Operation Ballerina,
Kalingrad City...
Theme
A Janpian Diplomat walks along the dimlit hallways of JURIC headquarters, moving away from Room No. 6 as he reads a file from a small folder. He is wearing a full black suit with the Janpian badge on his chest, a suitcase at his hand, and donning a black bowler hat on top. A neat red-white stripe tie neatly finished his attire, making him resemble a member of the Janpian Diplomatic Corps. The outfit neatly complemented him. Perhaps a bit too well, with his silence blending him into the spectrum.
His footsteps echoed across the corridors, and taking a brief pause just before the building's exit. He took a slight breath as he closed the folder and gazed toward the exit, where a black sedan with heavily tinted glass was waiting outside for him. Putting his folder back on his briefcase, he finally took a step into the door and was saluted by 2x Kalinka Guards on his flanks. The guards presented their rifles in a vertical position, then slammed their stocks down as he moved out of the building.
"What's the assignment?"
The driver asked as the Diplomat entered the car on the passenger side. Not giving a word, the Diplomat placed his suitcase underneath the compartment and brought out a small camera.
"There's a new directive from the top diplomat"
He hastily replied as he closely examined the camera lens. The top diplomat in question was the High Commissar of JURIC, who had recently initiated an Operation to root out any foreign agents operating in Janpia in order to protect the People's Marshal. Noting the recent events at the capital, the driver immediately understands their part in the directive.
"So who's the person and where's the meeting point?"
The driver asked, keeping up with their cover and trying to speak in a subliminal code. While he awaited the Diplomat to finish, he shook himself, set his gear stick, and floors the car forward. The Diplomat takes a final adjustment to his camera and shows him a picture of Rep. Lopez from his file.
"The top planners from the Janpian Diplomatic Corps have assigned a few diplomats to individually meet with the KTO representatives. I have been assigned to meet with the Gonswanzan representative."
He puts the picture back into the folder, faintly letting the driver see Lopez's official background papers before they were closed. As the driver focused on his driving, the diplomat continued
"Recent reports indicated that she's currently at a cafe not far from here, presumably taking a break. If our informants are correct, she should be near the Paliskaya Tower along the narrow streets."
The diplomat replied as he finished fixing his files and camera. As they reached the exit of Fort Kalinka, the driver halted the vehicle, allowing the Kalinka guards to quickly inspect the vehicle compartments. Typical in Janpian fashion, ID and documents were checked as part of their bureaucratic process, not taking any second thoughts to accomplish the longer procedures. While a guard confirmed their ID, a K9 unit circled their car, sniffing for any smuggled items and seeing if there was anything suspicious in their car. Once clear from their inspections, the driver sets his 1st gear and drives off towards the Revolution Avenue.
The ride was quick and rather uneventful, though it wasn't that long until they reached their destination. Seeing the cafe from a small distance, the driver parked their car right across the street, turned it off, exited his vehicle, and took a walk; leaving the diplomat alone inside. From the passenger side, the diplomat can watch over the cafe from a slight distance, raising his camera as he starts to observe Rep. Lopez talking with a random woman.
"Who could she possibly be?"
The diplomat said to himself as he tried to look closely at the figure, which he couldn't see given the weak line of sight. Nonetheless, he still had his camera zoomed in, ready to take a photo the moment her face became clear. Although he still took a few photos as evidence of their meet-up, even if Lopez's companion remained somewhat indistinct in the shots
"This should be enough"
He said to himself, just right in time as the two stood up and concluded their meeting. In panic, he prepared his camera and shot multiple yet vague pictures of her companion as a result. Lowering his camera, he reviewed the images on his gallery and then glanced back at the café, only to discover that both of them had vanished into thin air.
"wai-"
Just as he was about to look around, the driver arrived and entered right beside him. He wore his seatbelt while the Diplomat was still trying to grasp the situation.
"So have you gained knowledge from your diplomatic investigations?"
