Blood in the Water: IC Thread, Fun on the High Seas! Options

[MusicMan]

George rounded up several of the crew into their quarters, the whole thing seemed far too easy. Once everything settled down, he headed up to the deck to keep an eye out for incoming trouble.

The ease of the whole mission was really beginning to bother him...


((Sorry everyone, that snowstorm we had here in Texas hit us really hard and I haven't had electricity for the past three days.))

[Penta]

0445 EDT/0945 Zulu
18 June 2072
Chantico's Bounty

The first thing to strike you as you enter the slave holds is the smell, the stench. It's difficult to describe. Human waste has collected in makeshift latrines at various points throughout each hold, contributing to the smell. It's apparent bathing has not been a priority (if indeed possible) for those held here, either.

The next thing that draws your attention is the sight. Inside the dimly-lit, cramped holds, lit only with red emergency lights, are approximately 500 to 750 slaves, of virtually every possible age group, but mostly of elves and humans, both male and female, with only the occasional ork or dwarf. Most are naked - the rest have only tattered clothes. Virtually every one is emaciated and gaunt.

Despite that, there appear to be few obvious security measures. A catwalk, accessible by a ladder from just beyond the hatchways leading into each hold, sits a few meters above the bunched up slaves. Cameras cover every angle in the holds, eliminiating blind spots. Public address loudspeakers are perched every few meters.

With all that, things seem rather well-organized. Each hold has distinct sleep and latrine areas, but that's it.

Finally, though, come the sounds - as you enter, people are frightened. Deeply frightened. Screaming can be heard, wailing in incoherent Hausa. Groaning from those too weak to make any other noise. Many are too scared to make any noise at all.
---
If anyone tries to astrally perceive the area, they encounter a rating 2 background count - the ship has been used for slave-trading for a long time. It doesn't permeate the ship, but it does permeate these holds. The overwhelming impression is one of bleak emptiness and despair. It's not aspected yet, but it's unpleasant on the astral. There are 3 holds - each about 40m length by 15 meters width. The catwalks are positioned fairly high, about 3-4 meters up. One hold contains food, water, and cover goods (consumer goods), the rest hold (meta)human cargo, 500 to 750 slaves per hold. (Obviously, in such cramped conditions, it's difficult to get a solid count.) For slaves, these are (relatively) good conditions...A step up from the Middle Passage, but only a very slim one.

More info to follow as you investigate.

[CollateralDynamo]

18 June 2072, 0445 EDT
[Robert "Zalermo" Bennicimo as Jesus Gariba, Stuffer Shack Employee - Hidden]
Caribbean Sea, Chantigo's Bounty, Slave Holds

The sight was grotesque. Robert had seen worse in his time with the government, but it had been a long time. The sheer magnitude of human suffering that had been crammed into these tiny holds was truly sickening. Well Bobs, you wanted to help people. Now look at all these poor folk that need your help. Zalermo nodded his head for Simon and Jane to head down into the holds.

"Do what you can for them. Does anybody have any idea what language these people are speaking? We need to set up a dialogue ASAP. Melisandre, if you are overhearing us, try to figure it out and get us a linguasoft off the net. We need it yesterday," Zalermo looked down at the huddled masses of people, wondering where exactly they had been brought from, and where exactly they wanted to go, "Anybody going down there, make sure to keep video records. We need to make sure these slavers are put away for a long time."

Even that punishment seemed hardly fitting for this crew full of ne'er-do-wells, but that was the assignment. Zalermo thought back to his police training, "Captain, request permission to use agressive interrogation techniques on the captain, and any other officers necessary to get to the bottom of this." Zalermo was already on his way out of the holds before the captain had answered, he was walking slowly, yet purposefully to where the crew was being held. You know, chummer, these people are just like you used to be. Working for a government, doing whatever they ask of you. They probably never questioned their orders, half of them might even know what is down here in the holds. How many ships did you take when you worked for the CL? How many of THEIR holds did you investigate? The thoughts made Robert sick.

[Knight Saber]

18 June 2072, 0445 EDT
[Dana "Rusty" O'Roarke as - Shioban Jones, charter boat operator - Hidden]
Caribbean Sea, Chantigo's Bounty, slave holds

Rusty descends into the hold at the head of the group. "This is... Fuck. People kill each other for all sorts of reasons..." she thinks. "This is even worse... to do this just for cash..."

"Permission granted, Mr. Zalermo, just make sure they can still sing for our sponsors. Mel, Jane, I'm sure the... crew... must have had a linguasoft to talk to these people. Mr. Zalemero, one might have it slotted right now. Give them a good looking-over" she suggests, falling back on some military formality to avoid outraged cursing. "The rest of you, let's start handing out the food and water. Ration it carefully, too much after too little makes people sick. That was another hard-learned lesson from some of the less-fortunate parts of the world.

