Quest Earth: UFO Defense

[Grav]

[1] I hope your joking... I was thinking Jimmy and I would be kicking down the doors to Black Dragon Hives of Scum and Villainy.
+ Gain favor with the FBI
+ Gain influence with the FBI
+ Gain skill point Investigation
- Lose influence with the US Marshal Service

 

[Blasterbot]

[2] You can seek out some leads from law enforcement, I want to talk with one of my informants first.
> Use 'Trait: Criminal Contact (You made a lifelong friend (Loyalty 5) on the wrong side of the law)'
+ Gain skill point Savoir Faire

 

[Husky_Khan]

Spoiler: Results

[1] I hope your joking... I was thinking Jimmy and I would be kicking down the doors to Black Dragon Hives of Scum and Villainy.
+ Gain favor with the FBI
+ Gain influence with the FBI
+ Gain skill point Investigation
- Lose influence with the US Marshal Service

Coin flippery granted Gravity's choice being the preferred one here.

The two Marshals looked a little crestfallen, glancing at Alexander it seemed hoping for his backing, especially after the whole deputization only to find the CIA Agent roll his shoulders a bit. "Listen. Guys... and ladies," the CIA man said, clearly at least two decades older then everyone else in the group. "We'll cover more ground dividing our resources. We need a group to run down the leads at the post office and we need someone to follow up with what the police have on the Black Dragons, as you suggested," he then said, gesturing towards you, since it was your idea after all in this division of labor.

"Yeah," Rose said, hands on her hips. "And I guess your going with them to do the exciting stuff instead of scanning letters?" the Senior Marshal then said, a bit of sass in her voice as her Junior Deputy folded her arms across her chest with a similarly vexed look, though it appeared more sarcastic then anything.

Agent Conklin's face tightened a bit, it was clear who he wanted to go with. You guys. Not sifting through mail and interviewing Postmasters.

[1] "Conklin. Maybe you should go with the Marshals. You'd be an asset in canvassing any evidence at the post office."
+ Gain favor with the US Marshal Service.
[2] "Conklin, you should come with us. We could use a third man to watch our back."
+ Gain favor with the Central Intelligence Agency
[3] "Up to you... Deputy Conklin."
+ Gain favor with Federal Bureau of Investigation

"Alright. Sounds good," Marshal Rollins then said, showing she wasn't going to protest too much the division of labor. "Let's stay in contact with each other. We're working out of the Federal Courthouse in the Federal Building. If you come up with anything, call us or stop by there before ten AM. We'll touch base everything evening. Sound good? Good."

With that said and after the both of you agree, they headed out, leaving you to your devices.

[1] First stop. Police Station. We'll see if the local police have any files or folders on either this 'Ken Brac' or the Black Dragons.
+ Choose one of the following Law Enforcement skills (Awareness, Driving, First Aid, Savoir Faire, Small Arms)
[2] Alexander Conklin said this person was involved in weapons trafficking. We should check in with the local ATF office, see if they have an investigation on the Black Dragons.
+ Gain influence with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) -remember first point of influence is worth two points
[3] I want to talk with one of my informants first. Maybe they know something. I just need to find them.
> Use 'Trait: Criminal Contact (You made a lifelong friend (Loyalty 5) on the wrong side of the law).
+ Gain skill: Repair: Mechanical

 

[Grav]

[1] "Conklin. Maybe you should go with the Marshals. You'd be an asset in canvassing any evidence at the post office."
+ Gain favor with the US Marshal Service.
[1] First stop. Police Station. We'll see if the local police have any files or folders on either this 'Ken Brac' or the Black Dragons.
+ Choose one of the following Law Enforcement skills (Small Arms)

 

[Blasterbot]

[3] "Up to you... Deputy Conklin."
+ Gain favor with Federal Bureau of Investigation
[2] Alexander Conklin said this person was involved in weapons trafficking. We should check in with the local ATF office, see if they have an investigation on the Black Dragons.
+ Gain influence with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) -remember first point of influence is worth two points

 

[Husky_Khan]

Spoiler: Results

[3] "Up to you... Deputy Conklin."
+ Gain favor with Federal Bureau of Investigation
[2] Alexander Conklin said this person was involved in weapons trafficking. We should check in with the local ATF office, see if they have an investigation on the Black Dragons.
+ Gain influence with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) -remember first point of influence is worth two points

Another coin flip for the impasse!

