‘And Christophe?’
‘He can come along in case there is anything else he has neglected to tell us.’
Enzi left the room, The General, called his contact, ‘Sir, we have them all four of them.’
‘Excellent news General, and your problems all resolved?’
‘They all are; any other loose ends will be appropriated to my African friend.’
‘And his body will be left as agreed?’
‘Yes, his men will all be found killed, local bandits will be blamed.’
‘And how can you be sure of this?’
‘Do you lack confidence in my ability?’
‘No not at all, you have shown yourself to be a valuable asset over many years, if not a costly one.’
‘Well if you want the best, you have to pay for it sir. The reason I know the bandits will be blamed is because I hired them.’
‘Excellent, now I have a complete change in plan for you.’
The General was unused to a contract being changed, he had a degree of flexibility built in, but never complete change, ‘Really sir?’
‘I want you to locate the device, this complex and destroy it completely.’
This was not a situation The General had allowed for, he presumed that the American’s would want to control it, and his plan rested on that presumption. ‘But sir, I thought the directive on space defence would mean you would wish to procure it?’
‘The 2006 Space directive states, underneath all the legal B.S. they had to put in, that we will not allow anyone else to have the upper hand in space. Anything that we presume to threaten our satellites or assets will be taken out.’
‘But surely something like this…’
‘Like what! You don’t know exactly what you have. From the rough outline you have supplied me, it’s proximity to an unstable set of countries and other interested parties are too much of a risk!’
The General remained calm, checking how much latitude this order had, like many others, ‘And if I am not able to destroy it?’
‘Then General I will have F16’s from Manta Air Base drop all the ordinance they have on it! Get it done or else these contracts I have for you will be going elsewhere, are we clear?’
‘I understand sir, but I think..’
‘I think, you obey General! I am the Under Secretary for International Defence for Christ’s sake, what I say goes!’
The General was still rattled after the call disconnected, his assessment of Arthur Jarrett was flawed. Something had changed his approach, caused this rapid change in direction. He had known him for years, could predict his behaviour allowing him to manipulate situations to his advantage. The General had failed to notice Colonel Briggs entering The General had always told him they had no secrets and he could come and go as he pleased, until now.
Jarrett had tried to control his outburst, but he was sure the agent outside the door had heard his rant, but comfortable that his professionalism and discretion was total. Uncotto’s speech had been well received in the United Nations, and his spirited hopes for his country and their future within the international community were faultless. Jarrett knew that this was not what The Consortium wanted, they required someone more malleable, and this was a problem. He had received a note handed to him as he left, the conference room looking over Hudson River, and it was as expected. He received the call within five minutes of the note, barely getting to a secure room, just up from the delegates lounge.
His phone vibrating discreetly, his heart rate increased and the skin on his hands prickled. ‘Yes.’
‘Hello Mr Jarrett.’
‘Don’t use my name?’
‘Please don’t be concerned, these phone calls are secure, we designed them for an intelligence agency, you can speak freely.’
‘Well if I can speak freely, what the hell is going on?’
‘Not that freely Mr Jarrett. We need to meet to discuss options. I suggest your New York office.’
‘I will see you there.’
Jarrett was sweating, the situation was worsening, and his influence and control of it had slipped.
Briggs remained in the office at ease. He waited until The General acknowledged his presence, ‘Yes Nathan, what can I do for you?’
‘Vincent, can I ask why Mr Enzi is here, and taking weapons from the armoury?’
‘He is performing a task for me, and requires supplies why?’
‘Because I was not made aware of his requirements, or departure information, as Head of Operations I felt this was unusual.’
‘Nathan, we have been friends for what? Twenty years? And have I ever misled or deceived you?’ Briggs knew this to be a lie.
‘So trust me when I tell you this is better for both of us.’
Nathan knew better than to argue, but he always had a backup plan, Vincent had taught him that. For the past few weeks he had been monitoring calls from certain numbers on The General’s private line. As all calls were routed through the communications centre on the island, he could access the call routing of anyone, including The General. He was fully aware of the dealings with Chui Enzi, Laurent and now the Under Secretary for International Defence, Arthur Cody Jarrett. He had worked hard with Protection Incorporated and Unit Zero 3, what had begun as a shell corporation had become a successful legitimate business in its own right.
Nathan Briggs was concerned that The General’s power trip and underhand dealings were jeopardising his work. Briggs loved his job, loved being able to complete his missions, often denied in the US Army by rules of engagement and political changes. His concerns with the chemical and biological weapons that The General had acquired used and sold unnerved him. He was not going to allow the years of time, money and blood invested to be wasted.
The General gave Nathan the opportunity he needed, ‘Nathan I will be leaving in the next few hours, to oversee the task I set Mr Enzi. To keep you in the loop, can you get me two boats for inshore work, close combat weapons for twenty men, and supplies for one day in the jungle.’
‘And when this is ready do you require notification?’
‘No, I will leave via my hanger, with Laurent. I will see you when I return in twenty four hours.’
Nathan left the office, content that with The General gone, he could acquire control of Protection Incorporated, and dismantle Unit Zero 3.
Enzi had gone down to the armoury, a large concrete and steel reinforced bunker, deep underground. He had been given a list by Mastasson that he handed to the Quartermaster. After a brief verification call the Quartermaster began loading the supply lift with the weapons, telling Enzi to mark them off the list. Within quarter of an hour the efficient Quartermaster sent the fully loaded supply lift up, past the large blast barrier that prevented a bomb getting down the shaft into the armoury. Enzi was waiting for the passenger lift, when a blonde man met him, ‘Mr Enzi, I am Colonel Briggs, The General has sent me to assist you.’
Enzi joined him inside the elevator, ‘How are you going to assist me?’
‘Well with equipment, and I was informed you were hiring locals for a job? But I think that experienced trained men would be helpful.’
‘They would but the General told me that only local men were required, I already have plenty.’
‘I convinced him otherwise.’
‘Well The General does like to be thorough.’
‘That he does Mr Enzi, that he does.’
The doors closed taking Enzi and Briggs up to the assembly area, Briggs left to supervise loading the gear, ‘The inshore boats are in the covered dock, they are already loaded and on route to your rendezvous. The seaplane will take you and these men there in due course with your additional weapons.’
‘Are you not coming Colonel Briggs?’
‘No I have to get one more member of the team; I will see you at the dock.’