Battlefield Ukraine

Traitors

Carl Wiggins was nearly done getting ready for work when he saw the breaking news on the TV. “More news about the war in Ukraine,” he groaned. “I think I may have royally screwed up, giving the Russians a heads-up on our intentions in Ukraine. They said they were going to use the information to confront President Gates and get him to back down, not use it to launch a preemptive attack. What a mess.”

As he finished tying his shoes and was just about to grab his sport coat, he heard a knock on the door. Not sure who would be knocking at his door at this hour of the morning, he walked over and opened it, to find several men wearing FBI jackets holding their badges in his face as they pushed their way into his apartment.

“Hey, what is the meaning of this?” Carl demanded. “I didn’t give you permission to enter my house. I insist that you leave immediately!”

As he spoke, one of the FBI agents grabbed him firmly by arm and guiding him to the living room.

“You are Carl Wiggins, correct?” the agent asked in a forceful tone.

“Yes. I’m Carl Wiggins, and I demand to know what in the world is going on right now!” Carl replied angrily. People were crawling all over his apartment. One agent had a box and was cataloging and then collecting all of his electronic devices.

“I am Agent Walt Wittman from the FBI. We have a search warrant to search your home and seize any electronic devices. We also have a warrant for your arrest,” he said proudly, as if he had just arrested the most important person of his career.

Carl did a double-take before responding. “Arrest? Arrested for what?!” he yelled as Agent Wittman turned him around and began to place his handcuffs on his hands.

“Mr. Wiggins, you are under arrest for espionage and treason. We caught you providing classified intelligence to the Russians,” he replied calmly as he began to guide Carl through the doorway and into the hallway of his apartment building. “I advise you to remain silent and not say anything further, Mr. Wiggins.”

Carl could not believe it. He had been so careful. How could the FBI have found out he was providing intelligence to the Russians? As they placed Carl into the back of a government car, the reality of the situation began to sink in.

“I am in serious trouble if they are charging me with treason,” he thought. “That can carry the death penalty… I’m going to have to cut a deal if I’m going to save my own skin.”