Just as a note, "Memorized Orders" is essential for you right now. Not including it in a theatre would be the equivalent of dropping your operatives off at the destination without a word to them and hoping it goes well. The Operations report will assume that Memorized Orders was given to all operatives.
And in the future the Operations Phase is going to be a bit more reliant on plans. Meaning that tech, if assigned,
will get brought and used according to any present skills. If you bring a sniper rifle to Global League and your only combat-related skill is just "shoot them", you're going to be seeing your operatives use an unsilenced sniper rifle in CQC combat in the Global League.
Operations Report, 1956A
KOSMIC agent, Sayuri Tressler Dolvich, enters the target office of Human Power Inc. with the target in mind, having just returned from
KOSMIC HQ accompanied with two other infiltrators and the rest of the team sneaking in.
The rest of the team unfortunately doesn't make it. It's only through the actions of Agent Dolvich that the operation succeeds.
As the team walks through the lobby, a janitor starts quickly walking away with a concerned look. Dolvich and the rest of the team begin to move through the office to find the executive, but locate armed Merkane agents in the stairwell above them. With no other choice to stop
MOLE before their agents reached the VIP, our operatives had to attack. Unarmed
MOLE agents, posing as workers, tackle several
KOSMIC agents as well as Agent Dolvich. Two
MOLE agents begin firing on the team with pistols from stairs above.
Dolvich managed to throw off the operative tackling her and pull out her MP54 C to eliminate the armed resistance above.
Suppressed gunfire ringed through the staircase and blood splatters across the walls as the Merkane pistols kill our agents one by one. Agent Dolvich managed to use a
corpse as a shield as she eliminated the last of the resistance. Eventually, the last Merkane agent was either dead or had retreated, and Dolvich continued her mission alone, this time without interference.
We can likely thank this to the MP54 CS. It looks like Merkan simply has a shortage of weapons as concealable as ours.
Without the executive compromising our efforts, we can maintain control here minus opposition. For now, at least.
Astria holds control of Human Power Inc. [A: 4/4; M: 0/4]. Astria can continue infiltrating Merkan. If Astria holds control of Human Power Inc., and gains the bonus: +1 to Skills Bug roll.We have two teams at the Singleton Arms factory. One was a couple of agents equipped each with a MP54 C, and the other was a standard fireteam to come in and deal with any Merkane attempted sabotage.
It doesn't go quite as planned.
As the
KOSMIC fireteam makes it way to the factory, passing a group of Astrian mercenaries hired by both our government and Singleton Arms to deal with the strike, they get junk thrown at them by strikers apparently seeing them as more mercenaries. Annoyed with the hostility, a particular (since-disciplined) agent decided to try intimidating the strikers.
This started a skirmish between the strikers and mercenaries, with our fireteam caught between the two. The
KOSMIC agents decided to stand their ground and engage (hopefully ultimately intimidating them to stand down) the strikers in a limited capacity. But the number of strikers made holding them off without any extreme PR incident difficult.
A few agents also sighted
MOLE armed forces retreating from the skirmish.
Meanwhile at the factory, we're told that our forces had limited success in engaging what were apparently hidden
MOLE agents. Some of the scabs began assembling some weapons, apparently unaware of our infiltrating agents.
KOSMIC agents opened fire, but then began getting mobbed by a
lot of unarmed apparently-
MOLE workers. It wasn't a
large amount, but considering the number of operatives we had there it was.
It was a tense fight and eventually
MOLE operatives finished assembling their basic pistol adding to the problems. The skirmish between the mercenaries and strikers began coming indoors, practically forcing both sides to retreat under the chaos.
While we had the better gun faster in the factory fight and at the same quantity as Merkan's gun, their numbers did lessen their disadvantage. But outside, our forces were less prepared to deal with the strikers than Merkan (and likely would have lost to a direct engagement with Merkan if nothing's changed).
