Full Metal Panic Fan Fiction ❯ Blood From Metal ❯ Chapter 9

Blood From Metal

 

By: Alpha Zulu Mark II

 

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, I don't claim to own any of them, and this fic is meant only to explore an idea; so, bite me!

 

Chapter 9

 

“Captain Testarossa,” said the Chairman, “am I to understand that you want us to shift the orbit of a SEERESS-class satellite to make a survey and sensor sweep of Burma, Thailand, and Malaysia?” he asked. Tessa nodded.

 

“Yes, sir,” she confirmed. The chairman's holograph stared at her.

 

“And why the sudden interest in this region?” he asked her.

 

“Tactical has recently discovered information that indicates that some sort of electronic interference in that area is causing a drop-out in certain wave lengths that we use to insure our communications. It is possible that it could be natural phenomena, but it would be more reasonable to investigate it as enemy action in light of the last year or so and the known existence of AMALGAM, and the fact that it hasn't happened until very recently,” she said.

 

“Technical?” asked the Chairman, looking at another of the holograms in the conference room.

 

“While I wouldn't say that it is impossible for an enemy to interfere with our communications, the likelihood of such a thing actually occurring are miniscule,” said the head of Technical division. “It should be remembered, Chairman - and Captain Testarossa - that we utilize cutting edge Black Technology in our communications equipment and protocols. Breaking them would be tough - even for an outfit like AMALGAM,” he boasted.

 

“I disagree,” said Tessa crisply. “In the last year alone, our communications have been compromised three times: the intervention in east Africa, the tunnel incident, and most lethally in Hong Kong. Have you forgotten that Blueno was a bought and paid for agent of AMALGAM? There is no telling how much he told them before we found out about him, and it makes tactical sense to assume that AMALGAM has been salvaging all the bits and pieces of our equipment over the last few years; we certainly do the same with their tech,” she pointed out. “As for our technology coming from Whispered, I remind you that there is one key weakness there that Technical repeatedly overlooks.”

 

“And that weakness is?” asked Technical's head. From his tone, she could tell he was defensive about her perceived criticism of his work.

 

“We do not have a monopoly on Whispered,” said Tessa. “It has been established that at least two dozen have been lost over the years. It was the thought at the time that they either went mad and committed suicide - like Bunny after he completed the Arbalest - or had eluded us in some way. Looking back on it, it is unreasonable to believe that AMALGAM has been capturing Whispered for at least as long as we have been trying to protect them? And if so, what is the most likely reason for doing that? Well, doctor?” she asked the head of Technical.

 

“Even so, there is no evidence that they have compromised our technology,” he insisted.

 

“It is also not evidence that they haven't,” shot back Tessa.

 

“In light of the recent events,” the Chairman cut into the brewing argument, “I do find it interesting that you are requesting this shift now, and are bringing up the Whispered issue again,” he said. Tessa stared at him.

 

“If you have something to say, Chairman,” she said icily, “then say it. I am doing what I am charged with doing, and laying out the reasons as I see them. Any daggers you might see are figments of your imagination. Sir.”

 

“Watch your tone, Captain,” replied the chairman. “Since you asked, I wonder if you have any sort of ulterior motive for your sudden interest in that region. Since this all began, you have been critical of the handling of the situation with Whispered asset code-named `Angel', and have had some of your most seasoned crewmen - including the one tasked with protecting Angel - go AWOL. Are they in that area, Captain?” asked the Chairman.

 

Tessa met his gaze levelly. “I have no idea where they are or what they might be doing, sir,” she said firmly. “My criticism of the choices made by this committee stem from my belief that the wrong choices have been made again and again in regards to this matter. Judging from the past few weeks, I believe I have been vindicated by events,” she concluded.

 

“Tactical does not make policy, Captain,” the head of Technical reminded her - almost spitefully.

 

“Perhaps it should,” said Tessa calmly. “After all, it is Tactical that is tasked with cleaning up the messes,” she added.

 

“This conversation is getting off course,” the chairman cut in. “While I am not convinced, Captain Testarossa, of your take on this situation, I will authorize the shift of SEERESS one six Beta. You will have the results of this sweep within eighteen hours, Captain Testarossa,” he said.

 

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,” she said. The Chairman waved his ghostly hand.

 

“Dismissed, Captain,” he said. Tessa logged off and exited the room, finding Kalinin waiting for her.

 

“How did it go?” he asked his boss.

 

“Surprisingly good,” she said. “We got our pass,” she added softly.

 

“The General must be having kittens,” Kalinin observed blandly. Tessa frowned.

 

“He wasn't attending,” she related. “I was most worried about him, and he wasn't there,” she paused, her hand seeking out her braid and absently fondling it. “I don't think that his absence is necessarily a good thing, though,” she murmured to herself.

 

“Undoubtedly,” agreed Kalinin. “I did get those chores taken care of, by the way,” he said quietly. Tessa nodded, favoring him with a soft, quick smile.

 

“Thank you, Andrei,” she whispered.

 

“You are welcome, Captain,” he replied. “Please keep in mind that I hold you in the highest esteem,” he added, catching her eyes with his. “Besides,” he added, his lips twitching lightly, “I am not known for deserting my men.”

 

“Me, either,” agreed Tessa. I just hope that we are in time, she thought to herself. “Preparations for launch?” she asked.

 

“On your command, we go,” he promised her. “Crew is present and accounted for, and they are on ready-deploy standby,” he related. Tessa nodded.

 

-

 

“Sousuke,” said Mao, “this operation seems to be a little thin on the planning,” she worried out loud. The two had just left a shop in the `better' part of Roanapur, lugging a Zodiac - still bearing the US Navy's serial numbers on the shipping container - and were headed back to the Black Lagoon Company before trying to acquire a motor for the boat.

 

“Until we have more detailed information, Mao,” said Sousuke, “we have to go with the basic plan for a sea-born attack,” he said. “It is certain that we don't have air support for aerial insertion, and don't have the De Danaan backing us up, so a submersed approach is out,” he explained. “Which leaves us with a beach insertion from a small craft,” he concluded.

 

“It's not that part that I am concerned with,” said Mao. “We have no idea how many people are there, what condition Chidori is in, rather or not we are going to be up against those man-sized AS units, or even how big an area we have to take down,” she pointed out.

 

“I am hoping that a lot of that information can be gathered from satellite recon of the area,” admitted Sousuke. “But, when all is said and done, it is irrelevant what we face. We have no other resources available to us just now, and Kana needs to be saved. So, we take the mission as it sits, and we will just have to make it work. Period.” he stated so confidently that Mao found herself wondering if he knew something that she didn't.

 

“How about E&E after the extraction?” she asked him. He shrugged.

 

“Anywhere where we can set up a secure site is acceptable,” he said. “I do not want to risk bringing Kana anywhere that might bring her within reach of that man again,” he said tightly. Mao smirked at his tone.

 

“You have it bad, Sousuke,” she teased him. He frowned.

 

“I do not,” he insisted. Mao just leered at him.

 

“Oh, yes you do!” she giggled.

 

“Can we focus on the mission?” he said darkly, glaring at her. Mao smiled sweetly.

 

“Of course, lover boy,” she cooed. The entire way back to the office of the couriers, the two were silent.

 

“I see you found one,” said Dutch, answering the door, a shotgun in hand. Sousuke nodded.

 

“Affirmative,” he confirmed, glancing significantly at the shotgun in the large hands of the big man. “Problems?” he asked.

 

“Had a few unsavory sorts come by earlier,” he said. “It seems word of the bounty is getting out,” he explained. “You shouldn't go back into town,” he added.

