Operation Daytrip
In the aftermath of the Heavenfall, some of the players changed but the game stayed the same. There's always some threat to the balance of power, some despot or warlord that needs to be removed for the good of the people and the stability of the region. When open warfare isn't an option, those in charge turn to dangerous people experienced in quick, quiet, and overall efficient operations.
You've been selected as one of them on the strength of your military service, your career in intelligence, or your time spent in law enforcement. You've been vetted as trustworthy and capable of keeping your mouth shut, and if all goes well you'll be recieving a healthy bonus for your retirement fund. If it goes poorly, well-
you won't have to worry about it for long. Welcome to Daytrip.
Operation Daytrip is a covert mission being undertaken by operatives handpicked for their abilities and experience. While organized at the behest of various N/UN officials, it officially does not exist and cannot ever be linked to the organization. Its funds are pulled from the "black budget," which is closed to all but the highest authorities. As such, all actors involved are considered both expendable and deniable.
The goal of Daytrip is to facilitate regime change in the Pacific island nation of San Borondon, removing or killing long-time dictator General Henri Cheung. Cheung rose to power in the revolution against the island's monarchy and later ousted the first and only democratically elected leader in the 1970s. Since then, his reign has been marked by the curtailment of the political process, human rights violations, rampant cronyism and widespread corruption, as well as the torture, execution and forced disappearance of dissidents.
In addition to crimes against humanity, San Borondon's government also presents a threat to the N/UN and its constituent nations. Cheung has forged an alliance of convenience with the New Central African Alliance, setting up a labor exchange program in return for military aid. San Borondon presents a dilemma for the N/UN in the event of war with the NCAA, as they're likely to use the country as a forward operating base to target N/UN assets in the Pacific. Besides the NCAA, Cheung has also struck deals with megacorporations, namely Montrose Incorporated, NeoDyne Technologies, and Universal Manufacturing Conglomerate. The corps uses San Borondon as a place to manufacture goods without adhering to international restrictions on pollution or arms proliferation, blithely ignoring standards set by the N/UN. The money they spend keeping the Cheung regime happy is made back ten times over as they profit off of flooding markets with goods produced incredibly cheaply.
On top of that, it's believed that General Cheung has a working relationship with various international criminal organizations. He's suspected of harboring weapons and drug smugglers, human traffickers, pirates, and other malefactors in exchange for protection money, as well as using their foot soldiers as muscle.
The N/UN cannot turn a blind eye to the actions of General Cheung but it cannot spare the manpower to oust him itself, nor would the international community approve. The NCAA would almost certainly retaliate if a friendly government was forcibly evicted by N/UN forces, and the megacorps would potentially do the same. This is to say nothing of China, which would only benefit from fanning the flames. Thus it turns to Operation Daytrip, as the nature of the mission means that any actions undertaken during it can be written off as the work of third-party mercenaries.
Daytrip simply cannot affect regime change on its own. Even if Cheung were killed tomorrow he would simply be replaced and the same business would continue. Daytrip will instead work with a coalition of already-existing resistance groups, supporting them through both direct and indirect action. The goal is for Daytrip to facilitate the removal of General Cheung so that he can be replaced by a government less hostile to the N/UN.
The goal of Daytrip is to facilitate regime change in the Pacific island nation of San Borondon, removing or killing long-time dictator General Henri Cheung. Cheung rose to power in the revolution against the island's monarchy and later ousted the first and only democratically elected leader in the 1970s. Since then, his reign has been marked by the curtailment of the political process, human rights violations, rampant cronyism and widespread corruption, as well as the torture, execution and forced disappearance of dissidents.
In addition to crimes against humanity, San Borondon's government also presents a threat to the N/UN and its constituent nations. Cheung has forged an alliance of convenience with the New Central African Alliance, setting up a labor exchange program in return for military aid. San Borondon presents a dilemma for the N/UN in the event of war with the NCAA, as they're likely to use the country as a forward operating base to target N/UN assets in the Pacific. Besides the NCAA, Cheung has also struck deals with megacorporations, namely Montrose Incorporated, NeoDyne Technologies, and Universal Manufacturing Conglomerate. The corps uses San Borondon as a place to manufacture goods without adhering to international restrictions on pollution or arms proliferation, blithely ignoring standards set by the N/UN. The money they spend keeping the Cheung regime happy is made back ten times over as they profit off of flooding markets with goods produced incredibly cheaply.
On top of that, it's believed that General Cheung has a working relationship with various international criminal organizations. He's suspected of harboring weapons and drug smugglers, human traffickers, pirates, and other malefactors in exchange for protection money, as well as using their foot soldiers as muscle.
The N/UN cannot turn a blind eye to the actions of General Cheung but it cannot spare the manpower to oust him itself, nor would the international community approve. The NCAA would almost certainly retaliate if a friendly government was forcibly evicted by N/UN forces, and the megacorps would potentially do the same. This is to say nothing of China, which would only benefit from fanning the flames. Thus it turns to Operation Daytrip, as the nature of the mission means that any actions undertaken during it can be written off as the work of third-party mercenaries.