Singleton Arms is understandably angry at the Astrian government, hampering efforts to extend control over it. But as the facility eventually returned to full operations,
MOLE didn't succeed either. For now, its status remains unchanged.
No side gains further control of Singleton Arms [A: 2/4; M; 2/4]The Students' Topic of Engaging in Activities for Light Topics of Health group is really successful! S.T.E.A.L.T.H., a group of enterprising young
spies students brought to the Global League
via blackmail and governmental intimidation for their amazing talent, focuses on teaching young adults on modern
espionage diplomacy in the Global League!
They also have MP54 CSs in their backpacks, but we don't tell people about that part.
The first security checkpoints are easily passed through. Though the third checkpoint's guards display some resistance. Said resistance is persuaded away via liberal use of suppressed gunfire. Intimidation unfortunately didn't work as the guards
did have guns. But either way the rest of the compound's security would have been notified. With the guards eliminated,
KOSMIC forces grab the document in the next room (with zero interference by
MOLE) and abscond before the guards realize that the sound was actually gunfire.
Our agents even observed another group being chased by security. They have a good laugh as they casually walk away, marking a very successful
mission field trip for S.T.E.A.L.T.H.!
The investigation into our little conflict continues, but with some subtle use of the newly-gained intelligence, we bias the investigating committee to believe in our plight just a little bit more.
Astria gains further control of Global League [A: 3/4; M; 1/4]In order to facilitate the beginning of infiltration in the Merkane government, we simply disguise agents as janitors - each using a MP54 C. But we could only send one
KOSMIC agent to the VIP as sending any more would result in important people questioning "why are multiple janitors that I've never seen before suddenly heading up to this office? And why don't they have any records working here?"
Two of our agents quickly encounter the VIP. The VIP is quickly convinced to come with the agent in order to protect his life, but before the duo can rally with the rest of
KOSMIC forces, they hear roughly three people walking in a
very determined fashion straight towards the door, with guns in hand.
One of the
KOSMIC agent returns to his disguise's duties, the other agent is sent to get the rest of the operatives into the office quickly, and the VIP is told to distract the obvious
MOLE forces.
The door is aggressively swung out of the way as three people walk in. According to the surviving agent as he left, the
MOLE agents looked like regular employees. But holding guns. Seconds after the door closed, gunfire was heard from the room. More seconds later, the
MOLE agents storm out of the room with two corpses and a subdued VIP in tow.
As if that wasn't enough,
MOLE agents equipped with assault rifles then stormed the office, eliminating most of our agents and forcing the few who survived to retreat.
With the sympathetic official gone, our chances of beginning infiltration in the Merkane government are dashed this year.
Merkan maintains control of their government. [A: 0/5; M: 5/5]Command believes that we can make great use of agent Sayuri Tressler Dolvich. As such, she has been promoted to Special Agent and for the time being will be in charge of special assignments.
Expense Credit!On that note, an industry tycoon in Europe has expressed some interest in the Astrian-Merkane conflict, though hasn't invested in either side yet. In two months, the tycoon will be hosting a party for reasons unrelated to our goal. However, we can use this as an opportunity. It's heavily rumored that the tycoon keeps a small book in his quarters detailing illegal operations done under the nose of the Global League. If we can obtain this book, then we can without a doubt get the tycoon on our side.
Special Agent Sayuri Tressler Dolvich will be sent to obtain the item in question. The party is taking place in a large compound - namely its very extensive courtyard. The mansion is under guard and the third level - where the tycoon's quarters is - is even more heavily guarded. We believe that during a fireworks display (roughly 2-3 hours after the main start of the party) is accompanying a shipment of illicit goods (related to the book) to the basement. The only way known to be up is via staircases, though the quarters does have an extensive set of windows.
KOSMIC is expected to be there too. And chances are whoever gets the book can convince the tycoon to part with an
Expense Credit.
