The black Jaguar drove north up Whitehall passing through the very heart of British power. Nearly all the buildings along the road was a government department. Fowler watched it all go by from the back of Baines' car. The Treasury on the left then the Cenotaph on the right splitting the road followed closely by the newly built Women of World War II memorial. They passed the gated junction of Downing Street on the left. As patriotic as he was, he had to admire the history of the buildings and landmarks he was seeing. Part of him had wished he'd brought along a camera. It wasn't every day an Ex-Ranger like him would be passing through such a historic and famous place.
Baines negotiated the busy traffic, he took in his stride as he had done so many times before, though he took great care in making sure not to scratch his prized possession. They passed the MOD building along with the Wales Office on the right and the Scotland Office on the left. Baines turned off Whitehall and headed east on Horse Guards Avenue. Half way along the side of the Old War Office was a discreet entrance of an archway. Baines pulled off the street and stopped just short of the metal bollards blocking the entrance. He leaned forward to see the CCTV camera placed on the first floor balcony on the stone building focus on the car. A few moments later the metal bollards slowly descended into the ground allowing access. Baines drove very slowly through the archway just wide enough for the Jaguar. He eased the car into the central courtyard and circled around the group of other vehicles and parked in his allocated space. All four got out and without a word spoken between them Baines led them over the the east side of the building. They passed through the big old oak door and came to the security post that stood between the doorway and the rest of the marble hall.
"Good day, sir" The guard said. She sat behind the raised desk and excepted the photo card that was Baines security pass.
"Good day to you as well. These three are with me. No weapons and hold the same clearances as I do. No ID on them but I can vouch for them"
She inspected the ID card as standard and was satisfied. She handed in back "Okay, that is no problem sir"
She got up from her seat reaching for a hand held metal detector and stepped around the desk. Baines stood with his arms out as she scanned him, then scanned the other three exactly the same.
"Okay, all good here. Good day to all" She said and allowed them access.
"Thank you"
The four walked the distance across the hall to the staircase with their footwear clacking and clopping. The staircase ascended up then split in two directions looping around the edge of the hall. They climbed the first section and up to the left, looped around on the north side of the hall where halfway along the side being the start of a corridor.
The three followed Baines down the corridor with various other people shuffling back and fore along the corridor between rooms. Most were naval personnel in uniform. All gave a short salute to the Rear Admiral as he passed along. It was clear on their faces they knew to respect him.
After a lengthy walk they came to an unambiguous wooden oak door. Their was a small golden plaque nailed the the door at eye level.
Rear Admiral Colin Baines OBE
Director Submarines
Fowler read the plaque and then it dawned on him just how senior Baines was.
Baines opened the door and stepped into his front office and the others followed straight in behind him. Sitting behind a cluttered old mahogany desk was Baines' assistant. She was becoming elderly, the same age as or maybe older than Baines himself was. She quickly got up seeing the arrival of the rear admiral.
"Sir" She greeted, slightly surprised by his arrival.
"Hello again" He politely replied "So where is it?"
She shuffled around her cluttered desk and moved over to another door leading through to Baines' personal office. She went in with Baines following "The delivery was a special one from GCHQ. Seemed very urgent. They wanted to hand it to you personally, but you weren't here off course so I had to explain where you were so-" She rattled out quickly in an almost stutter.
"Stop" Baines said. "Just tell me where it is now" He said slowly and calmly.
"Sorry, it's just been very busy here" She said. Without another word she stepped over to Baines' desk and from a neatly stacked pile of letters she pulled out a half A4 size envelope made of modern white paper with a hand written address on it with no stamp. She handed it over to Baines with a sad smile.
"How is he?" She asked.
The others looked at each other and shrugged and stepped into the office silently.
Baines struggled to answer at first stuttering "He's been put in remand. He's being send to Southwark Prison as we speak"
"Poor lad"
It was only then did she recognize the existence of the other three. She quickly stepped over to them with a hand out to greet them "I'm so sorry. How do you do?" She shook each of there hands.
"This is my assistance Margaret. She's been helping me since I stopped going to sea" Baines introduced her. Baines didn't introduce the others to Margaret which she knew to mean she wasn't to know who they were so she never asked their identity.
"Would you care for tea or coffee?" She asked them. Optimus and Elita declined.
Fowler gave the admiral a quick glance, Baines subtly nodded "I'll have a coffee, white, no sugar"
Baines looked at the envelope for a moment to study it closely and without looking up said to Margaret "I'll have tea please, same as always"
"Very well sir" She left Baines' office and out of the front office and turned right down the corridor.
Baines walked around his big desk and slumped in his leather chair. "Mr Fowler, would you mind closing the door please?"
Fowler did as instructed and pushed the heavy oak door closed. He looked back at the room and observed everything on display. Many old painting on the walls of sailing warships from a bygone era. On the various cabinets, cupboards and small tables was many display models of submarines, some new most of them were of decommissioned classes. Some were cross sections showing how they were constructed.
