Post by greentongue on Dec 23, 2010 6:39:21 GMT -6
After taking a sip of his drink Serqu began speaking. "I expect that if you were not wearing the clan's colors, you would not be recognized by anyone. This is very useful for what I have in mind."
In a more business like tone he continued, "It has come to the attention of those above me that clan resources are being misdirected. We know who is authorizing the shipments. What we don't know is who is receiving them, since they are not completed when clan members are present. The person involved can not be dealt with without actual proof. What I need you to do is monitor a package and once you determine who is receiving it, recover it if possible."
"You will masquerade as members of Blue Palm and accompany the next shipment to Urmish. If all goes according to plan, the transaction will occur at one of the stops on the Sakbe road before Urmish. I expect it to be near the junction that leads to Penom. With your experience on border patrol, you will be able make decisions on your own. I can't send anyone that will be recognized or the transaction will not occur. You will be directly under my authority and backed by my patron as well. All necessary documents will be provided giving you the authority to reclaim the package under the cover of a mix up."
"The Blue Palm is cooperating with this charade, though they don't know the details. If you feel up to this task, I will make the needed arrangements." He looked expectantly at them both judging their reactions.
Karlo nodded. "If this is what is required of us, this is what we will do."
"It seems like an honorable task," agreed Haikon "We must help find this traitor to our clan. Thank you for your trust."
"First thing we need to do is to get you dressed in something beside our clan colors. The fewer people who see and recognize you the better," said Serqu. With a gesture he indicated for the servant to approach.
"Have the clothes that were picked out brought here." The servant bowed and hurried to the door. He stepped out for a moment and then returned.
Serqu continued discussing the plan. "The timing is excellent. The storm delayed the departure of the current shipment. Morusai hi Ujjain and his men will escort the caravan. It will travel north through the Flats to the sakbe road. It will then join up with the next group heading west."
"What I need you to monitor is a chest. There will be several and they will be mounted with poles for carrying. Their decorations are not extravagant so they will not attract undue attention. There will be several similar chests so be sure you keep your eye on all of them. There will be two men carrying each in shifts and we are not sure if any of them know the contents or not. It doesn't matter which one gets diverted, as they all should reach the same destination and contain the same amount of mother of pearl shells."
As he paused there was a patterned rap on the door, which the servant answered. The clothes had been delivered. "Go ahead and change into those," said Serqu indicating the new clothes. "Your old ones will be taken care of."
While waiting for them to change, Serqu continued. "I have arranged for you to stay in the guest quarters tonight and join with everyone else tomorrow morning. A couple of slaves have been assigned to carry your belongings and one with a backpack of woodcarvings for trade. That will be your cover. I will have documents drawn up to authorize you to take ownership of the diverted chest. There will also be one for introduction when you make it to Urmish. They will be delivered before you depart."
Looking expectantly at them he asked, "Do you have any questions?"
"Yes, if it please you," said Haikon.
"First, we are to take ownership of the diverted chest, once we have determined that it is being diverted. But you want to know who is receiving it. So, is it likely a slave or servant will receive it? Will his identity be sufficient, or must we trail him to his master? We should only reaquire the chest once we've identified the culprit, correct? And we take no action against the culprit, merely present him with the authorization papers and reclaim the box? Should we have witnesses with us, Blue Palm men perhaps? Are there Blue Palm men in the caravan? Are we likely to encounter armed opposition or retribution?"
"Secondly, you mention letters of introduction in Urmish. We are to stop at the Blue Palm clanhouse there? Or are the letters for something else? Are we to continue on past Urmish if the box hasn't been diverted? What is its ultimate destination?"
"Once we have reclaimed the box, or lost it, do we return to you? If not, what are we to do next?"
A barely suppressed smile creased Serqu's face. "I see I was correct in selecting the two of you for this task."
With some pride in his voice at explaining his plan, Serqu ticked off the answers to Haikon's questions.
"To answer your questions, yes, you should only reacquire the chest once you've identified the culprit. In this case the identification is what is important. If you can recover the chest's contents that will be an added bonus."
"You are to take no action against the culprit. What would be even better, would be if you could swap the contents of the chest with your woodcarvings. The authorization papers are for you being questioned with the box in your possession. Again the priority is to identify the contact and nothing should risk that."
"Unfortunately, I can't encourage you to have witnesses. Making this public would be worse than allowing it to continue."
"Though we have assured Blue Palm we will not discredit them, we cannot call on their assistance."
"As for armed opposition, anytime items of value are involved, that may occur. That is why I have chosen warriors for this task."
"Any Blue Palm that join the caravan will be on their own business."
