From: | Paul J. Adam Shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk |
---|---|
Subject: | Law Enforcement |
Date: | Thu, 15 Jul 1999 00:10:02 +0100 |
>>>>>[TO: SIGA Archive
+++++begin transcript
Coppinger's office. The Director is as forgettable as ever: across the desk,
in well-worn khakis, is Admiral Kowalski.
"I'm surprised you didn't flag this one up, Dave." she says.
"Conflict of interest." Coppinger replies flatly. "Friends are involved and
my
judgement is questionable."
"Yeah, right. I believe _that_. Come _on_!" Kowalski snorts. "We've got a
clear and obvious police corruption issue. That's SIGA's job. I know, I
know, you've wound your field ops right in now Nar'moh'ach is dead. That
doesn't mean you stop collecting and collating."
"And what do you suggest we do, Jane?"
"Kick it over to the Feds. The FBI can handle it."
"I'm wary of the FBI in general. Especially after the debacle with the
Projects. We aligned ourselves with Achilles and suffered as a result."
"Yeah, well... while they were sulking, you had Lynch - sorry, Mitchell -
out kicking butt. That got their attention. Even if it was just background
to the operation." Kowalski tries to blow a smoke ring, fails. "The FBI
need a success. As long as they get the collar, they'll go a long way to
make it happen."
"Some of them. Others will take their money and turn a blind eye."
Coppinger replies.
"Yeah, I know. But don't you get despondent on me, Dave. I know how you
feel. You spent fifteen years hunting Nar'moh'ach and now he's dead and
you don't know what to do. The answer is 'your job'. It's no worse now
than it was when you were hunting the Doctor. So stop feeling sorry for
yourself and get on with the mission."
"Oorah!" Coppinger mimics the Marine roar. "This means going after
Malone. He's the one pulling these particular strings."
"Yeah, it means going after Malone. You got a problem with that?"
Kowalski mocks. "You on his payroll or something?"
"What's your point?"
"The Agency's job is to identify people who laugh at the law and to shit on
them from a great height. Right? So where does Malone not fit that
picture?"
"True." Coppinger seems to become more animated, as he leans forward
to check his terminal. "Very true. Actually... he'd be a useful example."
"Damn right. You only get to be so overt. I mean, we'll always have
criminals. Let's at least make sure they _behave_." Kowalski grins. "Easy
did a lot for us. She messed with Malone, okay, you expect some payback,
but the sort of blatant buying-off of the cops the Mick did is just rude.
You can't let that go by if you want any respect for the law."
"And you think the FBI will deal with it?"
"No. I think they'll assign someone young and dumb who'll screw the pooch.
Which is where _we_ come in." Kowalski grins. "Wouldn't it just piss
_everyone_ off so much if we managed to take Malone down?"
"Do you have a death wish, Jane?" Coppinger smiles, tired and sad.
"I've got a conscience. Same thing, these days. And I say, fuck it. Malone
stuck his head up, made a big noise. We want to let that happen? Or do
we want to stamp on it?"
"The odds aren't good."
"Look, I know that. But we lean on the Feds, the Feds put an agent on the
case. Lone Star will at least stay out of the way. Some shadow talent
might get in there. At the least, Malone's going to lose money and people
and have to duck and weave. It'll cost him. It makes the point, you don't
get _too_ overt."
"Hardly seems worthwhile. People will _die_, Jane. Malone has a _lot_ of
resources."
"So we should sit back and let him do what he damn well wants? You
never, _ever_ said that about Nar'moh'ach." Kowalski is intent, even
angry.
"No. Of course not. Perhaps you're right, Jane. Perhaps I should resign."
Coppinger covers his face with his hands. "I'm tired. Tired and afraid. I
don't see right and wrong any more. Now I just see bodybags for the
people my decisions killed."
"David..." The Admiral pauses. "What would you do if you quit?"
"Go home to Concord. Write books on political history. Teach at the
college. Be a normal person." Coppinger sighs. "I don't think I can do this
any more, Jane. Resigning so Lynch could be Director, as Mitchell... felt
good. I didn't realise _how_ good. Could I do that again?"
"I don't think he wants the job. Not really. Playing a role, okay. But not
for real. Who would you want to replace you?"
"Can we get Drake?"
"No. Not in time, if at all." Kowalski replies.
"Lilith, then. She's heir apparent. I'll give it a few more weeks. If I can't
get my nerve back... I'll step down and Lilith can take over. Or, perhaps,
we should disband the Agency. Do we really have a mission now?"
Kowalski thinks hard, reaches a reluctant conclusion. "Maybe. You'd
become a fairly focussed outfit, gunning for Nar'moh'ach. Maybe better to
send your specialists where they're most needed and wrap SIGA up as 'job
done'."
"Exactly. Too few agencies will face that reality. Think carefully about it,
Jane. Meanwhile... certainly, talk to the FBI. I don't think they'll do much:
probably send a small team after Malone with enthusiasm but no
experience, to be killed or ignored. But, at least the gesture will be
noticed."
Kowalski stares at David Coppinger for a long time. "Dave... we've been
friends a long time. Right?"
"Correct."
"I'm relieving you of the Agency. SIGA is suspended as of now. Your legal
assets will get the best assignments I can swing, your illegals will get their
slates wiped. I want Byrnes and Karlsbruhn for my staff, Tarkington I'm
going to send to Pax River, you get the picture." The Admiral's voice has
the firm, clear tone of a painful decision made. "Your field agents can
report to me now. They're still doing good work, but I can back them as
well as you for now. You've done your job and more. For you, it's over
now."
"Thank you, Jane." Coppinger looks, oddly, happy: as though a huge
burden had been lifted from his shoulders
+++++end video
Jane's dealing with the staff. I held out to be the Court of Appeal for
anyone who didn't like her assignments, but so far nobody's complained.
Some grumbles, many regrets, but she knows my people and she's doing a
good job. Even Lilith... she seemed _happy_ for me.
No more SIGA.
And I'm actually _glad_. Jane's right. We did our job and we did it well.
But now... we're wondering what to do. And that's dangerous. Maybe
that's where the Agency went wrong and let Bartlett take over... better
to wrap it up now.
I wonder what life is like, when nobody lives or dies as a result of your
decisions?
I think I will enjoy finding out.]<<<<<
-- David J H Coppinger <00:05:43/07-15-60>