The first step in palnning a campaign is to review your intelligence. This is true in all times, inall places, for all warriors, be they human or otherwise. The Magnificent Seven were no different. A planning meeting was scheduled for four days after their Vaulderie, and the pack was at more or less peak efficiency. The period of readjustment was over, but the vinculum had yet to weaken.
Jessy had had time to organize her data, while Bubba and Jeff had inventoried the weapons, blood supplies and other essentials. Simon, Tariq, and Janus had set about exploring the city. Simon blended nicely with the homeless, and except for an unfortunate incident when he became convinced a beggar was a Camarilla agent, he suceeded in remaining incognito. Thus, he had charted the secret network of alleyways and backdoors that the destitute of any city use to travel.Tariq had used Quietus to explore the rooftops, relying on his speed and agility to carry him undetected from building to building. Janus had simply walked the streets, periodically altering his face to avoid detection. Between them, they covered a lot of ground. Simone had made contact with the elite of the city, industrial magnates and executives mostly.
On the night of the meeting each of the even arrived with a few sheets of notes. Many packs relied on the leader to make plans while everyone else just followed orders. But the Seven recognized that no one vampire could know everything, and so each was a specialist, with data and ideas to contribute. The final plan would be Janus', but the entire pack would have played a part in its creation. This made each member feel better about their role in it; it was THEIR plan.
At the end of four days, the pack met around a large table stolen for just this purpose. There was a high degree of formality attached to such meetings, rare in the usually informal pack. Seating arrangements reflected the nature of the individuals contribution to the meeting and their place in the pack, as was the order of speaking. As leader, Janus sat at the head of the table, so that he could hear all his packmates and be heard by them. He would speak last, and definitively.
To his immediate right was Jessy, who served as Head of Intelligence. Her report was deep and business-like. "The Camarilla agents in the city number about ten. Three are Brujah and former Anarchs, and presumably are acting as muscle. Scarface, aka Louis Delareya, survivor of the Camarilla takeover of San Francisco. Bad Betty, aka Michelle Jones, a neonate but a Green Beret before the Embrace. As for the third" Jessy looked uncomfortable "I don't know"
"You don't KNOW?" Veroniqiue interrupted, managing to sound both annoyed and smug at once
"No, I don't. Theres absolutely NOTHING about this guy any where. No name, no photos, nothing. All we know is that someone fitting his description was vital in the Camarilla's victory over the Settites in Reno. Apparently, this person accounted for better than a dozen Snakes in ONE BATTLE! Its said the new Prince, the Malk Carmen, owes this guy big. Yet beyond hiis rep theres nothing. "
"Interesting" Janus murmured "but go on. The other seven Camarilla?"
"Two are Tremere, I don't have their names yet but that's just a matter of time.One Nosferatu, name of Wheeze, supposedly a first rate snoop, so lets assume the Camarilla know as much about us as we do about them. A Toreador, Jean De Laforge, famous for his skills as an assassin. Two Ravnos, twin brothers named Pyotr and Petrov. And the head Ventrue Peter Swift. More of a boardroom type than a back street brawler. Sharp as a razor and as cunning as they come."
Jeff nodded. "Sounds like a rougher bunch than I figured. Still, nothing we can't handle easily. What about the wolves?"
"I don't know as much about the wolves; you know the rats don't like to spy on 'em for some reason. Still I did get something. These four fleabags're running with a bunch of skinheads, and go by the names Spike, Hans, Jaeger, and Tommy. Been driving their gang hard to start a war with the local homeboys, the Dancerz, though I can't think why. Torched a soup kitchen the other week. Rough bunch, but haven't done the crinos thing yet."
Janus nodded. "any recommendations?"
"Yeah. Go after the Camarilla first. If we hit the wolves first, the Camarilla has that much longer to dig in for a long fight, or even attack us while we fight the wolves."
"Hmm." Janus hummed "Simon?"
The priest stood up. There really was no official descriptio of what he had to report: the closest one could come would be the city's psyche. Using Auspex, Simon examined the current of madness and emotion that the cities inhabitants collectively generated. In this way he could report on the psychological mindset of the 'average' Powtanviller.
"Not good boss-man. Not good. The Kine're nervous, there's an…edgy vibe to this place. Mortals know somethings up, but they don't know what. But I gotta tell you, I'm positive I'm being followed by dogs.. Whereever I went, one was always nearby. Never the same one, though, and all different breeds, but they're always there watching me. "
Tariq laughed. Of all the Seven he and Veronique respected Simon the least albeit for different reasons. "Dogs? Oh, little mad man, come now! What do you fear, hmm? A canine conspiracy? Ridiculous!"
