Don't own Chuck
Previous Chuck stories and order: 1 Chuck vs Charles, 2 Chuck vs the Love Boat, 3 Chuck vs The Rock, 4 Chuck vs Amtrak, 5 Chuck vs The Dictator, 6 Chuck vs The Name, 7 Chuck vs The Volcano, 8 Chuck vs The Ghost, 9 Chuck vs The Shooter, 10 Chuck vs The Package, 11 Chuck vs The Jade Dragon, 12 Chuck vs Jai-Alai, 13 Chuck vs The Greek, 14 Chuck vs The Suitcase, 15 Chuck vs The Pirate, 16 Chuck vs The Toy Maker, 17 Chuck vs The Sibyl, 18 Chuck vs The House, 19 Chuck vs The Heist, 20 Chuck vs The A-Bomb, 21 Chuck vs The Snowman, 22 Chuck vs The Tin Man, 23 Chuck vs The Baguette, 24 Chuck vs The Black Knight, 25 Chuck vs The Merchant of Venice, 26 Chuck vs Electric Sheep, 27 Chuck vs The Band, 28 Chuck vs The Cold, 29 Chuck vs A Horse With No Name, 30 Chuck vs A Bolt In The Blue, 31 Chuck vs Brick and Mortar, 32 Chuck vs Juri Sheshenkov, 33 Chuck vs The Couch, 34 Chuck vs The Hijack, 35 Chuck vs El Capitan, 36 Chuck vs The Wall, 37 Chuck vs The Outback, 38 Chuck vs The Evil Twin, 39 Chuck vs Golden Thumb, 40 Chuck vs Ben Franklin, 41 Chuck vs The Lady of Uruk, 42 Chuck vs The Beard, 43 Chuck vs Bunny, 44 Chuck vs the Football, 45 Chuck vs El Serpiente, 46 Chuck vs The Circus
Jack, Razib and Margo were at the airport to greet them the night before when they flew in from Nice. Chuck was fed up with the Côte d'Azur after their last mission that wasn't their mission as Casey blabbered on about it. But Sarah wanted to get away too she could see that Chuck had had a hard time with everything that went down in Nice. Some of his daddy issues had bubbled to the surface and he had to deal with them. Sarah could tell he was putting on a happy face so when he suggested they all go to Montenegro with Emma and Molly she didn't argue. And Sam was happy wherever she was as long as she had ice cream.
Right now Chuck and Sarah were sitting at the breakfast table in their Casino in Montenegro talking about what they wanted to do for the rest of the day.
"You know what I'd like to do," said Chuck as he sipped on his coffee looking over at Sarah. She smiled back at him.
"Isn't it kind of early for that and what are we going to do with the kids? Although I was thinking about having Sam sit in on some lessons with Razib and Molly..."
"That does sound like a good idea," said Jack which drew an evil look from Sam. "However, I promised the kiddo a tour of our new facilities and besides what she really needs to learn I can teach her," he said. Sam nodded adamantly. She knew there was ice cream at the end of that lesson. Chuck could see Sarah was about to pounce on Jack so he broke in quickly.
"Thanks Jack but I was thinking about having the kitchen prepare us a picnic lunch then we'll all go down to the Marina and take the sailboat out in the bay. We could make a day of it. The only thing is I'd like to take all the kids. Do you think Margo will let Razib come along? I got the feeling he wants to spend to talk with me."
"If he wants to know about the world I'd be more than happy to talk to the boy. I was like him once and I know what it's like."
"I'm sure he'd appreciate that but Jack you know nothing about being a Muslim nor being a Berber. The poor kid has a foot in both worlds. Nothing against you Jack but sometimes when you're speaking another language words just don't come to you... not like in your native tongue. Combine that with everything else he'd been through and... well I need to give him the opportunity to talk to me."
"Well here comes your opportunity," said Sarah as she spotted Margo walking towards them. "However, the way she's walking I think your plans might just have gotten changed."
"I called up to your room but you weren't there," said Margo as she came over. "Don't kill the messenger. Beckman thought you might still be upset after Nice so I'm supposed to try to twist your arm."
"I don't know what I am... maybe disappointed but you can't have your way all the time," said Chuck as he and Jack got up for Margo. Chuck pulled out a chair and invited her to sit down. "Whatever you have to say please sit down first. Would you like a cup of coffee or maybe something to eat?"
"So you can't have your way all the time," said Sarah. "I'm going to have to remember that one when we get back home." Chuck gave her a look.
