Chapter 6
"Pan Am 103 is Down"
Within news of the downing of Flight 103, our school security chief, Viper, immediately dashed over to Ben Gurion Airport to find out what exactly happened to the plane. But, it was clear that like the rest of us, our security chief had a strong hunch that our students were the targets of a Team Rocket terrorist attack against America. This was further confirmed when Viper was greeted by the sight of a Mossad officer also arriving at the airport.
"Agent Goldberg," the young Israeli said as Viper made her way into the El Al Terminal. "Did you hear?"
"I did hear," Viper answered hastily. "Pan Am 103 went down over Scotland. Team Rocket made the threat and they carried it out. Do we have someone from El Al to talk to?"
They then came across a front desk agent who took notice of their presence. The agent wasn't sure what was happening, but something told her that she was dealing with agents from Mossad.
"Excuse me?" she asked. "Are you from the Authorities?"
"Yes, Mossad," answered Viper, showing the agent her badge along with the other agent. "I'm sure you are aware that a Pan Am went down over Scotland. 25 of the passengers are from the Pokemon League Academy."
This made the agent feel taken aback slightly, almost as if she had something to say.
"Those 24 students and their teacher?" she gasped. "I put them on Pan Am 103 in Frankfurt. The chaperone was determined to get on our nonstop, but there were no seats available."
Of course, Machiko was going to advocate for a nonstop flight on El Al for the safety of all the students under her care. Although it was a sensitive situation, Viper had to ask the agent specific questions. Although we didn't know it at the time, our early assumption was that Team Rocket smuggled an agent disguised as an El Al employee.
"Are you saying that…?"
"We need to profile all the employees who were working this morning as well as baggage records," replied the Mossad Agent. "Where is your supervisor?"
The El Al Agent then brought Viper and the Mossad agent to the back room of the check in counter.
"Ishmael, these people are from Mossad," she remarked, causing the supervisor to rise to his feet.
"Thank you," he replied, allowing his two sudden guests inside his office. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm sure you are aware that Pan Am 103 is down for a start," said Viper. "25 of the passengers who were on the flight checked in for your morning flight to Frankfurt. I also happen to be the head of security for the Pokemon League Academy where they came from."
"And are you…?"
"No, but I have been monitoring activity around the city for Team Rocket agents," said the Mossad Agent. "In fact, I've had suspicion that some of your staff aren't who they are."
This made the supervisor become defensive.
"What? Are you accusing your own airline for hiring workers that aren't who they say they are? How dare you, Agent…"
"Wolf, Lazar Wolf."
"Agent Wolf, I can assure you that we would never compromise the safety of our passengers and crew. El Al trains its staff to put the safety of our passengers and crew first and foremost."
"Well, we are still going to need the names of everyone who was working here this morning, ticket agents, security personnel and baggage handlers," said Agent Wolf. "If we don't find anything, you are all clear to resume normal operations."
Still the supervisor stood his ground.
"Or we could ask for a search warrant and turn your operations upside down."
Not wanting to be more trespassed than he already was, the supervisor complied and the screening of all El Al employees began. Naturally, all of the employees were cleared and El Al resumed it's operations in Tel Aviv.
However, Viper had more plans to investigate what happened. Walking over a payphone, she picked up the phone and called to a secure Mossad location.
"Yes, all of the El Al staff have been cleared of any sabotage," she said. "In any case, it might be a Team Rocket agent disguised as a Pan Am staff member that allowed the bomb to get on the plane."
"And how can you be so sure, Agent Goldberg?"
"You know that Team Rocket had been planning an attack on Pan Am flights for the past two weeks ever since that news from Helsinki came out," Viper replied. "If they didn't plant operatives here in Tel Aviv, it's most likely they focused on Frankfurt where Pan Am flights were targeted."
"Yes, but right now, our friends at the FBI and the International Police are already sending personnel to Lockerbie, Scotland, Agent Goldberg," said the Mossad supervisor. "Right now, we need to search the wreckage for any physical evidence that we could use against Team Rocket in a court of law. Can you fly to Lockerbie as quickly as possible?"
"I can and I have Agent Wolf with me."
"Good, we'll have a plane on stand by to take you to Scotland in the next couple of hours. I advise you to plan accordingly."
Hanging up the phone, Viper and Wolf left the terminal and proceeded to prepare for the last minute flight to Scotland.
…
