The Middle World - Hungary AAR (Death and Taxes MOD)

[blklizard]

Section III

Chapter 42 (part 5)

[September 12, 2013]

(Toronto, Canada)

The trio got off the plane following the other passengers into the airport. Sam got out his cellphone and made a quick call. Few minutes later, he was greeted by an officer who would lead them through the security without any hassle. The trio waited several minutes before the man Sam called arrived at the airport. The two men exchanged words briefly before everyone followed the man to his car parked just outside. Once everyone got in, Sam told the man he wished to return to office immediately to deliver an important piece of paper. He asked Jason if he wanted to head home but the young man shook his head claiming he was in the mood for more work. Justin was too busy looking out the window as he took in the scenes. Sam didn't bother interrupting him and, instead, began a conversation with the driver. He asked about the man's family seeing the conversation lasting until they arrived outside the building. The trio got out with Sam thanking the man. Then, the three of them entered the building with Sam taking them straight to his office. Sitting down in his familiar chair, Sam picked up his phone entering some numbers. While Sam was busy with his call, Jason excused himself so he could return to his officer. Justin, finding himself in unfamiliar territory, chose to sit down in the only other chair in the room. He watched Sam giving commands and, when he got bored of that, he studied the room they were in.

The room wasn't that big and it was nearly packed with the desk and a bookshelf. There was a photo of Sam and his wife on the desk. The desk was very neat as was the bookshelf. Justin took the time to look through the bookshelf finding many classics. He took one out and, based on the dog ears and other signs, concluded that Sam must have gone through them many times. Justin flipped to the first page but he noticed a pair of eyes studying him. Looking up, he saw Sam staring at him with amusement.

"What?" Justin quickly closed the book putting it back on the bookshelf. "I was just curious."

"I know." Sam turned to the door. "My team of specialists will be arriving soon."

"They sound serious," joked Justin.

"They are some of the best. One of them happened to know the game EU3."

"That would help."

There was a knock on the door.

"Enter," said Sam who pulled out the map.

Justin watched as three men and a woman enter the room. They seemed surprised to see Justin but none of them said anything. Sam waited for everyone to get in first.

"Justin, this is my team of specialists. Team, this is Justin. He's the lone escapee from Australia." Sam pushed the map towards the team. "Your task is to analyze this map and provide me with anything you can find. I even want the trivial stuff. Understood?" Seeing nods from the team, Sam dismissed them from the room after handing over the map. He turned back to Justin. "Hope you didn't mind that joke."

Justin shook his head but Sam caught a glint of tear in his friend's eye.

 

[blklizard]

Section III

Chapter 42 (part 6)

[September 12, 2013]

(Toronto, Canada)

Justin waited a few minutes as Sam typed away at his keyboard.

"Good," said Sam who got a puzzled look from Justin. "I just booked you for a nearby hotel. We all need some rest."

Justin smiled and did a small yawn. With a nod, he stood up and walked over to Sam's computer. Sam gave him the directions to the hotel and explained that he has already paid for it. Then, the two men left the office with Sam locking his door. They exited the building where the two of them would go their separate ways. Justin headed for the hotel that just happened to be a few blocks away while Sam walked over to the bus stop where he would take the bus to his home. Justin would later enter the hotel, check it at the front desk and collapse onto his bed. Sam slept on the bus narrowly missing his stop. As he got off the bus, Sam saw the kitchen window blinds vibrate before the front door opened with Emily running towards him. The two of them embraced as Emily kept crying. She explained that she saw the news of the uprising in Australia and she was worried sick about Sam. Sam did his best to comfort her while he guided his wife back into the house. They sat down on the sofa where Emily leaned on Sam's shoulder as Emily let her emotions run their course.

Once Emily calmed down, Sam told her about everything that happened to him and the map he believed was the key to the entire case. Emily listened intently never interrupting Sam once. Just as Sam finished his accounts, his home phone suddenly rang. The couple stared at each other with both claiming they weren't expected a call. Sam looked on the receiver seeing the number from work and answered.

"Sam here."

"Hi, Sam. This is Jason."

Sam laughed. "Oh, You're still at work!"

"Ya, I was working on some things," said Jason with a chuckle. "I was heading to your office."

"I left earlier with Justin," said Sam apologetically. "We can discuss whatever you learned tomorrow after some rest."

"Did you lock the door?" asked Jason cautiously.

Sam froze in place as he thought back. "Yes, I believe I did lock the door. Why?"

"It was open when I came to knock on the door."

Sam began pacing the room with his wife looking at him with worry. Then, there was a knock on the door that had both Sam and Emily turn to the door. "There's someone at the door."

"Wait! Don't ..."

Sam ended the call and gestured to his wife to go upstairs. Sam wished he had a firearm at home at the moment. Taking a deep breath, he walked towards the door and placed his hand on the lock. With brief hesitation, he turned the lock and opened the door.

 

[blklizard]

Section III

Chapter 42 (part 7)

[September 12, 2013]

(Toronto, Canada)

Sam opened the door to find himself greeted a large, bulky man. He wasn't pointing a gun at Sam but Sam still watched him warily. The stranger attempted to smile but it did little to ease the tension. The two men were in a staring match until Sam decided to break the silence.

