Tying Up Loose Ends

[Clarenthia]

Chancellor Khayrat was sitting at a large round table, around him sat the National Security Council. Khayrat was a haughty man, the country bowing at his feet and a Government approving anything he did gave him a heroine fix. The National Security Council had the power to direct the nation's defense initiatives. The Chancellor was the leader of his Council, as a result the amount of power Khayrat commanded over the nation's military made him a quasi-dictator.

The reason for this meeting wasn't a mystery, there was a serious threat in this country that Congress collectively agreed to ignore. It's been ignored for too long and as a result that threat is now woven into society and hunting it down will be no easy task, Khayrat, along with most of the NSC believed that this terrorist cell would strike back, not to overthrow the Government, but to disrupt it.

The problem is not all of the Councilors of Akhaltsikhe were caught. Most of all, Sulkhan Tsintsadze was still alive and free. Knowing him, he had reestablished connections with the other Council Members as well intelligence and military leaders. Tsintsadze had a skill at finding people and recruiting them to a cause. The National Security Council knew that a majority of Georgians don't support the new Jurzani Government and that issue has, as well, been ignored. An anti-government population and a man who knows how to rally a crowd aren't a good mix. In the time as Senior Councilor and the Executorship itself, Tsintsadze learned how to dodge a few landmines.

The Jurzani Army was by no means an overwhelmingly powerful force, however, a good deal of it was deployed to oil rigs across the nation. Each oil rig or anything to do with oil was greatly protected by the Jurzani Army. Even Board Members of the National Oil Company were protected. No chances were to be taken with the oil.

"No leads, no traces, no clues, no ideas," Khayrat stated, throwing files down on the table in front of him.

"With all due respect Chancellor, we waited an extremely long time. Tsintsadze is a skilled man, he knows how to cover his tracks and given such a large amount of time, he's hid them well," Omar Pasha said.

"I'm worried about an attack. I know he's planning one, he has to be, it's only natural. I have my doubts that he would attack an oil rig, there's too many soldiers protecting the oil industry. He's not looking to hurt us militarily or economically, he's looking to hurt our support, the nation's morale," Khayrat stated.

"Farms, hospitals, schools, things of those sorts, they're impossible to protect entirely," Uthman Bakr said.

"It makes no sense to me. Tsintsadze is a man of plans and goals. Senseless, directionless, and unnecessary acts of violence, as appealing to terrorists as they are, wouldn't be something he'd want to do. I have to disagree with you, Chancellor, if Tsintsadze is planning a string of terrorist moves, it'll be to overthrow or destroy something, somewhere," Farah Butrus declared.

"Perhaps it would be easier to infiltrate one of the agencies. Getting someone on the inside and then working to cripple a sector of the Government seems more like Tsintsadze's style," Shihab Zaki proposed.

"I could see that happening as well. General Butrus, I respect your experience with Tsintsadze, it's useful, but he's not exactly a patient man, I fought him, if he had been patient, it would have been easy to stop the rebellion dead in its tracks. He wouldn't wait years for a sense of retribution, he wants results, and he wants them quickly," Khayrat answered.

"I'm sorry, sir, but it isn't likely. I'd suggest we look for much more subtle signals that will, in time, cripple us. Attacking us full force and wasting all the resources on a futile attempt is not something Tsintsadze would do. I know the man," Butrus emphasized.

"And if you're wrong and we find ourselves in a deadly shooting where innocent people die because we took your advice, would you take responsibility?" Pasha asked.

"Now, now, gentlemen. We need to take this scientifically. It might be beneficial to start reacting rather than acting. It's dangerous, but it would give us a lead, something we desperately need," Zaki said.

"What do you propose?" Khayrat asked, confused.

"We let a small attack happen, if we do that, we'll be able to track the origins of it better," Zaki said.

"And you'll let innocent people die?" Pasha pressed.

"If a few must die to save a thousand then yes, General," Zaki answered.

"That's extremely radical," Khayrat said.

"Yes, yes it is. Let us be real though. Tsintsadze if he plans a huge homicide, kills many. If he plans to disrupt Government, this nation will collapse. I am suggesting we do what we need to do as the Government of the People. We simply need to ensure that those who die do not die in vain," Zaki pleaded.

"This is ridiculous, Chancellor, you can't possibly be considering this," Pasha asked.

"This meeting is dismissed. We will reconvene at a later that, I will ensure that everyone is informed in advance of the meeting. General Brutus, I want you to head to the National Directorate of Security Building. Ask to speak to forensic profilers. I want to know what they feel a man such as Tsintsadze would be expected to do. Good day, Gentlemen," Khayrat said, standing up.

