Secure Conference Room
TSO HQ
Roma, Roman Federation of StatesThe rest of the seated individuals and those filtering into the conference room knew that something big had to be up if Jean-Pierre Trumont, the top Assistant Director of the BGSE, had been sent from Paritte. Trumont had a very concentrated, almost steely face on today. He barely looked at his colleague, Hien Lanh Chamkon, who was the regular BGSE liaison to the TSO, although as she leaned in towards him to mumble something only for his ears, he remained calm as he nodded in acknowledgement. They knew that also because an emergency session had been called by Trumont and Chamkon.
Further down the table sat Pietro Lindauer, the NESA liaison. He didn’t seem as serious and had likely not been briefed ahead of time on the serious topic. He sipped at tea in a chrome mug as he waved greetings to his entering contemporaries.
Dominico Saluretto, however, the lead liaison of the Pertempto Circlus (PC), the RFS’ main external intelligence agency, seemed none too happy as well, staring sullenly at some notes in front of him and not looking up as new personnel entered. He fidgeted with a silver pen, the only sign of his anxiousness.
The contingency from the Glorious Dominion of Saescia entered solemnly, a grim look etched on the stony features of the delegation members’ faces. Marika Carson, the Saescian Minister Plenipotentiary to the TSO was walking in lockstep with John Cornett, the Director of the National Intelligence Syndicate [NIS] for the Saescian Dominion. Cornett’s neatly pressed suit and vest ensemble looked like something out of the 1950s with the pocket watch dangling from the gold chain affixed to his vest, but there was nothing outmoded about the way he carried himself. The pair and their staffers quietly made their way to their station in the conference room, appraised only of the seriousness of cause that would necessitate such a gathering of bigwigs for the Teremaran Security Organization.
Sitting disinterestedly at the far end of the table was the devilishly attractive Lucrezia d’Aranda-Godoy, an Epsicutan noblewoman of some renown. D’Aranda-Godoy’s many assets included the minor counties of Arandara and Godosten, a pair of smouldering grey eyes and high cheekbones, and (most importantly) the position of Deputy Director of the RDI - Espicuta’s intelligence department. Her presence in Roma had not been exactly welcomed, she was not Espicuta’s usual liaison, but she had nonetheless been tolerated and Queen Maria’s government was particularly concerned with the matter of intelligence at the time.
Next to Madame d’Aranda-Godoy sat Magnús Dajnuski, the GSB (Glisandian Security Bureau)’s representative to the TSO intelligence committee. While his nation had come later to the game, never being in the WMTA, and joining the TSO only as the coalition geared up to beat back the YSR from their invasion of his nation and Jumnia, the Glisandians had taken the last 9 years to really integrate with their TSO counterparts and jump wholeheartedly into every endeavor that the TSO had been a part of since. Like some at the table, he had no idea what was up for discussion today, only that it was rather important and an emergency session had been called, with some higher up intelligence figures coming out from TSO nations just for this.
Seated next to Magnús Dajnuski, was Viktor Raégerr, the Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS), hailing from the Republic of Jumnia, Intelligence Liaison for the TSO Intelligence committee. When granted the opportunity to do so, he always ensured that he took the seat next to Magnús, as he had always felt a strong connection to the man - both as a respected friend, and due to the fact that their home nations were neighbors - and fellow victims of the, still fresh in the nation's minds, violence, suffered at the hands of the YSR during their invasion, nine years prior. In contrast to their neighbors, Jumnia formed part of the original founding of the TSO, but not its predecessor. Viktor was quite annoyed this morning as he observed the large amount of big players arriving for the meeting, making it clear that something very serious went down recently - and a lot of people were informed - yet the Jumnians were left in the dark once more. Viktor had felt that ever since the war, the alliance did not take Jumnia serious anymore, but rather as a little brother who needed to be saved from the local bullies. He hid his annoyance for now as he took a deep sip of his coffee, whilst passing a prepared mug to Magnús.
Magnús took it, smiling thankfully to his friend Viktor.
Representatives from Greater Orcadia's Intel were also in attendance, but they hardly ever spoke.
