A Private Meeting

Thalcedon, 5 Arrumonth 1451

Eleven men and one woman sat in a meeting room around a long rectangular table. This particular room was 20 feet underground, carved out of the rock of Palace Mount. The floor, walls, and ceiling were lined with lead covered by rowan-wood panelling. The walls of the room were covered in maps of the Mid Sea? area. The two shafts providing ventilation were covered by gridworks of lead screened behind silk. It was the most secure room in all of Cedonia.

The man at the head of the table was the Count of Rochlyn, the First Councilor. He had aske the man at the end of the table, Minister for Special Projects Raden Ghere, to give a report on the current state of the Secret Services to the Inner Council.

"Thank you for coming so quickly, Minister," the Count said. "Let us not stand on ceremony here. What progress do you have to report?"

Ghere stood, and walked to the large map on the wall behind him. Gesturing broadly, he said, "We now have agents attached to every Cedonian embassy in the civilized nations. These agents all have unimpeachable diplomatic credentials, so if worse comes to worse, they face nothing worse than deportation. In addition to our agents in Mirabalpur and Kaeir, we've also put agents into our consulates in Talishara and Port Tirmar, given our strategic concerns in the region."

Turning to face the Council, Ghere continued. "However, these agents are all limited in that they are largely passive gatherers. We do not yet have the budget to begin active gathering of intelligence. Convincing someone to betray his country's secrets is always an expensive proposition."

The Duke of Tirroth, the Minister of the Exchequer, spoke up, "That will change soon, Raden. My ministry estimates that the economy has finally fully recovered from the Sinari Invasion and Civil War. Tax revenues next year should meet or surpass pre-war levels."

"But much of that revenue still needs to go to infrastructure," said Dr. Vellin, the Interior Minister. "And I believe the Legions and the Navy also would like a large share of those revenues."

The Count of Rochlyn raised a hand. "Enough cross-talk, please. I think you can assume, Raden, that your budget will go up next year. Please continue."

Ghere nodded, and said, "Besides the civilized nations, we are also working on the tribal nations. We have established trading posts in Kajir; from there, our agents can maintain at least minimal contact with the Hansari and Olozog tribes. Similar trading stations in Wyr and Hadrair allow us to do the same thing with the Morvali."

"I would recommend that we give serious consideration to establishing a permanent military presence in both cities, perhaps even annex them. From reports, both areas are suffering terribly from a breakdown in law & order following the Sinari Invasion and the death of King Agrigax of Taltheran. Stabilizing the Upper Tal and Wyr River Valleys would reopen the old overland caravan routes with Hria, Hisaria, and Bel'Adne."

"So noted," said the Count. "Continue, please."

"As far as monitoring the Shanari, we've placed agents in existing Cedonian merchant-venturer offices in Jabaur, Elanbur, Atlabar, and Shein-Avaer. Our agents in Kaeir are also in a position to provide some information as well, given the adoption of Shanari religion by the Kaeiran elites and military," said Minister Ghere. "That covers our agents currently in place. We are still trying to emplace deep cover operatives, but we don't really have the budget, yet. We are also still having trouble attracting agents with . . . 'special' skills."

At those words, every person's eyes turned to look at Prince Arden, the Council President, and the cloaked figure who stood behind his right shoulder. Ghere said, "Of course, our new trainers may help in that regard."

The Prince smiled slightly. "I think that is quite likely, Minister Ghere."

"As you say, your Highness. That concludes my summary report. Now, as to specifics, if you will examine the second page of the packets in front of you . . . "

A Private letter

by Ibrahim

Dear Lord Karl von Kahshaar,

I send this irregular report, my regular report only having been sent 2 weeks ago, to inform you of recent events in the port of Jabau.

As I have already told you, efforts to enhance our position and influence in the port and surround Jabuasi region have continued quietly and successfully. The increase in Kaeir-Calarnar traffic due to the conversion of some Kaeireans to that sandy faith has made the presence of Kaeireans in Port Jabau more acceptable to the local inhabitants, due to the increased trade and business they bring, not to mention the tariffs they pay. More importantly, the Information Secretariat mission here is more than securely (and secretly established).

