ICC Game

The Reward for Good Work....: the tenth mission

2006-08-25T17:32:00.000-04:00

Robert Lawson
Regional Director

... Is More Work."
It appears that the shipping container of dead people was a simple accident. According to Ling Cao (the suspect in custody), the shipping container was mishandled by a member of his operation. One hundred thirteen people died because of a paperwork error!
Approximately nine months ago the Seven Sin Tong was contacted to handle the transportation of large numbers of people from one site to another by sea. Apparently they are one of the more reliable people smugglers, with a very low loss of life per shipment. Ling Cao learned of the deaths and conducted an internal investigation. One of his agents in the Philippines confused this shipment with one of immigrants to the United States, resulting in the mess that brought us in.

After thorough interrogation, Ling Cao revealed that he has been contacted by a man known as 'Morgan' with regards to most of the "special shipments". These shipments consisted entirely of people, most Asiatic, that were being transported from one edge of the Pacific to another. He's uncertain as to the destination and purpose behind such shipments but he could tell us that they were rarely to the same location and that 'Morgan' became very irate over any loss of life.
He was able to give us three clues that might lead us back to Morgan and his employers. First, Morgan is a Caucasian male, approximately thirty years of age, with affiliations to the Brandt Corporation. Given their multinational status, it is possible that they could be affiliated with this endeavor, whatever it may be. Second, he was able to confirm that the MV Teach is the vessel we desire and that it is based out of Aparri in the Philippines (see CIA factbook for details). Finally, he gave us the few repeated locations of shipments.

Agent Peurgot has been congratulated for the role he played in the success of the mission. Despite some rough personal relations, all the agents had praise for his skill and ability during the mission. He has been reclaimed by the San Diego office and has returned to duties with them.
I've decided to brief Edwards's team on the situation, since they're familiar with the material and seem ready for some more dangerous challenges. Hopefully they will be able to follow this all the way to its source and stop whatever it is that has been going on.

A Boat Load of Problems: the tenth mission

2006-05-14T13:28:00.000-04:00

Robert Lawson
Regional Director

One hundred thirteen dead bodies in a shipping container at San Diego. Normally problems of this sort are not our concern but one of the people wasn't quite dead when the container was opened, and she exhibited signs of psychic powers before her death. Further on scene investigation revealed that it was likely her influence that caused the container to be opened in the first place.
Using the cover of possible terrorist development of bio weaponry, the local office was able to examine the bodies and container. Latent impressions showed that approximately thirty percent of the inhabitants were psychically active before they died, remarkably high. As you are aware, only forty five percent of our agents are psionically active and we actively recruit the most likely candidates. Initial background checks to identify the deceased have had very little success, though the few hits have all been for peasants and other low status inhabitants of poor countries; not usual candidates for psychic activity, especially in such high rates.
I've decided that the local agents don't have the man power to properly investigate this situation, so I am sending them some aid. For obvious reasons, I will not be using Department 8 agents; rather, I've decided that their recent string of remarkable successes has earned Edwards's team the opportunity to return to California and figure out this case. I have every confidence that their various talents will allow them to bring this to a successful resolution.

Atlanta Journal

2006-05-08T13:28:00.000-04:00

by Randall Sumner

"For the charge of murder in the first degree, we, the jury, find the defendants, Walter Rounds and Torrence Zaffudo, guilty on all counts." With those words, the Southern Surgeons were convicted of four counts of murder. Mr. Rounds was also convicted of four killings committed late last year, and has been sentenced to death. Mr. Zaffudo was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences plus 30 years for assault with intent to kill and resisting arrest.
As our readers may remember, the two men were apparently convinced that some kind of occult ritual would grant them incredible supernatural powers, and that the organs found at their residence were a part of this ritual. The prosecution made good use of the crime scene photographs and forensic testimony to prove that the various parts had come from the four victims. The presence of sodium pentothol and other sedatives that were also found in the victims' systems was almost as damming. Despite the lack of murder weapons, the jury only needed to deliberate for two hours before emerging with their verdict.
This brings to a close one of the most gruesome and tragic periods of Atlanta in the new millennium. Sources have informed this reporter that the officers responsible for the arrests are recovering from their injuries and have all been commended for their exceptional bravery and professionalism.

