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.


Copyright © 2007 William J. Scott III
Images Copyright © 2006 Heywood House