As previously noted, there are increasingly frequent representatives sent by the Millati Keeper, Arlhan von Kahshaar, in New Tirmaeir to the Millati Council in Akbari. Whilst my own position prevents further investigation of this, I urge you to examine these activities more closely.

I write to you though Lord von Kahshaar of a more recent event. In the last two weeks, several new trading houses have arrived in Port Jabau. Their papers state they originated from the port of New Tirmaeir, as do their ship papers. The houses I recognise as being from New Tirmaeir, being born there myself. In all respects, they are Kaeirean merchants from New Tirmaeir. I would not mention such triviliaties except that the speech of these merchantmen is peculiar - not once in the several meetings with me did they speak to me in the style that merchantmen of New Tirmaeir would use with me. Accent yes, but lingo and vocabulary no. Not even the street speech one would use in the markets and docks of New Tirmaeir, for I made several bawdy jokes once I realised something was amiss.

Imagine, Lord, that a Kahshaartown man came to you, and in all respects was a Kahshaartown man, except that he spoke in a Kahshaartown accent with the lingo of a Port Kaeir man. It would be peculiar, no?

Perhaps I make too much of this. They may represent some unknown action of this Keeper of the Holy Tower, that fellow Arlhan in New Tirmaeir, or another plot within a plot by the honourable Lord-Consul. They could also just be merchantmen from New Tirmaeir.

Neverthless, I include transcriptions of their documentation for your examination. If there is something to make of this, I am sure you will be able to ascertain this.

Beyond this, all is well here.

Your faithful servant and friend,

Captain Shahram Maqudsan Agent-in-Chief, Port Jabau Information Secretariat mission.

Another private letter

by Andrew

FROM: Tomas Ellis, Port Jabau Chief of Station TO: Director Rex Grade, First Chief Directorate CC: Councilor Raden Ghere, Minister for Special Projects SUBJ: Undercover Operations

23/4/1451

Sir,

Recently, I received reports of the arrival here in Jabau of several merchants claiming to be Tirmari. They apparently attracted the attention of a Kaeiran named Sharam Maqudsan, whom I suspect of being a Kaeiran agent of some sort. I did some scouting of my own, and brought in Brother Belem of the Order of Lucia for an assessment.

We spoke to these new merchants on the pretense of soliciting backers for a caravan run to Bel'Adne. While I did the talking, Brother Belem truthscanned the merchants. His professional opinion is that they lied about their origins, identities, and purposes. Whoever they are, they are definitely not Tirmari merchants.

Now, as you are well aware, besides myself, the junior commercial attache, and Brother Belem(who is only part-time), all other Special Project Staff under my control are covered in either the local Imperial Postal Service office or the old Cedonian trading firm of Piper & Sons. Therefore, sir, I must ask you if you are initiating a second operation here, and if so, why was I not informed of the fact?

Tomas Ellis Chief of Station

* * * * *

FROM: Director Rex Grade, First Chief Directorate TO: Tomas Ellis, Port Jabau Chief of Station CC: Councilor Raden Ghere, Minister for Special Projects SUBJ: Your Communique of 23/4

10/5/1451

Tomas,

Your agents are the only ones of ours currently in Jabau. I have no more idea than you who those 'Tirmari' merchants are, but I can assure you, they aren't ours.

It is possible that the new Millati leader in Tirmar is trying to run agents independently of the Information Secretariat, but that seems unlikely. They could possibly be Mir, but that seems even less likely. They certainly aren't Vraa'al, since no Vraa'al agent would be so clumsy to attract attention . . . unless, of course, that was the point.

In any event, keep an eye on these 'Tirmari' and try to determine what they are up to. Use Brother Belem as little as possible; Archprelate Ellis is not comfortable with this use of her Order.

As for Maqudsan, you are directed to determine whether or not he's working for the Kaeiran Information Secretariat. Try a canary trap if you must, if that's the only way to confirm his identity, but don't compromise him or expose him to the Jabau authorities if he is a Kaeiran agent.

Rex Grade First Chief Directorate

-- Juuso Vesanto - 29 Jul 2005