In With the New

2006-03-03T15:53:00.000-05:00

Robert Lawson
Regional Director

I've found a replacement for Chris Whyte. Sari Mitchell seems ready for a change of operations and is certainly qualified to join one of my better teams. Her social and investigatory expertise should combine nicely with Edward's technological skills, Miyagi's field medic skills and Kim's swat training.

One More...

2006-03-03T15:33:00.000-05:00

Robert read over the request and cursed under his breath. Whyte was a good field agent and terrible at paperwork. However, there was no denying that his daughter's returning poor health and his recent injuries made it apparent that he couldn't remain in the field. Add in the increasing marital tension from the danger of the job and it became obvious that a transfer to another department was needed.
Lawson leaned back in his chair to think things through. Slowly he began to smile and reached for a set of transfer orders. Department 2 might not test most of Chris's skills but handling Cindi Quail would definately test his patience.

Riot: the eighth mission

2006-01-16T21:50:00.000-05:00

At approximately 0945 today a riot erupted along the Martin Luther King Jr parade route. The officers along the route could not be contacted and everyone in a two block area seemed to be either fighting in the streets or hiding in panic. About thirty minutes later a team from the local branch of the international counter terrorism corporation (ICC) arrived on the scene and entered the area. At 1150 the three bloodied agents emerged and claimed to have calmed the area, though emergency services personnel would be busy all day.
According to their investigations a terrorist cell had acquired a sample of an experimental nerve agent and released it upon the parade route. Apparently this agent caused hallucinations and induced an intense fear response; the varied reactions were a result of different psychological reactions to fear. Some ten percent of those affected become agitated and violent, accounting for the intensity and viciousness of the rioters. The team claimed to have located and subdued the cell. According to their information the effects of the nerve agent were very temporary (still an experimental gas) and generally have a life span of only a couple of hours.
The ICC agents arrested the surviving terrorists and took them to their processing before turning them over to the Atlanta FBI for federal charges. Two terrorists were killed resisting arrest and the remainder received multiple wounds before being subdued.
Besides the terrorists, four people died and over four dozen were hospitalized with injuries ranging from cuts and broken bones to gunshot wounds. Dozens more were treated for minor injuries by on-site first responders.
A commendation of the agents has been sent to the ICC.

Lieutenant Hawkins,
Atlanta Police Department

Windfall: the seventh mission

2005-11-21T09:48:00.000-05:00

Robert Lawson
Regional Director

This team has exceeded all my expectations. Upon investigating the power surge, they discovered a plot to wreak incalculable havock and death in the heart of Atlanta. They then neutralized the threat, located the source of the attack, infiltrated the suspects, located and rescued over three dozen hostages, apprehended or killed all the suspects and located and secured another of the stolen artifacts. Apparently the figure of Nacon's Blessing is a type of psychic 'cookie cutter' that can imbue mundane objects with an affect that causes a homicidal rage in the victims. The purpose of this plot is still unknown but losses this severe are certain to hamper Mindwrecker activities in North America.

The agents have all been commended.

Not Again....

2005-09-30T18:40:00.000-04:00

Robert Lawson
Regional Director

Apparently the team I've sent has been no more than partially successful. According to one of Department 3's seer teams, the manifestation has returned, and our team is either at the site or will be there very soon. The facts are a bit sketchy but we think that we now know what was being made; mind altering badges that turn people into homicidal maniacs. The why is still unknown, though if it is Mindwreckers, the carnage and chaos could be enough.

I don't want to interfere with their operation; if they need help they will call for it. However, I have filled out the needed paperwork and will call in the Heavies if we haven't heard from them by mid-day tomorrow.

Very Strange: the seventh mission

2005-09-02T04:06:00.000-04:00

Robert Lawson
Regional Director

Our people have just detected a major manifestation. Apparently every seer within 500 miles would have noticed this event. The disturbing thing is that nothing appears to have been done by all this energy; no pyrotechnics, no Id Monsters, nothing that could warrant such an expenditure of power. Nearly as disturbing is the question of where did all this power come from? There are no single manifesters strong enough to generate this level of power, and it would take thousands of casual manifesters to release it. There is something odd here, but we don't know what; as such I'm sending a team to investigate as much as they can. If things get big they can call for support of whatever kind they need. Whyte, Edwards, Kim, and Miyagi should be good choices, they handled that Ohio affair with skill and cleverness.

