In reply to helbent4 (msg #18):

"Since much of our function seems to be headding towards intellegence gathering and providing extra tactical support, I think we can work very well with the RCMP.  Give them what they need to restore order.  Thank-you for being willing to be flexible and work with us in this.

At the Emergency Command Post, the three women took a look around.  They were getting a feel for what it would take to get the place back up to speed.  Lots of work would need to be done to re-install equipment, but the generator was still there and the place handn't been broken into or vandalized.  All in all, things could be worse.  They did make use of the peace and quiet to review some paperwork before heading back to the UBC RCMP post to resume attempts to interview Sebastian.

Andy walked over to Clarke and asked, "If you want me to head up a recce unit, where do I ask for recruits?"

Kelsey arrives wearing her normal fatigues, she's a private so rank doesn't really show her up.  She pulls off her overshirt showing off her muscles in a non reg brown sleeveless undershirt, chest broad from exercise, but not from femininity.
"Hey boys.. this the new commo unit?  I been assigned." she offers to shake their hands in her rather crushing grip, grinning all the while.
She tries to get a feel for their abilities, and their hobbies, how you might size up new 'mates'.



As more folks show she mixes, even suggesting they all go out for a few beers.  After having talked to them for a bit.

Clarke nodded to the newly minted Master Sniper.  I see word travels fast.  We get them from the militia.  Belanger may assign some to us directly.  The rest we find ourselves.  She handed him a stack of papers. "You can sift through paperwork as well as any of the rest of us.  See who you think looks like a good candidate.  Then we'll find out who stacks up in the flesh as well as on paper.

Clarke flipped through the papers for a moment.  "We may have some folks that look great on paper but aren't worth a flip.  By the same token, there maybe some that would be great for the team, but can't fill out paper work.  We might want to put together some kind of event or trial and let people show what they can do.  What do you think, Andy?"

By the time Taras arrived to the Marina and shortly after to the UBC sprawl he found that was rather early and it also appeared that the members of the team were out somewhere. Without much hesitation he went to the main RCMP building and briefly conveyed the good news to the people on duty. Basically that the North Shore was fully supportive with the operation and everything else went well. So far, everything was progressing in good order and no mention of any further incident was mentioned. After that he decided to call the day and returned to his quarters. He removed himself of the officialdom of the uniformity and changed into a well worn pair of fatigues and a fresh cotton shirt.

Being aware that still quite some time to expend before getting supper, he jumped into the UAZ jeep and made a short drive to meet Ms. Kwan. Probably she would be tendering a little garden and there is where he found her. Ms Kwan was showering a colorful of flower arrangements under the protective shade of a rather demode' straw hat.

Beautiful flowers, Ms Kwan!

Shevchenko approached her and after the customary salutations and compliments mandatory for an ex Officer, he exposed the good news about the North Shore and the overall positive results of the efforts towards reconstruction. In a rather confident manner, Taras expressed ho the team sent from the Island took a radical turn and adapted to the requirements of the UBC plans. The change of leadership brought a healthy fresh air. The new Lt. Cmdr. approach was commendable. The idea of a intel unit as a joint operation would give a new thrust and will help to win the upper hand in the incoming confrontations.

But Taras wanted to talk about something else. Coming from a totalitarian regime, he knew a bit about the importance of media and indoctrination. He also knew that something should be done in this respect but he couldn't approach Clarke, Belanger or Khandola. The implementation of the IRON program needed full backing from a media campaign. In order to bring the communities together it was necessary to provide them with enough means to serve as a basis for their recently recovered freedom of speech . It was necessary to expand the role of the local TV, radio station and creation of a local newspaper.

Taras suggested the creation of physical and spiritual community centers. The government should facilitate the means to activate these community centers and make the citizens come up and participate in activities for their own recreation. The idea was somehow decentralize the services provided by UBC while the IRON program and the return to normal life was moving Eastwards. Health Care services, daycare, sports,...will help to shape the future for the citizens. The newly instituted community centers will be a media focus point where TV, radio and newspaper will be distributed. This will help to channel the information and progress to the society. Freedom of access to information was paramount. The advances in the return to a normal life would be of little value if they couldn't be communicated. The media operation was a most necessary campaign to gain the hearts and minds of those kept in the dark of the fear.