Daytrip simply cannot affect regime change on its own. Even if Cheung were killed tomorrow he would simply be replaced and the same business would continue. Daytrip will instead work with a coalition of already-existing resistance groups, supporting them through both direct and indirect action. The goal is for Daytrip to facilitate the removal of General Cheung so that he can be replaced by a government less hostile to the N/UN.
Borondon People's Liberation Front: Dubbed "Los Campesinos", The Peasants, by the late King Cristóbal , the nickname has stuck. The BPLF was formed in the late 60s when multiple Communist militias operating around the countryside agreed to band together in an organized front as a response to repeated crackdowns. While they've managed to survive decades of low-intensity conflict they were forced onto the back foot, unable to stand up to the organized might of the military. For many years the BPLF could do no more harm to the government than hit-and-run attacks on isolated patrols and the occasional bombing of government installations, but they have a relatively strong presence and are generally viewed positively by the rural farmers due to their hunting of bandits and tendency to redistribute wealth 'requisitioned' from wealthy landowners and other enemies of the people.
The BPLF is historically reliant on clandestine foreign aid, but with the collapse of the Soviet Union its biggest source of arms and training has dried up. It's suspected that they receive some support from New China, but how much is unknown. Originally, the group was dedicated to the installation of a Marxist-Leninist state in San Borodon, but now there are different subfactions with different immediate goals. All of them want General Cheung dead or gone.
While individual cells and other units have their own leaders, the group as a whole is commanded by the Revolutionary Council, headed by Augustin Baptiste. Baptiste was a student and protege of the disgraced President Granger in his post-office life, and after Granger died Baptiste was inspired to fight for a free Borondon.
Brigades Unies d'Autodéfenses: Typically referred to as the Autodefensas, or Black Brigades in reference to their solid dark flag. The BUA is a confederation of right-wing paramilitaries that were originally tolerated by the Cheung regime but were eventually turned on due to their varied loyalties. The Brigades vary wildly in their reasoning; some are religious zealots who detest what they perceive as decadent immorality brought in by the West, while others are motivated to crush criminality leeching in from the tribal mountains and blighted urban spaces. A minority are out-and-out monarchists who wish to see the Acosta line returned to the throne. In all cases they are militant and highly opposed to Communism, and indeed many of the groups making up the Brigades were originally allied with the government against the BPLF.
However, as the regime turned against them, the paramilitaries banded together, united on their hatred of Cheung and the general belief that things would be better with him out of the picture. They have a strong presence in the cities where the power of the gangs makes anyone who stands against them popular, as well as among the large landowning families in the hinterlands. The Autodefensas are smaller in number than their leftist counterparts but tend to be better trained, due to a relatively high proportion of their leadership being ex-military or law enforcement, as well as being able to pay mercenaries to provide training via donations from their well-off sponsors. Additionally, a small but notable portion of them are actually members of the Borodonian diaspora who have come to fight for their homeland.
Their political leader is, perhaps surprisingly, a woman. Andrea Acosta is the sole legitimate daughter of the dead king and a former officer in the Japan Self-Defense Forces, traits that make her a natural commander of the country's militant right.
The BPLF is historically reliant on clandestine foreign aid, but with the collapse of the Soviet Union its biggest source of arms and training has dried up. It's suspected that they receive some support from New China, but how much is unknown. Originally, the group was dedicated to the installation of a Marxist-Leninist state in San Borodon, but now there are different subfactions with different immediate goals. All of them want General Cheung dead or gone.
While individual cells and other units have their own leaders, the group as a whole is commanded by the Revolutionary Council, headed by Augustin Baptiste. Baptiste was a student and protege of the disgraced President Granger in his post-office life, and after Granger died Baptiste was inspired to fight for a free Borondon.
Brigades Unies d'Autodéfenses: Typically referred to as the Autodefensas, or Black Brigades in reference to their solid dark flag. The BUA is a confederation of right-wing paramilitaries that were originally tolerated by the Cheung regime but were eventually turned on due to their varied loyalties. The Brigades vary wildly in their reasoning; some are religious zealots who detest what they perceive as decadent immorality brought in by the West, while others are motivated to crush criminality leeching in from the tribal mountains and blighted urban spaces. A minority are out-and-out monarchists who wish to see the Acosta line returned to the throne. In all cases they are militant and highly opposed to Communism, and indeed many of the groups making up the Brigades were originally allied with the government against the BPLF.
However, as the regime turned against them, the paramilitaries banded together, united on their hatred of Cheung and the general belief that things would be better with him out of the picture. They have a strong presence in the cities where the power of the gangs makes anyone who stands against them popular, as well as among the large landowning families in the hinterlands. The Autodefensas are smaller in number than their leftist counterparts but tend to be better trained, due to a relatively high proportion of their leadership being ex-military or law enforcement, as well as being able to pay mercenaries to provide training via donations from their well-off sponsors. Additionally, a small but notable portion of them are actually members of the Borodonian diaspora who have come to fight for their homeland.
