The Solider Husband - Chapter 581
7 June, Military Base, City K
As Ben, Joseph and David were exiting his office, he noticed Bronwyn standing waiting for him. She snapped to attention as the three of them passed, before hearing Matthew call out “Lieutenant, come in.”
As Bronwyn entered and shut the door, she looked to Matthew who said, “Everything is switched on, so sit.”
On sitting Bronwyn said “Thank you Boss. We have a problem.”
Matthew turned and looked directly at her and said, “What in the world do you mean?”
“Civilian intelligence agencies are denying that they have the intelligence you were given.”
Matthew shook his head and said “In other words they want no action taken. Are they being idiots?”
“That is Head Honcho’s suspicion.” Bronwyn pulled out a folder from the brief case in her hand, and handed it over. “He handed me this and said to give it to you, saying it is from the usual source.”
Matthew, confused looked at Bronwyn, before saying “Personally?”
Nodding, Bronwyn said, “Yes. He persuaded Uncle Xavier to allow him to hitch a ride on the family jet when he brought down the stones for John to choose for my engagement ring. Under the radar, but more importantly beyond suspicion. All he was doing was accompanying his brother-in-law to help a family tradition be followed in the next generation.”
Matthew smiled and shook his head. Sometimes he wondered about his boss. It was obvious early on in meeting Head Honcho that in some respects he hated his in-laws but in other respects he loved them. “Using them, was he?”
“Likely Boss, but I read the material and I could see why he wanted it to you and I to review. Officer N’s material backs up what you received but has more detail in that the attack will be in the stadium. I pulled up the schematics and there are only nine public exits from the stadium plus a player and emergency services exit, which the public cannot easily access. One on each corner, one extra on two sides and two on the other two sides. If what Officer N says is true, this will be an utter disaster.”
Taking the folder, Matthew sat and quietly started to read through the material, making the occasional note on paper he had pulled out. Bronwyn simply sat there, waiting for him to finish. As he closed the folder down and handed it back to Bronwyn, she said “So Boss, do you have any ideas?”
Matthew closed his eyes and said “Damn! What in the world to the civilian authorities think we are? Every member of the military, when we took our oath promised to do everything within our power to protect the nation and its people. And, based on what you said and what is in there they want us to sit and do nothing. You know who that will backfire on if it becomes known? The military. Not them, because those idiots will push the blame around until it is so obscured as to who actually made the decision not to act.”
As he opened his eyes Matthew saw Bronwyn smiling, and asked “That is what Head Honcho told you?”
“Boss, the two of you think alike. But he wanted ideas on what to do. As I was coming over, he sent me a message in the code we use saying that that proposed by the Colonels is not viable.”
Matthew sat there quietly and said “That I get. They are not in within the group of eight people who know the truth about Officer N. For most people who have anything to do with intelligence Officer N is a running gag about some mysterious intelligence asset, not knowing the truth. But you are, and despite what people say are bright enough to draw conclusions from what you have seen.”
Bronwyn, paused and asked, “Permission to speak freely?”
“Granted.”
“My old man is in the panic mode. I get it because we have not stopped the previous two attacks instigated by the Devil. The first because we only had the sketchiest of information and the second because those in command of the exercise did not pass the warnings on. His panic is if we fail to prevent it this time, it will be his career on the line. Possibly that is true, but it could also be your career, Legend’s career and mine on the line as well because we know this intelligence.”
“Legally, based on the deal with the operation was set up, two of the three agencies must agree to act, which means we will be safe, but civilian intelligence agencies will be likely to use us to protect themselves. But I had an idea because of what we know will be attacked, and the law allows us to do this. It may make the Devil change his target, but that is a risk we must take.”
Matthew could not think about what Bronwyn was meaning. “And what is that?”
“The Major Events laws. A provincial government or the national government can deem certain events to be a major event, which allows the military to supplement civilian and police security. I double checked the law and a football game like this, fits within the legislation to be declared a major event. We cannot swarm the venue with military, but we can position people to attempt to prevent the attack at the time or deal with the aftermath.”
Matthew was understanding her chain of thought “And we do not risk the Devil determining we know his plans, preventing him switching the timing of his final attack so we cannot prevent it.”
“Correct boss. With Head Honcho you are being sneaky enough with the soldiers going to Australia for that exercise in not sending one of the colonels along.”
“I have to be. We have the intelligence where the attacks will be and what is happening. I will be trapped at the church for a period, as will Colonel Hung, potentially delaying a military response. That is the vacuum we do not need, so having Colonels Dang, Wang and Pang here prevents it from being significant…”
After a period of discussion of the plan Matthew turned and said, “Organise and get to the capital to speak to Head Honcho.”
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