Plan A

[Pher 0]

All of us have various skills, which might lead to very different plans. I’d like to hear suggestions from everyone, think through the best of them, but only go to execute if a plan looks solid. I’ll start with my own approach.

 

Gular has fingers in a whole bunch of operations. One project, located on New Risa, is developing next generation high tech sex slaves. Some of these girls have cyborg enhancements, some are genetically modified, and some are both. It just so happens that I could pass quite well, thank you, as the product of said Gular project, with that cover able to withstand any degree of scrutiny. Without benefit of any other sort of cover, I could walk into Gular’s front door, say I have a biological problem and need to talk to someone highly trusted to keep corporate secrets, and with a medical background.

 

I could then spin a tale about an unusual alien race infiltrating the Rainmakers. I could get quite elaborate about this. I could make a convincing argument that Gular is one of the few best organizations capable of countering the threat. I might offer a sample of the aliens, and might fish a bit to get paid for it. I might try to get direct contact with the highest levels of their organization.

 

I might also wear a flower in my hair, which is a sign on New Risa of a girl on the clock. If they wish to evaluate a product of their New Risan endeavor, I’d give them the chance. Many alpha males like to talk about themselves. I might pick up something. I would not want to push this too obviously, though.

 

I might want to bring Byblos with me, as some cross of bodyguard and pimp. There might be a real need for escort between parts of the station. If I’m dressing to pass as a New Risan lifeguard, having someone big, strong and possessive lurking nearby might be wise. While he couldn’t take on the whole of Gular security and wouldn’t be expected to, he might deter advances unless proper gifts are offered and enforce a few New Risan traditions. What I’d expect is that he gets excluded from a lot of meetings, and ends up hanging out with Gular security. He might just keep his eyes open and conversation flowing, getting the lay of the land without intent to do anything forward, at least initially.

 

This would be an initial penetration, likely best made under our own identities. If Troy comes up with some cute devices for us to deploy, maybe. If information we gather helps someone else’s more direct approach, fine. It does potentially draw some attention to the Qob. It’s not a free lunch, a certain answer to all. It still seems the best I can initially offer using my own approach to things.

 

I might argue that establishing the cover might be done for its own sake, and might be more important than any follow up.

 

Comments and alternatives welcome.

[Ethan Neufeld 0]

Byblos scratched his head briefly then spoke "Now that would be interesting. Pher, you would have to come up with a darn good reason why you chose a Nausicaan, most races feel we are to quick to get in a fight." ::looks around the room:: "Okay there is some truth to that. Pher, that would work in a way that it would give a reason why a Nausicaan is walking around Andus in a "web" filled bunch of Andorians, humans, Bolians. Also I have been thinking this over as well, I need to drop my name and go with an alias. Pher it would be logical if I am your bodyguard for you to come up with something... appropriate for the matter you propose, also the attire aspect given the high end society level of the mark."

 

I don't like the idea of letting that vial get any warmer, but my advice is to take it slow. Gather information indirectly. Collect all the signals intelligence we can. Eventually, information will leave the station and likely on a subspace carrier frequency. Setting up a receiver to intercept is undetectable and it'd just be a matter of breaking their encryption and transmission techniques. I imagine that wouldn't be a problem for Shane, William or Troy. But hacking networks, wiretapping, bugs, key-loggers, dodging security systems all leave finger prints that we can't hide indefinitely. Save those for a second attempt, if cracking their transmissions or surveillance doesn't pan out. If the Gular are using couriers, that's both physically traceable and possibly easier to intercept away from Andus. But intercepting a courier still carries a high risk of exposure we probably want to avoid.

 

Select a team to observe the Gular's business offices from a distance to start. Find out who gets the most, the least, and what type of traffic they're dealing with on a regular basis. Pher's idea to pose as local entertainment might be the next step once that pattern's established. We could play the Pher's seductive skills on some of the lower echelons. Might learn the routines of their more senior people; gain access to some of their offices that the other team could use. But that source's likely to get burned if we're caught where we shouldn't be.

