Z-Day + 1 - 7:37 AM Mountain Time - Warren Air Force Base, west of Cheyenne, Wyoming In the Hummer-
"I'm happy for you," Harvey told Melinda. "I don't know what's happened to my own family. I...I've never been much good with girls. I mean, I'm not a virgin, but I never know what to say or anything. Numbers make sense to me. I can always tell what they add up to, but I have no idea how women think. I just get all flustered when I try to talk to them."
"Well, you're doing okay now," said Jamie. "Relax, Harvey. Everything will be fine. And I'll be sure to save a dance for you."
"Really? Thanks!"
"You're welcome."
Jamie continued to drive until she reached a building that was heavily guarded. She parked in front of it and they all got out.
Outside the armory- Jamie led the way up to the guards at the front door. "I'm Airman Jamie Kramer," she said, "here with Melinda Christie and Harvey Bennish. They're being put to work in the Quartermaster's office."
"Yes, you're expected," said one of the SF troopers. "You should talk to Lt. Wyatt. She's in the storage areas in the basement right now." The guards stood aside to let them in.
In the basement storeroom- Airman First Class Gregor Cross led his squad back into the storage room from the secret tunnel. Accompanying him were Airman Jason Baker, Airman Carolyn Wagner, and Airman Peter McBain. Jason and Peter were carrying a sealed crate, and Gregor was carrying a computer tower. Waiting for them in the room were Lt. Laura Wyatt and two SF troopers. One of them carried a cutting torch.
"Ma'am," said Gregor, saluting.
"As you were," said Lt. Wyatt, returning the salute. "Welcome back. It looks like you've done well."
Three people approached from the hall. One was a female airman with short blonde hair. Accompanying her were a petite, beautiful young woman with red hair and a nervous-looking man with glasses. "Ma,'am," said the airman, saluting. "I'm Airman Jamie Kramer. These civilians are Melinda Christie and Harvey Bennish. They're here to help out at the Quartermaster's office."
Laura turned to face them. She had close-cropped black hair and a serious expression. "I'm Lt. Laura Wyatt. Do either of you have any experience with computers?" she asked.
Jason Baker missed his chance to salute Lt. Wyatt but then again, he had been lugging the crate. The moment passed and he was more than relieved to put down the crate.
Man, McBain seemed like he could have carried that thing for hours...
Jason stretched out his arms and anxiously waited to see what was in the box while listening to the conversation of the others...
OOC,Actually, you do. That's what the Computer Use skill covers. Normal usage of a computer does not need any special skills.
In the basement storeroom- Lt. Wyatt nodded when McBain said to open the crate. "Do it," she said. The SF trooper with the cutting torch put on a welding mask he took out of his backpack and motioned for everyone to stay back before he started cutting the crate open.
"I'm fairly good with computers," said Harvey. Computers I can understand and relate to, he thought. It's girls I have trouble with.
"All right," said Lt. Wyatt to Melinda and Harvey. "I need you two to try to help me with this computer we've retrieved. We'll go to the computer room."
"Ma'am, I'll come with," said Carolyn Wagner. "I'm sure I can be of help."
"All right." The lieutenant led the way out into the hall.
In the basement storeroom-
The trooper finished cutting the crate open, removed the lid, and revealed a large metal box set inside the crate. He used the torch to open that too. Inside were four M16A2 assault rifles, military grade.
"Good job," said Cross. "Let's run those serial numbers. I bet they match some of the missing weapons."
In the computer room- Lt. Laura Wyatt led Melinda, Harvey, and Carolyn up a flight of stairs, down a hall, and through a door into a computer room. Jamie split off from them and left the building. The room was deserted, but there were several workstations set up and an empty table where they placed the computer taken from the warehouse. "All right," said the officer. "Get to work. If there's anything you need, I can get it for you."
"A monitor, for starters," said Harvey. "What exactly is wrong with it?"
"The hard drive got wiped," said Carolyn. "Some kind of defense mechanism."
Harvey nodded. "We'll also need a bootable external hard drive then, one with an operating system on it."
Baker immediately sets to compiling the serial numbers of the contraband weapons. He checks his person for a notepad and writing tool but, upon being empty-handed in these tools, glances around to anyone who may be in possession of those items and ready to record dictation...
In the basement storeroom- Cross took out a notepad and jotted down the serial numbers. He ripped off the piece of paper and handed it to Jason. "Baker, take this up to the computer room and run the numbers, see if they match," he said.
In the computer room- Laura brought over a bootable external hard drive and hooked it up to the recovered computer. It booted up just fine, but Melinda was unable to access the data on the computer's built-in hard drive.
Jason Baker takes the note and proceeds to run it up stairs.
He feels antsy and skittish....
Hopefully McBain isn't rubbing off on me. I feel anxious like I'm itching for something to happen...Baker sighs. And in these dire times, I'm sure I don't want that!
In the basement storeroom-
"Let's get this crate somewhere secure," Cross said to McBain. The two strong men picked it up and made their way to a weapons vault in the basement.
In the computer room- Jason Baker arrived as Carolyn Wagner was typing furiously on the computer while Laura Wyatt, Melinda Christie, and Harvey Bennish watched. Carolyn shook her head. "It's worse than I thought," she said. "The hard drive has been completely wiped, replaced with random 1s and 0s. There's no recovering the data."
"Well, that sucks," said Laura. She looked up when Jason entered the room. "Yes, Baker?"
"Ma'am."Baker stopped to stand at attention then continued with his business. "Cross sent me up with a list of serial numbers from the guns we found in the crate. He wants to know if they match any of the ones that have gone missing in the last while."
Baker paused, unsure of who to pass the list to, then proceeded to hand it to Lt. Wyatt.
In the computer room-
"Thank you," said Laura. "I'll look them up." She sat down at another computer and began typing. A minute later she looked up. "Yes, all of these weapons were stolen from this facility at the same time. The serial numbers match. The theft occurred just two nights ago. No wonder the weapons were still in the warehouse. They must have been taken out through that tunnel we found. Let me see who was on duty that night."
