OPERATION: SALT THE EARTH - Log 16

[xp_changeling]

Wanda and Kevin move to shut down the first level of security to the Director's office.



Time was starting to run short. Unfortunately, it appeared that Vazhin's presence at the summit had convinced the various power brokers to speed up the negotiations, cutting hours of bullshit and influence peddling that would normally have been involved. The rumours were that a deal was close and Orekhov was getting ready to transfer the sample and his team over to a new authority to weaponize it, leaving Viktoriya Popov and Colonel Sasha Gareev with few options. The plan was solid, but it counted on them needing to get past inner security. It wasn't good enough just to steal a keypass. They were specially encoded and tracked. The only way was to talk their way past physical security.

"OK, so you're picked up some data specifically for Vazhin and I'm running security. It's pretty thin." Kevin muttered, nodding slightly at the forged papers on her clipboard.

"We've had thinner," Wanda murmured back, though it certainly didn't make her feel any better. No matter how many times they went into situations like this, where they had to move forward no matter how the deck was stacked, it left a sour taste in her mouth when they weren't fully confident in their story. She took a deep breath, shook it off mentally, and slipped mentally into her cover once more. "After you."

"I guess so." Kevin straightened his tie and stepped into the security station. "Good morning. Viktoriya Popov for Director Orehkov's office. There are materials to be transferred to Colonel General Vazhin's party."

"Good morning, Colonel. Ms Popov." The soldier at the station held out his hand. "Papers?"

"Good morning," Wanda echoed back as she handed over the papers promptly. They were going to be handling this a little differently than when they first went through security - less attitude and more letting the system, hopefully, work in their favor.

"I don't see you, Colonel."

"I'm security. Things are... sensitive, as I'm sure you know. I'll be confirming the package makes it to Vazhin without tampering."

"But... they should have given you a passcard."

Wanda's face tightened in frustration. "General Vazhin certainly did not give me one and he did not instruct his staff to give me anything besides those papers," she said. "All I know is that this is very time sensitive." She turned to Kevin. "Where you given anything like a passcard?"

"They were in direct conference with the Director. There was no time to issue a new passcard. His assistant was supposed to have called ahead." Kevin's tone was starting to turn impatient. He checked his watch. "General Vazhin is leaving shortly. If he's delayed because of your security being unorganized-"

"Colonel, please, I am under strict orders. All VECTOR sections are based on access levels which require an official approval." The guard pleaded. "Only after security authorization have been confirmed can we allow you access."

"So, you're saying I should call General Vazhin directly and let him know that your Director isn't capable of even clearing a package through his own office?" His voice dropped and he continued softly. "We both know that's not a call you want me to make."

"What is this? Sasha, why are you standing around like an errand boy?" Boomed a deep voice behind him.

"General Mikhalkov! We're dealing with a bit of... confusion."

"Faugh! You, Sargent. I've known this man since he was a child. His father and I served together for years." Mikhalkkov wasn't being threatening, but his sheer bulk made him appear to loom over the man. "There is not a more honest or honourable officer in Russia."

The guard finally shook his head. "I'm very sorry for the mix-up, Colonel. Of course you can pass. Will 30 minutes be enough time?"

"That will be fine, thank you. Gustov, I appreciate it. You know Vazhin. Being a minute late is a crisis."

"He needs to learn to relax. Say hello to your father, Sasha. We must get together somewhere with a more pleasant atmosphere soon."

"I'd like that." Kevin said as Mikhalkov began to walk away. "Ms Popov, after you."

“Thank you, Colonel,” Wanda said, the tension in her shoulders easing just slightly. Their luck could run out at any moment - she wasn’t ready to relax just yet.

Kevin nodded as they passed through. Once turning a corner, he let out a low laugh. "I'd feel bad, but when this shakes out, Mikhalkov is going to take a hit influence wise for this. Hard."

Wanda snorted. "Eh, he's close to retirement age, anyway," she said with a small smile. "Though that might give him more time to think of revenge." She glanced at a sign as they went down a hallway. "According to our intel, we have a few more bland Russian hallways to get through."

"Men like Mikhalkov don't retire. They might give up the uniform and rank, but they keep hold of the power until they die or are disposed from it." They moved briskly through and reached the back-up security station. It was unmanned, but the locks to secure it were significantly less advanced than the primary station. It took a few moments with the decryption hack they'd been given to access the controls. Kevin pressed two buttons; one providing North quiet access to reach Dom in the computer room and the other to let Emma into Orekhov's private areas. He counted to fifteen and then closed both doors. In a few minutes, the station looked as untouched as they had found it.

"Here's the card. You get the way out open while I meet Frost. You know the rendezvous point."

"See you on the other side," Wanda said, shooting him another tight little smile before disappearing around a corner.