World on Fire-After Dark[IC]: Tiger Team

[Psion]

Normal is not a word most agents of the Institute of Policy Studies would describe this day.

Normal would be weeks of intense study that a student agent could only hope to pass after meeting exacting training requirements. And yet the command has seen fit to pull promising students out of training weeks ahead of schedule.

Normal would be stability in the command structure, with trusted and knowledgeable staff retaining positions for years. At yet, the bureaucratic maelstrom that is Pitfall has been pulling valuable staff from a wide swath of military, espionage, and law enforcement agencies, and IPS is not as exempt from such shufflings at it once was.

And normal would be getting called up in the dead of the night to respond to the latest urgent situation or clandestine meeting. But today, you are summoned to a pre-mission briefing in a conference room in the middle of the work day.

As the first of the newly formed Mission Team Epsilon trickle in, they can spy a man and a woman talking quietly at the head of the briefing room table. The slender man has a gaunt face, wire rimmed glasses, and close cropped hair that one might attribute to a stern military man, were it not for his bookish demeanor. The woman has Auburn hair tied back in a neat bun and pretty face that must have once been ravishing before the onset of years of burdens. Still standing as the first of the agents arrives, the woman gives a brief smile and hurriedly dismisses herself.

As the last of the agents enter the room, the man motions for them to close the door as they come in, lingering on the stack of papers he is going through a bit too long for anyone's patience. He looks up as he is sorting folders spread across the table and adjusts his glasses. “Go ahead and take a seat, folks. I'm mister Dawson,” he says glancing up as he matches faces of agents to dossiers in one of this folders. “This is a fairly straightforward mission. As required by section three of our mandate, the Institute is tasked with evaluating other agencies for security and procedural integrity. In the wake of Project Pitfall, it becomes more incumbent upon us to demonstrate the importance of this mission in order to retain our current assets and tasking.” He looks up, expecting that everyone is absorbing this bureaucratic wording as intended.

“This is a pretty straight forward mission,” he says as he produces a map from his papers. “This is New Glory Naval Base. Because of recent concerns about infiltration by terrorists, the institute has offered its assistance in performing a security audit for the base through an intrusion exercise.”

“I think it goes without saying that this is a non-lethal exercise. Your task is to play down your abilities, use only resources and means that a typical terrorist group might have access to during your intrusion.”

Dawson hands each of you a briefing sheet and skims over it, reading aloud, “The goal of your intrusion is to extract a box from a secured archive building... 424. The box has an archive number of 14-A-2241. Extract this box without notice and take it to building 2099 to Cmdr. Henrich's office. This exercise begins at 0800 local time and is scheduled to take place over the next 48 hours. Your plane leaves this evening”, he says as he begins passing out packets with plane tickets, maps, reservations, and other sundries supplied by the Institute.

Rushing off to far-off destinations with less than a days notice. Nice to know some things are normal.

(click to show/hide)

Yes, New Glory Naval Base in entirely fictional.

Mission game details are in the OOC thread.

[Pheonyx]

Emmy sat at the table, running the briefing over and over in her head... and something just felt off. She couldn't put her finger on it, but it sat there looming over her like a dark cloud. She had similar feelings during a mock case during her training at Quantico, and she thought back to a conversation with her father concerning that mock case:

Her father's voice came through the receiver after she explained that something didn't connect in her mock case, "Emmy, honey... it's great to have the knowledge, but you also got to trust your instincts. That's what makes a good field agent... trusting your instincts and knowing when to follow them when combined with the information that you have."

Emmy smiled as she said, "Thanks, Dad."

"You're welcome... and remember, you're cooking Christmas dinner this year."

Emmy chuckled softly out loud, and said to whomever was looking her way, "Sorry... mind wandered for a sec." She then regained her composure and asked, "And if they are successful in their security procedures, who will vouch for our roles in this exercise in the event of capture? Commander Heinrich? NCIS? SecNav?"

[glimmerrat]

Excalibur reads the documentation, periodically referencing the map by poking it with his right index finger while looking at the briefing sheets.

"I notice that there's nothing about property damage on the briefing. If we're supposed to be taking the roles of 'terrorists', what are our restrictions regarding... well... blowing things up?"

[Quicklift]

Swarm will wait for a chance to get the maps to be free before he takes them to study.  Checking to see if they also include power grids, water lines and waste disposal, population density by chronological periods.  If not he starts to prepare a list of information that he would like to get a hold of.  As he listens to the others talk.

