Chapter 280
The Prime Minister of the British Empire and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was today tired enough to fall asleep standing up. After briefing both the Regent and the uncrowned Queen on the aftermath of Rommel's counterattack in Austria he was about to begin yet another meeting that was bound to last for hours. His wife and his doctor had made him promise that he would get away for the weekend and with the Campaign in Europe over for the moment he had decided to actually go and do it.
But first he had to meet with Admiral Edwards and M, the Chief of MI6 in a very clandestine manner in a speaking room in one of the many clubs in London.
When he entered the room he noticed that the Admiral and M were discussing the proposal to dismantle the Crytal Palace for it's raw materials, something that had generated a storm of protests and letters to the Times.
“I am terribly sorry, Gentlemen.” Churchill said, “the briefing at the Palace took longer than expected.”
The Queen had been surprisingly inquisitive and the hour allocated for hit had turned into two and a half.
“No worries, Sir.” M replied.
“What is it that you two spies need to see me about?” Churchill asked as he sat down into one of the comfortable armchairs.
“To explain that we need to lay some groundwork first, Prime Minister.” Edwards said.
“Do carry on then, Admiral.” Churchill said and motioned for Edwards to continue.
“Now, you know as well as I do that our intelligence networks within the old United States were always something of a red-headed step child to our efforts on the Continent. For the most part we believed the Americans to be no danger to British interests anywhere in the world and also believed that the Canadians would forewarn us if something from there was coming our way. That changed dramatically of course with the fall of the USA and the ascension of the UAPR, but building up a network in the atmosphere was nigh on impossible. All we have managed so far is a modest network of agents in Washington that is run out of our Embassy there.”
Edwards paused as a steward came and delivered a steaming pot of Earl Grey's. The men watched as the steward poured cups and passed them around without saying a word or acknowledging the august company in the room.
When he left Edwards continued.
“This Network is frankly not what we want or need but rather more all we can manage at present. No one but the head of Station NA knows all the particulars for security reasons and M here could probably tell you more about how these things are done.”
He took a sip.
“Suuffice it to say we get little really usable intelligence. The biggest break was first information of the American raid on Midway Island and some rumblings that they will try something for real in that directon soon.”
M took over at this point, having more intimate knowledge of the area.
“However two days ago the Head of Station sent us something with the diplomatic bag that had our services in an uproar.”
He handed Churchill a page of paper. No more than half full it was still explosive enough.
“Bloody hell!” the Prime Minister exclaimed after reading the page for three times.
“If this is true then we have an opportunity here we cannot afford to let pass. “ Churchill went on, “I mean our Delegation was to go there anyway...”
M nodded. “Exactly. All we need to do now is to insert someone into that delegation who has secret orders to the effect that he is to make contact with our Agent when he reaches the American West Coast.”
“Making contact is all well and good,” Churchill said. He poured more cups of tea and emptied half of his before voicing his concerns. “As said, making contact is fine, but what about keeping it? It isn't as if we are going to get to slip someone in every other week.”
“That, Prime Minister, is our biggest problem in this matter.” Edwards said, “but we think we have worked something out. If anything we believe it might be a trap anyway.”
“How come?” Churchill asked.
“Well, for one it is awfully convenient that he chooses to make contact with us just as we are about to send a delegation of civillians and military officials to tour American bases on or near the West Coast. Granted, that might be a coincidence as this visit is very hush-hush, but still. Secondly, he claims to have the means to collect and forward Data to us that relieves us of our most pressing concerns.”
Churchill nodded thoughtfully and lit a cigar.
“So you have concerns because it is all awfully convenient for us. Good. Suppose it is a trap, what would the Americans have to gain from it?”
M answered this question. “Well, if we were to fall for it they would confirm that we have at least some sort of network within the UAPR. Secondly maybe they figure that we will send someone senior from the United Kingdom or Canada and that they can thereby weaken the SIS at home and abroad for their own means. Mind you, this is a very elaborate operation if that is indeed the case.”