"Well..." Conklin said, glancing over at the Marshals and could almost feel Rose staring daggers into his side. To his credit, the Agency man seemed rather unflappable, but he nodded to Jimmy and yourself. "Between the three of us, I'm sure we can wrap up the post office investigation sooner rather then later. I'll stay in touch," he said before turning to the Marshals and they moved off to depart together.

The goodbyes were abrupt, they were only temporary after all as Jimmy glanced at you. "So... police station?" Jimmy asked.

"Federal Building," you shot back with a knowing nod. The Federal Building actually had offices for a lot of federal agencies including the local FBI Field Office as well as that of a plethora of other agencies ranging from the Post Office and Federal Courthouse to a Department of Energy and Veterans Administration administrative offices.

"What? Forgot your car keys?" Jimmy asked with a grin as he opened the drivers side door to their car. It was an unspoken inside joke actually... considering he almost always drove.

You just smiled and nodded as you slipped into the passenger seat. "No. We're going to visit those much maligned bad boys downstairs."

"The Janitors?"

"The other Bureau," you said, referring to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. "If Conklin's intelligence is correct and this Ed Brac guy is involved with international weapons smuggling, hopefully the ATF has a lead on it. If not, our unexpected visit there should get them all hot and bothered down there."

Jimmy nodded knowingly, it appeared he wanted to say something, but instead just started the car and got to driving.

Federal Building
ATF Resident Office

There were two kind of offices in the Federal Building for law enforcement agencies like theirs. Field Offices, which were fairly big and had lots of personnel and resources including offices, evidence rooms, an armory, holding cells and more or resident offices with either a pair or almost no more then a half dozen agents located in a smaller administrative office. In this particular building, the FBI Field Office took up the entire top floor of the Federal Building, a six story structure that took up the entire city block. The ATF Resident Office was on the first Sublevel and took up two office spaces.

There were funding differences.

Never the less as you two walked inside the building, through the lobby and then down a side staircase descending to the sub level, you soon found yourselves walking down a very quiet corridor. If you weren't paying attention, or just heading to the side entrance of the parking garage, you could've walked right past the ATF office. It wasn't too fancy, just a window with the BATF logo stamped on the glass and a closed wooden door that said as much. But it also had the office hours and they were still open for business.

The door was unlocked.

Unlike the FBI Field Office which had its own receptionist, behind this offices welcome desk was a barrel chested man wearing a black golf polo shirt and an ATF badge dangling around his chest. Dark jeans and a thick brown moustache. He had a gut which was a bit more pronounced since he was sitting in an office chair but still looked like he was built like a tree trunk. Mid forties, gray eyes, and more then a few wrinkles on his face as he turned those eyes up from the computer to the two slightly more official looking guests approaching him.

His eyes glanced between the two of you. He made eye contact briefly before glancing down to see your identifications.

This office clearly wasn't geared for civilian walk ins. There was a Benelli shotgun poster plastered on a far wall which helped break up the stale official portraits of the President and Attorney General that were mandatory to display in every DoJ office it seemed. In the back, you could hear sports talk emanating from a radio or television somewhere. Another observable difference from your FBI Field Office, it was clear that the receptionist desk computer was one of the ATF's working computers. Not just some terminal for the greeter to use for administrative stuff.

"Agents. How can I help you?" he asked in a bit of a more amiable voice that seemed to betray his overall appearance. He kept his eyes trained on the two of them but noticeably stopped typing. Maybe computer use wasn't his forte.

You glanced at Jimmy, who produced his credentials. "I'm Special Agent Jimmy Woo and this is my partner, we're investigating a possible weapons smuggling case and would like to request your assistance on it."

