IMF Safe house, Kiev 17 November, 1989 3:47 A.M.

Ethan opened the door to the large hotel room IMF had secured for the team and entered. He placed his hand in his pocket, checking again for its contents before sitting at the round table in the center of the room.
All the members he was used to seeing were there, with the exception of Sarah Davies, a new member to their IMF team. Ethan had met Sarah a few days prior to the beginning of their newest mission which he, as usual, knew little about. She had long dark hair and a peculiar smile that wrinkled her nose slightly.
Of course Ethan was no old hat to the Impossible Mission Force. He had been drafted by the CIA just a year earlier for reasons which they said they could not tell him. So far, he had been told, his performance had been exemplary. Now he would be point man in the upcoming mission for the first time. Ethan was a little nervous, but he had accomplished the first, apparently minor part of the mission without a hitch.
Did you get it? Jim Phelps, leader of their IMF team, asked. Jim was an older man, but sharp as a tack. Ethan figured that was one of the main reasons he had been the head of a team for so many years. He smiled expectantly at Ethan, the overhead light glinting off his glasses.
Ethan pulled what appeared at first glance to be a floppy disk out of his pocket. On closer inspection, it became obvious that the rectangular card Ethan held was somewhat thicker than a standard floppy. It was a relatively new storage device, known for its amazing speed and storage space as a zip disk. It held the data of 15 floppies in a slightly grater volume, but it would be years before zip disks came out on the civilian market.
Easy job, Ethan said, handing the disk to Jim. He quickly pocketed it and turned to the rest of the team. Around the table was arrayed Anna Williams, a woman who seemed to be able to slip in unnoticed almost anywhere, Claire Phelps, Jim's recently wedded wife, Jack Harmon, the mission tech guy, Sarah and Ethan.
Amazingly, even I don't know much about this mission, Jim began. I haven't seen the tape yet, and I was told simply to get this disk before anything else. Jim patted the disk in his breast pocket. Now we can see the tape.
Jim lifted a small, gray brief case from the floor and placed it in the center of the table. Anna and Jack, opposite the brief case from Jim, huddled around the table to view their mission outline. Jim pressed a small control on the brief case, causing a video panel to unfold.
Good morning Mr. Phelps, the video began. A Russian defector named Vladimir Taretchnakov has made his wish to leave Russia known to the United Sates. With the recent collapse of the Berlin Wall, he has decided that Socialism does not work and wishes to come to the United Sates. Taretchnakov was a very high official with the KGB, so of course any and all information he might have would be invaluable to us.
A small picture of a smiling Russian man was displayed on the screen, with a subtitle beneath his picture spelling his name. The picture faded away, replaced by a video of the falling of the Berlin Wall.
Taretchnakov was stationed in Moscow and keeping open communications with the CIA. Several days ago, all communications with Taretchnakov were severed, and it is likely that he has been discovered. Your mission, Jim, should you choose to accept it, is to determine the whereabouts of Vladimir Taretchnakov and, should he still be alive, take him back to our safe house in Kiev.
Information regarding his status in the KGB and his recent activities from their records should be in your possession at this time. Your team is, once again, at your discretion. With luck, you will be able to find and escort Taretchnakov out of the Soviet Union. As always, should any member of your IMF team be captured or killed, knowledge of your activities will be disavowed. This tape will self destruct in five seconds. Good luck.
The screen faded, its display of a satellite image of a KGB post in Moscow disappearing. Five seconds later there was a small pop in the side of the brief case. Soon smoke came pouring out. Jim removed the smoking tape and threw it into a nearby garbage pail.
I trust the information on this disk is accurate, Jim said, looking to Ethan while gesturing to his pocket and the disk within.
Our contact was very open, Ethan replied with a wan smile. After I was done with him anyway. The disk checks out.
Are we in? Sarah asked the group collectively. Each team member nodded the affirmative.
Let's go, Jim said simply.