Updates to follow.

Final Count: the sixth mission

2005-08-17T18:13:00.000-04:00

Robert Lawson
Regional Director

Six days ago a group of armed individuals assaulted the home of Doctor Marcus Harrold (PhD), taking him and his guests hostage. Our agents were able to respond and rescue the hostages in the building without any fatalities amongst the hostages, our personnel, or the remaining perpetrators (Agent Miyagi has been commended for his efforts). Six suspects were taken into custody and all are making full recoveries.
All fifteen guests were recovered safely, as was Dr Harrold. Mrs Mala Harrold had not been located since the incident; her status and level of involvement are unknown at this time.
An inventory of the household's possessions has revealed the absence of three artifacts from the collection. One is a small Mayan totem, carved and polished quartz, in the shape of a squatting lizard; the second is of Central Asian origin and resembles a diving eagle hewn from a yellow and brown felsite. The last is the basalt idol originally found with Walter Rounds; that his escape and the theft of these objects happened at the same time is highly suggestive and disturbing.
As of this time, no conclusions have been reached regarding how the assailants were able to locate the idol in Dr Harrold's possession, nor how they were able to determine the route and time of Mr Rounds's transfer.

This could complicate matters

2005-07-22T14:46:00.000-04:00

Charlene Blalock
Agent on the Scene

Walter Rounds has escaped. The details are still sketchy but preliminary findings are that he managed to overpower one of his guards during transport at the same time as an exterior team arrived to free him.
Two of the guards are dead and one is in critical condition.
The extraction team seems to have been armed with assault rifles, explosives, and knowledge of either the specific route or enough resources to have covered all the available routes. Both possibilities are equally disturbing. A copy of this report as well as my final conclusions will be sent to Department 6.

The Harold Residence: the sixth mission

2005-07-17T15:37:00.000-04:00

Robert Lawson
Regional Director

Individuals have invaded the house of Dr. Marcus Harrold, taking him, his wife, and fifteen guests hostage. Unfortunately for Department 3, Dr. Harrold was hosting a staff lunch at his house as an opportunity for various researchers to meet and talk in a social atmosphere. The perpetrators have asked for money, a helicopter, and the original manuscript for Dante's Inferno; negotiating with terrorists is not an acceptable option, however neither is the death of the Library's leading researchers. As such I have dispatched a team to deal with the individuals.

Analysis of the demands has revealed that the front man is Jason Reynolds, a known member of the Mindwreckers. I have contacted Department 8 to provide support to the team already in the field, unfortunately the nearest unit may arrive too late.
Updates to follow.

One Problem Solved: the fifth mission

2005-07-01T19:11:00.000-04:00

Robert Lawson
Regional Director

The agents were able to locate and apprehend the local serial murderer. He appears to be a rogue psion; according to his notes and papers his name is Walter Rounds and he is associated with the Mindwreckers. It is still unclear what, exactly, he was intending to do. The papers he had on him indicated that a stone idol, found at the scene, was an integral part of whatever was occurring and that the murders were part of a ritual meant to "activate" or "empower" the idol. Strangely, he believed this nonsense enough to risk apprehension when our agents found him. As you are aware, such nonsense is used to trick the uninformed and superstitious, yet he acted as if it were true. I suspect that it was essential to whatever "project" he was working on.
The perpetrator was injured during apprehension and hospitalized. Shortly after awakening from surgery we moved him to one of our detention facilities.
The arresting agents were also injured but seem to have come through the experience without any long-term injuries.
Hopefully, with Mr Rounds in custody, the gang tensions will fizzle out as the murder spree ends. Unfortunately, it's just not practical to reveal his arrest and maintain psychic secrecy in this instance.
The idol and all associated paperwork have been transferred for research.

