June 16th, 2015

11:51 A.M.

Washington D.C.

NSA Head Quarters

Disbanded 3rd Echelon Special Field Agent David McGee sat in the office of NSA Special Agent Johnathan Carmichael. John sat across from David thumbing through papers stopping at the occasional one only to read over it briskly then move on to the next sheet. The Office was quiet, small, and relatively blank save for the fake plant in the corner of the room. The absence of windows and no phone reception was the hint David received on his way to Johns office that this was a classified floor. No one gets in and no one gets out without stage 5 security clearance.

David thought back towards this morning as John dug through the mounds of paper work in front of him. The morning was going well, that is until three NSA agents showed up at his apartment. Being in great physical health, David found work on an oil rig in the frozen plains of North Dakota. It was the only job he could get after being exiled from the agency and being barred from all other federal jobs. The agents requested him to accompany them to the airport on a private flight to somewhere unknown. Once in D.C. he knew exactly where he was going and was all too familiar with the building he was in now.

John coughed and wiped his glasses clean before diving back into an open folder that read classified. David took a good long look at this "Special" agent, nothing to special about the desk jockey and according to the thickness of his glasses he can't see shit.

Johnathan was of average height and was slimmed down and cut to the bone. He qualified for Field work in all categories, only his vision kept him from making the last step from becoming a true field agent. John continued to read through David's papers when he suddenly looked up from his glasses, "What were you doing in Paris, France on the night of 3rd Echelons terrorist attack on the white house?"

David sat up clearing his throat, "Uh well, I was conducting intelligence retrieval on a bank the La Fierre if I remember correctly. Agent Ramirez issued the order…"

John interrupted, "Yea I know who issued you the order to break into the bank, but why were you doing it? What was your objective?" He leaned in starring at David intensively.

David shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He didn't like talking about his 3rd Echelon past. When he served his nation as an Air force Chief Analyst he felt like he could do more and much better work so after his Air Force career he decided to go Federal. 3rd Echelon picked him up from the CIA and trained him into a top notch Splinter Cell or "intelligence interceptor". That at least is the name they gave you on paper. "I was on assignment to break into the bank and gather the bank's register list. I was to forward the information back to Agent Ramirez after I personally hacked the system." He swallowed hard knowing what he did was illegal after he was arrested, but didn't know it was not sanctioned while doing it.

John frowned, "well I must be confused David because here, right here," he pointed with emphasis to a paragraph on paper, "It says you were there to grab the names of the banks elite payers and THEN plant a virus into the system to then track them down and…" He waited for David to finish his sentence.

"I don't know anything about a virus sir nor do I know what the agency planned on doing with the names I received."

John sat back in his chair and cracked a smile, "Bullshit."

David's eyes widened. "Excuse me sir?" He's been through all of this before time and time again with NSA investigators. "I've been cleared multiple times of any criminal involvement so I'm not going to sit here and listen to your damned opinions sir."

John slammed his fists down onto his desk, "you were working hand in hand with an Upper Echelon agent! You knew what was going on!" John began leaning over the desk. "You're not some dumb animal David! You knew exactly what Ramirez intended to do with that information and i want to know if you knew about it or not." John looked unto David's now simmering demeanor, yet he remained silent. "Well then, I guess you really are absent minded and ignorant to your fucking surroundings to not notice your mission's TRUE objectives."

David exploded from his seat prompting John to do the same. David leaned in close over the desk and pointed a finger in John's face, "I was in the dark. I WAS doing my job that WAS sanctioned by 3rd Echelon and I had no reason to doubt my superior at the time. My mission's objectives did not include assassination nor did it require me to plant a virus in the bank. I was to seek who the banks buyers were and that was it." David turned from John and started for the door.

John's voice boomed past David, "I'm not done! You take one step outside this room and I'll have you arrested and sent to the smallest darkest cell I can find in Gitmo!" John clenched his fists.

David paused taking in a deep breath. He turned around facing Johnathan and threw up his arms, "Tell me then why are you talking with me? What am I doing here? I've served my country proudly and all of a sudden I'm considered and treated like a traitor, again!" There was an awkward silence for a moment. John took a deep breath of air, restoring normal color to his reddened face, calming him down.

Jonathan wiped the sweat from his forehead and plopped back down in his seat. He took another deep breath and looked back up to David, "Would you please take a seat before I have a fucking aneurysm?" David was hesitant but reluctantly did so given he didn't have a choice. "Okay look, I've been tasked to read through your previous training and background missions while in 3rd Echelon and during your time in the CIA." A confused look swept over David's face. "I'm to recruit you for a mission." David's heart began to race.

"A mission for who? The NSA?"

John shook his head and looked David in the eye, "A mission for 4th Echelon." David's face lit up.

Tell me what you think about this new Splinter Cell. There is more to come. This story is not only about my made up character but given that there isn't many known Splinter Cells, and Sam Fisher is getting older and has bigger responsibilities, I had to make one up. Please review and thanks for reading! Fallow too if you wish, no harm done if you do.