Don't own Chuck
White looked out the window as the fasten-seat-belt light came on and he realized this was it for him, he had to come up with a rabbit or someone was going to take away his hat, his life. Looking down below he could see the high mountains that surrounded the gulf of Kotor then felt their quick descent and could see why this was one of the most dangerous airports to land at in the world. If they had crashed it would've given him a sense of relief so he had mixed feeling once the plane had touched down.
"Well, we're here," said Alpha as he came back to check on White and his men. "Any luck yet getting in touch with Black?"
"No, he's not answering which means he's probably gone dark," said White as they taxied off the apron then to towards an out of the way hangar.
"You know what that means and it's not good for us," said Alpha as it suddenly got dark outside. "What's going on," he said as he looked out the window. The ground's crew disappeared out of the hangar door closing it behind them. They were replaced my men in military uniforms.
"What's this? I thought you contacted the Circle and everything was cleared for us," said White as a hundred different scenarios ran through his head with none of them playing out well for them... for him.
"Everyone just stay calm, and let's not go into a panic... at least not yet. Let me find out what's going on first."
"They're moving a gangway next to the plane," said one of the men then they heard a bumping sound when it was pushed up against the hatch. "There's a man walking up now," said the same man then they heard a tapping sound like someone knocking at the door.
"Well, just don't stand there like idiots," yelled Alpha. "Open the hatch and let him in. We need to hear him out but everyone standby in case we have to shoot our way out."
They opened the hatch and a man walked in dressed in Montenegro customs officer's uniform carrying a briefcase. He sat it down then reached inside but as soon as he did everyone pulled weapons and pointed them at him.
"No, no, this simply won't do," said the man as he pulled out a clipboard. "Who's in charge here? Come on speak up I've got other planes to inspect. I can't waste all day here."
"That would be me," said Alpha as he motioned for everyone to put away their hardware. "I don't understand we're supposed to have been prescreened. Why do you have the army standing around outside?"
"You may call me Mr. Wilson... Michael, if you promise not to shoot the messenger," said the man as a joke but no one was laughing. "Well, it has been brought to our attention that this plane is transporting a large about of firearms..."
"And we have licenses for everything so what's the problem," said Alpha. Already he could see that the Major had been busy.
"I'm sorry but those permits have been revoked. It was pointed out that your declared reason for visiting our country was to visit the Casino and we can't have people with firearms walking around our casinos. This isn't like other countries where you can... well do things that would normally land you in jail. I don't know if you've ever seen one of our detention facilities but I can tell you that it's not like staying a hotel."
"I see and so what does this mean. I guess we could leave our hunting rifles here on the plane. Is that acceptable?"
"Along with your sidearms and other weapons. Now if you'd be so kind I'd like you to sign this form that says you've been formally warned and if you or your men are caught with a firearm while visiting our country the person or persons apprehended will be expelled immediately."
"And if I refuse to sign. I'm just saying and we did ask for permission as you've acknowledged," said Alpha as he looked around trying to think what to do.
"I understand but as I said those permits have been revoked and are no longer valid. If you refuse to sign this form then I will have no other option but to expel everyone immediately. You will have to depart and fly to some other country."
"No, no, I'll sign and we'll leave our gear here on the plane. I assume you'll place a guard on it while we're here," said Alpha as took the man's pen then signed the form.
"Please press hard so your signature goes through all the copies beneath and yes, this hangar will be closed and there will be a guard posted outside so you don't have to worry about anyone coming and stealing your things."
"Yes, that's exactly what I was worried about," said Alpha. He's real idea was to try to sneak back on the plane later and retrieve what he could. However, with guards posted and a motion detector security system that he'd seen through the window was going to make that difficult.
"Oh, one last thing," said Wilson as he handed Alpha his copy. "Your men will be search at the bottom of the ladder so please tell them to make sure they didn't forget to leave anything behind. You know sometimes people can be careless and forget what they've got in their pockets. I see that a lot in my business."
"Yes, I think we've all been guilty of that from time to time," said Alpha as he shook Wilson's hand. Wilson shook it back then started to leave.
"If there's nothing else I'll be down below with the soldiers waiting for you to leave. You can take your time deplaning and if you do think of something you can ask me at the bottom of the ladder and again welcome to Montenegro.
"Thank you," said Alpha as he saw him to the hatch. After the man was gone Alpha heard all the grunts and groins. None of his men liked the idea of leaving their weapons behind.
"Boss, this just isn't right. How are we supposed to protect ourselves if we haven't got crap to work with? It'll be as if we're naked out there."
"Don't worry my brothers," said Alpha as he got everyone around. "We'll hook up with Mr. Black and get weapons from him. Now make sure everything is locked away then let's go. We need to get a move on it."
"What are you promising? I haven't been able to reach Black," whispered White. "I told you that or have you forgotten?
"I haven't forgotten anything. We know where he'll be headed to so let's start from there," said Alpha then he turned back to his men. "Okay, I want everyone in their best suit we're heading for the Casino Royale."
Not far away Major Oleg observed everything. Everyone was so concentrated on watching the plane and its occupants that no one noticed the Major as he slipped into the hangar. It didn't take him long to figure out what was going on and he smiled as he slipped back out again.
