Game Control
First Post
[Read the Rogue Gallery for information on Control and two of the characters mentioned in the briefing. Obviously I expect that only my players will be posting in this thread!]
You’ve all been e-mailed yesterday with instructions to cancel your plans for the next week and to meet control today without delay. The meet is located in a squalid bowling alley in Green Field Park, a small suburb of Montreal. This ugly little alley is situated on one of the most tasteless commercial boulevard you have ever seen. And to think Control could have set the meet in any one of Montreal’s renowned restaurants instead…
Control invites you to play a few games while the clients leave. By 11PM you are the only players left. The owner locks up the place, gives a knowing nod to Control and then disappear in his office.
Well, that was fun but now it’s time to talk business.
Guys, I got just the mission to test your cool; You’re going to Africa! (He chuckles at his own lame joke, looks at you and then clears his throat).
Hum, okay.
You guys know what tuberculosis is? Of course you do. Dreadful disease, makes you cough up your lung, Doc Holiday had it. Anyway, it’s pretty much under control in all modern countries, thank God. Few cases and much fewer death. It’s not the same story in Africa, though. Over there the tuberculosis cases are counted in millions and increasing 10% every year because of AIDS.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been shouting for attention for a while about outbreaks of a new Tuberculosis strain that is 100% resistant to all known drugs normally used to fight the disease. It’s pretty much an African problem so far but isolated cases have shown up recently in some major metropolises including New York. Most cases, however, are located in Zimbabwe. The problem is getting worrisome in any populated area, but for some reason the situation is downright out of hand in Binga.
What, you don’t know where is Binga? Why, it’s at the southern tip of Lake Kariba! (He beams you the smile of a man who just recently reviewed a map of Zimbabwe).
Here is a map of the area as well as some basic facts about the country.
So, you are asking yourself, what the heck does this have to do with us? Indeed, we don’t engage in disease control…
(He pauses for dramatic effect)
…unless a third party might be involved in its propagation!
(And now you feel as if you were in a courtroom)
(He hands you a thin dossier)
This man is François Balladur. He was a member of Action Directe, a French terrorist group back during the era of ideological terror. You remember Carlos the Jackal? The little fat guy currently rotting away in a French prison cell? He was a Colombian Marxist, his lieutenants were a German and a Japanese, he was trained by the Soviets, possibly in Cuba, and often worked for the Palestinians, usually for sizeable fees. These were the days, huh? Some silly authors are already dubbing this the golden age of terrorism. Given the current brand of terrorism that plagues us, I can’t blame them.
Anyway, Balladur worked with the Jackal during his terror spree in France, from 73 to 75. He is a product of this era of ideological mercenaries where terrorists were often seen as romantic heroes by impressionable youth. Never a big shot, but he was smarter than most of his colleagues as he apparently left the terror circuit in the mid seventies. In fact, his stint with Carlos probably was his only real brush with international terrorism. He disappeared at the end of 75 and never really surfaced. Some reports claim he mostly survived as a small time smuggler running weapons, drugs and whatever was available from Odessa to the Middle East and even deeper South.
But he was spotted recently in Zimbabwe by an ageing CIA agent in exile who worked on the Jackal case. That agent, frankly, is losing it (Control makes a drinking gesture). That’s why he’s wasting away until his retirement in this hellhole. He spotted Balladur at the airport in Harare but lost him in Binga. He did take photographs and that’s the only reason we can be positive that Balladur really was in Binga less than 48 hours ago. The Foundation looked up the plane on which Balladur arrived in Harare; Surprise! He flew in from Atlanta under the name of Brad Fuller. This means he has more clout than would be expected of a small time smuggler normally would, perhaps even a secret patron. He’s not even supposed to operate in the US, much less have access to the kind of forged documents that would allow him to do so!
