Date: 20Dec2023
CIA Building in West Virginia
After arriving back at headquarters, everyone separated to their individual tasks. SFC Curtis sent out a request for their Canadian branch to do a cleanup at the Supply Cabin; afterwards, he begins writing his After-Action Report. Meanwhile, SSG Claude and CPL Damon take Ruvik to an interrogation room as Xerxes, along with Agent Slate, head to a secret world government conference to discuss what to do with the child. For the rest of the team, they participate in a debriefing, discussing what had accrued, once done they are released.
Interrogation room:
Time: 13:20
SSG Claude and CPL Damon are questioning Ruvik, whose real name has been revealed to be "Aleksander 'Alek' Kuznetsov." Born 1974, age 49. He was also revealed to be a former KGB Agent who joined at a young age but left voluntarily at age 17. This was before the Agencies attempted coup d'état against the last Soviet President, Mikhail Gorbachev. A coup that led to the agencies end in 1991.
CPL Damon: "Listen Mr. Kuznetsov, we need any information you can give us. Once we're done, we can promise your safe return to your family."
Alek (Ruvik): With a defeated look on his face, "Humph. If it is critical information you require, you have the wrong man. I'm what you call middle management. I do as I'm told, I don't ask questions and if I do, I don't get answers. The little I do know might be of assistance, but truly I see no use in telling you."
Damon: Confused, "And why is that?"
Alek: -Silence-
Damon: "Sir please. Your cooperation could help us save lives."
Alek continues his silence with his head facing the ground.
Damon: "Mr. Kuznetsov, please. You have to understand that…"
Alek: Interrupting Damon, "Do you know how I joined REACH, Corporal?"
Damon: "No, we are unaware of that."
Alek: "In the KGB I was an infiltrator. This required me to lie, cheat, steal, and sometimes it meant that people had to die. When I left, I decided that I would never again work for another government agency. I chose to move my family to Sweden and became a fisherman, believing that things were over. But we were wrong. Around 15 years later, I was approached by a man offering me a job and a 'high' position in a new organization known as REACH. They told me that they required my expertise from my past. I immediately turned them down. Unfortunately, 'No' wasn't an answer they were expecting nor one they would accept. Once home that evening, the front door was forced open. I ran into the house and encountered three armed men of which I quickly subdued. I then heard my wife calling for me in the basement and rushed to her to find the same man that had approached me that morning, holding a gun to her head as she held our four-year-old son. In that moment he gave me a choice, 'Join them and save my family or watch them die'."
Damon: "What is the status of your family now?"
Alek: "They are currently living "peacefully" in an undisclosed location in North Korea, hence why I was put on the escort mission."
Damon: "But if they're safe then why not just tell us what you know?"
Alek's head lowered, he raises it up to reveal his tearful eyes, "I never said they were safe. If I tell you… then REACH will find out and they, will have my family killed. If they run, they will be hunted down like animals. And when captured they will be tortured, begging for death… until they are finally killed. But if I don't tell you, then you will have my family as well as the others killed. The only difference I see… is that you might offer them a swift and painless death."
Damon, now frozen in his tracks, is unable to respond to what he just heard, only able to perceive the hopelessness in Alek's eyes.
SSG Claude: Finally breaking silence, "Listen Mr. Kuznetsov, we do not have any intentions to harm nor hunt your family. We were given orders to leave your family as well as you and the others unharmed regardless of what you do or do not tell us."
Alek: Confused, "I don't understand; then who would benefit from this interrogation?"
Claude: "Well, once we're done here, whether or not you participate with us, we are under orders to locate and retrieve all of your families. We will then reunite you all and place you under our protective care in an area of your choosing."
Alek: "But what sense does that make? You wouldn't gain anything from that."
Claude: "Personally, I don't agree. But Xerxes seems to believe it is the right thing to do, so I will stand behind him."
Alek: "But he's the one who ordered you to kill my family?! I looked into his eyes when he gave the order, they were cold and shallow."
Claude: "Yes, he made that order knowing we wouldn't follow it. In that moment, his focus was on helping that little girl. But even with that, he would never put innocents in harm's way. The look you saw, it was to make sure that you would believe that he would undoubtedly do it."
Although Alek feels a little at ease after hearing this, he still naturally feels cautious of this group's true intentions and motivations. He feels this unease until he thinks back to the look of anger, hatred, and disgust he saw on Xerxes' face when he saw the collar around the child's neck.
Claude: "Before we proceed, tell us, are the other survivors in your group like you? Forced to fight for REACH?"
Alek: "Unfortunately, no. They whole heartedly believe that REACH is right for what they are doing. What will happen to them?"
Claude: "Nothing, they have the same circumstances as you."
Alek: Still skeptical, "Understood." The interrogation concludes with Alek revealing the location of his family and promising to give them any information on REACH once they are secure.
Operation: Interrogation
Status: Complete