Their political leader is, perhaps surprisingly, a woman. Andrea Acosta is the sole legitimate daughter of the dead king and a former officer in the Japan Self-Defense Forces, traits that make her a natural commander of the country's militant right.
The Free Church Of San Borondon: The Free Church is a folk Catholic denomination native to the island, combining mainstream Christian beliefs with practices from the indigenous tribes and certain aspects of traditional African beliefs. It is not in full communion with the mainstream Catholic Church. Key differences include the Free Church's belief in protector spirits (known as doux fantômes, or gentle ghosts) and animal sacrifice. The Free Church venerates the Holy Trinity but also pays respect to Saint Vera, a semi-legendary figure who became infamous for beheading ten Spanish soldiers in a single night. Vera is a symbol of Borondonian strength and national identity, and many believe that she blessed the island in its fight against both European colonizers and the Empire of Japan. It holds traditionally conservative views on family and faith, although in the tradition of Saint Vera many of its clergy are women.
The Free Church holds strong sway over San Borondon, and it can be a powerful political ally. The previous president was forced to resign in large part because he was castigated in sermons across the nation as being effeminate, decadent, and a traitor. It has largely supported General Cheung as a symbol of masculine strength and independence, but there's discontent on both ends. Some of Cheung's advisors consider the Church to be parasitical, leeching money and effort out of the populace in exchange for outdated rituals. Cheung himself likely concurs. On the other hand, powerful figures within the Church decry the Cheung regime as not being tough enough on societal rot and Western-imported values and indifferent to the suffering of the commoners.
Driving the wedge between the Church and State would be immensely difficult due to the historic distrust of outsiders, but success would be a huge boon to Daytrip.
Los Indios/Le Montagnards: The collective name for the indigenous tribes of San Borondon, the former from the Spanish who considered the residents of the island to be much the same as those of their American colonies, and the latter from the French, referring to their tendency to hole up in the central mountains. San Borondon's European, Native, and African populations have intermingled to such a degree that the majority of the population has indigenous heritage. In this instance, Montagnard and Indian refer to those people still living in tribes and villages separate from the more modern population centers. These people practice the same farming, hunting, and herding as they have for thousands of years, paying homage to the same deities they were honoring before sailing ships edged over the horizon. Some groups live in the lowlands and hills but many of them are scattered throughout the rainforests covering the Pequeños Pirineos.
Generally speaking, they're even more cautious of outsiders than the average San Borondian. Traditionally they're allowed to mind themselves as long as they don't interfere with the activities of the state, an arrangement often strained by conflict between native living spaces and heavy industry. Different tribes have different relationships with the Cheung regime and the Black Brigades/Campesinos, but generally speaking they are neutral parties. There is a tradition of mercenarism in the culture that can, in theory, be harnessed by Daytrip, but the Cheung regime has no qualms hiring them itself. Daytrip must be careful to avoid conflict with the Montagnards, as they know the terrain well enough to be a serious problem if angered.
Organized Crime: San Borondon is rife with criminal conspiracies, home-grown and foreign. It has long been a hub for smuggling of all sorts, the crowded capital city home to a wide variety of gangs vying for turf. Post-Heavenfall, the criminal element has only gotten larger, with members of various triads and cartels entering the country as part of the waves of refugees. Banditry plagues the roads outside the urban areas, fueled by poverty and lack of work. Many of the bandits have military experience, having deserted the Army with their guns and ammo.
The criminal element is largely controlled by General Cheung at the highest level, the big players making sure a cut of their profits makes its way to him and their violent activities are kept out of public view, but they're by no means loyal to anyone but themselves. For the most part Daytrip will be ignoring them, although they might need to be dealt with violently or otherwise.
The Free Church holds strong sway over San Borondon, and it can be a powerful political ally. The previous president was forced to resign in large part because he was castigated in sermons across the nation as being effeminate, decadent, and a traitor. It has largely supported General Cheung as a symbol of masculine strength and independence, but there's discontent on both ends. Some of Cheung's advisors consider the Church to be parasitical, leeching money and effort out of the populace in exchange for outdated rituals. Cheung himself likely concurs. On the other hand, powerful figures within the Church decry the Cheung regime as not being tough enough on societal rot and Western-imported values and indifferent to the suffering of the commoners.
Driving the wedge between the Church and State would be immensely difficult due to the historic distrust of outsiders, but success would be a huge boon to Daytrip.
Los Indios/Le Montagnards: The collective name for the indigenous tribes of San Borondon, the former from the Spanish who considered the residents of the island to be much the same as those of their American colonies, and the latter from the French, referring to their tendency to hole up in the central mountains. San Borondon's European, Native, and African populations have intermingled to such a degree that the majority of the population has indigenous heritage. In this instance, Montagnard and Indian refer to those people still living in tribes and villages separate from the more modern population centers. These people practice the same farming, hunting, and herding as they have for thousands of years, paying homage to the same deities they were honoring before sailing ships edged over the horizon. Some groups live in the lowlands and hills but many of them are scattered throughout the rainforests covering the Pequeños Pirineos.
