CH3-05 Return to Malta, the end?

[Mr. Handy]

"The plans I found online don't match what I'm seeing," says Liz. "I think he must have swapped the plans for those of a similar building. We can't rely on them."

[carnage_lee]

[bAndy Wade][/b]

"Seems like he's a paranoid bastard, eh?" Andy says. "If this were back home we could apply to see the plans at the local council offices, the hard copies I mean. They probably couldn't swap those out as easily, could they?"

[Mr. Handy]

"We might give it a try here," says Liz. "Malta used to be British. Maybe they still do some things the same way."

[ghill]

OOC:   You can indeed go to the Land Registry and obtain plans. The plans are certainly different.

OOC:   Assuming you are not planning on burgling Rudaj's villa, whats next on the agenda?

[Mr. Handy]

Spoiler:

Let's see what we can find out about the site where we expect the ritual will take place.

[carnage_lee]

OOC:   Agreed. Park up some distance from the gate and make our way to the site from there, seems like a good idea.

[ghill]

What the prof calls Site 3 stands on a rocky plateau on the Northwest coast of Gozo, overlooking the sea. from your own recollections it covers around two acres, sitting in a natural amphitheatre right on the coast, access was via a long dusty dirt track. Out of sight of the road was a fairly poor security fence, this has now been replaced by a significantly newer and more robust looking version. With a variety of warning signs indicating the private property, dog patrols, electrified fences.

OOC:   Sorry, my mistake but the most serious dig site the one Greg believes is religiously significant to the Verbti is on Gozo the other Maltese Island, so it is a ferry journey away. Certainly not impossible to get to so assume Liz/Andy and anyone else who wants to come has taken the next ferry

Spoiler:

I've added this background detail. It may or may not be useful but its the sort of stuff Liz would pick up on Google as a matter of course. The Palazzo is located just outside the village of Mgarr. Mgarr’s name derives from the maltese word for 'was carried' although another meaning may be 'springs of water'. Mgarr is perhaps the most isolated village in Malta separated from any other habitation by some distance. The village is a typical Maltese agricultural village and has retained much of its charm and distinctive character.

Over the centuries several towers had been built on the cliffs over Mgarr’s sheltered bays which were in times acted as refuges to pirates.

Mgarr has some of the oldest known places of worship. Skolba temples, consisting of two distinct temples, are so old that they have been entered in the Guinness Book of Records as one of the two oldest free-standing structures in the world. The West Temple dated to about 3500BC and is about 60 feet square. It is built on a trefoil plan with three apsidal chambers and a courtyard in the middle. Some of the walls are four feet thick. The East temple is not so old and is neither preserved so well. Another important set of megalithic structures is at Ta’ Hagrat. These consist of two temples and the basic format is again a trefoil plan and a central courtyard. The larger temple has a spectacular massive facade. Cart ruts can be found all over the Village.

The Southern boundary of Mgarr is formed by the Great Ridge and the Victoria Lines, a fortified 19th Century wall. The Victoria Line was completed in 1897, the year of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The long stretch is punctuated with watchtowers, batteries, gun posts and various strongholds. Four forts are positioned along the lines, Madliena Fort, Fort Mosta, Bingemma Fort and Fort Pembroke. Mgarrs’ population is around three and a half thousand. Investigators who travel to Mgarr will be warmly welcomed. Staying in Mgarr Despite its isolated location Mgarr boasts several hotels.

NB Its probably a 20 minute drive from the Palazzo to the temple.

[carnage_lee]

OOC:   So the dig-site is on Gozo, OK and Rudaj's villa is on Malta itself? If so, then it's possible that he plans to use the helicopter (was there one on the landing pad) to get to the site for the ritual (maybe not everyone as that would require a few trips). Disabling the helicopter would possible force all of Rudaj's people to use the ferry or use Rudaj's yacht. Does the magical leg bone have enough range to 'hit' the helicopter from a safe distance, if (1) it's on the ground, or (2) in the air (after just taking off). Could we/someone remain hidden near the villa to do that? We also need a plan to get us and our gear over to the dig-site in advance, perhaps the better plan would be to disable the 'copter once it lands at the dig-site? (if they're going to use one) that is. We need to be able to neutralise the dog patrols - we should be able to set up camp nearby and see what the patrols schedules are?

[ghill]

From the car it wasn't possible to see much apart from the top storey of the house, the site is clearly designed for privacy (high wall, tall trees and hedges etc) It is also surrounded by open fields with a single track/drive for an approach. In Andy's opinion approaching it unobserved would be a long drawn out process taking quite some time. Looking at the plans Andy can determine that if Rudaj is going to use a helicopter it won't be a big one. A small commercial would fit perhaps six people at a squeeze. The maximum limit for the leg bone seems to be about 100m which would require whoever was using it to get closer to the house.

