Chapter 26: Have Plane; Will Travel

ROBERT WAS IN THE CAR that picked us up Wednesday morning and he looked tired.

“Long night?” I asked.

“Short night,” he answered. “Not nearly enough sleep. I’ve been going over all the plans for the chancery in Dublin trying to identify any weak points. It’s a good testing ground for the security measures we’re trying to get built into all the chanceries. We’ve had a solid relationship with Ireland for a hundred years. The new building was constructed and opened in ‘68. Ireland awarded it several accolades for the design and blending with the spirit of the neighborhood. But you’ll see that the design is unlike any other chancery in the world.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing it, and taking pictures,” I said.

“What kind of things are you looking at?” Ronda asked.

“This is one of the first installations with a security office and closed-circuit TV cameras all over the grounds. Their security team is nearly twice the size of London, just to keep someone monitoring the systems. The personnel requirement has kept use at a minimum. True that one person can monitor activity in a dozen locations at once, but it requires constant vigilance.”

“That sounds like a nap in the making,” I said. “I can’t stay awake during an interesting television show. I’d never make it trying to watch and be aware of everything that happens on a dozen cameras.”

“That’s part of the problem. But we’ve got newer technology just installed in the Dublin chancery. We can now record everything. It’s like a tape recorder, but on a single magnetic tape, we can record separate screens from six video cameras. It might not help the person monitoring the screens live, but if there is an intrusion, we’ll be able to identify where and when it happened, and even track the progress of the intruder.”

“Sounds like closing the barn door after the horse escapes,” Ronda said. Robert sighed heavily.

“I’m here to find out if the system really has a general application for embassy security, or if it is strictly for spot installations where we seem vulnerable,” he said.

The driver got us to the airport and we gathered our luggage and cameras. Ronda had received a new courier bag from Josie in Chicago. Tuesday, she had picked up a package from the State Department to deliver to the ambassador in Dublin. The crew was ready and we stowed our luggage, closed the door, and began taxiing.

“This is a short hop,” Nancy said, “but I have coffee ready if you’d like.”

“You’re a lifesaver, Nance,” Ronda said.

The trip was just over an hour, and so having a cup of coffee and some sausage rolls she had in the refrigerator was nice.

“We’re booked at The Lex Mark hotel, a few blocks from the embassy,” Ronda told the crew when we landed. “Here are your booking reservations. The rooms have been prepaid. You have the afternoon to yourselves, but meet us at the hotel at seven to go to dinner. Make sure our baby is secure. We’ll have a good time in Dublin.”

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you!” Luke said.

“Luke, have a drink before dinner,” Ronda said. “You really need to loosen up a little. See you guys later.”

We loaded the equipment and our bags into the embassy car that was waiting, and the three of us headed into town. It was a ten-mile trip from the airport to the embassy, but took about half an hour to get there. It was nice to get a view of the city as we cut across it.

That view and all Robert had told us still left us unprepared for the beautiful building we saw when the driver pulled up to the American Embassy. It was round! There were three floors of interlocking trapezoidal windows above the ground floor where we parked. From the front, however, there was a bridge to the first floor over what could have been a moat.

We unloaded the passport gear and checked it in to the crew who would operate it, before starting our tour. The rotunda in the center of the building looked up through all three floors to the cupola on top. It was very impressive.

Robert left us when he was joined by his counterpart, and the two of us were met by a guide we later discovered was the Minister Counselor for Public Affairs, Rebecca Norris. We’d met her counterpart in London, Alice Grove.

The tour included a full walk around the outside of the building, getting some good photos. A security person joined us when we went outside the embassy to find a couple of good places across the street to get pictures. The chancery was built on a triangular lot and the circular shape of the building was a brilliant way to face the three streets at once.

Inside, the rotunda was busy with people seeking services from embassy staff. The inside of the building continued the theme of the trapezoidal framed windows and doorways. It was beautifully symmetrical.

“I was told you are to be shown the security office and the ambassador’s office for photographs,” Mrs. Norris said. “May I ask what these photos are for? Those areas are typically restricted.”