[Ears]

18 June 2072, 0445 EDT
[Simon as "Steve Townsend" deckhand - Hidden]
Caribbean Sea, Chantigo's Bounty, Slave Holds
Good god. What people can do to each other.

Simon hadn't even noticed that he'd held his breath but now he exhales sharply and - his gaze still fixed on the scene in front of him - says:
"No need to popp a search. That's Hausa, my mother tongue."
Visibly gulping, he has to pause a moment before continuing "Get me the PA-system, I gotta talk to them."

Hold on, we're here to help you.

[Whizbang]

<Sounds like you've got yourself a walking talking linguasoft, but I'll get on it. Anything particular you guys want included in our initial report to base?> Melisandre inquired. They had the Bounty, now they got to get the ball rolling on what they wanted done with their guests.

[CollateralDynamo]

18 June 2072, 0455 EDT
[Robert "Zalermo" Bennicimo as Jesus Gariba, Stuffer Shack Employee - Hidden]
Caribbean Sea, Chantigo's Bounty, Converted Storeroom

The stunned silence over the comms was being steadily replaced by nervous chatter. Once the reports were in about the slaves, Zalermo responded to Melisandre's question<Tell Roberts that everything was handled. Our intel was 5-by-5, and all we need is a delivery point. No casualties on our side, but mention the resistance we faced...also mention that these damned Azzie officers like to put up a fight.> After this, Zalermo switches from open comms to a limited communication with Mel only. <I'm in the process of interrogating a few of the lieutenants here, after the interrogation I'll send you new photos, I'm going to need you to doctor 'em up so it looks like they were captured in this state. Got it? We're going to get information and give these scum what they deserve, make sure these pics will hold up in court.>

The public message he said subvocally, the second half he said loud enough to be heard while staring into the eyes of the man tied to a chair across from him. The man's eyes widened slightly at the obvious threat to his well being. Good, he still seems to have something to fear. At that point, Zalermo took off his jacket and hung it on the chair opposite his captive. He drew his gun first, his little snubnose, Betty. He had removed all the rounds from the gun before retrieving his captive, but there was no way the man in question could know. He checked the gun, giving it some rudimentary cleaning, then laid it on the table between the two chairs, pointing it directly at his captive. Next, he drew his fineblade. A long, gruesome looking knife. It had been ages since he had to use it, and he had never been a huge fan of using the magic weapon on anything but spirits. It was...messy. He set the blade down next to the gun, sighing audibly.

"Alright, captain, we're gonna take off your gag now. No screaming...its not that I'm afraid of getting caught, its just that it aggravates me. You know," Zalermo sat on the table and took off the gag as he spoke, "It has been a damn long time since I've seen people treated that poorly. And I'm from the CL, we have all kinds of disgusting stuff down there. So believe me, when I say 'you are one sick animal', I have a lot of benchmarks to compare you to."

"Now listen, we make this quick, and we don't have to get nasty. Answer my questions, all of them, and we don't have to move on to my favorite toy," Zalermo said this while gesturing to the blade, "And if THAT doesn't work, well, I still can call Betty in. So, obviously, its better for everyone to keep this short. How do you communicate with the prisoners? Presumably you will have linguasofts of Hausa available just in case, where are they stored, and how many are there? "

The questions continued to pour from his mouth, asking one question after another. He waited long enough for the man to answer, if the captain instead chose stony silence, or some sort of obvious lie, Zalermo would move on to the next question, "Next, these people are clearly from the Chad region...did you pick them up yourself, or did you go by an intermediary? Who hired this vessel? How long have you worked for your employer? Where did you intend to deliver your cargo? How many have died on this vessel in the past six months? The past year? How would you like to make it one more? What previous brushes with the law have you had before? What was the would-be purpose of your cargo once you reached your destination? Who would miss you if you never made it to shore? Tell me about your officers. What are their backgrounds? Their careers? How long have they been working under you? Do they have a family? How many of their lives can we ruin with a few strategic bullets in the right places? How much did your employer pay you for this? How did you expect to get away with this?"

As question after question spills forth from Zalermo's mouth, his outwardly cool demeanor slowly degrades. Every question not answered agitating him a little bit more. By the end of his tirade, Zlaermo is standing, his palms flat on the table, almost trembling with anger. After all of his questions have been asked, Zalermo starts slowly wrapping his fists in bandages, "Have you ever been in a fight, captain? Sure you have. Fist fights are the worst. Even when you are winning, you can easily hurt your hand really bad on someone's face, or even their ribs if you're not careful. Anyways, that was round 1, are we ready for round 2?" With that Zalermo briefly shadowboxes the air, his fists with a protective layer of cloth over them.

