The Guild, Secretive U.S. Intel Operatives
Chapter 10 - Getting Carter
Kate awakens after almost 12 hours of a deep sleep after her first successful Guild mission. She feels renewed but famished, her stomach growling telling her so. None of the team had gone for nourishment after their op but went straight to bed for a recovery sleep to revitalize physically and mentally from that dangerous mission.
Kate arises from her bed and tidies up a bit, washing her face, brushing her hair, and then toothbrushing and dressing for the day. Done with her morning routine, she heads for the galley. No other team members are there, so Kate starts to brew a new pot of coffee. After awhile the aroma of the brew indicates it's ready and Kate pours herself a cup. She takes a sip and instantly feels the kick of the coffee as the caffeine takes hold. It is then that Rick Castle stumbles in, also obviously looking for a morning pick me up.
Kate grabs an empty cup, fills it, and then hands it to Castle.
"Thanks Kate, I needed this."
Rick takes a sip and like Kate feels the effect. He is now more awake.
"Debrief went well with the director", says Kate.
"Yeah, it did."
"Hunt did think your decision was the right call to come after me instead of delaying the tug. The one draw back is that Carter got away."
"Director Hunt has been pre-disposed to think that way as the result of my affair with Sophia. He, like many, thinks that in this business one should not become too involved with team members as it could affect the unit efficiency, particularly for those in leadership positions."
"Want to talk about it?
"Look Kate, what I told you was the honest truth. I am falling for you."
"And how is it different from what happened with Turner?"
"That was more the two of us just scratching an itch."
"How do you know this isn't the same?"
"Because it's you and not Turner."
"And how am I different?"
"You're not obsessed like she was and you are the more rational."
"Thank you for your confidence in me, but we still have to remain cautious about becoming more involved with one another."
"Kate, it's taken me a while to come to this realization of how I feel for you. I was holding back because of what happened with Sophia and I am being more cautious now."
"Still Rick, I am expendable. We all are. When the moment comes that it's the mission or me, I trust you to make a good call.
"Even if it means I lose you, or worse yet, get you injured so badly that you do not have good quality life for your remaining years!"
"Especially that. You are team leader so must make that tough call when it comes to it and I can not be the reason you choose otherwise. We can continue our private relationship, but on the job I am like everyone else, expendable. Do we have an understanding?"
"We do!"
Just then Espo shows up.
"Is that a new pot of coffee?"
"It is", says Castle handing Espo a empty cup."
"Thanks Bro!", then pouring himself a cup, he turns to address Beckett, "you did good little sis."
"Glad I did not disappoint."
"Well you have now been baptized by the fire of a successful mission", says Ryan as he gets to them having heard the last part of Espo's talk.
"So what's up with our next mission to get Carter", the boys ask together.
"A satellite conference call at 1300 with the Director. So get done with what you need to do, and then we reconvene back here."
"Roger that boss."
Mission Conference
They are in the galley area of their boat. Present are all the members of the team along with LtCol Kwan.
Director Hunt is speaking on a satellite TV conference call, he is shown on the 45 inch flat screen on the Guild boat.
"Carter managed to escape having left the scene before the team got there, but intel has traced Carter's whereabouts either to New Zealand or Australia. He has his Australian HQ in Sydney. But from our informants there, Carter has not been seen. It is expected that he will be accompanied with Lei Beng and they are coming up with a new plan to draw the CCP into a situation. Once again they plan for yet another incident. One that will lead to replacing CCP leadership with that of The Front's."
"So what's the undercover guise for this mission?"
"The same. Paula Haas is to release an announcement the Castle AsianTour, after a brief recess for much need relief from an exhaustive schedule, is now modified to include Australia and New Zealand. On this mission we need to get evidence of Carter's involvement in a terrorist plot. It must be solid evidence enough to convict him before an international court for Terrorism. We are proposing to do so by honey trapping Carter to reveal such info. "
"Director do you think that is smart? Beckett's never been involved in such a ruse."
"Correct, Castle. This is where we miss the expertise of Turner she had been involved in such undercover work in the past."
"I don't like it Director, Kate will be in a precarious situation here. Carter is a know predator and will seek to satisfy his lecherous inclinations with Kate. Kate was lucky on her first encounter with him. Even Sophia as skilled as she was still would have need for backup if the ruse went badly. How do we plan to protect Kate from falling into a trap set by Carter? He had her in such a situation in the past and if not for luck, Kate could have been exploited. Even Sophia would have had to use all her skills to keep Carter at arm's length! "
"He is a womanizer Caste. That is Carter's achille's heel, he is most vulnerable to it", says Kate signaling her intent to do her part for the team and the mission objective.
Kate adds to her comment with, "I'm a big girl Castle. I can handle it despite my lack expertise in such an undercover role. Beside I have already faced him once so a rematch is in play but one that I now have an idea of how it will go down."
"I know Kate that you will step up to the plate on this, but Sophia's first such undercover op had her almost forced to succumb to her intended target's aggression. Had it not been for our timely arrival, her aggressor could have overwhelmed her. That op could have gone south easily but for the dice falling our way. I want to avoid a similar scenario."
"There are risks involved and I am willing to go there if needed for the mission and to bring this perpetuator to justice."
