Rewired: Project Insula

Chapter 13

Daniel sat in the back of the police van, drinking green tea from a small foam cup. He felt more content now that Meera had been taken home from one of the officers. The casualties this side of the blast were fortunately none, however the rest couldn't be said for the other side of the blast. And for George.

Armed officers stood guarding each side of the small checkpoint, arriving shortly after the explosion was heard. Daniel watched as two of them paced back and forth, a few feet in front of him, where him and Meera had first me the large officer with the ponytail, and of course withstood the blast from the explosion down the road.

The two guards were named Brian and Tony. Daniel discovered this when he tried to explain to them that he had to get down the road, as George was believed to be held up there. This is when he also discovered that Brian and Tony who would rather use their bullying strength and guns, than explain with words.

He had been quickly met with a forearm to the chest from Tony, whilst Brian shouted from behind about how everyone must stay where they are, just in case the assailants from the bomb were still about.

Daniel knew of the No.6 Diner Bar, it was a safe enough distance away from the blast, probably suffered a few toppled chairs and maybe some broken bottles and glass, but nothing condemning. This meant that if George was there, as he said, then he should be safe enough.

The biggest issue had come from the Tower Block. Moments after the blast, Daniel witnessed the attackers leave the Block and head out in their direction, before the feed was cut off. Not only were armed police en route to the block, but so were the military.

Being sat in the back of the van, drinking tea, was all Daniel was good for now. He felt useless but wasn't worried. George would be fine, if he stayed put; Meera was on her way home and this now secluded part of London seemed nicely protected, with the apparent brunt of the forces arriving at the Tower Block.

Not to mention the fact that if the s**t would hit the fan somehow, Brian and Tony would be there to protect everybody, what with their inability to use words, but their clear proficiency with being hard bastards.

…

“Daniel?” spoke a soft voice, as a head popped round the back of the van.

It was a young woman, probably in her early 20's. She was wearing large round smart glasses, and her blonde hair fell neatly down to her shoulders, with a newly trimmed fringe, sitting nicely on her forehead. She was dressed as though it was sub zero temperature, with a large blue ski coat on and a pink woolly hat with a bobble on the end.

“Hi!” Daniel replied smiling.

At first glance Daniel thought she seemed nice and quirky. Her contagious smile and exaggerated clothing, complimented her short and plump posture.

“Hi there! My name is Kirsty Davies, from S-X News!” She replied upbeat, jumping from behind the van, straight into Daniel's view.

“Nice to meet you” Daniel said, nodding.

Kirsty giggled nervously and quickly shot her hand out for a handshake, beaming from ear to ear.

“How do you do..” Daniel said, shaking her hand.

“I'm so sorry, I'm such a huge fan of yours..” She said, still smiling.

“A fan of mine?” Daniel asked, frowning.

“Y-yes! Daniel Green? Founder of Barrier?” She replied.

“Co-Founder” He corrected.

“But yes, that is me! Didn't know I had any fans though.” He continued.

“Oh! Well, throughout my University course I studied so many of the cases that you and Michael solved. Like the stungsy case in Northern Ireland, or the white cloud case in Texas!” She said.

“Hmm! How interesting! What did you study?”

Kirsty then climbed into the back of the van and sat opposite Daniel.

“You don't mind me sitting here do you?” She said.

“Not at all” He said, smiling.

“So yeah, sorry… I studied investigative journalism! I chose you for all of my projects. A young guy who is out there solving the craziest of cases! It was like something from a TV series!” She said, excitedly.

“When I wrote about you, I could go on for ever.” She continued, this time ending her sentence with a gaze into Daniel's eyes.

Daniel, looked down towards his feet. His body seemed to of taken an immediate liking to this Kirsty, but it made him feel uncomfortable nonetheless. The way she was so excitable and happy, but also her bravery for being able to come to such a terrifying scene so soon and still act the way she was.

“Well, Kirsty. That truly warms my heart to hear. I never knew anybody would be… err, investigating my investigations like that.” He replied, taking a sip of green tea.

“Would you like a green tea by the way? I have a few cupful's left.” He added.

“Oh, no thanks.” She said, waving her hand politely at the offer.

The two sat in a moment of silence that hung on the air forever.

“So what is it I can do for you Kirsty?” Daniel finally asked.

“Oh, well, I came here after hearing about the police checkpoint, to try and get some information about it. Then the explosion happened and now I am stuck here I suppose!” She said.

“Sorry to hear that, must be hard.” He replied.

“It's okay. I feel quite safe around these armed policemen.. And you.” She said, squirming slightly and smiling.