 

It might take more than a flower and a story to get close to the guys with real security clearance, without an extensive background check that isn't likely to hold up under real scrutiny. They've got more to lose. We'd have to play that carefully; the wrong people are liable to get suspicious if they don't like what they're hearing or who's asking it. And, in my opinion, going in with an unrelated complaint or deal and then asking about their dockyard activies is going to look outright suspicious.

 

But the primary point of contact should be someone else: someone who isn't on the surveillance team or Pher. They're going to recognize our faces after we hang around for while. We'll need to hold one or two faces in reserve to minimize their suspicions. It was already mentioned, but, at this stage, we might want to avoid using anyone who'd stick out, given the ratio of species in the local population. Have to ask yourself how well they can play their parts and if being a memorable face - or green - is worth the risk.

 

They'll be the ones who approach the Gular with something to offer their secret ship-building project: skills, services, resources, contacts. Maybe a new contract. If necessary, cook up a believable, external threat to their business. Present a deal that will at least appear to improve on or protect what they've already got going and make them want to share the information.

 

Can think of a few alternative ways to convince them to give it to us: use psy ops to turn them on each other, blackmail someone important. Maybe the president was slipped a poison or caught a deadly cold. Maybe his VIP has secret he can't risk getting out. Or we could just take the information. But taking anything by blackmail, theft or force should be the last resort or we'll be running for a long time.

 

That said, you probably don't care what I think, but I'd personally prefer we avoid using the Rainmakers' 'goo' as a bargaining chip. In my experience, it only causes trouble. If they're selling illegal ships to clients in rim territories, they aren't likely to be the type we want to trust with that kind of secret. Can't forget why Andus is allegedly here: we're standing on a weapons manufacturing hub and we can't control how they'll use it. Promise a sample and they'll want you to produce. Making a promise we can't keep'll paint a bulls-eye on the Qob. Cover identities might benefit the job in the beginning, but I don't think it's foolproof. Samus is providing our access to the Gular's section. If our faces aren't already known, they'll know Samus is backing us. Study the berthing records long enough and they'll eventually put it together.

 

Given my face is known on Tranquility, I can't help you in the forefront without potentially jeopardizing the mission. But I'm not a stranger to providing overwatch or recon. You might not trust me enough to help you. Your call.

Edited March 14, 2012 by Ethan Neufeld

[Ethan Neufeld 0]

Oh, but it will stand up. I suspect if they dig into the records at New Risa, they could figure out what test tube I was conceived in. I really am a former... employee? Contractor? Slave? Whichever word is appropriate, it will hold up. Truth makes for a good cover.

 

That you're associated with the Qob and Samus was the concern. They're likely to be more interested in your latest activities, and that you didn't stick around New Risa. That you left. Look, I get that you want point and you've got a lot to offer, but the truth might not get you very far if they're concerned you'll wander off again.

 

And we have to seriously consider what organizations are seriously in a position to fight the goo. The goo is a threat to the status quo. Organizations like Gular and the Guardians, however repulsive they are, have the motive and resources necessary. We shouldn't be daydreaming about Mr. Secret Agent Man and his invisible friends saving the galaxy. That's silly. Juvenile. Who are the goo's natural enemies?

 

There are also stories, rumors really, of another group coming in from the outside working into the Rimward area. Between the goo presence, the Gular expansion and the outsiders, Rimward isn't going to remain a vacuum of power for long. I don't know that we are thinking in terms of overall balance of power in the area, but I bet Gular is. They are bigger than a breadbox. They think on a different level that you, me, Joe and Samus. If they are building a fleet, they have a use for it in mind.

 

That was the point. If anything, they're focused on control, power; not mutual aid. Not the first people I'd look to for a conscience and I personally believe this requires a conscience. More importantly, the larger the organization, the more people that know, the bigger the potential leak. We don’t need to add more security risks to the equation. You can't guarantee that someone outside of our influence won't try to profit from this. But if you can't trust that we have the resources to do it without them, there's not much I can do to convince you right now.

