Quote:
Originally Posted by L.J.Steele
Thanks all! Much to chew on.
The first Berlin adventure takes place at the Alexanderplatz station near the lockers. Any thoughts for it? Chase scene on either the U or S bahn? If you were a bad guy picking up contraband from a locker and wanting an exit strategy, any specific things you'd use?
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The station is a sprawling multi-level place, with the U-Bahn station below ground (a maze of pedestrian tunnels connecting three underground lines), a ground floor, and the S-Bahn on top of that (note regional trains also stop there). Shops, bars etc. Some of those seedy corners are nearby; enormous open plazas in several directions, shopping malls etc. During certain times of the year, part of those open plazas are given over to markets, with stalls blocking that open view, and plenty of pedestrians milling about. The plazas are also criss-crossed by streetcar lines and bicycle lanes (you better watch out for the fast, fast Berlin bicyclists).
As to the exit strategy, it depends on how complex the plan can be. It would be possible, though obviously dangerous, to run away on foot in either direction along the elevated S-Bahn line. After a while, the fugitive reaches a bridge where he has previously prepared a double rope, rappels down, withdraws the rope, jumps in his car parked there and away he goes. The pursuers have to risk an ankle, or climb down slowly, and anyway they have no car there.
A simpler version requiring an accomplice - instead of a rope and a car, have a truck, driven by the accomplice, parked below the bridge. It's a short jump down, then the truck just leaves.
Running away along one of the U-Bahn lines is clearly much more dangerous, but again, if the guy has planned his escape, he might know in advance any pitfalls or problems, as well as an exit. Note the nearest stations are rather close.
For a historical Berlin solution, which again requires preparation, the top of the glass roof of the S-Bahn station is about as tall as at least one building nearby. You might pick the lock of the door of the maintenance staircase, reach the rooftop, and rig a rope across to the other building, with a pulley on it. You probably need an accomplice on the other building, and certainly a line thrower. I say historical, because that's one of the hundred ways in which Eastern Germans crossed the wall.
For an on-the-fly solution, jump on any train or streetcar as it's leaving.
Or just cross the streetcar line a second before the wretched thing rumbles along ringing its bell - and stopping the pursuers on the wrong side of it. It's a multi-car thing, and by the time it's gone, the target has disappeared among the crowds.