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And now the Conclusion of -

 

 

Episode 17 – Alabama Brings the Hammer Down

 

Part Two of Two

 

 

 

Monday, June 10, 2047:

 

Damage and casualty reports begin to come in. There are 13 dead and 21 wounded. Over half of those killed were aboard the Sea Snake when it exploded. A missile launched from the corvette, hit amidships, tearing the vessel in half. Flaming debris showered the fuel dock, but the risk of a secondary explosion is low. The fuel lines going to the pumps had been drained before the assault.

 

The SS Mary Beth Petersen sustains heavy damage and sinks at its dock. Luckily, it goes down slow enough for the missile crew to escape. The bunkers sustain minor damage, but as yet, none are breached. In all, their defenses still look to be in good shape. Troop losses on the enemy’s side are estimated to be near 240 killed or wounded.

 

When refurbishing the tunnels, Jack had his crews run a line for the field phones to the rooms under the old battery. At 2:45 pm a call comes into the command center from Hope Young. Ricco puts her on speaker. After thanking Hope for her assistance, he lays out their current situation.

 

“It’s too bad my husband, Angus, isn’t here. He could fly someone out on our helicopter, beyond the radio interference.”

 

Beebe offers, “I can fly the helicopter.”

 

The soft spoken woman begins to respond, but Brandon talks over her. “You wouldn’t be able to get out. There is a no fly zone covering the entire area. Anything that takes off will be shot down.”

 

“No.” Hope raises her voice slightly to cut through any further interruptions. “Only half of our farm is under the no fly zone, but we still wouldn’t be able to take off. The helicopter is grounded for repairs.”

 

Seeing their chance of escape slipping away, Beebe blurts out, “I can fix it. If you have the parts…”

 

Hope holds up her hand. “Angus is out getting the parts.”

 

The nomad falls silent. She tries to come up with a new plan, while around her, the others weigh their options. Crank offers to try a break out on his motorcycle. He thinks he can make it or at least provide a diversion.

 

“I have an autogyro.” Beebe’s comment wasn’t directed at anyone else in the room. The nomad didn’t even realize she said it aloud.

 

She had brought the small aircraft with her to Florida, but something always seemed to get in the way of taking it up. In the beginning, work ate up most of her time. Then there was Jason and her new friends and family. Running afoul of the Johnsons, made going for a flight too risky. She had all but forgotten about the autogyro, till Crank mentioned his motorcycle.

 

The nomad tries to get the rest of the team’s attention. “We can still fly out. I have an autogyro.”

 

This revelation has no impact. They are too busy putting forward their own plans, each more complex and impractical than the next.

 

Beebe shouts, “Hey! I have an autogyro!” Her latest outburst draws their attention, but only briefly. Crank gives her an annoyed look then goes back to explaining his latest plan. The nomad begins to wonder if any of them know what an autogyro is.

 

It annoys Charlie to see how the others treat his protégé. He wants to say something, but now is not the time to start an argument. The gunsmith bides his time, waiting for Crank to finish. When the larger man pauses for feedback, Charlie turns to the young nomad, “Hey, Beebe, don’t you have a gyrocopter?”

 

(GM Notes: I kid you not. Beebe offered her ultra-light three times, but no one would listen to her. This player’s other characters are always listened to, even if others don’t agree with what they have to say. In this adventure the ‘grown-ups’ never gave the nomad girl any serious consideration for her good ideas. As GM it made me laugh.)

 

After they found the tunnels, Beebe moved her autogyro into the sub-basement under Charlie’s cottage. The mortar attack had leveled the house, but the bunker and its contents are still safe and sound. While the nomads move the light craft to the Young’s farm, Ricco oversees the production of the video Beebe will take to the media.

 

The hardwired security cameras were unaffected by the enemy’s electronic countermeasures. Some had been destroyed during the battle, but they had more than enough footage to document the fierceness of the fighting. Charlie gives an involuntary shiver as he watches the destruction of the Sea Snake on one of the monitors.

 

Ricco worries that the footage alone won’t be enough. He records a personal plea for help. In his message, the general manager all calls out Charles Ingersoll, Mr. Zeitsev and Federal DA Richard Starkey. He further states that no one at the hotel is in any way connected to the Alabama Freedom Army, the pretext given for the assault. Deputy Marshal Clay Johnson adds his own message. It echoes the claims and accusations made by the general manager.

 

In case the video doesn’t get her in the door, Ricco writes a letter of introduction to the general manager of NET 54’s local affiliate in Pensacola. The exec had stopped by to meet him, when he was at the studio filming a segment for the Vid show, “Where it’s Happening”. (Episode 11). Ricco includes a second, sealed letter, for Richard King. He can only hope that his boss isn’t in on the attack and can send aid.

 

A golf cart is dispatched to carry the messages and video out to the old battery. Time is growing short. The enemy has started to use precision fire to take out anything that looks like an antenna array. They’re trying to disable the hotel’s electronic countermeasures. It won’t be long till Alabama launches another assault.

 

Jack has the Visigoths pull back to the hotel and tunnels. Natty heads for the upper floors to take up position with her sniper rifle. She’s killed at least a dozen of the enemy, but it’s not enough. If it were possible, she’d kill every single one of them herself. The Czech girl chooses a room overlooking the Snapper Avenue Boat Ramp and scans the area through her scope.

 

Near 3:30 pm, she spots movement behind an improvised gun emplacement erected by the Alabama forces. From time to time, a head appears above the earthen berm. On one of those occasions, a flash of metal catches her eye. It’s a silver insignia on the man’s shoulder.

 

‘Very foolish,” she thinks to herself. Natty waits and aims. The head appears again, rewarding her patience. It jerks back violently as a 7.62 round from her rifle penetrates, just above the left eye. She doesn’t wait to confirm the kill; it’s time to move.

 

Within 30 seconds of Natty vacating her position, the first 155mm shell drops on the hotel. Both the main building and school come under heavy bombardment from what feels like every artillery piece in Alabama’s arsenal. Neither structure was built to withstand such a pounding. Natty has to dodge falling debris as she tries to reach the ground floor.

 

The stairs are too slow and dangerous. With the building coming down around her, she takes a chance and jumps for it. The landing is hard. Her dragunov skitters away out of sight. Natty forgets the rifle and runs for the basement.

 

Owen is there to greet her at the tunnel entrance. Seeing her expression, he asks, “What’s the matter?”

 

“I…I dropped my gun.”

 

The large man shakes his head. He thought she was injured. “Well, get another one and be more careful this time.”

 

Embarrassed; the teen nods and scurries off.

 

(GM Note: Natty has just blown the brains out of Richard Lowndes, the acting Governor and superintendent of the Alabama State Police! His outraged staff orders the destruction of both the school and main building of the hotel. They weren’t sure which of the structures the shot came from. This over reaction delays the next phase of the assault.)

 

The barrage continues for 50 minutes. Casualties are light but the defenders are forced to abandon the buildings and retreat to the tunnels. During this time they also lose the northwest bunker, near the State boat ramp. It falls in a duel with a tank on the highway bridge.

 

 

Beebe takes off from the Young’s Farm at 3:45pm. Instead of heading straight for Pensacola, she turns south following the beach at tree top level. After five miles, she turns west towards the city. The small craft cruises over white sandy beaches headed towards the outskirts of town. Beebe gains altitude to get her bearings. Scanning the skyline, she spots the NET 54 building and heads downtown.

 

The autogyro reaches a small plaza fronting the NET 54 offices by 4pm. It’s too crowded to attempt a landing. With no ability to hover, Beebe is forced to circle overhead, looking for an alternate site to put down. Her first hint of danger is an ominous reflection in the glass windows of another office building. It’s an Alabama AH-99.

 

The nomad reverses course, keeping the building between her and the gunship. With no more time to find and alternate landing spot, she prepares for an emergency landing in the plaza. Flying low and slow, she cuts the power and deploys the safety chute. The people below sensibly get out of the way. It’s no three-point landing, but still one she can walk away from or in this case, run away from. Beebe pops her safety harness and sprints for the front doors of the NET 54 building.

 

The AH-99 enters the plaza nose down; chin turret tracking towards the autogyro. As soon as it’s lined up, the gunner goes weapons hot. 30mm rounds shred everything within 5 meters of the downed aircraft. This includes several civilians who had moved forward to check on the downed pilot.

 

Beebe hears the roar of the mini-gun, but doesn’t look back. The nomad pushes into the lobby and heads to the reception desk. Trying to remain clam, she asks to speak with Ricco’s contact. The attendant does not respond. She looks past Beebe’s shoulder to the carnage outside.

 

The nomad reaches into her satchel for Ricco’s letter of introduction, but an attack by a gunship is all the credentials she needs to get upstairs. Beebe can tell the producer is skeptical of her story. She doesn’t bother trying to convince him. “Just play the video.”

 

The footage changes his attitude immediately. He starts making arrangements to put the story on the air. Beebe asks to make a call.

 

The producer becomes cautious, “Who do you want to call?”

 

“I need to call Richard King at Disney World.”

 

The man suddenly has a vision of NET 54 losing its exclusive. He tries to play her off, promising to put her through after the story airs.

 

Beebe is tired of not being listened to. Worry about some middle manager putting the lives of her friend in danger of some petty power play makes her angry. It takes some threatening, but he finally lets her place the call, with the proviso that she puts it on speaker. Richard King has no interest in stealing the story from NET 54. He asks Beebe some pointed questions and promises he will do what he can.

 

 

By 4:20 pm Alabama command regains control of its forces. The four southern bunkers, along the river, are systematically reduced to rubble by artillery fire. Attempts to silence the enemy’s mortars, outside Blackwater are met with counter battery fire. The defenders lose four of their six 60mm mortars.

 

The last remaining bunker, guarding the crossroads at Bass Lane and Petersen Point Road, begins to taking fire at 5pm. Believing the hotel’s defensive points subdued, Alabama forces begin a slow and relentless advance from the north. The maintenance sheds and bunker at the golf course are pounded as the enemy’s infantry moves forward with overwhelming firepower. Jack Sheppard has the defenders fall back through the tunnel system to minimize casualties.

 

By this time, all the civilians and non-combatants have been safely moved to the old surface battery. Ricco orders all other non-essential personal to begin evacuating to the Young’s Farm. He calls for volunteers to make a stand in the ruins of the hotel and school. All the Team and anyone not seriously wounded steps forward.

 

The continued resistance at the school brings down a second artillery barrage at 6:15. The defenders fall back through the utility tunnel to the remains of the hotel. Three tanks start to move across the golf course supported by the remaining ACPA troopers and infantry.

 

Reports of jets approaching from the south, reach the command center. Jack Sheppard grimly relays the news over the com-net, “It looks like Alabama’s committing its air force. Keep your heads down.”

 

An A-10 roars across the Blackwater River, in bound towards the hotel. All of their anti-air defenses have been neutralized. There’s nothing to do except await the inevitable, which never comes. The Hog passes over the defenders and releases its cluster bombs into the massing Alabama troops.

 

A second A-10 drops its ordinance just north of the highway interchanges. A keen eyed defender catches a glimpse of the plane’s tail markings and reports in. Jack is overjoyed. The ‘cavalry’ has arrived. Beebe must have gotten through. In his excitement to share the news, he shouts into the microphone, “Those are Florida Air Guard!”

 

A pair of Militech AVX-9 Vipers joins the onslaught. Two missiles, from the combat aerodynes, tear through a tank at the lead Alabama’s assault. A second M-11’ crew is saved from a similar fiery death by their vehicle’s anti-missile system. Even though it survives this initial assault, the tank is too damaged to continue.

 

The missile volley from the twin Vipers is impressive, as are the Warthogs circling overhead, but what draws the attention of defenders and attackers alike is the enormous craft following behind the two AVs. It comes to a hover 40 feet of the ground.

 

Two large, roughly humanoid, shapes drop from the bottom of the craft. Retrorockets, on the legs, fire to slow their descent, but the ground still trembles as they land. Now that they’re down, it’s easier to judge their height. The mechanized armor is at least 10 meters tall. Emblazoned on chest of each is a cartoonish insignia that looks like a pair of mouse ears.

 

Ricco smiles; King Dick came through. He is impressed that Disney would commit its next generation combat mechs. A momentary stillness falls over the battle field. Ricco can understand the confusion on both sides. They are pretty awe inspiring the first time you see them.

 

The hover carrier lumbers away, taking its escorting AVs. As soon as the flyers are at a safe distance, the twin metal giants go to work. Fire tears into the paused Alabama infantry, from the 30mm gatling cannons, built into to each arm of the mechanized armor. Short range missiles pours out of shoulder mounted pods. Ricco shouts over the command link, “Open fire!”

 

The mechs’ long strides quickly eat up the distance to Alabama’s front ranks. They wade in, sowing chaos in their wake. Another pair of the bipedal behemoths drops from a second heli-carrier. They are supported by 5 suits of PA armor and 20 heavy infantry, deployed from a Disney AV9 transport.

 

A voice cuts in on the command channel. “Mr. King sends his regards.” Ricco knows that voice. It is his former security chief from Disney World.

 

The mechs continue to drive back the Alabama forces. Jack Sheppard smiles at the general manager, “Shall we advance?”

 

Ricco returns the nomad commander’s smile. He is sick of being on the defensive. “Yes…move forward and support the mechs.”

 

The battle quickly becomes a rout. They chase the enemy off of the resort, but cut off pursuit at the edge of the property. Ricco doesn’t want to touch off an incident with the local authorities. Fighting one state is enough.

 

Jack has their units pull back to a defensible perimeter. They may control the battlefield, but communication with the outside world is still being jammed by the COG. A lot could still happen before 7 pm.

 

One thing Ricco wasn’t expecting is for the satellite phone to ring. The device had been provided by the COG. It was standard procedure, whenever war games were held in the area. The military didn’t want to be responsible for a guest dying or the hotel burning, because they were blocking communications to the area. It would have appeared odd if they hadn’t given them a sat-phone before the current exercises.

 

Given its source, Ricco hadn’t even tried to use the phone. It was locked down and keyed to a military satellite. The people who set them up would most likely be able to quash any communication sent over the device. He also kept it far enough away from his person, in case they tried to use the integrated GPS to locate his position.

 

The sat-phone rings for over a minute, before Ricco answers, “Hello?”

 

“Mr. Torres?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“We need to talk; face to face would be preferable. Would it be alright if I come to you?”

 

The voice on the other end is definitely male, but mild. It maintains a perfectly modulated conversational tone; no stress of the current situation or accent is apparent. It sounds like the voice of a trained negotiator.

 

Talking will buy them time. “Come alone and unarmed.”

 

“Of course, I will be right there.”

 

Eight minutes later a dark sedan drives slowly down Petersen Point Road. In case word of his coming hadn’t reached all the defenders, the man holds an improvised ‘white flag’ out the driver’s side window. He drives as far as the craters and rubble will allow, then exits the vehicle and walks the remaining distance to what use to be the front entrance of the hotel.

 

Ricco doesn’t believe the enemy will violate the truce, but there is still a twinge between his shoulder blades as he steps out to greet their ‘guest’. The man is of average height. He is Caucasian with pleasant, if somewhat bland, features. There are no obvious blemishes or identifiable scars. His suit is in a conservative cut, deep charcoal with a matching tie. Everything about him, down to the sedan he drives is unremarkable, non-threatening and ultimately forgettable.

 

The man stands casually, feet slightly apart. He keeps his hands in front of him, palms down, slightly crossed at waist level. After giving Ricco, and anyone else watching, ample opportunity to scan him, he suggests, “You and your team may wish to hear what I have to say in private.”

 

While the ‘negotiator’ is physically search, Ricco sends word for the team to gather in the command center.

 

Only after the room has been cleared of non-essential personnel and scanned, does the man proceed. “You can call me…Mr. Johnson. This moniker draws some snorts and eye-rolling from the assembled team members.

 

“Who I am is not important. I was sent to deliver a message…and an apology. This has all been a terrible mistake. The mission was hijacked, its operational goals subverted to serve the personal agenda of an individual or group within the chain of command. Please know, those responsible with be found and dealt with accordingly. I can understand how such an assurance must sound hollow, given where we are now. We have a problem here with no easy solution. The story is out. Public outrage is mounting. Containment is impossible. They’re looking for someone to blame. Every story needs its heroes and its villains. You have the opportunity, now, to choose which you want to be. The truth is, you blew up the chemical plant at Brewton, which resulted in the deaths of over a thousand people. There is documented proof of your involvement.”

 

Mr. Johnson’s revelation draws shocked and angry stairs from the team.

 

“You may now be thinking of going public…exposing the entire operation. How do you think people will react when the find out you were paid to kill all of those people? It won’t absolve you of your crimes. I am here to offer an alternative. Instead of being unwitting members of a radical terrorist organization, you have the chance to rewrite the narrative. Be the valiant defenders, standing up to a police state. We documented evidence of Alabama’s mistreatment of nomads and of their attack on the Thelas colony. In this version of events, the Lowndes government created the Alabama Freedom Army…a fictitious boogeyman, that they could use to cover up their own misdeeds and give them pretext for the growing nomad settlement at Petersen Point. The rest of you were caught in the conflict and rallied to defend your friends and neighbors. Mr. Torres, your presence and the fact that the hotel is nominally Disney property will account for the arrival of reinforcements from Orlando.”

 

Mr. Johnson pauses a moment to look at his watch.

 

“Not to press you, but I will need an answer in the next 20 minutes. The media is waiting for a statement. Please know that if you decide to expose the operation, rather than support our version of events, the U.S. military will have no recourse, but to move in and wipe out the remnants of the Alabama Freedom Army. Mr. Torres; that will include the forces sent by Disney and your civilians, sheltering in the surface battery on the other side of the bay”

 

Without exception or hesitation they all agree, “Heroes.”

 

“Excellent.” The modulation in Mr. Johnson’s voice betrays no emotion. Their acquiescence seems little more than another item to check off on a list. “Please make a list of any medical supplies you need. We also have people available to help you with your story.”

 

“What about our weapons?” Jack’s question raises concern among the rest of the team.

Mr. Johnson is quick to calm their doubts. “We’re not asking you to lay down your weapons. You’re the good guys!” The suit even manages to give them a genuine smile.

 

“Now, please realize that any deviation from the official story could have dire consequences. That’s not meant as a threat. I am required to make sure you all understand the stakes involved. If you do not feel confident in your ability to tell the story convincingly, work with one of our coaches.”

 

To Ricco, he adds, “I need a volunteer to come with me to make an official statement to the media.”

 

The general manager doesn’t feel comfortable leaving it up to anyone else, so he goes himself. While the Disney executive shills for the camera, supplies pour in to the defenders.

 

Beebe’s relief at not being shot as a terrorist is short-lived. She receives the news that Jason was aboard the Sea Snake when the missile hit. The young nomad forces herself to go see where he died. All that is visible are the twisted bulkheads of the upper super structure. The rest of the broken hulk lies below the waterline.

 

A rescue effort was organized as soon as the fighting ceased, but it quickly became a recovery operation. Anyone still inside the vessel was already dead. They still hadn’t found all of the bodies, and probably never would. Natty’s tries to comfort her friend. For the nomad girl, their ‘great victory’ has brought nothing but grief.

 

***

 

 

Tuesday, June 11, 2045:

 

The clean-up commences. With the exception of the underground and the marina all the buildings on the hotel grounds have been damaged or destroyed. Disney with Sheriff Mason and the Santa Rosa County government send aid to the Petersen Point Resort. The Alabama dead and wounded are turned over to Federal authorities. Any remaining state forces are disarmed and held at the COG.

 

A media swarm descends on the resort and nearby town. The ‘Heroes of Blackwater’ are given ample opportunity to polish their story as every news outlet wants an interview or sound bite. They dutifully perform for the cameras.

 

Ricco is once again the media darling, helped in no small part cadre of Disney publicists, speech writers and media liaisons. He is the company’s golden boy; the crusading corporate executive, who cleaned up Rio, has done it again in north Florida. King Dick can’t help but be pleased with his subordinate.

 

Charlie returns his workshop across the river to find his prototypes missing and his men locked up in a back room. The Defense Department seized everything. His one consolation is that they didn’t get his schematics or notes. As a failsafe, he had installed custom ICE in his computer that would erase the hard drive if anyone tried to tamper with it. They may have taken the drives, but the program relayed a message to his drop box on the NET, verifying a successful deletion.

 

The gunsmith’s satisfaction is short lived though. He receives a call from his lawyers, telling him that his factory in Nevada has also been seized. They are already in the process of fighting the seizure. Charlie calls his friends in the Defense Department. Between his lawyers and friends, the courts overturn the seizure within 24 hours.

 

The nomad’s dreams of being a defense contractor take a serious blow. First they tried to have him killed then steal his life’s work. Charlie feels he’s done with government work…at least for the United States.

 

At 2 pm the news reports that Lt. Governor John Lowndes has resumed the position of acting governor and is scheduled to be sworn in to office as Governor tomorrow. The Lt. Governor’s claim to the office of their late father is hotly contested by his brother Geoffrey Lowndes, Alabama’s Secretary of State and sister, Matilda Lowndes, the state’s Attorney General. They had called for a meeting of the Populist Advisory Council to select a new governor. State troopers loyal to the Lt. Governor raided the closed session, which was being held at the state capital building in Dothan. Gunfire could be heard from outside.

 

Within an hour an official statement, released by the office of the Lt. Governor, announces the death of Geoffrey, Matilda and most of the members of the Populist Advisory Council. The account claims that members of the assemblage fire upon the heavily armed police officers. The troopers defended themselves. Outrage erupts across Alabama and the rest of the nation. President Whindam calls an emergency cabinet meeting and invites key members of the regional committees and Senate to attend.

 

The drama across the border matters very little to the defenders of Petersen Point. When the final butcher’s bill is tallied, it reads 23 dead and 58 wounded. While light compared to Alabama’s losses the sorrow is just as great.

 

***

 

 

Wednesday, June 14, 2047:

 

John Lowndes televises his inauguration. In his speech, the new Governor rejects President Whindam’s offer of mediation. He instead calls on the rest of the Cotton Kingdom’s leaders to rally behind him and resist what he terms “A second Reconstruction of the South.”

 

His words fall on deaf ears. Instead of supporting him the aging Governor of Mississippi, Carol Holmes, calls for Federal forces to intervene.

 

Sheriff Mason shows up at the remains of the resort with two agents from Interpol, a member of the Czech diplomatic corps and a well-dressed middle aged woman. The latter exudes a cool and detached aura. They are looking for Natty. It’s clear they’ve come to take her away.

 

Beebe finds her first and offers her a place to hide. “If you want, Charlie and I can hide you. You can come with us. They’ll never find you.”

 

The girl can’t meet her friend’s gaze. She looks down at her feet and nervously chews on her bottom lip. Warring emotions fight for control.

 

Beebe can’t understand. “Don’t you want to come with us?” Her voice is quiet; uncertain. The nomad has to wipe her eyes. Could she be losing her best friend too?

 

The Czech girl finally looks up and Beebe can read the answer on her face. The nomad quits fighting her emotions and lets the tears flow as Natty explains her decision. “Since I have come to this country I have lost everything that matters to me. I can’t bear being here anymore. I love you, but if stay it will bring nothing but grief.”

 

Charlie and Beebe escort Natty to meet the Czech delegation. The young Czech sees the well dressed woman and slows her gait. Beebe notices and asks, “Do you know her?”

 

“Yes, it is my step-father’s sister, Teresa Rossi.”

 

The older woman sees Natty and walks over to her. She brushes the girl’s light brown hair back from her face and speaks soothingly in Italian.

 

The Czech diplomat turns to Sheriff Mason. “We have filed Alina Lanikova’s will in your courthouse and have an order from your state department giving us custody of the minor child, Natalie Lanikova, who is one of our citizens. She will come with us now.”

 

Ricco fears this may be some last ploy by Mr. Zeitsev or his conspirators. He races over with Betty Lu. “Under the laws of the State of Florida, Natty is an adult and can go where she pleases. We can go to the court now if you like.”

 

The diplomat’s eye’s open wide and his nostrils flare. He is about to lay into corporate lawyer, when Natty states meekly, “No, I want to go with Aunt Teresa.”

 

The diplomat chokes back his words and anger. He sneers at Betty Lu. “Well then…We will all be leaving now.”

 

Teresa Rossi derails his moment of triumph. “No.”

 

The diplomat looks at the older woman, confused.

 

“I am changing our travel plans. Natalie and I will be returning to Italy, not the Czech Republic. But we will stay here a few days so Natalie can gather her things and say a proper good-bye to her friends…besides; I would like to meet them.”

 

The diplomat appears ready to have a fit…or seizure. He looks to the two Interpol agents, who merely shrug their shoulders.

 

“Now,” asks Aunt Teresa as she turns back to the nomads, “You must be Beebe.”

 

***

 

 

Thursday, June, 13, 2047:

 

By this time everyone but John Lowndes sees the writing on the wall. Many of Alabama’s mayors join the call for Federal intervention. The Pensacola COG is a flurry of activity as Federal troops prepare to move in.

 

Local news media reports the death of Federal Attorney Richard Starkey, last evening. He was killed in a tragic single car accident on his way home from work.

 

A Disney crew arrives with a large tent. They begin to set it up just north of the ruins of the main hotel building. Richard King flies in from Orlando to survey the damage. Ricco greets his boss, giving him a brief tour of the compound, before making his apologies. “I have to get back to overseeing the cleanup.”

 

King is more than understanding. “We’ll talk later, in my office.” The Disney exec points to the newly erected tent.

 

Towards noon, an unmarked AV lands near the structure. Soon after its arrival, Ricco receives a request from King Dick to join him in his office. While not opulent, the tent has more than a few creature comforts; though, that’s not what catches the general manager off guard. Ricco is shocked to find Richard King pouring a scotch for Charles Ingersoll. The CEO of Petersen Point Properties is seated at a table looking very pleased with himself.

 

Charles sips his drink and remarks, “Ah, you remembered, my favorite single malt.”

 

The Disney honcho turns to Ricco smiling, “Sit. Would you like a drink?”

 

The ex-cop drops into a chair, but declines the proffered beverage. He can barely contain his rage.

 

Ingersoll smirks at the fuming general manager. “Oh, don’t take it too hard, its only business. You are actually responsible for what will be a renaissance for this town. Petersen Point Properties will finally make a fortune here all thanks to you, Ricco.”

 

Richard King smiles and casually inquires, “So how is Sophie, your grandmother in law?”

 

“Ah, they turned off her life support a few hours ago. It took the poor dear ten minutes to pass away. The wife and kids have taken the AV to the Bahama to celebrate. I will be joining them this evening.”

 

“Good for you, Charles.” The Disney executive raise his in a toast, then drains it dry. Ingersoll does the same.

 

“I must say, you’re taking this all very well, Dick. I know Disney is taking a loss on this, but I am sure we can come to some sort of settlement for your trouble.”

 

King takes the defeat graciously, “I have to admit, I never saw this coming, but I have a few ideas about recompense we can discuss later.”

 

The good natured banter between the two is like salt in an open wound. Ricco sees the faces of the dead, those that suffered and lost everything. There are no guards present to protect Ingersoll. Killing him would be easy.

 

Ricco’s thoughts of murder are interrupted by the CEO’s cell phone. Ingersoll apologizes for the interruption, but Richard King waves it off. “Go ahead. Take the call. It might be important.”

 

The grin on King Dick’s face changes slightly as the smile on Charles’ face disappears. Slowly Ingersoll lowers the phone from his ear and stares at the Disney executive.

 

“Bad news,” King inquires.

 

Ingersoll rises from the table as his cheeks flush red with rage as he shouts, “You bastard! You’ll never get away with this! I’ll get you if it’s the last thing I do!” The CEO of Petersen Point Properties storms out of the tent and back to his AV.

 

Ricco can only stare after him in confusion.

 

King hands the general manager a glass of scotch. “Oh, I heard about fifteen minutes ago that the AV taking Charles’ whole family to the Bahamas suffered a catastrophic malfunction;” pausing to drink from his own glass. “Exploded in midair; then fell into the sea. It’s tragic, but you know, the Bermuda Triangle and all.”

 

Ricco had been contemplating the murder of one man. He had also though his superior cold and callus for how blithely he wrote off the destruction of the resort. After hearing about Ingersoll’s family, he has a better appreciation for how truly monstrous, the man they call King Dick could be.

 

Ricco knocks back his drink, buying time to gather his thoughts. He looks at the dregs of amber liquid at the bottom of his tumbler, rather than at his boss. “He’ll never rest till he gets his revenge, you know,”

 

King seems unconcerned. “Well, such news is a terrible shock to the system. Losing one family member would be hard, but all of them…the stress might cause a heart attack…possibly on the way home from this very meeting.”

 

Ricco is afraid of how King’s mind works. It makes him realize, he could use another drink. Rather than ask for a refill, the general manager reaches for Ingeroll’s glass. King Dick stops him. “You don’t want that glass.”

 

The Disney executive reaches across the table and picks up the tumbler of alcohol. He pours the remaining scotch out in the grass, then slips the now empty glass into a plastic baggy taken from his pocket. Once safely sealed, King locks the offending tumbler in his brief case.

 

The Disney executive sits back and muses, “You know, all these people here shouldn’t die in vain. I think the hotel should be rebuilt. Your heroic stand could be a big draw if handled right. Why don’t you introduce me to Michelle Petersen?”

 

 

 

Next: Epilogue

 

 

At long last and after multiple rewrites, here it is!

 

 

Episode 17 – Alabama Brings the Hammer Down

 

Part One of Two

 

 

 

All bets are off as the government sends in a hit squad to take down the Team. This is but the opening salvo of a larger battle. State Police and National Guard units from Alabama descend upon the Petersen Point Resort; their goal to eradicate the Alabama Freedom Army. It is not only the Team that is in their sights. The Thelas and Snake Nation nomads face annihilation as well. Betrayed and abandoned the Team is left with a choice...save themselves or try to save everyone.

 

They are being set up by Hamilton Greeley and Richard Sharkey, the true masterminds behind the Alabama Freedom Army. While the Team’s missions were part of the overall operation, most of the terror attacks were carried out by other parties. The goal was to goad the Alabama authorities into launching a full scale incursion into Florida. Such a conflict would give the federal government legal standing to intervene and begin the process of removing the Lowndes Family from power.

 

Evidence leaked by Federal DA Starkey, pinpointed the Petersen Point Hotel as the headquarters of the Alabama Freedom Army. Deputy Director Greeley arranged for units of Alabama’s National Guard to participate in the Spring War Games (Operation Perfect Storm) at the Pensacola COG and Alabama State Police to be stationed near the border.

 

Governor Braxton Lowndes II’s assassination was not part of their plan, but the conspirators turn it to their advantage. With the late governor’s brothers and sister at each other’s throats over the transfer of power, it becomes relatively easy to disguise the true origin of the orders to attack Petersen Point. As for the resort itself, federal troops are set to intervene before too many people are killed. New ‘evidence’ would then find its way to the media that contradicted Alabama’s supposed proof that the Hotel was the staging ground for ALA attacks. Recriminations and finger pointing after the fact would only help to weaken both brothers’ positions, making the federal government’s work that much easier. This was the plan ‘approved’ by President Whindam.

 

Greeley and Sharkey make a few tweaks to the plan to serve their own personal agendas.

 

The Thelas nomads have made themselves a constant thorn in the side of Federal DA Sharkey. These pirates had previously been outgunned and under equipped, but the arrival of Charlie changed the equation. He was not only rearming nomad ships, but strengthening the nomads’ position at Petersen Point. The opportunity to take care of the nomads and their chief supplier is tempting to resist.

 

For C.I.A Deputy Director Greeley, it is about cleaning up loose ends. The team had been hired as deniable assets, and now they had reached the end of their usefulness. There could be no-one left to contradict the official accounts of what happened at Petersen Point. And if the bodies are found in the ruins of the resort, their deaths can be blamed on Alabama. Disney might make noise over losing their man (Ricco), but he is certain they will get over it.]

