(Langley, Virginia)
He was met at the door by a colonel in full uniform who greeted him with a salute and, “can't you stay away?”
“Take my word for it Bob, I would not be here if I didn't have to be, where's the meeting?”
“The colonel turned and said, we hold the Raven meetings in a secure room, follow me please.”
“I don't want my attendance at this meeting officially recorded, is that understood?”
“No problem. There will only be two others present.”
After following a number of winding corridors they turned in to a brightly lit but windowless room where two uniformed men awaited.
'Let's get started, why don't you bring us up to speed Tom,” said the Colonel turning to one of the two men.
“Well, as you know we have identified the source of the site intrusion and the nature of the download so the question is what we do about it. It is clearly a breech of the law and we are confident it would carry a conviction for the individual concerned, the difficulty being that the individual is a UK citizen. Do we go ahead and seek extradition?”
“We can't risk going through the normal procedures,” he said. “What about rendition and then trial here?”
“Rendition!” exclaimed the colonel. “Are you sure we want to do that. We have never done that before against a UK citizen in the UK, if it got out it would be risky.”
“Yes, I know, but I think it is the only route. Remember none of this would be necessary if your people hadn’t allowed that Raven file to be on a low security site to be hacked by any Tom, Dick, or Harry!”
“I can’t explain how that happened sir, but are you sure we should take such extreme action?”
“There is no viable alternative.”
“OK, but I am going to have to ask for that order in writing.”
His displeasure showed and he frowned heavily, “Alright, I will get that to you.”
As they walked back out to his car the Colonel said, “this would not have such high priority and we would not be doing it this way if it were not for your personal considerations.”
“ Bob, a re you refusing to do it?”
“No, but I do want that written order.”
“You'll get your written order,” he rasped and stalked off to his waiting car.