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Message no. 1
From: Sascha Pabst <Sascha.Pabst@**********.UNI-OLDENBURG.DE>
Subject: Let...
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 18:01:12 +0000
>>>>>[ Just picked this from the newsnetworks... Remineded me...

What the fuck is going on there?

+++++ Include NewsFeed74-590129-1903.mov
[The studio of Channel 74. Kathryn Alfrey is just saying "...and we
managed to get a /live/ interview with the terrorist at Sea-Tac.
/Now/..." A frame appears and places itself next to Kathryn. It shows
some low-quality picture of a male Eurasian, about 25 years old, in a
grey armored jacket. A nameplate on it reads "Christian O'Toole", while
a caption reveals this is "LIVE!!! from Sea-Tac!". In the upper right
corner you can make out the C74-sign, and, barely, "SecCam 9K-23-A012"]

"Ah, Mr O'Toole, pleased to speak to you, thank you for your readiness
to inform the public about your motives. Now, what /are/ your motives
to hold the whole tower hostage, with /at/least/ 25 pounds of
explosives tied to /yourself/?"

The young man, who looks somewhat nervous - understandable, if what
Kathlyn says is true - hesitates before answering. "Call me Thomas,
please," he answeres, then suddenly he seems to recite something from
memory, "We, the Children of Thunda, accuse the government agent Jason
Lynch to have murdered the freedom-fighter Thunda, and to have done so
without any legitimation. We accuse him of political murder of first
degree. We demand he is extradicted to fair trial in the view of a
public trial, held here, in the view of the world." Thomas hesitates,
then falls silent.

Kathryn waits for a few seconds, then replies "But you and your...
organization can't believe Lt. Lynch will volunteer to be killed?" -
"As I said," Thomes cuts in, "we do _not_ intend to kill him, we will
only ensure he'll explain his doing in a public trial, then we will let
the public decide what's just. We are no killers, we aren't payed by
any government, we are no terrorists..." "Let the public decide? How
will this happ..." Thomas starts screaming, without obvious reason,
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING? STOP THIS! STOP IT!" He waves a kind of remote
control around, still screaming, nearly uncoherent: "Let there be
/LIGHT/!!!"

Suddenly there's only static in the frame, before it blacks out.

"We have no idea what happened," a pale Kathryn Alfrey states, but our
people at the scene... yes? Hm... Ah. A Lone Star representative just
announced the so far unidentified terrorist who held Tower B of the
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport hostage for 3 hours just ignated
the explosives he had with him. ... Hm. Obviously, Thomas panicked when
an airport attendant tried to deliver the food he demanded before. So
far it is not known how many casualities there were, but Lone Star
states there were at least four people in the immediate area of the
explosion, and the whole tower's head was blown off. As soon as we get
more information on this incident, you'll get them. Now for the
commercials..."
+++++ End NewsFeed74-590129-1903.mov

Repeat: What is happenin' here? ]<<<<<
-- Orion <15:58:13/01-29-59>
Message no. 2
From: Jeffrey Mach <mach@****.CALTECH.EDU>
Subject: Re: Let...
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 09:18:09 -0800
*****PRIVATE: Fang
>>>>>[Seen the news lately? Okay, so I have a little bit of an unfair
advantage there, but let's just say I'm glad you guys picked up Kristling
when you did....]<<<<<
-- NewzJunkie <09:18:56/01-29-59 PST>
Message no. 3
From: Jaimie Nicholson <jaimie.nicholson@********.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject: Re: Let...
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 09:49:34 +1100
>>>>>[Thank Shark that didn't happen on my shift.