 

 

Background

 

President Whindam has made it the goal of his fifth term as president, to restore the sovereignty of the Unite States of America over the four southern states colloquially known as the ‘Cotton Kingdoms’. Under this directive, several teams have been formed to implement a plan concocted by C.I.A. Deputy Director Hamilton Greeley and US Attorney for the District of Northern Florida Richard Sharkey. One of these teams (The PCs) has been tasked with running the Petersen Point Resort. Located in Santa Rosa County, on Florida’s panhandle, this seedy old tourist destination is perfectly situated, between the Pensacola COG and Alabama border. Though they may be tasked with the occasional field op, the Petersen Point team’s primary mission is to act as a ‘safe haven’ and staging ground.

 

Members of this ‘Dirty Deeds’ team has been provided with cover jobs at the hotel. Sam Fisher, a retired Delta Force colonel and C.I.A. assassin, was the original team leader. His cold blooded murder of an Alabama State Trooper caused his employers to reevaluate his tenure.

 

Since his untimely death at the hands of a C.I.A. cleaner, the role of team leader has fallen to Ricco Torres. The Brazilian born ex-cop turned corporate executive walks a fine line between loyalty to Disney and the needs of the mission. The goals of various parts of this conspiracy are no longer ‘in alignment’. A Justice Department cabal tries to bring the Alabama state government to crisis over the Team’s dead bodies.

 

 

Dramatis Personae

 

The Team

 

Beebe Lafferty: A young tech and member of the Snake Nation helping Charlie with his various projects. She is the daughter of retired Major Beatrice ‘Bea’ Lafferty, who gained fame (or infamy) by firing the first ortillery strike of the Fourth Corporate War on Night City.

 

Betty Lu: An attractive 25 yo lawyer of Chinese descent. Despite her appearance she is a Texas girl, through and through.

 

Brandon Heath: A solo who is serve as head of security at the Petersen Point Resort. He is a member of the ‘Dirty Deeds’ crew. Unknown to everyone but Doctor Eduardo Ricci, Brandon is an experimental Biomechanical (cyborg) with one of Doc Freeman’s ‘cyberbrains’ sent by the Collective in response to Sam’s daughter’s request to watch over her father. Brandon was originally Grave, a cyborg from the Fourth Corporate War, who was later (2026) convicted of authorizing the murder of a young hacker and his family. Grave was supposedly executed but the government put him in their Project Kill Switch Program (see Super Solo 2 Campaign for details). He was rescued from a top secret government lab by his friend, Caitlin Jones.

 

Charlie Bibbliodoc: A master weaponsmith and owner of Boss Arms. He is a Snake Nation nomad in the area who is working on two projects. One is a government DARPA sponsored program to develop next generation laser technology. The other is to rearm and rehabilitate weapons systems for the floating colonies and vessels of the Thelas Nation in the Gulf of Mexico. He is an old friend of Sam Fisher from the Romanian Campaign.

 

Doctor Eduardo Ricci: This man is the hotel physician and a ‘Dirty Deeds’ employee. He is a Brazilian national who used to work with Roca Terrier, and is trained in bio-mechanical repair.

 

Owen ‘Crank’ Wolf: A young, muscle bound solo with experience in managing bars and other watering holes. He is a member of Sam’s ‘Dirty Deeds’ crew. His cover is Food and Beverage manager at the Petersen Point Resort.

 

Ricco Torres: A former member of the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police who became a private investigator when his friendship with certain ‘unsavory’ characters came to light. The Disney Corporation hired him to assist an Edgerunner team brought in to push their political agenda in Rio. In the process a monstrous plot that cost the lives of thousands of residents of the infamous favelas was uncovered and Ricco figured prominently in bringing the conspirators to justice. He was promoted and moved to Walt Disney World in Florida. When the United States government asked Disney for help, they sent Ricco who is now general manager of the Petersen Point Resort.

 

Mason Verge: A former Marine Force Recon member turned freelance solo with a good relationship with the Thelas nomads and a distinct dislike for the Alabama State Police.

 

 

The NPCs

 

Bruce James is the manager of Angus and Hope Young’s farm. He is cousin to both TC James and Gregory James.

 

Carrie Anne Thorn is the assistant hotel manager and bookkeeper at the Petersen Point Resort. She is a small white woman in her early sixties. Carrie Anne has arthritis so she doesn’t walk a lot.

 

Charles Ingersoll is the grandson-in-law of Sophie Petersen, widow of Randy Petersen and heiress to the Petersen Family Trust. He serves as CEO of the Petersen Point Properties Group.

 

Geoffrey Lowndes serves as Secretary of State for Alabama. He is also the Vice Chairman of the Populist Advisory Council and covets the governorship.

 

Gregory James is a former and now current employee of the Petersen Point Hotel who was wrongfully convicted of grand theft years ago. Ricco’s investigations into various cold cases in the area (Episode 9) uncovered evidence that exonerated the man. Greg is the cousin of both TC James of the Visigoths and Bruce James, the manager of the Young Farm.

 

Hamilton Greeley is the Deputy Director of the C.I.A. and as such is the number 2 man in that organization. He has a personal agenda in the operation here that is not in line with the Team’s best interests.

 

Hank Tremont is the president of the local charter of the Visigoths. He is a tough smart leader with eight years military experience. It was he who put together the smuggling connection with the nomads and used those connections to run guns and supplies to the rebels in Alabama after the Alabama State Police murdered his two sons in cold blood eight years ago.

 

Hope Young is the wife of Angus Young, the largest farmer in the area and a county commissioner. Hope uses the inside of the old surface battery of the ancient local defense fort for her rather large flower business.

 

Jack Sheppard is the marina manager and a Thelas nomad. He is ex-military and is organizing the resort’s defenses.

 

Jason Fry is a young Thelas nomad serving of Charlie’s test ship, the Sea Snake. His sister is Amy Fry. He has a thing for Beebe.

 

Karl Petersen is the treasurer of the Visigoths MC and owner of Petersen’s Garage.

 

Lt. Governor John Lowndes is a bit pathetic. He isn’t the brightest bulb on the tree, but not a moron. He is as ambitious as his siblings, but has been maneuvered into taking the position of Lieutenant Governor. It is an empty title that consists of going around showing his face at public functions. The death of his older brother put him line for the ‘throne’, but the Team’s release of some security footage form a romp in a New Orleans brothel during Mardi Gras has sidelined him as another older brother, Richard, makes his grab for power.

 

Luis Cabral is a high level netrunner from Rio here in response for Ricco Torres’ request and Henrique’s endorsement.

 

Marshal Clayton ‘Clay’ Johnson is the older son of the late Terrance Johnson and nephew of the late ‘AC’ Johnson, the crime lord of Escambia County. His younger brother is Roland ‘Ronnie’ Johnson a drug dealer who ran a crew in Santa Rosa County. The marshal is in NO way a member of his uncle’s organization and would love to put him away.

 

Matilda Lowndes, old governor Braxton Lowndes only daughter, is a graduate of Harvard Law School and worked at the US State Department in her youth. She serves as Alabama’s Attorney General.

 

Michael Jay Tran is the great nephew of Tran Xuan Giap and an ex-soldier and Philippine policeman. He is hired at the Petersen Point Resort as a security officer and is made a Blackwater town constable.

 

Michelle Petersen is the mother of Karl Petersen, granddaughter of the founder of the resort, Clarence Petersen and niece of Sophie and the late Randy Petersen. She was the ‘wild child’ of her generation. Michelle is one of the biggest landowners in the area and lives on the old Petersen Farm. She runs a craft and leather goods shop called ‘Crafty Michelle’s’.

 

Mr. Zeitsev is the code name for Sam Fisher’s contact on this secret, black project. He is the government’s ‘Mr. Johnson’.

 

Natty Lanikova is the daughter of dancer Alina Lanikova and the teenage bassist for Velvet Blue. She dated Steve Zelinsky of the Visigoths and doesn’t speak English very well.

 

Richard King is a highly placed Disney executive that deals in ‘delicate’ situations. He is the man Disney sends, when things are going wrong and action must be taken. He has the nickname ‘King Dick’, but never to his face!

 

Richard Sharkey is US Attorney for the District of Northern Florida.

 

Sandomir ‘Sandy’ Zelinsky is the Vice President of the Visigoths MC. He is a tall blonde, green eyed man. Wild and fun loving in his youth, Sandy has matured into a clever and experienced leader. The man is also Beebe Laughtery’s biological father. He and Hank are best friends.

 

Sheriff Marcus G. (Garvey) Mason of Santa Rosa County is a powerfully built African-American with a bald head and piercing brown eyes. He has been sheriff for seventeen years and on the force for eight years before that as well as twelve years in the Army. He has a cyberarm and two cybereyes as well as a lot of smaller cyberware. The man has a reputation as a tough, honest cop who protects his county.

 

Superintendent Richard Lowndes is the head of the Alabama State Police and second son to the late Governor Braxton Lowndes. His older brother Braxton Lowndes II became governor, but was murdered recently.

 

Sydney Green was the Deputy comptroller of Petersen Point Properties and is here to find evidence of Ricco Torres’ malfeasance. He was murdered recently at the hotel.

 

Tolland Casper ‘TC’ James is the sergeant at arms of this chapter of the Visigoths. He is the first cousin of Bruce James, manager of Angus Young’s farm, but they are not very close. TC is ex-military and has two cyberlegs and a cyberarm. He was Mary Beth Petersen’s lover when she died. Her death shattered him and drove the man into becoming a borderline cyberpsycho.

 

 

The Action

 

Monday, June 10, 2047:

 

Military Police from the Pensacola COG are out early, blocking off the roads leading into town. The day’s maneuvers are set to include a simulated amphibious assault on Blackwater. Residents, inside the security cordon, are asked to stay indoors or at a safe distance while the exercise is underway. Businesses close early. Many locals treat the shut down as a holiday, packing lunches and heading down to the river to take in the show.

 

With all traffic in and out restricted, business is also light at the hotel. Even transport on the river has been suspended during the exercises. Non-essential staff is let out early. Others slip away, joining the growing crowd on the banks of the Blackwater. No one wants to miss the spectacle...except for maybe Charlie.

 

The gunsmith is typically laid back, but today he is a bundle of nerves. A late start leaves them stuck in port till after 7 pm. Thanks to the COG playing at war, the test has been delayed one day. They will meet up with a destroyer tomorrow to record the test firing of the ship’s deck mounted laser cannon. A successful test could open entirely new markets for Boss Arms.

 

Charlie is loath to let anyone leave the boat. Once they get the all clear, he wants to be underway as soon as possible; not waste time tracking down the crew. Those on board take the delay in stride. Being a ship, there is always something that needs fixing and some of the crew uses the downtime to affect minor repairs around the Sea Snake. Others hit their racks or lay out on the deck to soak up some rays.

 

Over at the hotel, Ricco abbreviates the weekly manager’s meeting. After reminding the department heads that a tour group from South American will be arriving at the end of the week, he makes a personal announcement. “With the assassin found in the trailer of Angela Bauer, I have every confidence that I will be cleared as a suspect in the death of Sydney Green. There are acknowledging nods around the table. “So are there any pressing issues or new business?” No one appears inclined to speak up. They are as interested in getting through the meeting as Ricco.

 

Before breaking up, Ricco turns the floor over to Hank Tremont and Karl Petersen. The Visigoths MC is holding a party at the hotel next weekend. Hank had asked for the opportunity to present his ideas for the event to the assembled managers. They listen politely with nary a glance at a watch.

 

As everyone exits the conference room, Ricco and Brandon walk out with the two bikers, chatting amicably. As they pause outside to say goodbye, a car careens up the drive and screeches to a halt near the front entrance. Guns fly out, but are lowered, as Deputy Marshal Clay Johnson jumps out of the vehicle. “I need to talk to all of you ….now!” An uncharacteristic emotion plays across the lawman’s face. Wide eyes cause deep furrows to crease Clay’s brow. His breathing comes rapidly.

 

Hank and Karl take their leave and begin to walk away, but Clay calls them back. “No, you two need to hear this also.” Picking up Betty Lu and Mason along the way, they all reconvene in the conference room. The deputy marshal insists they sweep the room before he speaks. Once satisfied no one is listening, Clay opens up by asking, “Are you people the Alabama Freedom Army?”

 

The direct question is a surprise. Ricco doesn’t give the others a chance to say something stupid. “Of course not.” He hopes Clay buys the shocked outrage in his voice.

 

The lawman relaxes. “I didn’t think so…but a lot of people do. The military exercises are a sham. Those troops in Blackwater and across the river are Alabama National Guard. In roughly three hours, there are going to be simultaneous raids on the hotel and Petersen’s Garage. Their orders are to kill everyone.”

 

Clay takes advantage of their stunned silence to continue.

 

“The hotel’s security system and computers are compromised. All of your names are on a list. A few other members of the hotel staff are targeted, but the main focus of the raids is killing the Visigoths and nomads. They’re not just going to eliminate the gang, but their families. Any nomad living at the resort is also in danger. Anyone who attempts to leave will be killed. Everyone else here is being written off as acceptable collateral damage.”

 

Ricco isn’t completely convinced. Clay has always been straight with him, but someone else might be feeding him bad intel. It could be a disinformation campaign to gauge how they react. Paranoia wins out. He sends Betty Lu to the fuel dock to find Charlie and Beebe; best not to use the phones if their systems are compromised.

 

Ricco wants to trust his friend, but they need to know more. “How do you know about this…and why are you telling us?” No one else seems to notice, but the ex-cop catches Clay glance over at Crank before answering.

 

“I don’t work for Richard Starkey. The DA’s trying to subvert the justice system and use the Marshal Service as his enforcers. I’m a cop. I didn’t sign up for this.”

 

Jack Sheppard cares little about who sanctioned the attack. He’s busy calculating their odds. “An assault of that size will be almost impossible to stop, even with our preparations.”

 

Hank has heard enough. “I have to warn my people.”

 

Before the bikers can leave, Clay warns, “There are surveillance drones flying over the hotel property right now. They’re listening and watching. If it looks like your mobilizing, they’ll attack early.”

 

“Hank, bring your people to the main building as fast as you can. Tell them…say the hotel has prepared a surprise luncheon for the club and their families.” Ricco cringes inwardly, but it was the best that he could come up with on such short notice. Hopefully whoever is listening will believe it long enough for the Visigoths to make it into the tunnels. The bikers nod and leave.

 

Ricco has the department heads come back to the conference room. After he delivers the bad news, there is only silence. They are dumfounded. It’s Carrie Ann who finally voices what they are all thinking. “We’ll be slaughtered.”

 

The assistant manager’s opinion carries a lot of weight at the resort. Her frank assessment of their chances sends a ripple of terror through the assembled managers. Panic now, could doom them all. Clay speaks up to offer them hope.

 

“There may be a chance. Most of the officers at the COG don’t know what’s going down. Once the wargames are over they either have to disengage or risk going to war with the U.S. military. All we have to do is hold out to 7pm.”

 

“Holding out for 5 or 6 hours won’t be easy,”

 

Clay can understand Mike Tran’s skepticism, but he has a trump card. “It might be possible if you had a copy of their attack plan.” The deputy marshal holds up a data chip.

 

It takes about 20 minutes for Betty Lu to return with Charlie, Beebe and Luis Cabral. She had run into the netrunner on her way to the dock, and while not expressly asked to find him, the Brazilians skills could be useful if they are compromised.

 

Marshal Johnson briefly goes over what he told the others, adding, “Mr. Bibbliodioc, for some reason, the government wants you dead! There is a Lazarus Team staying at the hotel. They were hired to eliminate you and other selected targets just before the launch of the main assault.”

 

Charlie is incensed…not so much over the attempt. Plenty of people had tried to kill him in the past. What he can’t forgive is that Lazarus dangled a lucrative weapons contract to sucker him in. The gunsmith is already planning a surprise for his guests, as he tells the others, “A couple of them are coming to my cottage for lunch.”

 

Ricco looks up from his eBook, brow furrowed and asks, “When?”

 

“They’re coming at 1:40…Why?”

 

“They booked an appointment with me for 1:45 pm.”

 

Brandon reveals that Lazarus also requested a meeting with him. “We are supposed to meet at 1:50 pm to discuss some security concerns.”

 

All three of them…Charlie is now fuming. “Let’s go kill those fucks right now!”

 

If up for a vote, the gunsmith’s proposal would carry by a healthy majority, but as team leader, Ricco urges caution. “I agree that we need to eliminate them sooner than later, but we can’t risk that they are in contact with the outside. Jack, activate your slow mobilization plan. Does anyone know where Natty is?”

 

“Natty’s in the lobby.” Seeing the question in Ricco’s eyes, Beebe explains. “She was down at the docks and came back with us.”

 

Ricco gives the team their marching orders. “Luis, go collect Natty. I need the two of you to take back control of our systems. Jack, be ready to jam any attempt by Lazarus to communicate with the Alabama forces.” And to the rest of the team…”Now let’s go up and see to our guests.”

 

Luis and Natty quietly loop the cameras from the main console. A thermographic scan helps pinpoint the Lazarus operatives; quietly relaxing in their rooms, safe in the belief their netrunner has control of the hotel’s security systems. The assault is fast and brutal. No quarter is given. There is no reaction from the outside.

 

The Visigoths start to arrive at the hotel with their families. Ricco doesn’t believe for a moment the story of a surprise party fooled anyone, but all remains quiet. He wonders if the Alabama authorities are holding off till everyone gathers at the resort. Consolidating targets would make their job easier. Ricco can understand how from the outside it might look like a mistake.

 

Even among their allies, there are those who question the decision of falling back to the hotel, but all doubts are forgotten when they’re shown the tunnels. The complex below is abuzz with activity; mobilization has already begun. Armed nomads, in uniform Russian battle dress, hurry to their assigned defensive positions. Ricco takes the leadership of the Visigoths and Marshal Johnson to the command center.

 

Jack Sheppard delivers a status report. The nomad is dressed in the same style of uniform as everyone else they’ve encountered in the tunnels. “Preparations are proceeding according to plan. We also have news from Blackwater. There are four tanks in town supported by a company of infantry and another similar sized force deployed across the river. We’re under their guns, but they haven’t advanced.”

 

Hank, TC James and Sandy seem duly impressed by the size and complexity of the operation. They offer the assistance of the Visigoths in defending the hotel. Clay remains silent, taking everything in. He can only wonder if his trust in Ricco has been misplaced. They may truly be the Alabama Freedom Army, but it is too late to turn back now. He’s already chosen sides.

 

Clay hands the data chip containing Alabama’s attack plan to Jack Sheppard. A relief map with colored marking appears on the main display. Marshal Johnson begins the briefing…

 

“The first wave attacks at 2 pm. Section 1 will approach up Petersen Point Road. The force consists of elements from the 1st Tank Platoon and units of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion.” Clay points to a rise on the golf course. “An M-11 tank from Alpha Company will take up position here. They will provide suppression fire to cover the advance of infantry units and an M-75. Their target is the school. Once any opposition is eliminated, they will leave behind a securing force, to hold the building, while the remainder link up with Bravo Company and join the main assault on the hotel.

 

The land assault is meant to cut off escape and provide a diversion for the vertical insertion of ACPA units. 3 Bell UH-10 PAPCs will sweep in low across the river supported by two AH-99 gunships. While the PA carriers drop their units, the gunships will peel off to take out the Sea Snake. Each UH-10 can hold 5 suits.

 

The second wave will come from the North. A contingent of the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Platoon will move south from the state boat launch to set up a picket line at the golf course. Dismounted elements of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Platoon, will sweep up from Blue Gill Lane and Bass Ave, supported by 2 M-113A3 IFVs. Their orders are to relieve the squads holding the school and link up with the 3rd Infantry Platoon to extend the picket south, cutting off any avenue of escape.

 

 

The scheduled amphibious assault on Blackwater is cover for Alabama to move a corvette up the river. It will be preceded by two small unit riverine craft carrying units from the Elite State Police Special Operations Force. Their target is the Marina and Fuel Dock. Once the marina has been secured, the corvette will disembark more troops to support the assault.

 

The 2nd Tank Platoon stationed in Blackwater, have been ordered to hold the town. Their secondary mission is to engage targets of opportunity in the trailer park and employee housing.

The actual bombardment of the trailer park and cottages will be carried out by mortars set up behind the town and an artillery company from Alabama posted just north of the highway interchange. They’ve used drones and onsite recon to pinpoint the coordinates of every structure in that area.

 

The 3rd Tank Platoon, stationed on the far bank, is to make sure no one tries to escape by river. They have orders to sink any vessel that tries to leave. Units are also being deployed to hold the road to Pensacola two miles east of the interstate highway bridge. The 2nd Section, 4th Platoon, Alpha Company (M1-A5 & M-75) and 3rd Platoon, Delta Company (dismounted) will hold the Interstate Highway Bridge itself. 4th Platoon Delta Company will hold the Interstate Highway interchange just north of the Blackwater Café. The Command Section and reserve units (Bravo Company and Section 2, 1st Tank Platoon, Alpha Company) will take up position at Casey Jones Lane and Petersen Point Road. All other units with Artillery Company and Battalion HQ are to be positioned just NE of that highway interchange.

 

The grim silence following Clay’s presentation is broken by a chuckle from Jack Sheppard. “Their air assault is flying right into our 25mm AA gun.” Pointing to the map, “I’ll deploy our Scorpion missile crews there. We can drop those ACPA carriers before they even cross the river.”

 

Mike Tran adds, “I can setup my HATGM near the corner of Petersen Point Road and Rollo Blvd. I’ll kill that M-75 before it has a chance to fire.”

 

Charlie tries to hide his smile. This is the perfect chance to show what his weapons can do. Keeping a calm exterior, he remarks to Beebe, “Ya know, I think the new laser cannon and Laser LAWs could use a live field test.”

 

She knows the gunsmith too well to miss the excitement in his voice. It earns him a hard glare…but she has to agree. They need all the firepower they can get. A lively debate breaks out over how best to deploy the weapons. Tactics aren’t her strong suit, so Beebe stays out of it. The nomad uses the time to look through the defensive plan and notices a glaring oversight.

 

With effort, she is able to get the rest of the team to listen to her. “What do we do if this doesn’t work? We need a way to get everyone out of here.”

 

Ricco will send Betty Lu down the tunnel towards the old surface battery on Angus Young’s farm. “You need to convince the Young’s to open up the doors from the inside of the fort.” Greg James goes with her, taking along a security detail, in case they run into trouble.

 

Crank brings up another hole in their plan, “How are we going to get everyone into the tunnels with the Alabama drones watching?”

 

“Well…We have a powerful ECM unit” All eyes turn to Jack. “…If we were to ‘burp’ it a few times, most of the drones would return to base when they lose contact. We shouldn’t run it for long or Alabama may get wise. If we’re lucky they might take it for a glitch. They lost a lot of their most experienced operators when the chemical plant went up. It took out their main drone facility. (Episode 8)

 

Ricco isn’t familiar with the intricacies of drone operation, so he leaves it to Jack’s best judgment. “Do it. Now…where do you want us.”

 

The nomad commander has his people where he needs them. To avoid arguments, he doesn’t try to order around the Team. “This is your hotel. You and the rest get to pick your ground.” He does ask for one concession. “I do however suggest we setup the laser cannon in the lighthouse bunker near the entrance to the town’s harbor.”

 

Charlie agrees with the placement, but also plans to take a Laser LAWs as backup. Beebe will be stationed in the lighthouse bunker at the corner of Bass Ave and Petersen Point Road, with another Laser LAW. The Visigoths agree to take over the defense of the golf course to free up more of the nomads to protect the hotel.

 

Ricco decides to make his stand in the main building of the hotel. As a precaution he orders the non-combatants sent down the tunnel towards the Young’s farm as soon as the drones are cleared. Even if they the doors aren’t opened, the tunnel is deep and outside the designated bombardment zone. Having a crowd of their friends and neighbors at her back could also help Betty Lu’s in negotiations with the Youngs.

 

The Team and their allies disperse. Brandon, Crank and Mason remain at the hotel with Ricco. Clay Johnson offers his assistance in the command center. Mike Tran heads for his firing position. Beebe and her tech requisition a golf cart to move the laser LAW. They drop off spare ‘shells’ for the weapon at the fortified maintenance building by the golf club; their fallback position. The stop gives her a few minutes alone with her father and Natty.

 

Beebe tries not to dwell on the thought that this may be the last time she’ll see either of them. The nomad puts on a brave face as Sandy offer some last minute fatherly advice. She nearly loses it when he says, “I’m proud of you,” and draws her into a deep embrace. Beebe breaths deep, wanting to remember his smell.

 

Her last words to Natty are much more brief, but no less emotional. Beebe finds the Czech girl cradling a Dragunov SVD. She can read the anticipation in her friend’s eyes. It’s not fear, more the excitement of a child on Christmas morning. The nomad puts a reassuring hand on Natty’s shoulder. “I know you want revenge, but don’t get yourself killed looking for it. Stay safe.”

 

The defenders have roughly two hours to prepare. A few judicious bursts from the hotel’s ECM system send away the Alabama drones, allowing the non-combatants to be moved underground. Alabama’s radio traffic does not change.

 

As two o’clock approaches the crew of the Sea Snake deploys the 120mm deck gun. It’s made to look like part of the routine maintenance being undertaken, while they are stuck in port.

 

Just before zero hour Beebe can hear the sounds of armored vehicles approaching her position. Alabama infantry moves up to just north of the state boat ramp.

 

Near the kudzu covered hatch of the old battery, Betty Lu and Greg James watch as the two AH-99 attack helicopters and three Bell UH-10 PAPCs make their attack run. The aircraft are still over the river, when the 25mm cannon on the roof of the hotel tears into the first ACPA carrier. Damage to the one of the leading propulsion units of the quad-engine craft causes it to pitches forward and drift to the left. Two PA suits drop out of the rapidly descending aerodyne, splashing down in the middle of the river. A moment later, the damage propulsion unit makes contact with the water. The UH-10 heels over pin-wheeling across the river’s surface.

 

A third PA suit is ejected along with disintegrating bits of fuselage. The pilot appears to have no control over his trajectory; if he is still conscious at all. It slams into the water, skips three times then sinks.

 

While the first PAPC heads towards its death roll, four scorpion missiles streak towards a second carrier. Countermeasures draw off one of the missiles, but the other three strike home. The burning wreckages pancakes into the Blackwater sending up a huge wake.

 

The third carrier clears the river, before coming under fire from the 25mm cannon. Though hit and trailing smoke, it hovers long enough to deploy three suits just north of the hotel’s main building. The UH-10 abruptly slips backwards losing altitude. Betty Lu and Greg lose sight of the carrier, behind the buildings. A billowing fireball announces its fate. The low rumble of the explosion reaches them seconds later.

 

Further up the river, the two AH-99 gunships begin their attack on the Sea Snake. Shells from the helicopters’ nose mounted cannons rake the vessel, but their air-to-ground missiles are intercepted by the ship’s CWIS (6 barreled 20mm Vulcan gun) and auxiliary anti-missile systems. Coming under fire, the Sea Snake’s 120mm cannon wastes no time opening up on the tanks positioned across the river. Two hidden heavy weapons teams add their fire power to the ship’s main gun.

 

One of the AH-99s overhead begins to take fire from a 12.7mm machine gun dug in near the fuel dock. Gunfire rakes across the fuselage, drawing black smoke. The helicopter veers away from the marina, limping towards Blackwater. It sets down hard in an open field east of town.

 

A cacophony of high pitched whistles heralds the start of the artillery barrage. Betty Lu knows they can’t waste any more time watching the battle. “Come on, we have to get down from here and find someone to open those doors.”

 

Beebe hunkers down in the northeast bunker with her loader and a nomad gun crew. They listen intently to the sound of Alabama armor rolling by. The nomad allows herself to breathe again after they pass. She’s glad to be wrong. Beebe had feared the enemy knew about the tunnel network, but they hadn’t come under fire. No one had even come close to the lighthouse.

 

After sliding open the gun ports, they use a long bar to knock away the wooden panels ringing the base of the lighthouse. The nomad gun crew sets up a 14.5mm KPV facing west towards the state boat ramp. Alabama infantry has already started to cross the open ground towards the resort. The gunner sites in on the wooden fence that marks the property line of the hotel.

 

Over at the northwest bunker another team trains its 12.7mm machine gun on the advancing troops. Shooting the laser LAW will be the signal to open fire. Beebe, sites in on the rear of the M-11. At the press of the activation stud, a coherent beam of ionized particles arcs out from the weapon. It lasts only 2 seconds but the heat generate is enough to melt through the tank’s lighter rear armor, slag the engine and touch off the fuel cell.

 

The explosion of the tank drowns out the sound of automatic fire as the bunkers open up on the infantry advancing from the boat ramp. Anyone who stays at the fence or tries to retreat is cut down. Those who vault the fence and try to find cover on the golf course, run into the guns of the Visigoths.

 

Beebe jumps down through the hatch to the room below. It’s a welcome relief. Firing the weapon had turned the room above into a sauna; not the best place to reload a Laser LAW. With the assistance of her loader, the nomad quickly cools and rearms the particle cannon.

 

Back at the hotel, two PA suits close on the main building. A third had made it to the ground successfully only to be crushed under their crashing transport. Brandon and Crank engage the power armor with a squad of nomads. Two are armed with Essences provided by Boss Arms. The Alabama troopers break off their attack and take cover behind the wreckage of the UH-10 to escape the withering fire of the 30mm cannons.

 

The main body of the attack proceeds down Petersen Point Road. Even with their early losses, Alabama’s attack plan appears unchanged. An M-75 tank leads the way, providing cover for a column of M-113A3 armored transports. (M-113 variants courtesy of Flipper’s Vehicle Guide 2.)

 

Mike Tran takes out the M-75 with his HTAG. A shot from the second floor of the school turns the 113A3 IFV in the parking lot, into a flaming pile of wreckage. Mason and Clay Johnson fire on the transport at the rear of the column with RPGs. The Alabama infantry jump out of their carriers into a crossfire. A spotter on upper floors of the hotel ranges in fire from six 60mm mortars, hidden in the trees by the marina. The remaining Alabama M-113As are quickly knocked out and their troops pinned down.

 

The thick steel reinforced walls of the eastern most bunker reduce the continuous artillery bombardment to a dull rhythmic thumping; like a sound system pumping out too much bass.

It could almost be pleasant, if you didn’t think of the people that might be dying out there.

Charlie unconsciously taps his finger on the closed safety guard on the laser cannon’s trigger, as he watches two small unit riverine craft race up river.

 

The boats quickly move out of his line of sight, beyond the edge of the gun port. They’ll be heading for the marina, intent on clearing the way for the troops on the corvette. The larger vessel follows behind, moving slowly up the channel. On open water, at speed, this shot might be a challenge, but here…it’ll be a turkey shoot. The gunsmith’s finger itches. He wants to pull the trigger, but knows he has to wait. The assault boats have to be closer to the marina for their ambush to work.

 

Charlie watches the corvette grow in his sights. It draws within a kilometer of his position; sailing straight at the lighthouse. A bow shot wouldn’t be the optimum firing angle for a conventional cannon. A single projectile would have a higher probability of missing the target. Even if dead on, the chance of damaging something vital, let alone destroying the entire ship, would be astronomical. With a 3-4 second continuous stream, Charlie knows he can easily slice across and through the ship’s bow. The gunsmith is so intent on planning his shot, that a sudden coarse change, by the corvette, catches him by surprise.

 

The ship yaws to port. His immediate fear is that Alabama is wise to the ambush, but after launching two missiles, the ship returns to its original course. There’s no way to track their flight from inside the bunker and for the moment, Charlie could care less where they’re headed. His only concern is to make sure no more follow. Flipping up the safety guard he yells, “I’m firing now,” then pulls the trigger.

 

The high energy beam exits the aperture at a temperature hotter than the sun. It strikes the corvette’s bow and burns backwards through the ship, cutting into ordinance stores and fuel cells. The ship shudders twice; then detonates. Men and metal are rocketed into the air. A towering plume of smoke climbs upward.