The driver stated in a subtle line, keeping up with the facade that they were trying to set up.
"Nay. But from our meeting, I assume that Lopez may have some specific interests. I've met with an informant or a friend of hers earlier... I just need a verification"
Although the photos are vague, the shots have at least captured some clear facial structure and features, which would be enough to be identified from the records, albeit in a less accurate manner. Given that they have lost their targets and that there's nothing they can do to track them, the driver ignited the engine and finally drove away from the scene.
Operation Ballerina,
JURIC Headquarters, Fort Kalinka, Kalingrad City...
Commissar Schikoute was looking over a slightly lit corkboard with the recent evidence from Operation Ballerina. Red strings ran along their course like a spider web, connecting every picture and piece of evidence they had gathered so far. Sticky notes were placed all over it, as well as a picture of an exploded car in the corner, a dead body at a Public Marshal station, a copy of a warning note, and Rep. Lopez's picture. All of which have their own red lines leading towards Natya and the KTO.
She gave a slight grin and placed an enhanced picture of Claudia from a recent mission, connecting it back to a picture of Lopez with a red fabric line. She takes a step back, pondering her mind knowing that someone is on to the Party leadership and perhaps the KTO in general. But the question remains: Who are those invovled, and what's their motive? Taking a closer inspection of Claudia, Don takes a smiling grin and looks at her aide
Commissar Don Schikoute: "Hmmph! Hast thou discovered the name of this fair maiden?"
Aide: "Sorry Commissar, but Room 6 has found no leads to her records. Despite the photo already enhanced by a specialist, its poor resolution still hampered any meaningful record checks. Anyway, there may be a few possible people that looked similar on the records, but none of them are of significance. That is probably the best that we could conclude."
Commissar Don Schikoute: "Heh. In that caseth, the lady hath high odds of being a Gonswanzan intelligence informer!"
Before her aide could reply, she glided back, assuming a knightly posture with both hands behind her. Although her distance was rather uncomfortable for her aide
Commissar Don Schikoute: "But alas, we can't hastily leap to conclusions. Carry forth the investigation into the KTO representatives yes? Pay special attention to Rep. Lopez next time!"
The Commissar said in a whispering manner. The aide takes a simple nod in agreement, which was answered with a simple smile from the Commissar. She takes a step back away from him, letting her aide go and do his business. As the aide scuttled to leave, Commissar Don took a closer look at the red lines along the corkboard and finally had an idea to fight back.
Commissar Don Schikoute: "Perchance we could also exhibit some teeth against our adversaries."
The Commissar said to herself in a toned voice, before shouting to her aide who was already at her door.
Commissar Don Schikoute: "Ayyy! Come back hither! I did not beseech thee to depart, thou silly scoundrel!"
Getting her aide's attention, she quickly pulled down a simple whiteboard and covered the corkboard, much to her aide's amusement. Getting a marker from her pockets, the Commissar wrote OPERATION BALLERINA on top.
Commissar Don Schikoute: "To extricate foreign elements, we must construct a canary trap to allure and snare them as though they were fish in a net!"
She proudly stated, drawing a chibi version of Natya on the whiteboard and a symbol of Fort Almapia. Her aide simply watched in curiousity, though he just wished the entire thing to be over so that he could get away from her.
Commissar Don Schikoute: "In the weeks forthcoming, Janpia shall mark the joyous occasion of the 100 Days Festival at Fort Almapia! Naturally, the People's Marshal will grace and lead the event."
From her Natya chibi, she draws a dotted line towards Fort Almapia and gives it a hard pointed smack as soon as she connects it. Holding the marker with her two hands, she continues, much to the concern of her aide.
Commissar Don Schikoute: "In these festivities, we may seize the opportunity to entice foreign agents away from the People's Marshal, and apprehend them at the corner for espionage! However, as we can only detain someone for 48 hours without evidence, we must ensure they bear some proof to expedite matters for the judicial authorities!"