On the other hand, who the hell was in charge? Three hours the guy is in
there, threatening large explosions, so why the hell didn't they blanket
the tower in earth elementals and have 'em manifest all at once and engulf
the fragger, or maybe throw up about fifty barriers willy-nilly round the
place, or use the fibre-optic observation/spell-casting network to cast an
emotion control manipulation to calm him down. Or _something_. It's not
like they didn't have time, when even an under-educated troll such as
myself can think of a few containment methods in a couple of minutes.]<<<<<
-- ThunderStone <15:58:13/01-29-59>
Message no. 4
From: "Paul J. Adam" <shadowtk@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: Let...
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 00:47:45 +0000
*****INTERNAL: SAC D'Arkan, SASIC Johnson, Achilles Project
>>>>>[Holy Christ.

Okay, first suggestion, put out feelers about their demands. What trial,
when, where?

I doubt it'll do any good, but if me submitting to trial keeps the
civilian body count down I'm willing to at least consider it.


Which brings me to my next point - Lilith pointed out that we've already
had the vote, it was damn near unanimous that the public - at least the
ones that bothered voting when Moon Views ran their survey - figured
Thunda got exactly what he deserved. So, either these guys are crazy, or
this is a front.

They're too capable for crazies.

What is this _really_ about? As before, this is going to tie us and
Achilles down. Where there's one of these there'll be more, and we can't
ignore them. What are we being distracted from?


Anyway, enough musing. I'll make a possibly unpopular suggestion. Next
time we get one of these, get the area clear and concentrate on damage
control, that guy's gonna blow whatever we do. We can try taking him out
with magic or snipers (alive's ideal, dead will do) but I'll offer a
cash bet that the moment the bomber keels over, the charges blow.

Who _was_ Christian O'Toole, is he still alive, can he tell us hpw
"Thomas" happened to be wearing his jacket?

Any clues as to how Thomas was being remote-controlled? Magic, radio
link, programming, something we didn't detect? The guy was certainly
having buttons pushed, that wasn't free will.

Any leads on the explosives yet? Quantity, type, placement?

Any ways we can avoid that jurisdiction fight that slowed us up so badly
at the airport?


As if you couldn't tell, I'm sort of spinning my wheels here, and if you
have ideas how I could more usefully employ myself I'll gladly hear
them.]<<<<<
-- 1Lt J R W Lynch <00:46:54/01-29-59>
Strategic Intelligence Gathering Agency
Message no. 5
From: Kristling Ravenwing <kristling@*******.CROSSWINDS.NET>
Subject: Re: Let...
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 20:56:02 -0500
*****Internal: Ravenwing Internation Staff
>>>>>[don't worry, I'm okay gang. Shakespere and I, along
with our contract workers were outta there before that
happened.
Now, can some one please tell me what the FUCK IS GOING
ON?]<<<<<
--Kristling (the Weird) Ravenwing <15:59:02 PST/
01-29-59>

*****Internal: Ravenwing Internation Security
>>>>>[I'll put some feelers out, Krist.]<<<<<
--Josha (the Strange) Marshall <20:57:02 EST/
01-29-59>
Message no. 6
From: Avenger <Avenger@*******.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: Let...
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 03:59:23 +0000
*****INTERNAL: 1lt J R W Lynch
>>>>>[Im sorry Jason, but Chris is unavailable at this time, there was
something he needed to take care of personally.

Technically speaking we are not involved in this recent event. I have
contacted Seneca and they believe that Lone Star and their own agents
more than capable of investigating this situation. The general opinion
from the Director is that any involvement by Achilles, or by
association, yourself, would be misinterpreted by organisations who just
look for an excuse to rant in the media, and that our involvement might
even attract further attacks.


Monitoring and security presence at the other airports has been
increased as a result of this bombing, so for the moment at least we are
ordered clear of this. You are of course correct in remembering that
public opinion was very much in your favour at the end of Thunda.
However, that was over a year ago, and the people's memory is short.
After watching the news on CNN, SBA and CBS this evening the media are
following the results of the Moon Views survey. They support your case,
and are blaming this incident on extremist reactionaries.


