Chapter 475 - Planning

20 May, Special Forces building, Military Base, City K

Matthew looked around the meeting table, before saying "Ladies and Gentlemen, as I said when I arrived here, we would be restructuring special forces. Colonels Wang, Pang, and Deng have completed all their assessments on what is needed. The realignment of special forces here is and will happen to fulfil what we are meant to be. There will be a redeployment of people that are excessive to our needs. I have confirmed both with National Command and with General Man, those who do not want to leave City K and are tapped for redeployment can opt to transfer to another division here. It will only be the exceptional cases that we will listen to arguments about non-redeployment. Simply wanting to stay here because your life is here is not sufficient."

A voice came from around the table "General, there will be many that do not want to move on."

Snapping towards the voice Matthew firmly responded "The military is not a jobs program, nor is it a democracy. I have my orders, from the national command and the president to restructure special forces here, and I am carrying out those orders. Your orders are to carry out my order which is to implement the plan as is outlined in the final assessment report from Colonels Wang, Pang, and Deng. As I indicated I am not heartless, we will listen to arguments for non-redeployment of those excessive to the needs here. But let me make it clear, it must be an exceptional case to justify non-redeployment. If soldiers are not happy with the decision, they can request a transfer to a division here or leave the military."

Matthew turned to Ben who nodded before saying "I will leave you in the hands of the colonels who will go through with each of you what is to happen. Lieutenant Li, please come with me."

Matthew turned and walked out of the meeting room, quickly heading for his office, before ushering Bronwyn into his office and securing the door behind them and turning on every piece of electronic surveillance disruption device in there.

"I read the information you brought back from the capital. How much did Head Honcho and Legend tell you?"

"They gave me the run down on the operation, but indicated I was not to be informed of how the intelligence is gathered, by whom, how it is gotten out or decoded. But I am able to see the raw decoded intelligence and will be cleared to be instructed on how to decode it if it becomes necessary."

"Not surprising Lieutenant. They told me who else was cleared to know about this and given the disparity between their seniority and yours I can understand why everyone else wanted to limit everything you know."

"What can you tell me?"

"You will only review the intelligence in my office. It cannot be discussed with anyone else unless you are face to face with the person also cleared regardless of any order from a superior. When reviewing the intelligence, no electronic devices are to be brought in here. Your notes must be handwritten and given to me before you leave to secure them. Other than those cleared your recommendations will be scrubbed to protect the source."

"Yes Sir," was Bronwyn's immediate response.

Matthew nodded before saying "I will be honest and let you know I have not reviewed all the intelligence obtained from this agent. That is a longer task than I have had time to do since I was cleared. You will have access to all the intelligence, but personally I have already formed an opinion on what I have reviewed and recently decoded. The agent has given us enough to confirm David Hwang, is not the mild-mannered tech businessman he portrays. It is clear he is the terrorist I originally coined as the Devil and his plans are linked to right what he sees as a wrong in the death sentence imposed on his parents and the a.d.u.l.ts in his family. Without having reviewed all the intelligence what I believe is that he used his business has funded his terrorist activities which were about building a network to act."

"How can you be certain?"

"You know nothing is certain with intelligence. It is instinct driven and making connections with scant evidence. The problem is, it is from one source, and the nature of the source is such that it will not be able to use in court to convict him."

"That is little use to me, as part of my brief is to develop the strategy to ensure we have a legally solid case if we want to act to prevent terrorism. I need to know about the source"

"No can do. That is not my choice, but those above me."

"Boss, not good enough."

Matthew paused and pondered. What could he say? Silence filled the room as he thought about the matter before saying "Take that up with your father. But the best I can do is that it is someone connected to David Hwang."

Bronwyn after a few seconds said "Someone embedded into his organisation and likely connected to his illegal activities. You know that is useless for development of a criminal case."

"A sworn intelligence officer doing their job. You know enough about cases like that…"

"They have to keep their cover and have immunity for their actions provided it is in the course of their case. But my guess is that this is an officer that has been embedded for so many years so there must be questions if someone like me has been brought in."

Matthew closed his eyes. Bronwyn was right, that was part of the discussions for a legal review to determine if they could act legally before the planned attack. "We will argue about this, but over the next few days you and I will review this intelligence and formulate our positions. But let me suggest one thing you need to do. As Major Hung is David Hwang's cousin review his personnel file to understand about the treasonous activities of their family as that should give you the background of David Hwang."

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