I OWN CHUCK!...
....
..ok, so not realy. But a man can dream.
Thanks the comments so far and sorry for the delayed update. Not Beta'd so all mistakes are me.
-- Chuck Vs the Bunker Chapter 6 --
As they entered the conservatory an Indian man wondered over. The Director introduced him as Lester Patel, an analyst with the electronic interception taskforce. Leaning into the Director Lester said. "Charles, before I forget, would you be so kind as to thank Casey for his fine words during the Memorial fundraiser? I'd tell him myself but he... well that dude still sort of scares me".
"Ok Lester, I'll tell him" before pausing and adding "You know Chloe lodged another complaint".
"I'm sorry Charles, It won't happen again"
"See that it doesn't. I can only keep the oversight committee off your back for so long"
As he wondered away the Director whispered to Snow. "Just as well he's better at spying on the enemy than he is on his ex wife".
"Now where's Morgan" said the Director looking around. Then from across the room a bearded man in a white smocked rushed over and hugged the Director fiercely "Chuck!"
"Hey Buddy!" hugging the man back. "Good to see you, is Anna with you?"
"Yeah, she's right here" he said as a smartly dressed Asian woman walked over. "Hey Chuckles" she said giving him a quick hug.
"Guy's I want you to meet Agent Snow. Agent Snow, meet Morgan Grimes world famous chef and Anna Wu of the US secret service."
Morgan looked at Snow carefully before turning to the Director "Jimmy's little boy?" to which the Director nodded and added "he's also a fan". Smiling Morgan grabbed Snow and dragged him off to the table saying "Boy you've got to try my blueberry muffins"
When their escort brought them into the room labelled 'Intelligence - Joint Operation Centre' all eyes turned to the three agents. A young man rushed over looking relieved to see them.
"Oh, thank god your here. YOU are Agent Carmichael right, Excellent!" He said red faced before continuing at breakneck pace "Everyone's been briefed". Then indicating the buzzing phones "They just keep calling, half our systems are offline for the upgrade and we can't get any sense from Cheyenne. Ohmygosh and the commander! He ordered us to look for evidence on the Russians but.. " Lt Hick's throw his hand up in frustration. "Where do we start? I don't know what to do! I mean they could attack at any moment.... Do you think they will invade?" Then a little hysterical "we're all gonnadie".
"Whoa there!" Chuck said before the young man hyperventilated further. "You must be Lt Hicks right?"
"Yes Sir" said the flushed lieutenant looking nervous
"Ok, you were saying about systems being down for an upgrade?" Chuck said taking in the impressive amount of chaos around them.
"Oh right, We were updating our firmware and installing these new encrypted HBA's. HBA right .. There these little devises.." he started explaining before Chuck stopped him.
"Ok, OK I know what a Host Bus Adapter is. Just tell me what you need to get up and running?"
Lt Hick's gave him a hurt look before continuing.
"Were mostly done, we just need to install the last few cards and re-rack the servers. I've got two guys on it but you know it takes time to patch everything back in" he said before sighing and adding miserably "Not that will do any good".
"Why not?" said Chuck getting irritated.
"The servers are encrypted, you need the access code's to get anywhere past the boot up sequence, which we don't have. Only the DOD office in Washington has them. And their" He made the gesture for an explosion.
As soon as the lieutenant said "access codes" Chuck flashed.
Flowers
Images of numbers and encryption settings
Cow in field
System maintenance manual
Flowers
Once the flash had finished Chuck said levelly "Ok, I don't think that will be a problem".
Hick's looked at Chuck strangely but didn't say anything as Chuck continued "Now go down to the VIP quarters and find Jeff and Lester. They might not look like it but they can give you a hand with the servers". Lt Hick's looked a little relieved and rushed off to the door without waiting to see if Chuck had anything more to add.
Chuck glanced round at Sarah and Casey before pointing to an empty office near by.
"He reminds me of you" said Casey as they came in to the office.
"I resent that!" said Chuck before adding "So you guys buying this whole axis of evil thing".
"No, it's bull. They don't have a clue too who's done this. They just hit out blind" said Casey.
"I think Casey's right. It just doesn't make any sense. What are you thinking?"
"I think it's a bit of coincidence that Beckman had us trawling for contacts between uranium shipments and Fulcrum hours before .." Chuck said mimicking Lt Hick's explosion gesture.
"You think it was Fulcrum?" said Sarah. "Or the ring" Chuck replied. The three exchanged glances for a second before Casey sagged and said "it makes a sort of sense. Anyways more than the garbage their peddling"
Seeing that they were in agreement Chuck took the seat behind the desk and looked up at the other two "Now what?"
"Man up Chuck, it's your show" said Casey.
"Yeah about that." Chuck responded.
"Save it Bartowski. We've got work to do. Now what's the plan genius?"
"Right but.." Chuck started before Casey cut him off with a growl.
"Ok then.. eh, right. Man up Chuck .. I can do this. Casey you go find Snow, I want to know what we have to work with. If we get a lead on Fulcrum we want to be able to move straight away."
"Sarah you try and get hold of Beckman, if that's not possible then anyone, Anyone, from the CSA or CIA and can tell me .. Imeanus.. what to do."
"Whereas I'll be here, you know get a handle on things, maybe go though what they have, hopefully something will flash." He said looking up at the two agents. Sarah smiled reassuringly and Casey nodded approvingly. "Just one small thing first" he said standing and stepping out in to the operations centre.
"Ok, can I have your attention" dozens of nervous eyes turned to Chuck.
Taking a deep breath chuck continued. "As you now know we've been attacked. Unfortunately the people who did this are still out there. It seems it's now up to us to try and stop them."
Pausing Chuck looked around the room at the scared faces and continued.
Someone much better and prettier than me once asked me if I was 'that guy'. It took me a while to realise the answer to that question". Chuck noticed everyone look a little confused and so explained.
"That Guy, The one who does the job that has to been done, not because he wants to or because he isn't afraid. No the guy who does it because he chooses to put something greater than himself first.
"Look I know this isn't what you signed up for but sometimes that's how it is. Some people want to be heroes and others have to be asked. Right now I'm asking. People out there need us and we have a duty to help them."
"So I need you to go back to your desks and decide if you are 'That guy'" then spotting one of the many women in the room and adding "or girl for that matter".
The assemble people looked at each other. Casey saw a few nods and then spoke up.
"Right everyone, you heard Agent Carmichael, get back to work".