Jason Baker,[b]Jason[/b] knew that he had not been on duty that night, which was also the night of the meteor shower. Yesterday would have been a day off for him, but that was the day everything had started, and he had been called up that morning due to the emergency.
OOC,Everyone, please roll Psychology. The base skill is 5%.
Baker is relieved that the evidence proves him innocent. Growing up on the streets of Atlanta, Georgia as a black teen with a checkered past has made him wary of the law, even though it is one of the reasons he has joined the military as an MP. However, the uneasiness still remains....
OOC,Thanks for the response Mr. Handy. As for the Psych Roll, I caught it (my skill level) at the last second. Unfortunately, the best person with a chance to pass failed. Thanks Invisible Castle :lol: Oh well, such is life...
In the computer room- Laura tapped keys and clicked the mouse, and a minute later she came up with the answer. "According to the duty roster, Staff Sergeant Dauterive was the NCO in charge that night. He's off base right now, but we'll have to talk to him when he returns." She stood up and walked over to Carolyn. "You were on duty that night too, Wagner."
Harvey Bennish watched Carolyn closely, the subtle tells giving her away. "You're as nervous as a mouse that's just been cornered by a cat," he said to her.
Carolyn blinked. "He's lying!" she snapped without thinking.
Baker's hand instinctively falls to rest on his holstered Beretta but he stops short of drawing it. Wagner's gun is already out and drawing his would only add to her panic, possibly resulting in someone getting shot, potentially him...
He extends his free hand, palm out and tries to reason with his fellow MP...
"Now Carolyn, just relax. No one is accusing you of anything but this just makes matters worse..."
"You need to put the gun down. Being rash only escalates this situation. If you put the gun down, we can all talk this out and you can explain your side. No one here is accusing you of anything..."
In the computer room- Carolyn looked like she was about to chew Jason's head off, but she thought better of it and slowly lowered the gun.
"Drop the weapon, Wagner," said Laura. "Don't make this any worse than it already is. You may have been involved, but you're not the one we're after. It's Dauterive. You couldn't have done this without him knowing about it. Give him to us and we can make a deal."
Carolyn swallowed, then put the safety back on and let the pistol fall from her hand. "It was Dauterive," she admitted. "He made me do it. He's a total psycho! You don't know what he would have done to me if I hadn't gone along with him."
"But you sabotaged the computer so we couldn't recover the data, and Dauterive wasn't around."
"Yes, but he'll be back. I had to erase it, or he'd have been implicated."
"She's still lying," said Harvey. "She's still trying to save her own skin. What was on that computer probably would have implicated Dauterive - but it would have implicated her too."
Laura nodded. "Place her under arrest, Baker. We'll get the whole truth out of her when we interrogate her. It's too bad we can't warn the team Dauterive's with, but we have no way to contact them. We'll take him into custody when he returns...if he returns."
Jason draws his weapon and retrieves Carolyn's pistol from the floor. Having secured the weapon, he places her under arrest as ordered by Lt. Wyatt. After handcuffing his fellow MP, he escorts her to the door...
Mr.Handy,Is there a brig or interrogation room I can take her to?
In the computer room- Jason cuffed Carolyn, who did not resist, with his plastic flexcuffs and tucked her pistol into his belt.
"Good job," said Lt. Wyatt. "Take her baton and ammunition too. Let's get her to the Security Center." She turned to Harvey and Melinda. "You two, come along with us. Mr. Bennish, you did very well in spotting her reaction. I'd like you to sit in on the interrogation."
"Yes, ma'am," said Harvey, stuttering a little.
OOC,The Security Center is a separate building. This is the armory, and it doesn't really have facilities for that.
Jason relieves Wagner of her baton and ammo then directs her towards the door with a hand on her secured wrists. He keeps his gun drawn in his other hand but points it towards the floor.
Better to be safe than sorry. Who knows who else around here is in on this plot...
He leads Carol in the direction of the Security Center, the rest of the group in tow.
In the corridor- Jason marched Carolyn out of the computer room and down the hall, followed by Laura, Harvey, and Melinda. As they walked towards the front door and the exit from the building, they encountered Gregor Cross and Peter McBain coming up the stairs from the basement. The two huge men stopped and saluted. "Ma'am, we've locked up the weapons securely in the vault," said Gregor. "What's going on? Why is Wagner in cuffs?"
"She was involved in the thefts," said Lt. Laura Wyatt, saluting back. "Her and Staff Sergeant Dauterive, and almost certainly others as well. She must have wiped the computer because the data would have implicated her. Mr. Bennish saw her get nervous and accused her, and she drew a gun on me. We managed to talk her down. We're taking her to the Security Center now for interrogation. Both of you, come with us."
With the appearance of Cross and McBain, Jason expected to be relieved of the custody of Wagner but, much to his surprise, he was not....especially considering Cross' rank. But then maybe his own position was allowed due to safety precautions. He had the suspect secured but he also allowed himself to think that maybe his performance in persuading Wagner to disarm herself also played a part in his present assignment. However, he was concerned about what Lt. Wyatt just conveyed, especially to the bear of a man that was McBain, who he did not feel entirely comfortable around...
Man, anyone could be in on this. Why would she say so much?Jason held the gun loosely in his hand, pointed down, and kept a firm grip on Wagner's tethered arms. I gotta stay on this.
He focused his attention on his surroundings but felt McBain to be a distraction. There was no reason for this but Jason had an inkling maybe this man didn't like him too much for reasons too obvious...or maybe he just reminded him of a person he met who felt that way.
Melinda thought that those people should focus in what really matters. Saving people. If they spent some time outside the security of this base, maybe they wouldn't be stealing or sabotaging others efforts.
Melinda Christie,[b]Melinda[/b] could sense that [b]Lt. Laura Wyatt[/b] was angry with [b]Staff Sergeant Dauterive[/b] and [b]Carolyn Wagner[/b] - and with herself, for not having figured out they were stealing weapons and other equipment. She couldn't know who to trust on the base, but she seemed to trust both [b]Melinda[/b] and [b]Harvey[/b] specifically because they were from outside the base. She was also deliberately keeping everyone together so that nobody had the opportunity to go tip anyone else off about the arrest.
