A/N: This is a continuation of my previous story, Chuck vs. the Bête Noire. In this universe, Chuck and Sarah reunited after Chuck and Casey hunted an insane Bryce Larkin. The information about European energy policy comes from public sources, so it's kinda interesting but the idea that organized crime is in charge in Russia is purely my imagination. :-)
This story is an experiment for me. It's going to be a fairly long process posting updates, so bear with me. It's not by choice, but the plot is more complicated than anything I've done before, so I'm working to make it come together and keep it interesting.
Lastly, I don't own Chuck but would like your feedback as to what you think so far. And if you've not read the previous story, Chuck vs. the Bête Noire, while not necessary, may make some background information clearer.
Thanks for reading! William Ashbless
0235 Hours
25 June 2011
Marseille, France
Rain gently flew in the night, coating the streets of Marseille, the breeze moving the palm fronds on La Canebière. The man in black staggered on the cobblestones as he moved into the alley next to the Abbey of Saint-Victor. A stray thought entered into his mind, wondering if the Abbey would honor sanctuary for him, the atheist that had come to God in his last hours. He blinked, clearing his eyes, wondering anew if it was rain or tears that obscured his vision.
Duty had brought him to this point. Duty to a cause higher than him, higher than his life. Yet now, when the time to face oblivion he doubted the cause. Was it worth this? Was it worth his life? To what end? He knew that he played a part, he just wasn't sure if his part was worth his life.
The cobblestones had become more slick, despite the rain slacking off. The man in black refused to acknowledge the reason why. Slowly he made his way to the yellowish tungsten street lighting at the end of the street. He needed to get the information out, he needed to finish his duty. Staggering to the light, he fell. Sharp pain drove into his stomach from the fall as his internal organs squeezed in response.
A harsh light into his face caused him to flinch in response.
"Mais qu'est-ce qui ce passe?" a gruff voice spoke while a large,meaty hand shook his shoulder. A moan,barely audible, escaped from his lips.
"Il est blessé!", a different voice shouted, unbearably loud.
The first voice spoke again, "J'appelle l'ambulance!".
And then finally, blessedly, darkness.
0747 Hours
25 June 2011
Centre Administratif des Tourelles
The secure conference in the basement of the DGSE headquarters building smelled. The odor could only be described as despair, fear and anguish mixed together, with a large helping of politics.
"Gentlemen, Action Service has received notification that Operation Ardent Lion has failed. The primary operative was stabbed to death in Marseille a few hours ago." said the Director General. "As you know, the success of this mission was of paramount importance to both the President and the Prime Minister. Monsieur Leveque, please review the mission objectives and key players."
A thin faced man, with Mediterranean features, collar length hair and a neatly trimmed short boxed beard reached for the projector remote and began to speak.
"Colleagues. Russia has a significant role in the European energy sector as the largest exporter of oil and natural gas to the European Union. In 2007, the European Union imported from Russia 185 million tonnes of crude oil, which accounted for 32.6% of total oil import, and 100.7 million tonnes of oil equivalent of natural gas, which accounted 38.7% of total gas import."
"The Russian state-owned company Gazprom exports natural gas to Europe. It also controls a large number of subsidiaries, including key infrastructure assets. According to the study published by the Research Centre for East European Studies, the liberalization of the EU gas market has driven Gazprom's expansion in Europe by increasing its share in the European downstream market. It has established sale subsidiaries in nearly all its export markets, as also gained direct access to industrial and power generation sectors in Western and Central Europe. In addition, Gazprom has established joint ventures to build natural gas pipelines and storage depots in a number of European countries. Transneft, a Russian state-owned company responsible for the national oil pipelines, is another important Russian company supplying energy to Europe."
"Every member state of the EU is a consumer of Russian natural gas, ranging from 14% here in France to as high as 100% in Finland. Each of France's bordering neighbors receives as a minimum of 30% of it's natural gas from Russia."
"If the Russian gas companies were normal companies, governed and managed by professional business people, public or private shareholders and accountability within their industry and to their customers, they would not be dissimilar to any other energy company. However, that is not the case with the Russians."
"Despite repeated requests for transparency from the companies, public knowledge of who controls these companies is unclear. Our private investigations have determined that while the government does have some control, criminal organizations have significantly higher control."
"As such, pricing has repeatedly been influenced not by market conditions or natural disasters, but rather by the arbitrary decisions of the criminal organizations. These arbitrary decisions have, at times, directed resulted in high levels of instability, not only in France, but also throughout the EU."
"We, along with our partners in the intelligence community, have launched operations to limit the impact of the control that the criminal organizations have. However, each operation has failed, including this latest one that resulted in the brutal murder of our operative. That concludes my briefing."
"Thank you Leveque." said the Director General. "The Government has decided that that the security of the Republic is at stake while criminals maintain control of the natural gas needed by the European Union as a whole. Despite my protest that this remain a European issue, the Prime Minister has decided to bring in the Americans."