The second list he would want is what construction materials were used, which enginnering corps, even what the material was fabricated from.


"Don't worry I could find this mission laughable in the right context.  It's better to go in stress free then stressed."

[Psion]

Emmy chuckled softly out loud, and said to whomever was looking her way, "Sorry... mind wandered for a sec." She then regained her composure and asked, "And if they are successful in their security procedures, who will vouch for our roles in this exercise in the event of capture? Commander Heinrich? NCIS? SecNav?"

Dawson straightens up and says matter-of-factly "Commander Heinrich is the security contact on this mission, though he is not given the names or identities of team members on the mission before the delivery. We also have a public officer in place if the situation escalates and it becomes necessary to disentangle you with local and base law enforcement, but that would involve additional fees and could have a potential negative impact on the congressional committee's assessment of IPS."

His statement carries an unspoken but unsubtle "and that would be a bad thing."

"I notice that there's nothing about property damage on the briefing. If we're supposed to be taking the roles of 'terrorists', what are our restrictions regarding... well... blowing things up?"

Dawson looks a bit flustered, almost aghast, at what Johnathan seems to be suggesting. After a bit, he regains his composure as he pulls EXCALIBUR's dossier closer and glancing through it.

Dawson finally responds somewhat matter-of-factly. "The parameters of your mission require yourself to restrict yourself to the resources available to a terrorist organization, but it also requires you to retrieve the box without notice." After contemplating a bit more, he continues "aside from which, if you attended Institute's course on terrorist techniques, painstaking planning and subtle infiltrations can go on for years before any overt attack occurs."

"And perhaps most importantly, there is a Marine Counter-terrorist unit on base, and PROJECT PITFALL presence. Taking into account political considerations, I think avoiding PROJECT PITFALL entanglements would be best.

Swarm will wait for a chance to get the maps to be free before he takes them to study.  Checking to see if they also include power grids, water lines and waste disposal, population density by chronological periods.  If not he starts to prepare a list of information that he would like to get a hold of.  As he listens to the others talk.

The maps, like much official military documentation that detail internal details of the base, are marked "FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY". This means that they are the sort of maps you might find (or smuggle out of) any Navy building, but do not include extensive details beyond building names and locations and positions of roadways and fences.

[Lorelei]

Were they not paying close attention, it's quite possible no one in the room would have even noticed Laura's presence.  The nature of her work lent her a natural predisposition to silence, and even among friends and those she "trusted" (if she was capable of such a thing, which she doubted was the case), she preferred to remain largely unnoticed.  She sat toward the end of the conference table, silently examining the briefing sheet.

Infiltrate, steal, escape without notice... right down her alley.

Leave no fatalities... she idly gripped the modified SIG-Sauer P229 on her belt.  That had always been her least favorite mission requirement; it was so much easier to simply neutralize potential problems.  Nevertheless, she could handle whatever the mission required.  If that meant leaving her gun in its holster, then sobeit.

Suddenly, a soft chuckle came from across the table.  Glancing up, she shot a cold glare toward its source.  "Wandering minds endanger the mission.  I hope you don't plan to make that a habit."  It wasn't a threat; her tone was merely matter-of-fact.  She didn't wait for an answer, though, instead looking toward Dawson.  "What security measures are in place around the target?"

[Quicklift]

"I would also add to her questions, who would have access to the building or how many people do? And What is supposed to be in the box?  Which may determine if someone would simply randomly be after the file and we found it missing."

Since none of us would have had years of watching the place as you said a terrorist team would have. 

I am sure I will think of more questions to pose in a few more minutes."

[Pheonyx]

Emmy smiles slightly at Swarm, and answers his question, "It is dependant on which section of the archive the box is located... for simple personnel files and general reports, you just need a simple request form signed by a superior. Anything rated Secret or higher would require that the person even retrieving it would have the correct clearance and would most likely be accompanied by an officer as well as an MP for accountability purposes."

She then looks at Laura and states, "Security measures also depend on the security rating of the item in question; most archive buildings do have at least minimal video surveillance on the outside of the building and an MP patrol within. Higher level files would be secured in their own section and have at least a small guard patrol detail coupled with video surveillance of at least a factor of four compared to lower level areas. That is just by NCIS S.O.P. ... with PITFALL being there as well, they may have added their own measures, which we would not have the clearance to retrieve, especially if this is a security exercise that PITFALL does not have prior knowledge of it being executed."

