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 Out of sight of the road was a fairly poor security fence, this has now been replaced by a significantly newer and more robust looking version.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.