The little feedback we have from the streets so far. (As if we'd pay any
attention to Seneca anyway) <g> Is that there is no trial. There is
nothing posted to the public boards, nothing through media organisations
and nothing has been sent to Seneca or Government House to demand your
presence at a Kangaroo or People's court. I would not be concerned at
this time. There is no requirement from any of the official
organisations regarding any demands from retribution against you. COT
have contacted us privately over a secure connection denying any
connections to this incident, or any that may develop from this. Our
records do not indicate that the statement is suspect. We have some
information regarding militant cells claiming to be the Children of
Thunda, a group of survivors from the metahuman attrocities and invasion
of civilised lands, yadda yadda yadda, blah blah, bullshit bullshit...

+++++Include: CoT.dat

Information on the non-political "charitable" organisation of the same
name is more comprehensive. These people make me nervous. They're so
clean they squeek. And nobody is that clean. The explanation is that
their association with the name of a terrorist demands that their
methods are cleaner than clean, which makes a perverse sort of sense.
The charity is simplistic in it's methods and execution. They run a
series of soup kitchens and hostels across Seattle, tending to the
displaced "human" - and strangely dwarven population. Those driven from
their homes by the invasion of elf, ork and troll. There are records of
a few incidents, but they have always resolved themselves legally, or
through Lone Star intervention. There is no record of the charity's
association with any of the criminal underworld, which in itself is
strange. None of the organised and disorganised groups have tried to
hold them up for protection money, laundering or anything else that we
can find. Too good to be true? Chris thinks so as well, but until we
can turn up some dirt, we can't touch them, and can't investigate
aggressively.

+++++Include: COT.dat

Yes, the definition in spelling is deliberate. The emphasis on the "Of"
seems important. One is supporting the children created by the legacy
Thunda railed against, the other is supposedly made up from lunatics and
fanatics of the situation Thunda opposed - the invasion of metahumans.
The data explains this further, and you'll find a fairly long and
comprehensive analysis from Chris included with that.


The demands of Thomas? He wants your ass bud. He wants it in a sling
for killing his idol. Like that's never happened before to anyone huh?
Don't worry about it. We do not at this time believe it is personal.
Once they come after you, we'll revise that. For now, we believe it is
simply a media circus to attract attention back to the everlasting
problem of racist opinion. We also do not believe that your submitting
to a trial would result in anything except an escalation of events. If
Seattle was to hold a trial it would have to be public, which means it
would be broadcast on popular channels. The results of the trial are a
foregone conclusion. You were following directives laid down by the
Federal Government, following a "Dead or Alive" on the wanted boards.
This trial would be a fiasco, it would give the "children" the reason
they might be looking for to start a new campaign. Don't forget, there
are still six members of Thunda's original SEAL team unaccounted for.
They, like him were held by the Azzies. Christ only knows what was done
to them down there. The last thing we need is one of those bastards
turning up.


Analysis of the operation for "Thomas" by Lone Star indicates that the
attack was a lucky brek for a bunch of amateurs. They selected what is
effectively an unimportant target. Why not hit the concourse, why not
hit ATC, why not blow a hole in the Orbitals' runways? Why not... No,
this was an insignificant portion of the damage control division. They
blew up a tower manned by a half dozen people monitoring the airport's
fire control systems. In itself, a tasty target if something else was
happening, but the second the notification of the hostage situation hit
the security net, the entire airport was locked down. Nothing else
happened. Nothing. An isolated incident? Maybe. An insignificant
incident? Depends on what they were intending to achieve.


Crazies exist everywhere. It's not the first time some lunatic selected
an airport to make his point, though others have been considerably more
effective. Analysis at this time indicates that the attack would have
been unsuccessful had it occured anywhere except where it was placed.
Now that was lucky choice, or deliberate aiming. This is part of the
reason why I'm not committing forces to this investigation.

Thunda distracted us far too much. His attacks covered the "nuke"
situation that occured. His attacks covered something else, though we
are still investigating that, though we suspect at this time it involved
a shipment of classified equipment. This attack was too small to be a
cover for anything, and too insignificant to mean anything.


