COVERT OPS: GEMINI

Covert Ops: Genesis is an autonomous department in the CIA.

Exactly how long the group has existed is not known but the first recorded adventure featuring the members of the team takes place in 1957 and for it to operate as it does in that mission shows that the groundwork had been lain quite a few years before which would have it not long after the formation of the Agency itself.

The premise is simple. A number of people from various walks of life, people firmly established in their particular area of expertise, have been recruited by the organization and then, probably after a short indoctrination, were told to go home and resume their normal lives. They would have no more to do with the CIA or Covert Ops until they were contacted and given the codename "Genesis". When so called upon, they would be instructed where to go and they had to do so immediately because invariably a situation existed where they were needed.

Exactly who would be chosen to take part in any particular mission and the planning and execution of that mission was left to the decision of one man, Steven Graves. Graves is described as 6'1" tall with "an athletic build, black hair, strong jaw, and rugged looks Steven Graves cast quite a formidable shadow". The fact that he was solely in charge reveals a great deal about both the man himself and the respect and trust his superiors place in him. It also shows that he and his people are deemed totally expendable should something go amiss. Neither Graves nor his civilian personnel have any official ties to or connection with the Agency.

Indeed, Graves never goes to Company headquarters. He receives his instructions and the details for the next mission in various ways, usually in the form of a tape recording, the voice on which is that belonging to a man we know only as Officer James, who supposedly starts each mission brief with "Good evening, Mr. Graves. Codename: Casanova."

One other interesting fact about this group and its leader is the fact that the first mission we know about happened in 1957 and the last one was on or after 1995. That is quite some longevity.

I for a short time considered entering these two collections of stories as Pastiches in the Mission Impossible entry for there is no doubt that is what they are but then decided the quality of the tales, and they are quite good, makes them deserve their own entry.

Make no mistake. These are homages to the IMF team in every way, just like Solar Pons was Sherlock Holmes in all but name.

But they are fun. And the terrific naming of the team leader as Steven Graves is genius. The first IMF leader was Dan Briggs, wonderfully played by actor Steven Hill. The second leader was Jim Phelps, portrayed by Peter Graves. Having Covert Ops: Genesis led by a Dan Phelps or a Jim Briggs would not have been as clever as Steven Graves. Well done, whoever did it.

I do not know who gets credit for the creation of this series. I hope someone will tell me so I can remove this paragraph.