In Neptune's Realm - IC thread, High Seas Adventure Options

[Minchandre]

11 June 2072: 0845 EDT/1245 Zulu:
[Ilana Duvdevani, active]
Bridge, MY Quicksilver

Despite Roberts' pointed comment, Cherry continues to keep her silence; this time, it's mostly because she can't think of anything to ask, though she's already considering tactics. A projected crew of 12 leaves the team outnumbered even without passengers; if there are slaves, there's likely to be guards to keep them in line. Force-multipliers then are a necessity. Surprise, hopefully, would be theirs, but there were other considerations as well. Idly, she sees what she can pull up on the Israeli Navy's actions in similar situations.

[toturi]

11 June 2072: 0845 EDT/1245 Zulu:
[Eddie G, passive]
Bridge, MY Quicksilver

How much collateral damage is allowed? If the OPFOR uses their cargo as human shields, what kinds of protocols are we expected to follow? Are the owners of the vessel likely to escalate and do they have any assets that might attempt to intercept us once we seize control of the vessel? If the crew is prosecuted, will we be called as witnesses? Speaking for myself, I rather keep my name out of the courts. Eddie's questions reflect his original occupation, he rather keep himself low key and avoid publicity. He is wary of being used by politicians to make political hay.

[Dumori]

11 June 2072: 0845 EDT/1245 Zulu:
[Robert Mitchell, passive]
Bridge, MY Quicksilver

"On the same line is the use of less-lethal force on any hostages. I'd rather gas the room that risk getting them shot. The same apply if any human cargo is not cooperative and not only would they put there own lives in danger as well as our own. I'd hate to kill an innocent but I'd hate to get killed by one more."
Sharky's comment is due to a hairy hostage op he was on a while back. If higher command would have allowed gas it would have gone alot smother and safer.

[Penta]

Roberts looks thoughtful. "So far as keeping the ship if we don't need it: You could, but it might not be practical. Collateral damage: We'd prefer it be minimal, for a reason you'll appreciate: Cheaper cleanup plus a higher resale value, or higher value at auction. That would translate directly into a higher value recovery for you. If the OPFOR tries to go and use the slaves as human shields...Try your best to avoid that, but if they do, you are authorized to take down the OPFOR with prejudice if you can get a clean shot. So far as escalation: It depends on where you make the boarding, our guess is. You want to avoid them getting off a distress call in the first place, because if they get one off, chances are good more than just the Azzies would respond. If they do get one off, the faster you react the faster you can claim it as a false alarm. Beyond that: They do have assets in the Caribbean, corporate and national, but most are positioned in the Gulf of Mexico or closer to the Nicaragua Canal. If you make your capture in international waters in the northern part of the Caribbean, we figure they'd have only limited ability to respond without raising hackles from, say, our cousins in Atlanta. Eddie, as I mentioned earlier, you would not be called as witnesses. Myself or Captain Walker will handle any testimony requirements if this goes to trial."

At Sharky's comments comes another thoughtful look. "If you can use gas safely per the usual dispersal rules for the stuff, and you feel it's needed to ensure your safety, you may. Similar for other non-lethal methods - tasers, stick'n'shock rounds, et cetera all are less lethal, not non-lethal. We would prefer that you use only the bare minimum force necessary on any human cargo, even if they're resisting - put very simply, we're working off the presumption that if there's human cargo there, said people aren't going to be able to take much before you do permanent damage to them or kill them by accident. One reason we want you all to record everything, by the way, is so that if you do encounter them, we can have our linguists figure out what languages they speak and get linguasofts to you via the Matrix."

[Minchandre]

11 June 2072: 0845 EDT/1245 Zulu:
[Ilana Duvdevani, active]
Bridge, MY Quicksilver

"Well, sir," chimes in Cherry, "In my officially opinion as XO, it appears as there are no more questions. Do you have anything else to say, or shall we commence operations?"

[GrimWulf]

11 June 2072: 0845 EDT/1245 Zulu:
[Malachi Garveyl, passive]

Malachi leaned back deeply into his chair, his dreadlocks half covering his face. He appeared to be in a state of peaceful bliss as the briefing seemed to come to a close. He looked around at the others who seemed eager to start planning what was to happen next.

"Give tanks to Jah. We be going dideh soon yah?" He grins as he tries to lean back even further, pushing the limits of being leaned back and actually laying down.

[Minchandre]

11 June 2072: 0845 EDT/1245 Zulu:
[Ilana Duvdevani, active]
Bridge, MY Quicksilver

At the silence that responds to her inquiry, Cherry seems to gain a little steam. She glances at the CO, but his continued silence gives her heart, and she quickly takes a commanding tone. "The situation is this: we must storm an enemy naval vessel, larger but slower than us, and full of potentially valuable cargo and/or slaves. Therefore, we will need to minimize collateral damage. Our certain advantage is surprise. We also likely have an advantage in Matrix and magical support, and very likely in quality. I propose the following strategy: Aquaman goes ahead on his water scooter, accompanied by my Armadillos, which I will control using his commlink as a relay if necessary. The drones move in to jam enemy comms while myself and Roger assault the system, hopefully achieving control of their vessel, with Aquaman providing fire support and distraction as necessary. With luck, we will be able to lock the ship down and board peacefully. In the event that we are not able to do so," here Cherry gains a sardonic smile, "Then we will have to storm the ship. In either event, the rest of the team now attacks in the Zodiac. Aquaman may remain waterborne to provide support, or may board with the rest of the party to aid there. In either event, at least one and probably not more than two crew should remain with the Quicksilver. I realize that a good commander leads from the front, but I recommend myself for this duty: I am at my most useful in VR, and an immersed hacker in combat is little more than 60kg of dead weight. Aquaman and Roger absolutely need to accompany the team for their 10km commlink range, and for the latter's medical knowledge as well.

