Run Synopsis
Final news trickles in concerning the activities of the Archimedes II. The silvery globe is being chiefly studied by Caesar who has found that it resonates differently to different people. None of our team is amongst those tested with the globe. There is also some indication that the finding of the "alien ship" at the time we did, upped the ASP time-table by a year. It is still unclear what that ship's origin is; only the statue has been confirmed as modern. The molecular plume Jennifer was investigating was - in the area of space we passed through - about 100 years old.
Vacation starts. The team - minus Lyle who cannot be cajoled into foregoing the comforts of Zero G - spends a day shopping in Auckland before being deposited at a small resort in Micronesia: Le Marlin. None of our weapons are allowed to accompany us even into New Zealand. We are on our own. Chantal is surprised to find herself accorded VIP treatment by the resort, as "Jan Wa Smith." The rest of the team keeps their Archimedes II identities, save for Robert who becomes "Justin Johnson".
Two days into their sun-and-surf (and "Justin" being distracted from swimming lessons by "Jan"'s choice of thong swimming suits), the well-dressed man with a pair of secretaries steps off the resort's bus. One secretary carries his cane; the other, a silvery sphere like the ones we've heretofore encountered. They enter. The sphere-carrier turns her burden over to her compatriot and heads into the massage parlour. The man ducks into use the resort phone. None of us attempt to listen in on the phone conversation. When the one secretary returns, the burdens swap and the other goes for a massage. Robert decides to investigate. He returns to report that the masseur is a man he once knew and worked with at Chevron - in the same line of work. Robert maintains with some seeming bitterness that his spy skills were honed at Chevron before he joined Star Corp. and that his acquaintance had supposedly died in a hopper crash before things went bad on their job. Obviously the man survived and left Mars and has been bumming around ever since. Robert warns that he might be an NAF agent.
Teresa and Boris spend the day in convenient hammocks where they can observe the bungalows of this mysterious sphere owner. It becomes clear that, in addition to the secretarial staff, he has 2 bodyguards who look decidedly uncomfortable in Hawaiian shirts and shorts.
That night at the usual theme party, Teresa and Chantal circulate, hoping to learn more of the man with the sphere. None of his party is there but Teresa strikes up an acquaintance with someone who claims to be part of "the DuPont's" staff while Chantal becomes swept into the entourage surrounding a brash Australian - easily recognized as Rock Airs, movie star. Eventually they both make the acquaintance of a large black man observing the shindigs from near the bar. He is Jacques Fouquart, the man Robert warned about. Chantal and he hit it off in French and end up egging each other into an opinion contest: exciting activity vs. well presented food. They agree to a picnic the next day. Jacques identifies Rock Airs as going under the current identity of "Jack Smith."
The next morning Teresa takes the time to rifle the registration book. Our unknown sphere-owner is listed as "Giovanni Smith". Boris (after morning scuba) and Teresa continue their observation posts.
Chantal and Teresa meet Jacques at the boat dock. Jacques bribes (?) the attendant into letting them have a motor boat unattended and - after introducing the ladies to the excitement of water skiing, ends up on a secluded beach. The food and wine is expensive and exquisite and Chantal is pleased and chooses not to wonder how a masseur could afford such a treat. The company is enjoyed and Jacques allows Chantal to pilot the craft for the return trip --- much to Teresa's discomfort. Part way there, Teresa notices a plume on the horizon and convinces Chantal to stop to observe. Jacques notes that it is probably a large yacht and that Itoh Naginata, businessman, is due to dock soon - as he does semi-regularly. Chantal then notices Teresa's discomfort and turns the boat back over to Jacques so that she can carefully note his technique in handling water craft.
That evening Chantal and Teresa and Robert make the theme party scene. But the Hawaiian shtick seems unappealing to Chantal tonight. She leaves with the intent of taking up an observation post towards the Giovanni Smith dock. There might be something between that and the incoming yacht. Robert follows her out onto the beach. [See off-camera session. On the Beach. ]
The next morning, Chantal observes that the resort meeting room is occupied and that it features a Japanese guard - who is missing his little finger. Yakuza.
Chantal decides to get a massage and thank Jacques for the day before ... as well as try for a bit of questioning. But her general approach reveals: "The resort makes sure we know who the important guests are, Miss Ishida". Chantal stiffens and cold shoulders the genial masseur.
Teresa then decides to go for what information is available and bribes Jacques. "Giovanni Smith", he reveals is actually Bruno Magli, a Sicilian businessman. Teresa thinks, "Mafia!" But, although both Magli and Naginata have been to the resort before "to get away from it all", they don't usually turn up at the same time. Mr. Naginata usually throws a ship-board party for the important resort guests when he visits. Other names dropped: "Julie Smith" is "the DuPont", old money from New York; and, of course, "Jack Smith" is our Aussie rock star.
The team notes that MI or Interpol or the FBI would be better equipped to deal with Organized Crime than our little vacationing team.
Chantal resolves to wrangle an invite to Naginata's party and turns up at the resort manager's office just in time to be presented with an invitation to "Miss Jan Wa Smith and party."
EPs: 0
The contents of this site are copyright 2004 Sheryl A. Knowles unless otherwise specified. All rights reserved.