Vancouver International

[Rockwolf66]

Hey all,

I have an Idea forming in my head about the Vancouver International Airport.

The basic concept is that a company sized band of Marauders has taken over the entire Sea Island and has turned it into a smuggler's haven. Basically you can buy, sell or trade anything you want there as long as the Marauders get their cut.

I'm visualizing them as about two hundred Infantry backed up by four tanks. Then there are the various other smuggler, Pirate, and Marauder groups that use the place as a rest, relaxation and refit station.

I'm trying to expand on the basic idea and flesh things out. Does anyone want to bounce around ideas with me?

[Tegyrius]

I like the basic concept of a smuggler haven. If they aren't actively functioning as raiders, the possibility for non-hostile interactions with them goes up quite a bit.

That's an awfully high ratio of armor to infantry for a group without higher-echelon backing. If they're on an island, how 'bout some boats? Maybe even a civilian passenger/ferry hovercraft converted to a fast-attack vessel, which they keep fueled from a surviving tank of avgas somewhere in the facility?

- C.

[Rockwolf66]

I went with a tank platoon as something to really scare the pants off the PCs I usually game with. Plus the number of "Infantry" is the number of "loyal" troops on the island. there is probably a total population of 1d4X1000 people on the island at any given time. I did see several seaplanes and a hovercraft on the island. There is currently four bridges to and from the island.

I am also trying to set things up so that the island is something that will eventually have to be dealt with by the Canadian Government but have said government not currently powerful enough to overrun the place openly.

I'm trying to find a balance between a dangerous regional threat and putting too much good stuff in one place.

[Rainbow Six]

I also like the concept. I can't recall off hand how far south the Soviets got when they pushed down the Pacific coast, but might be an idea to have the marauders being a mixed bunch of Canadians and Soviets, with the odd American thrown in for good measure? Maybe the tanks could be Soviet (and you could add a few more armoured vehicles)? or swap one or more of the tanks for a Shilka - I'm not familiar with the geography, but a Shilka parked by one of the bridges on the island side might be an effective deterrent against an attack.

And maybe have two of the bridges either destroyed completely or rendered impassable (mines, booby traps, etc) so the marauders can better control access to the island?

With regard to fleshing it out, a few thoughts....who's in charge? One individual or several leaders? Maybe an alliance between a local Canadian strongman and a Soviet Army officer? Does the strongman have a connection with the airport? Maybe he worked there (baggage handler, airport security guard, etc) What sort of facilities are available? Bars? Brothels? Gambling dens? The marauders have to eat - are the local populace semi willing accomplices (sounds like things could be worse for them) so provide the group with basic services (food production, laundry, cooking, other more "personal' services, etc) in exchange for a degree of security?

Any planes still there? Sure, they'd likely be non operational but could they be restored to some semblance of working order? Not neccessarily 747 or widebodied airbuses, was thinking more the smaller commuter jets / turboprops used by the likes of Air Canada Express (probably wasn't called that then...). Is there an onsite Hotel that the marauders could be using as living quarters? if not where are the offsite Hotels? On the islnd or the mainland?

Just a few random thoughts...

Cheers

[Olefin]

two hundred infantry and four tanks is basically a regiment sized force by 2000 (for a comparison look at what left of the 2nd Armored by Nov 2000 - its not that much bigger)

that size force would definitely be able to stand off anything less than a major push by the Canadians or the US for that matter

would the marauders be US, Canadian or Russian or a combo of all three? All of those countries had forces in the area (there are the remnants of two Russian divisions not that far away for instance) and thus the marauders could have orginated from any of them

[Cdnwolf]

I recalled something from back in 2009 and was thinking how this might tie in with where the marauders came from...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Vancouver_gang_war

[Rockwolf66]

Let us not forget that IRL Vancouver is 1/3rd Chinese.

[boogiedowndonovan]

Originally Posted by Rockwolf66

Let us not forget that IRL Vancouver is 1/3rd Chinese.

you mean Hongcouver?

Incidentally, I am flying into Vancouver in a few weeks. If I take any pictures of the airport, I'll post them.

btw, Vancouver is on the hit list. 1MT at oil refining and storage facilities. There is a Chevron refinery in Burnaby. I'm assuming that was the target.

My understanding of the chinese population in Vancouver is that while Chinese have been in Canada since the 1800s, the population really started to boom in the mid 1990s before the transfer of Hong Kong from British colony to the Peoples Republic of China. Whether this would happen in T2k is anyone's guess since I think general consensus is that the 1997 transfer of Hong Kong wouldn't happen.

[Rainbow Six]

Originally Posted by boogiedowndonovan

Whether this would happen in T2k is anyone's guess since I think general consensus is that the 1997 transfer of Hong Kong wouldn't happen.

I agree 100% that the handover wouldn't have happened in July 1997 in the T2k World but I'd imagine immigration from HK to Canada would have happened much as it did IRL until the start of the Sino Soviet War in the summer of 1995 at least. What happens after that point is open to speculation - it's possible immigration may have continued throughout 95 and much of 96 dependent on what the Canadian Government decided (if anything I'd imagine you'd probably see more people wanting to get out). As you rightly say, ultimately it's a guess...

[.45cultist]

They could have been coyotes/smugglers early in the war, allowing for some "contact specialists" from the bunch.