Report #3270, Transcript Section #34
(Operation SANDMAN)
©1999 Shane Ivey

Rogers:
You should be set as Keeeper now Shane, and the next Bond film looks a corker, the trailer is supposed to show with SW:TPM anyone seen it yet?

Keeper:
I haven't seen it. When I saw TPM it featured an Austin Powers trailer.

Lundquist:
Yeah, I saw SW, but the closest trailer to that was for the new Austin Powers flick.

Rogers:
Now I've seen that one funny :-)

Keeper:
Among others; no Bond trailer, though.

Lundquist:
Keeper; Jinx!

Rogers:
Oh well it'll be out on Nov 19th

Keeper:
I put the GRRRR into Delta GRReen, baby! ;-)

Rogers:
LOL

Rogers:
This kind of thing ain't my bag baaabby!

Keeper:
So! Any game-related questions or issues?

Lundquist:
I have no game qustions right now, though I'm sure I could scare some up for you if I read over the logs real quick...

Keeper:
This would be a good time. Lundquist, you've just returned to the Safe House. Everyone has a chance to regroup and talk things over.

Lundquist:
For instance, those flamethrowers we got at the safehouse, are those big, bulky, Army-issue jobbies? Or are they compact, hi-tech ones like the guy had at my medical exam?

Keeper:
Assuming nothing happens with all the feds now investigating you case, that is. ;-)

Keeper:
The flamethrowers are the little high-tech types. They don't last long--only a few shots--but they're portable.

Rogers:
I've been thinking over what I came up with at the end of the last session and I'm not sure it was right can I ask an out of chracter wuestion with in character ramifications to clear some doubts up Shane?

Keeper:
Sure.

Rogers:
OK last time I hypothesised that DM was a drug that made the organism the in the infected people strong fast etc and Didn't have the same effects outside in ordinary population because the organism wasn't present can my cracter tell if the organisms are the same (outside if you culture DM you get an organism) or if there are 2 distinct organisms iNVOLVED?

Lundquist:
So I can a flamethrower under my jacket without it being noticable? ;-)

Rogers:
mE TOO

Keeper:
Rogers, the DM organism and the gunk from TBC do seem to be two different organisms.

Rogers:
Hooo Ahhh as the American Marines say now we have some hard data

Lundquist:
!! Different players? Occult drug syndicates at war?

Rogers:
"So Mr. L it would seem to me the DM drug is just a side effect of the project undertaken at the Breckenridge corporation." "I think we need to concentrate our efforts there"

Rogers:
"Maybe Someone making a profit on the top of their scheme"

Lundquist:
"Perhaps. Maybe the suicide victim (whose name escapes me) was afraid of more than just prosecution by the authorities?"

Keeper:
Volker.

Lundquist:
"Maybe he didn't want whoever was pulling the strings at Breckenridge to find out that he was doing a little business on the side? It's a theory, anyway..."

Rogers:
"I think we need to get to his home as soon as possible before anyone else decides to remove the evidence via black helicopter."

Lundquist:
"Duh! Why didn't we think fo that earlier?!? I must be getting over-tired..."

Rogers:
"Heavy weapons as well, MP5's each and the flamethrowers, Just the three agents for deniability."

Rogers:
"I don't want to face anymore of those supermen unless I'm loaded for bear."

Lundquist:
"Yeah, where are my Bradleys? And my gunships? This MEREDITH needs to get on the ball."

Rogers:
"Maybe even time to use shotguns they would cause more damage than a bullet"

Rogers:
"I'll get Danforth to get the samples to the appropriate team's and he can secure the safehouse untill we return."

Lundquist:
"I have my own MP5 but I think I'll switch to a shotgun. A 12-gauge hollowpoint slug will make a bigger holethan a 9mm round."

Lundquist:
"If we do run into more supermen, I want an elepahnt gun."

Keeper:
Kelley says, "And head shots."

Keeper:
He stands and stretches with a grimace. "And let's get cleaned up before we go. It ain't right to go through this many fights without a shower."

Lundquist:
"Did we get the shotguns I asked OSBORNE for? Or do we need to stop at Wal Mart?"

Keeper:
"They're in the back."

Rogers:
"Ok showers and lets get tooled up for the job and lets get the heavy body armour out."

Lundquist:
"Well, that's some good news at least."

Keeper:
OK... I'm still a little distracted, so you guys just keep going and I'll keep up and let things run.

Rogers:
"So Mr L. how much trouble are we in with the task force?"