In all honesty I'd love to be able to clear the area and take down
whomever is responsible should such an event take place again. However,
it very much depends on the location and how much warning we get. I
still remember the warnings from a year ago. We knew when something was
going to happen, when Thunda entertained us with "Let there be light"
but by then it was too damn late. The problem with terrorists is we can
only be reactionary to their actions, not proactive. There's no way, in
a city this size to predict where the next strike will be. Or even if
there will be another.


Christian O'Toole doesn't show up on any records at the moment, but that
doesn't mean shit. It wouldn't be the first time that someone has been
imported. We're checking, and if we get anything, you'll be the next to
know about it. We're assuming at this time that O'Toole is dead, his
jacket "liberated" for some purpose or another. Until we get the
autopsy results on "Thomas" we don't know who he is yet.


Analysts who have watched the conversation between Thomas and the
reporter suggest that Thomas was high on something. Initial suggestions
are some sort of neural reactive agent that allowed a form of
"hypnotism" to be employed. Thomas did what he did and he believed in
it, but he was confused as to why he was doing it. The "experts" don't
think he knew what he was doing. His remarks concerning some off camera
event also indicate he wasn't alone. It's possible another was with
him, and something went wrong. His panic was aimed at someone nearby
doing something, not an objection to something being done to him. At
least that's the current thought.

The explosives. Now this get's interesting. The stuff used at SeaTac
was the same brand used by Thunda. Possibly from a stockpile we weren't
able to track down. Which means someone who knew where Thunda hid his
gear, was involved in this. Quantity was about 12 kilos of C12.
Suspicion is that the "25kg" was either false, or dramatic overflow.
The windows of the Fire Control secondary tower were blown out, four
people were killed, a few more hurt by flying glass. The tower will be
operational again by morning.


The jursidictional situation that arose previously is only likely to
show up between us and Seneca. Marion is objecting somewhat to our
existence, she feels it is a direct threat to her authority. Chris has
been buttering up the politicians and corporate masters, and
entertaining Lone Star precinct Captains and the Commissioner. So, we
have plenty of support were it counts - something else that's got stuck
in Marion's craw. Lone Star are quite happy at this time to
unofficially feed us information, provided we don't march in with the
jackboots and take over. They're still a tad sore at the beating they
took last year at the hands of Jaxon T. Goldsmith.


The officer in charge of the investigation is Detective Harry Greenbaum.
If you want to be useful, you could always offer your services to him.
We cannot be seen to be officially involved at this time. I have a
feeling though that Detective Greenbaum will be more than sympathetic to
your offer of assistance, there are places he can't go and people he
can't talk to that you might be able to sort out for him.


It is of course, important as ever that we learn as much as possible
regarding this event and any possible follow ups to this. One of COT's
soup kitchens was hit within an hour of the airport hit. A couple of
elven gangers wasted the two guys in the mobile kitchen and a couple of
the D/O's nearby. Slogans painted over the vehicle indicate that it's a
reprisal against Thunda's anti metahuman stance. We certainly don't
need another racial melting pot forming under our feet.


+++++Include: ST_site.fsc


That's the forensics report from the site. It doesn't have much in it
that we don't already know. Maybe we'll get something from the autopsy.


+++++Include: Eye/wnss.rpt


That should keep you busy for a couple of hours. The reports from eye
witnesses at the scene, including our debrief of the reporter shortly
before Marion's stormtroopers took over. I believe Seneca have lost
jurisdiction at this time as a result of this being a localised not
interstate or international organisation. The airport bombing is so far
under exclusive Lone Star control. Marion's crowd are allegedly
smarting a bit from having their wrists slapped. So much for the FBI
huh? <g>


