1

The planned dead-drop site is under clear surveillance.

2

The immediate area is choked with police sirens and bright floodlights.

3

A street closure or sudden police roadblock seals the exfiltration route.

4

The contact is 30 minutes late, forcing the Agent to wait dangerously exposed.

5

The Agent mistakenly uses the wrong password or recognition phrase.

6

A high-level, familiar official is unexpectedly present nearby.

7

The established recognition code fails due to a simple memory lapse.

8

The deep silence is broken by a sudden, unnerving noise (e.g., a siren or dog).

9

A physical barrier (locked gate, fallen debris) prevents a quick, clean meeting.

10

The meeting is mistakenly delayed by 1 hour due to a misread time code.

11

The planned safehouse door is unlocked, indicating a possible security breach.

12

A pair of uniformed police walk a rare beat past the 'hidden' exchange point.

13

The contact panics and shouts the password instead of whispering it.

14

A loud public argument or fight breaks out directly next to the contact point.

15

The contact point is suddenly flooded with tourists or a large group of schoolchildren.

16

A traffic accident or vehicle malfunction traps the Agent near the target zone.

17

The contact insists on speaking loudly in the wrong language, drawing attention.

18

A street photographer or artist fixates on the Agent and the contact's area.

19

The contact is overwhelmed by nerves and leaves the meeting point too early.

20

The contact is visibly crying or shaking from stress, attracting notice.

21

The contact develops a sudden, debilitating illness (a violent cough or nausea).

22

The contact demands to change the location immediately after meeting the Agent.

23

Contact attempts to pass a non-regulation distress note or secondary request.

24

The contact brings an unsanctioned friend or relative to the meeting for support.

25

The exchange item (microfiche/briefcase) is lost or dropped during the handoff.

26

An innocent bystander mistakenly tries to interact with the asset or Agent.

27

The Agent drops a critical piece of operational gear (e.g., burner radio) in the street.

28

The meeting must be cut short after only three minutes of essential conversation.

29

A crucial communication device fails spectacularly (e.g., radio crackles loudly).

30

The Agent recognises someone from their past (a friend or rival) in the vicinity.

31

The entire exchange is intercepted by a rival criminal or police unit.

32

The contact accidentally trips a known security alarm on arrival.

33

The target is followed too closely by an unshakeable security tail.

34

The asset realises they were followed and attempts an unauthorised escape maneuver.

35

The pre-arranged signal (e.g., newspaper ad) is visibly altered or compromised.

36-37

The contact is being observed by a team from their own security service (not the local Stasi).