5-126: Legion Cast – Felicity’s Office

She returns to the table and waits for him to join her.

“So, I was going to go to item Two, but some background might be useful.

“You may have noted on your recruitment papers that you are designated as a ground support detachment to a ship called the Norhand?  That is Commissar Usher’s ship and because: (a) he is its Captain; and, (b) it is assigned as a task group of one, Commissar Usher is our Detachment Leader.

“You and I are the only members of the Norhand Ground Support (GRRAS) Sub-Detachment.  As soon as I get you promoted you and I will be the same rank, I am technically in command of this Sub-Detachment, but really, this should operate as a team with each of us having our separate duties.  I am here to support you, give you direction and act as your conduit to both pass information and provide you with resources and the bigger picture.  Your role is to penetrate the Vizierate, determine whether their activities are a security threat, and report back.”

She rises from her seat and goes to the safe, Oliver notes she opens it with thumbprint, ID Tag and a combination code.

She withdraws a PDA and an envelope from the safe, closes it again, returns to the table.

“This is a new PDA for you.  This one has a short-range radio transmitter built in.  It operates in burst mode.  You can use it anywhere there is a connection to MilNet to upload an encrypted file.  Written reports, audio, images or video – anything will do but the smaller the file the better.”

She hands it over, “There is a dictionary application in there.  Call up the word-of-the-Cycle function and the number of letters in the word will indicate the current MilNet network signal strength; more than five and you should be good to transmit.  It transmits on Legion Frequencies so it shouldn’t attract unwanted attention from friendlies and it’s difficult to detect but not impossible, so don’t use it inside the Vizierate Offices or other places that are equally risky.

“The PDA also has your mission encryption code in it.  Type ‘Usher’ into the dictionary application and it will open up a standard code encryption interface you can use to secure files and your transmissions.”

She slides the envelope across to him.

“In this envelope is your emergency recognition code.  You can use it if you get into trouble with our side or you need help.  It identifies you as an undercover agent and once that’s done it’s much more likely the Vizierate will be on to you, so only use it if you have to.  Memorise it and then destroy it; the material will decompose with any weak acid.  Have vinegar on your chips next meal.”

“I will contact you directly when I can do so safely.  Otherwise, I want you to regularly check the Sportsball betting Net Page operated by Mediary Eve Reno.  Enter the lucky trifecta results into the thesaurus search of the dictionary application.  That will either give you a canned instruction or a location to check on PubNet for detailed instructions.

“If you lose the PDA and need to contact me urgently, put a Sportsball bet on through Reno:  ʄ1 if you have been blown and are in danger,  ʄ2 if you think you may have have been blown,  ʄ3 if you need me to contact you urgently, ʄ5 if you’re leaving GRRAS at short notice.  The emergency betting contact only works here on GRRAS, but the instructions should work everywhere, subject to comms lag.”

“As an absolute last resort you can call the Cast and speak to me directly, but we can assume that if you do that you will blow both of us as assets for all current and future operations, so it had better be more than you putting in an order for stationery.  Remember that if you blow me as well it might limit my ability to get you out of trouble if needed.

“In any communication, if you use the word ‘obviously’ it means you are under duress and I should discount the information.  If you also use the word ‘certainly’ it means I should not attempt to do anything about that.”

She raises an eyebrow, inviting questions.