"It takes a lot of courage to accept your failings, Sgt. Fox, Clarke said.  "It's much easier to lay the blame on someone else.  She glanced at Taras.  "You said something about being in an area controled by known or suspected hostiles.  That's rather vague.  I'm looking for specifics.  Can you please tell me on what information you based that assumption?"

*She shrugs a little*

"Believe it or not, me being gay has not been an issue.. being a private for over four years grates on me, didn't matter so much part-time, but now.. well, it's not my personal identity, ma'm"



"Honestly ma'm, I didn't understand at all what we were doing there and how. If the El Tee says that it was a tactical error, I trust his judgement.  I know it went down very very badly.  Ma'm.

Please, ladies and gentlemen...We all have a share of guilt of what happened in the Park. I knew that moving a patrol in an unknown area with zero previous intelligence was a wrong move. That is why I suggested originally to deploy the snipers in the North Shore and it paid off. The young Lieutenant showed little or no appretiation for any of the advice that was given and he paid dearly. But for the shake of the negotiations with Bulat we need to play this card. Any stickmen retaliation on the North Shore goes somehow against us. They can put some blame on us and we have to be ready for this. Blaming the lack of experience of the Lieutenant now that he's been replaced is harsh but necessary.

Overall we did the best we could. Bulat is also a soldier and I believe he will understand our position and the fact that now we share a common problem.

Taras looked at the female interchange in total astonishment.

I guess I could never understand the woman's mind...

"I'll give you that, Kelsey, four years is a long time to be a Private.  From everything I've seen and heard just since I've been here, your actions have been commendable."

Clarke shook her head.  "You don't have to call me 'ma'm' all the time.  'Clarke' is OK too.  I'm just asking simple questions and so far I'm not getting any simple answers. I'm getting very tired of all the tap-dancing and double-talk."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:24, Thu 01 May 2008.

Clarke knew something wasn't right here.  One minute Taras wanted to throw Jagelis under the bus, the next he was tapdancing and backpedaling for all he was worth.  She could also tell she wasn't going to get anywhere pressing the matter further now.  It reminded her of that US Presidental crap, "Errors were made."  She just hoped what they weren't telling her now didn't blow up in their faces talking to Shailin.

Still, there were other matters to attend to.  "Lt. Taras, you had some reccomandations for preparing to receive the VIPs.  Perhaps we should scramble the boats to pick up them and the snipers, and get busy with what you suggested.

Belanger added, "there were warnings from different sources that there was serious opposition inside the park."

"My friend Shepherd, who lives downtown and knows what goes on there, said that a convoy got ambushed last summer. a couple of trucks, some technicals and motorcycle escorts got hit, 20 died, some not right away. Hung from the bridge like sides of beef in a slaughterhouse."

"This is common knowledge, I've heard this story told repeatedly from others living in the area who remember the events."

"Shepherd himself was warned off by them at the same time."

"Also, Shepherd says that there is a group of survivalists holed up in the Naval Cadet station, HCMS Discovery, on Deadman's Island. He rows out to trade with them on occasion, and they occasionally are harassed by the Stickmen."

"This is basically in my report, and of course you can interview Shepherd yourself for more in-depth information. My sources are your sources."

"We should look into getting you a computer and getting hooked up to the University network so you can have easy access to it. I'll see to it."

He paused.

"One other thing you all  no doubt are aware of, you all smelled gasoline and kerosine in those molotovs. Both are flammable liquids, neither smells like the other, so I'm inclined to believe that both were present."

"Those are really expensive fuels. I wonder where they got their hands on them?"


[OOC: this information, including everything else, is available in the Reference thread.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:49, Thu 01 May 2008.

Fox asked, "So Clarke, are you planning on following up on my request? That is, guidelines for behavior when we're on someone else's turf?"

"Are you telling me Jagelis was made aware of this information, and decided to conduct a recce of the park anyway?"Thank-you, that would be much appreciated.  It is difficult for an Intel Officer to function without adiquate informaiton.

Clarke paused for a moment.  "Hm, that does indicate that either they have a stockpile of fuel, or they are trading for supplies.  In either case it means they have valuables of one form or another in there.  I would like to interview Mr. Shepherd.  We should try to establish friendly relations with the survivalists, as we do have a mutual enemy in the Stickmen."

Clarke nodded and addressed Fox.  "By all means.  It is obvious your safety is at stake, and that should be paramount.  I'd suggest that the biggest difference is that ROE be escalated to a higher readiness to fire in areas of known agressors, while on the other hand civilian areas be treated with the strictest application possible."

"Yes, Jagelis was made fully aware of the threat."

"In fact, not to go over old news, but both Taras and I warned against any land recce of the park until at least the LAV was out of the shop. I suggested a visiual recce by water, which I think is still worth following up on."

"I will be glad to introduce you to him. Remarkable guy. It's possible that through him we may also get a line on if the Stickmen trade fule or other goods with other survivors in the West End, off their turf."

"I am on that, double time, you don't have to fuss about that"





OOC:  I am assuming that Kelsey did not know about the report that the park swallowed a 20 man team recently?  If she does, she is SOOOOO ratting him out.

Clarke crossed her arms and stood very still.  When she spoke her voice was very calm and soft.  "Thank-you for that information, Mr. Belanger.  That's what I was looking for.  When I came in, you had given Mr. Fox command of the current mission.  Do you wish to make that change permanent?"  She paused to give him a chance to respond.

After listening, she continued.  "I suggest we remove Mr. Jagelis immediately.  If at all possible he should be on his way back to the island before the VIP's arrive.  That is your decision, as you can better access the impact on moral for your personnel as well as mine.  In any case, we can inform Mr. Shailin and the Mayor that CRHQ considered this matter grave enough to remove the offending party from command and expedite the transfer of a senior intellegence officer to the theatre.  Again, releasing that information is at your discretion.  It is simply a suggestion on my part."