[Ears]

18 June 2072, 0447 EDT
[Simon as "Steve Townsend" deckhand - Hidden]
Caribbean Sea, Chantigo's Bounty, Slave Holds

Walking weapon mount, walking linguasoft seems like I owe a few people some funny names. Anyway, let's get started.

After being keyed into the PA system, Simon clears his throat before addressing the holds in Hausa

[ Spoiler ]

"Brothers and Sisters! You may have noticed that this ship has stopped and might heard gunshots; this is because this ship has been taken over by us, your captors have been locked up and you will be set free again as soon as possible."

Letting these words sink in and the ensuing clamour settle down a bit, Simon continues

[ Spoiler ]

We will now get down to you to hand out supplies and see to your wounded and sick. Please try to be patient, we are only a few so it might take a while till we get to you. But we will take care of you all and we will get you back to freedom.

Simon puts his machine-gun down gently, after a moment's hesitation pulls out his Smartgun and puts it next to it, grabs the duffel bags and heads over to the nearest hold.

<@Melisandre: Think you can pop that door open? And make sure to lock it again.>


Walking into the hold, Simon first locates who passes as the leader of this group - somehow there always is one - and soon finds a human woman accompanied by two men and an orc stepping up to claim that post. Solange, the name the woman gives, has her aids distribute the meager food supplies Simon brought with him and leads to a corner area where the sick and wounded are kept.

Solange proves to be respected by the other slaves in this hold, her superb negotiating skills certainly a deciding factor and it doesn't take long for her to convince Simon that she can be trusted to run things.

<@all Cap, I seem to have found what passes for a pretty tight organisation in the first hold. The woman in charge here, Solange, wants to get access to the other holds to talk to the other group and distribute more food and water. I'd say we're better off letting these guys handle things themselves. Jane prolly is better suited to decide on this, but I think some of these guys really have to be moved to the infirmary ASAP. Not that the rest is looking fine.>

[CollateralDynamo]

18 June 2072, 0500 EDT
[Robert "Zalermo" Bennicimo as Jesus Gariba, Stuffer Shack Employee - Hidden]
Caribbean Sea, Chantigo's Bounty, Bridge

"Alright team, I've got us here a nice confession from Captain Alvaro Crucador. I've rudimentarily played with the sound file a little bit to...improve its quality. Melisandre, if you could check this out for me and make sure its up to snuff for our UCAS court of law?"

After saying this over the comm channel, he plays a copy of the tape.

[ Spoiler ]

Zalermo: Answer my questions, all of them, or I'll have to call Betty in.
Crucador: I have a wife and baby son senor, please don't hurt me.
Z: Just answer the questions.
C: Si, si, anything.
Z: Who hired you to pick up these slaves?
C: Yo no se, someone in Tenochtitlan. They paid a corporate salary...they seemed like government types.
Z: And how long have you worked for them?
C: 5 years, all told. I've been master of this vessel for about one year.
Z: Did you pick up these slaves yourself? Or through an intermediary?
C: They were all ready for us when we docked in Sekondi. Most of the putas below are from Nigeria.
Z: So, obviously, its better for everyone to keep this short. Let's watch that mouth. How many slaves have died aboard this vessel?
C: I'm sorry...n...not many. None while I've been captain. Not more then a handful my entire time here.
Z: What are your previous brushes with the law?
C:A...a speeding ticket out of veracruz.
Z: Where were you sending the slaves and for what purpose?
C:We meant to dock on Veracruz. They take them, they don't say why. Possibly goverment sacrifice? Maybe just sex, I don't know.
Z: Alright...I'm taking you back to your cell, if you happen to 'remember' anything else, I'll be here waiting.

After playing the tape he asks the rest of the crew, "Can you think of anything I missed? I can always go back down and ask him more questions, he seems ever so pleased to talk to me. I asked about linguasofts...apparently these guys were old fashioned, just the security teams spoke to them, and the sec guys knew the tongue."

After that he got on the encrypted radio channel and sent out the pre-arranged psalm signal, <Roberts, we have them. What is our port of harbor?>

[budoka05]

18 June 2072, 0447 EDT
John, Hidden

John would have dropped his jaw in shock, but the smell prompted a revulsion in his entire body. Nausea filled his head. Seeing Ears go and take care of the 'passengers,' John tagged along to distribute the water he had collected. Escorting Solange was relatively simple. One or two the passengers got particularly rowdy and pushing, forcing John to palm strike them and push them back.

