Chapter 218 -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 20:48:53 02/29/12 Wed
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: CPE-58-161-104-81.kybq1.win.bigpond.net.au / 58.161.104.81
Subject: Chapter 218
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "NEW CHAPTERS of The Rising Dragons" on 18:31:50 02/22/12 Wed

Chapter 218

When Birkoff and Walter entered the Common Area there was pandemonium everywhere and it looked as if all hell had broken out. They shared a look realizing that they were the cause of the commotion. The two friends� innocuous adventure had turned into an all out circus as Comm. was crowded with Operatives running around trying to locate the intruder. Orders were flying every which way as everyone tried to find the source of the breach.

�Have we localized?�

�I think I�ve got something around Segment 35.�

�The upper levels are clear ... Send security there.�

�I'll need a JPR as soon as you can.�

Birkoff looked very worried as he knew they wouldn�t find anything but he still quickly made his way to his station as if he had never been missing and seamlessly eased back into his tactical role while Walter slipped away over to Munitions. Wanting to know if there was any chance that Tactical had found anything to link Walter and him to the problem Birkoff asked, �The depth of the breach?�

Tatiana looked over at him and replied. �We don't know everything yet, but we do know whoever it is may have tried to tap into restricted files.�

�What's the contingency?�

�I don't know yet.�

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A short while later Walter crossed over the Common Area and moved to stand beside Birkoff and the other tactical operatives who ignored him and kept on working. As he listened to the confusion going on, Walter�s expression inferred that he had no idea what all the excitement was about, but in actual fact he surveyed the happenings trying to think of a way to offset the commotion they had caused. If Operations found out that he and Birkoff were in fact responsible for the chaos that now ensued then there would be recriminations for the both of them.

�Hey. What's going on?� He inquired.

�Someone broke deep level security,� one of the tactical operatives replied. �There could be a hostile loose.�

Walter kept up the charade and asked, �Do they know who?�

�No but Tech�s all over six and seven. I've never seen it like this before.� Tatiana replied.

�What can I do?�

Birkoff watched the interaction with the technicians and couldn�t believe Walter had uttered those words. His eyes conveyed that very message as he said, �Stay out of the way.�

Walter didn�t reply to Birkoff�s veiled response for his gaze caught the movement of three figures entering the Common Area. He looked across to see two operatives enter with a cuffed Ames between them, then he darted his eyes to see a furious Operations storm into the Common Area as well. By the thunderous look on his leader�s face, Walter just knew that Madeline and Operations� meeting with George had not gone well and now to top it off, Section had a security breach which he and Birkoff were responsible for. Operations was in no mood for rational thought. Someone was going to pay for the extra pressure on Section One and it appeared that someone was a hapless Ames who was merely doing his job.

The shackled operative looked incredulous as to why he had been escorted here. The two operatives marched him up before the head of Section and Ames looked up to see an enraged look on Operations� face. He tried to explain the situation while trying to keep the panic from his voice. �I didn't do anything! I was just responding to the alarm.�

Unfortunately, Operations wasn�t buying his explanation. He was livid. �You were in a closed zone! You must have been viewing unauthorized Intel.�

�No I wasn�t! The doors just snapped shut when we went in search of the intruder.�

Operations ignored him and gave orders to the Operatives escorting Ames. �Take him to the White Room.�

�But I didn�t do anything,� he protested as they took him away. �Ask Hobbs � he will verify for me. I was just doing my job.�

Operations glared over at Walter and Birkoff before stalking back to his office. The two men shook in their boots as the look he gave them indicated that no one was immune from suspicion including them and that he was determined to get to the bottom of the breach.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A while later Birkoff walked over to Munitions with his mind churning out a dozen possibilities of what would happen to them if Operations and Madeline found out that they were the intruders. He was dejected and fearful for the consequences. Approaching his friend�s station where Walter was busy going over an inventory Birkoff uttered worriedly, �Walter, I�ve got to talk to you.�

�Yeah?� What's wrong, amigo?

