Interest Check for Covert Ops RP

[Arbee]

I came up with (what I thought was) a pretty decent idea a while back, and I've decided to host it on this server.  Basically, it's a black ops (not to be confused with the Call of Duty title) RP wherein the players take control of teams of spies and special forces that are conducting clandestine, deniable operations inside a small (completely fictional) country in the south of Africa.

As a player, you'll be taking control of one of the factions marked as playable below.  Though I'd prefer if you stick to the organizational doctrine of the team you're controlling (I don't expect 100% realism, just a bit of plausibility), you are otherwise free to customize your team as you see fit.  The only information I really need is a bit of detail about each team member, you're free to use whatever format you wish, or if you want a template to follow I'd be happy to rig one up.

If we get enough interest and once everyone gets settled, we'll begin.  If you need any more information or clarification on anything below, let me know and I'll be happy to answer questions.


_THE STORY______

The early 1960s were an interesting time period for the Republic of Zandai, a dusty little country in the heart of Africa.  The country, run mostly by local warlords, found itself caught up in a multi-sided civil war, which was eventually ended by the intervention of a UN peacekeeping force.  In the end, the warlords were driven out, arrested, or eliminated, with the exception of Zuri Amadi, whose cooperation earned him a reprieve.

In 1965, Dejen Dayo became the first democratically-elected leader of the Republic of Zandai.  Though he was honest and humble, Dayo proved that he was no fool and set the country on the path to stabilization.  As the UN withdrew its forces from the area, Dayo began implementing programs to repair the damage done by the war, especially to urban and residential areas.  People were able to get on with their lives.  Though he was generally liked by his people, his policy of isolation didn't win him many friends in the international community.  In the summer of 1969, Dayo was assassinated.

Suspicion was cast upon the western world (the United States in particular) as Ekwueme Melisizwe rose to take Dayo's place.  Where Dayo had leaned toward leftist policies and views, Melisizwe claimed to embrace western culture and values.  It didn't remain that way, however.  Once his power in Zandai was cemented, Melisizwe cut ties with the west, claiming that Zandai belonged to its people and could not be purchased.

Melisizwe's rule soon became a thinly-veiled kleptoracy as he began to use his power for personal gain.  All of the work Dayo had put into Zandai was quickly eroded away.  The country soon became torn between Melisizwe's supporters and his detractors, and dissent quickly escalated into open rebellion.  A large amount of military personnel defected to form their own rebel force, the Children of Dayo, and those that remained loyal were used to crack down on the populace.  By the time the new decade had rolled around, Zandai had become a veritable police state.

The rebels, supported and supplied by none other than Zuri Amadi, proved to be a well-organized thorn in Melisizwe's side.  The cost of the war quickly became unmanagable, and it was with hesitation that Melisizwe agreed to let the South African National Defense Force, which had interests of their own in the region, to intervene on his behalf.  Meanwhile, he initiated backroom dealings with the Chinese, who agreed to provide weapons and materiel in exchange for the country's rich natural resources.

As the South Africans began operations in Zandai, it quickly became apparent that Amadi wasn't the only one backing the rebels.  Cuban soldiers had moved in to assist the people of Zandai in taking back their homeland.  However, they weren't the only ones that had taken advantage of the chaos to enter the country.  In the spring of 1972 the groups of interest in Zandai were as follows...


_THE BELLIGERENTS______

The CIA: (Playable Faction)
The CIA has a field team consistiong of 3 to 5 men operating in Zandai.  Their mission is to dispatch Melisizwe and the top players of his regime and install a new, more US-friendly government in its place.  Their primary candidate for the head of this new government is Melisizwe's Minister of Commerce, Abioye Chime.  As this is a covert operation, if they are discovered or otherwise compromised, the United States will deny any knowledge of the existence of their mission.  Upon discovering the true nature of the CIA team, Melisizwe loyalists will become hostile, though there is a small chance of gaining the cooperation of one of the rebel movements.

The KGB and the MSS suspect a CIA presence in Zandai, but the CIA's presence is otherwise unknown.  If discovered, expect hostility from Loyalists, the Cubans, and the Children of Dayo.

