Myanmar (Burma)

Felix's briefing was still ringing in Gillian's ear.

File Number 58219-2M5

Archeological archives indicates that an old Buddhist temple is situated at these coordinates in Myanmar, or as us Yanks still officially call it, Burma. The country has been ruled by a military junta since the late Eighties and is far from being a respectable bunch of men. Assistance then from local authorities is not forthcoming so covert entry is essential for any manner of success. You will fly by chopper from one of our ships in the Bay of Bengal and be dropped off in the jungle. Situation on the ground is unclear however the opium trade is prevalent. Be careful…

Gillian Hawke placed on her NVG though the dense foliage limited its effectiveness. It was still better than going in completely blind. In any event, it would be dawn soon but she wanted to be in position by then. She slung her M-16A1 over a shoulder for quick access and with machete in hand, began making her way through. A GPS was strapped to her wrist to prevent her from getting hopelessly lost.

The jungle was alive with sounds of an assortment of wildlife, from growling tigers to screaming monkeys. A python, wrapped around a tree branch at eye level, startled her and made her raise her machete as if to strike it. More from being spooked than malice.

Myanmar was the second largest opium producer, hence its existence in the Golden Triangle of the opium trade. It was quite possible for her to run into drug traffickers than loggers. There were also small insurgent groups to contend with among the ethnic Karen and Wa. As such, 004 was more concerned of the human threat in this jungle than from the animal kingdom.

Dressed in the jungle BDU, her short blonde hair covered under a dark watch hat. Webbing containing extra ammo, grenades and survival gear. Even her trusty Glock 28 was holstered in a shoulder rig. Q Branch had provided few toys this time. Stealth would be her greatest asset.

"There is a make shift road leading to the temple, possibly carved out of the jungle by Akbar's friends. It diverges about four miles out, one heading to the Irrawaddy River, another winding its way to a little used secondary unpaved road. One to the river might be an alternative during the monsoon season when dirt roads become nothing but mud and to bring supplies in by boat." Felix had earlier explained.

Gillian saw the road, keeping just ahead of being reclaimed by the surrounding jungle. She had reached the temple just before daybreak. Not far from the ruins were a couple of jeeps and old army trucks covered over in camouflage netting. Not the typical thing done by archeologists.

She did not see anybody as she scanned the temple and perimeter with her binoculars. No guards visible at the moment. She switched to infrared but no body heat signatures appeared. Gillian was unsure whether that was necessarily a good thing.

Gillian was going to get closer when she noticed movement near the temple's opening. It was soon followed by the arrival of a jeep and transport truck, both with Burmese army markings. She brought up her binoculars again as a Burmese officer, his shoulder boards indicating he was a colonel, stepped out of the jeep and was met by a woman who emerged from the temple.

"Colonel Maung Hsan, this is an unexpected surprise." The woman said in accented English. She was perhaps in her fifties with dark hair with just a trace of white. She still had a youthful beauty and was well toned. A woman who took care of herself, whether it be the gym or training.

The colonel smiled, flanked by a pair of his well-armed soldiers. "Ms. Smith. You know why I'm here."

'Ms. Smith' smiled though it lacked anything but warmth. "Yes Colonel. I could set my watch by it."

"Remember, you wouldn't be here at all without my protection. This jungle is full of unsavory people."

Gillian took out her mini digital camera. One of Q's toys, it would immediately uplink and the image appear on a screen at Vauxhall Cross - MI6 headquarters. She took a picture of the woman, hoping she was on some database.

'Ms. Smith' and Colonel Maung Hsan entered the temple.

"The temple's history is clouded but scholars have being built around the 13th century. It has a rather extensive tunnel system underground and these scholars believe it was meant to hide during Mongol raids. Some of these tunnels have caved in over time." So Felix had said.

She needed to get a better look and saw her chance when one of the guards needed to urinate. She came up behind him and with a well-placed chop to the neck, knocked him out. She needed a bloodless uniform to wear.

Gillian slipped the uniform over her BDU. It was slightly baggy but it would do. She picked up the guard's German-made 5.56mm HK G36 and with the field cap kept low on her forehead, proceeded toward the entrance.

She entered with two other guards but no one took much notice of her of which she was grateful. Staying slightly back, the other guards soon disappeared ahead. Her commlink crackled to life.

"We've identified the woman as Rebekka Engert, former major in the East German Stasi. A little before your time. Anyway, she's been a mercenary since the collapse of communism but we have no idea who her current employer is. Don't take her for granted, she's ruthless. Her file states she gets off on torture, especially women."

Gillian decided to take a look around. The tunnels were lit by lights at 12 feet intervals. Every so often there was a room and was often filled with supplies. She kept moving and found a munitions dump loaded with enough for a small army. Much of it was Russian, acquired through bribery or theft. A few crates packed a bigger punch like the SA-7 rocket launcher.

She could hear people talking ahead so keeping to what shadows there were, advanced slowly forward. What she came to was a vast antechamber. Gillian was unsure whether it was carved out by the monks of old or more recently. Rebekka was there with Maung Hsan. 004 used a piece of equipment as cover and watched what was going on. Then he appeared.

The man's face was etched in her memory in the event she would ever see it by chance anywhere in the world. Mustafa Al-Sabai was one of the top five in Al Qaeda. Involved in numerous terrorist attacks, including 9-11, he disappeared during the Afghan War. With his beard, he looked like a younger Castro, right down to the combat fatigues. It took a great deal of will power not to act on impulse and put a slug into him. At the moment, whatever was going on was more important.