What the heck is an ex-terrorist turned smuggler doing in Binga? The best scenario is that he was there simply to strike an arm deal with Captain N’gambe, a robber baron in uniform that controls the area. As a matter of fact, he and his men are surprisingly well equipped for a bunch of Zimbabwean thug soldiers (Control shoots you a meaningful glance). But since he arrived in Zimbabwe from Atlanta, it doesn’t feel quite right. We can’t discount the fact that Binga is located 1 mile away from a Medecin Sans Frontière (MSF) base camp where most of the drug resistant tuberculosis cases are being treated. Add this to the fact that Balladur originally was trained as a biologist back in the 60s and we might have something big brewing in Zimbabwe.
That’s why we want you to get there and get us answers. Track down Balladur if he’s still around or else learn what he was doing there. Trace down his every step. A white man in Binga, it can’t be too hard! Mind you, you aren’t black either. Keep this in mind.
President Mugabe has restricted travel in the area. Your cover will be that of envoys for the Red Cross. You are officially supposed to appraise the situation and see if you could lend a hand to Medecin Sans Frontière. Do spend just enough time on it to make the cover stick. You’ll probably want to check out the base camp anyway, so it’s not a waste of time.
Mugabe really isn’t too keen on any member of the international community coming snooping in his country right now. But no tourists or journalists are allowed near Binga currently so that was pretty much our only cover option. Be sure to tread carefully.
This is a yellow code mission. We are looking into the situation for our own benefit without having a third party bankrolling the operation so your resources will be limited. If this turns out to be a worst case scenario, this will be re-evaluated.
Let me clarify mission parameters:
Find Balladur. Question him. If he's simply acting as a smuggler, turn him to the authorities. If he it's something bigger, bring to our safe house in Harare. If it can't be done, terminate him after obtaining as much information as possible.
If he isn't in Bing anymore, find out why he came here. Also try to find where he went as it is likely you would be ordered to track him down in the even that he was no longer in Binga.
Any Questions?
If that's all, let's play game!
Good luck agents.
[OOC: If you do have questions, quote a part of Control speech and ask away. Be free also to quote each other and discuss the mission. The final sentence will soon become a link to another thread were you will meet your quarter master who is already in Harare and be offered the opportunity to suit up. Obviously this scene occurs after the briefing by control but do not be affraid to post in both simulteneously. I expect you to discuss the mission here and the equipment/gadgets in the other thread but I see no reason to wait for one to be over before moving to the other.]
You’ve all been e-mailed yesterday with instructions to cancel your plans for the next week and to meet control today without delay. The meet is located in a squalid bowling alley in Green Field Park, a small suburb of Montreal. This ugly little alley is situated on one of the most tasteless commercial boulevard you have ever seen. And to think Control could have set the meet in any one of Montreal’s renowned restaurants instead…
Control invites you to play a few games while the clients leave. By 11PM you are the only players left. The owner locks up the place, gives a knowing nod to Control and then disappear in his office.
Well, that was fun but now it’s time to talk business.
Guys, I got just the mission to test your cool; You’re going to Africa! (He chuckles at his own lame joke, looks at you and then clears his throat).
Hum, okay.
You guys know what tuberculosis is? Of course you do. Dreadful disease, makes you cough up your lung, Doc Holiday had it. Anyway, it’s pretty much under control in all modern countries, thank God. Few cases and much fewer death. It’s not the same story in Africa, though. Over there the tuberculosis cases are counted in millions and increasing 10% every year because of AIDS.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been shouting for attention for a while about outbreaks of a new Tuberculosis strain that is 100% resistant to all known drugs normally used to fight the disease. It’s pretty much an African problem so far but isolated cases have shown up recently in some major metropolises including New York. Most cases, however, are located in Zimbabwe. The problem is getting worrisome in any populated area, but for some reason the situation is downright out of hand in Binga.
What, you don’t know where is Binga? Why, it’s at the southern tip of Lake Kariba! (He beams you the smile of a man who just recently reviewed a map of Zimbabwe).
Here is a map of the area as well as some basic facts about the country.
So, you are asking yourself, what the heck does this have to do with us? Indeed, we don’t engage in disease control…
(He pauses for dramatic effect)
…unless a third party might be involved in its propagation!
