PRIVATE- The Back Room of the Maskirovka Tea Room

[Voshkod]

The Back Room of the Maskirovka Tea Room

The back room of the Maskirovka Tea Room is large and comfortable. One wall is dominated by a huge oak desk, with a single telephone on it. Couches line two walls, and two armchairs sit facing the desk. Behind the two couches are glass-fronted cases full of firearms, ranging from pistols to a spent SA-7 launcher.

The fourth wall consists of a massive stone fireplace, the mantle topped with hunting trophies. A small bar rests in one corner. There are no windows, and a single locked door on the back wall, behind the desk.

The room has the feel of a dacha in deep winter, when the snow had piled over the windows.

 

[Voshkod]

Voshkod drops the files on the desk and pours three shots. He slides the glasses over to the two guests in the armchairs. He tosses one shot back.

"Their names were Carlos Herrara and Jonathan Breckenridge. Both married. Herrara had two children, Breckenridge's wife is expecting their first. The widows will be well taken care of; our insurance policies on our operatives are top-notch." He gets a distant look. "Plenty of money. No fathers."

He sighs deeply. "The two of them, and a total of fifty of my military support operatives, were on a subcontract to a Eutopian businessman. They were providing 'facility security.'"

 

[jacob-Lundgren]

business man? big time business man or?

 

[The_Hawk]

*Tilly pushes his vodka around a little.*

"Indeed. Who was this businessman? What facility was being guarded? And how, exactly, did these two go missing from it, and wind up shot dead and floating in the ocean?"

 

[Voshkod]

Voshkod swirls the slushy vodka around his glass for a moment while staring at the severed head of a wolf over the fireplace. The hour of the wolf, yet again. OSI promised discretion. But something went very, very wrong here. My men do not die like this.

"At the time of their deaths, Breckenridge and Herrara were not technically OSI employees. They were subcontracted out." He looks squarely at Tilly. "As I'm certain you understand, Minister Tilly, an organization like OSI lives on its reputation. Part of that is our discretion. I'll tell you what I know, but I must ask that you not reveal where you learned it."

 

[The_Hawk]

"I won't." *Tilly gives Doc Vok a thin-lipped smile, his thoughts unreadable.* "My only interest is in bringing the killer of these two men to justice."

 

[Voshkod]

"Just so we understand each other, Minister Tilly." Yuri Voshkod's smile is as warm as the Volga in winter. "I also want to see the killer - or killers - dealt with.

"The contract" - he passes a sheaf of papers over to Tilly - "was with Mr. Zuckergußgebäck von Maazarin, the owner of EAL and other businesses, who I am certain you are well familiar. He wanted fifty of my military operatives to secure a small warehouse facility outside of Neuwestbaden. OSI subcontracted these operatives and also provided security upgrades - cameras, an electric fence, a security center, and the like."

Voshkod sits back in the chair, studies the wolf head again. "He did not tell me what was in the warehouse, nor did I ask. I presumed that it was an object of great value, perhaps art. Now that my men are turning up dead, I begin to wonder. Perhaps drugs, perhaps Ms. von Vaam, perhaps weapons, who knows?"

He turns back to Tilly again. "One more important point - after the news reports, I attempted to contact my commander, von der Kaas, at the warehouse, using the OSI communciations network. I am not getting an answer from him or any other OSI operative at the facility."

Voshkod studies Tully carefully. Your move, Minister Tilly, he thinks.

 

[jacob-Lundgren]

i think we should find out whats going on at this facility. 50 men dont just up and vanish. at least 2 are dead and the commander is possibly missing also. can you phone up the mdia and get a fly-by done over the area perhaps? see if there are any signs of life.

 

[Voshkod]

The phone rings. Voshkod picks it up, listens intently, pales slightly, says a few noncommittal words, and hangs up.

"That, gentlemen, was Mr. von Maazarin. He informed me that the Breckenridge and Herrara died of their wounds while on a helicopter and were tossed to the fish. He also said that the 'rest of the team' - and I'm not certain what he meant by that - are dead. In Norway."

Voshkod drinks a shot.

"It appears that Mr. von Maazarin invaded Norway with subcontraced OSI operatives. Minister Tilly, you may want to get the MDIA in here, also.

"He ended the conversation by noting that 'he was watching me.' I presume that was a threat." He reaches under his jacket and pulls out his Makarov. "I relish the opportunity," he says in a grim tone.

"Yes, Minister, I have a license for it."

 

[jacob-Lundgren]

i think its time we paid a visit to this man. in the right style though....

although......WHY NORWAY!!!!! whats so special about norway

 

[The_Hawk]

"And for the SA-7 too, I hope, Doctor. But no gunfights in my country, that's all I ask."

*Tilly pushes his vodka away untouched and makes as if to stand.*

"Gentlemen, this is rapidly gaining the trappings of an international incident, one which will have to involve the government at large if we are to avert serious trouble. I'm going to have to check out this warehouse and arrest von Maazarin, at least for invading foreign soil with an armed force, if not for something more serious." *He laughs nervously.* "What could be more serious than that?"

"Doctor, what I should I be expecting? What sort of security measures did you have installed at this place? If you can't contact the rest of your agents, are they going to think we're hostile and open fire? Did von Maazarin have some other security force there?"

"In other words, I'm asking, should I be taking the SWAT along on this one?"

