Pager Protocol
Pager Protocol Ep2: Shadows of Hong Kong
Eli Cohen plunges into the neon-lit underbelly of Hong Kong, where cutting-edge technology and age-old traditions collide. As he navigates a web of deceit and danger, Eli must forge unlikely alliances and outwit unseen enemies. Meanwhile, halfway across the world, a determined CIA analyst stumbles upon a puzzle that could unravel everything. With the clock ticking and the stakes higher than ever, Eli races against time to set in motion a plan that will change the face of modern espionage. But in a city where nothing is as it seems, who can he really trust?
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- Broadcast on:
- 25 Sep 2024
- Audio Format:
- other
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Celebrate American craftsmanship and support local communities with every stitch. Go to american-giant.com and use promo code STAPLE20 for 20% off your first order. [MUSIC PLAYING] Caleroga shark media. [MUSIC PLAYING] Welcome to Pager Protocol, episode two, Shadows of Hong Kong. [MUSIC PLAYING] The bustling streets of Hong Kong pulsed with life as Eli Cohen, now fully embodying his cover identity as Alexei Vronsky, made his way through the neon lit night. The humid air clung to his skin, a stark contrast to the arid climate of Zion City he'd left behind. His eyes, sharp and alert, scanned the crowded sidewalks for any sign of surveillance. Eli's secure phone vibrated in his pocket. A text message appeared. Jade Palace, 30 minutes, come alone. Jay. He allowed himself a small smile. Jade Chen, his contact within Silver Tech Communications, had chosen their rendezvous point well. The popular restaurant would be crowded enough to provide cover, yet not so exclusive as to draw unwanted attention. As he navigated the labyrinthine streets, Eli's mind raced through the briefing he'd received from General Ben David. The stakes of Operation Pager Protocol were astronomical. Success would give Nexus unprecedented access to Crescent Shields inner workings. Failure. Well, failure wasn't an option. At precisely the appointed time, Eli stepped into the Jade Palace. The cacophony of voices and clinking dishes washed over him as he scanned the room. In a corner booth, partially obscured by a large potted plant, sat a woman in her mid-30s, her attention seemingly focused on the menu before her. Eli approached casually, sliding into the seat across from her. The dumplings here are excellent, he said, in flawless Mandarin, the pre-arranged code phrase rolling off his tongue. The woman Jade Chen looked up, a flicker of recognition in her eyes. "I prefer the peaking duck," she replied, completing the exchange. "It's good to finally meet you, Mr. Vronsky." As they ordered, maintaining their cover as business associates, Jade briefed Eli on the situation at Silver Tech. "Lee Way is paranoid," she murmured, her lips barely moving. He's tripled security since landing the Crescent Shield contract, getting access to the pages won't be easy. Eli nodded, his expression neutral. "Tell me about the supply chain. "How are the pages manufactured?" Jade took a sip of tea before responding. "Silver Tech doesn't actually make the pages here. "They're produced by a subcontractor "quantum relay systems in Budapest. "Lee Way's company is just the middleman." This was new information, not included in Ben David's briefing. Eli's mind raced, calculating the implications. So we need to intercept the shipment between Budapest and Hong Kong. Jade shook her head. "Too risky, but I've managed to convince Lee Way "that we need to perform additional quality control checks "before shipping to Crescent Shield. "That's our window." As their food arrived, Eli and Jade continued their discussion. Voices low and faces animated, as if engaged in nothing more than a spirited business negotiation. Eli learned of the tight security surrounding the pager shipment, the complex series of authentications required to access the secure storage facility and the narrow 48-hour window they would have to make the switch. As the meal concluded, Jade slipped Eli a key card hidden within a business card holder. This will get you into the Silver Tech building, but be careful, it'll only work once, make it count. Eli pocketed the card, his expression grave. What's our timeline? The shipment arrives from Budapest tomorrow night. We'll have 48 hours before it's due to leave for the Middle East. Whatever we're going to do, it has to happen within that window. With a final nod, Jade stood to leave. As she passed Eli, she whispered, "Watch your back. "We're not the only ones interested in those pagers." As Jade disappeared into the Hong Kong night, Eli sat back, his mind processing the new information. The operation was growing more complex by the minute. He needed to update Ben David, but first he had preparations to make. Thousands of miles away in a nondescript office building in Langley, Virginia, CIA analyst Sarah Miller was burning the midnight oil. The puzzling shipment of pagers to the Middle East had caught her attention and she wasn't about to let it go. "Talk to me, Sarah," said director Thompson, his gruff voice tinged with impatience. "What have you found?" Sarah pulled up a series of documents on her computer. "It's not just the destination that's odd, sir. "It's the manufacturer. "Silvertech communications in Hong Kong "is listed as the supplier, "but they're not the actual manufacturer." Thompson leaned in, his interest peaked. Go on. The pagers are being made by a company called Quantum Relay