James Bond had attended many formal meetings but never one so boring. This was a Black tie gathering. The meeting was in honor of MI6. MI6 was receiving a great award for service to the state of England by the Prime Minister. The award was the Badge of Distinguished Service. Bond didn't care for the formalities; a badge was just a piece of metal. M would be receiving the hunk of metal herself in front of all the double-0s, who were all sitting in a half-circle around them.
The ceremonies were about to begin. The Prime Minister stood at the top of a small platform and called for M to approach him. M walked up and received the award and shook the hand of the minister. The agents all clapped softly.
"Finally we can get out of here" Bond thought to himself.
The agents all stood and everyone filed out of the room but M remained in the center of the room by herself. As Bond was beginning to leave M called out to him.
"007 can I talk to you for a moment?"
"You have to be kidding me" Bond thought.
James walked over to M.
"This award really should belong to you James; you really hold the service together."
James Bond was taken aback. He was expecting a mission or a short comment.
"Thank you M..." Bond was lost on words.
"Come with me James"
Bond followed her to her office and he shut the door behind himself. M put the award on the shelf behind her desk.
"James we've got a problem... I know you've dealt with them before so I know you can deal with them…They are back and I fear they are ever stronger than before, even stronger than we know or fear." M stated.
M sat down, opened her desk drawer with a key and took out a big yellow folder. She passed in across the desk. Bond read the familiar cover, "OHMSS For Your Eyes Only."
"A mission this late?" Bond asked himself.
He checked his watch, Omega. It was 11:23 p.m. Bond looked up at M who was watching him. A loud sound went off above them. Bond and M both looked up at the vent in the office ceiling. Bond took out his Walther and ran to the vent. He peered up it. It could be nothing, but then… A cylinder grenade fell out. 007 fired at the vent and dove out of the way. M hid behind her desk. The explosion blinded the MI6 agent and a hard kick was delivered to his face. Bond heard a lot of commotion in the room as he drifted in and out of consciousness but as he strained to listen Bond finally passed out.