"Can I help you?" asked Sam.

"Yes, you could." The stranger reached into his pocket pulling out his cellphone. "Assuming that you are Sam from CSIS?"

Sam nodded not trusting his voice. He half expected the man to pull out his weapon only to see him offer a handshake with his free hand. Sam hesitate briefly before taking it.

"My name is Jack. I apologize for dropping in unannounced like this." Jack returned his cellphone back into his pocket. "I wouldn't be here if I don't have urgent matters to discuss with you." Jack pulled out a piece of paper. "You wouldn't happen to know a man called Jake?"

The name sent a jolt through Sam's body. "How? How do you know that name?"

"I can see the surprise on your face. I was friend to Caspar who was working with Jake on a case when they were both blown up."

Sam allowed the information to settle in. "Where are my manners? Please come in." Sam gestured Jack to come in.

Jack smiled. "No, you have the right to be wary. The case you were involved in has resulted in far too many deaths."

Sam allowed Jack to enter before closing the door behind him. He led the way to the living room where he asked Jack to sit down on the sofa. He then went to the kitchen to brew some tea which he brought over. Jack sipped the tea and gave some compliments. The two of them spoke briefly about tea before Sam forcibly changed the topic to the reason of Jack's visit.

"I won't beat around the bush. I'm trying to find the killer of Caspar and, the more I dug, the more complicated the case became. I wis-"

Jack stopped mid-sentence upon hearing knocking on the front door. Sam excused himself and opened the door finding Jason staring at him with surprise. Behind him, there were two officers who had surprised expressions as well. Jason turned around apologizing to the officers and, thankfully, the officers got a good laugh and left. Jason then turned around seeing Sam gesture him to get inside. As he stepped through the door, Jason caught sight of a stranger sitting on the sofa drinking tea. When he received a friendly shove from Sam, he proceeded forward into the living room. Jack was enjoying his tea and paid no attention to the new arrival. Sam came over to introduce the two men to each other before asking Jason why he came over. Jason claimed he expected the worst to happen following the phone call and had to come. Because he was speeding, he was pulled over but, using his identification, he convinced the two officers to come with him. He stated he was relieved to see Sam was fine but confused why he was asked to come in. Sam explained that Jack was investigating Jake's death and may have valuable information. Jason nodded and asked Jack nicely to continue where he left off.

 

[sebas379]

Seems like we'r getting a team together, hopefully they can figure something out. It's still quite a mess they'r in, it seems

 

[blklizard]

Seems like we'r getting a team together, hopefully they can figure something out. It's still quite a mess they'r in, it seems

Yup, Canadians and Americans are working together in this big mess. They have been hit hard but luckily they are still in the game.

Section III

Chapter 42 (part 8)

[September 12, 2013]

(Toronto, Canada)

"As I was saying," Jack continued, "I wish to work with you since we both lost someone we knew. We aren't facing off against a small gang or drug dealers here. I have a feeling we are dealing with an organization that is both well connected and very wealthy. I fear this organization may have some of its men infiltrate into the White House."

"Wait," Jason interrupted. "What organization are we dealing with? Are you saying they have control over the White House? Over the President?"

"One of our theories is that the President himself works for the organization. We cannot be sure of anything until we gather more data. We also have reasons to believe the recent events aren't coincidence."

Sam then said, "Are you suggesting that the nuclear bombs and the recent declaration of war by Latin American nations are connected somehow?"

"Yes, things are that dire."

"Is that possible?" asked Jason doubtfully.

Jack turned to Jason and looked him straight in the eye. "I didn't believe it at first but everything seems to suggest that. We are dealing with a very dangerous enemy who has wealth and influence. Unless the organization is stopped, there might be a new superpower rising in the world. Truth be told, I fear to learn what the world would look like." Jack paused briefly for his words to sink in for the two men before him. "I am aware that you two managed to acquire something in Australia that might be critical to answering our questions. Is there any chance that you can share with me the paper and what you know?"

Sam shook his head and said, apologetically, "I'm afraid I don't have the map on me at the moment. I can share with you what we know thus far." Seeing a nod from Jack, Sam explained the anomalies on the map and some of the theories they had. He also explained the many areas he found puzzling as he couldn't make a connection between the map and actual events. When he finished, Sam was surprised to see Jack with a big grin on his face. "You know something we don't, right?"

Jack nodded as he took out a piece of paper. On the paper, there were six nations listed which Sam and Jason skimmed over. Jack waited until they had a look at the nations before presenting his case.

"The following nations were ideas for a book of an American writer. His name is Chris." Jack waited a brief moment but the duo before him weren't familiar with the name. "Chris is the man who was in touch with Matthew until both of them were executed. My team found it interesting that Chris was targeted as well and they dug up this list. At first glance, it may not seem like much but, once we looked up the events that happened recently, there are many coincidences." Jack looked up seeing he caught the attention of the two men. He then pulled out a world map he had in his pocket and laid it out on the coffee table.

