Play@YSDC

Bartholomew asks for another cofee.
I'l try to get a legit reason to get you there. With all those problems in the middle east, it will be probably easy.

Paula nods. "There's always the old standby, counterterrorism work," she says. "Even if people think we're lying, they'll probably just think it's a cover for some other secret thing we're doing. They won't know the real reason we're there."

Tourism would be better for me, considering I'm not contracted at the moment. says Paulus I'd also like us to take the opportunity to create a proper 'Green Box' so we don't go into the field lacking in equipment and that isn't going to be an easy matter considering the nature of the Egyptian government.

"We could have it smuggled in from Libya," suggests Paula. "It's a chaotic mess awash with surplus arms and other gear. A lot of that stuff's on its way to Syria by way of Turkey, but I'm sure they wouldn't miss enough for the three of us. Do you have any contacts there?"

"Sounds good to me," says Paula. "How soon can we get there?"

"OK" says Paulus head in his phone "That makes sense. Its not risk free, the border is well patrolled, its how those Mexican tourists died caught up in security operation to stop militants crossing over. That said once the gear is in Egypt we only have to move it a small distance acros country, as we'll be in the Western Desert. Although it'll have to stay out in the desert. I've checked there is no kind of rental market for villas around Farafra,"

He types a bit more. "But apparently one attraction of Farafra is its White Desert...he reads "known as Sahara el Beyda, with the word sahara meaning a desert — a national park of Egypt and 45 km (28 mi) north of the town of Farafra, the main draw of which is its rock type coloured from snow-white to cream. Blah blah rocks and stuff. The Farafra desert is a typical place visited by some schools in Egypt, as a location for camping trips. So we get the stuff dumped in the white desert and then camp on top of it. So tourists on camping trip....We'll need some kind of accredited fixer, someone who wont ask any questions but who can make sure all our paperwork and baksheesh is sorted, otherwise the security forces will be sniffing around the whole time. Oh and they'll need to make sure we have transport pickups, Landrovers whatever is best for the desert."

"In terms of weapons," says Paula, "I'd like an assault rifle and an automatic pistol, plus some mace. I think night vision gear all around would be good. We'll also need plenty of desert survival and camping equipment."

OOC: Just write in the OOC thread what you need.

1 September 2014
You are all in the plane that is arriving at Cairo. You read the news of the day: a case of Ebola was discovered in Sweden, naked photos from celebrities were hacked in the USA, some scandal in Portugal with the director from an orphanage who killed himself.
There aren't any problems in the airport even if the controls are strict (but it's normal nowadays).

Paula is dressed as a tourist, albeit an exceptionally large one. She has to sit in an exit row in order to have enough legroom. "Interesting article," she says to her fellow operatives, pointing out the one about the director in Portugal, reading it for further information but knowing it won't have the full story.

"Does it say what will become of the orphanage and the children?
Asks Agent Parker, also dressed as a casual tourist.

Paulus looks for their ride. He has seen the article about the "Portugese orphanage scandal", but he has no desire to read the details. Paulus doesn't want to double guess the decisions he's made along the way, or dwell on the collateral damage.

There isn't much information: it seems that the children suffered abuses and the director was responsible. The orphanage was closed and the kids transferred to another place.

"There's little in here we don't already know," says Paula, handing the article to Parker.

"Well that's unfortunate
Parker leans back in is seat and settles in for the long flight
"How much longer till we get there?"

Two hours latter, you are with your "guide", Youssef Saber (a copt). He is driving a morattab (something akin to a land rover); unfortunately it doesn't seem in very good shape. He got nearly all the gear you asked (except the guns). He is bragging himself as knowing a lot of important people from the new government. He is driving to a "rend-vous" in the desert to get the "best weapons you could get in the middle east and maybe in russia"

It's very hot (43 celcius) but Youssef says it could be much worst. This is a desert with rocks, not sand; a small booklet says that this area had water and animals, thousands of years ago.

"Sounds good," says Paula. "I should be able to find an AK, then. A genuine Russian model, not one of those cheap Chinese knockoffs that are as common as rocks out here."

"I'm just glad we're finally here"
says Agent Parker to everyone else
"It feels like we've spent months getting here"