Look. I appreciate that things are slow at the moment, but until we get
the reports on the drones back from Ares, and until we can analyse the
information you've turned up so far, there's not much we can do about
things. The attack on Achilles is likely to be a long drawn out plug
away investigation. It's too well executed for a rapid solution. This
thing with the airport. You are more than welcome to assist LS with our
blessing and authorisation - not that you need it. We'll support your
position there and feed Greenbaum anything we turn up. You might find
it better to get into the dirt and dig around rather than pace up and
down in the office staring at reams of paper. Until Chris gets back I
can't authorise much more than that. However, I would suggest that you
keep your involvement relatively quiet. This could, you do realise be a
trap to bring you out into the open. It wouldn't be the first time this
sort of thing has been a prelude to assassination, and it won't be the
last. I don't think I'd like it too much if we had to scrape you off
the 'crete because of some sniper waiting for you to stick your head up.
I now you spend most of your life these days in armour, so I'm not
trying to lecture you. Just, hell you know, be careful.


It would not surprise me to find that this is the beginning of a series
of events designed to bring you out into the open, so you can be killed
on the anniversary of Thunda's death at your hands. Chris is one of the
most cautious and observant people I know, but even he was almost killed
by a sniper's bullet. If he hadn't turned when he did... Something is
rotten at the core of this, and I don't think it's got squat to do with
metahumans or a trial. I think you're being lined up like a duck in a
gallery.]<<<<<
-- SASIC T Johnson <03:58:22/01-30-59>
FBI, Achilles Project
Fort Lewis, Seattle
Message no. 7
From: "Paul J. Adam" <shadowtk@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: Let...
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 1998 01:25:21 +0000
*****INTERNAL: SASIC T Johnson
>>>>>[Thought Chris might have been off on a jaunt, it's not like him to
be absent without good reason. If the fertiliser hits the air
conditioning, bear us in mind, we can deliver backup and fire support to
many places with alarming effectiveness in a surprisingly short time,
especially since the _Killing Time_ docked yesterday.


Point well taken on my keeping a low profile. The phone in our office in
DC is already ringing non-stop as assorted folk try to get "the true
story" about SIGA, me, Thunda, et cetera. I'll do my best to stay out of
view.


FWIW I concur on COT. Nobody's that clean, not working where they do.
Check out Easy for what you have to do to get things done in the areas
they operate. She works north Tarislar, and COT are busy on the edges of
Remembrance, among the human ghettoes who were forced out when the elves
moved in. You _have_ to deal with the criminal syndicates, or become one
yourself, they're the nearest thing to law the area's usually got. You
_have_ to pull some very suspect work to stay afloat, because every
normal necessity of life is so expensive in the Barrens. Where do these
people get funded from? I know, "unidentified charitable donations".
Hell, it seems every psycho group in the UCAS is paid for by those.

Somehow COT swim through shit and still come out smelling of roses. No
way, I don't believe it. Can't see anything to do about it either,
though... we'll ask around, but they seem clean.

You know who they remind me of? A nice charitable outfit, used to work
lots of big cities, had four chapter houses just in Seattle. Really
honest and reputable, the Universal Brotherhood were just good people,
working for the benefit of all... Yeah, I'm worried.



And, Trevor, I have a good idea of what was done to Goldsmith's mind and
that of his comrades. Maybe we'll let you know in person how and why,
but suffice it to say the mind is a malleable object. Pound on it hard
enough and you can force it into any shape you want... unless it breaks
first.



Beg to differ on Thomas, or at least his backers, being an amateur. You
don't get that much high-grade explosive into an airport by being an
amateur (leaving aside the batch, same as Goldsmith) That was a pro
operation, even if the expendable frontman was an amateur.

Why only the fire tower? I'd guess gradation. These guys wanted a
security panic, but not the sort of major hassle that would result from
- say - closing Sea-Tac for a few days.