 

[blklizard]

Section III

Chapter 42 (part 9)

[September 12, 2013]

(Toronto, Canada)

Jack moved his finger over Scandinavia. "Now, the first nation Chris was writing about was the Vikings whose origins go to Scandinavia. I'm not sure if you were aware but there was a major hacking that hit all the nations in Scandinavia. At the time, people just assumed the hackers belonged to China or North Korea but my team thinks otherwise." Jack then moved his finger over to China. "China was the next nation on the list. Thirteen of their nuclear bombs were taken from a secret base somewhere. I would assume that the organization we are facing sent a group of specially trained people there to infiltrate." Jack moved onto Saudi Arabia. "I'm pretty sure you heard on the news about an attack on the Arabian oil fields. They claimed terrorists attacked them but I highly doubted that. You see, the intelligence we gathered suggested that no bodies of the terrorists were recovered. It was a one sided fight that saw the Arabian armed forces losing it badly. They were faced with professionals and I wouldn't be surprised if they had similar training as those that went to China." Jack paused to see if the two men had any questions.

"About Scandinavia," said Sam. "What exactly did they steal? What did they hack into and what was suspected to be taken?"

Jack scratched his head. "We aren't sure yet because the agencies in Scandinavia has been quiet about the hacking. We have reasons to believe blueprints of some of their best weapons were taken but that's only speculation."

"What's the point of the oil fields then?" added Sam.

"I could see the disruption of oil distracting the Americans and lowering their guard from the attacks." Jason looked to Jack receiving a nod.

Sam pondered over the answers before gesturing Jack to continue.

Jack looked at the list again before moving his finger to Brazil. "As you know, my country was recently attacked by several Latin nations. Brazil seemed to be the head of them and the fourth nation on Chris' list just happened to be Brazil. We don't yet know how the organization took control of so many Latin nations but they somehow did it. It's disturbing that, following nuclear bombs, we Americans have to deal with a war. I am worried that the organization might be using the Latin nations to fight us so both sides would be too weak to deal with the real threat. Unfortunately, we cannot end the threat in Brazil unless we take their head. That made take from as short as months up to a few decades. My President made it clear that he would fight back against enemies of Americans. He sa-." Jack stopped in mid-sentence upon seeing Sam raise his hand.

"I see a problem here. Why wasn't Washington DC targeted?" asked Sam. He looked at Jack who shook his head as though he didn't have the answer. "We knew that this organization had one more bomb which they used on London instead. Is it odd that Washington DC, the heart of USA, was spared from disaster. I feel something doesn't fit here."

"What are you suggesting?" Jack looked intently at Sam as his stomach was doing turns.

"A high ranking American government official is a mole for the organization. This mole is likely manipulating your nation while appearing to be patriotic before all Americans."

 

[blklizard]

Section III

Chapter 42 (part 10)

[September 12, 2013]

(Toronto, Canada)

Jack sighed. "I have the same hunch."

Jason looked at Jack with bewilderment. "You knew all along?"

"I wouldn't say I knew it all along. I just had similar suspicions and I got confirmation."

Everyone stayed silent for a few seconds while Jack reached into his pocket taking out a small envelope. On the envelope was a logo saying CAS92. The envelope was already opened with a piece of paper inside. Jack took the paper out so he could hand it to Sam and Jason to read.

If you are reading this, I must be dead. I have a nagging suspicion and hoped that this envelope would never be opened. There are one or two people in the White House who I believe work for our enemy. I haven't figured out the identity of this enemy but it's powerful. Be careful, Jack. Lie in the shadows if possible and protect my family if it doesn't put your life at risk. I don't know what else to say other than good luck.

Caspar

"Caspar is the man Jake was working with, right?" Sam asked.

"Yes," Jack replied.

"If you don't mind me asking," said Jason, "what happened to his family?"

"I managed to get his son out of the country. His wife was killed by this enemy. They forced her car off the road to imitate a car accident."

Then, a minute of silence enveloped the living room until a cellphone rang. Initially, no one reacted to the sound but the second ring snapped everyone out of their trance. Jack realized his phone was ringing and picked it up. He listened carefully to the other side saying yes or no occasionally. When the call was over, he placed his cell on the map.

"That call might help us solve the puzzle we're dealing with."

"How?" asked Jason.

"Have you two heard of the 13 Hackers?"

Sam nodded while Jason shook his head.

Jack thought it over before he started explaining. "The 13 Hackers is an organization that has the best hackers in the world. It didn't matter what nationality or culture. The only requirement to join is to show great skills and potential. The thirteen represent the number of hackers and there were a few working for my team. One of them suddenly disappeared claiming he had a very generous offer. You must remember that they are like cyber mercenaries who are very expensive. These hackers had the obligation to not share their work with even those within the 13 Hackers but they still connected with each other in a casual way. Few days ago, we lost contact with this hacker and, just earlier today, we found his body."

"How does that affect us?" asked Jason.

"We found two corpses. The other corpse belonged to a man called Chukchov. He is the suspect for Caspar's death."

 

[blklizard]

Section III

Chapter 42 (part 11)

[September 12, 2013]

(Toronto, Canada)

"Tell us about this Chukchov person," said Sam.

"He's a Russian whose life was saved by Caspar when he had a mission in Russia. We thought he would remain loyal but he proved us otherwise. Following the bombing that killed Caspar, he disappeared and we struggled to find him. He did a good vanishing act seeing that no one knew about him. Seeing him dead now, we can be sure that the organization is silencing all outsiders once they served a purpose. I have doubts we will learn anything." Jack rubbed his forehead.

