RESOURCE LINKS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_drug_trade
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/
https://www.cia.gov/library/publication ... os/co.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogota
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-1 ... oid-813035


The day of the massive drug cartel is over, but the drugs themselves still make their way, in frightening amounts, from South America to North America and Europe. After the busts of several Columbian and Mexican cartels, the current infrastructure of these black-market staples depends on hundreds of small operations: some producing, some transporting, and some marketing. The total devastation of the global illicit drug trade can never be quantified, but this $400 billion market has a reputation for extreme violence, coupled with power, influence, and inherent corruption.

In late 2008, a joint United States-British-Columbian effort, acting upon information carefully gleaned by field agents, busted the Tomoso ring. This small-time distributor of Columbian cocaine amounted for several hundred million dollars in the South American black market. The convicts and their information were subsequently handed as a test case to the experimental International Narcotics Committee. INC, or "the Company" as its agents prefer to call it, is a relatively small, streamlined organization; a new approach to the War on Drugs. It brings together top-flight specialists, analysts, and agents from America's DEA and CIA, Britain's SIS (MI6), France's DGSE, Canada's CSIS, and other European collaborators (Israel's Mossad is not involved).

Now, in 2011, INC analysts have put together enough of the Tomoso information to merit the activation of several field cells in Columbia and South America.

RULES:
1. This RP will deal with one, or at most two, field cells of four persons each. (There will be charries other than field agents, see below). The field cells do not know each other's specifics and do not have contact. Commands and reports come from and go directly to the INC.
2. If you are playing a field agent or leadership position and decide to drop out, please PM me so we can figure out a way to dispose of your charrie.
3. No god-modding, powerplaying without permission
4. Please keep a sense of time. If the previous post says "the morning sun rose in the sky", please don't write "the last hints of twilight vanished from the horizon."
5. No one-sentence posts. A paragraph at least. If your charrie is not doing anything, at least have them speculate on events or work on a little back-story. *Be realistic* and do your research.
6. If I occasionally post hints such as "field agent charries should reach building in next posts", please comply.
7. Plot twist ideas are always welcome! Please PM me first before implementing.
8. This RP will involve a lot of action and weapons - and intelligence. Please keep all language PG-13 at most, and don't involve religious personas. For example, "Holy waffles" is fine, "JC" is not.
9. There is no ninth rule.

RESOURCES
Links to relevant stuff like maps and Wiki articles will be posted at the top of this post; I'll notify people when I post links. Feel free to research on your own!

CHARACTERS
Active leadership (based at headquarters in Syosset, New York):
Field Director - James Allen - Valera Elenhathel
Deputy Field Director/Weapons Specialist -
Intelligence Specialist/s -
Other things you want to be -

Field Agents (are currently undercover in various parts of Columbia as either graduate students or as people involved in drug trafficking. Basic training, which agents must complete before beginning their assignment, includes firearms, infiltration, psychological warfare, and wilderness and urban survival):
Epsilon Unit:
Epsilon One - Andrea Cullen (Rina Caballero) - Valera Elenhathel
Epsilon Two - Sabrina Ilone (Elena Codazzi) - Meldawen
Epsilon Three - Brian Foster (David Carter) - Elenya
Epsilon Four - Michael Weston (John Marcone) - The~Doctor

Family/Close Friends (relation to agents must be specified in both family and agent's profile. As these parts will be heavy on action but possibly not long in involvement, people planning to stay in this RP may want to take one of these parts in addition to a longer part. The purpose of these parts is the kidnapping/threatening potential, or any drama that you want to do):
Michelle Maxwell (girlfriend Michael Weston) - Valera Elenhathel
Others (take whoever you want) -

PROFILE TEMPLATE (For leadership and family, you don't need to fill out the cover parts):

