S1E4 [Borneo]: “Tick” 29, “Tick” 28: When the constellations align

[Angela and Denny absent. Mira still in New York; Cliff remaining at the military runway trying to fix the plane he crash-landed.]

28 April 1933: The passengers scrambled for their seats, buckling in tight. Mt. Kinabalu (rising over 13,000 ft) looking oh so close out the windows of the diving plane. Cliff would call it controlled flight as he muscled the disabled plane to the runway below. Grounds people confused whether to run from the crashing wreck (after the nose-gear collapsed) or to it to save lives. Long minutes after the screech of metal stopped and the dust settled, when a lone military officer approached, “Good heavens, that was an impressive landing. Captain Lancaster, of the British Expeditionary Force, at your service. I saw the engine on fire as you approached. What happened?”

Inside the plane, Shapiro directed the team to hide the dead night-gaunt bodies in the 47 section back of the plane. As the passengers disembarked, complaining of whiplash, Porter tried to downplay the airborne attack, “Turbulence.” Upon seeing Cliff climb out of the pilot seat, the captain could only comment, “Bloody American cowboys. Men, help them unload the plane.” Opening a side-cargo door, local conscripts began removing crates. Shapiro directed the efforts, “Careful that large crate; contains the viral analyzer equipment. Those other crates are medical supplies for the quarantine area. Those our own water and rations.” All the while, Shapiro clinging to his own heavy box (20x20x30) he personally offloaded. One step off the plane and Shapiro almost melting from the oppressive heat; his shirt drenched and he sweating profusely.

S1E3 [NYC+Borneo]: HANG ON…IT’S GONNA GET BUMPY

24 March 1933: Strong tailwinds got the airship to New York a day early. Tethered at an airdrome outside of the city, the crates unloaded and trucked into the city for delivery to the Caduceus Building. An impressive 18 floors with two domed towers rising higher.

But all dwarfed by the towering Empire State Building mere blocks away. The unloading activity almost gone unnoticed by the thousands lined up in the bread lines.

The Great Depression at its worst: some 15 million Americans unemployed. Nearly half the banks failed. Man scrambling for scraps like the rodents filling the gutters. The lone saving grace for some: the passing of the Beer Act amending the Volstead Act to legalize the sale of beer and wine. “I’ll drink to that!”

The Bolivia team is ushered into the Caduceus Building where they meet Frank Deluca (paunch belly, habitually wiping his nose), “So, you’re the new agents who returned the mummy. As promised, let me take you up to the 8^th floor for in-brief into Tier 2 access. Please follow me.” Most notice Frank’s yellow badge as they enter the elevator. Attention as he opens a small panel, swipes his badge, then presses ‘8’. The doors open to a long hallway. They walk past doors labeled ‘Mission Planning’, ‘Radio A’, ‘Radio B’, then various individual names signifying offices, as they make their way to the ‘Briefing’ room.

Inside, pictures line the walls. Each member makes a curious scan; Jen actually recognizes one picture, “Hey, that’s Oded! Do you remember me telling you about the Persian I met some 5 years ago? Damn, he said he worked for a secret organization but I thought it was some cultist group.” The door swings open as another man wearing a yellow badge enters, “I’m Dr. Gonsalves. If you’ll please roll up your sleeves. I need blood samples. Why? To verify you’re still human. We’ve lost a few agents who were ‘infected’ and began working for the Inner Nights.” Boredom as they wait an hour.

S1E2 [Bolivia]: Why Did It Have to be Snakes?!

Bill (Paulo 31)- Italian ex-soldier, now linguist tour guide.

Matt (Isaac)- mechanic, cultist who knows spells.

Max (Jenny) - femme fatale with a machete.
     [absent]Tony (Mikael)- ex-White Russian marksman, now boxer/dock worker.

Denny (Clifford)- American cowboy, barnstormer, gadget man.

Angela (Miranda)- Archaeologist searching for the unnatural.

Brian (Porter 21)- philosophy student on rifle team; with psychic ability.
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16 March: Isaac scratches his chin while surveying the murals at the bottom of the shaft, “Guarani natives [of Brazil] once told me about a Dreamer god who is asleep in a temple. Could this be it?” Miranda (archaeologist) studies the murals and stonework, “This has to be at least 10,000 years old. Man was still in his grunting stone-age time and surely didn’t have the skills to craft such wonders as this.” Her flashlight reveals loose gravel at the base of the wall. Scanning up, she finds an iron-metal disk imbedded in the wall. Poking and prodding, they soon realize it’s like a screw drilled into the wall. “Let’s dig it out.” But Paulo has other plans, “While you do that, I’ll go topside to scour the battlefield. Maybe find a crowbar to help dig.”

S1E1 [Bolivia]- Losing his Head over the Bolivian Aid Camp

Bill (Paulo)- Italian ex-soldier, now linguist tour guide.

Matt (Isaac)- mechanic.

Max (Jenny) - femme fatale with a machete.
Tony (Mikael)- ex-White Russian marksman, now boxer/dock worker.

Denny (Clifford)- American cowboy, barnstormer, gadget man.

Angela (Miranda)- Archaeologist searching for the unnatural.

[absent] Brian (Porter)- student on rifle team; with psychic ability.

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1933 South America: the Chaco War between Bolivia and Paraguay rages on. Some believe the impetus for war was exacerbated by a conflict between oil companies jockeying for exploration and drilling rights: Royal Dutch Shell backing Paraguay and Standard Oil supporting Bolivia. The discovery of oil in the Andean foothills sparked speculation that the Chaco might prove a rich source of petroleum. The perfect excuse for both landlocked countries to war with hopes of gaining their own access to the Atlantic and Pacific, desperately needed for import/export.

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Welcome to Caduceus.

We hope that you find your employment with us rewarding. The world is grateful to you for volunteering to go help alleviate suffering in places that others are unable or unwilling to go. We have a packet to orientate you to the organization.

Tier 1 Information. Unclassified.
In 1912, millionaire pharmacist Joshua Meadham sold his empire he had built up over the past 30 years. With the proceeds, he founded the Caduceus foundation. The foundation has been instrumental in providing aid, medical services and reconstruction operations in the wake of conflicts and wars across the globe. The Caduceus foundation operates out of New York City and employs hundreds of people in its headquarters and thousands across the globe.
Joshua Meadham, the founder and leader, is a driven man, highly energetic and passionate about the foundation’s work. He is known to be brisk and rumours abound about his personal life, the suicide of his late wife and the sudden estrangement and dismissal of his daughter Rose Meadham in 1928. Joshua Meadham is now in his eighties and there is a certain level of ‘shuffling’ in the wake of his heir’s departure.

Your first assignment will be in the Chaco region of Bolivia. We will get you a ticket on a ocean liner heading to Santos, Brazil. There your team lead will meet you and get your supplies for the mission. You will escort a team of doctors, nurses, and re-supplies for delivery to the aid camp we have set up.

Good luck.

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From Caduceus:
You are booked on the USS Dreamcatcher, sailing on 5 March from New York, to arrive in Santos, Brazil on the 12 March. You are sharing 3 rooms in the 3rd class section.
Dr. Arturo Ursini, your team lead, will meet you in Santos. He will secure any supplies you need.
You will then hike to the aid camp in Bolivia (in the Chaco region) that we have established. It is a 3-day journey through the jungle to get to the aid camp.

Wishing you the best of luck,
Philip Conners
Caduceus Quartermaster
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