The ATF man paused, glancing for a second at Jimmy's credentials and then nodded before leaning back in his chair a bit. "Lance! You got the front desk," he shouted a bit too unnecessarily loud as a younger voice responded in the affirmative. He then turned back to his computer monitor and sighed. "And if you can close me out of this.... shit..." he then added, clearly not comfortable with whatever program he was in. It caused him to chuckle though as he rose up from the chair, revealing he was just as tall as either of you and definitely looked far more imposing standing then reclined in a chair. "Come on, we have a meeting room back here, want a coffee or a coke or something?"

[1] If by Coke you mean Pepsi.
[2] Coke. It is the taste of a new generation.
[3] Coffee. It's like four in the afternoon... just kidding, of course I want coffee.
[4] Naaaaahhhh...

He paused a moment and then extended a hairy forearm and meaty hand. "Robb Bouten. I'm the Agent in Charge here," he then added before nodding for the two of you to follow him past the desk and into a small meeting room. It had a nice round table with seats for six, a small television on a cart and lots of boxes filled with folders stacked in the corners. There was also a projector... not a movie one but for documents.

"Don't mind the mess," Robb then said, whipping out a notepad and a pen from the television cart and laying it on the table before nodding for Jimmy to close the door behind him, just to make this all officially confidential. "So what's up?

[1] Full Disclosure: We received a tip from an overseas source about a possible source of weapons smuggling. American weapons being sourced abroad to various third world hotspots. The mans name is Ed Brac. All we have is a PO Box, surveillance pictures and an alleged association with a criminal group known as the Black Dragons. Our partners are currently working on some leads relating to the PO Box.
+ Gain influence with the ATF
+ Gain Favor from the ATF
- Owe favor to CIA
[2] Request Information: We're currently investigating the Black Dragons for an ongoing international weapons smuggling case. We'd appreciate any help you can offer us for the investigation.
+ Gain Politics skill
- Owe favor to the ATF
[3] Full Cooperation: We're currently investigating the Black Dragons for an ongoing international weapons smuggling case. Since this falls under both of our jurisdictions, we were hoping we could cooperate on a joint effort... if you aren't too busy...
+ Gain Persuasion skill
+ Gain influence with the ATF
+ Gain favor with the ATF
- Lose influence with FBI
- Owe favor to the US Marshal Service

 

[Grav]

[1] If by Coke you mean Pepsi.
[3] Full Cooperation: We're currently investigating the Black Dragons for an ongoing international weapons smuggling case. Since this falls under both of our jurisdictions, we were hoping we could cooperate on a joint effort... if you aren't too busy...
+ Gain Persuasion skill
+ Gain influence with the ATF
+ Gain favor with the ATF
- Lose influence with FBI
- Owe favor to the US Marshal Service

 

[Blasterbot]

[3] Coffee. It's like four in the afternoon... just kidding, of course I want coffee.
[3] Full Cooperation: We're currently investigating the Black Dragons for an ongoing international weapons smuggling case. Since this falls under both of our jurisdictions, we were hoping we could cooperate on a joint effort... if you aren't too busy...
+ Gain Persuasion skill
+ Gain influence with the ATF
+ Gain favor with the ATF
- Lose influence with FBI
- Owe favor to the US Marshal Service

 

[Fezzes]

[3] Coffee. It's like four in the afternoon... just kidding, of course I want coffee.
[2] Request Information: We're currently investigating the Black Dragons for an ongoing international weapons smuggling case. We'd appreciate any help you can offer us for the investigation.
+ Gain Politics skill
- Owe favor to the ATF

 

[Husky_Khan]

[3] Coffee. It's like four in the afternoon... just kidding, of course I want coffee.
[3] Full Cooperation: We're currently investigating the Black Dragons for an ongoing international weapons smuggling case. Since this falls under both of our jurisdictions, we were hoping we could cooperate on a joint effort... if you aren't too busy...
+ Gain Persuasion skill
+ Gain influence with the ATF
+ Gain favor with the ATF
- Lose influence with FBI
- Owe favor to the US Marshal Service

"We're currently investigating the Black Dragons for an ongoing international weapons smuggling case that fell into our lap. Since the case of trans national weapons trafficking involves both of our jurisdications we were hoping we could cooperate on a joint effort..." Jimmy explained. It was apparent Robb was still processing what you nodded to your partner to disclose, which was practically everything.