Name:
Affiliation Prior to INC (DEA, CIA, SIS...) and Country:
Close Family/Friends:
Age:
Birthdate (remember, this is 2011):
Height:
Weight (if you use kilos, also specify in lbs, thx - conversion should be about 2.2)
Eye Color:
Hair Color:
Ethnicity:
Distinguishing Physical Characteristics:
Training/Special skills:
Languages (fluency in Columbian Spanish assumed. no more than two others, please):
Education and Degrees:
Personal Details/Background/Personality:
Cover Name:
Cover Age:
Cover Nationality:
Cover Occupation:
Cover Family/Education/Background/Personality (should explain why in country, why in certain occupation, why interested in drug trade):


=======
PROFILES

Field Director
Name: James (Jim) Allen
Affiliation Prior to INC (DEA, CIA, SIS...) and Country: DEA, United States
Close Family/Friends: Theresa Wright, daughter; Raymond Allen, son; Alicia and Tess Allen, granddaughters
Age: 57
Birthdate (remember, this is 2011): 1954
Height: 5'10"
Weight (if you use kilos, also specify in lbs, thx - conversion should be about 2.2): 185 lbs
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Black
Ethnicity: African American/Caucasian
Distinguishing Physical Characteristics: Nose has been broken a few times, strong jawbone
Training/Special skills: Maintains decent marksmanship, used to be a fair boxer.
Languages: English
Education and Degrees: B.S. Theoretical Astrophysics, United States Air Force Academy; M.A. Policy Studies, Duke University
Personal Details/Background/Personality: Combat veteran, U.S. Air Force Colonel, honorably discharged when requested to take leadership position within DEA, subsequently assigned to INC. Hardbitten, no-nonsense, stubborn, resilient. Hates political meandering but can play the game if necessary. Has a range of personal interests, see Education.

Epsilon One
Name: Andrea Marta Cullen
Affiliation Prior to INC (DEA, CIA, SIS...) and Country: CIA, United States
Close Family/Friends: Alec Calhoun, Fiance; Richard and Maria Cullen, Parents
Age: 28
Birthdate (remember, this is 2011): 21 June 1983
Height: 5'6"
Weight (if you use kilos, also specify in lbs, thx - conversion should be about 2.2): 125 lbs
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Black
Ethnicity: Half Mexican, Half Caucasian
Distinguishing Physical Characteristics: Nothing too remarkable. Clear features, good posture, athletic.
Training/Special skills:Tae Kwon Do and self-defense training since high school, also studied Judo.
Languages (fluency in Columbian Spanish assumed. no more than two others, please): English, Columbian and Mexican Spanish, French
Education and Degrees: B.A. Hispanic Studies, B.A. Political Science, University of California, Los Angeles (2005); M.A. Political Science, Cornell University (2007)
Personal Details/Background/Personality: TBD
Cover Name: Catherina (Rina) Maria Caryn Caballero
Cover Age: 26
Cover Nationality: United States
Cover Occupation: Post-Graduate Doctoral Candidate
Cover Family/Education/Background/Personality (should explain why in country, why in certain occupation, why interested in drug trade): Writing thesis, TBD

Epsilon Two
Name: Sabrina Ilone
Affiliation Prior to INC (DEA, CIA, SIS...) and Country: CSIS, Canada
Close Family/Friends: Mom, Kathryn Ilone; younger brother Adam; best friend since childhood and very recently boyfriend Robin Jamieson.
Age: 28
Birthdate (remember, this is 2011): 1983
Height: 5'7
Weight (if you use kilos, also specify in lbs, thx - conversion should be about 2.2) 120 lbs
Eye Color: blue
Hair Color: darker brown
Ethnicity: Caucasian, one Latino grandparent.
Distinguishing Physical Characteristics: Not many. Average-looking, not unusually pretty.
Training/Special skills: Took fencing for almost fifteen years competitively, which improved her balance and agility, as well as her reflexes, and knows basics in a couple other arts of self-defense. Developed computer skills. Knows how weapons work and can generally shoot one with acceptable accuracy.
Languages (fluency in Columbian Spanish assumed. no more than two others, please): English and Quebecois French
Education and Degrees: M.A. in Political Science
Personal Details/Background/Personality: TBD
Cover Name: Elena Codazzi
Cover Age: 25
Cover Nationality: still Canadian
Cover Occupation: works for 'grandfather', who sells used car parts.
Cover Family/Education/Background/Personality (should explain why in country, why in certain occupation, why interested in drug trade): TBD

