The Kasparov Agenda (Omega Ops Legion Book 1)

• Title Page
  
• Copyright Page
  
• Content Advisory
  
• Prologue
  
• Chapter 1 – Kosovo Insurrection
  
• Chapter 2 – Backlash
  
• Chapter 3 – Brooklyn’s Finest
  
• Chapter 4 – Pike Fishing
  
• Chapter 5 – Moonlighting
  
• Chapter 6 – Turbulence
  
• Chapter 7 – Orientation Day
  
• Chapter 8 – Summer ‘68
  
• Chapter 9 – The Mountain Temple
  
• Chapter 10 – Movin’ On Up
  
• Chapter 11 – Celebrations and Cocktails with a Super-Villain
  
• Chapter 12 – A Case of the Mondays
  
• Chapter 13 – Pincer
  
• Chapter 14 – Fists Blazing
  
• Chapter 15 – Shocktalk
  
• Chapter 16 – Varick Strikes Back
  
• Chapter 17 – New Blood
  
• Chapter 18 – For the Greater Good
  
• Chapter 19 – Cooling Wounds
  
• Chapter 20 – Matters of the Heart
  
• Chapter 21 – End of a Millennium
  
• Chapter 22 – Inferno
  
• Chapter 23 – Aftermath
  
• Epilogue – Times Long Past
  

Book 1: The Kasparov Agenda

C.S. DE MEL

Copyright © 2014 by C.S. De Mel

All rights reserved. First published in digital E-book format in 2014.

De Mel, C.S.

Omega Ops Legion Book 1: The Kasparov Agenda

ISBN:
978-0-9948044-0-2 (Kindle Edition)

ISBN:
978-0-9948044-1-9 (epub)

ISBN:
978-0-9948044-2-6 (Paperback)

www.omegaopslegion.com

This novel contains violence, coarse language, and mature subject matter. Reader discretion is advised.

The Omega Ops Legion was formed and unified by the goals to combat injustice and improve the human condition. With roots dating back to ancient times, the Legion has left deep impressions throughout the pages of history. Their great influence stems from being affiliated with some of the brightest minds and most powerful warriors the world has ever known.

Fall of 1999 -- The North American chapter of the Omega Ops Legion is in the partial command of Bruce Kasparov: A captain in the U.S. Army Special Forces, a guardian within the Legion, and a hero in both circles. Bruce and his allies refocus their efforts on dismantling the crime syndicate situated in their own backyard of New York. As Bruce digs into the belly of the New York City underworld, his ongoing crusade begins to draw the attention of powerful and sinister forces. Bruce may soon find himself in over his head when the largest and most dangerous criminal network in existence sanctions the hit on his life. The power struggle has begun, and all eyes are on Bruce...
 

Omega Ops Legion:

The Novel Series

Book 1: The Kasparov Agenda

Tuesday, September 28th, 1999

Kosovo, 3:00 p.m.

Goran Petrovic screamed as loud as a man could with a hood over his head and a dirty rag stuffed in his mouth. The Yugoslavian diplomat was on his knees in total darkness. He fruitlessly struggled against the binding around his hands, for it was the only thing he could do. The more he twisted and squirmed, the worse the rope chafed his wrists. But he did not care. His sense of time had completely dissolved. He might have been a prisoner for a few days or a few weeks. Either way, he was well past his breaking point. A soldier cursed angrily while walking behind Petrovic and rammed the butt of his rifle down on his neck. As he hit the floor, Petrovic stopped screaming and lost consciousness.

A rogue military squad surrounded six bound-and-gagged captives: five Yugoslavian diplomats and an Albanian news reporter. The man responsible for the hostage situation was a former commander in the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), Zamir Ristani.

Ever since the KLA was formally demilitarized a week ago, Zamir felt he no longer had a place amongst the organization. As far as Zamir was concerned, the KLA lost its drive when it was restructured into the Kosovo Protection Corps. But there were those that were still loyal to the original mission to separate from Yugoslavia and secure Kosovo’s independence. Zamir was adept at seeking out these individuals and they were more than ready to follow his lead.