"How did you find his corpse then?" asked Sam.

"We didn't expect to find him there," answered Jack. "We were tracking down the missing hacker when we just happened to find his corpse there as well."

"Looks like we have a dead end there." Sam gulped down the tea that has cooled.

"Not completely," said Jason who got the attention of the two men. "We could track down transactions made to Chukchov, right? No matter how hard they cover their tracks, they will leave a trail of some kind."

"Yes," replied Jack, "but how will that help us?"

"It's a hunch but I had faith that the organization we're dealing with wouldn't be foolish enough to do transaction from their home base. What if they deposited the money in the states? Won't that give us a lead on the mole within the government?"

Jack nodded his head. "I can see what you are saying. I will get my men on it immediately." Jack grabbed his phone and walked to the kitchen where he made his call.

While Jack was on his phone, Jason pulled out a piece of paper that Sam recognized as the map.

"How?" asked Sam.

"I thought we might need it so I got a photocopy. This may come in handy for our discussion."

"You continue to amaze me," said Sam as he grabbed the map.

Jack returned and asked about the paper Sam was holding. Learning that this was a photocopy of the original, Jack asked to see it. Sam handed it over. Jack analyzed it the best he could while Sam went to his fridge to get some soda drinks. He gave everyone else a drink and helped himself to two. Five minutes later, Jack placed the map back down on the coffee table and grinned.

"Wow, there's a lot to absorb from this."

Sam and Jason nodded.

"Tell me about this large territory," said Jack as he pointed to Hungary.

 

[sebas379]

Ok so there's Hungary again, and the nations from the Phoenix mod...
Still sounds like they are in way over their heads.

 

[blklizard]

Ok so there's Hungary again, and the nations from the Phoenix mod...
Still sounds like they are in way over their heads.

Well, it's not like they had the option to twiddle their thumbs acting like nothing happened. As for their contributions, every person has a small act in the grand scheme of things.

Section III

Chapter 42 (part 12)

[September 12, 2013]

(Toronto, Canada)

Sam explained to Jack that Matthew was playing as Hungary which explained the discrepancies related to it. Jack was still hesitant to accept the explanation thinking there was more to it. With Matthew dead, there was no way they could ask him personally. Jack looked intently at the map trying to figure out what was amiss.

"Why don't you share with us what you're thinking?" asked Jason.

"I couldn't put my finger on it but I feel Hungary may also play a part in our puzzle."

"Despite being played by a human?" asked Sam.

"Yes." Jack pointed at the large stretch of land in Siberia. "I think this might suggest Russia is included as well."

"Why must Russia be included?" asked Jason.

"USA and China has both been confirmed to play a part in this. Why not a superpower like Russia?" Jack began pacing the room.

"It's quite easy to overlook that point," said Sam as he left the room returning with an atlas. He spread it out. "It does encompass a large section of Siberia."

"Since we already know Japan is also an anomaly, there is a chance that they might try something in Siberia." Jason turned to Jack for confirmation but he saw the man stopped pacing the room. "What's wrong?"

"It was a small report that I overlooked at the time. Now that I thought about it, I fear it's too late to stop it."

"What?" asked Sam with urgency.

"There was a report about a month ago claiming that a virus was discovered in Siberia and those that contracted it had no chance of survival. Because the virus wasn't extremely contagious, we assumed it was a strain of a well known virus that killed a few unfortunate people. Thinking back on it, I think humans created the virus."

Sam and Jason looked at each other with horror. Sam would return his focus to Jack.

"I thought the population in Siberia were, more or less, isolated from the rest of the world."

"That's true." Jack walked over to the atlas drawing an imaginary line with his finger. "When a few deaths were reported, they would have people from cities making trips to contain the outbreak. There might be a chance that they return back to the cities and bring the virus with them. Once the virus infected its first victim, there would be little we can do to contain it."

"This is only speculation," said Jason without conviction.

"Speculation or not, we will soon get some answers." Jack went to his phone and sent a quick text. He turned to his two new allies. "We will be working with some Chinese hackers I know well. They might be able to get us some confirmations."

 

[blklizard]

Section III

Chapter 42 (part 13)

[September 12, 2013]

(Brasilia, Brazil)

Despite the uprising, the dawn was a silent one with only the occasional dog bark. In the streets, two people, a man and a woman, moved quietly as they made their way to a poorer sector of the city. The sector wasn't quite a slum but it wasn't that much better. It was still too early for the beggars to come out as they slept in whatever nooks and crannies they could find. The man kept looking back as if expecting to be followed but, as they neared their destination, he saw no sign of trouble. The woman kept an eye out as well but she mainly focused on navigating the narrow streets where the poorly maintained buildings were packed together to fit as many rooms as possible for those living in or close to poverty. The duo continued through the narrow streets until they caught sight of a small light up ahead. A man stood outside a doorway with a candle in his hand. The duo greeted him briefly before making their way through the doorway into a small courtyard. There was no light inside the compound but the duo entered it without hesitation. After closing the door behind them, the woman went to a corner as she felt the ground with her hands. A few seconds later, she found the floorboard and pulled it up. She gestured to the man to get inside before following after him and putting the floorboard where it was over her head. Upon entering the secret passage, the duo could see light further down the passageway. They made their way forward slowly so their eyes could adjust to the light. By the time they arrived outside the room, their eyes have adjusted. They were greeted by two elderly men who stood just inside the room. Once the greetings were over, the duo was shown to their seats. As soon as they were seated, the meeting would begin.