A civilian affair was in need of a good coordinator with an ample perspective of politics and sociology. A honest message was in need to be broadcasted. There was a lot of good news to share with the population. It was the perfect time to start an aggressive media campaign.

Before leaving Ms Kwan and her lovely flowers and hat, Shevchenko commented the fact that this media program will help to "verbalize" the intentions of the new government and will help the citizens to make a choice before the use of force would be necessary. For instance, the "radiological investigation team" will be announce beforehand to avoid unnecessary suspicions. A terrific force multiplier in any case.

"A test might well be in order, Ma'am. I can set up a stalk and some sharpshooting tests, perhaps the best way to sort out the sheep from the lambs though is a killing house, that'll put people under lots of pressure but without too much danger of injury." Andy replied, "I'll talk to the RCMP about it, if they haven't got one already I'll bet they know how to make one. Until then, I'll hit the paperwork and make a long list."

In reply to Andrew Montgomery McRae (msg #25):

Good ideas all.  Maybe we could set the whole thing up as part of a PR event.  Not everyone who fills out paperwork is going to make the sniper team, but there will be a lot of people needed for the Block Watch and other programs.  Let's get the Stickman campaign under our belts, and plan outreach for the future."

Clarke and her entourage finished up at the abandoned RCMP HQ in Oakridge by E 41st. They traveled north up Cambie, dodging stalled vehicles that had been moved off to the side to clear a lane each way.

They drove by the VPD's main police station at Cambie and E. 2nd. It was burned out, along with some of the surrounding buildings.

By the time they arrived back at UBC in the afternoon, She hoped Sebastian was awake. He had gone into a troubled sleep that night and hadn't really woken up all day. Doctor Chandra thought he may be showing symptoms of heroin withdrawal.

Clarke checked up on Kelsey, who had been going over the LAV and bonding with her team, incognito. Kelsey had also been reading the transcript of her and Taras' chat with Josh.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:51, Wed 16 July 2008.

"Scratch my ideas of working through them."


[OOC: Moved from the OOC Reference thread to the current IC thread.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:54, Wed 16 July 2008.

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg #28):



"Could be one guy that's a serial murderer, not the gang itself.  You never know.  Like everything else, we need information.  We have help coming.  We need to know more so we can help them."

[OOC: Moved from the OOC Reference thread to the current IC thread.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:54, Wed 16 July 2008.

In reply to Andrew Montgomery McRae (msg #25):

In fact, Lee was very keen to set one up.

"I'm also going to be training a police ERT soon for the RCMP, so this is an excellent opportunity. Let's plan it out. If you're going to be busy in the downtown conducting surveillance, I can keep things moving forward on it. Should be done in a week."

"We have a range set up out in Chilliwack at the old Canadian Forces Base there, but the commute would be rather difficult at the moment!"

Indeed, Chilliwack was some 60-70 km east up the Fraser Valley. Due to the wind patterns, it and the surrounding farmland probably received a severe dose of fallout after the nuclear attacks in the eastern part of the city, although contamination would be minimal by now.

There were a few kids from the local militia that were interested in joining a dedicated recce/sniper team, Chad Evrett and Stacy Campbell, in their early 20's. They had both grown up in the rural parts of the province. Chad was an experienced hunter and had grown up in Vanderhoof in the SE corner of the province, while Stacy was from up in the Peace River valley and was a natural crack shot, having first learned to shoot as a child.

While most Canadians were urban-dwellers and generally abhorred guns (especially handguns), those living in the 90% rural and wilderness areas of the country had more guns per capita than rural Americans. (Although over 90% of firearms were longarms like rifles and shotguns.)

