Mojito in Brief
CNN reporter Kate McKee is covering a public appearance by Fidel Castro when he trips and falls. In commenting on her coverage of this event, a White House spokesperson declares, “we think that the kind of rule that Cuba has had should be ended."
MIKE MCCAUL, a former commando and Mountie, assassinates eight drug dealers in Mexico and returns home to Havana. After landing he speaks with his boss who runs a mysterious security and intelligence company. He is requested to take on a special assignment for the CIA in Cuba; to find out how much of a risk the Castros pose to USA security. His cover is as an executive with a tourist agency. He learns he will have a helicopter at his disposal, provided by a Canadian developer who owns hotels on the island.
McCaul meets his commando partner for the mission, Lucien Larue, at a hotel in Havana. There he meets his old flame Kate and, along with offering a hint of romance, she relates to him intriguing stories about the Castros. He learns more about local conditions from local Cubans; a street kid, a priest, a musician and a Cuban Mafioso. With his new friends he sees up close the ways, culture, attitudes and emotions of the people and place. He also meets with his CIA contact.
Kate and Larue disappear. While wandering the city alone McCaul learns that there is a new Cuban revolution being organized and that Larue is part of it. Larue travels to the revolutionary encampment north of Havana and meets the movement’s leader.
McCaul meets up with Kate in Havana and learns that she and her cameraman discovered and videotaped a terrorist camp of some kind in the southern mountains. He knows that if this story is released that it will cause serious problems for the Cuban people; the USA is sure to take some kind of military action. Kate agrees to hold back this story if she is let in on the bigger one; the new revolution.
McCaul meets up with a Cuban musician who takes them to a party featuring a spectacular performance by a big band of young Habaneros led by an iconic band leader. Mike is enthralled with what he sees and learns and better understands what makes Cubans so able to deal with decades of abuse and neglect.
McCaul meets with Fidel Castro. He learns that the old man is healthy enough to be dangerous, but generally in bad psychological health; he is suffering some level of dementia.
McCaul travels to the revolutionary camp. While in the camp, he meets a number of interesting characters and learns the true story about the Bay of Pigs invasion. He agrees to be an active participant in the revolution and is told how the Vatican has offered its protection in the event that Castro is overthrown, which makes it untouchable by any military power. Larue and McCaul plan an attack on the terrorist camp to secure the terrorist weapons for the benefit of the revolution.
An assault team is formed from among the most worthy of Blanco’s men, led by Larue. The team mounts an attack on the terrorist camp with McCaul as the point-man. In a brutal shootout all the terrorists are killed and weapons are captured and loaded in the chopper. They refuel the helicopter in Gitmo and head north, making arms drops in camps as they go.
By the time McCaul arrives with the helicopter back in camp, morning has broken. He finds Kate and they wander into the valley and find a secluded tobacco shed.
At mid-afternoon they awake and McCaul is appointed as a commandante of Blanco’s Liberation Army. Havana is the only key target; if it is won the entire island is theirs. McCaul will lead the capture of Fidel while Larue will attack the army barracks.
McCaul and his team eliminate the sentries at Fidel’s mansion and enter. Inside it’s quiet and the only sign of any occupancy is the smell of a cigar. McCaul follows his nose and finds his brother in arms, Larue, in a library sitting in an armchair enjoying a glass of wine. He invites McCaul to sit and have a glass and explains that the rebellion has been crushed and that he will succeed Fidel when the time comes. He promises McCaul safe passage but no one else; all the conspirators and liberators will be executed. McCaul just leaves.
McCaul sets out to rescue as many co-conspirators as he can and returns home. He learns that the entire exercise had been a ruse. The CIA had both caused the revolution and designed its failure; he had been used as a pawn. He watches CNN and learns that Larue is being appointed as Fidel’s second in command and successor.