"It's good to see you again, Felipe." The head of the group spoke to the young man. "How's your father doing?"

"He's doing too well, I fear." Felipe was barely containing the anger within.

"We will have to do something about that, won't we?"

"Yes, Bishop Matos."

Matos turned to the woman sitting beside Felipe. "Ana, it's good to see you as well. How's your mother."

"She's still in good health, Bishop Matos."

"Good," said Matos, "that's always good news. Though, we must deal with Felipe's father before he kill more of our countrymen."

"What do you propose?" asked Felipe.

"We need an assassination."

"No!" Felipe interrupted. "He won't get it off that easily!"

"Let him finish," said Ana as she placed her hand over Felipe's hand to calm him down.

Matos merely smiled. "I understand your concern but I was hoping to target General Vieira."

"What will that do?" asked Ana.

"You will see, my dear."

 

[blklizard]

Section III

Chapter 42 (part 14)

[September 12, 2013]

(Brasilia, Brazil)

There were reporters in the streets trying to get the best photo for their newspaper. Cardoso has organized a meeting inviting all the key figures in the Brazilian government. While there were no confirmations of the topics to be discussed in the upcoming meeting, everyone knew that the meeting would be important because it was the first since the rise of a new regime. The reporters were striving to get the best story for their newspaper because Cardoso has put up a very generous reward for the best story. The reward was very alluring as the winning news station would also get many contracts with the government ensuring a steady flow of income. Cardoso wanted the story to be sent worldwide to present a positive image of his new regime. He also looked forward to the day where he has the Americans under his feet. Soon after noon, the invited people were slowly arriving in their vehicles. The bodyguards would exit the vehicles first but they were trying to avoid getting blinded by all the flashes. Some of the key figures actually enjoyed the limelight with a few of them taking a moment to stop before the cameras. The bodyguards allowed them to spend a few moments before herding them into the building which was much better protected. For the security personnel, the moment when the person traveled between the vehicle and the building was when they were the most vulnerable. Thus, they could relax once their escorted personnel were inside the building and not posing for the cameras.

An hour passed by and nearly all the invited people have already arrived into the building. The meeting would not start until a few more of the more prominent figures arrived, one of which was Vieira. General Vieira was a trusted general and friend of Cardoso and there was no mistake that the two were very close. The two of them were rumored to have grown up together which made their bond that much stronger. The only division between them, which they both joked about often, was how they went for the same girl and Cardoso came out on top. There were also rumors that Vieira was the one to come up with the plan to overthrow the previous government but no one could confirm or deny those rumors. General Vieira, unlike Cadoso, was a much shady character with lots of hidden secrets. When Cardoso came to power, no one was surprised that Vieira became his right hand man. Vieira would soon arrive in a heavily armored limo with soldiers acting as his bodyguard. He exited his vehicle with ease as his bodyguards surrounded almost immediately. He smiled at the cameras knowing full well the importance of appearing charismatic to the ordinary civilians. He posed for a few quick pictures and, as he turned to face the cameras on the other side, his face showed a surprised expression that was caught on many cameras. He then collapsed onto the floor with his bodyguards rushing too late to his aid. A bullet wound was found in his neck severing his spinal cord. The reporters, initially unaware of what transpired, stayed on the scene until someone screamed blood. Then, chaos would ensue as nearby soldiers surrounded the area herding the reporters to a nearby abandoned warehouse to perform searches.

Cardoso was inside the meeting talking to some of the most influential people in Brazil when he saw an officer entering in full uniform. Cardoso would have lectured the man for his entrance but he stopped himself upon seeing the man's expression. The man was panting hard and, a few minutes later, Cardoso learned of his friend's death. He ordered his men to do a thorough search of the nearby area after the officer explained he suspected the assassin was a sniper. Many soldiers were sent out to the nearby region the search every building nearby. They would search every room, every closet and even check beneath the floorboards for hidden rooms. In the end, they yielded nothing and returned empty-handed much to the disappointment of Cardoso. Cardoso thought that his men searched every inch of the area surrounding his meeting place but there was one place his men didn't search. His men were, after all, Catholics and didn't dare to tread inside a local church fearing the wrath of God. The sniper was on the roof of the church when he killed Vieira. The sniper was a devout Catholic too but he knew that killing Vieira was a necessary sacrifice for the good of all Brazilians. He would have been hesitant to perform the assassination inside the church had Bishop Matos not promise to pray for his forgiveness. Matos was a powerful bishop who was seen closer to God than almost anyone in the world. If the bishop was going to pray for his forgiveness, the sniper knew that he would get it. Thus, he took up the job and performed flawlessly for his nation that has fallen into the hands of those that worshiped the devil.