"No I'm fine," said Margo as she looked at him. "I'm the one who's supposed to be trying to butter you up not the other way around."
"I've got something to ask you after you're done asking me. So what is it that Beckman wants? Is she facing an army of psychopathic assassins... it would serve her right."
"Chuck behave," said Sarah. "Now Margo what does the General want? Keeping in mind we're on vacation. I think we should rename this a working holiday considering everything."
"I agree," said Chuck. Margo had no idea what was going just that she had jumped into the middle of it with both feet.
"Well, let me explain," said Margo trying to put the conversation back on track. "There's been an earthquake in the Northern part of Iran... 6 something on the Richter scale near the city of Tabriz..."
"No, we're not going with the relief crews to snoop around. Like Sarah said we're on vacation and I'm not feeling very chummy with the General right now."
"Let me finish. The General doesn't want you to go to Iran. We volunteered to send in relief workers and dogs specialized in finding earthquake victims but their government shot it down. We are sending relief aid through the Red Crescent."
"It sounds like you've got everything under control," said Sarah as she took a sip of her coffee. "I don't see what we can do for you?"
"We've got a bird over top of the site. Originally the idea was to use IR scans to locate warm bodies under the rubble then direct rescue workers on site but since they won't let our people in country..."
"You're spying on them from above. What's near Tabriz that's got her panties all in a bunch? There's something else, isn't there?"
"Well yes but you need to come down below to the dungeon and look at it with me. I'm to patch you through to the General and you tell her what you see."
"Okay, I'll come with you," said Chuck but Sarah cleared her throat. "Okay we'll come and have a look. But I want something," he said. Margo made a face. "Don't worry it's nothing major. It looks like today is going to be shot but we can still do the picnic once we're done. However, tomorrow I'd like to take everyone sailing and that includes Razib. He needs your permission to play hooky for a day."
"That's it? He's been after me wanting me to ask you if you two could get together to talk man to man. Naturally I asked him what it was about but he said I wouldn't understand and he'd feel embarrassed to talk to me about whatever it is."
"So it's a deal then. If it's that personal, he might not want to talk with everyone around. After we get done in the Dungeon I'll look him up and we can go for a walk out in town."
"If you talk in Berber no one else will understand," said Sarah. "It's just an idea and we don't know what time we'll get done."
"I'll make time. Besides you understand Berber and Razib knows that. If he won't talk in front of Margo he's not going to talk around you. The boy is starting to go through the awkward stage of being a teenager."
"It seems to me you got stuck in it," said Sarah then she leaned over and kissed him. "We should go down below then. The sooner we go the sooner we'll be done. Mom can you watch Sam and Bunny for me? Jack, the answer is no... whatever you want to teach Sam it's a no."
"I haven't even told you yet. How can you say no without listening first? You know a man is presumed innocent before being found guilty."
"Yeah," said Sam. "And if you know all the cons you'll never be a sucker. Isn't that the family motto?"
"Written right over our coat of arms like the castle your grandfather sold to that guy in London. He told him he was a duke or something. Boy was he surprised when the Queen pulled up."
"I didn't sell him that castle I simply informed him that he'd come into an inheritance... so what if it was Buckingham Palace. I just got my palaces confused. It can happen to the best of us."
"Yeah, I'm sure and how much money did he have to cough up in inheritance taxes? But the good part was Jack told him he could make it up selling tickets to people to visit. He tried to set up a card table out front and before he could sell his first ticket the poor man was lead off in a straightjacket to St. Mary's for a psychiatric evaluation."
"Yes that's true but I did feel a little sorry for him. However, they let him out six months later and none the worse for the wear. It was like a six-month vacation for him."
"I'm sure it was so the answer is no and remember I'm armed. I've already shot you once don't make me do it again. I might miss and hit something important this time.
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Banai was dispatched from the Tehran by the director of the Iranian secret service the VAJA to head up a team to look at some irregularities at missile city located underground outside the city of Tabriz. His director gave him his marching orders before he left the office. Then it was a quick stop off at home to grab a bag and to tell his wife he'd be out of town for a few days. After that he was on a military aircraft to the disaster site.
"Agent Banai, can you tell us what we're supposed to do when we get to Tabriz. The director was vague about what this mission was about," asked one of his men as they flew northward.
"You guys don't need to know all the details of our mission just that you're going to interview a group of military officers and enlisted that worked at one of our secret facilities. Believe me you're better off not knowing..."