 

“We lack a motor for the boat, as well as a fuel bladder and line,” noted Sousuke. Dutch grunted.

 

“I got a twenty horse outboard in storage,” he said. “A fuel bladder and line we got in the dock,” he noted. “Your girl Yu Fan has your gear loaded, but isn't satisfied with your ammo situation, so she stepped out to arrange for some more ordnance,” he added.

 

“How long has she been gone?” asked Mao, her tone both worried and suspicious.

 

“Been about two hours now,” he said. Sousuke nodded.

 

“If she isn't back in the next hour, we will retrieve her,” he said to Mao. Mao nodded jerkily.

 

“If we can,” she said.

 

“She won't run, Mao,” Sousuke said softly.

 

“It's not that that I am worried about,” she reminded him. Sousuke gave her a strange look.

 

“Nor will she do that, Melissa,” he said. Dutch wondered just what `that' might be, but felt it better not to ask just then.

 

“I'll get Benny started on that engine,” he said.

 

“Where's Revy and Rock?” wondered Mao as the two lugged the bag to the PT boat and settled it on the fore-deck. Dutch answered from just behind them.

 

“Went to see someone about something,” he said. Looking over the PT boat, Mao saw that the position that the two rearward torpedo tubes normally occupied were taken up with fuel cells, and above the cells, covers waited to be lowered into position and bolted in place. The forward torpedo tubes were gone, and when she looked up, she saw the tubes - all four of them - hanging in a neat cluster from the roof by means of set of chain lifts.

 

“Like my little shop?” grinned Dutch, seeing her notice the armament swap. “Got this idea a while back, but until my old dock got torched, didn't have the means to do it,” he explained. “You know much about the history of PT boats?” he asked. Mao shrugged.

 

“A little,” she said.

 

“Well, they were versatile boats, and were excellent in limited-scope warfare in island groups,” he said. “As the war went on, several of them were converted from capital-ship hunters to various kinds of attack and support platforms,” he explained. “This particular configuration is a hybrid of two types - the close costal bombardment and the barge hunter version. Torpedoes aren't any good against shallow-draft boats and barges, and the weight of the tubes and fish make the boat ride low. Removing them gives us a shallower draft, and lets us set up for the more likely task of fending off small vessels, air targets and engaging coastal fortifications,” he said.

 

“If I didn't know better,” said Mao slowly, “I would say that it sounds like you are planning to do more than just taxi us around,” she noted. Dutch shrugged.

 

“Maybe,” he said. “but don't get me wrong,” he added immediately, “I am just protecting my investment.”

 

“Dead men don't pay, is that it?” asked Mao, grinning knowingly. He nodded.

 

“Exactly,” he confirmed. Besides, Hotel Moscow is paying a nice side bonus for this, so even if they get waxed, I won't lose anything by doing what I can to keep them alive, he told himself. It was always good to get paid twice for a single job, after all. Can't figure what Balalaika's angle is in this, but her money's good, and if she wants me to help them and get what information I can about them, then that's good, too.

 

“You will be paid,” came Sousuke's voice. He had been checking the bag and boat over carefully, even though he had done it in the shop. Satisfied, he re-stowed the boat and secured it to the deck cleats. “How are the preparations coming?” he asked. Dutch exhaled.

 

“Pretty much ready to move when you are,” he said. “Just got some last-minute things to do - like bolt down the covers on the fuel cells,” he suggested. Sousuke nodded.

 

“Roger,” he said, moving to the side of the boat. “Mao, give me a hand here,” he said, swiftly figuring out which chain he needed to lower and secure the covers. Mao moved over to help him.

 

“Is it wise to have gas on the deck when you might be taking fire?” she asked. Dutch chuckled.

 

“Self-sealing, fire-retardant packaged aircraft cells,” he explained. “They can take direct hits from pretty much all kinds of small-arms and not explode or catch fire. “The covers are Kevlar and composite plates, too,” he added. “Not quite as good as tank armor, but you can't punch through it with anything less than a fifty or an AP grenade round,” he said. “Shit, even an RPG didn't penetrate that stuff.” he laughed.

 

“You took an RPG hit?” wondered Mao, looking at the dull but unscratched black and grey paint on the covers.

 

“Not on those covers,” clarified Dutch, “but the hull is made pretty much of the same stuff; more or less. Took a few rounds from some half-assed cowboys before I put them down,” he recalled, smiling evilly.

 

“I see appearances can be deceiving,” Mao said, muscling the covers into place before reaching for the socket and nut to lock them down. “What else have you run into around here?” she wondered. Dutch hummed.

 

“We got shot at with a TOW II anti-tank missile about a year ago,” he said. “Bunch of fucking Nazi scumbags thought they were the German army,” he said derisively. “Already told you about the RPG incident,” he tabulated to himself. “Had one of the local bomb freaks plant mines in the harbor about two years ago,” he said. “One of them went off next to the Lagoon, but didn't break the hull,” he related. “I've been shot at with every type of assault rifle, machinegun, pistol, sub-machinegun, shotgun and grenade launcher I can think of, and we're still here,” he chuckled. “Missiles aren't common, but I've run into a couple.” he concluded.

 

“Don't forget that job where the client double-crossed us and tried to sink us with a battery of field howitzers once we dropped off his cargo,” came Benny's voice. “What were those things? One fifty five? Two oh eights?” he wondered. Dutch laughed.

 

“Those were a pair of worn-out one oh fives and a single seventy five pack howitzer that's probably older than you are, Benny boy; hardly count as artillery!” he jeered the tech's question. “You haven't seen real artillery,” he dismissed the blonde's reminder.

 

“Oh, then how about that Indonesian customs cutter shot at us with that deck gun?” countered Benny. Dutch grunted.

 

“So they fired a five incher at us. So what? They missed, you know,” he reminded the tech.

 

“Forgive me for not sharing Revy and yours delight at being shot at,” muttered Benny, fiddling with a small outboard. Tugging on the starter rope, he got it fired up a few pulls later. Hearing it, Sousuke frowned.

 

“Is there a muffler we can use to quiet that thing down?” he asked. “It is loud enough that they will hear us coming before we can close with them,” he worried. Benny scratched his chin.

 

“I'll see if I can come up with something,” he said, killing the outboard.

 

Sousuke and Mao moved over to the other side of the boat and began to position and lock the cover over the external fuel tanks while Benny fiddled with the motor and Dutch watched the boat from the door to the main office area, shotgun on his shoulder. All of them flinched when Yu Fan's voice came from beyond Dutch.

 

“Someone is spreading word of the bounty on us,” said the young assassin. Dutch had spun to face her, shotgun coming up. Yu Fan had two large ammo cans in her hands, which she set on the deck of the boat after slipping past Dutch.

 

“Trouble?” asked Sousuke, frowning at her words.

 

“No,” said Yu Fan calmly. “Five men attacked me, but I got them all,” she said. “Another group tried to intercept me, but I slipped away from them,” she added.

 

“Someone local?” wondered Dutch. Yu Fan shrugged.

 

“The one I interrogated said that it was world-wide,” she said.

 

“AMALGAM?” wondered Mao. Sousuke paused.

 

“More likely MITHRIL and AMALGAM both,” he said quietly.

 

“You think MITHRIL is pushing that hard?” asked Mao.

 

“I think that we can't trust anyone but Tessa right now,” said Sousuke. “Her theory of the depth of penetration seems to be all too accurate,” he said to himself. Mao knew what he was talking about; after all, Tessa confided in her as much as she did in Sousuke.

 

“If that is the case, then how are we going to square this once we have Chidori?” murmured Mao. Sousuke met her gaze.

 

“I do not know,” he said honestly. “But once we have recovered Kana, we can decide on the best way to return to the De Danaan,” he admonished her.