-Tell me one thing if you can. What are we supose to do with people like them? It's not that we have a police or a justice system now, so w are forced to keep them. What do we do on the long run? To people who doesn't care to break rules and risk others survivance for some petty gain?
In the guard room-
"That's not up to me," said Lt. Wyatt as she led the way through the doorway at the end of the corridor to the guard room at the building's entrance. "However, military justice is perfectly capable of functioning in wartime and in other emergency situations until order is restored. It can be swift when it has to be, and the penalty for treason can easily be execution." Carolyn Wagner gulped. "Of course, if they cooperate, a lesser sentence might be possible."
-I understand. After all, when someone engages in the army, he knows what the penalty is for breaking the rules. But I'm afraid we will have to deal with much more situations like that. Hey, it's not bad at all, it means we are still alive to see it- Melinda says as a joke.
In the guard room-
The guards saluted as Lt. Wyatt passed, and she returned their salutes. "That's the right attitude," she told Melinda with just a hint of a smile. "You're going to get the chance to see some military justice in action." She led the group outside.
In the parking lot- Lt. Wyatt led the way across the parking lot to where a Stryker armored transport vehicle was parked. She opened up the entrance to the troop compartment in the rear. "All aboard. Airman Baker, you drive. Everyone else, in the back."
In the Stryker- Jason Baker got behind the wheel of the APC, while Laura Wyatt pulled Carolyn Wagner into the rear compartment after Melinda and Harvey boarded. They were followed by Gregor Cross and Peter McBain, who closed the hatch behind them. Once everyone was seated, the Stryker pulled out.
Gregor glared at Carolyn. "What the hell is wrong with you, Wagner?" he snarled. "Why would you betray your oath to this country?"
"I didn't have a choice," she said, looking down at her feet.
-What do you mean you din't have a choice? Was someone blackmailing you?
OOC: Should Melinda roll Psychology to understand anything she can or roll Persuade to make the other tell the true?
In the Stryker-
"It was Dauterive," said Carolyn with a shudder. "If I hadn't gone along, he'd have killed me...or gotten someone else to do it. He told me there were lots of people here who shared his views, but he wouldn't tell me who they were."
Melinda Christie,[b]Melinda[/b] could easily tell that [b]Carolyn[/b] was lying through her teeth. She was a true believer in her cause and a willing partner with [b]Dauterive[/b]. The way she lowered her eyes and covered her mouth whenever she lied were obvious tells. Now that she'd been caught, she was just trying to save her own skin by hanging [b]Dauterive[/b] out to dry. She was also lying about not knowing who the other members of their group were. [b]Melinda[/b] was sure [b]Carolyn[/b] would sell them out in a heartbeat if it meant saving herself.
Melinda says to the lieutenant in a whisper so Wagner doesn't hear her: -She is lying, she wasn't forced to anything and she know others, but she would do anything to save her own skin.
Then to Wagner: -Are you sure you dont't now anyone? I mean, that guy must have slipped some names sometime...
In the Stryker- Laura nodded almost imperceptibly, but she said nothing in response.
"I'm not sure..." said Carolyn. "Maybe he said something. I'll have to think back and try to remember. But I want a deal before I say anything. In writing."
"That's up to people with a higher pay grade than me," said Laura. "Don't worry, you'll get your chance to talk to them."
In the Stryker-
"I don't even know anymore," said Carolyn, lowering her head. "They could all be dead for all I know. What about you? Do you have anyone?"
Melinda Christie,[b]Melinda[/b] could tell that [b]Carolyn[/b] was genuinely feeling depressed. As far as [b]Carolyn[/b] was concerned, the world as she knew it had ended and her life was ruined.
-I have a mother but I don't have any news from her. A lot of co-workers who let me die. And a sweetheart who save my life and is ok for now. So I guess I'm lucky.
Oustide the Security Center-
Everyone emerged from the Stryker. There were quite a few Security Forces troopers stationed here guarding the entrance to the Security Center. There was a perimeter set up around the large, squat building, but the Stryker had already passed inside it. It was parked just outside the front entrance, where there was a cluster of guards.
"Prisoner for Colonel Smedley," said Lt. Laura Wyatt, indicating Carolyn, who she held by the arm. She glanced back at Melinda and Harvey. "They're going to need to pat you down. Standard procedure, but it's just a formality."
Outside the Security Center-
A few of the guards came over. A female MP patted down Melinda and Carolyn - although Carolyn was a prisoner and had no doubt been searched already, they were nothing if not thorough - while one of her male colleagues searched Harvey. Finding nothing, they let Lt. Laura Wyatt lead the group inside.
In the lobby-
There were more MPs posted here standing at attention, and there was a metal detector at the entrance. It beeped for Lt. Wyatt and the other MPs (except for Carolyn), but it was silent for the civilians. At the far end of the lobby, a hallway led into the building's interior. Laura led them down it, past an intersection, and to the end of the hall, where there was a door with a nameplate that read "Lt. Col. Smedley, Chief of Security." She knocked on the door. "Sir, it's Lt. Wyatt. The prisoner and the civilians are here."
"Enter," said a deep voice from the other side.
Laura opened the door and gestured for the others to enter ahead of her.
In Smedley's office- Harvey walked in right behind Melinda. Carolyn was then escorted in by her three former comrades, and Laura brought up the rear. She closed the door behind them and stood at attention beside it, saluting the colonel. The other MPs also saluted.
In the middle of the office was a large desk with a computer, telephone, papers, and more typical office equipment neatly arranged on its surface. Behind the desk sat a tall white man in his fifties with white hair and a mustache to match. He wore a uniform with numerous medals on his chest and silver oak leaves on his shoulders. There were bookshelves along the left and right walls, and at the back was a window that had a view of a well-manicured lawn behind the Security Center. Four chairs stood not far from the door facing the desk, two on the left side and two on the right.
"As you were," said the man, returning the salute. "Ms. Christie, Mr. Bennish, I'm Lt. Colonel Darren Smedley, commanding officer of the base Security Forces and fourth in command overall at this base."
In Smedley's office-
"You don't need to salute, ma'am," said Smedley. "Only members of the military need to do that, and you're a civilian. But I do appreciate the sentiment. Tell me a little about yourself."
