Riders of B E R K

Part 75: Losing Ground

Seventy-Five: Losing Ground

"I believe that BERK is fatally compromised-and that if we do nothing, Drago will have won within the month."

Silence greeted Hiccup's words and the assembled senior staff stared at him as if he had gone mad-all except Stoick, who looked thoughtful.

"I think you need to explain your reasoning, Hiccup Haddock," General Zakhysnyk said, her voice stern. Hiccup nodded.

"First up-I think you're all a bunch of asses," he said without preamble. "You were parachuted in to command BERK without any concept of what it involved or relevant knowledge. And with precious little willingness to listen to those who actually possess the relevant specialist knowledge required to successfully run the base." Stoick cleared his throat. "Dad, Gobber and Major Gothi mostly excepted," Hiccup added. Gobber chuckled.

"That's telling yer," he commented as he saw Throk and Mildew both look fit to explode. The General raised her hand sharply.

"There may be some limited merit in your observations-insubordinate though they are," she commented, silencing her men with a sharp glare. "Though I do not appreciate the tone."

"Well, you were right in observing that I'm not military," Hiccup told her honestly. "Not a member and never intend to be. But it means maybe I look at things more critically than you do and see what you don't."

"Such as...?" Stoick prompted him. Hiccup sighed.

"Drago has infiltrated BERK," he reminded them. "You know, that really bothered me. Because generally speaking, the European Centralised structures are very bureaucratic and rules- and protocol- driven. Yet a private citizen, a man whose reputation is incredibly murky on even the most superficial of Google searches!-is allowed to become acquainted with the most intimate workings of a top secret organisation that the general public were never meant to be aware of. For Thor's sake! We have gone to immense trouble to conceal the dragons from the public-but Drago just bought his way in."

"I am not aware of any evidence that he bought his way in..." Throk pointed out-But Hiccup turned to stare at him,

"And how else would he get in?" he asked pointedly. "Drago has no expertise in managing extinct mythological reptiles. He isn't a zoologist or conservationist or ecologist. He's a man who deals in Geothermal Energy, weapons and art that is probably stolen. Why on Midgard would he be involved?"

"Maybe he approached them?" Zakhysnyk suggested but Hiccup shook his head.

"There is no evidence that he has contributed any knowledge regarding the dragons," Hiccup said. "I checked the BERK mainframe." They stared at him. "Look, you do remember I am the Head of IT as well?" Stoick nodded. "And the security in BERK really is pretty substandard. A fourteen year old could penetrate it-Thor, I could have at that age! Ours is much better. Drago was invited in by Director Handler without any discussion with the Council. Drago was given unfettered access. And when we finally insisted that he was removed, they just let him go!"

"That is pretty much what happened," Stoick admitted. "Except he was allowed to bring weapons into BERK without being checked-and half the security staff were in his pay."

"I wonder how that happened?" Hiccup snarked. "Look, I cannot be certain that they are clean...but I doubt it. And the Director has to be suspect because he violated all the privacy statutes to bring Drago in. Why? What was his motivation? Was he getting kick-backs? Or was he actually in Drago's pay to start with?"

"These are grave accusations," the General commented, inspecting the tall shape, still clad in his black flying suit. Hiccup nodded.

"He has no past," he said slowly. "I've scoured all sources. Prior to two years before BERK started, Johann Handler didn't exist. There is no electronic trail, no paper trail...nothing. He appeared in a puff of smoke. And there is no explanation why someone with no track record could become head of such a secret and important organisation!"