“That’s where you come in, Commander,” L said. “We have similar restrictions of deploying agents on our own citizens.”

The rest was left unsaid and that explained why R was here. One could not operate counter-intelligence agents in their own countries, but they could ask an ally to intercede on their behalf. Smythe felt a bit of acid making its way up his throat. He knew if this operation went sideways, then he would be labelled a rogue agent and treated accordingly. In that case a bullet to the back of the head would be merciful.

Until they gave him names to work with, he would settle on L, M, and R. It seemed to fit the theme of this cloak and dagger thing these three had going for them. Even if they lack the accent to really sell it.

“Commander Smythe…” R said, “Smarten up.”

In his mind these men should have done their homework or at least learned to read. The other two were remaining quiet, waiting patiently for Smythe to acquiesce before moving on. We are going to play it like that?

“Yes, Sir,” Smythe said, while his jaw muscles bulged. They expect a show; I’ll give them one.

The one to his right had a suit of a different cut and a pin on his lapel. If Smythe had to guess this was a representative from back home, the one that would address this perceived slight publicly to save face with the host nation.

The one in the middle was the man with one of the offices in this complex. Grey hair, glasses, and a meticulous appearance. Even the data pad before him was precisely placed, and that cup of earl grey as judged by the scent had been brought in. The other two had plastic water bottles of different brands. They aren’t important enough to be served.

“Ah, Commander Smith,” the man on the left said. “Let’s–(get started shall we?)”

“It’s S-my-the,” Smythe responded.

“What?”

“It’s not Smith, it’s S-my-the.”

There came a pause, giving him ample opportunity to study the men further. All three wore suits, but their bearing implied either military or at least someone who functioned within the structure often. The one to his left was the youngest and the one to probe him initially. The fact Smythe managed to throw him off would have been noted.

The space was large, wood panelled, with two large oak desks on either side. Sitting at them were administrative assistants. Right behind those desks were doors, which he assumed led to individual offices. Dead ahead there were two massive oak doors, with flags that did not fly over the land he grew up in. I left the country?

“They are ready for him,” a young man with a military bearing said, in accented English. It sounds French, but not from France or her former African colonies.

With the press of a button the two large doors opened, showing a large conference room. Inside there were three waiting. Brutus must have gotten impatient, because he nudged him forward towards the door. Fortunately, they stopped at the threshold and stayed off to the side as though he was a security risk. Who needs enemies when you have allies like this?

Smythe was being led through a series of long concrete corridors which brought him back to that training situation. That explains a lot about why those scenarios were being run before they even woke me.

He did not have the contact lens in place, so without the overlay he was not precisely sure where they were going. This wing had more doors, all of them open and filled with bull pens within. This was obviously the working spaces, typically administrative in nature, located on the outside of a structure. Whereas the scenarios were taking place near the central nexus critical to the day-to-day operations.

Which was pricey why he signed up for the Ark programme. Smythe knew he would never have a chance on getting a spot on one of those luxury stations orbiting the planet. It also meant there was the slim chance he would wake up to a better world… other than one going to shit.

Instead of dwelling on this grim reality, Smythe thought back to his training. Why stand when you can sit? Why sit when you can rack out? With that in mind, he leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.