Balance (18 page)

Alexander interjects, “Yes
,
y
e
s, we felt you had chemistry.
Y
ou
also
displayed
a remarkably
advanced
degree of nonverbal
exchange
,
clearly on
display during
your
tryout
.”

“It’
s for these reasons…
” Takada enters
the dialog, “t
hat Alexander recommended you two form an Infiltration Team.  The rest of the
evaluation
panel
, based on your
further
assessment
,
agreed with that
recommendation
.”

There is
tangible
heaviness in the room, everyone looking at Takada,
acknowledging
his final decision
was the only one that mattered
, and
the only one,
yet to be made
.

“Based on my assessment …
I concur.  You two have the potential to form an exemplary Infiltrati
on Team. 
F
or that reason
,
I will be personally involved with your
individual training.”

Rena notices
Alexander and
Ms. Smith
both
look
mildly surprised by this development.

Michael
’s thoughts race,
‘
So i
t’s done …
I’m to be trained to kill.  I have put Rena in harm’s way
with little I can do about it.’

Rena inquires, “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand how these assessment
s
pertain to
…
what did
you call it, an
‘
Infiltration Team
’
?”

Commander Still
explains …

“An Infiltration team is a special operations unit normally comprised of three assets, Seer,
I
nfiltrator and Dispatch. 
The
Team’s
function is to
ascertain critical information or
facilitate an action, an
‘
effect
’
,
upon
an intended target.

The Seer
is
an experienced
,
normally former
field asset
. 
R
esponsible for developing
the operation p
rofile and strate
gy,
the Seer
will work from outside the immersion to support the team
in the field
. 
Al
though not normally in direct contact with the Infiltrator,
the Seer oversees the operation, adjusting
parameters and objectives, facilitating communications through
the Dispatch, unless the Dispatch is
inside
the immersi
on.
Support provided by the Seer may include background information, back-story, equipment, resources, directions or
real-time
changes
to the
objective
or parameters.

An
immersion is the
insertion of field operatives into the target environment.  In most cases
,
the Infiltrator is the only asset
immers
ed
.

The Infiltrator is a deep un
dercover operative.  It’
s the I
nfiltrator
’
s responsibility to gather intelligence or manipulate the environment to achieve the desired goal of the mission
, essentially helping facilitate the effect
.

The Dispatch is the effector
.
N
ormally operating just outside
the perimeter of the immersion, h
e
performs
three roles
.
  First
,
the Dispatch acts as a conduit
between the Seer and the Infiltrator.  Since electronic
transmitters
are not normally feasible
inside the immersion
, it fall
s on the Dispatch to
communicate to the Infiltrator. 
S
econd
ly,
the
Dispatch
execute
s
the objective of the operation
, the effect
. 
O
bjectives can range from abduction, termination,
communications
or whatever else
required to gain leverage.
 
The third and
most important
function
of the
Dispatch
,
guarantee the safe extraction of the Infiltrator from the
i
mmersion.
”

From
Commander
Still’s
explanation
of the Infiltration Team
and their roles, Rena immediately
understands why they picked her and Michael
.

Takada takes it upon himself t
o clarify for all in the room.

“Obviously, your chemistry played a large role in determining you suited for this opportunity.  You two display an uncanny ability to communicate no
n-
verbally.  This degree of
rapport
is
extremely rare
,
many times not attainable in even our most seasoned teams.  We have found over many years
,
that it is very important
the Infiltrator and Dispatch have a strong bond, a protective bond for each other.  The United States Marines used to live by the mantra ‘
No man left behind
’.  This mantra plays a far more importan
t role for Infiltration Teams
.  If we lose either the Infiltrator or the Dispatch, we lose
the other, since the likelihood of reforming a bond with another
is
un
likely.

Individually, you
each
had char
acteristics
that made you uniquely suited
for infiltration
.
 
Rena, your appearance obviously,
you are immediately noticed among a crowd.  Y
ou are beautiful
,
yet approachable, as Alexander pointed out a ver
y rare combination
, making
you the perfect asset for immersion. 
M
arks will be more likely to approach you
and allow you to
gain the
ir
confidence
.  The whole ‘bees, honey and vinegar’
principle
applies here.  Your facial
features are
soft, normally conducive to effective disguise without extreme
measures, allowing
you
to
change your appearance
to
great effect,
relatively easily
.
 
The most important
skills
of
an
Infiltrator
are
the ability to problem
-
solve quickly and manipulate their environment. 
R
equired
not only
to
achieve
an
objective,
but
more importantly
,
for your safety, w
hich bring
s
me to your unexpected talent.
 
You have
proven yourself
competent
in self-defense.  The unfortunate
consequence
of your beauty and approachable nature
,
you
will always be
under constant risk of assault,
potentially
immersed into environments with powerful
people
,
people
accustomed to taking what they want. 
Y
ou
will need to be able to protect yourself.
To that end, you will receive additional instruction
to
enhance your
already impressive
defensive and offensive
abilities
.

You will
also need to be able to protect Michael, as he is your Dispatch
, a situation
may arise
that
he might not be able to manage on his own
.
 
Alt
hough
,
I must admit, that scenario seems
highly
unlikely
considering his unique skills.

Michael, your
very advance
d hand-to-hand capabilities are
extraordinary and
obviously
well
suited.
I will
enhance and
expand your
repertoire
to include
variant
forms
and techniques
.  Additional
ly,
you will
learn
access
and
withdrawal
skills
, weapon
s
familiarity
,
and ranged
combat
.  Michael
,
you are
Rena’s
protector.
I
n the event
she
cannot defend
herself
,
you have
to be able to gain access to
her
quickly
, neutraliz
ing
any
threat and
facilitate extraction
.

As I mentioned
,
I will personally
take part in your
development
.  I am doing this because
,
in the two of you
,
I see the most impressive set of raw talent, both individually and
collectively, I have ever
been
exposed
,
or heard of.
 
You two have the potential to form
an extraordinary
Infiltration Team.”

Watching Takada,
Michael
identifies the first semblance of emotion … excited expectation, and
realiz
es
he and Rena
are
to
be shaped and
honed
,
becoming
Takada’s
personal masterpieces.

“Do
you have any other questions?” Angela
offers
.
 
After a few uncomfortable moments, she continues, “Staff Sergeants Waters and Rodriguez will continue to be your handlers.  They will facilitate your training
,
provid
ing
direction and
support, equipme
nt,
resources
, transport
and
in
telligence
.  T
hey will make sure you have whatever you need.”

Michael, Rena, Waters and Rodriguez stand
,
preparing
to leave.

Takada addresses Rena, “Might I ask
,
what book you are reading?”

At his
request
, she lifts the book
to
display the
cover.  “I found it in the library, thought it looked intriguing … considering the circumstances.
”

“
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
.  That’
s an interesting choice in reading material
,
indeed.
O
ne of my favorites.”

The exchange concluded, Michael and Rena
depart the balcony
with their handlers
and
exit
the dining hall
.