"Thank-you, Mr. Belanger.  I look forward to it.  I brought some trade goods with me.  I thought it might grease the wheels up here with establishing relations.  That may prove a correct assumption.

Belanger nodded.

"I think the good LT is going home soon. We could make it today."

"I would like to make the change permanent if Mr. Fox concurs."

"As for West Van... I don't see a need to air our dirty laundry like that. They don't need to know what a fuckup that was."

"Shepherd is the best source of information I have of what's going on in the downtown and West End and he's proven to be a good friend and valuable asset. He's a little squirrely, but I think that he won't turn down a few luxuries."

"Speaking of sources of information in the community, I know quite a few people living around here in Kits so nothing happens here in our "front yard" I don't know about. Also, a family that I'm on good terms with moved to New West a few weeks ago, which is the biggest community here in the Fraser Valley we know of. We could use them as a source of information there. I asked them to get in touch when they got settled-in but I've not heard from them yes."

"Lastly, the environmental sciences folk sent out a party to monitor river levels. I think they're upriver of New West, somewhere in Coquitlam. Their orders are to stay out sight and not draw attention to themselves and make weekly reports."

Belanger's official title at UBC was "Provost". This was generally considered a kind of administrative posting under the Chancellor of UBC (effectively, Angela Kwan) and the board of trustees (the Council). However, it also had a second meaning as a form of military police. In this case the position seemed to be a kind of security chief, overseeing the militia and gathering intelligence.


[OOC: Indeed, Kelsey did know of the warning beforehand. although the information is in the reference thread.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:54, Thu 01 May 2008.

Sergeant Fox looked a little ambivalent and surprised at his temporary promotion possibly being made permanent.

"Well, ah, let's just get through today. While this mission is different from what I've been doing until now, I get the feeling that maybe I could be doing more for the country doing what I do best. Long range reconnaissance and so on."

"I'd like a little time to think it over. Plus, this meet-and-greet thing is something we're going to be doing a lot of, so I'd like to see how I feel doing it before committing."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:01, Thu 01 May 2008.

"Your call, Mr. Belanger.  Shailin and the mayor want to be reasured that the incident on Lion's Gate Bridge won't be blamed on them.  We can give them that. For moral reasons, I think Jagelis should be medivac'd with all due speed.

As for Shepherd and the rest, a good network is an invaluable resource.  We'll work on that.  Trade goods should help.  More flies with honey and all that."

She turned to Fox.  "By all means, Mr. Fox, try your new role on for size and see if it fits."

"My apologies, Kelsey.  I'm more talking to get things moving than fussing.  I know you've got a handle on it, and Taras as well, I'm sure.  Sorry, I'm the one dragging her feet in this party.

*She looked glad when all the details on the intelligence came out, even adding to some of it.  Frankly, it this player had been in on this a little earlier, I would have seriously questioned that.. but I picked up the game with the landing, unfortunately.  Anyway, she looks glad, and even added a rumour or two that SHE heard*

"Thanks.. Clarke, you are a help.'

Clarke noted the shift from "ma'm" to "Clarke", and that Kelsey suddenly seemed in a better mood.  She smiled.  "You're welcome, Kelsey.  Thanks for your patience."

Belanger raised an eyebrow. "With all due respect, while we can certainly lay the blame for what happened at Stanly Park on the good LT's shoulders (both for political reasons and because it's true) it really depends on who the Stickmen blame for what happened. If I were them, I might think West Van was going for a Round 2, and obviously West Van thinks the same as well. Now, the Stickmen launching an effective terror attack against a community away from their home ground suggests thorough intelligence-gathering, organisation and ruthlessness."

"I haven't been able to develop any contacts in the Stickmen's camp so far. I don't want to risk it."

He looked at his watch.

"Still, it's getting close to Zero-Hour. I have to get back to UBC and brief the Chancellor and the Council, start making arrangements. Anything else you need me for, Clarke?"

"No, sir.  My apologies for taking up so much of your time.  See you at the port in a couple of hours.  Who will be deployed for the pick-up?"

Belanger smiled. "Certainly, no apologies necessary, Andrea. You can use whatever personnel you like. The whale watcher should hold your team, the VIPs and a 3-person crew. That leaves the 2 jetboats with our reaction team to respond from here."

"Sgt. Khandola should be arriving any time. He will carry out what you wish."

They arrived without incident. This time they set up in a different house in the same general area. They would be able to spot an approaching boat from quite a ways off.

The terrain was still quite wet, streams swollen with runoff. Water from leaking roofs had pooled on hardwood and slate tile floors.

Everywhere was a riot of green from lawns and landscaping gone riot, even starting to overgrow the homes in a few short years of neglect.

The instructions came, they were to wait for pickup at the RV point. They'd be shuttled to the small community to the north, still by boat, to pick up a few VIPs.

Then, they would head home for a well-needed shower, hot meal and probably a nap.

In the east the clearing sky continued to lighten, while more rain clouds gathered to the west above Vancouver Island.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:30, Fri 02 May 2008.

Clarke nodded to acknowlege Belanger and then turned back to her team.  "Kelsey, you've already got contact covered.  Lt. Taras, you're getting the reception underway?  Sgt. Fox, your recommendations for retreval and picking up the VIP's?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:35, Fri 02 May 2008.

I'm all ready to go, Ms. Clarke. You may consider to give the order to display the IFV somewhere along the road to the Council building and HQ. I'd also advice the TV crew to be ready. We may need them for an after meeting shot...

"Make it so, Lt. Taras.  It's your department.  The media may also want to cover the arrival of the dignatries, but I leave that at your discretion."