The KGB: (Playable Faction)
The KGB has a field team consisting of 3 to 5 men operating in Zandai in direct opposition to the US.  Their mission is to remove Melisizwe from power and replace his regime with a Soviet-friendly government.  Their primary candidate is Melisizwe's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emem Furaha.  As theirs is also a covert mission, the Soviet Union will deny any knowledge of their mission if discovered or otherwise compromised.  Upon discovering the true nature of the KGB team, Melisizwe loyalists will become hostile.  KGB agents have been cautioned against allying with Zuri Amadi, whose true intentions are dubious.

The CIA and the MSS suspect a KGB presence in Zandai, but the KGB's presence is otherwise unknown. If discovered, expect hositility from Loyalists, the South Africans, and the Children of Dayo.

The MSS: (Playable Faction)
Despite their involvement in the conflict, the Chinese have declined to send soldiers to aid Melisizwe.  Instead, they've opted to support Melisizwe by providing weapons and materiel in exchange for mining rights if Melisizwe wins the war.  In addition to this deal, the MSS has a field team consisting of 5 to 7 men operating in Zandai in the interest of China.  As Melisizwe is necessary to Chinese plans to harvest Zandai's resources, their primary mission is to make sure he survives.  If he does not, then his right-hand man, Kato Jelani, is to take his place to ensure Zandai's cooperation with China.  In addition, the MSS has orders to out rebel leaders or other groups operating covertly within the country.  If discovered or otherwise compromised, China will deny any knowledge of their mission.

Though the KGB suspects Chinese involvement in Zandai, the MSS's presence is otherwise unknown.  If discovered, expect hositility from the Cubans, rebel factions, and the South Africans.

Special Action Service: (Playable Faction)
The British SAS has a field team consisting of 5 to 7 men operating in Zandai in support of the SANDF mission there.  Their main mission is to eliminate rebel leaders, destroy hideouts and supply caches, and otherwise hinder the operations of the rebels and their Cuban support.  Of course, the mission is clandestine, and if the team is discovered or otherwise compromised, the British government will deny all existence of the team.

Though the necessary South African leaders have been briefed on the situation, the SANDF is largely unaware of the SAS presence in Zandai, and operatives are encouraged not to make contact unless confronted with an emergency.  Expect hostility from all factions if discovered.

Amadi's Boys: (Playable Faction)
Zuri Amadi, the last warlord of Zandai, has a good bit riding on the civil war.  The chaos has been good for business, and he needs it to remain that way, so he's put together a band of 7 to 10 local mercenaries, whose sole purpose is to discreetly progress Amadi's interests in Zandai.  Their primary mission is to dispense of Melisizwe's regime so that Amadi might take up the leadership of the nation.  Current targets include Melisizwe and his regime, as well as the Children of Dayo and others who might stand in Amadi's way.

The presence of Amadi's "special forces" is unknown, as they are believed to be just another band of rebels.  If discovered, expect hositility from Loyalists, the South Africans, and the Children of Dayo.

Zandaiian Armed Forces: (Non-Playable Faction)
The Zandaiian Army is the official security force of the Republic of Zandai.  They are commonly called Loyalists by Melisizwe's detractors, and while the officers and leadership are loyal to Melisizwe, the rank and file are loyal to their homeland.  Zandaiian soldiers, though well-equipped, are generally poorly trained.  At the end of the day, they'd rather get paid for doing as little as possible and most of the enlisted or conscripted men are more than happy to let others shoulder the burden of duty.  The leadership, however, is comprised of proud or vain men.

The rank and file wear khaki battle dress uniforms, lower-ranking officers wear khaki dress uniforms with a garrison cap or a peaked cap, and senior officers wear elaborate uniforms designed to their own taste.  Zandaiian soldiers can mostly be found in urban areas or ZAF-controlled installations throughout the country.

The South African National Defense Force: (Non-Playable Faction)
The SANDF claims its primary mission is peacekeeping, though many argue that South Africa has its own interests in Zandai besides stability in the region.  Their soldiers are well-equipped and professional, but are limited by the nature of their mission.  They can be found largely in urban areas and SANDF-controlled villages and installations in the southern part of the country.

The United Zandai Liberation Front: (Non-Playable Faction)
The primary rebel cause, backed by Zuri Amadi, the United Zandai Liberation Front consists mostly of civilian dissenters.  These rebels are poorly-trained but well-equipped, but a large number of them lack the motivation to fight, preferring to let their Cuban allies lead the way and fight the war for them.  They can be found in the thick jungle in the northern part of the country, or in villages around the country.