Generally speaking, they're even more cautious of outsiders than the average San Borondian. Traditionally they're allowed to mind themselves as long as they don't interfere with the activities of the state, an arrangement often strained by conflict between native living spaces and heavy industry. Different tribes have different relationships with the Cheung regime and the Black Brigades/Campesinos, but generally speaking they are neutral parties. There is a tradition of mercenarism in the culture that can, in theory, be harnessed by Daytrip, but the Cheung regime has no qualms hiring them itself. Daytrip must be careful to avoid conflict with the Montagnards, as they know the terrain well enough to be a serious problem if angered.
Organized Crime: San Borondon is rife with criminal conspiracies, home-grown and foreign. It has long been a hub for smuggling of all sorts, the crowded capital city home to a wide variety of gangs vying for turf. Post-Heavenfall, the criminal element has only gotten larger, with members of various triads and cartels entering the country as part of the waves of refugees. Banditry plagues the roads outside the urban areas, fueled by poverty and lack of work. Many of the bandits have military experience, having deserted the Army with their guns and ammo.
The criminal element is largely controlled by General Cheung at the highest level, the big players making sure a cut of their profits makes its way to him and their violent activities are kept out of public view, but they're by no means loyal to anyone but themselves. For the most part Daytrip will be ignoring them, although they might need to be dealt with violently or otherwise.
The Armed Forces of San Borondon: Consisting of the Grand Army, Navy, Air Corps, and Special Operations Command, San Borondon's military is relatively small but well-trained and fairly capable. While it has limited experience in open warfare the Armed Forces have spent the decades since independence fighting one resistance or another, and most of its officers are battle-tested. The Army is naturally the largest component, with a sizable active and reserve force. The Navy and Air Corps are significantly smaller and primarily rely on surplus Cold War-era vehicles, lacking the capability to strike foreign targets and thus focusing on defending the island from pirates and other threats. The smallest branch is the Special Operations Command, which actually sees somewhat regular service overseas as part of joint operations with the NCAA.
As a whole, the Armed Forces are more loyal to San Borondon than they are Henri Cheung himself. While years of conflict have ensured that there is plenty of hate for both the Black Brigades and Los Campesinos, it is hoped that once Cheung is deposed the military leadership will be willing to work with the new government (if only to secure their safety and pay).
Special Rural Police: Commonly known as the Rurales, the SRP is a paramilitary organization descended from colonial-era mounted police. Like the Armed Forces they are often in combat with anti-government forces but also are responsible for dealing with bandits, hostile tribespeople, and other forms of civil unrest. They're armed with a variety of civilian and military weapons, some dating back to the Second World War, and lack any organized uniform outside of a simple armband with SRP emblazoned on it. Individual members typically cobble together fatigues of whatever pattern they can obtain.
Unlike the Armed Forces, it's unlikely that they'll be able to coexist with the post-Cheung government. The Rurales were reorganized soon after the General took power, converting them into a sort of imperial guard personally loyal to him. Members are not paid a regular salary but are granted multiple privileges, including the authority to confiscate money and property from suspects and immunity from civilian prosecution. They receive regular cash bonuses, and their officers make sure to raise morale by organizing celebrations with plenty of alcohol. All told, the Rurales are disorganized and less skilled than their regular Army counterparts, but they're motivated by both greed and patriotism, and there are a lot of them.
As a whole, the Armed Forces are more loyal to San Borondon than they are Henri Cheung himself. While years of conflict have ensured that there is plenty of hate for both the Black Brigades and Los Campesinos, it is hoped that once Cheung is deposed the military leadership will be willing to work with the new government (if only to secure their safety and pay).
Special Rural Police: Commonly known as the Rurales, the SRP is a paramilitary organization descended from colonial-era mounted police. Like the Armed Forces they are often in combat with anti-government forces but also are responsible for dealing with bandits, hostile tribespeople, and other forms of civil unrest. They're armed with a variety of civilian and military weapons, some dating back to the Second World War, and lack any organized uniform outside of a simple armband with SRP emblazoned on it. Individual members typically cobble together fatigues of whatever pattern they can obtain.
Unlike the Armed Forces, it's unlikely that they'll be able to coexist with the post-Cheung government. The Rurales were reorganized soon after the General took power, converting them into a sort of imperial guard personally loyal to him. Members are not paid a regular salary but are granted multiple privileges, including the authority to confiscate money and property from suspects and immunity from civilian prosecution. They receive regular cash bonuses, and their officers make sure to raise morale by organizing celebrations with plenty of alcohol. All told, the Rurales are disorganized and less skilled than their regular Army counterparts, but they're motivated by both greed and patriotism, and there are a lot of them.
Henri Cheung: The general-turned-dictator of San Borondon, and its longest-lasting leader since gaining independence. Cheung has a militant background; the son of a French-descended businesswoman and a Cantonese slave laborer brought in by the Japanese, his parents were involved in the uprising against the Japanese army. His mother used her shop as a staging ground for rebels and coordinated with other women to smuggle explosives, and his father led his fellow slaves against the guards (using a stolen bayonet to gut the officer overseeing his work detail). Their notable service led to them being respected in post-independence Borondon, and thus Henri was granted the opportunity to become a military cadet.