They were unsure as to whether they were joining the Army, the RCMP, or something else. Technically, they (and anyone else hired by the team) could be considered federal contractors under the DRI, although they could also be considered inducted into the CF as well.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:21, Wed 16 July 2008.

In reply to Taras Vladimirovich Shevchenko (msg #24):

Kwan was most welcoming of the news. She wiped her forehead, then poured some chilled lemonade for them both to ease the sunlight of the warm spring afternoon.

"Wonderful! We'll look into creating these centres, where people can get medical attention, news and so on. And feel safe!"

"Taras, would you like to do dinner tonight? We can discuss this with Alain and Kamaljit (Inspector Khandola)."

"Also, Tricia with the media group wants to know if she could do an interview with this Cyrus fellow. Also, report on this "Free Market" on Annacis Island, and the community in New Westminster. She felt she should find out if it were safe or not."

In reply to helbent4 (msg #27):

"Doctor Chandra, could we confirm the heroin withdrawl?  This is a security issue as well as humanitarian.  If he's drug-dependent and doesn't show up for his fix, it will be suspicious to the people at the park.  Withdrawl can be very dangerous as well as painful.  We don't want him to die on us."

In speaking to Kelsey, she mentioned Sebastian's symptoms.  "Something's up with Josh.  Either he knew Sebastian was addited and failed to tell us, or he didn't know at all.  Sebastian insisted on deliveries so he could get fixed up without Josh knowing about it.  If Josh is out of the loop, then the others at the Park will get suspicious if Josh keeps coming back and doesn't mention that Sebastian is sick."

"That is clever.. very clever.  We can leave a message for him, make it sound like Sebastian went rogue and he tried to cover for him?"

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg #33):

"More like that he needs to report that Sebastian is sick.  Something is fishy.  Either Josh didn't tell us Sebastian has a habit, or he didn't know himself.  If he didn't know about Sebastian's habit, then he needs to be warned.  Cyrus will be suspicious if an addict like Sebastian stops showing up to get his fix."

"Maybe sick, and demanding his package?"

The surveillance van was coming along nicely.

Although the basic vehicle was black, the motor pool crew at the garage suggested painting it to look like a red HAZ/MAT vehicle. Not exactly the one the VFD used to deploy, but close.

The mechanics also asked if Kelsey wanted to stay and help with the LAV. They were experienced mechanics, but they were struggling with the unfamiliar vehicle. After all, they weren't just fixing one system but overhauling major components. Having to learn as they went along.

There were various signals incoming and being relayed over to the Island. The Signals techs passed along that Rod MacArthur was arranging with VIC to secure a supply of coal for his engines. In exchange, they would have a rail barge ready to transport the locomotives and some rolling stock over by the end of summer, when troops would be arriving in force to secure the city.

Also, there was a message from Bulat to Taras, saying he was trying to convince his wife to move out of West Van. She wanted to know if UBC had pediatric medicine available and a hospital, or will make those services immediately available to the North Shore. That will basically determine where they will live!

(OOC: Sorry, forgot to add this!)
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:39, Thu 17 July 2008.

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg #35):

"Well, get a message to Josh that Sebastian seems to be suffering withdrawls, and if he isn't already faking picking up his drugs, he better start."

She also asked the doctor if she could confirm the diagnosis.  If so, was it  possible to get Sebastian on methodone treatment.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:49, Thu 17 July 2008.

In reply to helbent4 (msg #31):

Shevchenko accepted the dinner invitation gladly from Ms Kwan. The trip back and forth made him hungry and then there was all the expectation and more negotiations that were getting somehow in his stomach.

Regarding the media folks, hummm..., I wouldn't recommend to send them along with the indians of the reserve and travelling to New Westminster and that biker market. No, that would be too suspicious. Something doesn't match. Instead I would deploy...sorry! "send" them to make a reportage to the downtown core. Kinda a scientific thing, you know, they will be filming the NBC team searching into the buildings with the geiger counters, etc. It sounds more plausible. And it is more safe for them, the "scientist" are already escorted by the RCMP. This will open the opportunity to sound off the undergrounders and even fetch the opportunity to interview big, bad Cyrus. Who knows...

