L'Affaire Vera Cruz 
(C)Infogrames

written by Gilles Blancon


The Story
=========
You have just been appointed Detective Sergeant in the Crime Squad 
at Saint-Etienne (Loire). As an Officer of the Police and in your 
capacity as a Judicial Police Officer, you are capable of leading 
any criminal investigation. No sooner have you taken up your new
post you are called upon to investigate what the press is fast
calling - THE VERA CRUZ AFFAIR.

On August 8th 1986, you are notified by the caretaker at the
'Forest' apartments block of the discovery of a body. It has been
provisionally identified as one of the residents and, from the 
caretaker's description, it is believed to be a case of suicide with 
a shotgun as the weapon involved.

You and your team must go to the scene to ascertain the facts. 
Once this is complete you will have to carry out the actual 
investigation using the methods at your disposal.


Principle of the game
=====================
Has the resident at the FOREST really commited suicide as the 
caretaker believes ? You must start your investigation by
carrying out routine inquiries at the scene of the crime. 
HOWEVER,  a  word  of advice,  AN  INVESTIGATION  CANNOT  END
WITHOUT  EFFICIENT  AND  EXHAUSITIVE INQUIRIES. These serve as a 
basis for research and often evidence.

Remember this.....

1.The Forest Residence: The Scene of the Crime
----------------------     
The victim is lying on the floor in the middle of the room. 
As you study this macabre scene you notice that various
items are slightly misarranged. You must not touch anything, 
but you are able to take photos.

      MOVING THE CAMERA - Use the cursor keys.
      TAKING A PHOTO - Press F7

Make sure that you have made a note of ALL the details and, 
when you are ready, press F1. The Disk will load the second part automatically. If you change your mind before this second part is 
activated, press any key and you will return to the scene of the
crime. 

It is time to summarize the evidence and as you speed back 
to your office you make a list of suspicious details. 
Key in each piece of evidence, separating each one with a
space and, once the list seems complete, press RETURN.

2.The State Police Force
------------------------
The State Police Force is one of the oldest French institutions 
since its origins date back to the Marshalsea during Napoleon's time.
Its experience regarding judical affairs has led it to
computerize very quickly, far ahead of similar services 
in other countries.

This is one of the reasons why, in addition to traditional methods 
(such as comparing evidence/interviews/alibis etc.) you can use the 
DIAMOND COMPUTER NETWORK. Utilizing this sophisticated system, you 
will be able to communicate with other police service, justice
departments, prison administrations and with the National Police.


    Access procedures of the Diamond Network Code M (Message)
    --------------------------------------------------------
       
A message addressed to any service must include the code for that 
service and its base town. The message must include the type of 
information required in as much detail as possible. 
The reply from the service contacted will arrive in the form of a 
listing in a few minutes.

N.B.: All messages must be confirmed by pressing RETURN


  **Services you can contact on the Diamond Network**
       ----------------------------------------        
I. Another Police Squad: 
           Computer Code: 'GIE'+ name of squad

If you want to contact the St.Galmier squad (42) write 

GIE St Galmier 

opposite 'ORIG', and then make up your message in the form

INFORMATION ON 'xxx' AFFAIR

If the squad you communicate with is concerned with that 
particular case it will reply giving you all the
information in its possession. There is one police squad per town.

-------------------------------------------
II. Judical Research and Comparison Center: 
           Computer Code : CRRJ

The police Force has a research coordination center. If you wish 
to know the record of someone known to the judiciary or to make a 
comparison on a particular object which could be a clue,
you can contact this service using

'CRRL LYON' 

and should compose your message as follows

FOR INFORMATION ON 'object'

- (as much information as possible), or

ON 'a certain person' (Christian name
and surname).

If the person has a record you will get a photograph and some
information.

-------------------------------------------
III. Police Headquarters:
             Computer Code: PREF

To get the name of the owner of a vehicle from the registration 
number, you should address your message to PREF St Etienne 
(if it is a 42 vehicle, the number of a vehicle corresponding to
a town) then input the message

IDENTIFICATION No 1111 AA 42

(for example)
If the registration is useful to the inquiry you will get the 
information you require.

---------------------------------------------
IV. Prisons:
            Computer Code: PRIS

If you wish to obtain some information on a detainee you should 
address your request to 

PRIS BEAUMETTES         or 
PRIS ST PAUL 

with a message such as 

INFORMATION ON DETAINEE DUPONT LEON.

if this is useful to the inquiry you will quickly get a reply.
-------------------------------------------
V. A Police station:
            Computer Code: CIAT

Certain police stations may have dealt with something, or someone,
connected with your investigation, it might be useful to contact 
them to get additional information. You can call them using,
for example 

CIAT MARSEILLE

then compose your message to read 

INFORMATIN ON 'xxx' AFFAIR


                     TRADITIONAL METHODS
                     --------------------

Option S: Statement.

To hear someone's statement you need to know their name and address 
(or where they can be found).


Option C: Comparison of Evidence.

You can compare an alibi or other evidence of one person with certain
facts collected during the investigation. But this comparison can
only be carried out on the basis of a statement .


Option E: Various Examinations.

In your capacity as a Judiciary Police Officer you can carry out 
different examinations such as graphological examinations or an 
Autopsy (e.g. AUTOPSY VERA CRUZ).


Option A: Arrest.

If you are certain of someone's guilt, it only remains for you 
to arrest him.


Final Advice: Watch out for arbitrary arrest. Have you got all 
your facts right ?

--------------------------------------
Other vehicle numbers: 75 = Paris
                      13 = Marseille
                      26 = Valence
                      42 = St Etienne
                      63 = Clermont Ferrand
                      69 = Lyon


Wish you a lot of luck playing VERA CRUZ and also a lot of fun !


     