 

Twisted bits of metal, once part of the ships supper structure, are turned into supersonic projectiles. Anything in the blast area not torn to shreds is blown flat by the trailing pressure wave. A few pieces of debris make it to the lighthouse, but the thunk harmlessly into the wooden façade. Charlie has no time to admire his handiwork. The weapon’s overheat warning light flashes an angry red. It’s joined a second later by a blaring alarm. In the confined space of the bunker, the sound is deafening.

 

Charlie had reworked the cooling system. During tests, the new heat sinks had effectively bled off the excess heat into the surrounding air. But all of those tests had been done outside. Discharging the cannon pushes the temperature inside the bunker past 115 degrees (Fahrenheit). The hot surrounding air decreases the efficiency of the heat exchanger. Thankfully they thought to bring along extra coolant.

 

The corvette’s fiery end is the signal for the nomads to spring their ambush. Heavy machine guns secreted in bunkers at the marina and fuel dock open up on the approaching attack boats. The SURCs take evasive action, trying to escape the converging fire of the KPV-14.5 and DShK. With the enemy boats occupied, the Thelas spring another surprise.

 

Moored at the marina, the SS Mary Beth Petersen provides a stable weapons platform for the LATGM (Light Anti Tank Guided Missile) system from the old hovertank they sold to the nomads. Missiles roar out of the twin tubes. One explodes harmlessly, in the wake of the lead SURC, but the other finds its mark. It hits just in front of the pilot house, blowing the ship apart.

 

Down to one target, the machine guns concentrate their fire. Heavy caliber punch through the boat’s lightly armored hull. As the attack boat takes on water, it slows down. A slow target is a dead one. Some of the troopers are able to bail out of the sinking craft, but the nomad gunners show no mercy. They rake the surface of the water with gunfire till nothing is left moving,

 

 

Back at the eastern lighthouse, the laser cannon’s meltdown becomes a secondary concern. The weapon’s bright beam has drawn the attention of the M-11 in town. A shot from the tank’s main gun reduces the miniature lighthouse above the bunker into splintery shrapnel. The squat bunker sustains no damage, but Charlie realizes it won’t take long for the enemy to realize they missed their target.

 

Leaving the laser cannon to his techs, he readies the laser LAW. Sighting in on the M-11, the gunsmith can see the tank’s gun barrel dropping for a shot on the bunker. He wastes no time depressing the activation stud. Temperatures within the bunker soar even higher, but the beam connects with the M-11’s turret. The intense heat warps the tank’s main gun and burns a sizable hole through the armor. Anyone inside the main compartment was probably cooked alive.

 

Charlie closely watches the smoking tank as he counts down from 20. If the ambient temperature weren’t so high, he might risk a second shot without waiting. His first beam took out the turret, but an M-11 has a secondary heavy weapon mounted in its hull. The driver is also in his own sealed compartment. He may already be targeting the bunker with the tank’s missile system.

 

The gunsmith breathes a sigh of relief as the M-11 slams into reverse, pulling back. There’s no time to savor this minor victory. They need to redeploy. Charlie and his crew wrestle the laser weapons down through the hatch, to the waiting golf cart.

 

 

“Beebe, get up here! There’s another tank coming.”

 

The nomad looks up at the head framed in the overhead hatch. “Be right there.”

 

She scrambles up the ladder, then reaches back, to take the laser LAW from her loader.

Glancing through the bunker’s north firing port; Beebe can see an M-1E1 Super Abrams, rumbling down Petersen Point Road towards their position. It’s an antique, but still a formidable weapons system.

 

Beebe fires at the tank’s primary armament. When the 120mm gun begins to sag, she redirects the beam to burn through the driver’s compartment. The armored juggernaut lurches to a halt. Smoke pours from its rent hull.

 

Small arms fire peppers the area around the gun port, but Beebe ignores it. After carefully handing down the extremely hot weapon, to her loader, she drops through the hatch herself. They are in the middle of reloading the laser LAW, when the field phone rings. Jack Sheppard is on the other end of the line.

 

“TC is in trouble. He took a group of Visigoths to support one of our heavy weapons teams. An APC (M-113A3 IFV) has them pinned down at the southeast edge of the golf course. Can you get a shot on it?”

 

Climbing back into the bunker, Beebe scans for the armored vehicle. She spots it in a hull down position. The nomad really doesn’t have a clear shot, but the beam weapon may give her a chance. Her loader shouts up from below, “Ready!”

 

Beebe retrieves the laser LAW and sights in on the part of the M-113A3’s hull that she can see. She takes her time, wanting to get it right. The nomad is sure that the high energy beam connects with the vehicle’s hull, but nothing seems to happen. Long seconds tick by before she spots a trail of smoke rising from the APC.

 

An explosion rocks the bunker. Beebe struggles to keep her feet. She shouts to be heard over the din of the KPV. “That was my last shot.”

 

The bunker commander yells back, “Then get the hell out of here. You’re attracting a lot of attention!”

 

It takes about three minutes to reach the golf cart, three levels below. Once the laser LAW is secure, Beebe speeds down the tunnel towards the golf course. They need to recover the last fuel core from the maintenance building. It will also give her a chance to check on her father and Natty.

 

 

Alabama’s two functioning suits of power armor march through a hail of gunfire towards the wreckage of their armored column. Their assault has become a rescue mission. One of the suits peals back the armored plates of a burning APC, to make an exit for the troops trapped inside. They are able to extract about a dozen men, before the incoming fire becomes too heavy, even for them.

 

 

Betty Lu and Greg James finally make it to the ground. The choking vines of kudzu had looked like a lush green carpet from the top of the old battery, but pushing through them had proven nearly impossible. If not for their escort, it may have taken another hour or longer to reach bottom.

 

Making it to the road, they quickly run into a couple of farm hands, who take them to Hope Young. She meets them in her green house with the farm’s manager, Bruce James. Betty Lu begins by apologizing for their unannounced visit. She tells them what’s happening at the hotel. Greg lets her do the talking. He only comments on things Betty Lu wouldn’t know about or when asked a direct question by Hope or Bruce.

 

The lawyer works her way around to telling them about the tunnels. “I’m sorry, but we opened up the tunnels to the old fort.”

 

Hope doesn’t need to hear any more. “Oh my God, don’t apologize. Bruce, have some of the boys move those planting tables off the doors. Find the blowtorch and open them up!”

 

It takes about 15 minutes for the workers clear the area above the doors. A little heat from the blowtorch loosens the hinges. Huddled frightened faces greet them as the doors open. The sight of Betty Lu and the other nomads put them at ease. While Hope greets their new guests, Bruce James directs the farm workers to clear more space for the refugees.

 

 

Alabama’s first assault fails, but their artillery barrage continues unabated. Down in the command bunker, Jack Sheppard is puzzled. The enemy’s shells continue to fall among the empty trailers and cottages, rather than going after the hotel’s artillery assets. Counter battery fire should have silenced their mortars long ago. With Alabama forces pulling back, he tells them to cease fire. They need to conserve shells.

 

 

Alabama’s guns fall silent about fifteen minutes later. Combat ceases at 2:40pm. The team regroups in the command center, using the lull to rest and reassess their defenses.

 

(GM Note: When the attack started, Jack had his electronic warfare technicians jam all communications up to the Pensacola COG, crippling Alabama’s radio net. The state troops had electronic warfare assets, but their ECM and ECCM weren’t as powerful as those at the hotel. There was also a wide gap in the quality of the operators. Alabama’s National Guard had been neglected by the Lowndes family for years. They were under-equipped and ill-trained. The Thelas operators, by comparison, had many years of experience dodging the authorities. Alabama wasn’t expecting such an organized defense. Command and control broke down with the loss of communication)

 

***

 

 

Next: Part Two of Two

Our gaming group is now running sort of a war campaign. Our timeline (now in the year 2051) has been heading towards a World War III situation for years. The EU with its huge mega-corps and desire to control the resources of the solar system are running into opposition of President Whindam’s resurgent United States of America and its own Mega-corps. China is making common cause with the EU as it feels pinched by both Japan and United States on one side and Russia on the other. Russia is also opposing the EU in New Central Europe. The western European powers continue their attempt to subvert Eastern Europe even after their failure in Romania. The festering civil war in the Czech Republic has taken on a Northern Ireland feel except Poland which supports the Free Czech Army is right on the Republic’s border. The Polish people have not forgotten the 2018 attack by the Czech Republic and General Skroup. They see the hand of the EU behind it. Then there is the Republic of Mars which is growing at a surprising rate with its biogens, A.I.s and sentient androids. Only the Martian technological edge brought to them by the Nietzschean scientist caste keeps the EU at bay. There is only an armistice between the Republic and the European Union, which continually threatens to bring their former rogue colony to heel. Meanwhile Queen Victoria II and her reconstituted Commonwealth try to steer the middle course and act as peacemakers in these troubled time. The new Commonwealth Pound is beginning to rival the Euro, but this new Commonwealth avoids antagonizing both the EU and the United States. Regardless, the fuses on powder kegs are burning all over the world and throughout the solar system.

 

Well, this is all well and good, but how do put it into a form that you can play. We are now running a campaign we call Prelude to War. Like both the First and Second World War, it was small brush fire conflicts that erupted in the years just prior to global war. Often it was things that happened in these conflicts that brought on the greater fighting. For us we have divided this ‘Prelude’ into three parts. The first two are being played from the point of view of a Spec Ops Team from a Commonwealth security corporation. The first part, which is completed, deals with the Czech Civil War and what appears to be a simple intelligence gathering mission that initially doesn’t appear to be related to that conflict. (As soon as I get back the edited Episode 17 of the Fall of the Cotton Kingdoms from Destecado we will begin posting that part, which is edited and complete.) The second part, which we are doing now, deals with the Team working with a Commonwealth NGO in Africa and the Middle East. Fighting is starting to break out, but as a Commonwealth business the Team is neutral. That is hard road to stay on as the EU, China and the United States have conflicting agendas in Africa and the Middle East. Then there are all the independent powers in the area. In this part of our campaign, low populations, wildly different levels of technology and cultural differences given the small Team of PCs a chance to operate in a manner that has an impact larger than the group’s size would normally have.

 

So far it has been a lot of fun. We are only four episodes into this second part (Cyprus Operation) and the Team acts (normally) as a uniformed corporate military unit, officially a ‘logistics and support squad’ (somewhat like TVs old show, the Unit. There is high tech, but sometimes it just isn’t very helpful. The NET is virtually non-existent in the Sahara so hacking the Tuareg raider camp isn’t an option. However, being able to bring them a high tech water extraction system can make you some points! Just what will happen, we’ll have to wait and see. As far as the tech goes, we have had many advances that have occurred in our games and Wisdom 000’s assembled archives have been a god send in allowing us to push forward the technological edge from the bare bones of the Talisorian basic books. (Thanks again Deric!) It is important to remember that Cyberpunk is about attitude. The tech is important, but it is a foil for the story and the characters trying to make their way in world that is hard to understand.

 

As a side note, the third part of this campaign will be a Deep Space Adventure based in the asteroid belt. Should be fun!

 

And now the Conclusion of -

 

 

Episode 16 – Suicide Isn’t the Answer

 

Part Two of Two

 

 

 

Saturday, June 1, 2047:

 

Brandon is ambushed while on patrol. Without armor, the patrol car offers little protection from the onslaught. High powered rounds punch through the thin metal and tear into the security chief. The staccato bark of a submachine gun joins the full auto roar of the assault rifle. Both gunmen empty their weapons into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, before driving off.

 

The attack would be enough to kill any normal person. Even for a biomechanical cyborg like Brandon, the concentrated fire is almost too much. Dr. Ricci stabilizes his systems, but the damage is extensive. There are enough spare parts on hand to affect repairs, but it will take time. For the moment the resort is without its security chief.

 

 

Beebe takes Paris into Milton to have her hair done for the Children’s day celebration that evening. Not wanting to give the Alabama authorities an opportunity to grab her, Natty stays on the hotel grounds. Paris’ excitement for the evening ahead has the singer floating on air. The nomad is happy for her, but that happiness is tempered with concern. Her friend has already had too many disappointments in her life, mainly at the hands of her family. It’s what makes the nomad linger outside the Tran home after dropping off Paris. She doesn’t feel comfortable leaving till she sees the girl’s estranged family greet her with genuine love and affection,

 

Beebe heads over to the Panhandle Saloon to meet up with Jason, Amy and the remaining members of Velvet Blue. With practice cancelled Sammy, Ty and Natty are there to support their friends in Pounze da Lion and get drunk. Natty is well on her way to getting hammered when she runs in to her ex-boyfriend, Greg Harris, on the way to the bathroom.

 

Copious amounts of alcohol and grief prove to be an unusual aphrodisiac for the young girl. The two wind up dry humping in a dark corner. Natty still has feeling for Greg, and the close physical contact takes away the pain in her heart. The girl has always been uninhibited, but at the moment she is out of control. Her friends intervene when she tries drag Greg out the door. She is determined to get fucked and doesn’t care who hears it.

 

Surprisingly, Greg Harris proves to be a better man than most of her friends thought. He steps in to shut her down. “Natty, I want you…but not like this.”

 

Her affections denied, Natty launches into a drunken tirade, screaming at Greg as he walks away. She says some truly awful things before her friends can get her outside. Her rage gives way to tears. Beebe holds Natty as she bawls into her shoulder. “Why doesn’t anyone love me?”

 

***

 

 

Sunday, June 2, 2047:

 

Beebe waits till late morning to swing by and pick up Natty, knowing she needs the rest. The Czech girl is hung over, but anxious to see Paris and hear about the Tran’s Children’s Day party. Paris’s grandfather Eustis is in the kitchen of Saint Claire farmhouse, apparently nursing his own hangover.

 

“She’s not up yet. Go on up and wake her.”

 

The two girls run up the stairs. A rapid rap on the door brings no answer, so Natty breezes into the room. Beebe moves to follow and runs into her friend’s back. The Czech girl stands rooted in the doorway her face locked in shocked horror. Paris’ limp body hangs by her neck in the center of the room from the overhead light fixture.

 

“No!” Natty runs out of the room and flees the house..

 

Beebe screams for Eustis while moving to Paris. She tries to lift her up to take the pressure off her neck. The body is cold to the touch. She knows her fried is dead, but instinct takes over. Beebe cuts down her friend’s body, pulling the cord from around her neck, she searches for a pulse. The girl’s eyes are open and glassy. Her skin has taken on a gray pallor.

 

Eustis stumbles into the room. He bursts into tears at the sight of his granddaughter. The elder Saint Claire cradles Paris’ body, crying uncontrollably. Beebe calls Ty, who races over from the house next door. The nomad then calls both Sheriff Mason and Ricco. Beebe notices a media flexi on the floor near the body. It’s an article from a New Orleans news service. The piece is brief, reporting the discovery of the body of Mai Saint Claire, a known prostitute (and Paris’s mother); found dead from an overdose.

 

Ty helps his grandfather from the room. The sound of sirens announces the arrival police. Ricco shows up with Brandon and Crank soon after. Marcus isn’t happy that Beebe cut down the body and contaminated the crime scene. “What were you thinking? Do you know what your action could do to this investigation?

 

The sheriff continues to dress her down, but Beebe stops listening. She doesn’t give a shit what he has to say; her friend is dead. Cutting her down may have been wrong, but there’s no way she could let Paris’ grandfather see her hanging from the ceiling. It is bad enough that Natty saw it. Natty…where had she run off too? The nomad starts to worry about her other friend.

 

“Well?” Beebe realizes that Sheriff Mason was waiting for an answer. If he’s looking for an apology or trying to make her feel worse than she already does he can go fuck himself. The only thing on her mind now is finding Natty.

 

“The next time you find one of your friends hanging from the ceiling, feel free to leave him hanging there. I did what I did. You have my statement. Are we through?”

 

Marcus sighs. “Yes, you can go.”

 

While Beebe goes in search of Natty, Eustis gives his statement to Sheriff Mason. “I was still up when Paris got home. She was over at the Tran’s last night…she was so happy.” Tears begin to roll down the elder Saint Claire’s cheeks.

 

Marcus gives Eustis a moment before showing him the flexi. He’s never seen it before, but the contents bring a new wash of tears to the old man’s eyes. Sheriff Mason feels terrible about piling onto the old man’s grief. He cuts the interview short. “Eustis, if you think of anything, give me a call at any time.” Marcus excuses himself to speak with the coroner.

 

Ricco offers his condolences to Eustis then follows after the sheriff. He overhears the medical examiner deliver his initial report. “Looks like suicide by asphyxiation.”

 

Marcus doesn’t look convinced. “Make sure,”

 

The ex-cop wants to talk with the sheriff in private, but a call from the security office spoils the opportunity and possibly the rest of the day. “It’s Mason Verge. Housekeeping was checking out a complaint from a guest about a bad smell coming from one of the rooms. They found a dead body in the bathtub.”

 

Ricco sighs. It looks like he will get his chance to speak Marcus. “Do you have a name?”

 

Verge hesitates…”It’s Sydney Green.”

 

The general manager swears under his breath. Sheriff Mason’s phone rings. After a brief conversation he looks over at Ricco. He must be getting the same report. Marcus laughs without humor. “It just doesn’t stop around here, does it?”

 

There is no apparent cause of death for Mr. Green. The coroner estimates that the deputy comptroller has been dead since last Friday. Housekeeping had not previously entered the room due to the ‘do not disturb’ sign on the door.

 

Marcus is not one to pass the buck, but with this situation he feels it best to call in the FDLE. Sargent Broome takes over the investigation. The staff isn’t sorry to see the end of Mr. Green. They might think it will solve their problems, but Ricco knows things will only get worse.

 

 

After fruitless hours spent searching on her own, Beebe reaches out to her fellow nomads to find Natty. The Czech girl is finally spotted on the dock behind the bungalow she shared with her mother. Beebe walks onto the dock cautiously; not wanting to spook her. Natty turns at the sound of her approach. “Stay back, you’ll just die too!”

 

The nomad tries to calm her friend, but the girl keeps repeating, “Paris would never kill herself.”

 

All Beebe can do is agree. “I know. So let’s find out who did this and make them pay.” She finally works her way up to Natty and gets her to sit back down at the end of the dock. They sit in silence for a while, Beebe’s arm wrapped around the shoulder of the younger girl. After a time, Natty asks in a quiet voice, “Am I cursed? Everyone I care for dies. You have to get away from me, or you might be next.”

 

“No.” The response comes out as an odd croak, causing Natty to look over at her friend. Tears flow freely down Beebe’s cheeks. “You stick by family no matter what.” Hours stream by as the two watch the river and talk. Natty harbors guilt for more than just the recent deaths. She tells Beebe about her step-father. He was murdered when she was very young. The nomad can’t understand why she blames herself for his death. Natty believes it was because of her. It is well after dark, before Beebe can coax Natty to return to Angela’s trailer. Emotional exhaustion has left her drained. She is fast asleep by the time her head hits the pillow.

 

***

 

 

Monday, June 3, 2047:

 

The weekly staff meeting is grim and brief. Richard King has promised a new armored security car within the next forty-eight hours. The Visigoths call and ask to have their annual midsummer party at the hotel. Hank Tremont wants to come and make a formal request at next week’s staff meeting. With hotel business out of the way, Ricco informs the Team that the Dirty Deeds group will meet in an hour in the tunnel’s secure conference room.

 

Ricco returns to his office and calls the main corporate office of Petersen Point Properties to express his condolences on the death of Sydney Green. While this is a genuine gesture by the Brazilian, the executive who answers the call stutters a bit and hangs up. Ricco finds that curious.

 

 

(GM Note: The circumstances of the past six months have been interpreted very differently at the home offices in Miami. Their research on Ricco has brought to light his recent heroic actions in Rio, but it has also uncovered all of his criminal connections and every dirty false rumor of his corruption. In addition, the annihilation of the Johnson Crime Family and Rattlesnakes MC in Florida paint a very scary picture. Often, people see what they want to see and jump to the conclusions that support it. Unknown to Ricco, he is considered the devil incarnate at Petersen Point Properties. Executives and secretaries invoke his name when their children misbehave. The man who took Ricco’s call interpreted it as akin to a Mafia Don sending the biggest wreath to the funeral of his latest victim!)

 

 

Before heading into the Dirty Deeds meeting, Ricco speaks with Crank in private. “Did you tell your ‘contacts’ that I had spoken with Richard King about Sam Fisher being a potential threat to the success of this mission?” Crank admits he did, but doesn’t elaborate further. Ricco starts to wonder just who these ‘contacts’ really are.

 

In the meeting Jack Shepard reports that his defensive preparations are complete. The nomads and select members of the hotel staff have been formed into a militia of sorts. All of the lighthouse bunkers are armed. H has even put together mobile anti-aircraft and heavy weapons squads. In case of a siege, there are also people assigned to support functions. It will take a couple of hours to fully mobilize, but everyone is well armed and has been issued the old Soviet armored BDUs bought by Randy Petersen.

 

Returning to his office, Ricco summons Luis Cabral. The two men look into local security companies specializing in cyberdogs. Adding a few of the cybernetic units could enhance their patrol capability. They find two sources: one on the east side of the COG and another in Pensacola. Before making a decision, Ricco has lunch with Hank Tremont for his thoughts on the plan.

 

Charlie and Beebe have a big day. Pentagon and DARPA officials descend on Blackwater for the final two day field test of his x-ray laser rifle. The weaponsmith has stabilized the beam at 4d6 maximum output. While this is less than the pistol version, its range and accuracy are far superior. The x-ray laser also has the benefit of being very difficult to detect. The first day’s testing goes exceptionally well.

 

***

 

 

Tuesday, June 4, 2047:

 

The x-ray laser rifle performs flawlessly, pleasing the officials from the Defense Department. Charlie and Beebe are assured that acceptance is a mere formality. With half of his projects now complete, the weapon’s designer realizes that he will soon be able to write his own ticket with the government. His patents will be a license to print money!

 

Sheriff Mason stops by to see Ricco. The news is bad but not unexpected. Sydney Green’s death has been ruled a homicide. There is very little forensic evidence and none of it implicates Ricco, but he is considered the prime suspect. Pressure from Tallahassee has taken the investigation out of the hands of the sheriff’s department. The FDLE (state police) have been put in charge. People behind the scenes are pulling strings and the truth seems less important than the ‘correct’ result wanted by Ricco’s enemies. The general manager wastes no time contacting Richard King.

 

Crank spends the evening at the Blue Moon Revue overseeing Amateur Night. He looks up from the roster of participants to find Natty Lanikova standing in front of him asking to sign up. Although only fifteen, she is of legal age in Florida. She’s also a very pretty girl. Still he feels the need to ask, “Why do you want to do this?”

 

The Czech’s voice wavers, “My mom is dead. I have to support myself or they might ship me back to the Czech Republic.”

 

Crank knows that she has more money than she will ever need, but explaining where it came from would be problematic. “OK, we’ll give you a shot.”

 

(GM Note: Natty has no visible means of support. She is terrified that the state or the federal government might intervene. As a Czech citizen, her own government doesn’t consider her an adult and may demand her return. The prospect of going home also terrifies her.)

 

Mona du Bois, who is also at the registration table, asks to speak with Crank in private. With Alina’s death, she has taken over the role of ‘Den Mother’ and union rep. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

 

He saw this argument coming. “She’s of legal age and she needs the job.”

 

“Natty lost Steve last month, and both her mother and Paris this past week. The girl is a mess. She might be legal, but she’s a train wreck waiting to happen.”

 

“She can handle herself.”

 

Mona shakes her head, “Really? What do you think she’ll do to the first yahoo who gets out of line in a champagne room with her?”

 

Owen is certain she wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone she felt was a ‘threat’. Not something that would be good for business or for Natty. Though he doesn’t want to admit it, Mona is right. He goes up and talks to Natty before she gets ready for her ‘audition’.

 

“Look, you shouldn’t do this. I don’t think your mother would approve.” Natty’s face falls at his words. “But I could use another bartender. If you want a job, I’ll have the girls train you, so you can stay and keep your place at the Resort.”

 

The Czech girl’s face brightens. Owen takes her over to the head bartender and quickly works out a training schedule starting next week.

 

***

 

 

Wednesday, June 5, 2047:

 

Dispatch contacts Mason Verge around 3 am. “Mason, can you swing over to Angela Bauer’s trailer? The night desk operator called. Her line has been showing ‘off-hook’ for the past half hour. He tried to contact her on her cell, but there’s no answer.”

 

There are no lights on inside, which isn’t surprising given the early hour. Angela’s car is in the drive, so she should be home. Mason knocks at the door, but no one answers. All appears quiet. To be sure, he peers through the trailer’s windows. The darkness inside is no obstacle for eyes enhanced with night vision. He can clearly see Natty sprawled out on the floor in the main room of the trailer.

 

Mason calls for backup then rips the door open. The girl is still breathing, but unconscious. There is some kind of cord around her neck. Looking around, he spots an overturned end table and beyond, a second person in the room. Surprised, Mason instinctively pulls his sidearm, drawing down on the possible threat. “Let me see your hands!” There is no reaction.

 

Keeping his gun trained, the security officer eases towards the man. He is sitting with his legs splayed out in front of him; back against the trailer wall. Mason hadn’t seen him from the window. He had been below the security officer’s field of vision.

 

There is no movement from the man as Mason approaches. His head lolls to one side, eyes open and fixed. During his tour of duty, the ex-marine had seen enough bodies, to know the man is dead. If not for the wall, he would have probably slumped all the way to the floor.

 

The area around the body is darker than the rest of the floor. Mason reaches back to flip on the wall switch by the door. Deep crimson stains cover the man’s lower half as well as the carpet underneath. A bloodied switchblade is clutched in his left hand. In his right is a pistol.

 

Even though the man is dead, he still disarms the corpse. Mason swallows hard as he works. If things had gone differently, he could have walked right into an ambush.

 

The pistol is a tranq gun. There are several darts missing from the clip. Mason searches Natty and finds two in her back. He pulls them out and waits for backup. The security officer keeps his gun drawn in case the man wasn’t working alone.

 

Ricco and Brandon arrive first, followed soon after by Dr. Ricci and the rest of the team.

 

“Where’s Angela?”

 

Mason doesn’t have a good answer for the general manager’s question. He had decided to stay with Natty rather than check the rest of the trailer. The security officer points to the back bedroom his mistake.

 

Angela is in her bed, sleeping deeply. When they are unable to wake her, Dr. Ricci surmises, that she may have been drugged as well. While the doctor checks to two women, Brandon looks over their dead attacker. The man’s face is familiar. He snaps a pic and sends it to the security office. Within a couple of minutes, they are able to confirm that the man checked into the hotel over a week ago.

 

A search of the trailer turns up a small medical bag. Inside are drugs, rope, nano cleaners and other sundries. “Looks like a kill bag.” Crank may have said it aloud, but thought was also on Ricco’s mind. He could understand Alabama sending someone to drug and abduct the girl, but kill her? It doesn’t track. The security team turns over the crime scene to the sheriff’s office when deputies arrive. Dr. Ricci has Natty rushed to the resort’s infirmary.

 

Exsanguination is listed as the cause of death. Natty had managed to stab her attacker in the left leg with her switchblade. The blade had sliced through the femoral artery leading to rapid blood loss.

 

Given the attempt on her life, Sheriff Mason requests that the girl be transferred to Milton Hospital, but Dr. Ricci refuses to release his patient. “She has still not woken up. I need time to identify what drugs were used.” Ricco backs his doctor. He also doesn’t feel comfortable sending the girl to a public hospital. There could be another attempt on her life.

 

A search of the dead man’s luggage reveals a secret compartment in his suitcase. Inside are three pictures with accompanying dossiers. It appears that the man was hired to kill Paris Saint Claire, Natty Lanikova and Sydney Green. A sample of fibers taken from the rope found in the medical bag are compared those recovered from the Paris Saint Claire investigation. They are a perfect match.

 

After a busy morning, the rest of the day passes uneventfully. A team from Lazarus arrives at the hotel. They are back to observe the next round of military war games out at the COG. Corporate and Security Observation Team for war games checks in. For eight members of the observation team, this is a return visit. None of them inquire about the late Sam Fisher.

 

***

 

 

Thursday, June 6, 2047:

 

Operation Perfect Storm, the Pensacola COG Spring maneuvers, begins. There are no military exercises slated for the area around Blackwater, till next Monday. A package with $210,000 arrives for Ricco from Mr. Zeitsev; payment for the Blackwater Bayou extraction. The money is divided and dispensed to the team.

 

Dr. Ricci calls Ricco. “I’ve been able to identify the drug used by the assassin and have synthesized an antidote. I wanted to check with you before giving it to her.”

 

“Give it to her. I’ll be over right away.” Ricco contacts Beebe to have her there when Natty wakes up. It takes about twenty minutes for the girl to come out of it. She is groggy and agitated. She is unwilling to answer their questions. The only person she will let near her is Beebe. Sheriff Mason stops by to check on her and tell Ricco that the county M.E. has changed Paris’ death from suicide to homicide.

 

***

 

 

Friday, June 7, 2047:

 

With the exception of Mason (who is on patrol) the entire team attends Paris Saint Claire’s funeral at Blackwater Jubilee Baptist Church. With Paris’s death now ruled a homicide, even Tran Xuan Giap comes with a large contingent of his family. There is a moment of tension when the elder Tran walks up to Eustis, but it melts quickly as the two grandfathers embrace, bonding in their shared grief.

 

As the service is about to commence, a shaky Natty Lanikova enters the church supported by Angela Bauer. She looks terrified. Ty and Beebe rise and lead her over to sit with the family. The church is packed with many of Paris’s friends. Even Sheriff Mason is there.

 

Marcus approaches Ricco after the graveside service. “We’ve been able to identify the assassin. He was Gordon Harper, formerly a member of the Alabama State policeman, from Dothan. There are rumors he worked as a hit man for the Lowndes family. We’ve been able to trace his movements. Harper traveled to Miami a couple of weeks ago…about the same time Sydney Green left to come here.”

 

“Petersen Point Properties is based out of Miami.”

 

Sheriff Mason smiles at the general manager. He seems to have had the same idea. “I’ve checked. Charles and Francis Ingersoll were out of the country at the time.”

 

It would be too much to hope for. Ricco asks, “Where did he go after that?”

 

“As far as we can tell, he went back to Dothan and then to New Orleans, before coming here. Did Paris or Natty have any connections to New Orleans?”

 

“Both were in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. I have no idea what they did there, but Crank might.” Ricco calls the food and beverage manager and asks him to meet them in the conference room.

 

Crank knows only that Alina had hired the girls to help out the dancers from the Blue Moon Revue. “With the club closed during Mardi Gras, they had lined up several private parties in New Orleans. “I think Beebe was the only one who saw them while we were in town.”

 

The nomad is more than a little nervous. Telling Ricco and Sheriff Mason is hard enough. She doesn’t understand why they brought in Crank and Brandon. Talking about the night she and Jason picked up Paris and Natty (Episode 7) makes her feel that she is betraying her friends trust. As Beebe haltingly relates the story, Brandon realizes that the dock where they picked up the girls was only a block from where their team had been ambushed.

 

Beebe can’t explain why Paris was hysterical when they picked her up. “It had something to do with her mother, Mai, but I don’t know what.”

 

“Natty would know.” The prospect of questioning the girl doesn’t fill Sheriff Mason with confidence. She hadn’t spoken to him since he executed the extradition warrant.

 

Ricco tries to convince Beebe, “You are the only one who has any chance of getting her to open up about this.”

 

The others loiter outside, while Beebe enters Angela’s trailer. This is a tricky subject to bring up, so the nomad starts by telling Natty that the person, who tried to kill her, was responsible for Paris’ death. The girl finds some comfort, knowing she had avenged her friend and lover.

Beebe explains how the killer’s movements had been backtracked to New Orleans. She mentions the flexi found in Paris’ room.