“We do not normally photograph those areas either,” I said. “I’ve been told that the chancery here is unique and is being studied by the Bureau of Consular Affairs for the effect of architecture and technology on the function of the staff and guests. The photos we are taking will not even be processed until they arrive on the desk of the Assistant Secretary of Consular Affairs in Washington, DC.”

“I see,” Mrs. Norris said. “As long as they aren’t leaked to the public. We’re actually a fairly secure facility by virtue of our relationship with the Republic of Ireland. But we are still cautious. We’re lucky that most of the political unrest is in the north.”

She led us to the security office and we were reluctantly admitted to the video room after Robert spoke up for us. This was something out of the future. It reminded me of the video conversations Dave had with Hal in 2001: a Space Odyssey. Robert had some specific requests regarding what I should be taking pictures of in the room. It included a storage cabinet full of videotape.

We didn’t stay there long, but it was sure an eyeful. We could see in every direction outside the embassy and in many rooms inside. The cameras were positioned in such a way that a person walking across the rotunda, for example, was seen from several angles as one camera and then another picked him up. Just amazing.

When we left the surveillance room, Mrs. Norris led us to the Ambassador’s office. This one didn’t require special permission because Ronda had a courier envelope for him and we had an appointment to take his photo. It didn’t take us long to conduct our work. He told Ronda he’d have a package for her tomorrow when we visited the residence. He was a nice person, but didn’t seem as effusive—or maybe just not as impressed—as the ambassador in London.

Robert went to the hotel with us and we went to our rooms to rest half an hour, and to change clothes for our evening outing.

Robert acted as our host that evening, which relaxed our team dynamic some. It wasn’t just our crew and us. We were all part of the same team and Robert was giving us a treat on behalf of the embassy.

“I understand this is your first visit to Ireland,” he said. “Nate and Ronda have their schedule filled with their jobs, but if the rest of you are looking for something to do tomorrow, the Phoenix Park is always a good bet. There is a prehistoric burial site, the Wellington Testimonial, and the Magazine Fort. Wild deer so tame they might investigate your pockets for food.”

“That sounds like a contradiction in terms,” Luke laughed.

“Indeed. If you are in the mood for shopping, there’s Grafton Street or the Antiques and Art Quarter on Francis Street,” Robert added.

“How do you know so much about Dublin?” I asked. “Aren’t you based in London?”

“Yes, but I’m assigned to both embassies, so I travel back and forth quite a lot, just as I travel to Edinburgh and Belfast. I’ll meet with your trainees tomorrow to give them the message on adopting the ID badges, just as I did at the other embassy and the consulates,” he said.

“So, does that mean you outrank Nate and Ronda?” Jay asked. Robert laughed.

“Rank? Oh. Were you Air Force pilots?” Robert asked.

“Navy.”

“Nate and Ronda are the mission commanders and the plane is assigned to them by the Secretary of State. I’d have to challenge the Secretary if I wanted to override anything affecting their mission,” Robert explained. “They are not embassy employees and therefore not in my chain of command.”

“I see,” Luke said. The ideas of rank and chain of command were very important to these guys. That was a military thing and apparently some servicemen were more sensitive to it than others. They were still trying to adjust to having their bosses be ten years younger than they were.

“I am, however, a security specialist assigned to the embassies in London and Dublin. That assignment gives me the authority to direct how quickly the ID system is adopted in the embassy. It’s also why I’ll be traveling with Nate and Ronda next week. They’ll be venturing behind the Iron Curtain for the first time and their boss has asked for security assistance while they get some experience dealing with communists.”

“Where are we going?” Luke asked.

Robert turned to me and I turned to Ronda.

“Poland and Romania,” she answered. “In working with the Bureau of Consular Affairs, we determined that it would be best not to simply cross borders from one country to another. You’ll have a briefing packet waiting for you when we get back that will contain information on overflying communist countries and protocol upon landing.”

“How does this work, Nate?” Jay asked.

He took another long drink of his black beer. It was definitely powerful stuff. I had to function first thing in the morning or I’d have been tempted to overindulge. I was sipping. It was definitely getting Jay and Luke loosened up a little and allowing them to express their questions freely.

