MIDA Loic de Fourgéres arranges a secure conference call with the heads of SAW and CIS. He introduces himself and asks if they have seen a transcript of the President's actions to switch ministerial responsibilities with Per Austri, and to temporarily assign coodination of their agencies to MIDA through FLEA.
"I hope this will be very temporary, so I don't want to know about or interfere with the vast majority of what you are doing. The President did this because of one particular situation that I will brief you on momentarily, and the current temporary absence of your former minister, Per Austri. The President himself didn't think he could devote enough time to this specifically, and also wanted it coordinated with what FLEA is already doing.
As part of the Hidden Herald exercise, of which this conversation is not a part, FLEA was to send an ambulance carry food and water to the swap for some wounded hostages. The original report I received said this:"
Loic reads:
There was an attempted hijacking of the Ambulance sent to pick up food for the captors in the training exercise. The would be hijacker has been identified through Interpol as a Moroccan mercenary Abdul Hassad. He has died from a self-inflicted gun-shot wound during the attempt to apprehend him.
Agents report that he assumed we was dealing with only EMTs and was frightened and panicked when confronted with Federal Agents. A search of his body revealed they key to a nearby apartment, where, once warrants were secured, it was searched to reveal sophisticated radio equipment, falsified travel documents, a Bermudan passport (assumed fake), ammunition, a hand gun, and several maps of the New Lancaster area.
Also, and we believe there is no reason to believe these two incidents are linked, there was a suspicious incident at New Lancast Airport reported by a customs official.
"First question, do you guys know anything about Abdul Hassad?
I have temporarily suspended commercial and general aviation flights in an out of New Lancaster International Airport, based on the 'better safe than sorry' rule, even though we had done a thorough covert background check on everyone living near either end of the runways. I would like to open that tomorrow if possible, but will keep it closed if there is a reason to do so.
I have advised provincial police to increase security at Uxbridge and New Lancaster City area hospitals, particularly those where radioactive isotopes are stored. I have diverted the President's trip to Uxbridge. FLEA is following various leads, so please coordinate directly with them. We have French and Arabic speaking agents are listening for any communications on the radio equipement we found and have alerted the broadcast communications part of MIDA so they can triangulate the source of commincations of the frequency the equipment was last set to receive.
Use your own initative to investigate this, but don't start any wars or break any domestic laws. I am sure you will enjoy comparing notes with FLEA about how often I say things like that.
There are various theories going around. The armed forces, which by the way doesn't know about the customs incident, and don't tell them without checking first, seem to think it could be an attempt to spoil the exercise, and thus prolong the arms embargo, which would point the finger at Tilapia or possibly St. Esprit. It could be just an archo-terrorist plot, thinking we were a soft target, which we usually are. The Pro Consul of Tilapia was going to be in New Lancaster City in a non-governmental role in two weeks, so the New Bengali separatists could have hired this guy as part of a plot to abduct or kill the Tilapian head of government.
Let's coordinate, but let's try to stick to the natural division of labor, FLEA will concentrate on domestic police style investigations, and the President is counting on your groups to handle the international portion as well as any specific counter-terrorist work.
Second question: Do you have an immediate ideas or theories that I should consider or have FLEA working on? If you think of something as soon as the call is over, feel free to contact FLEA directly.
Just because the dead mercenary is from Morocco doesn't implicate that country. It is mostly poorer than we are, and thus there are always some who will succumb to temptation and accept what we might consider unpalatable risks. The fact that he shot himself might mean that his family was under threat, as he hadn't yet done anything that would have meant that many years in prison.
Please brief me regularly on your progress. The President has asked to receive those briefings as well. If anything else, from some other area of your responsibility comes up that needs immediate attention, then would you be comfortable in taking it directly to President, who is now your MDIS? We are trying to follow the constitution as closely as possible, and the MIDA and MDIS are clearly separate. I know that is not exactly what he said, but it would be fine with me, and hopefully less disruptive.
I appreciate this chance to work with you. Is there anything I should be told at this time?"
