Theater of Special Operations

[jatay3]

Here's the scenario. In a client state, one faction desires to release political prisoners held by another and secretly appeals to the Imperium. The Imperial Baron(for whatever reason) tells the faction holding the prisoners unofficially that the Imperium would be "very pleased" if they comply with the request.

The one problem; the leader of the faction most certainly does not wish it to appear that he takes orders from the Imperium. They would rather be made to look foolish by a theatrical feat of arms then be accused of being puppets.

After much haggling an arrangement is made. The prisoners are moved to an isolated site. They will be guarded by S3 personal in the uniform of the faction holding the prisoners on the assumption that it is harder to delicately arrange a false defeat then a victory.
The arrangement is that there will be a sudden "attack". The idea is to coordinate the efforts of the two sides so that no one is killed on either side, and the prisoners are rescued but it will appear as realistic as possible. Once the prisoners are rescued, they will be shipped into exile far away at the expense of the Imperium. And everyone has saved face.

 

[Blue Ghost]

Here's the scenario. In a client state, one faction desires to release political prisoners held by another and secretly appeals to the Imperium. The Imperial Baron(for whatever reason) tells the faction holding the prisoners unofficially that the Imperium would be "very pleased" if they comply with the request.

The one problem; the leader of the faction most certainly does not wish it to appear that he takes orders from the Imperium. They would rather be made to look foolish by a theatrical feat of arms then be accused of being puppets.

After much haggling an arrangement is made. The prisoners are moved to an isolated site. They will be guarded by S3 personal in the uniform of the faction holding the prisoners on the assumption that it is harder to delicately arrange a false defeat then a victory.
The arrangement is that there will be a sudden "attack". The idea is to coordinate the efforts of the two sides so that no one is killed on either side, and the prisoners are rescued but it will appear as realistic as possible. Once the prisoners are rescued, they will be shipped into exile far away at the expense of the Imperium. And everyone has saved face.

I take it the desire for embarrasment via a shoot-out is sarcasm, correct?

Otherwise it sounds like a solid idea. Said faction is led by a charismatic leader. His Zealots are low IQ lackeys or some very opportunistic mercenaries seeking a big payoff.

Go for it. Write it up and publish it.

 

[Gray Lensman]

He could also magnaminously (did I spell that right?) free them in support of a national religious holiday (if the so-called judiciary doesn't interfere).

After all, it happened in real life.

 

[jatay3]

I take it the desire for embarrasment via a shoot-out is sarcasm, correct?

Otherwise it sounds like a solid idea. Said faction is led by a charismatic leader. His Zealots are low IQ lackeys or some very opportunistic mercenaries seeking a big payoff.

Go for it. Write it up and publish it.

The point is that the PR loss from a fight is considered a lesser evil.

 

[jatay3]

He could also magnaminously (did I spell that right?) free them in support of a national religious holiday (if the so-called judiciary doesn't interfere).

After all, it happened in real life.

He could, but that wouldn't be as interesting.

 

[Gray Lensman]

He could, but that wouldn't be as interesting.

But the interference from the Judicary or whatever could be mad einto something interesting..... or not, whatever, just threw it out there

by now

 

[Higgipedia]

To easy. You have the prisoners being transported to an undisclosed location.

The convoy is stopped by gunmen. The gunmen and the convoy crew are in on it and stage a mock firefight before the crew ultimately surrenders. The prisoners and the crew are taken hostage and "ransomed" back. What the prisoners don't realize is that there was never any ransom paid.

Then the crew's government creates some media blitz of a much more epic fight. Of course, the prisoners will say it wasn't as bad, but that can be waived off by bias.

 

[jatay3]

But the interference from the Judicary or whatever could be mad einto something interesting..... or not, whatever, just threw it out there

by now

Now that you mention it, I could just picture a judiciary that doesn't know of the arrangement trying to prevent the prisoners being transported to where the "rescue" is to occur.

 

[Icosahedron]

Maybe the jailers could believe the prisoners were all terminally ill and release them on compassionate grounds.

Maybe they had accidental exposure to something during incarceration, and it will be discovered later that it's not fatal after all?

 

[Major B]

Two ideas - because any story of intrigue needs more intrigue.

Spoiler:

The leader of the mercenaries hired to guard the prisoners has his own plan to turn the mock battle into a real one, then snatch the prisoners and ransom them back to whoever pays highest

Spoiler:

A mid-level commander in the force holding the prisoners is a "true believer" who decides he will take steps to turn the mock battle into a real one in order to kill all of the parties involved, simultaneously discrediting those above him who have "lost sight of the true struggle."

Most interesting if you have both working at the same time.

 

[Gray Lensman]

Shoot, throw Major Bs two in with mine and make a real mess of things :rofl:

Good Ideas Major B.

 

[jatay3]

During World War II the Allies actually arranged a deal with the Turks whereby interned personal would "escape" from them, so one could see this happening.

The Turks had to hold Allied personal who came within their vicinity to assure the Germans of their neutrality. At the same time they were a diplomatic bother. Hence the "escapes".

 

[Blue Ghost]

The point is that the PR loss from a fight is considered a lesser evil.

Staging a fight is kind of an iffy thing though, isn't it? Are blanks going to be loaded into weapons or something?

How about just a report that said prisoners escape as opposed to actually going through the theatrics?

 

[jatay3]

Staging a fight is kind of an iffy thing though, isn't it? Are blanks going to be loaded into weapons or something?

How about just a report that said prisoners escape as opposed to actually going through the theatrics?

Good point. There ought to be a way to get around it, seeing that it sounds like such a fascinatingly devious thing to do if it can be pulled off.

 

[Major B]

I agree that staging the fight is pretty iffy, but the base idea is very plausible.

If those holding the hostages want to gain some good will with their enemies for whatever reason but without suffering the potential damage to their reputation by being seen as giving concessions to the enemy - what better way than to sacrifice some mercenary unit they don't particularly like or wish to pay off?

Tell the disliked mercenaries that high command fears an enemy attempt to snatch the prisoners due to a traitor (real or imagined) giving away information. Due to the mole, the mercenaries are to be sent to a remote, undisclosed location with instructions not to harm the prisoners under any circumstances and remain in place until the mole can be found out.

Then leak the "undisclosed" location to the enemy forces along with a promise to not intervene when they raid the site. After the raid, you have your good will and can blame the loss of face on the mercenaries. And with any luck the mercenaries will be wiped out so no one can leak anything damaging.

 

[jatay3]

Then too, what if the commander of the mercenary unit is suspected of conspiring against the ruler? That might be a convenient way to remove him from circulation.

 

[Major B]

Then too, what if the commander of the mercenary unit is suspected of conspiring against the ruler? That might be a convenient way to remove him from circulation.

Absolutely! Especially if he really is conspiring. He sees that he is probably on the losing side and is worried that the winners might not honor his bond. So he makes secret contact with a neighboring country (or third party faction if not balkanized) for them to come get the hostages.

The mercs now have a new way out. The third party will get control of the hostages and be able to buy the same good will the original holders hoped for. But it will all come apart as both the rescue team and the third party snatch team will show up at the same time.

So the raid is just prelude. The extraction birds get shot down or aborted because the third party brings in MANPADS. Now the players have to shepherd the liberated prisoners across miles of difficult terrain with both the third party trying to wipe them out and the forces of the original captors trying to intercept.

I think I might be getting carried away with this but your idea just brings up too many possibilities to me. I hope my ramblings are useful to you.