Systems in Budapest. It's a relatively new outfit, only been around for a couple of years. But here's the kicker. Their revenue jumped by over 500% in the last quarter. New contracts, Sarah shook her head. Just one, this shipment to the Middle East routed through Silvertech. It doesn't add up, sir. Why would a militant group suddenly need thousands of outdated pagers and why go through such a convoluted supply chain to get them? Thompson's eyes narrowed. You think there's more to these pagers than meets the eye? I'd bet my career on it, sir. Permission to dig deeper? Thompson nodded, his expression grim. Do it, but keep it quiet. If there's something going on here, we don't want to tip our hand. As Sarah turned back to her computer, a new determination in her eyes, Thompson couldn't shake the feeling that they were on the verge of uncovering something big. 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Our job is complicated because it should be. We handle everything from marketing and showing your property to screening tenants and preparing the lease. Our best-in-class property management professionals take care of your property as if it were our own, from rent collection to maintenance coordination, all for one flat monthly fee. Go to Rennerswearhouse.com for a free rental analysis to find out how much your home can rent for. Or call 303-974-9444 to speak with a rent estate advisor today. Because from now on, the only thing you need on your to-do list is to call Renner's Warehouse. Back in Hong Kong, Eli Cohen found himself in his hotel room, meticulously planning his infiltration of silver tech. The keycard Jade had provided would get him in the door, but navigating the building's security and accessing the page of shipment would require all of his skill and ingenuity. As he worked, Eli's secure phone chimed, a video call from General Ben David. Eli answered, his expression neutral. Report Cohen, Ben David said without preamble, his face filling the screen. Eli quickly briefed his superior on the meeting with Jade and the new information about quantum relay systems. Ben David's expression remained impassive, but Eli could see the wheels turning behind those piercing eyes. This complicates things, Ben David mused. We'll need to investigate this quantum relay systems, but for now, focus on the task at hand. You have 48 hours to make the switch once that shipment arrives. Eli nodded, understood, sir, but there's something else. Jade warned me that we might not be the only ones interested in these pages. Ben David's eyes narrowed, elaborate. She didn't have specifics, sir, but the implication was clear. Someone else is sniffing around this operation, CIA maybe, or another intelligence agency. For a moment, Ben David was silent, his mind working through the implications. Proceed with extreme caution, Cohen. If we're not alone in this, the risk of exposure increases exponentially. Success is paramount, but not at the cost of compromising Nexus or your identity. Am I clear? Crystal clear, sir. As the call ended, Eli turned back to his preparations, a new sense of urgency driving him. The operation was balancing on a knife's edge, with forces beyond his control threatening to tip the scales. In the pre-dawn hours, as Hong Kong's nightlife finally began to quiet, Eli made his final preparations. He double-checked his equipment, ran through the building schematics one last time and steeled himself for what was to come. As the first rays of sun began to peak over the horizon, Eli stepped out of his hotel, blending seamlessly into the early morning crowd, his destination, silver-tech communications, his mission to set in motion a plan that would change the face of modern espionage. Little did he know that at that very moment, in a secure bunker thousands of miles away, Tarik al-Sayed, the leader of Crescent Shield, was eagerly anticipating the arrival of the very pages Eli sought to compromise. Soon, al-Sayed murmured to his assembled lieutenants. We will have a communication network that even the vaunted Nexus cannot penetrate, and then my brothers, we will show the world the true might of Crescent Shield. As a new day dawned across three continents, the players in this high-stakes game moved their pieces into place. In Hong Kong, Eli Cohen prepared to infiltrate silver-tech. In Virginia, Sarah Miller dug deeper into the mysterious pager shipment, and in the hidden bunkers of Crescent Shield, anticipation grew for a technological upgrade that promised invulnerability. The clock was ticking, the game was afoot, and the fate of nations hung in the balance. (dramatic music) Pager Protocol is a production of Caleroga Shark Media, executive producers Mark Francis and John McDermott. Portions of this podcast may have been produced with the assistance of AI. This show is also available commercial-free. Check the show notes for all the links. (dramatic music) Caleroga Shark Media. Owning a rental property sounds like a dream until you realize how much work goes into getting it ready. Determine a competitive rent price, market the property, schedule the showing screen tenants, drop it at the lease at a rent collection, handle maintenance request, making a communication. Whew, sound complicated? Runner's warehouse is here to take the hard work off your rental to-do list. Qualify tenants, check. Rent collection, check. Maintenance coordination, you got it. Go to runnerswarehouse.com for a free rental analysis to find out how much your home can rent for. 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