Espionage Simulator

> 1st of Febuary, 1964. West Berlin. 6:03 a.m.

You wake up and make yourself some coffee with some bread and sausage for breakfast. You shower, get dressed, brush your teeth, and leave your house at 7:14. You stop to buy a newspaper and quickly scan through it while walking. It was a cold, windy day, and the ground was covered in week-old snow that had transformed into wet slush that made the sidewalks tricky to navigate.

At 7:33 you arrive at a coffee shop, where you sit yourself across from a man wearing a grey hat. The man greets you in English - a language you were quite adept in, though you were surely not native.

< Good morning, Mr. Schäfer. How are you? >

< I'm well, how are you, Mr. Johnson? >

You two made small talk. A barista served you coffee, which you graciously accepted. The man then lays a folder on the table in front of you. You open it, scanning. * Inside the folder was a picture of an apartment building, as well as descriptions of the location and rooms. Beside it was the name of a person you did not recognise. *

Location: 125 Himmel Straße, East Berlin

Apartment 302

1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1 kitchen

124 m²

Name: Arnold James Smith

DOB: 17-4-28

Sex: M

Nationality: American

Occupation: Journalist for the New York Times

Checkpoint You studied the documents laid before you, memorising everything.

< You are to assume the identity of Mr. Arnold Smith, living in East Berlin. You shall work as a journalist, gathering information on Soviet movement and activity within East Berlin. We will handle having articles published under your name to ensure you have cover. Can you do this? >

He slid to you a passport, as well as an American driver's licence with the same formation on it. Along with that, some keys.

< Yes, I can. >

< Great to hear it, Mr. Smith! There's a driver outside in a grey Volkswagen Beetle ready to transport you to Checkpoint Bravo at Dreilinden, should take about an hour and a half from here. You will be informed further once you reach your apartment. >

You look to the window, and sure enough, a car outside matched the description. You quickly drank your coffee, paid, and left.

< Good day, Mr. Johnson. >

< Good day, Mr. Smith. >

You entered the car and exchanged greetings with the driver. The road was long, the sky was colourless, and the streets of West Berlin were dull. Though you had a feeling you would soon gain a new appreciation for West Berlin, as you have read stories about what life is like in the East. The driver offers you a cigarette, which you gladly accept. You watch as the streets pass by. Men and women walking, biking, and driving to who knows where, children playing and laughing. This is the country you're fighting for, this will all be worth it in the end, you assure yourself. And this is the Berlin you want to return to.

> Checkpoint Bravo

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