"The letters of introduction for Urmish are for our clan contacts there. It would not be safe to travel back here by yourselves with the chest or its contents. The letter explains that you are fulfilling a special task and should be assisted as much as practical. The chest's contents should be turned over to our clan in Urmish. You will return when they determine it is appropriate."
Karlo gave a wry grin as he finished donning his new clothes.
"Haikon has always been very thorough. I strive to follow his example. Rest assured that all will be done just as you say."
Haikon bowed, pleased at the recognition of his superior. "I confess that my head is quite full at present. I may think of something else if time allows, but can make do if we do leave tonight."
On their new clothes the badge of forest green with a sky blue palm was prominently displayed on the shoulder, in place of the previous sea blue with black anchor. Beneath this was still the double hash marks of a warrior with some experience. After the men had completed there exchange of clothes Serqu gave them some more information.
"Your patron is now Keleno hi Sakadurit of Blue Palm. He is a well regarded artist in wood and you will be delivering some of his exquisite wooden figurines to a buyer in Urmish. This shipment will not actually be his work, but those of his apprentices."
"You will use the lineage name of Tumkur for this mission. It is of Blue Palm and with enough members to not be recognized if you are questioned. As it is Red Ax's turn to organize the caravan, there will be no Onyx Anchor guards present. This will also help you maintain your cover."
"Though we don't think Red Ax is directly involved, watch for anything that would implicate them."
With a final inspection he summoned the servant. "Have them directed to their arranged quarters."
With that he dismissed them and the servant opened the door, outside there was a man waiting to lead them.
He bowed low and requested that they follow him. First they were lead to a small rack where their weapons were exchanged for ones without clan marking. Then out through a back exit on the left side of the building.
They soon arrived at their small plainly adorned room at the guest hostel. No sooner had they entered and surveyed it then their supper was delivered. A wooden clapper was indicated for summoning assistance and they were left alone.
Karlo sat on his cot and let out a sigh.
"Well, Haikon, it seems we were both right. We have been singled out because we are unkown, and we are expendable. Someone has gone through much trouble in misdirecting shipments. I don't think they would surrender one easily."
"Let me just say that I find no satisfaction in being right. And my head is spinning with the speed of events. I'm exhausted; shall we get some sleep? Things may seem simpler in the morning."
With that, Haikon went to sleep.
Karlo nodded. "It has been a eventful day. Rest would be _most_ welcome!"
=
In a more business like tone he continued, "It has come to the attention of those above me that clan resources are being misdirected. We know who is authorizing the shipments. What we don't know is who is receiving them, since they are not completed when clan members are present. The person involved can not be dealt with without actual proof. What I need you to do is monitor a package and once you determine who is receiving it, recover it if possible."
"You will masquerade as members of Blue Palm and accompany the next shipment to Urmish. If all goes according to plan, the transaction will occur at one of the stops on the Sakbe road before Urmish. I expect it to be near the junction that leads to Penom. With your experience on border patrol, you will be able make decisions on your own. I can't send anyone that will be recognized or the transaction will not occur. You will be directly under my authority and backed by my patron as well. All necessary documents will be provided giving you the authority to reclaim the package under the cover of a mix up."
"The Blue Palm is cooperating with this charade, though they don't know the details. If you feel up to this task, I will make the needed arrangements." He looked expectantly at them both judging their reactions.
Karlo nodded. "If this is what is required of us, this is what we will do."
"It seems like an honorable task," agreed Haikon "We must help find this traitor to our clan. Thank you for your trust."
"First thing we need to do is to get you dressed in something beside our clan colors. The fewer people who see and recognize you the better," said Serqu. With a gesture he indicated for the servant to approach.
"Have the clothes that were picked out brought here." The servant bowed and hurried to the door. He stepped out for a moment and then returned.
Serqu continued discussing the plan. "The timing is excellent. The storm delayed the departure of the current shipment. Morusai hi Ujjain and his men will escort the caravan. It will travel north through the Flats to the sakbe road. It will then join up with the next group heading west."
"What I need you to monitor is a chest. There will be several and they will be mounted with poles for carrying. Their decorations are not extravagant so they will not attract undue attention. There will be several similar chests so be sure you keep your eye on all of them. There will be two men carrying each in shifts and we are not sure if any of them know the contents or not. It doesn't matter which one gets diverted, as they all should reach the same destination and contain the same amount of mother of pearl shells."
As he paused there was a patterned rap on the door, which the servant answered. The clothes had been delivered. "Go ahead and change into those," said Serqu indicating the new clothes. "Your old ones will be taken care of."
