Kessler is sure that he’s seen the new arrival before somewhere, maybe around Kiel last summer, but he can’t put a name to the face until introductions are done in that typically German manner where only surnames are used, the Hauptmann extended a hand with a brief ”Kessler’ which is returned with an equally short ‘Schenker.’.

Janku evidently knows him as well as they all gather in the cafeteria area, where the main objective, at least for the moment, is to try and get warm again as the Czech mentions the current Soviet troop movements. ”Forty Second Guards” he chips in when it’s mentioned. ”That’s Meretskov’s unit. By all accounts he’s a cruel bastard.”

There’s another nod at mention of food rationing. ”I remember Andropov talking about food shortages. I think he called it the Blight. Something to do with the crops failing further east. I think.” The news of the missing asset causes him to frown. ”How much does your asset know? About plans and such like?” It’s harsh but it has to be asked.

When that’s dealt with Kessler turns to the new arrival. ”OK, Herr Schenker, perhaps you can bring us up to speed on what exactly it is that Kiel needs us to do?”

While the meeting is going on, Tosh keeps watch on the shoreline and the boat on the beach the recon team scouted out.

The newcomer is dressed in utilitarian civilian winter clothing- dark, drab colors. Slung over his shoulder is an unusual-looking 5.45mm AK, its wire stock folded alongside the receiver. He's clean-shaven, hair close-cropped- looks to be somewhere in his thirties. His bulky cold/wet weather clothing can't conceal his athletic build.

"The mission has two parts," he begins, grammar proper, albeit basic, his accent markedly thicker than Kessler's.

"First, we are to stop a DIA team from exploding a nuclear bomb in Marienburg... Malbork," he corrects, before continuing. "Second, we are to neutralize the Soviet Front commander's own nuclear arsenal. In both tasks, we are authorized to use whatever means necessary."

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This message was last edited by the player at 00:26, Tue 26 Mar.

Ferro ditches her outer wear before sliding into a spot on the cafeteria's bench seating. When Kessler mentions what Andropov had told them she remembers and nods. "Right, in Kaliningrad. Some kind of fungus or plant disease. Someone else mentioned it too here in Gdansk, worried about traders bringing it here."

Then, when their visitor mentions the DIA, Ferro glances across the table at Chris. It lasts only for a second or two and she doesn't say anything. Instead, her minds mulls over their mission to ensure Malbork isn't nuked. It was a curious and unexpected development. Maybe somebody in Kiel felt vaporizing thousands of Poles over a handful of Soviet Generals just wasn't worth it. Sure enough there was plenty of that happening a couple years ago. Those Polish cavalry based there and who the Mad Dogs ran into a few times would probably appreciate it too. "Bajek and Netzel's cavalry might be of some use on this." Ferro suggests with a glance given in Kessler's direction. She then looks at the other German. "I'm Ferro."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:29, Tue 26 Mar.

Stop Americans from nuking Russians. That was a twist that Kessler hadn’t expected. Thinking about it he can see the rationale behind it though, for where were the Soviets likely to retaliate? Against the American mainland? No. The only nukes that local commanders were likely to have access to were tactical ones, with a relatively short range.

So retaliation is going to be directed at one of two places. The American enclave on the Baltic coast which, probably not coincidentally had declared for the other faction in the American Civil War. Or German territory. While he actually thought that DIA might be hoping for the former outcome, the Amis would no doubt have no qualms about trading Kiel or Bremerhaven or Hamburg for Malbork.

A passing thought goes through his mind, that Halina Nowak might also not be overly disappointed if her principal local rival was destroyed. So not a word about this can get back to Danzig’s new leadership. He’d probably have to speak to his American contingent as well, see how they felt about stopping some of their countrymen by whatever means necessary. Which pretty clearly means killing them if that’s what it takes.

He gives a nod of his head when Ferro mentions the Polish cavalry that they’d had dealing with in the past. ”Good idea.” he murmured quietly. The Americans were likely to be well armed, well equipped, perhaps with allies of their own and the Mad Dogs were still little more than an over strength squad.

