Mike sits on a rattan armchair in the living room of a large, spacious house in the embassy district of Vientiane. Local Asian artwork, slowly circulating ceiling fans and the occasional phone rings off unseen in other rooms. He’s been waiting some time when a tall, slim quietly spoken, intense man in his early 40’s enters and introduces himself - Theodore (Ted) Shackley, CIA Station Chief.

Ted takes a seat and starts reading through Mike’s file as someone serves them tall, cool drinks - non-alcoholic for Shackley.

Ted finally looks up over his heavy framed reading glasses and thanks Mike for his exceptional service and asks him about his plans for civilian life.

"Business administration at Syracuse."

"Good school, business studies are a smart choice," Ted remarks, closing the file.

Ted looks for a long moment out of the bay window, across a lush lawn and finally turns back to Mike.

"Transition back home isn’t always easy for a lot of people - people like you," Shackley says

Mike smiles shyly.

"Yes I’ve considered that, Sir. Spoken to a few people about it both here and back home...." he says

"Ok so you know what to expect, more or less.....no point wasting time on ’war stories’. What I wanted to say, well, ask really, is whether you’d be interested in working with us again? After graduation," Shackley asks.

"Do you mean here or South East Asia?" Mike asks,

"Not necessarily.....could be anywhere really, if you’re prepared to relocate...."

"I think so, Sir, yes," Mike says

"Let’s take a walk - the garden is at its best at this time of the year," Ted says, after a beat.

The two men walk on a path that meanders around the house, laid into the lush, neatly trimmed green grass - its still early before the heat of the day and a few labourers in overalls tend the beds. Ted nods to them as they look up at the two men. Mopeds and rickshaws buzz saw up the main road just beyond the thick fringe of low ferns and trees offering privacy along the high front cast iron fence.

"I wanted to ask about your take on the broader war - I’d appreciate your perspective: how do you think we are doing?" Shackley finally asks.

"Well if you’re asking me personally, Sir, I’d honestly have to say I’m not sure. We’ve had wins, we’ve had losses clearly.....I think we’re doing OK"

"You can speak freely here. You’ve been on the ground in sensitive roles - seen things that the military planners never see, will never know," Shackley probes.

Mike is silent for a moment, not sure how far he should venture before this very senior figure.

"OK....I think we’re struggling, Sir. I think that’s pretty obvious at this point."

"But how specifically?" Shackley asks.

"The enemy has worked out some very effective ways to engage with us and they’re continuing to adapt. We’re changing also of course but its like our military is just a giant machine that simply can’t change course at the same pace - momentum and inertia, I guess," Mike offers.

"History says that major powers have always struggled against smaller, guerrilla forces. We have long range vision but the enemy attacks up close in the foreground and we simply can’t change focus to see them. We swing and we miss," Shackley continues the theme.

"I think that’s a good way of putting it, Sir"

The two men walk on for bit in silence.

"I want to share something with you, but first lets take a look at the fish," Shackley says at last.

The two men observe the large pond, fringed with flowering pond lilies as large well-fed Koi lazily cruise the clear waters below.

"Apparently one in Japan lived to 200 years old - can you imagine?" Shackley observes after a long pause.

Mike just smiles.

"What if I was to ask you - what’s is our true advantage in the world, what does the US do that no-one else does better," Shackley proposes, changing the subject.

Mike thinks for a moment. "Maybe trade, investment, commerce.....free enterprise, I suppose."

Shackley smiles, still looking at this beloved fish. "Yes, I think that’s it."

"OK," says Mike flatly

"So what if I was to propose that what we should be trying to do is to harness that advantage in some strategic way - I mean to the advantage of our government’s - our military’s - agenda world-wide?" Shackley asks.

"I’m not sure I follow, Sir."

"Some of us think that’s the way out of this mess. To ’privatize’ wars, to take it out of the hands of government, the armed forces and move the battle to territory where we have the advantage, where we can actually win...."

".....not sure I’ve fully understood but it’s an interesting idea, I think," Mike says.

Shackley turns to him and smiles, reaching into his shirt pocket and pulling out a business card, hands it to Mike.

"On the back is a 212 number - just someone to call if you’re ever interested in discussing further. Just mention my name."

"Thank you, Sir," Mike says

"It’s been my pleasure meeting you today, Mr Hand - I wish you the very best for the next few years," Shackley says. "I’ll have a car run you back to your hotel."

The two men shake hands, smiling and the meeting is over.

Next Chapter: Chapter 3 - Homecoming