	* Carter has dinner with Pierre and his family. Pierre's daughter is attending college in Paris in the fall, and all agree to keep in touch.		* Carter has dinner with Pierre and his family. Pierre's daughter is attending college in Paris in the fall, and all agree to keep in touch.
	* Luke (what did Luke do?)		* Luke (what did Luke do?)

			By sunset the next day, the team is back at HQ in Albania, where Bianca and Angel have mixed up some delicious sangria for poolside relaxation.

			Mission Accomplished.

			==== Afterword ====
			* Gevin designs and hires contractors to build a close quarters battle training facility on the grounds of the villa. As work begins, he's summoned by duty, honor, country to perform tasks elsewhere.
			*