Europe
October 12, 1999
The KLM flight departed Dublin, Ireland an hour late due to the heavy fog. As usual on red-eye flights, passengers were already slumbering or fighting to stay awake to endure the brief flight to London's Heathrow Airport.
Pershing had just completed a brief assignment in Limerick, a port city on the West Coast of Ireland. His next stop was London; at that point, he was to pair up with one of RMI's senior analysts to work on a threat assessment for a high profile client.
Pershing sat back to find a comfortable position in his business class seat and tried to indulge in some rest but instead began to reflect upon the beginning of his newly found career.
Risk Management International turned out to be everything Gunny Morris, said it would be and more. In the beginning there were extensive background checks, tests and rigorous physical evaluations. Next came the training, then more training; usually ten hours a day in classes interspersed with up to a week in the field. Naturally, he excelled in everything related to weapons, which he still found informative since it dealt with a lot of weapons safety and usage in close quarters environments.
The fieldwork was quite different for him, as a Marine sniper he learned the patient craft of stalking out in open areas, even in urban environments but nothing quite like the coordinated tailing and shadowing they taught here. Combat shooting was his favorite and was proficient enough to where many staff members sought help from him with practicing proper technique. He also learned that there was a big difference in administrative procedures; years of experience in writing after action-reports and note taking in the field did not prepare him for the reports and requisitions they generated here.
Surprisingly, there where also classes on subjects such as: Business Etiquette, dealing with proper dress and conduct in a business setting, including certain customs practiced in foreign countries that affect the way they do business. After approximately three months of this demanding training, he was assigned to a position with the company's Operations branch. The fieldwork drew on his vast knowledge developed during his days in the Marine Corps, while the intermingled staff assignments provided challenges on the level of his recent education; the mixture never left a dull moment.
On his way to his current set of assignments, he was informed that he had been transferred to a more specialized section within Operations effective immediately. During the duration of his transatlantic flight, he had spent time reevaluating and adjusting his tasks on his assignments based on instructions he was receiving via email; literally in the last minute.
RMI was proving to be a company with vast resources and influence anywhere in the world. Pershing experienced first hand the definition of a truly global company. In the eleven months after completing his training, he had already worked assignments in eight different countries, across three continents.
The new assignment involved a risk assessment of a potential client by the name of Sir Walter Sulley, who was a powerful and influential businessman with close ties to the British Parliament and within the Royal family. For reasons yet unknown, and by parties not yet identified, a number of threats had been made against him and his family.
After arriving at Heathrow airport and going through the usual routine of disembarking a flight, Pershing made it all the way to the exit before being approached by an older gentleman who resembled a character from an old British TV show.
Frank Tolbert was an older gentleman in his late fifties, who stood ramrod straight with regal bearing. He had a long slender face with an aquiline nose that went in line with his tall, slim build. He was the archetypical English gentleman even down to the Derby hat. He was the RMI security analyst that Pershing was teamed with to work this new assignment.
The early morning drive to their destination was uneventful with a minimal amount of conversation except for the occasional perfunctory small talk. Pershing had a chance to view and enjoy London's outskirts and the subsequent countryside which in his summation was "very green." Their destination was Reading, a town forty miles outside of London. This gave him time out of his normally hectic days to just sit and vegetate while riding along as a passenger.
08:30
Tolbert pulled his green Land Rover off the rural highway and onto a muddy road leading into the woods. He parked short of entering the tree line at an old dilapidated gate, retrieved some rubber boots from the backseat and sat on the door sill replacing his shoes. Upon changing his footwear, Tolbert's demeanor also changed and suddenly became talkative. He was standing at the front of his vehicle looking through a large pair of binoculars
"What in bloody hell …, it looks like Sir Sulley already has a significant security detail inplace." Tolbert mentioned with mild irritation in his voice while Pershing stood by the tailgate unpacking his gear.
"I was under the impression that we already expected that, I mean …, who wouldn't take some immediate action to protect his family; at least until he shopped for something more suitable." Pershing questioned while digging around in his gear.
"Does that look like a temporary crew to you?" Tolbert asked as he handed over the binoculars.
The estate he was viewing through Tolbert's binoculars was filled with old world grandeur, as pretty much everything else did in this part of the world. The stately home, which looked like a small castle, sat nestled between two adjoining tree lines of a dense forest and at the foot of gently rolling hills.
