Optional fanfic: How VSI started
------------------------Prologue------------------------
In the lounge of a 4 star Baghdad hotel room, the unlikely entrepreneur sips mint tea. He is talking to a potential client, through his phone's bluetooth head piece.
The man listens attentively, assuring the client of his prudence as he watches the erratic lights over the Baghdad night scape. Suddenly he gulps, almost choking on the tea, he coughs out ‘you need what?’...
The man’s name is Kieran Fitzpatrick, he is a regular guy. Well mostly regular, Kieran sensed the stock market crash and got out early, and then he took a bold step into business, investing what he had in his own company, now he’s trying to get things moving. Kieran came to Baghdad because that seemed like a good idea at the time, but he found out that the big companies have strangled the market. Kieran is now significantly broadening his perspective.
Kieran composes himself, and then continues listening and nodding as though the client can see him through the audio phone. He replies with assurance ‘regrettably... we’re somewhat understaffed at the moment’, he thinks fast and continues ‘however if you give me say four hours, let me see what i can get together, maybe scrape a few guys off other contracts and get a team together...’ very shrewd indeed.
Kieran continues calmly and confidently saying ‘so I will let you know in three to four hours’ he nods to himself ‘yeah I know, time is money... I’ll speak to you soon... bye’.
The calm of the conversation was immediately followed by a rush. Kieran dialled frantically with the phone, simultaneously bringing up a new email window on his notebook and typing out an advertisement, posting it on the website, tweeting it and emailing.
------------------------Prologue continued-----------------------
As he typed the phone was ringing, a young woman answered ‘Hello’. Kieran ecstatic spoke quickly ‘hey sweetie check your email, print off this flyer and put them around the bars where the soldiers go, and the outdoors store and the gun store too, fuck it’. She interrupts ‘Kieran honey slow down, I’m still in the office, take a deep breath... now what are you talking about?’
Kieran breathes but is still quite excited ‘oh finally I got a big break, no, huge, but i need more guys, fast! I need you to print the flyer I’m sending and scatter them anywhere ex military, cops and security types go, I need a pilot too so go to the airport staff lounge or better yet the air freight section, those pilots would be more useful, and if anyone presents himself as ex special forces, tell him if he signs up you’ll show him your tits’ _____the phone flat toned
The woman’s name is Jess Farrell, Kieran’s girlfriend, when he feels like it anyway. She was a clever girl who partied too hard in college, her grades suffered and she dropped out, taking a job at the local hooters, that’s where Kieran met her. He helped her along to better work through connections, now she is an accounts manager at a major firm that sells widgets.
When Kieran cashed his stocks, Jess hoped he would finally propose to her, they could get out of the city they’d been tied to their whole lives, and, see the world. Kieran had other ideas, he used both his own and Jess’ savings to finance his new company, much to her dismay.
Kieran frantically redialled, pleading ‘I am so sorry baby, you know I love you for myself, but I really need this favour’, she retorted ‘fuck you K, you fucking went off to Iraq you could’ve stayed here, damn it we had enough to retire to Hawaii but nooo...’ Kieran tried to interrupt, Jess unrelentingly continued ‘I am sick of being your run around here in the states, while you sip mint fucking tea in Baghdad, you know what... I’m gonna show my tits, and more, and you’ll get the photo with their resumes you fucking cuckold’ _____ she hung up again.
Kieran, too energized by the contracts to be bothered about her, went about spamming his advertisement on ex military and currently serving forums of various countries, security sites, police forums, anywhere he could think, he posted his advertisement.
Kieran printed a dozen copies and rushed downstairs. Down the road there is a ‘USA store’ that sells rare western goods and some under the counter contraband, it iss frequented by any and all types of contractors, drivers, engineers, soldiers and so on. He spat on the back of one and stuck it by his saliva to the wall near the door, then another, the more the merrier he thought, then put some inside near the counter, and a couple on the cafe tables before heading out to spread more.
Meanwhile in the states an irate Jess hit the print button, dwelling on her baffling devotion, despite Kieran’s proven lack of. She logged off the system early, stood up, grabbed her handbag and stormed off to the print room.
With flyers in hand, Jess went to the car park, got in her roadster and tore out onto the street, hoping to get this all done before the peak hour traffic begun. First stop was a gun store that also sells a lot of aftermarket police and security goods. Next stop an outdoors and fishing store, popular with soldiers and the like seeking commercial hiking boots. Third stop was the airport on the edge of town. She went to the air freight area and left some around the pilots lounge, and men’s room. At each stage she asked politely to post the flyers on noticeboards or near counters.
Next stop was a row of bars and clubs frequented by all branches of the military, usually when they finish exercises at the base a few miles out. Needless to say when this busty blonde walked in, wearing a figure hugging, white collar skirt suit and matching office heels, she received tasteless wolf whistling, hooting and several propositions. Annoyed she said ‘yeah go blow your load in someone else’s ears you fucking monkeys’ and walked out, chucking a few flyers on a bar table near the door.