Sitting back and cradling a mug of ersatz coffee in his hands, he looks at Schenker and Janku. ”What else do you know? Do you have any intelligence on this DIA team? Numbers? Where they might have started from, their possible location now? Are they alone or do they have any local allies? Partisans, Home Army, anything like that? What intel does BND have on Malbork? Do you have any assets in the City? Do we know where Ivan's weapons are stored?” There was probably more. Much more. But that would do to start. Others would maybe chip in with their own questions.

Walsh doesn’t say a word when Ferro looks across the table at him, their eyes meeting for just long enough for him to give her a look that he hopes conveys that the unspoken message has been received loud and clear.

DIA. Maybe if this works out according to plan he might have some company on their kill list. Maybe. Fuck. The CIA operative needs a minute to actually process the idea of going head to head with the DIA.

Tosh raises his hand to be recognized, "You mean the Yanks still have an operable nuke layin' round?  Ain't the world fucked 'nuff the way it is now?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:04, Wed 27 Mar.

"But be prepared for the needs of the mission to change..." rings in Jose's head as the new arrival lays out the plan. Olympic had first said it was just to get this guy into Malbork, and now, stopping nukes? Fucking spooks... Jose recognizes a suicide mission when he hears one. He's pissed.

"Okay so, let me get this straight. We're to get you down to Malbork. Stop some DIA assholes from setting off a nuke. Then also locate and take out the Soviets' nukes as well? Ain't that some shit." Jose has questions, and angles them at the new arrival. "First, you'll be with us the entire time?" If the Mad Dogs are putting their survival on the line, then this puta better be doing the same. "Second, are we going to get any training on how to dismantle a nuke? Say we actually find them, how are we supposed to neutralize them?" Jose drops same the word the spy used when referring to stopping the nukes, only injecting it with acidic levels of sarcasm. "Last, why are we doing this? If we're putting our lives on the line, we deserve some more answers about that. Cause as far as I'm concerned, Malbork is full of Soviet assholes. A nuke might be the best thing for 'em."

Fuckin' spooks...

Jake sat and listened, figuring now was a great time to STFU.  There were so many questions in his mind, that asking them all would be useless at this point without at least some answers to what the other, more established Mad Dogs had already asked.  So he tried to do the hardest thing in any conversation or meeting - LISTEN with an open mind...

Varis frowns. Jose'd just stolen his questions- no use in repeating them. The Latvian looks pointedly at the new German, daring him not to answer.

-

Kessler looks over at Rodriguez. The American doesn’t seem to be making any particular effort to hide how he’s feeling given the increasing levels of sarcasm in his questions. The German can’t speak for Schenker, can’t answer the first two. But he can take the last one.

”Ok Jose, let’s assume the Amis succeed in nuking Malbork and incinerating everyone there. Everyone. So that’s the local people as well as the Ivans. Let’s assume they succeed. And let’s assume that it’s a ground burst. And maybe the winds are blowing north that day so the fallout ends up here, in Gdansk.” Or Germany is left unsaid.

“And then let’s assume that Ivan still has a couple of tactical nukes of their own and decide to retaliate. Do you think they’re going to hit Washington or Los Angeles? No. But they might decide to strike Hamburg or Kiel. Or maybe they might go for a military target. Like the American enclave on the Baltic. The one that’s sided with the other faction in your new civil war.” Kessler’s own tone is calm, reasoned, no emotion shown. He’ll let Rodriguez draw his own conclusions as to whether or not that might be what the DIA want, to kill thousands of Americans because they’ve chosen the ‘wrong’ side in America's internal conflict.

“Or maybe they’ll nuke Gdansk. You know that Polish woman and her kid that you’ve been getting to know? Put your life on the line for them Jose, and everyone else that you know in the City. Because if the Americans succeed in this there’s probably going to be a lot of dead people. Russians for sure, but maybe Americans too, Germans, Poles.”