A Clipping

2005-04-24T18:08:00.000-04:00

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gang Tensions Increase
by Randall Sumner

A recent string of vicious murders in the metropolitan area has caused an increase in local gang tensions, according to the Atlanta police department. On the 8th of March, Jamal Weston, 17, of the Conservative Vice Lords was found dead of head trauma. One week later, Harrison Kendlebrook (22), a member of the North Boys, was found dead of head trauma. Three days later, on the 18th of March, the body of 19 year old Raphael Gomez, associated with the Latin Kings, was found. Autopsy showed that he was the first victim of this same killer. The 26th of March another victim, Miguel Rodriguez, 18, who was a known enforcer for the Vato Loco, was found with a similar wound.
All four of the gangs involved, as well as the gangs they are allied with, have been stepping up arms acquisition and patrols of their territories, according to Department sources. The cause of death is officially listed as "head trauma"; however, witness accounts state that all of the victims had been shot, execution style.
No suspects are in custody and no motive has been given as yet. The current theory, according to sources, is that the first two killings were traditional gang murders and that the second pair were retaliatory in nature. What ever the case, if the situation is not resolved soon then a new wave of gang violence is sure to follow.

A Nice Surprise: the fourth mission wrap up

2005-04-22T16:58:00.000-04:00

Robert Lawson
Regional Director

Recruitment Summary
Cindi Quail, 12 year-old caucasian female, was successfully recruited into our youth program this week. She came to the attention of our agents during an unofficial mission to assist an FBI investigation into grain price-fixing.
The agents successfully identified the girl as a psychic, convinced her to face some of her mental issues, convinced her and her family to enroll her in our youth program, and provided great assistance to the FBI agents in their investigation. Additionally, they were able to maintain the secret of psionics.
The girl is surprisingly powerful for her age, as indicated by the impressive manifestations that brought her to the team's attention. Hopefully she will make an excellent addition to the ICC but at the least she will learn how to harness and control her abilities so that she doesn't hurt anyone.

See Childhood Development for further details.
The agents have been commended and granted a period of leave.

Psychic manifestations: Monsters of the Id

2005-01-30T15:40:00.000-05:00

One of the most interesting and disturbing aspects of early psychic development is the suppression-manifestation phenomenon or id monsters.
The short version is that the suppressed fears, impulses, urges, and desires of the human psyche are filtered by the subconscious mind into a physical form that can appear in any form the manifester's mind feels is appropriate. Most such manifestations are limited to a few shapes and all of these shapes are determined by the individual's subconscious. They tend to be childish bogeymen or a mutation of an image or character the individual associates with strongly. These forms tend to follow one of three types, fighters, chasers, and inevitables. Fighters are usually based on a monster or hero template and tend to be melee combatants using claws or melee weaponry. Chasers tend to be fast predatory cats, large wolves, or some other powerful and intimidating quadruped. Inevitables are large, powerful, relentless characters combining the melee power of fighter types and the relentless stalking of chasers. Inevitables are rarely of a type, though some recorded types include large amorphous blobs, slasher movie villains, and even a children's television host.
All of these forms are seemingly limited in actual power by their creator. The total power of a manifestation seems to have a proportional limit based upon the strength of the manifester. The more experienced and strong-minded the manifester the more powerful and dangerous the creations. However, such powerful creatures are rare even among id monsters due to the ability of most experienced and strong willed individuals to come to terms with and learn to control the awesome forces of their own minds. Psychic manifestations are usually the results of the confused and terrified psyches of early adolescents who have begun to manifest their new powers and are afraid of the damage and isolation that their powers may cause.

Surprises Galore

2005-01-06T16:50:00.000-05:00

Lawson reread the report. It was conclusive. He reread Antonov's paperwork. It was all in order. Like it or not, the illiterate Russian thug was one of the most promising psychics on the planet. It wouldn't be the first time potential was left unfulfilled if he wasn't trained but it was what Antonov wanted. Finally Robert sighed to himself and signed the orders sending one Ivan Antonov to the 'Institute' for training and development. If all went well then he'd return an intelligent, capable, and powerful agent. Knowing Ivan, things probably wouldn't go well. But the fool was about to run into men and women that would make even his Spetsnaz trainers sit up with respect. Robert poured himself a short glass of bourbon and chuckled at the thought of Antonov's chauvinism meeting Nicole Sheridan.

