Chapter 12
Latest News
Fedelis, Kiennar Federal Republic
08 Erdak BE 001
Unlike the first meeting about the Child of Promise, weekly updates like this one were limited to the National Security Council, so the only Cabinet Ministers in attendance were the Minister of Defence and the Minister of the Interior. Other than that, the composition was mostly the same, with the notable additions of the Director of the Federal Security and Criminal Investigation Service and the Medipol liaison officer from Libni.
As usual, Joule took the lead. He had a map of Libni up on the projector and pointed to a city not far from the coast.
"We didn't have this information for last week's briefing, but here in Bin Harun there was an incident on the 27th. A couple of Protectors were attacked at a local hotel. There was an explosion."
He motioned for the projectionist to move on to some pictures from the scene of the incident, the damaged lobby of the hotel, shots of the bloodied floor with chalk outlines and such.
"Three confirmed fatalities. Some eyewitness accounts of the Protectors fleeing the scene. At least one of them was wounded in the attack."
Going back to the map, he pointed to a city further north, and continued, "You may recall there was a different sighting up in Bin Musa on the 24th. There's speculation that this was the decoy team, using a high-visibility movement as bait."
There were pictures of crowds mobbing the supposed Child and his Protector escort with the local Gendarmes trying unsuccessfully to keep them at bay.
"Damn high risk of collateral damage pulling a stunt like that," Field Marshal Okum said. "I sure as hell hope they don't plan on crossing into our borders."
"It's unlikely, Field Marshal," Joule replied. "Most crossings are done at the Narrows and we have little reason to expect the Protectors intend to do anything different. Anyway, as I was saying, we believe it was the decoy team that was sent through Bin Musa, which means it was the actual Child of Promise being targeted at Bin Harun."
"Targeted by who?" the Vice President asked.
"All evidence points to the Ghaddafi Syndicate, just as with the previous attack in Al-Jabbar on the 10th."
"Wasn't there something in the news about that Ghaddafi fellow?"
Next came pictures of another crime scene, a sumptuous courtyard and a massive body too big for just one sheet to cover.
"Mustafa Ghaddafi was assassinated at his personal estate in Az-Zadiyah last Friday night. It was too clean to be a mob hit. No evidence of the attacker besides the murder weapon, no eyewitnesses, no other casualties than the target."
"If it was so clean, why'd he leave the murder weapon?" Field Marshal Okum asked.
Joule nodded to the Medipol liaison officer and said, "I'll let Chief Inspector Benhashim explain."
The Chief Inspector then said, "Our investigators believe the weapon was left in the body deliberately, possibly as a message, possibly for misdirection. It appears to have been a spring-loaded wrist blade. The alloy used appears to be Kiennar make."
"Are you accusing us of this hit?" the Field Marshal asked.
"No, sir," the Chief Inspector replied. "As I said, our investigators suspect misdirection as a possible motive. We can only conjecture that the alloy was sourced from Kiennar or made to appear so. There are no manufacturer stamps or other markings on the blade, so it was presumably a custom job and could have been made anywhere.
"Ghaddafi was a wanted man in thirteen countries, but he was too big for us to handle in Libni. It would not be unimaginable for a state actor to resort to extralegal means of eliminating the threat, but now that he is dead, we find ourselves facing a unique mix of danger and opportunity."
"What do you mean?" the Field Marshal asked.
"Ghaddafi did not have a clear successor, so there will be internal divisions as his underbosses vie to take over and other crime families will be moving in on Ghaddafi's territory. The opportunity is the chance to completely dismantle the Ghaddafi Syndicate. If we can move quickly enough, we can prevent others from filling the vacuum."
"That's the opportunity then. What about the danger?"
"We are risking gang warfare on an unprecedented scale. The threat to the general populace, to international shipping and whatnot could reach a crisis level. This is why, through Medipol, my government is seeking even greater cooperation with yours."
"Isn't that something for Foreign Affairs?"
"It is being treated as a law enforcement matter at the moment, Field Marshal," FSCIS Director Ben-Eliezer chimed in. "We are negotiating something of an exchange."
Joule motioned for the projectionist to move on and a blown-up copy of a Kiennar Army ID appeared on the screen.
"This is Levant Boucher, a corporal in the Army. Enlisted 16 Dav Oh-Twenty, deserted 18 Udo Oh-Sixteen. He was up for court martial on multiple counts and skipped the country. He joined the PMC Mamaluk, Limited, in Masra the following year and stuck with them until he was headhunted by the Ghaddafi Syndicate in Oh-Twelve. He took half the company with him and formed his own unit calling themselves the Mad Dogs. At peak strength, they were believed to have some 216 personnel. They were among Ghaddafi's most feared enforcers. That incident with the Protectors in Abou El-Rachid was them.
"Boucher is reported to have been killed in said incident, but the Chief Inspector's colleagues never recovered his body. He could still be at large and would be a contender to take over the Ghaddafi Syndicate. The Mad Dogs are believe to have at twenty-seven other former Kiennar military personnel, most of them with outstanding warrants."
"We know for the sake of the honor and dignity of your nation, you would like to try these men yourselves," Chief Inspector Benhashim said. "My government would be willing to extradite them to you if you will in turn hand over any Libni citizens you apprehend."
"I will have to take it up with the Ministry of Justice," President Livy said, "but I'm sure we can come to an agreement."
The Chief Inspector gave a slight bow and said, "Thank you, Madame President."
Field Marshal Okum cut in to bring them back to the main topic, "This is all fine and good, but what does it have to do with the Child of Promise?"
"We haven't ruled out the possibility that it was the Protectors who were responsible for the assassination of Ghaddafi," Joule said. "It could have been revenge, they could be triggering a massive international gang war as a smokescreen for the Child's movements, or it could be both."
"What does that mean for us?"
"If they are willing to sow this much chaos for the sake of their mission, what else might they do?"
"Are you saying we should move against them?"
"That would require the President's authorization."
"Do you have any solid evidence to implicate the Protectors in all this?" the President asked.
"Not at this time, ma'am, no."
"Then we continue to monitor the situation."
"With the current state of unrest, the resources we have are insufficient."
"Are you trying to extort me for a bigger budget, Joule?" the President asked, half-jokingly.
Joule returned her smile ever so faintly and said, "I am merely stating logistical realities, Madame President."
"Have your office draw up a requisitions request and send it to Finance," the President said.
"Approval takes time," Joule replied, "time that we don't have, Madame President. If you were to speak to Ms. Lagenkamp, I'm sure it would expedite things."
"I'll consider it," the President said. "Just make sure everything's in order with that requisitions request. Finance isn't going to be writing you any blank checks."
"You do realize, of course, Madame President, that clandestine operations require a certain level of secrecy."
"They also require accountability, Joule, starting with their use of the taxpayers' money. I'm sure you can find a reasonable balance between operational security and transparency."
"I will exert every effort, Madame President."
"I expect nothing less."
