Opening Moves

[Desertfox]

"Ah Sir Charles Lytton, or would you prefer 'The Phantom'? Could I have a word with you?"

(chuckle)

"By all mean, sit down. What can I do for you? And who might you be?"

"My name is of no importance, it is sufficient to say that I come as an agent of the SSS. The Swiss Secret Service has need of men of your skill. We could offer substantial sums of money for your services, but you don't do it for the money. Instead, we can offer a challenge..."

"Your offer is most interesting. I will most certainly consider it."

"If you do, we will be having a meeting in this place, in a month's time. Bring Lady Lytton."

"My wife?"

"You didn't pull of the Lugash Heist..."



***


In other news today the Norman freighter, hijacked in the South Atlantic, has finally been found, grounded of the coast of Madagascar, her cargo and the hijackers nowhere to be found. Her crew had been picked up two days ago by a German tanker in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The identity of the hijackers is still unknown, thought it is suspected that it was pulled off by a shadowy group called "The Penguins".


***


Gran Columbia, near French Cayenne


"...so Danny, how big was the haul?"

"What do you mean?"

"The Bellagio Job, it was your boys that pulled it off."

"Oh just twenty million. It wasn't just for the money."

"You know the 'Men in Straw Hats' are on your trail right? A man told me to relay this to you. There's a job offer in New Switzerland, new identities, the whole works."

"What about the SSS? If the 'Straw Hats' aren't passing up the reward..."

"Oh, this offer comes from the SSS."


***


Italy, Villa of Francois Toulour


"The ninety foot yacht of the Prince of Monaco... how'd you pull that one off?" 

"Doesn't even rank in the top 5 in difficulty. The third Van Gogh was probably the most difficult, the frame was heavy."

"What have you been up to lately?"

"Unemployed."

"There's a job offer, the man who brought it didn't reveal much. But Ocean and his team accepted it."

"Ocean? Tell me about it."



***



Egypt

"Ms. San Diego, we just received a message from Phoenix. They want us to go back."

"Do we have the Pharaoh's mask?"

"We do."

"Let's go."

[TexanCowboy]

You see, this is why I'm glad Jack Bauer was born in Atlanta...

[Walter]

Ah, Sir Charles Phanton, the notorious Lytton. :D

[maddox]

Somebody/thing  isn't going to like the competition.

[TexanCowboy]

Jack Bauer? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_bauer

[Desertfox]

Note, this storyline is completely separate from the Civil War and much later


February 29th, 1919


"Ladies and gentlemen, you have been brought here with the task of forming an elite group of agents, capable of doing what others consider the impossible. You all have certain abilities which are of great use to this organization. For your services you will all be handsomely rewarded and giving a challenge worthy of your ability.

Your first mission, if you choose to accept it...  

This man is General Tai Lung. A high level Chinese General of Taiwanese decent. Martial arts expert, master of deception, feared strategician, and Swiss double-agent. The man is feared by both the MK and the RRC. He lead his own army during the Chinese Civil War and was captured after being betrayed by one of his own men. He is currently being held at an MK maximum security prison near the RRC border, about a 100 miles from the sea.

Your mission is simple. Get him out. An outline of a plan has already been formulated, which you can see fit to modify as you wish. Anything you need ask.

Questions?"

"Let's see the plan."

"A ship taking Confederate contractors leaves Los Angeles in a month's time bound for Shangai. Skipper, your team takes out the ship near Saipan. Crew and passengers are put unto lifeboats, a very slow and old Swiss merchant going east will be along to 'rescue' them. Ocean, your team then takes over and poses as the contractors. The rest of you can make use of the same opportunity or act alone. That will get you in to China without too much suspicion. As for the actual breakout, that is up to you. Plans for the prison have been obtained and will be provided for detailed inspection. As for extraction, follow me outside..."

[maddox]

And you believe General Tai Lung still is sane?

Also, your beloved Count Dooku still is residing in the Forbidden Palace...

[Desertfox]

Nah, he would be too valuable sane, to turn him insane, otherwise he would be dead, plus his training would help him against being turned insane. Besides, its more of an exercise in getting my team some work than actually springing him. There is some one else that I do want to get out, but he is for another story. Count Dooku I care not for...

[maddox]

No problem for me.   But I could only say this.

The dragon/tigre lady/Son of dragon, even annoyed with fleabites, won't like to be awakened by the arch nemesis.

So, when is this all happening?

[Carthaginian]

I hope those 'Confederate Contractors' don't ever, ever, ever return, lest they be imprisoned and perhaps executed... and if I find out their names, their families might be in danger as well- ya'll don't know yet where the buck is going to stop with the next Confederate leader. ;)

[TexanCowboy]

Knowing the way I was running it, the first agitation would lead to a war...a war the Swiss aren't prepared for.

[Desertfox]

The dragon/tigre lady/Son of dragon, even annoyed with fleabites, won't like to be awakened by the arch nemesis.

So, when is this all happening?

Which is why I am sending in a team of cat thief's and not a military force.

Don't have an exact date yet, but at least a year after the civil war.

Knowing the way I was running it, the first agitation would lead to a war...a war the Swiss aren't prepared for.

Surely the CSA would not be stupid enough to declare war on another country base on just an unconfirmed pirate attack? Especially when said country rescued the poor Confederates in their lifeboats...

I hope those 'Confederate Contractors' don't ever, ever, ever return, lest they be imprisoned and perhaps executed... and if I find out their names, their families might be in danger as well- ya'll don't know yet where the buck is going to stop with the next Confederate leader.

That is pretty harsh actions against people that have done and will do nothing against the CSA. Then again I could let them lose in the CSA...

[ctwaterman]

Hmmmm lets look at this Someone Stop a CSA flagged vessel on the High Sea - An act of Piracy by an Individual an Act of War by a Nation.

Said Individuals then proceed to take that vessel an the Identification and Papers of its passangers and use them to Illegally enter a 2nd Country.   They then proceed to commit a Felony and help a Convicted Felon escape from a Hi Security Prison.

They then use that ship or some other means to escape the 2nd Country.

I think that under these circumstances the nations so attacked are completly fine in taking any actions they wish.  And if they wish to accuse the nation that happens to benefit from the Prisoners escape then.   I certainly cant see Italia even objecting to either nations Caus Belli.

It all about Motive, Method, and Opportunity!

And what happens when the Freighter starts transmitting an SOS am under attack by Pirates ??????  Do you quickly sink it ??????

[Guinness]

Sounds like acts of war to me, assuming the perpetrators ever get caught and talk.

It also sounds like the Ghost of Woodrow Wilson is already having his revenge. Muahahahahahahahaahah.

[Carthaginian]

I hope those 'Confederate Contractors' don't ever, ever, ever return, lest they be imprisoned and perhaps executed... and if I find out their names, their families might be in danger as well- ya'll don't know yet where the buck is going to stop with the next Confederate leader.

That is pretty harsh actions against people that have done and will do nothing against the CSA. Then again I could let them lose in the CSA...

They would be shot on sight as traitors.
I'm serious, DF- you have NO IDEA who Wilson's Vice President was, and believe me, you really, really don't want to start playing spy games with him.