Simon turned on the Arab "And what the fuck is Animalism for if not to tail people through beasties? What your sickening sweetie does with rats one of the camarilla might be doing with dogs. Plus, we know some Lupines talk with wolves, right? Why not dogs too? Mages got spells that let em do damn near anything, could be one of thems doing it, figuring he don't need vampires in his town. Any o' that sound 'ridiculous' to YOU sand rat!"
Bubba intervened "Yeah but Simon, if it IS true, wouldn't they have struck by now?"
"Not necessarily. Coud be they're doing recon. Also, I been offing em every chance I get."
No one in the group wanted to push Simon further, though none believed his theory for a minute. But if he felt safer killing some strays every so often, they'd let him.
"Any suggestion, Simon?" Janus asked, already knowing the answer.
"Find Caine. Now. With His help we can't fail against either the Lupines or the Camarilla."
"Always assuming" Jeff said, fingering his machete as he spoke, "that Caine chooses to help us"
Simon was quiet for a long moment. When he spoke again his voice was quiet, dangerous. "What, exactly, are you saying Jeff? We are Sabbat, we are following in Caine's footsteps. Do you doubt that he would help someone who just wanted to be what He wished His childer to be? Or is it the underying purpose of our Sect you're questioning?"
Jeff replied, quikly "Nothing like that, Simon. All I'm saying is, Caine might have other things on his mind is all"
"Yeah, maybe…" Simon seemed less sure of himself. After all the Father might indeed have greater worries than their problems.
"Yes, well, moving along… Veronique, have you established contacts among the Kine?"
"Yes, some. The police commissioner, the deputy mayor, the director of the hospital, and a local judge. They should be of some help" As always Veroniques report was professionalism itself. She had done her job, and was etting them know it.
"Very good. Do you have any thoughts on our next move?"
"Yes. Use the kine to target the upines. As skinheads we can easily influence the police to go after them, as part of a crackdown on extremist groups. Such a move is politically sound and so would likely be readily accepted. Then go after the Camarilla"
Tariq?"
Tariq produced a map of the city and began to lecture them on its general layout. He placed particular emphasis on likely hangouts of their enemies. Tariq believed that the Lupines would be easy to find. Powtanville had a large park at its center, containing a good sized forest. Given the Lupine preferance for wild areas, he was almost positive they would make their home in or near the park. The Camarilla was less likely to lair together, being suspicious of one another in ways Sabbat never were. His conjectures were these:
The Brujah would most likely be staying in the slums. This would keep them away from the upper and middle classes most Brujah at least affected to despise, and allow them a relatively safe place should the Brujah tendency to frenzy erupt. The Ravnos would likely be in a similar area, to allow them oppurtunity to practice whatever crimes they happened to prefer.
The Ventrue and Toreador would likely be found in the Heights, Powtanvilles most affluent neighbourhood.
The Tremere were harder to predict since their clan had no Chantry nearby. Thus it was anyones guess where they were. Tariq suspected, however, that they would choose an academic sort of lair. Powtanville had five libraries, two community colleges, a large number of museums and historical societies, and more book stores than could be counted. The field of 'academic sorts of lairs' was fairly open.
The Nosferatu would of course be in either the sewers or the dump. Since he was no real threat, the pack consensus (barring Veroniques disagreement) was to let him stay there.
"Thank you Tariq. Do YOU have any suggestions?
"Yes. The Lupines are far more dangerous to us, as they can and will hunt us during the day. If they hear of an assault on the Camarilla, they will come after us."
Janus nodded. This was true, and sparked the beginnings of a plan in his mind. He moved on "Jeff?"
"Our supply situation is good Janus. We have exactly six hundred rounds of normal bullets, varying calibres. We have 100 silver-nitrate tipped bullets, 200 phosphorous tipped and 200 exploding bullets. We have our regular weapons, plus everything we bought or looted from our late Russian friend. We have 40 litres of human blood, and 200 litres of cow blood. We have enough gas to refuel our bikes five times over. The ghouls have three days worth of food stockpiled, plus cattle-feed for your warghouls. You have plenty of Rostov soil, so I guess we're as well supplied as possible. I WOULD have liked a few more heavy weapons, but needs must when the devil drives"
"Excellent. Fine work Jeff and you too Bubba. Now we will hear from the ghouls as to how the search for Caine is going"
One of the ghouls stepped forward. Janus couldn't quite remember the man's name, though he thought it started with an 'S'. This was no great problem, as he rarely bothered to learn the names of his servants, anymore than a bank owner knows the names of his guard dogs.
