Gentlemen, Checkmate and the entire intelligence community is about to enter into a war! 
Checkmate #15 is an issue of the series Checkmate (Volume 1) with a cover date of May, 1989.
Synopsis for "The Janus Directive, Part 1: Knight Kill"
At Koning Industries, Shelby, Virginia, Val Vostok has recently left the Doom Patrol and Harry Stein offers her a job at Checkmate. She has doubts and may accept the job later.
Checkmate kidnaps Mr. Warwick. Mr. Warwick was hired to arrange an assassination on an unknown political figure visiting New York. Checkmate finds where Mr. Warwick is going to get instructions from his employers. In New York, Ray Carson and another Checkmate agent go undercover as Mr. Warwick and his chauffer and get a note meant for Mr. Warwick. When in a car, they figure out that Mr. Warwick has angered his employers and they sent the mercenary “The Bishop”. Ray Carson changes to his checkmate suit but The Bishop's suit is much too strong for Ray Carson to beat. After Ray Carson loses the battle to the Bishop, the Bishop uses an explosive on the car he believes Mr. Warwick to be in. The agents lose but are left alive.
In a Checkmate Safehouse in Manhattan, Mr. O'Connell explains the Bishop is so new, no one knows his name and Mr. Warwick's contact is a mafioso named Danelli. Danelli works for Salvadore “Crazy Horse” Sharpo.
In Brooklyn, Ray Carson disguises himself as Mr. Warwick again and ambushes Mr. Sharpo. As Mr. Warwick, Checkmate sets up a meeting spot to extort money from Mr. Sharpo but expect to be attacked by the Bishop.
In the Checkmate safehouse, Mr. O'Connel believes Bishop is hired to kill the newly elected president of Costa Puerto. A lot of Sharpo's money relies on the death of this man.
In Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, Sharpo leaves a briefcase for “Mr. Warwick” who is in a helicopter by a Harbor. After Sharpo leaves, Bishop attacks the helicopter. Ray Carson changes into an upgraded Checkmate uniform and he fights the Bishop. During the fight, Ray Carson uses a weapon and hits one of Bishops Missiles and this sets Bishop on fire. Bishop immediately falls into the water of the Bay and seemingly dies of drowning.
Back in Koning Industries, Harvey Bullock reminds himself he has connections with Black Thorn. She has had bad relations with Amanda Waller which is why keeps the connection secret. Amanda Waller calls a meeting for Task Force X. She is the lead of Task Force X. She is the leader of Checkmate, the Suicide Squad, & Project Peacemaker. She introduces Bronze Tiger of the Suicide Squad & Bridgette D'Abo of Project Peacemaker to Harvey Bullock and Harry Stein in preparation of the Janus Directive.
Appearing in "The Janus Directive, Part 1: Knight Kill"
Featured Characters:
- Checkmate
- Harry Stein
- Harvey Bullock
- Ray Carson (First appearance)
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Bishop (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Black Thorn (On a TV or computer screen)
- Danelli (mafioso)
- Diego Sanchez (President of Costa Puerto) (Mentioned only)
- Mikey (mafioso)
- Mr. O'Connell (Checkmate member)
- Mr. Warwick (criminal)
- Phil (Checkmate pilot)
- Rick (Checkmate Pawn)
- Salvadore "Crazy Horse" Sharpo (mafioso)
Locations:
- Shelby, Virginia
- New York City
- Lincoln Center
- Brooklyn
- Sheepshead Bay
- Washington, D.C.
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- This issue is part of the Janus Directive crossover event. The correct reading order is: 1. Checkmate #15, 2. Suicide Squad #27, 3. Checkmate #16, 4. Suicide Squad #28, 5. Checkmate #17, 6. Manhunter #14, 7. Firestorm #86, 8. Suicide Squad #29, 9. Checkmate #18, 10. Suicide Squad #30, and 11. Captain Atom Vol 2 #30.