The voice on the other end of the line was female, plain, the accent from somewhere in Eastern Europe but not distinctive enough for anyone to guess her origin. Her tone wasn’t forceful, but if Igor had learned one thing during his time working for Blockade, knew better than to talk back to the woman who decided his fate.
“Better than Murmansk this time of the year. And you got a nice trip to Trabzon too.” She answered
[[Igor considered her for a moment->1-3]]The cigarette in Igor's was down to almost nothing, but a faint trail of smoke was still rising from the end when the sat phone in his hand started ringing. He didn’t take his eye off the grey of the Black Sea, didn’t bother checking the number - only one person knew about this phone, and she was sat nice and warm in an office in somewhere in Berlin. He placed it against his head, his eyes still on the horizon.
[["''Do you know how cold it is?''"->1-2]] Igor grumbled down the phone, unsurprised when his gruff demeanour was met with a laugh.>>BLOCKADE
>>Team Burya-156
>>Igor Zakharov
<img src=https://hntdaab.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CharacterProfile-Blockade-03.jpg alt=scenario image width="500" height="500">
Igor spent most of the mid 2020s crushing insurgent groups throughout Russia's interior as a member of the FSB, mostly in the North Caucasus. As the country began to spiral downwards, he found himself transferred to the Moscow region as part of a centralisation of the agency's resources, finding himself in a city entirely changed from the one he grew up in. His targets also changed, hunting down accelerationists hiding in their Moscow apartments who were planning to break apart the Federation.
When it eventually happened, Igor spent a year aboard, working for a variety of mercenary groups in the Middle East and North Africa. In 2028 however, he was spotted entering Kaliningrad, spending several months there before leaving on a ship suspected by international observers to be a floating hub for Blockade operations.
[[Return to Team Infomation->the team]]>>BLOCKADE
>>Team Burya-156
>>Ilya Dygalo
<img src=https://hntdaab.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CharacterProfile-Blockade-04.jpg alt=scenario image width="500" height="500">
The newest member of Team Burya-156, Ilya's entry to military life was unintended. Arrested after a protest during the collapse in 2027 after punching a member of the internal security forces, Ilya (then a amateur boxer in Volgograd) was arrested and found himself on a bus to join the private military forces currently engaged in the attempted establishment of the Volga Independent Republic. Forced into a brutal training regime before being sent into combat, Ilya proved to have some aptitude for small unit tactics, quickly rising to a senior NCO position.
Ilya however was able to see the way this conflict was going, especially when the opposition forces began deploying mercenaries from abroad as shock troops against the poorly trained conscripts. During one battle outside Antipovka, his platoon was reinforced by a small team belonging to Blockade. Ilya was impressed by the professionalism of the soldiers he worked with and after the battle was able to approach the team leader and enquire about joining.
Igor Zakharov took one look at this shaven headed punk and decided to add him to Burya-156
[[Return to Team Infomation->the team]]... Opening Connection
>> Combatant Database
>> Search "(text-colour:red)[Kojoti]"
>> Infomation Not Available
>>Time Lock Valid Until 29/09
... Connection Closed
[[Return to Story->1-4]]>>BLOCKADE
>>Team Burya-156
>>Sascha Antonov
<img src=https://hntdaab.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CharacterProfile-Blockade-01.jpg alt=scenario image width="500" height="500">
Formerly a member of GRU Spetsnaz engaged in the various internal conflicts, Sascha transferred to Blockade soon after the collapse of the central Russian government in 2027 due to pay instability.
He proved to be a natural fit for the organisation, taking his skills in scouting gained from a childhood spent hunting with his father in Siberia and further expanding them once exposed to operatives recruited from other elements of the former Russian intelligence services. His early operations were tainted by cases of sea sickness, a flaw he has managed to overcome even if the nicknames still stick around.
[[Return to Team Infomation->the team]]“This whole thing is not what I need right now. We have contracts to do, gear prepared, schedules screwed.” He rubbed his brow, sighing heavily.
[["Who fucked up?"->1-4]]<img src=https://hntdaab.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Scenario.jpg alt=scenario image width="500" height="500">
Location:
//42.32470856844066 N//
//39.287098534095264 W//
Bulk Carrier ''MS Konev ''
[[A fog hangs over the Black Sea->1-1]]>>BLOCKADE
>>Team Burya-156
>>Valentina Kondakova
<img src=https://hntdaab.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CharacterProfile-Blockade-02.jpg alt=scenario image width="500" height="500">
After failing to enter Lomonosov Moscow State University, Valentina instead volunteered for the armed forces as a clean break from her old life. Showing an aptitude for electrical and signals work, she was originally heading for a position in the VVS before she was tapped on the shoulder by the GRU and sent off to it's Sixth Directorate.
Originally working a desk in Russian embassies around the world, Valentina would enter into field operations during a deployment to Bogotá, Columbia. After returning to Russia for additional training, she went on to take a more hands on role to intelligence gathering.
It was only natural that one day Blockade would turn up and attempt to head hunt her for the private sector. It took them a few attempts, but she has proven to have been worth the effort.