18 June, 2072, 0500 EDT
The Mage!

"Guys, the mage is going to be a problem. I just remembered that sucker can Astrally Project! We need someone to keep a constant watch on him! Be back! John blitzed through the ship's corridors to the mages cell dragging Iago along. Iago should be able to tell if the mage had left his body, and John would give the necessary jolt to bring him back. John just hoped he wasn't too late... If that mage managed to deliver an SOS...

[Penta]

Iago reports that the mage has not left his body.

[Penta]

0515 EDT/0915 Zulu
18 June 2072

The Pentagon, Northern Virginia, UCAS

In the early morning's silence, the thermal printer chattered with an incoming message.

The elven Petty Officer on duty ripped the completed sheet from the printer and read it quickly before making a short comm call.

"Good morning, sir. Crew Alpha-One from Project ALFRED reports success. The message has been confirmed as authentic."

The elf paused.

"Aye sir. Understood, sir."

The message was quickly locked in a safe.

10 minutes later

In the unmarked conference room, Roberts was - yet again - alone, in service khakis.

"Good morning, Fedallah," he greeted the crew split across the Fedallah and the Chantico's Bounty.

"I received your message of a successful mission. I am curious as to the cargo you found - you didn't mention it."

After Zalermo informs him of the cargo, his face darkens, especially after Iago informs him of the astral pollution. "I hate being right, sometimes. One moment, ladies and gentlemen."

With that, he looks off-camera and nods solemnly. A door can be heard opening and closing, and two figures come into camera range: Captain Walker - in service khakis - and a human male in a well-tailored business suit. Walker speaks first.

"Fedallah, good to see you again. Wish it could be under better circumstances, though. Beside me is Walter Schultz of the Department of Justice. He will brief you on the next steps."

"Fedallah, I was briefed yesterday afternoon by the Chief of Naval Operations as to your mission, in general terms. Jere's what happens next:

"First: You are to, as resources allow aboard both ships, provide for the care of both the crew of Chantico's Bounty and their metahuman cargo. This will be in accordance with basic standards of decency - no starving the crew, no matter how much they may deserve it.

"Second: Any interrogations must be recorded by audio or, preferably, video means. You are not state agents, so you are not held to the same standards in regards to Miranda rights - but while the Department of Justice is willing to accept that you may have been...free...with your interrogation tactics up to this point, we do ask that it still be possible to plausbly have the FBI interrogate the crew with a clean team once we get them. Pursuant to that, I ask you to send unedited audio or video of any interrogations conducted up to this point.

"Third: It has been decided that the UCAS Attorney for the Southern District of New York will be the prosecuting office for this case, which for the record is captioned as the United Canadian and American States vs the Merchant Vessel Chantico's Bounty. Hence, you will deliver the Chantico's Bounty to the Port of New York, where it will be claimed by the Navy on behalf of the UCAS. When you are two days from port, Lieutenant Commander Roberts advises that you will then be delivered precise berthing instructions.

"That completes my end of things. Commander Roberts, Captain Walker?"

"Okay, folks," Walker noted as the attorney left. "Now for the part you've all been waiting for. How we're going to pay you for the op. The ship is likely to be valued as not being worth much when we finally get the damn thing through condemnation proceedings in District Court. Our in-house ship surveyors value it at about three million nuyen, after the costs of getting it seaworthy again, cleaning it up, and so forth are taken into account. This is, even I will agree, a low number, but Iago's information about the astral pollution of that ship means that the value goes way down. It'll take some heavy magic, I'm told, to clean that up. It could go for more when it's auctioned off - if by chance it does, you'll be credited ten percent of the extra when it does actually get auctioned off. I'm going to warn that that could take...a long time, though.

"Now, of that, DOJ advises that admiralty law, after about a millennium of precedent, provides that about ten percent of the value goes to the captors/salvagers, making it in about three hundred thousand nuyen to be divided up as we agreed upon before you docked at Cape May.

"This, of course, is all contingent upon your delivering the Chantico's Bounty to New York - with everybody aboard alive and the crew all able to be prosecuted.

"By the way, I'm going to remind you all of the ROE we set out when introducting the Chantico's Bounty to you. Particularly point two - I'll be very blunt and state that our objective there is preventing rapes and sexual assaults among the ex-slaves. So please, for the love of God, separate people. At the moment, nobody in those holds can consent. Nobody.