Fallout: some of the failures of the third mission

2004-12-18T21:37:00.000-05:00

From: ICC branch office, North America Branch, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
To: ICC branch office, Pacific Branch, Okinawa, Japan
Regarding: Visitors

Rachel,
There's good news and bad news. You'll want some privacy for this.

The Good News: our visitors have left, fully satisfied. They found their traitor and recovered the artifact, a katana. Considering everything that went on, it was almost certainly a Nakamura blade. Civilian casualties were surprisingly moderate. Ten members of assorted security organizations and four others who may or may mot be missed.

The Bad News: we figured out who the traitor was. When they tried to identify the body they used finger print and dental records. His real name was Yoshi Amassu. I'm sorry Rachel. I'm so very sorry.
From what we can tell, he was trying to raise money to slip back into hiding by auctioning off the blade. He'd hired some local security people to keep an eye out for agents like the ones who came. Unfortunately they were overly ambitious and were killed by our own agents escorting the visitors. We can only guess what your father was planning to do once he was back in hiding, or even why he took the blade in the first place, but I felt that I should be the one to tell you. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you this in person, or even over a phone line. If you need anything let me know. Once again, I'm sorry.
Robert
Robert Lawson
North American region director

Dramatic Interlude: the end of the third mission

2004-12-15T15:00:00.000-05:00

As you arrive at the Jade Tiger in your shot-up rental with new windshields and some interesting changes to the paint job, you see the four Japanese gentlemen waiting for you in the lobby. Once again the four are wearing black suits that have the body hugging look that screams 'hand tailored.' Their shoes are not the useless dress shoes one would expect, but are some kind of polished black sneaker. The multi-colored shirts have been replaced with identical khaki ones; however all have a colored handkerchief in their breast pocket, seemingly as a concession to those of you who haven't learned to recognize them yet. The men themselves appear energetic yet relaxed.
As you approach, Hiro says, "You are here. Very good. We have a lead to check on. Kiya will drive your vehicle there. I assume one or more of you wish to accompany us in our vehicle." With that he guides you outside and around a corner to a black Chevy Suburban. Yen climbs behind the wheel of their SUV.
As the two Asian drivers park their vehicles you find yourself outside of the offices of Tando Security Services. The building is a simple brick structure with what you notice are excessive security features around the doors and windows. Bars, wire to what are probably alarm bells, security doors that look tougher than the wall all combine to give you the impression of a fortress.
Hiro, "Please wait here and ensure that no one lurks in ambush for us again." With that the four men in black go into the front door.
Approximately ten minutes later they re-emerge and you drive off again. As you ride along the busy streets of San Francisco you are treated to an impressive view of the Golden Gate, and the orange bridge which spans it.
Both vehicles of ICC agents are told the following: The traitor has been located. The failed assassins were agents of his, and your battle with them was a fluke. The traitor himself has scheduled an auction for the weapon he stole, an auction which is to be held in a nightclub later today. They plan to stake out this nightclub, and kill the traitor and reclaim their artifact. Since the nightclub is supposed to be closed, your role of keeping civilian involvement to a minimum should be easy.
At 11:13 the first other vehicles begin to arrive. Trance and Illysa identify most of the passengers as noted antiquarians specializing in rare weapons or as high tech entrepreneurs interested in either Japanese history or alternate theories of physics. The last such vehicle arrives at 11:45, leaving 14 men and 8 women inside the club. Five minutes later another vehicle arrives and your visitors tense up. A small Japanese man in his late 30's emerges. He is alert but relaxed, and every move he makes reminds you more and more of the four men you met the day before.
As he steps out of sight behind the club's doors, your passengers exit the vehicles and head for the club's exterior. In a truly impressive exhibition of free-climbing, one of them rapidly scales the exterior wall and lands upon the roof. The others spread out around the structure and wait.
Suddenly they begin to move and then they are gone. The next minute and a half is filled with the sounds of street noise and tense breathing from your fellow agents. A muffled shot is heard coming form inside the building. Deciding it's time to do something, Ivan heads for the building, drawing his machine pistol and attaching his beloved silencer. Cursing, Illysa, Chris, and then Trance and Yoko move to back him up. As the lithe Russian clears the door he comes to a halt. The rest of the party pulls up behind him and all are amazed by the sight that greets them. Of the 19 men and 8 women who walked into the room before the agents, only the four Silent Walkers are standing. Four of the bodyguard-like people are very dead, and another two of that sort seem on their way to joining them. Of the presumed buyers, four of them are also dead. From placement it is easy to surmise that the deceased guards were there for the deceased buyers. Of the man whom your guests were tracking, there is nothing but a mangled corpse. Hiro and Nikia stand over his body, a sheathed katana in the silent one's hand. Yen and Kiya are moving about the scene swiftly and surely.
Hiro bows to you and says, "Domo-arrigatto. With your aid we have been able to avenge our honor and restore our treasure." He bows again and continues, "On the table beside me is a large bag that was to be used to purchase this sacred blade. I would present it as a gift to you five, who have been of great use in this trying time."
As he finishes speaking, the two younger men stop their circuit of the room and head directly for the doorway in which you stand. The intimidating Nikia steps past your group and heads out the doorway. Hiro walks up to you all and hands the bag full of money to the nerveless fingers of the archaeologist. He also exits the building.
Slowly realizing that it is past time to go, the five ICC agents collect themselves and head back to their vehicles. Both teams stop by their hotels to retrieve their belongings, and then take a quiet drive to the airport.
Upon reaching the airport, Illysa decides to avail herself of the overnight delivery system for the shot-up rental car. By parking in the designated lot, and depositing the keys with a machine, her vehicle is logged in as returned and some tricky questions have been avoided.
While waiting for your flight back to Atlanta and home, Trance decides to do a rough estimate of the money in the bag. He double checks his math. One million dollars, in twenty dollar bills. Realizing that each group of buyers had a similar bag, Trance is stunned to realize that he was in a room with about ten million dollars cash. After an interesting discussion, the team decides to split the bag evenly and simply work it into their lifestyles in their own ways.

