418 Getting Closer
A day later, in the opulent Winter Palace Office, Alexander and Christina sat in ornate chairs, listening intently to Sergei’s report on the development of the Belgian Congo operation. The room was suffused with the glow of the late afternoon sun, which shone through the windows, casting long shadows across the marble floor.
Alexander’s frustration was evident as he leaned forward in his chair and addressed Sergei with a tinge of anger in his voice.
“So, are you saying that Ralf Hietela was not there?” he demanded. “How hard is it to nab this guy?”
Sergei’s countenance was grave as he began to explain the situation. “Well, Your Majesty, our intel was right, but we got there too late,” he said. “According to the local militias that the Special Forces captured in the region, it was said that Ralf Hietela and his associates had already fled Kananga.”
Alexander’s face darkened with anger. “And where are Ralf Hietela and his associates now?” he demanded.
“Further questioning of the local militias stated that they went somewhere north,” Sergei replied, his tone serious.
Alexander’s frustration reached its peak, and he raised his voice, startling Christina, who sat beside him. “Somewhere north?” he repeated incredulously. “Where in the north specifically? In the northern region of Africa? North America? The North Atlantic? Come on, I need specifics!”
Sensing the tension in the room, Christina interjected, her voice calm and soothing. “Calm down, brother,” she said, placing a reassuring hand on Alexander’s arm. “The Foreign Intelligence Services are doing their best. We were closer this time, we will find him. We just need to be patient.”
Alexander took a deep breath, visibly calming himself. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes closed, and exhaled slowly. After a moment, he opened his eyes and looked at Sergei, his expression serious.
“I apologize for my outburst, Sergei,” he said. “I know that you are doing everything in your power to apprehend Hietela. Please continue with your report.”
Sergei nodded, his own expression serious. “Thank you, Your Majesty. As I was saying, we have reason to believe that Hietela and his associates have fled to the Sahara desert in northern Africa.”
Alexander’s eyes widened with interest. “The Sahara desert? That’s a vast area to search,” he remarked. “What leads you to believe that they are there?”
Sergei cleared his throat before continuing. “We intercepted a communication from Hietela’s camp to a known arms dealer in the region,” he said. “It contained instructions for the delivery of a large cache of weapons to a location in the Sahara. We believe that this delivery is intended for Hietela and his associates.”
Christina leaned forward, her gaze fixed on Sergei. “And what is our plan of action?” she asked.
Sergei shifted in his chair, his expression becoming even more serious. “We have dispatched a team of Special Forces to the region to locate and apprehend Hietela,” he said. “However, the Sahara is a difficult terrain to navigate, and we expect the operation to be challenging.”
Alexander nodded, his eyes narrowing in thought. “I understand. Keep me informed of any developments,” he said, his voice firm. “And Sergei, I want you to make sure that our team is well-equipped and well-trained for the mission. We cannot afford any mistakes.”
Sergei nodded in agreement. “Of course, Your Majesty. We will do our utmost to ensure the success of the mission.”
As Sergei finished his report, a heavy silence descended upon the room, broken only by the sound of Alexander’s deep breathing as he considered the gravity of the situation. The sun had begun to set, casting an orange glow across the room and painting the walls with a warm hue.
“It’s been six years since we are trying to find this guy,” Alexander said. “But the fact that he kept himself hidden from us is something that troubles me deeply.” He looked at Christina with concern etched on his face.
Christina’s eyes widened, and she leaned forward in her chair. “What do you mean, brother?” she asked.
“I mean, what if he has a mole inside of the Foreign Intelligence Services? Informing them of our operation to capture him?”
“That sounds like a plausible scenario,” Sergei chimed in. “We’ve been considering the possibility of a leak, and have taken measures to ensure the security of our operations. But it’s always a risk we must be mindful of.”
“If that’s the case then let’s make this a top secret operation,” Alexander said firmly. “We cannot afford any more leaks. The fewer people who know about this mission, the better. And we need to be extra cautious about who we trust,” he looked up to Sergei.
“Sergei, you have been serving the Ruthenia Empire since my father’s reign, and I don’t think you have ill-intent towards the Ruthenia Empire.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. I have sworn fealty to the Ruthenia Empire and I would never betray it,” Sergei replied, his expression sincere.
“By keeping the operation top-secret, we may be able to narrow down the search of who might be the mole,” Alexander paused for a moment, lost in thought. “But we must also be careful not to alienate those who are loyal to us. We need to strike a balance between secrecy and trust.”
Christina nodded in agreement. “I agree, brother. We don’t want to create an atmosphere of suspicion and fear within our own ranks.”
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Christina smiled back. “It’s my pleasure, brother.”
Sergei cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him. “Your Majesty, this concludes my report. I shall head back to the Command Ops and inform the Special Forces who will locate Ralf Hietela in the vast deserts of Sahara. We have been close on tracking him down, Your Majesty, it’s only a matter of time before we catch him,” Sergei said, his voice full of determination. “I will keep you updated on any progress.”
Alexander nodded, his expression serious. “Thank you, Sergei. We will eagerly await your next report.”
As Sergei left the room, Alexander leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples. The search for Ralf Hietela had been a long and frustrating one, and the thought of a mole within their own intelligence services only added to his worries.
Christina placed a comforting hand on his arm. “We will catch him, brother,” she said. “We have some of the best intelligence agents and technology in the world on our side.”
“Yeah, it’s only as effective as the operator,” Alexander said, chuckling.
“There you go again, geez. Well, it’s about time for dinner. Let’s go, brother, I’m sure your children and wife, and sisters are waiting,”
Alexander smiled at Christina’s words, grateful for her ability to ease his worries. “You’re right, let’s go,” he said, rising from his chair.