Epsilon Three
Name: Brian Emerson Foster
Affiliation Prior to INC and Country: SIS, Britain
Close Family/Friends: Eric and Kathleen Foster, parents. Andrew and Rachel Knight, his older sister and her husband.
Age: 27
Birthdate : October 23, 1984
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 153 pounds
Eye Color: Green
Hair Color: Brown
Ethnicity: British
Distinguishing Physical Characteristics: He has a rather plain, narrow face with sharp cheekbones. He's in good shape.
Training/Special skills: Self-defense, hand-to-hand combat, computer skills, mechanical skills.
Languages: English, Columbian Spanish.
Education and Degrees: B.A. in mechanical engineering.
Personal Details/Background/Personality: TBA
Cover Name: David Lee Carter
Cover Age: 28
Cover Nationality: Britain
Cover Occupation: Mechanic within the drug trade.
Cover Family/Education/Background/Personality: He's working within the drug market, mostly repairing machines and vehicles.

Epsilon Four
Name: Michael Weston (Mike)
Affiliation Prior to INC (DEA, CIA, SIS...) and Country: SIS (MI-6), Britain
Close Family/Friends: Jason and Kalee Weston (Parents), Nick Weston (Brother), Karl Barkley (Close Friend), and Michelle Maxwell (Girlfriend)
Age: 32
Birthdate (remember, this is 2011): 1979
Height: 6'3"
Weight (if you use kilos, also specify in lbs, thx - conversion should be about 2.2): 179 (Little to no fat)
Eye Color: Green
Hair Color: Brown
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Distinguishing Physical Characteristics: The only notable thing about Mike is his above-average height and he has 2 scars on his torso from bullet wounds from previous undercover missions. He has handsome, but unassuming features.
Training/Special skills: Mike is the black-belt equivalent in Commando Krav Maga (Yes, that is the Mossad's MA style, but you can learn it in the UK (and the US, for that matter)). He also is a weapon afficando, mostly firearms.
Languages (fluency in Columbian Spanish assumed. No more than 2 others, please): English and Columbian/Mexican Spanish
Education and Degrees: TBD at a later date
Personal Details/Background/Personality: TBD at a later date
Cover Name: John Marcone
Cover Age: 30
Cover Nationality: American (he has learned how to speak with an American accent instead of a British one)
Cover Occupation: He runs drugs for whoever pays him the most money to do so. (I think)
Cover Family/Education/Background/Personality (should explain why in country, why in certain occupation, why interested in drug trade): TBD at a later date

_________________


<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>

Can I claim Epsilon 3, please? This sounds cool!

I'll join as Epsilon [s]Three[/s] okay, Four, as Elenya claimed that spot as I was finishing my post, if that is all right with you, Val. I'll get the bio up in a bit (or a while, depending on how much time I have to research different things).

_________________
Four Gods wait on the windowsill,
Where once eight Gods did war and will,
And if the Gods themselves may die,
What does that say for you and I?

Now, three Gods wait on the windowsill
Where one God's blood was lately spilled
While black tongues lap at the spreading pool
And build the strength they need to rule.

Okay, great. Command positions and family/friend positions still available. (I may take one of y'alls f/fs)

If there is enough demand I may have to create an Omicron Unit, but they would be entirely separate from Epsilon, and I'd like to see at least some command positions filled first - great for ppl who can play intermittently.

_________________


<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>

Could I play as a field agent?

_________________

I was cured all right.

Caunion, why don't you pick a non-agent charrie for now, as well as an agent bio. Depending on others, you can either play an agent in another cell or get shunted into the same one. The non-agent charrie you can either continue playing or kill dramatically.

_________________


<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>

Ooh no, better yet. Could I play one of the drug dealers? Or is that not allowed? I could be a non-agent.

_________________

I was cured all right.

Here's my bio- let me know if I should change anything!

