Developing an Arsenal: Overwatch (The Unit)

Chapter 40: An Emergency Business Trip

J-SOC

The plane had lifted off from Brazil on a trip back to the states. The inside of the C-130 plane was more sophisticated than it was from the outside. It was fitted with a conference room, filled with comfortable chairs and a long table nailed to the floor. It was like a less robust version of air force one. The four operators sat in the room with the handler of the CIA, Hudson Brenner, and his asset Dan Hendricks. The last person in the room is Colonel Lawson.

Jack Morrison and Ted Kent weren't in here like they were seen outside of the plane in Brazil. They were ordered to take a seat in a room away from the conference room. As the plane reaches to cruising altitude, the silence falls apart. Linda Bowman, a middle age woman with blonde hair, blue eyes, and wore a casual business attire. She clears her throat before she starts to talk.

"Good to see you four out of Brazil." Linda began. "Glad you didn't take a vacation down there."

"I wouldn't call it a vacation to begin with." Frank muttered. "But the taxi service was pretty good. I would rate it five stars."

Dan stood in one corner of the room and flashed a grin at Frank. Linda blinked a couple of times. Then, Chloe raised her head up.

"What happened to Calado was no accident. We didn't know Vishkar was going to make such a dirty move."

"I'm aware. However, we can't go after them as the situation is too hot." Linda fold her hands and sighed. "Before we close the file and move on, we have to ask you one more thing?"

Chloe raised an eyebrow. She nodded to let Linda to hit her with the question. She spoke with a straightforward and pressing tone.

"Did Malik Church ask about the mission in King's Row; High Castle?"

"He did and said you gave him clearance to know if we we're in King's Row."

Linda rests a hand on her forehead and sighed. Brenner shook his head slowly. Then Linda snapped in a fit of frustration. "Son of bitch. I knew he would ask you guys."

Barnes used one hand to scratch the side of her head. "Something wrong?"

"Malik never had clearance." Bowman picks her head up and glances at the four operators at the conference table. "When we brought him as an asset, he heard about you guys and wanted to know more than we allowed him to, including the classified missions you took. That's why we had Brenner as a undercover agent in Brazil."

"To be fair to these guys," Brenner spoke out. "I didn't do anything to stop him or warn you guys. Don't give them a dishonorable discharge or court martial."

"It doesn't matter." Linda replied. "Malik now has sensitive data about High Castle and have compromised the unit."

"Well, I've got people in Brazil who can do me a favor and take him out." Brenner says as he pulls out a phone. "One call and our secret in King's Row is safe."

"Wait." Barnes cuts in. "You thought I told him about High Castle? That's not the full story, Brenner. Yes, I told him we were in the uprising, but I knew better than to tell him about High Castle. He believes we we're a random team who were trapped, rescued survivors, and fought our way out of King's Row with the survivors we rescued."

Linda glances at Brenner, who threw his arms up and sputtered. "She didn't mention Solomon, not even once. It's possible she speaks the truth."

"She didn't mention Solomon being alive or Operation High Castle. I was there listening to the story she fed Malik." Aaron cuts in. "She knew better than that."

During the couple of weeks, Aaron had been listening quietly to the story. The moment Malik asked them about King's Row, it felt off. So, to keep him off their back, they lied to the mercenary with some fairy tale.