The first twenty-four hours of the Prague operation proceeded with the kind of methodical precision that marked professional intelligence work conducted by people who understood that mistakes in foreign countries often had permanent consequences. Adrian spent the morning reviewing financial records that traced cryptocurrency transactions across seventeen different exchanges, while Mara worked with technical specialists to establish surveillance protocols that would monitor communications without alerting targets who had demonstrated sophisticated counter-surveillance capabilities.Agent Morrison proved himself invaluable during the initial setup phase, coordinating with embassy security, local law enforcement liaisons, and Treasury Department specialists with the kind of efficiency that made both Adrian and Mara grateful to have experienced backup on such a complex assignment. His knowledge of cryptocurrency analysis filled gaps in their technical expertise, his understanding of Europ

The morning briefing began at 0500 with intelligence that changed everything they thought they understood about the Prague operation. Adrian studied surveillance photographs that showed their primary targets abandoning established safe houses while new personnel arrived in the city through channels that suggested official rather than criminal transportation."Twelve individuals entered Prague through diplomatic flights in the past eighteen hours," Morrison reported, displaying passenger manifests that showed cultural attachés and trade representatives from countries that had no scheduled diplomatic activities with Czech authorities. "All carrying diplomatic immunity, all with backgrounds suggesting technical rather than administrative expertise."Mara reviewed the surveillance footage that documented this personnel movement. "Electronic warfare specialists. The kind of people you bring in when you're planning sophisticated attacks on military communications systems rather than routine

The attack began at 18:47 hours with electronic pulses that disrupted communications across a six-block radius of Prague's central telecommunications district. Adrian felt his secure radio cut to static as hostile electronic warfare specialists initiated operations designed to create a communications blackout that would prevent coordinated response to their primary assault on civilian telecommunications infrastructure."Comms are down," Mara reported, switching to backup communication protocols that used different frequencies than the systems being jammed. "They're isolating the target area to prevent Czech authorities from coordinating protective responses."Morrison emerged from the embassy's secure communications center with intelligence that explained the scope of what they were facing. "Signals analysis confirms they're using military-grade electronic warfare equipment to create a localized communications blackout. Czech tactical teams are operating without radio coordination wit

Adrian woke at 0630 to sunlight streaming through hotel curtains and the realization that he'd slept for seven uninterrupted hours—the longest stretch of rest he'd managed since arriving in Prague. The secure phone on his nightstand showed three missed messages from Morrison about follow-up coordination with Czech authorities, but for the first time in months, Adrian found himself reluctant to immediately shift into operational mode.The hotel's breakfast room was nearly empty except for a few business travelers and tourists who moved with the unhurried pace of people whose biggest concern was deciding which Prague attractions to visit. Adrian collected coffee and pastries from the buffet, settling at a window table where he could watch the city wake up while his mind processed the previous evening's conversation with Mara."Agent Cross?" Morrison's voice interrupted his thoughts as the younger agent approached with his own breakfast tray. "Mind if I join you? I wanted to discuss the

The federal debriefing facility in Virginia felt different upon their return from Prague—more sterile, more institutional, lacking the diplomatic elegance of embassy facilities where international operations were planned and coordinated. Adrian sat in Conference Room C, reviewing his operational notes while waiting for Agent Martinez to begin the standard post-operation assessment that would officially conclude their Prague assignment."Agent Cross," Martinez said as she entered the conference room carrying routine debriefing documentation. "Welcome back. Prague was successful by all accounts—Czech authorities are extremely satisfied with the coordination, and federal headquarters considers this a model for future international operations."Adrian nodded, feeling the satisfaction that came from assignments that achieved their objectives without complications or casualties. "Agent Morrison's contribution was significant. His technical expertise made the difference in understanding the