Chapter 128 - I have been sidelined

4 January, David Hwang's Villa, City K

Robert Hung dressed in civilian clothing, having quietly arrived to David's villa for dinner, hiding his presence from most people, for their pre-arranged dinner still fuming about what had occurred on base the last couple of days. How dare Colonel Rong act to dump him from his position as the lead intelligence officer and his second in command. He should be the one in charge of the special forces, not that rich dilettante who could only have gotten his position and his promotions due to his family wealth, not due to being competent. It is the same thing time and time again, those unworthy were constantly appointed above him.

Seeing his cousin, David dismissed the staff and they headed outside to the patio where their casual dinner was set up. Once he was assured by his minions that all of the staff were out of the property, he turned and said, "What is it?"

"David, we have a problem. I have been sidelined, and I fear for my future here."

"What do you mean?"

"That dilettante, Matthew Rong has brought in three new officers. One is a newly appointed Colonel, who he has placed in charge of he intelligence team, and two majors, one his assistant and the other in charge of the active teams. While I have seniority based on promotion over those two majors, but I suspect they will be promoted soon."

Taking a breath, Robert added, "The only good thing is the intelligence staff, after a slight bit of prodding of one or two members have started to make their disgust with the situation clear to the new Colonel and Matthew Rong."

David looked at his cousin. This was something then did not need. His position for years had been helpful to their plans but coming to the critical moment to achieve their revenge things were changing. "What is the impact, Robert?"

"Firstly and most critically I am no longer in charge of the intelligence team. Using that I have been able to slip misdirecting intelligence to the team, when needed, and it has never been questioned. That in and of itself is not an insurmountable problem but it means that for both you and I we will need additional work to backstop that misdirecting intelligence."

"As you know, to now I have simply been able to present the intelligence, now I have to at least have someone, who is totally believable, to be used as the source of the intelligence information. That is because, if I am reading this new colonel right, will want to meet the source of the intelligence at some point. Naturally I will delay it for as long as I can, but I cannot prevent it eventually."

"Additionally we are going to build up a bank of trust, so when we need to use misdirecting intelligence is is seen as an error, not what it actually is, a misdirection. That, so you will mean that you have to burn some people, for that purpose. Not a good thing, but the big picture has to be considered."

"While I have been able to maintain my position as second-in-charge of the special forces here, that is temporary. But they have restricted my access to information on the new officers transferred in. Either I will be transferred within special forces to a new posting away from here, or if I stay here I will be transferred to a general duties position. Either way, I will lack access to information we need."

"Damn it. That is a problem, particularly now. Ditching ISX earlier than we wanted, means I have had to delay matters slightly, but this will create a challenge."

At a signal, both were brought a glass of whiskey and joined by David's second in command, his intelligence chief. "Boss I heard what was said. Let me figure out who we can use to be the intelligence source. I have information we can start using to create the credibility needed for the intelligence purposes. Importantly whoever we use, can insist that Robert is his only contact hopefully ensuring that he maintains his position within intelligence."

"Sounds feasible. Hopefully that intelligence will be what we need to destroy the problems?"

"It is boss. Those few enemies we need out of the way on the criminal side will be gone with the help of the military. If, before you leave you give me the names of the new military officers I will investigate them to see what we can find out. That should help you."

"How is the business side going?"

"Robert, perfectly. The time establishing the company at the outset was time well spent. The money, while nice, has gotten us into the position that in almost all of the key industries we intend to attack, if we do not control it, we are one of the few major players there. However, none of them cover all those industries so we will be the first company they come to."

"So what have you got planned?"

"I am going to for a few months be very public, becoming involved with society. That will mean that we do not need to hide our relationship, which when the final attack is launched will cement your position as a key person."

"Plus the boss has divided us into a few groups. Along with a few members, I have joined the company. That gives us the opportunity to support the boss. To have intelligence to determine the timing, some have spread out into a few groups we need to monitor, and that will be where the real intelligence comes from. Others have moved into the new group. When we are ready, everyone will start moving into that group, but the boss and I will maintain a little bit of interaction with them."

"All feasible. What do you need from me?"

"Make sure you are not redeployed, but we will help with that."

With that then continued to lock in plans while they had their meal.

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