Slowly, and with no small amount of fear, the man stood up. Sylvester Tailor was not ordinarily a nervous man; he had served his country in the Gulf War wars and spent three years as a the USA's premier counter-terrorist unit Delta Force. He had looked death in the face more times than he could count and never once had he flinched. But tonight, standing in front of bloodthirsty vampires he both loved and hated, Sylvester was scared shitless.
It was odd to be a ghoul under normal circumstances. On the one hand, you were stronger, faster and aged slower. On the other, you were a slave to inhuman monsters who drank blood to survive. Sylvester hoped dearly that their was no god, becaue he could not justify his selfishness, not even to himself. HE wanted power, and the vampires gave it to him. At least he hadn't been ghouled by just any pack. On balance, he knew he was fortunate to be ghouled to the Magnificent Seven. His masters were reasonbly good to him and his fellow ghouls, and unlike most Sabbat would never kill them for sport. But if they felt he had failed them the consequences would be severe.
"well, lords, we have not found…" he faltered here. Clearly his masters regarded this Caine with a reverance that bordered on worship, so he was usure of whether it was permitted for a mere ghoul to speak the name "..the one you seek. We have however narrowed the area of search, and determined that someone or something greatly resembling him is in Powtanville"
Janus gestured impatiently for the man to continue. The masters were varied
Masters Bubba and Tariq were the best, as they knew the ghouls by name, and would care for one if (s)he were injured. The woman Veronique was the worst; she had tortured one rebellious ghoul to death with her shadow powers. Janus was about average as far as his masters went, in Sylvesters opinion, neither good nor truly cruel. So Sylvester wasn't much frightened by his impatience. Still he went on faster than before
"A man, standing approximately six feet tall, with distinctly Semitic features and black hair, was seen doing unnatural things in Powtanville. He was seen flying through the aiccassions.r on Main street, he killed three street thugs with a glance in the Industrial Area (known locally as the Downs) and apparently vanished into thin air in the Heights. All these areas revolve around the park, and he has been spotted there on several occassions."
"So" Simon interrupted "He's in the Park? Great! Let's go there now, and…"
"Please excuse me, master Simon, but I'm afraid its not that simple. You see he has also been seen entering the slum area. More than that, those who follow him there have simply vanished. Powtanville is proud of its status as a low-crime city so the police should be making a huge fuss over this. The fact that they have largely ignored it is suspicious. Thus it is just as possible that he is in the slums. We cannot be certain."
"Thank you ghoul. You have done as well as can be expected from mere humans" Janus said "I wil see to it you all receive an extra ration of vitae"
"Thank you master" with that Sylvester backed out of the room.
"Brothers and sisters" Janus began, ready now to announce his plan "I thank you all for your contributions. I will now lay out our plans. Feel free to ask questions or make suggestions once I am through.
First we will attack the Lupines. However this will not be a normal assault. First, we will not attempt to kill any of them, only to hurt and enrage them. Second we will plant evidence that the Camarilla vampires were responsible. For this raid, the assailants will be Fleshcrafted into the likenesses of Camarilla. Bubba, Jeff, Veronique and myself will attack in two nights. Details of the assault can be worked out later. Once the Lupines realize that the 'Camarilla' behind the attack is still in town, they will launch an assault on our enemies. Whoever wins, we need only face that one foe.
Tariq, there is one Camarilla agent who must be taken care of before the assault can begin. The Toreador assassin is too dangerous to be left to the lupines. He could pick us off one by one, as you have done to our enemies. So, tommorow night, you will deal with him.
Simon, Jessy you will personally lead the search for Caine. You may decide on the means but find him you must. This is too great a chance to let it slip through our fingers" A smile appeared on the malkavians normally suspicious features. This was EXACTLY what he'd been saying for days now. "If you find him you will do two things. First, establish contact. Tell him who you are and who WE are. Second, ask Him what he wants from His Childer. Third, see if you can enlist His aid. Only the first is a necessity, if you can manage the others, great, but don't kill yourselves again to do so."
There were no suggestions or questions of consequence. The Seven broke up their meeting and began to implement the plan.
End Chapter 5
NEXT: Tariq's view of an ASSASSINS DUEL!