Baines saw the others still standing "Please, take a seat. We might be here for a while" He gestured to the two chairs set on the other side of his desk and another few put to one side of his office. Elita and Optimus sat opposite to Baines while Fowler sat by himself and studied the office more.
Baines opened the envelope carefully. Inside was a single piece of A4 paper that was folded twice to fit inside the rectangular envelope. He opened a draw in his desk and pulled out his reading glasses and read the letter carefully.
Fowler took notice of photo's that were framed. Most were black and whites of previous Rear Admirals who had once held this office all sat in front of the camera smiling and proud with rows of medals displayed on the left side of their chests. They were all small twenty by twenty frames. The last few in the row the quality of the photo got better and became colour with the very last being Baines himself. He looked along the wall and their was a much bigger photo set in a gold painted pine fourty eight by thirty six frame.
"You've met the Queen?" He asked the admiral.
"Yes" Baines replied without looking away from the letter "When I was made Rear Admiral. Also I was knighted by her as well and I've met her on many other special occasions. It's an occupational hazard of the job" He joked and carried on reading the letter.
"Is everything in order Admiral?" Optimus asked.
"One minute. This letter has been encrypted" Baines opened another draw and placed a clean white sheet of A4 paper and from the middle of the desk he picked up his black fountain pen and began to decode the letter.
The door quietly opened again and Margaret came in holding a tray. She softly floated over to the admiral's desk and off loaded a small white china cup and matching saucer with a pot of tea brewing and a small jar of milk. She left the tray on the desk as she picked up a much larger cup of coffee made to how Fowler had ask and she handed it over to him as he graciously accepted it.
She picked up the tray again and waited for a moment.
"Thank you Margaret" Baines said simply.
"Privacy?" She asked.
"Yes, please"
She turned to the door and quietly stepped outside and closed the door behind her.
With one hand he pour the tea into the cup and then followed it with the milk. While with the other he was writing away as he decoded the letter.
"Hmm" Baines started "It's a letter of apology. Also it's a place for a meet"
"Who from?" Elita asked.
Baines looked up from his desk at her "Who do you think?"
"Control?"
Baines nodded.
"So where and when?" Fowler asked the crucial question.
"If I've decoded properly then it's out of London. I think it's referring to an old farm near Radwinter, Essex. Might be abandoned if he wants to meet there.
"So then, what are we waiting for?" Fowler got up ready to get going.
"Hold your horses Mr Fowler" Baines said "He doesn't want to meet for another three hours from now. Besides he wants a reply before he goes himself as he doesn't want to be waiting needlessly. So before we do anything else I have to write a reply and send that to him then we will get going"
Baines again got another piece of paper from a draw and started to write a reply. Fowler sat back down knowing that they weren't going anywhere soon.
"I'm sorry you're bored Mr Fowler. I would let you go for a wonder but we can't have a Yank roaming the place by himself. If you want more coffee you can ask Margaret for more"
"No I'm fine" Fowler replied.
Michael had been transferred to HMP Southwalk without incident. He'd kept quiet the whole way. He had been let out from the cage in the back of the van and led inside to the remand wing of the prison. His details were taken and was searched for weapons and drugs. He was given a set of clothes which he got changed into and he handed over his uniform. He was given the does and don'ts while in the prison. He didn't argue about any of them as he just wanted to get it over with. They led him into the wing and to his new cell. The old brickwork was painted white, a bunk bed in the corner with a wash basin and toilet in another with a little desktop running along the other side and a tiny window with bars across it. Michael sighed and heavy sigh, he climbed to the top bunk seeing it had more headroom. He laid down his feet and head touched each end.
"So you must be me cell mate" Came a voice. Michael sat up to see a young man that seemed the same age as himself. He was skinny, pale but look like the type to be in prison regularly. Michael didn't want anything to do with him. He looked like a petty time criminal, possibly a former drug addict which was something Michael didn't like.
"So what's your name mate?" He asked.
"Tinker bell" Michael answered coldly.
"Huh. Me name's Sam" He stepped into the cell and reached out to shake Michael's hand. Michael said nothing and did nothing. Sam took his hand back looking sheepish. "I'm in because I broke a sus-sus-sus" He stuttered trying to remember "Suspended sentence. The cops have it in for me, they say I is a nuisance. But I told them that I ain't doing nothing wrong. So what you in for?"
Michael slowly sat up and properly faced Sam then studied him for a moment "I think you language skills is shit" He said "And if you really want to know I'm in for multiple murder"
"What's that mean?" Sam asked.
"Are you completely stupid? Did you go to school?"
Sam didn't shake his head or nod either. It said enough to Michael.
"Fine then seeing you must be completely thick I'll tell you simply. I'm in because they believe I killed lot's of people"
Sam's face was filled with dread, he was sharing a cell with a serial killer "Are you going to kill me too?"
"Why? Have you giving me a reason to?"
Sam quickly shook his head.
"Well then, I have no intention of killing you. My name is Michael" He reached out his hand. Sam slowly shook his hand now completely terrified. Michael grinned, he wouldn't be getting any trouble from this guy.