Kessler shrugs. ”Maybe they’ll nuke us all.” His eyes then turn to Schenker, for not only Rodriguez is waiting for him to speak.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:27, Thu 28 Mar.

Schenker gives Rodriguez an appraising look. When he replies, he speaks slowly, as if weighing every word before it crosses his lips.

"Hauptman Kessler is correct. Our government has no interest in restarting zee nuclear vor."

"I am not a specialist, but I have been briefed on how to remove ze trigger from a Soviet nuclear artillery shell. However, if Baltic Front's nuclear weapon is a rocket, vee vill have to destroy zee launcher.

"Our most recent intelligence suggests that Malbork is not vell defended. Zee Soviet garrison is mostly made up of support troops and vocking vounded, not combat soldiers. Vee also have reason to believe zat zee Polish troops zer are not particularly loyal to Moscow, or Lublin. I believe zat your own sources have confirmed zis?"

"As for zee DIA team's nuclear backpack bomb, if vee cannot buy it from zem, vee vill have to take it. I have in my sings a manual vis instructions for disarming it."


OOC: My, isn't Schenker's accent heavy? Don't worry- I probably won't continue writing his dialogue phonetically.

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This message was last edited by the player at 22:46, Thu 28 Mar.

"The kind of people the DIA would give a nuclear backpack to are almost certainly not the kind of people who would sell it," Jake said, deciding to move off the sidelines and into the discussion.

"I suspect we will be better off trying to persuade them not to use it, by outlining the reciprocal threat of a Soviet strike on the targets that Hauptmann Kessler mentioned," the new team medic nodded to Kessler.  He was grateful the German officer had framed it in the context of the horrible casualties that any nuclear detonation would result in.  Disarming both of these groups would save myriad lives on every side of the conflict.

"It's highly likely that the DIA team is not the type to just go home empty handed either.  The DIA obviously wants the destruction of the Soviet command at Malbork.  The weapon system is a method to meet those goals.  If we can offer them another, non-nuclear method to accomplish that task, that might help make the case for them not use a nuclear weapon.  Reasonable people wouldn't seek to open up that Pandora's box again, unless there was no other option," Ward added.

"Presuming we can find them before the reach Malbork..."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:25, Thu 28 Mar.

"Would the DIA give a nuclear bomb bomb to a group of reasonable people?" Schenker asks rhetorically. "But your point is well-taken, Mister... Ward. Thank you. As you said, first we must find them. For that, I have some information about the route they planned to take. Once we find them, if they can be reasoned with, good. If not, we will neutralize them." He delivers this last line in an eerily dispassionate, matter-of-fact tone.

-

"I'm forced to presume yes. Because to presume no would also force me to grapple another question.  Would the BND give orders to neutralize NATO allies; no.. Jake stopped briefly then continued.

"United States allies... perhaps even men and women who crossed the frontier to fight side-by-side with Germans against the Soviets, while other NATO allies dallied and debated options during they early days of the war...  Would the BND give that order to a group of reasonable people?  Or even one person..."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:29, Thu 28 Mar.

Lines looks a little puzzled by Schenker's last comment.  "Excuse me mate.  You actually think these guys can be negotiated with?  I mean, they got a nuke right?  What makes you think these DIA guys are goin' to just give it up?  What'ya got to trade 'em for it?  A sense of duty to protect innocent people?  Money?  Gold?  I may not be one of those fancy spooks, no offense Chris or, an Intel guy but, you're last option to neutralize, disarm and then, dispose might be the way to go.  I don't see people who get their hands on a fookin' nuke just not goin' through with their mission!"

”None taken Tosh.” Walsh replies to Lines comment about not intending offence with a trademark grin before turning to Jake Ward, his face altogether more serious. For some reason he wishes he wasn’t wearing his Stetson right now, and after a moment’s thought takes it off before speaking to the guy who’s not only a fellow countryman but a fellow Pennsylvanian.

