Chapter 2
Kit Thorne: Operation Files: Felix Reconnaissance
Operation Caffeine Delivery (or How to Spook the New Guy Who is Secretly Your Mate)
TARGET: Felix Ch?ng (Codename: Magpie)
TACTICAL APPROACH: Prepared one mug Earl Grey (observed target’s preferred afternoon beverage through extensive surveillance). Approached new tech office during optimal window. Selected excuse: “Thought you might need this” (rehearsed forty-two times in weapons room).
INTEL GATHERED:
Target was wearing the same black hoodie he wore the day of first contact
Headphones around neck—tactical advantage, he could actually hear approach
Energy drink can on desk suggests beverage delivery was strategically sound
OPERATIONAL STATUS: MISSION COMPROMISED
COMPLICATIONS ENCOUNTERED: Upon entering room, target looked up and flinched.
Repeat: TARGET FLINCHED. This was not accounted for in mission parameters.
Target’s eyes went wide behind his fringe, hands immediately stilling on keyboard.
Operative experienced what can only be described as “complete system failure.” Instead of delivering prepared tea and casual conversation, operative:
Froze in doorway for 7.3 seconds
Mumbled something that may have been “tea” or possibly “sorry”
Placed mug on desk with excessive care (target was still frozen)
Backed away slowly as if retreating from spooked wildlife
MISSION OUTCOME: CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. Target whispered “thank you” after operative had already retreated halfway across the basement. Voice sounded surprised. Definitely not laughing—more like he couldn’t believe someone had brought him tea.
MISSION FAILURE ANALYSIS: Failed to account for target’s jumpiness around new team members. Approach was too direct, too sudden. Recommend stealth beverage delivery protocols for future operations.
LESSONS LEARNT: Target startles easily but appreciates Earl Grey. Note: he did drink it (observed via security feed). This suggests mission not entirely unsuccessful despite tactical disaster.
RECOMMENDATION FOR FUTURE OPS: Announce presence before entering office. Consider leaving beverages outside door with note to avoid further target distress. Or possibly transfer self to different continent.