Lundquist:
"No real trouble at all. Deveraux hates me... His cop instincts tell him there's something fishy about me, but he doesn't know what."

Rogers:
"So we just mushroom them then?"

Lundquist:
"I think I can keep them focused, though, on the real bad guys. Everything Delta Green has done here has been exceeded a hundredfold by the opposition."

Lundquist:
"So keeping the authorities distracted away from us is made considerably easier."

Rogers:
"That's true but we don't know who the opposition are it sureaas hell ain't some vodou cult eqiped with high tech helicopters?"

Keeper:
Where are you guys discussing this, by the way? And are the Friendlies with you?

Lundquist:
No, it's in my bedroom, with Kelly, and with the door closed.

Keeper:
OK. Carry on.

Keeper:
Kelley shakes his head. "There's high tech helicopters, and then there's that monster they brought up on us. I've never seen one like that."

Lundquist:
"I've never seen ANYTHING like that."

Lundquist:
"What the fuck was it?"

Lundquist:
"I feel the need to start drawing arrows on a white board. Let's work out what we've got before we go running off half-cocked."

Lundquist:
"First, we've got the gangstas, pushing DM on the local druggie population."

Lundquist:
"They had a thorn in their side in the form of Reverend Zeke, RIP, who somehow attracted the attention of the Breckenridge people."

Lundquist:
"Now, Breckenridge is a serious enough outfit to fry our bugs and start a couple of gunfights. Plus they had that flashlight device, which seems very creepy to me."

Lundquist:
"This got us looking closely at Breckenridge, and when we turned that rock over to see what would scurry out,. we find superhuman gun-toting goons and black stealth helicopters."

Lundquist:
"Now, this church we took out... Did we ever estabish a connection between them and the Third Court Warriors?"

Keeper:
Kelley says, "The gangsters sell the shit, at the voodoo church they use the shit."

Lundquist:
"We went there following Officer Lemonde. But why did he go there? He was frustrated and angry with the turns recent events had taken, and wanted to do something."

Lundquist:
"So the Third Court Warriors have really never received much of our attention thus far."

Keeper:
"Only so much to go around."

Lundquist:
"Maybe we ought to bring in one of their higher-ranking members for questioning?"

Keeper:
"That might work. What do you think, Rogers?"

Rogers:
"Personally I think at the moment we need to focus on the Breckenridge problem and not let them do an effective houskeeping on the security heads personal files."

Rogers:
"Going after the third court warriors is just going to be more problems in an exposed environment, at least if we get into this guys house we're not in the public domain."

Keeper:
"Aren't we? We're not the only ones who know Volker hung himself."

Rogers:
"Yeah and if we move fast enough we may catch them or get there before them and be able to ambush them for a change. The task force arn't going to get there anytime soon i shouldn't think."

Keeper:
He sits back and nods. "I don't think we need to plan on sleeping much, tonight. As of daybreak, the FBI is going to be all over all our leads."

Lundquist:
"Yeah, Deveraux's got to have some people over there by now."

Rogers:
"So what do you propose then?"

Lundquist:
"I think that getting one of the Warriors to talk could fill in some holes, specifically in terms of our understanding of any connections between them and Breckenridge."

Rogers:
"Personally I think that we're going too loose to much stuff if we go after a vodoun leader now we cab get one at any time after all."

Keeper:
"Let's look at what clues we have, and what clues Devereaux has. What can we get to before his people do?"

Rogers:
"Of course what is he going to have at the security heads hq right now, can we remove them without killing them and gain access?"

Keeper:
Kelley looks at Lundquist.

Rogers:
"What do you think we should do?"

Lundquist:
"I think that questioning a Warrior could fill in some blank spots in our understanding of this case."

Lundquist:
"I suspect that the people running the covert op through Breckenridge may be their DM supplier. But that's just a hunch."

Rogers:
"Ok but I think we're taking the wrong route here, but I'll go along with you."

Lundquist:
"I'd like to either confirm it, or rule it out, if we can."

Keeper:
"What about Volker's place?"

Lundquist:
"Well, hold up a second. I'm not sure that that should be our next immediate move either."

Lundquist:
"Volker's place may be more important, and more time-sensitive."

Lundquist:
"No doubt other investigators are going to be going through it. I think we ought to do the same thing."

Lundquist:
Keeper, can I call someone to check up on that? See what activity is already underway from other agencies?

Rogers:
"It the time factor that's worrying me we can grab a Warriors any time we want but the info if there is any in Volkers home is going to be removed very quickly it's the logical next step for whoever we ran into in Breckenridge."