”Jake…I hear what you’re saying buddy. But - and I really don’t want to say this - but DIA have not only been killing American allies but they’ve been killing other Americans. For months. Maybe years."

You know there’s two Governments back home yeah? Or at least two groups claiming to be the Government. You got the Joint Chiefs in Colorado and the President in Omaha. Now some people say nobody voted for the President. I dunno man, I dunno. But for me, yeah, we’re all Americans. Especially those of us overseas.”

“But there’s some people in DIA that don’t see it that way. They’ve got these teams. They call then Orion. Like the Hunter, from Greek myth. That’s what they do. They hunt. Before I came to Gdansk  me and another CIA operator were embedded with some Polish partisans. We set up a meet, with another group of Poles. Plan was we were going to join forces. Only when we got to the meeting point we were ambushed. The other group had sold us out. Not to the Russians. To the DIA. They killed my partner and most of the Poles. Me and one guy got away. He died on the way here.”

He stands up, fixes his eyes on the wall. He’s not talking to Ward specifically any more. He’s just talking, letting the jumbled thoughts that are competing for the ascendancy in his head come to the surface and spill out. . ”Let’s not talk about fucking neutralising anyone eh? Let’s  call it like it is. If they wont hand over the nuke we’re supposed to kill them.” He might have quoted Corporal Hicks but that doesn’t seem appropriate right now. It’s the only way to be sure.

”I’m pretty sure that’s what our new friend is going to tell Michael later. Because if we don’t who the fuck knows what genie gets out of the bottle. Like the man says, maybe Ivan nukes our guys on the coast. That’s thousands of Americans. And why? Why the fuck do the DIA want to nuke fucking Malbork? Is that fucking important to national security?”

“Maybe this DIA crew aren’t like Orion. I know people in the DIA." Wouldn't it be a fucking thing to run into Lizzie Kane again. Even in these circumstances. "Some of them…most of them…are good people. Same as us, trying to do the best that they can. Maybe we’ll get lucky and these guys will listen to reason.” He turns back to Ward. ”I really really hope that you’re right Jake, and that they’re reasonable people. But if they’re not, well, we’ll all have to look ourselves in the mirror afterwards. One way or the other.”

He lthen turns to Schenker. ”Like Tosh said, I’d also like to know what you’ve brought with you that you think that you can trade for a nuke.” There's no warmth in his voice when he speaks. Nothing personal, he's just finding it hard not to shoot the messenger that has dropped this problem in their laps like a live fucking hand grenade.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:26, Fri 29 Mar.

Schenker's face is impassive as he listens to Ward's history lecture. When the Englishmen speaks next, the frogman's expression briefly belies befuddlement before returning to neutral. Then another American, CIA apparently, speaks up, seemingly in Max's defense, at least initially. The newcomer isn't really sure where he put a foot wrong, but the mood in the room seems to have soured considerably since he disclosed his mission- what was to be their mission as well.

He makes eye contact with Kessler briefly, before answering the CIA man's question.

"Gold," he replies, flatly. Schenker then pauses for a beat, as if bracing for a punch or derisive laughter.

"I don't expect that they will accept the offer, but my instructions are to resort to violence if all else fails. I apologize if I did not make that clear earlier."

Then he poses a question to the whole group, "But I must ask you this: if reasoning with them fails, and bribery fails, what would you suggest then, if not violence?"

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This message was last edited by the player at 04:45, Fri 29 Mar.

Tosh turns back to Schencker, "We got a chain o' command, I'm sure like you do mate.  We follow our orders!

What good would an attack like that be now, eh?  Don't they know about the POW camp?  Maybe killin' their allies over an airbase?  I would try to play the POW angle on the DIA if anything."

OOC: Going by the Intel from the OOC post
This message was last edited by a game editor at 04:45, Fri 29 Mar.

