by Ethan Jones
After working for years in acquiring intelligence from sources throughout Canada, , and the United Kingdom, Pierce was transferred to the CIS Middle Eastern Division, and was initially stationed in Amman, Jordan. He continued to work as an Information Officer, gathering intelligence and establishing a network of contacts, assets, and resources in , Iraq, Jordan, and , as well as Tunisia. The operative’s immediate supervisor, , described Pierce as “a soft-spoken master of manipulation, able to figure out the future asset’s vulnerabilities and to exploit them to extract secret intelligence from virtually anyone.”
In , the operative was promoted to the position of Covert Operative in the CIS Canada Division. There, he was dispatched as necessary on regular retrieval operations and diversion assignments. After a brief but extensive advance training at The Plant, Pierce worked under the mentorship of Covert Operative in planning and executing assassinations and sanctioned eliminations. Their targets consisted of terrorist masterminds, extremists, plotters, and associates of jihadists and enemies of Canada and its allies. Pierce was regularly assigned to support, and then lead neutralization teams, eventually becoming one of the best operatives in the branch.
In the summer of , shortly after the botched operation, “Iceberg,” resulting in the loss of Special Covert Operatives and , the operative requested a transfer to the CIS Europe Division, in the Intelligence Section, working under Director of Intelligence Hugo Martin. Pierce surpassed all expectations serving in the role of corrector, dispatched into the field to fix mistakes caused by operations of other covert teams.
He currently works out of .
PROFILE
Pierce possesses a very inquisitive and creative mind. He is generally soft-spoken, but has the potential for angry, violent outbursts, which flare up on occasion, especially upon provocation. Pierce has undergone to control his rage, and, for the most part, he is able to operate quite well under pressure. He has often performed beyond expectations in extreme, high-threat environments.
The operative is a skilled, talented professional, creative, imaginative, and adaptable to new and ever-changing environments. He has found novel solutions to difficult problems, making good use of and unexpected sources, such as local law enforcement authorities, politicians, and public figures.
Covert Operative Pierce has been trained to beat the polygraph and has done so successfully at least times. He is very capable of determining when someone is lying to him, and has mastered the skills of reading body language and facial expressions, even the subtlest ones.
Pierce’s advanced driving skills are among the best seen in operatives of his age and experience. He knows how to tell if someone is on his tail, or how to properly and discreetly follow a target. The operative has participated in involving high-speed and violent chases. At times, he may be prone to what may be called “reckless behavior,” for the purpose of achieving the mission’s objective.
Distrust, especially among team members, is an area where greater progress is to be expected. Sometimes, the operative is reluctant to unless they have earned his trust. While Pierce is a great team player, the role of team leader will truly bring out the best in him, provided he has overcome his fear of betrayal and distrust.
In the winter of , Pierce lost his to a fatal motor vehicle accident. The loss had a profound impact on Pierce’s , and he underwent for twelve weeks under the care of Dr. and Dr. two CIS-assigned counselors. Recovery was complete and the record of the final assessment confirmed that “the operative is fully capable of returning to his normal office and/or field assignments.”
Career advancement review pending.
EARLY YEARS
Pierce was born in and grew up mostly in Western Canada, spending his early years in British Columbia and Alberta, but spent considerable time () in his teens in the Middle East and Europe. Pierce’s father, Mr. served as Canada embassy trade representative in various countries, including Italy, , Jordan, , and . His late mother, Ms. , was a music teacher. She died of natural causes, congestive heart failure, in Ottawa, at the age of 57, when Pierce was 21.
While Pierce was an average student in high school, he showed special interest in sports, particularly hockey and skiing. He displayed great endurance and determination, sometime bordering on stubbornness. Occasionally, he had trouble listening to and following coaches’ instructions, especially when he believed they were in the wrong.
The major impact of the constant and endless transfers all over the world, which uprooted his fragile world, was a lack of the ability to forge and maintain long-lasting connections and relationships. Pierce overcompensated by relying on himself, “a team of one,” as he often liked to refer to himself, to fulfil all his needs. He learned how to build almost everything with his hands, dedicating large, sometimes an insanely large amount of time to reading, studying, or learning how things worked.
The operative had casual, short-term relationships, but nothing that left a long-lasting impression in his psyche or his life.
EDUCATION
Javin studied mechanical engineering at the Sapienza University of Rome, where he was recruited by Mr. , the Chief of Operations and Logistics. Mr. noted Javin’s fiery passion to serve his country in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Ottawa. Pierce left a great impression on Mr. , who wrote that “Pierce is perhaps the greatest recruit I’ve ever seen during my seventeen years with the service.” By this age, Pierce spoke fluent Italian, had mastered Arabic, and had a deep, working knowledge of the cultures and traditions of the Middle East.