Keeper:
As you make the calls, make a Luck roll, Lundquist.

DICE for Lundquist: (1d100) = [ 83 ]

Lundquist:
Oh yeah.

Keeper:
You get one of the other agents on the phone. "Volker... Apartment's on Henry Street, Brooklyn. Two FBI agents left about a half-hour ago to look at it."

Lundquist:
"Right. Thanks." I hang up.

Lundquist:
"Well, they say two guys went down there to poke around... Think we ought to join them?"

Rogers:
"Great just great."

Rogers:
"We could do but how about going around them?"

Lundquist:
(BTW, what are the legal issues here? Is a warrant needed?)

Keeper:
(Volker's dead--no right to privacy. Searching his home isn't a problem as long as he lives alone, which he did.)

Keeper:
Kelley says, "Going around them? What do you mean?"

Lundquist:
(Okey doke)

Rogers:
"Assuming they are outside just securing the site we could go in the back."

Keeper:
"What kind of place did he live in? A house or apartment?"

Rogers:
"I'd assume a house" (luck roll)

Lundquist:
"An apartment, in Brooklyn."

Keeper:
"It probably won't have a back door, then. And they couldn't secure the entire building."

Rogers:
"Fire escape?"

Keeper:
"Yeah, maybe."

Lundquist:
"There's not much point in this until we get a look at the place and see what those two fibbies are up to. You guys want to go take a look?"

Rogers:
"May as well, we can always grab a gang banger later if we have to."

Keeper:
Kelley looks at each of you and nods. "I'm up for it. Let's work fast, though. Like I said, there's going to be feds all over the place by tomorrow."

Keeper:
Kelley stands. "I'll bring my kit. We can clean our weapons on the way. How's your arm, Rogers?"

Rogers:
"It should hold up I think" (medicine roll?)

Lundquist:
"Why don't we have one or two of Wang's people meet us there, with fingerpring dust and a camera with a big flash on it? That way we can look like we're justy working the crime scene, like pros or something."

Keeper:
Medicine roll won't apply--you're not actually treating it yet, just keeping it in a sling to immobilize it.

Keeper:
Besides, it's only been 12 hours since it got dislocated.

Keeper:
Kelley nods. "Make the call. Make sure they stay clear until we're sure there's no threat, though."

Lundquist:
"I'll have them meet us around the corner." I pull out my phone and place the call.

Keeper:
Wang says she'll bring a team to meet you. She sounds much less shaky than last time you saw her.

Rogers:
"Well that covers our reason for going there"

Lundquist:
"How are you feeling?"

Keeper:
"I'm all right," she says. "I reacted badly, earlier. I shouldn't have. I hope I didn't cause problems with your case."

Lundquist:
"Not at all. Your people have been outstanding. We really couldn't function without you." Pat, pat.

Keeper:
"That's good to hear," she says. "We'll be there inside an hour."

Lundquist:
"See you there. I'll brief you when we meet up." I hang up.

Keeper:
Kelley says, "What are we wearing over there? Suit and tie?"

Lundquist:
"Yeah, that's what I'm going to wear. With a flak vest underneath. Though I'll lose the jacket as soon as we're inside, it's damn hot out."

Rogers:
"I'll wear a rain coat to cover the body armour"

Keeper:
OK... The three of you can get your things together, change into clothes without bullet-holes in them and blood on them, etc.

Rogers:
:-)

Keeper:
With instructions to Cabot, Keen, and Danforth to hold the fort.

Lundquist:
"Hope we have a DG-Friendly dry cleaner..."

Keeper:
You have flak vests to wear--the standard detective-going-into-battle sort, worn over the shirt. 8 AP.

Lundquist:
I want to put my vest and a shotgun into a large duffel bag.

Keeper:
Kelley brings his silenced machine gun and pistol and slides extra clips into the vest's pockets.

Keeper:
(Note: the armor gives a penalty to physical skills and resistance rolls, as well, due to bulk.)

Keeper:
It's still raining outside and very dark when you drive out.

Rogers:
Rogers brings both his .45s and a shotgun plus the compact flamethrower

Keeper:
The rain seems sticky and humid in the heat of the summer night, falling in fat drops that drum and rattle on the roof of the Range Rover.

Keeper:
Where are you storing all that hardware, Rogers?

Rogers:
In the rover's boot and the shot gun inside the trench coat.

Keeper:
Rogers, you're covered with sweat within a few minutes. The skill penalty will be aggravated a little. Just FYI.