Baines had send the reply to Control via a special mail to GCHQ. They had departed from Baines' London office and drove to a location to bridge back to the Autobot base. Baines had informed the others of developments, the reaction was confusion. It didn't make sense as to why the MI5 director would have anything to say to Baines after what he just did in Westminster.
"So, what do you expect he'll have to say?" Ratchet asked as he stood next to the main base computer, leaning on a railing.
Baines was sat on one of the computer desks "To be honest, I don't know what to expect any more. First a Russian spy from my past turns up from out of the blue for reasons I still don't know then Control does an completely unexpected U-turn while giving evidence. For all I know, he could meeting to gloat or explain why"
Ratchet murmured as a response as he looked away.
"What's the weather going to be in Essex?"
Ratchet pushed himself off the side of the raised area and stepped to the computer and did a quick check.
"Eighty percent chance of precipitation. Temperature with lows of ten degrees Celsius and highs of fifteen with light winds from the north east"
"So, cold wet weather, great" Baines said sarcastically.
Their was still plenty of time to wait before meeting the MI5 director. Baines had so many questions for him, but it was mostly why? Why did he shop Michael? Why did he go over in fine detail with him before then say the exact opposite? The more he thought about it the more increasingly angry he became. He would try to cool his temper down but it wasn't working.
Then the time came to leave for the county of Essex. As a precautions, Optimus had decided that himself along with Arcee and Elita would accompany him in case it was a set up. Whatever Control might have been planning, the presence of three Autobots would put a stop to it.
The three Autobots transformed and lined up in front of the ground bridge as Baines got in his own car. Ratchet activated the ground bridge and one by one they drove through the swirling wall of light.
The clouds had got thicker in the last few hours and they had started to dump heavy rain over the county of Essex. The ground bridge opened up onto a single carriage road in the flat countryside. Optimus came out first at speed closely followed by his second in command Arcee then Elita and Baines came through last with the portal closing in on itself. The Autobots shot on a head so they could check the meeting place before Baines got there.
Optimus has pushing the hedgerows aside with the displaced air as he struggled to keep to the side of the road. This road was not made for lorries or trucks. The other two stuck close behind him as they travelled along the wet road. They approached the junction to the farm they were headed to. Optimus had to take it very slow as it was a tight fit. He took his time along the very bumpy muddy road as his suspension bounced a lot with trying to get good traction from the tyres. Arcee actively going around the bumps and deep puddles with Elita having to do the same.
"Couldn't have pick a better huh?" Arcee quipped.
"I'm sure Control has his reasons for wanting to meet here" Optimus replied.
They rolled down the muddy track and came to a small collections of abandoned buildings. There was the old farmhouse which had fallen to disrepair along with a few other structures which was unidentifiable and a barn made of corrugated metal. Parked in front of the barn was a black saloon. The drivers door opened and out came Control wearing a cream colour trench coat. He stood by his car without saying a word.
The Autobots transformed and scanned the area in case of a trap. They found none.
Optimus raised his contacted Baines who wasn't far behind "It is safe for you to enter"
They all stood in the pouring rain getting wet quickly. Controls trench coat had quickly changed to a darker colour. From the muddy track came Baines' black Jaguar it's headlights made a cone shape through the rain drops. It rose and fell to the surface of the track as it approached the farm. He eased it between the standing Autobots and parked a few meter directly in front of Control's car. The engine died and the light grew dim.
Baines got out from his car and slammed the door behind him. He put his white uniform cap on and briskly walked around the front of his car and towards Control.
"Never trust a spook!" He yelled.
He stepped right up to Control and grabbed his trench coat at the front and slammed him on the side of the other car.
"WHY!" He barked "TELL ME!"
He slammed Control repeatedly against the side of the car with great force, his anger had overwhelmed him.
"I had no choice"
"WHO!" Baines said in his rage "WHO DIDN'T GIVE YOU A CHOICE?"
Control said nothing.
"WHO?!"
Again nothing. Baines let go of him and punched him hard in the jaw and kept on hitting him till he was in the mud. Optimus quickly stepped in and dragged the Admiral back.
"That's enough" Optimus told him.
With his other hand he helped Control get to his feet.
"Now it's time for some answers here" Optimus started taking command of the situation. With a gentle flick, Optimus moved Baines away to give Control some space so both would cool down. Baines shook the rain of his coat as he stepped away. The Autobot waited patiently but Elita was having a tough time doing so, she was desperate for answers as much as anyone else.
"Who was it?" Elita said, no having no longer being patient.
"Well it's hard to explain you see... it's..." Control was struggling to give a straight answer.
Elita stomped over and bent down eye level with Control and roared "WHO!"
Control was thrown back in shock and fear, his arms raised up in front of him to defend himself.
"Megatron!" He shouted as if pleading not to be harmed. The three Autobots and Baines didn't believe what they were hearing.
"It was Megatron" Control repeated.