[Irn0rchid]

Rose looks over and Elaine and raises an eyebrow and she nods back, "Okay, sounds like a plan then. Lets go see what Tanya has up her sleeve." Rose leads the other two women back outside and into the waiting car. Pulling up to the entry gate at the country club, she gives their names and waits for further direction.

[Mercy Merchant]

The guard at the gate check his pad and nods when he finds your names.  "Welcome, Miss.  Please follow the green ARO to your assigned parking spot.  Someone will be waiting for you.  Have a nice day."

The indicated route leads to off to the side of the main club house to a smaller building.  There are four gardeners doing some yard maintenance as you pull up to the assigned place.  Three of them look your way as you drive up, wiping sweat from their brows before going back to work.  A man in loud golfing attire is waiting for you get out of the car.  "Good afternoon, ladies, and welcome.  You are expected."  The man escorts you up to the door of the small building and  and opens the door for you.  Directly inside is a small lobby and partial kitchen.  The man walks with you to a set of double doors, knocking as he gets there.  You can make out the deep voice of the colonel as he bids you to enter.

A large conference room is beyond the door, containing a table that could seat twenty people, but only three of the seats are currently occupied.  You see Colonel Greaves, Tany Marisart, and Ni Ni Xiaolu.  There are trid screens set up in front of four of the empty chairs, but the images are currently wavy static.  Tanya rises as you enter the room and your escort leaves.  She comes to take each of you by the hand and motions to three of the empty chairs.  "We are going to be mostly informal today and for the purpose of security, the four missing members are connected in and will not be visible at this time.  Things are moving rapidly and we need people on the ground that are willing to go the extra distance.  An offer to have you go to Thailand has already been made, but it was felt that you might be more willing if you know more about the trip.  Please be seated."

[Irn0rchid]

Rose frowns when she enters the room and sees Ni Ni seated there. She shoots a quick message to Robin, <<That's Ni Ni, what is she doing here?>> As Tanya explains why they are there, Rose can feel her eyebrows climbing her face, "Wait, so this is the same bit of business that Ni Ni has already approached us about?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Tanya nods.  "Yes it is.  You have impressed all of us with your ability to quickly accomplish the task set to you.  Also, and certainly very important in this, is your desire to return the ledgers and the toxin vials.  And it is those vials that are the lead in to the next phase.  What you brought to Colonel Greaves has been determined to be anthrax.  We are almost certain that this came from a secure lab facility and that the Yakuza were involved in the theft.  There is a cabal of people that believe that someone yet unidentified is pursuing a goal of selective weaponization of the anthrax.  Selective in that they intend to kill off those that are not humans.  We intend to stop them.  In Seattle we found two crucial pieces of evidence that have left us certain that the next targets need to be Colombia and Thailand.  One piece came from the piece of pottery we took from Howard's collection and have since put back.  This clue is yours and we have decided that you should be given the opportunity to work more closely with the central cabal.  I cannot overemphasize the importance of this project, but neither can I overemphasize the depths of depravity in the souls of the perpetrators of this horrible scheme or how dangerous this task will be."

Tanya stops and watches the three of you.  "If you are willing to proceed, we will make you a greater part of the team, privy to knowledge that others will not have.  But for now, I can say little more.  Are you interested in risking your lives for the good of people you will never know?"

[Irn0rchid]

Rose looks at the other two and doesn't see any sign of disagreement so she continues to speak for the trio, "Well we had already pretty much decided on accepting the Thialand job from Ni Ni, and you've done nothing but make it more attractive both morally and financially, so I'm pretty sure the answer is yes." The other two women nod their assent. "My biggest reservation about the job before was the lack of information, and it seems like you're ready to remedy that now?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Tanya smiles and looks over at Ni Ni, who nods.  The colonel also nods and computer generated voices come from each of the trid screen indicating assent as well.  A small console rises from the table in front of each of you and the others.  Tanya pushes a button and a holographic map of Bangkok, Thailand appears in the center of the table.  After some manipulation, the view focuses in on ever-smaller sections of the city, finally focusing on what appears to be a tall apartment building near the southeast section.  As the view solidifies the faces of two men and one woman appear next to it with names underneath each one.  Red lights pop up on each name as Tanya speaks.  The two men are Tam and Paranat Pichit and the woman is Panyang Pichit.  They are siblings who control shipping interests all across Southeast Asia and up into China.  This gives them considerable wealth.  What is not publicly known is that all three have links to the Yakuza, making them even more influential in the area.  The top four floors of this building is their penthouse home.  We are certain that one or all of these three is deeply involved with the plot.  The likeliest suspect is Tam, who has been quite outspoken about his dislike of anyone not human, but it would be wrong to assume that he is the main link.  We need some proof and would like you to help us get it.  I will be going with you and we will be working together to gather what evidence is available."  She pauses to take a drink of water and looks at you to see if you have any comments so far.

