Operation: Ampof Mangeur

[callmedelta]

Director Volke himself sat behind the desk in front of the three agents, such a mission too important to leave to an underling, handing out a manila folder to each. A detailed map of Elenria laid unrolled on the table, marked with dozens of small notes. Both Franch Agents sat in their seats, one of them sitting with their back straight, while the other leaned back in his. Smoke from Director Volke's cigarette wafted through the room, the man snuffing his out in an ashtray before beginning. "Senior Agent Sescartes, Senior Agent Dartre, Lieutenant Nakimoro," the man said, cutting a tall, imposing figure in his chair, "This is perhaps the most important mission the Gendarmerie will ever undertake. Sescartes, Dartre, you are the best, most experienced agents not currently in the field. Lieutenant Nakimoro, I'm sure Ashigawa wouldn't send you if you weren't cut out for this mission. The mission plan is as follows: your three-person team will be crossing the Elenrian border here." Director Volke pointed to a spot on the map in the western Franco-Elenrian border, southwest of the city of Kesternrim. "The mountainous terrain of the region makes it hard to patrol, both for us and TAKPO, and it should give you plenty of options to hide from any patrols that are out there. That terrain will make it a tough journey, but it's the best option we have. After you make it past the border, you are to cut east, around Kesternrim, then north to Kelsun." He dragged his finger along the route they would take. "Here, you will meet up with a Franch agent in the city, who's picture is in the files provided. Memorize it well, because those files won't leave this room. After Kelsun, you will be rendezvousing with the Ashigawan Agent here." The Director pointed to a spot on the map about halfway between Kelsun and Pelkia. "Once you meet with the agent, you are to exfiltrate from Elenria with all haste. The current exfiltration plan is for you to take a small craft supplied by friendly elements within Elenria and make for Elenria Elder. Once on the island, you will move south until you reach the southern coast of the island, where you will find another boat to make the crossing to Franerre with, where Franch naval elements will be to make sure you get home safely. If this method proves impossible, you are to return through the mountains the way you infiltrated Elenria. Any questions?" Director Volke asked. Both Franch Agents were silent.

[aimway921]

"We shall need to inform our agent so she knows that she is being extracted, and to know to be at the randezvous," Nakimoro said. "We have a system of codes for such an event prepared. Intended to be hidden in the middle of a regular public radio broadcast. We are in luck - since our diplomats and ministers agree to the first trade deal, a spokesperson for the Trueno company is hoping to give a speech on the Franch radio to honor the opening of their first branch in Franerre. I propose to alter his speech to include the code in it."

[callmedelta]

"This is meant to be a briefing on the mission itself," the Director said, "But yes, that will need to be done before the mission commences. Any other questions?"

[aimway921]

"Everything else looks in order," Nakimoro said, after looking over the map and the files for one last time. "I believe we're ready to start."

[callmedelta]

"Agents, make sure to look over your case files. But Lieutenant Nakimoro, there is one thing I must ask you," the Director said, his voice steel, "In the Gendarmerie, to become a Senior Agent, you must be willing to take your own life instead of being captured. Are you willing to do the ultimate sacrifice for you country?"

[aimway921]

"It is the code of honor of all Ashigawans," Nakimoro began, placing her fist on her chest where her heart is,
"To surrender is the greatest shame one can bring upon themselves, and seppuku is a path of redemption. Every Imperial soldier is ready to take their life at a moment's notice. So am I." She looked Volke dead in the eye. "I can even take my life with my hands tied behind my back in case I am knocked unconscious and wake up in captivity."

[callmedelta]

Volke lifted his eyebrow. "We Franchs have our own methods, but you'll be seeing that in a moment. For now, take a good look at that case file, you'll be memorizing it." Inside the folder were a myriad of files. The first of which was a detailed report on the state of the TAKPOE forces in the area the team would be crossing, though it was clearly marked as out of date with the new Kumosenkan arrivals, hopefully much of the information would still remain relevant. The next file was a much more recent report of the same area, now with the addition of Kumosenkan's infantry to patrols, though the accuracy and depth of such information left something to be desired when compared to the detail of the first. After that was a file on the terrain of the route the would be taking, followed by what information Lieutenant Nakimoro could give on the Ashigawan operative to be recovered. There were three more files in the folder after that. The first was a report on the Franch agent in Kelsun, codename "Bluebird" that they were to meet up with before the rendezvous with the target. The second was a rundown on the various Elenrian rebel groups along the path that the team could seek aid from, though the current plan did not involve them. The last file in the folder was one on the general state of Kumosenkan forces in Elenria, though the accuracy of much of the information was in doubt.

