Slavic Huter [OC PJO Crossover]

CHAPTER 10 - A Few Good Men

WARNING - against really strong language (but I had so much fun writing this chapter :) )

 16th December 2007

    It took me less than 20 minutes to get to the Pentagon – the result of the fact that I learned various shortcuts through Washington for at least 4 weeks. It took me another 30 minutes to go through all the identity and security checks – as if they expected me to murder all the personnel and command alone. Well, who will forbid them...

     When I finished all the "attractions" I saw Lieutenant Ryan in front of me – my deputy and at the same time the officer responsible for all the bureaucratic chatter for which I did not have enough strength; she, on the other hand, came from a family of lawyers and clerks, so she manoeuvre more easily between paragraphs and rules than I did.
- Welcome over the beautiful, blue Potomac colonel. - Ryan greeted me, saluting and smiling slightly. I saluted her.
- If it is beautiful and blue, then where is the local social cream, dancing waltz?
- Present, only dancing in conference rooms.
I shook my head: the difference between us was 3-4 years in her favor – in fact, I could easily be her grandfather. Which didn't change the fact that she was an intelligent and resourceful woman – even for an officer who graduated from a military academy.

     - Anything interesting should I know before the meeting? - I asked. She nodded
- I will start with the most important one: a man in a suit asked about you, with paper from the JCS, so he can appear at the meeting.
- Great. – I muttered – That's all I was missing – some bureaucrat with paper from Joint Chiefs of Staff. Anything else?
- The whole unit returned safely to base; We do not know yet whose helicopter it was, although I have some suspicions.
- What suspicions?
- I'd rather make sure first, sir.
- Ryan, how many times have I asked you: no "misters" or "Sirs."
- Sorry, a matter of habit.
- Hmpf. Back to the business: anything else you have to add?
- Yes: we have a potential new member. He's waiting for you in the office.
- I will meet him after the conference. Do you have his file?
- Right here, with me. You want to see it now?
- No: I prefer to participate the conference with a clear mind..

     ***

     A clear mind was really useful to me. The meeting was attended by the Commander-in-Chief of the UN Peacekeeping Force, a colonel – adjutant, vicedirector of the CIA (this was a bit of a surprise), and an official whom I classified as an "important man in a suit": his look saying that he is higher in the social hierarchy than his interlocutors, an arrogance beaming from him, etc. He was the only one I really feared... that he will do something terribly stupid.

     - Good afternoon, Colonel. I hope the trip went well? – CiC begun conversation.
- Good afternoon, General. Yes, it went, thank you. – I replied politely.
- Before we get to the point: you already know the two here, but you don't know John Smith, the representative of the Joint Cheifs of Staff.
- Yes, good afternoon again, Mr. Director. Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Smith; Colonel Orłowicz. – I greeted the other guests – You probably also know my adjutant, First Lieutenant Elizabeth Ryan.
- We have already had the pleasure to meet. – replied the colonel, while "The Important Guy" only nodded slightly, confirming my theory about him.

     - Please sit down. – said CiC, and so we did it. - Colonel, we have received a preliminary report on the exfiltration operation. Can you elaborate on it with more information?
- General, before I begin, I would like to know whether...
- Everybody here has access to top secret information, Colonel. - Smith answered for him.
- This is not about access to information, Mr. Smith, but about knowledge of the whole enterprise.

- Colonel Orlovich, only John here has no knowledge, but I give him this one-time access: only here and now. Besides, he is forbidden to pass this knowledge on outside this room, on penalty of imprisonment or death —is that clear, Mr. Smith? CiC asked- Yes, General. – replied the official, who even if he felt offended by this remark, did not let it be known.- Colonel? – the general turned to me.