 

“That was her mother.” Little by little, Natty tells her friend the whole story. They had found Mai Saint Claire working in a brothel. Paris confronted her mother. Their argument attracted security. After detaining the two girls the owners of the brothel decided to sell the two into the sex trade overseas. They had locked them in the brothel’s security room.

 

The man watching the monitors didn’t consider two frightened teenagers a threat. When he wasn’t paying attention, Natty slipped out of her restraints and slit his throat with her switchblade. After freeing Paris, the girls realized they were on the security footage, so Natty wiped the recordings from the hard drive and pulled the backup drive. They were able to slip away and call Alina. “She called Jason and the both of you came and picked us up.”

 

[GM Note: Natty hadn’t told anyone what happened because she was terrified that she would be deported or executed for murdering the security guard.]

 

“Do you still have the security recording?”

 

The Czech girl can’t meet her friend’s eyes. “Yes.”

 

“Natty, that recording has to be the reason they want you dead. You need to give me that recording. Trust me.”

 

After a moment of quiet deliberation, the girl gives up the location. “It’s buried two feet east of the big cypress tree in the backyard of our bungalow. It should be about six inches down. Beebe relates the location to the team outside then returns to Natty.

 

Sure enough it’s right where she said. The small drive is sealed in a watertight padded wrapper. They take it to their security office to rip a copy. There are hours and hours of data from all of the cameras in the brothel. They begin a round-the-clock review of the footage.

 

***

 

 

Saturday, June 8, 2047:

 

Around 5 am, Brandon finds a recording of Mai Saint Claire being forced down a corridor by a large man in a suit. She is not going willingly. Mai is pushed to the side by her ‘chaperone’, when another group of people enters the hallway from a set of double doors. Among them are a naked Governor Royce Gardner of Georgia and Lt. Governor John Lowndes of Alabama in the company of several prostitutes. Brandon immediately notifies the Team.

 

All agree this footage would be enough to have Mai, Paris and Natty killed. Now that they’ve seen it, their lives could be in danger as well. Thing go from bad to worse. Ricco recognizes someone else among the party goers. It is Mr. Zeitsev. He points him out on the screen to the rest of the team. “That is our employer.”

 

It takes little deliberation for the team to decide that they need to go on the offensive. Brandon edits out all the footage of Paris and Natty before making a copy of the recording for Sheriff Mason. The security chief also rips copies of the hallway sequence, while Ricco works his media contacts. The ex-cop trades on his reputation as the ‘Hero of Rio de Janeiro’. NET 54, Disney and most major news organizations quickly pick up the story and broadcast the two naked governors and cavorting with their prostitutes.

 

Blowback is a concern, but with the press in a frenzy to identify the ‘third’ man in the video, Mr. Zeitsev has more pressing problems than the team.

 

Natty has recovered from her attack…at least physically. Beebe worries about her friend. She has become quiet and withdrawn. The nomad finally convinces her to go to the rooftop bar on Saturday night. Henrique’s is having a sendoff party for the last South American Tour group which will be leaving in the morning. The Lazarus Team comes to enjoy the festivities.

 

***

 

 

Sunday, June 9, 2047:

 

The leaked recording causes a political crisis in Alabama. By early afternoon, the Alabama government releases a statement indicating that the inauguration of Lt. Governor John Lowndes has been postponed by the Populist Advisory Council. State Police Commander Richard Lowndes has been named acting Governor while an internal investigation is conducted.

 

 

 

 

Next: Episode 17: Alabama Brings the Hammer Down

 

It’s been two months since the last posting of this campaign, but in that time I have sold my house where I have lived for over 15 years. This, the holidays and moving have put a crimp in our ability to write and edit these campaign adventures. We have continued to play and have a good number ‘in the can’ so to speak. These will be coming out with our usual previous regularity. Again, this is long episode so it will be in two parts back to back.

 

 

Episode 16 – Suicide Isn’t the Answer

 

Part One of Two

 

 

 

Karma rears its ugly head. The swamp smugglers inadvertently exact revenge, leaving a member of the team to mourn a lost loved one.

 

Sheriff Mason is forced to detain Natty, touching off a judicial tug-of-war over. Extradition to Alabama hangs in the balance. The possibility of extradition leaves the team with a hard choice.

 

The Grim Reaper works overtime in Blackwater as a string of deaths rocks the small community. A failed attempt on Natty’s life reveals a link between the deceased, but searching for the truth comes with its own perils.

 

 

Background

 

President Whindam has made it the goal of his fifth term as president, to restore the sovereignty of the Unite States of America over the four southern states colloquially known as the ‘Cotton Kingdoms’. Under this directive, several teams have been formed to implement a plan concocted by C.I.A. Deputy Director Hamilton Greeley and US Attorney for the District of Northern Florida Richard Sharkey. One of these teams (The PCs) has been tasked with running the Petersen Point Resort. Located in Santa Rosa County, on Florida’s panhandle, this seedy old tourist destination is perfectly situated, between the Pensacola COG and Alabama border. Though they may be tasked with the occasional field op, the Petersen Point team’s primary mission is to act as a ‘safe haven’ and staging ground.

 

Members of this ‘Dirty Deeds’ team have been provided with cover jobs at the hotel. Sam Fisher, a retired Delta Force colonel and C.I.A. assassin, was the original team leader. His cold blooded murder of an Alabama State Trooper caused his employers to reevaluate his tenure. Since his untimely death at the hands of a C.I.A. cleaner, the role of team leader has fallen to Ricco Torres. The Brazilian born ex-cop turned corporate executive walks a fine line between loyalty to Disney and the needs of the mission. Those goals of are in alignment, for now…

 

 

Dramatis Personae

 

The Team

 

Beebe Lafferty: A young tech and member of the Snake Nation helping Charlie with his various projects. She is the daughter of retired Major Beatrice ‘Bea’ Lafferty, who gained fame (or infamy) by firing the first ortillery strike of the Fourth Corporate War on Night City.

 

Betty Lu: An attractive 25 yo lawyer of Chinese descent. Despite her appearance she is a Texas girl, through and through.

 

Brandon Heath: A solo who is serve as head of security at the Petersen Point Resort. He is a member of the ‘Dirty Deeds’ crew. Unknown to everyone but Doctor Eduardo Ricci, Brandon is an experimental Biomechanical (cyborg) with one of Doc Freeman’s ‘cyberbrains’ sent by the Collective in response to Sam’s daughter’s request to watch over her father. Brandon was originally Grave, a cyborg from the Fourth Corporate War, who was later (2026) convicted of authorizing the murder of a young hacker and his family. Grave was supposedly executed but the government put him in their Project Kill Switch Program (see Super Solo 2 Campaign for details). He was rescued from a top secret government lab by his friend, Caitlin Jones.

 

Charlie Bibbliodoc: A master weaponsmith and owner of Boss Arms. He is a Snake Nation nomad in the area who is working on two projects. One is a government DARPA sponsored program to develop next generation laser technology. The other is to rearm and rehabilitate weapons systems for the floating colonies and vessels of the Thelas Nation in the Gulf of Mexico. He is an old friend of Sam Fisher from the Romanian Campaign.

 

Doctor Eduardo Ricci: This man is the hotel physician and a ‘Dirty Deeds’ employee. He is a Brazilian national who used to work with Roca Terrier, and is trained in bio-mechanical repair.

 

Owen ‘Crank’ Wolf: A young, muscle bound solo with experience in managing bars and other watering holes. He is a member of Sam’s ‘Dirty Deeds’ crew. His cover is Food and Beverage manager at the Petersen Point Resort.

 

Ricco Torres: A former member of the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police who became a private investigator when his friendship with certain ‘unsavory’ characters came to light. The Disney Corporation hired him to assist an Edgerunner team brought in to push their political agenda in Rio. In the process a monstrous plot that cost the lives of thousands of residents of the infamous favelas was uncovered and Ricco figured prominently in bringing the conspirators to justice. He was promoted and moved to Walt Disney World in Florida. When the United States government asked Disney for help, they sent Ricco who is now general manager of the Petersen Point Resort.

 

Mason Verge: A former Marine Force Recon member turned freelance solo with a good relationship with the Thelas nomads and a distinct dislike for the Alabama State Police.

 

 

The NPCs

 

Alice Timmons used to run the Trailer Park and the Guest Houses of the Petersen Point Hotel. Her books were clean but she didn’t sign in everyone and kept her stolen money in a Cayman Islands account. When an investigation threatened to expose her, she fled with her stolen cash to Venezuela and disappeared.

 

Alina Lanikova is the lead dancer at the Blue Moon Revue. She was a stunningly beautiful (ATTR 10), tall 29 year old Czech woman. She lived at the Resort with her teenage daughter, Natty. Alina is a former operative for the Czech Army’s Special Forces and as such has garnered a lot of attention from United States authorities.

 

Amy Fry is a young Thelas and sister of Jason Fry. She dates Sammy Trang, the drummer of Velvet Blue.

 

Angela Bauer is an older woman who teaches at the Petersen Point School. Her Snake Nation family was absorbed by others. She settled in Blackwater and lives in the hotel trailer park. She speaks fluent German and is Natty Lanikova’s teacher.

 

Carrie Anne Thorn is Front Desk Manager, also asst. hotel manager and bookkeeper at the Petersen Point Resort. She is a small white woman is her early sixties. Carrie Anne has arthritis so she doesn’t walk a lot.

 

Charles Ingersoll is the grandson-in-law of Sophie Petersen, widow of Randy Petersen and heiress to the Petersen Family Trust. He serves as CEO of the Petersen Point Properties Group.

 

Eustis (‘Useless’) Saint Claire is an old black man who runs the water and sewer system at the Petersen Point Resort.

 

Francis (Petersen) Ingersoll is the wife of Charles Ingersoll and sister of the late Mary Beth Petersen. She legally controls the Petersen Point Resort and acts as its CFO.

 

Frank Michaels is the senior NCIS agent at the Pensacola COG. He has befriended Alina and Natty Lanikova.

 

Gordon Harper is former Alabama State trooper and reported ‘hit man’ for the Lowndes Family of Alabama.

 

Greg Harris is the second son of Roger Harris who owns the Blackwater General Store. He used to date Natty before she blew him off for Steve Zelinsky. He’s not a bad kid and still pines for her.

 

Governor Braxton Lowndes II was the current governor (for life) of Alabama and son of the late ex-Governor Braxton Lowndes. He has just been murdered.

 

Henry ‘Hank’ Tremont is the president of the local charter of the Visigoths. He is a tough smart leader with eight years military experience. It was he that put together the smuggling connection with the nomads and used those connections to run guns and supplies to the rebels in Alabama after the Alabama State Police murdered his two sons in cold blood eight years ago.

 

Jack Shepard, the marina manager and a Thelas nomad. He is ex-military and is organizing the resort’s defenses.

 

Jason Fry is a young Thelas nomad serving of Charlie’s test ship, the Sea Snake. His sister is Amy Fry. He has a thing for Beebe.

 

Jebediah Biggs is the junior agent (probie) from NCIS and partner to Agent Michaels. He wears a Marine crew cut.

 

Lt. Governor John Lowndes is the youngest of the Lowndes family of Alabama. He is reportedly a weak willed sybaritic womanizer, but is allowed to be Lt. Governor of Alabama. With the murder of his brother he is now slated to become governor.

 

Luis Cabral is a high level netrunner from Rio here in response to Ricco Torres’ request and Henrique’s endorsement.

 

Mai Saint Claire is the mother of Paris and wife of the late Delmar Saint Claire. This granddaughter of Tran Xuan Giap is a junkie and prostitute.

 

Mary Beth Petersen was the daughter of the late George and Elizabeth Petersen whose murder fifteen years ago still haunts the Petersen Family and the Town of Blackwater.

 

Michelle Petersen is the mother of Karl Petersen, granddaughter of the founder of the resort, Clarence Petersen and niece of Sophie and the late Randy Petersen. She was the ‘wild chlld’ of her generation. Michelle is one of the biggest landowners in the area and lives on the old Petersen Farm. She runs a craft and leather goods shop called ‘Crafty Michelle’s’.

 

Mona du Bois is a tall powerfully build Cajun black woman and exotic dancer at the Blue Moon Revue. She is 26 years old.

 

Mr. Godwin is an attorney for the State of Alabama licensed to practice law in Florida.

 

Natty Lanikova is the daughter of dancer Alina Lanikova and the teenage bassist for Velvet Blue. She dated Steve Zelinsky, a member of the Visigoths MC and ½ brother to Beebe Lafferty.

 

Paris Saint Claire is the lead singer for the band Velvet Blue and granddaughter of Eustis Saint Claire. She and Natty are best friends.

 

Richard King is a highly placed Disney executive who deals in ‘delicate’ situations. He is the man Disney sends when things are going wrong and action must be taken. He has the nickname ‘King Dick’, but never to his face!

 

Richard Sharkey is US Attorney for the District of Northern Florida.

 

Sammy Trang is the drummer of the band Velvet Blue and boyfriend of Amy Fry.

 

Sargent Willard Broome is the senior patrol officer for this area. He is a crew-cut wearing no-nonsense trooper who was born and raised in the Pensacola area. This white officer is honest and has no partisan grudges.

 

Sheriff Marcus G. (Garvey) Mason of Santa Rosa County is a powerfully built African-American with a bald head and piercing brown eyes. He has been sheriff for seventeen years and on the force for eight years before that as well as twelve years in the Army. He has a cyberarm and two cybereyes as well as a lot of smaller cyberware. The man has a reputation as a tough, honest cop who protects his county.

 

Sheriff Roger Calhoun of Escambia County was a hard ass white cop, who had his job for 24 years. His son-in-law was a top member of the Johnson Crime Clan. Calhoun was hopelessly corrupt and hated himself for it.

 

Superintendent Richard Lowndes is the head of the Alabama State Police and second son to the late Governor Braxton Lowndes. His older brother Braxton Lowndes II became governor, but was murdered recently.

 

Sydney Green is the Deputy comptroller of Petersen Point Properties and is here to find evidence of Ricco Torres’ malfeasance.

 

Tolland Casper ‘TC’ James is the sergeant at arms of this chapter of the Visigoths. He is the first cousin of Bruce James, manager of Angus Young’s farm, but they are not very close. TC is ex-military and has two cyberlegs and a cyberarm. He was Mary Beth Petersen’s lover when she died. Her death shattered him and drove the man into becoming a borderline cyberpsycho.

 

Tran Xuan Giap is the elderly patriarch of the Tran family and a town councilman. He is very conservative and old school.

 

Troopers Johnson and Barstow are from the Alabama State Police.

 

Trooper Seth Hunt is Broome’s usual partner. He is from Tallahassee and the ‘new guy’. He is a decent and honest white man.

 

Ty Saint Clare is Paris’s cousin and the smoking hot guitar player of Velvet Blue. He is a bald (he shaves it) ebony skinned teenager.

 

 

The Action

 

Tuesday, May 28, 2047:

 

Ricco regrets the decision to let Sydney Green sit in on the weekly staff meeting. The chief accountant had waylaid him in the hallway just before they started. The man had promised to refrain from commenting or asking questions. All he asked was an opportunity to address the assembled managers at the end of the meeting. To refuse would make him look petty or possibly cause suspicion, so he had agreed.

 

Green had so far been true to his word. He had not said a thing, but the man’s mere presence was throwing of the entire meeting. Ricco cannot help but notice the furtive glances directed at the representative from Petersen Point Properties or the self editing from certain department heads as they deliver their reports. If Green is aware of their discomfort, he is not letting it show.

 

The general banter is absent. No one seems willing to discuss any new business with a man from corporate in the room, so he cuts the meeting short. “Before we break, Mr. Green would like to say a few words.” Ricco sits to give the deputy comptroller the floor.

 

As Green rises, the passive expression that he had worn throughout the meeting is replaced by one of disdain. He doesn’t bother to acknowledge the general manager and instead drops a bombshell.

 

“A review of the recent financial data for the resort has turned up glaring irregularities; bordering on the criminal. We will be conducting a full audit of each department. I will be contacting each of you individually. Please have your records in order. State prosecutors have been notified of our findings. If any of you wish to speak up now, criminal charges might be avoided.” Green pauses for emphasis before continuing, “Petersen Point Properties plans to prosecute those involved to the fullest extent of the law.”

 

No names are mentioned, but Ricco knows that the accountant’s comments were directed at him. If Green’s hope was to sow dissention in the ranks, he has badly miscalculated.

 

 

Around the hotel a local news bulletin flashes repeatedly on the vid screens:

 

“Local and state police, with the assistance of federal authorities conducted a series of raids this morning. Thirteen members of the reputed Johnson Crime family have been arrested. There is no confirmation at this time, but these arrests may have been touched off by evidence recovered from the safety deposit box of the late Sheriff Calhoun. We will be following this situation as it unfolds.”

 

 

Taking pains to make sure they are not followed, Ricco and Brandon adjourn to the tunnels. They meet up with the rest of the team in the secret ‘war’ room to discuss what they should do about Sydney Green. Crank suggests hanging the financial discrepancies on Alice Timmons. There is enough proof that the former trailer park manager had been embezzling from the resort for years. “Maybe Carrie Ann could re-cook the books to produce evidence that her illegal activities were more extensive than first thought.”

 

Ricco is not certain that Carrie Ann would frame her friend. Even if she would, the decentralized management of the departments’ budgets would make it difficult to pin the activity on a single person. The general manager tables the discussion, opting to let Green make the first move. He does however call Richard King, to make the Disney executive aware of Green’s threats.

 

Beebe is at the general manager’s office, when a call comes in from security. Two Federal agents are at the school. Neither she nor Ricco have to guess why they’re there; Natty. Crank joins them as the head for the school. Having heard the alert on the radio, Brandon meets them in the parking lot. The security chief stays outside in the patrol car, while the other three head inside.

 

Locating the agents is surprisingly easy. Jebediah Biggs stands guard at the door of an unused classroom. The sound of uncontrollable sobbing carries through the closed door. Beebe instinctively moves forward, only to be brought up short by Agent Biggs’ extended arm. “Agent Michaels and Ms. Bauer are speaking with Miss Lanikova. The spinner transporting her mother was shot down over the Blackwater Bayou. Ms. Lanikova’s body has been recovered from the wreckage, along with those of the pilot and other passengers.”

 

All three are stunned. Biggs steps aside as the door opens. Frank Michaels and Angela Bauer exit the room with Natty. The girl’s sobs have ceased, replaced by dull catatonia. She stares unseeing out of red rimmed eyes as Beebe rushes to her. There is no hint of recognition. She doesn’t return her friend’s embrace or offer any resistance as Beebe and Angela lead her down the hall.

 

Natty’s home is still a crime scene. Beebe immediately offers to put her up, but Angela feels it would be better if Natty stayed with her. The nomad sees no need to argue the point. As long as her friend is safe, that’s all that matters.

 

Ricco and Crank talk with Agent Michaels and confirm that Alina Lanikova is dead. It’s clear that he’s is taking her death personally. Michaels reveals that the spinner was shot down by a group of smuggler’s that have a compound near the Alabama border. Both realize they are probably the same ‘smugglers’ the team hit earlier in the evening.

 

Upon returning to his office, Ricco instructs Betty Lu to destroy the letters he left regarding A.C. Johnson. To take his mind off their current troubles the ex-cop delves into the cold case files. He reaches out to Hank Tremont, but the Visigoth’s president can offer no new information on the death of Mary Beth Petersen. He does make one suggestion. “You might want to speak with Michelle Petersen. She and Mary Beth were always close.”

 

Before contacting Michelle, Ricco considers enlisting the aid of Francis Ingersoll (and hopefully Charles as well). Given their current troubles with Petersen Point Properties he is very careful in how he words the request. The ex-cop wants to make it clear that he is conducting a serious investigation; completely separate from any other business dealing he might have with her husband.

 

 

Dear Mrs. Frances Ingersoll,

 

Sheriff Marcus Mason (of Santa Rosa County) has asked me to investigate some cold case deaths—including that of your sister, Mary Beth. I know you and she were close friends, and I am hoping you and your husband can shed new light on the situation.

 

First, TC James’ alibi is a strong one. I have ruled him out as a suspect. Second, it’s possible this was a hit-and-run accident. If so, we probably will never know who was responsible. There are too many vehicles in the state that could have been involved. However, if it was murder, then in most cases, something the victim either did or knew will have intersected with the killer. I am hoping that you and Charles have knowledge about your sister that you may not realize is important to the case.

 

May I come meet with you and your husband to ask questions about your sister’s life and friends and activities in the few months before her death?

 

Respectfully,

 

Ricardo Torres...

 

 

Ricco makes sure the letter is mailed that day.

 

 

That evening, a formal announcement is released by the State of Alabama. Lt. Governor John Lowndes will be sworn in as governor on Monday, June 10th. The ceremony will take place in the capital of Dothan.

 

Ricco calls an evening meeting Dirty Deeds team. “In there are any of you that have not heard, Alina Lanikova, Natty’s mother has been killed. The state police spinner was shot down by the smugglers we hit. Teams have been to the area to recover the wreckage and bodies; which brings us to our problem. While they are out there searching, they could come across the wreckage of the hotel’s airboats.”

 

Most of the team favors going back and cleaning up the evidence. To Beebe, trading the chance of discovery for a certainty is insane. “You want to go back into the swamp when it’s crawling with feds and god knows what else…to clean up wreckage that they may or may not find? Isn’t that why Jack’s people have been working on the boats we captured.”

 

At mention of his name, Jack speaks up. “When we’re done, they’ll look exactly like the one’s we lost.”

 

Building on Jack’s assurance, Beebe offers one more though that she hopes will sway them from going on what could be a suicide mission. “Even if they find the wreckage we will have two fully functional boats to show them. These people were smugglers. It only stands to reason, that they might disguise their airboats. Is it our fault if they disguised them to look like the airboats from the hotel?”

 

It might be a weak excuse, but it does the trick. They actually listen to her (for once) and the sortie into the swamp is scrapped.

 

***

 

 

Wednesday, May 29, 2047:

 

Dispatch issues a security alert around mid-morning, as a column of vehicles drives onto the property. Three Alabama State Police vehicles accompanied by three marked LEDiv armored SUVs and two FDLE patrol cruisers proceed down Petersen Point Road towards the school. Both cruisers and an SUV pull into the parking lot, the remaining vehicles split up, heading for the employee cottages on the harbor and Charlie’s house.

 

Ricco places an emergency call to Sheriff Mason before dashing over to the school with Brandon, Crank and Betty Lu. Sargent Willard Broome is waiting for them in the parking lot. Broome tries to be conciliatory as he explains, “we are escorting an Alabama State Police Inspector with a material witness warrant for Natty Lanikova.”

 

Ricco is appalled that they would stand by and let them take Natty based on an Alabama warrant.

 

The sergeant assures them, “I wouldn’t, but they brought along Richard Sharkey, the US Attorney for Northern Florida. My hands are tied.”

 

Betty Lu looks at the warrant as Broome talks with Ricco. “Look, we were brought in to keep the peace. The Federal Attorney is here to make sure that they don’t get humiliated again by fifteen year old girl. Seems she slipped through their fingers once before.”

 

As they wait for Sheriff Mason, Ricco calls Beebe. The nomad heads over to Angela’s, but Natty is already gone. The inspector exits the school with Trooper Seth Hunt. “Where is she,” he demands, advancing on the group by the cruisers. The Czech girl doesn’t appear to have been in class either. “If you are interfering with the execution of my warrant, I’ll have you arrested on charges of obstruction.”

 

While they ‘debate’ Natty’s location and the legality of the warrant, Sheriff Mason pulls into the parking lot. Marcus asks for and is handed the warrant. He takes his time reviewing the contents, which aggravates the inspector to no end. Marcus hand the document back. With a good natured smile, he informs the inspector, “Sorry you don’t have the authority to enforce this warrant,” hooking a thumb towards Sharkey, ”unless the District Attorney here intends to make this a Federal issue.”

 

Though obviously perturbed by this oversight, the man quickly rises to the challenge. “Then, as the local authority, I officially request that you execute this lawful warrant.”

 

Sheriff Mason is obliged to comply. “All right, go and find Natty. I have to bring her in.”

 

Ricco can’t help feeling a bit betrayed by his friend. It comes out in his tone. “I already told them, we do not know where she is,”

 

Marcus doesn’t hold it against him. It’s a difficult situation, but he still has a job to do. Using a tone that would be the envy of any drill sergeant Sheriff Mason delivers an ultimatum. “If you can’t produce the girl, I’ll have to call up men and in one hour we will execute a search of every nock and cranny of this resort until we find her.” Mason makes sure that all of the onlookers hear him, especially those crowding the windows of the school. If any of them are hiding the girl he wants them to know what’s at stake.

 

Ricco looks into his friend’s eyes. Marcus is not bluffing, but at least he bought them an hour to find a solution. Even if they could find Natty, there’s no way they could turn her over. Still, as an ex-cop he understands the game. They have to appear to be complying with his request. “Sheriff, could a couple of your deputies help our security force check the trailer parks and cottages? They know the people there. It might be best if the Inspector and his Alabama storm troopers stay where they. The same goes for their Federal handlers. We wouldn’t want any unintended incidents.”

 

It is a petty jab, but Ricco does not like being backed into a corner.

 

As if they needed reminding, the Federal Attorney calls after them, “you’ve got one hour.”

 

It takes only 20 minutes to find Natty; hiding down in the old fort’s tunnels. She is scared, but willing to talk. If Sam Fisher were still alive he would probably kill the girl to protect the mission. Ricco would be a liar if he said the thought had not crossed his mind, but his conscience won’t allow it. In the end, he leaves the decision up to the girl herself.

 

Ricco lays out the situation. “If we do not turn you over, the police are going to tear the resort apart looking for you. They’ll find the tunnels and all of the equipment. Everyone could be in danger.” It’s a lot to put on a fifteen year old.

 

Natty agrees to go with Sheriff Mason. Marcus’ stern demeanor relaxes as the two pull up to the school. “Cut it a mite close dincha?” Ricco knows he is trying to break the tension, but it brings no solace. Handing the girl over could mean all their deaths.

 

“Trust me, Ricco.” Placing a reassuring hand on Natty’s shoulder, Sheriff Mason walks the girl over to the Alabama Inspector and Federal Attorney Sharkey. “Natalie, these men want you to go with them to help find out what happened to Governor Braxton Lowndes II and your mother. Do you want to go with them?”

 

Natty arches an eyebrow, looks to the sheriff then back to the two men and say, “No!” emphatically.

 

“This is ridiculous,” the Inspector has no interest in prolonging the matter any further. He steps forward and reaches for Natty only to find Sheriff Mason standing in his way.

 

“This is my prisoner and she is contesting her extradition. You can take it up with Judge Hamilton.”

 

Seizing the opportunity, Betty Lu steps forward, “I’m Ms. Lanikova’s attorney. I wish to confer with my client,” Marcus waves her over then ushers the two women towards his patrol car.

 

The inspector is beside himself. He screams at the District Attorney, “Do something!”

 

Sharkey can only hold up his hands. The two men hustle for their respective vehicles. Sheriff Mason drives slowly off the property, followed closely by the entire governmental motorcade.

 

Within the hour, Alabama has a hearing scheduled for tomorrow at 10 am. Betty Lu stays with her client and studies the case.

 

***

 

 

Thursday, May 30, 2047:

 

The only ‘direct’ evidence the Alabama State Police can produce linking Alina to the murder of Governor Braxton Lowndes is the security code used to gain access to his residence. It was the code issued to Alina during her ‘visit’ last month. Using this ‘smoking gun’, the Alabama lawyers craft a case of circumstantial evidence and character assassination.

 

Natty is forced to listen as her mother’s reputation is dragged through the mud. A parade of witnesses offer testimony aimed at forging a connection between Alina and the Alabama Freedom Army. To this, Betty Lu raises an objection. “Your honor their portraying my client’s mother as being a member of the AFA, while also claiming that it was the AFA, that downed the skimmer. It seems that anything that goes wrong in Alabama is blame on the Alabama Freedom Army.”

 

The Alabama lawyer interjects, “Your honor, please bear with me. We are establishing a pattern of activity. The testimony of troopers Johnson and Barstow will bear out my line of questioning. And if it pleases the court we ask that opposing council be directed to refrain from making further slanderous comments.”

 

“I will take it under advisement.” Judge Hamilton appears none to please to be told how to run his court room. “You may proceed Mr. Godwin, but I’d advise you not to waste the court’s time.”

 

“Thank you your honor.” Aware that the judge’s patience is wearing this, Godwin forgoes calling any further ‘character witnesses’ and proceeds directly to the two troopers. Natty takes note of both men as they take the stand. They were members of the team that put her mother on the spinner. The troopers’ testimony is nearly identical. Neither considers the mission an extraction. Both men swear that Alina went willingly. “She was going to give up the AFA, which is why they killed her. It’s a bold face lie, but impossible to prove. As the hearing lets out for lunch recess, things aren’t looking good.

 

Certain of victory, the Alabama authorities are more than willing to speak with the tight ring of media gathered on the steps of the courthouse. Frank Michaels slips past the gauntlet of reporters and eases over to Ricco. He nods to Crank and Brandon who are standing with the general manager. After exchanging pleasantries {i]Michaels offers an observation. “You know after all that happened to her, you’d think a trained agent like Alina Lanikova might have bugged her own house to see if anyone broke in while she was gone.”

 

Ricco doesn’t immediately pick up on the significance, but Crank does. “Yes, that would make sense.”

 

The NCIS agent continues. “I’ve seen her place. If it were me, I’d put it in one of the flutes in that carved mirror frame over the mantle.”

 

Owen agrees, “That would be a good place, Thanks.”

 

Agent Michaels gives them a wry smile before walking back towards the courthouse. “Don’t mention it.”

 

Ricco can’t help but add his own thanks. Michaels stop short and looks back at the general general manager, fixing him with a stare. “No, really…don’t mention it.” Ricco nods to let the agent know he understands.

 

Brandon and Crank speed off towards the resort. Alina’s bungalow is still a crime scene, but with no officer on site, they push through the tape and search where Michaels had suggested. Sure enough, there’s a camouflaged micro recorder. The two race back to the courthouse. Brandon accesses the device’s memory while Crank drives. Scrolling forward to the night of the extraction, reveals a sequence of events far different what the two troopers testified to in court.

 

Alina is ambushed; shot with tranquilizing darts. Even drugged, she takes down two assailants, before going down herself. After she’s down, the three remaining attackers beat her with stun batons. These blows are not to subdue their quarry but to punish her for hurting their friends. A few kicks are thrown in for good measure. Alina is finally dragged out by her feet. Most damning of all is the image captured of the man who appears to be leading the extraction team; Trooper Johnson.

 

The afternoon session starts with Betty Lu introducing Sheriff Mason’s report of his investigation. According to his findings Alina was working at the Blue Moon at the time of the governor’s murder. The attorney then calls Brandon Heath to the stand. He details how in his capacity as a Blackwater Town Constable he entered the Lanikova residence and recovered a digital recording device.

 

The Alabama lawyer immediately raises an objection. “Your honor, we were not made aware of this evidence and have had no opportunity to verify its authenticity. “

 

Betty Lu breaks in. “Your honor, this evidence has only just come to light. My client made me aware of the security device after the testimonies of troopers Johnson and Barstow, Mr. Heath delivered it to me only moments before we reconvened. There was no opportunity to present it to my ‘colleague’. This evidence will directly refute the testimony presented troopers Johnson and Barstow.

 

Over Alabama’s objection, the Judge orders the video played. The court watches in hushed horror. Even the Assistant Federal District Attorney sent by Richard Sharkey is appalled. Judge Hamilton quashes the warrant and dresses down the LEDiv agents. The Alabama State Police officer who beat the unconscious Alina is arrested on the spot and warrants for the other two are issued. Bail is set at $500,000.

 

Natty is released. Beebe catches her friend, staring at the Alabama State Trooper as he is led away in cuffs. She’s seen the look before, but the nomad no longer fears for her friend. Thoughts of revenge have tempered her grief. After seeing the video, she hopes Natty gets the chance to settle accounts with the state trooper. The ride back to the resort is a somber one. They may have won the court case, but Alina is still dead.