He excelled in training and was earmarked to serve as a liaison officer in the British Army upon his commissioning, taking the opportunity to study both English literature and world history. Upon returning to San Borondon, he quickly promoted through the ranks, impressing his superiors with his skills as a commander and in logistics. Although young, His natural aptitude combined with his popularity among the men made him a threat to the then-king of San Borondon, Cristóbal. Cheung was accused of being a part of the plot to overthrow the monarchy and was thrown in prison where he was starved and regularly beaten. He refused to give up any of his collaborators, and upon Cristóbal's execution he was freed by and promoted to Major-General.
Hardened by his experiences and already ambitious, Cheung set about shoring up support for himself among the island's elite. Seizing upon rumors surrounding his political rival President Owen Granger's sexuality and loyalty during the War of Independence, Cheung played a hand in forcing Granger to resign, quickly installing himself as permanent leader.
Since then he's ruled San Borondon with an iron fist.
Kitty Cheung: Daughter of Henri Cheung, and major financier of the regime. Kitty is highly educated, having a degree in finance from Cambridge and a juris doctorate from Stanford. She spent much of her adult life working overseas as a corporate lawyer and hedge fund manager, and was accused multiple times of either masterminding or being involved with schemes to defraud the public. Nothing stuck however, and Kitty gained a reputation for being able to make huge returns for her clients quickly. This led to her fraternizing with the elite of the business world, and her Rolodex can rival anyone's.
After the Heavenfall, she returned to San Borondon to work directly for her father. She manages his personal cash flow, taking the bribes and protection money paid to him by various parties and investing it overseas in business ventures that are expected to boom and bust. She's accused of market manipulation, insider trading, and outright sabotage, and if she goes down, Henri loses most of his overseas assets.
Hugo Cheung: Henri's son and youngest child. Unlike his older sister Hugo is neither particularly subtle nor educated; he has a Doctorate of Humanities from San Borondon University but it's an honorary degree bestowed purely to curry favor. While Kitty was off studying and working her way up in the professional world he was busy partying with his entourage and raising hell for people who angered him. There are multiple instances where Hugo beat someone to death, and at least ten people have been murdered on his orders after upsetting him. He's violent, sadistic, and untouchable.
But he is shrewd, and charismatic when he wants to be. He's something of a playboy and a darling of the gossip columns, being spotted at fashion shows and on private beaches with all manner of celebrities. To the wider world, Hugo is a charmingly dim-witted patron of the arts with a love of beautiful women and blow, an effective cover for someone running a drug trafficking ring. To impress his father Hugo (likely assisted by a megacorp) personally funded the construction of industrial-grade chemical laboratories to produce huge quantities of opiates, methamphetamine, and party drugs such as MDMA. These are sold in bulk at low prices to his drug lord associates, flooding both North America and East Asia with narcotics. Removing him would cut off a source of funding for the Cheung regime as well striking a blow at international criminality.
Patrice Fortuño: Commander of the San Borondon Special Forces, handpicked for the role by General Cheung. Born into abject poverty, Patrice joined the army to escape starvation. By chance, General Cheung spotted him on a visit to the training camp and was impressed by his ferocity in combat exercises. He handpicked Fortuño as his favorite soldier, ensuring he was given as much tutoring as was required before placing him in the officer's academy. His drive and inclination for combat made him a natural fit to lead the nation's commando forces, and under Fortuño they have made a name for themselves fighting internal enemies as well as in overseas operations.
Fortuño is loyal above all else. Elements of the Black Brigades once tried to bribe him into assisting with assassanting General Cheung in return for a position of power in the new government, an offer he pretended to respond favorably to before personally leading a raid on the planners' compound and executing those who survived the initial firefight. He's also quite good at his job, unfortunately. Fortuño was trained at the School of the Americas and went through Ranger School, taking part in special operations attached to American and British SOF in the Gulf War. He knows how to fight an unconventional war, and once Operation Daytrip becomes known he's likely to involve himself personally.
Simón Aguilar: An aerospace engineer with a doctorate in physics and a strong grounding in chemistry, Dr. Aguilar studied at the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union as part of a technical assistance program. There his interest turned to rocketry and propulsion systems, inspired by the Space Race and the rise of the ICBM era. He was bright but not particularly motivated (evaluation records suggest that he had been reprimanded multiple times for tardiness, twice due to sleeping in after a night drinking), and he nearly lost his slot at the school. Nevertheless he managed to graduate and upon returning to his home country he found a job as the chief engineer at a heavy machinery plant. Aguilar's efficiency caught the eye of the regime, and he was rewarded after years of diligent labor with a promotion.
