She shrugged and looked to their new ally.  "What's your opinion, Bulat?  You know the Stickmen better than we do.

*Kelsey glances towards Sam and then shrugs, grinning a little, slightly flushed from drinking or embarrassment, she leans in and whispers as well*

"Actually, had my eye on the reporter, but I don't think she sees me that way.  Locals.. well I used to live here, but even someone I used to know I wouldn't try to take home tonight"

Lee smiled.

"Good good. Keep an eye on them McRae."

"Speaking personally, I'm going to keep a clear head. We may be acting as a reaction force sooner than we thought."

"I'm going back to billet, watch some TV! See you there in a while?"

She shrugged and looked to their new ally.  "What's your opinion, Bulat?  You know the Stickmen better than we do.
</quote>

Bulat shrugged, sipping his tea.

"Know little of Stick Man, myself. Was hired after attack, to protect community. Would think yes, is matter of honour, of... save their face. Would be watching us, looking for weakness."

Now-Inspector Khandola arrived, nodded at being told of the possibility. "I will alert the perimeter security and the reaction team there may be trouble.

Belanger grimaced. "Bear in mind that the Militia here is not full time. The RCMP usually mans the perimeter; for political reasons we can't have the Militia called-up full-time unless we make some kind of permanent arrangement."

"Well, let's concentrate on security here-and-now."

Taras added, "perhaps a Provost company of RCMP auxiliaries would be the way to go for the future. I shall think on this more."

"Thank you for answering my concerns.  I still have much to learn about the local organizations.  There is also working out how things with function with new personnel thrown in.

"It is never easy!" replied Khandola.

They talked a little while longer, mostly about different strategies regarding the Stickmen. Taras was of the opinion they were now in a good position to pacify the park area, now that the northern approach was secure. Elements could therefore approach from either direction.

Belanger added, "after all this, people are still sensitive about Stanley Park. It's a real symbol of the city, an icon. Whatever we do, we need to make sure minimal damage is caused. Look what happened at Waco. The fire might have been an accident, might even have been unavoidable, but look at the fallout!"

"Still, we can use that to our advantage. After all, these hooligans have claimed for themselves what really belongs to everyone."

There was more conversation with Bulat about his future and the offer Taras had made to join the federal forces. Really, he didn't have much of an option otherwise. If he didn't accept the offer of an amnesty, he and his people would be disarmed and treated as criminals, try to establish himself as a warlord or even flee northward. Neither of the latter options seemed appealing.

He made it clear that the mayor called the shots, but that also the town was finding it hard to justify paying for a miltiary unit for protection, especially when providing security was really the federal government's job. In the past when it came up hypothetically, they had agreed that Bulat's platoon (section, really) would transferred to federal command.

It amused him he might end up working for the Miliciya, the Russian/Soviet term for police (a somewhat more paramilitary style of policing than in the west).

Of course, the government, although really UBC, would end up picking up the tab for his unit's services from West Van. This was "win-win" in that Bulat remained free, West Van was off the hook for his contract and could offere something of value to the government, and the military gained the use of a trained unit, albeit former enemy combatants.

Belanger agreed. "Okay, as Provost, I can authorise this transfer of contract, although it will be fairly expensive to pay Bulat and his men. Still, they can do more good there than cooped up on the North Shore. Once we either clear the Park, or find a way to ship the BMP across Burrard Inlet."
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:02, Tue 20 May 2008.

At the SUB, the rest of the evening passed without incident. No one was dragged off, or got laid, for that matter!

The personnel there got the opinion people wanted to help out. That living behind a fence struck people as paying a high price for safety. Like living in a prison, or just as bad, like they were the jailors.

If some kind of volunteer force was formed for operations in the city itself, they were sure that they would get  more than a few volunteers.

After the last pints were quaffed, they headed back to the billet. Andy and Chris got a little action and were hopeful of future prospects for romance. Kelsey also was flirted with by some of the girls and a few clueless guys.

