Chapter Five - Foreign Affairs

It was another morning meeting at General Strasenhaur's office - but this time Illya Kuryakin was not in a mood to listen politely. And it showed.

"No excuses, General!" Not quite a shout - but the emphasis on the words cut like a knife. Illya paced a path from the desk to the wall, then back. "The agent you sent was incompetent."

"But..." Strasenhaur hesitated. The wrong word now could be more then a social blunder. This agent was, after all, high in two agencies. "You did seduce him. I have the pictures."

"I did what was necessary to salvage the mission." Illya spun. "But doing so made the mission itself a danger. Now the evidence we could use against Solo could be turned against us, should Solo manage to convince Waverly that he needed to insure my loyalty."

True. But? Keeping one eye on the irritated Russian, General Strasenhaur began, "It was you're choice to continue the operation. We could have..."

"Delayed? Tried again?" The blond man made the word a curse. "And permitted Solo to become suspicious?" Illya picked up the single file on Strasenhaur's desk, pulling out the dozen black and white photos. Not one of them could have been published in even the most liberal magazine - Russian or American. And if they had been so published the least of them would have led to prison or disgrace for the men who appeared in them. Which was, of course, their purpose.

"It is dangerous to play games against men of his abilities." Illya continued. "Lethally dangerous." He flung the incriminating pictures on the desk. "For now, Solo believes this was a THRUSH operation. I suggest he NOT be disillusioned."

"But" The General shifted back, almost wincing in his chair. If they could not use the evidence, then why...?

"If at some future time you must use those photos, say that they were captured from a THRUSH satrapy."

"Excellent suggestion." Strasenhaur fumbled for his pen. "I will note that in the file." He took the chance to slide the evidence back onto the folder. From his shaking hands, it was clear that the General was now wishing there was some way to hide away the events themselves.

"As for Mr. Solo," Illya continued in a calmer voice. "I believe I can control any further advances." After a moment, Illya muttered. "I hope." Taking a deep breath, as if to steel him self for some great task, he picked up the now-sealed file. "If not?" He gave Strasenhaur a calculating look. "There are - possibilities."

"Very useful possibilities, Agent Kuryakin." Strasenhaur agreed swiftly. Both to end the conference, and because they both were deep enough in their peculiar business to know that Kuryakin spoke the truth. Friendship was well and good, but for real leverage? Over an agent of Solo's caliber? Greater recourses then one outside agent had been sacrificed. Often. And gladly.

Even so, Strasenhaur hoped the sacrifice would never be needed. He respected Kuryakin. Deeply. Not many Russian agents would endure so much to protect a 'lesser' agency. Here indeed was the true and selfless 'new man' of the socialist world.

Well, Strasenhaur decided, he would do what he could. At the very least, he would classify this matter at the very highest levels of state secrecy. "I'm just sorry that you..." Standing, the General opened his high-security safe and set the file inside. "I promise such a sacrifice will never be asked again."

"Nonsense, Comrade General." Illya said briskly. "We all must do our duty. However hard."