"Hmm ..." Pershing murmured. "Looks like military," He noted as he began dissecting the overall picture into grids and mentally digesting the situation. Looking closely, he took note of the fine details beside the obvious guards walking their posts. He observed slight movements within the surrounding vegetation and several men in camouflage posted within the tree line and other tactical positions around the estate.
"Looks like our man Sulley has added another layer to his security detail. Here take a look over there" Pershing pointed as he handed Tolbert the binoculars back.
"That's not very sporting!" He exclaimed. "I agree, it does look like military, maybe even SAS."
Pershing began donning his gear in preparation for his foray and was applying camouflage to his face when Tolbert patted his arm.
"Are you sure you are up to this? Extra caution will definitely be required if you still intend on going ahead with your plan," he stated with a concerned look on his face.
"Don't worry about it, I got this," Pershing replied lightly and winked to ease some of the tension building in the older gentleman. Within his own mind though, he wasn't as confident. "well this won't be a cakewalk but at least I know what I am facing." He thought while he continued making adjustments to his gear.
"You do realize the implications of this if anything goes wrong." Tolbert implied sternly, "...oh, never mind," he added trying to retract the last statement.
"Tolbert, give me until 15:00 to make it there. So you have the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon to calm down, okay." He said trying to sound reassuring.
"Be careful there chap." Tolbert replied looking downtrodden.
Leaning on the hood next to him, Pershing scanned the area again, mentally taking notes on certain points of interest. Tolbert seemed a little more relieved when he patted Pershing on the back and felt the tell tale hardness of plated body armor under his ghillie suit.
"Piece of cake..., from what I see, I might be just a tad bit late for tea and crumpets though." He added jokingly as he pulled the netted hood of his ghillie suit over his head. Pershing carefully ambled into the brush, and thenslowly and silently melted into the surrounding vegetation, literally disappearing before Tolbert's eyes.
For the past several hours, the progress had been slow and arduous. His strategy was to skirt the tree line until he got to a depression he saw in the meadow. At that point, he would be on his last leg towards his objective, which was the approach to the backside of the manor. He had realized that the bulk of the security concentrated on creating a perimeter facing outward from the residence. There were several observation posts set up within the tree lines to keep the open approaches to the manor under surveillance. He was within view of the manor now and for the most part had been able to bypass or otherwise avoid the guards he encountered, at least until now. Suddenly, two camouflaged men appeared out of the tree line he was skirting. "How the hell did I miss this ...?" Pershing cursed, "...a damn patrol ... shit I should have seen this one coming."
The two men displayed the obvious characteristics of well trained and disciplined military personnel. They slowly stepped out into the open at a low crouch not even twenty feet directly to the left of Pershing's prone body. His long time training kept him from panicking as helay flat and unmoving and becoming part of the vegetation. The two men continued directly at him, stealthily and in a low crouch with their attention focused on scanning over the top of the knee high grass. Luckily for Pershing the tall grass was growing in patches instead of an unbroken continuous field which would have betrayed his presence by leaving a path of flattened grass. One of the men was now almost with in arms reach of him, the man's eyes intently focused on the area well ahead of his path of travel. In fact he could smell the musky odor of the man standing by him. "Oh shit," he thought as he saw the man standing next to him freeze, look to his partner, acknowledge him with a slight nod and slowly sink down onto one knee as he raised his assault rifle into firing position and disengaged the safety with an unmistakable click.
"Damn, these guys are dead serious," he thought as he cringed with trepidation.
His mind was already speeding through the options of extreme measures he may have to take if he were to be discovered. Subconsciously his thumb slowly rubbed the rough texture of the handle on his K-Bar combat knife which he held inverted in his hand with the blackened blade concealed by his forearm. He laid there biding his time hoping not to have to take this man's life for being too attentive.
Just as slow and silent as the man stopped and knelt next to him, he stood back up with his rifle still in a firing position. He communicated with his partner with several silent hand gestures and slowly backpedaled and retreated towards the tree line they came out of.
15:05
Tolbert painstakingly waited until the absolute last minute before approaching the house, in an attempt to give Pershing as much time as possible to meet him here.
He was escorted through the manse by a butler, who ceremonially stopped by an ornate doorway and announced the visitor.
Sir Sulley was a small man in his early 50's, who exuded an air of intelligence and cunning to the point of being obnoxious. His darting eyes looked over the older gentleman standing before him at the entrance to his study, locked onto the clothing bag he had draped over his arm but never made mention of it.