 

(GM Note: Of course the camera was not put there by Alina, but by the Federal task force watching the ex-Czech Special Forces operative. When the decision came down by the Feds not to release the recording, Michaels took matters into his own hands. He had taken a liking to the mother and daughter.)

 

***

 

 

Friday, May 31, 2047:

 

The next South Am Tour arrives and takes up 43 rooms.

 

Ricco contacts Michelle Petersen about her late cousin. Michelle insists that no one hated Mary Beth. “The only disagreement I can remember her having was with her grandfather, Randy, They argued about her relationship with T.C. James, but Uncle Randy would never hurt her. Mary Beth meant the world to him.”

 

From the way Michelle describes it, Mary Beth didn’t have an enemy in the world…at least none she knew of. She gives him a list of her cousin’s friends. “I don’t know if it will help, but they might know something I don’t.”

 

Trooper Johnson’s bail is reduced to $50,000. He is placed on administrative leave. The two other Alabama troopers involved in the incident are arraigned on lesser charges. The three return to Alabama.

 

 

Beebe meets up with her friends after they finish school. Paris is beaming. The singer bounces with excitement as she exclaims “He invited me! I can’t believe it. My grandfather invited me to the family’s Children’s Day celebration; tomorrow.”

 

For the last sixteen years, Tran Xuan Giap refused to acknowledge the existence of his half breed granddaughter. For the Old Man, she was a living reminder of his son and the shame he brought to the family. Recent revelation about his son and the loss of Lilly, have made him regret his treatment of Paris. To make amends, he personally invited her to the celebration.

 

The Children’s Day Festival had been an important celebration in Vietnam during his youth. When he emigrated to the U.S. the elder Tran kept the tradition alive. The day now marks the annual Tran family reunion. Tomorrow night’s band practice has to be postponed but the girls could care less. After losing her mother, time with family has taken on a new significance for Natty. She’s happy for her friend. Paris’ exuberance helps her forget her own grief.

 

That evening Ricco sits down with Brandon, Crank and Betty Lu. He’s hit a wall in his investigation and hopes to pick their brain. Crank actually comes up with a theory he hadn’t considered. “What if her murder was an act of retaliation against T.C. James?” The Sergeant at arms of the Visigoths would have a lot of enemies. It bears looking into.

 

***

 

 

Next: Part Two of Two

 

 

Episode 15 – Death and Horror Up the Blackwater Bayou

 

 

 

The Alabama Freedom Army releases a video of the ‘murder’ of Governor Braxton Lowndes II. His killer bears a striking resemblance to Alina Lanikova. The Alabama State Police are keen to ask her some questions.

 

Sent on an emergency rescue mission by Mr. Zeitsev, the team finds out first hand, that some of the local legends are all too real. There’s good reason why most people stay away from the upper Blackwater Bayou.

 

 

Background

 

President Whindam has made it the goal of his fifth term as president, to restore the sovereignty of the Unite States of America over the four southern states colloquially known as the ‘Cotton Kingdoms’. Under this directive, several teams have been formed to implement a plan concocted by C.I.A. Deputy Director Hamilton Greeley and US Attorney for the District of Northern Florida Richard Sharkey. One of these teams (The PCs) has been tasked with running the Petersen Point Resort. Located in Santa Rosa County, on Florida’s panhandle, this seedy old tourist destination is perfectly situated, between the Pensacola COG and Alabama border. Though they may be tasked with the occasional field op, the Petersen Point team’s primary mission is to act as a ‘safe haven’ and staging ground.

 

Members of this ‘Dirty Deeds’ team have been provided with cover jobs at the hotel. Sam Fisher, a retired Delta Force colonel and C.I.A. assassin, was the original team leader. His cold blooded murder of an Alabama State Trooper caused his employers to reevaluate his tenure. Since his untimely death at the hands of a C.I.A. cleaner, the role of team leader has fallen to Ricco Torres. The Brazilian born ex-cop turned corporate executive walks a fine line between loyalty to Disney and the needs of the mission. Those goals of are in alignment, for now…

 

 

Dramatis Personae

 

The Team

 

Beebe Lafferty: A young tech and member of the Snake Nation helping Charlie with his various projects. She is the daughter of retired Major Beatrice ‘Bea’ Lafferty, who gained fame (or infamy) by firing the first ortillery strike of the Fourth Corporate War on Night City.

 

Betty Lu: An attractive 25 yo lawyer of Chinese descent. Despite her appearance she is a Texas girl, through and through.

 

Brandon Heath: A solo who is serve as head of security at the Petersen Point Resort. He is a member of the ‘Dirty Deeds’ crew. Unknown to everyone but Doctor Eduardo Ricci, Brandon is an experimental Biomechanical (cyborg) with one of Doc Freeman’s ‘cyberbrains’ sent by the Collective in response to Sam’s daughter’s request to watch over her father. Brandon was originally Grave, a cyborg from the Fourth Corporate War, who was later (2026) convicted of authorizing the murder of a young hacker and his family. Grave was supposedly executed but the government put him in their Project Kill Switch Program (see Super Solo 2 Campaign for details). He was rescued from a top secret government lab by his friend, Caitlin Jones.

 

Charlie Bibbliodoc: A master weaponsmith and owner of Boss Arms. He is a Snake Nation nomad in the area who is working on two projects. One is a government DARPA sponsored program to develop next generation laser technology. The other is to rearm and rehabilitate weapons systems for the floating colonies and vessels of the Thelas Nation in the Gulf of Mexico. He is an old friend of Sam Fisher from the Romanian Campaign.

 

Doctor Eduardo Ricci: This man is the hotel physician and a ‘Dirty Deeds’ employee. He is a Brazilian national who used to work with Roca Terrier, and is trained in bio-mechanical repair.

 

Owen ‘Crank’ Wolf: A young, muscle bound solo with experience in managing bars and other watering holes. He is a member of Sam’s ‘Dirty Deeds’ crew. His cover is Food and Beverage manager at the Petersen Point Resort.

 

Ricco Torres: A former member of the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police who became a private investigator when his friendship with certain ‘unsavory’ characters came to light. The Disney Corporation hired him to assist an Edgerunner team brought in to push their political agenda in Rio. In the process a monstrous plot that cost the lives of thousands of residents of the infamous favelas was uncovered and Ricco figured prominently in bringing the conspirators to justice. He was promoted and moved to Walt Disney World in Florida. When the United States government asked Disney for help, they sent Ricco who is now general manager of the Petersen Point Resort.

 

Mason Verge: A former Marine Force Recon member turned freelance solo with a good relationship with the Thelas nomads and a distinct dislike for the Alabama State Police.

 

 

The NPCs

 

Alina Lanikova is the lead dancer at the Blue Moon Revue. She is a stunningly beautiful (ATTR 10), tall 29 year old Czech woman. Her skills are exceptional and she acts as ‘Den Mother” to the other dancers. She lives at the Resort with her teenage daughter.

 

Carl is a local smuggler who works with Clem Wallace.

 

Clem Wallace is a local smuggler who has a beef with a group of swamp people in the upper Blackwater Bayou.

 

Governor Braxton Lowndes II is the current governor (for life) of Alabama and son of the late ex-Governor Braxton Lowndes.

 

Jack Shepard, the marina manager and a Thelas nomad. He is ex-military and is organizing the resort’s defenses.

 

Michael Jay Tran is the great nephew of Tran Xuan Giap and an ex-soldier and Philippine policeman. He is hired at the Petersen Point Resort as a security officer and is made a Blackwater town constable.

 

Mr. Zeitsev is the code name for the Team’s contact on this secret, black project. He is their (government’s) ‘Mr. Johnson’.

 

Natty Lanikova is the daughter of dancer Alina Lanikova and the teenage bassist for Velvet Blue. She dated Steve Zelinsky, a member of the Visigoths MC and ½ brother to Beebe Lafferty.

 

Richard King is a highly placed Disney executive that deals in ‘delicate’ situations. He is the man Disney sends, when things are going wrong and action must be taken. He has the nickname ‘King Dick’, but never to his face!

 

Sandomir ‘Sandy’ Zelinsky is the Vice President of the Visigoths MC. He is a tall blonde, green eyed man. Wild and fun loving in his youth, Sandy has matured into a clever and experienced leader. He and Hank are best friends.

 

Sheriff Marcus G. (Garvey) Mason of Santa Rosa County is a powerfully built African-American with a bald head and piercing brown eyes. He has been sheriff for seventeen years and on the force for eight years before that as well as twelve years in the Army. He has a cyberarm and two cybereyes as well as a lot of smaller cyberware. The man has a reputation as a tough, honest cop who protects his county.

 

 

The Action

 

Sunday, May 26, 2047:

 

A video released by the Alabama Freedom Army tops the day’s news. There has been no statement through official channels, but sources in the Alabama government have confirmed that footage was taken from a security feed in the late governor’s residence. The time stamp places it on the day of his death.

 

In the video, Governor Braxton Lowndes II is being chased around a bed by a naked woman. The late governor’s reputation aside, it is evident by the terror on his face, that this is not typical bedroom antics. Watching the news, Ricco nearly spits out his coffee. The assassin bears a strong resemblance to Alina Lanikova.

 

At 00.28 seconds, the woman strikes Lowndes in the throat. The video runs for another 38 seconds, capturing the late governors death throws. A medical expert interviewed posits that the strike may have crushed Lowndes’ larynx, blocking his airway. Without examining the body, he can’t be certain, but based on the foot he believes the governor died of asphyxiation.

 

The story shifts to how these new revelations will affect the transition of power within the Lowndes government. It appears that media has yet to identify the attacker. Ricco heads to Alina’s bungalow.

 

The early morning visit is a surprise for the dancer. “What can I do for you?”

 

“Have you seen the news?”

 

Alina eyes him appraisingly. “No…why?”

 

Rather than trying to explain, Ricco asks her to bring up the local news. She complies, accessing the local news feed.

 

‘There, that one.”

 

Alina opens the story recap. As a trained investigator, Ricco watches her reaction as they watch the short video. Her face betrays no emotion or recognition, as the governor’s murder plays out on the video screen.

 

Turning to the ex-cop, she asks, “So?”

 

“Well I…” Ricco pauses, not sure how to continue. He had hoped seeing the video would make the reason for his visit plain, but Alina’s lack of a reaction leaves him in a quandary. Accusing her of assassinating the Alabama Governor could end badly. The awkward moment drags on as Ricco searches for the right words.

 

Alina beats him to the punch. “You think that’s me?” There is shock in the dancer’s voice, mixed, with what sounds like disappointment. “I was working last Friday night. There are about hundred witnesses including your staff at the Blue Moon who can testify to that.”

 

The general manager starts to feel bad about suspecting her, but it doesn’t matter what he thinks. Ricco is fairly certain the Alabama authorities won’t care about witnesses or politely ask to speak with her. For all concerned, it’s best if she was elsewhere. “Why don’t you take a week’s paid vacation; maybe get away with Natty?”

 

Alina doesn’t immediately jump at his offer. After a moment’s consideration, she tells the general manager, “I’ll think about it.”

 

It is a bit surprising. Even if she isn’t worried about the Alabama Authorities, Ricco can’t understand why she would turn down a week’s free pay. He returns to his office confused; wondering if he missed something.

 

Within 15 minutes of returning to his office, Ricco receives a call from Alina. “About your offer…can you make it a week at Disney World?”

 

The general manager breathes an inward sigh of relief. He had taken her “I’ll think about it” to be a polite no. “No problem, I can arrange that.”

 

Disney will comp the rooms. Any food or miscellaneous expenses, she’ll have to pick up herself. Alina has some things to tie up before they leave, so the reservations are made for Tuesday, May 28th.

 

 

Ricco receives an urgent package from Mr. Zeitsev. It is an emergency assignment, to rescue an agent being held by locals in northern Santa Rosa County. The group is planning to sell him to the Alabama authorities within the next 24 to 48 hours. This man knows critical details about Zeitsev’s operation including the Team’s involvement. He is a font of information that cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of enemy. If the operative cannot be rescued, he must be silenced. The instructions are clear that termination is only as a last resort.

 

Included in the briefing are satellite recon images of the swamp settlement. Estimates put the number of inhabitants at around 100. Of that number roughly half can be considered trained combatants. Defensive points, such as gun emplacements are marked on the photos, as are probable locations, where they might be holding the captured operative.

 

Zeitsev’s preliminary intelligence indicates that the settlement’s defenses are heaviest to the north and east. These approaches are closest to the local road network and are therefore the most likely direction of attack. By comparison, the area to the west is lightly defended. The deep swamp backing the settlement seems to provide a natural line of defense from that direction.

 

The intelligence report makes note of a localized peculiarity. RF communication and GPS tracking does not work in the area surrounding the settlement. It is unknown if this jamming is a natural phenomenon or manmade.

 

Ricco presents the mission to the Dirty Deeds Team. Given the accelerated timetable and the settlements location, it is decided that they should approach the Visigoths about transportation. The gang’s stealth hovercrafts had allowed them to slip across the border into Alabama on an earlier mission. Beebe is asked to speak with her father, about the cost.

 

Being so few in number, Ricco puts forward the idea of asking Alina Lanikova to join them for the operation. Beebe is against the idea. Bringing in her mom, could put Natty in an awkward situation. There’s also the chance that Alina might not take it well if she found out they had been taking her daughter out on dangerous missions. “Instead of gaining a new team member, we might lose one we already have. Now isn’t the time to open that can of worms.” The nomad’s assessment strikes a chord with others around the table. Asking Alina to join them is tabled, for the time being.

 

(GM Note: Natty rarely attends team meetings. Given her age and temperament, she is treated more as a contract worker, i.e. brought in for specific missions, than a full member of the team. Some of the team members still view her as a security risk.)

 

Beebe drops by her dad’s house to ask about hiring the hovercrafts. The V.P. shakes his head. “I’m sorry, but we have an agreement with those people. We stay out of their business and they do the same.” After a moment’s consideration, he adds, “I might know someone who could help.”

 

Sandy makes a brief call. He hands Beebe a slip of paper with a name (Clem Wallace) and phone number. “Give this to Ricco…and if you’re going up there, stay safe.”

 

 

When contacted, Clem is gung-ho to go after “those swamp rats,” as he calls them. There has been a long standing feud going on between his people and those at the settlement. Competition carried over into bloodshed and the smuggler is eager to collect some payback. He’s willing to act as the team’s guide, so long as they let him take part in the attack. Given the odds, Ricco is happy for any help he can get.

 

Clem has just one other stipulation. The team has to provide the transport. He’s willing to show them how to get there, but doesn’t want to risk his own craft. In a bind, Ricco is forced to commandeer the hotel’s two airboats for the mission. Some of Wallace’s people will come along to watch the boats while the team and Clem make the assault. The wilily smuggler proves to be a sound tactician. He even suggests hiring one of his buddies to fly in low with his small plane. “It’ll provide a diversion and should cover the noise from our fans.”

 

Crank isn’t convinced. “Won’t that put them on alert?”

 

“Nah, Alabama patrols fly over the area pretty regularly. My buddy flies a similar model to their spotter planes. At night, they’re not gonna see him, but the engine noise should be close enough to fool ‘em.

 

Ricco deems the added cost well worth it.

 

In order to hide their involvement in the extraction, the general manager suggests they forgo the use of personal firearms. He authorizes the team to pull guns from the large cache of weapons they found in the tunnels under the resort. Charlie is vocally opposed.

 

“I don’t want to use some mass produced Russian piece of crap. I wanna give my laser weapons a real field test.”

 

Beebe has heard that eagerness in his voice before; like a kid who can’t wait to play with his new toys. The problem is, it’s infectious. The gunsmith’s outburst has made others question Ricco’s decision. Some even sound interested in taking a crack at firing one of their laser pistols.

 

It’s a bad decision. Beebe knows she has to speak up. “Are you crazy? Who else around here has lasers? Why don’t you just put a neon sign over our head saying ‘We did it’?”

 

It’s her strongest argument against taking the lasers. She can see it has an effect on most of the team…but not Charlie.

 

The gunsmith plays down her concerns. “It’s not like those yahoos up there are gonna call the cops or anything.”

 

Arguing that the defense department could pull their funding or the laser could fall into the hands of the Alabama authorities would be pointless. Neither would mean much to the rest of the team and Charlie is beyond listening to reason. Fear of discovery though, seems to be working, so she presses the issue. “The laser pistols aren’t stealthy. If it’s true that Alabama monitors the area, they won’t need to contact the police. Your little light show will do it for them. And god-forbid one of the lasers malfunctions.”

 

Her last comment is a sobering reminder of the catastrophic explosion caused by one of the pistol prototypes. It’s a bit of dirty pool. With all of the refinements and safety measures that had been added, the chances of a cascade failure were minimal, but when you are trying to avert a potential disaster, sometimes you have to hit below the belt.

 

The argument starts to get out of hand. Ricco has to step in to end it. He sides with Beebe. Lasers are out. Charlie is not happy with decision, but will abide by it. Later, as he and Beebe work to fabricate silencers for the guns the team will use, the young nomad tries to console her sullen mentor. “Once this is finished, we’ll take a couple of the pistols and rifles and go have a proper field test. We’ll find something big to shoot.”

 

[GM Note: During the back and forth over taking or not taking the lasers, Beebe questioned Charlie’s reason for wanting to take them. Their intel showed that the settlement didn’t have any heavy vehicles or armor. He somewhat flippantly responded “for the gators”. Exasperated, Beebe shot back, “Look, it’s not like we’re going up against Godzilla or anything!”

The irony of this exchange would become evident as the game session played out.]

 

 

Jack Sheppard assigns a group of his nomads to transport the airboats (with the resort’s logos covered over) to a bayou channel just northeast of Milton. Wallace and three of his people are already at the meet point. While the nomads and smugglers unload the airboats, Ricco, Brandon, Mike Tran and Crank strap on assault armor. The rest make do with BDUs.

 

There is an awkward moment, when Beebe learns that she won’t be piloting the second airboat. A therapist might call it deep seated control issues, but the nomad has never been comfortable being a passenger. She grudgingly relinquishes the pilot seat to Clem’s man Carl and hunkers down next to Natty. As Charlie joins them, she muses that it must be karmic payback for not letting the gunsmith bring his laser.

 

Clem’s remaining men stay on shore with the Thelas, while the team pushes off into the channel. Their guides keep the boats at half speed as they make their way through the bayou. Even with their flat bottoms, underwater obstructions are a danger. There is also the possibility of encountering patrols along the way. It takes till about 10pm, but they make it to within striking distance without incident. Clem and Carl throttle back the fans to listen for their diversion. Within minutes, the sound of a plane’s engine can be heard buzzing overhead. There are no navigation lights to give away its actual position, but the sound is coming from the direction of the settlement.

 

 

The noise from the low flying aircraft masks their approach. They coast into the bank of an outlying hummock. Ricco worries about their guide’s survival during the assault. He offers up his assault armor for the smuggler’s use. Clem is grateful for the added protection. While the rest of the team camouflages the boats, Ricco shucks off the harden armor and hands it to their guide. After a last equipment and weapons check, they head off to cover the final stretch of swamp. Carl stays behind to guard the airboats.

 

 

By the time they reach the outskirts of the settlement, the plane is long gone. Any excitement it may have caused has passed. Everything appears quiet and still on this side of the camp. Ricco takes Brandon and Natty forward for a closer look. The rest of the team spreads out to take up firing positions.

 

All of the surveillance photos shot from above. It takes Ricco a moment to orient himself, but he soon is able to pick out the designated structures where their target may be held. Of those locations only one has guards on the door. While the Brazilian survey’s the camp, Natty slips off to the northwest to plant demo charges at the northern barracks and deal with the patrols from that sector. Brandon wires the southern barracks and then takes up position to finish off any stragglers. Blowing up the barracks will provide a diversion for the assault and should hopefully eliminate a good number of their opposition.

 

 

Given the vagaries of RF signals in the area the team can’t rely on radio detonators. They are forced to resort to wired charges. With the charges set, time is now of the essence. If someone stumbles across the wires they could lose the element of surprise.

 

Natty waits till a foot patrol passes near the corner of the north barracks to activate her clacker. The two men disappear in the rapidly expanding fireball that levels the building. Three seconds later, Brandon sets off the charges on the south barracks. Ricco and Clem fire on the guards outside the prisoner hut.

 

The men are wounded but don’t go down. Ricco charges, with the smuggler close behind. A second burst from their assault rifles finishes off the guards outside. The Brazilian pushes through the door, but takes fire from inside the hut. Luckily his armor absorbs most of the damage. He cuts down the gunman then checks on the prisoner. It’s their target. Scooping him up into a fireman’s carry Ricco runs out of the hut and makes for the edge of the settlement with Clem providing covering fire.

 

Their movement catches the eye of a roving K9 patrol. Released from its lead, the large hound bounds towards the three men, but a shot from Natty’s rifle ends its charge. The animal’s front legs give out and it plows into the ground, twenty feet from its quarry. Swinging back toward the dog’s handler, the Czech girl squeezes off another round from her sniper rifle. In the semi darkness, she cannot see the jet of blood and grey matter, but the man goes down and does not move. Clem engages a K9 patrol coming from the opposition direction. He switches his A-80 to automatic fire and lights up the dog and handler. Both drop under the assault rifles withering fire.

 

 

With the ‘package’ secured and the enemy camp in confusion, everyone falls back, to where they left the boats. The only problem being, the boats are missing and so is Carl. Concerned that an enemy patrol may have found their transports, the team fans out and hunkers down. They scan the area to make sure they aren’t walking into an ambush. Brandon stalks forward. After scanning the embankment he signals the all clear.

 

As they all pull into the ‘extraction’ point, Beebe has a moment of panic. Natty isn’t at the rendezvous. As the nomad scans the terrain back towards the settlement, Brandon squats down to examine the wreckage of one of their airboats. The remains of the water craft lie partially submerged just off the hummock. Its bent and broken fan assembly is about ten feet away in the high grass. That’s why they hadn’t seen the boats when they first approached.

 

There are no bullet holes in the rent hull or signs of an explosion that would account for the damage. The hooded beam of Clem’s flashlight illuminates splashes of red along the muddy embankment. Charlie notices something else; a long depression in the soft earth, that is half again as long as his boot. “Hey, shine the light of here. Is that…a foot print?”

 

Before Clem can respond, the water in front of him erupts. An enormous reptilian shape surges from the water and grabs the shocked smuggler in its jaws. He is lifted off his feet, as a thirty foot long crocodile tries to drag him into the water. The flashlight falls from his hand as Clem frantically grabs at his assault rifle.

 

The team opens up on the scaly behemoth, but their bullets wash off its seemingly armored hide. Ricco doesn’t waste time engaging the target. His first responsibility is the ‘package”. He grabs the man and bodily drags him away from the edge of the water. Mike Tran drops his A-80 to take aim with one of the few heavy weapons they brought with them. The RPG-A is proof against lightly armor vehicles. He hopes it will put a dent in this beast.

 

Clem cries out as the hardened shell of the assault armor starts to crack under the enormous pressure of the powerful jaws. As it turns back towards the water, its massive tail swings through its attackers. Most of the team manages to dive out of the way, but Brandon is sent flying through the air. He lands some twenty feet away.

 

The scramble to get out of the way of the tail finally gives Mike Tran a clear shot. He depresses the firing stud and sends the rocket propelled grenade slamming into the back of the hulking beast. Unlike all of their other attacks, the explosive charge seems to have some effect. However, the huge reptile appears to shake off the damage and with another swipe of its tail, disappears into the water. Clem’s screams die to a gurgle as he is dragged beneath the surface.

 

As the ripples fade, the team edges away from the water, reloading as they go. “What the fuck!” It’s not clear who says it, but it’s what they are all thinking. They retreat to the other side of the hummock and run into Natty. Beebe is elated to see her friend. She gives her a hug, before asking, “What happened? Are you ok?”

 

“I am fine.” Rather sheepishly, the Czech girl admits, “I was turned around.” (botched wilderness survival roll). “I followed the sound of gunfire and explosion….knew it had to be you guys.”

 

The team assesses their options. Returning to the settlement and stealing a boat is suggested, but shot down. By now the entire camp would be on alert. There’s no knowing how many defenders are actually left, but those who survived the initial assault would now be out for blood. They decide to try and make their way southwest along the hummocks. The Team cautiously moves out, hoping the beast is too busy with Clem, to come sniffing around for another meal.

 

***

 

 

Monday, May 27, 2047:

 

The team’s smart goggles and cyberware have allowed them to move through the night, but not without a few mishaps. Even with top of the line goggles, depth perception is slightly skewed, making already unsure footing even more perilous. If that weren’t bad enough, a digitally enhanced world rendered in shades of green makes it difficult to distinguish a floating tree trunk from the return of the beast. Sunrise brings welcome relief.

 

As the morning brightens, so does the mood…at least for most. All through the night Charlie has stewed over Ricco’s decision not to bring the lasers. Now that it appears the worst of their journey is behind them, he can’t help but needle their ‘leader’. As there is some distance between them in the column, the gunsmith shouts so that his taunt is sure to be heard. “Hey, Ricco! We sure could’ve used a laser back there. But nooo, we’re not gonna run into Godzilla or anything.”

 

Though he didn’t say her name, Beebe knows Charlie’s comment is partly aimed at her. She’s willing to leave the challenge unanswered, but Ricco shoots back, “Shut up! Stop yelling out my name.” After a moment’s thought he adds, “Next time, we need code names.”

 

[GM Note: This last comment drew snickers from the players and a suggestion to use the color names from Reservoir Dogs. This quickly devolved into an out-of-character back and forth, quoting lines from the movie. Though out-of-character it lightened the mood of the in-game situation.]

 

As they continue to walk, Ricco calls back, “You’re right, the laser would have been useful.”

 

Beebe feels the need to speak up. “I stand by what I said.” There’s more she wants to say, but it can wait till they get back. The team lapses into silence and continues to pick its way south through the Bayou.

 

 

After several hours, the sound of airboats can be heard in the distance. The team scrambles for cover in the dense undergrowth. In minutes, three craft come into view headed roughly towards their position. Through her scope Natty can see the pilot of the center boat signaling to the other two. They split off to the north and south, the center craft takes up station about 500 meters from the shore of their island. “They are trying to surround us.”

 

Charlie goes with Brandon and Crank to intercept the airboat circling south. Beebe and Natty take the one to the north. Mike Tran and Ricco stay with the operative. The Brazilian is determined to protect the man at all costs, but if the situation looks dire, he’ll also make sure the enemy doesn’t recapture him.

 

Time ticks by. There is no sound of contact from the north or south teams. The pilot of the spotter boat throttles up his fan, urging his craft cautiously towards shore. Mike Tran checks over the RPG, before sighting in on the approaching craft. “We’ll probably only get one shot with this.” The flat bottom hull is to low in the waterline to guarantee a hit, so the solo centers the red dot on the pilot and the large fan directly behind him. When the airboat pulls to within 150 meters, he lets the warhead fly.

 

 

An explosion to the south doesn’t draw Natty’s attention away from her targets on the approaching airboat. Through her Dragunov’s scope, she can see that craft’s crew is less disciplined. At the sound, the two riflemen that had been lying prone in the bottom of the boat raise their heads to look in the direction of the explosion. She squeezes off two rounds, taking them both in the head. Natty’s next shot takes out the pilot. The airboat begins to flounder as his hands fall away from the controls.

 

The Czech girl concentrates on her breathing. She tries to stay detached, picturing her targets not as men, but just silhouettes on the gun range. Natty finishes off the remaining crew. The airboat drifts aimlessly.

 

To the south Charlie, Brandon and Crank exchange fire with the crew of the third airboat. They try to be selective with their shots, so as not to damage the craft. If they win the battle, it might be their ticket home. The bandits show no such discretion. Automatic fire pours into their position.

 

They succeed in eliminating four of the enemy. Knowing that there is no way he can get to the controls without being shot, the last man slips over the side and tries to swim away. Charlie and Crank wade out to recover the airboat. As they pull it back towards shore, an unearthly scream carries across the water. It came from the direction of the last bandit, but he is nowhere to be seen. All they catch is a glimpse of a large reptilian tail disappearing under the water. The two double their efforts to make it back to dry land.

 

With two airboats recovered, they have enough space to transport the entire team. They’re just short one operator. Charlie volunteers to pilot the second craft. He’s not checked out on airboats, but feels he has enough experience with other watercraft to make it back to the trailers…as long as they don’t have to do any fancy maneuvering.

 

 

Clem’s two men are still there, along with a pair of Thelas nomads, waiting for their return.

It doesn’t go unnoticed that the airboats aren’t the same ones they left on, or that their friends are missing. “Where are Clem and Carl?”

 

The story of giant killer crocodiles sounds crazy to Ricco, even as he’s telling it. If he hadn’t been there first himself, the ex-cop wouldn’t believe a word of it. The smugglers though, nod along as he recounts the tale. Neither appears surprised in the least. The two are even pragmatic about the deaths of their friends…”Well, two less ways we have to divide the cash.”

 

They take their leave and drive off.

 

Once the two liberated airboats are safely on the trailers and covered, Ricco leaves to take their ‘package’ to the drop off point. If the Alabama authorities investigate, and there’s no reason to think they won’t, they will probably find the wreckage and trace it back to the resort. The general manager has a long ride to consider his next move.

 

At least Jack Sheppard has some good news, upon his return. “Those airboats are in pretty rough shape, but we can fix them up; make them look exactly like the ones you guys lost in the swamp. We can even change out the serial numbers.”

 

It won’t fool the Alabama authorities, but that’s not Ricco’s only concern. Ingersoll’s man is still hanging around the hotel. Losing the airboats could bring additional scrutiny he doesn’t need right now. ‘How long will it take to have them up and running?”

 

“I can’t tell you that till we tear them down. Give me a day and I’ll have an estimate.”

 

The general manager is willing to leave it in Jack’s hands, “Anything else happen while we were gone?”

 

The marina manager seems surprised. “You didn’t hear”

 

“Hear what?”

 

“Last night, the Alabama State Police ‘extracted’ Alina Lanikova. Took her right out of her own house. Word is…she didn’t go easily.”

 

Ricco wants nothing more that to go home, take a hot shower and crawl into bed, but the changes of that happening are quickly disappearing. He does stop at home to shower and change, before heading into the office. Sheriff Mason doesn’t know much more than Jack. “I was called, but the fed’s stepped in and took over the case.” The only other piece of information Marcus can give is that witnesses saw Alina being loaded onto a spinner. She wasn’t struggling, but they believe she was still alive.

 

Natty is devastated. First Steve, now her mother; the news is too much. She can’t even go to her own home, because it’s a sealed crime scene. Beebe insists she stay with her. Charlie echoes her invitation. It’s not lost on the team that Natty may also be a target.

 

Ricco contacts Richard King at Disney to see if he has any pull to help get his employee back from the Alabama State Police. King Dick says he will look into it. It is a bittersweet climax to a successful mission.

 

 

 

Next: Episode 16: Suicide Isn’t the Answer

 

I do not intentionally kill characters. However, if the players seem determined to get the characters killed ....

 

As it is said, "You can't fix stupid."

 

If a player has a Death Wish, then the GM should perhaps grant him his desire.

 

In our group, the GMs (myself included) rarely kill a PC. It usually happens just once in any given campaign (of ten or more episodes). We lost only two PCs killed in our 54 episode 'Burn Notice Campaign. One was just a statistical tragedy on a botch. The other was a 'can't fix stupid' situation. We have to go back a few years to find multiple deaths in a single session. In this case 1/2 the team dead, a pair of cyborgs alive but with totally crippled and mostly destroyed bodies and a few wounded. It was an underwater battle with weapons we were not familiar with. The campaign we are currently posting: Fall of the Cotton Kingdoms has had one PC death so far. This PC majorly f*cked up and killed a state police officer in cold blood and ended up responsible for several more deaths including the person who was supposed to be being rescued! I could have killed him then and there by firing the second mini-gun on the police AV, but I was so startled by his action. As he was one of the principle plot PCs, I was loath to kill him outright. I got over it the following week and put a bullet in the character's brain. He had finally pissed the C.I.A. off once too many times!

