You exit Marrakesh's Menara airport in the late afternoon after an entirely uneventful flight. Outside the airport building the heat is stifling despite the sun being well on it's way to setting and it is made all the more oppressive by the lack of a breeze.

You find a battered minibus serving as a taxi in which you can all fit comfortably along with your gear and you spend an uncomfortable half an hour being baked alive in the mobile oven as it drives you into the oldest part of the city whilst seemingly ignoring what little locally passes as the rules of the road.

You disembark at the Jemaa el-Fnaa, a huge open square pretty much in the center of the Medina. Currently it is packed with tourists and stalls selling a variety of local delicacies. Brightly coloured water sellers, in their traditional garb, move amongst the crowds selling sips of water from their brass cups and posing for photographs.

It's as good a place to start your search as any...

OOC: If anyone did want to do any more prep before the trip then feel free to still post in the other board. I've just put this one up to start the action as I think pretty much all the groundwork that could be laid has been laid.
This message was last updated by the GM at 16:29, Mon 29 June 2020.

During the plane ride Wayne sat beside Sidney. He wanted to talk shop, find out it he could help her with any of her gadgets.

————

Marrakesh was hot, hot in a way that takes your breath. Sweltering was a word that meant hot and humid, and being from the South Eastern US Wayne had experienced that. Marrakesh was not sweltering. Marrakesh was so hot without any humidity, that he literally felt the air being pulled out of his lungs. Sweat dripped in places deodorant never touched. ”Jeeze this place is like an overn.” From this point on Wayne would act as translator, being fluent in Arabic. Being in the minibus was even worse. Having his weapons back gave him the comfort he needed to deal with the heat. Morocco was full of the nicest people he had ever met, even nicer once they knew he could speak Arabic.

When they made it to their destination he looked at the others, ”So, what is the plan? Is Miles using his superpowers? I just wanna know so I can be of most help to everyone.”

Dropped in the square with the others and his duffles, Miles takes it all in. Marrakesh... Been a while.

He doesn't like being out of cover and decentralized. "I'd say our first two moves are to get to a hotel and fortify. Second to track down and make contact with Miss Liu. We'll got to where she's staying and start bringing her to us.  Then we can find the rendezvous.
 Felix, I have to imagine you got us a place to stay, right? "

Miles looked over the crowd to see if they had already been picked up and tailed.  If they were already under surveillance.

---

Spent 2 points on surveillance and rolled.  I messed up rolled 2d6 so I'll take the lesser value, which is still 6 points.

There's nothing whatsoever to indicate that you've been tailed. Whether that means you haven't been or whoever has done it is really, really good is unclear...

“Well, Black Knights, I don’t think we’ve been made yet. But I don’t want to push it. Let’s keep it moving. “

Felix didn't bat an eye as he wheeled his small, efficiently packed suitcase behind the others.  He had a shoulder bag as well and looked every inch the slightly travel-harried businessman.  He even checked his watch as though late for something.  In answer to the question, "I have two places to stay...  One nearby and a backup farther away.  Just in case."  With a quick motion , he drew his smartphone like a gunslinger.  In some hands, such a device could be deadlier than any firearm.  A few quick taps sent the address and registration information for the near hotel to everyone.

He began moving in that general direction, hoping the others might follow, "This way.  It claims five stars and as I understand it their beghrir are surprisingly good.  In looking through lodging options, I identified a few places we might wish to check into.  There are so many wonderful points of interest within the Medina.  We will likely need to divide it up between meetings to get the most out of our trip.  Business travel is such a rush...."
 "

Wayne’s phone buzzed with a text. He chuckled, ”Looks like Miles isn’t the only one with Super Powers.” He followed Felix, ”I’ve actually never been here before, it is beautiful!”

Miles follows behind Felix, duffles over each shoulder. “All things considered, with this being an extraction, we may not be able to stay long. If we’re lucky this will be over tomorrow. “

Miles keeps his head on a swivel, looking for any trouble that may come. Or familiar faces from his past.

Wayne began looking around as well, mostly for things or people that did not seem to fit. Along the way to the hotel he will stop at vendor's shops and speak to the in Arabic in an attempt to get information. If there are any local women about, pretty or not, he will flirt with them in an attempt to get more information.

Using Streetwise, Flattery, and Flirtation to try and get more information.

OOC: Without more of a focused target for your flattery and flirtation they won't get you very far but you might be able to turn over some information with Streetwise. There's plenty of shady characters around who might be able to assist. If you, or anyone else, is willing to spend 1 point of Streetwise there's info to be had.

I'll spend the streetwise point.

Some local ne'er-do-wells are responsive to Wayne's questions (and a little cash to grease palms) and point you in the direction of the Riad Rouge. Apparently someone matching Olivia Liu's description is staying there and this has generated some interest in the local underworld as you aren't the first to be asking after her though your new 'friends' are light on the details as to who else has been asking.

The Riad Rouge is one of the possibilities you managed to narrow things down to from back at your offices so it sounds like a promising lead.

He gave the Muslim sign for and spoke, ”Ma'aasalaama,” which is “Goodbye” in Arabic. He returned to his comrades, ”The Raid Rouge, so says those guys. They also were kind enough to let me know that we are behind and we may already be too late. We should get moving.”

Miles nods and smiles. “Wayne, as soon as we drop this stuff off, I’ll come with you. If she’s still there, this can save us a lot of heartache. “

He knew that they were behind, typical of these sort of extraction jobs, but it wouldn’t do for all of them to be running around Marrakesh with their luggage.

