The Big Breach - Index of

The Big Breach; From Top Secret to Maximum SecurityCompliments of http://www.192.complan, and unsure what to do with himself, had started playing the fruitmachine. On the third pull, accompanied by the clanging of bells, themachine disgorged its contents. A crowd gathered round to witness thisgood fortune and the easy-going Spencer bought everybody a round. Theyreturned the compliment, one thing lead to another and a party ensued.Spencer became hopelessly drunk and forgot about the boring task ofextracting personal details - until Long turned up to drag him back tothe minibus.All were in high spirits that night as we returned to our trainingbase. A strong sense of camaraderie was already developing amongst us,a feeling of being up against a common foe. For a moment, sittingquietly at the back of the bus, I pondered the morality of my actions.The girls might spend the whole week looking forward to a sailing tripthat would never happen. Was it right to dupe members of the public socasually? As we drove through the portcullis entry to the `Fort', MI6'sdiscreet training establishment in Portsmouth and our main base for theIONEC, I dismissed such concerns. We were lying for Britain and thatwas sufficient justification. Unwittingly, I took the first step downthe long path of indoctrination towards becoming an MI6 officer.The largest and best kept of the four coastal forts built by Henry VIIIin 1545 to defend the strategically important naval harbour ofPortsmouth against the French Navy, Fort Monckton, as it is marked onOrdnance Survey maps, is a dramatic and atmospheric training base forMI6. Situated on the bleak and windswept southern tip of the Gosportpeninsula, it is approached by a short, winding track across the tee ofthe first hole of the Gosport and Stokes Bay golf course. Officiallyknown as `No.1 Military Training Establishment', the Fort was atraining base for the Royal Engineer Regiment of the army until 1956.When the Royal Engineers no longer needed it, MI6 discreetly took itover. The takeover was so discreet, in fact, that the Ministry ofDefence supply branch continued to pay for its upkeep, unaware that itno longer belonged to them.The only access through the thick grey stone walls is across adrawbridge over an empty moat, through a guarded gatehouse into thecentral courtyard. Directly above the gatehouse is a luxury suite ofrooms, reserved for the Chief on his frequent visits. Set around thecourtyard are three main blocks, east wing, main wing and west wing.Each wing is self-contained and has its own complex of bedroomaccommodation, kitchens, dining-rooms and bars. Spread amongst thewings are the other training facilities needed to prepare trainees fora career in the secret service - a gymnasium, an indoor pistol range,photographic studios, technical workshops, laboratories and lecturerooms. There is even a small museum, containing mementoes from the SOE(Special Operations Executive) of the Second World War and obsoleteCold War spying equipment. At the extremity of east wing is ahelicopter landing pad and an outdoor pistol and sub-machine gun range.Recreation is not forgotten and there is an outdoor tennis court andcroquet pitch to the west, as well as an indoor squash court justbeyond the outer wall.Main wing, directly opposite the entrance, was our home for the IONEC.We disgorged ourselves from the minibus and headed into the in-housebar for another drink. Alcohol plays a prominent part in MI6 life andBall and Long encouraged us to drink every night. The main wing bar,page- 35 - To purchase the original limited edition hardback version of this bookplease call 08000 192 192 or go to http://www.192.com