 

Still, I wish I had handled the whole situation better.

 

Generally speaking our group is fairly savvy about not doing stupid things to get themselves killed. As we do a more high end corporate / governmental scenarios, the Team doesn't usually resort to open firefights. However, when they have to fight, they are coordinated and all in. Well, let us hope so. We have finished playing out the Fall of the Cotton Kingdoms and are now (with some of the survivors of FofCK-2047 and others) in Prague dealing with the Free Czech Army, Interpol and various East European criminal mobs. We have a brand new GM and we will post about them soon.

 

So as to the question of killing Player Characters, I as a GM respect crafty and innovative thinking (but not too cartoony). Treat the character's personal safety like you would your own (ficticious self). Most NPCs (unless the are religious or political fanatics) don't want to die either. I craft my encounters to leave the PCs great freedom of action and yes, an exit if needed*. When your players truly feel they have a stake in the story (not just loot, money and gear), they treat their characters with more personal regard. PC deaths will always happen, but they will be rare major events.

 

* Of course, this said, the Team at the Petersen Point Resort (in FofCK-2047) still doesn't see what's coming down the road and find out that any 'back door' they need to escape had to have been made by themselves!

 

 

 

 

 

And now the Conclusion of -

 

 

Episode 14 – The Johnson Clan Implodes

 

Part Two of Two

 

 

 

Friday, May 17, 2047:

 

King Dick dispatches an AV to pick up Ricco for their Friday morning meeting. The general manager wasn’t expecting company at the roof top pad, but for some reason, Alina Lanikova is there with an overnight bag. Waiting for the Disney transport to arrive, his curiosity gets he best of him.

 

“Heading out?”

 

“Yes.” The tone is neutral, but Alina shows no interest in engaging in further conversation.

 

Ricco tries again. “Where to?”

 

“I’m just taking a few days to myself.”

 

The awkward conversation is interrupted by the whine of jet engines. An AV limo glides across the Blackwater and touches down on the pad. Alina turns to the general manager, “This one’s mine, I’ll see you later.”

 

Ricco nods to the dancer. He notes the aerodynes Alabama license plate, memorizing the number before the vehicle pulls away. Ten minutes later, the general manager’s ride arrives. The Disney AV whisks him off to Orlando.

 

Breaking news out of Pensacola: Hadley Walters III has been charged with the first degree murder of Lilly Tran. The regional press has a field day with wild conjectures of corruption and connections to local organized crime. Speculation about a connection between the younger Walters and Patricia Johnson lead to lurid tales of what the police found at the waterfront. Did he learn how to torture and murder under her tutelage? Such stories would never have made the press if A. C. Johnson was still alive, but with the death of the crime lord and the disgrace of his law firm, it’s now open season.

 

 

Jason is still in the hospital with Beebe steadfastly by his side. The police are still trying to identify the ‘trophies’ found in the Pensacola lawyer’s ‘kill room’. It is expected that processing the DNA evidence will help close a host of cold cases and disappearances in the area.

 

Ricco arrives in Orlando and heads for Richard King’s office. The general manager foregoes the normal pleasantries and gets right to the reason for his visit. “I know what Charles Ingersoll is up to. He’s planning to cross us.”

 

“How do you know…or perhaps I should just ask, what are his plans?”

 

King Dick’s face hardens as he looks through the liberated blueprints for ‘Blackwater Estates’. “Where did you get these?” Reconsidering he asks, “Do I want to know?”

 

Ricco shakes his head. “It would probably be best to remain deniably ignorant.”

 

“Get me a copy of these. Oh and by the way…” King Dick adds. “Next time, let’s meet in the NET. AVs are expensive”

 

The general manager agrees and promises to keep his superior informed of developments.

Before heading back to Petersen Point, Ricco goes into Orlando to buy himself an Arasaka “Blackjack” Stealthsuit. He also gets a Militech Ghost Suit and spytech body stocking for Mason. With things going the way they are, these purchases could be a good investment.

 

***

 

 

Saturday, May 18, 2047:

 

Ricco makes a copy of the Petersen Point Properties’ plan.

 

Tonight is the production Wrap Party. Henrique spares no expense to throw a huge blow out at the hotel’s new rooftop bar, which has been named in his honor. Everyone on the team goes to ‘Henrique’s’ except Mason Verge, who is stuck working the night shift. Velvet Blue plays a short set, showcasing the songs from their EP. The real entertainment for the night is the band Pounze da Lion.

 

A contingent of hotel security backed up by officers from the local sheriff’s department and FDLE make sure the party goes off without interruption. If only they could police the invited guests as thoroughly. Victor Kane is an excellent stunt driver, but lacks even the basic skills of etiquette. There has never been any love lost between him and Vera da Costa. After a few drinks and some passive aggressive banter, Vera decides that her drink would look better if Victor was wearing it! Never one to appear the aggressor, Vera ‘accidently’ spills her drink all over the runner’s beautiful new shirt. The runner excuses himself to go change. Vera considers ‘giving’ him another drink on his return, but Ricco suggests it might make her look petty.

 

During the party Ricco pulls Luis Cabral aside and asks him to look into Walter Hopkins and the Dixie Entertainment Agency. There is just something about the man and his company that seems off.

 

***

 

 

Sunday, May 19, 2047:

 

Ricco’s knock at the door of Henrique’s suite is answered by Paris Saint Claire wearing only a smile. She seems perfectly comfortable in her nakedness. Being Brazilian, nudity doesn’t embarrass him. He is however surprised by her presence. Henrique’s voice carries from the bedroom. “Hey Cobrinho. Come on in.” Ricco finds his friend reclining on the bed. Natty Lanikova is sitting astride his hips feeding him chocolate covered strawberries. Neither is wearing a stitch of clothing. Henrique always did like them young.

 

“Want some breakfast?” Henrique indicates the tray of food on the bed stand.

 

“Coffee is fine.”

 

Paris brings him a steaming cup, before rejoining the producer and her friend on the bed. Ricco keeps it to small talk, while the three finish their breakfast. After the girls have dressed and left Henrique asks, “So, is Vera coming back to Rio, or will she sticking around, Cobrinho?”

 

Ricco is surprised by the question. He likes having her around, but hadn’t considered her staying. He isn’t sure what Henrique knows, so he decides to play along. “We haven’t discussed it. I’m not sure she wants to stay.”

 

His friend chuckles, “I think she would and I think she wants to. Besides, there are those in Rio who do not wish her well.”

 

“What kind of trouble is she in?”

 

“Nothing of her doing,” Henrique assures him. “The shoemaker she was working for crossed the wrong people. They are just being thorough.”

 

With the shooting wrapped up, most of Henrique’s production crew leaves. As for Ricco and Vera, things have been going well between them. The spark that brought them together, years ago, is still there. Later in the afternoon Ricco sits Vera down, so that they can finally talk. He has always been a bit uneasy around Vera. She has a tendency to go off on unexpected tangents.

 

“So…” the general manager begins. “I gather you would ... um ... like a job here? I could put you in charge of ... special projects or something like that?”

 

Vera graces him with a Cheshire smile. “That would be nice, yes.”

 

He has his answer, but he was hoping for more of an outpouring of emotion. That knowing smile almost makes him feel like he’s just been played. She can be so insufferable at times. Ricco still makes a mental note to call Carrie Anne tomorrow and start the paperwork to hire his girlfriend.

 

 

Crank goes on the SS Mary Beth Petersen’s Sunday Booze Cruise. With all the trouble lately, he runs some security sweeps and keeps his eyes open for trouble. There is none and the trips are both peaceful and profitable.

 

The Alabama registered AV limo drops Alina off at the rooftop pad. Security notes that it has a different license plate than the one she left on.

 

***

 

 

Monday, May 20, 2047:

 

The primary topic of the morning staff meeting is keeping the South American tour group happy and entertained. By now the staff has everything under control. The spring break and Henrique’s production crew have brought them together as a cohesive working unit. Increases in staff allow them to meet the needs of their guests.

 

Ricco feels that he can leave Carrie Anne in charge. For now, he must go back to Rio for a few days and deal with his troubled conscience. As a good Catholic, he needs Confession. Father Rivera is a good man, but he is too close to the situation. He also worries that a local priest might break the sanctity of the confessional, given the severity of his sins. A trip home will let him keep it in the family. Ricco plans to visit his brother, Father Gabriel Torres.

 

Vera will stay in Blackwater and move both her and Ricco’s things into the general manager’s house. The bungalow he had been living in was big enough for a single person, but living together, they need more space. In his mind, Sam Fisher’s death is far enough in the past to keep the move from seeming awkward.

 

Ricco takes the trip in Henrique’s private jet. The ex-cop talks his friend into stopping briefly in Orlando, so that he can drop off the copy of Charles Ingersoll’s plans for Blackwater Estates. The side trip works for Henrique. He has some outstanding business with Disney. The flight finally lands in Rio late in the evening.

 

***

 

 

Tuesday, May 21, 2047:

 

Ricco heads to Gabriel’s church. Recent events have stretched the Brazilian’s morality way beyond his comfort zone. He confesses to his brother, relating every misdeed that had occurred since his arrival in Florida. Ricco even tells him of the chemical plant explosion. Even though he could not have predicted the result of his actions, the resulting deaths weigh heavily on his spirit.

 

The general manager also feels responsible for Sam Fisher’s death. When he asked King Dick to inform ‘Mr. Zeitsev’ that Sam’s actions put the resort and mission at risk, he knew it could lead to a lethal outcome. At that initial meeting back in January, Ricco had assessed Mr. Zeitsev’s character as ruthless and cold-blooded. While the ex-cop hoped that Sam would merely be reassigned and replaced, he wasn’t surprised when he wound up face down in the water.

 

Ricco takes responsibility for the vengeance killings of the Visigoths. He may not have stacked the skulls himself, but his information led to their deaths. The Brazilian feels most guilty about the deaths of the innocent servants. Their only crime was being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

Ricco expresses fear that he may been sliding down a slippery slope. Accomplishing the mission had become had caused him to make pragmatic decisions that he knew were wrong. He asks his brother to help him step back from the brink and re-embrace a higher standard of action.

 

That night, Ricco receives a visit from his other brother Felipe. The gangster greets him with, “Ey, irmão! You did not think you would come to Rio and not see me, ey?”

 

Ricco embraces him warmly. “Of course not! I was just tired from my trip. I was going to call you in the morning. How are Marisa[/i] and the children?” The two have dinner and talk of old times. Ricco regales Felipe with the goings-on at Petersen Point Resort and Blackwater. He asks his advice about dealing with the remainder of the Johnson Crime Clan.

 

 

Blackwater is generally quiet that night. Amateur Night at Blue Moon Revue is once again a big success.

 

***

 

 

Wednesday, May 22, 2047:

 

In Rio de Janeiro, Ricco heads to the airport for the long flight back to the United States. His brother Gabriel is there to see him off.

 

Local news reports that further charges are being brought against Hadley Walters III. Already being held for the murder of Lilly Tran, new evidence uncovered ties the teen to the deaths of his sister, Sara, and mother, Jane (Calhoun) Walters. The two women reportedly died of accidental drowning a year ago. FDLE investigators have not released details of this new evidence, but the state coroner has officially changed their cause of death to homicide.

 

The deaths took place near the family’s vacation home in Gulf Breeze. Walters will be arraigned at the Santa Rosa County Court House tomorrow. Escambia County Sheriff, Roger Calhoun, could not be reached for comment on the deaths of his daughter and granddaughter or the charges leveled against his grandson.

 

 

An austere man with two heavily cybered bodyguards, arrives at the Petersen Point Resort, looking to speak with the general manager. Carrie Anne is forced to deal with him, as Ricco has yet to return from Brazil.

 

“My name is Sydney Green. I am the senior accountant and assistant comptroller for Petersen Point Properties. I am here to root out the financial irregularities discovered by my predecessor, David Lloyd. We will need two connecting rooms, a secure office and access to all personnel and records...now!”

 

Carrie Anne jumps to. She has the executive and his ‘associates’ shown to their rooms, while an office is prepared for his use. Once in the office, Mr. Green hooks up his own computer to the hotel’s network. He downloads all the financial data, departmental reports and most of the unsecured communications in the system. With the files safely on his machine, he disconnects it from the system. Carrie Anne knew someone would be coming after they gave David Lloyd the run around. The assistant manager has heard of Mr. Green. She fears that they may be in deep trouble now.

 

Ricco returns late that evening. The news of Sydney Green’s arrival is all over the hotel. Sheriff Mason has also left a message inviting him to Hadley Walters III arraignment tomorrow. The general manager has no wish to attend the proceedings, but knows someone from Petersen Point should be there. He calls Betty Lu to ask her to go in his stead.

 

***

 

 

Thursday, May 23, 2047:

 

The DA recites the litany of horrors committed on Lilly Tran, prior to her death as part of his opening statement. He goes on to present of how Hadley Walters III struck his mother with an oar. The unconscious woman drowned as a result. The teen then used the same oar to hold his sister under water, drowning her as well. Hadley seems bored as his attorney pleads not guilty. The charge is entered and a brain dance order is immediately signed.

 

After the brief hearing, Betty Lu pauses to speak with Sheriff Mason and Hadley’s attorney in the hallway. Sheriff Calhoun approaches to ask if he can speak with his grandson. None of them think twice about letting him speak with Hadley. He is even let into the interview room unescorted.

 

Once inside Sheriff Calhoun jams the lock on the door. Confusion plays across Hadley’s face. The look turns to fear as his grandfather turns and raises his cyberarm. A jet of flame erupts from the newly installed flamethrower. Handcuffed to the table, the teen cannot evade the wash searing fuel. Hadley’s screams echo down the corridor.

 

Those in the viewing room are stunned. By the time officers batter down the door, Hadley’s screams have ceased. His horrifically charred corpse is still secured by the handcuffs. Calhoun is against the rear wall his sidearm up to his head.

 

Sheriff Mason tells the others to stand back and addresses his counterpart. “Roger put down the gun. Don’t go out like this.”

 

“I’m sorry, Marcus, but I’m responsible for this monster.” Calhoun bites down on a suicide capsule. He tosses Sheriff Mason a safe deposit key along with a bank name. “It’s all there. You’ll know what to do with it.” The bereaved grandfather falls over foam frothing from his mouth. His body twitches a few times before going still.

 

[GM Note: Sheriff Calhoun is heavily cybered. Unsure that a single bullet from his sidearm would kill him outright, even at point blank range, he made other arrangements. The gun was held to his head to keep everyone at bay and give the poison time to work]

 

***

 

 

Friday, May 24, 2047:

 

The tension around the hotel is palpable. Other than interviewing the three interns, Sydney Green has shown little interest in speaking with the hotel staff. He spends most of his time locked in his office. When not in the office himself, he leaves behind one of his bodyguards, so that the room is never left vacant.

 

Ricco throws a farewell breakfast for the three interns, who are leaving today. It gives him the opportunity to find out what the comptroller had asked them.

 

Andrea, the Face and the Geek chat with those they have come to know. Crank, Brandon, Paris, Natty and Carrie Anne all are there. Ricco gives an orange juice toast and ends it by offering them all full time jobs after they graduate next month. The three are taken aback, the Face and the Geek immediately accept. Andrea Hutton appears very interested and pulls Ricco aside later.

 

“I appreciate the offer and am inclined to accept…but Petersen Point Corporate is gunning for you. I really need to see how this turns out before I make a commitment. I hope you can keep the position open until I graduate next month. I’ll give you an answer then.”

 

Ricco thanks her and promises to keep her position open. He doesn’t plan to be going anywhere. After breakfast the three head for the airport.

 

Sydney Green’s ‘associates’ leave with the computer later that afternoon. The information will now be safely locked away at the headquarters of Petersen Point Properties and in the personal care of Charles Ingersoll.

 

***

 

 

Saturday, May 25, 2047:

 

With the financial data safely away, Sydney Green takes some time to relax. Rather than going to his office, he takes advantage of the hotel’s pool. Laying out poolside, he works on his tan. The corporate shark’s relaxed attitude filters down to the employees. Tension levels recede.

 

Breaking news out of Alabama: Governor Braxton Lowndes II has died of a reported heart attack in the capital of Dothan. Sources say he passed away quietly in his sleep the previous night.

 

Ricco immediately calls a meeting of the Dirty Deeds crew. This turn of events will directly affect their mission. Crank isn’t sure that the Governor died of ‘natural causes’. It’s possible, since he was in his early sixties. Most everyone agrees it could be suspicious, but there is really nothing they can do about it.

 

Lt. Governor, John Lowndes is set to be sworn in as the new chief executive. He has the reputation of being a pathetic little twerp; the perfect foil for ambitious men. The next most powerful man in Alabama after the late governor is Richard Lowndes. He is John’s older brother and Superintendent of the State Police. Chief Richard Lowndes is known to despise John. There could be a power struggle in the making.

 

Then there is the question: If he didn’t die of natural causes, did the team’s mysterious employers have anything to do with it…and if so, what?

 

There is nothing to do now except wait and watch.

 

 

 

Next: Episode 15: Death and Horror Up the Blackwater Bayou

 

 

This comes in two parts, one right after the other. So here is Part One -

 

 

Episode 14 – The Johnson Clan Implodes

 

Part One of Two

 

 

 

Henrique and his entourage arrive at the Petersen Point Resort. Rain provides answers on the starting of Visigoth/Rattlesnakes war and the death of Steve Zelinsky. Religious zealots try to take down Ricco but the hand that is guiding them is A.C. Johnson. The Pensacola crime lord continues his campaign against Ricco and crew. This conflict comes to a bloody and unlooked for climax.

 

Blood is spilled on other fronts as a local girl is brutally murdered. Suspicion is laid close to home and triggers even more violence. Charlie and Beebe successfully continue to improve their x-ray laser. They have the first firing of the Boss Arms large laser cannon with surprising results!

 

 

Background

 

President Whindam has made it the goal of his fifth term as president, to restore the sovereignty of the Unite States of America over the four southern states colloquially known as the ‘Cotton Kingdoms’. Under this directive, several teams have been formed to implement a plan concocted by C.I.A. Deputy Director Hamilton Greeley and US Attorney for the District of Northern Florida Richard Sharkey. One of these teams (The PCs) has been tasked with running the Petersen Point Resort. Located in Santa Rosa County, on Florida’s panhandle, this seedy old tourist destination is perfectly situated, between the Pensacola COG and Alabama border. Though they may be tasked with the occasional field op, the Petersen Point team’s primary mission is to act as a ‘safe haven’ and staging ground.

 

Members of this ‘Dirty Deeds’ team have been provided with cover jobs at the hotel. Sam Fisher, a retired Delta Force colonel and C.I.A. assassin, was the original team leader. His cold blooded murder of an Alabama State Trooper caused his employers to reevaluate his tenure. Since his untimely death at the hands of a C.I.A. cleaner, the role of team leader has fallen to Ricco Torres. The Brazilian born ex-cop turned corporate executive walks a fine line between loyalty to Disney and the needs of the mission. Those goals of are in alignment, for now…

 

 

Dramatis Personae

 

The Team

 

Beebe Lafferty: A young tech and member of the Snake Nation helping Charlie with his various projects. She is the daughter of retired Major Beatrice ‘Bea’ Lafferty, who gained fame (or infamy) by firing the first ortillery strike of the Fourth Corporate War on Night City.

 

Betty Lu: An attractive 25 yo lawyer of Chinese descent. Despite her appearance she is a Texas girl, through and through.

 

Brandon Heath: A solo who is serve as head of security at the Petersen Point Resort. He is a member of the ‘Dirty Deeds’ crew. Unknown to everyone but Doctor Eduardo Ricci, Brandon is an experimental Biomechanical (cyborg) with one of Doc Freeman’s ‘cyberbrains’ sent by the Collective in response to Sam’s daughter’s request to watch over her father. Brandon was originally Grave, a cyborg from the Fourth Corporate War, who was later (2026) convicted of authorizing the murder of a young hacker and his family. Grave was supposedly executed but the government put him in their Project Kill Switch Program (see Super Solo 2 Campaign for details). He was rescued from a top secret government lab by his friend, Caitlin Jones.

 

Charlie Bibbliodoc: A master weaponsmith and owner of Boss Arms. He is a Snake Nation nomad in the area who is working on two projects. One is a government DARPA sponsored program to develop next generation laser technology. The other is to rearm and rehabilitate weapons systems for the floating colonies and vessels of the Thelas Nation in the Gulf of Mexico. He is an old friend of Sam Fisher from the Romanian Campaign.

 

Doctor Eduardo Ricci: This man is the hotel physician and a ‘Dirty Deeds’ employee. He is a Brazilian national who used to work with Roca Terrier, and is trained in bio-mechanical repair.

 

Owen ‘Crank’ Wolf: A young, muscle bound solo with experience in managing bars and other watering holes. He is a member of Sam’s ‘Dirty Deeds’ crew. His cover is Food and Beverage manager at the Petersen Point Resort.

 

Ricco Torres: A former member of the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police who became a private investigator when his friendship with certain ‘unsavory’ characters came to light. The Disney Corporation hired him to assist an Edgerunner team brought in to push their political agenda in Rio. In the process a monstrous plot that cost the lives of thousands of residents of the infamous favelas was uncovered and Ricco figured prominently in bringing the conspirators to justice. He was promoted and moved to Walt Disney World in Florida. When the United States government asked Disney for help, they sent Ricco who is now general manager of the Petersen Point Resort.

 

Mason Verge: A former Marine Force Recon member turned freelance solo with a good relationship with the Thelas nomads and a distinct dislike for the Alabama State Police.

 

 

The NPCs

 

Arthur Cletus ‘AC’ Johnson is the acknowledged leader of an organized crime family in the area and a lawyer from Escambia County. Publically he is one of Escambia County’s leading citizens. His partnership with Hadley Walters Jr. has given him the respectability he needs to get his younger brother (the middle one), Brainerd, elected to the state legislature. The man is smart and savvy. His power base is Pensacola and controls all the drugs, gambling and prostitution.

 

Alina Lanikova is the lead dancer at the Blue Moon Revue. She is a stunningly beautiful (ATTR 10), tall 29 year old Czech woman. Her skills are exceptional and she acts as ‘Den Mother” to the other dancers. She lives at the Resort with her teenage daughter.

 

Amy Fry is a young Thelas and sister of Jason Fry. She dates Sammy Trang, the drummer of Velvet Blue.

 

Andrea Hutton is a hot twenty one year old senior, who is determined to claw her to the top and a marketing/PR prospective intern from Jacksonville State University.

 

Arthur Greenburg (the Geek) is one of the two public relations interns from Florida Atlantic University.

 

Carrie Anne Thorn is Front Desk Manager, also asst. hotel manager and bookkeeper at the Petersen Point Resort. She is a small white woman is her early sixties. Carrie Anne has arthritis so she doesn’t walk a lot.

 

Charles Ingersoll is the grandson-in-law of Sophie Petersen, widow of Randy Petersen and heiress to the Petersen Family Trust. He serves as CEO of the Petersen Point Properties Group.

 

David Lloyd was an accountant and bookkeeper for Petersen Point Properties that discovered enough financial ‘smoke’ to bring down the bean counters from corporate on Ricco Torres.

 

Governor Braxton Lowndes II is the current governor (for life) of Alabama and son of the late ex-Governor Braxton Lowndes.

 

Hadley Walters Jr. is from one of Pensacola’s oldest and most distinguished families. He is the senior partner of Walters and Johnson, the most prestigious law firm in Escambia County and a county commissioner. Since the death of his wife and daughter in a boating accident, he has given up any pretense of honesty except displays for public consumption. He dotes on his son, Hadley III, and can’t (or won’t) see the young man’s true nature.

 

Hadley Walters III is a 15 year old student and forward on the Gulf Breeze Prep basketball team. He is an arrogant self-entitled little prick, who tried to attack Lilly Tran (Episode 2) and vandalized the Golf Course.

 

Henrique: A former Favela drug lord (nicknamed the King Snake) and leader of the Red Command who took a government amnesty offer and got out of the drug business. Henrique used to belong to a Brazilian pop group manufactured by a record company. When his voice changed he was fired and thrown back into the favela where he rose to the top of the local gang. The man now runs a media company which works with Disney. He and Ricco Torres grew up together with Ricco being the younger ‘brother’ (nicknamed Cobrinha – Little Snake).

 

Father Ernesto Rivera is the Puerto Rican born priest of St. Peter’s by the Sea. He is 32 years old and very warm and friendly.

 

Father Gabriel Torres is a Brazilian priest in Rio de Janeiro and brother to Ricco Torres.

 

Felipe Torres is a Brazilian gang leader of the Red Command in Rio de Janeiro and also brother to Ricco Torres.

 

Greg Winters (the Face) is one of the two public relations interns from Florida Atlantic University.

 

Jack Shepard, the marina manager and a Thelas nomad. He is ex-military and is organizing the resort’s defenses.

 

Jane (Calhoun) Walters was the late wife of Hadley Walters II and only daughter of Sheriff Roger Calhoun of Escambia County. She drowned trying to pull her daughter Sara out from under the pilings of the family boathouse.

 

Jason Fry is a young Thelas nomad serving of Charlie’s test ship, the Sea Snake. His sister is Amy Fry. He has a thing for Beebe.

 

Lilly Tran is not a fan of her cousin Paris although there is usually no conflict between them. Lilly is NOT a good student and is afraid to ask anyone in her family for help. Sometimes Paris helps her with her homework.

 

Lt. Governor John Lowndes is the youngest of the Lowndes family of Alabama. He is reportedly a weak willed sybaritic womanizer, but is allowed to be Lt. Governor of Alabama.

 

Luis Cabral is a high level netrunner from Rio here in response for Ricco Torres’ request and Henrique’s endorsement.

 

Deputy Marshal Clayton ‘Clay’ Johnson is the older son of the late Terrance Johnson and nephew of ‘AC’ Johnson, the crime lord of Escambia County. His younger brother is Roland ‘Ronnie’ Johnson a suspected drug dealer who runs a crew in Santa Rosa County. The marshal is in NO way a member of his uncle’s organization and would love to put him away.

 

Michelle Petersen is the mother of Karl Petersen, granddaughter of the founder of the resort, Clarence Petersen and niece of Sophie and the late Randy Petersen. She was the ‘wild chlld’ of her generation. Michelle is one of the biggest landowners in the area and lives on the old Petersen Farm. She runs a craft and leather goods shop called ‘Crafty Michelle’s’.

 

Mr. Zeitsev is the code name for the Team’s contact on this secret, black project. He is their (government’s) ‘Mr. Johnson’.

 

Nancy Petersen is the daughter of a Karl Petersen and used to be a cocktail waitress at the Panhandle saloon. She now runs the Beach Creamery for her grandmother, Michelle.

 

Natty Lanikova is the daughter of dancer Alina Lanikova and the teenage bassist for Velvet Blue. She dated Steve Zelinsky, a member of the Visigoths MC and ½ brother to Beebe Lafferty.

 

Paris Saint Claire is the lead singer for the band Velvet Blue and granddaughter of Eustis Saint Claire. She and Natty are best friends.

 

Patricia Johnson is the only child and law partner of A.C. Johnson.

 

Paul Gambier is the head chef at the Petersen Point Resort and from an old Cajun family of the area.

 

Richard King is a highly placed Disney executive that deals in ‘delicate’ situations. He is the man Disney sends, when things are going wrong and action must be taken. He has the nickname ‘King Dick’, but never to his face!

 

Roland ‘Ronnie’ Johnson is the younger son of the late Terrance Johnson and a member of the Johnson Clan crime family. He sells drugs out of the Panhandle Saloon in Santa Rosa County.

 

Sara Walters was the daughter of Hadley Walters II. She drowned with her mother under the pilings of the family boathouse.

 

Sheriff Marcus G. (Garvey) Mason of Santa Rosa County is a powerfully built African-American with a bald head and piercing brown eyes. He has been sheriff for seventeen years and on the force for eight years before that as well as twelve years in the Army. He has a cyberarm and two cybereyes as well as a lot of smaller cyberware. The man has a reputation as a tough, honest cop who protects his county.

 

Sheriff Roger Calhoun of Escambia County is a hard ass white cop, who has had his job for 24 years. His son in law is a top member of the Johnson Crime Clan and he is hopelessly corrupt and hates himself for it.

 

Superintendent Richard Lowndes is the head of the Alabama State Police and second son to the late Governor Braxton Lowndes. His older brother Braxton Lowndes II is now governor.

 

Sydney Green is the Deputy comptroller of Petersen Point Properties and is here to find evidence of Ricco Torres’ malfeasance.

 

Vera de Costa is an old (new) flame of Ricco Torres who has come north with Henrique’s production team.

 

Victor Kane is an American Edgerunner (Runner) running the Rio Street Racing circuit and a major speed shop in Rio de Janeiro. He is currently chief stunt driver for Henrique’s production team.

 

 

The Action

 

Monday, May 13, 2047:

 

Ricco’s preparations for the weekly department meeting are interrupted by a call from the front desk. “Mr. Torres, there is a mister…Vee Goth, who wishes to speak with you.” The uncertainty in the clerk’s voice raises a warning. There was no meeting on his schedule and he has never heard of anyone named Vee Goth. . A.C. may be dead, but it could be some kind of contingency plan. The recent attempts on his life are forefront in his mind as Ricco cautiously opens his office door.

 

A tall and stocky man with an unruly mop of hair and thick beard waits patiently tapping his fingers on a larger cardboard cylinder. The few features that are discernable appear almost smushed. It’s a laughable disguise, good enough to hide his true identity from security cameras, but definitely not subtle. Ricco is fairly certain if this man intended to kill him, he wouldn’t be so obvious about it. There is also something in the way the man carries himself, that is familiar.

 

The general manager doesn’t drop his guard, but waives Vee Goth through. He takes him to the conference room, so that they can talk in private. Once the room is secure, his burly visitor pops the cap off of the end of the cardboard cylinder and proceeds to pull out a sheaf of tightly rolled papers. “This is something you might be interested in. It was found at A.C. Johnson’s last Saturday night.”

 

As Ricco inspects the documents, their significance becomes all too clear. Lying on the table is a certified and numbered copy of Peterson Point Properties’ plan to build a multi-million dollar luxury housing development where the resort currently stands. The projected start date for construction is September 2047. It’s like a punch in the gut. How Ingersoll hopes to put the hotel out of business in four months eludes Ricco, but the plans put things in perspective. Charles Ingersoll’s indifference, the continued corporate runaround and internal audit now all make sense.

 

His bearded guest hands Ricco a computer chip. “Here is a digital copy of all of this with the copy numbers deleted. The original document is evidence that could get many of my friends a death sentence so I’ll be taking it with me. We just thought you ought to know.”

 

“Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”

 

Mr. Vee Goth walks out the door, never to be seen again. Ricco wastes no time calling Richard King to arrange a meeting. He’s sure that his superior will be very interested in this information.

 

 

Ricco lets Carrie Anne take the lead at the manager’s meeting. Learning of Charles Ingersoll’s plan has left him too distracted. Business continues to be brisk. With the arrival of the first South American tour group and the continued stay of the film crew, Carrie Anne predicts they will be sold out for the weekend. Morale around the table is high. Ricco wishes that he could share in their enthusiasm. The meeting is mercifully short.

 

Leaving the conference room the general manager heads for the “Dirty Deeds team meeting. With all of the scrutiny they have been under Brandon had suggested installing a secret conference room in the bunker like rooms below the hotel. By, using the tunnels, members could gather without being seen. It might be too late for such measures to matter, but the closeness of the walls gives Ricco comfort. For the moment, he doesn’t fell like there’s a bulls-eye on his back.

 

The rest of the team has a similar reaction to Ingersoll’s plan.