One of the last around the table to seat themselves was Ioanna Romina Cocescu, the Intelligence liaison from Taranima’s Ministry of State Security. As always, she kept to herself, and very quiet. None of her colleagues expected much out of her, even were this matter to directly concern Taranima. She never had much to say out loud, but she had been known to distribute very
pointed memos.
Trumont muttered one last thing to Chamkon, who nodded, confirming his question that everyone had arrived.
“Alright, let’s get started. Some of you don’t know me as I’m not a regular attendee to these intel briefs, but I am Jean-Pierre Trumont, Chief Assistant Director of the BGSE.” He paused to scan around the table.
“By no means am I trying to insist that we’re in charge here and I should run the meeting, as I know what is thought of Gaul in, eh…some circles, but simply our agency was the one reported to, and we did most of the investigation due to that, so I’d like to inform you all. Some of you are not aware of the matter, but not because we wanted to keep you out of the dark for any malicious reason, but because most of the events didn’t concern your nation until today, when we were ready to present all the facts as found, so far.
You may realize that one of our significant regulars are missing from the meeting. Estaban Gomez, from San Rosito’s OIR. They were not invited, and in a moment you will see why. Ms. Chamkon, proceed.”
The young Asian woman was a native of Dae Chong, and by right of Dachinos citizen status being equal to Gaulic citizenship, had taken every opportunity to work herself up from her humble origins into the higher echelons of the BGSE. Now, she felt Gaulic Big Brother breathing down her neck as she took responsibility for this recent fiasco. It could certainly be a big step back in her career.
“Yesterday, we were informed by one of the personnel from the Wishtonia desk that they found this…” She hit a button on a remote and a screen that had been blank on the wall behind Trumont lit up. On the first slide was a picture of a smallish black thumb drive.
“Plugged into one of their server terminals. This,ladies and gentlemen, is
not an approved device for the TSO Headquarters and certainly not for our intel analysis division. No one in the ‘Vault’ admits to installing this in the server. We tend to believe them, but we will be going back over records both camera and cyber to match up the logs to any possible previous suspicious activity.”
Lindauer interrupted.
“Any idea how long it was in there?”
Hien nodded.
“Some idea, yes. Those of you who regularly work in the building may know that we had a fire alarm yesterday. We believe it happened during then, when most personnel were out of the building and security was tracking down the alarm source. Whoever it was, they were rushed to be done before the ‘all clear’ was sounded. They also may have used more than one of these devices. Our IT people are confirming that now as they try to trace the cyber trails.”
Lindauer blew a raspberry from his lips.
“Sloppy.”
Trumont took over. He nodded to Chamkon to change the slide.
“That leads us to who. One man, Captain Elizondo Villareal, a military intel liaison attached to the OIR here and reporting to Gomez.”
Eli’s ID picture was up for all to see. A fairly normal looking, young San Rositan without any real outlying features such as a neck tattoo or scar.
“He was spotted near the Vault around the event by more than one service person. However, miraculously, no footage exists of him entering, being in there, or leaving the Vault.”
He looked over at Dominico Saluretto from the PC.
Saluretto let out a big sigh.
“The man in the camera room that surveils that area was one of ours. An NCO by the name of Gerlachus. He reports to my juniors. We have him isolated and under serious questioning right now. We know he knows Villareal and has spent time outside of the facility with him. We have no clear trail that he was part of the plan…”
Saluretto was obviously highly embarrassed.
Chamkon finished for him.
“But it’s much too coincidental to dismiss that he was in on it. We suspect we’ll find a fat deposit in his bank account once we force the bank to disclose records. As it’s a matter of national and regional security, that should be happening within the next couple hours.”
Dajnuski interjected.
“Where is this Captain Villareal?”
Chamkon looked down.
“In the wind. He beat us to the airport by a couple hours. By the time we were on to him, he had a flight booked and was already on it, flying East.”
Saluretto looked puzzled as he asked.
“You couldn’t force the flight to turn back around?”
Chamkon didn’t turn towards the Roman as she answered.
“No, not without alerting the non-TSO nations the plane was currently flying over to a security matter. We’re trying to contain this.”
Dajnuski nodded.
“Of course. At least he knew he fucked up by that point. The OIR obviously did not go to any great length to train this man. So, I have to ask the obvious question…Why?”