-Thank you- she seems a bit more relieved. -I used to work at Cabela's HQ in Sidney as a spokeswoman. You know, lot's of meetings and press conference everytime there was some problem. When everything started, I ru awayay to a safe place we had, but I discovered my coleagues had barricaded themselves and didn't let me enter. It was a carnage outside and I was trapped. Then on the last minute, a group of bikers appeared. I was even more scared. I mean, I didn't know what the "others" were, and a group of bikers didn't seem quite safe. But I was wrong, they save me and I have been with them since then- Melinda realizes that it was just a couple of days- After, that we found several other groups. Some of the people we found was actually a bigger threat than the "others", good people died. But my group was like a newfound family- she smiles at that moment remembering Keith (specially). Lisa and Amanda.
In Smedley's office-
"And you, sir?" the colonel asked Harvey.
"M-me?" said Harvey, nervous. "I'm just an accountant. I worked for Joey Milano."
"Yes, you arrived with him and his entourage. I'm aware of his family's business, but I'll judge each of you on your own merits. We can't afford to be too picky, but as long as you guys keep your noses clean we'll get along. Keep the organized part, but leave out the crime part."
"Y-yes, Colonel."
"Sir," said Laura Wyatt, "both of them were instrumental in unmasking the traitor Carioyn Wagner. None of her coworkers suspected a thing, but they saw right through her lies."
"You know why that is, Lieutenant? Apart from the fact that they both seem to be good judges of character. It's because you and your people were too close. You have to step back to see the big picture. You worked with her every day, you were used to her, and you couldn't bring yourselves to suspect her. Sometimes it takes an outsider's perspective."
"I agree, sir. That's one reason I brought them here. I'd like them to sit in on her interrogation sessions. I believe they could contribute."
The colonel nodded. "Yes, an excellent idea, at least for the initial phases." He looked at Melinda and Harvey. "Assuming you're both agreeable?"
"Excellent," said Smedley, rising. "I'll come with you. I want to observe as well. If we learn anything, I want to know it right away. Follow me." He led the way out of the office and back into the hall.
In the observation room- Colonel Smedley led the group down the hall and back to the intersection, where he turned left. At the end of the hall was a door that led into a stairwell going up and down. He led the way down one flight to the basement, then out a similar door into a hallway. They reached another intersection, where they turned right and passed through a guard room staffed by four Security Forces troopers. Beyond a steel door, which the colonel unlocked, was another hall lined with doors. Smedley pointed out the first door on the left. "You and the other MPs take the prisoner in there and get her situated, Lt. Wyatt. You can get started with the interrogation yourself."
"Yes, sir," said Laura. She opened the door and entered the room, followed by the rest of the MPs pulling Carolyn inside.
Smedley opened the second door on the left. "This is the observation room, where we can watch without being seen ourselves. One-way mirror." He led Melinda and Harvey inside. They had entered a small room with a few chairs facing the left wall, most of which was taken up by a transparent glass pane. Through it they could see the interrogation room. The far side of that room had a large black curtain. Two burly MPs placed Carolyn in a chair that looked much less comfortable than the ones in the observation room and strapped her into it. Laura lit a lamp on a table next to the chair, shining it on Carolyn's face. She blinked and turned her head.
In the observation room- Lt. Laura Wyatt faced Carolyn Wagner, an angry expression on her face. "You'd better tell me everything you know," she said.
"I want an immunity deal before I say another word," said Carolyn.
"I can't promise anythng on that score. I will promise you, though, that if you know something and you hold back, we'll throw the book at you. You will hang, do you understand? That's the penalty for treason. On the other hand, if you tell us something useful, we can be lenient."
Carolyn gulped. "What if I don't know any more than I've already told you?"
"Then you'd have nothing to offer in exchange for immunity, which means you're trying to play us. Either that, or you do know something and you're holding back. You're in enough trouble already. Don't add to it."
Carolyn wavered for a while, like a spinning coin unsure on which side it was going to land. Finally, she cracked. "All right, I'll tell you everything! There are a bunch of people here at the base who are part of this group. The leader is Captain Michael Hobart."
"That's my aide!" said Colonel Smedley, rising to his feet. He spoke into his radio. "Sergeant Bloch, this is Colonel Smedley. Assemble a squad of people you trust and place Captain Hobart under arrest. It is imperative that you take him alive." There was a pause. "You heard me, Sergeant. I'll explain later."
Melinda thinks that they should wait until the end of the interogation before arresting anyopne, but hey, it's the army, they know what to do, so she keeps shut.
In the observation room-
"Don't worry, she can't hear us in there," the colonel said to Melinda and Harvey. "It's soundproofed. We can only hear them because there's a microphone in there and a speaker in here. We're also recording the session, both audio and video."
"Who else?" asked Laura Wyatt.
Carolyn, on the verge of tears, rattled off more names, and not just Dauterive. There seemed to be a disturbingly awful lot of them, and Melinda could sense that Carolyn was being truthful here. She was broken and spilling her guts. Even Colonel Smedley looked alarmed at the sheer number of traitors.
"The good news is that a lot of them are dead," he said. "The bad news is that a lot of the rest of us are dead too."
-I don't know if should arrest them for that reason; they may revolt. It's better to arrest the ringleader with some other pretext but that make sense like corruption or something like that.-says Melinda a bit worried.
In the observation room-
"I knew you were sharp, ma'am," said Colonel Smedley with a smile. "Yes, that's precisely my plan. That's why I'm having Captain Hobart taken into custody without telling anyone the charges yet. We'll sweat him in a different interrogation room and see if we can get some confirmation of what Wagner told us, as well as new intel. The rest of the followers will remain in place for now, except those in sensitive positions, though they may find themselves reassigned to the most hazardous duties."
-Thank you sir- she says with a smile. Then continuing: -The only good news, is that if there was some people outside that had the same ideas like them, it won't bother this base anymore.