(And now you feel as if you were in a courtroom)
(He hands you a thin dossier)
This man is François Balladur. He was a member of Action Directe, a French terrorist group back during the era of ideological terror. You remember Carlos the Jackal? The little fat guy currently rotting away in a French prison cell? He was a Colombian Marxist, his lieutenants were a German and a Japanese, he was trained by the Soviets, possibly in Cuba, and often worked for the Palestinians, usually for sizeable fees. These were the days, huh? Some silly authors are already dubbing this the golden age of terrorism. Given the current brand of terrorism that plagues us, I can’t blame them.
Anyway, Balladur worked with the Jackal during his terror spree in France, from 73 to 75. He is a product of this era of ideological mercenaries where terrorists were often seen as romantic heroes by impressionable youth. Never a big shot, but he was smarter than most of his colleagues as he apparently left the terror circuit in the mid seventies. In fact, his stint with Carlos probably was his only real brush with international terrorism. He disappeared at the end of 75 and never really surfaced. Some reports claim he mostly survived as a small time smuggler running weapons, drugs and whatever was available from Odessa to the Middle East and even deeper South.
But he was spotted recently in Zimbabwe by an ageing CIA agent in exile who worked on the Jackal case. That agent, frankly, is losing it (Control makes a drinking gesture). That’s why he’s wasting away until his retirement in this hellhole. He spotted Balladur at the airport in Harare but lost him in Binga. He did take photographs and that’s the only reason we can be positive that Balladur really was in Binga less than 48 hours ago. The Foundation looked up the plane on which Balladur arrived in Harare; Surprise! He flew in from Atlanta under the name of Brad Fuller. This means he has more clout than would be expected of a small time smuggler normally would, perhaps even a secret patron. He’s not even supposed to operate in the US, much less have access to the kind of forged documents that would allow him to do so!
What the heck is an ex-terrorist turned smuggler doing in Binga? The best scenario is that he was there simply to strike an arm deal with Captain N’gambe, a robber baron in uniform that controls the area. As a matter of fact, he and his men are surprisingly well equipped for a bunch of Zimbabwean thug soldiers (Control shoots you a meaningful glance). But since he arrived in Zimbabwe from Atlanta, it doesn’t feel quite right. We can’t discount the fact that Binga is located 1 mile away from a Medecin Sans Frontière (MSF) base camp where most of the drug resistant tuberculosis cases are being treated. Add this to the fact that Balladur originally was trained as a biologist back in the 60s and we might have something big brewing in Zimbabwe.
That’s why we want you to get there and get us answers. Track down Balladur if he’s still around or else learn what he was doing there. Trace down his every step. A white man in Binga, it can’t be too hard! Mind you, you aren’t black either. Keep this in mind.
President Mugabe has restricted travel in the area. Your cover will be that of envoys for the Red Cross. You are officially supposed to appraise the situation and see if you could lend a hand to Medecin Sans Frontière. Do spend just enough time on it to make the cover stick. You’ll probably want to check out the base camp anyway, so it’s not a waste of time.
Mugabe really isn’t too keen on any member of the international community coming snooping in his country right now. But no tourists or journalists are allowed near Binga currently so that was pretty much our only cover option. Be sure to tread carefully.
This is a yellow code mission. We are looking into the situation for our own benefit without having a third party bankrolling the operation so your resources will be limited. If this turns out to be a worst case scenario, this will be re-evaluated.
Let me clarify mission parameters:
Find Balladur. Question him. If he's simply acting as a smuggler, turn him to the authorities. If he it's something bigger, bring to our safe house in Harare. If it can't be done, terminate him after obtaining as much information as possible.
If he isn't in Bing anymore, find out why he came here. Also try to find where he went as it is likely you would be ordered to track him down in the even that he was no longer in Binga.
Any Questions?
If that's all, let's play game!
Good luck agents.
[OOC: If you do have questions, quote a part of Control speech and ask away. Be free also to quote each other and discuss the mission. The final sentence will soon become a link to another thread were you will meet your quarter master who is already in Harare and be offered the opportunity to suit up. Obviously this scene occurs after the briefing by control but do not be affraid to post in both simulteneously. I expect you to discuss the mission here and the equipment/gadgets in the other thread but I see no reason to wait for one to be over before moving to the other.]
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