 

Betty Lu is skeptical, “From what I’ve learned, there is no way Ingersoll can legally do this. The hotel is owned by a trust.”

 

“Well, he’s figured out some way around it,” Crank observes.

 

Both have valid points, but without a copy of the trust, they have no way of knowing what loop holes might exist. Ricco sees only one course. “We have to get a copy of the trust documents. The only person we haven’t talked to is Michelle Petersen. Maybe she has one or at least is familiar with the terms.”

 

Brandon agrees to ask her. Having saved three of her grandchildren from certain death (or worse) he probably has the best chance of approaching her. With no other new business to discuss, the meeting breaks up.

 

 

Sheriff Mason calls Ricco in the early afternoon. “I’m going to the school to interview some of the kids that were at the party, where Lilly Tran was last seen. I would like it if both you and Brandon were there.”

 

At the school Mason shows the teens a series of pictures. “Do any of these cars look familiar? Do you remember seeing any of them either at the party or even driving by?” Six of those questioned don’t recognize any of the vehicles, but Amy Fry stops on one of the photos.

 

“I remember seeing this one…In fact I’m pretty sure Lilly was standing near it.”

 

Sheriff Mason asks the nomad girl, “Did you see her get in?”

 

“No, But when I looked over that way a few minutes later, the car were gone and so was Lilly.”

 

The sheriff thanks the students for their time. He asks Amy to wait in the hall for him. Once all of the teenagers have left the room, he shows Ricco the picture Amy picked out. “This is Hadley Walters III’s car.”

 

“Does that give you probable cause to search his vehicle?” the ex-cop asks. “The GPS system should tell you where the car was at the time of the murder.”

 

“Well, duh,” Mason says with a grin. “Can you get a hold of Charlie? I have to talk the Fry Family into letting me put Amy into protective custody.”

 

“Can’t you just do it regardless?” asks Brandon.

 

“Well, yes, but she is a nomad. I have an understanding with the elders and I have to respect that.”

 

A bond of trust exists between Mason and the nomads, but the prospect Amy needing to testify against a member of the Walter’s family worries her parents. Charlie vouching for the safety of their daughter finally convinces them. It takes a while but Amy Fry leaves with Sheriff Mason.

 

 

***

 

 

Tuesday, May 14, 2047:

 

Ricco receives an unexpected visit from T.C. and Bruce James. With them is their cousin, Gregory James, who was recently released from prison due to Ricco’s discovery in the resort’s lost & found. “I just wanted to stop by and thank you personally. If it weren’t for you I’d still be rotting in prison.” T.C. and Bruce add their gratitude. As the three depart, Ricco stops to savor the moment. With all of the death and despair around them, it’s nice to see that sometimes good things happen.

 

Mason Verge feels he has finally mastered the rhythm of Petersen Point Resort. Driving past the beach is the best part of his patrol. He slows the unmarked cruiser to take in the scenery; young tight bodies in barely there bikinis. Maybe he can convince Brandon to put him on beach patrol. Something catches his eye as he takes on last lingering look in his rearview mirror at the sunbathing beauties. Two men in windbreakers are crossing the road towards the beach. The day is breezy, but way too hot for jackets, even light one.

 

Suspicious, Mason turns the cruiser around. It looks like they are heading for the Beach Creamery. He also notes a beat-up old Ford sitting across the street. There is someone sitting behind the wheel watching their progress. Focusing back on the two men, he catches sight of weapons. There’s no way he could intercept them in time on foot, so he slams down the gas pedal. Tires screech as the security car surges towards the beach. The two gunmen open up on the creamery; one capping off rounds from a pistol, while the other hoses down the front of the stand with a submachine gun.

 

With rear wheel drive, the vehicle easily vaults the curb, heading towards the creamery and gunmen. Mason had hoped to run them down, but the car flounders in the sand. Still they understand his intent and scramble to get out of the way as the cruiser fishtails in their direction. It may not have been his intent, but the car comes to a stop between the gunmen and the ice cream stand.

 

Mason is out of the car and firing his .454 Nikita. The body of the cruiser provides cover from the two armed assailants, but not from the wheel man in the old Ford. A shot rings out from behind him. Mason spares a glance back at the figure sprawled in the sand. There’s no time to check if it’s a friend or foe; he still has two targets in front of him.

 

[GM Note: The wheelman ran across the street to take a shot at Mason, but managed to botch his roll. In his haste, he lost his footing in the sand and went down, accidently wounding himself]

 

Mason squeezes off to rounds at the submachine gunner. One hits the man with no appreciable effect, but the second catches him in the head. It’s a telling blow that drops the gunman. The security officer swings to fire at the man’s compatriot, who is once again moving towards the creamery. A shot from the gunman punches through Mason’s vest. Thankfully the armor absorbed most of the round’s kinetic energy. His skinweave stops the rest. It leaves a deep welt, but the solo is none the worse for wear.

 

Mason charges forward to intercept the pistol wielding gunman, before he can reach the stand. The security officer takes a round in the leg, as he closes. Thanks again to his armor, it does minimal damage. Mason tries a Gun Fu maneuver aiming for his opponent’s head, but the man deftly blocks the attack. The bullet fires harmlessly into the air. The security officer’s hopes of putting the gunman at a disadvantage by engaging him in hand to hand combat are quickly dashed. He finds an opponent well prepared for close in fighting.

 

The foot-spike on the gunman’s cyberleg gouges into Mason’s thigh. It’s a sharp searing pain, but he keeps his feet; maneuvering for another shot at the man’s head. While the two solo’s spar, up the beach, the wheelman regains his feet. Before he can even think of making for the creamery or returning to the safety of the car, he comes under fire from Natty. The teen has to lie splayed out on the counter to take the shot around the edge of the stand. It’s an unbalanced firing stance, but her aim is true. The wheelman is down again. Natty leans back, grabs the edge of the counter and slides back into the cover of the creamery.

 

Mason gets off a shot that creases his opponent’s head. It doesn’t put the man down, but it definitely did damage. The muscles near his left eye twitch uncontrollably. Seeping blood stains his hair crimson. The gunman circles with Mason, inadvertently putting his back to the front of the ice cream stand. Natty reappears, this time wielding a switchblade. She quietly slides across the counter and thrusts the knife’s thin blade in to the base of the gunman’s neck. With a few quick jerks, she turns him off like a switch.

 

The body crumples to the ground, leaving Mason giving him an unobstructed view of the blood spattered teenager. Her face is an emotionless mask. It’s an awkward situation. For a moment, Mason is sure she’s going lick the blood off her fingers. He walks away to check on the status of the third gunman. He is unconscious, but doesn’t appear to be in any danger of dying. After securing the man’s weapon and cuffing him, Mason heads back to check on the creamery’s staff.

 

Nancy Petersen sustained some small cuts from flying glass. Other than that everyone inside the stand is fine. They had hit the ground quickly enough to avoid the hail of gunfire. Though the rounds from the submachine gun torn up the stand’s exterior, they were too light to punch through the cooler and other equipment behind the counter.

 

Out of all of them, Mason is the most injured. Dr. Ricci sees to his wounds, while Sheriff Mason surveys the scene. The situation is pretty clear cut, but deputies still go through the motions of taking witness statements. They also tape off the area around the gunmen’s car. A forensic tech calls Sheriff Mason over to the body of the dead gunman in front of the creamery. Natty looks on as the tech points out the neck wound. She draws a hard stare from Marcus, but he doesn’t walk over to confront her. The sheriff is more than happy to call it a case of self defense.

 

An examination of all of the bodies reveals that there are no labels on any of the gunmen’s clothing. They are appearing less and less like hired thugs, which raises the question; why would anyone hire professional killers to hit the Beach Creamery?

 

 

Ricco and Vera join Henrique in his suite for dinner. It is an intimate repast, but they are not his only guests. The King Snake is flanked by Paris and Natty. Sitting across from them is Luis Cabral. It’s a bit of a shock for Ricco. He had put out the word that he was looking for a top-of-the-line net jockey, but having one of Rio’s top netrunners show up in the company of his old friend is completely unexpected.

 

While Henrique gets comfortable with the two teenage girls, much to Vera’s amusement, Luis and Ricco work out the terms of his employment. They settle on $10,000 up front with another $10,000 per month plus room and board. After a sumptuous dinner, Henrique makes his apologies. “Sorry to cut out early, but we have to get over to the recording studio. But please stay and enjoy yourselves. Ladies?” Paris and Natty join Henrique. He wraps his arms around both girls and the three walk out together.

 

At the Blue Moon, Crank oversees Tuesday Amateur Night.

 

***

 

 

Wednesday, May 15, 2047:

 

Charlie and Beebe outfit Crank’s bike with a brace so he can fire his assault rifle while riding. The setup is easy. It’s not some revolutionary new design. Nomad outriders have been using it for decades.

 

Sheriff Mason Gulf shows up at Breeze Prep with a posse of deputies. It’s at the end of the school day so they catch Hadley Walters III by his car. The teenager is detained as a person of interest in the murder of Lilly Tran. Marcus has a flatbed on hand to impound his vehicle.

 

 

Dinner time finds Ricco and Vera returning to Henrique’s suite. Old passions between the former lovers have started to rekindle. They walk close together oblivious to the third member of their party. Brandon for his part does his best to ignore the flirting couple. Vera unexpectedly shoves Ricco to the side and pulls out a small caliber pistol. Her gun swings towards the security chief, but Brandon isn’t her intended target.

 

The bullet whistles past his shoulder and strikes the man coming up behind them. He returns fire, catching Vera in the side. Alerted to their attacker, Brandon spins, draws his much larger handgun and dispatches the man before he can get off another shot. Ricco frets over Vera. The thought that something might happen to her after they just started up again has him concerned.

 

Vera tries to play down the situation. “I’m fine. He just creased me.” She looks at the blood stain spreading on her blouse and quips, “Well this top is ruined.”

 

Ricco muses, “It’s probably one of A.C. Johnson’s people.”

 

She takes a closer look at their attacker. “He could’ve been after me.”

 

Ricco gives her a look. Clearly Vera has neglected to mention her full reason for coming to Florida. There will be time for them to talk later. For the moment he takes her to see Dr. Ricci. While the physician patches her gunshot wound, Ricco contacts Sheriff Mason. Dinner with Henrique will have to be postponed.

 

Later in the evening, Henrique finishes Velvet Blue’s last recording session for their EP. He is very hopeful for this project and finds both Paris and Natty most intriguing.

 

***

 

 

Thursday, May 16, 2047:

 

Brandon returns to Milton his weekly deposits into his account. While there he also buys a complete CINO Big Blue nuscuba system.

 

Ricco stops at the Beach Creamery hoping to speak with Nancy Petersen. The stand still bears the scars of the recent gunfight, but it’s open for business. Nancy isn’t around, but her grandmother, Michelle, is working the counter. The general manager expresses his concern that the attack may have been directed by A. C. Johnson or Charles Ingersoll. He asks with all earnestness, “If this is mob related or some kind of vendetta, do you think you will be safe here?”

 

Michelle doesn’t answer directly. She merely looks down. Ricco follow the direction of her gaze and sees the sawed off double barreled 12 gauge, pointed right at his stomach. He hadn’t even seen her draw the weapon. “Safe enough I see.”

 

The weapon doesn’t waiver. She seems to have taken his suggestion she was defenseless old lady, the wrong way. Ricco tries another tactic. “I’m concerned that your cousin, Charles Ingersoll, is up to something with the company,”

 

Michelle doesn’t sound surprised. “That little weasel is always up to something.”

 

The shotgun is no longer pointed at him, so Ricco decides to go for broke. “Well, we have been trying to find a copy of the trust documents, but the contents are sealed and Charles’s attorney has the only copy we know of. Would you possibly have a copy of your grandfather Clarence’s will? The terms of the trust are in that.”

 

Michelle’s brow furrows. She appears locked in concentration, as if trying to grasp some long ago memory. “I might have a copy…but it may take a while to find.” Ricco doesn’t want to press her. She’s given him a shred of hope. He is more than willing to work on Michelle’s timetable.

 

Returning to his office, Ricco contacts Sheriff Mason to follow up on the shooting. Marcus doesn’t sound happy. “We’ve confirmed that all three are from the Pensacola area. All of them are known associates of the Johnson Crime Family. The one you captured alive isn’t talking. Being that it’s only attempted murder, the DA is having a devil of a time securing a braindance order. I wouldn’t hold my breath.

 

It may be a long shot, but the ex-cop asks anyway. “What about the car.”

 

“Stolen, we found their prints inside, but nothing else of value. Even their guns couldn’t be traced back to the Johnsons. It’s not looking good.”

 

The case may be at a standstill, but Ricco has other business to discuss with the sheriff. “I noticed there is a special election coming up to fill the seat of County Commissioner. Could you recommend a ‘business friendly’ candidate that I should throw my support behind?”

 

Marcus finds the question in poor taste; seeing as how Ricco was until recently a suspect in the murder of the late County Commissioner, Reverend Weems. He still tries to keep his answer neutral. “Since we have to work with all sides, the sheriff’s department tries to stay out of political matters. We can’t be seen playing favorites. This isn’t Escambia County after all.”

 

Ricco is disappointed, but respects Marcus’ stance. The general manager thanks him for his time and hangs up. He contact Blackwater’s mayor, hoping to gauge her political leanings, but she gives him a similar measured response.

 

Jason is in heaven as he watches Beebe, Paris and Natty splash around in the Blackwater River. He had planned a riverside picnic in the old county park. It was supposed to be an afternoon alone with Beebe, but having her friends tag along isn’t turning out too bad. The envious looks and longing stares of the other guys on the secluded beach make it all worth it. He can’t help but smile as he makes his way back to the pickup to grab the other cooler.

 

Screeching tiers draw everyone’s attention. With no sounds of a resulting crash or sirens the teenagers quickly put it out of their minds and go back to partying. Ten minutes pass before Jason’s absence is noticed. Beebe heads up to the truck to see what’s keeping him.

The young nomad is nowhere in sight, but she doesn’t start to worry till she sees the overturned cooler. Searching around, she finds the remains of a busted cell phone near fresh tire patches on the asphalt. The phone is beyond repair, but she recognizes the case. It’s Jason’s.

 

Beebe frantically asks around, to see if anyone caught a look at the car that had peeled out of the lot. Paris and Natty help her. The two teens try to keep their friend calm, but Beebe’s fear and worry are contagious. Their search proves fruitless. Panicked the young nomad calls Charlie. “Somebody grabbed Jason.

 

Words just pour out, giving the gunsmith no opportunity to ask for more details. Between Beebe’s ramblings he is able to make out that Jason may have been taken to keep his sister, Amy from testifying against Hadley Walters III. If true, then Hadley’s father is probably behind the abduction. Charlie also learns the depth of feeling his protégé has for the nomad sailor.

 

As Beebe’s outburst winds down, she is finally able to give intelligible answers. The gunsmith tells her to stay where she is. He contacts the sheriff’s office then notifies the other nomad elders.

 

Sheriff Mason tries to contain his aggravation. “So let me get this straight…instead of calling us directly, you reported the crime to someone else, who then had to call us. Do you know how much time you wasted?”

 

He isn’t trying to be cruel but if they had been notified sooner, they may have had a chance to intercept the kidnappers. As it stands, there are three possible vehicles that could have been the getaway car. They had been able to follow them using traffic cams, as far as Pensacola.

 

Beebe’s panic had given way to anger. It was originally directed at the people who took Jason, but Sheriff Mason’s accusations draw her ire. Yes she messed up, but that’s no reason for him to put the blame on her. The nomad answers Mason’s questions, but the responses are curt. It’s not until later, after the sheriff finishes his questioning and she has a chance to calm down that Beebe remembers Jason has a phone implanted in his head.

 

The United States Marshals and FDLE scan for Jason’s cell signal. Luis Cabral hacks into the system to allow Jack Sheppard’s ELINT group can monitor their progress. Forty-five minutes later Beebe receives a call from Jason’s cyber-phone. He doesn’t speak. There are only sounds of labored breathing and groans of pain. It’s hard to listen to, but the young nomad has to keep the line connected, so that they can triangulate the signal.

 

The Feds track the call to Pensacola’s waterfront. They head off to converge on the area. Beebe jumps in her truck to follow. Before she can drive off, Crank climbs into the passenger seat. He wants to make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid. Ricco decides to follow in his own car. He takes Brandon and Charlie with him. They are no sooner across the line into Escambia County, than Ricco’s car is pulled over by a county deputy. Even though he has corporate immunity, the general manager stops. He doesn’t want to give the deputy any excuses to shoot.

 

Two more cruisers arrive as backup. A lengthy check is made of Ricco and Brandon’s police credentials. The general manager’s car is search thoroughly. They are delayed for nearly an hour. The Escambia deputies are just about to let them go, when Brandon identifies Charlie as an important nomad. This revelation is followed by more record checks and delays.

 

Beebe safely passes through Escambia County to the outskirts of Pensacola. Her new pickup isn’t known by county lawmen. The truck’s plates aren’t on the list of vehicles that should receive ‘special attention’ by Escambia County’s finest! Even if they had tried to pull her over, she probably wouldn’t have stopped.

 

The US Marshals, FDLE and Pensacola City Police have a four block area cordoned off by the time Beebe makes it to the waterfront. Crank is waved through by one of the Marshals. The young nomad tries to follow, but is stopped by at the security line. Her temper gets the better of her. “I’m with him. Let me through.”

 

“Sorry miss, you’ll have to stay behind the line; only police and security personnel past this point.”

 

Beebe quietly fumes as Crank continues on without her. Marshal Clay Johnson eventually sees the young nomad and gets her through the police cordon.

 

State Police techs have narrowed down the signal to a multi-room commercial storage unit. Jason has managed to keep the call connected even as his groans of pain had turned to cries of agony. The police prepare for a full breach of the building. There is a storm of gunfire as the tactical unit rushes in. Harrowing seconds pass before the team inside signals the all clear. The hostage (Jason) is secure; there’s one hostile down.

 

Within minutes, Jason is brought out on a stretcher. Beebe pushes forward to get to his side. Though in severe pain, he manages to smile up at her. She puts on a brave face, not wanting to give him a reason to worry. It had taken nearly two hours to find Jason. In that time he had been tortured severely. Blood soaked bandages cover areas where the skin had been flayed off his body. Beebe doesn’t want to think of what would have happened if they hadn’t found him.

 

Clay Johnson makes sure that the young nomad is kept well back as the body of Patricia Johnson is brought out. The breach team had surprised her in the midst of torturing Jason. She had turned a gun on the nomad, bent on claiming one last victim, before being taken. They had no choice, but to gun her down to save the hostage.

 

Clay Johnson has mixed emotions about the operation. It was a blow to find out that Patricia was the kidnapper. He had always liked his cousin, yet walking around the torture chamber, seeing the grisly trophies; he couldn’t help but feel disgust.

 

Beebe finds Crank and gives him the keys to her truck. “I’m going in the ambulance with Jason. I’ll get a ride back later.”

 

When the Escambia deputies finally let them go, Ricco turns the car around and heads back to Petersen Point. “It has to be over by now. They have either saved him or he is dead.”

 

(GM Note: Over the next week, evidence mounts against Patricia Johnson. Jason was far from her first victim. DNA recovered from trophies in her ‘kill room’ tie A. C. Johnson’s daughter to over a dozen other murders; all of nomads. Patricia harbored a pathological hatred against nomads since a young age. This murderous psychosis stemmed from the brutal rape and murder of her mother and aunt at the hands of a group of Raffin Shiv. She saw no distinction between these violent outcasts and members of the formalized nomad nations; killing indiscriminately.)

 

***

 

 

Next: Part Two of Two

 

 

The world media has taken a glance or two at the goings on around the Florida panhandle, but these are merely an interesting sound bites compared to the momentous decision of the Martian Senate. The future shock of the following technological developments elates and terrifies humanity.

 

 

World News Service – Flash!

 

 

The Senate of the Martian Republic today voted overwhelmingly to legalize both Dr. Gordon Freeman’s replacement cyberbrain technology and full body human cloning. This follows a speech by Dr. Freeman last Friday where the researcher was awarded the Einstein Prize by the Martian Academy of Sciences last Friday. Consul Mariska Benes called for a vote in the senate and it passed with nary a dissenting voice.

 

“With this law in place, valuable people necessary for the flourishing of the Martian Republic will no longer be lost to accidents in the dangerous Martian environment,” stated Consul Benes.

 

On Earth many religious groups have decried the new laws as immoral. Both Pope Francis II of the Vatican and Cardinal Konrad Lewandowsky of the Holy Polish Apostolic Catholic Church have condemned the new laws and ex-communicated Dr. Freeman and the leaders of the Martian government. The Grand Ayatollah of Tehran has issued a fatwa against Doctor Gordon Freeman and both Martian consuls.

 

Governments on Earth are scrambling for a response to the new Martian laws. Doc Freeman’s claim to have ‘cured death’ has brought out to the fore a re-evaluation of exactly what death now constitutes. A person with a cyberbrain and a cyborg body could technically live for realistically, thousands of years. However, due to the cost and technology involved this type of life extension will only be available to the very rich. Claims of the possible rise of a plutocratic society run by immortal cyborgs are now considered not so farfetched.

 

 

Episode 13 – And the Blood Continues to Flow!

 

 

 

Henrique and his entourage arrive at the Petersen Point Resort. Rain provides answers on the starting of Visigoth/Rattlesnakes war and the death of Steve Zelinsky. Religious zealots try to take down Ricco but the hand that is guiding them is A.C. Johnson. The Pensacola crime lord continues his campaign against Ricco and crew. This conflict comes to a bloody and unlooked for climax.

 

Blood is spilled on other fronts as a local girl is brutally murdered. Suspicion is laid close to home and triggers even more violence. Charlie and Beebe successfully continue to improve their x-ray laser. They have the first firing of the Boss Arms large laser cannon with surprising results!

 

 

Background

 

President Whindam has made it the goal of his fifth term as president, to restore the sovereignty of the Unite States of America over the four southern states colloquially known as the ‘Cotton Kingdoms’. Under this directive, several teams have been formed to implement a plan concocted by C.I.A. Deputy Director Hamilton Greeley and US Attorney for the District of Northern Florida Richard Sharkey. One of these teams (The PCs) has been tasked with running the Petersen Point Resort. Located in Santa Rosa County, on Florida’s panhandle, this seedy old tourist destination is perfectly situated, between the Pensacola COG and Alabama border. Though they may be tasked with the occasional field op, the Petersen Point team’s primary mission is to act as a ‘safe haven’ and staging ground.

 

Members of this ‘Dirty Deeds’ team have been provided with cover jobs at the hotel. Sam Fisher, a retired Delta Force colonel and C.I.A. assassin, was the original team leader. His cold blooded murder of an Alabama State Trooper caused his employers to reevaluate his tenure. Since his untimely death at the hands of a C.I.A. cleaner, the role of team leader has fallen to RiccoTorres. The Brazilian born ex-cop turned corporate executive walks a fine line between loyalty to Disney and the needs of the mission. Those goals of are in alignment, for now…

 

 

Dramatis Personae

 

The Team

 

Beebe Lafferty: A young tech and member of the Snake Nation helping Charlie with his various projects. She is the daughter of retired Major Beatrice ‘Bea’ Lafferty, who gained fame (or infamy) by firing the first ortillery strike of the Fourth Corporate War on Night City.

 

Betty Lu: An attractive 25 yo lawyer of Chinese descent. Despite her appearance she is a Texas girl, through and through.

 

Brandon Heath: A solo who is serve as head of security at the Petersen Point Resort. He is a member of the ‘Dirty Deeds’ crew. Unknown to everyone but Doctor Eduardo Ricci, Brandon is an experimental Biomechanical (cyborg) with one of Doc Freeman’s ‘cyberbrains’ sent by the Collective in response to Sam’s daughter’s request to watch over her father. Brandon was originally Grave, a cyborg from the Fourth Corporate War, who was later (2026) convicted of authorizing the murder of a young hacker and his family. Grave was supposedly executed but the government put him in their Project Kill Switch Program (see Super Solo 2 Campaign for details). He was rescued from a top secret government lab by his friend, Caitlin Jones.

 

Charlie Bibbliodoc: A master weaponsmith and owner of Boss Arms. He is a Snake Nation nomad in the area who is working on two projects. One is a government DARPA sponsored program to develop next generation laser technology. The other is to rearm and rehabilitate weapons systems for the floating colonies and vessels of the Thelas Nation in the Gulf of Mexico. He is an old friend of Sam Fisher from the Romanian Campaign.

 

Doctor Eduardo Ricci: This man is the hotel physician and a ‘Dirty Deeds’ employee. He is a Brazilian national who used to work with Roca Terrier, and is trained in bio-mechanical repair.

 

Owen ‘Crank’ Wolf: A young, muscle bound solo with experience in managing bars and other watering holes. He is a member of Sam’s ‘Dirty Deeds’ crew. His cover is Food and Beverage manager at the Petersen Point Resort.

 

Rianna Prescott: A younger woman from Sam Fisher’s past, who reconnected with him in Atlantic City and stood by him through his years in prison. They are engaged to be married.

 

Ricco Torres: A former member of the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police who became a private investigator when his friendship with certain ‘unsavory’ characters came to light. The Disney Corporation hired him to assist an Edgerunner team brought in to push their political agenda in Rio. In the process a monstrous plot that cost the lives of thousands of residents of the infamous favelas was uncovered and Ricco figured prominently in bringing the conspirators to justice. He was promoted and moved to Walt Disney World in Florida. When the United States government asked Disney for help, they sent Ricco who is now general manager of the Petersen Point Resort.

 

Mason Verge: A former Marine Force Recon member turned freelance solo with a good relationship with the Thelas nomads and a distinct dislike for the Alabama State Police.

 

 

The NPCs

 

Arthur Cletus ‘AC’ Johnson is the acknowledged leader of an organized crime family in the area and a lawyer from Escambia County. Publically he is one of Escambia County’s leading citizens. His partnership with Hadley Walters Jr. has given him the respectability he needs to get his younger brother (the middle one), Brainerd, elected to the state legislature. The man is smart and savvy. His power base is Pensacola and controls all the drugs, gambling and prostitution.

 

Alina Lanikova is the lead dancer at the Blue Moon Revue. She is a stunningly beautiful (ATTR 10), tall 29 year old Czech woman. Her skills are exceptional and she acts as ‘Den Mother” to the other dancers. She lives at the Resort with her teenage daughter.

 

Amy Fry is a young Thelas and sister of Jason Fry. She dates Sammy Trang, the drummer of Velvet Blue.

 

Bobby Tran is the grandson of Tran Xuan Giap and the cousin of Paris Saint Claire. He is like his grandfather and the sight of Paris is a constant reminder of his family’s disgrace.

 

Calvin Jenkins is an enforcer for A.C. Johnson now wanted for murder.

 

Carrie Anne Thorn is Front Desk Manager, also asst. hotel manager and bookkeeper at the Petersen Point Resort. She is a small white woman is her early sixties. Carrie Anne has arthritis so she doesn’t walk a lot.

 

Charles Ingersoll is the grandson-in-law of Sophie Petersen, widow of Randy Petersen and heiress to the Petersen Family Trust. He serves as CEO of the Petersen Point Properties Group.

 

Deputy Sheriff Delmar Gates is a handsome young man of mixed race. He has a soft spot for Paris Saint Claire. She seems oblivious to his attentions.

 

Drew ‘Tiny’ Barton is A.C.’s chief enforcer. He is a large and heavily cybered Afro-American (EMP 1) with 10 years military experience. He was cashiered from the army for almost killing his superior officer and served 8 years in prison. He is extremely dangerous and intelligent.

 

Gabriela Figueira is a famous telenovela star (the Brazilian equivalent of Susan Lucci). She is the grand dame of the telenovela who Henrique has persuaded to take a small but important role in his show.

 

Hadley Walters III is a 15 year old student and forward on the Gulf Breeze Prep basketball team. He is an arrogant self-entitled little prick, who tried to attack Lilly Tran (Episode 2) and vandalized the Golf Course.

 

Henry ‘Hank’ Tremont is the president of the local charter of the Visigoths. He is a tough smart leader with eight years military experience. It was he that put together the smuggling connection with the nomads and used those connections to run guns and supplies to the rebels in Alabama after the Alabama State Police murdered his two sons in cold blood eight years ago.

 

Henrique: A former Favela drug lord (nicknamed the King Snake) and leader of the Red Command who took a government amnesty offer and got out of the drug business. Henrique used to belong to a Brazilian pop group manufactured by a record company. When his voice changed he was fired and thrown back into the favela where he rose to the top of the local gang. The man now runs a media company which works with Disney. He and Ricco Torres grew up together with Ricco being the younger ‘brother’ (nicknamed Cobrinha – Little Snake).

 

Jack Shepard, the marina manager and a Thelas nomad. He is ex-military and is organizing the resort’s defenses.

 

Jason Fry is a young Thelas nomad serving of Charlie’s test ship, the Sea Snake. His sister is Amy Fry. He has a thing for Beebe.

 

Jenny Trang is a 24 year old Vietnamese-American who works as head security monitor. She used to be a cocktail waitress at the Blue Moon Revue. Her brother is Sammy Trang, drummer for Velvet Blue. She is a pretty (ATTR 7), vivacious person, but NEVER associates with the guests.

 

Jordan Grey is chief counsel for Peterson Point Resort and Charles Ingersoll’s personal attorney.

 

Lilly Tran is not a fan of her cousin Paris although there is usually no conflict between them. Lilly is NOT a good student and is afraid to ask anyone in her family for help. Sometimes Paris helps her with her homework.

 

Lula Midare is the stage name of Lurdes Gonzalvo Guarani. Like many others in Brazil, she is of mixed ancestry. Her exotic look rather than acting skill landed her the part in Henrique’s show.

 

Michael Jay Tran is the great nephew of Tran Xuan Giap and an ex-soldier and Philippine policeman. He is hired at the Petersen Point Resort as a security officer and is made a Blackwater town constable.

 

Michelle Petersen is the mother of Karl Petersen, granddaughter of the founder of the resort, Clarence Petersen and niece of Sophie and the late Randy Petersen. She was the ‘wild chlld’ of her generation. Michelle is one of the biggest landowners in the area and lives on the old Petersen Farm. She runs a craft and leather goods shop called ‘Crafty Michelle’s’.

 

Nancy Petersen is the daughter of a Karl Petersen and used to be a cocktail waitress at the Panhandle saloon. She is preparing to reopen the Beach Creamery for her grandmother, Michelle.

 

Natty Lanikova is the daughter of dancer Alina Lanikova and the teenage bassist for Velvet Blue. She dated Steve Zelinsky, a member of the Visigoths MC and ½ brother to Beebe Lafferty.

 

Paris Saint Claire is the lead singer for the band Velvet Blue and granddaughter of Eustis Saint Claire. She and Natty are best friends.

 

Rain was the distributor for Ronnie Johnson’s Panhandle Drug Operation. She is a thin black haired white girl with a number of tats. She is out on bail awaiting trial.

 

Reverend ‘Billy Bob’ Weems is head of the Santa Rosa Evangelical Church of Jesus Christ and leader of a group called the “Fundies” by the locals. He is an extremely charismatic and has a large following. The man hates the modern world and has even gone so far as to get cyberware banned in the county. That law against possession was struck down after a long court fight that cost the county a fortune, but it is still illegal to sell or install anything remotely related to cyberware. He was responsible for getting ordinances against serving alcohol on Sundays. He is the first cousin of Gardner Weems, but they haven’t spoken in over 25 years. The man is a registered Republican and extremely right wing.

 

Reverend Ezra Brown is the minister of the Blackwater Jubilee Baptist Church. He is a happy jovial man in his fifties and his church is filled with singing and music.

 

Richard King is a highly placed Disney executive that deals in ‘delicate’ situations. He is the man Disney sends, when things are going wrong and action must be taken. He has the nickname ‘King Dick’, but never to his face!