"Before you ask - We did the math, and yes, around 19-kay nuyen per person is kinda slim. So we're going to add a bonus of two thousand nuyen to the total pot, on top of the three hundred thousand, for usable intelligence gathered from the crew. This is two thousand, per crew member who provides useful intel, double that if we can use it in court to prosecute. There are, by your information, about 27 crewmembers, so up to 54 thousand for useful intel, or 108 thousand if we can use all the interrogations in court. Zalermo, I'll send along the FBI's interrogation procedures checklist - the one they give local cops - to you when we're done here.

"Finally - Jane, take care of Iago's eyes as best you can. When you dock, we'll take him to the local Naval Hospital for opthalmological treatment - provided free by the Navy."

"Now, are there any questions? I'll handle the big-picture stuff, Lieutenant Commander Roberts will handle anything operational."

<OOC: OOC notes to follow on the OOC thread.>

[Karoline]

Jane enters the holding area for the slaves, and almost instantly runs back, grabbing a protrusion to help steady herself as she gives dry heaves from the smell that had assaulted her. After a little while to recover she pulls a rag from a pocket and ties it over her mouth, bandanna style. It won't do much to keep the smell out, but combied with the fact that she'll be holding her breath the entire time she is in there, it should at least make the smell somewhat bearable. Thank you nanotech

She keeps a couple of her drones with her, just in case anything happens, but has them on orders not to fire unless specifically told to do so. She doesn't want a bad pilot decision to have them start shooting up these poor people. She goes about the sick, distributing medicine and applying proper first aid to those that require it using the extra supplies secured from the infirmary. Occasionally she asks that someone be escorted, or carried in most cases, up to the infirmary itself so that they can be given more proper care.

<Someone should really check out how much food this ship has stored on it. I'm sure they had enough to make it to port, but I'm not sure how much they planned on feeding these people during that time. We're lucky if we have enough supplies on our own to feed all these people properly for a day. We need to be careful not to give out so much food that we run out before we hit port. Remember, we've got to stretch whatever we have between both ships to last a week for upwards of 800 people. Like I said, what we have on our own ship is meant to last ten people 54 more days, that means we've got enough for about 1620 square meals, so about two meals a person. We can figure out how severe the rationing is going to have to be after we check their supplies here. Don't forget, we have plenty of sick people that will need more food, and I'm coming off illness myself too.>

The bandanna has an added advantage that she doesn't have to try and force a smile as she helps people. It is good that they are being freed, but their current conditions make it hard to pretend there is anything worth smiling about.

[Penta]

0545 EDT/0945 Zulu
18 June 2072

Lacking any questions, [b]Roberts/b] closes the connection with a brief farewell.

"See you in Manhattan."
---
OOC: Okay, brief guidelines for the trip north:

It'll take a week - you'll arrive June 25th. Because my sense of time sucks, your newbie comrades will join you a few days later, on the 29th. That's all 5 newbies, including Doc.

If you guys want to do interrogations of crew for that bonus, tell me your approach and the line of questioning.

[budoka05]

0525 EDT/0925 Zulu
18th June 2072
John, Hidden

John was relieved that the mage hadn't and probably won't be awake to do anything.

"Roberts, we've got a mage on board. I'd like to drop by somewhere and pickup some magecuffs. Anyone or anywhere we can do that discreetly?"

20th June 2072
Caribbean Sea, Chantigo's Bounty, Armory

John spent his guard duty hours primarily walking the halls of the ship and keeping tabs on the internal surveillance. Frequently, John would take meditative gymnastics runs through the ship, flipping, rolling and bouncing over obstacles quietly. More than once he would suddenly happen upon off duty crewmates only to disappear before they could eyeball him.

John was settling into his training and guard duties when he got an email from Liquid. Apparently John's inquiries in Jersey had spread through the black market traders.

<Dammit John! I talk told you to be careful with your father's business! I've been hearing gossip about Mexican cartel looking for a certain Japanese elf. You're lucky that everyone in Miami commodities forgot about you.

I gtg, but let this go! You'll get me killed! (and you too, but that goes without saying!)
-Liquid>

[Knight Saber]

18 June 2072, 0515 EDT/0915 Zulu
[Dana "Rusty" O'Roarke as - Shioban Jones, charter boat operator - Hidden]
Caribbean Sea, Chantigo's Bounty, bridge

"Finally - Jane, take care of Iago's eyes as best you can. When you dock, we'll take him to the local Naval Hospital for opthalmological treatment - provided free by the Navy."

"Now, are there any questions? I'll handle the big-picture stuff, Lieutenant Commander Roberts will handle anything operational."[/color]

"Making sure the casualties are taken care of was my top concern" Rusty answers. "Both for my crew and the captives aboard." Not that the bonus money wasn't nice. "I want commendations for everyone in the file for this operation too" she adds, knowing it'll be classified enough no one will ever see them, but it's the principle. A commendation like that is worth the first round of drinks when we get ashore" she says to her people with a slightly wry grin. Anything to get her mind off the long-form atrocity below.