The Children of Dayo: (Non-Playable Faction)
A secondary rebellion consisting of former soldiers, the Children of Dayo make up for what they lack in numbers with their training and the motivation to see Melisizwe's fall from power.  Unfortunately, due to their resistance to receiving help from outside sources, the Children of Dayo are poorly-equipped and lacking in materiel.  They can be found operating in the north and northwestern parts of the country, though some forward units have started probing the mountains around Melisizwe's personal compound for holes in its defenses.

The Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces: (Non-Playable Faction)
The Cubans are in Zandai to support the rebellion.  Though well-trained and well-equipped, they remain hindered by the lack of motivation in the rebels themselves.  They can be found providing support and assistance to the United Zandai Liberation Front, though there are a few solely Cuban-controlled installations in the northwest.

Independent Contractors: (Non-Playable Faction)
In addition to all of the other occupants, there are independents scattered throughout the area, many of them hired by mining companies to protect a land claim.  Some of them are mercenaries for hire, some of them are hit men without affiliation.  All of them are dangerous, however, and can spell trouble for the unwitting soul that stumbles into their sights.


_THE REPUBLIC OF ZANDAI_______

The Republic of Zandai is a dusty little country in the south of Africa.  It has one major city, Anso Kebar, which is located in the eastern central part of the nation.  To the west runs the Anso, a wide, muddy river whose flow is unpredictable, changing with the seasons.  To the south and southwest are open, hilly plains, which rise into mountains as one heads north.  Lush, green jungle can be found in the northeastern part of the country, and scrubland to the southwest.  The country is dotted with small villages and military installations, though most of the population lives in the city.

Due to the raging civil war, the border is closed off rather tightly to prevent people entering and leaving the country.  Though there's no fence or other physical barrier, the Zandaiian Armed Forces have regular outposts and armed patrols.  However, due to a lack of funding and regular refugee traffic from other conflicts around the area, the border is strained, most of the soldiers operating the checkpoints and patrolling the area have had little sleep, and many of the officials can be bribed or otherwise persuaded to let vehicles through without checking them.  This is especially true on the northern border, where rebel activity has rendered the personnel manning checkpoints on the jungle roads virtually useless.

Anso Kebar: img
The capitol (and only) city in Zandai, Anso Kebar owes its development due to its proximity to the Anso river and the location's relative flatness.  Most of the civilian populace lives in the city, but the civil war has made things dangerous.  One is most likely to encounter Zandaiian soldiers here, as they serve as the country's policing force under Melisizwe's rule.  South African soldiers can be seen out and about, usually MPs attempting to train Zandaiian soldiers.  Rebel activity, while present in small amounts, is uncommon here.

Rebel Territory: img, img
The dense jungle to the north and northeast of Anso Kebar is known rebel territory, though navigating the area is difficult and rebel hideaways and supply caches are generally well-hidden, making most patrols fruitless endeavors in futility.  Rebels like to set up ambushes on the roadsides, making transport through the area extremely dangerous, especially for anyone carrying food, medicine, or other supplies.  Though the forest is teeming with Cuban soldiers and Zandaiian rebels, actually finding them takes a fair bit of skill.  Cuban military installations can be found in the northwestern part of the area, and the Children of Dayo seclude themselves in the jungle along the northern border.

The Mountains: img
The mountains of Zandai rise up in the northwest.  There, one can find Melisizwe's personal compound, perched solidly on the mountainside, high walls protecting his privacy and his personal guard protecting him from harm.  Zandaiian soldiers attached to Melisizwe's personal guard patrol the mountains regularly for signs of rebel activity.  Rebel activity is mostly limited to scouting parties from the Children of Dayo, and a few villages can be found scattered throughout the mountains.

The Grasslands: img, img
West and southwest of Anso Kebar, one can find vast grasslands.  Several villages can be found here, which are mainly patrolled by South African or Zandaiian soldiers.  A few military installations can be found here, as well as the Achersen coal mine, which is protected by a private security group, which has been known to open fire on trespassers with hardly any warning.  Light rebel activity occurs throughout the grasslands, but the presence of soldiers means less of it than usual.

