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“That means Cobra can make incursions on the Benzheni south border undisputed, but we could also follow the money trail back to the Saman organization. Suleiman Abadi is having a field day.”
Duke’s voice drifted up to Asset through the ventilation grid cover. She lay completely still, stretched out in the duct on her stomach. This particular one was a tight fit and very dusty. She doubted any of the other resident ninja had been there for a long time, if ever. She was glad for the facemask.
“We need to find out what Cobras objectives are and how those align with the Saman organization’s.”
Asset let her eyes sweep over the men seated at the conference table in the room beneath her. Hawk, Duke, Flint, Beach Head, she outranked everyone but Hawk (of course) and held the important position of head of covert operations and intelligence, it was beyond her why she wasn’t invited to these briefings or some of the other meetings. She had a strong suspicion this meeting series was just an excuse for the “the boys’ Thursday night poker”. The deck of cards waiting on the table next to Beach Head made her smile wryly.
The official excuse was always separation of duties, need to know, security clearance b.la, b.la humbug! How was she ever going to get anything done under these circumstances? Some days she deeply regretted returning to the Pit, Things had been more straightforward and quick at Campo Fuego. Guess that came with being the commander of a small FOB.
Judging by the direction the discussion went, she would soon get a request for either intelligence or to put together a clandestine operation to find or do something about said information. Making a mental note to have her team start digging up what information and informants they had access to and start drafting an insertion plan Asset carefully backtracked and crawled towards the end of the duct. She clicked the button on the headlight, grabbed the suspended rope hanging down from above and started climbing.
Snake Eyes had spent years mapping up and improving the ninja highway in The Pit, once Asset, Storm and Jinx joined he had shared his secret with them and they all took turns keeping it clean, in good shape and expanded on it when necessary. What had probably begun as a way to simply ensure there were hidden ways in and out had soon become a game and a vital part of the mystery shrouding the Joe ninja. There was a standard to uphold after all.
As the Joe operation had expanded it had also become an important way to gather information and keep abreast of the inner workings of the organization. They needed to stay ahead and well informed, anticipate. Again, there were standards, and it had become part of that to mysteriously show up and disappear and be in the know about the ongoings at the pit and beyond.
Asset passed by the medical wing and stopped momentarily to listen in on one of the nurses chatting with an orderly. Apparently, the chefs had a new batch of moonshine on the way. Very hush, hush, she had to make sure she got her hands on a bottle. It always paid off being the cool and nice officer in the know.
Staff sergeant Milhouse thought she was sneaky, hiding away in the women’s locker room at this odd hour sharing today’s events with the higher up brass in the jugglers’ court. Asset had known for quite some time Milhouse was a mole and regularly fed her titbits of information that made Milhouse relevant but that would not be damaging for the Joes. Better the mole you knew, right?
She approached the training area and exited the duct system to travel in between the inner walls instead, for the larger men it was a bit tight but for her it was the easiest part of the ninja highway.
Passing by close to the mess hall she stopped to listen in on Cover Girl and Lady Jaye talking in hushed tones, peering at them though the slit along the wall mounted led light bar.
“Beach has been moping about lately, more than usual”, Cover Girl added seeing Lady Jaye’s amused smile. Beach Head was known for taking the more aggressive stance.
“He’s muttering about supplies and numbers. Something is definitely afoot; I think we’ll be deploying in force soon.”
Lady Jaye nodded sagely. “Yea I think so too, Flint has his head up in the clouds, lost in thought and he has been in more off hour meetings lately. The question is where, my bet is Benhzen.”
Asset smiled, Jaye had a knack for these things, she understood instinctively what was important and what it indicated.
She moved on towards the dojo and watched Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow sparring, she loved watching them. The speed and skill, not to say the play of muscles, she felt her cheeks heat up at the thought. She timed her exit to a series of kicks and blocks that kept both of them and the few others in the dojo busy and slid out in a shadowy corner.
Stalker jumped when she silently appeared next to him.
“Shit Asset, I hate it when you do that!”, he exclaimed. “Where did you come from? Frigging ninja-spooks!”
She smiled behind the mask and met Storm Shadows eyes across the mats, they exchanged an amused and knowing look.