[aimway921]

"We shall assume the worst," Nakimoro said, after spending several minutes looking over the files. "If the inaccurate file claims 200 enemy soldiers, we shall assume at least 400."

Overall, it would take her about 15 minutes reading and re-reading all the information before she claimed to be ready.

[callmedelta]

It took Agent Sescartes 15 minutes to read the files, Agent Dartre only taking ten. Once all three had finished, Director Volke took the files and stored them in a cabinet, before leading them down to the armory. The room was large, holding many boxes with a variety of different labels, though there were no weapons in sight. At the end of the room was a door labeled 'Weapons Storage.' Inside the boxes was a plethora of more mundane items: sleeping bags, rations, medical supplies, climbing gear, and more, all scrubbed of anything identifying them as Franch. On one wall of the armory was mounted a safe. Director Volke took a key from his pocket, unlocking the safe and retrieving three items from inside. The man held out his hand and revealed and what looked like to be part of three teeth. "Lieutenant Nakimoro," Volke said, "These are false teeth. Inside are a cyanide pill. If you need to, you only need to bite down on the tooth, and you will make the ultimate sacrifice. This also makes you the only foreigner to have ever sees these, Lieutenant." As he said this, Sescartes and Dartre each took a tooth and put it on a tooth. "If you need help applying it, Dartre can assist you. And make sure to take it out before eating. We can't afford accidents on this mission."

[aimway921]

Nakimoro looked over the tooth, figuring out how to apply it. Then she watched how the Franchmen put their in, and following how they did it, inserted her own deadly poison into her mouth.

"Would certainly be less messy than the method they taught us in the Ashigawan academy," she said. "Do not worry. This secret I shall bring with me as the Shinigami shall guide me to Yomi upon my departure from this world. Only the dead would find out about it..." She paused for a second. "Of course, only if you believe in the afterlife, that is. Sorry, I'm getting sidetracked. Let us continue."

[callmedelta]

"I'm sure we will have plenty of time to discuss religion, philosophy, and any other topic you can think of," Sescartes said, "The mission should take some time."

"What?" Dartre chuckled, "Don't think we'll be able to discuss it when we make it back? Ever the pessimist, Ses."

"No, I am a realist," Sescartes answered, "The life we lead is a dangerous one. We could die any day, and I have made peace with that fact."

The Director didn't pay attention to the two agents talking as he made his way to the weapons storage. Inside were rows of Franch weapons mounted on racks, with a small section to the right of the door for more unusual items. Most of the weapons were of Franch origin, naturally, but the Lieutenant did bring along a small amount of Ashigawa's Galran equipment. "As the nature of this mission is of the upmost secrecy, we won't be sending you with the Franch gear you've trained with, Agents. Instead, thanks to the Lieutenant, we have some Galran arms and ammunition to send you with. In addition," Volke took off a nondescript radio from the shelf to the right, "If Headquarters needs to update you on any information, we'll send them out on the usual channels, for three days at a time, unless another message takes precedent. Be careful with this, however. Inside is a small grenade meant to prevent anyone from trying to find who made it. If you need to open up the device for any reason-" Volke flipped over the radio, revealing three switches on the bottom, "-make sure the first and last switches are flipped."

[aimway921]

"This is from the same stock we sent with the agent we're going to pull out," Nakimoro clarified about the weapons. "Should we get caught, hopefully this would indicate that we're already active rebels, rather than newly activated agents for a new operation."

[callmedelta]

"One can hope," the Director said, "We have kits of weapons and supplies already made up. Once you familiarize yourself with them, the operation can begin." From the wall, Volke took off one rifle a pistol for each agent, the Franch pair doing a minor inspection of them before being satisfied. After taking the guns, each agent took a knife off of the nearby wall, Dartre taking a fixed-blade knife while Sescartes took a switchblade. After arming themselves, the trio made their way back into the general armory. Inside each pack there was one sleeping bag, matchbook, climbing gear, 2 weeks worth of rations, and a few other miscellaneous items. For the entire group, there were medical supplies, a radio, a map with no markings on it and compass.

[aimway921]

Packing everything, Nakimoro let the Franchmen to take the navigation supplies as they were likely much more familiar with the area than she was. "Everything seems in order," she said.

[callmedelta]

Volke gave the Ashigawan a nod. The trio then exited the GA Headquarters, making their way from Pareau to Setange on the train, as planned, before taking a car to the small Franch town of Monbeague in the foothills of the Yasuhiro Mountains, their last stop before crossing the Elenrian border.