They entered, looking to the Colonel who motioned for them to sit. They sat at the right end of the table, Colonel Reynolds sitting at the front of the table, facing them.
On the opposite side of the room was a massive display monitor, several desks, computers, and an elaborate communications system. They could see what appeared to be a live feed. On screen, they watched as a gunfight was underway. They could see tracer rounds from multiple helmet cameras.
“Oh, shit. Where’s that?” Thompson asked.
A young man, early twenties at best, approached, handing out bottled water and file folders to the six Delta members. He looked up to the screen, saying, “Some Rangers are getting into it, looks like. We’re just watching, testing the feed is all.”
“They doing all right?” Thompson asked.
“Seem to be,” the man said, excusing himself from Viki and nearing the men. “Feed looks good. We have two new drones too. Gonna work them the next few days, make sure we’re good to go. Here’s your files, something to drink. If you need anything else, just ask. Name’s Michael, by the way.”
“What do you do, Michael?” Dale asked, flipping through the folder.
“I work for Elizabeth,” he replied. “And that gal up there, her name’s Viki,” he pointed to a woman huddled over a keyboard.
“She’s cute,” Thompson said.
“Quit thinking with your dick for two seconds,” Clements said.
“To hell with that.”
Clements shook his head, turning back to Michael. He could tell he intimidated the guy. “CIA, huh?” Clements asked.
“Yes.”
“And what do you do?”
“Well, I… we… Viki and I assist Elizabeth.”
“Do ya now?” Clements asked, tilting his head inquisitively. He reached into a pocket, pulling out his can of dip. He offered some to Michael, who declined politely. Then Clements stuffed a lip full. “So, where’s this Elizabeth?”
As if on cue, a beautiful woman entered the room. Her hair was brown, pulled back, her attire conservative. She didn’t even look their way, hardly acknowledging them as she leaned over Viki at the computer, whispering something, adjusting the live feed.
“That’s her,” Michael said, his voice filled with a certain pride.
Clements nodded, then leaned down toward a trashcan and spit a stream of black liquid from his mouth. He wiped his lip, looking back up. “She as bad as they say she is?”
“You’ve heard?” Michael asked. “She’s worse. Tough as nails, I’ve seen her make grown men cry. But Elizabeth gets the job done.”
“And she’s in charge?” Clements asked.
“That’s correct, she’s our field director.”
“I see,” Clements said, looking down at the wiry kid. “What about you? What’s your job title? Or are you just our waiter?”
“Ha!” Michael chuckled nervously, stepping back and creating some distance between himself and the massive man. “I’m the super-geek of the bunch. The guy outside, Jerry, he’s the one who’ll tend to your needs.”
“Super-geek, eh?”
“Sure am. I’m halfway decent with computers,” Michael said.
“How long you been with the agency, kid?” Clements asked, staring long and hard at him. He couldn’t have been older than twenty, at best.
“Well, joined the Army eight years ago,” Michael replied.
“Damn, you don’t look a day over twelve,” Clements insulted.
Michael turned red, but didn’t retort. He didn’t dare piss off this massive man. “I’m twenty-seven. Did four years in Army intelligence, four years at Langley.”
“You must either like it or you’re good at it,” Clements offered.
“Well, I didn’t like the Army much, to be honest.”
“Why’d you join?”
“Well, I believed the posters, believed the recruiter. Wanted to be all I could be and all that.”
“Ha! Yeah, recruiters have quotas.”
“Well, I didn’t know that. They stuck me in infantry at first. Once they realized I wasn’t worth a damn with a rifle, they put me at a desk. Reason being, I could type.”
“Sounds fun,” Clements said, rolling his eyes.
“It allowed me to showcase my real skills.”
“Which are?”
“Computers. I’d fix them for a certain Captain, do routine maintenance, spruce up their systems. If it weren’t for my knowledge, I’d still be serving coffee.”
“Why’d you serve again after your first four years?” Clements asked. He wasn’t really curious, didn’t care much actually, but was bored, figuring he’d make small talk until they could get this show on the road.
“I didn’t. My last few months, I was moved to Intelligence. Up my alley, actually enjoyed it, though I had a dick for a boss. Then I got caught doing something…” Michael paused.
“Do tell,” Clements said, now a bit curious.
“Hacked into a few sites that I shouldn’t have. We were using new computers, new systems, figured I’d take a peek.”
“What’d you hack?”
“Can’t say. If I did, they’d throw me away and toss away the key.”
“Something important, eh?”
“You could say that.”
“And you did this from the Army’s computers? Not that bright, kid,” Clements chastised.
“No, sure wasn’t. Thought I was safe, thought the system was safe. Guess I helped them catch me once they realized our new systems were being hacked.”
“Got busted. Then what? You serve time?” Clements asked.
“Much too frail for that,” Michael admitted. “I’d be someone’s bitch for sure. Was scared out of my mind, but then I was approached by some fellows at the NSA. They’d dismiss charges if I signed up for four more years. Didn’t want to stay in the Army, but better than ten in the brig.”
“Yup,” Clements said, nodding.
“The NSA was great, learned a lot, but damn they’re stiff. Didn’t like the working environment, but hey, again better than prison. Not long after, Elizabeth came along. Not sure how she heard of me, but approached me with an offer. Joined ACES a few days later, been doing it ever since.”
“ACES?” Thompson questioned.
“Yeah, Asymmetrical Clandestine Elite Service,” Michael spouted.
“So you fix her computers, huh?” Thompson asked, his tone disrespectful. He couldn’t help it, he was warrior class, and looked down on anyone who wasn’t.
“I do much more than that,” Michael defended himself. “I can hack with the best of them. I’m also the man who gets the fun toys across the border without anyone knowing. There’s two divisions of the Special Activities Division — you guys, the ones who go in. And guys like me, who get you the gear you need. Viki, she helps me with that. Quite good with computers herself.”
“You fucking her, aren’t ya?” Thompson asked.
“What? Wait… what?” Michael gasped.
“Excuse him,” Clements chuckled. “He has two things always on his mind, both being women.”
“Er, oh… I see. Well, Viki is the one who orders the fun toys you guys use. I’m the one who smuggles them in. We’ve also come up with some creative ways to get you guys the most up to date intelligence when you’re out. That’s why we’re watching this feed. We’re testing the system,” Michael replied.
Thompson nodded his head as if he cared, then said, “Well, don’t fuck up. Clements here has a bitter taste in his mouth when it comes to you intelligence guys. Been fucked over once or twice.”
Clements nodded, agreeing.
“I’m the best,” Michael said.
“Better be, ’cause if not, we’ll probably have a little chat,” Thompson added. He was merely picking on the guy, for no other reason than because he could.