 

Sandomir ‘Sandy’ Zelinsky is the Vice President of the Visigoths MC. He is a tall blonde, green eyed man. Wild and fun loving in his youth, Sandy has matured into a clever and experienced leader. He and Hank are best friends.

 

Senator Brainerd Johnson is a member of the Florida State legislature and is corrupt as the day is long. He, his second wife, Carol, and four children live in Tallahassee and Escambia County. His first wife and child were killed in a plane crash after that wife left him.

 

Sheila Belanger Zelinsky is Sandy Zelinsky’s wife and Steve’s mother. She shares a special bond with Beebe’s mother, Bea.

 

Sheriff Marcus G. (Garvey) Mason of Santa Rosa County is a powerfully built African-American with a bald head and piercing brown eyes. He has been sheriff for seventeen years and on the force for eight years before that as well as twelve years in the Army. He has a cyberarm and two cybereyes as well as a lot of smaller cyberware. The man has a reputation as a tough, honest cop who protects his county.

 

Stefan ‘Steve’ Zelinsky was the eighteen year old son of the V.P. ‘Sandy’ Zelinsky of the Visigoths MC and had the same good looks and coloration as his father. He was seeing Natty Lanikov.

 

Todd Petersen is the young son of Karl Petersen and sister of Nancy Petersen. He works at his grandmother Michelle’s Beach Creamery.

 

Tommy Klein runs all gambling in Escambia County for his boss, A.C. Johnson. He is a high level mobster.

 

Wallena Kroitor Is from Soroca, Moldova. She is a failed gymnast, who went into dance who works for Disney (as a dancer) and now has a lead in Henrique’s show. She speaks Moldovan / Romanian and Ukrainian as well as some Hungarian, English and Portuguese.

 

Walter Hopkins is a ‘talent scout’ for the Dixie Entertainment Agency out of Dothan, Alabama.

 

Wilfredo Ernesto Saber ("Willy the Roach" or just Barata (Roach), but not to his face) is a friend of Henrique from the bad old days. His diminutive size and pleasant nature are at odds with his fearful reputation. His nickname comes from the fact that he is so tough to kill. He's been shot (nine time), stabbed (more than a dozen times), electrocuted (at least twice), thrown from a moving car, partially set on fire, fallen from a building, to escape said fire and had a host of other misadventures.

 

 

The Action

 

Wednesday, May 1, 2047:

 

Richard King responds to Ricco’s request for a face to face. He will be at the resort Friday morning.

 

Before heading to the Visigoth’s clubhouse for a follow-up meeting with Hank, the general manager drops by Crank’s office. “I need you to inform the rest of the team to not engage the Alabama State Police if they come onto the property. We’re not going to interfere unless they try to grab a member of the staff.”

 

Crank appears ready to question this change in policy. It’s no secret, that the Alabama State Police already have the resort in their crosshairs. The recaptured prisoner divulging his destination to the Alabama authorities just makes the bull’s-eye bigger. To forestall any argument, Ricco offers a simple explanation.

 

“They’re going to show up armed for trouble and spoiling for a fight. It’s a no win situation and bad for business. I want to throw them a curve ball.”

 

Crank still doesn’t look happy, but he agrees to comply with the general manager’s request.

 

 

Hank is in good humor when Ricco finally makes it to the clubhouse. After the normal pleasantries the MC President asks, “Do you have some time to spare?

 

“Sure, what is it?”

 

Hank turns serious, “I’m not asking for a couple of minutes here. This could take all day and night…”

 

The biker doesn’t say anymore, waiting for Ricco’s answer. Something that will take the better part of a day…he wonders if it’s another meet with the Rattlesnakes. Whatever it is seems very important. “I am at your disposal.”

 

Hank takes him down to the basement of the clubhouse; into a secured room, where they have Rain tied to a chair. It is apparent that the bikers have worked her over. These methods of coercion have proven ineffective. Hank brought in Ricco hoping that a skilled interrogator might be able to get something out of her. Out of ear shot, he tells the ex-cop, “You can promise her anything you want, but that bitch isn’t leaving here alive!”

 

Ricco has no problem with that. He spends the next few hours convincing Rain that she has a chance of making it out that basement. All she has to do is tell them who killed Martin Long. The ex-cop doesn’t mention that she’ll also be fingering the murder of Steve Zelinsky.

 

It takes time, but the girl finally gives up Drew Barton. “I heard A.C. tell Drew to take care of it and put it on the Visigoth’s.” This admission gives him the opening he needs to wring more details from the frightened young woman. When they are satisfied that she has divulged everything she knows, Hank asks Ricco to leave. Rain’s strangled cries recede as he climbs the stairs back to the main level.

 

Once his business has been taken care of downstairs, Hank rejoins Ricco. The general manager feels he is owed some reciprocity for his services. Over drinks, he confides to the MC’s President, “I have a few loose ends of my own?”

 

Hank knocks back a shot, before favoring the Brazilian with a glance. “Who?”

 

“The assassins and arsonists who did a church.”

 

The biker shrugs, “Sounds like they provided a public service to me.”

 

As a good Catholic, burning down a church is out of bounds, but Ricco keeps that to himself. He offers a motivation that he’s sure Hank can understand. “Maybe, but they framed me for it!

 

 

Elsewhere, Charlie and Beebe undertake the first test of the crewed served laser canon. When the remote trigger is activated, a dazzling beam of light streams from the aperture of the weapon towards the target down range. Superheated air pushes out in a pressure wave that echoes like a thunder clap. Intense heat chars anything within 10 feet of the weapon. There are spot fires out to 30 feet. Claxons sound around the range, as emergency systems kick in to cool the laser cannon. Tense seconds tick by as the temperature inches back from critical.

 

Once the temperature is in tolerable limits, Charlie heads down to the target to see how well the cannon worked. The beam cut through three feet of high grade steel and into the range’s bunkered backstop. Thankfully, the sand diminished the intensity of the beam, but there’s still damaged to trees for at least a hundred meters beyond the boundary of the range. Charlie is pleased by their progress. As to the near catastrophic overheat, he thoughtfully observes “Hmm…still needs a little work.”

 

 

There is a small ceremony at the Beach Creamery, once school lets out. A small crowd is on hand for the grand re-opening of the ice cream stand. Todd Petersen stands proudly by his big sis, while their grandmother, Michelle cuts the ribbon. This is the best day in his young life. The young man still can’t believe his luck. He’ll never tell Nancy, be he would have worked at the creamery for free. Money is a bonus. The real treat is getting to hang out with his comely coworkers. Todd has trouble concentrating on his grandmother’s speech. He is too busy stealing glances at Lilly, Paris, Natty and Amy Fry, in their short shorts and tight Beach Creamery t-shirts. Yep, it’s gonna be a great summer.

 

 

A line of limos pull up the resort, just before dinner time. Henrique and his crew have arrived. Wilfredo Ernesto Saber steps out of the back of the lead limo and quickly surveys the area. His small stature and mild nature belie a formidable reputation. Known to many as ‘Willy the Roach’, he previously earned a living as an enforcer for the Red Command and a contract killer. Now mostly retired, he serves as the Brazilian impresario’s personal bodyguard. Satisfied that nothing is amiss, he holds the door open for Henrique to exit the vehicle.

 

Gabriela Figueira and her personal entourage are in the second limo. Henrique was able to persuade the grand dame of the telenovelas (the Brazilian equivalent of Susan Lucci) to take the role of ‘control’ to the hot, sexy young female spies the show is built around. Lula Midare and Wallena Kroitor, the young starlets, share the last limo.

 

Ricco is there to greet his oldest and dearest friend. He is very appreciative of the production company’s business. It means a lot to the resort and the entire community. Over a private dinner Henrique shares his plans for the show. He asks for permission to construct a bar set on the hotel’s roof. Ricco has no reason to say no to his friend. They work out a deal to make it a permanent structure, providing the resort with yet another draw for guests. The general manager even offers to negotiate the construction with the local nomads to keep down costs. This will provide the perfect opportunity to cover the installation of the new 25mm anti-aircraft gun.

 

***

 

 

Thursday, May 2, 2047:

 

The cast and crew are up and out before sunrise to start filming.

 

Around 9 am, the security tech on duty (Jenny Trang) alerts Brandon to five heavily armed men have pulled up in front of the hotel and are running up the front steps. The security chief tries to notify Ricco, but the general manager is currently taking a meeting with Crank in the secure conference room. With electronic countermeasures activated to defeat any possible listening devices, they are unreachable by cell phone. There is also no hard line in the room.

 

Brandon scrambles from the security office to alert them to the incursion, but a burst from an auto-shotgun announces their presence before he even makes it to the door. The clerk at the front desk is cut down by a second gunman, as a third leaps over the counter and rushes the general manager’s office. Brandon has no angle for a shot, leaving the assailant to enter the office unmolested.

 

The security chief is fairly certain that Ricco isn’t in his office, so he turns his attention to the gunmen in the lobby. He targets the man with the shotgun. The high caliber round slams into the shooter’s forearm, nearly tearing the limb from his body. The weapon clatters to the floor, followed soon after by the assailant.

 

Having heard the commotion in the lobby, Crank exits the conference room, nearly running into the gunman coming out of the general manager’s office. A pistol is much more maneuverable, giving Owen an advantage over his attacker. He squeezes of two rounds before the other man can bring his assault rifle to bear. Crank takes a bullet from the gunman who executed the front desk clerk. The damage is negligible, but tears his suit. Pissed off, the Food and Beverage manager returns fire, clipping the shooter in the head. The man goes down, disappearing behind the opposite side of the check-in counter.

 

Crank moves forward to check if the man is still a threat. A grenade sails over the counter nearly dropping in his lap. Still too far away to attempt a leap over the front desk; a reflexive jump buys him some precious distance from the exploding shrapnel. He is still shredded, but standing. Scatter grenades follow, covering the attackers’ retreat.

 

{GM Note: The injured gunman didn’t have time to cook (burn the fuse down) the grenade before throwing. Crank also had a high initiative roll, giving him a chance to react to the grenade]

 

Outside, Mason Verge takes fire from the attacker’s wheel man, as he speeds towards the entrance of the Hotel in the patrol car. He screeches to a halt and bails out, to grab the A-80 assault rifle out of the trunk. He exchanges fire with the gunmen as they race away.

 

As the smoke clears in the lobby, they find two attackers. Both are dead. The front desk clerk is the only casualty for the hotel staff and guests. There are, however several wounded. Crank is the worse off (in mortal) almost having eaten a grenade.

 

Sheriff Mason and his CSI unit arrive to investigate the attack. He recognizes on of the dead. The corpse used to be one of Reverend Weems’ more radical followers. The police are shocked as Weems’ followers have never resorted to violence in the past. It could be that the firebombing of their church and assassination of their leader has pushed them over the edge. The sheriff and his deputies head off to round up the dead man’s ‘friends’.

 

Once the lobby is returned to them by the crime scene unit, Ricco and Brandon try to assess the damage. Their efforts are interrupted by two men in suits. At first the general manager thinks that they are part of the investigation into the shooting. They quickly dissuade him of such notions, handing him a summons to appear before a Senatorial hearing in Tallahassee on June 24th. The process servers produce identical summons for Brandon, Betty Lu and Owen Wolf. The hearings are being held by Senator Brainerd Johnson, to look into ‘terrorist attacks’ on Florida Churches.

 

Ricco is certain this is A.C. Johnson’s doing.

 

***

 

 

Friday, May 3, 2047:

 

Natty is still broken up about the death of Steve, but she still stops by to see Ricco that morning. The young netrunner has reprogrammed the modem for his personal computer so he can turtle the NET with a Glo-go rig. She has also re-written six programs so they can be used by the Brazilian. The general manager doesn’t negotiate the price. He just pays her what she asks. Richard King arrives for his meeting, while the two are completing their transaction. The corporate executive watches the teenager leave.

 

He idly remarks to Ricco, “She looks familiar.”

 

“She’s Alina Lanikova’s daughter.” The name means nothing to the executive, so he dismisses it as mistaken identity and gets down to business. He has bad news. There can be no corporate immunity for Carrie Anne. She is an employee of Petersen Point Resort and Disney can’t offer that to her, unless she worked for them. If she were to start working for Disney, her pension could be in jeopardy.

 

It’s bad news all around as Ricco informs his supervisor yesterday‘s attack and the subpoena from the state senate. The subpoenas interest Mr. King. It’s something Disney can act on. He promises to call legal up his return to the corporate offices and have them contact Betty Lu. The two adjourn to the private dining to have lunch, before Dick returns to Orlando.

 

Pretty much everyone attends Steve Zelinsky’s funeral at the Blackwater Jubilee Baptist Church. Reverend Ezra Brown gives a touching sermon that moves everyone to tears. Beebe buys a special dress for the occasion. She and Natty stand with Sandy and Sheila Zelinsky (after all they are family). The Czech girl lays her ‘Old Lady’ cut on Steve’s coffin before it is buried.

 

At the reception following the burial, Hank approaches Ricco. “We’d like to hold a party in Steve’s honor at the resort next Saturday.”

 

The general manager isn’t aware of any event scheduled for next weekend. “That shouldn’t be a problem. Call me tomorrow and we can work out the details.”

 

“Thanks. All of your people are welcome to come. I know Steve worked with some of your guys and liked them a whole lot.”

 

 

After the reception breaks up, Ricco stops to visit Alina Lanikova. He explains how the hotel is being framed for the firebombing of Reverend Weems’ church. “We’ve check the security footage at the Blue Moon and Panhandle. The bottles weren’t taken from there. It could be that someone stole them from the refuse company that we contract with pick up our trash. We need someone who can check out their offices…possibly find evidence of their involvement.”

 

Alina’s eyes narrows, “I don’t do that kind of work anymore.” She stands signifying the end of the conversation. “I just want to raise my daughter in peace.”

 

Ricco apologizes for disturbing her. He mulls over his options and heads to Pensacola to buy an Arasaka Blackjack. While in town, he also picks up a new armored suit and SP14 jacket; better safe than sorry.

 

***

 

 

Saturday, May 4, 2047:

 

Saturday night, Velvet Blue plays at the Saint Claire Farm. There is a sizable crowd of local youth. Hadley Walters III spots Beebe in the crowd and gives a friendly wave. Tonight, he’s flying solo. His two partners in slime (Danny and Peter Johnson) are in Tallahassee forced to attend one of their father’s political events. All is going well till the band takes a break between sets. Lilly Tran comes around the back of the band stand and catches Paris and Natty making out. Paris’s rather puritanical cousin makes a stink about their ‘unnatural’ relationship. The singer tries to calm her cousin, but Lilly slaps her hard across the face. It nearly knocks Paris to the ground. Natty lunges for the Vietnamese girl, screaming, “I kill you!”

 

Beebe intercepts the Czech girl. She tries to hold her back, but it turns into a wrestling match. Natty howls in anger kicking at Lilly. For her part, the Vietnamese girl stands rooted, like a deer in headlights. She remains motionless, till Paris put’s a hand on her should. The unexpected physical contact breaks Lilly’s shocked stupor.

 

“You should go.”

 

Lilly heeds her cousin’s advice, backing away slowly. She doesn’t want to take her eyes off the still fuming Natty; in case she breaks free. Paris moves forward to block her girlfriend’s field of vision. She whispers soothing words and strokes Natty’s cheek, trying to calm her. It seems to be working, but Beebe is still afraid to let her go. The steady stream of slurs and swears has stopped, but Natty is still fitfully straining to break free.

 

“Beebe, let her go.” At Paris’ quiet request, the nomad releases her grip. The Czech girl surges forward…but not to chase after Lilly. She buries her face in the Paris’ shoulder hugging her closely. Sobs wrack Natty’s slight frame. She is still traumatized by Steve’s death. The thought of anything happening to Paris sent her over the edge.

 

The incident is quickly forgotten. Velvet Blues goes back on stage for their second set. Natty channels her raw emotions into her music. Beebe stays after the show and ends up spending the night at the farm with Jason.

 

 

The production company is filming a scene poolside. Brandon has assigned himself as the hotel security representative. He amuses himself watching Lula Midare, Wallena Kroitor and the other young starlets prance around in their micro bikinis. Among the frivolity, he registers an out of place object under the low diving board. It is an 8x8x12 inch brown box; closed.

 

The security chief points out the mysterious package to the location manager. The man knows nothing about it. He had assumed that it was put there by someone from the hotel. Brandon interrupts the filming to move the actors and crew away from the potential danger. He carefully pulls the box out from under the diving board before opening it. Inside are several sticks of dynamite, tied to a timer, with just over three minutes left till detonation.

 

It looks like a fairly crude device, but with no demolition skills, Brandon doesn’t want to chance disarming it. He deposits it into the pool hoping the water with short circuit the time or waterlog the dynamite. At the very least, it should dampen the explosion. Everyone backs away from the pool, but the director keeps the cameras rolling. They might be able to use the use the explosion in the show.

 

The cardboard box bobs around on the surface, before slowly sinks towards the middle of the pool. When the explosion finally comes, it sends up a towering spray of water, drawing applause from the production crew and staff. The pool area is cordoned off as a crime scene, ending the days filming.

 

***

 

 

Sunday, May 5, 2047:

 

Beebe brings her younger half brothers and sisters to the beach for a day of kite flying. Paris and Natty tag along.

 

As the ‘Booze Cruise’ pulls away, Crank notices something bobbing in the water, about a hundred meters from the dock. As the boat moves further into the channel, he realizes it’s a body floating in the water. Owen orders the SS Mary Beth Petersen to come to a full stop and launch a motorized skiff to recover the body.

 

The corpse is that of a young female. When they pull it from the water, Crank can tell this is no accidental drowning. Ligature marks around the wrists and ankles stand out in stark relief against the deathly pallor. The victim’s body shows signs of torture. Because of the horrific mutilation it takes him a minute to recognize that the dead girl is Lilly Tran.

 

Crank signals the SS Mary Beth Petersen to sail on, taking Lilly Tran’s body back to the marina in the skiff. Calls are placed to the general manager and Sheriff’s Office. The police take custody of the body. Mason has the unenviable task of informing the Tran family of their loss. It’s job he‘s had to do too many times and it never gets any easier.

 

***

 

 

Monday, May 6, 2047:

 

After the department head’s deliver their reports, the subject turns to the attack by Reverend Weems’ fanatical followers. The general manager asks for suggestions on how they could improve lobby security.

 

Crank pipes up. “We should install a drop down bullet proof barrier at the front desk,”

 

Ricco mulls the idea over before responding. Cost isn’t really an issue. What he worries about is how guests will perceive a fortified front desk. It could send the wrong message. The general manager does want to shoot down the idea, but he couches his answer. “That would mean a redesign of the whole check-in area…but if it would save an employee’s life, it would be worth it.”

 

Mike Tran offers up a less obtrusive security measure. “Reinforce the lobby’s front door and put an auto-lock on it. Make it so the front desk or security monitor can trip it at the first sign of trouble.”

 

Brandon looks up thoughtfully. “I know we can’t put an intercom in the secure conference room for security reasons, but maybe install something like a big red light in there to tell us something bad is happening. That way people can get a quick heads up something is wrong.”

 

The general manager concludes the meeting, promising to take their suggestions under advisement. After the department heads, not in the know, have left, Ricco convenes a meeting of the Dirty Deeds team.

 

Charlie reports on the status of the anti-aircraft protection for the hotel. ‘I’ve finished remounting the 25mm auto cannon. I also installed a computerized firing system (+3), which should make it more accurate.”

 

Building the bar set will cover its installation, but who will crew the weapon becomes an issue. Ricco summarizes the dilemma. “By the time a crew makes it to the roof, it may be too late to defend against an air attack.”

 

Beebe asks, “You’re keeping the bar on the roof right?”

 

Ricco isn’t sure where she’s going but answers, “Yes.”

 

“Why not just hire bartenders and wait staff that can also fire the cannon? That way, it won’t look suspicious for them to be up there.”

 

Ricco turns to Jack Sheppard. “What do you think?”

 

“I have a couple of people who can mix a mean cocktail. If they have to be up there anyway, I’m sure they would pass up a little extra money.”

 

Considering the matter settled, Jack moves on to other topics. “We’ve installed the 2 shot LATGM recovered from the panzer turret on the SS Mary Beth Petersen. That should discourage any pirates we encounter. The ECM and Electronic Warfare suite are now operational. We have them set up down in the tunnels.

 

There are nods of approval around the table.

 

Jack has one less topic to discuss. “The hatch at the old battery has been opened. But it’s dangerous to leave it exposed. We really need to camouflage the entrance.

 

Ricco agrees that security of the tunnels is paramount. Beebe offers to help with constructing the false façade.

 

 

Crank brings up the death of Lilly Tran. The fact that Natty is a suspect is known to about everyone by this point. Ricco is not convinced of the young Czech’s guilt, but suggests that if she did do it, someone needs to ‘dissuade’ her from killing any more people.

 

Beebe remains silent. She remembers Natty’s reaction when Lilly slapped Paris. The nomad wants to believe her friend wouldn’t be capable of something so horrific…but doubt gnaws at her.

 

Mason (Verge) tries to light the mood. “Tell her to hide the body better next time.”

 

“That would work,” quips Crank.

 

Beebe sees red. Their blasé attitude to such a brutal murder, coupled with her own lingering fears about her friend make her want to lash out. She keeps it together long enough to make it out of the meeting.

 

Crank watches the young nomad stalk out of the room. “Well I guess the meeting’s over.” As the group breaks up, he approaches Ricco for some ‘fashion’ advice. “My good suit was destroyed by the grenades tossed at us by Weems’ people. Do you know a place where I can get some new armored suits in the area?”

 

Ricco gives his Food and Beverage manager the address of his tailor in Pensacola, but suggests that he take along Mike Tran. “With all the problems we are having with the Johnsons, no one should go into Escambia County alone.”

 

Crank agrees, but decides to take Brandon instead. The security chief is already heading to Pensacola to do some banking. While they’re in town, he picks up a suit as well.

 

 

Still angry, Beebe heads out with a crew of Thelas nomads to work on the cement plug. In addition to installing a camouflaged hatch, they unclog the air vents so fresh air can reach the tunnels below.

 

Around 2pm, Jenny Trang, the security monitor on duty, informs Ricco that there is a sheriff’s cruiser at the school. By the time the general manager reaches the school, Sheriff Mason is leading Natty Lanikova out in handcuffs. The Brazilian asks Mason if the girl has a lawyer.

 

“She doesn’t get a lawyer for right away for charges this serious.” The lawman is in no mood to talk further. He puts her in the back of the cruiser and drives away.

 

News travels fast. Natty’s arrest is a concern for the whole team. If she is brain danced, they could discover her involvement in the bombing that took out Brewton, Alabama. That’s the deaths of over 1100 people! It could mean death sentences all around.

 

When Beebe returns from working on the hatch, she goes to see Paris at family’s farm. The singer is positive that Natty didn’t kill Lilly. They were together, intimately together, the entire night. Paris adds, “Natty would never to anything to hurt me and Lilly is my cousin and my friend.”

 

Their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of Delmar Gates. The sheriff’s deputy is there to bring in Paris. He is apologetic, but insistent, that the girl come with him. Beebe offers to go with her, but Delmar refuses to let her in the cruiser. Undeterred, she follows in her pickup.

 

Alina is already at the sheriff’s office when they arrive. She’s been there for several hours, waiting to see her daughter. Having recently spent a lot of time with her friend’s mother, Beebe can see through her brave front. Alina is an emotional wreck

 

Paris is interviewed for two hours before being released. The sheriff tells the three to go home. Natty isn’t going to be released any time soon. On the ride back, Paris tells them that the police grilled her about where Natty was Saturday night, into Sunday morning. The singer vague about what she and Natty were doing, but Beebe quickly realizes Alina knows about her daughter’s ‘appetites’.

 

***

 

 

Tuesday, May 7, 2047:

 

Just after noon, a security tech reports a sheriff’s cruiser heading towards the employee cottages. Ricco and Brandon head over immediately. By the time they arrive, the car has parked in front of the Alina’s house. Sheriff Mason remains by his cruiser, allowing the mother and daughter a private reunion.

 

Mason notes the approach of Ricco and Brandon with a nod. He tells them of Natty’s release and fills them in on the state of the investigation. It’s partly out of professional courtesy, but also so that they don’t bother Natty and Alina.

 

“Lilly was killed with a single slash across the throat. Before that though, she had been tortured something awful. She was sexually violated. There was tearing and internal bleeding, but forensics didn’t find any DNA from her killer. Bruising and wound patterns suggest they may have used a foreign object.”

 

Natty was the prime suspect, due to an altercation she had with victim hours before her death. The girl also has a propensity for blades. As far as forensics can tell the killing cut was made with a short thin blade. Natty’s switchblade fits the pattern, but it came back clean. We’re following up some other leads, but if you hear anything, please let me know. ”

 

Brandon still has doubts of Natty’s innocence. Lack of evidence doesn’t prove she didn’t do it. Sheriff Mason has another tidbit for the general manager and security chief. Sharing information has become problematic since Ricco is still a suspect in the murder of Revered Weem’s. He drove Natty home, so that they could talk face to face.

 

“We’ve arrested the remaining attackers and found out where they got a hold of their hardware. Seems a Calvin Jenkins supplied the weapons. He also coached them through the attack. Mr. Jenkins was originally from Milton, but now lives in Pensacola. He’s said to be working for A.C. Johnson’s as an enforcer. We have a warrant out for his arrest. Well…I’ve gotta get back to the office, but you let me know if you hear anything.”

 

Another attack tied back to A.C. The crime lord is coming at them from all angles. Ricco returns to his office to look into Walter Hopkins. It wouldn’t surprise him if the ‘supposed’ talent agent from Dixie Entertainment was somehow linked to the Johnson crime family. He spends several hours conducting NET research, but finds nothing suspicious.

 

 

Beebe waits with Natty outside the school, for classes to let out. Paris is overjoyed to see her friend (and lover). The two share an embrace. As they turn to leave, Lilly’s brother, Bobby Tran, approaches, pulls a small caliber pistol and aims it at Natty. “You killed my sister, you bitch!”

 

The Czech girl reflexively goes for her switchblade. Paris tries to interpose herself between them, shouting at her cousin, “No!” Beebe who had remained by the truck is too far away to do anything. If she were back home, her revolver would be at her hip, not shoved in the glove compartment of the pick-up. She runs towards Bobby, but knows she won’t be in time.

 

Bobby’s shot catches Paris in the torso, causing the young man hesitate. Natty uses the opening to throw her blade. Bobby mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water. He stares agog at the knife protruding from his chest and goes down.

 

With the threat neutralized, Natty turns her attention to Paris. Her lover assures her that she’s ok...”look, it barely broke the skin.” Beebe walks over to disarm Bobby. He groggily comes around, so she tells him, “Just stay down.”

 

The shooting draws Brandon and Mason to the school. Ricco is there soon after, as are Sheriff Mason and his deputies. Like she told Natty, Paris’ wound is slight. Dr. Ricci has her patched in minutes. Bobby Tran is not so fortunate. The knife wound will require a trip to the Milton Hospital. The sheriff takes the .22 caliber pistol from Beebe. After taking statements, he decides not to arrest anyone, yet.

 

Beebe drives Paris and Natty to the St. Claire farm. On the way, they talk about the shooting and about Lilly’s death. Who could want to kill her in such an awful manner? Wracking her brain for possible suspects, the nomad remembers Hadley (Walters III) being at the farm, this brings up a memory of Lilly being chased by Hadley and his to asshole buddies (Episode 2). It didn’t mean much at the time, but now, it could be significant.

 

She turns the truck around, and the three of them go to see Ricco. The general manager thanks them for the information. “Don’t worry, I’ll deal with it.”

 

***

 

 

Wednesday, May 8, 2047:

 

Sheriff Mason stops by the Resort to meet with Ricco and Brandon. “Bobby Tran says that Hadley Walters III told him he saw Natty follow after Lilly the night she disappeared. Hadley denies saying anything to Bobby about Natty. I’ve interviewed Natty and her band mates. They attest to her whereabouts.”

 

Marcus pauses. “Here’s where it gets tricky…Hadley offered to take lie detector test, which he passed. I asked Bobby to do the same and he passed as well.”

 

Brandon notes, “His father is a lawyer. I’m sure he taught his son how to lie convincingly.”

 

Ricco informs the sheriff about the attack on Lilly last January. He also points out that Hadley has a very expensive car. “A vehicle like that probably has a GPS.”

 

Sheriff Mason has Beebe, Paris and Natty write out their statements regarding the incident last January and sign them. “I’ll see about getting a warrant, but the evidence is pretty thin.”

 

***

 

 

Thursday, May 9, 2047:

 

Ricco receives a message from the Pensacola COG. Operation Perfect Storm, the annual spring maneuvers, will take place from Thursday, June to 6th to Tuesday, June 11th. The Blackwater area will be locked down from 11 am to 7 pm on Monday, June 10th. Details will follow in the coming weeks.

 

Henrique takes the afternoon and evening to produce the first recording sessions for Velvet Blue. He concentrates on the songs that will be used for the club scenes being filmed at the rooftop set, tomorrow.

 

***

 

 

Friday, May 10, 2047:

 

Construction is finish just in time for shooting to begin on the rooftop set. Filming begins in the evening, with Velvet Blue playing the part of the house band. Many Blackwater residents are cast as extras for the bar scene. Security is tight, preventing any incident that may mar the evening. Vera is cast as Ricco’s ‘date’. The former lovers have been falling back into their old familiarity. Once shooting has wrapped, Henrique invites everyone to a party in his suite.

 

***

 

 

Saturday, May 11, 2047:

 

Today is the field test the new prototype for Boss Arms’ x-ray laser. The weapon has 2 standard power packs for a theoretical maximum output of (total of possible from the power packs is 40d6). The tests go fairly well. A variable setting allows the intensity of the beam to be dialed up or down. Overheating becomes an issue when the weapon is fired at higher settings. Reliability is good at medium setting (4d6 damage). Sustained firing reveals subtle instabilities in the power core that need to be worked on. Still Charlie and Beebe label it a success.

 

The memorial party for Steve Zelinsky is held that evening by the hotel pool. Additional security has been brought in for the event, but not by the hotel. The Visigoths have paid to for a detail of to sheriff’s deputies to be on hand. With the entire motorcycle club and their families in attendance, the party would make a tempting target. Hotel security is on high alert, with Brandon and Mason working the party. The rest of the team come as quests, but still keep one eye out for trouble.

 

Velvet Blue provides the music and is especially good. Henrique watches them play, remarking to Ricco. “I’m glad you told me about these four, Cobrinha, they can go far.”

 

Ricco gives him a nod. Everything is going well tonight. Still, in the back of his mind he feels something is not quite right.

 

***

 

 

Sunday, May 12, 2047:

 

An angry Sheriff Mason shows up at the Resort. A.C. Johnson’s country house was attacked and burned to the ground last night. When the fire department and police arrived, they were greeted by a pyramid of eleven severed heads set up on the front lawn. Laid out in three rows of three were six of A.C. Johnson’s remaining eleven enforcers, his butler, chauffeur and cook. On top of those were Drew Barton, A.C.’s chief enforcer, Tommy Klein, the lieutenant in charge of all gambling in Escambia County, Rain and a lawyer named Jordan Grey. The grisly pyramid was capped with A.C. Johnson’s mutilated head.

 

Ricco (truthfully) denies any knowledge of what happened.

 

Sheriff Mason doesn’t look convinced. “Jordan Grey was Charles Ingersoll’s personal lawyer and senior counsel for Petersen Point Properties, so you can imagine my skepticism?”

 

The general manager continues to protest his ignorance of the massacre. After a while, he has the feeling that Marcus might be starting to believe him. Both have no doubt that the Visigoths were somehow involved, but the bikers have an iron clad alibi. For the sheriff, the most galling thing of all is that they used his people to cover up their crime. “A security detail my ass!” Marcus won’t lose any sleep over A.C. Johnson or his people, but he doesn’t like being used.

 

 

 

Next: Episode 14: The Johnson Clan Implodes