In the heart of London – Surveillance at a glance…

Emma and Jake decided that damage control on the inside was the immediate priority. While letting Dr. Thorne and Katya Solovyanova walk free was galling, Peter Vance represented a current, active security risk within the agency’s walls.

“Thorne and Solovyanova are SVR agents; they’re expected to try and recruit,” Emma stated, her hand resting on the Soft Strike file. “But Peter Vance has access to live MI5 operations. We need to secure our perimeter before we chase the enemy across the street.”

Jake nodded, already pulling up Vance’s security profile. “If the SVR thinks he’s a potential asset, they might have already tried other, less direct approaches. We need to know what he told them before we spooked Thorne.”

The Analyst Under the Microscope

Their approach to Peter Vance had to be cautious and subtle. They couldn’t reveal the details of Operation Soft Strike, which would expose their knowledge of the SVR’s recruitment criteria. Instead, they framed the intervention as a routine security review, triggered by Vance’s recent financial activity.

The Interrogation

Vance was brought into a sterile, soundproof debriefing room. Emma led the interrogation, adopting a cold, administrative demeanor, while Jake monitored the subtle physiological cues from behind the one-way glass.

“Peter,” Emma began, placing a folder containing heavily redacted bank statements on the table. “We’ve flagged an anomaly in your declared finances. Specifically, the amount of private debt you’ve accrued in the last six months.”

Vance immediately turned defensive, sweat beading on his forehead. “That’s personal, Emma. A bad investment.”

“It becomes a professional issue when it creates a security vulnerability,” Emma countered, leaning forward. “Someone like the SVR could easily exploit that. Tell me about your recent meeting with Dr. Elias Thorne of the Centre for Global Futures.”

Vance flinched, confirming their suspicion that the meeting had left him shaken. He stammered, claiming it was a harmless “networking opportunity” to explore higher-paying jobs.

“Did you discuss your work here, Peter? Did you share any details about the recent Canary Wharf investigation? Or the agency’s response protocols?” Emma pressed, watching him closely.

Vance finally broke, collapsing in his chair. “No! I… I told him I was frustrated. I vented about being passed over for promotion. He just listened and offered to help. He asked broad questions about how MI5 allocates resources. Nothing specific! I swear, I never gave him classified information.”

The Damage Assessment

Jake stepped in after the interview, reviewing the transcripts and his notes. “He’s telling the truth about the secrets. His guilt isn’t over treason; it’s over disloyalty and his financial fear. Thorne was still in the ‘cultivation’ phase, building trust and assessing his value.”

The immediate security risk was contained: Vance hadn’t compromised any active intelligence. However, his professional vulnerability was a massive liability.

Alistair’s directive was clear: Vance was immediately placed on extended administrative leave pending a full internal investigation, effectively stripping him of all security access. He would be monitored for months, ensuring the SVR couldn’t reactivate him.

The Next Target: Thorne and Solovyanova

With the immediate internal threat contained, Emma and Jake could now turn their full attention back to the SVR recruiters, Dr. Thorne and Katya Solovyanova. They had been allowed to escape because of the strategic priority, but they were not forgotten.

“Thorne and Solovyanova will now report the failure to Moscow,” Jake deduced. “They’ll be desperate to prove they can still deliver an asset. They won’t repeat the same recruitment strategy. They’ll look for a quicker, less compromised target.”

Emma stared at the CGF’s location on the London map. “They know we’re tracking them now, even if they don’t know how we stopped them. They’ll be expecting us to come after them. We need to anticipate where the SVR will send them next to regroup or, worse, attempt a flash recruitment.”

The SVR had lost a potential asset, and they had two compromised handlers in London. Their next move would be driven by desperation and the need to save face with Moscow Center.