Trumont responded,
“Quite. We believe he would not have fled had he not realized he misplaced and left behind the drive. And…” He held up his phone that was angrily buzzing. “Fingerprints came back. It’s Villareal’s.”
All TSO personnel working in the Headquarters had to submit to fingerprinting and DNA checks.
Saluretto added,
“No shock there.”
Trumont continued.
“Anyway, over the years, San Rosito has made a ridiculous claim that Kenega belongs to them, by virtue of being the successors of the Espicutan legacy of early settlers that set up port on one side of the Island. It’s silly, like something out of a Peter Sellers movie, and I don’t know if I’m explaining it well, but maybe Madame d’Aranda-Godoy could elaborate better…?”
He looked at the Espicutan woman, then at his subordinate, Chamkon, wondering why this had never been covered before among this group. Not that the responsibility would have fallen to her, necessarily…
Lucrezia cleared her throat with a little, high-pitched “ahem.” She smiled sweetly at Trumont and assured him, “You were doing fine!” But with all eyes on her, the Countess d’Aranda-Godoy could hardly let down her audience. “Kenega was first settled by Espicutan merchants in the sixteenth-century, at a place they called Terelenco. It was a thriving little market colony but the colonists made no claim to the whole island, that was done by the Gauls after they seized it.” She spoke, explaining the situation as concisely as she could. “San Rosito’s claim is based on the ludicrous idea that they are somehow descended from the families that settled Terelenco. We have asked them several times to leave it well alone, it’s bad for our PR too! But they never listen.” She straightened herself in her chair proudly, “it’s insulting. My ancestor, Ferdinand de Godoy - the second Count - was one of the first colonists and they
dare to claim his legacy!”
Trumont nodded.
“Thank you, Lady d’Aranda-Godoy. Very well put. So, as preposterous as it is,…San Rosito claims Kenega, and while we thought they were focused on Gran Ventana, they have obviously not let this go to just mere claims. Everything in that Vault is what the TSO has on the islands in Wishtonia. Some of Gran Ventana's outlying islands lie near the Yarok Line. So, yes, there’s a reason we have had that area off limits to San Rositan personnel over the last couple years, as well as locking them out of that section of the network.”
Lindauer spoke,
“They have been a very erratic alliance partner, as of late. They don’t seem to realize how their actions affect the rest of us. Attacking Gran Ventana, even if they do have a sordid history with each other, without even a notion of heeding our cautions… And now besmirching the honor of others…” He motioned to Lady d’Aranda-Godoy. “It’s as if we were a mere convenience for a time for them. I have to think that if we can prove this, it should be the final nail in the coffin. They need to be ejected from the TSO.”
Trumont let out a big sigh.
“I don’t disagree with you, Pietro, but that is not for us to decide. We can only make recommendations and let the evidence speak for itself when brought up to the main chambers of the TSO delegations when they meet, which will probably be soon in order to discuss in closed session what you have said, among other recent issues that are plaguing the alliance.
Our purpose today is to inform you all of these events, and let you know we will keep you all in the loop from here on out on any new developments, and to decide how to proceed with Mr. Gomez, as well as San Rositan military intelligence and OIR personnel, from here on out. We cannot decide to sanction all of the San Rositan delegation from this room, only Gomez and his people.”
Dajnuski spoke up.
“Well, I can only speak for the GSB, but should all the evidence pan out, and we do prove these accusations, I think I can speak for my organization in saying we are for
not having the San Rositans attend any more intel briefs or conferences, or get any more access to information. They can sit in their offices and be officially useless, as much as they have been practically useless to the rest of us for the last few years.”
Trumont replied.
“Noted. The other issue at hand, before we go around and get input from everybody, is do we inform the government of Vionna-Frankenlisch that this breach occurred? Do they have a right to know our internal issues? Much as it might seem the right thing to do, I don’t know that letting them know of our lax security will be beneficial to us.”