"Yes, Stanley Park should be for everyone.  Besides, it's time we did something about those terrorist,eh?"

For the rest of the conversation, Clarke listened and tried to absorb.  She was sure if she objected it would be noted.  She didn't.  Having extra forces was a good idea, especially when it meant finding a use for men who would otherwise be a problem.

Sunday Morning, April 6, 2001.

The day dawned, mostly cloudy. Sunday church services were held by the UBC Chaplain at the University Hill Congregation church. It was a United Church of Canada congregation, and was typically laid-back and welcoming to everyone. (The United Church is the 2nd-largest Christian church in Canada, behind the Catholic Church and ahead of the Anglicans. They were formed from the Methodists, Congregationalists and Presbyterians and had become a very liberal left-leaning church, the first in Canada to ordain female priests and perform gay marriages.)

Rod, Sheila and Bulat stayed for breakfast and mass (even Bulat). After, they were shuttled back to West Van.

Mid-morning, the RCMP detachment and volunteers fanned out into the neighborhoods around UBC, armed with clipboards and questionnaires. The team was mobilised as a reaction force in support.

By mid-afternoon, something interesting was reported.

Khandola reported it to Lee, who related it to the team.

"Uh, the Mounties are reporting there's a family that lives in Point Grey, by the Yacht Club. They say their kid saw a stranger, a "wild man" living in an abandoned house nearby, brought him some food this morninig. He wasn't there a couple days ago, so they figure he showed up last night. Seems to be watching the Marina Could be a Stickman spy? They're leaving him alone, see if we want to detain him. Could be a homeless guy."

Kelsey attends church, part for the normalcy, part for the spiritual renewal, and part to check out the single girls, UCC being a favorite of lesbians, after all.



In standard combat gear, glengary on at a cocky angle, loosely professional, rifle slung, no round chambered.  Not sure if we keep even magazine in at this threat level.




"Regardless a human being.  Should we bring an aide pack to him and have a chat?"

*She smiles, like most of them I am sure, she had seen plenty of combat and death, but like some others she is not mentioning, she wants to see peace all around, much more for reconciling with even the Stickmen, then trying to kill anyone.*

Clarke attended church as well, thinking she might join the chior at some point.
Clarke nodded. "A soft approach first, yes.  Whoever he is, he might have information we need.  He'll be more willing to talk over dinner than a rifle butt."

*She winks and grins*

"Catch more flies with sugar instead of vinegar"

Clarke grinned back.  "You ever consiser intellegence work?  Of course, for the next little bit, we'll all be doing at least some intellegence gathering."

*Kelsey shrugs and cops a fake southern US drawl*

"No Clarke I ain't, but mama always said It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice."

Chris grinned.

"Don't be modest! Kelsey and I, we've been doing the DRI thing since they started the unit here, couple of months ago. It's kind of a little of both, intelligence and soldiering. We're not veterans, but we were sent along to help give this here unit a little experience."

He shrugged to show how that turned out, then looked more serious.

"Can we have it both ways? Those Stickmen killed 20 people in the park, burned down a town, killed half-a-dozen more. No statute of limitations on murder."

"Yes, not all the people in the park are criminals."

"There's no statute of limitations on murder and arson. Someone killed those people on the bridge, and set the fires that killed more up in West Van. Someone attacked us, too, probably the same ones."

Lee nodded in agreement with the idea of making a deal to neutralise the Stickmen.

"I agree, the Crown will probably be willing to make a plea bargains in order to get convictions. To separate the innocent from the guilty, we'll need help from the people in the park; not all might be Stickmen. Justice must be served, it's the Canadian way."

She changed her expression, looking expectantly towards Clarke.

"Well, what's the plan?"

Clarke could agree with Lee's acessment that there needed to be some answer to the death and destruction wrought by the Stick Men.  Before that, however, they had one person who might be just as much a victim as enemy to deal with.

