Really, Roan, you did an amazing job getting those pictures.

I'd ask you how you did it, but I'm sure that's "Confidential"....

Those are great pictures, Roan.

Well done.

I went there, too, when I was first getting out in 2001. I could not believe that the management of my Church felt they needed a secret location, and that they considered it an overt for me to be there and even to know about it.

I think it's a pilgrimage that every Scientologist should take - it definitely produces enlightenment on Scientology.

There's a few details that I better not share publicly, but if you're curious get in touch with me via G-Talk, msn or telephone... you have a PM!

I was talking with a guy yesterday (not an Ex, not a critic... just a guy. (more on that later) ) and he told me a "funny" story:

He and a friend were on their way to the Soboda Indian Casino and came across this festive sight:



..they didn't mistake if for Soboda but they thought they had run across some other new, fun, smaller casino in the area. So what did they do? Well, they made a right turn into the first gate that they came to, of course! The gate was wide open, un-manned and so our intrepid gamblers just blithely cruised through with the only thought on their minds being of laying down a few bets in some friendly casino.

Well from out of nowhere come scores of black-clad, heavily armed security guards! The guy told me they were armed with shot-guns, side arms and what looked like semi-automatic rifles! And of course license plates were recorded and the "evil intruders" were escorted back to Gilman Springs Rd.!

Which begs the question: What kind of "church", responds to mis-guided tourists in this manner?!?



.

That is truly scary. It's starting to sound like Waco!

That's weird, to say the least; so Security has a separate "drill" for what they believe to be potentially dangerous intruders who actually make it onto the base...?

Security doesn't carry such firearms on regular basis, but it certainly sounds like they are prepared to whip out the guns if "need be."

There used to be a drill that went by the name of "intruder drill" on the base. Earlier it meant that all the staff on the base were chasing the intruder around the base from a safe distance. Then it became select males doing that while everyone else locked down the buildings (all doors and windows locked, stay away from windows) and armed themselves with something they could use for self-defense in case the intruder did manage to get into a building.

As part of the drills that were conducted, 5 or so staff were dressed up in civvies with other signs of intruders (a stocking over their head, a ski mask or something similar), ran around the base and they had to be all caught before the drill was over.

There are horn signals that signify different "dangers" to the base, from earthquakes to flood, fire, intruders, etc.

Later on the intruder drill changed to Security taking care of the situation with everyone else securing themselves into the buildings. I guess they finally found it most successful to flash firearms at anyone who accidentally (or not) showed up on the base.

Yes, one could ask "what are they thinking?" The scenario that such a response would be "appropriate" for is so imaginary as to be ridiculous: The only situation that it might be appropriate to do that (lock everyone in, send armed guards around) would be if a small band of armed criminals showed up there. Now how likely is that?!

Besides, if that did happen (against all odds), what would Security do? Start shooting?

The only armed people that will ever show up there are going to be sent by Homeland Security.

Quoted for truth.

I, instead, am not struck by the melancholy sight of a Sea Org officestaff person at her desk late on a Sunday.

I am struck by all the bars on the window !

Of course, when you have OT powezs, you can just walk through the walls . . . but still . . .

Let's me see . . . . . . how about the "church" of $cientology ?

To me it looks more like a prison, than a casino, but considering how many people in there have lost all of their money, perhaps the idea is not completely inaccurate.

Great pictures, Roan!

Remember seeing this thread when I used to "lurk" here.

So, a rather belated, , Roan