In reply to Zhang Rachel Lee (msg #246):

"Sorry Rach, that is where the coffee I had came from, I promise I'll buy you a cup fresh, asap.  I want a look at their radios though, and if I can get microwave up, that'd be tits."  She certainly plans on looking at the gear of the old telecom building with linking her own stuff at UBC up with them.  She didn't much care about the whole whether they could or not get troops from these folks, friends were well enough in her book and she doesn't mind saying it.  Now if only they could recruit in more former and currentish soldiers...

As they rode along in the jeep Seth pondered a couple of the things that Captain Harding had said.

"Captain Harding, a question for you about the tolls your merchants have been paying to this group the Bridge Tolls," enquired Seth.  "How much are the merchants being charged and have you been able to piece together any Intel on the numbers of people manning toll points and their armament, particularly anything to do with heavy weapons or vehicles?  I imagine that some of these merchants employ armed guards and they might know what they're looking at even if the merchants themselves don't."

He scratched an itch on his chin before continuing.

"Sorry, a second question for you.  What trouble are the bikers actually giving you currently?  It sounds like you fought them off a while ago and they're now avoiding direct confrontation.  So what are their tactics now?  Are they ambushing merchants and robbing them?  Are they extorting tolls somewhere else?  Essentially how are they being a pain the ass now?  I've heard stories about them kidnapping women to force into prostitution and I wondered if you'd heard anything like that?  Or had anyone kidnapped?"

"Whatever support you can give us will be received well by the UBC," Andy said to the Mayor, "the fact that we can work together as allies is more important than the numbers. I'd also appreciate it if you could set up a meeting with the commanders of the Kursk, I'd be most interested in speaking with them."

 Casting a glance behind him to make sure no one was close enough to overhear any conversation, he steps around to the drivers window.

 We think we may have made contact with a agent or spy or maybe just someone who wants to give out information, anyway thats him over at the bicycle waiting for some tools to help his cover up.  I want to know how we are going to deal with him, do we contact him later or bring him over?.

Kelsey grins at the commander again "Thanks Brian, I must seem quite the goof, but I want things back the way they were, we trusted each other before, we can again."  The radio sputters and she pauses, then nods and answers.

"This is Lima one, Wilco.  Out."  She sighs, then digs in her cargo pocket, handing over some pastry treats to her comrades.  "Looks like we are sitting tight.. perfect timing for a sweet snack for my buddies, eh?"

Fox looks at the man "What do you need to tell Kelsey about? If it's important you can tell me trust me."

"Lima One Hotel Six, We are coming to your position hold there, over."

Fox turns back to the man on the bike looking as though he is waiting for a response

Sgt. (Brevet WO) Fox, Sgts. Hope, Tremblay: Stewardson Way, outside the security perimeter.

Tyler came up to ask Fox's opinion on how to treat the man, and Fox climbed down from the turret to have a word personally with the potential informant.

The man saw he was talking to someone in the Airborne, and decided that was good enough.

"I joined the Bridge Trolls at YVR about a year ago. It was different then, just some place safe because there was no government or 'Forces we knew about in BC. Now the boss and his cronies are talking about resisting the government, and allying with the bikers. That's not what I signed up for. I can let you know about defences and so on, I just prefer not to do it here."

---

Sgt. Champlain, Sgt. Delaney, Cpl. Lee: BC Tel Building, Tim Hortons.

It was decided to head back to City Hall to RV with Andy (currently meeting with the Mayor) then meet up with Fox and the LAV. First, at Kelsey's suggestion they stopped at Tim Horton's for some doughnuts. There were only a few kinds, mostly it was just a bakery. Harding picked up the tab although it was clear that doughnuts were very expensive to make.

He answered Seth, "the Bridge Trolls have been cagey. They only charge a flat $30 equivalent in trade goods for the main channel, or $10 for the side channel. They grow their own crops, they make their own fuel. I have a report on their defences which I'll be happy to share. The merchants would like to get by without paying any fare whatsoever but it's not so bad they're up in arms."

"Second question: the bikers tried to ride in here and take over a couple years back with a show of force but the Mayor had the police and militia drove them off.  The Mayor was a mountie before he was a coroner. The HAs haven't been allowed back since but we can't tell who's a biker and who isn't. Since then, we know they want to take over and they have been working to get their hooks into the city government, build up sources of intelligence in the community through sympathisers, bribery or threats. They mostly harass independent farmers, fishermen or scavengers outside the city.

