From: yu-d@cis.ohio-state.edu (Moonrise Programmer)
Subject: Ehy! and the Dillybar (part 1/10)
Originator: yu-d@boa.cis.ohio-state.edu
Organization: The Ohio State University, Department of Computer and Information Science
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 22:15:20 GMT

     Ehy! and the Dillybar (part 1/10)

     The dispatch forwarded by electronic agents traveled the
length of the globe in a matter of minutes.  It arrived at
Central Processing where a harried regional officer quickly
perused and kicked it upstairs with an INTEREST tag annotated
to it.  The forwarded copy was run through a keyword check
and an IMMEDIATE ACTION flag came up in relation to the
location specified in the dispatch.

     "Jeremy, I want a Code Dingus, FLASH line open now to
Top Quarters."  The duty officer didn't know what was so
important about the message, but his job did not include
reading the messages.  He watched as Jeremy bent to his
console and in a matter of minutes the contents were again
being forwarded, this time to somebody who could do something
about it.

     Two hours later Jordan McKenzie entered the study of
Malcolm, current head of the department.  Malcolm had an
affinity for the turn of the century and this extended to the
decor of the office with long bookshelves filled with tomes
on varying subjects, plush leather chairs, and a real wooden
desk.  At the moment Malcolm was at his desk, a masterpiece
of antique craftsmanship with a computer viewscreen as the
only modern touch.  He leaned back and appeared quite
thoughtful at Jordan's arrival.

     "Good morning Jordan.  I presume you've had a look at
the first Q report."

     "Yes, I looked at the first view.  I think it's related
to the Dillybar courier from last month."

     "The courier was able to get through and make it to
haven, Jordan."

     "Yes, however we were right on him.  It is my opinion
that he did a drop in New Weiler and now it's turned up
missing."

     Malcolm mulled over Jordan's guess.  It was a guess,
they did not have any evidence to substantiate the scenario,
however Jordan McKenzie was one of the best anaylsts on the
staff and was seldom wrong.

     "Ok, what's your call."

     Jordan steepled his fingers fingers before he began,
"one, a courier trying to elude us made an unscheduled stop
there where we lost track of him for a half hour, not enough
time to really do something but just enough for a drop.  We
pick up the tail on his way out.  Unlike before he took a
standard travel route and went through customs without
incident.  Two, a few months later a surreptitious security
cordon by known elements is implemented around the city.
Three, they know that amount of activity would be visible to
us, yet proceed anyway judging recovery more important than
discretion.  I took the liberty of checking our assets in the
area.  We have a FORSEC team at Mesa Verde and an SR bunch
coming into Tandiagos.  The Search&Retrievel team is 48 hours
out of New Weiler and the FORSEC team, six."

     "Time is critical here, send the FORSEC team in and
assign the SR as backup sweep."  Malcolm ruminated his
decision and decided that it was the best strategy.  He
wondered who was commanding the Forward Security team.  His
unasked question was answered.

     "Major Lazlov commands the FORSEC, is it a good idea to
send them rather than the SR?  Major Lazlovs command is a gun
crew, not much of an investigative force."  There was not
another piece of furniture close to the comfort of his
leather chair, thought Malcolm.  Especially when he could
lean back and take the superior attitude.

     "Obviously you've never been to New Weiler, it's a very
close town and the SR team would quickly find itself going
balls to balls with the opposition.  Lazlov however is an ex-
ExOps man, Observation arm as I recall.  This is the time to
let the yokels do the legwork then snatch the target at the
appropos time and the firepower of a FORSEC team may turn out
to be very appropriate for the situation."  At the end of his
little lecture Malcolm smiled and added, "any other points of
analysis to bring up?"

     The analyst tried to rise to the challenge, "Colonel
Wile of the SR won't like being under Lazlov."

     "Colonel Wile is of the soldier breed, he knows how to
take orders despite his feelings.  Is your analysis done?"

     Jordan replied in the affirmitive and took his leave.
It didn't hurt to deflate their egos every once in awhile,
Malcolm mused.  He activated the secretary com link.

     "Yes, Mr. Vend?"

     "Ms. Hzu, summon Jan Mir of Operations."

     "Yes, Mr. Vend."

     Malcolm Vend leaned back in his big comfortable leather
chair.  *What is there I couldn't do with the Dillybar?*




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 Copyrights by David Yu 1992, all rights reserved.  Please do
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===============================================================================
	Weightless whales of the sky,		|            David Yu
	Floating in that ocean high.		|    yu-d@cis.ohio-state.edu
	A windful day of such beauty,		| 'Ware the Rabid Buckeye!!!!!
        Leaves me calm and a little happy.  	|