 

[Voshkod]

"Mr. Tilly, you should take a SWAT team. And you should take the Army. And you should take me. I might be able to talk to my men, get them to stand down.

"No overflights. The men I subcontracted to Mr. Tilly would all be trained in the use of anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons. While I most certainly did not supply such weapons, I have no idea what that madman may have given them.

 

[jacob-Lundgren]

tilly, SAW should be capable of sneaking to within a safe distance of the warehouse and observing the area ahead of us so we at least have an idea of whats there.

definetly get the army on standby. however i would say grab some SWAT teams and vosh and i will follow with some OSI men. sound good? grab some tents and other gear though. might have to set up an hq to wait at if things turn ugly and we need the army.

 

[The_Hawk]

"The Army? Anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons? Jesus Christ."

*Tilly stands, eyes narrow.* "Doctor, you and I are going to have a long talk about the sort of "security" -- he makes the quote marks with his fingers -- company you're running here. But that's for another day. Right now, this needs to be dealt with, immediately."

"If von Maazarin has made a threat against your life, I'm going to have to ask you to come with me. You, too, Per Lundgren. I understand that you're going to want to trust your OSI men over the MILE, but I can't have your security shooting up von Maazarin's and vice versa. It's not much better than gang warfare."

*Tilly produces his walkie-talkie from an inside pocket and radios the guys outside.* "Get the car warmed up, then get on the horn to HQ and have them roll out SWAT bound for Neuwestbaden. Specific destination forthcoming. Then get me a secure line to the Cabinet on the car phone. I'll be out in a minute."

*He clicks the communicator off.* "Gentlemen, if we may? There's no time to waste."

 

[jacob-Lundgren]

sounds decent enough.

*ml grabs out his phone*

"frank? park the car and you and eddie grab your stuff. we are going on a little voyage"

 

[Voshkod]

"Yes, perhaps we should go immediately." Voshkod opens a closet, pulls out a bullet-resistant vest. "I assume you gentlemen are similarly equipped?"

 

[jacob-Lundgren]

"Yes, perhaps we should go immediately." Voshkod opens a closet, pulls out a bullet-resistant vest. "I assume you gentlemen are similarly equipped?"

well 25% of that vest is mine, so if you got a spare around here? i hadnt exactly planned on going into a warzone this week

 

[The_Hawk]

"Got one in the trunk." *He turns.* "Per Lundgren, I'm afraid you'll have to have your fellows follow us. Government Beamers, while spacious (and heavily armored, in the case of mine), can't easily accomodate seven."

*He heads for the door.* "If you'll follow me, gentlemen?"

 

[Voshkod]

Voshkod holds up a hand. "One moment."

His picks up the phone. "Ms. McKeena. Mr. Lundgren will be over at OSI in a few minutes. Equip him with a category three vest, quickly."

He hangs up. "Mr. Lundgren, why don't you head over to OSI and pick up that vest. Can't have anything happen to an investor." Voshkod smiles wanly as he shows Lundgren out.

He turns and looks at Tilly. Now the real game begins.

"Before we go, Minister, and now that Mr. Lundgren has left, let us speak for a moment, as men."

Voshkod starts to put his armored vest on. "I called you, Minister Tilly, when the article about the death of my men appeared. I gave you their files, and a copy of the contract with von Maazarin. I told you about Norway, and relayed von Maazarin's call." He stares straight at Tilly, his grey eyes cold.

"In short, Minister, I have been most cooperative, and Mr. Lundgren will be able to confirm that fact before whatever jury, commission, or secret tribunal you might be planning to arrange. I am quite certain, Minister, that you and this government are intending to use this outrage against me and my company." He straps the Makarov on over the vest.

"I won't stand for it. My contract with von Maazarin was legal. I don't know how he convinced my men to be so stupid, but they were working for him, and beyond my control, when it occured. My company is on the right side of that narrow line of legality in all cases. You try to move against me and mine, and I will darken the skies with lawyers for decades to come." Voshkod heads for the door.

"If you need to save some face, slap us on the wrist, I'll understand, and I'll cooperate with minor remedial action or fines. But that's all."

He opens the door, and motions for Minister Tilly to leave.

Check, Tilly. Your move. Looks to be a good game, he thinks.

 

[The_Hawk]

"You have indeed been very cooperative, Doctor," Tilly nods, taking a step towards the door. "But I am sworn to uphold the law, not cut backroom deals. We will see how the chips fall."

Abruptly, he steps closer to Doc Vok, until their faces are mere inches from one another, eyes locked. "If you're up to something, Doctor," -- and we both know that you are!, he thinks -- "you'd better believe I'll find out. It's not about saving face -- it's about the law, something I believe in very strongly. And no lawyer is going to intimidate me. I've beaten them all, remember?"

Tilly steps back, a smile playing across his lips. "But that's a discussion for another day. If you're as wise as I imagine you to be, tonight you'll keep cooperating if you hope to save the rest of your men's lives. Otherwise -- since you just told me this place is dangerous enough to roll out the army -- I'm not going to hesitate blasting it to scrap and sorting out the pieces later. I don't think my fellow Ministers will disagree. If there's one thing Eutopians can't stand, it's a heavily armed force gone rogue."

Tilly straightens his tie, giving Voshkod a sidelong glance and a sly grin. Check indeed, Doctor. Then he heads through the door into the Tearoom proper.