The Big Breach - Index of

The Big Breach; From Top Secret to Maximum SecurityCompliments of http://www.192.comthe Houses of Parliament. It was a spring day, the sun was out and afreshening breeze was coming in off the river. But thinking of Sarah inhospital, then about the girl blown to bits in Bosnia, it was difficultto stop myself crying and I had to put my head in my hands before Icould compose myself. I knew there was no point in staying at my deskthat afternoon. Badger was on the balcony with some colleagues and Imade my way over to ask permission for the afternoon off. `Is itanything you can tell me about?' he asked.`Not at the moment' I replied.Back at my desk the following morning, I was doing my best toconcentrate on the job and was making headway with understanding theplans of the chemical plant. The phone rang. It was personneldepartment wanting to see me as soon as possible. With a heavy heart, Iarranged an appointment for the next day. I didn't know what theywanted but it was never a pleasure seeing them.Ostensibly, personnel department were responsible for staffingdecisions in MI6 and it was they who took the decision to post me toBosnia. But their manoeuvres, reasons for decisions and policies werealways shrouded in intrigue and secrecy, buried in a network ofunofficial soundings from line-managers and secret deals over boozylunches. Because they were career spies with no training in personnelmanagement they operated like a mini secret service within the secretservice and could not resist applying their tradecraft to do theirtemporary job. They treated us like agents, subjecting us to theshallow bluff and false flattery which they were accustomed to use withNigerian generals and Brazilian governors. Personnel did not even allowus to read or countersign the minutes of our own interviews with them,yet these notes formed an important part of our personal records, uponwhich key posting decisions were taken. This secrecy gave carte blanchefor a personnel officer to make or break a fellow officer's career asthere was no check against glaring personality clashes, favouritism orcronyism. The general mistrust of personnel department was exacerbatedby the rapid turnover of staff in the job; they could post themselvesto the best overseas jobs as soon as they became available.It was therefore with trepidation that I took the lift up to the eighthfloor to meet my new personnel officer. Because of his small statureand aggressive self-promotion, his previous department had nicknamedhim `Poison Dwarf', after a character in a popular computer game.`What were you doing out on the terrace the other day?' PD/2's voicewas accusatory, belligerent. He skipped through the normal pleasantrieswithout any conviction and obviously he had carefully planned theambush. `You were seen out there, drinking a beer on your own, ignoringeverybody. Are you interested in your job? Do you want to work here?'After such a gratuitously unpleasant attack, I could not bring myselfto talk to Poison Dwarf about Sarah. Even if he did feign sympathy andunderstanding, it would not be welcome. `Is there anything you wish todiscuss with me?'`No, not at all,' I replied disinterestedly.`Well, I've just got your SAF covering your time in Bosnia. P4 hasgiven you a Box 4, and frankly I am not surprised. Your performance waspage- 133 - To purchase the original limited edition hardback version of this bookplease call 08000 192 192 or go to http://www.192.com