With a smirk and a demeanor that would make her father proud, she stated, "I could give more information, but then my mind would have to wander more... and we wouldn't want that, would we?" She then threw a smile and a playful wink at Laura, wearing an expression on her face to indicate a simple playful ribbing and not a malicious personal assault.

She then turned her attention towards Dawson and suggested, "If we knew what security level the box is rated at, it would help with planning for security procedures for the protection of the box in question."

[Lorelei]

Laura turned her cold, emotionless gaze back toward Emmy.  "I am aware of that information, thank you.  I've based my life around such information, even outside of the game, and I don't need you to remind me what a security rating is.  I asked what security measures were in place around the target, not what security measure could be in place.  Unverified plausibilities are not suitable as a basis for a successful mission approach."

She looked back toward Dawson.  "The security rating of the target would certainly be helpful, but it's not enough.  I need to know whatever specifics are available to us for this mission.  Security information would be the first thing a terrorist organization would uncover if obtaining the box is their goal; if we're operating under the premise of a terrorist organization that has been in place within this base for an extended period, I would assume that knowledge of the defenses surrounding our target - or at least the basic defenses of the building itself - would be available to us.  A successful acquisition will rely on a number of factors."

She rose a hand, counting visibly on her fingers as she spoke. "How many cameras are there in the building, and how are they positioned?  Are the cameras in the building video-only, or do they also capture audio?  Are they stationary, programmed, motion-sensitive, heat-sensitive?  Do they capture information in the visual light spectrum only, or are they equipped for infrared, thermal, or night vision?

"What's the strength of any tumbler locks in place?  Is the box kept in a safe or a vault, and if so, what make and model?  How many guards are stationed there?  What time does the shift change?  Where are the guards posted?  Do they go on regular patrols, or do they stick to their posts?

"What sort of alarm system does the building use?  Make and model would be helpful.  How are the alarms triggered - motion detection, pressure sensitivity, laser?  Is the alarm silent?  Who has access to the building, and what authentication methods are provided - keypad access, card access, biometrics, traditional lock-and-key?  Which of those methods, if any, can be used to deactivate the alarm, and what persons are authorized to do that?

"What are the walls made of, and how thick are they - both internal and external?  Does the building have windows, and if so, are they bulletproof?  Does the building have multiple levels, and if so, what level is the target kept on?  Is the building lit at night?  Are there exterior lights around the building?  Where does the building get its power, and where is the breaker?  Is the power line underground or above ground?  Does any part of the building - alarm systems, cameras, or even the whole of the building itself - have a backup generator in the case of a power failure? 

"What communications are available to the guards inside the building?  How is the building heated and air-conditioned, if at all, and what sort of ventilation system does the building have?  What rooms have direct access to the outside using a door or window, and what other rooms besides those contain an exterior wall?  These questions are important to the success of this mission, and any terrorist organization worth its mettle would know these things before attempting it."

She lowered her hand.  "Blueprints containing this information would be preferred, but I'm guessing a terrorist organization wouldn't have access to such a thing."  She shrugged.  "Naturally, we can carry out this research ourselves, but the more we know going in, the less time and effort we'll require to complete the mission, and the less danger our agents will incur.  With such a small time frame for mission success, I'd prefer to know as much of this information as possible."

She thought for a moment.  "Personnel profiles for the guards would also be helpful, or at least information on any of them who have shown any signs of disloyalty or malleability."

[spinningdice]

Vienna lets the grown ups talk a while before interrupting.
"If we're doing this right, then I'm thinking terrorists would have what they got the ground, or what they can hack or social engineer.
I say we really want a 3 layered approach. Do recon, have a ground team on observation, we more computer-ly inclined can do a data run & see what we can pull off.
Unless we get damn near perfect data from that I suggest we then try the personal approach, most bases have a town nearby we can cruise around chat up some off duty navy boys and see if they'll let slip anything. If we can convince someone to let us into the place we might even be able to just let the others in?
Then we raid & that's where things get a bit fuzzy for me."
Vienna leans back and sighs,
"Or we can sit here and ask questions that Mr. Dawson doesn't seem very forthcoming with answers for"

[Psion]

Dawson regards the ongoing narrative and then attempts to address the question. "There are some details on security protocol in your packet. There's a new employee packet that outlines security measures and regulations.