 

But Ethan is also suggesting lower risk preliminary approaches. Samus might already know something about what ships come and go, and the directions involved. Planting probes around the station to learn what signals are being sent in what directions seems doable. I'm all in favor of doing low risk stuff first, getting information that might make a higher risk follow up possible. Lots of Ethan's suggestions sound good.

 

Given radio signals are generally omnidirectional, an antenna on the Qob should be enough to intercept starting out. Lower chance that someone will inadvertently trip over it. Could search for directional signals from there if we don't find anything. If we can smuggle it in, a small receiver in a pocket might be enough to pick up anything too low powered to make it outside.

 

Does anyone think it possible that we might break codes?

Edited March 13, 2012 by Ethan Neufeld

[Byblos 0]

Byblos turned to Ethan, "Your face is known on Tranquility? I suppose despite my best friend's efforts 2 years ago, where he did break the codes for the Guardian Criminal Database he deleted any traffic photos or other obscure photos of myself. Someone added a bunch of charges to my record. Probably a P'od Guardian Deputy. Although my face was not present in their database a few days before I joined this motley crew at the bar. I cannot guarantee the person who added additional charges on my record has replaced the image."

 

Byblos leaned against the doorframe further turning his view from Ethan to Pher. "My beautiful face has to be considered compromised Pher. Certainly my name." Byblos chuckled. "Their is a joke that Nausicaans all look a like. But for a mark this big. I wouldn't take the chance running my face across this Gular's security team. Probably hooked up with the Guardians in some respect IF they are good."

 

The Nausicaan paused. "I need to mention something to all of you again, I do not know the Cluster or Bull's Head as well as you all do. This talk of Gular's feeling threatened; That vial of whatever the heck Ethan is carrying and who wants it. Rainmakers in space, threats of something beyond the Rim..I just do not have the knowledge. This station is not a "web" in my head it is a "maze" of politics, schemes and people who I don't know. I will follow wherever this crew decides to go on this. ::looks to Joe:: Not like I have a choice. ::a small chuckle::

[Pher 0]

“Joe? I think we’re going to have to brief Samus on the goo soon or we’ll get more babes down here wanting to talk to Ethan. Samus, a bit of patience please, and try to keep the number of your people in the know small until you’re briefed. I’ll be up soon.

 

“Ethan? I think you are still thinking in terms of good guys and bad guys. Round here, if you can’t work with people you don’t like, you can’t work. I’ve got lots of good reasons to dislike Gular, but I know them well and you won’t let us know you. You’re trying to tell me about how a group that owned me for most of my life will behave, and you don’t know what you’re talking about. Hey, I’m Pheromone the Green of Evenstar Bay, former beach queen and former arena champ. For a while I was quite a celebrity on New Risa, a bit player who kept a small part of their empire upright and profitable while defending the interests of my friends. If they don’t have my full dossier here, they can get it quickly enough. Meanwhile, if I give them information they can check out, they’ll take it seriously. You loose style points telling obvious lies. They’d know that if I walked back into their front door, I’d do it in style.

 

“And you’re not being logical. The fact that Samus is fingering big latinum reflects that Gular can keep a secret. Making a profit out of the goo? What are you thinking? Can we get a piece of that action?

 

“Anyway, I wasn’t intending to brief in worthy opposition to the goo until the lab work is done and the results distributed enough that the genie can’t be put back in the bottle. If briefing in Gular now isn’t considered a good idea, my whole infiltration jaunt should be junked. I’d have to have something valuable to give Gular, something big, or I wouldn’t get anywhere near them, and they know it. Getting off that beach wasn’t easy. If I don’t have something truly worthy of notice by the real alphas, it isn’t worth sticking my face in.