Thomas caused disruption of airport operations until he blew himself (or
was blown) up, made a lot of noise, got some headlines. But it wasn't
enough to get Seneca or you guys involved, or to bring in extra agents,
or to trigger any long-term response by law enforcement except unlimited
overtime for the airport security :)

What else happened while everyone was worrying about Thomas and his
explosives? Maybe just one incoming passenger getting through where they
might not otherwise have done? One piece of baggage not scanned as well
as usual? We don't know what we don't know, and you guys are far better
at that shadows-and-fog stuff than I am, I'm just throwing out ideas to
try and justify my existence :)


Agree completely on it being distraction and mostly irrelevant, which is
why I'll take your advice and work with Lone Star for now. It gets me
out from under your feet, gives me something to do, and leaves you free
to concentrate on your real targets. Plus, if I get spotted dealing with
this terrorist stuff, maybe it'll make the Gomers think we fell for it.
Maybe I won't be _that_ low profile after all <g>


And I'm glad you understand about me griping that "things are slow".
Lilith reminded me that you guys are trained _investigators_, while
we're more in the lines of shock troopers. I'm being "strongly advised"
from on high to assist you with this situation, but until we've actually
got targets I'm well aware that my utility to you is very limited.


This as a device to target me... possible, but I was a relatively easy
mark on Socotra, and a mob with these smarts and connections could snipe
me in DC. It's been tried, it damn near worked. I'm maybe safer doing
out fieldwork - lots of adrenaline, lots of alertness, lots of mobility
- than I am here.

Amateurs might blame Thunda's death on me, pros would know I just
happened to be the tip of a very large spear.

Also, if someone makes a move on me, that's data for you guys to
analyse. Though I'm less casual about that than usual: if our Bad Guys
are the team that backed Goldsmith, they are a _serious_ threat.

I don't mind an _attempt_, but I'd really like to live to see the
investigation that follows, so I fully intend to be careful <g> You may
notice I'm actually wearing the Kewl Kombat Klothes most of the time
now, black or not, and I'll admit the IWS portable artillery battery is
beginning to grow on me.


Lilith and I will see what we can do to help the Star, and pass you any
intel we gather. You guys take care.]<<<<<
-- 1Lt J R W Lynch <01:00:34/01-31-59>
Strategic Intelligence Gathering Agency


*****PRIVATE: Detective Harry Greenbaum, Lone Star
>>>>>[SASIC Johnson suggested I speak to you. If you think help from my
wife and I would be useful, you've got it: you know what we can do, you
know how we work.

If you need us, we're here.]<<<<<
-- 1Lt J R W Lynch <01:04:34/01-31-59>
Strategic Intelligence Gathering Agency
Message no. 8
From: Avenger <Avenger@*******.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: Let...
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 1998 03:45:56 +0000
*****Internal: 1lt J R W Lynch
>>>>>[I have an eyes only document here for you, should things go sour
for Chris. He requested you very specifically, so I have no doubt your
particular skills may be of use to him. We have the means to deliver
you and any support you deam necessary to his location without too much
worry of detection (gotta love those black helo's) <g>


I agree with your views and yes it would be a good idea to keep low.
We've received reports from Lone Star that another COT chapter was hit
tonight. Seems like we've got a small powder keg looking for a fuse.
I've reviewed the events leading up to the Thunda episode in '57, and
find no similarity whatsoever. Aside from the explosives of course. So
there is nothing yet, that I can use to lever us into the investigation.
If another event occurs - maybe. We've got sufficient evidence to link
the current situation, but I'm afraid it's going to take corpses for us
to be let loose. I'm arguing with the Hill at the moment. Their
restrictions on our involvement in this go against the operative
policies of the project. We are supposed to be pro-active, yet are left
in a role of supporting mime artist and I hate Mimes. I'm working on
it, but I think it's going to take a rant from Chris to get things done.
Unless of course you feel like kicking someone's fat arse in DC?