Lundquist:
"Hey, turn up the A.C."

Keeper:
The drive over is quiet. Traffic is light; it's a weeknight, and it's late.

Rogers:
"Good idea that."

Keeper:
(Sorry, not late yet, now that I think about it. It's about 8:00.)

Keeper:
It takes you about twenty minutes to reach Henry Street, in the Brooklyn Heights area, near the Brooklyn Bridge.

Keeper:
It's a quiet area without much traffic, though cars are lined up bumper-to-bumper parked along the narrow streets.

Keeper:
There are many trees along the sidewalks. Stoops lead up to deep but narrow apartment buildings and old townhouses.

Keeper:
A few are unoccupied, but most are in good repair. It's a pleasant neighborhood.

Lundquist:
I look for the FBI car.

Keeper:
Volker's is an apartment building with red-painted brick behind a cement facade. It's not easy to spot the Bu-car--a third of the cars parked here are of a similar type--but you make it by the extra wires seen inside from communications gear.

Keeper:
They got a good parking spot, halfway down the block from Volker's place. You don't see anything as good open.

Keeper:
"Well," says Kelley, "we can just double-park."

Lundquist:
"Yeah, I've got a friend who can fix parking tickets."

Keeper:
Kelley grins. He pulls in front of the stoop and opens the door, carrying his submachine gun as he jogs through the rain toward the stairs. "Who's going for the back?"

Rogers:
"I'll take it."

Keeper:
He nods and heads up the stairs. "Go slow and keep your ears open. Which way are you going, Lundquist?"

Lundquist:
(err, wait... Don't we want to get Wang & Co first?)

Keeper:
Kelley pauses, blinking rain out of his eyes. "Up to you."

Rogers:
(is't that your job?)

Lundquist:
"Okay, you guys secure the house, I'll go get the others. If there's trouble, call me, or just start shooting."

Keeper:
"Yessir." Kelley heads up the stairs.

Rogers:
"So our normal plan then"

Keeper:
Rogers, there is a gap of a few yards on either side of the building, between it and the next buildings over.

Rogers:
rogers head for the back and presumably the fire escape and keeps an eye out for suspicious men

Keeper:
High fences run between the buildings, wrought iron painted black, tipped with sharp spikes to keep the birds off.

Keeper:
Through the fences you see a gravelly, littered yard with patches of stringy grass, leading to a wider yard in the rear of the building.

Keeper:
Are you trying to climb the fence?

Rogers:
i'm looking for a gate in the fence first

Keeper:
You find a gate. It's of the same design. Its latch is held by a thick padlock.

Rogers:
I'm going to try and pick the lock

Keeper:
You lean the shotgun against the fence and go to work with your lockpicks... Make a locksmithing roll, minus 10% for your bum arm and the rain.

DICE for JTRogers: (1d100) = [ 42 ]

Keeper:
You tinker with the lock for a few minutes, to no avail. You feel the rain running down your back and into your eyes and mouth.

Rogers:
"Damn guess I'll have to break it off."

Rogers:
Rogers' jogs back to the car for a crow bar.

Keeper:
Rogers, make a roll of STR vs. the lock's 14 HP. -10% again. You should have a 55% chance.

DICE for JTRogers: (1d100) = [ 82 ]

Keeper:
That arm starts twinging bad after the first exertion...

Rogers:
"Aw Jesus wept."

Keeper:
Rogers, Kelley phones you.

Rogers:
"Michael here"

Keeper:
"Ground floor is clean. I'm about to head up. What do you see?"

Rogers:
"A padlock that I can't get past, the back yard looks clean though, and I don't feel the need to shoot the lock off I'll come back in the front way."

Keeper:
"Do you want me to head in the back?"

Rogers:
"Hang where you are I'll join you now an then we'll check it Safety in numbers."

Keeper:
"Affirmative." (click)

Rogers:
Rogers hustles into meet up with Kelly

Keeper:
Your shoes squeak and leave watery footprints in the tiled hall.

Keeper:
Kelley points to a small elevator and a wood-paneled stairwell. Nearby you see mailboxes in a wall and doors to two ground floor apartments.

Keeper:
And a security camera, of course, trained on the front door.

Rogers:
"Great just Great." "Got any spray paint in the rover?"

Keeper:
Kelley says, "The doors were propped open when I came in, to keep them from locking. The feds might have been expecting company."

Keeper:
Kelley shakes his head. "We're here legitimately, right?"

