Coconut Samoa

"It's all about having the right amount of sugar, in the right place and time, being sold by the right person..."

Meetings in vehicles were nothing new to Stahlfritz. They're as private as one can get when it comes down to it. Now the question was: why is Rasch driving around a cherry red Chevorlet instead of the usual silver Toyotas?

“Good Afternoon agent.” Rasch’s voice spoke as he rolled down the window. Although Flagg’s head of security spoke smoothly, there always was a sense of dread whenever he opened his mouth.

“Good afternoon sir. What brings you to Vale?” Stahlfritz asked, bowing slightly before Rasch unlocked the door and motioned for him to take a seat.

“I don’t fully trust the video-conferencing system to remain stable, especially considering what we need from you.” The Honey Badger added, puffing on a pipe before putting it out.

“So what do you need from me?” Fritz asked the man sitting across from him.

“We need to know where your loyalties lie.” Rasch quickly replied.

Strange…“Well, you’re my current source of income, so I suppose I’m loyal to Flagg.” To say the situation was uncomfortable would be an insult to your intelligence.

“I was afraid you’d say that.” Rasch shook his head with dismay “we’ll have to find a new candidate.”

“Not quite.” Hargreave added from the forward passenger seat “How hard would you work to ensure Flagg stayed in business?”

“Considering how much of your stuff is in me, having your customer support go out would be… detrimental to say the least. So yeah, I guess I would be working a few more hours to keep the company in business.”

Hargreave smiled and turned back toward her cohort. “Whether you like it or not, this boy will be our best shot for success.”

“This boy would also like to know what’s going on.” Fritz raised an eyebrow. This sort of cloudiness was not how Flagg treated employees. Especially if the task was as crucial as the directors were making it sound.

“In order for us to tell you, we have to know if you are interested.”Rasch looked him dead in the eyes as he said that. “I understand this is very out-of-character for the way we do things and if we’ve turned you away, you are permitted to leave and we’ll never speak of this again. We’ll simply find another volunteer for this operation.”

“I think you will need to find someone else. Sorry sir.” Stahlfritz may have always been willing and able to take on someone’s dirty work, but only if they were willing to tell the mercenary the objective.

“Not even curious?” Rasch asked the cyborg as said cyborg was preparing to hop out at the next red light. At the same time, the Honey Badger reached into the glovebox to retrieve a file.

“Not even remotely. If there’s one thing working Corporate Espionage has taught me, it’s that knowledge is dangerous.” Fritz turned around to face his superior; that was also when he noticed the file in his hand and slowed down.

“I told you he was a good choice. Either he trusts us to do the right thing, or doesn’t care what happens so long as it doesn’t bother him.” Hargreave smiled before taking a seat herself.

“She’s right on the second part.” Fritz added when something was tossed into his lap; the file that was in Rasch’s hand. “I thought you said you couldn’t tell me what was up unless I said yes…”

“I did, but that was before we knew your loyalty. You knew we were up to no good and based on your reaction, you showed us that you weren’t going to…play the snitch as they say. Very rarely does self-centeredness pay off.” Rasch said with a smile and motioned for Stahlfritz to read the file. ''“Operation: Coconut Samoa The plan: goad the Order of the Black Dawn into taking offensive action against hostile organization that cannot normally be engaged.”'' “So, we’re on the dawnie’s side now. Is that what this is all about?” Fritz didn’t even bother reading the rest of the file. For what moral compass he did have, he was above committing terrorism. Part of him always had bad feelings about Director Rasch, and now those feelings were perfectly justified.

“Absolutely not.” Hargreave began explaining. “Have you ever read The Art of War?”

“My stepdad had a copy of it on his shelf. What’s an old military text have to do being a sell-out?”

“’''Kill with a Borrowed Knife''’ is what they say. We’re going to be borrowing a lot of knives.” The Raccoon smiled warmly to herself; she hadn’t been involved in action like this since her days in the Atelsian Intelligence Bureau. “We can’t strike at Master’s Realm directly, but what the Order can. The goal of Coconut Samoa is to convince the Order that the Realm is the bigger and easier threat. We have the files, the intelligence, everything we need.”

“The two sides will eventually wear each other down, and that’s when we move in for the kill. We know both factions are commanded by megalomaniacs; there’s no way they can co-exist. ‘watch the fires burning across the river.’” Rasch shined his old Ibaalin Military badge as he spoke.

“There’s no way in hell Zephrion would be ok with this.” Stahlfritz gave the file back. Master may have been the reason Laelia went out of contact, right when the two were finally warming up to each other, but there were still circumstances that kept Fritz from going all in as much as he wanted to see the Realm burn. Namely, a certain girl with stripes…

“This isn’t an official Flagg operation either. This is just a small group of private individuals working in Flagg’s interest.” Rasch explained with a half-truth. The reality was that Zephrion had long approved of using the Order to do the really dirty work that even Flagg’s eliminators weren’t up for. The skunk did however, firmly explain that he wanted no knowledge or part of Rasch’s actions, as to avoid being an accessory.

“I ain’t doing this for free though, what sort of payment and protection are you offering me?”

“The protection is our mutual vow to not say a word. Like you said earlier, what we’re doing is conspiracy at its finest. The payment however,” Rasch spoke as Hargreave produced a briefcase loaded with Lien. “How’s a free ride through Flagg sound?”

“…Estellia…I’m sorry…”

“Well, now we know you will keep quiet. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” Hargreave spoke, twirling a cigar.

“Good, not just on us, but on you. Remnant needs men who will do whatever it takes to survive, in addition to men with honor.” Rasch closed up the case as he heard Fritz remotely apologizing to his girlfriend. The Honey Badger retrieved a smaller wad of lien and bounced it in his hand.

“so, are you still in?”

Looking the Honey Badger in the eyes and taking a deep breath, “Yes. I’m still in. I don’t like this, but I can’t see any other way.” Now Stahlfritz knew what must have been going through the minds of any who had to hire an Eliminator; a black-ops agent for hire who’d do anything for money.

“You shouldn’t like it. Like I said, honor is a virtue that not many have.” Rasch tossed the wad of lien, along with a flash drive loaded with intel to be planted. “Now, back to work, Mr. Fritz.”

“Also, if Agent Corlyson is still willing to accept you when she finds out, marry her. Don’t even think about it, just do it.” Hargreave added with a smile. With that, Rasch pulled over, back in front of the safehouse for Stahlfritz to be on his way."So tell me, would you like to buy some cookies?"