1. Encounter at the Train Station

Sirkeci Station - an ornate faded pink structure in the heart of the old city, the exterior of which has definitely seen better days. Inside, however, it retains more of its old grandeur, even if it’s a bit dated. Akhmetov’s train is slated to arrive on Platform 2, which at the moment, is sparsely populated. A few people, travellers or those waiting for them, sit on the wooden-slatted benches facing the tracks - reading, on their phones, talking or dozing in the sultry afternoon heat. A cluster of college age young men and women sit on the floor, their backpacks leaning against the wall behind them. Between the platform and the main terminal, a line of tables with linen tablecloths provide a place of repose, strong coffee and a reasonably priced meal for a couple and a trio of businessmen.

You have about an hour to kill before the train arrives, what do you do with your time?

With the dummy case in hand, I’m gonna settle down at one of the tables on the platform. Nothing to see here, just some tourists waiting for a train. Following which, I’m going to surreptitiously study the platform, looking for any signs of trouble.

Cole meanders through the station, an English-language magazine in hand, looking like a slightly-bored man whiling away time before the next train.

His Internet search had yielded some fruit, but not as much as he would've liked. Still, he was here now, with plenty of time to examine his surroundings...and extraordinary tech to assist him.

Moving away from any prying eyes, he crouches down by a potted plant, as if he's re-tying his shoe or adjusting his pants leg. But in a flash, he's pulled the Cicada from a pack, powered it up, and set it loose. The drone's anti-detection systems instantly kick in, which should render it virtually invisible.

Cole then uses his phone to give the Cicada its orders. He won't be controlling it directly, instead selecting an already-made program. Basically, the drone will circle the area within 200 meters of the train platform, at various heights, looking and listening for anything amiss. People dressed or behaving oddly, bulges in clothing that might mean weapons, conversations that seem to contain codewords, etc.

With the drone flying, he moves to a bench and sits, again not near anyone. His phone will alert him if the drone detects something. In the meantime, he continues scanning the area with his own eyes.

Echo watches the station as Cole takes his position on the platform.

If you were to write a book on Indefensible Spaces, the platform at the station could very well be on the cover. Platforms 1 & 2 face each other in U-shape with only the tracks between them. The platforms themselves are long open arcades that stretch about 100m from the bottom of the U to where they empty out on the streets at far end. All along the outside edge of the U, repeating archways open into the main body of the station, providing both cover and access. On Platform 2, a row of tables has been set up in the middle space between the archways and the waiting area, however they are arranged in such a way that they fall between the archways and thus don't impede the flow of foot traffic very much. Beyond the archways, the cavernous main terminal of the station provides seating, small shops for the patrons as well as the ticket counters.

@Cole: This will be a tricky one. It's a big space with lots of nooks and crannies, and because its an international terminal, there is quite an array of people and cultures represented, and Cicada is doing a generic sweep. It will take awhile before it can accumulate the data and send it back (Difficulty 4: Big Space, Lots of nooks and crannies, Constant flow of people, Trained opposition). In the meantime, where are you focusing your attention? Nearby, there's Plattform 2, Platform 1, the tables, the arches, and the station (including the shops).

Maintaining an air of nonchalance, I sit at my table, watching the platform. On the lookout for anyone resembling the photo of Sanjar Akhmetov that we were provided with in our mission briefing. Additionally, I keep an eye out for anyone who might be trouble or a potential competitor.

@Cole: You're left with a 4 which i this case is a Yes, But.... You've been quietly scanning the area with Cicada and your own eyes and you see quite a few people that might be likely problems. There are a cluster of men, early-mid 20's, one probably late 30's or early 40's, that look to be of Turkish or Central Asian descent, hanging out near the place where the platform dumps out into the street. Another similar group stands just outside the last arch near the center of the station. A trio of Europeans, stylishly dressed, a woman and two men all probably in their 30's and looking vaguely Eastern European sit at one of the tables, drinking shots of some clear liquor and speaking low but animatedly, casting frequent glances at the in bound tracks. Finally, standing on the platform, all business, is a group of six East Asian men and women - they rarely speak, and seem focused on watching for the incoming train.

@Echo: I think your Sense Motive trait might come in very handy here. Confer with your partner and choose a target, and we'll make a roll. You'l get 1d6 as a base, plus 1d6 for your Sense Motive trait, and if you have any other traits that apply, you can add 1d6 for each of them. The Resistance will be (Professional opponents 1d6, Trying *not* to look suspicious 1d6, plus an additional 1d6 if you want to focus on the people furthest away - the ones at either end of the platform) either 2d6 or 3d6.

As you make one last survey of the motley crew present, the imminent arrival of Akhmetov's train is announced over the loud speakers, and more people begin filing out of the station and onto the platform to greet the train's occupants.

Cole and the Cicada have marked the different groups, but Cole decides to do nothing for now, as he hasn't seen anything that screams "dangerous threat." They all may all be harmless, and exerting himself trying to "expose" them will only waste time and effort.

Instead, he gives new orders to the Cicada. First, it flies down the tracks, towards the incoming train, and then hovers at maximum range from Cole. Once the train appears, the drone will zip around it, peering into the windows to try and detect Akhmetov. If Cole knows exactly which car the asset is on, it'll be that much easier to greet him, and then spirit him away before any opposition notices.

Of course, the train will be moving swiftly, and the drone will likely have to scan dozens of faces...but it's still worth trying.

Cool idea! It'll be tricky tho... Resistance (Moving Train, Many cars, Many faces) 3d6

That's awesome! Highest result is a 6, so that's a Yes, And...

Facial recognition logs a match in Car #3. In addition, as you cast your eyes down the platform toward the incoming train, you see the cluster of men near the street exit grow more animated and huddle into a conversation.

Cole moves into position, ready for Car #3's arrival. While he waits, he considers the cluster of men and their conversation.

If they are the opposition, they're poorly trained. Spycraft demands strict emotional control. Then again, they may be acting deliberately, to distract me from something else....

Without more intel, however, he can't justify making any sort of move. Sometimes doing nothing is the best course. So unless Echo can read their mannerisms, or the Cicada picks up something actionable, he'll simply wait for the asset to arrive.

The train pulls noisily into the station, eliciting murmurs and movement amongst the people gathered on and near the platform. Cole, your attention is somewhat split between keeping an eye on car #3 and the guys at the end of the platform. Like the others waiting nearby, the arrival of the train seems to have piqued their interest, and they move from where they were near the corner of the building onto the platform itself, fanning out to cover its width. Like you, their eyes seem to be focused on the third car from the front.

The train slowly rolls in slowing to a stop. How would you like to proceed?