Operation Wirbelwind

[Markus Wilding]

Codename "Pharaoh" was in a deep cover operation in Alvonia for France. He needed to gather intel on some of Alvonia's more personal records, mainly on their politics and weapons research. As he smoked a cigarette in a bar in the urban area of Monte Cassino, he hoped his contact inside Parliament would live up to his word and bring him what he needed. A bartender asked if he wanted a drink and he decided to order himself some wine. It would help to pass the time.

An hour later Aurelio Pirozzi, Pharaoh's contact in Parliament, showed up next to him. He slid over a document marked with a blood-red "TOP SECRET" stamp on it's cover. Pharaoh looked it over once and placed it inside his suit coat. "You got what I wanted. Good boy, Aurelio." He dared not let his French accent slip into his Italian. If he slipped up for even a moment he knew the Corpo nero would be all over him in a matter of seconds. Aurelio seemed to know this as he responded, not so much as even looking at him. "Be careful out there, Pharaoh. I shouldn't have to tell you this, but if we find out state secrets are being handed out like candy to foreigners - a Frenchman no less - then it'll raise alarms everywhere. The LDN can't protect you forever." He ordered a scotch to buy himself a reason to be standing next to a man in an expensive suit, while he wore a less impressive suit of his own. Pharaoh knew as well as Aurelio did that the LDN - the League of Democratic Nations - wouldn't help him if he was caught inside Alvonia by the Corpo nero, or worse, the Schwarze Korps. Neither were known to be too friendly, but as a Frenchman the Schwarze Korps would show no mercy. Pharaoh lit another cigarette and allowed the smoke to trail away in the bar. "I know what to do, Aurelio. I've been in this business for quite some time." Aurelio finished his scotch and got ready to walk away. "Still, watch yourself. Recent events have made Wilding and Parliament more paranoid than usual. I'd hate to lose a contact with reports as accurate as yours." Pharaoh allowed his new "friend" to walk away from the bar as he finished his wine. Besides, there was a man who was a bit too intent to lean in when Aurelio and Pharaoh began speaking a few seats over from them. It may have been a plainclothes Corpo nero soldier. Pharaoh himself left the bar a few moments later.

Pharaoh arrived at his low-cost "roach patrol" motel after he had left the bar. He had work to do, work that wouldn't be aided by the couple next door. At one point he was compelled to grab his revolver and simply lay waste to the two idiots who thought the world didn't listen. But, he had to get this done. He lit another cigarette and read the document three times over. A smile crossed his face as he figured out what he needed to do next.

He needed to find Natalie Holkham, and fast.

OOC: Non-canon for those who didn't already figure it out.

[Markus Wilding]

After a quick shave and some time, Pharaoh found Natalie quite easily. After all, she was expecting him. The two had agreed to meet at a park, full of people. Pharaoh hated meeting in places with people for many, many reasons. If this meeting went south, Natalie can easily call for the Corpo nero to come in and arrest him, which he had prepared for. Of course, given Natalie's anti-Wilding views, he didn't count on it happening. That didn't mean he didn't prepare for it, though. Smoking another cigarette, he casually walked up to her as she stared at a river flowing underneath the bridge. "I heard you have something I need." She wasted no time in getting her point across. "Indeed I do, Miss Holkham." He handed a manila folder with a fake history inside, naming him as a rogue agent needing a new job, preferably against either the Soviets or the LDN, but not both. "You have an impressive resume. I hope you can live up to your standards. Pirozzi has told me much about you." Pharaoh chuckled as he drew the cigarette away. "What is it you want me to do, Miss Holkham?" Natalie took out a lighter and proceeded to burn the document in front of her. "Security reasons, Prometheus. First, I need you to kill someone for me. He's been quite the thorn in my side for some time, you see." Pharaoh saw she fell for his fake "Prometheus" codename. Now all he had to do was sell it and she was putty in his hands. "It depends on the target, and how you want it done. I can send in a team to help me if the target or method proves too much for one man." Natalie laughed and turned to face the opposite way. "The man is one you've seen a lot of, unless you've been living under a rock for ten years. Markus Wilding. I want it to look like an accident." Pharaoh hated this part. Now he needed to kill a high-ranking man, one who won't and can't simply stay put while he handles it. To make matters worse, if he did follow through with it he'd be eliminating a highly-skilled leader from LDN assets. He'd have to delay it until the rest of his comrades could arrive, as they were a bit busy in England. "I'll do what I can. What's in it for me?" Natalie turned to face him and looked him in the eye. "I'll make sure you won't be arrested by the Corpo nero or Schwarzes Korps. It'd be a shame for France to lose her best spy. All you need to do is buy me dinner sometime and you and your 'team' will be fine." [i]Merde,[/i] Pharaoh thought as she revealed this. The cover I.D. obviously wasn't good enough. "Just remember, Prometheus, assassins kill faster than cancer does. And a bit messier, too." After this, she walked away. Pharaoh had really gotten in deep this time. He only hoped his comrades had better luck in England than he did here.