Rogers:
"Yes where's Mr.L?"

Keeper:
Lundquist is outside, under an awning to keep out of the rain, waiting for Wang's team to arrive.

Keeper:
Unless he has an umbrella or likes standing in the rain, of course. ;-)

Lundquist:
Awnings are fine with me.

Rogers:
"Ok lets knock and head on in, Mr' L you joining us?"

Keeper:
Kelley says, "Stairs or elevator? Volker's place is on the eighth floor."

Lundquist:
"Well, I was going to wait for Wang, but since she's taking so long I figure I'll just head up with you guys."

Rogers:
"Great she can find an address on her own"

Rogers:
"Elevator stairs would kill me in all this gear."

Keeper:
Kelley says, "I'll take the stairs, then. Just in case. See you guys up there."

Lundquist:
"Definitely the elevator."

Keeper:
Kelley heads into the stairwell. The elevator takes two minutes to arrive after you hit the button. It comes from the eighth floor.

Keeper:
You ride up to the eighth floor without interruption. The elevator car is old, paneled in dark wood, scarred from decades of use and heavy furniture.

Lundquist:
I quickly don the flak vest and pull the shotgun from the bag during the ride up.

Keeper:
The elevator doors slide open. You see a narrow hallway to either side. Volker's apartment is at the end of the hall, across from another apartment door.

Lundquist:
I look to the stairwell door for Kelley.

Keeper:
Kelley is not yet in sight.

Rogers:
Rogers stays in the lift dorr stopping it from closing

Keeper:
Easy enough.

Keeper:
After a couple of minutes, you see Kelley's eyes flash past the small window in the stairwell door. A second later he pushes the door open and joins you.

Keeper:
He nods, breathing briskly.

Keeper:
He whispers, "Well?"

Lundquist:
"The door's down there."

Keeper:
He shrugs and steps down the hall toward the door.

Lundquist follows.

Keeper:
He stops in front of the door, listening, frowning.

Keeper:
After a moment he looks up and shakes his head. Holding the submachine gun in his right hand, he tries the knob with his left, testing it gently.

Lundquist whispers, "What is it?"

Keeper:
Kelley tries the door and finds it locked. He looks up. "Knock, or pick it?"

Lundquist:
"Let's pick it."

Rogers:
"I'll try my luck's not in tonight though so far."

Keeper:
He nods, slings the gun under his arm, and brings a folding pouch from his hip pack. "Let me try first. Watch the hall," he says.

Lundquist:
"I got the hall."

Keeper:
He unfolds the pouch, takes out the tools, and goes to work...

DICE for Keeper: (1d100) = [ 70 ]

Keeper:
He's silent as can be, but after a few minutes you can tell he's getting frustrated.

Rogers:
"Want me to have a go?"

Keeper:
"Give me a couple more minutes."

Keeper:
You hear no activity from the other apartments as he works.

Rogers:
"Ok"

DICE for Keeper: (1d100) = [ 90 ]

Keeper:
Finally he stands. "Try if you want," he whispers. "This could take all night. I'm all thumbs."

Lundquist:
I walk down the hall a few doors... I listen as I go. Do I hear anything? Voices, a television on, anything? Or is this whole floor dead?

Rogers:
rogers has a go at the lock

DICE for JTRogers: (1d100) = [ 11 ]

Rogers:
"Cool"

Keeper:
Things seem very quiet, Lundquist. Though you do hear the phone ring, suddenly, in the apartment across the hall from Volker's door.

Keeper:
Rogers seems to be progressing... the phone rings and rings. You see the door to that apartment rattle in its frame, perhaps from a gust of wind through an open window.

Lundquist hisses "Kelley! Look sharp!"

Lundquist trains his shotgun on that door.

Keeper:
Kelley nods and watches the door. It stills again.

Lundquist:
Do the doors have peepholes in them?

Keeper:
Yes.

Keeper:
The phone keeps ringing.

Rogers:
"What's up" rogers whispers

Lundquist:
So somebody can be watching us from there...

Lundquist whispers "Let's get inside. You got that door open yet?"

Rogers:
Do I?

Keeper:
Rogers, you feel the lock give inside the door. It twists and you get the door open.

Keeper:
The door is heavy. Are you pushing it open fully?

Lundquist:
Is the phone still ringing?

Keeper:
The phone is still ringing.

Rogers:
"Mr. L get the phone and say your Volker, Kelly and I will secure the appartment."

Keeper:
The phone is ringing inside the other apartment, by the way, not inside Volker's apartment.