"If you aren't too busy..." you added with a bit of lighthearted whimsy, which seemed to soften the gruff ATF veterans broad face as his lips curled into a smile.

He played it pretty cool however. "You have a source on this lead?"

"Agent with the Central Intelligence Agency. He had a name and an association with the Black Dragons. Ken Brac. Apparently the came up during routine investigations abroad. We're working with the CIA and the US Marshal Service who are currently pursuing the other lead, which is a PO Box he tends to use. They're conducting surveillance, doing interviews, screening mail at the moment, we wanted to investigate the organization directly," Jimmy then laid out as you followed up again.

"We're hoping these Black Dragons showed up on your radar," you then added, not so subtly putting some pressure on Robb to deliver on the trust you had already put on him.

He paused a moment before nodding, taking a sip from his coke bottle before putting it down and glancing over the cardboard file boxes. They were all numbered and indexed thankfully it seemed and Robb was able to approach one of the boxes and pop off a lid, thumbing through the index tabs of the folders within before pulling out a thick dossier and then cracking it open on the table like it was story time.

"The Black Dragons are a close knit criminal syndicate basically. They have some origins in the Pacific Rim and there's a bunch of Japanese legend mumbo jumbo that they try to propagate in the underworld to make themselves appear more intimidating," he explained. "One of the problems is that they are a lot like some of the more dedicated outlaw motorcycle clubs. Very clannish, with a strong hierarchy and sense of brotherhood and the like with their own ranks and hierarchy," Robb Bouten explained as he flipped the pages which revealed a variety of archived police reports from around the region and even abroad, as well as felony records and newspaper clippings. "Also there is a bit of a religious or cultist type of dogma they have as well, such as you see with some of the Mexican Cartels like the Templars. It's not a good combination for conventional investigations."

He took another sip of coca-cola before continuing. "In the city, the Black Dragons own an array of legitimate businesses as probable fronts for their trafficking businesses. They have a Japanese focused Martial Arts dojo in the town which seems mostly legitimate. An auto body shop which they probably use to launder money and use for the import-export coverage. And a truck stop on the outskirts of the city for more of the same. Plus with all of the trucks rolling in and out, we have a high suspicion they use the freight there for shipping their goods in and out. As soon as we get a solid enough lead for a warrant, initiating a raid on the truck stop is one of our current priorities in regards to them."

"From what you've told me," Robb then said. "There is something that seems peculiar. They are involved in weapons trafficking on an international... but usually it involves supplying things like Chinese and Russian small arms to buyers in North America. From what you tell me, the Black Dragons are purchasing weapons from American suppliers and distributing them abroad? If it's a gun store, we can narrow it down easily. I have files on every gun store in the city but they all seem pretty clean to me."

"It's not a gun store... it's an American contractor," Jimmy Woo then clarified.

Robb's face paled slightly, then there was almost a glimmer in his eye as if he was both disturbed at the potential corruption and yet excited at the thought of that kind of collar

"Contractors? It doesn't make any sense," Robb Bouten reasoned. "There's a big defense company that has offices and operations here. Omni Consumer Products. Both have ledgers in the billions. They'd have to sell a hundred thousand handguns to gangbangers to make up for the profit they can get off of a single jet fighter. And if the weapons are traced back to them, the legal costs and headaches and public relations would be a nightmare far outweighing the cost of it. It just doesn't make any... business sense."

[1] We should investigate the Black Dragon truck stop secretly tonight and see what turns up. Keep a team on standby just in case we do.
+ Gain skill Infiltration
- Owe favor ATF
[2] Do you know any hangouts of these Black Dragons? We should create a 'situation' to allow us to apprehend a local leader of the Black Dragons so we can turn the screws on him.
+ Gain skill Savoir Faire
- Owe favor ATF
[3] We should see about meeting with Omni Consumer Products. If what your saying is true, it could be lower level corruption or bad information, both of which would be bad PR for them that they'd want help to solve.
+ Gain influence with Megacorporation: Omni Consumer Products
- Use a corporate favor
[4] Well we can wait and see for the moment. The Marshals might've gleaned something from the post office investigation. We can save it for tomorrow and work fresh if they turn up a lead and if not we can pursue one of the options above.
+ Gain favor with US Marshals
[5] Do we have any outstanding warrants on Black Dragons or a pretext to investigate their auto body shop? It can be anything from unpaid parking tickets to alleged environmental regulation violations?
+ Gain skill Humanities: Law
- Use a Department of Justice Favor