[Penta]

18 June 2072: 0520 EDT/0920 Zulu

Roberts answers that there's no feasible way to get stuff to you before you dock, but that magical protection can be improvised - blast loud music so the mages can't concentrate, and keep them isolated. It's not perfect, but it works in a pinch.

Walker nods, smiling, at Rusty's mention of commendations. "To be quite honest, this is the sad part about this op being covert and performed by nominal civilians - we'd have you considered for actual decorations, but you aren't eligible. As it is, I fully suspect that after this mission, you'll have at least SECNAV pulling for you - and for this project more broadly, and that said, I'll make a note to have letters of commendation issued per your recommendation, Captain. Something I'd like to echo - good job, folks. I hope you recorded the boarding op - I have a feeling Commander Roberts would like to go over it while debriefing you, if possible. I don't expect to be meeting you at your docking, but I'll certainly be interested in Commander Roberts's report."

[Karoline]

"Doesn't blindfolding a mage work to stop them doing much of anything? And I have a Krull. Can make it in about eight hours, maybe a bit less if I have it push itself. Could have it fly somewhere that they can resupply it and fill it up with the cuffs and other things like medical supplies and can have it fly back here. Better part of a day round trip.

As for the boarding, I should have plenty of angles on my various drones, I'll make sure to tag the video so I can pull it up easy for him."

When she gets some time to herself, not having to tend to any sick or injured slaves, the first thing that Jane focuses on is getting the shelving put together in her cabin so that her drones can be stored without taking up most of the space allotted to her.

All in all, when not tending to anyone or eating, she isn't seen around the ship very often.

[Penta]

<OOC: Unclarity resolved.>

"Not to worry, Jane. Fly it in to..." Roberts gets that look most people get when accessing AR stuff, then resumes looking at the camera, "These coordinates. Just fly it into the runway. We'll have it loaded up, then comm you when we're ready for it to be flown home. Good idea - we should be able to pack some magecuffs and medical supplies, though I'll try to include provisions in the cargo, too."

Jane's commlink beeps then -Roberts sending her a set of coordinates. <They're for an airfield in Northern Virginia used by the intel community - make a normal runway approach, the approach instructions will be sent to you when you're near the traffic pattern. One more Krull, ONI's liasion on post assures me, would not be noticed. Supply Branch is planning the cargo for loading as we speak - probably going to be magecuffs, medical supplies, and combat rations; how much on the latter they're still figuring out. Do not expect it to be much re food - at most it'll be able to stretch your supplies a few days, given the sheer number we need to feed. - Roberts>

[budoka05]

Doesn't blindfolding a mage work to stop them doing much of anything?

"Unfortunately, mages can astrally project and could report back to their superiors before we left Caribbean waters. This would work out very well to keep the mage in check.

[Penta]

<OOC: As nobody posted in a bit, I'm moving us along. Like the other cutscenes, I temporarily grab your characters for this one. Sorry. This will also contradict the newbies post in places - where they contradict, this applies. Because I got better ideas.>
2200 EDT/0200 Zulu
29 June 2072
North Atlantic

The voyage was supposed to take 7 days to get from the Capture Site to New York - thusfar, it was day 11, and the two ships were just approaching the New Jersey coast.

<Ahoy, Fedallah and Chantico's Bounty.> A message came over the comms from Walker then. <Ordinarily, I'd leave this for Commander Roberts, but he had stuff to do, and I'm working late anyway. About 3 klicks from your 050 is the UCAS Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton. Kindly come to a stop so they can send over a harbor pilot to each ship. The pilots are standard for New York Harbor and Sandy Hook Bay. They won't "know" of your passengers until we officially condemn the ship after you arrive.

<Chantico's Bounty will be brought to Naval Weapons Station Earle's piers in the Leonardo section of Middletown Township, NJ. Fedallah, we recommend you put in at the Rumson Municipal Marina, about 4 klicks away from the Earle piers. They commonly see megayachts like yours owned by rich folks who own houses along the Navesink, and can berth you without too many problems. We'll arrange for food and other consumables deliveries - one last time. When both ships are berthed, I suggest everybody gather at the Leonardo Piers (Melisandre, we'll pick you up after you berth Fedallah), where you'll be directed to Chantico's Bounty by the gate guard if you aren't already aboard. We can then officially condemn Chantico's Bounty, and take the crew into custody. After that, you'll head to a local restaurant for debrief, payment, and to meet the new folks we recruited for you - including a few magicians to make up for losing Iago, who we'll take with us after the debrief.>

The ships slowed, then, and the Coast Guard Cutter over the horizon set down a zodiac into the water. It approached quickly - first to Fedallah, where a harbor pilot boarded and made his way to the bridge after being met by Melisandre, then to Chantico's Bounty, where the Zodiac dropped off another harbor pilot.