�Do you think Operations knows we were responsible?�

He looked up hearing the fear in his buddy�s voice. �Nah � he may suspect but there�s no proof.�

�But what if Davenport tells them he saw us � hmm? What then?�

�Then I guess we face the music.�

In almost a whisper Birkoff then leaned in and asked, �What do you think will happen with Ames?�

�I don't know, but if he's with Madeline my guess is that he's not having fun.�

Birkoff suddenly felt bile rise in his throat. He�d been against searching for Michael�s records in the first place. They�d had one mishap after another which any sane person would have realized was a bad omen for them, but Walter had insisted and now an innocent operative may very well be terminated because of them. That thought weighed heavily on his mind.

�That's all I've been able to think about since they took Ames away,� Birkoff admonished glaring at his friend, gesticulating with a raised voice. �This is all your fault Walter! This will be the ace up our sleeves you said � something to hold over Operations � our trump card!�

Fearful that someone would overhear their conversation; Walter glanced up looking each way to see if anyone was in earshot as Birkoff began to rant about their escapades. �Keep your voice down. Are you nuts? Not here and not now.�

Lowering his voice Birkoff asked gloomily, �What are we going to do?�

�I'll let you know.�

�When?� He replied looking like he had misgivings.

Walter pulled down his screen. �I need to check up on Michael and Nikita again first but I'll get back to you...okay?�

A little placated, but not totally convinced he replied. �Okay.�

�In the meantime pull yourself together Birkoff. Remember, there is nothing that points to us breaching Section � Nothing!�

He was not that convinced but nevertheless Birkoff tried to be more composed although inside he was a bundle of nerves. He gave Walter a quick glance then walked despondently away back to his post. His thoughts as usual were dark. Walter had got them into serious trouble this time but he wouldn�t let him take all the blame if indeed they were found out. Walter had said to pull himself together and he would try to do that or else Operations would become suspicious. In the past when something like this had occurred, Operations had called for a general inquiry. He would certainly do it again unless he was convinced otherwise. Maybe � just maybe � he could think of a plausible scenario that would get them off the hook.

He hastened his step to set an idea in motion.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

�Are you positive he had nothing to do with the breach?�

Operations listened as his second in command gave her report from the White Room where Ames had been interrogated.

�I see.�

His face was grim as he severed his connection with Madeline. She�d just reported in that Ames was in the clear after all, and that his account of the situation had been verified by Hobbs. Now unfortunately he was left with a problem. Operations was already furious with the meeting they�d had earlier with George and now he had the added problem of a suspected breach and no clues as to who it could be. There was much on his mind. Who was responsible for setting off the alarm? Was there an intruder inside Section One or was it a false alarm? Although concerns about the breach were his primary objective, so too were the problems that George�s visit had caused. Who could be responsible for the Intel he had about Michael and Nikita? � Was someone sending communiqu�s to him at Oversight?

This had been a very trying day.

Operations stood up and went to peer down into the hub of Section at the operatives who were busily trying to find whoever was responsible. He glared down from the Perch and happened to notice the spirited discussion between Birkoff and Walter. The two men seemed to be arguing which was unusual. It was obvious that Birkoff was very nervous about something and was not himself. Suddenly it dawned on him. Could they have had something to do with the security breach but had decided to remain silent? Operations studied both operatives� faces remembering that Madeline had said she�d seen the two prior to their meeting with George in Committee. Was it possible that they had been up to something untoward? Walter often tested the waters thinking he and Madeline were not aware of what he was doing. If they were responsible for the breach � what were they looking for and why? Perhaps Walter had been trying to access personal files on Nikita or Michael. The retrieval mission could have whetted his curiosity. He wouldn�t put it past him to try and do that especially considering how close he was to Nikita and Michael too, for that matter.

Operations observed them more closely and saw the quick glance Birkoff had exchanged with Walter before leaving Munitions so he watched as Section�s technical expert walked back across the floor of the Common Area to his station. . Had Birkoff assisted Walter in one of his harebrained schemes and now it had backfired on them to cause the chaos in Section? Or more importantly� Had he been wrong in his beliefs and they really were responsible for sending Intel to George?

There was only one way to find out. He would get to the bottom of this before Madeline had a chance to question either Walter or Birkoff. Operations believed that it would be easy to trip up Section�s computer whiz to see if he had been involved. He depressed his intercom button.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Play on text from � EG, IRP and GOH

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