"The dangers are too much against you Kate. I have to raise my concerns."
"Director, may I have a sidebar with Castle while we discuss this matter outside the group."
"Well let's take a needed break here while Caste and Beckett work this out."
Sidebar
"Castle, are you objecting to my undercover role because of your feelings for me? This is precisely what I wanted to avoid."
"I would raise these concerns about the tasking even if Sophia was the one doing it. Despite her experience, I still would object and did so in the past. The outcome for you here is too dangerous if things go wrong."
"Rick, I can handle it despite your concerns."
"Kate if the boys were put into a situation where the risks are just as damaging, I would object. My personal feelings have no bearing here, from a risk analysis, it is too much to pursue. I'm doing my job here as Team Leader. If we can come up with a way to have more protection for you, I will agree to your participation in this Honey Trap ploy."
"I will be wearing a wire so you can hear what is going on as we record Carter's statements. If I agree to a subcutaneous tracker, you can know my location at all times, should actions go bad?"
"That reduces the risk, and at least we will have eyes on you at all times, but I need more of an assurance to agree to putting you out there."
"How about I carry a drug filled syringe as backup to put Carter under should he attempt anything nefarious. I could slip it in a drink or inject him directly after I get the evidence needed. I could then get away while he is drugged."
"Then it comes down to how fast you can get Carter to implicate himself before he comes at you? It might not happen on one day, but may require time and you are in danger all the while. How long can you dangle yourself as the bait without getting devoured by your prey?"
"Are you concerned he might physically get aggressive with me and I can not stop it?"
"Kate, that has always been implied by such an undercover ploy. Are you ready for that? Even with drugs, if it fails, what is your other plan? To physically subdue him? It is too big a danger. Sophia was not ready to go all out, but had her ways of stopping such a situation before it got extreme. She also was good at getting the Target to disclose before the situation turned bad. That was her unique ability and still I objected to the few times she was put in that situation."
"Rick I have extensive training in hand to hand combat, weapons or empty hand."
"I know you do, but if it comes to it, you will have to put him down. Also recall that Turner had multiple attackers. One opponent in hand to hand is an even match and with your skills you can subdued your attacker, but if it is multiple aggressors, can you still prevail?"
Kate is silent.
"I rest my case, there are no assurances here of a good outcome without putting you in a compromising scenario."
"I need to restate that if the measures I mentioned are in place, I will be willing to take the risk. Let's tell that to the director and leave it up to him. He is the director so I will trust his decision, whatever it be."
They return to their conference and reveal the contents of their sidebar.
At this time LtCol Kwan offers another approach, "What if my undercover alter ego, Ms. Johanna Tan, also participates in this honey trap of Carter?"
"What are you saying LtCol Kwan, that if your alter-ego, Ms. Tan, can get to Carter first…to let you take the lead?"
"That's possible, and I too will take the risk, if it comes to that. But….having studied Carter…..he is the kind of degenerate you in the West call a 'dirtbag'. He is quite the deviant that would welcome a three way with two women. If we honey trap him in such a manner, then Kate and I can stop him from getting too aggressive. We work as each others backup on this undercover ploy".
Rick Castle can't believe his ears on Kwan's proposal, but it gives them an on-location asset to protect Kate. It does not involve someone who would be removed from the scene and might be possibly delayed on rendering assistance. An off-scene security source could be more easily stymied in an attempt to rescue Kate. Kwan at least would be present on scene with Kate and make it two against one or multiple aggressors. The CCP lieutenant colonel certainly was seductive enough to fit the part and carry out this scheme. Rick also knew that Kwan was as dangerous an adversary and capable as any female operative, perhaps maybe even more so.
"So what do you think on this Caste?"
"I still don't like it, but it is a better scenario given Kate's precautions are in place and LtCol Kwan's presence on scene. I suggest that LtCol Kwan be likewise wired up and also have a sub-skin tracker. The knock out drug being the ultimate fail safe with both of them so provided. Worse case for both of them is they have to fight it out, but two is better than one. Also there will be an off scene element to be the cavalry coming to the rescue if need be. I am more comfortable with this set up so I will agree to the honey trap ruse as stated."
After the new mission brief, Kwan gets together with Kate.
"You've never been involved in a seduction scenario on any past assignment, have you Kate?"
"This will be my first, but with you there, I feel more confident we can do this."
"My one advice for you Kate is to prepare for the worst but anticipate the best outcome."
"So you have done this before LtCol Kwan?"
"Yes, and we do not have the Western scruples, like your team. For us it is a matter of doing our duty and part of the job."
"If the worse comes of it, I can do the job."
"Prepare then Kate and build the mental toughness to carry this out. We will be fine. Carter will be, as you Americans say, 'a sitting duck', just right for the kill. He will be an easy prey. I have studied his character. Carter will not see this coming. We are about to fulfill one of his carnal fantasies, and he will be guided by his libido. He is typical of many men. We women always have more control in such situations, if we prepare well and have that mental discipline for it. That detachment so lacking in our male agents. We do not think or act with our intimate parts like them."
Kwan's encouragement goes a long way to calm Kate's concerns about this undercover ruse. It will be her first time doing a seduction scenario to honey trap for evidence. She hopes that she will not be more precarious than need be.