 

“Agreed,” came Yu Fan's voice. “Mission first, consequences later,” she said quietly.

 

Mao and Sousuke glanced at her, then each other, both recalling another unresolved issue: what happens to Yu Fan when Kana is safe with Tessa. Neither said anything. Hearing the door bang open, they saw Revy and Rock rush through. “Dutch,” said Rock, panting a little, “I think we should take a cruise,” he said urgently.

 

“Why?” asked Dutch.

 

“Because the locals are restless,” smiled Revy. Dutch noticed that she was reloading a magazine for her pistol.

 

“Trouble?” asked Dutch. Revy's smile was edged.

 

“Not really,” she said. “But if you don't want the dock burned again, I think we should go,” she added. Dutch looked at Benny.

 

“Can we get the satellite pictures over the link on the boat?” he asked. Benny nodded.

 

“It will take a little longer to download them, but yeah, let's book,” he said. Dutch glanced at Sousuke.

 

“We are good to go,” he confirmed. Dutch shook his head.

 

“Throw that motor onboard and whatever you will need to juice up the Zodiac while I make a call,” he said, his tone disgusted.

 

“Call who? The mob headed this way?” asked Revy, chuckling softly.

 

“No,” said Dutch, “but since I don't want to have another dock burned out from under us, I think I should collect a favor,” he muttered, swiftly dialing a number on his cell phone. A moment later he turned his back to the others and muttered something quietly. After less than ten seconds, he closed the phone and lightly hopped aboard the ship, cranking the engines moments later. After a minute or so idling, he tapped the remote control, the sheet-metal door covering the front of the dock grinding open. Caressing the throttle, Dutch sent his boat out of the dock, closing the door behind him as he did so.

 

Looking back, Sousuke could see several small groups of men moving toward the metal building at the end of the dock. When they spotted the dark form of the PT boat, they ran back to the head of the dock and moved along the waterfront toward other piers. Sighing, Sousuke lowered his binoculars. “We will likely soon have company,” he said to Dutch.

 

“Figures,” said the big man, casually lighting a cigarette. “Rock, hand me a beer, will you?” he called out. Rock dutifully handed him a beer. Cracking the top, he took a pull before tucking it into a reinforced holder near his elbow. Smiling at Sousuke, he chuckled. “You might want to brace yourself,” he suggested, delicately gripping the throttle. “Ready?” he yelled to his crew.

 

“I say we stay and fight,” suggested Revy. Dutch's answer was to shove the throttles forward to the stops. The ship reared back before leaping forward, the hull swiftly getting on plane as Sousuke heard the engines spool up. Dutch saw him cock his ear. “Don't worry,” he said. “After that little RPG incident, I came up with some modifications for the old girl; nothing in the harbor can catch us,” he assured the mercenary.

 

“Indeed?” wondered Sousuke. Dutch grinned.

 

“Fifty four hundred inter-cooled supercharged horses through a geared transmission set,” he confirmed. “The engines, transmissions and hull are all relatively light-weight compared to her sizes, so I can get about sixty five knots with this weight load,” he boasted proudly. Sousuke looked at the water flying past, and felt the jarring of the hull as the boat sliced out of the harbor of Roanapur.

 

“But do you have the fuel to maintain this speed?” he wondered.

 

“Thanks to the advances in engine control systems and fuel injection nozzles, I have significant gains in range,” said Dutch, glancing at the watch on his wrist. “But, in point of fact,” he admitted, “I don't really have the resources to run flat out like this for long and still make it to our target area - even with the extra fuel,” he admitted. “I'll give it another six minutes, then cut it back to cruising speed,” he said. Sousuke nodded.

 

“By then, the difference in distance will be too great for a successful interception by slower boats,” he understood the math involved. Dutch nodded, fishing up his beer.

 

“Once we settle in to cruising mode, you should work on your plan,” he suggested. “Shore assaults are not easy,” he said sagely.

 

“I am aware of that,” said Sousuke. “I am not as practiced in this as I am in other areas, too,” he admitted. Dutch glanced at him.

 

“Like AS operations, insurgency/counter insurgency and security?” he asked casually. Sousuke glanced at the large man.

 

“Something like that,” he said. Dutch looked out the window of the cabin of the boat. “Can I assume that you are willing to be our launch and recovery vehicle for the operation?” he asked the man. Dutch considered that.

 

“I suppose so,” he said. “But if it gets too deep, we're gone, understood?” he warned Sousuke.

 

“Understood,” said the young man. The two were silent until Dutch glanced at his watch again and throttled back some to their cruising speed.

 

“Depending on the location, you should take an OTH insertion profile,” said Dutch casually. “You have the range with the Zodiac, and doing so will help conceal your entry. If you can time the currents right, you can even cut your engine several hundred yards out and use the oars to get in real quiet, too,” he related. “Small unit operation is risky if you are looking for trouble, so you should do your best to avoid fighting, and concentrate on retrieval of your target, instead of making this a grudge match between you and the people who took the target hostage,” suggested the former SEAL.

 

“I had planned to avoid a fight if possible,” agreed Sousuke, “but I want to set charges and mines so once we are withdrawing, I can either slow the pursuit or level the facilities,” he said.

 

“You got enough to open a can of worms like that?” asked Dutch. “You have no idea how big the facility might be, and I get the impression that this group has the kind of resources that small-arms can't counter,” he pointed out. “Sometimes, it's better to hit and leave before they know anything is up, rather than attack from the dark, only to find that the bear is awake, you catch me?” he asked. Sousuke nodded.

 

“I hear you,” he said. What I wouldn't give for my Arbalest and the De Danaan offshore, batteries ready. I'd rescue my Kana, destroy anything between me and the door, and let Tessa-chan burn the island into the sea! he thought viciously. “I don't like it, but you are correct,” he added. Kana's rescue and safety comes first, he reminded himself.

 

“Any kind of notion what might come after you if you fuck up?” asked Dutch. Sousuke nodded.

 

“Personnel, of course,” he listed, “but there is a fair chance that you could be facing a Chodarl-series Arm Slave or two,” he said. “It is possible that we could be pursued by smaller AS units,” he warned Dutch. “Conventional weaponry won't make much difference to a Chodarl, but the smaller ones might be taken out with armor-piercing rounds from a heavy-caliber machinegun,” he said. “I saw a dual fifty in the hold. Anything heavier?” he asked.

 

“Oh, I have a twenty mil cannon for heavy stuff, along with the forty mil thumper that Revy likes for ship-to-ship or ship-to-shore engagements,” Dutch answered. “But what you need to ask is: can you get away without fighting them?”

 

“That will depend on several factors,” said Sousuke. “When we receive the satellite data, I would like to hear your thoughts on the landing,” he said. Dutch grinned at him.

 

“That could cost you extra, you know,” he suggested playfully.

 

“Will it cost extra?” asked Sousuke directly. Dutch's smile slipped.

 

“What the fuck?” he said to himself. “Nah, kid, this one is on me,” he said, crushing his beer can in one hand before tossing it toward Benny. “Hey, Benny! Grab me a fresh beer!” he yelled over his shoulder.

 

-

 

Kaname awoke, sat up, and rubbed her eyes. This is the fifth day, she thought, climbing out of bed as quietly as she could in her weakened state. Standing in her dark room, she slowly began to stretch, trying to get her blood pressure up and free herself of the lethargic feeling that plagued her upon waking. As the minutes passed, she moved into the bathroom, deciding to take care of that before anything else.