While waiting for them to change, Serqu continued. "I have arranged for you to stay in the guest quarters tonight and join with everyone else tomorrow morning. A couple of slaves have been assigned to carry your belongings and one with a backpack of woodcarvings for trade. That will be your cover. I will have documents drawn up to authorize you to take ownership of the diverted chest. There will also be one for introduction when you make it to Urmish. They will be delivered before you depart."
Looking expectantly at them he asked, "Do you have any questions?"
"Yes, if it please you," said Haikon.
"First, we are to take ownership of the diverted chest, once we have determined that it is being diverted. But you want to know who is receiving it. So, is it likely a slave or servant will receive it? Will his identity be sufficient, or must we trail him to his master? We should only reaquire the chest once we've identified the culprit, correct? And we take no action against the culprit, merely present him with the authorization papers and reclaim the box? Should we have witnesses with us, Blue Palm men perhaps? Are there Blue Palm men in the caravan? Are we likely to encounter armed opposition or retribution?"
"Secondly, you mention letters of introduction in Urmish. We are to stop at the Blue Palm clanhouse there? Or are the letters for something else? Are we to continue on past Urmish if the box hasn't been diverted? What is its ultimate destination?"
"Once we have reclaimed the box, or lost it, do we return to you? If not, what are we to do next?"
A barely suppressed smile creased Serqu's face. "I see I was correct in selecting the two of you for this task."
With some pride in his voice at explaining his plan, Serqu ticked off the answers to Haikon's questions.
"To answer your questions, yes, you should only reacquire the chest once you've identified the culprit. In this case the identification is what is important. If you can recover the chest's contents that will be an added bonus."
"You are to take no action against the culprit. What would be even better, would be if you could swap the contents of the chest with your woodcarvings. The authorization papers are for you being questioned with the box in your possession. Again the priority is to identify the contact and nothing should risk that."
"Unfortunately, I can't encourage you to have witnesses. Making this public would be worse than allowing it to continue."
"Though we have assured Blue Palm we will not discredit them, we cannot call on their assistance."
"As for armed opposition, anytime items of value are involved, that may occur. That is why I have chosen warriors for this task."
"Any Blue Palm that join the caravan will be on their own business."
"The letters of introduction for Urmish are for our clan contacts there. It would not be safe to travel back here by yourselves with the chest or its contents. The letter explains that you are fulfilling a special task and should be assisted as much as practical. The chest's contents should be turned over to our clan in Urmish. You will return when they determine it is appropriate."
Karlo gave a wry grin as he finished donning his new clothes.
"Haikon has always been very thorough. I strive to follow his example. Rest assured that all will be done just as you say."
Haikon bowed, pleased at the recognition of his superior. "I confess that my head is quite full at present. I may think of something else if time allows, but can make do if we do leave tonight."
On their new clothes the badge of forest green with a sky blue palm was prominently displayed on the shoulder, in place of the previous sea blue with black anchor. Beneath this was still the double hash marks of a warrior with some experience. After the men had completed there exchange of clothes Serqu gave them some more information.
"Your patron is now Keleno hi Sakadurit of Blue Palm. He is a well regarded artist in wood and you will be delivering some of his exquisite wooden figurines to a buyer in Urmish. This shipment will not actually be his work, but those of his apprentices."
"You will use the lineage name of Tumkur for this mission. It is of Blue Palm and with enough members to not be recognized if you are questioned. As it is Red Ax's turn to organize the caravan, there will be no Onyx Anchor guards present. This will also help you maintain your cover."
"Though we don't think Red Ax is directly involved, watch for anything that would implicate them."
With a final inspection he summoned the servant. "Have them directed to their arranged quarters."
With that he dismissed them and the servant opened the door, outside there was a man waiting to lead them.
He bowed low and requested that they follow him. First they were lead to a small rack where their weapons were exchanged for ones without clan marking. Then out through a back exit on the left side of the building.
They soon arrived at their small plainly adorned room at the guest hostel. No sooner had they entered and surveyed it then their supper was delivered. A wooden clapper was indicated for summoning assistance and they were left alone.
Karlo sat on his cot and let out a sigh.
"Well, Haikon, it seems we were both right. We have been singled out because we are unkown, and we are expendable. Someone has gone through much trouble in misdirecting shipments. I don't think they would surrender one easily."
"Let me just say that I find no satisfaction in being right. And my head is spinning with the speed of events. I'm exhausted; shall we get some sleep? Things may seem simpler in the morning."
With that, Haikon went to sleep.
Karlo nodded. "It has been a eventful day. Rest would be _most_ welcome!"
=