You've got a valid point on COT. Something I don't fully understand.
There's something going on under the surface of the areas they're
working. Now, it's common knowledge that organised crime owns Puyallup,
almost in it's entirety. Tarislar is a camp under siege with several
families fighting for control. In the middle of this is a "charity".
We can't find anything, agents from Seneca can't find anything. Lone
Star can't find anything. The fraggin' CIA can't fabricate anything
COT operate with impunity amongst some of the most volatile areas in
Seattle. They've been opening branches in Redmond, Renton, Tacoma and
Snohomish for crying out loud. Goddamn farm land filled with happy
hicks, farmers and Amish. You know I agree with you. I look at this
and all I can remember is the Brotherhood. "Unleash you inner
abilities." "Build a better tomorrow." Become a bug. There's no
secrecy surrounding COT's activities though. We've walked into random
chapter houses and they are precisely what they appear to be, doss
houses for the homeless. Some of them run by priests, some by bleeding
hearts. I can't figure it out. If there was something that could tie
in their activities to anything resembling the UB we could shut down
every chapter house in Seattle and brun them to the ground. Lone Star
and Seneca have raided 32 of these so called "Homes" in the last 36
hours and they've turned up squat.


There has been an unofficial decleration from one of the militant wing
that "Retribution is nigh. Surrender the killer for judgement and the
world will be saved." Jeezus, where do they find these loons? We
traced the broadcast and arrested 6 looneys who had armed themselves
with squirt guns filled with a combination of liquid soap and watered
sulphuric acid, after constructing loo roll bombs to strap to their
chests. Go figure.


As regards funding, well, what can I say. Until they step out of line
we can't cut it off. Even Alamos has a right under the constitution to
preach their particular kind of bullshit. The beauty of free speech,
huh? Let the psycho's loose on the planet, let 'em shout and stir up
the natives, let 'em kill off innocents and then we'll slap 'em around a
while, but let the rest carry on doing what they do best. Sometimes
late in the evening when we're chewing the fat, I sympathise with people
like Chris. He's caught between a rock and deep hole filled with shit.
We have to stop the extremists and the loons, but we have to do it in
such a way that we're not seen as some sort of jack booted fascist big
brother suppressing the masses. Fuck but that's a hard job. It'd be so
easy to just go out on the streets and bust a few caps into these thugs
and put an end to it. But then we'd be a police state, and that's
totally unsatisfactory. Do you know what it says at the top of the
document that gave birth to the projects? "The freedom of the
individual must be protected at all costs, even if that protection means
the individual has the right to cause unrest." It doesn't make sense.
We could shut down Alamos and the others within 72 hours. We've got the
manpower and the ability to do it. But, it would start a war, a war
that the people would lose. Not us, not the extremists, but the average
Joe. I can see why Chris doesn't get much sleep. Where the hell do you
draw the line and say "Enough!"?


Believe me we've been asking question around town. The only suspect
thing about COT, is their choice of name. Why name yourself after a
murdering fuck like Thunda, if you don't want to be associated with the
actions of the individual? I've read their manifest, I've looked through
endless investigative case files, I've had our matrix division track
communications, intercept signals and transfers. Chase down contacts. I
think we've just about covered every damn corner, and nothing sticks.
Their the ultimate in non-stick. If we could make cooking utensils out
of COT, we'd make a fortune.


If you've got ideas on what's been done to these people, and how, then
yeah, I'd like to hear about it, it might give me a new slant on the
thing, but I've got a feeling I already know what you're going to say.


Well, it turns out it wasn't just the Tower. Some lunatic got into the
departure lounge. Thomas was, after all a diversion. Get security's
attention away from the concourse, and hit the place.


+++++Include: LSS-5901-00352-SWAT031


Another one. She was more coherent, more controlled. Eventually they
blew her apart. If we're facing a campaign similar to that you faced
down last year, they it would be kinda nice if SWAT wouldn't blow apart
the goddamn heads all the time. The escalation has resulted in three
airports virtually closing their doors. Security is so tight that a damn
mouse couldn't get in without a pass. If this is a beginning I dread
the finale. The bomb didn't go off this time, but over-enthusiastic
snipers managed to hit a few bystanders.


