It began as all such things did, as all such chapters of life, and as all such adventurous. Quickly. But it was one of those things that began loosely with very many different people working at different ends on one problem. And one problem at a time.
The true beginning of the story began in Directus, as it began nearly twenty years before, and then again four years ago for what was popularly called...'The Unsung War.'
It began immediately for Captain Luis Ortega, a watch officer for the signals office for the intelligence arm of the Ustian Airforce. He was an immigrant from Osea shortly after that great conflict had begun. And as all such people, immigrating at eighteen to a new country with a new language, he saw the quickest way to citizenship was the proud Military of his new country. The only thing that remained of his homeland, his politics were strictly of Osea. Which did not make him many friends here, who were politically motivated. Thus he got 'stuck' in intelligence. Even though he secretly loved it as he would a girlfriend of long acquaintance or a wife.
And if it was two things that Ustio was proud of, were its Airforce, and its intelligence services. The former almost single handedly winning the Belkan war, and stopping a World Without Boundaries. The fact that most of them were mercenaries was completely beside the point.
In the front of the room, a young Lt.'s phone rang, she picked it up and listened intently to the frantic pleas coming from the agent on the other end.
Her eyes widened..."Alright stop, stop, this channel IS NOT, I repeat not secured." She then placed the phone on her slender shoulder as she turned to look behind her. "Sir, Captain! We have message traffic coming from EAGLE-5...emergency escape"
EAGLE was a code name for an agent in place of very high standing and valuable information. -5, the only one still functioning, was a head researcher at North Osea's Grunder industries. That despite the war everyone suspected that they still had Belkan sympathizer in place that could ruin everyone's day. The Ustian intelligence was the only one to have an agent in place. And they were very careful not to steal, too many, Osean secrets. Only information relating to Belkan double-dealings.
This made this the only major information that this agent snuck out. And he now wanted to be extracted. Ortega picked up the phone.
"Go ahead."
The voice on the other end of the phone sounded remarkably calm, at least from what it had to have been five minutes ago. "I need to get out. I need to see you in person. Right now, this is not a joke."
"Agent: You do understand that you have never given us anything before."
"Yes!" His voice broke into a terrified squeak... then Ortega heard a distinct sigh. "Look, I know I have not been valuable. But this is whopper. I over heard a former Belkan Colonel talking to a woman about it..."
"What man?!"
"They are looking for something."
"What?... this is a secure frequency."
"Not secure enough for this!" The agent spat into the phone. Then another breath, "They are looking for something that Ustio once lost."
Ortega's eyes narrowed at that. His mind was racing, there were several things that Ustio had lost, both material and persons. In reality, and just to the public. "Alright..." he bought up a computer screen showing outbound flights from North Osea directly for Directus. "Get on the 1602 flight number 29, it is an international charter bound for Directus, I will have one of my people meet you there."
A final sigh. "Thank you."
Ortega leaned back in his chair and waited, putting his hands behind his head. A frown formed on his face as he got back up to go into the main room and make the orders that were necessary for the mission at hand. But he got an eerie feeling that this would be his greatest yet.