 

[Grav]

[4] Well we can wait and see for the moment. The Marshals might've gleaned something from the post office investigation. We can save it for tomorrow and work fresh if they turn up a lead and if not we can pursue one of the options above.
+ Gain favor with US Marshals

 

[Blasterbot]

[4] Well we can wait and see for the moment. The Marshals might've gleaned something from the post office investigation. We can save it for tomorrow and work fresh if they turn up a lead and if not we can pursue one of the options above.
+ Gain favor with US Marshals

 

[Fezzes]

[4] Well we can wait and see for the moment. The Marshals might've gleaned something from the post office investigation. We can save it for tomorrow and work fresh if they turn up a lead and if not we can pursue one of the options above.
+ Gain favor with US Marshals

 

[Husky_Khan]

Just FYI since it might not be clearly implied, a lot of the choices in this post for example (unlike many prior) here can have open ended consequences. The positives/negatives listed below are basically guaranteed but choices made in the context of situations like these will play out different and to different potential outcomes!

Spoiler: Results

[4] Well we can wait and see for the moment. The Marshals might've gleaned something from the post office investigation. We can save it for tomorrow and work fresh if they turn up a lead and if not we can pursue one of the options above.
+ Gain favor with US Marshals

Federal Building, 2nd Floor
Federal Courthouse Private Conference Room

The task force was growing as six people were now seated around the table. CIA Agent Alexander Conklin. Senior US Marshal Rose Rollins. Her partner, Junior Deputy Lucy Lloyd. An ATF Agent-in-Charge by the name of Robb Bouten and your partner, Jimmy Woo and yourself. Conveniently, with the US Marshals working out of the Federal Courthouse, it meant that going to your evening meeting and debriefing literally meant going up two flights of stairs and into one of the private conference backrooms of the buildings Federal Courthouse.

Introductions had been made over a dinner of catered food, fresh from the buildings local sandwich shop located in the lobby with the food wrappers piling up in the wastebasket as folders and files were laid out on the table, in between paper water cups, cans of soda and your styrofoam coffee cup. ATF Agent Bouten had just gone over the intelligence collected on the 'Black Dragons' like he had with you before, but went into a bit more detail now that he had some time to ponder things, pointing out potential sources of weapons and potential buyers without going too far into hypotheticals.

Then it was the Marshals turn for what they had turned up.

Well, the Marshals and Conklin though he remained seated as the two Marshals handed out bullet pointed data sheets and went through it line by line.

Junior Marshal Lucy Lloyd went first. "I interviewed the local Postmaster and several of the desk workers. After showing them the pictures, some of them had feint recollections of the man in question, Ken Brac, but for the most part he just entered, accessed his mailbox and left. One of the workers recalls he might've used the mailbox to deliver letters. I asked a followup question and apparently this Ken Brac was never seen even driving a car. He always approached the post office on foot. No one recalls any particular accent, or gait or noticeable features beyond apparently being exceptionally fit."

Rose worked off of that and moved to the next bulletpoint. "Going off of surveillance footage, we expect Ken Brac to be about six foot two or so... about two hundred... two twenty five in pounds. Short brown hair. White male, slightly more then fair skin. Dark eyes."

Robb frowned a bit. "Big guy," he said before glancing at you. "These guys own a dojo. He could work there. After this meeting I could see about pulling surveillance footage from nearby businesses," Robb suggested right away.

[1] We'll decide that after the meeting.
+ Gain Skill: Administration
[2] Sounds like a good idea.
+ Loyalty Gained: ATF Agent Robb Bouten
+ Favor Gained ATF
[3] I'd prefer Jimmy to do that. They might notice ATF guys hovering nearby.
+ Loyalty Gained: FBI Agent Jimmy Woo
+ Favor gained FBI
[4] I'd prefer Agent Conklin do that. He's used to blending in.
+ Gain skill: Surveillance
+ Favor gained CIA

Regardless, Rose nodded at you both before continuing. "Which left the mail. We scanned the mail in his PO Box. Apparently he only checks it once or twice a week according to the interviews. We found a popular martial arts magazine rolled in there as well as three newsletters. One for a mail order grocery service that specializes in wild game meats. And two newsletters belonging to various fringe paranormal groups. One is... the 'Mathelo' and the other one is The Golden Bough."