The Anso Floodplains: img img
Located in the western central part of Zandai, the Anso floodplains fill with water during the rainy season, when the Anso river swells beyond its capacity.  Since the Anso's flow is unpredictable, the floodplains cover a large amount of Zandai's central western area.  The area is home to few villages, and activity through the area is sparse, making it a perfect place for rebel camps... if one wishes to deal with the local wildlife in the open.

Scrubland: img
To the south and southeast of Anso Kebar, the region is primarily hot, dry, open scrubland.  One may find a few villages scattered about, but this area is mainly where one can find South African military installations and supply depots, as well as training facilities where SANDF instructors train Zandaiian soldiers to operate more independently.  These installations are a popular target for rebel activity in this part of the country.


Like I said, if you have any questions or need clarification on any part, let me know and I'll be happy to provide answers.

Thanks for your interest!

[JarlWolf]

Considering I spoke on the Skype with you on this sillyness, I am obviously interested.

Though... I will not be playing the KGB, contrary to what you folks might think. As for which team I go... not sure at this point but I am leaning towards Amadi's Boys...

[Ulti8]

As talked about over Skype.... I SHALL BE THE KGB.

Capitalist pig-dogs, prepare yourself for bond super-villainy!...

I kid, I have a relatively realistic KGB team thought up.

[Buster's Uncle]

You should be in the Comrades, shouldn't you?

[JarlWolf]

Ulti's more of a cynical/apathetic realist then a communist, so it'll be up to his own intuition on that.

[Arbee]

Some more information, hope it'll draw some more interest.  I'm currently writing up the contacts for the various factions, so those will be up shortly enough.


_IMPORTANT LOCAL FIGURES______

Ekwueme Melisizwe:
The current president of the Republic of Zandai, Melisizwe is an older man with light brown skin and graying hair.  He's known for a stern appearance that belies his eccentric nature, though anyone who has a chance to truly get to know him realizes exactly how deep his eccentricity runs.  Despite the fact that many of his countrymen are starving, Melisizwe manages to remain rather rotund.  Though he prefers to dress flamboyantly, in a way that he feels matches his position of power, Melisizwe is ofte seen wearing plain suits.  His most identifying feature, surprisingly enough, isn't something on his face, it's something on his head.  Melisizwe is seldom seen without his signature toque, a brimless hat with elaborate designs that he views as a symbol of his position.

Though he has no combat or self-defense training (other than what he's picked up while being the target of the hatred of others), Melisizwe is often accompanied by a very well-trained team of bodyguards, which makes accessing him extremely difficult in public areas.

Zuri Amadi:
Amadi bears the distinction of being the last warlord of Zandai.  He is a large man with dark skin and a round, jovial face that speaks to others of his friendliness and humorous nature... many are fooled by Amadi's outside appearance.  The man within is a cold, distant killer who has little regard for the value of human life.  To Amadi, other people are just tools that he can use to elevate himself to a proper position of power, and this outlook on life has helped him get to where he is today.  Amadi likes to dress comfortably, often choosing to sport a blue track suit, but he has been known to dress up when the occasion warrants it.  Though he may look old or slow, Amadi is still a dangerous man, and not to be underestimated.

Colonel Mosi Karo:
The Colonel is the unofficial leader of the Children of Dayo.  He served as a soldier in the country's militia during the first civil war, decorated for his part in holding the River District of Anso Kebar during the Grasslands Offensive.  He was promoted and spent the rest of the war leading special forces teams in he jungles to the north.  These operations gave him an intimate familiarity with the jungle, which he used when he and a fair amount of his men defected to form the Children of Dayo.  He believes that war, even rebellion, is not something that should be handled by civilians, and that outsiders are not to be trusted with the fate of his homeland.  As far as Karo is concerned, Zandai should remain in the hands of the people of Zandai, and that strong military leadership is the best way to make sure it stays that way.  Because of this philosophy, Karo clashes with the United Zandai Liberation Front, and refuses help from criminals, civilians, and outsiders as he fights to liberate his homeland once more.