It's up to you to come up with an exhaustive plan for Special Agent Dolvich to follow. You are limited by tech, but
not by skills.
Command is asking R&D to consider developing methods of resolving situations or eliminating hostilities and the like that doesn't involve gunfire. Yearly gunfights in sensitive locations gets the politicians who
are in the know antsy. They also point out that even if Astria can occasionally outgun us, if we avoid gunfights completely then they don't get an opportunity to outgun us.
It is now the Design Phase of 1956. Vote for a single Tech or Skill proposal to be worked on as this year's design.
Theatre objectives for next Operations Phase:
Human Power Inc. - A courier carrying blackmail documents against the company lost the documents. A crowded bar in an Astrian city is believed to be the location of these documents -
KOSMIC has to recover anything that was lost before
MOLE can.
Singleton Arms - A tank being developed by the Astrian military is currently in testing at a Singleton testing facility. If the testing goes well, relations may sour.
KOSMIC has the objective to ensure it goes smoothly.
Merkan - A contact from within the Merkane government has been exposed and is currently on the run.
KOSMIC has to locate her within the city and either safely escort her out or eliminate her before
MOLE can capture her.
Global League - The investigatory committee on the Astrian-Merkane conflict is well-underway at this point. Rumors indicate that a witness is being brought in that will testify against Astria based on our actions at Human Power in 1954. She is being transported by plane from a very busy Merkane airport, and must be stopped before the plane takes off.
Companies
- Human Power Inc. [A: 4/4; M: 1/4] (Gain bonus to Skill Bugs)
- Singleton Arms [A: 2/4; M: 1/4] (Gain bonus to Tech Bugs)
Governments
- Astria [A: 5/5; M: 0/5]
- Merkan [A: 0/5; M: 5/5]
Global League [A: 2/4; M: 2/4] (Gain bonus to Expense rolls)
- Deep Infiltration - Via political influence, a single agent is placed into deep cover as an employee with very little security clearance in the appropriate place throughout the year. Agent can smuggle in small concealable (e.g. briefcase) weapons, but must return routinely to HQ for new orders. Very Expensive.
- Intimidation - Operatives will attempt to force their way past security via waving their guns around and using loud words. Cheap.
- Forceful Exit - If made, Operatives will use copious amounts of violence to fight their way out of the area until they can regroup with reinforcements. Cheap.
- Memorized Orders - Operatives are given their mission in person at HQ, and are expected to remember the specifics of their mission until they report back (again in person) for debriefing and a new assignment. Operatives shouldn't give away info unless under notable interrogation. Cheap.
- Sneaking - With quick beforehand research, our operatives wear simple disguises with some quick training beforehand to very easily avoid passive detection by non-Astrian personnel. Can't bring any Tech that isn't extremely concealable. Cheap.
- A-R1940 - A simple yet functional assault rifle developed during the war, roughly on par with the weapons of other world powers developed around the same time. Very obvious, but quite versatile. Cheap.
- A-R1940 S - A variant with a suppressor equipped. Still loud, but doesn't immediately alert all security in the region. Expensive.
- MP54 C: A 9mm 20-round metal machinepistol capable of automatic fire, though it becomes somewhat more inaccurate when fired above the rate of a traditional pistol. Can be concealed in small containers like briefcases but is seomwhat noticeable when worn on the person without extra considerations. Weak stopping power and a bit heavy for its size. Cheap.
- MP54 CS - A variant with a suppressor equipped. While not objectively quiet, it should only notify a limited & delayed local security response (if security is in the area) at first. Expensive.
- Body Armor - Very bulky body armor. Greatly increases survivability of operatives, but greatly reduces agility and is very obvious. Cheap.
- Suppressor - A standard suppressor that can be equipped on any standard gun for a +1 to expense. Size & effectiveness of suppressor does not scale with larger guns.
Author
Topic: Shadow Race - Astria, 1957 (Revision Phase) (Read 12856 times)