Report #3270, Transcript Section #50
(Operation SANDMAN)
©1998-1999 Shane Ivey

Keeper says:
Knight, you get a call from Kelley, the day after the late-night confrontation with teh FBI at the original safe-house.

Keeper says:
He's succinct: "We need you to come to our new safe-house and stay there. Keep an eye on things. Can you do that?"

Knight says:
"Consider it done"

Keeper says:
He gives you the location and reiterates the need to avoid surveillance.

Knight says:
I will make my way there in a roundabout route then, making sure that I am not being followed.

Keeper says:
The new house is a Queens townhouse in a delapidated dockside neighborhood, overlooking the East River and Rikers Island.

Knight says:
"I see see the neighborhood has gone down the pan again!"

Keeper says:
As it turns out, you're the only one watching the house.

Cabot says:
IIRC, Barry was in the second escape vehicle from the original safe house - we, in the other, borrowed his car for the drop.

Keeper says:
A day passes. No word from the team; no word from anyone.

Knight says:
You used My Caddi!!

Keeper says:
Don't worry. They returned it to you.

Knight says:
It better not be scratched!

Cabot says:
After the debaucle with the infected fed, we returned to the new house and restocked and planned the ill-fated raid on the farmhouse. At that point, Barry was instructed to stand guard.

Keeper says:
Another day passes.

Keeper says:
Still no word. Then, late that night, the house phone rings.

Knight says:
"Hello, Lee Wongs Takeaway"

Keeper says:
You hear what sounds like a bad connection, faint static, and a couple of electronic clicks. Then a strange, masked voice: "Who is this?"

Knight says:
"Smith, How are you mother?"

Keeper says:
The caller hangs up.

Knight says:
Anyway of trying to get the number?

Keeper says:
Sure, there's plenty of gadgetry on the phones to do just that and more. But it reads that the calling number is untraceable.

Knight says:
"Bloody Technology is useless"

Knight says:
Knight will go back to waiting

Keeper says:
Another day passes. Still no word from anyone.

Knight says:
Kinght contemplates clearing up, but just adds another pizza box to the pile

Keeper says:
Finally, that evening, around sundown, the local alarms indicate someone approaching the house from the sidewalk. You see from the cameras that it's Brian Lundquist. He looks like hell.

Knight says:
Knigth will put the coffee on and find some brandy

Keeper says:
He enters, offers a tired greeting, and takes the coffee and brandy.

Knight says:
"You look like hell, where are the others?"

Keeper says:
He shakes his head. His eyes look hollow and worn-out. "I don't know. We got split up. Have you heard anything here?"

Knight says:
"One call the other night, but I don't think it was one of ours"

Keeper says:
"Can you describe it?"

Knight says:
"Well the phone rings and I figure it must be one of you guys calling in so I answered it as a chinnese takeaway, just in case it was a wrong number, then this guy on the other end says "Who is it?"

Knight says:
"I tell him I'm smith and ask him who it is and they hang up"

Keeper says:
"What was the voice like?"

Knight says:
Knight indicates all the equipment by the phone "I tried to trace the call but I couln't figure which button to press on Darth Vaders bathroom over there"

Knight says:
"The voice was masked, like a filter was being used, or it was a machine"

Keeper says:
He nods. "Don't worry about it, then. Look, I have to make a call. Stick around." He goes to another room.

Keeper says:
A while later, you hear snoring. Through the cracked door you see him slumped over his laptop, sleeping soundly.

Knight says:
Knight looks at all the takeway packets and shrugs

Knight says:
Knight will move him to one of the bedrooms

Keeper says:
Now... Cabot...

Keeper says:
Cabot, you find yourself coming to on the leaves and hard dirt of a forest floor. You recognize the smells and sounds even before you groggily open your eyes.

Cabot says:
I lay there for a moment and get my bearings.

Keeper says:
It's quiet. Warm. You have your own clothes on, the ones you wore when you first went down outside the farmhouse.

Cabot says:
When my head clears, what do I make of my surroundings? Am I in the same general area that I went down with Kelley outside the farmhouse?

Keeper says:
The woods look similar. Similar landscape, weather. You don't see anything familiar, but that's not surprising.

Cabot says:
Can I estimate the time of day by the sun through the canopy of trees?

Keeper says:
About 11:00 AM.

Cabot says:
I do a quick pat-down equipment check. Am I completely bereft of my tactical gear?