Name: Brian Emerson Foster
Affiliation Prior to INC and Country: SIS, Britain
Close Family/Friends: Eric and Kathleen Foster, parents. Andrew and Rachel Knight, his older sister and her husband.
Age: 27
Birthdate : October 23, 1984
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 153 pounds
Eye Color: Green
Hair Color: Brown
Ethnicity: British
Distinguishing Physical Characteristics: He has a rather plain, narrow face with sharp cheekbones. He's in good shape.
Training/Special skills: Self-defense, hand-to-hand combat, computer skills, mechanical skills.
Languages: English, Columbian Spanish.
Education and Degrees: B.A. in mechanical engineering.
Personal Details/Background/Personality: TBA
Cover Name: David Lee Carter
Cover Age: 28
Cover Nationality: Britain
Cover Occupation: Mechanic within the drug trade.
Cover Family/Education/Background/Personality: He's working within the drug market, mostly repairing machines and vehicles.

@ Caunion - I'd rather not have ppl play actual drug dealers. I'm going to PM Melda and see if she is still up for this RP

@ Ellie - sure, go ahead

@ Elenya - great bio. I *heart* engineers

_________________


<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>

I'm here I've been researching stuff for a bio...I can't say I know very much about this genre and I want to get it right

_________________

I'm here too. I'm also trying to do research. I'll probably post what I have tomorrow, though, with or without some information.

[EDIT]
Name: Michael Weston (Mike)
Affiliation Prior to INC (DEA, CIA, SIS...) and Country: SIS (MI-6), Britain
Close Family/Friends: Jason and Kalee Weston (Parents), Nick Weston (Brother), Karl Barkley (Close Friend), and Michelle Maxwell (Girlfriend)
Age: 32
Birthdate (remember, this is 2011): 1979
Height: 6'3"
Weight (if you use kilos, also specify in lbs, thx - conversion should be about 2.2): 179 (Little to no fat)
Eye Color: Green
Hair Color: Brown
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Distinguishing Physical Characteristics: The only notable thing about Mike is his above-average height and he has 2 scars on his torso from bullet wounds from previous undercover missions. He has handsome, but unassuming features.
Training/Special skills: Mike is the black-belt equivalent in Commando Krav Maga (Yes, that is the Mossad's MA style, but you can learn it in the UK (and the US, for that matter)). He also is a weapon afficando, mostly firearms.
Languages (fluency in Columbian Spanish assumed. No more than 2 others, please): English and Columbian/Mexican Spanish
Education and Degrees: TBD at a later date
Personal Details/Background/Personality: TBD at a later date
Cover Name: John Marcone
Cover Age: 30
Cover Nationality: American (he has learned how to speak with an American accent instead of a British one)
Cover Occupation: He runs drugs for whoever pays him the most money to do so. (I think)
Cover Family/Education/Background/Personality (should explain why in country, why in certain occupation, why interested in drug trade): TBD at a later date

_________________
Four Gods wait on the windowsill,
Where once eight Gods did war and will,
And if the Gods themselves may die,
What does that say for you and I?

Now, three Gods wait on the windowsill
Where one God's blood was lately spilled
While black tongues lap at the spreading pool
And build the strength they need to rule.

UPDATE: I would like to get this underway fairly soon, so those missing bios, please post them.

I have put up some links at the top of the first post; they should supply you with some information

Krav Maga is awesome (also used by elite IDF units), I'm going to try to take it while I'm here

Oh, yes, time to claim some minor family/friend roles - these are intermittent and *not* played all the time ... I'll start off (prob take some more later) ... Doc, do you mind me playing Michelle?

_________________


<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>

I know, Krav Maga is completly bloody awsome. I'm trying to find someone around my town to teach me it, but I doubt that I'll find anyone as I live in the middle of no where!!

Nope, you can play Michelle. (If you've read some David Baldacci books, you'll reconize the name. I stole it.)

_________________
Four Gods wait on the windowsill,
Where once eight Gods did war and will,
And if the Gods themselves may die,
What does that say for you and I?

Now, three Gods wait on the windowsill
Where one God's blood was lately spilled
While black tongues lap at the spreading pool
And build the strength they need to rule.