 

Three days ago, she had come back to her room to go to bed, only to find that the small communication device that Sousuke had had was gone from where she had stashed it. After a couple of panicked minutes of searching, she had accepted that it had disappeared as mysteriously as it had appeared. Kaname had already decided to see if she could find a way to get into the office that Leonard spent so much time in lately, and had been making herself get up in the small hours of the morning, judging this to be the best time to try it.

 

Hopefully, the last few weeks have lulled them into complacency about me, she thought, rising from the toilet. Washing her hands, she listened to the sounds in the house. Other than the muted hum of the power generator that supplied the house with electricity, it was quiet. Taking a breath, she opened her door and stepped into the hallway. Across from her door was the door to the room that Sari and Kari shared. Pausing, she listened carefully, ear to the door.

 

Inside, she faintly heard the soft sounds of the sleeping girls. After a couple of minutes, she was satisfied that both were asleep, based on the slight differences of the sounds she heard. Moving down the hall barefoot, she crept past the kitchen, looking around to make sure that she didn't miss any one who might be up for a late-night snack. With that done, Kaname moved down the opposite hall, toward the study and bedrooms that Leo and Gretchen occupied. She smiled faintly as she thought about the discovery the week before that Leo's bedroom and Gretchen's were linked by a door, but the lock was on Leo's side. He can't even bring himself to trust his accomplice, she thought, feeling a tingle of vindictive glee at the thought. She had snuck in there for a fast look while getting some more juice for the four who lived her during a long, lazy picnic.

 

Pausing at the door to the bedroom, Kaname listened carefully at Gretchen's door. Not hearing anything, she waited. One hundred and twenty seconds later, she still didn't hear anything. Wetting her lips, she decided to risk cracking the door to see where the older woman was. Ever so gently, she twisted the knob, glad that Leo was so obsessed with perfectly-maintained equipment. None of the doors squeaked, and the latches operated with the silence of finely-machined watch-work mechanisms. Gentle pressure back on the handle, she felt the latch clear the frame. Exhaling slowly, she gradually opened the door, peeking around the edge when it was just wide enough to let her through the gap.

 

The large bed was empty, the covers tossed back. Looking toward the door that led to the shared bathroom, she saw that it was open, the light off. Listening carefully, she couldn't hear any sounds from the bathroom. Should I check Leo's door, or use this opening to check from the bathroom door? she wondered. Since I have this one open already… she decided, silently stepping into the room, glad that the house had stone floors, rather than wood - which was prone to squeaking and groaning. Step by step, she moved toward the bathroom, ready to flee at the slightest hint that someone was moving.

 

No one was. At the edge of the bathroom door frame, she stopped, swallowing nervously before kneeling and slowly peeking around the bottom of the bathroom door frame. Sousuke had told her one that if you peeked around the corner at standing height, you were far more noticeable than if you looked around the corner at floor-height. Thank you, Sousuke, she thought fleetingly as she gradually poked her head around the edge of the door frame, ear barely above the floor.

 

With the bright stars coming in through the large windows on the house, her night-vision adjusted eyes picked up a large lump on the bed. Concentrating, she finally orientated the lump, and confirmed what she had suspected before. Gretchen is entertaining Leo tonight, she thought, closing her eyes and concentrating on her ears. A soft, intermitted snore came from the bed, along with a nasal whistle. Kaname listened for a full minute before easing back and carefully moving out into the hall.

 

Having confirmed that the two were asleep, she paused before the office door. Silently inhaling, she steeled her nerves. I hope there isn't an alarm on this thing, she worried. But then, Sousuke observed that very few people take home security seriously; it was why he was always busting in on me when I was in the shower or changing, she thought, smiling happily at the memory. Shaking her head, she focused on the mission. Mission. Heh! I have been around Sousuke too much, she smiled to herself. Kaname Chidori, cat burglar, at your service!

 

She blinked as a small part of her mind came back with something she had overlooked earlier. Yeah, naked cat burglar! she recalled. Oh, well! If Leo walks in on me, it will at least distract him, she told herself wryly. I really need to get out of here; the insanity is catching, she told herself as she eased the door open to the office. When the latch released, she held her breath. Well, no alarms or sounds of movement so far, she told herself. Counting to thirty, she still heard nothing. Ok, let's push our luck.

 

Stepping into the room, she eased the door shut again. As offices went, it wasn't much. From the peek she had gotten when Leo was fucking Gretchen in here a while back, she knew the general layout. Looking at the desk, she saw that the laptop that Leo had been using was sitting on the desk, a single soft green light indicating that it was turn on. Moving around to the desk, she trailed her fingers along the edge of the laptop, feeling for connections and extra wires. Other than the power feed, and the mouse, she didn't feel anything plugged in.

 

She had started to lift the screen when she recalled that the windows were behind her. If I open the screen, the light from it might be seen if Leo gets up, she realized. Silently, she turned to the windows and fumbled for the stick on the blinds. Finally finding it, she turned the rod, closing the blinds. with that secure, she eased the laptop around so the back of the screen was facing the door. If there are gaps under there, it would give me away, she thought absently. Thus prepared, she said a silent prayer to whatever might be listening and lifted the cover, the screen coming on, but fortunately, there was no chord or theme to betray her. He must not like that idiotic racket either, she thought, carefully stepping around the chair, choosing to stand rather than risk a scrape or squeak or click.

 

Seeing the screen come up, she found that she was looking at a familiar desktop. Glad I am fluent in both Japanese and English, she thought. Everything was in English, and nothing seemed to be locked. Guess Sousuke was right about no one taking security seriously, she mused, spotting a priority target for her. `Kaname Chidori Project File' is it? Well, I think I have a vested interest in getting into that! she told herself, opening the file. What she saw took her aback.

 

Kaname was looking at a wealth of data on her. Transcripts of her school grades, video and audio files from hundreds of occasions, pictures of her, her doctor's files, most of Sousuke's weekly reports to MITHRIL were there, everything. Swiftly exploring the two dozen sub-files, she found that he had run her DNA through some weird code-word project, along with some other cross-referenced samples. In another file was transcripts of every last bit of Wraith's surveillance logs, dossiers on all her friends, a complete profile on her father and a partial on her mother.

 

Knowing that she didn't have the kind of time to read it all that night, she closed out that sub-file, making a mental note to try and dig deeper into that issue, and opened the next on in line. This file had a confusing diagram with lots of strange names and symbols in it, along with her name and some code-words she had seen in other cross-referenced sections of her file. I would love to know what that is for, she thought, closing that file and quickly digging around in the other files. She confirmed what she had suspected before about his knowing all about her. Those outfits that fit perfectly, and the places he took me, it was all part of his plan, which he based on this profile of me, she thought.

 

Pausing, she re-considered that. No, actually, he based that on what he saw in the profile, she realized the delicate distinction. Reviewing what she had seen, she realized that while the profile on her was thorough, it didn't reflect who she was. I have changed so much in the last two years, I am practically a different person, she thought. It hit her like the proverbial ton of bricks: he doesn't understand me because he is only looking at the parts of me he wants to see! Kaname's eyes went wide. He isn't able to accurately predict me! she thought, elated. That meant that she had a bigger advantage over him than he had over her.

 

Swiftly rifling the last few sub-files in her main project folder, she closed it out and hastily looked around in the other files. One of them caught her attention, even though it was the smallest project folder on the laptop. Whoever `Exemplar One' is, MITHRIL needs to make sure that Leo doesn't get them, she thought grimly. All that is in here is `project course prepared' on all the sub folders. I think it's obvious that whatever Leo is planning, once he gets this person, his plan will hit full stride, she thought. She had no clue what the plan was, but she knew one thing with great certainty: if he wanted to do it, it must not be allowed to happen.

