Fourth, we were free to rove for the purposes of counterintelligence: to keep an eye on potential diachronic activities of our strategic rivals. Not that the identity of those rivals had been shared with us.
As to Constantinople. That jewel in the crown of the Byzantine Empire. That continent-straddling stronghold of the Eastern Orthodox Church. That famously inviolable walled city ruled by generations of interbred usurping nut-jobs a pantheon of families so tortuously intertwined as to be the basis of our modern adjective byzantine. This was a fantastically complex city with a wide range of languages and cultures, so it was required to build up a large database including not just linguistics but maps, etiquette, cultural practices, weapons, and other things that our DOers would need to know in order to function in that time and place—the time being circa 1203, the Fourth Crusade (not, for the history buffs among you, the siege a few days later, or the occupation, or the final shitstorm destruction of the city, but Galata Tower). A lot of that research fell into my lap, in my role as head of the amusingly named Diachronic Operative Resource Center.
The DNI (that would be Frink) wished to stabilize certain national and ethnic frontiers in Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Turkey that had begun to show considerable GLAAMR—an indication that Someone Else might be conducting diachronic operations in an effort to shift them. Between Erszebet’s iPad Quipu (her IQ, as it were) and Frank Oda tapping into the elemental quipus of the Chronotron, we were able to calculate backwards that our best counter-action was to move a particular Orthodox relic from one tent to another in the Byzantine Emperor’s army camp when his army fled from the Crusaders after the siege of Galata Tower.
Regarding the developments of the witch network: as well as Constantinople 1203, we also sought KCWs in a range of intermediate eras and locations where we perceived it would be easier for us to conduct operations (or, as I might have said before I learned to talk the talk, “do things”). New ODECs were being built, but as we had only one witch—who was temperamental on the best of days—we had to “leverage” (General Frink’s term) Erszebet by having her Send DOers to familiar locations: pre-1851 safe houses where we had KCWs who could then forward our agents onward through the network.
The “trunk line” of the network, so to speak, was to be anchored at one end in 1203 Constantinople and on the other in 1602 London, where we had re-established connections with Gráinne and her friend Rose. Thanks to Rose’s intercession, we now had access to a secure safe house on the outskirts of the city, equipped with clothes, weapons, and other DOer resources. The other major stop on the line needed to be Antwerp circa 1560, for reasons beyond the scope of this narrative. I had attempted to cultivate a relationship there with one Winnifred Dutton, an English witch resident in that DTAP. Knowing her own worth (she had admirably influential family relations and appeared capable of Wending), she was standoffish toward my initial queries; eventually she decided she would assist us in exchange for a certain hard-to-find herb known as kalonji.
Rather conveniently for us, kalonji grew in profusion in the palace garden of Blachernae . . . in thirteenth-century Constantinople.
Post by Dr. Roger Blevins to Dr. Melisande Stokes
on private ODIN channel, 15:32:37
DAY 584 (EARLY MARCH, YEAR 2)
Dr. Stokes:
...
Post by Dr. Roger Blevins to Dr. Melisande Stokes
on private ODIN channel, 15:32:59
DAY 584 (EARLY MARCH, YEAR 2)
Dr. Stokes:
...
Post by Dr. Roger Blevins to Dr. Melisande Stokes
on private ODIN channel, 15:33:07
DAY 584 (EARLY MARCH, YEAR 2)
Dr. Stokes:
...
Post by Dr. Roger Blevins to Dr. Melisande Stokes
on private ODIN channel, 15:52:34
DAY 584 (EARLY MARCH, YEAR 2)
Dr. Stokes:
Disregard previous posts. I had to find Mortimer Shore (on the roof of the building engaging in what appeared to be a sword duel) and get him to explain to me the proper usage, in the modern world, of what I call the “return,” and he denominates the “enter,” key.
I’m losing track of the different types of DOers. Could I trouble you or Lieutenant Colonel Lyons to post a canonical taxonomy?
Cordially,
Roger
DODO MEMORANDUM
CANONICAL TAXONOMY OF DIACHRONIC OPERATIVE TYPES
BY LTC TRISTAN LYONS
POSTED Day 585
For clarity in internal communication and record-keeping, please employ these terms, and these terms ONLY, when referring to different types or categories of DOers. If you think of some other new category that needs to be added, please see me or Dr. Stokes before editing this list.
FORERUNNER
(deprecated synonyms: SUICIDE BOMBER, DEAD MAN RUNNING, SCHNEIDER)
One who is Sent to a DTAP in which DODO has no Known Compliant Witch, safe house, or other contacts/infrastructure whatsoever. Considered the most elite and difficult-to-recruit subclass of DOer, Forerunners must possess all the skills of a STRIDER (see below) combined with those of a FIGHTER, LOVER, or CLOSER.
FIGHTER
(deprecated synonyms: CONAN, WARRIOR)
One who specializes in missions where, to put it politely, martial attributes are of the essence. Since every DTAP has a unique environment surrounding weapons, fighting styles, and martial culture, competence in fighting is only a part of the skill set required to be a successful Fighter. It is equally important to know how and when to fight.
LOVER
(deprecated synonyms: REDACTED)
Seems self-explanatory. But to counter some misconceptions, actually having sex is not part of the job description. We prefer to focus on the unique combination of personal charm, appearance, and social skills needed to influence historical decision makers who have been identified as “libido-motivated.”
CLOSER
A new category best described as LOVER without the carnal element. One who is highly skilled at changing someone’s mind without hurting or seducing them.
STRIDER
(deprecated synonyms: SNAKE EATER)
Wilderness survival expert.
SPY
Specialist in stealthy, unobtrusive observation and (since we can’t bring notes/sketches home with us) memorization.
SAGE
Subject matter expert, such as a historian or linguist, sent to a DTAP to investigate a specific question of interest to DODO.
MACGYVER
Typically a biologist, chemist, materials scientist, or engineer with exceptional aptitude for building devices, concocting medicines, etc., using natural and man-made substances available in a given DTAP.
MEDIC
Medical professional with additional training required for practice in pre-modern conditions.
A final note: the above are not mutually exclusive. More often than not, a given DOer will fit into more than one of these categories.
Post by LTC Tristan Lyons on
“Recruiting” ODIN channel