The rogue commander sat behind a heavy oak desk, patiently waiting for someone. They were situated in a newly built hotel that was owned and operated by several of Zamir’s friends in high places. The hotel was not yet open to the public, but it was open to Ristani. There was a knock at the door. “Identify yourself!” Zamir ordered.

A response came from the other side: “Arben Bardha...”

“Enter.”

A sullen-faced man with thinning black hair walked into the room. Zamir studied him suspiciously: the man appeared cold, clammy, and was visibly shaking. The two men began to converse in Albanian. “Did you acquire the warheads?” Zamir questioned. Arben forced himself to look at Ristani. His knees began to buckle as he stuttered inaudibly. “Where is the rest of your team? Out with it!” Zamir barked impatiently.

Arben’s lip trembled. “Forgive, sir...” Zamir’s eyes grew wide as a small device slipped out from Bardha’s sleeve.

“We are betrayed!” Zamir screamed. He dived behind his desk, just before the device struck the tile. A brilliant flash saturated the room, instantly blinding everyone exposed. The soldiers yelled in panic, pointing their guns wildly in all directions.

Military personnel stormed the room. “Drop your weapons! Drop your weapons!” Within moments, Zamir’s soldiers were knocked to the ground and disarmed by the intruders: a joint task force consisting of soldiers from the NATO appointed Kosovo Force (KFOR), and the United States Army. Amongst the soldiers was Captain Bruce Kasparov of the U.S. Army Special Forces. He was of Russian-Armenian descent and possessed a broad frame, dark hair, and a swarthy complexion. He swiftly scanned the room.

“Where is Ristani...?” Bruce felt a strong sense of foreboding.

From behind the desk, Zamir Ristani leapt up and grabbed a hostage around the neck to shield himself with:
the news reporter
. He jammed his handgun into her back.

“Let her go!” a KFOR soldier demanded.

“I will kill her!” Zamir yelled defiantly in Albanian. “Surrender your weapons!” The news reporter’s screams of terror were muffled by her gag.

Bruce Kasparov looked at the hostage:
c
ouldn’t be more than twenty-five
,
he thought to himself. Zamir stood safely behind his human shield while he surveyed the soldiers that surrounded him: they were still reluctant to lower their weapons. And then Zamir’s eyes locked onto Bruce. He blinked. “Is this...Bruce Kasparov?” He spoke English with a heavy accent. Bruce exchanged glances with his fellow soldiers, uncertain what to make of this.
 

“You know me?” Bruce questioned.

Zamir laughed. “But of course! You are the world famous Bruce Kasparov! Your exploits are legendary, although likely exaggerated. Far too fanciful to be taken at face value.” Zamir nodded, apparently agreeing with himself. “Yes, criminals all over the world speak of you...
fear
you.” He stopped talking. Bruce waited—Zamir appeared to be staring into Bruce with delight.

“Let her go, Ristani,” Bruce warned.

“This lovely young girl? No-no, not yet. She is an important piece to this game. Furthermore, she insisted on scurrying around my benevolent operation like a mouse.”

Bruce was finding it difficult to stomach this man. “Benevolent operation? You’re nothing more than a terrorist.”

Zamir laughed heartily. “I am no terrorist. I am a freedom fighter, much like yourself.”

Bruce winced at the thought of being compared to Ristani. “I hardly consider holding hostages and procuring high-end explosives the acts of a freedom fighter.”

“So these are acts of a terrorist, then?” Zamir scoffed. “Your kind have no idea what terrorism or a terrorist is. Your country and its allies labelled the KLA a terrorist organization just a year ago, but look at what’s unfolded over the past month: NATO sided with the KLA and bombed everything in the name of peace. That is the American way, is it not?
Bomb everything until there is peace
. How many innocent civilians were lost in the NATO strikes? Hundreds? Thousands?” Bruce Kasparov’s silence brought a smug smile to Zamir’s face. “Either way, it’s just collateral damage. And these people I hold in my custody can be considered just that:
collateral damage
.”

“Not a chance, Ristani. No one will die here today—except maybe
you
.”

