CHAPTER 6
UNIT: Team Reliant
SITUATION: Planning a Mission
LOCATION: Team Reliant Headquarters
TIME: 1000 hours Local Time, Current Date
Cowboy nodded his head toward Dawn and pointed at her, “She speaks Korean! But who would the other be?”
Harvey arose and walked to stand behind Olaedoen. He put his hands on both of Olaedoen’s shoulders and said, “He does. He will be working with us for a while”
The native South Korean lowered his head toward his chest and nodded slowly, “Yes, I do speak it well.”
Harvey walked back around the table to his chair, “Not only that, but he is also a Korean deputy law enforcement officer.”
Olaedoen raised a forefinger, “Yes, but I am only part-time these days.”
Slover looked at him, “Were you a military policeman when you were on active duty?”
Olaedoen smiled as he nodded, “Yes, and I solved many problematic cases.”
Slover asked, “And you now work at mowing our lawn and maintaining our building?”
Olaedoen put his hand beside his lips and spoke toward Slover, “It’s called cover identity.”
Slover complained, “And I bought into it. Unbelievable.”
Olaedoen grinned his toothy grin at Slover. “I’m pretty good at it, am I not?”
Slover stared at him wide-eyed, “Absolutely!”
Harvey suggested, “Why don’t we let Dawn and Olaedoen conduct this investigation. We can equip Mister Olaedoen and Captain Dawn with power company uniforms. We can attach body cameras to their uniforms and a couple of microphones. We can put Slover, Cowboy, and Dude in a utility van with computer screens, and they can monitor Olaedoen’s and Dawn’s actions as they investigate.”
“Do you think that would make it okay for them to be able to go into someone’s property? Not only that, what could they claim that they were looking for? Actually, what would they be looking for?”
“They would be looking for an electrical connection that disappears into a hole in the property or into a device that could be a door going down into the tunnel.”
Slover complained, “Really? What would they really be looking for?”
“They could say that they were looking for an electrical fault. Or in order to gain easier acceptance, they could claim to be looking for someone growing marijuana.”
Slover considered the plan, “On the face of it, it sounds like it might work. However, going marijuana in Korea sounds preposterous.”
Mungo raised his hand, “I would like to go along in the van even if it is only to drive the van. Who knows, they might need someone who was big enough to break down some doors.”
Dude asked, “You act like it’s going to be dangerous?”
Mungo grinned, “Oh, hell yes! They will be dealing with some fanatical Communists. And if they spend too long on the street going through businesses and people’s houses, word will spread rather quickly that someone is looking for something. And who do you think they believe we would be looking for?”
Harvey frowned, “He may be right. Under that scenario, the two investigators might be faced with a crowd of unhappy people.”
Mungo sighed, “I love it when things get dangerous. It is exciting.”
Dude observed, “Yeah, we were in Russia when things got dangerous. Cowboy and I are witnesses to that.”
Mungo scoffed, “Let’s not talk about that.”
Harvey ordered, “Okay listen up! Olaedoen will go get a power company uniform. Captain Dawn
will go to intelligence supply and get a Korean power company uniform. Mungo, I want you to sign out a utility van. Cowboy and Dude, I want you to check out enough riot batons for everyone, and get to computer monitors that the body cameras can transmit to. I do not want you to take any weapons on this mission. You will have to engage Jagwi if you find him, subdue him, and bring him in.”
Harvey added, “Let’s get this put together within the next hour, and let’s get this mission started.” He looked at the men who would be providing protection and asked, “Do you guys need any riot gear for bodily protection?”
Mungo spoke for the man, “Nah. I think we can handle a small crowd without any gear. Besides, if we take riot gear out there and see it, there is no telling what kind of a crowd we would have to deal with.”
“Okay, your choice. But ‘let’s get’er’ done.’”
UNIT: Team Reliant
SITUATION: Find Jagwi, Bring Him In
LOCATION: Yalu Street, Heart of Danger
TIME: 1300 hours Local Time, Current Date
Dawn sat with the other five in the utility van. Mungo, who served as the driver, was dressed in Korean attire. Slover, Cowboy, Dude, Dawn and Olaedoen were dressed in power company uniforms.