Rogers:
"Ok don't get the phone help us secure the appartment."

Keeper:
What are you doing? Give me some details.

Lundquist:
"Right." We go inside quickly, and I close the door behind us and immediately take up position at the peephole to watch the hallway and the door opposite.

Rogers:
We're looking around to make sure we're alone first

Keeper:
Inside Volker's door you see a short entry-hall. To the left, just ahead, is a door; directly ahead the hall opens into a main living room. It's dark.

Rogers:
Rogers removes his trench coat "Ok lets see if anyone's got to it before us."

Lundquist whispers "Check it, quickly. I'll watch the hall from right here." I don't move from my position at the door.

Keeper:
Kelley slides his goggles on and thumbs the switch. You hear a soft whine of electrical power from them. He steps forward, scanning the main room with the laser sight of his gun.

Rogers:
Rogers moves to backstop Kelly

Keeper:
He lifts his left hand and signals it as clear.

Keeper:
Then he points to the closed door off the hall.

Rogers:
Rogers moves to the door to open it on Kelly's signal

Lundquist whispers "I've got a bad feeling about all this..." to himself.

Keeper:
Rogers, the door opens into what looks like a plain bedroom.

Keeper:
Then a dark shape moves--and there's a sudden flash of brilliance. Rogers, make a special success Luck roll.

DICE for JTRogers: (1d100) = [ 77 ]

Keeper:
Your eyes were adjusting to the darkness: the flash blinds you.

Keeper:
Lundquist, you're near the front door, down the hall from Rogers. The flash is bright and you see spots, but it doesn't directly affect you. You see Kelley snarl and crouch, shaking his head and reaching up to yank the goggles off.

Rogers:
Rogers is trying to get out of the line of the door

Keeper:
Lundquist, what are you doing? Slow-motion time...

Lundquist:
Staying where I am, bringing the shotgun up to bear on the door at the end of the hall where the flash came from, glancing at the peephole to see if there's any activity across the hall.

Keeper:
Rogers, you hear rustling of cloth and footsteps nearby; all is darkness and brilliant spots.

Keeper:
Lundquist, you see nothing through the peephole. Then from Rogers' doorway you see a sliver of a silhouette in the darkness, reaching around the doorway.

Lundquist:
I'll focus my attention on it then. Is it human?

Keeper:
Make a Spot Hidden roll..

Lundquist:
If it looks like an arm with a gun I will shoot. Otherwise...

DICE for Lundquist: (1d100) = [ 90 ]

Keeper:
In the split second, you see it as a vague shape in the darkness, reaching out and turning toward you.

Lundquist:
"Federal Agents! Freeze! Put your hands up!"

Keeper:
FLASH!

Keeper:
Luck roll, Lundquist.

Lundquist:
BANG!

DICE for Lundquist: (1d100) = [ 63 ]

Keeper:
Heh heh. And roll to hit.

Lundquist:
Let's see... I'm base with shotgun, so...

DICE for Lundquist: (1d100) = [ 35 ]

Lundquist:
Ooh, am I within my DEX in feet?

Lundquist:
(I really don't want to hit Rogers or Kelley...)

Keeper:
It's a small target--an arm with a flashgun--but you are point blank. Was that a slug or buckshot round?

Lundquist:
It's all slugs.

Keeper:
That uses Rifle skill, then. x2 skill, minus penalties: the flash blinds you and the gunshot deafens you. Rogers, the shotgun blast roars nearby. You vaguely hear Kelley shout, "Rogers, down!"

Rogers:
Rogers drops to his knees and prays

Lundquist:
(12-gauge self-rifling hollowpoint, to be exact...)

Rogers:
well flat actually

Keeper:
Rogers, you hear the grinding, whirring noise of Kelley's silenced submachinegun, followed by the rattling of shattering plaster and wood above you...

DICE for Keeper: (1d100) = [ 100 ]

Keeper:
...until his &$$%$(*! gun jams. Again.

Rogers:
LOL

Lundquist:
...and a sharp "SPRANGGG!"

Keeper:
Lundquist, what's your next action? On to about second two of this encounter...

Lundquist:
Drop to a crouch in case they take a head shot, keep my gun on the target... Is it still there?

Lundquist:
(the arm, I mean...)

Keeper:
You can't see a thing, Lundquist.

Lundquist:
Kelley and Rogers both went through the door?

Lundquist:
Can I see them from where I am?

Keeper:
All three of you are in the entry hall. You can't see anything--the flashgun dazzled you.