We are aware of four suspicious disappearances but haven't been able to follow up because no one will talk. We are also aware of the "Pig Farm" but we sent a patrol to investigate nine months ago and they were ambushed and pinned down in Surrey on King George (highway). Since then the city has been reluctant to follow up more aggressively."

They picked up the cardboard doughnut boxes, from carefully hoarded pre-war stocks, and started heading back to City Hall.

---

Master Sniper McRae: (City Hall).

"I'll be happy to arrange a meeting with the sub commander. And I'll send Captain Harding down to UBC tomorrow morning to coordinate plans for dealing with YVR."

With a quick phone call, he arranged a meeting with the sub's captain.

"It's all set, Master McRae. They're waiting for you. Literally, just head down 6th here to Front street. The security checkpoint is at the end of the street where it dead-ends at the dock."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:52, Thu 22 July 2010.

Keith nods as he tries to look like he's having a simple conversation with the man and he does make one or two motions with his hand pointing to the bike and then to where Hope ran off too.  "We'll see what we can work out.  You got a message or anything you want to pass on to her if my boss doesn't let her up here?"

 Shaking his head, he just points up the hill to the bike and adds, Iam just a grunt along for the ride, but it seems to me that we are here to gather info and if the guy really does have something of value we should listen then make up our minds.

 Grabbing the spanner and pliers he heads on back to the "broke down bicycle".

"Thank you for your help, Mr. Mayor," Andy said taking his leave and heading over to the Kursk. He checked in to explain where he was going and walked over to teh rendevous with the sub commander.

"Treat him with respect for now he seems to have something important to tell us."

Fox begins to make his way to Lima one with the civilian following. "Ok follow us we'll meet up with the rest of our squad. Should be a safe location to give us the intel you have. "

Fox brings up the radio "Lima One, Hotel Six..Be advised ETA is shortly, break. Also we are heavy one civilian who claims to have intel. Over and out. "

"Hum," replied Seth to Harding.  "The bikers are going to be a problem that it's hard to resolve.  One for a later date anyway.  It also sounds to me that the Bridge Tolls are just a bunch of survivalists trying to get by.  How do you reckon that they would respond to a friendly approach like today?"

Master McRae, Sgt. Delaney, M.Cpl. Champlain, Cpl. Lee
City Hall Area

The Mayor wished Andy well, and he left to head down the hill to the sub. It was quite a fine day for a walk. There weren't too many people on the street, although the few they did see waved to them.

Coming down the hill on 6th towards City Hall from above, Kelsey, Seth and Rachel spotted Andy about a half block down. He was obviously starting to walk further down towards the river and the bulk of the waiting sub and hadn't gotten Fox's message to hold position. Captain Harding had them drop him off at the Armoury. As he got out, he quickly answered Seth.

"Sergeant, I can't say for sure. I've talked to Basil Wright, the Troll leader. Former NCO. He's frankly a bit of an asshole but you may be able to buy him off. Well, I see you're off to meet the sub Captain. Good man and I trust him, but I'll be honest it's not like we have much of a choice."

"Enjoy the rest of your doughnuts!"

He shook hands all around, wishing them well.

On the radio, Kelsey replied to Hotel Actual in the affirmative. While she did that, Lee honked at Andy, to get him to hold up and wait at the corner of Royal and 6th for Fox and the LAV to pull up.

---

Sgt. (Brevet WO) Fox, Sgts. Tremblay, Hope.
By LAV III at SW New West Checkpoint on Stewardson way.

Todd answered Fox, "yes Sergeant. I'll meet you on Front Street, there'a a battery seller there and I need to pick up some NiCads. It's by the sub, you can't miss it."

This was convenient, because although the man didn't know they were heading for the sub, they were going to be in the same area. Hopefully, it wouldn't be hard for someone to slip away and meet him in the shop, which was in the shadows cast by a ugly 60's-era long 2-story concrete parkade raised over Front St. that squatted over the riverfront.

He turned to Keith, "I don't have a message for Kel, other than I'm glad she's alive and I haven't forgot I owe her my life."

With a wave of thanks he mounted up his bike, peddling to the checkpoint.

As he was being let through, everyone else mounted up the LAV and headed to the checkpoint as well. They passed him without a glance as he rode down towards Columbia and Front Street area on the waterfront, while they climbed up the hill on Royal Ave. The clean bio-diesel the UBC engineers had cooked up burned cleanly, without the tell-tale black plume that petrochemical diesel would give off.