Keeper says:
You don't have the rifle. You see your pistol on the ground.

Cabot says:
I retrieve it and look it over, popping the clip to check available ammo and testing the slide chamber to make sure it has good action.

Keeper says:
It's in working order. A few rounds are missing.

Cabot says:
Do I have any other ammo on me?

Keeper says:
You're wearing your holster and whatever was in it.

Cabot says:
All right, so a few clips then (considering I used the Barret for the majority of the original engagement). My watch is fried, I remember that much. How is my recall of the interrogation and the events immediately preceding it?

Keeper says:
A little hazy, but you can recall the things that were described in play.

Cabot says:
And physically, how do I feel now? 100%?

Keeper says:
Other than a little grogginess, yes. You're not injured.

Cabot says:
Can I hear any traffic from any nearby roadways?

Keeper says:
No, just tranquil forest sounds.

Cabot says:
Alright, before I proceed, a quick Spot Hidden of the immediate area - see if the drop off team slipped up and left anything behind.

Keeper says:
You don't see anything like that. The ground around you has been disturbed recently, but you can't make out anything useful from it.

Cabot says:
Unsafetying the 9mm, a move out along the closest thing resembling a game trail and look for an opening in the woods were I can gain some directional-sense by use of the sun.

Keeper says:
It doesn't take long; as noon approaches you get a good enough look at the passage of the sun to tell your direction.

Cabot says:
As I move, I scan the ground for spent shell casings and disturbed forest floor for any indication that I'm again in the area of the original engagement. I also stay alert for those electronic sentry devices.

Keeper says:
You don't see any of that. Which direction are you walking?

Cabot says:
I try to recall the direction that the farm was situated in relation to the highway we came in on and make for that direction, hoping that I am indeed in the same general area.

Keeper says:
The farm was west of the highway.

Cabot says:
Then I move east and listen intently for the sound of moving vehicles.

Keeper says:
You hike for about an hour before, sure enough, you see the two-lane highway. About a half-mile to the north a sign confirms that it's the same road.

Cabot says:
I rearrange myself to hide my weapon in my boot and tuck the clips into my pockets. Then "limp" out along the roadway.

Cabot says:
When I see a trucker coming, I wave out for him/her to stop.

Keeper says:
You walk for a long time... mile markers indicate you hike for seven miles before a car approaches. It comes close, then zooms past without pausing.

Cabot says:
Do I recall the nearest town we passed enroute to the farm access road?

Keeper says:
The forest thins around you and the highway emerges into flat farmland. You see mountains rolling along far to the west.

Keeper says:
You can't remember the name of the town.

Cabot says:
I keep walking and HOPE the local sheriff doesn't actively patrol the area.

Keeper says:
Up ahead you see a farm off the highway, to the left. Then a truck approaches from behind. It slows as it comes nearer.

Cabot says:
I act-up the gimpy walk and wave for him to stop.

Keeper says:
The truck stops just ahead of you.

Keeper says:
The cab is painted a deep metallic purple, with "Henry" painted in fancy white script on the side, and "John 3:16" in smaller script beneath that.

Cabot says:
I limp up to the driver side, "Hey there, think you could help me out?"

Keeper says:
The driver is a heavy-set black man, about fifty years old, with greying hair. He looks slightly wary but nods. "You in a wreck?"

Cabot says:
"Aaaaah, I was huntin' a coupla miles back off the highway and I tripped on a deadfall. Twisted my knee somethin' fierce. My wife's suppoed to pick me up tommorrow, but it's killin' me. Can you give me a lift to the nearest hospital?"

Cabot says:
"I'd offer to pay ya', but there ain't much use for cash out there with the deer. . ."

Keeper says:
"Shoot, yeah. Come on around and climb in. You need any help?"

Cabot says:
(grunting as I climb in) "Nah, I think I can get it." I get in the passenger side of the cab.

Keeper says:
He waits until you're settled, then he puts the truck in gear and it rumbles forward. You hear what sounds like a church sermon on the radio. "Musta been a bad fall. I'll get you into Benford pretty quick, though. They got a hospital."

Cabot says:
"Good Christian man, huh? I really appreciate this seeing as I just got busted breaking the cardinal rule of huntin' alone. ( reach out my hand ) Carl Rolland."