“I’m not sure of the question, Jay. How does what work?”

“You and Ronda both being in command. Who do we follow if orders conflict?” Jay asked.

“Oh. We’ll try not let our disagreements affect you. In fact, we have never had a disagreement, have we, Ronda?”

“Frankly, I’ve been surprised that we haven’t gotten into any arguments,” she laughed. “In matters of where we’re going and when, I’m coordinating that with our superiors in the State Department. Nate doesn’t get up in the morning and say, ‘Oh, let’s go to Moscow.’ I’ve got the schedule worked out and unless we have an emergency, we’ll follow that schedule. And emergencies do happen.”

“When it comes to working on our assignment,” I said, “I interface with the personnel at the chancery. I’m responsible for the equipment, supplies, and training. Also, I present the face of the State Department in dealing with customs and foreign police. That’s really only because most of the customs and law enforcement personnel we encounter are men in a man’s world, and they don’t have sufficient respect for a young woman in authority.”

“Either of us might receive a courier assignment at any time. While Nate was working in Germany, for example, I took the plane to Belgium to deliver a critical package. Then we went back to Frankfurt and picked up Nate to return home.”

“Okay. We’ll deal with conflicts if they arise,” Luke said, shaking his head.

“Here’s to a long and successful association,” Nancy said, raising her glass. It was pretty much the first thing she’d said at the meal. She took us all by surprise and we automatically raised our beer mugs to click over the table. “Personally, I’m looking forward to Africa. Do you know yet where you’ll be stationed next fall?”

“A lot of questions on that one,” Ronda said. “We want someplace that is safe enough for us to bring our family. And also that has an English-speaking population. Fortunately, Africa is full of former British colonies.”

“You’ll take us all to your next assignment?” Luke asked.

“We’d rather not train anyone new,” I laughed. “Nancy’s been with us through Central and South America and all of western Europe. We like her.”

“Cool!” Jay said.

He looked at Nancy and she had laughter dancing in her eyes. This was our first trip with this cockpit crew, but I could see some sparks flying between her and Jay.

By the time we got back to London Friday, we were working together as a cohesive unit. We spent Monday with all six of us in a briefing on the two countries we’d be visiting behind the Iron Curtain.

In Poland, we’d train the consular services staff at the embassy and the technicians from the Krakow consulate in Warsaw. Both teams were coming to the embassy. I’d need two setups to deliver to the embassy, but one would travel with the techs back to Krakow. In Romania, we’d train only the consular section at the embassy. We were expected to have two days in each location.

It was really training on how to function in a communist country. We were reminded that people did not enjoy the same freedoms we were used to in the UK. We should not offend anyone or suggest they would be better living in a democracy.

But we were also reminded that people were not necessarily miserable in any of these countries. In most, they hadn’t been cut off from friends and family in the West. Many supported the communist regime and felt they voted for it. The biggest change for most of them was the regulation and near elimination of the church. Churches were no longer exempt from government control. To exist, they had to account for their money and property and pay taxes like any other business.

I kind of thought that wasn’t such a bad idea.

At the end of the training session our instructor said, “Remember, the people of these countries are people just like you. They are proud of their nations and want you to enjoy your time there.”

Okay. Be careful but enjoy ourselves. Right.

In Poland, Robert, Ronda, and I were picked up by a van with room to load the equipment and my cameras. Luke, Jay, and Nancy locked up the airplane and stayed in a hotel near the airport. We scheduled departure for eight on Thursday morning.

At the embassy, a couple of workers helped carry the equipment from the van to a training room. We set up, but training wouldn’t be until the next day. Robert showed up about an hour later and said we were expected in the ambassador’s office. He showed us the way and the ambassador greeted all of us.

“Well, Mr. Brice, how does our security shape up?” he asked.

“If the only threat you have is an armed invasion, you’re in good shape,” Robert answered.

“That’s always a possibility, I suppose,” the ambassador said. “Our security team is made up of Marines. The eight of them are always on alert and cover the access points around the clock.”