"Due to the sensitivity of this particular objective and the risk of failure, the Government has made a formal request to the US Intelligence Community to send the very best covert action team they have. As I understand it, the team that is in mind was behind the recent successful effort to stop the rogue terrorist that attempted to use a nerve agent in Rome a few months ago. All of us know how successful that effort was once this team became involved."
"I understand that the team has been recuperating from injuries from that mission but I've been assured that they will be available for this. Finally, let me state that while I despise the Americans as a whole for their arrogance and their cowboy mentality, we have our orders and I expect full cheerful and willing obedience in support of the Americans. Continued instability in the countries on our borders can result in governments toppling. Let us not forget that the Nazis came to power in part because of economic issues and a desire to secure more resources. Another war serves no one but the devil."
June 24, 2011
2253 Hours
Phoenix Inn, Chinatown, Los Angeles
The small party spilled out of the restaurant, laughter proceeding their return to the street. Even the normally stoic John Casey seemed to be in good spirits. Sarah, in a blue top that perfectly matched her eyes, burrowed deeper in the circle made by Chuck's arm, smiling in pure bliss. Chuck looked down and with that million watt smile that made her heart burst every time, leaned in and kissed her.
"TAXI!" in a voice that only Devon, "Captain Awesome" could summon broke the kiss, as Ellie smiled at the picture of happiness that was her brother and his fiance.
A yellow van pulled up to the curb and the party piled in.
"Where to?"
"Echo Park" said Ellie.
The van merged into traffic and began the drive to Casa Bartowski. Five minutes later, as the van arrived at the apartment complex, Casey felt a mental twitch. Surreptitiously, he placed his hand on his Sig Sauer P229 as he exited from the front passenger side. He looked over at Sarah and affirmed that she was feeling the same twitch as he was. They locked eyes and immediately communicated in that operational short hand they used when they were everyday partners.
Casey moved into the courtyard as Sarah slowed the rest of the party down. As he walked in, bearing to the left of the fountain, Sarah moved to the right. Ten feet in and then people appeared out of the shadowed recesses of doorways, angles, and corners. Casey grunted, knowing that they were outnumbered. Chuck, Ellie, Devon and Morgan were ushered in by additional people stationed outside.
An expectant air filled the air as the group noticed a diminutive unmistakable figure standing in the doorway of Casa Bartowski.
"Hello. I'm afraid we need Team Bartowski." said Diane Beckman.
"Oh shit. Here we go again."
June 25, 2011
0013 Hours
Casa Bartowski
"And that sums up why I'm here. Your team is the most successful in the history of the US Intelligence community. You've saved thousands of lives with your actions. We, the world, needs you for this mission if we have any hope of preventing a war over economic resources."
Chuck sat quietly, his mind racing, Sarah on his left holding his hand, with Ellie on his right doing the same.
"Chuck! Look at me!" exclaimed Ellie in a voice near tears. "Don't do this, you don't have to do this. You're not a spy, you're a game designer. You have a beautiful woman that loves you, family that loves you and friends that care about you! Tell him Sarah!"
All eyes turned to Sarah. She knew him better than anyone. She knew that whatever she said, whatever decision she voiced, Chuck would follow. She turned her body slightly, willing her emotions to convey nothing. She reached over and touched that face that she loved more than life itself.
"I can't Ellie. He has to decide for himself."
Chuck sighed. He looked at Beckman. He looked at Casey and knew what the big man would say. He knew what Ellie wanted. He released the girls' hands and stood up.
"Did you know that Bartowski is a Polish name? I knew that, but didn't understand what that meant until after I got the Intersect in my head. In 1939, the Nazis invaded Poland and occupied them from 1939 until 1945. Then the Soviets occupied them from 1945 to 1989. During the Nazi occupation, 6 million Poles died, over 20% of the population. Whole branches of families were wiped. In fact, the only reason the Bartowski name exists because our branch of the family emigrated to the US in 1934. Had our great grandfather stayed in Poland, we'd probably not exist. And the Soviets weren't much better, were they?"
He turned to look at Ellie and Sarah, sitting together, unconsciously holding each others' hand, as they watched him, with tears in their eyes.
"I couldn't forgive myself if millions or even one person dies because I choose to do nothing. Sarah, Casey, I'll understand if you say no, but I can't do this without you two."
Casey grunted his affirmation while Sarah nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
Chuck knelt close to Ellie's lap. "Ellie, please forgive me." he said as she burst into tears. She touched his hair, his face and looked deep into his eyes. With a small, barely visible nod, she whispered, "Yes."
Sarah, Devon, and Morgan gathered around the two siblings and hugged them hard, willing comfort into their hurting souls. After a few minutes, Chuck disengaged himself from his sister and reached for Sarah's hand. Her blue eyes shone with pride and love and a little bit of fear, knowing that they were getting back into the Great Game and this one might be harder than the hunt for Bryce.
"General." Casey grunted. "We're ready to start. Where do we report?"
"Colonel Casey, we'll take your team to Edwards Air Force base, where we'll depart for France. We'll depart in the hour."
"General. I need to talk to my dad first. He'll need to know to stop working on taking the Intersect out again."