Keeper says:
He smiles and shakes your hand. "Henry Ballard. And I hear you. Woods ain't no place to be alone." He nods at the radio. "Just listenin' to Reverend C. Vandever Gordon. He's a good man. Good man." He checks the rear-view mirror, stares ahead, drives onward. You pass a green sign: 'Benford, 12 mi.'

Cabot says:
I just make like I'm in pain and rub my knee frequently for emphasis.

Keeper says:
The truck rolls along, and ten minutes later he's pulling in front of a modest Urgent Care center in the small town of Benford, PA.

Cabot says:
I shake his hand again. "Go bless you, Mr. Ballard. I'm sure glad you came along. I was beginnin' to wonder if it wouldn't have been wiser to just wait for my wife if I was gonna have to huff it the whole way. Take care." I exit the cab and walk toward the care center.

Keeper says:
"You too, and good luck, sir." He waits for you to head inside before he drives on.

Cabot says:
I "limp" in.

Keeper says:
The Urgent Care center isn't much more than a doctor's office with a large waiting room.

Cabot says:
I assume a normal walking posture once I'm sure the trucker's not watching. No sign of any local law around?

Keeper says:
A receptionist sits behind the usual plexiglass partition, chatting with a nurse who's standing at a rack of files.

Keeper says:
No cops.

Cabot says:
"Excuse me ma'am. My name's Carl Rolland. Where's the nearest hospital serving the Benford area? I'm from out of town and I'm looking for a friend who's been in an accident."

Keeper says:
"Oh, the nearest hospital's in Westphalia. It's about a half-hour's drive."

Cabot says:
"You have a phone I could use?"

Keeper says:
"Yes, sir, there's a pay phone in the hall, near the rest rooms."

Cabot says:
"Great, thanks." I move to the phone. Is anyone else around?

Keeper says:
No, the place is quiet.

Cabot says:
(Am I aware of any way to access a secure line without a DG-issued cellular phone?)

Keeper says:
No--the recipient's line may be secure, but the call itself will only be as secure as your own phone.

Cabot says:
"Fuck."

Cabot says:
I pretend to make a call and thank the ladies at the desk as I leave.

Keeper says:
"Anytime." She smiles.

Cabot says:
I walk out of the clinic, what are my immediate surroundings?

Keeper says:
Small town. Burger King across the street, KFC a block down. A small professional building: dentist, CPA, lawyer. Storefronts: a small collectibles shop, sewing machine shop. Grocery store down the street.

Cabot says:
Do I have any idea what day it is?

Keeper says:
None.

Cabot says:
How about a gas station, any of them around?

Keeper says:
There's a Texaco two streets over.

Cabot says:
And its about 3PM now, right?

Keeper says:
Right

Cabot says:
(Shaking his head) "Broke and stranded in Maybury." I head to the gas station.

Cabot says:
Do I see alot of truck traffic moving through this town?

Keeper says:
A fair amount. You've seen one more drive through in the last few minutes.

Cabot says:
What about train tracks?

Keeper says:
You don't see or hear any sign of a train line.

Cabot says:
I go to the gas station and look over one of their maps.

Keeper says:
Benford is in mid-Pennsylvania. The highway runs northeast to intersect with an Interstate which will run north to Philadelphia, New Jersey, and past Staten Island.

Cabot says:
Does the map indicate any railways in the area of Benford that would provide transport to Newark and my equipment cache?

Keeper says:
Not in Benford. There's a rail line to the east, about thirty miles.

Cabot says:
Refresh my memory: did we leave one of the vehicles back at the road leading into the farmhouse?

Keeper says:
Yes.

Cabot says:
DOH!!!!!!

Keeper says:
Oops.

Keeper says:
It HAS been a rough few days, after all...

Knight says:
{Wonders if anyone would mind if I punched Cabot!!}

Cabot says:
I sure as hell hope its still there. Repeat this process and try to find a trucker headed back.

Keeper says:
(Barry's busily munching on cold pizza and guzzling flat beer at the safehouse...)

Keeper says:
Eventually, you manage it. Fast-forward about three hours: your ride drops you off where you left the car. It's still there, locked and apparently undisturbed.

Cabot says:
Check the tailpipe for the spare keys. If they're there I start the drive back.

Keeper says:
You find the keys. You start driving... now I need to hook up with Rob...

Cabot says:
I drive into the nearest barricade, completely immersed in my stupidity. (JK)

Rogers says:
I'm here

Keeper says:
Rogers, Lundquist arrived in a helicopter to pick you up at that farmhouse. You fly back northward over farmland until you enter the more developed areas, first one city and then the sprawl surrounding the New York metropolitan area.

