David Rusikovic,
Republic Intelligence Agency Headquarters,
Thessalona,
Salonika,
Belfras.
24 May 1974
It was safe to say that this morning was not going according to plan for David Rusikovic. It was a statement that rang true for most of his adult life, and as the thirty-three year old sat in the waiting lobby of the Republic Intelligence Agency, simply called Raya and referred to in the feminine form, he couldn't help but feel out of sorts. He subconsciously thumbed at the double windsor knot he had tied before leaving his fifth-floor, single-bedroom apartment that morning. The weather had been biting in the capital city of the Republic, so the khaki cotton trench-coat he had folded in his lap came in rather useful. He hadn't the time to fully process how off the rails his day would be going by the time the secretary - A rather cute little brunette by the name of 'Matilda' came to escort him to an elevator.
"Busy morning?" David tried to make conversation, hoping to meet his blue eyes to her brown, but she didn't spare him nary a glance. He didn't take it as an insult, but the lack of any conversation kept him from suppressing the nerves threatening to bubble over. At the elevator was a man in a black striped suit. He had to have been in his fifties at the least, rugged features that had born the brunt of a life well lived and dark eyes almost hidden behind a pair of spectacles. He had plenty of black hair on his head, but you could see the small patterns of baldness starting to show. When he spoke to David, it came out as a rather gruff voice that told a story of smoking all on it's own. "Mister Rusikovic, pleasure to meet you." A hand was offered and taken by David, who gave it a short shake before answering "Likewise. May I ask what's going on?". The query was met with an almost silent answer as he was ushered into the elevator and down a fair few floors.
The floor David and this suit arrived at wasn't on the options board presented, the man had to insert a key and keep it held to get it passed the basement level David hadn't even realised existed in the building. It was sparsely populated, but he didn't get to see many of the people on the floor as he was quickly led into a small office. The suit closed the door behind David and pointed at a chair. David kept standing for a few moments, looking at the suit for some kind of explanation. Finally the man began talking, but even then he laid it on fast and without any kind of brakes being applied. "Mister Rusikovic. We're putting together an operation that will be dangerous. You'll be away from home for a long time, perhaps years. If you're captured by the enemy, you'll be swiftly disavowed. If you succeed, you'll make a career for yourself as a star agent in Raya and would have almost single-handedly have advanced the Republic's agenda in Belisaria." The suit pointed at the chair again. "But until that form is signed, theirs nothing else to discuss."
David could only work to control his heart-rate as he looked at the official secrets act in front of him as he sat down. He had signed a fair few, but they were limited to chapter three information. Stuff that talking about would get you twenty to fifty years in prison. He was staring down a chapter five act, which pretty much gave the government permission to kill you even if they can't directly prosecute you for leaking the information. It was pretty straightforward and had a few little leads on the paperwork. He knew enough to know classification article numbers along with chapters, so seeing article 1.4(c) he knew it meant, in layman, 'spy stuff'. The (d) heading was materials which affect other nations governments, which again was pretty normal. Overall this instance of the act he was having to sign only had two parts jumping out at him; Giving a national body permission to kill him if he breathes a word about it, even under torture, and the heading 1.4(h), which was in regards to the development, production, testing and distribution of weapons of mass destruction. What kind, he had no idea. But as he signed his name and dated it, he knew he'd find out pretty soon.
"Very good." The suit who presented him the paper commented, taking the signed act and giving it a once-over to make sure it was actually signed. David only noticed the holstered weapon on the man at that point, but didn't think much of it as he was guided out of the small, confined room and down a strikingly pale hallway. Aside from sparsely placed overhanging lights the hallway was surprisingly devoid of objects. Some dust had gathered on an elbow-height bookcase next to a door they passed, a view port in the door was covered up by duct-taped cardboard and he swore he could've heard raised voices within.
"So. Mister Rusikovic. How's your Srpskan?" The suit spoke up after they reached their destination, pushing open a door similar to that they passed earlier but without any obstruction to the viewing glass. Inside matched the hallway in how white the tiles were, but was at the very least lit to levels in which he could see the table, a projector and screen along with a few individuals similarly dressed to the man who had led him on this impromptu tour. David coughed after a moment, remembering he had been asked a question. "Fluent, sir. Touch of a Majevican accent after my father." The answer was either not entirely needed or was merely confirming what they knew as nobody really looked like they cared. David had enough experience dealing with what his father oft-times called 'scary people' to keep his mouth shut instead of running it as was his tendency in his youth. When the man who had been escorting him gestured him to a chair, he wasted no time in planting his ass into that chair.