 

“Also, if Byblos’s face is too well known, so is mine. Ethan is also wanted on Tranquility. If they have computers looking up faces of everyone walking through the front door, which is a reasonable assumption, I don’t know how much good our new identities will do. Still, Samus generally knows what he is doing. He’s got someone far enough inside their security setup to plant new IDs. We might want to ask how much that will cover.

 

“There might be another angle on the game. If we can locate the building yards we might well be able to get close enough to the new construction for some real intelligence. That might be done by tracing beams and watching couriers. Not my specialty, but someone might try to think it through.”

Edited March 13, 2012 by Pher

[Ethan Neufeld 0]

You're being just as unreasonable, Pher. Listen to what you're saying. You tell us we shouldn't lie and then suggest we - an old employee - should approach the Gular under flimsy cover IDs. I say that doesn't respect their influence or resources. I'm saying we shouldn't hide who we are; but invent a need we can back up without that vial and use someone else as the point man.

 

You're right. I am thinking in terms of good guys and bad guys; they exist and I'm trying to work with the least of a few evils in a sideways situation. Sure, the Gular can keep a secret, their secrets; projects and profit they don't want to share, given aren't sharing with anyone else. We dont need that. We don't need a lot of friends where the goo is concerned. Not the type who expect profit where there isn't profit to be had. This is a humanitarian mission, not a payday. The whole idea is to destroy the sample once the anitserum's found and then float the formula on every network in Bull's Head. For free. We need discretion to make that happen. Sharing the sample or telling everyone we have it isn't part of discretion. But I guess I don't expect a whore or someone who's tunneled on being the main show to understand that.

 

Do what you feel you need to, but dont expect me to go along with it, if you're going to jeopardize the interests I'm protecting for your own pocket. It'll just be more proof that you aren't the type of people I can trust to have my back when I need it the most.

 

I'm trying to work with enough people I don't like already. But your team isn't going to 'jell' if you can't show them you're willing to balance their interests fairly with your agenda.

 

Exposing sources of intel and points of entry are part of suvelliance, and if you're willing to give up sharing the vial, I can back you up one hundred percent. If not...

Edited March 14, 2012 by Ethan Neufeld

[Joe Manning 0]

Joe spoke up, glancing between Ethan and Pher. "The vial's not in the discussion. It's staying in my possession for now and no one else's. And if I do decide to give it to someone else, it sure as hell won't be the Consortium. Maybe I don't know them the way you do, Pher, but their track record is pretty ruthless as far as the rest of Bull's Head is concerned. Even if they didn't decide to sell it, they could put it to use in all the wrong ways. Hell, they'd scare me as much as the Federation if they had Feddie resources.

 

"Now, we do have information on the threat and firsthand experience with it. I think you'd agree, Ethan, that a warning would be just as humanitarian as a cure. We don't have to be the only people in Bull's Head aware of the threat, and the more rumors we pass around the local power groups, the more we contribute to everyone's readiness. No one needs to know we have a sample.

 

"The best part is that the Rainmakers got their hands in this. That's the area where the Consortium shares a common interest with us. The Consortium hates the Rainmakers, and if raids and bombings are any indication, the feeling is mutual. It just so happens that I've recently gotten ahold of a good deal of intelligence on the Rainmakers and their Tranquility operations. The data's been gettin' cold the longer I been holdin' onto it, so it might be time to pull it out of the icebox and use it without spoilin' it. Between the Tranquility intel and the proximity of Ethan's threat to whatever the Consortium is doing in the Rimward Territories, that gives us enough valuable information to sell that we can pick and choose what to use or not use.

 

"Biggest problem as I see it if we go in without cover is that Qob's been seen docking in Samus' district of the station. Samus can hide a lot for us -- he can certainly hide that he's the one getting us access to Gular district -- but every power group on this station has people watchin' traffic. If I'd known Samus would be puttin' us on an op like this, I'd have pulled us in cloaked ... but that ship's sailed.