Conklin raised an eyebrow as Jimmy resisted the urge to lightly punch you in the shoulder. "That's all you man," he said with a knowing smirk underbreath when Rose perked up an ear.

"What was that?" Rose asked curiously.

It is true... you have heard of both of these publications. Because your mailbox has them as well. Mathelo is a society of amateur magicians and wannabes and other curiosity seekers who "specialize" in researching ritual and ceremonial magic from the Western world and history, with roots in witches, warlocks, druids as well as more masonic traditions as well. The Golden Bough is a publication that is partially funded by the humanitarian NGO Terra Firma Humanis and is about the rituals and magic and paranormal aspects of various indigenous cultures that they encountered, often through translations and other research filtered through anthropologists and other first hand research.

[1] Nothing. Nothing at all.
[2] I'm actually subscribed to both of those fine publications.
+ Gain skill Savoir Faire
- Minus Influence US Marshal Service
[3] Not only am I subscribed to those publications, I'm actually a contributor to The Golden Bough back in my time backpacking through the Amazon.
+ Gain influence with Terra Firma Humanis
+ Gain Favor with Terra Firma Humanis
+ Gain skill: Ritual Magic/Occult
- Lose Influence US Marshal Service
- Lose Influence ATF
[4] It's Jimmy's favorite publications. You should do them a magic trick.
> Unknown result(s)...

"Huh..." Rose then said, before glancing at Lucy who just shrugged. "Anyways... we got prints off of the PO Box and sent them to the database. Hopefully we'll get results by the morning but going through the mail we also found out a home address. He lives in a high rise apartment complex. Relatively upper middle class, just about ten blocks away from here. Give us a few days and we'll see about pulling up his other records. We could set up surveillance and shadowing of this guy starting tomorrow morning and the more people we got, the more successful we will be at being hidden."

Alexander Conklin glanced at you. "Well we have some solid leads on Ken, but it could take several days to develop. But we can take the next step with these Black Dragon guys starting tomorrow if we want," he said with a shrug. "I'd prefer wrapping this up before another weapons shipment might get processed but I honestly have no idea on a time frame for it."

Six people from four agencies in the room and somehow you are the one that ended up in control it seems as everyone seemed to be looking to you to suggesting a plan of action first.

[1] I want you US Marshals to set up surveillance and shadowing of Ken Brac at his apartment. Whole day of observation. See what he does and where he's going.
+ Gain favor with the US Marshals
+ Gain skill: Administrative
[2] According to Robb Bouten, several of these Black Dragons might have outstanding warrants. Being US Marshals, you can use your cover to apprehend them.
+ Gain favor with the US Marshals
+ Gain skill: Interrogation
[3] I want you two Marshals to check out the Truckyard and see what turns up. Being quasi rednecks, you'll fit right in.
+ Gain favor with ICE
+ Gain skill: Investigation

Conklin glanced over expectantly.

[1] I want you to assist the Marshals tomorrow.
+ Gain favor with the US Marshals
+ Gain skill: Politics
> Unknown potential benefits depending on Marshal deployment
[2] Your with us tomorrow Conklin.
+ Gain favor with the CIA
+ Gain influence with the CIA
[3] As soon as Ken Brac leaves the apartment, I actually want you to gain access to the apartment and see what you can find.
+ Gain favor with the CIA
+ Gain favor with the ATF
[4] Up to you buddy.
+ Gain favor with the CIA
+ Loyalty Gained: Alexander Conklin

And finally, there was Robb Bouten, ATF.

