In reply to Jack Random (msg # 114):

"Sorry, we're all out of them, but we do have a few thirty eights you might be interested in?"

To Jack.

Might as well get things in one place.

To the Assistant.

I will take the Gerber if you have one.

Melissa went to look at the carrying rigs, backpacks and useful camping items. You could do a lot of things with a Swiss Army knife.

Basic equipment and knives were easily bought (base book prices), but firearms over the counter where another matter entirely. Since Obama brought in the changes to gun ownership laws as his parting "gift" to the nation, it had become increasingly difficult to quickly and more to the point, legally acquire any decent weaponry. Ammunition had also become quite scarce as those who already had guns stocked up and hoarded what they had.

It's not long though before everyones back in the van and headed for the motel to plan the next move. Will it be a trip to Cuba, head up to Boston to scope out the scene of the crime, or take a wild punt and try tracking down Mister, or is it Missus Smith way over in Portland?

Upon your return to the hotel Patrick finds a message waiting for him. Apparently his father has taken ill and been hospitalised. As of the time the message was sent to the offices at Lindgren (Sam forwarded it for Patrick), it was 50/50 whether or not he'd recover.

"I think Portland's too weak a lead to follow just yet. Not sure Boston is much better either. We'd probably get less than the police already have."
"Does anyone know anyone there that might have access to the forensics?"

Looks...................hard to define.
(We are assuming back at the hotel now right? Sorry on the delay, wanted to check a couple things.)

If Cuba is our best lead it does present difficulty's. To start with getting in.

Looking around the room.

Speaking for myself my passport is US, direct flights are scarce and Tourist Visa's are not availible.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:46, Mon 28 Mar 2016.

"Oh come on, don't everyone speak at once!"
"Does anyone know anybody who can help get us into Cuba?"

Going thoughtful.

If we had a reason for US citizens go to Cuba they can but are watched so Travel docs from a different country are better. One not out and out unfriendly. Hows Cuba's relations with Canada or..............South Africa? Flight, I'd say go through Mexico City or Caracas..... I may have a guy for Doc's, not sure how good, never tried before.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:25, Fri 01 Apr 2016.

In reply to Karl Braende (msg # 126):

"Well", Melissa said, taking a swig from a bottle of beer she'd bought at the bar, "I know someone myself. CIA guy in fact based in Miami; or rather girl. Goes by the name of... don't laugh... Bridget Jones. I can give her a ring and she can get some high quality fakes over to us, although it will cost.

CIA will want these terrorists dealt with as much as anyone".

"Yes, make it happen," Karl responded to both Eric and Melissa.
"So nobody knows anyone up in Boston or in the FBI then?"
Disappointing, but given most of them had military rather than law enforcement backgrounds, it wasn't that much of a surprise.

Between Melissa and Jack, the necessary arrangements were soon in place for a potential visit to Cuba. No weapons would be allowed, and it'd be on a commercial flight, but the whole team could travel on relatively short notice any time in the next ten days.
Karl trawled through his memory and came up with somebody in the FBI he'd encountered years before - a few phone calls later and he had a promise from them to see if there was anything useful in the case file. It would be a day or two before they got back to him though.
Everyone else's contacts proved of little help in either organising access to Cuba or gathering useful intel. Weapons, explosives, military vehicles and the like were in abundance - shame that's not what was needed at the moment.

"Right, Cuba here we come?"
Karl didn't expect to hear back from his contact before tomorrow, and he thought it best to have as much information as possible before heading up to Boston. Perhaps somebody else had a better idea though.

Go check the Cuba lead while your waiting to hear? I'm game.

In reply to Eric N Davis (msg # 132):

"No objections on my part", Melissa replied, "How do we intend to work that?"

"Jump on a plane and fly?"
"You got anything to add Michael? How about you Antonio?"
"Will you be coming with us Patrick, or do you need to go see how your father is doing?" Family came first in Karl's opinion, but if a simple phone call was enough then Patrick's presence in Cuba would be very welcome.

NPC'd

"I Think I'll just head directly to Boston and start digging around there. My face is, ah, "known" in Cuba to people we don't want to have to talk to at the moment."

In reply to Karl Braende (msg # 134):

"The whole thing is thin as hell.  We have 2 names and 2 places. I suppose we can go down to Cuba. It's as good of a lead as Portland.

I have to tell you, Karl. We're soldiers, not detectives. Without an objective and a location, it's going to be rough.", Michael replied.

"I agree", Melissa replied, "Let's head down to Cuba and follow that lead. We can easily make our way back to the US if something crops up there. What's our plan when we get there?"

Well, we need to find out what George McClan has to do with all of this. And like Michael says we are not detectives. Any suggestions Melissa?

"He's a merc agent isn't he? I say we act like mercs looking for work and see where that takes us."

In reply to Karl Braende (msg # 139):

"In which case, you'd probably be best to use me as the approach", Melissa said, "I've done a good deal of this sort of thing for Lindgren. In fact, he may well have heard of me touting for work in the past. That said, I'll need to buy a new suit; if I come in dressed like I'm auditioning for a TV show, it doesn't look professional".

Several hours later and everyone was at the airport, Melissa with a new set of clothing in her bag and a credit card which had been beaten into submission.

Antonio had elected to go with Jack directly to Boston to start digging around there and speak with the survivors while the rest would be shortly boarding their flight to Havana.

Packs his bag and gets ready to go.

As she was waiting in the airport, Melissa read through a paperback novel she'd bought in which a blonde CIA agent with Asperger's tried to stop a terrorist attack. In between reading, she thought about she would make her approach in Cuba; needing to combine charm with professionalism. Never an easy task, even with her husband.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:21, Tue 19 Apr 2016.