Joint Task Force Special Operations- Welcome and chat

[Mr. Handy]

I'm enjoying it too, but I guess it has been moving too fast for me, as I fell behind and there was just too much reading for me to catch up on what I'd missed, especially when the site went down over the weekend. I've almost caught up now, and if I don't have time to post tonight, I should be able to do it tomorrow. Now that I've read almost everything so far, I expect to be able to keep up with it from now on provided I don't fall behind again.

[welsh]

Hey bud-

No worries. I am looking at where Miranda's investigation goes and hoping Darren stops Lapis and Dowd from opening up the truck, booby-trapped by a bunch of terrorists, and the end result is our game disappears and "the Hole" is about 10 feet deeper.

Just kidding.

[welsh]

Hey Players-

Snapper asked a good question about communication and honestly, I don't have an answer, but would think US agents probably have some kind of encrypted communication system for cell phones and that their cell phone conversations may be subject to some centralized communication system. This would not be exclusive- probably agents have their own cell phones, but official communications would probably need to be kept recorded and secure. Assuming updates and especially recent concerns about encrypted software in the US, shall we keep this simple?

A cellular frequency and communications line that would allow all agents to conference call, text each other as well as make regular calls to each other? More closed systems tactical gear would make sense for more tactical situations, but short of that, I think a cell phone line would make sense.

[Snapper]

Sounds perfect. I know some people in state and Federal policing here in Australia and am aware many teams unofficially just started using WhatsApp because it does everything you describe. The various employers are playing catch up to create something more official but the problem is the free app is easy to use! Friends in IT assure me Signal is better/more secure though.

If the team has a phone app that can replicate WhatsApp or similar, and is more secure, perfect.

[Mr. Handy]

That sounds good to me too. Miranda Waterhouse may even have had a hand in setting up the system.

[welsh]

Hey Handy-
Well recall, this game actually is multiple episodes, so despite some of the language earlier in the game, things will change and this game will become more semi-permanent, even if I think this adventure will be a relatively short one. As the game extends, it may become necessary for the players to begin to develop a separate form of communication as some villainy may be coming from within the government itself. As for this episode, I actually think the pieces are starting to fall into place pretty quickly. We could, theoretically, be done with this episode by August or Sept.

Which actually is kind of fine. The goal of this adventure really is to start putting pieces in place that will have more meaning as we progress. There are a bunch of stories stewing around in the NY area but I actually see this game taking us next to the mountains, then to the border, and then to Latin America, perhaps with a trip to the beach in between, followed by, maybe a trip to Greenland, Atlanta, Arizona... Damn, almost a whole season in the making!

[Snapper]

Brief outage there from the forum again, I think.

[welsh]

Hey Folks-
Apologies about slow response. I am wrapping up a summer class this week, and we are nearly there and had to help my wife with some Covid outreach in VA, so a bit of a pile of real life. Still, scheduling is clearing so I should be more available. Funny think is that i've come up with four more episode ideas for future games, one a bit light and the other a bit more odd and convoluted, a another really sudden and violent, and a fourth... well. So expect a lot of episodes to come.

[Snapper]

Great!

[Snapper]

Sorry Chaps, very busy week because of this RW goddamn zombie apocalypse.

[welsh]

Hey Snapper- No worries. Been a bit nutty this week on my end too.

[welsh]

Dear Players-
A bit worried the pace is going a bit slow. Let me know if this is working for you or if we need to speed it up a bit.
best
welsh

[Mr. Handy]

The pace is good for me. Of course, I only really have time to read the long posts on weekends.

[Snapper]

Sorry Chaps, I'm lagging a bit at moment, getting crushed with work because of this goddamn zombie pandemic. - Snapper

[welsh]

Hey Players-
Apologies for the delay in posting. Work has crept up as semester approaches. So apologies for the delays.

[Snapper]

All good, all excellent so far in fact. And I've been periodically flattened with work lately myself!!

[Snapper]

Team, I think we're in danger of information being lost. Does everyone want to summarise what their characters have discovered so far, then we could decide on priorities maybe? I'll go first...

Gonzalez:
- Has 2 educated and hopefully reliable local witnesses who have described a battle of faith that has taken place between the local Christian church - which may have African mystical leanings - and the Muslims who moved into the blown up building. The Muslim sect in question may also have had mystical leanings. Both churches may have been influenced by older, more primitive and animalistic (and dangerous) religions.
- People have been disappearing in this area recently.

Conroy:
- Weird red dust everywhere at the site. Doesn't belong. Vey dry. Visions of the desert.
- Evidence of military grade weapons suggesting possible terrorist activity?
- Most alarming of all, bags of child body parts in the trunk of an Audi at the site.

[welsh]

A good idea. Claire Mckenna is expecting a call from DOJ for an update and a decision needs to be reached about federal jurisdiction and confronting the Saudis about the fire soon.

[Snapper]

Sorry all, very busy right now, I'll be able to post on Monday.

[welsh]

Hey Snapper-
No worries, brother, I've been buried in teaching the last two weeks and barely time to get my head up.

Sorry everyone for the delays. First weeks of semester have been kicking my butt and on-line teaching is a pain in the ass. Will try to post more.