Chapter Text
Kate Laswell CIA,TF-141
Radio Silence
Chicago, USA
05 Nov 2022 2200
Laswell was frustrated. It always felt like they were going one step forward and two steps back in this line of work. With Shepherd completely off grid, and Quds Force Major Hassan Zyani KIA, there was now a new enemy on the radar. This one had taken all precautions to stay off the CIA’s radar. While she had resources, the best ones were either in the same room as her or on active duty with no form of communication.
“I did some digging on the Russians.” Laswell looked over to her right where Captain Price sat atop a hightop bar stool, soft jazz playing in the background of the quiet midtown pub.
“Well, that’s a dirty job.”
“Ultra nationalists ambushed that convoy, John.” She hissed, her voice slightly raised above her previously hushed tone.
“Kate this is over-” Price started but was interrupted by the CIA chief.
“No… It’s not. They’re working with someone knew.” Laswell pulled a small paper out of her inner jacket pocket, a four by six size photo with the perpetrator in question. “We don’t know his name.” It’s slid over face down to Price, his expression indifferent when picking it up for examination, the rest of 141 waiting patiently in bar stools beside him.
“He’s not new.” He breathed out and passed the photo down the line, tension visible in his shoulders.
One by one, each member of the task force took their time examining the photo. To Laswell, each set of eyes was unable to read, a mixture of perplexity and pensiveness. The last to get their hands on the perpetrators photo was Ghost, the enigmatic masked lieutenant. He looked exhausted, when was the last time he had a break? Upon realization, once tired eyes were now hard focused on Price’s face after briefly looking at what was before him. There was a calm, stoic dread between the two of them as they exchanged glances.
“Who is he?” Laswell asked sensing the gravity of the situation.
Price leaned in, scoping out the area to make sure no one was about to overhear the soon to be classified information.
“…Makarov.” A moment of silence was shared amongst the group.
“Shit. This whole ordeal- if only we had more intel sooner…” Laswell stumbled over her words.
“Hey, this isn’t your fault. Graves and Shepherd are the reason this started. If they didn’t conduct that black bag operation in the Middle East none of this would have happened. We’ve done everything we could to right their wrongs.” Price said giving her shoulder a squeeze. The woman beside him sighed and finished the whiskey before her setting it down on the bar with a clink.
Was she was ready to start another shit storm after the previous one barely settled? It was now or never.
“I’ve had an agent in deep cover at what we believed was a potential meeting spot for Russian weapons smugglers and arms dealers. Most recently it became a money laundering hub for low level ultra nationalists. Information there was vital.” Laswell said keeping her eyes trained towards the news station on the TV ahead of her.
“Wraith’s services were needed in Amsterdam for intel in regards to Victor Zakhaev’s whereabouts and cohorts. As a result of their efforts, several weapons transaction in Verdansk were interrupted. Less weapons in enemy hands made Zakhaev easier to get to. Since then, there’s been minimal chatter concerning Zakhaev’s successor, but it turned out to be nothing more than rumours and gossip. The last time we made contact, I was given coordinates for the AQ boat we originally thought might have one of the ballistics missiles. Us finding out about Las Almas working with AQ and the Russians was possible because of this agent.” She emphasized, tapping her finger on the bar top as if she was pointing directly at the person in question.
“Since Graves’ and Shepherd’s betrayal, there’s been radio silence. While they were displaced from Shadow Company for this mission and placed under my charge, loyalties are unclear. I want task force 141 on this ASAP. I believe there may be valuable intel being withheld, and I need to find out ahead of time whether they plan on using it for us, or against us.” Laswell reached into the other side of her jacket and grabbed a folder. Reluctantly, she placed a dossier on the bar table and slid it over as she did with the photo of Makarov.
“No profile photo, eh? Kinda like our beloved LT.” Soap smirked and nudged shoulders with the aforementioned lieutenant.
“There’s no way we can keep someone on the books that’s this classified. How is it possible that there’s a file with more black marker then his? Is this even slightly legal?” Price asked inquisitively, tossing the open file in front of Soap so the rest of 141 could review it.
He was right, the contents of the dossier were so classified there was little reason to even keep the file documented. Retire the agent, keep them as an informant. That way no one would have to jump through legal hoops incase the mission backfired. Instead, Laswell kept a manila folder that mainly consisted of a blue confidential cover sheet and a whole lot of black marker.
“So we basically have the same clearance as a civilian… What’s the point of giving us a file? How are we supposed to know how to work an op if we don’t know who we’re looking for?” Gaz chuckled in disbelief and shrugged his shoulders. The file was closed and pushed out back to Laswell.
“Until now, this op has been completely dark. Hopefully, if all went to plan, Graves had no way of contacting them after they went undercover. We can’t be so sure though, considering the timing and the loss of comms, it seems too suspicious. It could be a coincidence, but I don't want to take that risk. There’s a possibility someone got there as soon as SC went AWOL.” Laswell sighed and rubbed her hand across her face. “The coordinates for their last known locations are in the dossier. Soap will make primary contact with my agent, given that they're still there. Proceed with caution, covert status is critical. They’ve been in deep cover for a while now, so try not to set off any alarms.We don’t know if they were aware of what happened within the Shadow Company, or with Shepherd. Ghost, you will rendezvous with Soap once deemed appropriate, extraction will happen promptly after. Regardless of what side they’re on, you bring them back. Price and Gaz, you’ll be heading into Urzycstan to aid Farah and the liberation force on a lead Echo 3-1 had before his comms went dark. Now get some rest, you leave at dawn.””
Shepherd, Graves, Keller, Wraith. How many more names were going to get added to that list? Who was next? In this line of work, any day could be your last.