[Irn0rchid]

Rose looks somewhat confused, "Well that seems pretty straightforward, but what does this have to do with the pottery?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Tanya grimaces.  "All too much, I am afraid.  The people behind this are very much guided by superstition and omens, believing that the answers to the problems of today lie in the past..............far in the past.  There is a very ancient story in Chineese literature about the creation of the heavens and the earth.  As the story goes, mankind would be embarrassed by the riches offered and would grow lax and feeble.  The gods would send punishment in the form of demons.  These demons are not specified, but some people can take anything and screw it to their advantage.  Indications are that there are important people that are being convinced that the Elves, Dwarves, Orks, and Trolls are the demons and that mankind must destroy all of them in order to make themselves safe.  The story was placed on pieces of pottery and then each piece was sent to a different part of China and then farther out in the world.  In the centuries since, or so the story goes, the separated pieces would be brought together.  The idea is that the plague cure would be made obvious as soon as most of them were in one place and the final act would be timed for when every piece is in one specific location.  We now know the how, but still not the when or where the pieces need to be.  The entire story is written on some of the pottery, each one pointing its way to another.  Both of the pottery pieces in Seattle led us to Thailand.....................to these siblings.  They have two of the vases, reputed to be some of the largest and earliest of the entire set.  We believe that one of the two will have an important clue.  We need to get into the penthouse and find the vases."

[Irn0rchid]

"Okay, so you think Howard was part of their little group? Are they going to be more vigilant considering what happened to him? Or is this one of those left hand, right hand things?" She chuckles a little. "I guess it doesn't really matter, the job's the same either way... do we know anything about these three? Their interests, schedules, etc? Or are we starting from scratch?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Colonel Greaves shakes his head.  "We do not yet know what Howard's involvement was.  We think his family has long been a part of this cabal because they have been collecting the pieces of the pottery collection for several generations.  Our guess is that each one hoped to be the person to put all of them in one place and be heralded as some sort of prophet for doing so.  I think that he was trying to cover all his bases in some fashion, protecting himself as much as possible.  How he got the drugs is a mystery, but the fact remains that he did have them and so much have been associated with the "theft" somehow."

Ni Ni picks up on your other questions.  "And no, we know very little about our three targets beyond what is in the public eye.  It has only been a few days since we found out they are connected through the leads gathered from the pottery.  We are digging hard and should have more information by the time you leave for Thailand.  In the meantime, we are not standing still.  You will be given new IDs that you will need to become familiar with.  If you are still interested?"

[Irn0rchid]

"Unless there's some new objections," she turns to look at the her partners, "then I think we're still interested. You had asked what sort of equipment we'd need for this but I hadn't fully considered it yet as we weren't to Monday yet. Is that still the timeline? Sounds like we're still going in blind though, which is unfortunate... As far as personnel, magic seems to be the big hole currently."

[Mercy Merchant]

Tanya nods and grimaces.  "There are lots of holes, I am afraid, some bigger than others.  Do you have a recommendation to fill that particular hole?  I would like to point out that it is expected that you will keep all of this secret for a bit.  As of yet, we do not think they are on to us.  We have replaced the stolen pottery and feel pretty secure.  Every person we bring into this just adds to the potential of a leak that could stop us.  The other side has the funding and manpower of a AAA and a major criminal enterprise.  All we have is a few determined people of some influence and the assets to allow us to try to keep in the action."

Ni Ni also nods.  "Yes, and you have put your finger on an immediate issue..............a lack of intelligence on the next step.  That is where you will come in.  Make yourselves home in Thailand.  Get to know the area and then these people.  UCAS expats are a novelty there.  Especially if they appear to be well healed."  She glances over to where Greaves is sitting, then back to you.  "But there is another approach that has some favor.  Sometimes a stealthy approach is better.  Using the shadows and not being seen has a certain appeal.  Do you have an opinion?"

[Irn0rchid]

"I don't really know any mages. Robin brought in the one we used on the last job." Turning to Robin, "Do you think he'd be a good fit for this? Or do you know anyone Elaine?"

"As for the best approach, the 'hiding in plain sight' route worked out well this last time, might as well try it again. Especially in a new area it has the advantage of being more forgiving of mistakes. Being caught sneaking around is bad. Being caught trespassing because you're lost is a lot easier to get out of."

[Mercy Merchant]

Elaine shakes her head at your question and Robin shrugs her shoulders and nods.  "We can ask, but are how much are we allowed to tell anyone?"

Tanya frowns.  "Please remember that we need to keep this as compartmentalized as possible.  I can try to vet anyone you recommend, but it would be best to not divulge details of our operation to thers outside of this room."

A disembodies voice comes from one of the monitors.  "I appreciate your decision to be a part of this.  Please provide Colonel Greaves with a name that you would like to be known as.  Suitable SINs will be provided to you.  You will need to become familiar with the backgrounds before departing for Bangkok.  Suitable funds and attire will be made available.  Do you wish to travel as a group or individuals?"

[Irn0rchid]

"Do you need to know immediately? Or can we decide on how to approach this first before committing?"