Keeper:
You're at the front door end of the hall. Rogers is in the middle, at the bedroom door. Kelley is at the other end, at the main room.

Lundquist:
I'll hold my position, keep my gun pointed at the bedroom, and blink rapidly then.

Keeper:
Rogers, you're still blinded. You feel motion for an instant above you, but you don't hear anything past the ringing in your ears from the gunshot.

Rogers:
Rogers Shouts "Where's the target Kelly?" and dives at where ever Kelly tells him.

Keeper:
Lundquist, you see vague motion in the formlessness ahead of you.

Keeper:
Kelley says, "Stay down! Lundquist, hit the fucking light switch!"

Lundquist:
I grope for the switch with one hand while keeping the gun clutched in the other.

Keeper:
Luck roll, Lundquist.

DICE for Lundquist: (1d100) = [ 2 ]

DICE for Lundquist: (1d100) = [ 23 ]

Lundquist:
(sorry, disregard the second roll, I accidentally.... WOW, did I roll a 2?!?

Keeper:
Lundquist lifts his arm and hits the light switch almost by accident. The light is dazzling, but it's better than the blackness--the bright spots are dark spots against the white hall. All of you see a man crouched in front of Lundquist in that instant, as a blade in his hand plunges at Lundquist...

DICE for Keeper: (1d100) = [ 100 ]

Keeper:
!!

Lundquist:
I grab at his arm as he stumbles past me. I try to grapple him to the ground and pin his weapon arm.

Lundquist:
(I drop my shotgun the the process of doing so)

Keeper:
The man shouts incoherently as he slips and his knife scrapes the door above the ducking Lundquist. Lundquist, roll Grapple.

DICE for Lundquist: (1d100) = [ 93 ] Lundquist grapples himself by mistake. :-\

Keeper:
Rogers, you can make out the basic forms around you. You recognize Lundquist, wrestling with a new shape at the doorway.

Lundquist:
"You're under arrest!" I wheeze. "Put your hands up NOW!"

Rogers:
Rogers tries to grapple the guy

Keeper:
Roll your Grapple skill, Rogers

DICE for JTRogers: (1d100) = [ 16 ]

Keeper:
Rogers grabs the man, who shouts and tries to twist out of his grasp...

DICE for Keeper: (1d100) = [ 32 ]

Keeper:
He slips out of Rogers' grasp and turns to stab the bigger man, slipping his knife up at Rogers' face.

Rogers:
"No way pal you're mine"

DICE for Keeper: (1d100) = [ 58 ]

Keeper:
The knife flips just past Rogers' face as the big Welshman ducks away from it.

Keeper:
Are you both still trying to wrestle him down?

Lundquist:
Yeah. If he's facing Rogers he's got his back to me. I pull him to the ground.

Rogers:
I'm trying to immobilisy the arm with the knife (going to lock it and snap the elbow)

Keeper:
He moves quickly, trying to worm out of grabbing hands... roll 'em...

DICE for Lundquist: (1d100) = [ 10 ]

DICE for JTRogers: (1d100) = [ 80 ]

DICE for Keeper: (1d100) = [ 57 ]

Lundquist:
Take THAT!

Keeper:
Lundquist twists the man's leg and he slips heavily to the ground, slamming against the door with a THUD.

Lundquist:
Now to hold onto him...

DICE for Keeper: (1d100) = [ 60 ]

Rogers:
rogers tries to land on top of the guy to pin him down

Keeper:
He pushes against Lundquist's grasp; Lundquist, you're weakened by the recent injuries. He shoves your hands off and twists around. Rogers, roll your grapple.

Rogers:
What to fall on top of him?

Keeper:
To fall on top of him and stay on top of him.

Rogers:
ok

DICE for JTRogers: (1d100) = [ 2 ]

DICE for Keeper: (1d100) = [ 7 ]

Keeper:
Rogers, you jump on the man, but he's agile. He worms out of the way, keeping you from getting a good grip, as his knife slips in at you in quick thrusts.

DICE for Keeper: (1d100) = [ 92 ]

DICE for JTRogers: (1d100) = [ 5 ]

Keeper:
But he only gives a couple of shallow cuts as the two of you shove and wrestle him... what's your next move?

Lundquist:
Again I try to pin & disarm him....

DICE for Lundquist: (1d100) = [ 69 ]

Rogers:
Likewise (assuming the 5 was for my dodge from the knife attacks)

DICE for JTRogers: (1d100) = [ 30 ]

Keeper:
You see a red pinpoint of light play on the squirming bodies, tracking the man's head amid the motion.

