Heh. I refuse to speculate further if it's going to disturb a story idea.
Seriously, though--I don't know what to think. The snippet I just posted above, from "A Free Agent," suggests that Sloane knew about Rambaldi very early, that he was, possibly, introduced to his material by the US military. That still doesn't preclude the possibility of Irina having been involved. It is certainly possible, IMO, that Sloane and Derevko have been associated for a very long time. From before Jack, in fact. There's nothing in canon that forbids that, is there?
no subject
Seriously, though--I don't know what to think. The snippet I just posted above, from "A Free Agent," suggests that Sloane knew about Rambaldi very early, that he was, possibly, introduced to his material by the US military. That still doesn't preclude the possibility of Irina having been involved. It is certainly possible, IMO, that Sloane and Derevko have been associated for a very long time. From before Jack, in fact. There's nothing in canon that forbids that, is there?