Operation Cold
Call / Mission S3-03 / Mission Briefing
Mission Objectives:
1. Recover or destroy stolen SAGA communicator.
2. Discover how Chernobog acquired the communicator.
Background:
SAGA earpiece communicators operate not using radio frequencies, but rather
high-tech quantum-entanglement principals. When an agent is lost, the
earpiece automatically self-destructs. This ensures that enemy agencies do
not get their hands on the technology, allowing them to replicate it or (worse)
crack it, eavesdropping on SAGA secret communications.
Recently, several key underworld figures have received an invitation from
Chernobog, an arms and information broker, to attend a special auction for an
item of high value: a working SAGA earpiece communicator. The
auction will take place at Chernobog's mansion in Switzerland, and will be
conducted as a formal dinner. A team of SAGA agents is currently
attempting to track down Chernobog and discover the current location of the
communicator, but as a back-up plan, a second team must infiltrate the mansion
on the night of the dinner to recover the communicator.
All SAGA communicators are currently accounted for, so it is unknown how
Chernobog could have come upon such a device. If the infiltration team can
discover his supplier, that information would also be valuable. The
infiltration team will be issued fresh communicators that are part of a new
entanglement group to minimize the risk that Chernobog or his supplier has
figured out how to listen in on the communicators.
Location:
Chernobog's mountain manor, Castle Winterstein, Graubünden, Switzerland.
Located in a beautiful, isolated valley near the village of Teifencastel,
Winterstein is Chernobog's most opulent dwelling and where he prefers to
entertain guests. It also possesses a high-tech security system,
underground vault, and a small, full-time security staff. See the special
section on Castle Winterstein, below.
Expected Opposition:
Chernobog: A bald, grotesquely fat
Polish man of his middle years, Chernobog has a cheerful, bombastic demeanor and
cold, remorseless black heart. He enjoys living the high life and fancies
himself a criminal mastermind, although in truth his organization's scope and
influence is small, and Chernobog has trouble implementing plans much more
complex than "move goods from point A to point B." Do not take this to
underestimate his intelligence -- Chernobog is quite clever, but lacks the
patience and foresight to implement the grand schemes he dreams of.
Bruticus:
An extremely large man with a sloping forehead and long mane of
brown hair, Bruticus is relatively quiet and seems to enjoy smashing things and
hurting people. As Chernobog's bodyguard, Bruticus seems to be
nigh-indestructible and incredibly strong. Agents are recommended to avoid
him.
Chernobog's Security Staff: Six
highly trained soldiers -- members of Chernobog's crime organization -- patrol
the grounds of Castle Winterstein whenever he is in residence. Although
not a threat individually, they are adept at team tactics, and it is likely that
Chernobog will hire additional security for the evening of the dinner party.
Dinner Guests:
The following individuals were invited to the dinner party, although it is
unlikely any of them will show up in person. It's also possible that other
groups were invited, or may show up uninvited.
Grand Pontiff of the Illuminated Order of
Hermes: The leader of the Cabal of Hermes is an enigmatic figure
who is difficult to contact; no one knows his true identity. Chernobog has
extended him an invitation via several other high-ranking members of the Cabal,
who may show up in the Grand Pontiff's stead. However, technology is not
the Cabal's forte, and they may forgo any appearance at all.
Max Shine: The 3rd richest man on
earth and founder/CEO of Ubertech, there is no way Max Shine would risk a
personal appearance at this event. However, his hatred for SAGA is
intense, and he is certain to send representatives to bid on the stolen
communicator.
Zamyatin: The leader of the
Liquidators, a group of revolutionary Russian mutants, Zamyatin has never been
seen and has always acted through proxies. He will probably send members
of the Liquidators to bid on the SAGA communicator.
Operation Parameters:
The team assigned to this mission can select an appropriate
approach. Due to the remote location and the fact that most of the dinner
guests are already aware of SAGA, maintaining cover is not a requirement,
although considering the strength of the opposition, it is advisable.
The time frame for this mission is 4 days. It will take the agents about a
day to prepare and get to Switzerland, after which they will have 3 days until
the party.
The mission team will have access to 50 points worth of SAGA equipment and
resources. In addition, SAGA may be able to help with information
gathering, cover identities, transportation, and other such details. SAGA
can also gather roughly $300 million in cash (most of it North Korean
counterfeit bills) given at least two days notice.