 

Her eyes caught the clock at the bottom right of the desktop. Silently gasping, she closed out all the open programs and files, and closed the lid. How did it get so late?! she wondered, swiftly turning to open the blinds. With that done, she was two steps toward the door before she realized that she had missed something. Turning back, she straightened the laptop before moving back to the door. Listening at the door, she hurried as much as she could. Sari and Kari would be up within a half hour, and Gretchen was usually stirring about this time, too, so she wanted to be right where she was supposed to be when they came to check on her.

 

Slipping out of the office, she closed the door behind her, moving as quickly as she could without making any noise to her room. As she reached her room, she heard the soft sounds of one or both of the younger girls stirring in bed. Hastily, she slipped into her room and slid into bed. Trying to calm herself, she closed her eyes and pulled the sheet up over her nose. I need to get into that laptop again, she realized. And I should see if I can get into his desk, as well, she thought. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of a soft footfall and her door opening. Willing herself still, she felt someone draw near to her, pausing at her bedside before moving into the bathroom. Moments later, the person withdrew from her room, her door closing silently. Kaname sighed softly. Close, she told herself.

 

-

 

“Captain on the bridge,” came the voice her acting first officer. Tessa returned the young woman's salute.

 

“Report ship status,” she said crisply, slipping into her familiar - and comfortable - chair before accessing the De Danaan's core systems.

 

“Aye, Captain,” said the AFO. “Crew is present and accounted for, ship's stores are loaded and verified, munitions are loaded to maximum levels, all repair and maintenance items have been completed and signed off on, and the upgrades have been completed. Ship is ready for sea, Captain Testarossa,” said the woman, glancing at her clipboard.

 

“Very well,” said Teletha. “Helm, take us out dock. Reverse one third,” she ordered.

 

“Aye, reverse one third, leaving the dock, ma'am,” he helmswoman confirmed.

 

“Communications,” called out Tessa, “please transmit this message to Tactical command: TDD Zero One departing on shakedown cruise after refit. Unless otherwise directed, TDD Zero One will commence operational plan development exercises for covert tracking of high-priority enemy materials and engage in ship-wide safety and damage control drills. Captain Testarossa, commanding,” she dictated. Her communication man was grinning as he coded and transmitted the message.

 

“Message sent, Captain,” he confirmed the receipt of the transmission. Tessa nodded.

 

“Very well, Sparks,” she said. His name wasn't `Sparks' but she had fallen into calling him by the old handle for communications officer, and the man liked the nickname. It had gotten to the point where the entire crew called him that.

 

“Helm, what is our position?” she asked, even as she eyed the tactical display on the main screen and the camera feeds from outside the ship.

 

“We have cleared the dock area, ma'am,” said her helmswoman. “Preparing to engage the maneuvering thrusters now,” she added, touching controls at her station. Tessa felt the ship swing around in a circle, a precise and neat as a ballerina.

 

“All ahead full, helm,” she said as the bow lined up with the notch that led to the Pacific Ocean. “Give me a high-angle dive as soon as we clear the shelf, and switch engines to static drive. Sparks, we are going to initial a simulated failure of the upgraded communications parts. I want to see if our damage control teams can put the new equipment back together again,” she said with a straight face.

 

“Aye aye, ma'am!” he said gleefully, killing their communication system. Tessa touched her mic button on the armrest of her chair.

 

“All hands, this is the Captain,” she said. “This is a drill, repeat this is a drill,” she said after a moment. “Radiation shielding on reactor two has failed. Lethal gamma and x-ray radiation is leaking into the hull. Damage control teams to reactor two in full gear, all remaining crew report to flight deck for medical treatment against radiation exposure. This is a drill, this is a drill.” Releasing the button, she nodded to the engineering officer, who slapped the big red master alarm button at his station. Instantly, the alarms sounded through all the ship.

 

“Dana,” said Tessa into her microphone, “direct access authorization Tango three five one Delta one two two four Lima,” she murmured, unheard over the din of the master alarm. On the small screen at her chair, she saw the rich blue screen flicker one, the icon for the core AI system coming up.

 

“Access confirmed, Tessa,” came the voice of Dana through the headphones she slipped on.

 

“Log check. Errors to be purged and restored from hard data storage. Execute,” she said quietly. Dana's icon disappeared. Time to find out how many rats are on my ship, she thought, her lips tightening.

 

-

 

“What do you mean, `you missed the ship'?!” screamed the MITHRIL personnel officer over the phone. On the other end was the newly-assigned Urzu team, who should have been boarding the Tuatha De Danaan even now. Instead, when they had arrived, they were informed that the ship had sailed two hours ago. “Have they recalled the ship?” he asked the men.

 

“Uh, they said that the ship was practicing covert tracking and damage control drills during the shakedown cruise, so it isn't answering hails,” said the senior man of the group. He and his three men were left twiddling their thumbs at a base with nothing but old M6 AS units to pilot.

 

“Well, have them check the patrol plan and we'll fly you out to meet them,” said the man.

 

“There isn't a patrol plan, chief,” said the lieutenant. “It was supposed to be a shakedown run, not a mission profile run, so the ship didn't file a detailed patrol plan,” the man related.

 

The master command chief on the other end of the secure line growled. “Hold there, await further orders,” he snapped, slamming the phone down. I swear, this is just like being in the navy again! thought the man sourly. All these hot-shot officers think that they can do as they please because they have metal on their shoulders and scrambled eggs on their hats! Well. we'll see who really runs things! he thought angrily. Grabbing a well-worn book, he flipped through it until he found the number he wanted. Dialing it, he leaned back in his chair.

 

“Hey, is that you Joe?” he asked when the other party picked up. “George here,” he identified himself. “Yeah, been a while, I know. Look, I got a little problem here, and you're just the guy who can help me,” he said. “Sure, Joe, no problem, I'll remember it. Ok, so some ship captain ran off without their AS team on board, and I need to get that team to them, but they didn't feel it important enough to file a patrol plan, and they aren't answering com calls, so I gotta dig them out. No, not surface - submarine,” he corrected.

 

While he waited for his buddy to get into the right screen, he picked up the sheet of paper with the posting orders on it that was on his desk. “Ready now? Ok, the ship's the Tuatha De Danaan, and…what's so fucking funny?” he wondered. “No, I don't know who the captain is! If I did, would I be talking to you?” he asked petulantly. Hearing the answer, his eyes widened. “You're fucking shitting me!” he gasped. “What? Do I want you to enter a complaint? No, no, I'll just post the TAD orders to have the squad attached to the base security forces until the ship returns to the base,” he said, swallowing.

 

After hanging up the phone, he thought about what he had heard. So, that is the ship with the Whispered captain; the one the subs of the world call `Toy Box' because it always has some new trick up its sleeve. Captain Teletha Testarossa, niece of Admiral Testarossa - the boss, he thought sourly. Probably better not bring this up with the skipper, he decided. Last thing I need is him thinking I'm picking on his niece!

 

-

 

“Hey, you got mail!” came the amused voice of Benny. Standing, Sousuke and Yu Fan moved off the bow decking and negotiated their way to the cabin, where Dutch was dozing in his chair, the ship following a plotted course on auto-pilot. Behind and below the cockpit deck was Benny's cramped station, just forward of the engine room area. He had several large pieces of paper in his hands.

 

“Satellite plots?” asked Sousuke, taking the prints. Benny nodded.

 

“Yeah, what are you guys using?” he wondered, “those things had such high resolution that my printer couldn't handle it. Not even the US has satellite imagery that good!” he marveled.

 

“Our satellites have point zero five millimeter resolution,” replied Sousuke absently. Benny blinked.

 

“You said point zero five millimeters?” he gaped. Sousuke nodded.