Post-Heavenfall, Aguilar has been working in his favored field. Intelligence suggests that General Cheung is looking to hugely enhance San Borondon's offensive capabilities by investing in missile technology. He already has access to ballistic missiles (mostly relatively short-range Scuds, although he might have access to intermediate or even long-range weapons systems with the collapse of so many militaries and the disappearance of much of their armories), but it's believed that he's put Simón to work on developing home-grown weapon systems. This would lessen San Borondon's reliance on foreign supplies and present a threat to N/UN naval forces in the event of conflict between it and the NCAA. In a worst-case scenario, Aguilar's team develops intercontinental capabilities, giving a dangerous regime the ability to strike targets in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. This cannot be allowed to happen, and thus Aguilar needs to be converted or killed.
Camilia Hagos: The long-time girlfriend of Hugo, an accomplished model, actress, and general media darling. Of Ethiopian-Cuban descent, Camilia grew up in poverty. It was only due to a chance meeting with a photographer that she got her start in modeling, and she seized the opportunity with strength born out of deprivation. She pivoted her fashion career into a film one, receiving modest acclaim for her acting and developing a legion of fans. Hagos mastered the art of selling something, be it an item or an idea, and it's that talent that makes her useful to the Cheung regime.
She fell into a long-term relationship with Hugo, and at some point she was put to work introducing the right people to the Cheungs and selling San Borondon as the perfect place to visit and invest in. She helps whitewash the regime, covering up crimes beneath layers of high-society glamor and cultured elegance. Anytime an unpleasant story sneaks out, she's the one who makes sure it gets buried. It's suspected that her loyalty is coerced at least as much as it is bought; she never leaves the island without a team of security loyal to Hugo.
He excelled in training and was earmarked to serve as a liaison officer in the British Army upon his commissioning, taking the opportunity to study both English literature and world history. Upon returning to San Borondon, he quickly promoted through the ranks, impressing his superiors with his skills as a commander and in logistics. Although young, His natural aptitude combined with his popularity among the men made him a threat to the then-king of San Borondon, Cristóbal. Cheung was accused of being a part of the plot to overthrow the monarchy and was thrown in prison where he was starved and regularly beaten. He refused to give up any of his collaborators, and upon Cristóbal's execution he was freed by and promoted to Major-General.
Hardened by his experiences and already ambitious, Cheung set about shoring up support for himself among the island's elite. Seizing upon rumors surrounding his political rival President Owen Granger's sexuality and loyalty during the War of Independence, Cheung played a hand in forcing Granger to resign, quickly installing himself as permanent leader.
Since then he's ruled San Borondon with an iron fist.
Kitty Cheung: Daughter of Henri Cheung, and major financier of the regime. Kitty is highly educated, having a degree in finance from Cambridge and a juris doctorate from Stanford. She spent much of her adult life working overseas as a corporate lawyer and hedge fund manager, and was accused multiple times of either masterminding or being involved with schemes to defraud the public. Nothing stuck however, and Kitty gained a reputation for being able to make huge returns for her clients quickly. This led to her fraternizing with the elite of the business world, and her Rolodex can rival anyone's.
After the Heavenfall, she returned to San Borondon to work directly for her father. She manages his personal cash flow, taking the bribes and protection money paid to him by various parties and investing it overseas in business ventures that are expected to boom and bust. She's accused of market manipulation, insider trading, and outright sabotage, and if she goes down, Henri loses most of his overseas assets.
Hugo Cheung: Henri's son and youngest child. Unlike his older sister Hugo is neither particularly subtle nor educated; he has a Doctorate of Humanities from San Borondon University but it's an honorary degree bestowed purely to curry favor. While Kitty was off studying and working her way up in the professional world he was busy partying with his entourage and raising hell for people who angered him. There are multiple instances where Hugo beat someone to death, and at least ten people have been murdered on his orders after upsetting him. He's violent, sadistic, and untouchable.
But he is shrewd, and charismatic when he wants to be. He's something of a playboy and a darling of the gossip columns, being spotted at fashion shows and on private beaches with all manner of celebrities. To the wider world, Hugo is a charmingly dim-witted patron of the arts with a love of beautiful women and blow, an effective cover for someone running a drug trafficking ring. To impress his father Hugo (likely assisted by a megacorp) personally funded the construction of industrial-grade chemical laboratories to produce huge quantities of opiates, methamphetamine, and party drugs such as MDMA. These are sold in bulk at low prices to his drug lord associates, flooding both North America and East Asia with narcotics. Removing him would cut off a source of funding for the Cheung regime as well striking a blow at international criminality.
Patrice Fortuño: Commander of the San Borondon Special Forces, handpicked for the role by General Cheung. Born into abject poverty, Patrice joined the army to escape starvation. By chance, General Cheung spotted him on a visit to the training camp and was impressed by his ferocity in combat exercises. He handpicked Fortuño as his favorite soldier, ensuring he was given as much tutoring as was required before placing him in the officer's academy. His drive and inclination for combat made him a natural fit to lead the nation's commando forces, and under Fortuño they have made a name for themselves fighting internal enemies as well as in overseas operations.