If these guys are a distraction to get a someone through arrivals
quickly, then I figure there's a few thousand suspects. Strangely
enough, one of the messages I've had from Chris is to check the
passenger manifests. What can I say, he's as paranoid as you are. <g>
Thing is though. Who the hell needs this kind of distraction. We can't
touch anyone that isn't on a wanted list. Undesirables from other
countries have certain rights travelling through the country - rights
I'd like to see revoked, but again - the freedom of the individual to
cause mayhem and destruction must be upheld. <sigh> If anything flags up
on the databanks I'll let you know. And hey, less on the Shadow and
fog, OK. CIA are the cloak and dagger specialists, we just clean up the
mess they create. :)


Hey, no problemo on the griping. :) I know how you feel. I've been a
field agent for 12 years now, and I like it in the field. This damned
office work is getting on my tits. BUt yeah, you're right, analysis,
data gathering, data shuffling, sorting the dirt into neat little piles
is our forte. It's not the first time we've been accused of being
glorified filing clerks. I'm glad that the Kool Klothes <tm> are
growing on you. I hate 'em, but they feel good when some maniac with a
gun wants to play "Target Man" with your ass. If someone makes a move on
you, make sure you scream for backup. We have no idea what the hell is
waiting our there, but I don't think it's going to be pleasant. If
D'Arkan returns and finds out I let you get your butt shot off, he'll
chew out large chunks of my flesh and spit 'em back at me, I'm thin
enough without donating fresh meat to his appetite. The artillery,
allegedly is essential to combat the potential threat we face on the
streets of this friendly city. In a way, I tend to agree. I've fired
on guys with my old regulation sidearm and watched them gove me the bird
before vanishing into the smog. I don't like that much. The damn
things we're given might be over the top, they might even be better in
the hands of a tank platoon, but hell, they get the job done, and at
least if you come face to face with Thunda's ghost, you can blow it all
the way back to hell.


We're filing data, we're searching records, we're doing all the things
good little secretaries do. Once we've finished compiling the evidence.
We get to go and play with the results. Any feedback you can provide
from your participation in LS investigations is of course - appreciated
- stamped, filed and analysed.


Well, I better get back to work, there's a backlog of typing to do. :)


Watch your back Jason. You make a broad and tempting target.]<<<<<
-- SASIC T. Johnson <03:44:21/01-31-59>
FBI, Achilles Project
Fort Lewis, Seattle.
Message no. 9
From: Avenger <Avenger@*******.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: Let...
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 1998 03:57:37 +0000
*****PRIVATE: SIGA; 1lt J R W Lynch
>>>>>[I've had a brief from Johnson - shit it sounds starnge saying
that. You're welcome aboard Lieutenant, provided you don't get under
too many feet. This seems to be centred around you, so I guess having
you along for the ride might just scare up a few rabbits for us to chase
down.


So far we've got zip. But I'm sure you're aware of that from the FBI
datafiles.


I'm down at SeaTac at the moment poking through the wreckage left by
SWAT during the latest mess. Snohomish Inter and King County are
virtual prisons, security crawling over every fraggin' inch of anyone
comin' in. If you want to poke through the wreckage forensics have
finished their digging and us foot sloggers are allowed to poke around.
You might see something in this that a simple mundane cop like me could
miss. It's a bit military in it's execution. More organised and better
controlled than Tower B, and certainly more "noteworthy".


Thomas had 1kg of C12, 6kg of C4 and a bunch of home made shit stuffed
on his person. There isn't a lot left of him, but we got ourselves a
corpse this time. SWAT left us something after they'd finished filling
it with lead. This bitch had a hell of a lot more.


I'll explain more when you get here. Welcome aboard the looney
train.]<<<<<
-- Detective Harry Greenbaum.
Lone Star Securities, PD, Homicide
Precinct 157, Seattle

Further Reading

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