"Let's start by getting out own eyes on this situation.  We don't know anything except this is an unkempt adult male.  We don't know his age or other information.  My best guess without other information is to have someone approach, taking the aid package with them.  The others cover the house.  He may break and try to run for it."

She thought about the different strengths of the team.  "Kelsey, you make contact and offer the package.  Lee and I will cover you.  Chris, cover the back of the house in case he tries to make a break for it.  Sound like a plan?"

"Sounds good.  The stickmen may have a lot to answer for, but Lee.. remember, unless you can prove someone is a stickman, then they are innocent of that, right?  Clarke, make sure the people covering do it from range, ok?  Don't spook him"



"Sure.. I like people.  I can be gruff and all, or indelicate, but I like folks, and he will probably respond better to a girl, right?"

"All good points, Kelsey.  We'll use them.  Let's go.

Lee agreed, seeing they were on the same wavelength, more-or-less.

"Absolutely! Justice is meaningless if it's indiscriminate. It could be most of the people there aren't any more guilty than anyone else in the city of doing what they had to survive. If that's the case, maybe those people will step forward to highlight the really guilty parties if we can act with restraint and tact."

She listened to Clarke's plan.

"We'll also cordon off the area as best we can, but keep our distance."

Mac indicated Andy.

"Almost, I take it the Master Corporal will be with me, eh?"

"Also, I guess we should stay out of occupied dwellings unless in hot pursuit."

*Kelsey gives Zhang a thumbs up and a grin*

"How about us non-threatening girls approach in one vehicle, I unload his aid pack and take it to him, you boys take the other and stay out of sight?  Let's not appear to be too aggressive and spook him off"

The plan needed to be detailed out for execution. "Let's give our bright shiny new militia something to do." She coordinated with Fox to have the militia set up a cordon of the neighborhood in case there was more trouble than they anticipated.  "OK, we'll observe the man for an hour or two while Fox sets up the cordon.  If everything looks good, we'll proceed as Kelsey suggested.

She looked to the people she had with her.  "Andy, Chris, you'll take one of the SUV's and approach from the rear.  Lee, Kelsey and I will move use the other SUV.  We'll observe a while as I said.  If everyting looks good, Lee and I will cover Kelsey as she makes her approach with the aid package.  Chris and Andy will cover the rear.  Fox will have the area cordoned off by the militia.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:24, Sun 25 May 2008.

Taking the Rover, Chris and Andy drove to the southern rear side of the block, away from the address they had been given. They parked out of sight, then got into position to observe.

At the same time, Fox coordinated the militia cordon and Taras coordinated with the RCMP. They set up a command post in an abandoned condo complex two blocks away to the east. They pulled the Suburban, the mountie SUV and Taras UAZ into the covered parking area.

The rest of the team chilled out at the field HQ. Clarke looked in one of the rooms, saw it was a nursery. Luckily, the place had been abandoned and cleared. Some places still had corpses of those unluckly enough to not survive the first, dreadful winter after the bombs hit. The door had the standard "search" X beside the door, marking the date it was searched, by whom, any victims (none, in this case) and any health or structural hazards (none except for cleaning materials). The mark was a couple years old at this point, so it was probably a little out of date.

The day continued to be cloudy, and there was a brief shower around noon. Every hour, the observation team reported in.

Around 1300 hours, Andy reported something interesting. There appeared to be 2 individuals, both young males present, approximately 17-21 YOA. They were taking turns watching the front of the Yacht Club/marina complex from the house on the SE corner of Point Grey Road and Highbury St. From there, they had a clear look at the front of the club buildings across from them, less than 100m away.

"Interesting.  Maybe we should give them something to see and watch what they do."   She got on the radio and checked in with Fox.  "They seem to be watching the Yacht club.  Perhaps we should have a couple of ringers in spare fatigues go over to the building, just to see how they react."

To Kelsey, "Given they seem to have the Yacht Club staked out, maybe the friendly lady soldier wouldn't be such a good idea after all.  Let's watch what they do when they see someone in uniform enter the building, shall we?"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:24, Sun 25 May 2008.