I'm still not sure about a couple spots, but hopefully once we're into the rpg I'll be able to fill them in. So (finally):

Name: Sabrina Ilone
Affiliation Prior to INC (DEA, CIA, SIS...) and Country: CSIS, Canada
Close Family/Friends: Mom, Kathryn Ilone; younger brother Adam; best friend since childhood and very recently boyfriend Robin Jamieson.
Age: 28
Birthdate (remember, this is 2011): 1983
Height: 5'7
Weight (if you use kilos, also specify in lbs, thx - conversion should be about 2.2) 120 lbs
Eye Color: blue
Hair Color: darker brown
Ethnicity: Caucasian, one Latino grandparent.
Distinguishing Physical Characteristics: Not many. Average-looking, not unusually pretty.
Training/Special skills: Took fencing for almost fifteen years competitively, which improved her balance and agility, as well as her reflexes, and knows basics in a couple other arts of self-defense. Developed computer skills. Knows how weapons work and can generally shoot one with acceptable accuracy.
Languages (fluency in Columbian Spanish assumed. no more than two others, please): English and Quebecois French
Education and Degrees: M.A. in Political Science
Personal Details/Background/Personality: TBD
Cover Name: Elisa Codazzi
Cover Age: 25
Cover Nationality: still Canadian
Cover Occupation: works for 'grandfather', who sells used car parts.
Cover Family/Education/Background/Personality (should explain why in country, why in certain occupation, why interested in drug trade): TBD

_________________

Tuesday, 12 April 2011, 2000 hours UTC (Greenwich), 1600 hours EST (New York), 1500 hours CST (Bogota)

Syosset, New York, United States of America

This had been a normal day. Had been.

Looking at the terse expression now dominating his deputy's features, Jim Allen, INC Field Director, knew that normalcy was slated to remain in the past tense.

"Shoot," he invited, reaching out with a hand to roll out the other chair pulled up to his broad desk.

The DFD started to sit, realized that he didn't want to, and settled for a firm stance in front of the door, feet spread and hands thrust into his pants pockets. "Cordosa's broken, given us everything. Plea bargain," he added.

This was electrifying news, even though Allen didn't move a hair. "Send the confession to the analysts."

"Already done." The deputy produced a flash drive from his pocket and laid it on Allen's desk. "Jim, we're in business."

"Don't I know it. Call all field cells out of standby; this is gonna get hot." Allen leaned back in his chair as the young man left without further comment.

Two and a half years. Those had been a long two and a half years, stalling, scheming, jockeying in the distateful international political arena. The Tomoso ring, small though it was, would make or break the International Narcotics Committee. Jim Allen almost snorted with laughter. Such an innocuous name for such an agile organization. At least, it was supposed to be agile. They wouldn't know, of course, until it had been tested, and that was what the Tomoso case was for. So what was the name of the game? Allen turned back to his computer. "Sink or swim, Jim, sink or swim."


Bogota, Colombia, 1545 hours CST

Rina Caballero should have been cloistered in the library of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, like all the other postgraduate students. Instead, she preferred the small cafe just down the street, a favorite haunt of the student population for both studying and socializing. At the moment, she was keeping up the pretense of thesis research, staring intently at her laptop screen, but her mind was hours away. Fifteen hours away, precisely, back on the dance floor, stepping and spinning to the heated salsa rhythms.

The sharp buzz of her mobile dragged her back to reality. Fumbling in the bag beside her chair, Rina located the phone and slid it open. There was an SMS on the screen: "REMINDER: Passport appt 5 oclock US embassy."

The Embassy did not send out reminder messages, and Rina did not have an appointment.

Andrea Cullen did.

And she knew, even as she stood, that others - the cell members that she had not yet met - were also receiving messages: citizens for passports, foreigners for visas. Regardless, they would converge at the Embassy. Epsilon had awoken.


United States Embassy, Bogota, Colombia, 1700 hours CST

A church clock somewhere was striking the hour as Andrea Cullen presented herself to the Marine at the Embassy gate, flashing her American passport. He waved her through and she entered the embassy proper, heels ringing sharply on the cool tile floor. One of the receptionists was at her elbow before she could speak. "Miss Caballero? This way, please. We have a room set aside for you."