"Once boarded, the team will move to first secure the engine room, quelling resistance as they go. From there they will sweep forward through the ship to the bridge, taking care to avoid the cargo hold - we don't want to damage what's in there, and if it is in fact slaves, it could represent a great complication. Once we have taken the bridge, we will request the ship's surrender. If it is not given, we will continue through until all opposition is neutralized.

"Questions or suggestions?"

[The Goon]

11 June 2072: 0846 EDT/1246 Zulu:
[Timothy Hazard, Hidden Mode]
Bridge, MY Quicksilver

Barnyard immediately raises his hand but pauses for a second thinking and then sheepishly says, " Ummm... boss just a question here. If you go for the hack and fail they are going to know, aren't they? I mean I only know the meat space side of things, but if they know something is up, are we going to be floating our dinghy right into a firing squad?"

[Faraday]

11 June 2072: 0846 EDT/1246 Zulu:
[Roger Wayne, Hidden Mode]
Bridge, MY Quicksilver

Roger, not thinking to wait for Cherry's response, glanced over at Barnyard. Well, to start, we have a pair of damn good hackers. The most likely bad scenario is that we'll have some control of the ship, and they'll know it and at be able to at least partially react. Some important systems may by out of our reach before we get in there. Once we're aboard, we can get access more reliably when we get an optical tap into the ship's systems.
The worst case scenario, where we get caught and hammered, is not impossible, but very unlikely. Both Cherry and I will be either dead or unconscious. They'll probably know where we are as well." He let that settle a moment.

You would still probably be able to manage boarding if their force isn't too strong, but it'd be messy and take a while to sweep everything.

[toturi]

11 June 2072: 0846 EDT/1247 Zulu:
[Eddie G, Passive Mode]
Bridge, MY Quicksilver
Maps, we'll need the layout of the ship. We need to know it to the millimeter. The Azzies have a fierce rep for magic. We cannot wait to see if the hackers and drones have successfully seized control of the ship. We need to assault the ship simultaneously from all fronts. That way is going to be the only way we have some confidence of taking the ship with the minimum of damage. Our window of opportunity is a small one, our advantage is going to be relative superiority. We cannot afford to blow our advantage on any of these areas. My recommendation is for a simultaneous total spectrum assault.

[Dumori]

11 June 2072: 0846 EDT/1247 Zulu:
[Robbert M, Passive Mode]
Bridge, MY Quicksilver
"I agree with attacking simultaneously however I know you techies can hack real slow and quite if given the time. I suggest that the attack should be launched after our hackers have breached the firewall if we can pull off a more prepared attack on the matrix. I can provide long range support for the boarding teams if needed as Barnyard said we don't want to be proverbial ducks in a barrel as we board. How ever close range support is also an option we do have trained divers and if we can get close enough to allow a more stealth boarding to cut the engines before they can sound the alarm it should be considered.

[Minchandre]

11 June 2072: 0845 EDT/1245 Zulu:
[Ilana Duvdevani, active]
Bridge, MY Quicksilver

"One way or the other, the hacking should be fairly fast. Given the skills we have collected here, I'm quite confident that, frankly, it'll all be over within minutes one way or the other. Keeping our crew at a distance until after we've resolved that means that, in the case that we do lose the Matrix battle, we can withdraw without additional casualties. A simultaneous assault loses us that option. A simultaneous assault also loses us things like the ship's map. We can try to find one online, of course, but I would be strongly surprised if the Aztlaners hadn't modified the interior; hell, with such a common freighter type, I would be surprised if there was only one internal layout available for purchase.

"Divers I am more willing to consider...though they are dead if the enemy has any anti-submarine defenses. No, it doesn't make sense change the plan to put people in more danger. Keeping everyone alive here is more important than accomplishing the mission. I'm not comfortable enough with magic to speak on the possibility of attempting to take control of the Astral from a distance, but that's something else we could consider."

[The Goon]

11 June 2072: 0846 EDT/1246 Zulu:
[Timothy Hazard, Hidden Mode]
Bridge, MY Quicksilver

"Now I aint doubting yalls ability to hack. God knows I aint qualified to talk about anything matrix. But I'm just saying if we aren't taking into account the laws of the great Murphy we are setting ourselfs up for a hurtin'. If they have some smokin' black hats and we pull out, and I do appreciate that bit concern not send in us in after that. Barnyard says with a smile and a wink. "We lose our ability to ever get the jump on these guys for the entire mission. Not to mention we leave poor Aqua's dick hangin' in the wind if the hack fails and they go lookin' to hurt someone. On the other hand a simultaneous attack gives us more options if things go to shit. If the matrix fails us but the boarding party secures the top deck and/or bridge we have a lot more options. Or if the boarders get pinned down fast but yall have control of the ship we still have options."

"Of course with that said you the boss, boss."

[Minchandre]

11 June 2072: 0845 EDT/1245 Zulu:
[Ilana Duvdevani, active]
Bridge, MY Quicksilver

"While I appreciate your concerns, Mr Barnyard, I feel that it's better to reserve the option to withdraw if outclassed. Nevertheless, this isn't a military operation: while complete obedience is expected in combat, we're not in combat yet, and so I feel comfortable proposing a vote. How does everyone feel about attacking simultaneously versus trying to achieve Matrix superiority first?"

[GrimWulf]

11 June 2072: 0847 EDT/1247 Zulu:
[Malachi Garvey, passive]
Bridge, MY Quicksilver


Malachi looks to the Israeli and shrugs, almost causing his chair to fall out from under him.

"InI's tink dat be OK. Jus ya's be lettin I know where ye be wantin Garvey and 'is Granny."