That took about 20 minutes. Then, the Zodiac crew returned to their craft, and the Zodiac returned to the Cutter.

The pilots were both humans, who handled the ships via AR.

It took a few hours, but by 0800 the next day, both ships were tied up alongside the piers at their destinations.

0800 EDT/1200 Zulu
29 June 2072

It was relatively quick for a Navy car to gather Melisandre and bring her to the Leonardo piers - the gate guard sent them past the large ammuniition carriers, all the way down the end of the 2-mile long piers.

The Chantico's Bounty was already guarded by armed sailors - and Roberts awaited as well. This time, he was in a Navy Utility uniform, not service khakis.

<Fedallah crew, please gather on the deck of the Chantico's Bounty upon relief by the Masters-at-Arms. Navy will take over guarding the crew of Chantico's Bounty from that point.>

The relief took minutes, and then the Fedallah crew was gathered on the deck. Roberts then turned on a recording drone that sat beside him (essentially a flying hand-camera), recited the place and time, and began, "I have boarded the Aztlan-flag merchant vessel Chantico's Bounty. Per Letters of Marque and Reprisal issued by Congress, it was captured by the crew of the Motor Yacht Fedallah on 18 June 2072. Reliable intelligence from multiple sources indicates that this vessel may be carrying contraband against the laws of the sea and the laws of nations."

"Okay, folks. Just to make this official. What's the cargo of this ship you intercepted, Captain?" Roberts asks, looking to Rusty.

"Hold number one held provisions and 200 TEUs worth of assorted Stuffer Shack products, including Soy-based foodstuffs, Commander," Rusty replied. "Holds two and three are verified to hold slaves, between five hundred and seven-hundred fifty in each hold. We have been unable to conduct an exact census." It had been scripted beforehand for the sake of the camera, but mostly to make Rusty more comfortable.

"We shall now proceed to holds two and three to verify the Captain's allegations," Roberts said to the camera. "Further feeds will be provided by my image recording unit, via my comlink."

The camera drone then flew off to a waiting Petty Officer on the pier.

"Okay, folks. During debrief, we're going to take statements from those who checked the holds. Otherwise, I'd like most of you to wait here for a few minutes - I will go with Rusty and Zalermo to confirm the holds for the official condemnation." That too, took only minutes. Roberts carefully, methodically walked each hold, making notes via DNI and some spoken dialogue, and taking pictures everywhere. He then gathered up "time of finding" video from the Fedallah crew.

Then he was back on the deck, his expression grave.

"I'll be honest - I'm not naive, I knew it was going to be hard to look at, but...Thank God I've yet to eat yet today." Then, looking toward the camera which had since reappeared, he spoke formally after it turned on. "I am Lieutenant Commander Kevin G. Roberts, United Canadian and American States Navy. It is 0830 on the twenty-ninth of June, 2072. I have just examined the holds of the merchant vessel Chantico's Bounty. I confirm the allegations of the Master of the Fedallah, and condemn this ship as a vessel engaged in the trafficking of slaves. Furthermore, I allege that the crew of Chantico's Bounty, along with embarked persons acting as a security detail, did jointly and severally willfully and knowingly engage in the trafficking of persons. Per such allegations, on behalf of the United Canadian and American States, I charge the crew and passengers of Chantico's Bounty, John Does 1 through 38, with trafficking in persons according to the provisions of 18 UCAS Code 1538. I attach as confirmation audio and video evidence of the holds of the Chantico's Bounty, with such statements to be later collected from the capturing crew."

The camera then turned off, and Roberts turned to the group.

"Okay, that ends of the formalities. As of that recording, the Chantico's Bounty is now a crime scene and the property of the UCAS. We're grabbing the Red Cross to provide mass care to the former slaves, we've the masters-at-arms placing the crew under arrest until the FBI gets here to take custody, and we're rustling up the local hospitals to provide medical staff to care for the slaves in that regard. In recognition of a job well done, I've reserved a private dining room for us at a local restaurant for breakfast - we'll debrief, take such statements as you may wish to or need to give, and feed you. We'll also introduce you to your new cremates."

Everybody was gathered into vans (besides limiting the number of vehicles, they were the only things the Navy had which could comfortably fit a troll like Simon), and driven to the facilities at the head of the pier for showers and other things which would have been difficult to accomplish on the Chantico's Bounty.