“And even if it isn't a trap Sir, if there is any chance at getting our hands on an agent located on the American West Coast then we simply have to look into it.”
“Agreed.” Churchill replied.
He leaned back into his chair and pondered what had just taken place. It was true, a source on the West Coast of the UAPR would be priceless indeed. The Americans and the Allies had agreed that one was to inform the other if major operations were to be started that transgressed into operational areas agreed upon earlier in the year, but other than that the Americans were incredibly tight-lipped and the American Newspapers were less than reliable. If anything the Allies would be getting advanced warning if anything was in the offing and that was important. American Grand Strategy was a mystery that MI6 and the NID had so far failed to unravel. Then again there were only so many ways one could attack Japan from America. In any case the Americans needed to re-take Midway....
“Who are we going to send along then?” Churchill asked his two top spymasters.
Edwards grinned and said: “I have someone in mind.”
He told them and Churchill didn't have to look to know that Edwards was grinning.
“Is that wise?” M asked. “Professionally these two are our best men, but is he able to...”
“I vouch for the both of them.” Edwards replied.
~**--**~
Ian was putting on the jacket of his uniform with one hand and brushed his teeth with the other. The upper bathroom in the house was tiny and he made a mental note to look at alternative accommodations at some point. He knew that Sandra would likely be less than pleased with him, because the tone of the orders that had been sent over from the Company was such that his old hunch that had served him so well in the past tingled again and worse than ever before. He really was getting to old for this.
He stepped out of the bathroom and smiled when he saw Sandra guarding a sleeping Sean while at the same time looking over the perpetually unfinished manuscript that Ian was working on intermittently.
“One question though,” she said in a hushed voice. “Why Casino Royale, isn't it set in Jamaica?”
“Well, it all rotates around the casino and the Poker tournament held within and...”
She smiled and turned back to her reading.
Ian kissed the top of her head and then took a few minutes to say good bye to his son before putting on his SOE persona. Felix was already waiting impatiently and leaning against the side of the Aston.
"Whatever you have been doing, and I don't want to know it in the first place, can we get going?"
"Lead on, friend." Ian said. The Aston's engine caught immediately.
~**--**~
“To America?” Felix asked in wonderment.
“Yes, Commander.” Edwards replied. “Officially you are representing the Fleet during an official tour and...”
Three and a half hours later Felix was yearning for a cup of his mum's coffee.
“The Mission, should you choose to accept it, will be secret. Should either of you be caught or killed we will disavow any knowledge of your actions.”
A moment of silence followed in which Edwards believed that Ian and Felix were expecting him to say something more. When he didn't Ian instead spoke.
“So, when and how?” Felix asked without any emotion in his voice.
"You'd be taking the clipper to Canada in a week or so, and then fly to Vancouver...."
Three and a half hours later Felix was standing outside the door of the Office and was trying to light a Cigarette with shaking hands. Suddenly a third hand with a petrol lighter in them appeared.
As he took a greedy drag he turned slightly and watched as Ian looked at him with concern in his face.
"You all-right?" he asked.
Felix nodded. He inhaled and exhaled the smoke.
"Yes, all's fine."
Ian didn't really believe and decided to press matters now before Felix decided to clamp down.
"You know the Admiral was serious when he asked us to volunteer?"
Felix nodded. "This isn't how I imagined going back there you know..."
“I imagine you didn't.” Ian said sympathetically and suddenly wished he hadn't stopped smoking.
“Well, orders are orders.” Felix said flippantly and replaced the packet of Players in his left coat pocket.
He readjusted his cap and flipped his smoke into a nearby ashtray. Ian couldn't help but feel how he was once again shown that there was more to his friend than what met the eye, but he also knew Felix well enough not to push any more just yet.
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Comments, Questions, rotten tomatoes?
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This is something I wanted to do for a while.
Anyhoo, from now on update speed will be seriously reduced, due to RL. I'll try to update once a week though.