“Although.” She said, now frowning a little.

“I was told that I can't leave, but I saw some Woman being driven out by another officer, a minute later!!” She continued.

Daniel choked slightly on his drink and began coughing slightly.

“You okay?” Kirsty quickly asked, holding her hand out.

“Yes cough cough, I'm fine.” He replied, clearing his throat.

“That woman you are talking about is my partner.” He said, laughing slightly.

Kirsty's hands shot up to her mouth, covering it completely.

“Oh my God” She said, muffled from her hands.

“I'm so sorry.”

Daniel sat up and laughed out loud.

“It's quite alright! They didn't let me out either. Was just good timing from her.” He said.

Daniel bent down to his bag and pulled out a thermal flask of tea. He unscrewed the cap and poured it gently into the cup.

“So was your intent to interview me then?” He said, placing his flask back in his bag.

Kirsty looked slightly embarrassed by this.

“Oh… No… I just wanted to meet you… You're kinda my hero.” She said sweetly.

“Please Kirsty, you are going to make me blush.” Daniel replied jokingly.

“Could I though?” She asked, leaning slightly closer.

“Sorry, could you what?” Daniel asked.

“Could I interview you?”

Daniel went to speak but stopped. He held his hands out and shrugged his shoulders.

“I'm sorry Kirsty, I know nothing about this investigation. I was called here by the Super Intendent and then this all happened.” He said.

“Super Intendent George Triller?” She asked.

Daniel nodded.

“Where is he?” She asked.

…

Brian was stood watching the smoky road, whilst Tony attempted to contact the team at the Tower Block. They had been told that there was a possibility of the attackers inside heading towards their position and that they were to watch the checkpoint, until the military could confirm that they had been taken out.

The two men were part of the SCO19 or the “blue caps” known by many. They had been given orders from Commander Roberts of the met police to shoot anybody acting aggressively. It was the first time that UK police were given such drastic and inhumane orders since 2023.

This was their first outing under the blue caps, both had served many years in the police force, but had both decided to pursue a spot in the SCO19, after the London attacks in 2023 and the rise in power of the Russian Paramilitary group – “Chistka”.

Chistka meant “to purge” in Russian and they were founded and developed by President Ilya Larinovich in 2019, as a brutal taskforce intended to wipe out any kind of tyranny without any hesitation and with lethal efficiency. It was created very much under the nose of the United Nations, causing huge tension between nations that disagreed and agreed with the intention.

After North Korea threatened Russia with a nuclear war in 2020, Ilya Larinovich tasked Chistka to infiltrate North Korea and force the nation to surrender. The promise of giving the land to South Korea meant Russia had a near perfect reasoning, helping them get away with what should have been an offence to the Public International Law.

By the end of the year, North Korea's lacklustre military, poor defences and lack of allied support, meant that Chistka, along with allied nations, were able to swiftly dispose of the North Korean regime, giving South Korea the rule of the entire nation.

It was revealed 3 years later in 2023, that Chistka had been receiving a huge amount of funding from the New Korean Republic (NKR). They used this money along with their already fierce and impressive military prowess, to launch the world's largest nuclear attack on the Middle East, destroying the lives of millions of innocents. They used the huge terrorist attacks throughout the UK in 2023, that ended up killing over 10,000 civilians as an emotive to allow the launch.

To the horror of a lot of nations, the attack was sanctioned.

The UK, Scotland, the USA, Germany and some other European countries all condemned these attacks, causing the United Nations to crumble under the conflict. These nations formed a new alliance called HKC, whilst the remaining nations continued operating under the UN.

The HKC was allowed to be formed when the UK and the USA proposed a withdrawal for all nations who condemned the attack on the Middle East. This was the first time a nation had attempted to withdraw from the UN since 2016, when the Philippines attempted to withdraw over comments of their country and its war on drugs.

Due to the “rebus sic stantibus”, which allowed a nation to withdraw if there were certain unforeseen circumstances, the 9 disagreeing nations were allowed to withdraw from the UN.

Since then, tensions between the nations in the HKC and Chistka have been sky high. Residents in the nations live in utter fear of an attack like that of the Middle East. Many believe that leaving the UN would only anger these powerful groups, causing disruption within the nations aswell.

Both Tony and Brian were a part of the Met Police from the years 2018 – 2024 and had witnessed first hand the c*****e that was brought onto the country by the 2023 attacks.

After seeing the true extent of human evil, along with the rise in hatred and power from Chistka, both entered the blue caps training initiative.

Now they stood together, on their first assignment, ready to face whatever evils would be attacking their small island.