In the observation room- Smedley nodded. "Yes, we're secure in here, ma'am," he said. "One thing we lack is a means of resupply, but I think pretty soon we're going to start sending squads out into Cheyenne to scavenge what they can. Not only will this help us in the long run, but it will also serve as a convenient way to get rid of these traitors. We'll form squads consisting entirely of them and send them out into the most dangerous areas of the city. If they survive, we can simply refuse to let them back inside, and the problem solves itself. This way we can eliminate a handful at a time without alerting them and having a mutiny on our hands."
In the observation room- Smedley nodded again. "Yes, precisely what I had in mind," he said. "We'll tell them we believe they've been exposed to something harmful out there as our excuse for not allowing them back on base. They may see through it, but there's not a whole lot they can do. They could cause trouble for our genuine scavenging teams, but I don't think they'd last long if they remained in Cheyenne. Even if it weren't for the masses of infected, all of the dead and decomposing bodies will make it a very unhealthy place to live, and they really will catch something sooner or later if they stay. Chances are they'll take whatever supplies they can scrounge up and hit the road, and good riddance to them." He gave Melinda a thoughtful look. "I can see why Lt. Wyatt brought you along, Ms. Christie. She's an excellent judge of people. You are a very insightful person, and I believe you're officer material. We can use someone like you, and I just happen to have a new opening on my staff at the moment. The fact that you're an outsider is actually a plus; it shows that you aren't part of this conspiracy, and you've also helped blow it wide open, for which I am extremely grateful. Are you interested?"
-I would be grateful to help in anyway I can, but I don't have any military training, And the true soldiers could resent to see an outsider to get a job with so much responsability. I think it's better that I don't get any oficial position but help in an informal way. In other words, yes.
In the observation room-
"Thank you, ma'am," said the colonel. "We do offer military training, and we could use some fresh blood to replace our losses, but that's a good point about our airmen not taking so well to an outsider - though I think they'd make an exception in your case. If you want to keep things informal, we can do that, but the offer still stands if you ever change your mind and want the commission."
The interrogation continued for a few more minutes, with Carolyn Wagner divulging more details to Laura Wyatt. Then the colonel's eyes flicked to one side, an involuntary reaction to someone speaking to him on his radio.
"Thank you, Sergeant," he said. "Once he's processed, get him set up in Interrogation Room 2. I'll be handling that one personally. Smedley out." He looked over at Melinda and Harvey. "Captain Hobart surrendered without a fight. I'd like you both to observe his interrogation when he's ready. Lt. Wyatt can sit with you two while I work."
In the observation room-
After several more minutes, Carolyn had finished giving her statement, and Lt. Laura Wyatt and the other MPs escorted her out of the interrogation room to take her to her cell. Soon after that, Colonel Smedley reacted again to another voice on his radio.
"Thank you, Sergeant," he said into his throat mic, nodding even though it couldn't be seen over the radio. "I'll be in shortly." He stood up and opened the door for Melinda and Harvey. "He's ready. This way, please. It's just across the hall."
In the observation room- Melinda and Harvey crossed the hall to the other observation room, which was a mirror image of the first one. Lt. Laura Wyatt was already there, and Colonel Smedley entered the interrogation room that was visible through the one-way mirror. It too looked just like the first one. The MPs had already secured a tall, defiant-looking man in the chair. The colonel lit the lamp and shined it in the man's face, but he did not react.
"How long have you been a traitor, Captain Hobart?" demanded the colonel.
"Never," he said. "I've always been loyal."
The colonel leaned over him, getting in his face. "Don't lie to me! I already know everything!"
"Then why do you need to ask me questions, if you already know everything?"
Melinda Christie,[b]Melinda[/b] could tell right away that [b]Hobart[/b] was made of much tougher stuff than [b]Carolyn Wagner[/b]. It didn't seem like it would be possible to break him. He also seemed extremely confident in spite of his situation, as though he believed he would somehow get out of it.
In the observation room-
"I'm giving you a chance to confess," said Colonel Smedley. "It'll go easier for you if you do. Maybe it's just sentiment from the years we've worked together."
"Easier for me?" asked Hobart. "You're asking me to confess to treason. What do you think you can offer me, a quick death?"
"I might be able to convince the CO to settle for exile."
"Who do you think you're trying to fool? You couldn't guarantee that! Let the general make the offer if he wants. It doesn't mean a thing coming from you."
"You WILL confess!" roared Smedley. "One way or another!"
Hobart laughed in his face, completely unruffled. "You've got nothing, or we wouldn't be here."
"Fine! Let's see how you like being waterboarded!" He nodded to the MPs, who pulled the black curtain aside to reveal a long table with straps.
Melinda realizes that he already confessed. When he said that he wanted to hear the general to say that, he is assuming his guilty, because he want to do a deal with someone of authority. An inocente men would never accept such a proposition.
-Lt Wyatt? Please tell to the colonel the following: he already confessed. When he said that he wanted to hear the general to say about the deal, he is assuming his guilty, because he want to do a deal with someone of authority. An inocente men would never accept such a proposition, would protest all the time.
In the observation room-
"I'll tell him," said Laura Wyatt, "but getting him to confess isn't the real object of this interrogation; it's getting actionable intelligence. A confession will make it easier to convict him, and will let us know we've broken him. I think we all know he's guilty as hell, and Hobart knows we know." She spoke into her radio. "Sir, Ms. Christie advises that Captain Hobart's statement that he wants to hear the offer from the general is tantamount to a confession, and I concur."
Colonel Smedley did not reply verbally, but nodded in the direction of the one-way mirror to indicate that he'd heard. Then he turned on Hobart, his fury evident. "MPs! Secure the prisoner to the table!" The burly military police strapped down the unresisting Hobart, and Smedley loomed over him, grinning fiercely and cracking his knuckles. "All right, let's get this started."
In the observation room-
"Not just that," said Laura Wyatt. "We also need to know who's on the receiving end of the weapons and other equipment his people have stolen. A flunky like Wagner wouldn't know that, but he would."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" snarled Smedley.
"It means, sir," said Captain Hobart, "that I hold all the cards here. You are going to unstrap me from this table and let me walk right out that door."
"Like hell I will, you filthy traitor! Start making sense, dammit!"
