Chapter 10 Playing double agent

Elanon took several minutes to study the report. "Excellent work, Darek. Let us act fast and decisively. Contact Jara and Liora and get them over here. We need to confront these traitors." Elanon said with a grim expression. 

Three suspects sat in the secured interrogation room and Darek and two of his officers faced them. The three suspects included two lower-ranking officers and a high-ranking intelligence agent - Gareth. Elanon stood behind a one-way glass with interest. He couldn't wait to hear their explanations. 

"Malen," Darek said, fixing a straight gaze on one of the lower-ranking suspects - a senior strategist. "You've been with me and the Planon Alliance for years. How could you betray us?"

"This must be a mistake. I don't know what you're talking about. This is a mistake." Malen replied with a defiant expression. 

Darek shook his head and negated. "We have clear evidence against you. We know you leaked important information about our operations. Moreover, this is a record of your conversation with Dark Enchanter Varrick."

The second lower-ranking officer broke down. "I never wanted to do this…. Never wanted to go to this extent. We were told we only needed to send little information and we were promised rewards and power."

Darek looked towards him. The officer's regret seemed sincere and Darek's eyes softened slightly. "We understand that you were manipulated. However, your deeds have led to great harm and you must face the consequences."

Darek continued interrogating the suspects but his gaze often drifted towards Gareth. He found it difficult to contain his emotions when it came to Gareth. Gareth had been a trusted member of the Alliance and a high-ranking agent at that. Darek still found it difficult to believe he would turn against the Alliance. 

He later finished interrogating the other suspects and turned his whole attention to Gareth. "Gareth," Darek began, "I expected so much more from you. After all, you have been with us the longest. Why did you do this? I need to know."

Darek kept his head down and his face was filled with regret. "I am sorry, Darek. Mordak's agents approached me years ago. They had so much information about me and my family and I felt so trapped."

Elanon sent a signal to Darek through his wristband and Elanon stepped out of the interrogation room for a moment. They conferred, and Darek's eyes widened at a suggestion from Elanon. Then he went back into the interrogation room. 

Darek leaned towards Gareth and asked. "Do you still feel trapped now?"

"No I don't. Believe me, I wish there was a way to make things better but I cannot go back in time." 

Darek paced for a while and turned once more to Gareth. "There is indeed a way to make things better if you're sincere. I can give you a second chance. You can be a double agent for the Alliance."

This was a carefully considered strategy by Elanon. The idea of turning Gareth into a double agent for the Planon Alliance was a risky one no doubt, but it had good prospects. Gareth could help provide important and invaluable intel on Mordak's organisation while pretending to help them. 

After a while, Gareth agreed to the plan. "You must know, Gareth," Darek emphasised. "This is your final chance to prove your loyalty and worth. If you betray us again, I will personally make sure that you do not get another chance."

Gareth nodded with determination. "I understand, Darek. Thank you for this chance. I won't let you down."

Great effort was put into planning Gareth's new role. Darek and his team created a plausible cover story to explain Gareth's apparent escape from the Planon Alliance's custody. They used communication channels to feed misinformation, making it look as if Gareth managed to evade capture and had gone into hiding. 

"Your return to Mordak's organisation needs to look believable," Darek explained after summoning Gareth to his office. "Act like you just escaped from our custody and explain that you have important information to give them."

"I can do that," Gareth agreed. "What will be the nature of the information?"

"Study these reports. They are false plans from us. Make them believe that these intel are invaluable." Darek instructed as he handed a detailed file to Gareth. "Remember, your task is to garner enough information on their operations. We must immediately know any information related to the Alliance Heroes or the Lunarceptor."

Dark artefact in Catalonia

Gareth knew he had to play his role well. His return to Mordak's network was fraught with danger. It was quite the task to convince them of his loyalty while routing information back to the Alliance. His heart raced during the debrief with Mordak's lieutenants.

"I was able to finally escape," Gareth said in a steady voice. "The Alliance does not have anything on me but I have invaluable information about their operations to share."

"Good. You have done well Gareth." The lieutenants nodded and exchanged glances. "You will be rewarded if the information is worth it."

Gareth was able to secretly transmit critical intelligence from within Mordak's organisation to Darek using a covert communication device. Derek learned from Gareth of Devon and Seline's plans to ambush the Alliance Heroes in the Catalonia Mountains. Gareth stumbled upon this information one evening when he overheard a conversation between two high-ranking officers. 

Mordak's agents planned to retrieve an artefact of great value to Mordak and Zalthar. 

"Even though our plans are in place, we still need to move quickly," one of the lieutenants said. "Mordak will not be pleased if the Alliance Heroes get their hands on the artefact first."

With a racing heart, Gareth quietly withdrew from the location. He knew he had to relay this intel to Darek quickly. He hurried to a secluded area and transmitted the information.

"This is invaluable information," Elanon said, looking at Darek, Liora, and Jara. "Let us quickly act on it." They all pored over the intelligence report which contained elaborate information on Devon's and Seline's plans.

"We can send a support team to the Catalonia mountains. They can intercept Devon and Seline at the base and we can strike a decisive blow." Darek suggested.

Elanon agreed. "The Alliance Heroes must be protected. I will brief them with this update. They must be prepared if Mordak's organisation is planning to ambush them. They must locate and secure the artefact before Mordak can get his hands on it."

Meanwhile, the cleaning house process at the Alliance Protectorate was almost complete. Security was tightened and Elanon had fully recovered by this time. He took great solace in the fact that the Planon Alliance was able to come out from the challenge safer and stronger. However, the battle against Mordak's dark forces was far from over. He hoped the Alliance and its heroes could remain strong and united in their quest to protect the realms from the darkness.

Bring the Lunarceptor to me

The moon was hanging silently in the void of space. The moon Lunaris, the Moon Sentinel stood on his base on the moon and watched the delicate balance of magic holding the realms in equilibrium. He took his task to safeguard crucial magical stations seriously. More importantly, it was his duty to ensure that the alignment process for the Pattena was seamless when the time came. 

The moon was ordinarily a place of immense power already. When the time of the alignment came, this serene landscape would lose much of its cool, Lunaris knew. He was its vigilant guardian up until the moment of alignment and he needed to make sure that the dark forces were able to use this opportunity to amplify their magical energies to unparalleled heights and gain supremacy over the light forces.

Lunaris took out his communication orb and activated it. The device pulsed with an ethereal light and connected to the vast network of magical channels spanning the realms. The face of Draven, the Supreme Overseer of Platymus appeared within the glow reflected by the orb moments later.

"There is something you must know and I have a task for you, Supreme Overseer Draven," Lunaris began in an authoritative voice. "Dark Enchanter Varrick has succeeded in retrieving the Lunarceptor from the Plan on Alliance Headquarters in Platymus. This device must be immediately brought to me without fail. It is crucial that it is available when we use the Pattena during the alignment process of the realms."

Draven's piercing eyes grew more serious and he nodded and said. "Understood, Moon Sentinel Lunaris. I will act immediately and ensure that Varrick gets the Lunarceptor to you safely. Do you have further instructions?"

Lunaris slightly narrowed his eyes which glowed with a silvery light. "Varrick may face serious opposition from the Alliance. So make sure you send your best and most skilled operatives to escort him. There must be no mistake!"

"Very well, I will send for Shadow Adept Zarek and Shadow Adept Nyssa immediately." Draven replied with an hardened expression. "They are our most skilled master infiltrators and assassins. They will ensure Varrick gets to you safely."

Lunaris inclined his head. "See that you perform this task well, Draven. Nothing must disrupt our plans."