"Chuck" Wekesa:
Wekesa is the official leader of the United Zandai Liberation Front and one of the few men to escape the elimination of Dayo's regime.  Though Wekesa isn't well-versed in military affairs, he's still a strong civil leader and a symbol for the people of the rebellion to rally around.  He's a politician at heart, though, and hasn't taken as well to the jungle as some of the men he feels he's forced to work with.  Though Zuri Amadi has allied himself to the rebel cause, Weseka doesn't trust him.  He knows that there will be a steep price to pay for his help after the war is over.  Though Wekesa has tried to draw the Children of Dayo into an alliance, Colonel Kato and his men have been less than receptive, leaving Wekesa with no other choice.

Wekesa has an amicable relationship with the Cuban soldiers who have come to help his cause, and hopes that when the time comes to inevitably eliminate Amadi, the Cubans will side with the United Zandai Liberation Front instead of the warlord.

[Arbee]

Some information regarding the handlers/initial points of contact for the different teams.  Amadi's Boys will, of course, report to Amadi, and since I already covered him in the section above, no need to include him again.


_POINTS OF CONTACT______

Calvin Dreggs: (CIA)
Dreggs is a CIA operative assigned to a listening post in Anso Kebar, though he wasn't involved in the operation to replace Dayo.  A former Green Beret, Dreggs earned his position as an operative after arriving home from Vietnam.  His experience there made him a bitter man, and his superiors quickly learned that he had an attitude problem... a problem which bought him an assignment at a listening post in Anso Kebar.  He became the handler for the mission to depose Melisizwe simply by the merit of already being in the country.  Despite his reluctance to handle the mission, Dreggs has found himself with his hands tied, and reluctantly trudges onward with it, not wanting his situation to get any worse.

Dreggs has an apartment in Anso Kebar, but prefers to meet in crowded cafes or public places where there's less chance of being overheard by the wrong people.  He wears his hair on the longer side, with a thick beard, mostly an attempt to disguise his appearance so that foreign operatives can't make him based on old photos alone.

Otet/Tetya: (KGB)
The handlers known as "Uncle" and "Aunt" operate as a team.  Rather than revealing their identities to the KGB operatives in Zandai, they operate from the shadows, arranging dead drops or brief telephone interactions to contact their team.  They seldom have bad information, but they keep their sources close to prevent blowing their cover.  Operatives can be sure that their Aunt and Uncle are watching their every move in Anso Kebar, and hear about anything they do in the countryside.

Hou Chang: (MSS)
Chang's cover as an assistant to the Chinese diplomats in Zandai gives him relative freedom of movement while minimizing the chances of receiving unwanted attention.  When he's able to slip away from the embassy, he can generally be found walking the streets of Anso Kebar's Chinese district, where he maintains a network of informants and other assets.  He also maintains points of contact at various hotels in the city, which keep an eye out for important visitors.  Chang doesn't like to be approached directly, and instead uses runners and dead drops to communicate with the MSS team operating in Zandai.

Major Asizikwe "Zeke" Okeke: (SAS)
Major Okeke is a point of contact for the SAS team operating in Zandai.  His recon group has been operating in the jungles in the northeastern part of the country, rooting out supply caches and rebel camps and calling in artillery or bombing runs to take care of them.  He's one of the few South African military officers who knows about the SAS mission (despite the fact that he isn't supposed to), and is glad to lend a helping hand (again, despite the fact that he isn't supposed to), whether it be in the form of supplies, a relatively safe place to spend the night, or information regarding the rebel groups and their various locations.

[Green1]

A lot of flavor, but what is the rules engine for this?

[Arbee]

Basic play-by-post.  Each player takes control of one of the teams listed above and narrates the actions of the team members as they carry out their respective missions.  There aren't any stats or anything, it's more of a free-flowing narrative where players collaborate to decide the outcome of the events transpiring within the Republic of Zandai.  It's less about "winning" and more about telling a story, if you know what I mean.

[Green1]

Basic play-by-post.  Each player takes control of one of the teams listed above and narrates the actions of the team members as they carry out their respective missions.  There aren't any stats or anything, it's more of a free-flowing narrative where players collaborate to decide the outcome of the events transpiring within the Republic of Zandai.  It's less about "winning" and more about telling a story, if you know what I mean.

I am cool by that. But still, some basic stats to determine success and failure really help. Even if it is only very basic like the old Amber diceless system of the 1980s.

I mean, after all. Let's say I have a character. He served in the French Foreign legion in the area in 1950s but because his father is from the US (Providence, RI) and mom from Zandai he is approached by the CIA with "an offer he can not refuse" since he can pass as a local..