Another's Problems: the third mission

2004-11-11T13:08:00.000-05:00

From: ICC branch office, Pacific Branch, Okinawa, Japan
To: ICC branch office, North America Branch, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Regarding: Oni
Attachment: Site Report, Agent Namoi

Robert,
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but today I don't have a choice. You've got a 'containment team' of the Shizuka Ni Ugoku headed for your shores. Specifically San Francisco.
Yes, they are hunting a rogue agent of theirs. They claim he stole a precious artifact after infiltrating their organization for 23 years. They have kept us informed, as per the Tokyo agreement, and are heading to your turf. The team consists of four members. All speak English and are aware of the care we expect them to use. You know what that means.
Friend to friend, I'd recommend assigning a team with some Japanese cultural knowledge. You remember how touchy these guys can be about their honor. And I know it goes without saying, but don't include any "Oni" in the team. These guys are some of the most fanatical they've got. Also some of their best operatives.
Good luck and God bless,
Rachel
Rachel Amassu
Pacific region director

Favors All Around: the second mission

2004-11-06T18:14:00.000-05:00

Robert Lawson
Regional Director

Mission Summary
I received a call from Special Agent Hatfield this morning. It appears that the local FBI branch had located a terrorist cell and received the necessary authorization to strike. Unfortunately they didn't have enough agents available to do it the way they wanted. That's were the ICC came in. I sent one of our newest teams augmented by an agent formerly of the Russia branch (Ivan Antonov) and a young Japanese stunt woman with some useful associations (Yoko Tanaka). Agent Whyte was called away by a family emergency (see personnel).
The four agents arrived on the scene and liaised with Agent Halston, the agent in charge of the raid. Twelve suspects were inside the structure, and the ICC team was assigned to guard the rear exit. Half of the suspects attempted to escape past our agents, but none did. Resistance was fierce and violent; in total 7 suspects were killed, and 11 were shot while resisting arrest. Two of the captives were from those stopped by ICC agents. Two ICC agents and two FBI agents were injured in the raid, but none seriously. Special Agent in Charge Jones called later to thank the ICC as a whole and the team we sent in particular for their aid in this mission.
I've decided to leave Antonov and Tanaka with this team. They bring talents and skills that were lacking previously. Additionally, it is still unclear if Agent Whyte will be returning to active duty any time soon.

