| From: | Paul J. Adam ShadowTK@********.demon.co.uk |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Clouds on the Horizon |
| Date: | Thu, 6 Jul 2000 22:15:22 +0100 |
>>>>>[Just FYI, while you're having fun playing with Quinn and the
Brits....
+++++begin transcript
L: Major J R W Lynch, UCAS Marine Corps
K: VAdm J Kowalski, UCAS Navy (chairman)
S: Rep. S Strader
T: Rep. Don Trenton
M: Rep. Louis Menges
C: Rep. Victor Crewell
K: Okay, emergency meeting of the Intelligence Oversight Committee in
session. What number is this?
S: Forty-nine, for emergencies.
L: You _do_ like keeping tabs on us, don't you, Sam? <amused>
S: You give us plenty to watch, Jason. <also amused> Admit it, you like
having us to reinforce your conscience.
L: I'll admit, it's easier. Especially when you have time to clear your
actions first.
C: Actions?
L: Back when I worked for SIGA, I found myself having to act in some
pretty questionable ways. Where possible, I'd submit my proposed
course of action to the Committee before I did. Otherwise, I'd have
to answer afterwards.
K: Welcome to the jungle, Vic.
C: Yeah, yeah, rub in the 'new guy' part, why don't you? I vote to fire
you all.
L: Can he do that?
K: Yep.
L: Can I kill him?
K: Nope.
C: The power's gone to my head already! <laughs>
L: I was sorry to lose O'Neil, Vic, but sounds like you'll fit in okay.
M: I'm offended.
L: That's what you get for sitting out of the banter.
M: Can _I_ kill _you_? <amused>
L: You're welcome to try. And to accept the painful, blood-splattered,
bone-breaking consequences...
M: Point taken. This _is_ a serious meeting, right?
K: Extremely. Discussing matters of life and death. Which is why we
don't mind indulging in some infantile humour, because some things we
cover really are important. Like, General Ernang's toy soldiers.
M: I have to ask... why 'toy soldiers'?
L: Because they're a private army of prettyboys.
M: Admiral?
K: Lynch is the expert, but for what it's worth I concur wholly with his
assessment.
M: What did Ernang say?
K: He rejected the Major's assessment outright and insulted his
professionalism and ability.
M: I take it that's a bad thing?
K: You _have_ read the files?
M: Not yet. I only got told I was on this committee four days ago, and
with the Corporate Resolutions Act up for debate-
L: Excuses, excuses.
S: Be gentle with the new guy, Major Lynch, he'll learn better. Louis,
Major Lynch is... extremely experienced in these matters. If he and
the Admiral agree on something, then you can usually take it to the
bank. Major, you're _that_ concerned about Ernang and his force?
L: I think they're a bunch of corporate-styled commandos who will get
themselves into deep shit on their first serious combat operation.
Admiral Kowalski called this meeting, not me.
K: I'm afraid of what they'll do given opportunity. The FBI Projects
were styled on similar lines, and look how that went.
L: Except that they had some really competent people. Chris D'Arkan,
Bernie Kreutz... there's nobody of that calibre in the FRAG.
S: I thought they'd recruited elite troopers?
L: They've mostly recruited troopers who applied for, and were turned
down by, the existing SpecOps units.
M: Oh, drekola.
C: What?
M: When I was in ROTC I knew some guys like that. Convinced they were
born to be Green Berets. And _boy_ were they bitter when they failed
selection. Not good. Not good at all.
L: You understand my concerns?
M: Oh, yeah, Major, I share them. Admiral, what's the purpose of this
meeting?
K: For now, just to acquaint you with the situation. I've withdrawn all
support that my naval elements of SOCOM offer from Ernang. I'm
warning you, that his actions and motives may be suspect. This
committee doesn't have any authority over him, but we may have to
help pick up the pieces when he fucks up.
T: Not even 'if' he frags the pooch?
L: Just a matter of time, Don.
T: Okay. What jurisdiction do we have over Ernang?
K: None. He's outside our oversight.
S: Who the hell approved _that_?
K: He sneaked the legislation through after the Von Drexler affair. A
little hysteria, a little panic, and the right influence...
S: And we're back to the days of unaccountable, uncontrolled private
armies. He's got, what, a full battalion there?
L: Hopefully they'll get themselves splattered before they go too far
wrong.
S: Admiral... can you put together some contingency plans, just in case?
K: I'll do what I can. Best bet is, if they go off the rails, hit them
with publicity. That'll shut them down.
T: And the National Security Act?
K: I've got my objections logged and my concerns on record. We stick to
the truth and nothing but the truth. And I take my chances at my
court-martial if necessary.
L: Can I retire again yet?
K: No. Just... keep your ears open, Jason. I have a bad feeling about
this.
+++++end transcript]<<<<<
-- Lynch <22:14:35/07-06-61>