There's also this sheet, which you are not to take off the premises. It's Commander Heinrich's security drill plan. It contains the only intelligence we have on the box. To wit, the box is to be non-classified material, but stored in a Restricted Area with attendant security measures." He puts down his sheet and takes off his glasses. "That means that at the very least there is a controlled access list, and people not on the list need to have a visit approved and will require an escort while in the building. It also means there will be alarm systems and DOD police patrols, though the specifics are not a matter of public record.

"Though, of course, you are free to use your own means," he says, replacing his glasses. "Encouraged to, in fact. Clearly, looking at the parameters of this exercise, we are meant to fail. But this team was put together for their particular acumen with security measures. It looks good for us if we succeed, and keeps IPS doing its job."

[Lorelei]

Laura nodded.  "Given that this assignment is primarily designed as a test of the base's security, and it seems to me that we have a team whose skills and preferred methods are quite varied, I think it would be best if we each play to our strengths and take a multi-vectored approach.  Our individual strengths may be less than our strength as a team, but in this way, we can test many factors of their security at once; if we stay in communication with each other on the discoveries we make, and our successes and failures, we can still benefit from each others' work and research."

She leaned back in her chair.  "If the true objective of this mission is to accurately test their security, rather than actually retrieving the box, I think it's important that we test it on every possible front, rather than stopping after the first success because the target is already in our possession.  Perhaps, to fully test the base's security, each of us could take a portion of the contents of the box, so that we can adequately review the number of successful attack vectors we were able to take.  Alternatively, each of us could simply photograph the contents of the box, leaving the box itself in place - if the objective of our faux mission premise would be to secure the information contained inside the box, this would be a more realistic approach, as it is both easier to escape the facility undetected without a large and very obvious box in tow, and more difficult for those at the base to realize that an infiltration had even occurred when nothing has been obviously taken, thus better securing the team's return home with the information in tact."

She shrugged.  "Of course, I'm sure you all know this already, so I don't know why I'm talking.  Naturally, I will go along with whatever approach mission control mandates."

[Quicklift]

"I don't mind confusing the enemy and creating distractions but we have to be careful in regards to the number of exposures we create for our selves.  It will become exponentially harder to hide what is going on with excessive vectors of approach.

I do like the idea of copying everything and leaving the originals behind and letting them think they won until we sent them the information that was supposedly retained.  It is a nice way to count coup.

So we know the target isn't going to be something that someone will unintentionally need in the next 48 hours. WE know what the standard security measures will be.

Let's simplify and determine what our primary path is going to be and from there we can create alternatives action plans. 

We should be able to get information on the area in regards to building construction and sewer services, hit the local power company and study the power grids and power usages in the area.  Maybe tap in there and set up random power fluctuations throughout the town and area.

We will need standard uniforms if they wear any and if there is any thrift stores in the area we can get them there.

Unfortunately I do not know if we could develop a strong personal relation with one person in the area in under 48 hours but if we could assume the identity of a lesser functionary that might help.

::pauses to let others add::

[Lorelei]

"In the event of exposure, two options are possible for continuing the mission: the captured agent claims to be working alone, which will only work once, but will allow us to continue with little to no change in the suspicion of those at the base, or we admit to being part of a team, triggering them to tighten their security, and thus moving to test their security under extreme duress.  I suggest, however, that we work two primary attack vectors: the first, through infiltration of ranks and making our way into the archive building in broad daylight under false pretenses, and the second, through a more direct infiltration vector, breaking our way into the archive building when it is most vulnerable and obtaining the target that way.  I'm well versed with both techniques, but my work as a security consultant and my past missions before that have made me far more adept with the latter approach, so unless there are objections, I would like to spearhead that approach."

Lorelei leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table and cradling her chin in laced fingers, remaining silent for a while now to allow the others the opportunity to speak.

[spinningdice]

"Loving the enthusiasm all, but surely winning proves a point more than getting bolshy.
Now I agree if captured we're working alone, or as a the action guys of a small team if it's obvious we're not alone. It'll put the wind up them enough without confirming there's more guys coming.
Also if you're captured you're on your own. Rescuing prisoners is not in our remit and it's not as if you'll be in any real danger. Though obviously if an opportunity to escape presents itself, it could well be a good distraction for the others anyway."