Taras felt that the approach towards the uncharted waters of New Westminster and the market in Annacis Island should be stealthy and without unnecessary risks. It would be an initial contact and he didn't want to send military, police or just risk the life and or limb of any civilian without proper security. He did have the gut feeling that "New West" would be cooperating soon but was uneasy about the "free market". On the other side, sending the TV crew to downtown would bring more oportunities for intel: Interviewing locals, recording audio and video, offering the opportunity to "air" the problems of the zone was another element in the alloy of intel needed to get the picture.

An interview with Cyrus is risky. It not only endangers the crew but also would work as a propaganda coup. It will be not possible to do it with the presence of our Law Enforcement and Cyrus would not be willing to risk capture. It could serve to incriminate and prosecute the stickmen in any case... That I would leave to Belanger to decide. It doesn't depend on us either. I would prefer to get the TV people to move around the downtown. I'm going to need a good footage of Georgia St. before we move in for the snatch.

Doctor Chandra confirmed that Sebastien's blood work showed traces of heroin in his bloodstream. There were needle tracks between his toes, which is why they were missed on initial examination.

"Withdrawal won't kill him. Detox will take about a week and he'll feel like hell. We do have a supply of methadone here, and I will start him on a course immediately."

Josh's reply would come back later in a few hours. Without a radio, any more direct communication would put him at risk if seen. At least he was warned there was something fishy about Sebastien.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:09, Fri 18 July 2008.

In reply to Andrea Clarke-Sullivan (msg #37):

Rachel talked to Clarke and Champlain about the situation with Sebastien.

"Boss, we already thoroughly searched the house. No black tar, no rig. Ah, I mean, no heroin or syringe. Let me have a look at the other properties, the one next door and the other across the back alley. I'll go in plainclothes."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:42, Fri 18 July 2008.

In reply to Zhang Rachel Lee (msg #40):

"Sounds like a good idea.  It may well be he was getting fixed up either at the park or somewhere on the route and keeping it a secret.  Who knows?  Maybe he was getting high enroute and double-dealing Cyrus."

"I personally don't like how they are using women, and underage women in particular."

Clarke shook her head.  "Murder, prostitution, underage human trafficing, narcotics, racetering, these guys seem to run the gammit.  That's before we figure in their dealings with the stickmen, a group of known terrorists.  Like I said, our job is to gather intel.  We need to be ready to help Central and the RCMP take these guys down."

She rubbed her face with her hands and addressed Kelsey again.  "Get your team organized.  Get ready to make use of the equipment you have.  We have a job to do and the better we do it, but better we prepare the big guns to do their job.  I don't like those guys any more than you do, which is why I plan to focus on my job and do it to the best of my ability."

Not much else happened that evening. Andy continued setting up the stalk and the shooting house on campus, or rather a little off-campus. Kelsey helped out at the LAV and saw that her help would probably be needed for at least some of the time each day at the garage to keep repairs on schedule.

Belanger's reply to Taras was that he would persuade Tricia to cover the assistance team in the downtown. The dual benefit being the propaganda value of being seen aid the people abandoned there, plus have fresh video footage to look at. For safety reasons the media team also wouldn't seek out an interview with Cyrus.

In civilan clothes and with a partner, Cpl. Lee rode a bicycle out to the Kitsilano neighborhood where the Stickmen's OP was set up.

After a few hours, she reported finding a stash with works (syringe, needle, lighter, tubing, etc.) and a quantity of heroin in the house across the back alley. It would probably be okay to have Josh not mention it, as he would have otherwise been unaware of Sebastien's addiction anyways. Back at the detachment she unpacked the gear and said it would take a little while to determine the purity and thus how long this supply would last.

It was now approaching 2000 hours, the light was fading. Belanger met Clarke, Taras and the team.

"Well, time to meet Shepherd and go see the Survivalists at Canada Place."