[1] I want you to assist the Marshals tomorrow.
+ Gain favor with the US Marshals
+ Gain skill: Politics
> Unknown potential benefits depending on Marshal deployment
[2] Your with us tomorrow Robb.
+ Gain favor with the ATF
+ Gain influence with the ATF
[3] Contact your Informants. See if you can glean any information on the Black Dragons pushing weapons recently or in the near future.
+ Gain favor with the ATF
+ Gain skill: Investigation
[4] I want you to drop by the OCP Offices tomorrow, see if they have anything on this.
+ Gain favor with the ATF
+ Gain favor with OCP: Omni Consumer Products
[5] Up to you to be honest. This is your neck of the woods.
+ Gain influence with the ATF
+ Loyalty Gained: Robb Bouten

 

[Grav]

[1] We'll decide that after the meeting.
+ Gain Skill: Administration
[3] Not only am I subscribed to those publications, I'm actually a contributor to The Golden Bough back in my time backpacking through the Amazon.
+ Gain influence with Terra Firma Humanis
+ Gain Favor with Terra Firma Humanis
+ Gain skill: Ritual Magic/Occult
- Lose Influence US Marshal Service
- Lose Influence ATF
[3] I want you two Marshals to check out the Truckyard and see what turns up. Being quasi rednecks, you'll fit right in.
+ Gain favor with ICE
+ Gain skill: Investigation
[4] Up to you buddy.
+ Gain favor with the CIA
+ Loyalty Gained: Alexander Conklin
[5] Up to you to be honest. This is your neck of the woods.
+ Gain influence with the ATF
+ Loyalty Gained: Robb Bouten

 

[Fezzes]

[3] I'd prefer Jimmy to do that. They might notice ATF guys hovering nearby.
+ Loyalty Gained: FBI Agent Jimmy Woo
+ Favor gained FBI
[4] It's Jimmy's favorite publications. You should do them a magic trick.
> Unknown result(s)...
[1] I want you US Marshals to set up surveillance and shadowing of Ken Brac at his apartment. Whole day of observation. See what he does and where he's going.
+ Gain favor with the US Marshals
+ Gain skill: Administrative
[3] As soon as Ken Brac leaves the apartment, I actually want you to gain access to the apartment and see what you can find.
+ Gain favor with the CIA
+ Gain favor with the ATF
[5] Up to you to be honest. This is your neck of the woods.
+ Gain influence with the ATF
+ Loyalty Gained: Robb Bouten

 

[Blasterbot]

[1] We'll decide that after the meeting.
+ Gain Skill: Administration
[3] Not only am I subscribed to those publications, I'm actually a contributor to The Golden Bough back in my time backpacking through the Amazon.
+ Gain influence with Terra Firma Humanis
+ Gain Favor with Terra Firma Humanis
+ Gain skill: Ritual Magic/Occult
- Lose Influence US Marshal Service
- Lose Influence ATF
[3] I want you two Marshals to check out the Truckyard and see what turns up. Being quasi rednecks, you'll fit right in.
+ Gain favor with ICE
+ Gain skill: Investigation
[4] Up to you buddy.
+ Gain favor with the CIA
+ Loyalty Gained: Alexander Conklin
[5] Up to you to be honest. This is your neck of the woods.
+ Gain influence with the ATF
+ Loyalty Gained: Robb Bouten

 

[Husky_Khan]

Spoiler: Results

[1] We'll decide that after the meeting.
+ Gain Skill: Administration
[3] Not only am I subscribed to those publications, I'm actually a contributor to The Golden Bough back in my time backpacking through the Amazon.
+ Gain influence with Terra Firma Humanis
+ Gain Favor with Terra Firma Humanis
+ Gain skill: Ritual Magic/Occult
- Lose Influence US Marshal Service
- Lose Influence ATF
[3] I want you two Marshals to check out the Truckyard and see what turns up. Being quasi rednecks, you'll fit right in.
+ Gain favor with ICE
+ Gain skill: Investigation
[4] Up to you buddy.
+ Gain favor with the CIA
+ Loyalty Gained: Alexander Conklin
[5] Up to you to be honest. This is your neck of the woods.
+ Gain influence with the ATF
+ Loyalty Gained: Robb Bouten

Lucy was gazing at you through the rest of the meeting, or perhaps just offering the occasional bemused glance at the idea you were a subscriber to those publications. As you were offering your directions, you could almost overhear Rose and Lucy briefly having a side talk with each other when Lucy a bit more audibly said something about how 'He's just curious. He went backpacking in his gap year' and saying it apparently in regards to you before both of the Marshals turned their full attention back to you as you suggested the two Marshals investigate the truckyard.