From the passenger seat, she glanced behind her to Olaedoen, “How do you to want to conduct this
thing?”
Olaedoen shrugged, “I am a large person, and I know how to project that image. I will stand in front and you can stand behind me. Since you are the expert in offensive and defensive body combat, if I get in trouble, I will step aside, and you can beat them up.” He smiled.
Slover leaned forward. “What are you going to say to the people when they let you in to their property?”
Olaedoen moved between Dawn and Slover, grinning “I will explain that we are looking for grow lights for marijuana. If I don’t get a laugh about that, from a Korean, I will add that we are also looking for a meth lab.”
Slover snorted. “What happens if someone really is running a meth lab?”
Dawn fidgeted. She was anxious to get this done.
Olaedoen sat back and crossed his arms. “Oh, that! Well, it will be full speed ahead, like you Americans say, like a bull in a china shop.”
Slover scowled. “That sounds kind of shaky to me.”
The van eased to a stop and Olaedoen gripped the door handle. “Sorry, it’s the best idea I can come up with. Do you have a better one?”
Dawn smiled to herself as Slover shrugged, “Nope!”
Dawn was pleased when Mungo intervened, “Let’s do it this way: I will park us at the curb in the middle of the block. You two,” he pointed at Olae-
doen and Dawn, “Should start at the beginning of the block and work down one side. Then you can go back to the beginning of the block and start on the other side. We can monitor you and your progress on the computer monitors that Dude and Cowboy are sitting in front of. Then, if you get in trouble, and have need of our help, we will not be far from you. I will keep a lookout to see if any adversarial groups start to form. I have secured from supply two radio earbuds for you to use in case I see something.” She received hers as he handed earbuds to them.
Dawn nodded. “That’s probably a good idea.”
Mungo smiled, “Be sure to wear them and keep them turned on.”
Dawn sighed. “Will I ever get to live that issue down?”
Mungo smiled and shrugged one shoulder.
She led Olaedoen as they exited from the utility van and began their quest. They entered every property on one side of the street and found nothing out of the ordinary. They returned to the beginning of the block and started on the other side.
She moved behind Olaedoen as he entered the door of the first building. The business was a meat shop. No one attended the sales floor of the shop. Olaedoen tapped the bell on the counter. A man hurried from a room at the rear of the building. Olaedoen’s addressed the manager of the shop with a Korean traditional greeting, “Anyoung haseyo!” He advised the man, “We are with the power company. We have been asked to check a number of buildings
and businesses on Yalu Street who have experienced a sudden extra flow of electricity. Has anything different occurred in this building that would cause a greater flow of electricity?”
The man’s eyes twitched from side to side. He licked his lips.
Olaedoen’s eyes narrowed. He had noticed the tells just as Dawn had.
Dawn moved to the side as the man asked him, “Like what kind of different?”
She looked behind Olaedoen as he stood with one hand behind himself. He signaled that something was wrong then addressed the man, “Well, we have noticed a greater flow of electricity being consumed at this address. Have you had any flickering or blinking of your lights?”
The will man shook his head quickly, “No, nothing is out of the ordinary!”
Olaedoen nodded, “Would it be possible for us to check your fuses box?”
“Is that all you want to do? When you are through, will you leave?”
Olaedoen smiled, “Certainly, we are here to serve you!”
Dawn’s nerves tingled when the man jerked his head toward the rear of the building. “Follow me.”
As if in a hurry, he moved with determination toward the back of the shop. He led them to a storage room, opened the door, and pointed at the rear of the room at an electric fuse box on the wall of the room. He stepped back from the door and made a gesture
that indicated they should enter.
Her suspicions aroused, she bowed slightly and stepped back from the entrance. Again, the man’s eyes twitched back and forth, and he licked his lips. Olaedoen walked straight to the box, opened it, and checked for any recent additions or extraneous connections. He put his finger on a new lead. His finger traced the new line from the bottom of the fuse box into a small hole in the floor. He rose, nodded, and stepped out of the storage room and closed the door.
A reedy voice called from behind another door, “Mafzue, are you coming?”
Mafzue’s entire body trembled. “Yes, sir in a moment.”
Olaedoen smiled at Mafzue, “We will be going now.”
