I Spy Mission Log - Entry 02


Looking around at the other agents in the room, some of you recognize each other, if only by name. Most notably, McHale remembers Kerr working as a consultant in some previous work as a profiler. Defectors, enemy agents, and double-agents are Kerr's area of expertise.

Just as some of the agents are about to speak, the conference room door opens and an 18 or 19 year old wiry kid strolls in. The tanned young man, with dark hair and brown eyes, drops a handwritten checklist on a few pages of yellow legal-pad paper and a briefcase in front of Zeb. He then takes a seat in the conspicuously vacant chair next to Zeb, and starts leafing through the briefing slides and notes.

"Thanks Jack." Zeb then stands, and holds a hand up to the group for silence. "Just a moment, let's see what we have here." Zeb quickly scans the few pages in front of him, then removes a key from his pocket and unlocks the briefcase. Although the lid of the case is blocking its contents from your view, it's obvious that Zeb is surprised with what he finds inside.

Closing the case loudly, one of the patrolling guards stops and closes the conference room door. "You may now speak freely," continues Zeb, nodding when quizzical looks indicate the kid.

Anna stands up "Actually it's BaRAGli, not Bargli, and just to complete your bio of me, my specialty is intelligence gathering. I actually have several questions, so if you'll bear with me for a moment.

"I notice that you said Mr. Billeter referred to 'Whiteout base' as Atlantis II; do we have any information as to what Atlantis I is or was? Also, along the same lines, do we know of any other Atlantis Enterprises facilities or bases?" She continues, "Do we know of any CON bases or facilities?"

Zeb motions to Miss Hemingway, who after closer examination, appears to be in her mid-thirties. "Miss Hemingway is better qualified to answer. She was sent over by a different UN Security Council sub-group to lend aid in this mission."

Laying down her pen and clasping her hands with cold precision movements, Miss Hemingway begins.

"We believe that Atlantis II is modeled, at least in theory, after the original fabled Atlantis. A self-sustaining home for the more enlightened of the world. Atlantis II is the first colony attempted by either Atlantis Enterprises or the Children of Neptune (CON).

"CON began as a survivalist group dedicated to insuring the survival of its members in the event of a global tragedy. At that time, CON practiced natural food farming, supply hoarding, outdoor survival, weapon use, and other survivalist techniques. The group seemed relatively harmless until William Billeter became their leader.

"Billeter, a former Arctic explorer, is a popular, dynamic speaker and businessman. Under his leadership, group membership and revenues increased throughout the world. Billeter contacted several investors to provided capital to form a natural food franchise. This franchise became incorporated under the name Atlantis Enterprises.

"Soon afterward, CON began planning their own colony. The idea of Atlantis II was born in 1980, and the search for a natural undeveloped building site began. In 1981, Atlantis Enterprises purchased a plot of land on the Antarctic Peninsula where a Chilean research station once stood. In 1991, Atlantis Enterprises purchased prefabricated, heavily insulated housing units and the components for a geodesic dome. Thousands of feet of pipe, hundreds of fuel oil barrels, Quonset huts, and tons of assorted non-perishable supplies were also shipped.

"In recent years, CON activities came to the attention of the world's peacekeeping authorities when CON became involved in crime to raise money for construction. In what is referred to as the 'Floating Island Mission', international authorities financed a small team of agents to retrieve stolen Swiss franc printing plates. Once the manufactured floating island had been invaded and secured, and intensive investigation of the premises followed. Vague references hinted at CON's involvement in the counterfeiting scheme. It is conjectured that CON was intending to produce counterfeit Swiss francs in order to finance the construction of Atlantis II. Apparently, CON personnel had no intention of flooding the world's financial market or extorting money from the Swiss government.

"Agents investigating the activities of Colonel Martin 'Mad Merc' Strikewell at a small atoll in the Northwest Pacific uncovered another CON construction. A floating dry-dock used to construct floating islands confirmed the existence of CON and increased the possibility of additional floating islands. The Mercenary Atoll Mission also hinted at the existence of another CON construction in Antarctica."

Col. Hogan listens intently, though his interest may be more than just the mission briefing.

When Miss Hemingway has finished, Brennan speaks in a cool yet determined manner. His accent is nondescript 'television American."

"I don't suppose the SCAR scientists made any observations regarding the armaments of this so-called research outpost. Presumably the guards they kept mentioning were armed. I'd be curious to know with what. There's a slight difference in implication if your 'research station' is guarded by Rent-A-Cops carrying standard issue handguns, or military commandos packing AK-47s.

