I was back in the same pub the next Wednesday, nursing a pint, reading the same book. Only Major Wilson showed up this time. He ordered a pint and carried it over to where I was sitting. I gestured to the empty chair. Once he was seated, I placed the book on the table and met his eyes.
“I assume I’ll be paid?”
“Better than your current salary for only a couple of weeks’ work.”
“What happens if I’m injured?”
“We have people in place who can handle anything from a splinter in your finger to having your legs almost blown off.”
I took a large gulp of my pint, just putting together any last minute thoughts. “I’m guessing if shit goes sideways, we’re on our own?”
“Correct. If we go to the Yanks or our own for assistance, we’re fucked. They know we operate but they don’t know that our operations are sanctioned but unofficially. We’d be arrested and certainly be charged upon our return to the UK.”
I nodded and drained my pint.
“When do we start?”
*****
Organisation of Global Intelligence Services (O.G.I.S)
Agent in Charge: [REDACTED]
Date: [REDACTED]
Location: Basra, Iraq
Objective: Recruitment of Captain Nathan Smith
File:
Name: Nathan Keith Smith
Place of Birth: [REDACTED], Australia
D.O.B: [REDACTED]
Marital Status: Single
Current Employment: Corps of Royal Marines, British Armed Forces
Rank: Captain
Service Record:
Official: 1 tour of Northern Ireland, 2 tours of Afghanistan, 3 tours of Iraq (4th is ongoing)
Unofficial: [REDACTED]
Brief:
Agent in Charge [REDACTED] is to make contact with Captain Smith, Royal Marines, in regards to potential recruitment into O.G.I.S. Anticipate immediate interest due to Smith’s assistance regarding the private military organisation, [REDACTED]. Upon recruitment, Captain Smith is to be escorted to [REDACTED] for the commencement of further training.
The Director
O.G.I.S
******
“Captain Smith?”
I didn’t look up from the paperwork I was busy sorting out as the voice wasn’t familiar, and I knew it wasn’t someone up the chain of command. “There’s a few of those around, mate. Need to be a little more specific.”
“Captain Nathan Smith, Australian citizen. Unusual that he’s an officer of the Corps of Royal Marines.”
I looked up to see a man standing in the door. Cheap suit. No tie, shirt open due to the heat. Sunglasses. Hat on his head. Attaché case in hand. One thought crossed my mind as I leaned back in my chair.
Spook. They were all over Iraq, up to all sorts of shenanigans. British intelligence agencies were also working but nowhere near like the Americans. We knew a lot of the shit they got up to wasn’t entirely legal too. In fact, the rule of law didn’t particularly apply in most regions of Iraq. The military did what it wanted.
The second thought was…
What does he want with me?
Gesturing to the seat opposite, he sat down, removed his glasses, placed the case on the desk in front of us. I’ll admit, my interest was immediately perked. Everyone knew the CIA and MI6, in particular, were working in Iraq. Other European nations had foreign intelligence services operating. Mercenary groups were definitely around but they wisely avoided us. And who knew what other secret organisations were busy at work in Iraq, Afghanistan and wherever else in the world. The man in front of me? Definitely a spook but his accent had told me nothing about his origin.
“I’m afraid you have me a loss. You know me. Who are you?”
He offered his hand, which I accepted. “Daniel Jones.”
If that was his real name or not, no idea. After shaking hands, I sat back down. “You with the army?” I asked, “Or are you with intelligence?” I smirked. “Could make more than one joke about that.”
He returned a similar smirk. “Neither, to be honest. I’m actually here as you’ve gained our attention, Captain. In a good way before you concern yourself. First deployment was to Norther Ireland. Two tours in Afghanistan. This is your fourth to Iraq, yes?” He then glanced away a second before meeting my eyes. “At least the fourth official tour, yes?”
I leaned forward, keeping my eyes on his. “I don’t take kindly to blackmail, Mister Jones.”
“Not blackmail, but the fact you’ve been back here to fight outside the usual chain would suggest to me that you take the current global situation rather seriously. You’re not just some sort of adrenaline junkie?”
“While I’m in uniform, I’m here to do the job. When I’m here otherwise, I’m here to keep people safe. Working outside the chain protects my men in other ways.”