The other men stood and saluted the Chancellor as he left the room.

 

[Clarenthia]

General Farah Butrus was an imposing man. He was big and bulky, being dressed in military regalia made him look like a man of power. However, he was a very clumsy and socially awkward. Walking through the courtyard of the new National Directorate of Security Building made General Butrus stick out like a sore thumb, and he didn't like it. The heat and his weak nerves worked together to make him sweat, so he looked even more ridiculous.

He walked through the main doors and went to the receptionist desk. He politely took off his hat, stumped over his tongue a bit then said "Hello..Ms. Huda Salwah," he said, looking at the nametag. "Mrs.," she politely replied, Butrus just gave an awkward smile. "I am here to meet with a..a Dr. Mohammed Gabr."

"Oh yes, we received a message from the Office of the Chancellor about it, he is in his office waiting," Mrs. Salwah answered.

"Ah, where exactly would his office be?" General Butrus asked.

"Let me get someone to show you," Mrs. Salwah said, while smiling. She waved for a Security Guard to come. "Please escort General Butrus to the office of Mohammed Gabr."

General Butrus awkwardly followed the Security Guard down the hall. He stopped about half way down, and looked at a door. General Butrus looked at the door, on a big plaque that read "Dr. Mohammed Gabr." Butrus smiled at the Security Guard and knocked on the door. A voice answered "Come in, come in."

Butrus walked into the office, it was nice, very well kept with a huge library of books, all Psychology. Dr. Gabr was an older middle aged man, he wore a dark green suit with a sweater vest under it. He had a beard that was graying and he wore gold glasses. He rose from his desk and walked over to the General with a big smile, he lifted his arm for a handshake, and the General did the same.

"General Farah Butrus, it's nothing less than a honor to see you," Dr. Gabr said.

"Please, the honor is mine," the General answered.

"Please, take a seat," Gabr said, pointing to a chair at his desk, the General sat down and so did Gabr.

Gabr pulled out a folder from his desk, laid it on the surface and opened it. He began examining different pages, then looked up to the General.

"Sulkhan Tsintsadze, an interesting character indeed," Gabr said. "He's a narcissist, a nasty one and it was heightened by his position in society. When you believe you do no wrong and then you're in a position where everyone tells you that you do no wrong, it messes with your mind. I never had the chance of actually meeting the man directly, but a few of my colleagues did."

"Tsintsadze went to a physiatrist?" Butrus asked.

"A leader shouldn't show weakness, especially a mental disorder, he kept it on the down low. He knew everyone who was aware of the meetings, so we were all watched carefully. For some reason, watching my son going to school was a matter of national security," Gabr replied "He's paranoid, his mental state is significantly weaker than anyone had let on. His leadership during the war made it so apparent."

"How so?" Butrus asked.

"He burned a city to the ground, was prepared to kill thousands of 'his enemies.' He did more damage to us then he did to anyone else. Executor Abkhaz's sudden death is concerning to me. Abkhaz was patient, wanted premeditated actions, as Tsintsadze wanted everything done and done quickly. As a result, he'd slip up."

"What do you mean it concerns you?" Butrus again asked.

"I don't think it was so sudden or natural, that's just an educated guess though," Gabr answered.

"He's still alive, you know," Butrus asked.

"I know, I'm well aware of Khayrat's cover-up. I'm a rather high ranking member of this agency," Gabr stated.

"If he was to strike against the Republic of Jurzan, how would he do it?" Butrus asked.

Gabr paused for a while, he leaned back in his chair before he spoke. "Am I helping in policy making, General?"

"I can't answer that," Butrus declared.

"Quick and sudden, just mass murders, nothing really planned too sophisticated. Unless he isn't working alone, which I would suggest he isn't working alone. He wouldn't be in this country either," Gabr said.

"Where would he be? Hajr, Talemantros, Carentania?" Butrus asked.

"His face is well known in central himyar, it's unsafe. Anywhere in Himyar is unsafe. He'd so somewhere under the radar, a place this country couldn't care less about. Somewhere with a Georgian Minority, probably refugees, people who understand pain, people who would look up to him," Gabr said.

"Where?" Butrus asked, intrigued.

"I wouldn't know, it's not my department, I'm too swamped in my work to find out where the Georgian Population is running off to. I'm sure if you asked the Government to do some digging it wouldn't remain a mystery for very long," Gabr said.

General Butrus rose, and looked at the Doctor, smiled and said "Thank you, Doctor, you've done well to help your country today." Butrus turned and walked out of the room. He pulled out his phone and called Omar Pasha, the National Security Council had a faint lead.