"I should go with them, it's my backyard as you say," Robb then said, when the two Marshals exchanged glances and Rose spoke up.

"Do any of the Black Dragons actually know your face?" Rose asked before glancing at Lucy.

"Could coordinate from the car... or just be a distraction if he's noticed," Lucy suggested with a shrug before Robb could even answer. "I think we look different enough from him that unless we show up together, they won't make the connection."

[1] I agree with Lucy. It can be worked out.
+ Gain favor with the ATF
[2] I agree with Rose. They know you've been looking into them.
+ Gain favor with the US Marshal Service

"With that said, what will you be doing tomorrow Agent?" Marshal Rollins then asked you.

The Next Morning

Your partner Jimmy had a steaming cup of coffee ready as you climbed into the passenger seat of the car. He was even so kind to hand it to you as soon as you sat down. "Ready to work? I think Robb might be the most excited about this investigation, if he ever showed it," Jimmy seemed to infer even though the heavier set ATF Agent seemed kinda taciturn most of the time despite moments of joviality. "Everyone said they'll be sending in reports at ten in the morning, so we got almost four hours to put some work in."

"Hope you had breakfast then," you said, raising the coffee cup to your partner briefly. "Let's get going."

"Where to?" Jimmy asked. With the Marshals at the truckyard and both Robb Bouten and Conklin doing their own things, it was time for the two Marshals to fulfill their own part of the investigation today. Jimmy already knew where they were heading of course, he just wanted to confirm.

[1] We should join Alexander Conklin in observing Ken Brac's apartment. He said if he had an extra man or two, he was open to the idea of attempting to gain access to the apartment if he ever headed out since someone could shadow him.
+ Gain favor from CIA
+ Gain influence with CIA
[2] We should drop by the OCP Offices this morning, see if they have anything to go on this.
+ Gain favor with ICE
+ Gain favor with OCP: Omni Consumer Products
[3] Let's check out the area around that Martial Arts dojo like Robb suggested last night.
+ Gain skill: Surveillance
+ Gain influence ATF
- Owe Favor ATF
[4] I'd really like to see if we can get an inroad to the Black Dragon businesses. I'm sure there's some legal pressure we can apply to get us to search either the dojo or the auto body shop.
+ Gain skill Humanities: Law
- Use a Department of Justice Favor
[5] We can do it like the Horde MC case... remember where I showed up to the bar, asked for the places liquor license as a cover and then when the Bikers actually showed up and one of them said I was in their seat, I told him he could ride the stool leg? We got three of them for assaulting an officer of law. Once we get them in custody, we can really apply the pressure on them.
+ Gain Brawling Skill
+ Gain Loyalty: ATF Agent Robb Bouten
> Unknown loyalty reaction from Jimmy Woo

 

[Grav]

[1] I agree with Lucy. It can be worked out.
+ Gain favor with the ATF
[5] We can do it like the Horde MC case... remember where I showed up to the bar, asked for the places liquor license as a cover and then when the Bikers actually showed up and one of them said I was in their seat, I told him he could ride the stool leg? We got three of them for assaulting an officer of law. Once we get them in custody, we can really apply the pressure on them.
+ Gain Brawling Skill
+ Gain Loyalty: ATF Agent Robb Bouten
> Unknown loyalty reaction from Jimmy Woo

 

[Fezzes]

[2] I agree with Rose. They know you've been looking into them.
+ Gain favor with the US Marshal Service
[5] We can do it like the Horde MC case... remember where I showed up to the bar, asked for the places liquor license as a cover and then when the Bikers actually showed up and one of them said I was in their seat, I told him he could ride the stool leg? We got three of them for assaulting an officer of law. Once we get them in custody, we can really apply the pressure on them.
+ Gain Brawling Skill
+ Gain Loyalty: ATF Agent Robb Bouten
> Unknown loyalty reaction from Jimmy Woo

That's entirely too entertaining for me to not vote for it.