"Maybe we should switch gears and come back to this part later." Ferro suggests. "How about we take a step back and narrow down the intercept point, which will come before any interaction with the target. Because that will also determine how an interaction can go down." Loud or quiet she means. Ferro then outlines what looks like several possible steps to choose from:

1) On the river (or in Nowe)
2) Overland move towards southern Malbork
2.5) Overland move towards southern Malbork at the checkpoint (narrowed down #2)
3) At the target's safehouse
4) At the location of the target deploying the weapon

"Personally, I think we should have a primary and a backup in case they are a no-show because our primary was incorrect."

"The first ones are definitely the safest for us but also puts us on a much tighter clock to beat." Ferro adds. It would be easier to deal with the DIA outside of any interference from the Malbork garrison for example. "But also more difficult for us to be in the right area." On the other hand. "The options get progressively more difficult to pull off." ...and survive.

Ferro turns her attention to Schenker and asks "Do you have something in mind already?"

"I am still unsure of a primary but I think a secondary should be hitting their safehouse right in Malbork. For a primary I would think in Nowe (#1) or we try our luck and find them somewhere between their river drop point and the southern entrance (#2)."

In reply to Michael Kessler (msg # 90):

Jose winces when Kessler mentions the possible outcomes; he clearly hadn't thought through all of the ramifications of detonating a nuke in Malbork before lighting off on the spook. The captain was right, of course, the worst case scenarios could be as dire as anything the American could think up. Jose's emotions, once again, had gotten the better of him. Instead of immediately launching another round of aggressive questions at the newcomer, Jose instead sits back, placated at least for now. He tries to look for the positives...maybe he could use the story of saving millions to get laid if he ever makes it back to the US.

”Intercepting the Americans on the west side of the river if we can sounds like the best option.” Kessler opines when Ferro switches the conversation in the direction of actual mission planning. ”I think there’s less chance of any other parties interfering. Of course we still need to cross the river to deal with the second part of the mission but that might also give us a window to hand the American bomb over to the BND here in Danzig.”
He looks over at Ferro, adds. ”I don’t really want to cart something like that around any longer than we have to.”

“Problem is we don’t know where they’re going to cross. Probably Nowe, could be Grudziadz. The German shrugs ”They’re apparently masquerading as traders and a Doctor. Traders are probably commonplace, Doctors not so much. Maybe we can use some of the BND’s gold to see if it loosens tongues, see if anyone remembers hearing about a Doctor passing through recently.”

“What does everyone else think? Per, Varis, neither of you have said anything. What’s your thoughts?”

Per's been content to listen, study the newcomer, mull over the ethical and logistical in's and outs of the mission in silence. The Dane accepts Kessler's direct invitation, shares his thoughts on the Mad Dogs' next course of action, "I see the value in catching the DIA team before it reaches Malbork, but a lot of things- things that we can't control- will have to line up just right for that to happen. If we miss them somehow, by the time we catch up, it may be too late. Since we know the location of their safehouse in the city, I think maybe we should head straight there. We can stake it out, and start gathering intel on the Soviet's nuclear arsenal while we wait for the DIA team's arrival. In other words, I'd prefer setting an ambush to a search or chase."

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This message was last edited by the player at 19:48, Thu 04 Apr.

Jose leans back in after hearing Per's response. "Couldn't we do both, eh? See if we can catch them on the west side of the river, then if that fails, move to the safehouse in Malbork? The Krok is amphibious, yeah? So we wouldn't be limited to finding a boat or transportation once we get east of the river. No bridge needed either." He considers for a moment further. "I don't think we're going to just stumble across them in the field. And trying to catch them at a checkpoint feels risky - not only could they use a different entrance to the city, but we'd be exposing ourselves a lot too." Jose motions to his own dark skin; not exactly a common amount of melanin on display in central Poland.

Lines looks to Jose, "I kinda had the same thought process Mate but, I think keeping ahead of 'em instead of behind 'em, might be in our best interest here.  Sure, we can prolly track 'em but, we lose 'em, we're fooked!  And, can we count that the krok will still be amphibious after all its been through?  I mean reliably to cross if we really need to use it without drowning?"