| "Getting the Call" | ||
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Popov's Office June 14, 2008, 1200 hours Nikolai just sat there while his boss was on the secure line. Something had come up that required his attention, something important. He was hoping that it wouldn't be another mission. He was meant to be handing over to Innokenteiy tomorrow. One more day. If he had to go on a mission now�. But he shouldn't, not with the possible meeting with the Americans still to be arranged, if it was to go ahead at all. Maybe this was going to be a briefing on the upcoming meeting. Background information on the Americans, that kind of thing. Sergei finished the call and looked up. Nikolai saw in his boss' eyes that this wasn't going to be a briefing about what he thought. "That was Krivenko. Apparently one of his field officers has been burned. Stepan Levevich Volkv, forty-two, been stationed in Japan for three years now. An exceptional officer, had all the choice postings during his career and has always run highly productive agents." Sergei paused for breath. "Yesterday one of his agents was murdered by a contact while initiating a routine brush-pass. Volkv attempted to save his agent but failed. In the process the Intelligence Division of the Jouhou Honbu picked him up and gave chase. He managed to evade and contact his control officer back at the SVR requesting extraction." Nikolai's face tightened slightly. "I'm guessing that Myech are going to handle the extraction then." "Not exactly." That caused confusion in his mind. "What do you mean?" he asked. "You and Tarasov will handle the extraction." "When?" "You leave in an hour." He looked sadly at the junior man. "I wish the timing could have been better but it isn't. Myech are still the go team. It should only be a short mission though, a couple of days at most. There is still the meeting with the American Agency to take into consideration." "Yeah," he replied. "Any news on that?" "Georgiev is still in negotiations with them. It seems there has been as incident that they have had to take care of but I have instructed him to secure it as soon as possible. I believe that it should happen within five days, but obviously I cannot guarantee that." "I understand. Shall I inform Maksim?" "Yes please Kolya. Good luck." Nikolai stood. "Thanks Old Man." Weapons Storage June 14, 2008, 1212 hours The two men stood in the room while Denis Arturovich Filippov punched in the authorization code and checked the list against his inventory before scuttling off to get the items. Maksim raised an eyebrow at his boss who was looking at one of the rifles on the wall. It looked very futuristic indeed, and Nikolai half-jokingly wondered whether it was in fact a laser rifle. He shook the thought away and looked back at his deputy. Maksim had a smirk on his face that told him he had just done something stupid. He was about to enquire as to what that could have been when Denis returned, a rifle in one hand and a canvas bag in the other. "I got everything on the list," Filippov informed them. He looked Nikolai over again. Smirnov had told him of the events at the shooting range, and Denis Filippov was now wondering just how much of it was true. As the weapons guy in the organization he was expected to be a crack shot, and he knew he was one of the best shots in Russia, but if what Innokenteiy said was true then he could have met his match in this young fighter. Nikolai was aware that he was being measured up by the weapons genius but he had no idea why. He would probably find out in due time, he reasoned. He took the rifle from Filippov's hand and handed it to Makim, then he took the bag and placed it by his feet. "Anything we need to know about?" "You haven't seen the list?" "Nope," he replied, "Only got the call a few minutes ago. Kind of a rush job." "Well, its all pretty much all standard issue, just with my usual refinements. Nothing you shouldn't have used before," Denis told them. "Excellent. I'll see you when we get back." They started walking out of the door. "Hey, bring them back in one piece!" The two men chuckled at that. "You don't even have to say it." Plekhanov Residence June 14, 2008, 1225 hours His short run ended at his own door. Opening it he found that Yelena was still at home; she was to have gone shopping with a few of her girlfriends from Uni. He laughed as he remembered that. Doesn't matter where you are in the world, women always love to shop. He entered his house and set his stuff down by the door, then closed it. The house was quiet. She must be doing some Uni work, he thought. Walking into the kitchen he made his way to the fridge, opened it and removed the open bottle of semi-skimmed milk. A few seconds later it was all gone, drained away by his thirst. He placed the bottle in the correct recycling crate and wandered up to the small study upstairs that Lena had taken as her own. She was sitting on the comfy chair, her back to him and the door. There was a number of books on the desk next to her, some open, others closed. Her bag was down by her feet; yet more books poked out. He moved in silently, just as his training had taught him. Despite being within two metres of her she didn't notice his presence, and this allowed him to manoeuvre himself into a position to look at her face. He found himself getting the same feelings of joy that he did the first time he gazed at her beauty, and every time since. He took a few seconds to take her in, then slipped back out. He made his way down the stairs and opened the front door, waited a second, then shut it loudly. Yelena bounded down the stairs and into his waiting arms, holding him tightly as her lips met his for the customary `hello' kiss, which differed from the other kiss he got when he returned from a filed operation. That was the `thank god you are back, and with no holes in you' kiss, and the two were not to be confused. "Hello baby, how are things?" he asked her as his hands stroked her back through her top. "Things are fine honey. Just been doing some of my history essay. Its really handy having you and dad around, what with the area I'm studying." "Yeah, just as long as you remember where I come from, and the fact that I'm not a huge fan of history anyway." He smiled at her. "Yeah, I know. Still, you have helped me with all your insider knowledge." She returned the smile and took his hands in hers, stroking them with her thumbs. "Not as much as Seryozha, but maybe a little," he allowed. He looked deep into her eyes, looking with the love that burned intensely inside of him like a million forest fires. She must have read his mind again, for she said, "You're going away again." It was said in her soft voice, the one that told him she was frightened. "Yeah, I am. Should be an easy one this time." "You always say that!" "I know," he replied, "But that's because they always are easy if I do my job right. This one is a simple one though, just have to get someone back where they belong." "Is it a short one?" she asked with hope. "Yeah, should only be a couple of days. I may have to do some international relations though, and depending on when that is scheduled it could be longer. Honestly can't say more than that because I just don't know. I'm sure Seryozha will let you know, and even if he doesn't I'll ring and tell you what's going on." He saw the worry in her eyes. She always worried, and he always tried to ease her fears. "Promise." "Ok." She smiled softly. "When do you leave?" "I have to be ready at one but I've got all the equipment already." "Good," she said seductively, "then we have some time�" Return |
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