A Battle Unseen

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IBSI Listening Post 93, near Campana, Santiago State, Athosia
0345, a Thursday

"Come in Marcus.  We're ready for you now."  The listening post was similar to listening posts across more than two dozen nations in Terra:  A fairly impressive receiver with a number of switches, dials and frequencies displayed, that hop every ten seconds, a small lamp, a desk, and some nerdy looking operative sitting in a chair, writing what can only be assumed to be code onto an official form which is his hourly report.  The Low Tech approach is preferred at foreign listening posts like this:  they become very difficult to track with modern counter surveillance technology.  It's like the world forgot what analog is and gives Kalistan a distinct advantage.  Soon Kalistan will begin launching comm satellites, and getting messages back to the Empire from a place like this will be easier but for now, messages are relayed in code over the phone.

Marcus was not his real name.  That was the name he had to select as he went through training.  Officially, he was a member of Section 2, the Signals Intelligence Section, which is why he reported here to this listening station.  But in reality, Marcus was a member of Section 3, the Clandestine Service.  The Listening Post commander, Lt. Brian Ewold, knew that Marcus' mission was not to sit and listen two the radio for to six hour shifts in a 24 hour period, but to begin to develop pro-Empire Assets within Baltusia.  Nobody knew he was here except Ewold and the Director, who is also likely acting on direct orders to begin developing Baltusian assets in Athosia.

So, four people max even know Marcus exists, and two of them were sitting in this room. 

"I have been briefed on parts of what you are doing here," said Lt. Ewold.  "Its best that I don't know everything.  Our listening posts are pretty well disguised, but we do get pinched every once in a while, and so, opsec, silos and all that.  Tell me, is there anything I need to provide you?"

"I could use a gun," said Marcus.  "A pistol, maybe a .38 if you can swing it.  Just for protection.  They've kind of let me know what I am going into, but a little firepower can't hurt."

"On your way out, have the girl at the desk get you one.  But if you're caught with it, that's your ass."

"Trust me, if I need to use it, I don't intend on being caught," said Marcus.  "Hopefully, this won't be that kind of job."

"That's fine," said Ewold.  "And when you walk out that door, you need to forget this place is here.  It's not safe for you ever to come back here, for any reason.  You will put every person in this post at risk if you even walk on this block.  As soon as you start working, whatever you are going to do, the commies will be watching you.  So, you need to steer well clear of this place, do you understand?  Make it back to Lucid, head to Gaduridos, whatever you have to do.  But this place doesn't exist.  Not as a place you hide, not even as a place you drop into to get a sip of water.  I've been doing this job for years, and cover gets blown by sloppy new guys.  Don't be one."

Marcus nodded his head to say he understood.  "Don't exist, got it.  I don't know any of you."

Lt. Ewold smiled.  "You'll do great.  They say this is your first post."

Marcus nodded.  "I did Public information at home for two years.  But, yes, this is my first foreign post."

Lt. Ewold smiled.  "Hopefully the day comes when this isn't a foreign post anymore."

Marcus nodded and smiled, knowing this touched his mission but not saying anything.

Lt. Ewold finally said, after a somewhat awkward pause.  "Anything I should keep an eye out for?"

Marcus respondedL  "If I am in trouble, I will put a message in the personals. It'll read something like "Lonely Kalistani looking for love from a beautiful Baltusian. No smoking, no drugs, preferably mid 40s.' Something like that."

Lt. Ewold laughed.  "Well, that message won't stick out like a sore thumb!  No Kalistani would ever write something like that."

Marcus responded:  "It's supposed to.  Get a message back to Sulari then and say this:  'Marcus needs fifty.'  They'll know what that means.  I'll sit tight, and will find them when they get here.  Just send that message, Marcus needs fifty."

Lt. Ewold shrugged and nodded.  "They must be teaching you boys some new stuff up there these days.  But alright.  I'll do it.  If there's nothing else, I'll wish you good luck.  Next time in Kaliburg."

Marcus stood up, grabbed his hat and nodded.  "Next time in Kaliburg.  Good luck with what's his name over there, it looks like he's falling asleep."

Lt. Ewold stood up to shake Marcus' hand and send him off.  "No worries, these Baltusians never say anything worth reporting anyway..."  The two agents parted, with Marcus stopping by the cash register, picking up an unmarked pistol with the serial number scratched off, and then ducking out through the restaurant kitchen and disappearing in the streets of Campana.