Last stop for Jess was a bar a bit closer to the city and attached to the returned serviceman’s club. Frequented by old timers in addition to more recent veterans, they were a much more tame bunch considering the last lot. Jess spoke to the barkeep, a veteran himself, and he allowed her to put the flyer on the noticeboards in the bar, the club and in the men’s room.
( the following four paragraphs is bonus content, i almost didn't include them enjoy )
On the way back from the men’s room a mature voice respectfully called Jess ‘excuse me ma’am, your perfume is enchanting, would you have a drink with an old timer?’ She looked over, a senior man of about 55-60 years was sitting at a table by himself, he was wearing dark glasses, looking slightly away and holding a fold up staff, indicating he was blind, he reminded her of her late great uncle who was blinded in world war two. She sat with him to lift his spirits and pass time as peak hour driving was tedious, and it’s not like she had a man to go home too.
‘My name’s Thomas, but around here they call me old Tom’ he said, Jess objected ‘well Tom, you don’t look that old to me’, Tom laughed ‘yeah well aren’t you a pleasant young woman to chat with, what’ll you have to drink?’
They drank together for around two hours, several other regulars coming and going, telling stories to the impressive and unexpected guest, joking and fooling around with old Tom. When it calmed down a bit, Jess asked old Tom if she could take a photo with him, he heartily agreed, not wanting to be forgotten.
Tom was facing the back wall, with no one in front, she devised a cheeky plan to get at Kieran. Jess took her digital camera, quickly and quietly undid her top whilst making small talk with Tom none the wiser. She pulled her breasts out over the bra’s edge so her nipples were out and her cleavage immense. Jess picked up the camera and asked the oblivious Tom to stick his tongue out, she snapped, two and three times, then quickly propped her Dcups back in and buttoned up before anyone noticed.
------------------------End Prologue------------------------
----------------3 am baghdad day minus 2----------------
Kieran is on the phone to the client "Kieran from VSI here, we spoke a few hours ago, yes i've got a team together, ready to start in 48 hours"
Exhaustion is creeping in but he has one last call to make. He dials Jess, “hey babe, look sorry about earlier, anyway I need you to go to the airport n the morning and see off my shipment, and there is two boxes at the top of the list, give it to two guys who should be also on the flight, Sarge and Gravedigger”, Jess obviously realising he hasn’t seen the photo yet, responds cordially “this better be worth it Kieran”, he ignores her “can you pack some sandwiches for them too, and some drinks and food, because it’s a long flight you know”.
Jess, annoyed, interrupts “whats with all these shipments?”, he responds, “here we need quality American goods honey, see all the other stuff here is made in asia... even the prostitutes”________ she hung up. Kieran passes out from restlessness.
----------------------9 am baghdad day minus 1------------------------
Kieran finally gets onto the armoured car dealer, makes appointment for tomorrow morning, same time the others will be arriving, convenient.
Goes to a private range and put a few rounds through his glock, to keep hs eye in... not, he's a stock broker not a gunfighter.
----------------------9 am Baghdad day minus 0------------------------
Kieran woke up on the couch. He sweat so much he felt sure someone tipped water over him “fuckiing air con” he mumbled. He looked at the clock “oh shit”, he leapt into action, showered for about 10 seconds, brushed his teeth, and he wore a new shirt and dry cleaned trousers. He heaved on his body armour vest, making sure the ballistic plates were firm, and checking his Glock was loaded, and holstered on the modular front of his tan vest.
Kieran grabbed his laptop bag, phone, sunglasses, and bag of goodies then went downstairs. Outside was the bulletproof car salesman, ‘fuck he had good business’ Kieran thought, ‘been making millions out of this war, should’ve invested in 2002’. Kieran approached and shook the man’s hand saying “Hi, I’m Kieran from VSI”.
They got in the V8 Chevrolet SUV and headed out to the airport. “So how soon can you get more?” Kieran queried, the salesman replied “well it depends on the quality, the top notch units, I have one in stock and about dozen coming next month, most on back order, the older types, lower tolerances but pretty safe from small arms... I got plenty... IED’s are the problem though”.
Kieran replied “OK, I’ll take it, the good one that is, and two of your second best, and put me down for two more good ones ASAP”, “Yes sir, I’ll write it up immediately” the salesman happily replied, ‘probably on commission’ Kieran thought as he pushed the gas pedal harder, He had to meet Kateriina and Zaynab at the airport first, he hoped the planes would be later than he was.
At the airport Kieran grabbed his stuff and confirmed with the salesman where he could pick up his new ride later. He went in and waited by the incoming international terminal, after the makeshift passport control.
The whole place was crawling with mercs, military, profiteers and crooks in suits. Kieran flipped open his laptop and started checking messages and responding, through the airport wireless, he found an image sent via Jess’ phone camera. She’s in what appears to be a bar with some guy and her breasts are out, the accompanying text says something about real men at the veterans bar...
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