 

[sebas379]

Trouble in Brazil, well that was bound to happen after all that transpired lately. Someone doesn't like the recent adventures in the USA. Or likes em too much.
But there is a lot more behind it all, I bet.

 

[blklizard]

Trouble in Brazil, well that was bound to happen after all that transpired lately. Someone doesn't like the recent adventures in the USA. Or likes em too much.
But there is a lot more behind it all, I bet.

Brazil will soon be bloody and we will return to USA. North and South America will be a very different place once this is all over.

Section III

Chapter 43 (part 1)

[September 13, 2013]

(Toronto, Canada)

Sam poured himself some coffee in the kitchen before returning to the living room. He checked on his wife earlier who has, after a brief chat with him, went to bed. Sam has gulped down three cups of coffee but, as of yet, he still felt sleepy. Struggling to keep his eyes open, he watched Jason and Jack working away on their laptops. He envied them for their youth that was keeping them awake. Sam felt old and tired compared to them but he could at least try to stay awake. Half an hour later, Sam's cup was empty and he returned to the kitchen to refill it. When he returned his time, Jack was no longer on the laptop and, instead, was speaking with Jason. Sam joined them at the sofa where Jack spoke about his discoveries.

"I have bad news and good news. Which do you want to hear first?" asked Jack.

Jason looked to Sam as if letting him decide.

"Let's hear the bad news first then," said Sam who sipped his coffee.

"It would appear that the bombings in American soil has been reported so much that the news in Russia has been overlooked. I'm afraid it's as bad as we suspected. An unknown virus has been spreading rapidly throughout major Russian cities sending countrywide panic. The doctors there are struggling to find a cure for the virus but even they are hit hard. The rate at which the virus has been spreading has been too rapid to contain. I fear that Russia has effectively been eliminated from the equation of our enemy. Until they could recover from this virus, they won't be participating in any foreign matters."

"It's that bad?" Sam asked with a sigh. "What a horrific weapon unleashed on the Russians. That's one fewer ally but I think that's what our enemy counted on."

"Yet, you said that we have good news?" asked Jason.

"We have one of our best people working on tracking down the mole in the American government," replied Jack. "She might be young but I believe her resourcefulness will get us the information we need."

"What are our objectives right now?" Sam asked. "The scope of this seems too large for us to deal with. We must be focusing on something."

"We are," answered Jack. "Our present goal is to find the mole and free the American government from the organization's control."

"There's also the war against the Latin American nations," added Jason.

"We cannot ignore that threat at the moment. I fear USA won't be contributing much to taking down the organization." Jack paused to rub his forehead. "Of course, there's also that problem with Australia. Things just seem to get worse by the minute."

Sam placed his hand on Jack's shoulder. "Once we weather the storm, we will fight back."

Jack turned to see Sam smiling which prompted a smile from him. "You're right. We mustn't lose hope."

 

[blklizard]

Section III

Chapter 43 (part 2)

[September 13, 2013]

(Brasilia, Brazil)

The minister of Defense, Manuel, sat in his office dealing with the massive paperwork before him. If anyone were to ask Manuel if he enjoyed his job, he would simply respond that he was being paid very well. Manuel was in his office when the power suddenly went out. The only source of light came from his laptop screen but only a small section of his office was illuminated. Manuel looked out his window surprised to see no streetlights either. Thinking that this sector must have encountered a blackout, Manuel shook his head as he stood up from his seat. Wondering why the backup power generator hasn't kicked in yet, he called for someone in the building. Manuel was only greeted by silence as he stood in the darkness. He made his way to the door when someone opened it.

"Ah, good. Why isn't the backup generator up yet?" asked Manuel.

"I turned it off." The stranger suddenly raised something to Manuel's face.

Manuel watched in horror as he realized the dark silhouette in the stranger's hand was a gun. He tried to call out for help but three bullets already found their way into Manuel's brain. Manuel's body hit the floor with a thud but the gunman was already gone. Manuel would be found later when his secretary came to work. Moments later, the police arrived onto the scene but they would find no clues to the killer.

-meanwhile-

Felipe and Ana were eating their breakfast in the dining room when Bishop Matos entered. They exchanged greetings before one of the servants brought over a cup of coffee for the bishop. Matos sat down with his cup of coffee and began reading through the newspaper sitting on the dining table. Felipe and Ana finished their food with the servants cleaning everything up. They waited patiently for Matos to finish his readings. Matos took his time and finished moments after he emptied his cup of coffee.

"How's your father reacting to this, Felipe?" asked Matos.

"He's furious. He ordered a careful investigation but it yielded nothing."

"Good. Good." Matos stood up and walked over to the window. He stared at the few white clouds in the sky. "We have just eliminated another enemy."

"Who?" asked Felipe and Ana in unison.

"Does the name Manuel Pessoa ring any bells?"

Ana shook her head while Felipe thought for a second. "Is he the new Minister of Defense?"

Matos grinned. "He is. He has been doing some secret deals with your father which allowed the coup to go so well. He got promoted in the process"

"Who's next?" asked Felipe.

"He won't be back for a few days. During that time, we have to be active. That's where you come in, Felipe."

"Tell me what I must do."