The Commissar draws four angry-looking figures on the board, giving them some rather childish style with black shades over their eyes. Her aide put his hands around his collar and stretched it with uncertainty as she finished drawing it
Commissar Don Schikoute: "Now, these feigned ones would seek proximity to the PM's precise whereabouts, perchance for their cunning intelligence-gathering. But who knows? She is among the marked targets! Our quest is to unearth any covert conspirators in her vicinity!"
She flauntingly said as she drew a paper and wrote a word "secret" inside it
Commissar Don Schikoute: "Harken, forsooth! In the present, verily, the most proximate to the People's Marshal are the Kalinka Guards Unit, or yond members of the Janpian Diplomatic Corps. We must send forth a counterfactual threat to the Marshal with diverse versions of the particulars to those involved!"
She then draws a line from the paper and pointed it towards the 4 angry figures, followed by a line that all leads them to Fort Almapia. Her aide was looking at his watch, though his interest was taken by the Commissar's rather childish drawings.
Commissar Don Schikoute: "Now. Verily, we shall dispatch classified information proclaiming that a treacherous assassin aims to strike down the People's Marshal from diverse vantage points while she was away from Public eyes. A twist, though, lies in these tidings! The fake marksman's location shall differ for each member of the Janpian Diplomatic Corps and the Kalinka Guards Unit, with each unit assigned to various positions for discreet scrutiny. Of course, this would be secret per EVERY squad or unit, giving them an individual guarding place! No one must open their mouth, since that would be similar to causing a public disorientation of safety! Not to mention, everyone is trained that orders are absolute!"
Her aide simply shrugged as he tried to understand what the commissar was saying, being silent as he tried to connect what was currently drawn on the whiteboard. Finally getting her aide's attention, the Commissar takes a light step and continues.
Commissar Don Schikoute: "ANYWHO! We shall ensure that all sentinels guarding the supposed marksman spots have an acquaintance amongst themselves. Of course, any external spies would try to get close to the People's Marshal or the assassin for whatever reason, which could be spotted by the guards. Verily, the assassin would be described wearing a uniform of the Kalinka Unit or the Janpian Diplomatic Corps, but who knows? We must ensure that everyone be similar as the supposed marksman, and look for anyone suspicious that doesn't quite acquaint with their comrades! Mayhaps we could uncover any dubious individuals within our ranks as well!"
Finally catching a glimpse of her plans, the Commissar stomped her feet, which quickly pulled him out of a trance. His skin shuddered as he noticed her standing at his back and away from the whiteboard. Finally taking notice, the Commissar gleefully smiled as he took a step forward.
Commissar Don Schikoute: "This stratagem is indeed without folly, thou foolish one! If the divine dieties grant us favor, we may also obtain specific tidings from unauthorized foreign channels, tracing the infiltrators back to their roots!"
Aide: "W-wait how come you got there from-"
The Commissar continued to walk past her aide and towards the whiteboard, taking a look back at him with a grinful yet innocent smile
Commissar Don Schikoute: "Verily, thou did not perceived? Hehe! Thou you are quite simple to comprehend and control! Those with feeble mental constitutions can readily be entranced. In your case, I was able to draw thy focus, only to release thee with a stomp of my feet!"
His aide remained tight-lipped as the Commissar opened her marker once more to finish up her plans.
Commissar Don Schikoute: "Now, if we did find anyone not belonging to their comrade's acquaintance or who was found to be suspicious amongst their surroundings, the guards could take action against them under the pretext of being a fake assassin!"
She quickly tries to remove the 4 guys from the whiteboard, only to realize that she was using a permanent marker all along.
Commissar Don Schikoute: "Untouchable stains they are! Verily, thou have understood what I have said you silly folly?"
She looks at her aide who is all focused on her. He gives a simple nod, and perhaps that's the only answer the Commissar would need.
