From:	Jonathan Wright <jwrigh01@********.CA>
Subject:	Re: War
Date:	Sun, 8 Dec 1996 20:20:28 -0500

On Sat, 7 Dec 1996, Paolo Marcucci wrote:

> Are there some news or rumours about ongoing border wars in 2057?
>
> I know about the Aztlan/CAS, TT/CalFree and...?
>
> I was thinking about setting up a run where the runners are hired by a gov.
> man to seek and retrieve two pilots of a fighter plane went down beyond the
> border...
>
> They already were in Aztlan (two times), so maybe a trip to either TT or
> CFS could be a novelty.
>
> Ideas, clues?

I think the CalFree sourcebook mentions that both sides of the border
would love to have a little more of their neighbour's land but nobody has
gotten up the courage to mount a full fledged assault. I remember
reading that routine sabre rattling is the normal procedure, both sides
mobilize large forces and practice manuevers _real_ close to the border,
but nobody ever oversteps their boundaries. Perhaps your run could
center on retrieving two pilots who accidentaly crossed the border during
a military exercise (due to screwed up autopilot, disorientation, etc.)
and their discovery in enemy territory could escalate to a war nobody
wants. The runners have to penetrate the border and retrieve the pilots
without detection.

Complications (these just sprung to mind):

1) The side that's hired the runners has a secret faction that wants to
start a war. The runners are given access to some military equipment to
make their job a little easier. During the run the secret faction warns
the opposing side who ambush and capture the pilots and the runners. The
runners look like military assets (they've got military issue equipment)
and are interrogated/tortured. The runners have to escape (with the
pilots) or risk causing a full-out border war.

2) The pilots want to start a war. Maybe they're full out patriots who
believe that their government has grown complacent. Their actions will
spur their nation into finally claiming what is rightfully theirs. The
pilots will actively resist capture and removal from enemy territory.
Alternatively one of the pilots is like this, the other is a helpless
dupe. The runners find the dupe at the crash site, dead (his partner's
work). The runners may assume that the other has been captured when he's
actually hiding out.

3) The pilots don't exist. One side observed an experimental craft
crash land near the border. The runners are hired to retrieve the
experimental navigational computer on board and the pilots (if they're
there, chuckle, chuckle). If the runners are caught, oh well they're
deniable assets.

These are just suggestions, take 'em or leave 'em. The group I'm running
just managed to escape from Atzlan (barely), somehow I don't think I'd
even be able to convince them to go back :)

Jon Wright