From: | Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk |
---|---|
Subject: | Planning |
Date: | Sat, 13 Feb 1999 13:18:37 +0000 |
>>>>>[TO: Captain L R W Lynch
Just so you know what's going on.
+++++begin video
A conference room. Not in SIGA's crowded, threadbare annex in the D-Ring
of the Pentagon, though this could be in the same sprawling building.
Light wood and blue hessian furniture, a softly carpeted floor, in fact
generally pleasant amenities.
The reason may have to do with the foreigners present. Quinn hardly
counts as such, though she's there and sitting uncharacteristically
quietly. Like about a third of those there, she's in uniform: working
dress, with her dark red beret tucked under one epaulette.
On one side of her sits another blonde woman in the grey tabby-cat
camouflage of Rusanov's Rebels; her shoulder boards and name tag
identify her as Captain Dane, but that's merely a useful deception for
Esmeralda Diaz, better known as "Emma".
The other side of Quinn, Pendleton and Harcourt are their usual
mismatched pairing: the Aryan Elf groomed to perfection in a Saville Row
suit, the stocky human looking uncomfortable in something off-the-peg
and a tie with either an ugly print, or a tea stain.
Coppinger is, as usual, almost a blind spot in the room, lacking any
memorable detail.
Admiral Kowalski, beside him, is busy with a message pad, reading
rapidly and entering a reply every so often: every so often, quietly
asking something of Commander Tarkington (far better known as the Horny
Toad).
An empty chair awaits its occupant, and then Senator Trenton of the
Oversight Committee ends the group.
Kowalski looks up from the pad. "Okay. Lilith just checked in. She and
Mitchell just made it to the final RV."
"Casualties?" Coppinger enquires.
"Ours or theirs?" Kowalski sighs. "Ours, none that we know of. Sounds
like everyone's getting out okay."
"And in Vegas?"
"If you believe the police radio and the news, a few thousand." The
Admiral shakes her head. "Trying to do some BDA from what's being
shown... figure thirty to sixty dead and twice that wounded. Mostly
cops."
"Higher than I wanted, lower than I expected." Trenton acknowledges.
"But, damn it, I hate signing off on 'collateral damage'."
"The end may justify the means, as long as there is something that
justifies the end." Quinn suggests.
"Let me guess. Napoleon?" asks Kowalski.
"Nope. Trotsky." The Coyote shaman replies, her maniac grin breaking
through for a moment. She might be subdued, but she's still her usual
self inside.
"But, it worked?" Coppinger presses.
"Yes. Just as well as we hoped... so far." Kowalski replies. "We hung
out a baited hook. Now we just have to see if Nar'moh'ach will bite."
"He'll bite." Quinn says with confidence.
"What makes you so sure?" Trenton asks.
"His second-in-command, Snake Woman, was aboard the K42. He was the
ringer who replaced Captain - Second Rank Jamara as intelligence
officer?" Pendleton explains.
Emma clears her throat. "Snake Woman was a soldier, responsible for the
Doctor's security and for administering his networks. A warrior and
spymaster."
"My God..." Kowalski laughs aloud. "And we made Mitchell the Director of
SIGA while we were building him up. It's _too_ perfect."
"Why? No way could we _ever_ have set this up on purpose." Quinn looks
around the room. "Mitchell was on the run long before the Doctor had
Jamara killed. For once, we lucked out."
"One question. How did this man, Snake Woman - someone explain that to
me later - pass so completely for Jamara?" Tarkington asks. "I mean,
cosmetic surgery's good, but only _so_ good..."
"There's ways." Quinn says. "Some of the Old Magic. Lilith knows some of
it, I've read a couple of her books. One way you can do it..." She grins
evilly. "You need the fresh, warm body of the person you want to look
like. Assorted special ritual ingredients. Including, but not limited
to, a knife, a fork, and a really big bottle of ketchup."
Around the table, the reaction is probably what she'd hoped for.
"You're saying Snake Woman _ate_ Jamara?" Toad says incredulously.
"Well, if you're casting 'Consume Likeness'... The Coyote shaman cackles
with laughter. "There's other ways, but that's the quick-and-dirty
method. Seems like one of the easier ones, too."
"I really, really hope you don't plan on trying that yourself." Toad
shudders.
"Nope. I don't mess with that stuff. I _do_ read up on it, though. Know
thine enemy."
Coppinger clears his throat. "Anyway. Now we've got that settled, we
need to start planning our next moves. And I think we can allow the good
Captain Cordovez to join us. Diaz, do you want to leave?"
Emma thinks carefully. "No. He's unlikely to recognise me, and I hope
you'll vouch for me if he does."
"Naturally. Very well, Toad, could you invite him in?"
<sequence compressed>
+++++end video
Good work, by the way. Neater than expected.]<<<<<
-- D J H Coppinger <13:18:43/02-13-60>
Director
Strategic Intelligence Gathering Agency