Castle
Winterstein
Grounds:
The castle is situated on several hundred acres in the Swiss alps and is
accessible by a single paved road. The castle itself has a fairly flat
lawn in the front, but the back is angled looking down the main slope of the
mountain side. In addition to the castle are several other interesting
features on the premises:
Carriage House: This now holds
several trucks and a snow plow, and a shed in the back contains a small fleet of
snowmobiles. The upstairs contains a satellite communications system.
Garage: Built in more modern times,
but remaining in the style of the castle itself, this 8-car garage is for the
use of Chernobog and his guests. The resident groundskeeper lives above
the garage, which is connected by an underground tunnel to castle sublevel 1.
Geldberg Silver Mine: Abandoned in
1874, this network of old mine shafts has two openings in the mountain side
about a half-mile above the castle. They are obscured by pine trees both
for aesthetic reasons and to deter skiiers from falling into them.
Blaustrom Gorge: This is little
more than a creek with steep, 20-foot banks that runs along the bottom of the
valley. Anyone skiing past Winterstein is advised to stop on the flat
flood plain at the bottom rather than continue into the gorge. The
Blaustrom itself eventually empties into a larger stream that flows to the town
of Teifencastel.
Security Systems:
The security systems are controlled from a central security room in the basement
(one of the hardened rooms), from a few smaller security terminals in the house,
and from access panels in certain areas. It should also be possible to tap
into the security control cabling directly to perform certain functions in an
emergency.
Surveilance: Nearly every room of Castle Winterstein, and many
parts of the grounds, have concealed security cameras. These often include
microphones and speakers for two-way communications. A comprehensive
electromagnetic scanner monitors all transmissions and radiation on the grounds.
Structural: Chernobog has had the
outer walls of the castle, and some of the interior walls and floors,
reinforced. This includes electronically controlled shutters for the
windows and doors.
Hardened Rooms: Six rooms of the
castle, including the master bedroom suite (zone 6) and the office (zone 5) and
four rooms in sublevels 1 and 2, are designated "hardened rooms." These
bear additional reinforced walls, separate back-up power and security
controls. Most importantly, each room is surrounded by a meson-lattice
force field, capable of blocking most forms of matter and energy. The
force fields can be adjusted to block visible light, but typically allow normal
light levels through, as well as normal matter (people, air, etc.). They
are known to block quantum entanglement interactions (including SAGA
communicators) and most forms of teleportation and remote viewing.
Security Drones: Resembling nothing less
than a white ATV with a gun turret where the seat should be, these dangerous
robots patrol the grounds day and night. Although they can operate in
autonomous mode or by remote control, their standard programming is to alert the
security office before taking any action.
Sleep Gas: Many of the rooms of the
castle -- those that are part of security zones -- can have a misty white sleep
gas pumped in through the ventilation system, as a form of non-lethal
containment.
Interior:
The map shown is upside-down: North is to the bottom of the map. The
castle is divided into security zones for ease of management.
Zone 1: Small sitting rooms for
visitors arriving through the west entrance (the one nearest the garage and most
common entrance during winter months).
Western Conference Area: Much of
the mundane business of the castle is conducted here in the conference
room. The large kitchen services the servant's quarters, below.
Zone 2: The grand entrance hall and
two smaller halls which can be used as ball rooms and dining areas. (The
wall between these rooms is removable.)
Zone 3: Sun room.
Conservatory: A variety of hardy
flowering plants are grown in the conservatory.
Zone 4: Western guest suites for
honored visitors.
Zone 5: This is the main office
area where Chernobog manages his affairs while in residence. It contains a
backup security terminal, communications terminal, computer systems, and an
old-fashioned writing desk. The main room is hardened with a meson-lattice
force field.
Zone 6: The master bedroom suite,
where Chernobog and his companion(s) stay. The northern room (Chernobog's)
is hardened with a force field.
Zone 7: Three additional guest
rooms in the western part of the house.
Zone 8: An additional guest room,
attached to a large recreation room with billiards, a big screen TV, and a
Nintendo Wii. A few hunting trophies line the walls of the recreation
room.
Sublevel 1: The first basement is
primarily servant's quarters and storage, including the barracks for the
guards. It contains one hardened room (likely the security office) and can
be accessed via either of the two secondary stairwells.
Sublevel 2: The second basement
contains three hardened rooms. It is likely that one of these contains the
main power generator, one is a storage vault, and one for prisoner containment.