Chapter 594 Partnership-2
" How did you find out about the location?" When Steve asked the question Daris took them to their 'broadcasting' room, it was from this place they were able to communicate to their allies and contacts.
It was situated at the highest point of the building which was four storey tall at most. Steve could finally see the whole place more closely, about forty to fifty houses many of them were smaller in size and a boundary wall surrounding everything which didn't look secure. One could easily break-in in the cover of night.
He also saw the source of distant constant noise that he was hearing since he landed, a large commercial generator that was constantly spewing out black smokes like it was on it's deathbed. It explained the lack of power lines in this arid region.
" Is that all you have?" Drac asked. The town where their base was had power lines, it's not like there were no power cuts but he couldn't imagine them burning so much fuel instead of opting for a cheaper option.
" There are no other option after the government declared us a rogue organization after the peace deal. For them, we are not even alive only there to do their biddings once in a while and deter other groups from growing too big." Ahmed answered but he wasn't sad about it. They knew how hard they fought in the war but unfortunately that's what awaited most of the veterans that survived that ordeal.
Drac nodded and didn't say anything about it. They moved inside the room and instantly, Steve and his team felt like they had travelled several decades in time. The small room was packed with some of the most ancient communication device that they could think of, HAM radio, messy wirings and a shit load of receivers.
" Don't tell me that's how you gather your information!" Suddenly it hit him, if they had such a disorganised intel operation, how were they able to receive some obscure signal telling them exactly what would anger them.
" Who was the person that intercepted the transmission?" Steve abruptly asked.
They looked at each other before Hamza explained," Normally the person manning the station scans through the usual channel but one of our allies in the town told him about it."
" It was a looping message jumping through rogue channels but the contents were same. If given enough time, I might me able to catch it myself." The person responsible for the radio added.
" I think we found the leak." Cho added.
" But isn't it too easy? If it's really them isn't it a shitty way to reach out, we are indeed monitoring all channels but that doesn't mean they have to resort to older technology when they are miles ahead of us already." Steve felt there was something wrong.
What if there was another force helping them? But if they already have the location of bases and were willing to sacrifice them in exchange of hurting Steve's men, Wasn't sending their own men was more viable option? Instead of answers, it left him to several more questions.
" I-i am not a leak. I can't even speak the language-" The radio man thought he was being suspected.
" Calm down kid. We are not talking about you."
Daris didn't know what they were talking about but at least he managed to get Steve's attention away from his small town. It's not because he was afraid, but if he realistically thought about it with Steve's connection there was bound to be someone powerful behind him. He already had a lot on his plate which was why he was willing to take the friendly route.
" Oh..."
" But we might need the name of that person and one more thing. This transmission, is it possible that other faction know about it too?"
" I think so. It's not like the information was a secret. I was just visiting....a place and he just happened to introduce himself as a friend of one of my acquaintance." he clarified. Steve got more and more suspicious especially when he hesitated to say which place he was visiting.
Steve was about to ask about it when he saw Ahmed shaking his head.
" These youngsters, that's why I always say to find yourself a wife and not rely on such shady establishment."
" But the girls-"
" Shut up! Don't try to justify yourself! You should have told us that you got the frequency from an unknown source." Daris shut him down before he could embarrass them further. Steve knew what they were talking about as he gave the young man a knowing look along with a thumbs up. A man had needs especially when he was being cooped up in this old room day and night!
" There is no need for that, just tell us which 'establishment' because there is a lot of them in the area. We will find the person on our own." Cho added.
" And how do you know that? Is that where you sneak out every night?" Drac asked squinting his eyes.
" Come on! It's not like that, I have a girlfriend too! I would never-"
" That's what you have been saying for years! First it was wife and children now you downgraded to a girlfriend excuse, you dog!"
" Alright guys let's not fight here. We have a lot of work to do." Steve broke it off before it could escalate but the question still remained about Cho's personal life. He had always been a steadfast individual even remaining calm under any type of seduction.
Many considered whether he was really into girls or had other preferences but none where about to pinpoint where he usually ran off to during their off time. It was a mystery that often came up whenever they talked about him.
" We can't rule out a potential spy but it looks like they had researched him and made contact with the goal of us fighting each other to death."
" It appears so, the people that we left outside the location did mention few other group frequenting the area after we left yesterday. It make sense that someone has been feeding everyone the same intel." Ahmed pondered.
They were finally on the same page. Steve thought about telling them few things but he texted Samuel to get his permission to involve others. As usual, Samuel told him to do as he saw fit. Steve weighed in his options and decided it was a risk worth taking so he asked Daris and Ahmed for a private chat and began telling them the story.
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