Russian Minister Survives Assassination Attempt

VIENNA, Austria - A Russian finance minister was attacked at a reception for the Western Trade Conference last evening. Arkady Shevelenko was attacked on his way to his vehicle while leaving the Hotel Europa. The attackers attempted to coerce the minister into an ambulance, but his own security team fended off the attackers long enough for police to arrive. Four attackers were killed on the scene, and security forces are on the lookout for a second vehicle that eluded pursuers after a high-speed chase along the banks of the Wien.

ARTICLE COMMENTS...decrypting...decrypting...

> This cover will hold up well enough. The FSB doesn't want the real story to get out either.
> D

>Was this cockup Throndel's fault as well?
> C

> No. He claims he had killed two of the CIA agents when he was disturbed by an unknown agent. 
> D

> We need to be more proactive, starting now.
> C

> Let's see if they make it out of Vienna. The Austrians want them as badly as we do. Throndel thinks he may be able to flip one or two of them.
> D

> The one I tasted is already leaning over the edge of the pit. At least give me a chance for a proper push...
> T

Enemy Agent - Laline Shappiro-Garcia

Background: Burned CIA Spy/Double Agent
Previous Patron: CIA
Drive: Revenge
MOS: Disguise

Sources of Stability:
Symbol: Father's wedding ring
Solace: Ethan Adler, the handler that burned her
Safety: Grandfather's tobacco farm in Cuba

Stability: 7
Health: 7

Cover Identities: 
Victoria Herrera, AXA Group Investigator (2)

Network Contacts:
Yuri Statnik, Cuban Cultural Attache (4)

Investigative
Human Terrain (3)
Languages (2)
Law (1)
Vampirology (2)

Bureaucracy (1)
Cop Talk (1)
Flattery (2)
High Society (2)
Interrogation (2)
Reassurance (2)
Streetwise (2)
Tradecraft (1)

Notice (2)
Photography (1)

General Abilities
Conceal (6)
Disguise (8): Connected Cover
Driving (5)
Filch (3)
Gambling (2)
Hand-to-hand (6)
Infiltration (8): Mark and Execute
Preparedness (2)
Sense Trouble (6)
Shooting (5)
Surveillance (6)

Opposition Research - Pete Carroll

Name: Pete Carroll (Likely false)

AKA: Mike Smith, Marvin Lewis, John Fox (Likely false)

Location: van Ostadestraat 97, 1072 ST Amsterdam. (Likely false)

Brief: An American operative with a Russian passport. Recently seen leaving the homes of four families connected with the Thalys 9339 victims

Challenges: Carroll is well-known in the European intelligence community as a fixer. If he is assembling a team, they will likely want to be paid.

Weaknesses: He learned his skills somewhere. Perhaps they want to know what he's been up to.

Action: Monitor activity in Amsterdam. Active surveillance if he visits more families.

Possible Asset - Truus Toksvig

Name: Geertruida Anneka Toksvig
AKA: Truus Toksvig

Location: Soesterberg Air Force Base, Amsterdam

Brief: Chief investigator of the Thayls 9339 attack. 8-year history with the European Railway Agency. Contracted from AXA Group role as Senior Industrial Payout Investigator.

Challenges: While we have removed evidence linking us directly to the attack, we were unable to get any assets on the inside of the investigation.  Toksvig is our best bet to flip, since she will also be under pressure from government officials.

Weaknesses: Ms. Toksvig is unmarried and lives alone. A honey pot approach could work, though her sexuality must be assessed.

Action: Dispatch a BTK unit for surveillance and leave resolution to their discretion. Throndel should be cleaning up his own mess, but he's busy sulking.

Explosive Device Kills 85 in Eurail Wreck

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - An explosive device caused the crash of the Thalys 9339 train. Sources within the EU confirm the investigation of the wreckage centered on a device detonating while the train was in motion. The crash occurred near Utrecht on the high-speed rail that runs from Paris to Amsterdam.

The crash killed 85 passengers and injured 113. It is  one of the largest terrorist attacks in recent history. The victims included people from all walks of life, ranging from 24-year-old  barista Hayley Norwell to 82-year-old Holocaust survivor Helmut Litzau. No organizations claimed public responsibility for the attack.