DICE for Keeper: (1d100) = [ 70 ]

Lundquist:
"Don't kill him!"

Keeper:
Rogers, after Lundquist shoves the man once you slam into him, dazing him, and you finally seize him roughly. Your bad shoulder throbs as he snarls and tries to shove you off.

DICE for Keeper: (1d100) = [ 67 ]

Rogers:
"Some on cuff this fucker now!"

Keeper:
Rogers, you keep your grip on him despite the pain in your shoulder.

Keeper:
What's your move, Lundquist?

Lundquist:
I grab his kinfe arm to immobilize it.

DICE for Lundquist: (1d100) = [ 11 ]

Lundquist:
And also to help Rogers pin him.

Keeper:
Just like all that practice in the dojo, Lundquist: his arm slips up and he tries to move it, but you grap it and twist. He shouts.

Rogers:
"Kelly get some cuffs man."

Lundquist:
"Drop it, bitch!" I help him do so in case he has trouble making up his mind.

Lundquist:
"You have the right to remain silent! Anything you say can and will be used against you..." etc etc

Keeper:
The knife finally drops and rattles on the ground. Kelley moves in with stretch cuffs and ties them on the man's wrists, hard.

Keeper:
The man shouts and curses. It sounds like Arabic.

Rogers:
(great we just bagged Al Hazrad) ;-)

Rogers:
(look out for the invisible demons)

Lundquist:
I roll him over, keeping him pinned, and pat him down for more weapons or identification. "Speak English, you asshole..."

Keeper:
Kelley shouts something that also sounds Arabic.

Rogers:
I try and clear my eyes some more.

Keeper:
The man looks at him, surprised, and they trade shouts for another second.

Lundquist stares at Kelley. "Show off. Where's he from?"

Keeper:
Finally the man spits and goes silent.

Keeper:
Kelley smiles. "You think I didn't learn anything from all that time in the Gulf? He didn't say. I told him he had the right to remain silent."

Rogers:
"More to the point what was he doing in there?"

Keeper:
Kelley nods. "And where are the guys who were supposed to be searching this place?"

Rogers:
"Aww hell not another couple of FBI losses."

Lundquist:
I bitch-slap him. "Be nice, fucko. You just assaulted a federal agent." To Kelley. "So what kind of accent does he have? Baghdad? Basara? Detroit?"

Rogers:
"I'll check the room out." Shotgun at the ready

Keeper:
Kelley says, "Sounds like Palestine, to me."

Lundquist:
"Well, well... This guy smells like a good suspect for the hospital bombing to me then..."

Lundquist:
Wink at Kelley.

Keeper:
Rogers, you don't find anyone else in the place. The apartment is sparsely furnished; the only personal effects seem to be in the kitchen, where you find what look like family photos. Everything is in disarray; someone obviously turned the place upside-down searching it.

Keeper:
Kelley says, "Hell, yeah. But what the hell is he doing here?"

Lundquist:
"We're going to find out."

Rogers:
Is this a really through search or a quick job ie any chance they missed anything

Keeper:
Drawers stand open, emptied of utensils and tools and whatever; the refrigerator has been pulled out of place.

Rogers:
I'll make a quick check of some of the less obvious places but i don't expect to find anything. "Can you guys search him now?"

Lundquist:
Anything in this guy's pockets? Wallet, passport, Hezbollah membership card, that sort of thing?

Rogers:
We can always add that from CIA ;-)

Lundquist:
"No doubt. Though I would like to know where he came from."

Keeper:
Nothing in his pockets except a folded wad of $20 bills amounting to $200.

Rogers:
"What no keys, no scraps of paper nothing?"

Keeper:
Nothing.

Lundquist:
I'll pocket that for evidence... No, really, if he's paid by a controller, there might be fingerprints on it from someone in FBI's terrorist databases...

Rogers:
"Well he's going to have to provide the info we need then" Rogers looks coldly at the man.

Rogers:
Can I tell if he reacted to that ie does he speak english?

Keeper:
Kelley says, "If we want to keep this guy for ourselves, we need a cover story and we need to move him, now. Those gunshots will bring cops."

Lundquist:
"Right you are."

Rogers:
"Where's that knife of his?"

Keeper:
The man stares into space sullenly.

Keeper:
The knife is still on the ground. It's thin, razor-sharp, in good condition. You see recent blood in the grooves of the hilt.