Chapter 19

"These are not normal terrorist attacks," Drake said with his voice down when everyone went back to their chitchats.

"What do you mean by not normal?" Mrs Seetha inquired suspiciously.

"The presidents were assassinated," Drake muttered.

"What? Just like that? Which country?"

"The ones that I just mentioned."

"How is it even possible. They are supposed to be the most protected people in the entire country. What was the people's reaction? How come I was not informed!" Mrs Seetha's shock was turning into rage. Ignorance was not her style yet due to her recent schedule she was unable to update herself. Unfortunately her PA was on maternity leaves and she had no ways of being informed.

"These are international secrets. The media was camouflaged. According to the world, these were just random, less-casualty terrorist attack. They don't know about tge assassination." Drake explained.

"Understandable! If the news leaks there will be a massive crisis. What do all these people here know about these attacks?" She asked Drake, eyeing the crowd sitting there.

"Some know. Some don't. We couldn't risk the info leaking."

"So who called up the summit?" As a reply, Drake shrugged.

"I was asked to send a particular team from my section. Seems like the UNSS is planning on checking my leadership. They didn't really care. They just wanted a team doing the inside job and the paper-work. The actual thugs are out there, ready to attack if the place gets infiltrated." Drake mumbled.

"Your first assignment as a section leader, I assume."

"Yes, ma'am. It is my first time." Mrs Seetha smiled at Drake's answer. She took a campaign from their table, uncorked it and filled two goblets. She took the goblet and offered the man-made elixir to Drake.

As the chitchats continued, a fifty-year-old man slowly made his way through the narrow curtains into the open stage overlooking the people seated in the room. A radiant man with blond hair in some parts of his head. Not that he was bald but had a few patches missing. He was as thin as a rail. With his sunken eyes and bony looks, he looked more like a seventy-year-old man. He was dressed in a plain milk-white suite with black shoes, belt and tie. He did have simple look on him. It was a surprise that he didn't look richer. After all he is the American president Liam Mason. He starred at the crowd for a few second, cleared his throat loud enough to stop the crowd's chitchat.

"Welcome ladies and gentlemen and thank you humbly accepting my invite. I don't want I beat around the bush and was our precious time. The more we delay the faster our dead bodies shall fill up our seats. I know that very few of you present here are aware of the correct facts. I will put up the facts clearly so that no one is left behind, confused. Three weeks ago the president of Iraq was assassinated." The silent crowd showed a few sad nods. None were shocked. The gossips had already got to their ears during the small-time they had for settling. Seeing that no one objected his statement, Mr Liam continued, " From the adequate information gathered it at first seemed like a random terrorist attack. But when the president was isolated with his personal guards....." Mr Liam paused a second before speaking again, "...one of the guards assassinated him in cold blood and exterminated himself. The terrorist attack was only a diversion. Their main goal from the start had been the assassination. The assassination was not reported since the government had no info on the terrorist group. They seemed new. Two weeks ago, presidents from Japan and Columbia were also assassinated in the same manner. These reports were also covered to control panic. A week ago Pakistan and Isreal were also attacked. Reports from the assassins' strategies showed that all the attacks were organized by the same terrorist organization." Mr Liam paused and gestured a guard near him to fetch a glass of water. Speaking at a continuous stretch had made his voice break. He took a sip from the glass of water brought to him and cleared his throat before continuing his speech again. Drake was listening silently while many discussed the impacts they would have to face politically if these new reach the people. Mrs Seetha was baffled by the incidents.

"Why would the terrorists take such risks just to kill the president? At this same time, they could have caused much more trouble than a cheap political assassination! Oh, Meanwhile, my ignorant husband has already started propagating their party for the upcoming election." Mrs Seetha mumbled and clenched her fists.

"So that's why the president sent you instead of attending the meeting himself..." Drake said to himself on hearing Mrs Seetha mumble angrily.

"I organized this summit to collaborate together and find a solution for these attacks. This new organization is not like the other. They know where to hit and seems to have a lot of internal associates. Who knows - this week any one of us could be the next victim of this wickedness." President Liam was sweating nervously. He was once good at talking, convincing people. He had built his career and life on the pedestal of his skill to speak and convince anyone. But then it was different. He didn't have to talk to live. He just had to talk to win. The fear of death had got a very good grip on him.

"Another work! Man I really wanted to go on a vacation!" one of the representatives complained.

"Can't these issues be delt by the UNSS! Isn't it what they are being funded to do. Protect us all!" another exclaimed irresponsibly. Drake's anger rose. He suppressed a strong urge to punch the representative in the nose.

"This is not the time for us to complain or lag. We can't afford to lose this war unless we have done our best. We have to cooperate, otherwise, like Mrs Liam said, any one of us could be the next one to die!" said Mrs Seetha who was standing with a fearsome look, ready for anything.