After everybody was clean and ready and stuff, it was back in the vans, and the next stop was the Blue Swan Diner, less a diner than a full sit-down restaurant in a nearby town.

0900 EDT/1300 Zulu
29 June 2072
Blue Swan Diner, Oakhurst, NJ, UCAS
The Blue Swan Diner really belied its name. More of a sit-down restaurant than a classic diner, albeit with a laid-back, casual vibe, it had a private dining room for groups...And the AR menu was vast. No, seriously, in a printed form it would have gone on for 12 pages. Of, naturally, real food. And the coffee had free refills!

For some reason, Roberts warned that the portions were huge.

After everybody ordered their meals (and got their first round of whatever they were drinking this morning - no alcohol, as the place didn't have a liquor license), Roberts stood up. "Before we get into the debrief, I'd like to make some introductions," he said after turning on the White Noise Generator the restaurant provided. Then, he went around the table, introducing the newbies to the Fedallah crew and vice versa. As each of the newbies was introduced, Rusty and Zalermo got a buzz from their commlinks, as Roberts delivered to both a dossier on the new crewmember in question.

Then came time for the debrief, as Jane put the tagged video of the boarding op on the provided trid projector.

"Okay folks. We'll go around the table from the Fedallah crew, starting with Iago and then moving on to either Rusty or Zalermo. Describe the op from your perspective, from approach through to the final end of the boarding op when you had the vessel secured."

The debrief went quickly, taking only about 10 minutes, and wrapped up before everybody's food arrived.

"After brekafast, I'll pull people aside for statements and we'll go over payment," Roberts declares.
---
OOC notes:

I originally meant for us to RP out the debrief - we still can if you want - but then decided against it in the interests of time.

Statements can be handled on or off-camera at your discretion. Basically, you're sat down in front of a lawyer who records your statement of what you found in the hold (and any crew interrogations conducted), then has you sign it. He then certifies it as a valid affidavit sworn to before him, etc. Takes only a minute or two given AR writing software.

Okay, on that note - RP as you will at the restaurant. Meanwhile, the newbies' stuff is being moved aboard, and Iago's is being moved off, as all this goes on. (I've been to the restaurant mentioned - the portions really are gigantic. Troll-sized, easily.)

Alexander will bite it after breakfast - be hit by a car and die instantly. I'm just not wanting to make the post too long.

[ntwi]

1200hrs 29 June 2072
MY Fedallah
PAN - Passive

Nemo shoulders his duffel bag and heads up the gangplank to the MY Fedallah. He shows his ID to the skeleton crew and climbs aboard before finding a place to stash his gear for now. Looking around the quiet vessel, he wonders where the crew is. Nemo shrugs and finds an empty cabin to claim for himself. Unloading his duffel into the lockers built into the wall, Nemo gets his cabin quickly redecorated (in AR at least) before wandering to the common areas and exploring the vessel.

[budoka05]

10:00 EDT, 29 June 2072

As John made his way back to the Fedallah, John had some difficult comprehending the lost of Alexander to a mere car. Charred bodies of lost teammates and twisted corpses from spells were familiar from runs, but loosing someone to something as mundane as a car was uncommon in this line of work. John shook his head in sadness as he walked on.

Upon reaching the Fedallah, the stir of new arrivals stirred John from his stupor. He looked and on and wondered what new talent had just come to the table.

[Knight Saber]

19 June 2072, 1115 EDT/
[Dana "Rusty" O'Roarke as - Shioban Jones, charter boat operator - Hidden]
MY Fedallah

Rusty had stopped at a Stuffer Shack to get something in a bottle that pretended to be beer. "Got the whole crew home and lost one on leave... damn it" she mutters, taking a swig of the algae-based brew and then pouring the rest of it out on the curb... the only thing she could do for Alexander.

She turned her feet back towards the docks, dressed casually in civvies, wandering the ship and checking out the new fish as she tries not to look like the captain of the ship but just one of the girls.

[Penta]

10:00 EDT, 29 June 2072

As John made his way back to the Fedallah, John had some difficult comprehending the lost of Ears to a mere car. Charred bodies of lost teammates and twisted corpses from spells were familiar from runs, but loosing someone to something as mundane as a car was uncommon in this line of work. John shook his head in sadness as he walked on.

Upon reaching the Fedallah, the stir of new arrivals stirred John from his stupor. He looked and on and wondered what new talent had just come to the table.

<OOC: Psst, not Ears. Ears is still quite alive. Alexander (MusicMan's character) bit it.(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) >