Mafzue exhaled. “Thank you.”
Olaedoen beckoned to Dawn, “Let’s go.”
After they left the building Olaedoen whispered to her, “I thought from the man’s, actions that we were on to something.”
Dawn shrugged. “This is Yalu Street.”
“True, but I think it was more than the fact that there was someone else in the building. I noticed that he had a new 30-amp fuse added to his fuse box.”
“Do you think it’s worth investigating more?”
“Possibly, but we would have to find a way to get into the building when he is not around. If we can
find where the new line goes, we might find something interesting.”
“So, you would rather try to enter the tunnel right above the place where Jagwi might be rather than trying to sneak up on him in the tunnel.”
“Maybe, but let’s check the other buildings on this block of Yalu Street.”
They stopped as Mungo’s voice came through Dawn’s radio ear bud. “You guys okay?”
“Yes, we were just discussing whether to investigate the man we were just talking to. We will tell you more when we return to the van.”
“Copy that.”
She led the way to the next building, then she stepped aside as she allowed Olaedoen to question the next occupant. A woman answered his knock.
Dawn stepped forward. She gave the woman a traditional greeting and explained that she was looking for something that would cause a spike in electric usage.
The woman pointed vaguely down the street, “Yes, my friend down the street told me that you were looking for something.”
Dawn smiled. “Yes, for faulty wiring and anything that would cause your lights to blink. May we come in?”
The woman shook her head, “No, I’m sorry, but I am very busy.”
Dawn persisted. “It will only take a minute.” She saw the woman frown and close the door. Dawn turned to Olaedoen, “Word got around fast on this
street.”
Her senses alert to increased danger, Olaedoen’s mutterings reached her ears, “I wonder now who it was on the other side of the street who called ahead to alert this side of the street?”
She admitted, “I had forgotten about them.”
As she heard Mungo’s voice over her ear bud, she looked around Olaedoen, “Be advised that a small group of Yalu Street residents have gathered at the corner.”
Dawn pointed over Olaedoen’s shoulder, and he turned to see the crowd.
He spoke in a low voice. “Do you think we should continue our investigation?”
A ripple of dread ran from the back of her stomach to the back of her head. She spoke into the microphone at her cheek. “Mungo, we are returning to the van. It looks like we may need some help.” She had seen the crowd double in size over the last few minutes.” Pulling Olaedoen by the arm, she whispered, “Let’s get out of here.”
He quickly followed her. “Oh, yeah.”
Through the windshield of the utility van, she saw Mungo turn to address the others in the van.
As she and Olaedoen approached, Mungo, Cowboy, Dude and Slover dismounted from the van and arrayed themselves in a line between the hostile crowd and Dawn and her co-conspirator. She noticed that in contrast to the now shouting crowd, the four men stood without speaking as they tapped their batons in their open palms. She stopped behind
Mungo as the dread spread through her. She spoke just loud enough for Mungo to hear, “We’re getting into the van, now.”
Mungo nodded then spoke into his microphone to the others to let them know. Dawn and Olaedoen wasted no time as they climbed into the van. She saw the four men moving slowly toward the van. She heard Mungo order, “Break!”
The loud slapping of their boots against the sidewalk reached her ears. Three of them jumped into the van, and Mungo entered the driver seat last. The men closed the side door and Mungo jammed the key into the ignition, Relief swept through her as the motor turned over. Mungo slammed the gear shift into Drive. Rocks and bricks struck the van as the van sped away.
Her chest rose as she inhaled a lungful of air then let it out slowly.
Once they reached A safe distance away, Mungo slightly eased off the accelerator. "Did you learn anything?"
She grimaced, “We seem to have touched a nerve somewhere along the street. One resident seemed very nervous and wanted Olaedoen to hurry up and leave. It just so happened that Olaedoen found an extra wire in the fuse box.”
Olaedoen raised a forefinger, “Yes, we did find that if it comes to investigating in the tunnel, we will need to mark that spot on our maps.”
As her tension drained away, she remarked, “I will need to report this activity to the Colonel. We
did not get to inspect as many buildings as I would have liked, but now we have a starting point, and we know that something is going on underneath that shop on the corner.”