Intro Chapter 01 . 02 . 03 . 04 . 05 . 06 . 07 . 08 . 09 . 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 18 . 19 . 20 . 21 . 22 . 23 . 24 . 25 . 26 . 27
"OK, folks, to recap: We have two primary hostage targets that we get on the bounce, and a secondary Theater of Terror target. The primaries are going to be extracted to an abandoned airstrip ten clicks west of the arena as our first choice. If that's not available, we go ad hoc. Right?"
"Right." I hear in unison.
I would like to put Gunter in action, but he still doesn't have jump jets. So he stays liaison, but now he is also reserve.
"Al, Chin, you have your 'coffins'?" These 'coffins' are brand new. They are padded boxes we just threw together today so we can "bounce" our hostages away. I sure hope they work.
"Right."
We are going in skydiving. The focus is a big Danago rally. The governor's capture of the air force base is only hours-old news, and our part in it was subtle enough that the governor's general is taking all the coverage, and credit. So, as yet, these enemy people have no idea just how fast or far we can move, and they have neither canceled this rally, or beefed up security.
We are here because Gorge Haslet and Markov Smalet are either there or coming. This rally is to whip up support for squashing our buddy the governor, and, given his disconcerting victories of the last 24 hours, the top Danago people have chosen to attend to make sure this rally goes smoothly. Haslet is second-in-command of the faction, and on the scene already overseeing preparations. Smalet is the "sugar daddy", and should be driving in for the rally climax.
We want them, but we want them quietly. Once we have them, I will "crash the party" as Kull, and put on a big, but brief, scene. The ensuing panic will cover our kidnapping, and let their media downplay it, should they decide to do so... and we hope they do.
While we've been enroute, our armor targeting systems have been acquiring the profiles of small arms on this planet. With those in the targeting systems, the small lasers can pick those out automatically, and we are less likely to have "accidents" of the sort that started the trouble on the plaza.. The small lasers with their autotargeting are wonderful for dealing with small threats. Now, when the autotargeting is turned on full auto, any short gun barrel in a hand, and any long gun barrel on a shoulder will get heated without my intervention. A gun strapped to a shoulder or in a holster will not be bothered.
If our intelligence is good, we know the route Smalet will take to the rally. All we have to do is finger his vehicle on that route. We should be able to extract him from his car, which will be a no-brainer. Al is in charge of that.
Getting Haslet out of the center of a rally discretely is going to take a lot more finesse. This hour, he's the center of attention for all those in charge of conducting this rally. Ideally, we would extract him out of a men's room while he's taking a dump. We plan on the next best move: we have some one call him to his office.
But as I'm thinking this through.... Who is going to get Haslet to hop more quickly and reliably than his sugar daddy, Smalet? And, if he's going to hop, why not have him hop outside to Smalet's car?
"Now this becomes slick." I mutter to myself.
"Sean," I ask. "Does Smalet's car have a car phone?"
"Yes." he says without hesitation -- this faction's intelligence network is becoming a pleasure to work with.
"OK, folks. A change in plans.
"Al, you are going to move first. I want you to capture the car with Smalet in it, and don't mess the car up when you do. You are going to have it proceed to the rally, and you are going to have Smalet call Haslet from his car phone, and have Haslet meet him, at his car, outside. We can leave the coffins on the plane, for now. Gunter, you can bring them in should we need them.
"Yes, commander."
"That is slick." says Al, "And we drive to the airport?"
"Exactly. I will put on my show while you drive, and then bounce to the airport. Chin, you and I will hide out in the rally building. You are mobile reserve. If there's a problem, you go with it. If not, you back me up. I will stay in the building until I've done my shtick. Remember, the hostages are primary; my act is secondary. If things are doing sour, I'll cancel."
"Ah, but the show must go on." quips Al.
Intro Chapter 01 . 02 . 03 . 04 . 05 . 06 . 07 . 08 . 09 . 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 18 . 19 . 20 . 21 . 22 . 23 . 24 . 25 . 26 . 27