"Your Srpskan will be getting a decent running soon enough." The man finally spoke before gesturing to the men already in the room, who began working on the projector. Whilst in decades you could simply click on stuff to get it to work, they had to work with instruments that either actively fought the operator or simply refused to cooperate. "My name is Mother Goose. I believe you're aware of the black book our little agency has begun operating?" Mother Goose waited long enough to let David nod before continuing with a firm, sharp nod of his own. "Good! Good. Now, and I'll repeat your form quickly; This is all highly classified and we'll kill you if you tell anyone this without permission. So-" Mother Goose carried on rambling about the 'black book' project that had been operating for the last ten years. Thankfully it came thick and fast, so David couldn't hang onto the fact that this man just breezed over the possibility of David being executed like someone would breeze over their car having a 'stutter' when starting in the morning. Just as Mother Goose began to veer off of the Black Book and to the reason they were there David managed to bring his train of thought to a close.
Mother Goose had now turned to the projector screen, which had a few Estoni documents on the screen already. "So, Mister Rusikovic. Given you signed the secrets act, consider this the water being tested before you actually say yes to the mission. This man-" Goose paused to point at the man shown in the images "- Is a deceased Estonian by the name of Vladmir Grekovic. Thirty three years of age, lives alone, and is native to Majevica." Another pause followed, which David took to absorb the likeness of the man in the photo was to him, and already took a leap ahead to where he knew the man was going with this. "We want you to assume his identity but with the Raya codename 'Skate'. You'll fly to Estoni under an Eesti passport and meet with agents of the Ministry of State Security. You'll then meet with their people alongside a negotiator who will enter the country separately and meet up with you after arrival. Further information is only if you accept this mission."
"Honestly?" David spoke after a few moments. "I don't think I could live with myself if I said no. Consider me your man." A smile was all that David got for his accepting of this mission. Goose began talking after a few moments, letting the person at the projector change the slide to show a tri-mounted surface-to-air missile system David couldn't remember the name of. "Excellent. First we'll discuss the details of this meeting you'll do over a coffee, then we'll talk about how you'll meet up with code-name Stingray." It was roughly at this moment that David remembered that by this time - just after half nine in the morning, he was meant to be getting a head start in traffic out of the city to meet up with a possible future employer outside of the agency. Funny world, he thought.
"Busy morning?" David tried to make conversation, hoping to meet his blue eyes to her brown, but she didn't spare him nary a glance. He didn't take it as an insult, but the lack of any conversation kept him from suppressing the nerves threatening to bubble over. At the elevator was a man in a black striped suit. He had to have been in his fifties at the least, rugged features that had born the brunt of a life well lived and dark eyes almost hidden behind a pair of spectacles. He had plenty of black hair on his head, but you could see the small patterns of baldness starting to show. When he spoke to David, it came out as a rather gruff voice that told a story of smoking all on it's own. "Mister Rusikovic, pleasure to meet you." A hand was offered and taken by David, who gave it a short shake before answering "Likewise. May I ask what's going on?". The query was met with an almost silent answer as he was ushered into the elevator and down a fair few floors.
The floor David and this suit arrived at wasn't on the options board presented, the man had to insert a key and keep it held to get it passed the basement level David hadn't even realised existed in the building. It was sparsely populated, but he didn't get to see many of the people on the floor as he was quickly led into a small office. The suit closed the door behind David and pointed at a chair. David kept standing for a few moments, looking at the suit for some kind of explanation. Finally the man began talking, but even then he laid it on fast and without any kind of brakes being applied. "Mister Rusikovic. We're putting together an operation that will be dangerous. You'll be away from home for a long time, perhaps years. If you're captured by the enemy, you'll be swiftly disavowed. If you succeed, you'll make a career for yourself as a star agent in Raya and would have almost single-handedly have advanced the Republic's agenda in Belisaria." The suit pointed at the chair again. "But until that form is signed, theirs nothing else to discuss."