At this point in his life, Pierce was in almost complete control of his hot temper, and the training at The Plant helped with honing the necessary skills to keep emotions under full control. Pierce also participated in a number of psychological and counseling training sessions outside The Plant to overcome his learned sense of solitude and to create meaningful bonds with friends and especially members of the opposite sex.
Initial results were encouraging, and the operative soon overcame his fear of crowds, and his reluctance to take the initiative and express his emotions and his feelings in a clear, positive way. Pierce married Ms. in 2014, and they had a normal life until the time of the accident.
Full psychological assessments can be made available with proper authorization.
BACKGROUND CHECK
An extensive background check took place, as per standard protocol, to vet the potential recruit and, at a later date, to determine his suitability to join the recruits’ ranks at The Plant.
Political orientation
Pierce has conservative political inclinations, but is not an activist. He believes in paying fair, progressive taxes, and that the government has a strong role in ensuring businesses play by market rules.
In terms of Canada’s foreign policy, the operative believes that “a limited, measured, and measurable approach, only in well-understood situations, is the best policy.”
Criminal record
None.
Database searches of all the countries where Pierce has lived with his parents or on his own revealed no criminal records. The operative has never been detained, arrested, or jailed, as far as CIS investigators were able to determine.
Verifications
Fellow operatives and partners on previous assignments had only good words about Pierce. One operative said about Javin, “I’ll go to the end of the earth and back with him.” Another one described Javin as “loyal to the death.”
Most fellow teammates emphasized Javin’s courage, the ability to remain calm even under extreme pressure, and the capacity to find solutions to almost every problem. The operative sees obstacles as opportunities to try something different, new, or improved.
FINANCIAL RECORDS
While Pierce has never shown any great interest in making or spending money, he is the sole account holder of a Canadian and a Swiss bank account. USD $100,000 have been deposited into each bank account.
Our investigations and our records show no other bank accou
nt or any stocks, bonds, or mutual funds registered under the operative’s name. However, considering his aliases, operations, and wide network of contacts and assets, especially in Jordan, Austria, and Iraq, it is quite possible that Pierce owns or has access to a cache of money or other financial instruments that he can liquidate at short notice.
EXCERPT FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS
The following is an excerpt from Pierce’s operative’s psychological assessment shortly after the operative’s first kill in a botched surveillance operation. Dr.conducted the initial evaluation, followed by an in-depth interview with Dr .
Dr.:How do you feel now?
J.P.:How do you expect me to feel?
Dr.:I don’t know; that’s why I’m asking the question.
J.P.:You mean, do I feel regret? Guilt?
Dr.:Just tell me what you feel.
J.P.:I feel fine.
Dr.:Was it the right thing to do?
J.P.:Doctor, I don’t have the luxury of determining what was right or what was wrong. I was being shot at. My teammates were also under fire. I responded in accordance with acceptable operational procedures and agreed-upon rules of engagement.
Dr.:I still want to know how you feel.
J.P.: (Smiles) I told you, Doctor, I feel fine.
Dr.:No regret?
J.P.:No.
Dr.:Not even a little?
J.P.:(Thinks for a long moment) Now that you mention it, some.
Dr. :About what happened?
J.P.:(Shakes his head) About how it could have been, if the man had thought about his family, his wife and young daughter. But he didn’t. He made the decision to leave his family and this life.
Dr.:Would you do it again?
J.P.:(Nods and replies without hesitation) Yes.
FINAL NOTES
Do not duplicate.
Do not take out of CIS premises.
Classified: FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
The Javin Pierce Series
Betrayal - Book 2
The Story
A hero, sent out as a mark. Who’s behind the betrayal?
Spy Master Javin wants to eliminate two terrorist masterminds, but he's not the only one looking for them. When the mission suspiciously goes awry, his team is now forced into a dubious alliance with Mossad and the infamous Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard.
Pursuing the terrorists deep into hostile Saudi Arabia, they not only discover an assassination plot that could topple the Saudi kingdom, but also suspect a traitor has infiltrated their team. Who is behind this betrayal? With suspicions high and time short, can Javin and Claudia unmask the traitor and stop the assassination plot before the Middle East is plunged into an all-out war?
Betrayal is the next installment in the explosive new bestselling Javin Pierce spy thriller series which you can enjoy now.
Chapter One
Al-Qaeda in Yemen safehouse
Southern Sana, capital of Yemen
The whap-whap-whap of the military helicopter woke Sameer from his troubled sleep. He rolled out of the bed set on the floor and grabbed the trusted US-made M4 assault rifle he always kept next to him. In the dark, he crawled slowly to the window. He did not pull back the heavy curtain. Such a move was guaranteed to draw in a sniper bullet or a volley of rounds from assault rifles. Sameer just listened.
His ears were accustomed to helicopter engine noises. Army troops sent by the corrupt Yemeni government—backed by Saudi Arabia’s hated regime—often flew over and pounded the neighborhood with rocket fire and all kinds of state-of-the-art weaponry bought from infidel Western governments.