"I didn't have anything to do with this but my hat's off to the person who did," he thought as he made his way back over to his BMW he'd parked around the corner and out of sight.
"I wanted to have my little talk with Alpha but I guess I'll have to table that for now. I know where he'll be heading next anyway," said the Major as he got to his car. "Things are looking up here. I wonder how they're going in Moldova."
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Casey and Mary humped all the equipment from where the car died through the Corneşti hills that overlooked the town below. It was pitch black when they arrived so they decided to make camp before venturing down into the valley below. However, because they were near they decided not to use any open flames which meant chemical packs to warm of their food and doing the best they could do to stay warm.
"Well, that's the last time I rent one of those cars. They just aren't very dependable," said Mary as she dropped her pack. "Clever my..."
"Don't go blaming the chicken because you didn't like the omelet," said John as he cut her off and dropped his pack too. "I told you to take it easy on those potholes but you didn't listen and that's what got us in this situation."
"Let's just say I choose to disagree and leave it at that. What's important is we got where we needed to get. From here you can cover me tomorrow when I go down and infiltrate the village..."
"Hold one there sister," said John as he started breaking out a couple MREs he'd brought with them. "Who says you're going down and infiltrating? I think I ought to be the one who does that. After all I've got the most experience in infiltrating."
"Setting up home inside walls maybe but that's not infiltrating. It's just making friends with the neighbors, the roaches and the rats. I know we can toss a coin for it," said Mary as she pulled out a coin from her pocket. "I'll be tails and you..."
"Oh no you don't, I know that trick. What do you think I was born yesterday? You're not going to pull anything over me. No, I'll take tails and you be heads."
"No, I certainly don't think you were born yesterday... Actually, I think you were hatch," she added under her breath.
"What was that? Oh, never mind just toss the coin and let's get this over." Mary tossed the coin in the air then caught it before it hit the ground slapping it on the back of her hand. She moved her hand and John scratched his head.
"It had to be a Democrat, didn't it," said John looking disappointed at the smiling face of President Kennedy. "Hey, wait a minute I want to check that coin. I think you cheated."
"Sorry, but a deal is a deal and don't be sore loser. Besides you took tails from me remember," said Mary as she quickly pocketed the coin.
"I think you've been hanging around Sam and some of her has rubbed off on you," said John as he grunted then went over and tossed her a MRE. "Don't ask me for my Chicken à la King nor my brownie."
"You don't have to be a sore looser about it," said Mary as she looked at the MRE he'd tossed her. "Umm meatloaf... not bad. It could've been worse. If you want I'll take the first watch so you can get some shut eye. That is unless you want to toss for it?"
"No, I'm happy to eat and then get some rest. That little hike took a lot out of me. You know there was a time when I could've made that with full packs with no problem. You know I'm always afraid that I'll slow up some day..."
"People like us, we don't slow up we just get more cautious. Are you sure you want that brownie? You know there is a lot of calories there."
"Back off, they hang brownie thieves where I come from. I wonder what Chuck's up to. He's back in L.A. living the dream taking Sam to school and making the Costco run. It's people like us who make that possible because we do the hard things that have to be done."
"Well, I'm just glad he's not here. I never wanted this for him and if he can sit this one out then the next one will be easier. I don't want him to end up like his father and I certainly don't want Sarah to end up like me but she seems determined to make that happen."
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Sarah and Margot planned out their strategy together in the Dungeon after their conversation with Langley. The General told them not to look for any additional men so they had to make do with what they had. The only problem they had was they didn't know the size of the force that was coming.
"A wet team doesn't tell me much," said Sarah. "There could be two to forty. What we need is to find a way to equalize our forces."
"There can't be that many men on that plane. Come on think about it if there are over ten they would've fallen all over themselves in Mexico city. For me we've got enough men..."
"But theirs are battle hardened which is something you can't say about the men you've got here. They can't flinch when pointing a weapon. If you point a firearm at someone you've got to be capable of pulling the trigger or you're dead."
"You don't have to worry about my people, they'll do what they have to do when the time comes," said Margo as Mike walked in smiling and whistling. "Maybe you can share with the rest of us what there is to be happy about?"
"Come on you already know? One of you arranged this, didn't you? I just wished I could've been there to see the look on our perps' faces when their plane landed."
"What are you talking about? They're ahead of schedule," said Margot as she grabbed up her phone and called reception. "I want everyone's passport scanned coming in now then sent it to Mike. ... Why? Because you like working here."
"Okay out with it or do I need to remind you that I am armed," said Sarah. She'd wanted to call home hours ago and now it was getting late. That combined with being tired made her... well not in a good mood for cat and mouse games.
"You two really don't know then?" said Mike as Sarah reached into her purse. "Okay, okay well like I said our perps have just landed and there to meet them was the Montenegrin Army and a customs officer. From what I was told they weren't allowed off the plane with any weapons and they were all searched on deplaning. But if neither of you organized this then who did?"
"I don't think it was the General because we just talked with her and all she told us was what she couldn't do which seemed to be just about everything."
