SLA Industries: An Inch From Eden

[Roman Totale]

May I ask, if the "hippies" aren't dangerous, then why is a heavily armed squad of Operatives being despatched to deal with them?

[Dog Pants]

We've told them DarkNight have landed an outpost. If you can wipe that out then it gives them a place to run to on the surface. Not that there is any DarkNight, that's just a ruse we planted. We want to encourage them to escape, but not look like we're encouraging them. Which is why your mission is sort of at odds with your BPN.

[deject]

I've had a thought: What if we convince them that it really is deadly to leave the compound? Like have us leave the compound to all fall over in front of them?

Is it possible for us to go outside of the compound without risk of contaminating the environment? I have something we might try to convince them that it is deadly to leave, but it would require going out there.

[The Shutting Downs]

So you got a fake Darknight facility we can get the cult types to and deal with them there?

[Dog Pants]

No, that would only solve the problem temporarily. Once the DarkNight threat was removed the others would return to their ideas of contamination. In fact to them the pollen in the atmosphere is toxic. We've slowly introduced a subtle virus into the lab which will cause a violent allergic reaction should they venture onto the surface without a containment suit. So as Deject says, we need to lure them out onto the planet's surface. If we can get the local figureheads to leave the facility without a containment suit, making a grand gesture of it for all to see, but without implicating ourselves, then it should thoroughly discourage any further attempts and quash the cult permanently.

[Roman Totale]

Hmm, time to get inventive then.

We're going to need a list of all the big players in this cult then. Psych profiles would be handy if you have them.

[Dog Pants]

Well certainly, if you'd like. I'll get them for you once we arrive at the staging facility in orbit over Lilac. We've got a plan though. The lab is due for retrieval for two weeks, and with a potential cache of DarkNight supplies nearby now would appear to them to be their best chance. We're hoping to horse their hand, and you'll be dropping information to them in order to encourage that. By all means be creative though, that's why Mr Haynes recommended you. As I mentioned earler, we'll be sending you orders periodically and you'll need to consider how to interpret them in light of your real mission.

[Grimmie]

Grim frowns a little, which looks strange considering how his face is painted up.
He leans away from Mr <s>Johnson</s> Daniels and cups a hand to one side of his mouth, speaking quietly.

Can someone explain to me what we're doing without the innuendo?

There's 75 10mm Std rounds going spare if anyone wants them, and a 50 round snail drum that should fit on any FEN rifle that takes 10mm bullets.
The snail drum is basically an enormous magazine, no more reloading for you! Full rules are in the core rule book under equipment.

Any takers?

[The Shutting Downs]

Stop a buncha morons from messin up the whole project, but not tell anyone thats wot we are doin

If I had a FEN rifle, I would. I think Ktt'r has the right type of gun for it (not the warbastard, the other one)

[TezzRexx]

I dunno, seems a bit less straight forward then that...

[Dog Pants]

You need to create an opportunity and motivation for some of the cultists to escape. The virus will do the rest. Don't worry, we'll be directing this all the way through, you just need to keep your wits about you.

[The Shutting Downs]

See... it IS that simple.

[Grimmie]

So basically, we need to nonchalantly convince them to go check out the DN cache, without actually going outside ourselves?

If we could go outside and not contaminate the ecosystem, we could convince them that we've been sent to mop the DN out of the outpost, and return with armour broken and battered, perhaps a wound here and there to make it look like there's been a firefight.

Could even come back with one of us missing a helmet, alive. Just let the science dudes know that we've managed to get back all right without falling over dead, and that we'll be grabbing all the equipment up before we leave?

Plan? Or am I missing something?

[Baliame]

Great, stealthy approach. I mean we could borrow a few DN stickers, put 'em on our armor and shoot the fuckers...

[Roman Totale]

I was slightly baffled at our task at first, but the more I think on it the more ideas I have. In essence I'm thinking of psychological double bluff warfare - a snappy title I thought of myself.

Firstly we have to make the DN threat seem genuine - that way they won't think this base is a "honey trap". In fact we'll have to be as secretive as possible as to its location to stop them being suspicious.

Grimmie's idea is good. We need to make it look like THERE WAS A FIREFIGHT - gun fire, explosions, blood! Even then we'll have to be a bit clever - we can't let them find out there isn't anyone there.

Ultimately we have to convince them that the non-existent DN threat has been cleared. Maybe do a few more recon sweeps of the area. At that point we drop subtle hints as to the bunker location - after all, we're no longer concerned there is a threat.

For additional flavour, I and some others can set up interrogation rooms and grill people about their connections to DN - adds a bit of authenticity.

Feedback?

[Baliame]

Oh, oh, can I be the bad cop?

[Dog Pants]

Excellent, that's exactly what we had in mind. We have the props for you, all you need to do is be convincing and interpret your orders. Don't worry, the sector administrator has his plan. You'll meet him when we get there.

It takes several hours, but you find yourself in orbit above Mort. Below you can see the giant, churning clouds over the cities, spewing from the atmospheric processing plants. Surprisingly, there are gaps in the clouds. Apparently it doesn't always rain everywhere on Mort. However, beyond the clouds you can only see blasted deserts and wastes.

Before long the shuttle starts manoeuvring, and looking out of the narrow windows you can see the huge looming shape of a foldship. For those who travelled before, this one isn’t like the last one you saw. It’s a warship. No Foldships look friendly, but this one looks like what a Foldship would become if it turned into a Necanthrope. Small compared to the transport ships, although still just under half a kilometre long, looking like a Geigeresque nightmare cross between a cuttlefish and a hammerhead shark. As the shuttle approaches it most of you get the distinct impression that the ship is waiting to strike at you like a barracuda.

[Grimmie]

Actually I was talking out-of-character, and genuinely want to know if I'm brainmonging or not

[deject]

I like that idea. Doing some intense interrogations will lend some serious credibility to the DarkNight "threat." Plus, we just had a run in with some DarkNight and we can use that knowledge really put on a show.

Mr Daniels, what kind of security systems do the labs on the surface have?

[Dog Pants]

Nothing. There's not supposed to be any oppressor activity anywhere near there. You'll see why when we arrive.