"No more games, sir. Cards on the table time...and I have a straight flush. I represent a sizable faction in the military, and there are more of us than you think. We are not traitors. We're more loyal to this country than the people who have been running it. Look at yourself, sir. Everything's falling apart, and you're still following your unlawful orders, resorting to torture - which doesn't work, by the way. You should be on our side."
"If you think I'll join you, you've got another think coming!"
"If I thought you'd join us, sir, I'd have recruited you long ago. But given recent events, the situation on the ground has changed. We've taken precautions. Yesterday, I set up a little deadman's switch. It's quite simple, really. Some of our people are out in the missile bases. If they don't hear from me by a certain time each day, and if I don't give them a very specific code, they will launch a missile at Russia."
Melinda Christie,[b]Melinda[/b] could tell that [b]Captain Hobart[/b] was very confident. He did not seem to be bluffing.
In the observation room-
"Oh my God," gasped Laura Wyatt. Startled, she turned to Melinda. "There are quite a few outlying nuclear missile bases in the surrounding region, all of them controlled by Warren Air Force Base. If one of those missiles is launched at Russia, they'll launch everything they've got at us!"
"You're bluffing!" snarled Colonel Smedley. "None of those missiles can be launched without authorization!"
"Until yesterday, that was true," said Captain Hobart, his voice calm. "General Cutter changed that due to the state of emergency. With the so-called President missing and presumed dead and all communications with central command cut off, he could launch on his own initiative. And given the fact that the base could fall or communications could be cut off, he gave autonomy to the missile silo commanders so that they could launch on their own."
"There are failsafes! Even if a missile were launched, we could simply abort and detonate it in midair."
"Not without the proper codes - and my friends have changed those codes on the missile in question."
The colonel's face turned red. "Keep an eye on him!" he barked to the MPs as he stormed out of the interrogation room and into the observation room. "Colonel Everett, it's Colonel Smedley!" he said into his radio. "We have an emergency situation that's come up during the interrogation of the leader of the traitors that's above my pay grade. I think you and General Cutter should join me in Observation Room Two, sir."
-Great. So the living are actually the biggest danger. Maybe if we send an message to the guys of those base to ask help, so they believe we are being attacked by those creatures? This way it would a perfect explanation why the captain didn't send a message.- says Melinda without much conviction.
In the observation room-
"I doubt that would work," said Colonel Smedley, "and it's a hell of a risk to take. There's a good chance they could launch anyway, and all would be lost. And we can't evacuate everyone from all the missile bases, because we need to have them manned in case the Russians do attack. Plus, they might launch before pulling out if they don't hear from Captain Hobart. Anyway, it isn't my decision - thank God!"
"And we don't know how long we have!" said Harvey, looking nervous, panic in his eyes. "It could five hours from now...or five minutes!"
-I don't think it will be just 5 minutes or even he would be nervous. Because he must know that if the missiles are launched he is dead in the same second.
In the observation room-
A minute passed in silence. "None of what you've heard or what you're about to hear leaves this room, understood?" said Colonel Smedley. "We don't want to cause a panic."
- Do not worry. I'l just say you asked me a lot of questions about the threats outside. The things are already bad with the creatures outside and those fanatics.
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 2:38 am
by Mr. Handy
In the observation room-
Several minutes later, three people arrived. The first could only be General Cutter, a stern-looking sixtyish man with close-cropped gray hair in a uniform with stars on its shoulders. Although he was getting on in years, he had still retained his looks. Behind him was another man, this one with eagles on his shoulders. He was taller and in his forties, quite good-looking, and there was only a touch of gray in his hair. By his side was Kathryn McCoy, whom Melinda recognized from last night in quarantine. Kathryn was now wearing a splendid new Air Force officer's uniform and lieutenant's bars on her shoulders.
Kathryn remembered Melinda from quarantine, and she also saw Harvey Bennish, the nervous mob accountant, with her. There were two other people she did not know. One was a tall white man in his fifties with white hair and a mustache to match. He wore a uniform with numerous medals on his chest and silver oak leaves on his shoulders. This had to be Colonel Smedley, the man they had come here to see. There was also a woman, a lieutenant like herself, with close-cropped black hair and a serious expression.
The room was small, with a few chairs facing the right wall, most of which was taken up by a transparent glass pane. Through it they could see the interrogation room. The far side of that room had a chair with leather straps in the middle, with a lamp on a small table next to it. At the back of the room was an open black curtain, beyond which a tall, defiant-looking man in a captain's uniform was secured to a long board. A squad of burly Military Police were standing guard over him.
Colonel Smedley and the lieutenant with him saluted. "General Cutter, Colonel Everett," he said to the two men who had just arrived.
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2014 5:59 pm
by Dave Syrinx
"Lt McCoy, Sir...Mam!", Kat feels really off in this situation. Was she supposed to smile at Melinda and Harvey? Probably not. She remains a stern face and looks stoically at the scene presented before her.
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 3:17 pm
by kabukiman
Melinda waits that the colonel makes the conversation and stay shut unless she is told to do anything else.
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 9:38 pm
by Mr. Handy
In the observation room-
"What's the emergency?" asked the general once salutes had been exchanged.
"Sir, Lt. Wyatt and the civilians here exposed Airman Carolyn Wagner as a traitor and brought her in for interrogation," said Colonel Smedley, barely suppressing his pent-up rage. "She broke easily, naming my own aide Captain Hobart as the leader of her group, among many others. We've been interrogating him for the past hour, but he has proven remarkably resistant. However, he has now not only admitted his treason, he has made quite a threat. He claims to have set up a deadman's switch. He says he has confederates stationed at outlying missile bases, and unless he sends them a specific code by an unknown time today, they will launch an ICBM at Russia. Obviously, he won't transmit the message unless he is released, and most likely his confederates as well."
"I see," said the general, stroking his chin. "Do you find this threat credible?"
"I do, sir."
He thought for a moment. "We do not negotiate with terrorists. The way I see it, we have only one course of action open to us. If Captain Hobart is not bluffing, then when his people launch their missile at Russia, we must launch the rest of our arsenal at Russia at the same time."
"Sir?!"
"Think about it. It's the only way. Russia will hit us with everything they can whether we attack with one missile or a thousand. With a successful first strike, we can wipe them out and mitigate their ability to retaliate. If we do nothing, we'll bear the full brunt of their attack."