Successes and Failures: the first mission

2004-10-30T18:15:00.000-04:00

Robert Lawson
Regional Director

Mission Summary
Frank Gabriel is an alias of Hans Schliefer. Hans Schliefer is wanted by 19 countries (17 clients) for 24 known acts of terrorism. He is suspected in at least another 30 acts. The new agents were unable to monitor his movements for very long before being spotted; however, they were able to determine his true identity and that he had entered the final stages of evaluation i.e. meeting with Sasha. Based upon agent reports Schliefer has an impressive knowledge of 1980's American morning cartoon shows. Little other useful information was gathered.
This mission was a partial success. The agents gained the most important information, and proved mildly capable in a fire fight (see Agent Blalock's mission report). That a firefight was necessary shows a lack in crucial investigatory skills. Still, with training their potential may be fully realized.
I have decided to place additional personnel with this team. Hopefully experience will spread.

Progress Report

2004-10-18T20:00:00.000-04:00

Agent: Charlene Blalock
Location: New York, New York
Mission Day: 2

So far no problems. These recruits may actually work out, if they stay alive long enough to learn their jobs. They've learned a couple of useful things: Frank Gabriel is certainly an assumed name. His real name appears to be Hans something and he is German. He appears to be unaware of ICC interest but he did spot one recruit (David Edwards a.k.a. Trance) while being tailed. Hopefully he won't spot the others.
Edwards has surprised me. Despite his impressive scores on the tech side of things, he has been taking a very hands on approach to this mission. I'd actually expected to have to restrain him from trying to hack the TWC databanks. He's been enthusiastic and probably the most productive so far. He needs to work on his social skills some or he'll get himself into trouble. Illysa Shooch is an interesting woman. Rarely do historians and archaeologists make good field agents, they're usually too busy trying to learn everything about everything, but Shooch's been different. She is a doer, and she may turn out to be the leader of this little family. And maybe not. Christopher Whyte is the eldest of the three, a father of two, and has some law enforcement experience. You'd expect him to take a paternal role with the others but he's just been helpful and quiet. Still, there's something there besides the potential, a kind of doggedness that every team needs. I suspect that Chris will be the one who pulls the rest of them through when it all hits the fan.
It's turning into a race. We need to get the information before Draco and his people decide that Gabriel is as loyal and good as they want him to be. I'm not sure how much more time we've got but best estimate is two to five days. Hopefully these three will finish up before that happens.

Log Ends

Observe the Enemy: The first mission

2004-10-08T18:00:00.000-04:00

Briefing:
Franz Draco is a multi-trillionaire industiralist. He is also a major contributor to international terrorism. The sub-set of his corporations that handles any violence that Draco or his business need performed for them is in the process of recruiting a new member. Frank Gabriel is an unknown in the international scene; however, only the proven best are recruited to Draco's wetworks department. The mission is to learn who Frank Gabriel is, what he's done, why Draco wants him, and what his weaknesses are. Gabriel is currently going through final processing at one of Draco's New York City divisions.

The Rules

2004-10-05T19:00:00.000-04:00

This blog is a record of missions assigned and accomplished. Usually players will not post on this blog, however it is highly advised that you check it at least once a week as various information will be placed here in the form of mission briefings and summary reports.

Players are encouraged to start their own character blogs. This is to encourage character development outside of game sessions. Each entry will earn a posting point, as will each out of session Role Play log and written background or in-between mission story e-mailed to the GM. No matter how many posts (or stories) are made, no more than three (3) posting points can be earned per week. There are two benefits to posting points. Each month there will be a prize randomly given to a player; the number of entries is equal to the number of points earned in the month. Secondly, posting points can be traded in for various benefits.
3 points = 1 Action Point
3 points = 4 skill points, spent as normal, normal limits still apply (max ranks, cross-class, etc.)
5 points = +1 Wealth Bonus
5 points = 200 Experience points
10 points = 1 bonus feat (player's choice)
15 points = Level-up; Character reaches next level and is half-way to subsequent level
Obviously, these are useful items. Points collect, like money in your wallet, and are spent on whichever bonus the player chooses. The monthly drawing will be announced privately, as will the winner. Please comment or e-mail with any questions.