[[Return to Team Infomation->the team]](text-colour:red)[---EYES ONLY:BURYA-156---]
(text-colour:red)[---DESTROY AFTER READING---]
Last night, elements of the Black Sector Global Interdiction Group (under contract to an unknown 3rd party) raided a dacha in Sochi (part of the recently formed Krasnodar Republic) belonging to Victor Khorkov. Khorkov, a former FSB agent and arms dealer operating in Eastern Europe and Russian Republics, was captured during the raid. We have, thanks to a personal tracking chip in Mr Korkov’s jaw, managed to locate his current site of captivity. It’s a known black site close to the Georgian city of Porti, initially setup by the CIA in the early 2000s before being transitioned to private ownership in 2023.
Blockade Team Burya-156 is to deploy from their current base of operations (a bulk cargo ship in the Black Sea) during it’s entry to the port of Porti. Using an undersea delivery vehicle, they will enter the River Rioni before finding a suitable landing site. After hiding their delivery system and preparing equipment for combat, the team will then proceed to the Black Site. Through the use of portable jammers and silent breaching equipment, the team will enter the facility, find the cell containing Khorokov and ascertain how much information the captive has revealed about our operations. The team will then attempt to remove Khorokov from play, ideally bringing him with them back to the delivery vehicle and then return to the base of operations as it leaves Porti.
In the event of the team being discovered, Burya-156 will attempt to break contact and utilise local vehicles to leave the combat area. Alternative collection will be provided from the port of Batumi, Georgia within 24 hours via the *Federale San Christo* (current base of operation of Perun-142).
[[Destroy Document->1-6]]“Already got the [[briefing docs]] to them. Vali is already getting the Black Out pack setup for the American frequency you passed over.”
“Was the ship’s captain a problem?” The Caller casually asked. “Some of our favoured assets have become less happy to agree to our requests since [[Mexico.]]”
“No, I made the situation clear.” Igor looked back towards the ship’s bridge, remembering the nervous man who had been quick to change course on the unplanned diversion. “He’s a [[loyal man->1-7]].”<img src=https://hntdaab.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/GSRender-0923-BlockadeGroup-InstaFinal.jpg alt=scenario image width="500" height="500">
---
//''Blockade - Burya-156''//
Theatre of Operations: Black Sea/Mediterranean
Operation Count: 48
Former Members: >>LOCKED<<
[[Sascha Antonov]]
[[Valentina Kondakova]]
[[Ilya Dygalo]]
[[Igor Zakharov]]
[[Return to Story->1-5]]“Well, Khorkov couldn’t afford our rates then and been too busy buying off the local politicians to keep himself in the big leagues. So next down the rung in terms of mercenaries…” He heard the drag of a cigarette on the other end of the line before she continued.
“Now you’re here to fix this. I assume [[the team]] knows [[the plan->1-6]].”“Who do you think?” the voice answered, a little bit of glee sneaking into her professional tone.
"[[Our Serbian Friends.->Kojoti]]"
“Fucking mutts.” Igor spat over the bridge into the grey waters below.
[[“I told Victor…”->1-5]]>> THIS INFOMATION IS LOCKED
>> CLEARENCE INVALID FOR (text-colour:"red")[PROJECT VARANGARIAN]
[[Return->1-6]] She laughed. Well, more like barked, a hard noise that had made lesser men jump with surprise. “Keep him close. It’s hard to find loyal men these days isn’t it?”
Igor frowned, trying not to think about the dull ache in his thigh, the wound not quite healed. “Ilya is not Alexei.”
“Good. Keep it that way. Last thing we need is that Nordic //[[Hexe->Catherine Jensen]]// and her employers capturing another of your team alive. Especially as she was on the ground during the raid on Korkov’s dacha.” There was a long pause before she continued. “I assume you understand?”
“Ilya is not Alexei, //babushka//. He may be new but he understands the risks of his new contract.”
“Make sure he does.” The voice clipped, “Hold Khorokov to the same standard as well. We must respect our elders but his time has passed. Shut him up if you can’t get him out. Or if he has already talked.”
There was a much longer pause, long enough for for Igor to finish his smoke and send the butt tumbling down into the sea below before responding. ”Understood. Will report when we’re [[back on the ship->EndCard]].” <img src=https://hntdaab.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/JensenCandid.jpg alt=scenario image width="500" height="500">
>>Information Not Available<<
[[Return to Story->1-7]]''The End''
Thanks for reading through this lore introduction to the world of Gunslinger. This edition was really a proof of concept, a chance to show off how we can get all the lore I've scribbled down for Gunslinger out to the players.
In the future, these interactive narratives will help to deliver playable scenarios and more, while also giving us a way to tease whats coming next for Gunslinger. For example, did you find the two upcoming factions mentioned in the side documents?
<img src=https://hntdaab.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/362919551_892711965637734_4133919959720683532_n.jpg alt=scenario image width="500">
To gain the forces you will need to play through the oncoming encounter and enter the world of Gunslinger, why not sign up to the Gunslinger Patreon, a brand of Flytrap Digital?
For £12.50 a month, you reccive 10 to 12 figures from the world of Gunslinger, an Ultramodern setting of covert operations, proxy wars and more. Every quarter we move our focus to a new faction, providing you with a complete force including all the options you might need for a variety of Ultramodern Wargames.
If you're interested, you can find it at <a href="https://www.patreon.com/flytrapfactory"> https://www.patreon.com/flytrapfactory</a>
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