Now, I run into Russian "interests". What determines success or failure? Do I have a subterfuge skill versus theirs? Or, I want the rebels to take a village because there is a mine with rare earths needed for electronics for Boeing Aerospace (and US national security because the only other place it is located is in China) and the "legit dictator" is not cooperating. Do I have an influence score? Geography score to sneak M-16s in? An opposed stat against the dictator who does NOT want that to happen?

You guys see what I am saying...

[JarlWolf]

We certainly do, and while Red is the host of this RP, I can tell you in the past we had two solutions.

Generally players wrote their actions and the results of it pretty fairly, sometimes it succeeds, sometimes it doesn't. The mindset is generally not what will make your team "win" but what would mam, help progress story. People avoid "godmodding" That is taking complete control of other people's characters and groups, even if they are NPC. Its a sort of cat and mouse in that sense of one person posts a limited amount of action and then there can be fair chance for reaction. It's generally just a rule of thumb of "The players be reasonable and use a bit of common sense, and focus on what would make it interesting" rather then focusing on completely securing success. (Success is still in mind, but the fun, thrill of it is more important.)

That, and when there is something that is entirely up to chance, we use a sort of dice system. High roll is good, better percentage, meaning a better outcome. Lower the roll, worse the outcome, then couple that with some other things. Its generally just playing and keeping balance in mind, and then when needed, using dice systems and such wherever needed. And then to make it so it is not always up to chance, we can modify the numbers by a 1 or 2 bonus or disadvantage depending on skillsets that apply to the situation.
(And that in itself is determined through the character description. There is no direct stats thing but its a rule of thumb of saying: Joebob smoobob is a very tough, large individual that can take multiple men on at once, but his loud boisterous nature often brings unwanted attention to him. With that, maybe he'd be better in close quarters but for stealth he'd be rather crap at it.)

So say for example, I was fleeing from enemy troops, and the outcome is ambiguous.

I rolled a 2 on a six sided die, I would probably get one of my team shot or seriously wounded or something, maybe multiple of them. 1 may end up someone being shot stone cold dead/captured, and 4 is successful and 5-6 is a very good outcome. Red may have something in mind, but that's how we've done it in the past.

[Arbee]

Jarl beat me to it, haha.

That's generally the way we do things... collaborate with other players to settle disputes or find a fair way to settle it if you can't seem to agree, whether it's a roll of the dice or asking for GM involvement in the decision.  I'm primarily going to be taking control of the NPC groups, so if you need extra details or anything for them, I'm more than willing to help.

Plausibility is the major rule.  If your team can plausibly do it based on the information you (as the player, not as your team) receive, then there's no reason why they shouldn't be able to do it.  And if you collaborate with another player, there shouldn't be any need to resolve a dispute so long as you work together and stick to the agreed-on outcome.

[Green1]

If it were any other group of folks but this, I would say show rules or no go.

BUT... with this group of folks, I trust people will be about story and write some cool stuff. We have a real intelligent and cool crowd here.

I will take the CIA.

I assume from reading the year is 1972 -3. Interesting period. Computers were as big as rooms. There was an internet, but it was all DARPA and CERN stuff. Satellite tech is in effect and MUCH better than CORONA tech but nowhere near what we have today. USA is involved in a nasty and unpopular war. 

Yeah.. CIA seems interesting. I will need some time to flesh out story details.

There is one faction though that is missing. The French had A LOT of "concern" with these African nations back in the day as many of them were French colonies up until after WW2.... even those that were British. Maybe my CIA guy can straddle the fence so to speak The French were also allies of the US. That was kind of the reason in my example, I mentioned the French Foreign Legion. You do not have to be French to join and they were active and still are throughout Africa.

[Arbee]

Excellent.  Jarl for Amadi's Boys, Ulti for KGB, Green for CIA.  MSS and SAS still remain unspoken for.

[JarlWolf]

The French did indeed have lots of influence, probably only reason we didn't include them is it'd feel cluttered/ they'd have similar motives to the SAS/CIA.

No qualms if you want to make it a "joint operation" or have some members ex legion or something similar.
The nation of Zandai's primary language is English, with Bantu and Swahili languages. Was a British colony I think.. though that's less an established fact and more of just a guess on my part.