"Personally, I think we have to be prepared for the worst. Our superiors wouldn't be sending a guy like me down there if they didn't have a pretty good idea that these people are killers, at least potentially.

"All that radioactivity kind of gives you pause, too, doesn't it? Almost sounds like they've got a little reactor down there. And the world being what it is, nuclear energy is generally used to produce only two things: power, and power. Now it's possible that they've got a nice little energy plant humming along to help keep their plants warm, and something just got out of hand. But it's also quite possible that they've got their eye on the _other_ kind of power, particularly given the rest of what's gone on down there. Obviously, we'll want to be sure to have gear to protect us from more hazardous materials than snow and ice. Does anybody know where these jokers might have come by a decent chunk of fissionable material?"

Kerr nods solemnly to the first theory as to what Billeter is planing. He then adds his own thoughts.

"I think that CON maybe planning to use geothermal heat to melt the icecaps, this would raise the sea level 65 meters. Flooding most coastal regions and killing lots of people, plus the CON could live in there spiffy underwater homes (or some such nonsense, I don't think the CON people are full in the head).

"The radioactive steam cloud could be the testing of the geothermal melting process, if the geothermal area was mis-identified and was really a radioactive site... Which is possible because the northern western half of Antarctica has many volcanic areas.

"It is interesting that the SCAR members were crossing an ice shelf heading towards Halley base, when they could have easily gone to Faraday or Palmer Base. Indeed why would such a mission be conducted at this time of year? It's almost dead winter there and flying is down right dangerous."

It seems Miss Hemingway also has some questions.

"What kind of cover story, if any, is the team going in under? That is, are we trying to look like harmless scientists and bureaucrats, or are we going in as a serious UN investigation team - something that might feel threatening to them?"

Zeb answers. "This is entirely up to your team. I recommend waiting until Dr. Jameson briefs you at Ellsworth."

Miss Hemingway presses with, "Has the wreckage of Penguin One been found? If not, should the team be keeping an eye out for them?"

Zeb again answers. "I do not know, again this is a question for Dr. Jameson. However, by the time you arrive it will have been nearly a week since they crashed, so it is unlikely you will be searching for them if a search has not already been carried out."

Also, current satellite photos are unavailable from your current location before your scheduled departure.

He closes the briefing by saying that everyone needs to get their affairs in order rather quickly, as the transport to Ellsworth, Antarctica is scheduled to leave in a few days. He then gives the specifics of date and time of departure.

Miss Hemingway then stands and looks at Zeb. "That's all the information I think I will need. I will be assigning a field operative from my organization to this mission. Her alias is Shadowcat." She hands Zeb a picture of a woman. "She will provide any other information that you think you need, and will join the team at the airport."

"Good day, gentlemen, ladies." With that she turns and leaves.

McHale pipes in. "You've got to be kidding. We're going down to the land of ice and hell with someone with unknown qualifications?"

Miss Hemingway turns and looks coolly at McHale. "I have many demands on my time. I do not have the time or inclination to go traipsing across the Antarctic. The operative I have assigned is more than qualified for this mission. Good day." She then stalks from the room.

In the hall, Baragli takes Col. Hogan aside. "Colonel! Hi, Anna Baragli, we haven't met before today, but I know of some of your exploits. Your solution for the Zondraker affair was brilliant."

Before he can answer she continues, "I have a question for you, this is the first time I've ever worked so far from civilization, and Zeb mentioned an estimated population for Atlantis II of 80 to 120 people."

"If these people are associated with CON, I wouldn't be surprised if fifty to sixty percent of them are soldiers or guards of some sort. Do you think we could get a military force in there to deal with them, quickly and undetected, if it comes down to a fight? I'm praying that things won't go horribly wrong, but if they do, I just can't picture the seven of us fighting off 10 to 1 odds, to save the world."

Shaking his head sternly, Col. Hogan replies. "As I understand it, our team is on recon only. Surgical insertion; expose the source of the radioactive steam, the plans of Billeter and his means of achieving them; and returning safely to the council with our findings.

"If need be, a mop-up squad will be sent pending our findings, and not before. This mission is not intended as a frontal assault; nor is one required, as Atlantis II's previous actions have dictated. If we stay within their watch and rules, the most we need worry about is sabotage."

Later, when McHale asks about the thugs, Zeb offers to lead him to their holding cells. Along the way, McHale fills Brennan in on what happened before the briefing. Brennan follows and listens intently.

It turns out that the group are local thugs, part of a local auto theft ring.

Anna Baragli Shadowcat Tim McHale Michael Kerr
Sue Martin Robert Brennan Col. Hogan Jack Thompson