But this engine rattle sounded different.
Sameer did not recognize it. I’ve never heard that before.
And that worried him.
It meant the helicopter belonged to one of the government’s foreign allies who had been running operations across southern Yemen. Most of Al-Qaeda in Yemen’s associates were located in that part of the country. Sameer had heard about the International Coalition Force, but had never seen them in action. However, what he had heard was bad news: the ICF was heavily dominated by American and British commandos. They were ruthless, tough, and almost invincible.
Almost.
Sameer cursed the Americans under his breath, then glanced at the other small bed across from his. The man lying there, Sameer’s cousin, not only was still sleeping, but had begun to snore like a camel. Sameer stayed away from the windows and crouched near the cousin’s bed. “Wake up, hey, wake up.” Sameer shook his cousin, who was on his back.
The cousin shook his head, then opened his eyes. “Huh, what? What’s going on?”
“Americans! They’re coming with a helicopter.”
“Americans? You’re sure?”
“Yes, yes. Get up. We’ve got to get out. And fight.”
The cousin blinked to clear the sleep off his eyes, then he rubbed them with the back of his large hairy hands. He yawned, stretched, then sat up and began to fix his hair.
“Come on. We’ve got to run.” Sameer had already put on his black-and-white headdress, had strapped on his chest rig with ammunition, and was slipping on his boots.
His cousin listened. “Do you think that’s a Black Hawk?” He pointed toward the ceiling.
“Does it matter?”
“No, not really. Just wondering.”
“It will start to pour hellfire on us, so let’s take it down.”
“Inshallah,” the cousin said in a solemn tone. If God wills it.
He stretched again, then jumped to his feet. He put on his jacket, then picked up his M4 assault rifle.
Sameer opened the door, then hurried down the hall.
The other six militants who were staying in the safehouse were already on high alert and readying to meet the attackers. Sameer checked the front of the house, but could not see the helicopter hovering over the neighborhood. Then he looked through a side window. Again nothing. And the noise had grown weaker.
The cousin said, “Maybe they left.”
Sameer shook his head. “Is this your first battle?”
“No, of course not. Why?”
“Because you’re acting like it is. Americans don’t fly so close to houses just to wake us up. The helicopter has landed, probably at the soccer field behind the school. Plenty of space there. And the SEAL team is on its way. To here.”
“SEALs? Navy SEALs?”
“Yes, what other kind can it be?” Sameer said with a sight.
“How do you know it’s the SEALs?” asked another one of the militants.
Sameer shook his head. “Whoever it is, it’s our enemy. Get ready to fight. Cousin, take the RPGs.” He pointed to his left.
His cousin nodded and picked up a bag carrying four rocket-propelled grenades, along with the launcher.
Sameer turned toward the front. “Now, come with me.”
He had taken a couple of steps when the back door opened with its familiar creak. Sameer turned his head and saw one of the militants rushing out of the back of the house. What is he doing?
Before he had a chance to say anything, a quick burst came from the backyard.
Sameer recognized the hollow crack of the AK-74 assault rifle the militant had been carrying. Are the Americans already in the back alley? “Go check what’s going on,” he shouted at his cousin.
“Allahu akbar,” the cousin shouted. God is greater. “Brother, see you in paradise.”
“Allahu akbar. Allahu akbar,” other militants chanted.
Their shouts were cut off by another barrage. One of the militants collapsed to the floor, clutching at his chest.
“Go, go, fight,” Sameer shouted.
He stepped to the side, away from the line of fire and the windows. His instincts, years of training, and many battles with Americans and Western forces in Iraq and Syria had taught Sameer about the enemy’s tactics. He knew another strike team was moving into position near the front or the side of the house.
&nb
sp; So he crawled toward the front door, holding his M-4 in front of him. He lay next to a couple of couches and waited for the first American to step through the door.
* * *
Jeremiah “Jerry” Fishbourne stepped cautiously through the safehouse’s front yard. He was the point man of the CIA’s Special Activities Division or SAD, dispatched for such terrorist-hunting missions. Jerry was a veteran of the war against terrorism, having served first in Afghanistan and then in Iraq for over six years. He knew a thing or two about approaching a terrorist safehouse.
Jerry was expecting a torrent of bullets to pour over him and the rest of his team, eight men strong, which was circling the target. The element of surprise had disappeared with the first volley coming from the back yard. If the intelligence was correct, that was one of the militants who had been turned, after being promised he would walk away with his life and a generous reward. The asset would have left the backdoor open, which was going to be the way Jerry’s team breached the safehouse. And as expected, at least some, if not all the militants, would rush to safety through the front exit. They would run right into Jerry’s rifle sight.
But so far, there had been no gunfire on this side of the house and no jihadists barging through the front entrance. They can’t be all dead, Jerry thought. No, they know we’re coming. And they’re waiting for us.