“That spreads them pretty thin,” Robert said. “I’ll do more investigation during our time tomorrow, but off-hand, I’d say we need a civilian security detail. This is not to denigrate what the Marines do, but they are a military force guarding American land in a foreign country. The task force has suggested that we need to have a focus on keeping order in the reception areas and making sure our confidential materials are kept out of reach. The new equipment, for example, comes with the materials to make legitimate passports and visas. There needs to be a plan for shredding the important stock and disabling the equipment.”

“I assume this will all be in a written report so my deputy can get it put into action.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Now, I’m happy to welcome you to Warsaw, Poland, Mr. Hart and Miss May.”

“Thank you, sir. I do have some dispatches for you, if I may have your signature on the receipt,” Ronda said. She handed him the receipt and laid the packet on his desk. He quickly signed for it and immediately pushed it into his drawer.

“A female courier. Quite an innovation,” the ambassador said.

“I’m told there are six of us in the service now. We aren’t as readily identified as couriers, even with a dispatch bag on our shoulders.”

“Quite so. You, too, are a courier, are you not, Mr. Hart?”

“Yes, sir. It was determined that we need diplomatic immunity to care for and transport the equipment and supplies. It also protects our plane,” I said.

“You’re doing good work,” he answered. “The equipment may have more limited use here, but it will still be vital. We know the chancery is watched. That is no secret from the people. They need to carefully plan their visit if they wish to have a visa to the USA. And just having the visa does not mean they will ever get to use it. However, we do have students who get permission to travel and some businesses. And, of course, some of the usual tourist emergencies.”

“This should at least make issuing them on the spot possible.”

“Currently, the process can take as much as three months to gather the documentation, photo, and application, send it to the West for review and manufacture, and then get a finished document back. Thank you.”

“You are welcome. As you have been informed, I’m photographing the ambassadors and consuls general we visit. Can we do the photo now?”

“Yes, of course.”

We explored Warsaw with Barbara Polaski, a cute guide assigned by the Warsaw consul general. We discovered she’d be one of our students on Wednesday. She got us to our hotel, just a block from the chancery, and then we went to dinner. She wanted news from home, but occasionally cut a response off because the topic shouldn’t be discussed in public. She went back to the hotel with us and joined us in our room.

“We needn’t actually do anything,” she said. “But occasionally, we should make happy noises as if sex was going on. If we cover our conversation with that and random white noise, we can converse without attracting too much attention from the listeners.”

“The room is bugged?”

“I’ve no doubt someone is listening. It could just be the guy at the front desk or it could be secret police. We never know.”

As it turned out, we didn’t need to fake the happy noises of sex going on. She stayed with us overnight and we held many whispered conversations that did not involve either my cock or Ronda’s tongue in our new friend’s pussy.

Romania was a different matter entirely. When we landed, the plane was directed to a special area where we were met by four US Marines in a truck. As soon as the plane stopped, they were out of the truck and standing by. When Luke unlocked the cargo hold, two of the guys attacked the gear like it was an enemy. They scooped it up and transported it to the truck where we saw two more guys in the back to receive our equipment, supplies and gear. Then all six of us from the plane got into the truck with the first two, leaving two Marines standing guard at our closed and locked plane.

It was only about twenty minutes to get to the American Embassy compound and it seemed that most of the trip was through countryside. We hadn’t seen an embassy that wasn’t as near to the seat of government as it could get. We didn’t even go through Bucharest to get to this one.

I called it a compound, because this was a formidable walled fortress. The part that wasn’t walled had a tall iron fence around it. Between its location and the restrictions of movement around the embassy, this was not the kind of place that any ordinary national would just walk into.

Robert, Ronda, and I were handed off to a couple staff people to help get the equipment and supplies to the proper place in the consulate portion of the chancery. Luke, Jay, and Nancy took their luggage with them as the Marines conducted them to their lodging in the compound. I guess they were also supposed to get a tour around the facility, which included a gym, cafeteria, and a bowling alley.

After our equipment was secured, we were taken to the deputy chief of mission’s office where we were introduced and served lunch. The consul general, director of security, and ambassador joined us there.

“Welcome to Romania,” the ambassador said, shaking our hands. “I hope your reception was not too off-putting. We take security here very seriously.”