Viktor Raégerr used the following brief moment of silence to interject, "Informing the government of Vionna-Frankenlisch would be a grave mistake, and that is being figuratively liberal. Should we inform them, they will be more than just a little displeased, to say the least. What is to stop their government to lash out at our incompetence at their expense in a public forum? Let us all be realistic for a fraction of a moment, and agree to accept reality, the reality that our alliance is at the weakest zenith since its inception. We have reached a stage where our member states bicker, scheme and skirmish openly against one another, without any concrete plan on squashing dissent. I can assure you that our enemies know this. They have smelled blood in the water… Do we dare to hand them more motivation to think us weak? I for one cannot in good conscience risk the safety of my people or the region, especially for an action which poses zero benefit."
Pietro Lindauer wasn’t so sure that the TSO nations faced any serious threat from anyone in Teremara, and certainly not MALET, as Falkasia still hadn’t made overt military moves towards anyone for many years at least, and the YSR still hadn’t been able to fully rebuild their military after the Northern Tavlyrian War. Gragastavia simply wasn’t capable either, ever. The biggest threat from their biggest rivals in MALET wasn’t militarily, but rather HUMINT operations by Falkasia’s FSIS and the endless cyber attack operations from the YSR’s SIGINT divisions. He could understand, though, how Glisandia and Jumnia were constantly anxious about their neutral to outright hostile neighbors, and had more at stake than Neu Engollon, Gaul, or Espicuta. He would just leave those points alone for another time during one of their constant discussions assessing the MALET threat. He could definitely agree on the other point, however,
“I have to agree with Mr. Raégerr here. We don’t really have any proof yet of anything actually happening of note, other than a general breach. We don’t need to announce to anyone outside the TSO that we made a colossal blunder in keeping our information secure. Correct me if I’m wrong, Assistant Director Trumont and Ms. Chamkon, but there isn’t actually any proof that Vionna-Frankenlisch was specifically targeted in this breach?”
It was actually Saluretto that answered him, somewhat recovered from the shame of not vetting one of his own carefully enough to have avoided enabling the breach.
“That’s correct. We don’t have any concrete proof that Vionna-Frankenlisch’s assets on Kenega, or Owaya, were specifically targeted. We assume some photographing of documents also took place, but without the film in hand, this is all just speculation.”
Lindauer replied,
“Also, let’s not forget that there is the fact that we actually
have this extensive documentation on Vionna-Frankenlischian assets in Wishtonia. If we tell them that, aren’t we admitting to the Empire, our friend and economic partner, that we are, um…keeping tabs on them?”
Trumont spoke to a question no one had really answered.
“We have to look at this from a logical standpoint, and also, the bigger picture. Wishtonia is in essence, the southern flank of Teremara, is it not? That was rhetorical…Yes, it is. So, we have to know the full picture there. Obviously, a nation like
the Cardwith Islands, or say,
Hanasaku, that are Marxist and have vowed to subvert democratic, capitalist nations like many of ours, have to be tracked and considered hostile. By the same token, we need to know what friendly assets we have down there, whether they be TSO, like on Dachine or Hutanjian, Jaraguptan, or Vionna-Frankenlischian, and so on. Otherwise, we have gaps in the picture. Black holes of no information. We could just accept what is given to us, but we need to assess everything as it pertains to TSO security. Sorry if I’m sounding a bit pedantic, but I want to lay this out there for everyone. I think we’re on the same page.” Jean-Pierre looked around at the various reactions he was getting from the other intel heads and liaisons.
“In answer to the question of what information was stolen, I think Ms. Chamkon answered. We just don’t know. They had access to the whole mess, if for a brief time. Grab all of it? Some of it? The assumption is that it was focused on Vionna-Frankenlischian assets, considering the perpetrator, Captain Villareal, but...if I were in the San Rositans’ shoes, I would think that they know if they are planning some bold move, they risk not just stirring the Vionna-Frankenlischians, but surrounding neighbors. So they might latch onto data of Gaulic assets in Dachine and Jaragupta, or anywhere else in Wishtonia, just to be sure to know who might act to thwart them. Am I wrong?”
Hien Lamh Chankon added,
“I may need to discuss with individual intel chiefs afterwards about details. Not to keep it private, but it’s some mundane statistics that will bog down the meeting and I will probably have to compile a report.”
That and they would need to review how much actually of that they were going to share. Even most Gaulic personnel assigned to TSO HQ were out of the loop on need to know info on Gaul operations and assets in Wishtonia.