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2014 8:19 pm
by Dave Syrinx
Kathryn blinks. "Are they for real. This is what I figured, military, always going all in." Still, she remains a silent bystander. "Sir, what with the civilians? Are they suspects of something too?" She takes two steps towards Melinda to make her point.
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 5:33 am
by Mr. Handy
In the observation room- Harvey's jaw dropped open, and he had a flabbergasted look on his face.
"No, not at all," said Colonel Smedley. "In fact, they've been a great help. They're here because I wanted their insights during the interrogations. They've shown remarkable perceptive abilities. Now they've perceived more than we bargained for." He glanced an appeal at Everett. "You've got to talk the general out of this course of action, sir. The world's in sorry enough shape as it is now. If we start a global thermonuclear war-"
"I'm sorry, Darren," said Colonel Everett. "I have to concur with the CO. If that missile flies, it means global thermonuclear war no matter what we do. The only question is who comes out of it worse."
"You can't be serious!"
"I'm in command here," said General Cutter. "I've made my decision, and it shall stand. Perhaps if you had done your job better, Colonel Smedley, the leader of this band of traitors would not have been able to operate undetected under your nose and put us in this precarious position! You would think you would have had an inkling that your own right hand man was up to something. Then again, maybe you did..." He stared daggers at Smedley.
"Sir!" Smedley thought furiously. "Sir, at least let me continue my interrogation of the prisoner. If I can break him and get the code, there won't need to be a launch."
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2014 7:54 pm
by Dave Syrinx
Kathryn decides to stick with the brass on this. "Sir Cutter! The only way to be sure to win is to act first. Prime those warheads and send them off. If they remain here they´ll be our largest threat. I fully support the offenseive tactics, Sir." She relaxes some as it felt good to be vocal.
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 12:44 am
by kabukiman
Melinda is in shock first, butb then thinks quickly.
"This is like those people who want to buy something that they can't: we must always agree with them and then make them see that maybe there is another alternative"".
- Sir, I understand your reasoning: if we attack first we will be able to destroy let's say 90% of their bases, and this way reduce our losses. That's not a perfect plan, but after all, this is not a good situation or we wouldn't be facing this, so that's much better thans watching the full russia nukes hitting us. But before we do that, let me present some ideas: the men fro that traitor organization who will press the button won't do that very soon, because lieutenent Wyatt is very calm, meaning we have several hours at least. Now, we all know that the plan they made, wasn't invented from scratch; but the direct instruction of saying that if he didn't contact the men of the missiles, the button should be press, must have been given after this mess started. That means yesterday. So, by what way could the lieutenant give the instruction? Phone cell, internet? We must see who he has contacted and that should give us the clue to the culprit: all his things should be looked.
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 9:27 pm
by Mr. Handy
In the observation room- General Cutter beamed. "I'm glad you understand what needs to be done, lieutenant," he said. "You made a good choice commissioning this one, Everett."
Colonel Smedley seized on what Melinda said. "You're absolutely right, Ms. Christie," he said. "Lt. Wyatt, I want Captain Hobart's life and movements dissected, his quarters searched thoroughly. Find out how he communicated to whatever missile base his friends are at, and that'll tell us which one it is. I'll stay here and continue the interrogation. I'll break him!"
"Yes, sir," she said, leaving for the hall.
"Seems like a waste of time to me," said Colonel Everett.
"I haven't given my permission yet," said General Cutter, "but I see nothing to be lost in the effort. Go ahead, Colonel Smedley. Do whatever you want to Captain Hobart, carry on with your investigation, and keep me informed if any progress is made."
"Yes, sir!" Smedley snapped off a salute and stepped out of the room, immediately entering the interrogation room where he was visible through the window. "Well, Michael, we're going to find out just how resistant you are to interrogation. I've got carte blanche now. There are no rules any more. You will give me the code to call off the launch and the names of your contacts at the missile base."
OOC,It's [b]Captain Hobart[/b] who set up the "deadman switch." [b]Lt. Laura Wyatt[/b] is assisting in the interrogations.
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 1:21 pm
by kabukiman
OOC: Oops, sorry
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 3:41 pm
by kabukiman
-May I join you sir?- Melinda asks to colonel Smedley- I would like to tell to the captain several things that may help him understand the situation. And maybe make him tell the true.
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 3:56 am
by Mr. Handy
In the observation room- Colonel Smedley nodded to Melinda as he left the room, and she followed him.
In the interrogation room-
"And who is your lovely assistant?" asked Captain Hobart with a grin when Melinda entered behind him. "Are you going for a softer approach, or is she better at torture than you are?" He smirked. "Not that that would be saying much."
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 5:46 am
by Mr. Handy
In the observation room-
"I'll come with you," said Harvey Bennish, hurrying to follow Lt. Wyatt out of the room. "I can help you look for clues. Besides, I-I don't want to stay here and watch."
"Thanks," said Laura. "I can use another pair of eyes."
"Two more pairs." Harvey tapped his glasses. He closed the door after he left, leaving Colonel Everett and Kathryn McCoy alone in the observation room.
Kathryn McCoy,"Nobody can hear is in here," said [b]Everett[/b]. "This room is soundproofed so that those being interrogated cannot hear what their unseen observers say. Nobody in the hall can hear either, not with the door shut. The missiles must fly, my Queen. The humans will finish destroying themselves, and their planet shall be ours. All we must do is ensure that [b]Captain Hobart[/b] does not talk before that happens. We do not know how long that is, but we know it is before the end of the day. He has proven resilient so far to [b]Smedley[/b]'s techniques, but we cannot be certain he will hold out long enough. [b]Smedley[/b] is an amateur compared to our people, like all humans. They practice the art of torture, but they have much to learn."
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 10:17 am
by kabukiman
OOC: Does have Melinda any idea what is captain Hobbart objectives/demands/requests/ideology?
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2014 5:16 am
by Mr. Handy
Melinda Christie,You observed the entire interrogation, so you've seen and heard everything that was said and done. You also have what you learned from your Psychology roll. Invisible Castle is down, so I can't bring up your roll, but I seem to remember it being a critical success, so I'll give you more below. Beyond that, you can try to find out more by talking to him.