Fortuño is loyal above all else. Elements of the Black Brigades once tried to bribe him into assisting with assassanting General Cheung in return for a position of power in the new government, an offer he pretended to respond favorably to before personally leading a raid on the planners' compound and executing those who survived the initial firefight. He's also quite good at his job, unfortunately. Fortuño was trained at the School of the Americas and went through Ranger School, taking part in special operations attached to American and British SOF in the Gulf War. He knows how to fight an unconventional war, and once Operation Daytrip becomes known he's likely to involve himself personally.
Simón Aguilar: An aerospace engineer with a doctorate in physics and a strong grounding in chemistry, Dr. Aguilar studied at the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union as part of a technical assistance program. There his interest turned to rocketry and propulsion systems, inspired by the Space Race and the rise of the ICBM era. He was bright but not particularly motivated (evaluation records suggest that he had been reprimanded multiple times for tardiness, twice due to sleeping in after a night drinking), and he nearly lost his slot at the school. Nevertheless he managed to graduate and upon returning to his home country he found a job as the chief engineer at a heavy machinery plant. Aguilar's efficiency caught the eye of the regime, and he was rewarded after years of diligent labor with a promotion.
Post-Heavenfall, Aguilar has been working in his favored field. Intelligence suggests that General Cheung is looking to hugely enhance San Borondon's offensive capabilities by investing in missile technology. He already has access to ballistic missiles (mostly relatively short-range Scuds, although he might have access to intermediate or even long-range weapons systems with the collapse of so many militaries and the disappearance of much of their armories), but it's believed that he's put Simón to work on developing home-grown weapon systems. This would lessen San Borondon's reliance on foreign supplies and present a threat to N/UN naval forces in the event of conflict between it and the NCAA. In a worst-case scenario, Aguilar's team develops intercontinental capabilities, giving a dangerous regime the ability to strike targets in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. This cannot be allowed to happen, and thus Aguilar needs to be converted or killed.
Camilia Hagos: The long-time girlfriend of Hugo, an accomplished model, actress, and general media darling. Of Ethiopian-Cuban descent, Camilia grew up in poverty. It was only due to a chance meeting with a photographer that she got her start in modeling, and she seized the opportunity with strength born out of deprivation. She pivoted her fashion career into a film one, receiving modest acclaim for her acting and developing a legion of fans. Hagos mastered the art of selling something, be it an item or an idea, and it's that talent that makes her useful to the Cheung regime.
She fell into a long-term relationship with Hugo, and at some point she was put to work introducing the right people to the Cheungs and selling San Borondon as the perfect place to visit and invest in. She helps whitewash the regime, covering up crimes beneath layers of high-society glamor and cultured elegance. Anytime an unpleasant story sneaks out, she's the one who makes sure it gets buried. It's suspected that her loyalty is coerced at least as much as it is bought; she never leaves the island without a team of security loyal to Hugo.
OOC
This RP is set in @Rhona W's Heavenfall setting, an alternate history where the Cold War continued up through the 90s before the world was hit by multiple meteorites causing immense destruction and the reshaping of the geopolitical landscape. You can read through the primer he wrote Here, but the key information is the section on the New United Nations. You'll be playing as a member of an elite secret task force put together by the N/UN for the purpose of removing an unfriendly dictator from power in a covert operation. Your character does not have to be from the N/UN or a friendly nation (having a wide variety of nationalities on the team makes it easier to disavow) but you have some sort of elite military, intelligence, or law enforcement experience and are considered trustworthy. There is no space on the team for people who have only worked as mercenaries or are unable to function as part of a unit, every part of the whole needs to be rock solid.
The tone will be largely serious and sometimes dark, but with room for levity. I don't intend for it to be nonstop action, there'll be periods of downtime for character interaction and whatnot. This story is largely unrelated to the Heavenfall RPs already ongoing, although there may be some references here and there.
- Don't be a dick. Seriously. It's the most important one.
- GM has the final word. Obviously I’m going to hear out your suggestions and include them where fitting, but no is no.
- Try and post once a week, once every two is workable. Any less than that and I reserve the right to puppet, injur, or kill off your character as needed to keep things moving. If something comes up where you can’t post that’s fine, just tell me so I can write around you.
- This is a mature game, but the 18+ is for language and violence not smut. If it comes up, fade to black. Basically, don't break the Guild's rules.
- Match the tone. Your characters are all professionals undertaking a dangerous mission, you should be able to act as adults and work as a team. No lone wolves, no one too maverick to last in a chain of command. In terms of gear you're free to equip yourself as you see fit and should feel free to take things that are prototypical irl or simply uncommon, but no meme guns (deagles, swords, range toys, etc.). When in doubt, read the setting guide and ask.
This section ties into rule 1 from the above header, but I felt it warranted its own chunk. This RP and the setting its based in, while clearly different from reality, are heavily based on the real world. There will be political themes in this RP, and I leave it to you how your character reacts to them. Keep any drama IC; there will be low tolerance for out-of-character bickering.