David could only work to control his heart-rate as he looked at the official secrets act in front of him as he sat down. He had signed a fair few, but they were limited to chapter three information. Stuff that talking about would get you twenty to fifty years in prison. He was staring down a chapter five act, which pretty much gave the government permission to kill you even if they can't directly prosecute you for leaking the information. It was pretty straightforward and had a few little leads on the paperwork. He knew enough to know classification article numbers along with chapters, so seeing article 1.4(c) he knew it meant, in layman, 'spy stuff'. The (d) heading was materials which affect other nations governments, which again was pretty normal. Overall this instance of the act he was having to sign only had two parts jumping out at him; Giving a national body permission to kill him if he breathes a word about it, even under torture, and the heading 1.4(h), which was in regards to the development, production, testing and distribution of weapons of mass destruction. What kind, he had no idea. But as he signed his name and dated it, he knew he'd find out pretty soon.
"Very good." The suit who presented him the paper commented, taking the signed act and giving it a once-over to make sure it was actually signed. David only noticed the holstered weapon on the man at that point, but didn't think much of it as he was guided out of the small, confined room and down a strikingly pale hallway. Aside from sparsely placed overhanging lights the hallway was surprisingly devoid of objects. Some dust had gathered on an elbow-height bookcase next to a door they passed, a view port in the door was covered up by duct-taped cardboard and he swore he could've heard raised voices within.
"So. Mister Rusikovic. How's your Srpskan?" The suit spoke up after they reached their destination, pushing open a door similar to that they passed earlier but without any obstruction to the viewing glass. Inside matched the hallway in how white the tiles were, but was at the very least lit to levels in which he could see the table, a projector and screen along with a few individuals similarly dressed to the man who had led him on this impromptu tour. David coughed after a moment, remembering he had been asked a question. "Fluent, sir. Touch of a Majevican accent after my father." The answer was either not entirely needed or was merely confirming what they knew as nobody really looked like they cared. David had enough experience dealing with what his father oft-times called 'scary people' to keep his mouth shut instead of running it as was his tendency in his youth. When the man who had been escorting him gestured him to a chair, he wasted no time in planting his ass into that chair.
"Your Srpskan will be getting a decent running soon enough." The man finally spoke before gesturing to the men already in the room, who began working on the projector. Whilst in decades you could simply click on stuff to get it to work, they had to work with instruments that either actively fought the operator or simply refused to cooperate. "My name is Mother Goose. I believe you're aware of the black book our little agency has begun operating?" Mother Goose waited long enough to let David nod before continuing with a firm, sharp nod of his own. "Good! Good. Now, and I'll repeat your form quickly; This is all highly classified and we'll kill you if you tell anyone this without permission. So-" Mother Goose carried on rambling about the 'black book' project that had been operating for the last ten years. Thankfully it came thick and fast, so David couldn't hang onto the fact that this man just breezed over the possibility of David being executed like someone would breeze over their car having a 'stutter' when starting in the morning. Just as Mother Goose began to veer off of the Black Book and to the reason they were there David managed to bring his train of thought to a close.
Mother Goose had now turned to the projector screen, which had a few Estoni documents on the screen already. "So, Mister Rusikovic. Given you signed the secrets act, consider this the water being tested before you actually say yes to the mission. This man-" Goose paused to point at the man shown in the images "- Is a deceased Estonian by the name of Vladmir Grekovic. Thirty three years of age, lives alone, and is native to Majevica." Another pause followed, which David took to absorb the likeness of the man in the photo was to him, and already took a leap ahead to where he knew the man was going with this. "We want you to assume his identity but with the Raya codename 'Skate'. You'll fly to Estoni under an Eesti passport and meet with agents of the Ministry of State Security. You'll then meet with their people alongside a negotiator who will enter the country separately and meet up with you after arrival. Further information is only if you accept this mission."
"Honestly?" David spoke after a few moments. "I don't think I could live with myself if I said no. Consider me your man." A smile was all that David got for his accepting of this mission. Goose began talking after a few moments, letting the person at the projector change the slide to show a tri-mounted surface-to-air missile system David couldn't remember the name of. "Excellent. First we'll discuss the details of this meeting you'll do over a coffee, then we'll talk about how you'll meet up with code-name Stingray." It was roughly at this moment that David remembered that by this time - just after half nine in the morning, he was meant to be getting a head start in traffic out of the city to meet up with a possible future employer outside of the agency. Funny world, he thought.