Lady d’Aranda-Godoy leant forward and cleared her throat. She glanced from face to face unhappily. “Whether or not,” she spoke, “we can be certain about where San Rosito have their sights set. Surely the only honourable course of action is to warn Frankenlisch. San Rosito have pushed their ridiculous claim on Kenega for years, diplomatically - if they now intend to push that claim by other means and Frankenlisch discovers that we did not tell them this information, we will lose a valued friend and trading partner perhaps forever.” She shook her head. “They are a pragmatic people, I’m sure they have dossiers on all of us. They will understand, so long as we warn them now. Even if it turns out to be nothing.”
Lindauer interjected.
“Hell, by that same token, we should have to warn everybody who’s not already being informed in this room. The Hutanjians, Xiahuans, Jaraguptans, hell, even the Falkasians, because they have bases in the Cardwiths…Wouldn’t want them caught unaware of San Rositan snooping.”
Trumont put his figurative foot down, by actually slamming his hand down on the table.
“We are
not doing that.”
Dajnuski, the GSB rep, spoke up once again.
“I brought up a point earlier that I’d like to expand upon. The OIR did not seem to have used their best operative with Villareal. Like he was rushed into service. Perhaps, also, he was used to gain info on Gran Ventana from whatever we have gathered here.”
Lindauer grunted.
“If he was that sloppy, wouldn’t we have caught him before, during his sneak of Ventanan info?”
Dajnuski waved a palm outward.
“Perhaps, but we didn’t, and…as we know, even with the best trained field officers, simple but consequential fuck ups happen. That’s just reality. There’s a lot of balls in the air being juggled and some get dropped. Some thumb drives get left in servers. My other thought is, since he seemed to be rushed… Perhaps the timetable is soon for acting on this intelligence. Whether it's Kenega, Owaya, or they’re going to sweep all of Wishtonia…”
There were chuckles around the table.
Trumont spoke it out loud.
“San Rosito has built up a lot in the last few years, for sure I will give them that, but enough to take on everyone and sweep all of Wishtonia?! I don’t think they’d even be a match for Hutanjia, let alone us, Hutanjia, Vionna-Frankenlisch, and the rest. But…for one target.”
Dajnuski struggled to continue.
“Yes, Assistant Director Trumont. For one target! For one island, or group of islands, they must have set their sights on to be so audacious. I don’t propose we tell
every effected nation, but that one…”
Trumont looked at the Glisandian, and then over to Lady d’Aranda-Godoy.
“Look, I get the sentiment. I really do. But there are a lot of factors that say that we should not disclose this incident, along with exposing our operations, to an outsider. One, security policy. Two, San Rosito is still technically in the TSO. That counts for something. Vionna-Frankenlisch is
not in Teremara, therefore, not in the TSO. We don’t throw our own under the bus, last I heard. Three, we still have not narrowed down what the target of this data theft operation was…”
“Come on, now, Mr. Trumont! The threats to Vionna-Frankenlisch; a San Rositan mole/traitor in our midst and fleeing after leaving behind clear evidence; the Wishtonia desk data being violated…We are intelligence officers here, are we not? Sometimes we need to put these pieces together and close the small gaps, do we not? There’s not a lot of other hypothesis we could come to, I should not think. Otherwise, we would be ‘stupid guess’ officers, and that just doesn’t sound as appealing to me.”
Trumont snorted.
“All your hyperbole aside, Dajnuski, I don’t know that you’re really hearing what I am saying. We can not tell them what happened.”
Dominico Saluretto looked around.
“So, is that the consensus then? Are we voting on this? I don’t understand what we’re doing.”
Lindauer nodded.
“In effect, yes. I think we’re coming to a consensus. I don’t feel anything needs to leave this room. Also, I’m all for wrapping this up. This isn’t even the most pressing matter for TSO intelligence…Just the most embarrassing. I still have to prepare and sit in on briefs today about Austrakia and Lacetanya. A lot closer to home and a lot more clearly volatile at this point.
Saluretto put his hand out.
“Well, just to put to rest any doubts, I surely am for
not putting this out there to anyone outside this room, and whoever else is already involved. Fuck! I mean...I still have to answer a bunch of calls about Gerlachus, and for the record, as was stated, we don’t know who was targeted or why, yet.”