It's covered in-depth in the setting primer, but generally speaking technology consists of more advanced versions of what existed in real-2014 than anything fantastically science fiction. No lasers, no cybernetic limbs with weapons hidden inside them, artificial intelligence is fairly widespread but far from being truly intelligent. Many of the major advancements in the setting relate to manufacturing, vehicles, and vehicle-based weaponry and thus are outside the scope of this RP.
When you're picking your gear, choose weapons/equipment that existed by 2014 and was feasibly suited to military usage (even if it was only prototypical in real life.) Uncommon items are encouraged, outdated or impossible ones are banned. A REC7 or Vepr would be great choices, an Stg 44 or a laser rifle would not work.
When you're picking your gear, choose weapons/equipment that existed by 2014 and was feasibly suited to military usage (even if it was only prototypical in real life.) Uncommon items are encouraged, outdated or impossible ones are banned. A REC7 or Vepr would be great choices, an Stg 44 or a laser rifle would not work.
Name: Self-explanatory
Callsign: What you'll be referred to as when in the field. Typically based on a character trait or incident that stuck, often somewhat embarrassing and almost always bestowed by other people.
Age: Number and DOB. Minimum age is 25, and being as experienced as you are the odds are good that you're older than that.
Gender: Self-explanatory
Nationality: For ease of reference, this refers to the country you were born and grew up in. Your home might be some petty warlord's personal kingdom, but list what it used to be called.
Role in Team: It's assumed that everyone can shoot, drive, perform first and do all the other tasks that the work involves with a basic degree of competency. This is your specialization, the reason you in particular were singled out for Operation Daytrip. Demolitions, combat driving, and being a pointman are all examples. Overlap is fine.
Appearance: An image or a description, or even better, both. Illustrations are preferred, but nothing overly anime. No spiky or weirdly colored hair (unless, of course your character is dyeing it)
Bio: An overview of your life. Where you're from, where you grew up, the events that led you to join this merry band, all that jazz.
Analysis: An addendum to your biography, essentially summarizing what made you worth recruiting. Your skills, your attitude, any particular areas of expertise, what do you bring to the table?
Service History: A timeline of your military/police/intelligence/PMC activities from whenever you began to the present day. This can be as simple as a bullet list.
Primary Weapon: Your main weapon, some sort of long gun (rifle, submachine gun, shotgun, etc.) and any attachments it has. Include any alternates you might use in different circumstances. Operators may request any firearm deemed capable, but are strictly forbidden from bringing personal weapons so as to simplify the process of covertly ferrying them to where they need to be.
Sidearm: Your secondary weapon, typically a handgun.
Ammunition: Any alternate ammo types you might use.
Other Equipment: Body armor, other types of weapons, specialized tools, anything you'd carry into a mission not covered by the above
Family And Notable Acquaintance: Important people in your life
Miscellaneous Details: Anything worth noting not covered by the above
Callsign: What you'll be referred to as when in the field. Typically based on a character trait or incident that stuck, often somewhat embarrassing and almost always bestowed by other people.
Age: Number and DOB. Minimum age is 25, and being as experienced as you are the odds are good that you're older than that.
Gender: Self-explanatory
Nationality: For ease of reference, this refers to the country you were born and grew up in. Your home might be some petty warlord's personal kingdom, but list what it used to be called.
Role in Team: It's assumed that everyone can shoot, drive, perform first and do all the other tasks that the work involves with a basic degree of competency. This is your specialization, the reason you in particular were singled out for Operation Daytrip. Demolitions, combat driving, and being a pointman are all examples. Overlap is fine.
Appearance: An image or a description, or even better, both. Illustrations are preferred, but nothing overly anime. No spiky or weirdly colored hair (unless, of course your character is dyeing it)
Bio: An overview of your life. Where you're from, where you grew up, the events that led you to join this merry band, all that jazz.
Analysis: An addendum to your biography, essentially summarizing what made you worth recruiting. Your skills, your attitude, any particular areas of expertise, what do you bring to the table?
Service History: A timeline of your military/police/intelligence/PMC activities from whenever you began to the present day. This can be as simple as a bullet list.
Primary Weapon: Your main weapon, some sort of long gun (rifle, submachine gun, shotgun, etc.) and any attachments it has. Include any alternates you might use in different circumstances. Operators may request any firearm deemed capable, but are strictly forbidden from bringing personal weapons so as to simplify the process of covertly ferrying them to where they need to be.
Sidearm: Your secondary weapon, typically a handgun.
Ammunition: Any alternate ammo types you might use.
Other Equipment: Body armor, other types of weapons, specialized tools, anything you'd carry into a mission not covered by the above
Family And Notable Acquaintance: Important people in your life
Miscellaneous Details: Anything worth noting not covered by the above
The following items are given to all members of Daytrip, although they are free to request different models as long as they meet operational requirements.
- FAST Helmet with L-3 GPNVG-18 night vision and IR strobe
- SPCS plate carrier with level IV plates
- General Service Respirator
- Sordin Supreme MIL CC headset and Personal Role Radio
- Suunto Core watch
- Rugged military tablet