 

Affirmative,” he said. “They can also penetrate the ground for imagery of bunkers and buried facilities, in addition to seeing through smoke, fog, chemical agents, thermal pollution and active countermeasures,” he replied absently, studying the pages intently. Benny was stunned.

 

“Who are you people?” he breathed, mostly to himself. That kind of tech is at least twenty years ahead of even the most cutting edge technology! Sousuke glanced at him, but didn't answer. Yu Fan studied the photos in silence over his shoulder. After he had scrutinized the print-outs for several minutes, he nodded to himself.

 

“We have a target,” he said. “Where is Mao?” he asked.

 

“She and her cousin are drinking, smoking and playing cards in the bow,” said Benny. Sousuke nodded. Turning toward the interior passage to the bow area, he tapped Dutch on the shoulder. When the big man looked at him, he held up the print outs.

 

“We have a target,” he repeated himself. “I'm going to start reviewing them, if you would like to offer your advice,” he said. Dutch stood, stretching.

 

“About time,” he grunted. “That's Burma off the starboard rail,” he muttered. Sousuke had caught intermitted sightings of a paper-thin dark line on the horizon as the day passed, but wasn't sure where they were exactly. He didn't care all that much, being preoccupied with the mission. “Benny, watch the radar,” he said. “I'll send Rock to keep you company,” he added, following Sousuke and Yu Fan into the bow cabin area.

 

Sure enough, the two cousins and the former salaryman were in the comfy bow area, the overhead vent open, but the cigarette smoke still thicker than Sousuke would have liked. He heard a muffled cough from Yu Fan. Seeing the three enter, Mao stubbed out her smoke and made room. Revy followed the example of her cousin; even she could tell this was serious. Without a word, Rock rose and moved out the door, headed for the bridge.

 

Sousuke dropped the printouts on the small, scarred table. “Satellite confirms high traffic frequency traces to an island on the outer edge of this group here,” he said. “Imagery shows a man-made structure near this cove, and an underground bunker near a concealed runway. It appears that a plane is stored in the bunker, as well as some equipment that could suggest AS units, though the size of the bunker is too small for Chodarl-class units,” he said.

 

Dutch picked up the printout, studying it. “You got a nasty deal here,” he said. “Only reasonably safe access is the cove; you don't want to try a landing on the rocks that make up most of the shoreline. Worse is that the above-ground facilities are between your LZ and the underground base. Any idea where the objective might be held?” he asked. Sousuke scanned the data sheets.

 

“Thermal image shows five people in the main house, and two others at the bunker. I presume that she is being kept in the house,” he said. “It is unlikely that one guard is enough for her,” he said, a small smile on his face.

 

“And yet, you don't know,” said Dutch, “so you have to check both of them,” he explained. “With only three of you, that is bordering on a suicide mission,” he stated. Sousuke looked at him. “Yeah, don't bother saying it, kid,” Dutch pre-empted Sousuke's response. “Any chance of getting another couple of passes over this place?” he asked. “It's good - as far as it goes. But, you need more details than this. Like are there roving patrols, mine fields, signal nets. Are the doors to the facilities blast doors? How many troops are you going to face if things go south? Details can kill,” he said.

 

“It is unlikely that we can get a second pass,” said Sousuke. I'm surprised that Tessa was able to get us one pass, he thought. He studied the photograph of the island. Dutch considered the information.

 

“Nothing for it, really, but a two-stage plan,” he said after a few minutes. “You go in, take down one target, then the second. The bitch of it is that you should take down the house first, since it sits on your landing zone, but the bunker is the priority target, since you don't know what might come out of there if you blow it with the house,” he digested the problem. “If it were me, I'd take in two teams for this. Team alpha swims in with re-breather tanks to this coast, climbs the rocks, and takes down the bunker before team bravo lands to take the house. Alpha covers bravo from the back, the two take the house, demo the area and they all exfil on the boats to a sub not too far off the shore,” he decided.

 

“Failing that, this really should be a scuba operation, coming in from this cliff area to take them from behind,” he said, “Put two teams on it, roll them up from the back to the front, then out the cove to a sub. Yeah, that's what I'd do,” he mused.

 

“In a normal situation, we would go in with M9s with water packs from the sub,” said Mao. “Urzu six would set up with the fifty seven mil rifle for precision work in the cove, Urzu seven would hit the target with Arbalest, and I would back up seven and monitor enemy movement and communications.”

 

“If I had Arbalest, I would go in from the air off a BADU shot, grab Kana and level the entire island,” muttered Sousuke darkly. “But, we don't have use of AS units, so let's figure out a plan,” he said firmly.

 

“Underwater is out,” said Dutch, “since you don't have the gear. That leaves water-born approach to the target. Since you aren't trained or experienced with this aspect, you have to take the easiest LZ, or risk dying due to a simple mistake, which means the cove. The fact that the targets are stacked wrong for a priority-first takedown is a bitch but it just means that you have to adapt.”

 

“You mean taking the house first,” said Yu Fan. Dutch nodded. “Reasonable, since the likelihood of finding Chidori there is high,” she thought out loud. “If we can recover her from the house, we should withdraw immediately, leaving the rest untouched,” she said. “Without means to defend ourselves, attempting a job too big for us is worse than useless - it risks getting Chidori killed,” she said.

 

“Even if you get a shot at Leo, if we have Kaname, we win,” Mao said, looking at Sousuke when she said this. Sousuke's eyes were hooded. “You can come after him later, Sousuke,” she pointed out. “Sometime when Kana's life isn't in the balance, and you have Arbalest to deal with whatever nasty surprises he might pull out of his hat.”

 

“Very well,” said Sousuke. “We will scrap the demo profile and go for a snatch operation,” he agreed. Dutch nodded his approval.

 

“With a snatch operation, you have a better chance at success, boy,” he said. “With a sneak and peek, you can take the targets in the order they line up, since you will be withdrawing once you secure the woman. Higher chances of success in this profile, and your smaller team becomes an advantage rather than the reverse,” he pointed out.

 

“Which still leaves us without a basic plan,” noted Mao. Dutch hunched forward, studying the map.

 

“Well, you can see that there is a tidal current along here, so you will need to come in from the western edge of the cove, to avoid the turbulence. Also, with the way that the house sits, and the fact that there is no radar-band signal coming from there, I can bring the boat up on the far side, lying off about twenty miles or so. Make it about an hour, give or take half, to get there, same back. Fuel reserve of one third means you only need one full bladder and a small emergency tank; lighter boat load means faster time, and less fuel used.”

 

“If we get lost or lose our course heading?” asked Mao. Dutch hummed.

 

“I'll lend you a GPS unit, and give you a magnetic compass just in case. Failsafe will be an IR flare every fifteen minutes past initial timetable,” he decided. Sousuke nodded.

 

“Plenty of room in the boat for the fourth person, so that isn't an issue,” said Mao. “What if she's hurt?” asked the sergeant major, knowing that voicing it was like asking Sousuke to explode.

 

“Then we will treat her, and bring her back,” said Sousuke with unnatural calm. I will then find a way to drop a nuke on this place, he left unsaid.

 

“You can borrow the boat's medical pack,” said Dutch.

 

“If the worst occurs, what is the plan?” asked Yu Fan. Sousuke considered that.

 

“If Kaname is dead,” he said slowly, “Mao withdraws and passes word to the Captain. Yu Fan and I will deal with the base on our own,” he said, glancing at Yu Fan, who nodded once.

 

“You mean like you two dealt with the staff of the house in the Philippines?” asked Mao, shivering as she recalled what the two had done. Sousuke shook his head.