---

They met the jeep, along with Kelsey, Lee, Seth and Andy a the corner of 6th and Royal, by the corner with City Hall's vegetable gardens (once vast expanses of lawn).


The two vehicles have RVd and the map has been updated:

http://tinyurl.com/2eazecc

This message was last edited by the GM at 07:59, Fri 23 July 2010.

In reply to Robert Duncan Fox (msg #258):

"Roger Hotel Six, Lima One out"
She sighs and stretches.
"This is starting to feel like a long day now.  People like the Hells Angels will always be waiting to take advantage of a breakdown of society in any way, we just need to be there to offer another and more attractive way.  After all, their fun college fraternity pranks get old after a while, I am betting they are already wearing thin."  There is a definate note of disdain in her voice, though the why may only be obvious to a select few that are closer to her.

Fox exits the LAV and greets Kelsey. "We came across someone who says they know you Kelsey, He also claims to have valuable intel for us. He should be somewhere around the sub if we want to find him. "
This message was last edited by the player at 02:53, Sun 25 July 2010.

"What's the plan now?" asked Seth.  "We going to investigate the sub?"

Speaking of the sub, it was just visible from their hillside vantage point. It was behind the waterfront buildings and the ugly decaying parkade that squatted above Front St.

The CBC van hadn't followed them; instead they headed straight for the docks to get a look at the sub and some priceless footage for the evening news.

Keith nods to the bike rider and then says to him, "That message sir, I can pass on to her, no problem.  Be safe out there and I'm guessing we're going to be meeting up with you again soon."

Kelsey greets SGT Fox, clenching one of his hands tightly in both of hers as she pulls him down to her level for a few moments.

"A friend of mine, you say?  Did you get any more intel on him than that?  Got a lot of friends, you see?"  She smirks, winks, and lets go of Fox's hand.

"Hey Rachel, drive me down to the dock?  I want to confer with the Russian radio jocks too."

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg #266):

Walking over to the LAV, Rachel offered the box of Tim Hortons doughnuts to the crew and dismounts. She figured it would be like a taste of what things were like before the war.

"Here you guys go... don't know where they got the flour for dough and sugar, all the ingredients. Maybe hoarded or traded for it? Who knows!"

Tim Hortons doughnuts weren't really all that good, but they were something all her fellow Canadians were familiar with. The original Tim Horton had been a hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs who died. Having stopped at "Timmy's" for many a double-double and Boston Cream, Rachel had been surprised to find out he hadn't died of some disease like leukemia or tuberculosis but from crashing his '70 Gran Torino during a high-speed chase with police while high on prescription pills and booze. Ah Canadians, they almost seemed to prefer their heroes to be fucked up in some way.





"Sure think, Kel, just makin' sure to share the love! Want me to save one for you?"

She made sure that Fox, Tyler and Tremblay all got one.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:29, Mon 26 July 2010.

Andy reached the place where he was to meet with the Russians and waited for the others to get there before heading for the sub. He leant against a bollard and enjoyed the momentary peace and calm.

Seth stayed at his position in the jeep as Rachel drove it, and Kelsey, down to the dock to meet with Andy.  Seth had never seen a Soviet sub as close as he was about to and his interest was certainly piqued.

Today was turning out to be a day for new experiences.  Well more a combination of new experiences and a revival of old ones - he hadn't thought that he would ever taste a Tim Hortons doughnut again!


(OOC - Edit to correct a spelling mistake Kelsey pointed out.  The danger of writing a quick post while you're a work!  Thanks for correcting my spelling.  Sorry! <G>)
This message was last edited by the player at 22:19, Mon 26 July 2010.

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg #266):

"Well he says he was a former squadmate of yours, He'll be at a battery seller on the corner its on the way to the Russian sub. " Fox gladly accepts a doughnut from Rachel. Alright shall we get going then? Kelsey what do you want to do about your friend? Shall we see what he has to say?"

In reply to Robert Duncan Fox (msg #270):

She waves off the donut, patting her tummy "Already got mine, so you guys enjoy, ok?  Sides, they aren't good for your diet.  Beer is better"  She winks at Rachel, grins and turns back to Fox.

"Someone that knew me by name, yeah.. I'll meet him alright enough.  Let's go"

"Alright then lets move out!..And beer isn't good for the diet either." Fox cracks a smile and then laughs.