"She told us that we were on our own and not to expect back up," said Margot as she put away her phone. "As we get people in, reception will scan their passport photos and send them to you. I want you to run them through facial recognition. But this doesn't tell us who called out the army for us?"
"Do we need to know who or just say thank you," said Mike. "I hate to bring this up, but a thought just occurred to me. What if they already have weapons stashed hereabouts? I mean after the break up of Yugoslavia and the war there are weapon troves hidden all over the place."
"Or they might have a man already here with the weapons they need," said Sarah as she looked over at Mike and Margot. "That would be this Mr. Black."
"But he's dead so they aren't going to get anything from him... at least not in this life."
"Ah, but do they know that? Think about it they've been in the air all this time. They might not know what happened to Black."
"If that's the case, boy are they in for a surprise."
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As they were talking down below the Casino, outside two taxis pulled up in front White, Alpha and the rest of the team climbed out. Alpha paid both taxis then they drove away leaving them looking up at the lights outside. He and his men were about to walk inside when Oleg walked out to greet them. Alpha looked up and growled as White stood there with hate in his eyes.
"You two look like a couple made in heaven," said Oleg. "If I were you Oscar, I'd bring my men inside in twos. You show up in a group like this and they're going to be onto you in heartbeat."
"Speaking of onto was that your idea of a joke back at the airport? I never pictured you as the type who'd rat out a brother."
"And I didn't. I'll admit I was there but I didn't rat you out. As a matter of fact, my original plan was to talk to you in the airport where there would be lots of witnesses but now I don't have to worry since I'm the only person here armed."
"Funny, but soon the tables will turn and you'll find out what happens to people who cross me," said White as he stepped forward.
"You let your dog loose for some exercise I see. Look this doesn't have to go down like this. You help me, I help you and we get the ledger then we all go home and everything is cool. Come on Oscar, we've been through too much together to throw all that away."
"I'm sorry I'm under orders and I'm not to let anything or anyone get in the way. That means above all you. So why don't you just get on the next plane and go back home?"
"Wish I could brother, but I've got too much riding on this to turn around and run now. I like you Oscar. I really do and you're a good second in command... or is that it? This is your ticket to become number one."
"You said it, I didn't but yes, it's about time I made the move and the Secretary promised me a seat at the table so I'm taking it. And this is a friendly heads up he's on to you and Twelve by the way."
"And this is me returning the favor. Your Mr. Black was gutted like a fish not too far from here last night and before you get any wrong ideas I didn't do it. If you don't believe me his body is in the morgue as a John Doe."
White was about to say something when they heard a woman's voice calling to the Major coming from the Casino so they all turned to look.
"Oleg... Oleg, who are you talking to," said an attractive red-head who walked up to him. "Is this your friend you had the disagreement with? Have you made up like I told you to do?"
"No, this is another acquaintance of mine who's dropped in by chance and we were just getting caught up. If you can give us just a few minutes darling I'll be right with you. I'll meet you inside at the bar."
"Then you're going to show me how to play poker. Remember you promised and a man is only as good as his word or don't you agree."
"Absolutely," said Oscar as he smiled at her then at Oleg. "I see now why you wanted to come here. You wanted to see some of the natural beauties."
"Oh, I like your friend. You need to be careful or I might want to spend more time with him," she said then she turned and went back inside. No one said anything but watched her as walked away. She could feel all their eyes on her and she liked it.
"One last thing then I have to go back inside," said Oleg. "As you heard I'm quite busy these days. But I wanted to tell you that Sheshenkov is on his way to meet with One and the Circle."
"This is another one of your jokes, isn't it?" said Oscar but Oleg shook his head. "How's this possible? I thought he was dead."
"Excuse me but who's this Sheshenkov and what does he want with the Circle? And how did he find out where we were meeting?"
"Kolonel Sheshenkov of the KGB and FSB and you name he knows everything about everyone. You might know him as the Butcher of the Caucasians. We've seen him obliterate armies and his motto is never leave any one alive."
"No one can come back for revenge if they're dead," said Oleg. "Cruel but simple and effective. If you think getting that ledger is going to get you a seat on the council... well if that's what Sheshenkov wants then you're out of luck and I'm not just saying that because I want it but because you'll probably have an accident."
"If that's what he wants... I mean a seat on the council. You said it yourself he might not be there for that."
"Are you stupid or something? Why else would he be there? You don't think he's come by to drop off a birthday card to save on the post? No, he's here for that seat and if he wants it he can have it. I just want to prove to him that I can be useful to him before he gets other ideas."
"Oleg is right. You've never seen anyone like him. Some people can think three and four moves ahead but this guy has the whole thing planned out down to when he's going to pause for tea."
"We're still here for the same thing, the ledger and to get that we need Jack Burton. You people can think that over then we can talk later. Right now, I've got a date," said Oleg then he turned and went back inside.
"Boss, what do we do now? Do we go inside and get rooms or do we go back to the plane?"
"No, we've got our orders and we're going to see them through. But we go inside like he said in twos to check-in."
"What does this mean to me," said White trying to wrap his head around everything.
"It sounds like you're quickly becoming expendable so if I were you I'd do something to prove my worth and do it in a hurry before someone gets different ideas."