 

“We needed information from them, Mao,” he said. “We don't need to be so careful this time.” Mao blanched. They call what they did `careful'?!

 

“Well, maybe we should figure out what to do if we get into a fight with them, and the boat gets holed,” Mao managed. Dutch grunted.

 

“Then you will probably die,” he said.

 

“Dutch!” complained Revy. He looked at her.

 

“Don't give me that, Revy,” he snapped at her. “Twenty miles out, what do you figure the fastest time to target would be? By the time that we reached them, they would be dead,” he said coldly. “Besides, no one is paying us for close support,” he reminded her.

 

“If they die, we don't get paid,” said Revy.

 

“Why can't you just admit that it is because it's your cousin's ass on the line?” came a voice from the door. They all turned to see Rock in the hatch, holding several cans of beer.

 

“That has nothing to do with it!” yelled Revy. “I don't care if Mel gets her ass shot off, but if she does, I don't get drinking money!” she insisted.

 

“Right, right,” sighed Rock. Dutch shook his head.

 

“Communications are a weak link,” he said. “If your sats are this good, then I can't trust the radio. You have secure air?” he asked Sousuke. He shook his head.

 

“Not if someone is listening for it,” he said. “However, the radios I procured are more secure than what you have. If things go south, we will be blown anyway, so a call won't make it any worse,” he noted.

 

“For you,” snorted Dutch, “for me, it could make things much worse,” he pointed out. Sousuke nodded.

 

“Then we won't call,” he said simply. Dutch rubbed his bare head.

 

“I didn't say that,” he sighed. “What's the range on those boxes?” he asked.

 

“Over water?” mused Sousuke, “I would say about twenty miles,” he decided. Dutch stared at the ceiling of the bow cabin for a few seconds.

 

“Launch plus twenty I bring the boat in toward the island on one engine. By launch plus sixty, I should be within ten miles of the island. If you get blown on landing, I can be just outside the cove in practically no time. Order of withdraw if the boat is holed is to break contact and swim to sea,” he said. “Take some IR light sticks. Stick them to your harnesses - high - and trigger them once you are outside the cove. I'll swing in and grab you under suppressive fire, then haul ass out of there. Understood?” he said. Sousuke, Mao and Yu Fan nodded.

 

“Taking down the target is your show,” he said, lighting a cigarette. “I'm guessing that you have done that before?” All three nodded. “Good. Then my end of this is just cast and recovery,” he noted. “Tell you what,” he said after thinking a little, “since we don't know what the timetable is for the take-down, I want you to radio me when you either clear the cove with the package - in which case I will wait for you at the ten mile mark, recover you and get out of town - or when you are compromised - at which point I come in to snatch you up and haul balls out of there. The code word for cold extraction will be….” he suddenly grinned. “Coors,” he chuckled. Sousuke nodded.

 

“Roger,” he said. “And for hot extraction?” he asked.

 

“Tabasco,” said the large man. Dutch looked at the satellite photo of the island.

 

“Um, why Coors?” wondered Rock. Dutch glanced at him.

 

“First, because it will have no meaning to anyone not in this room,” he explained. “Secondly, it is not likely to be inadvertently used if a transmit button gets jammed or we have frequency bleed,” he continued. “And last, because I like Coors beer,” he chuckled. He glanced at Revy. “You're going to be my main gunner, Revy,” he said. “Once we get this worked out, I'm gonna have Sousuke here help me set up the twenty. You remember how to use it, right?” he asked. Revy sneered.

 

“No problem,” she said. Dutch hummed, running the plan through his head.

 

“We got any of that magnesium-tipped ammo left for the fifties?” he asked. Revy scratched her head.

 

“Um, if we didn't trade it for anything, then there should be a couple of boxes left of it,” she said. “Maybe,” she qualified. “Why?”

 

“Might be good to have something on the stern, to keep them down as we run if we get burned,” he said. A moment later, he nodded. “Yeah, we're gonna set up the sisters, too,” he decided. Rock sighed.

 

“I'll start getting the tools ready,” he offered. Dutch smiled as the newest member of his team left.

 

“Told you,” came Revy's smug voice.

 

“You're just lucky, Revy,” he refused to acknowledge her point. She giggled evilly.

 

“Let's talk about boat handling and approach techniques,” he said to Sousuke. “You are going to have to be careful not to run your engine when you get close to the cove,” he said. Pointing to the photo, he traced a line with his finger. “If you sweep in like this, from the sea, using this built-up bank to deaden the sound, you can run the motor until you are about here,” he said, tapping the map. “Kill the motor, and use the oars to bring you in around this finger of land, and aim for the corner of the beach - here,” he indicated another point. “If you keep your handling of the oars neat, you will be no louder than the waves on the beach.”

 

“Roger,” confirmed Sousuke.

 

“Now then,” continued Dutch, “if you get the target and back to the boat undetected, you want to push the boat back into the cove, use the oars to row out to here,” he indicated a spot on the photo. “If you have the vegetation between you and the cove face, you should be safe to use the motor. Take a due westerly course and we'll meet about here,” he tapped the photo with a fingernail a ways off the coast of the island.

 

“Understood,” said Sousuke.

 

“I have night vision and IR goggles, so missing each other shouldn't be an issue,” he continued. “What concerns me most is if the people on this island have their hooks in the Burmese government. I would prefer not to have to dodge and run from a few naval vessels,” he said.

 

“This installation is not known to AMALGAM infrastructure,” said Yu Fan. “Therefore, it is likely that any such calls for help will be met with a delay of several hours at the least.” Dutch grunted.

 

“That's good,” he said. “I think I should ask, though, where we go after we get this woman.”

 

“For now, head south,” said Sousuke. “Before we begin this operation, I will need Benny to make a post for me,” he added. Dutch nodded.

 

“Can do,” he said, standing. “You figure out how you want to take the house,” he said. “Tell me if you have any issues with the water leg,” he said, exiting the bow area. Revy stayed put. Sousuke sifted through the sat photos until he had the best one of the house area.

 

“Ok,” he said to his two teammates, “this is how we are going to take the house.”

 

-

 

“Well, Commander?” asked Tessa. The two of them were in the captain's quarters, the De Danaan two hundred meters deep and cruising at a steady thirty five knots, dead silent to any other sub that might happen across it.

 

“Thanks to the drills, I was able to verify that no one not part of your crew for the last year and a half is aboard,” said Kalinin. “The chief engineer and I have managed to isolate and disconnect three suspect units that were installed in dock, and there isn't anything that we can find aside from that,” he reported.

 

“I have had Sparks remove the upgrades that were installed in our communication systems as well,” said Tessa. “We are, I believe, as secure as we can be,” sighed the girl. Kalinin looked closely at his commanding officer.

 

“You need to get more rest, Captain,” he said. She shook her head.

 

“Once I know they are safe,” she promised.

 

Kalinin considered that. “It will be somewhat difficult to determine when they have recovered Chidori,” he noted. “The web site exchange was brilliant, but it leaves a lot of room for inaccurate communication,” he said.

 

“All I need to know at the moment is that they have recovered Kana,” said Tessa. Activating her terminal, she opened the current course plotting and studied it. “If they are hitting the island, then they will need an exit plan,” she murmured. “Tell me, Commander,” asked the girl, “what do you know about this area?”

 

Kalinin studied the map on her terminal. “Honestly, not all that much, Captain,” he said. “What are you thinking?” he wondered. Tessa toyed with her braid.

 

“I am thinking that we need a good spot to hook up with them. Somewhere not too isolated, but not too crowded, either. Definitely not a heavy-traveled spot like a tourist hotel, but not some place where the criminals have an established presence and good information network,” she related. “I was actually thinking of something like a small, private resort. I could make the registration and pay for their stay through a front company, and all they would have to do is walk in and claim their keys. It would keep them isolated, but safe, right?” she suggested.