He tapped the case. “I have all your records here, from the very start of all your training all the way to the present day. Your superiors speak highly of you. Believe you have a chance of going quite near the top. Does that interest you?”
“Honestly? I prefer being here in the field with my men, but I guess when I’m a little older, I’d rather the comfort of a desk in an air-conditioned office.”
He nodded and stood up, turning to the door and closing it. Resuming his seat, he steepled his fingers and met my eyes. “Captain…”
“Call me Nate.”
He nodded again. “Okay, Nate. I represent a certain group of people looking for talented individuals who are prepared to go the extra mile to keep not only your country and mine but the world safe. Not just from the jihadis and fundies you deal with here on a regular basis, I mean all those enemies who commit the most heinous of crimes against innocent people. I cannot go into details, not yet, but your name crossed my desk and my superiors asked me to come here and invite you to join us.”
“Who are you exactly?”
“As I said, I can’t tell you yet. But what I am offering you is a chance to be even better. The training you’ve undergone was brutal. We can make you even better. More than just a Royal Marine. You’ll still be that but something much more.”
I didn’t have to think about what I was going to say. “You suggesting someone like you? A spook?”
He chuckled. “In a manner of speaking. Let me ask you this. Does killing someone bother you?”
“Not really as they’re usually trying to kill me in return. Not killed anyone I would consider innocent, at least. The body always has a rifle or something able to kill or injure me with in hand or nearby.”
“What about killing someone who was threatening to blow up… say, a shopping mall?”
I looked away and gave it some thought. “We talking about what they call extrajudicial killing?”
“Yes,” he replied bluntly.
“So assassination?”
“We don’t use such blunt language, Nate. We eliminate threats to global security, wherever they might be. Could be here. Could be in Europe. Could be the other side of the world.”
I leaned back in my chair. That was something. A dose of honesty I didn’t expect. I mean, many of us in the service assumed it happened. But unlike killing on the battlefield, whenever there were deaths under suspicious circumstances, some people naturally assumed assassination. It wasn’t always just a bullet fired from a nearby rooftop. Wouldn’t be surprised if most were made to look like accidents. “How does it work?” I asked.
“You leave tomorrow with me. You fly to an undisclosed location where you begin your training. There is a caveat to all of it though. Everything about your current life will end.” I met his eyes and I knew what he meant. “We operate in secret, Nate. No-one can ever know about your real life. You will operate in the shadows, but you will also live normally, or so it will seem. But doing that requires a clean break. A new life and identity.”
“And I’m assuming no farewells?”
“No.” That’s when I sighed. I knew I’d been selected because I was single, at the very least. “It’s up to you whether you think the price is worth it. What I can tell you is simple enough, Nate. We want you with us. We will train you. Then we will unleash you on the world. In some ways, you will be alone. In other ways, you will have an entire network of organisations that will assist you. But you will become an expert in the craft. Best of the best. CIA? MI6? FSB? None of them come close. We’re closer to those spooks you read about in fiction. People like us are not meant to exist.” He stood up. “This is a one-time offer, Nate. If you don’t agree now, you won’t agree later. All I ask is that, if you don’t, forget this conversation ever happened.” I nodded to that. There was a subtle threat that made me smirk. “If you choose to join us, I will arrive tomorrow in a Humvee at 0900. It will circle around to the front of this building. All you need do is place your stuff in the back and join me in the vehicle. From there, your life will change forever.”
“The CO?”
“Is aware of an upcoming transfer. If you enter the vehicle, it will simply be rubber-stamped. If you don’t, you will remain here and carry on with your life. He knows it’s an immediate departure. Hush-hush kind of thing.”
My mind was in turmoil that night, sleep hard to find. The idea of not being able to say goodbye… to Amy… to Hannah… to Emma… definitely to my Mum and Dad. I knew they’d be left shattered. But the idea of taking the fight to anyone who posed a threat. Whether we were in Iraq for the right reasons or not wasn’t something I thought about. I was a Royal Marine, I had my orders, I followed them. Personal opinion simply didn’t matter. But we all saw the atrocities being carried out across the globe. The war was everywhere. And I had a feeling it wasn’t just about terrorists. Threats could include… anything really. I would have liked to talk to someone about the offer but I knew I couldn’t. It was simply up to me.