You make your way to Felix's choice of closer hotel, figuring a location close to the Jemaa el-Fnaa gives you a central location, easy access to transport and the security of crowds from which to work.

The accommodation itself is a beautiful classic 'riad'. Formerly a large home all the rooms open out onto a balcony around a well appointed central courtyard. A solitary, well-tended, lemon tree grows out of the center of the courtyard around which tables are set up for dining and a number of comfy tables for daytime lounging. As you enter it is quiet, most patrons currently being out and about in the town for the evening meal, and you check in quickly and with little fuss. It doesn't take very long to get set up with a makeshift field headquarters.

With your luggage dropped off that leaves you free to attend to the job in hand.

Miles drops his bags in his room, pulls out the knife he packed and sheathes it to himself in a concealed spot.

He goes back out into the HQ and waits for everyone to gather. He pours himself a whiskey and takes a seat. “So we’ve got a few leads here. One at the Mosque, following Hassan. The other that the hotel Wayne turned up. I don’t mind sitting on the mosque and trying to find and follow Hassan, but we definitely need to move on Liu now. Or I can check out the hotel and try to grab Liu.”

He snaps his fingers “Or maybe the mosque has cameras on it or in it? Digital surveillance? What do you guys think?”

Felix set his small travel luggage aside and draws out his phone again to check a few things.  As Wayne began the discussion, he perks back up and politely puts the device away again, "Two teams, then?  Team One will head directly to the Riad Rouge to seek out Ms. Liu.  Team Two will put eyes on the mosque and attempt to locate Hassan.  If Team One is able to locate the target, Team Two can reposition as back up.  If Team One is unsuccessful, Team Two will already be in place to follow the second lead."  He glanced over at the hacker setting up her gear, noting, "Of course, that leaves two here to coordinate and provide assistance as needed."    He pushed his glasses back up his nose and looked back to the actual field experts and offered a slim smile, "Well, that sounds like a good plan for someone who is more used to a desk...  Either way, I volunteer for Team One.  I am told I am not threatening and I will need a chance to take photos for her papers as soon as possible."

OOC: Not sure exactly how far the Mosque is from Riad Rouge, but I guess I am hoping not too far.  I assume these streets are not conducive to cars/transportation?

Wayne secured a pair of K-Bar daggers at the small of his back. Looking over the rest of his weapons he decided that the easiest to explain would be the pocket sash. He wound it around his arms. ”I think Felix and Kate should handle the Riad Rouge. Kate can keep you safe, Amigo. That leaves me and my buddy Miles to handle the mosque. This way I figure Miles can blend in and I can sit at a cafe across the street on coms in case he needs back up. Agreed?”
This message was last edited by the player at 15:28, Tue 07 July 2020.

OOC: The mosque is on the opposite side of the medina to the Riad Rouge, just outside the walls. That still only makes it a half hour or so brisk walk away. There are some main roads going through the medina which cars can use but they are mostly choked with local taxis and the local traffic laws, or absence thereof, mean it would unlikely to be much faster than walking. Scooters or small cars would be able to navigate the smaller side streets though this is likely to upset the locals.

Wayne is okay with hoofing it on foot.

Miles pulls out his phone and starts googling the mosque, the dress, how to act in one, etc...”That sounds like a plan to me. Give me a minute to get my act together and we can good it over there. “

He started making a plan to get some appropriate clothing if he didn’t have any in his bag. Then try to blend in and take notes.

Miles downed his drink, put it on the table with a clink, and went into his room and shit the door.

He rooted through his bag to be sure he had the appropriate, and even more importantly, unremarkable attire, then went back into the main room.

“I’ll be ready to head out shortly. Just gotta finish this google search. “

---

What do I need to do to make sure this is a reasonable time to scope out the mosque? I mean, I don’t want it to be 2pm on a Thursday and there’s no one there but me in a disguise, you know what I mean? I want to say this would be like an Electronic Surviellence, Urban Survival or Traffick Analysis. If so, I’ll do a zero point spend on one of those.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:48, Thu 09 July 2020.

The blonde woman sitting on his bed came as a surprise. That it was Kate doing such a thing, again, less so. "About time you got in. I thought I was going to have to run this op all by myself," she said with a smile, tossing him a cold bottle of ice water. "Easy to get dehydrated in this city. It's not a dry heat like other parts of the world we've run."

She raised her own bottle in a toast. "Time to say hullo to the others."

Miles caught the bottle out of the air and took a swig. “If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. Glad you made it before everything kicked off, Kate. Did you over hear the plan? You go with Felix and try to contact the target? Wayne and I find religion and stake out a mosque.“

He was collecting his items and doing inventory as he spoke, so as he exits the room he holds the door open for her with the tiniest bow.

“I did,” she replied, grabbing a case of cold water and walking out of the room with a small smile. “Danke.”

Kate walked into the main room where the rest of the team was gathered and sat the water down on a low table. “Hallo alle,”, she said as she sat down. She was a slender woman, one might say compact but looks were very deceiving in her case. Standing all of 168 cm and 59 kg the team had seen her take down men twice her size with her bare hands. She had shoulder length blonde hair which was currently braided. Her brilliant blue eyes were the most striking feature on an otherwise pretty face but were hard and constantly assessing her surroundings. Even sitting she looked coiled, ready to strike in any direction.

“I heard the plans. I was checking the streets and buildings whilst you were talking. We don’t appear to have a tail.”