during the op or even work up the footage into a three-dimension re-creation of the entire mission, including every action that person took in it. At the moment she was staring at a close-up view of the pavement as a team member — M-Two, she confirmed — was dumped off a moving vehicle to land on the street. Gutsy but damn reckless, she thought, her lips pursing in disapproval. I'll be very interested in seeing that AA report.
A soft chime interrupted her thoughts. 'Yes.'
'Director, this is Dr. Samuelson, forensics.'
'Go ahead, Doctor.'
'I just wanted to let you know about the body we've been examining over here. It's going to take a bit longer to confirm an identity than we first estimated. There is evidence of extensive facial surgery, as well as the fact that his fingerprints have been removed.'
'Removed?'
'Correct. We're trying to establish a match using middle phalanx prints, but I don't know if AFIS or other international databases will be able to provide a solid match based on that. We're running the target's current appearance through the databases now, as well as attempting to reconstruct what he looked like presurgery. I will advise you when we have any further information.'
'Thank you, Doctor.' She had just disconnected when another chime went off. 'Yes, Samantha?'
'Do you have a minute? I'd like to discuss the Midnight Team's AA report.'
Kate scanned the virtual room around her, ensuring that nothing needed immediate attention. 'Sure. Come on in.'
She sensed a presence, and turned to see Samantha's avatar sitting beside her, looking every bit as polished as she did in the flesh. 'Hope I didn't startle you,' Samantha said.
'No, although it is a bit unnerving to be on the receiving end when someone pops in.' Kate lowered her voice and leaned over. 'I have to confess that I enjoy the effect it has on others when I do it, however.' Samantha's conspiratorial grin and nod confirmed that Kate wasn't the only one who thought this way. 'However, back to business. Secure channel.'
There was a brief blur around them, and the rest of the room took on a slightly hazy look. While Kate still had access to everything in the room, the communication wasn't two-way anymore. The rest of the operatives had been effectively blocked from this conversation. Normally Kate tried to keep as open a forum as possible — after all, the men and women working there had been recruited and cleared at the highest levels of intelligence work — but there were many aspects that had to be kept compartmentalized. Discussing failures in carrying out a mission was certainly one of them, at least until the problem could be identified — if there was indeed one — then corrected.
Upon seeing Samantha's grim expression, Kate didn't even bother with formalities. 'I take it you've been reviewing the operation recordings?'
'Yes, and I'm not pleased with what I saw, particularly concerning the failure to achieve certain mission components.'
Kate had been expecting this sort of response from Samantha ever since she'd begun examining the records. While she had very high standards for each mission's completion, she could also look at the bigger picture and take a win where she could get it. Samantha held her personnel — and herself — to almost impossible standards, and was very hard on anyone who didn't measure up, sometimes critically so. It was one reason that while the UK branch of Room 59 had one of the highest success rates, it also had the highest dropout rate in the entire agency. Kate didn't have anything against pushing the operatives hard — indeed, she was one of the leading proponents of tip-top training and near-constant evaluation. But to her, this mission had rapidly fallen outside normal parameters, and because of that — and the fact that the main priorities had been accomplished — she was willing to cut the Midnight Team some slack.
With a disarming smile, she tried to get the conversation headed into more positive territory. 'The planned attack on London was foiled, and the bioweapons were recovered, so I'd say the primary and secondary objectives were achieved — not exactly a failure,' Kate said. Her eyes flicked to the screen, where M-Two floated in midair, frozen in the act of being hoisted into the company van. 'But please, continue.'
Samantha's left eyebrow arched up in disbelief. 'Perhaps. However, I dislike other people doing our work for us in such a — blatant manner. The third aspect of the mission was to capture the subjects alive, which was rendered impossible by their termination. Overall, I am concerned about the control that this team's leader is exerting over his members.'
The British director paused for a moment, as if picking her next words carefully, something Kate had rarely, if ever, seen her do. 'We're supposed to be getting the best of the best from the world's armed forces and intelligence agencies, yet we have a Midnight Team member going off on his own — against orders — to perform unsupported reconnaissance and engagement of the hostile team. Besides the increased risk to the rest of the team, this also eliminates any chance of disengaging from the encounter and attempting to establish surveillance at a later time.'
Kate nodded. 'I agree with that assessment. However, I think the last thing anyone, particularly them, expected was to find another strike team in the exact same location, going after the exact same people. We try to plan for ambushes, insurgents, just about anything that can go wrong. But considering what they came up against and how they acquitted themselves, I'm not ready to throw the book at them just yet.'
'The fact that a team of hostiles was able to get to the target in the first place brings up other security and surveillance issues that I will address in my final report and recommendations. However, the more important question, in light of this new evidence, is whether we deactivate the team at this point and let a regular operative take over this investigation,' Samantha said.
Kate steepled her fingers. 'Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't you the one who suggested keeping them activated in the first place?'
Another woman might have taken the comment as sarcastic, but Samantha just gave Kate a look that told the director that she knew she was being bullshitted. 'Of course you're right, but that was before I saw how the op had gone down. If I'd had this information before, I would have advised pulling them immediately.'
'Samantha, you know that I dislike switching teams in midop. One of our intelligence operatives would have to pick up the trail cold, and if they ran into this team, they would be at a distinct disadvantage.'
'Yes, but a single operative that knows what he is going up against is more likely to be able to stay on the trail of this last subject without creating more complications. Besides…' Samantha hesitated.
'Go on.'
'Let's face it, the Midnight Teams serve a useful yet limited function for the organization. Sending them after this lone woman is rather like using a flamethrower to light a candle, in my opinion.'
Exactly what Jake was thinking in the limo, I'll bet, Kate thought. 'Concerned about overkill, are you?'
'More like overspill. On this team's assignment, they shot up a house, chased a car through the streets of London — and I can't remember the last time that happened — which ended with the target vehicle blowing up in Kennington Park.'
'All hazards, unlikely as they may seem, of the business,' Kate replied.
'Nevertheless, for an agency that relies on staying behind the scenes to be effective, even when bringing in the bigger guns, as you say across the pond, our team certainly wasn't able to deliver, not on completing the entire mission, nor maintaining a low profile. I simply don't think this team is the best choice to send after this person.'
'On the contrary, I believe that after this, they will be even more inclined to complete the next phase swiftly and well, to expunge the mistakes that were made previously. If a person knows that the confidence previously placed in them has decreased, they are more apt to try that much harder to regain that trust,' Kate said.
'Which may lead them to take higher risks than normal. In an already high-risk situation, the results could be disastrous,' Samantha said.
She's tenacious — I'll give her that, Kate thought. 'If we pull them now, the psychological damage could be severe enough to hamper their performance for weeks, even months. Although I do appreciate your concerns, I still think that they are the right team for continuing this mission.'
Samantha folded her arms. 'It seems that we are bound to disagree on this matter. Of course, I will defer to you regarding this decision. However, I will have to note our discussion in my report.'
'I wouldn't expect anything else, Samantha.' Kate's e-mail monitor chirped. 'Hold on a moment, will you?'