Keeper says:
The helicopter delivers you at a government helipad. Lundquist has a car waiting to drive back to the safehouse.

Keeper says:
Lundquist fills you in on his discussions with MEREDITH from the last game. You finally reach the safehouse. Knight is waiting there.

Rogers says:
I warn Lundquiest about what happenend to me in the helicopter on a pad of paper not saying anything untill he is in the picture then I destroy the paper

Knight says:
Knight slobs on the sofa snoring quietly

Keeper says:
Knight, you awaken as the sensors announce Lundquist and Rogers' arrival.

Rogers slams the door and says "Bang your dead"

Knight says:
Knight rubs sleep from his eyes "Huh, wha?"

Rogers says:
"OK so shall we get the tests out of the way quickly for anything in my system Mr. L?"

Knight says:
"Oh Your Ok!, We were worried, Coffee?"

Rogers says:
"No"

Keeper says:
You conduct the tests; it's become standard practice. Nothing interesting turns up.

Rogers says:
"Well we need to rethink our strategy now, those guys are obviously government backed Mr. L."

Knight says:
"What Guys?"

Rogers says:
"Barry did you find a supplier of the Drug?"

Rogers says:
"The guys we just had a run in with never mind about them"

Knight says:
"I have not check my messages yet, been here a few days"

Rogers says:
"I think that going after things on that side is our best bet at the moment, can you check them now and see if you have anything set?"

Knight picks up a phone and calls his office

Keeper says:
You have a few messages on the machine from the last couple of days, Knight, but nothing related to this case.

Knight says:
Anything on the divorcer case, they guy that ran off with the Nun?

Keeper says:
They were spotted in the honeymoon suite in Niagara. Tragic.

Keeper says:
Rogers, you and Lundquist confer for a while. (I'll let you play out the discussion next time, when he's here to participate.)

Rogers says:
"So Barry whats the situation?"

Knight says:
"We not had a call back, can try pushing the contact but that may give the wrong impression"

Rogers says:
"OK lets not force things why don't we plan what we will do when we get the info."

Rogers says:
"We're going to want to grab the guy and the drugs so we need a good spot for that. Lets dig out the maps."

Rogers says:
"Any ideas based on your knowledge of New York?"

Knight says:
"The docks are always quiet enough"

Rogers says:
"OK well we can use Cabot and Kelly to plan things tactically."

Knight says:
"We have to get to him first"

Keeper says:
[Kelley's not there. Neither is Cabot.]

Knight says:
"And they are both MIA"

Rogers says:
"When and if they get here I mean...."

Knight says:
"Matbe we should try to find them?

Rogers says:
"... how are we to do that hang on why don't we try their cell phones, if we get it set up in advance we can trace the Cell the phone is in and we copuld narrow their location."

Rogers says:
"Hell we can try mine as well, and maybe just maybe surprise a few friends."

Keeper says:
Cabot, you're in the car and on the road; where are you heading?

Rogers starts making calls and setting up before calling the cell phones

Keeper says:
Rogers, are you calling the cell phones of Kelley & Cabot?

Keeper says:
Or someone else?

Cabot says:
OK, I realize that you're playing other character issue right now, but if the Rover has a secure cell, I'll phone in to make things easier.

Keeper says:
Rogers, Knight: the phone rings.

Knight answers the phone

Keeper says:
Cabot, you hear Knight answer.

Knight says:
"Hello?"

Cabot says:
"Hey, this is one of the lost birds - we're compromised bigger than shit."

Knight says:
"We hear you, can you get back?"

Cabot says:
"I'm enroute now, but it'll be a while. I had to have a little surgical procedure to get my head out of my ass, but I'm on my way now."

Knight says:
"Can you give us an ETA"

Cabot says:
(Keeper, help me out on that one.)

Keeper says:
(ETA: about 2 hours)

Cabot says:
"We're looking at 2 hours. Has anyone else surfaced besides me?"

Knight says:
"Ok, Its good to hear tour Ok, only one to find now!"

Cabot says:
"Who else is up and running?"

Knight says:
"Rogers, me, Lund"

Cabot says:
"Let me talk to one of them real quick."

Knight passes the phone to Rogers

Cabot says:
"JT, you there?"

Rogers says:
"I'm here"

Cabot says:
"JT, any word on Danforth?"

