CODE NAME:
VIPER
CARABINIER
Story and Photos by M.Fo
The continuing saga of AGENT: VGV-13,
CODENAME: JULIO, assigned to OPER-
ATION: BROKEN WING. The mission has
taken him on a twisted journey, on which
he stumbled onto a bizarre twist behind
the scenes of the Iran/Contra affair.
Herman Hoth, commander of foreign
intelligence, continues to evaluate,
OPERATION: BROKEN WING. Moments
ago he received an update report from
AGENT: NFG-27, CODENAME: RUNAWAY,
who had also been assigned to BROKEN
WING. It reads:
At precisely 11:52 a.m.. Wednesday, June
3rd, I receive the call. It is AGENT: SDK-98.
CODENAME RUBY. How he was able to
contact me on a phone being used as a prop
in a French fashion show, I will never know.
Ruby briefed me on my assignment. Fam to
instigate immediate surveillance of a key
special agent assigned to OPERATION:
BROKEN WING. The agent is CODENAME:
JULIO Ruby tips me as to where I may pick
up his frail in Paris.
I arrive at the prescribed location, the Eiffel
Tower, and within the hour make visual con-
tact with Julio. Over the next 15 days, I
observe the following scenarios:
Said AGENT has infiltrated the ranks of
an elite group of American professional
skateboard athletes. Out of sheer coinci-
dence, I recognize several members of
the group (myself being an avid participant
in the activity for the past ten years). Those
I know are Steve Caballero, Rob Roskopp
Christian Hosol (a.k.a. Christ), Dave Duncan,
Mark Gonzales (a.k.a. the Gonz) and Mark
Rogowski (a.k.a. Gator). I was soon to learn
that those in the group I do not know go by
the names of Pat Ngoho and Dick Steele.
Julio is playing the role of a fellow American
tourist
Having the advantage of acquaintance with
the persons mentioned and seeing no threat
to my mission, proceed to move in and make
personal contact. As far as they know, I'm just
a skateboarder employed as a professional
male model, so they should suspect nothing
of my affiliation with the ORGANIZATION.
The group is surprised to see me, but I tell
them of my modeling job here in Paris. They
introduce me to those I do not know, including
their new-found friend, Julio. Julio comes
across as an amiable, innocent person, and
seems to be getting along quite well with the
group. He gives no indication of suspicion.
In order to maintain intermittent contact, I
make plans to break away and continue my
surveillance from a distance:
A few nights after our initial meeting, I re-
establish contact by proposing dinner
downtown. I find Julio and Steele at their hotel,
in Steele's room, drinking red wine, eating
duck paté, watching television and spitting
out the window. The rest of the group
is milling about the neighborhood.
After my dinner proposal, Steele im-
mediately selects a venue, the Studio,
Keith Stephenson negotiates the lip at the Monza Ramp.
Photo: Marco Pantaleoni.
a Mexican restaurant he'd heard of.
Julio suggests we leave a note for the
others. His attempt to lure the skaters
into further close range surveillance
by leaving the address and men-
tioning a "TAB" is a clever ploy
virtually fail-safe
With a bit of time to kill, I embark
upon a brief tour of the city that
includes a tattoo shop. I've scheduled
a rendezvous here with one of my
trusty informants, CO-AGENT: M.D
who is getting inked. M.D. will prove
useful in my assignment. I've brought
FACING PAGE: A gleeful session in romantically
picturesque Venice, Italy. Above: Lance Mountain
baffles tourists and locals by butt-boarding the
Vittoriano. LEFT: Thomas Haag's Italian b.s got the
group out of more than a few tight spots.
Julio here so M.D. can make positive identifi-
cation of our man. Tattoo tales are exchanged,
including one involving Tony Alva (old-time
professional skateboarder), the Hells Angels
and Amsterdam. The name "The Dutchman"
is mentioned more than once.
•2200 hours. After dinner i lose Julio at a taxi
stand when everyone takes off in a different
direction. Fortunately, co-agent M.D. is on the
ball and picks up a scent which leads him
to a small pub
Iremain in the shadows for a few days. Then
one night I re-establish contact at another
restaurant, Cactus Charlie's. Julio peruses the
alcohol list and after multiple fuel sessions,
and repeated flirtations with the waitress, he
produces pen and paper and coerces all pre-
sent into brief descriptions of their worst
skateboarding mishaps. (No doubt a tactical
move for later reference and evaluation in
determining possible brain damage.)
•Lance, Gonz, Roskopp and Caballero cease
Paris activity and form what I shall call SUB-
UNIT: BRAVO, in preparation for their occupa-
tion of Germany. Here, they shall participate
in an International exposition of skate abilities.
During the course of a conversation, I learn
that the remainder of the group will now move
southwest through Bourges, France and in-
to Spain, where they will rejoin SUB-UNIT:
BRAVO (in Madrid) before making one final
assault on France and then moving into Italy.
To alleviate suspicion I dispatch myself to Italy
for recorinaissance purposes. I assign co-
agent M.D. to follow Julio through France and
into Spain.
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