 

Kalinin considered the situation. Without the normal access to the resources of MITHRIL, they had to wing it. Not ideal, but if they stay low-profile, and we get there pretty quick, it could work, he decided. “How are you planning to link up with them?” he asked her. She smiled.

 

“Oh, I have that worked out,” she assured him, her smile playful. Kalinin suspected that she had something unnecessarily risky in mind, but didn't say anything. It was a sign of his trust in her that he didn't second-guess her.

 

“Well, sounds like we need to do some research, Captain,” he said. Tessa smiled at him.

 

“Yes, we do,” she said. As they began to look for a workable solution, her computer chirped. Tess brought up a browser page on her screen.

 

“We have a new post on that site,” she said. Tessa inhaled sharply.

 

“They are going in,” said Tessa softly. “And they are looking for directions to link up with us, if they manage a rescue.” Kalinin didn't need to be told more.

 

“We have little time to work with, Captain,” he said. “One way or another, we need an out laid on for them, even if they come up dry this time, and we have only a few hours to work on it,” he said. Tessa nodded.

 

“I think this one will have to do,” she said, motioning to the screen. “Getting to it will be a bit of a reach for them, but it is the best of what we can with such short notice and with such limited means,” she said. Kalinin looked at it, checked the plotting screen, consulted the AI-generated time/distance graph and nodded.

 

“I can't see a better spot, give the circumstances,” he agreed. With a decisive nod, Tessa began to type. Half an hour later, she brought up the browser window with the web page she was using to communicate with her rogue agents, typing a post swiftly.

 

-

 

The last of the sun was setting as Dutch and Sousuke checked the boat one last time. It was tied to the deck cleats on the bow, a pressure line feeding it air from a compressor in the engine room. In front of the boat, Mao and Revy were locking the twenty millimeter cannon in place and running the ammo links to it. Behind the cabin, the twin Browning M2 machineguns were already rigged. Dutch checked the cells of the Zodiac. “She's ready, kid,” he said over the wind and sound of the PT boat's engines running at cruising speed.

 

Sousuke gave him a thumbs-up. Yu Fan appeared, the boat's medical kit and a small gear bag in hand. Stowing them, she began to lock down the fuel bladder and emergency fuel can. With that done, she began to connect the fuel line and purge it of air. Sousuke moved forward to help Mao and Revy finish off the set-up of the cannon. When Revy cycled the bolt, putting a round in the chamber, she broke out in a scary smile. “Don't worry, Mel,” she yelled happily, “I got your ass covered!”

 

“Thanks, cousin!” yelled back Mao. Sousuke made a note to ask her if everyone in her family was as nuts as she and her cousin.

 

“Let's get below and check out gear,” he yelled over the ambient noise. Getting a nod from Mao, he saw Yu Fan drop lithely through the forward hatch into the bow cabin. He and Mao dropped down as well, leaving the hatch open as they began to check their guns and harnesses over. The bow cabin had lights in it, something that made their lives easier right then. As they were doing a third series of checks, Dutch stuck his head into the cabin.

 

“Yo,” he said, holding out three candy-bar shaped items. Sousuke took them, handing one to each woman in his group, before handing his radio to Dutch.

 

“It is already preset to our frequency and the cipher is entered,” he said. “Hopefully, we will call about beer,” he said. Dutch nodded.

 

“Hopefully,” he agreed. “I make it about five hours to mission start,” he said. “Run your final checks at minus thirty to give you time to work out any kinks,” he suggested. Sousuke nodded.

 

“Roger,” he said. Dutch disappeared and the three finished their weapons and gear checks. When that was done, Yu Fan set aside her harness and got comfortable in the corner, resting before the mission. Sousuke finished up his check, setting his harness next to Yu Fan before silently stripping off his shirt and fatigues, followed by his boxers. Taking a fresh pair of fatigues, he stepped into them, zipping them up before pulling on a fresh tee shirt. Mao leered at him.

 

“Going commando to meet Kaname?” she teased him. “My, aren't you optimistic!”

 

Sousuke frowned. “I don't follow,” he said.

 

“You looking to score before we even get back to the boat?” asked Mao. Seeing his blank look, she sighed. “You aren't wearing your boxers,” she explained.

 

“If we are forced to swim for the sea, it will be easier without extra clothes in the way,” he said. “Besides, when soaked in seawater, they tend to chafe,” he added, frowning. Mao considered that. Sighing, she secured her harness before slipping off her jacket, leaving her in her tank-top tee and fatigues.

 

“I'll just black out the rest,” she decided, checking to make sure that she had enough black to cover her skin. Satisfied, she settled in to rest, Sousuke already doing likewise. Seeing how tense Sousuke was, she spoke up.

 

“We'll get her back, Sousuke,” Mao assured him. “I promise, she'll be ok.”

 

“She better be,” said Sousuke. “I…am not sure what I would do if she weren't,” he admitted to the older woman.

 

“You aren't the only one,” Mao assured him. “I have no idea what I could possibly say to Tessa if we failed,” she confided to him.

 

“Then do not fail,” said Yu Fan quietly. Both Sousuke and Mao looked at her. “If you cannot accept failure, you are left with no choice but success,” she added. “Will you switch off the lights?” she asked Sousuke. Silently, he reached over and threw the sealed switch, the bow cabin plunging into darkness.

 

When Rock came to tell them that it was minus thirty and to start the final load-out check, he found them all resting. Seeing them wake as he entered the cabin, he also noticed that all of them had guns in their hands. “Uh, it's minus thirty,” he said, looking down the barrel of three guns.

 

“Understood,” said Sousuke, standing and grabbing his harness, “thank you,” he added.

 

Mao and Yu Fan stirred, settling their harnesses and beginning to put on their black war paint. When the three of them came up and started to run final checks on the boat and each other, Dutch smiled. Beside him, Rock noticed the smile. “What's so funny?” he asked the man.

 

“I think they might get it done,” said Dutch. Rock looked at his boss, making a `what?' hand gesture. Dutch caught his meaning. “Take a look at them,” he said. Looking out the glass of the cabin, he didn't pick up what he was supposed to be seeing. The three of them were working with small penlights, giving illumination to only the area they were working on. By habit, the PT boat was running without lights, so there wasn't any light pollution to give them away.

 

“What am I looking for?” he asked. Dutch sighed.

 

“When they blacked out their faces, they didn't overlook their ears, the back of their necks, or their wrists and necks. See how the two women have their hair braided and tied down with the do rags? Keeps it from becoming a problem when things get busy. Not that you can see it now, but earlier, I noticed that all their boots are tied on with knots, not bows,” he related. “Their harnesses are double-secured, and I bet you a hundred bucks, if you check their weapons, you'll find they rigged them for possible submersion,” he grinned.

 

“And what does that tell you?” Rock asked Dutch.

 

The big man looked at his newest crewman. “It tells me, Rock, that they are not some half-assed group of wanna-be mercs; they are the real deal. And if that is true, then the chances of success go up greatly.” He sighed. “Watching them kind of makes me miss my Team days,” he muttered to himself.

 

“You would go back to the Navy?” asked Benny. Dutch frowned.

 

“I don't think I'd go that far, Benny boy,” he said. The blonde man chuckled. Minutes passed. Dutch checked his GPS unit and throttled back until the boat was gently rocking in the low, slow rollers. Leaving the engines idling, he moved out onto the foredeck. “Ok, kids,” he said, “time to get your feet wet. Ready to start the clock?”

 

“Hell yes,” said all three in unison.