Cabot says:
"Did he make it?"

Rogers says:
"Nothing yet get back here I've got a plan to try and track them down."

Cabot says:
"What about the others - Keen . . . Kelley?"

Cabot says:
"OK, I'm on my way, but meet me somewhere and pick me up. I'm not too confident this Rover's not bugged now, or traced."

Cabot says:
"Can you arrange pick up. It would speed things up a bit."

Rogers says:
"How about I try and trace the cell phones you may be closer to them than us."

Rogers says:
"We could meet in the cell where the phones are and look for our guys."

Cabot says:
"Whatever - I'm sitting out here without credentials or cash, though."

Cabot says:
I pull to the side of the road and flip on my hazards while I await instructions from JT.

Rogers says:
"Right the plan is this we get the helicopter we used to pick me spun up and we go there ready for the trace on the cell phones, Cabot you get somewhere we can find you from the air and wait we'll trace the phones and contact you if your close you can reccie the ara while we fly down otherwise we'll grab you and head wherever."

Cabot says:
"See what you can come up with and give me direction."

Rogers says:
"Anyone have any suggestions?"

Rogers says:
"Oh and we're going loaded for bear, spare weapons for our guys as well."

Rogers says:
"Mr. L can you get on another line and get the chopper squared away."

Cabot says:
"Got it, I'll be waiting on Highway _____."

Rogers says:
"Got that stay on the line"

Knight checks his 45 is loaded

Keeper says:
Lundquist makes another call. They've been told to stand-by with the helicopter, so it will be waiting for you.

Rogers says:
"Cabot the chopper is go, we'll head to it and then trace the cell locations and let you know ."

Cabot says:
"Roger that."

Rogers says:
"OK break out the vests and the long guns, Mr. l you stay here and relay the cell info to us, your head needs time anyway." "Lets go."

Knight takes the equipment offered and follows

Keeper says:
Right... Rogers, you and Knight find Cabot without any trouble. He's parked on the state highway not far from the ranch.

Rogers says:
"OK Mr. L give us the trace on the cell phones now please."

Keeper says:
You get Cabot's phone, the one left in the car... you have no signal from any other phones.

Rogers says:
"Mr. L what was the last location they registered to the cell system for all the missing phones?"

Keeper says:
He rattles off coordinates matching the location of the farmhouse where you were all abducted.

Rogers says:
"Ok take us over that location and lets see if we can see anything."

Rogers says:
"OK guys be ready, we're goingto try and find the others."

Keeper says:
"Meredith said a Friendly FBI team has already searched the area."

Rogers says:
"We'll do a fast fly by now that they have gone."

Rogers says:
"Anyone have any ideas?"

Keeper says:
You fly over the farmhouse. It's very quiet. You see the house, and through binoculars you can see the scorching and damage from the battle.

Rogers says:
"OK straw poll anyone want to go for another look?"

Keeper says:
[Is Cabot in the helicopter now?]

Knight says:
"Looks Empty"

Rogers says:
"Knight?"

Cabot says:
Nope, I'm still in the car.

Rogers says:
[yeah you said we picked him up]

Keeper says:
I only said you found him... anyway, assume you picked him up unless Cabot has other ideas.

Cabot says:
Nope, I'm in the air then. "I seriously doubt they left anything behind."

Rogers says:
"OK then we head back and regroup then?"

Knight says:
"Looks like some kinda fire fight down there!"

Cabot says:
"Yeah. Wait for them to pop up and then we'll get em'."

Rogers says:
"OK pilot lets head back to NY."

Rogers says:
"Yeah some kind of fight Knight"

Keeper says:
The helicopter banks and heads northward again.

Knight says:
"Blowing up buildings in the middle of the city, fire fights in old barns, what kinda shit are you guys getting me into"

Rogers just smiles

Cabot says:
"Hold onto your ass, cause it's just gonna get more colorful."

Knight looks out of the window "I'm getting to old for this shit!"

Keeper says:
The helicopter drops you off at the helipad.

Rogers says:
"we really need to get things under control and fast, I get the feeling we're two steps behind."

Cabot says:
I disembark, rubbing my temples. "I'm starving."

Knight says:
"Two steps behind who?"

Rogers says:
"Behind whoever it is we're up against."

Knight says:
"Let me guess, I don't need to worry about it right!!"

Rogers says:
"Oh I'd worry all right."

Knight says:
"I was worried you were going to say that."