Threat Matrix

Answers

(Fourth Echelon off-grid site. London, England, UK. One day prior.)

*Perspective of Steven Hanaway*

I exited the Range Rover that drove us to the apartment complex not too far from downtown London. The driver, who Darius and I only knew as Lynch, guided us to the basement level of the building, guarded by a heavy steel door.

Lynch punched in an activation code, and the door slowly swung backward, revealing three small rooms, one of which had the soldier captured during the extraction mission two days prior.

"Welcome to London, guys." Grim greeted us.

I pointed to the captured operative. "What's with him?"

"We've tried everything to get him to talk, but he won't crack." Fisher chimed in. "Whoever he is, he's a tough bastard to break."

"Do you mind if I give it a shot?" I asked Fisher. "First, I need to know you'd be okay with it."

Fisher raised an eyebrow. "Strange, but I don't see why not."

Darius pulled me aside. "What are you doing?"

"What I've been trained to do." I replied before heading off into the room with the tied up soldier.

"Relax, I'm not gonna ask any questions." I greeted the man, who looked puzzled. Looking down at the table in front of me, I saw all manners of instruments that did not appear to see any use on the man.

Seeing one of the operatives of Echelon pass by, Briggs, I reached out to him.

"Briggs, do we have any jumper cables?"

"Should be some by the breaker behind you." Briggs then walked off, looking puzzled.

I looked and spotted the red and black cords underneath the breaker box. Before I grabbed them, I grabbed a pair of steel rods off the table. I approached the soldier, who much like Briggs, had a confused look on his face.

"I will, however, need your undivided attention." I told him shortly before driving the rods into his legs. He screamed uncontrollably. I took a rag off the table, and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Shh shh shh. There we go, buddy." I patted his shoulder.

"Now, seems to me you have two choices here...oh yeah, I don't know your name. Regardless, two choices, my friend: one, you can tell me what me and my pals here want to know, maybe we ship you over to Leavenworth."

I then drew my Five Seven, aiming it at his head. "Two, you can keep up the tough guy act, and eventually, you'll beg me to shoot you after I'm done. You think what I just did is fucked up? That's bush league compared to what comes next. Be glad I don't have a blowtorch on hand."

I noticed his eyes widen. Good; fear can be a great motivator, especially for someone who thinks they can spare themselves from hell.

"What's it gonna be?" I asked coldly, keeping my pistol trained on him, now aimed at his stomach. "Oh, I'm sorry, let me help you." I yanked the rag from his mouth.

(Two hours later)

*Perspective of Darius Jones*

I looked at Steve, who walked away wiping off blood. I then shifted glance over to two medical techs patching up the wounds on the prisoner's leg.

"His name is Zechariah Taylor," Steve informed Fisher and Grim. "Former US Army, 4th Infantry Divison. Granted a contract by Parasource, the same company that was dissolved after my old C.O. helped expose their drug trading operation. However, Parasource was bought out by none other than James MacCullen."

"James MacCullen, the CEO of MARS Industries?" Fisher asked for confirmation, to which I saw Steve nod.

"Doesn't MARS have some hefty contracts with NATO?" I asked.

"Yep." Steve replied. "Apparently, MARS has been the key bankroller of this entire terrorist cell."

"We've long suspected MacCullen had been engaged in selling weapons to both NATO and various terror groups, but could never find any definitive proof." Grim remarked.

"Selling to both sides," Steve chimed, "not a great plan."

"Does the group have a name at least?" I asked Steve.

"They do," Steve responded. "The name of MacCullen's operation is...Cobra."

"Cobra." I repeated.