Dajnuski let out a big sigh.
“Fine. Can we agree though, if we can get more solid information on the target and the type of information that was poached, then we act?”
The Glisandian shook his head. It was pretty obvious to him, and he thought most everyone in the room who Villareal was targeting. If it had been another TSO nation, they would be in action right now against San Rosito.
Trumont looked around the rest of the room. They still needed a final word from quite a few folks.
“Mr. Raégerr, Lady d’Aranda-Godoy, Ms. Cocescu, Ms. Carson, Mr. Cornett, and our Orcadian friends?
Lady d’Aranda-Godoy shook her head. “We will be made to regret this.” the Countess opined, “The honourable course of action is to make Frankenlisch aware of what has happened. It is also, in my opinion, the sensible one. If this is
your consensus then so be it, but I think it would be a disgrace and so would any honest Espicutan.”
Pietro Lindauer replied.
“As I stated before, Lady d’Aranda-Godoy, where is the line? What determines who we tell, because…if we have to tell Vionna-Frankenlisch, then we should tell Hutanjia, and Xiahua, Rulapanga, Ross Bay, the Cardwiths, and the like that they may have been compromised…Where does it end? Are we now in the business of shelling out information to whoever we feel is the least affected by it?”
Trumont interjected.
“Certainly not. We are in the security business. You don’t keep secure by freely giving out information, consequences be damned.”
Viktor Raégerr chirped in, feeling annoyed with the continued bickering, knowing that he needed to attempt to push the conversation along, otherwise they would be stuck in this room for hours. "As I have made it clear before, my vote is firmly placed on the position of keeping this breach buried within these chambers. Admitting our weakness, our division, as public laundry has, potentially, far reaching consequences. The General Chambers can decide on how to deal with the rebellious nature of our ally, but as long as they are our ally, we cannot throw them to the wolves. What message does that send to our enemies?"
Trumont nodded.
“Thank you. I get your point, as I do Lady d’Aranda-Godoy’s, but I do think that we need to minimize the damage here. We cannot just go on letting every nation we spy on know that their information may have been peeked on by unintended eyes. That’s not how the intel business works. There are more issues at stake here than informing someone we spied on them, then fucked up and lost control of that information. There’s also the assets that will be compromised were we to tell all these potential targets what, when, and where their security was put at risk. I’m just not willing to compromise TSO assets…So, no, it’s not an easy choice and that’s why we’re all here in this room to hash it out because we needed all the heads together to make a decision that, no matter what, will affect us in a most horrible fashion. I do think that not putting our assets in Wishtonia at risk is the best option out of all the shitty choices before us.”
Saluretto tapped his pen slowly on the table.
“So, that’s it then?”
Chamkon responded, instead of her boss.
“I think so. It has to be.”
Trumont agreed.
“Yes, we’re done discussing this. I think we have come to a consensus. We will keep this business between us, at least until we can nail down more details. Then we give a report to the TSO legislature in closed session. If they decide something different from there, then we go with that.”
Dajnuski looked skeptical. From his point of view, the opinion in the room was more towards informing the compromised nations, if not almost evenly divided. There would be other battles to fight, however, and this was not one that really concerned Glisandia that much. The Grand Duchy didn’t have many concerns at all, really, when it came to Wishtonia.
Pietro Lindauer looked at his colleagues around the room. He was certain that the evident rift now would not help in repairing relations between all the TSO nations. Events in Austrakia, Lacetanya, and now Southeast Madurin had done a lot to tear at those bonds. It didn’t matter who wanted what, at this point. The damage was done. The TSO was slipping further from the strong alliance they had been in Northern Tavlyria, and Qasifya. But Lindauer was a solid NESA officer. He knew why they couldn’t just tell Vionna-Frankenlsch about this. Not without heavily filtering the info, at least.
“Well, I think there’s nothing else pending that absolutely has to be discussed today. Shall we call it a day?”
“I think so.”
They all walked out of the conference room to carry on with their duties of gathering and organizing more data for the TSO.
[RP was contributed by
Neu Engollon,
Glisandia,
Taranima,
Jumnia,
Espicuta,
Nova Secta (Saescia) and the
Roman Federation of States.]