Chapter 107

Present – Ben, Jens and the rest – Meeting after the news report of Samantha’s airs.

We call a team meeting with everyone (other than the security who are on duty) in the conference room after Samantha’s report is broadcast. I take the podium, with Jens beside me, and announce, “I want to take the time to thank each of you for working with us. I have never known a better team of people than the ones we have right now.”

Jens begins to clap her hands and yells, “I would like everyone to give yourselves a big round of applause because you all deserve it.”

Once the applause dies down, I continue, “With that being said, I need to caution everyone. Once our report is translated to Farsi and rebroadcast, we’re going to have every jihadist in the world out to get us. Yes, this really is going to be a war - a war that we will win. It would be remiss of me to assume that all of you are going to stay, so I’m going to offer any of you the chance to leave today, with the promise of your job back when this is over. If you would like to leave, please stand up and leave now.”

The only person that stands up is Mabel who’s in the first row of seats. She turns around looks at everyone and says, “I don’t know about anyone else, but I plan on staying and kicking some terrorist ass if I can.”

There’s a spontaneous round of applause for her, then Gretchen stands up and declares, “I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m all in until the end.”

Another round of applause ensues, then Thom stands up and says, “Both Ben and Jennifer are performing a vital function for America because their message will bring most if not all of the terrorist cells in this country out of hiding. And we won’t be alone on this endeavor because we will have assistance from the Marshall’s service and the FBI. I am working on the coordination with them now.”

Jens smiles at the room and says, “Thanks all of you for standing beside us, it means more than you can ever imagine. Now does anyone have any questions for us?”

Gretchen raises her hand and asks, “In Samantha’s report, you said no one would be hurt and that you’re on some sort of mission from God. Could you be more specific?”

Jen replies...

I was sure Gretchen was going to ask this question so I was ready and answer, “Gretchen, without going into too many details I am certain about what I said - no one is going to be hurt...”

Ben interrupts, “ ... Other than some terrorists who we will send back to their hell.”

I continue, “Yes, Ben and I have been given a specific mission.”

Thom surprises me when he stands up and adds his two cents, “I believe in what Jennifer has said. They do have a specific mission.”

I will certainly need to query Thom about his support later because it really came out of nowhere.

Ben continues, “We will of course talk to the security staff that’s on duty individually and not to downplay this whole situation because it will be a war and there will be battles. We did discover that Samantha’s phone had been hacked and that’s how the terrorists knew we were back and were able to attack the front gate this morning.”

Gretchen stands up and says, “I would like to examine everyone’s phone to make sure that others haven’t been hacked. When you get them back be careful who you let borrow your phone.”

I suggest, “Gretchen, if it’s not too much trouble, let’s plan a weekly check of each phone.”

Gretchen agrees, “I like that idea even better.”

Ben brings up his phone issue again, “Gretchen, have you found a phone yet for me, Ira and Mira?”

Gretchen answers, “Not yet Ben, I’ve been too busy.”

Linus offers, “Gretchen, I could help take some of the load off you.”

I suggest, “Why don’t you two meet after this and hammer out the details.”

Liz asks, “Jens, are we still having PT in the morning?”

I reply, “Of course Liz, we’re not running or hiding from the terrorists.”

Gretchen adds, “ ... You will be accompanied by the drones.”

Ben gives further information, “ ... And the wolf patrol will be on duty. Gretchen please make sure you do not get the drones too close to the wolves as they don’t like it.”

Thom’s phone rings, he answers it and says, “Ira and Mira, there’s a courier with a diplomatic package from the Kazak embassy at the front gate.”

They walk over, whisper to Thom and leave...

Present – Mira and Ira – The courier

We temporarily hand off security for the Blaine’s to Thom because our courier has finally arrived. We stop by our rooms, pick up our PSG1s and traverse to the front gate. We verify the courier is in an official embassy vehicle, however I still approach it with caution while Ira provides cover.

I notice the van and terrorist vehicle which are pushed to the side and still aflame from the earlier attack. The big caterpillar vehicle is against the front gate as further reinforcement against intrusion. Thom has done exemplary work reinforcing the security.

I clamber over the gate, approach the vehicle and almost display mirth since the courier has his hands elevated in surrender. It is good to know that we still instill fear in our countrymen. I approach his door, he lowers his window and stutters, “I ... I ... I need a signature for this package.” And hands me a clipboard and pen.

I query, “Do you also need identification?”

He stutters again, “No ... No ... No ... Miss I know who you are.”

I hand him the clipboard, he hands me the package and raises the side window.

He rapidly departs our location as I walk back to Ira and grin, “My sister, he was terrified of us.”

Ira smiles and replies...

I tell my sister, “That is valuable information because I was concerned with our extreme absence from our home country they might have forgotten us.”

Mira says, “Should we need a sanctuary, I feel with what is in the diplomatic pouch, we could traverse to Kazakhstan.”

We traverse back to the tunnels and notate the meeting has terminated. We find Thom and query, “Thom, where are the Blaine’s?”

He said, “They are in the control room with Gretchen, Linus and Maria. What is in that diplomatic pouch?”

We suggest, “Follow us and occulate for yourself.”

We arrive in the control room where we notice that they are all in the cage of Faraday looking at Samantha’s phone. We approach the aforementioned cage and I request, “Mr. and Mrs. Blaine, might we have a few moments of your time.”

Ben replies, “Sure, no problem.”

They exit the cage of Faraday as we transverse to a table. I open the diplomatic pouch, reach inside and hand Mr. Blaine his new passport.

Thom remarks, “Hot damn that’s a diplomatic passport!”

Ben looks at it, opens it and displays mirth, “When did I become Valentin Sedankina?”

I hand Ms. Blaine her new passport, she opens it and also displays mirth, “So I’m Dasha Sedankina?”

Ben thinks for a moment and asks, “Wait, isn’t Sedankina your last name?”

I reply, “You are correct. By making you part of our family, the fear our name instills in our home country will extend to you thus providing valuable protection.”

Ms. Blaine asks, “But diplomatic passports, why did you do this?”

Mr. Blaine takes her hand and says, “Jens it’s all part of the plan.”

I am amazed and query, “Mr. Blaine, you had previous knowledge of the diplomatic passports?”

He replies, “Not specifically, but I knew we needed a way to travel into some places without attracting attention and now I understand how we will accomplish this.”

I retrieve a folder for each of them, transfer it to the Blaine’s hands and say, “This is your background information, please memorize it.”

Ms. Blaine opens hers and remarks, “It looks like I better brush up on my Russian.”

Mr. Blaine replies in perfect Russian, “У меня не будет проблем с этим. (I won’t have a problem with that).”

I respond, “Ваш русский отлично. (Your Russian is excellent).”

Ms. Blaine asks, “Ben, will you be my teacher?”

I offer, “Ms. Blaine I will gladly work with you on your Russian.”

She frowns and says, “I was hoping Ben would be my teacher and if I did an excellent job then I might get a reward.”

I grin and reply, “думаете ли вы мистер Блэйн потерял достаточно веса? (Don’t you think Mr. Blaine has lost enough weight)?”

Mr. Blaine displays mirth and Ms. Blaine asks, “Ben, what did she say?”

Mr. Blaine whispers in her ear, Ms. Blaine crimsons then give us an evil look and wonders, “Ben, do you think our bedroom in finished yet?”

She takes his hand and they leave the control room.

Thom also displays mirth and opines, “Those two are worse than rabbits. Now for those of us that don’t speak Russian, what did you say?”