OK, Gents, while Mikko, Joe and I were basking in the glory of a closely fought (but won) Nerdgasm - The Special Halloween Edition, we came back to the issue that in the real world (Delta Green, that is), we need a Plan. A cunning and subtle one. As cunning as a fox who's just been appointed Professor of Cunning at Oxford University.
What do we know? We already learned a lot from Major Fat-Ass (Grossarsche, if he prefers his preferred tongue). We also know that Ysabeau (a vampire) seriously rattled the Iron Army's cages with a couple of well-placed raids. We also know that vampires show little sympathy for mortals, and that the mortals probably return the favour.
So here's my suggestion (which is open for amendment and refining, and lots beside). We land, with Firth and Dessick as prisoners. When someone asks us our business, we basially act all snooty, and tell them "Zat is on a need-to-no basis, and hyu do not need to no. Take us to your leader." With a major, a captain, and two lieutenants facing them, that should not be much of an issue.
When in the presence of El Hauptman and his flunky, we "reveal" that we are on a special assignment - we were tasked to locate and apprehend the culprits of a series of raids on Iron Army installations - Vampires! Although we were unable to catch the culprits, we have been able to locate some of their human-traitor-schweinhund-slave-traitor-collaborator human shames to their race. Some had to be, ahem, put down (ha-ha-ha), but these two (Firth and Dessick) found "zat ve haf vays of making zem talk. Is zat not right, Hauptman Pierce?" "Jawohl, herr Major, ha ha ha." Some cringing by Firth and Dessick, as well as, perhaps, some previously applied cosmetics, would probably make for nice supporting roles.
At this point, we should put on a it of a show on "testing" the loyalty of the Hauptman and his Leutnant. Pierce would suggest jabbing a needle in the hand. "Und as long as ze needle does not turn rot, hyu should be fine." Ask them to disarm first, of course. Pierce will happily do the honours.
Then, once their loyalty has been "tested" and found OK, we proceed with the bigger lie. Basically, there's a couple of things we need to feed them. First, a need for the utmost secrecy. "Our communications channels may be... compromised."
Basics: the Ordo Dracul (nominally allies of the Iron Army) play their own game. They plan to bring the Iron Army down. "Ze vampires haf vays of controlling ze weak of mind, Hauptman. Hence ze need for Hauptman Pierce conducting his little... test. Ve had to be certain zat hyu was not ein of zem."
They plan to take over the Nameless Isle. "But, herr major, zere are no vampires here." "Are zere not? Our friends zere (nod to Firth and Dessick) have other ideas, do zey not, Hauptman Pierce?" "Ja, herr Major. Zey vere most cooperative und informative. After a couple of hours." "Vampires passed through here, Hauptman, but zey vere disguised as PRISONERS!"
Outlines of the conspiracy theory:
- The vamps are conspiring against the Iron Army. In fact, trust no one. Any trooper could be under their mind control. Or might even be a "ghoul."
- The vamps have sabotaged a number of our firearms. They have corrupted some glowstones (find out ze real name, by the way), to serve as a portal focus that will allows the vampires to gate through and infiltrate every fortress. To this end, we need to inspect each and every weapon thoroughly. This will require every weapon in this outfit to be handled by Hauptman Pierce here, to make certain that zey have not been tampered with. All troopers should have in their weapons and ammunition, as part of routine rotation, and issued with non-anachronistic weaponry. Guards are to be doubled, and no man, no man you hear, must be alone for even a moment. (This is a handy way for us to gather some hardware; we might even hand some firearms back - firing pin removed in most, of course).
- You shall locate for us the vampires that passed through here, one of them (describe Rachel Deveraux's body - Wilmot's had an up close and personal encounter with her au naturel in White Town and should be able to give a good description
). Locate them, bring them to us. At any cost, Hauptman.
- When is the next visit of Ponthus and Edgren?
Other issues. We need to make sure we can make an exit if necessary. Frost (or Firth) might be able to create a portal circle on the ship, so that they could teleport us back.
We will also need to neutralise the Flak Towers, in case we need to leave by ship. Unless we have the portal circle, and send the ship away.
As for approaching Stenneau, we'll need to think a bit more about that, but there's a good chance we may have to play that one by ear, as we do not know enough about that situation.
Anyway. The floor is open for discussion.
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