A brisk walk took them deep into the bowels of the building, past the visa and passport offices, past U.S. Marines toting M-16s, and through two card-access doors. The windowless meeting room was small and painfully simple: four chairs, a table, four small flash drives, and a speakerphone.

Andrea nodded at the device. "Secure line?"

"Absolutely. Direct to Washington." She didn't know that her guest wasn't speaking to the capital, but then, she didn't need to know.

The receptionist left as Andrea seated herself and picked up a flash drive, plugging it into her mobile. (Hey, this is 2011.) Information scrolled up on the wide screen: Three profiles, Epsilons Two through Four, with complete cover information, actual assets and education, but no other personal information; no real names or ages. Dang, but the Boss ran a tight ship. She looked up from her chair as the door to the room opened again.

(Okay, the RP is open! Your post should end with your agent charrie in the meeting room, ready to start.)

_________________


<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>

"The body's all over rust," shouted Sabrina from her current position underneath a tiny Toyota, in response to the shout of a moment before. From her 'grandfather', the grey-haired old man out by the front of the shop. He wasn't really, and only held the title because it was plausible enough to fit Sabrina's - or rather Elena's - personal appearance. "Haven't checked the parts."

She was rather proud of her grasp of Spanish, considering she'd known the basic 'si' and 'gracias' and almost nothing else - besides the all-useful phrase, "where is the bathroom" - until just over two years ago. It was almost devoid of an accent; always an asset when you wanted to remain relatively unnoticed.

Squeezing out from underneath the car, she dunked her hands in a nearby bucket of lukewarm soapy water and scrubbed them on her pants. Another thing that had changed. Sabrina Ilone was squeamish, but Elena Codazzi had to be able to tell the condition of a car in seconds, which parts were salvageable and to what extent, and know exactly how to fix one. Which Jorge did on the side.

Bother. In the motion of scrubbing her hands on her jeans she'd discovered oil coating her cell phone. Again. She always forgot to take it off. The first time it'd happened, and the bill to get the stupid thing fixed had made Sabrina wince, she'd made sure any phone calls were recorded by her laptop as well, and text messages saved. Not to mention gotten a protective case.

Whoever it had been outside was gone, so Sabrina took the rickety stairs up to her room two by two and carefully cleaned off her phone. When she flicked it open, electricity crackled once across the screen, but it seemed workable. For safety she turned it off and sat down, opening her laptop.

The icon that glowed purple in her menu bar was pulsing, indicating a new message. Sabrina clicked it, absently opening Google as well to search ways to fix a cell phone covered in oil.

To view this message, please enter your password.

Sabrina raised an eyebrow and typed it - jamieson101 after her childhood friend and recently (odd thought) boyfriend - and waited. The email that appeared was no more than what seemed a reminder of an appointment at first glance, but Sabrina read it three times over, already reaching to turn on her phone and clip it to her belt, and half-rising to snag her jacket from its hook. Visa indeed.

Exactly forty-four minutes later she was pulling her passport - Canadian - out of her pocket. "Visa appointment." He glanced at it once, flicked it open to make sure her face matched her picture, and waved her in. "Gina, to the left."

The young woman, who was wearing a slight excess of eyeliner (which contrasted with Sabrina's marked lack of any at all, her battered tennis shoes, and her faded windbreaker - a girl had to look the part) looked up from writing something and recognition dawned instantly. "Ah. Miss Ilone? Right this way, please. Your promptness is appreciated." Ah. So at least one person was here before her. Not surprising.

Sabrina half-wished she'd taken the time to at least throw her flyaway hair into a ponytail during the walk to where she was presumably to meet the other members of her unit, but she'd never quite been one to worry about such things. In fact, she'd forgotten about it entirely by the time the receptionist showed her to a door among the myriad others, and disappeared.

Upon entering, she flicked an eyebrow and half a smile at the woman already seated, and dropped into a chair herself. "Epsilon Two, reporting in." The words were tinged with irony, but Sabrina was already recalling an immaculate CSIS office, and feeling the dangerous excitement her profession embodied.

So it began.

_________________