"But if we don't know what's going on how can we ask the right questions? I seems to me to be a waste of time when these people need help more than an interrogation. It's not like they caused the earthquake."
"I hear your frustration... okay we believe that our facility has been compromised either internally or externally. Your job is to root possible candidates for me to dig deeper into. Everyone is a suspect from the Colonel in charge of the facility to the janitors and if any of the officers complain send them my way. I won't put up with anyone questioning our authority."
"But what if they all check out clean. I just have a hard time believing a brother especially a high ranking officer would throw everything away by sell his country out."
"Believe it because I've seen it. It usually starts out small in the beginning then it quickly takes over and before they know it they've compromised themselves and don't even know how they got there. However, the final word rests with me so you guys are not on the hook. You just have to do your jobs and leave me to separate the wheat from the chaff."
When they landed on the tarmac they walked out to see the relief effort was in full swing with bags of supplies and material setting on off the runway. It was coming in faster than it could be loaded up on trucks and taken out to the victims.
"This way," waved a private. "I was sent here by the Colonel to pick you guys up and bring you back to our tent city. They're working hard to get the tunnels clear and find out which areas are still sound to use. But we've been having aftershocks..."
"And after each one you have to recheck what you've just inspected," said Banai. The private nodded then lead them to an old M809 5 ton 6x6 troop transport vehicle.
"This is our ride. It doesn't look like much but it will get us there. I don't know why they didn't give me something air conditioned," said the private. "Load your gear up and we get on the road. It's about a couple hours to the site so if I were you guys I'd grab plenty of water to bring with you. It's a long and dusty road."
Banai saw this for what it was. The Colonel was stretching his eagle wings making sure he knew he was still in charge. Well, he'd see about that. Banai knew exactly what to do in a situation like this and he had a big surprise for the Colonel.
"I know guys this isn't ideal but this is incentive for us to go in and get our job done so we can clear out. Remember what I told you on the flight eyes and ears open. They all climbed aboard then set out across a wasteland of debris and destruction. The private was right it took them two hours under a burning sun to arrive at the tent city.
"Well, we're here," said the private as he pulled up in the middle of a group of tents. "HQ is that one over there. You'll find the Colonel and his deputy in there. I need to get this truck back over to the motor pool before my Sergeant eats me alive."
"Hold up," said Banai as he stopped him. "Before you go can you point out the mess tent? My men need to get something to eat and drink."
"It's two tents over from that one. There should be someone in there that can take care of your guys needs but don't expect anything fancy. They're basically warming up MREs."
"Thanks," said Banai. He watched the private jump back in the truck then disappear. "Okay you guys pick up our stuff and go the mess tent. See what they can rustle up for you but try not to get into any conflicts with the locals. If you haven't figured out from the cold shoulder we're not welcomed here. In the meantime, I'm going to go shake the tree. Abram come with me we'll catch up with you in a little while." Banai and Abram walked over to HQ and Banai through open the flap then went inside with Abram. They were greeted by the cool air from a blast of AC . The unit was working overtime.
"Hey, close that you're letting out all our cool air. Who are you people anyway?" said a voice from the opposite end of the tent. The lighting was poor and it took them time get used to the dark but that wasn't going to stop Banai.
"I think you people know good and well who we are. I'll overlook the lack of common courtesy by not sending an officer to meet us at the airport. Now we need to get down to work. My men and I need someplace to work out of and a list of people to interview..."
"We'll that's going to have to wait," said the Base Commander. "I'm in charge here and I set the priorities. You aren't one of them."
"Lieutenant Colonel Farrokh, I come bearing orders," said Banai. He handed the Deputy Commander a folder. "You are to assume immediate command. The Colonel is to be placed under house arrest then at the earliest opportunity sent to Tehran for questioning by my director personally. Sir the minimum you're facing is a charge of dereliction of duty with a less than honorable discharge if not prison time and if in the course of our investigation if I find or he finds you had anything to do with the theft you'll be hung in the square. Relieve the Colonel of his sidearm then escort him out." There was a hush over everyone in the tent.
"I'm sorry Colonel but these are signed by the President of the Republic, Mr. Rouhani himself," said the Deputy Commander as he took the Colonel's sidearm.
"You have no idea what it's like to really serve your country. You have no idea what we're working on here and how important it is," said the Colonel. "Don't touch me I know my way to my tent," he barked as two officers moved towards him.