Matos sat down beside Felipe and began writing a set of instructions on a piece of paper he brought with him. Felipe nodded and, once he memorized all the steps, he said goodbye to Ana and Mathos before leaving for home. Ana patiently sat across the table looking impatiently at the two men. When Felipe left, she asked Matos what they were discussing but the bishop claimed that he forgot and left the room with the paper he wrote on. Ana sighed before leaving the room as well.

 

[blklizard]

Section III

Chapter 43 (part 3)

[September 13, 2013]

(Toronto, Canada)

Sam left a note for his wife before he left the house with Jack and Jason. Jack would drive them to the American border where he got them through by showing a few papers without any hassle. An hour later, the trio stopped at a fast food restaurant to get their breakfast. Once they were done eating, the trio set out on the road again.

"Where are we headed, Jack?" asked Jason.

Jack laughed. "Did I forget to mention our destination? Washington DC."

"You are intent on finding that mole, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am. I also have to repay a debt."

"To Caspar?" asked Sam.

Jack nodded. He then looked in the rear view mirror. "How did you know?"

"Something is motivating you," replied Sam, "and I didn't think it was patriotism."

"You're right, Sam. I have learned a long time ago that patriotism is a fancy word came up by politicians. I fought in the Iraq war which opened my eyes. I've learned that politicians would use whatever rhetoric to send the youths of America to their death for small gains. I would be died there in Iraq if Caspar didn't recruit me. I was about to be assigned on a mission when Caspar offered me a chance to join his organization. He didn't go in depth but, from our conversation, I was convinced that I could do more good if I worked for him. On my ride home, I've learned that the squad I was supposed to be with was attacked. Following the brief skirmish, there were no survivors. I knew I was in debt of Caspar ever since that day. He saved my life and I intended on repaying it. I was devastated when I heard he was killed and, later on, when I heard his wife died as well. I managed to save his son but that account for little. I intend on finding the mole and execute him personally."

Silence then drawn out for the remaining ride. Jack kept his focus on the road while Jason worked away on his laptop with the information sent by Sam's specialists. As for Sam, he dozed off and was snoring in the back. Neither of the men wanted to wake him so they kept to their duties quietly.

(Washington DC, USA)

After another five hours, the trio arrived in Washington DC. Jack stopped outside a small motel where he has apparently already booked for three rooms. The rooms inside the motel weren't very large but they were homely. The trio settled in Jack's room where he would get his laptop set up with the Wi-Fi. Jason was busy typing away at his keyboard leaving Sam with nothing to do other than watching the two young men work away.

Jacked then turned to Sam. "The specialist I was talking about has replied. She has figured out the code left behind by our dead hacker."

"The hacker left behind a code before he died?" asked Jason with puzzlement. "Did he anticipate his death?"

"Apparently so," answered Jack. "He must have known that he stumbled onto something big and needed to learn more."

"I would think this organization would be careful enough to remove all the data on the hacker's computer." Sam looked to Jack for confirmation.

"They did delete everything." Jack grinned. "Yet, they don't know who they were dealing with. The hacker kept a secret code that, to even a trained eye, would appear as rubbish. He has created a code with his fellow hackers that would be utilized if he died in suspicious circumstances. We have cracked the code and my specialist has been deciphering it. So far, she sent me what she deciphered thus far."

 

[sebas379]

I hope they can shed some more light on all this cause it's still quite vague what is actually going on

 

[blklizard]

I hope they can shed some more light on all this cause it's still quite vague what is actually going on

Don't want everything to be clear early on but you will know more as we go along, at least I hope I can made it clear. Feel free to ask things you aren't clear about and I'll see what I can do. As a novice writer, I may not always be aware what I need to add to make the story more complete so you can help me that way. I won't be giving spoilers though .

Section III

Chapter 43 (part 4)

[September 13, 2013]

(Brasilia, Brazil)

Felipe carried out Bishop Matos' plan immediately once he returned to the National Congress. He struck up conversations with the people working there and snuck in a few rumors he heard. Felipe picked the people he knew would spread gossip quickly which was his goal. He then met with his father who was in a foul mood. Cardoso hasn't slept which was obvious with his sluggish movements and slow reflexes. It took him awhile before he noticed Felipe in his office. Initially, he was babbling away as if Felipe was just an officer. Short while later, he shook his head before talking.

"Felipe, why are you here?"

"Father, I'm worried about you."

"Me? You have nothing to worry about. They can't get me." Cardoso attempted a laugh but it turned into a cough instead.

Felipe couldn't help but notice more gray hair on his father's head. "I don't know if I should say this."

Cardoso grinned. "Go ahead, son. Tell me what's on your mind."

"The assassinations were so well executed." Felipe paused for a moment. "I'm starting to think it's an inside job."

Cardoso looked at Felipe with a serious look before he burst out laughing. "You are indeed my protege. That's what I think as well. The tracks of the assassins were so well hidden it had to be an inside job."

Felipe breathed a sigh of relief. "I was worried I was overthinking this."

"These are tough times for us, son. Once we get through it, we will be stronger than ever. Don't lose hope!"

"Yes, general!" Felipe received a smile and excused himself from the room.

(Washington DC, USA)

Jack looked through the information sent by Xue and nodded a few times.