 

"We've got lots of new crew, but they'll know 'Qob' if they see me or Chris, they'll know 'Qob' if they see Pher, and they might know it if they see Troy. We'd either need to leave ourselves out of the Gular district, come up with convincing covers, or play on our relationship with Samus." Joe glanced at Pher. "They know I'm a friend of Samus' ... but they also know I'm an enemy. And I just might have a way to play on that too ... "

[Ethan Neufeld 0]

Anything we can do for the greater good, as long as the vial remains NTK. Don't think I need to ask that the sample's exact origin is also kept secret, given they might try to get a sample of their own. And I suggest we avoid discussing plans to get an antiserum at this point. That's liable to solicit questions we don't want to answer yet. But I might be able to sweeten your intel on the Rainmakers; depends on what you've got.

 

At any rate, count me in, Joe. You've got my cooperation, if you want my help.

Edited March 18, 2012 by Ethan Neufeld

[Ethan Neufeld 0]

“Looks like sharing the vial is off the table,” Pher said.  “We do have enough intel on Rainmakers and goo worth sharing to make an overt visit plausible, regardless.  We might even do it for its own sake, whether or not we can figure a way to pull off what Samus wants.  I know Gular’s culture.  I might be the best to make the contact, but if anyone else wants to volunteer, they can have the job.

 

“Joe, you might consider taking Qob out, lurking a bit, then coming back in cloaked.  Not ideal, but after it hits the fan, we might be on their long list rather than their short.

 

“Ethan, the Head works in color, not black and white.  If you can only work with saints, you’re in trouble.  Saints are few and far between in this part of space, and the few that are here wouldn’t work with you.  I’d almost rather work with Gular.  They see the world as it is and have known motivations, where you’re apt to betray anyone who isn’t in the same dreamland as yourself.

 

Ethan made no effort to remark, his expression calmly unaffected.

 

“I’m with Joe’s timing, not sharing until the lab work is done.  Without the vial, any overt contact now is apt to be briefer -- there would be no lingering while preliminary lab work is done -- but that’s not critical.  An overt visit to share intel seems viable, though all we’re apt to get out of it is a survey of their security and the lay out of some of their secure office space.  Samus might be able to get as much without our going in.

 

“Joe?  Byblos and I are concerned with another thing.  While we might have the skills to pull off what Samus wants, we doubt very much we have the teamwork and discipline.  I’ve been talking to a lot of folks about working together, about not flying off solo and doing one’s own thing.  I think I’ve been heard, but I don’t know that it has truly sunk in.  This job, we can’t afford flashy ad-lib solos.  The mission is too tight.  Mind you, whatever plan we come up with isn’t going to outlast first contact with the enemy.  That’s just the way things are.  I just don’t know that we’ve worked together long enough for this hypothetical plan to fall apart in a graceful manner.”

 

"We've had a number of preliminaries proposed.  We can start analyzing signals and ship traffic patterns here.  We can do an an overt meeting giving them Rainmaker and limited goo information.  We could take the Qob out and plant some signal reading probes.  We could take her further out if we can figure out a ship yard location, and maybe get close enough cloaked to get some real stuff.  We can come back here cloaked to do other things here with no one knowing we are present.  I might have missed a few others, and we'll come up with a few others where we nibble around the edges.  I'm inclined to do all of the above, more or less in the above order, but don't know that any of it will be enough, or that any one part of it will result in a revealing breakthrough.

 

"We haven't got an end game.  No one is proposing kidnapping a big shot, tapping their network where it isn't encrypted, or anything else truly decisive.  This might possibly be, at least on my part, because anything I can think of would be too absurdly risky.  At some point we're going to have to propose the implausible and see if we can find a way to make it work.

 

"Want to do that while I'm up visiting Samus?"

 

Think you're trying to rush the plan here a bit. End games will work better when we have a better understanding of what we're dealing with, where our objective is, and who or what has it.

Edited April 14, 2012 by Ethan Neufeld