| "Taking Care of the Devil" | |||
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Briefing Room Two June 7, 2008, 1200 hours Team Myech had just finished their training exercise and were slowly filtering in after having washed and dressed. Sergei sat at the head of the table and waited for all five members to take their seats. As soon as all were seated he began. He pressed the relevant buttons and waited for the transparent screen to make its descent. Once down another button caused an image of Petrenko to flash up on the screen. "Rodion Yegorovich Petrenko, high-level member of the Politburo. Fifty-three years of age, widowed. Moved through the ranks rather quickly and was subsequently investigated. The allegations against him were found to be unsubstantiated and dropped. Since then he has kept a fairly low profile but has still managed to maneuver himself into a position of considerable power and influence." He looked at the Myech members, each of them studying the face in front of them. "Petrenko has been implicated in the bombing of the American embassy in Paris. Funds were transferred from a secret account held by Petrenko to the terrorists. The funds were traced by officers in Directorate K to Petrenko, and this coincided with other intelligence that linked him to the terrorists. Now, you may not know but the American Government is under enormous pressure from the public to avenge the deaths of their fellow citizens and bring the perpetrators to justice. We have reason to believe that they will be able to trace the funds just as we have, and that they will either pressure us diplomatically to give up Petrenko or send a strike team in to kill him." Team Myech looked at him. "It has been agreed that we will provide assistance to the SVR and gather intelligence in Petrenko, to see if anyone else is involved." "How will this be done?" Maksim asked. "There will be an attempt on Petrenko's life, the source of which will be made to look like his own bodyguards. They will be dismissed and you will be provided to take up the task. Whilst protecting him you will gather as much intelligence as possible," Sergei answered. "What timeframe have we got?" Nelli enquired, typing into her PDA. "As it stands the timeline is variable. An end date will be established within the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours. You will be informed as soon as we know." "When are we leaving?" "Not until the failed assassination has taken place, so for the moment I am placing you on standby. That means you are to remain onsite until you deploy." He looked at them and saw no problems with that. In fact they all seemed very relaxed. Even Nikolai, sitting there with his bruised face. That reminded him: Nikolai would have to have a medical before deploying. "Ok people, that is all," he told them. Team Myech stood and left the room. Nikolai remained behind though, still sat in his seat. "I don't like this," Nikolai said. "Like what?" Sergei asked. "Having to tail someone from our own Government. Fuck, these people our supposed to be looking after the country, not paying terrorists to kill foreigners. I mean, it's our job to take these fuckers out, but our Government is supporting them again? I just don't like it." "I understand Kolya, but I believe this to be an isolated incident. Now, I want you to have a medical before you deploy." Nikolai started to protest but he cut him off. "It isn't open to negotiation." "Now?" "Now," he commanded, watching his son-in-law-to-be's battered body walk out of the door. Myech were ready. All they had to do was wait for Krivenko to complete his side of the operation, and that would take a little time. As had happened so many times before it all came down to waiting. Return |
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