"What does it say?" asked Jason impatiently. "What does it tell us?"

"The money trails lead to a man called Kyle Hall."

"Wasn't he the former Secretary of State?" asked Sam.

Jack nodded.

"Former? What happened?" asked Jason.

"On the day the nuclear bombs were detonated," replied Jack, "Kyle was in a vehicle on the outskirts of Baltimore when a plane blew up. A section of the plane crashed into his vehicle killing him and the driver."

"So, the mole inside the American government is dead then." Sam turned to the other two men who nodded their heads in unison.

 

[blklizard]

Section III

Chapter 43 (part 5)

[September 13, 2013]

(Washington DC, USA)

For once, Jack felt relieved after learning about the identity of the mole. With Kyle Hall dead, the American government was safe to carry out its agendas without the interference of one of its enemies. To celebrate the occasion, Jack offered to go to a local liquor store while Sam and Jason headed to the nearest supermarket for food. Jack was walking on the street when someone bumped him in the shoulder. The person didn't stop to apologize making Jack turn around to swear at the guy. Jack was about to about when he noticed the man carrying a suitcase. Jack found it odd that a man would be carrying a suitcase in these parts of the city because the suitcase was of a top brand. His gut told him that the man was up to no good so Jack chose to start tailing the man. He kept his distance as he followed the man to an abandoned building where the windows and doors were boarded up. Jack waited a few seconds before he walked into alleyway where he found an opening the man took. Leaning against the wall, he listened carefully hearing the man walking up a set of stairs. Once he was sure the man was on the next floor, Jack barely got through the hole and stopped underneath the stairs. When he was about to walk up the stairs, he heard some voices outside forcing him to scan his surroundings. He found a few crates in the corner and dashed quickly to hide behind them. Jack heard one man entering the compound where the other two seemed to be leaving by the alleyway. Not taking any chances, he waited for the new arrival to walk up the stairs before he got out his hiding spot.

Jack wasn't able to see the face of the new arrival but the timely arrival meant that something was up. Jack made his way slowly up the stairs and, once he arrived on the second floor, he saw several rooms, many of which no longer had doors. Listening carefully, he pinpointed the room the two men were in and made his way to the room beside theirs. Doing a quick scan of the room he just entered, he noticed a few holes in the walls. After checking through all of them, Jack found one that allowed him see into the other room. The hole wasn't big but it was enough for Jack to stick in a small device he always kept with him. With the device in place and turned on, Jack took a look around finding a few more crates where he could hide behind. Kneeling down behind the crates, he caught bits and pieces of the conversation next door. The meeting didn't last very long but Jack was able to piece together that it involved someone at the organization. Jack, upon hearing the two men making their way out their room, pressed himself against the crates and held his breath. He started counting once the duo reached the main floor until he reached ten before he let out a breath. Jack then pressed himself against the wall listening for any movement downstairs only to learn the duo have left. Jack retrieved his device from the hole and began making his way to the motel forgetting about the liquor. He would return to the motel first where he sat waiting for Sam and Jason to return. During the wait, he connected the device to his laptop and the images he was about to see would startle him.

 

[blklizard]

Section III

Chapter 43 (part 6)

[September 13, 2013]

(Washington DC, USA)

Sam and Jason returned with the grocery. Sam was about to say something when he noticed Jack staring at his laptop with a shocked expression. He walked up behind Jack startling the man.

"You're back," said Jack as he placed his hand on his chest.

"What are you looking at?" asked Sam.

Jack gestured to Jason to come over. "I noticed someone suspicious when I was heading to the liquor store. I followed the man and recorded his meeting."

"Explain suspicious please," said Jason.

"The fact he carried an expensive suitcase and was a foreigner in these parts was odd. Anyways, I think that the organization has sent two moles."

"You're kidding!" Sam looked at Jack with disbelief. "It's tough enough to get one into the White House. They got two?"

"Who is it then?" asked Jason as he leaned down to look at the screen which was blank.

"Let me play this."

Sam and Jason watched a Japanese man wearing an expensive suit sitting down by a table. He was speaking in Japanese with another man they couldn't see. The two were discussing something important and it was obvious that the man was eager to leave. Once they were done, the man entered a code unlocking his suitcase. He turned the suitcase around so the other person, who has been out of sight so far, could take a look. The other person came into view resulting in the blood draining from both Sam and Jason's faces. The other person quickly inspected the contents inside the suitcase before nodding. He closed the suitcase and left the room with the man. The video has stopped playing for several minutes but the trio didn't move at all. They were frozen in place as they tried to make sense in it all. Sam was the first to break the silence.

"The American President is also the mole." He looked to Jack for a confirmation receiving a nod. "My God!"

"No one would suspect him," said Jason as he sat down on a chair to steady himself. "What now?"

"I just don't know. If I didn't see this video, I wouldn't believe such a theory. This is borderline conspiracy theory. The President is out to get us." Jack tried to make light of the situation but failed.

"We can't give it to the FBI, can we?"

"I'm afraid not. They would label us as terrorist threatening the President's safety."

"There's only one way then," said Jason who looked to Jack's weapon.

Jack simply nodded. "Yes, there's no other way."