Zamir bore no acknowledgment that he had heard Bruce and suddenly changed tack. “I was always very interested to meet you, Bruce Kasparov. I have heard of you being described as something superhuman. You can increase your strength tenfold, but with a thought. Flames engulf your very body...and you channel this magnificent energy through your fingertips to strike down those who oppose you...
with fiery justice
.” The news reporter whimpered through her gag as tears began to roll down her cheeks. “Shut up, woman!” Zamir roared, digging his gun into her back. Bruce Kasparov squeezed the handle of his own gun, but kept his trigger-finger steady. Zamir continued: “Nature…natural laws… They have no claim over you, do they? To soar through the skies like a god...
you
can
.” He smiled. “Tell me, are these stories true?” Zamir interrogated Bruce with his eyes. “Or just rubbish weaved together by the delusional brigands that have suffered your reprisal?”

“Let—her—go,” Bruce instructed once more through gritted teeth.

Zamir continued to smile and nod, as if reaching an understanding with himself about the situation. “Why do you even bother carrying a gun? Hmm?” He was laughing maniacally now. Chills ran down the news reporter’s spine as Ristani’s cold laugh rang in her ears. In an instant, Zamir regained his composure and was now staring at Bruce, with the utmost focus. No one else in the room seemed to matter to him. “Show me your power.”

“The whole complex is surrounded. Last chance to surrender,” Bruce threatened.

Zamir shook a finger at him. “No-no-no, last chance for you. If I am to be taken in by the great Bruce Kasparov, I want to see him at his full fury.” He waved him forward, but Bruce stood his ground. Zamir frowned. “Others have witnessed your true strength... Am I not a significant enough threat to draw this out of you, Kasparov?”

Bruce gauged the proximity of Zamir from his hostage.
T
here’s no clear shot yet.
Zamir’s gun was
still firmly pressed into her. Hiding behind the news reporter, all that was visible of Zamir was his face from the eyes up.
 

“Three seconds!” Zamir suddenly yelled out. “Then she dies!” He began the count. “One!” The soldiers looked to Bruce, anxiously waiting for a signal on what to do. “Two!”

Bruce raised his hand and threw his gun to the ground. The soldiers behind Bruce did the same. Zamir stopped counting and looked at Bruce expectantly. “Okay, Ristani. You want to see my power?
Fine
. Just remember, you asked for this. And like you, I’m going to give you three seconds...and then you’re
mine
.” The room fell silent with all eyes locked on Bruce. He inhaled deeply...

“One!” Bruce placed his arms behind his back and watched Ristani intently. “Two!” Zamir was completely enthralled. He lowered his gun barrel to the floor and raised his head a bit higher to get a good look. Behind his back, Bruce pressed a button on an electronic transmitter attached to his belt...

Outside the hotel, the area was in complete lockdown, with soldiers posted at ground level and atop the hotel roof. Arthur Finch and three other soldiers held positions along the roof. Arthur was a U.S. Army expert marksman: born and raised in Australia, now living in the United States. He was in Staff Sergeant Frank Cormac’s squad, a soldier who was in the building with Bruce Kasparov at this very moment. One of the soldiers questioned Arthur: “For a guy that’s an international terrorist, ‘hiding’ in the penthouse suite of a five-storey hotel… Isn’t that a little vain?”

“These types usually are,” Arthur replied. A device suddenly began to beep on Arthur’s belt. “The signal!” He was already harnessed to the roof and had his silenced handgun drawn. Firmly grasping his line with a gloved hand, he rappelled down to the penthouse window. He immediately targeted Zamir Ristani and fired.

The window of the penthouse shattered. Zamir screamed out as a bullet entered into the back of his right arm. His hand clenched in pain, causing Zamir to discharge his pistol into the floor. Bruce and Frank charged: Frank safely guided the hostage out of harm’s way while Bruce punched Zamir square in the jaw and effectively disarmed him. Ristani toppled to the ground, but with his uninjured arm, pulled out a six-inch blade from inside his boot. While crawling on the floor, he swung the knife wildly at Bruce’s chest. Bruce easily dodged the blade, locked Zamir’s arm in his own, then twisted as he rolled down onto the tile. Zamir yelled out in pain and immediately dropped the knife. He was no longer able to put up resistance. Bruce got to his feet and picked up Zamir by his uniform collar. Arthur cheered on Bruce while he watched the entire scene unfold, hanging from his line.