Sir Sulley wasted no time on small talk and got right to opening the discussion on the business on hand.
"Mr. Tolbert you were sent here by your company to solicit and offer your services for the protection of my family and me. Well, unfortunately I have no need for them." He paused for a moment to let the statement sink in before he continued.
"I am sure you were expecting a quivering scared mouse of a man sitting here that you could intimidate with the potential of harm. I know your type, taking advantage of people in situations of great distress." Sir Sulley's eyes maintained a steely gaze as he spoke with intensity, "...Mr. Tolbert, let me explain something to you so that you may ascertain the purpose of your visit beyond it being a waste of your time,"
Tolbert shifted uncomfortably in his chair as he listened to this man lay out his scheme.
"Let us get this clear, the only reason I am even divulging my plan to you Mr. Tolbert, is because unlike others, I actually do have some respect for you." Sir Sulley leaned back in his wingback chair and crossed his legs. "Yours is not the only company, I have contacted several others under the assumption of providing protection, yours just happens to be the last. I wanted the word out that I was vulnerable to make me an even easier target. I do not know who these people are, or whom they thought they were dealing with but ...," Sir Sulley suddenly sat up and slammed his fist on his desk. "... I am going to teach them a lesson. I have 28 SAS personnel, along with my regular security detail out there on my grounds laying a trap for any unsuspecting idiot who thinks they are going to waltz in here and do something to me!" he exclaimed while nearly on the verge of loosing his temperament. " I plan on capturing them dead or alive and expose these trifling people, but also show them that they just threatened the wrong person!"
Tolbert began to feel heartburn setting in as he was overcome with dread.
"So tell me Mr. Tolbert, what is in the bag sir?" Sir Sulley asked after gaining back his composure.
"Well Sir ..." Tolbert began uncomfortably. "... The clothing bag contains my associate's change of clothes. Our plan was for him to infiltrate your makeshift security arrangement and show you why you needed our services and make the sale."
"Ha!" Sir Sulley snorted derisively. "That was a novel idea." He commented wearing a big boyish grin. "Are you a betting man Mr. Tolbert?"
The question caught Tolbert completely off guard.
"Are you willing to wager on your man, that he makes it through?" He reiterated, driving the point home. "Perhaps $5,000 US …?"
"Sir Sulley, with all due respect, I will not wager on another man's life, especially under these circumstances. Although, I see that you are willing to do so on your own and that of your family." Tolbert replied somewhat bitterly.
"Well, Mr. Tolbert that puts you in a kind of dilemma then, does it not?" He asked mockingly while canting his head. "How do you expect to sell me into the confidence of your company, when you are not willing to wager on the capability of your own man, huh?"
"This is different Sir..." Tolbert attempted to point out.
"Ah, in your opinion maybe; but not mine. Anyway let us not waste time splitting hairs over differences in opinion." Sir Sulley stood and gestured for his guest to follow.
"Let us go and enjoy drinks on the veranda. Perhaps we may get a front row seat to a show." He added sarcastically.
The veranda faced a gently rolling meadow, bordered on two sides by forest and was itself flanked by neatly trimmed hedges, extending several inches above the stone and iron railings. Tolbert wore a sullen look on his face, while Sir Sulley enjoyed his haughtiness. A butler stood beside the table serving the two gentlemen Scotch when he suddenly turned to the hedges near Sir Sulley and shrieked.
"Excuse me Mr. Tolbert, would you please introduce me to our gracious host," the voice came out of the hedges and completely startled everyone at the table. The shocked Sir Sulley recoiled and unceremoniously fell backwards out of his chair.
"What in bloody hell …?" Sir Sulley jumped up off the ground and sought the source of the foreign voice within the hedges. He was met by a chuckle and the shaking of the hedges as someone inside was moving around.
"How …, ah …, who …," Sir Sulley stammered.
"Sir Sulley, let me introduce you to my colleague, Mr. Jack Pershing." Tolbert said with great relief.
Pershing stepped out of the hedges and deftly jumped over the railing while smiling at Tolbert. He pulled back the netting covering his head, removed his gloves and approached Sir Sulley with his hand extended. He was backing away with his mouth agape, still in shock as if he just saw a monster.
"May I trouble you for a drink sir? I am parched. Oh, by the way did you know you have a bunch of guys with guns running around out there in the woods?" Pershing winked at Tolbert, who winked back and let his chest swell with pride.