[b]Hobart[/b]'s confidence was a veneer. He acted as though he could hold out indefinitely, but [b]Melinda[/b] could tell that he was secretly worried he would not be able to resist the interrogation long enough for the missile to launch. He did not seem to want to launch the missile, but he was not bluffing. He was definitely prepared to go through with his threat if that was the only way. From his statements, she could tell that he passionately believed in what he said, that the American leadership was hopelessly corrupt and criminal, and he regarded himself as a staunch patriot. This appeared to be his primary motivation in leading the faction he mentioned. He didn't show any signs of being a racist, unlike some of his followers were reputed to be. He was highly intelligent, a meticulous planner though clearly able to think on his feet and improvise, and possessed strong leadership skills. He was also very charismatic, able to sway people to his point of view, which meant that he probably did have a large following, even beyond the names that [b]Carolyn Wagner[/b] had confessed. Whatever this faction was, it was large, powerful, and influential, firmly embedded in the military. His demands seemed to be simple. He clearly wished to be released, and he no doubt would want the same for his followers.
As an employee of Cabela's, [b]Melinda[/b] had noticed that increasing numbers of people had been purchasing guns and ammunition in large quantities in recent years, as had government contractors from all sorts of agencies, even those that one wouldn't think needed firearms. This had driven prices up, which had been profitable for Cabela's, and it had resulted in shortages of some popular calibers of ammo. Some of them had just been ordinary people worried that terrible times were coming and wanting to be prepared to defend themselves and their families, but there had also been militia members and people in patriot groups buying weapons and ammo in bulk, as well as other survival supplies. From the way they talked, they seemed to share some of the same ideology as [b]Captain Hobart[/b], though they were less articulate about expressing their views. Some of them had mentioned that they felt that a civil war was coming and that they wanted to be ready for it, and one had even talked about the South rising again. Cabela's government clients were concerned about what they termed "domestic terrorism," and some of them had specifically mentioned militia groups, survivalists, and those with anti-government views as potential threats. Cabela's sold to both types freely. There did seem to be a civil war brewing, and if the zombie apocalypse hadn't intervened, one very well may have erupted. Even now, the crisis was only serving to enhance division.
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 11:12 am
by Dave Syrinx
Spoiler:
Mr. Handy, Kat asks, "Do we have some poison to finish him off with?"
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 8:26 pm
by Mr. Handy
In the observation room-
Kathryn McCoy,"I can get some, as a last resort," said [b]Everett[/b]. "However, that would risk exposing us. I think we have a decent amount of time before he breaks, and I have a better plan. We shall use the humans' own softness against them. They have rules against using torture. They do it anyway sometimes, but when they get caught they can be punished for it. [b]Lt. Colonel Carmichael[/b] is the third-highest ranking officer on this base, after myself and [b]General Cutter[/b]. He carries a lot of influence, and he has come to trust you. If you go to him and tell him that [b]Lt. Colonel Smedley[/b] is engaging in torture, he may help me put a stop to it legally. I will remain here and be a witness to what goes on in that room. I could use your camera to record it as well. If I try to put a stop to things myself, there is risk. [b]Smedley[/b] may go over my head to the general, and there's no telling what side the Military Police guarding the prisoner will take. However, they have done nothing to stop the torture so far, which makes them liable and likely to support [b]Smedley[/b]. If you bring [b]Carmichael[/b] back here to join me, he can take the lead in stopping it, and I can look like I'm merely agreeing with him. It may still get to [b]General Cutter[/b], but he may want to distance himself from [b]Smedley[/b] once the torture is exposed to protect himself. One thing you must not do is tell [b]Carmichael[/b] about the situation with the nuclear missiles. If he finds out later, we have the perfect justification for keeping it a secret - the general ordered it. However, if he gets wind of it, he may think it is more important to keep the missiles grounded than to stop the torture. [b]Smedley[/b] can't tell him, for while it would bolster his argument, he would be going against the general's orders.
"These humans have politics almost as complex as our own. I've learned to navigate these treacherous waters, but I do not always prevail. That is how we ended up on the surface of this planet after all. We must have displeased someone who has influence with the Emperor, and so we have been assigned to this dangerous posting. If we do well here, though, we may yet improve our own positions. Once the humans have been exterminated, I can send an encrypted message into space. We are to be picked up by the fleet before it breaks orbit...although I have my doubts that they will really do as promised. If our people abandon us on this backwater...Still, we must proceed as planned. There is no other way off of this planet."
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 3:24 pm
by Dave Syrinx
Kat nods and leaves the room, searching to find Lt. Colonel Carmichael.
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 3:31 am
by Mr. Handy
OOC,[b]Kathryn[/b] is moving to the thread linked below. Do not read any posts above the one in the link (except for those from the part when you were previously in that thread).
[url=http://www.callofcthulhu.org.uk/pbp/viewtopic.php?p=172577#p172577]Nerve Center[/url]
Everyone else remains in the current thread.
Re: IC-GOLD-Investigation(Melinda/Kathryn/MPs)
Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 3:42 am
by Mr. Handy
In the interrogation room- Captain Hobart seemed immune to Melinda Christie's powers of persuasion, and Lt. Colonel Smedley's waterboarding was proving equally ineffective. The MPs looked on impassively, their eyes not revealing what they were thinking. The interrogation continued for twenty minutes until Lt. Colonel Carmichael suddenly threw the door open and burst inside, followed by Lt. Kathryn McCoy and four burly airmen.
"This stops now!" he bellowed.
A waterlogged Captain Hobart looked up, relief all over his face. "I'd salute, sir, but I'm tied up at the moment," he said.
"Carmichael, stay out of this," said Smedley.
"Like hell I well! What do you think you're doing, torturing your own aide? Have you taken leave of your senses?! This is a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice! I'll have you brought up on charges, Smedley!"
"Waterboarding doesn't constitute torture. Under the Presidential Decision Directives regarding Homeland Security-"
"Save it for your court-martial!"
"I have authorization to carry out this interrogation by General Cutter himself."