Fields

OOC:   As the gear hasn't been delivered yet it is a relatively simple to get it redirected to Gozo rather than. At the site, you can determine two things. 1) You need to be inside the fence to observe the dig site. 2) The dog patrol is not on site and is more likely a visiting patrol, certainly while they walk/observe the perimeter there is no sign of a dog inside the wire. Andy or anyone else with him can determine a number of sites from which they can observe much of the fence line, but not the site itself.

[Mr. Handy]

Spoiler:

We'll eventually need some way to deal with the electric fence (if the sign isn't just a bluff), possibly by cutting power to it. If there are power lines, we may be able to do that. However, if there's a generator on the site within the fence, that will be harder. Can I detect any wireless connections on my laptop? Maybe I can hack into it.

[ghill]

The sign doesn't seem like a bluff (the fence does seem to hum slightly) and a quick walk along the fence line reveals a power supply box (inside the fence line) connecting to the fence. and freshly dug earth leading back to another box by a power pole at the road.

[Mr. Handy]

Liz points out the box by the pole. "When we're ready to enter the site," she says, "we can cut the power to the fence there. We might not want to do that too early, though. It would bring unwanted attention."

[carnage_lee]

Andy Wade

Andy tries to get the 'lay of the land', working out the probably routes to the site..

OOC:   Are the routes obvious? Is there access to the site only from the road? Number of roads? Thinking - setting up ambushes - delaying tactics.

[ghill]

Single lane road (low stone walls either side) then a dirt track about 50m then it hits the fence line a similarly new/sturdy looking gate. The track is downhill all the way disappearing into the natural amphitheatre where you know the temple to be.

In his opinion, an ambush en route would be feasible but not the easiest thing, in the villages, it would be possible (cover from the houses, tight roads, tight corners but risks discovery by locals) but outside simply because there is little cover except for these low boundary walls you'd risk being seen before you could spring the ambush.

[BenTheRat]

OOC: Greg is back, sorry I've been so swamped lately trying to get my book out. I'll try and stay up now.

[ghill]

OOC:   No worries mate, work/home life is throwing me a bit of a curve ball at the moment which is making life a tad difficult just at the moment as well. RealLife (TM) has that habit.

[ghill]

OOC:   Guys are you waiting on me? To be clear Rudaj is behind this and he has a great deal of wealth and he is not stupid he clearly uses that wealth to employ someone or somebody to ensure his electronic footprint is massively reduced if not non-existent. You can assume he uses his wealth to ensure his physical security is just as well maintained. He or people working for him are well aware of your existence, you can or should assume he is either actively looking for you or taking measures to ensure your ability to interfere are reduced (new fences?) Assuming his security is strong, then surveilling him may be a long drawn out process drive-bys are simply not going to cut it, but stealthing in may not be advisable either. However, you have arrived on the island several weeks before when you believe the ceremony will take place which gives you ample opportunity to make arrangements/plans. You know where the ceremony will take place. You know when the ceremony will take place You know who in theory will be attending. We can if none of this interests you simply gloss over the details but I suggest you need more info and you need to tell me how you would go about getting it and then you can make plans. Then we move onto the fire and the burning flesh and the screams and the end of the world.

[carnage_lee]

Righto, so an ambush isn't really on the cards.

Concentrating too much on surveillance is extremely risky; we're not experts and Rudaj can afford to hire the people that DO know what they're doing. I think we've done enough to ascertain that Rudaj is in attendance and that his plan is set in motion.

Knowing where and when the ceremony is taking place should be an advantage (on the face of it) but again we're undermanned. I don't see any reason why we can't get into the site before-hand and set up some booby-traps (IEDs in various locations would be a good start). We might have to camp inside the site for a day or two before the ceremony is due to take place. If the dog patrol is on the perimeter and infrequent then we ought to be able to do this - masking our entry point and scents.

I am not sure what else we can 'research' - IDEAS REQUIRED,

Of course what really would have helped is not pissing off the 'orthadox' Verbetoi, they'd probably do the job of foiling Rudaj job for us.

[Mr. Handy]

Spoiler:

Yes, we'll need to attack them when they go to the site for the ceremony, and we need to be already there waiting for them when they arrive. It would be nice if we could blow up Rudaj's helicopter with him in it, but I doubt we'll be so lucky as to score a SAM from our friends. The "orthodox" Verbetoi are a thought. We could have our Alex arrange for them to get wind of what's going on at Malta without revealing the source, specifying the names of the people involved and where and when the ritual is set to happen. They may show up looking for revenge, but it could be risky. They'll be just as hostile to us if they detect our presence.

[ghill]

OOC:   Mr Handy is correct about how the Verbetoi is likely to treat you. The guy you fought on the mountain was fairly close to an orthodox Verbetoi (with Liberal leanings as he'd had a relationship with a non-Verbetoi), yes the reality is that they might not want what Rudaj wants but they are the worst kind of racist (well they think if you aren't Verbetoi then you are basically an animal), misogynists and generally "not nice"

OOC:   So actions or do we just forward to the arrival of the Serbs?