"You see that's where you're wrong Colonel. I fought in the war with Iraq in the trenches and I watched my friends die from poison gas. They fell like flies so you have to excuse me if I'm a little concerned about what's happened here. Get him out of here and take him someplace where I don't have to look at him."
"Sorry Colonel but orders are order please go with these two men," said the deputy commander. The Colonel went off in a huff. "What do we do next?"
"Next I'd like you to send someone with Abram here and have them show him where we can set up. Then Abram, I want you to collect everyone and take them there. The sooner you guys set up the sooner we can get the ball rolling on this."
"Captain Fahad take this man to the quartermaster and get them squared away. I want you to stay with him until these people are all situated. Go now and as for everyone else here please clear the tent for a moment while I debrief our guest." Banai and the Deputy waited then he closed the flap afterwards he lead Banai over to a map.
"I take it this is the underground city. I saw aerial photos before I left Tehran. My men think there's been a security breach and that's why we've been sent here to find the hole and plug it but nothing more."
"We tried to keep what happened under wraps but in a base this small and after the earthquake... well I'm afraid it's common knowledge now."
"Then we need to work quickly. I take it these red tunnels have been compromised," said Banai as he looked over the map."
"Yes but this just doesn't add up. The missile was housed in the silo but the silo doors where never opened so the only other way to remove it would be to drive it out. Look at the map that means going from here to here," said the Lieutenant Colonel as he traced the route on the map. "How could someone transport a missile that size from there to the outside without being seen?"
"You want the easy answer. They couldn't have not without having the help of a number of people. I need everything you've got on your people... I want service records and watch schedules. I want health records too. I want it all. You've got a conspiracy here and I need to find out how deep it goes. It looks like the hangman is going to have his work cut out for him."
Suddenly as they were talking small arms fire rang out in the camp. Banai looked at the Deputy and they both knew what was happening.
"The conspirators are trying to escape," said Banai. He drew his weapon then he and the Deputy ran out of the tent.
"What's going on? Are we under attack," yelled the Deputy as he stopped one of his officer running by with a squad of men.
"No sir, from what I was told the Colonel went to his tent then came out with an AKM. He took out the men guarding him then gathered a group of other men with him. They ran into the tunnels where they're holed up now."
"Take your men and place them at the tunnel entrance. We'll seal them in," said the Deputy. "I'll come over and try to talk some sense into them."
"You really don't think that's going to work do you? They have to know that if they're taken now... well their trial and execution will be swift. However, I can offer to those with no blood on their hands the possibility of prison instead of swinging as long as they're willing to tell us how they got the missile out and where they took it to."
"That's not much but it is something to work with," said the Lieutenant Commander. "Follow me," he said as they ran over to the entrance to the underground city. "You know one thing that's going to work in our favor is the ventilation system sucks inside. They're not going to have a lot of fresh air and with the cave-ins there's almost hanging dust that is so thick in some places it's difficult to breathe."
"Let's hope we can use that to our advantage," said Banai as he and the deputy arrived on scene. Banai's men were there already in full tactical gear carrying H&K MP5s. "We're going to let them try to handle their own before we step in. You're now the base commander, Lieutenant Colonel take charge."
"Right, I am in charge and these are my men I need to think of," said the Deputy. He took the megaphone. "Colonel, I know you can hear me in there. Lay down your weapons and come out with your hands up. Think about your men and what's good for them. Give up you've got no place to run to. No more people need to be hurt."
The Colonel gave his answer with a short three round burst. It wasn't aimed at anyone and no one was hurt but it was a sign that they weren't going to give up peacefully.
"Move out and let's take them alive if we can," said the Lieutenant Colonel but their advance drew more fire causing his men to retreat back to the safety of cover. "Crap what now?"
"We're going to have to go in and take them. I don't see any other way," said Banai. But as he was speaking his phone rang. He looked down at the caller ID and shook his head. He refused the call but then he got called back again. After refusing the third call he got a text message that told him to answer.
"Maybe you should take that," said the Lieutenant Colonel. "It might be the last call you take and whoever it is really wants to talk to you."
"But I don't want to talk to him. You're right," he said as he answered. "Look Chuck this isn't the time. I'm in the middle of ... what? How do you know what I'm doing?" He automatically looked up. "Okay so what do you want to tell me? ... Tea's on me the next time we meet."
"Who was that," asked the Deputy. He gave Banai a puzzle look. He'd heard Banai speaking in English then in Persian.
"A friend who's watching out for us... you wouldn't believe me if I told you. But I know what we're going to do. We've got a plan now."