“We can salvage our lives, but not if it gets out who we are. We have to destroy the evidence,” Warren replied.
“And if we don't release any information about why we attacked Sergei, it could be turned against us that we attacked a non-military target in Russia for no just cause,” Franklin argued.
“We can just tie him to Ming. We already have enough evidence that they are connected. I know she is in there with him. She is a wanted criminal in China for the kidnapping and torture of those girls. We can lump him in with her,” Marie replied, playing with the digital map.
“You have everything figured out, don't you?” Franklin condescendingly replied.
“Well, unlike you, I never wanted to play pawn. I have been fighting back, while you rolled over and begged for a belly rub,” Marie snapped back.
Franklin slammed his fist on the table. “You don't get to judge me!”
“Then, man up. I have told you before that you need thick skin for this. It isn't going to be pretty or pleasant, but that is how it has to be done. Once it is over, you can go back to your fake life.”
“Stop, just stop. We are all going to survive this and can build whatever life we want for ourselves after this,” Warren added.
“Yup, keep telling yourself that,” Marie replied, walking out of the tent. Marie walked straight past James and the rest of the team as they sat around a fire. Each watched her walk by, but no-one tried to stop her.
“So what did they talk about in the tent?” Liam inquired, looking back to Greg.
“It was just a breakdown of Sergei's palace and who was in charge of each aspect.”
“So why were you in there?” Olivia asked.
“Apparently, I am in charge of our group,” Greg said nonchalantly, trying to see where Marie went.
“What? Why?” Nathan asked, annoyed.
“I don't know. I'm going to find out.” Greg got up and left, going in the direction Marie went. Greg found her only a few yards away, sitting under a tree by herself, staring at the stars.
“Why me?” Greg said, approaching Marie.
Marie turned and looked at him. “Why do you think?”
“I don't know. There are much stronger people on this team.”
Marie rolled her eyes. “You don't think well of yourself, do you? Don't give yourself any credit either.”
“I'm not saying that. I just don't think I am the best choice.”
Marie looked away and back to the stars. “Greg, I have been doing this a long time and have met people of all walks of life, and the one thing I have learned is how to spot leaders. They all listen to you. You have more potential than you can even imagine. You know what it’s like to fall down and make the choice to pick yourself up. Nobody made you become a criminal, and nobody made you change your ways. You made that choice on your own. They need someone like you. I know you won't let me or them down.”
“You should lead them,” Greg replied.
“No, I am not what they need anymore; you are. My mission is different. Sergei is mine. The Fox must be hunted by the hound,” Marie said cryptically.
“I know the story,” Greg replied, but it appeared as though Marie was ignoring him. “The Teumessian Fox and Lelaps. One destined never to be caught, the other destined always to catch its prey. Zeus had enough of the paradox caused by Lelaps chasing the Teumessian Fox and turned them to stone then cast them to the stars.”
Marie smiled lightly as she stared at the stars. “And what I view, they must have.”
Greg felt his stomach drop, she intended to die. “There are other options. It doesn't have to go that way.”
“Maybe, but it is not how it will. I want you to take this.”
Marie reached into her top, pulling out a white envelope. “You will know what to do with it when the time is right. Promise me you won't do anything to change my plans.”
Greg hesitated, but shook his head 'yes' as he took the letter from her.
“Take good care of them.”
Greg pocketed the letter and turned and walked away. He couldn't handle much more of the conversation. She was basically telling him she was planning to die, and she was trusting him to take care of the rest of the team. Greg returned to the group, but most had gone to bed. Only James and Jasmine remained. “Hey,” Greg said, calmly sitting down next to Jasmine.
“Find out anything new?” James questioned.
“No, she has spaced out again,” Greg lied, trying to cover his own desire to tell them the truth.
“Sounds like her,” James replied.
Jasmine leaned over to rest her head on Greg. “I'm tired. Are you going to bed soon?” she asked.
“Yes, I'll head to bed as well. What about you, James?”
“Nah, I'm going to stay up a little later. I'm really enjoying this cold weather. It brings back memories of home.” Greg nodded, standing up, offering Jasmine a hand to help her up. She accepted and went with him to their tent.
James just watched them go. He poked at the fire with a stick, and it crackled in the cold night air. Those cold nights in Boston, sitting on the porch with Finn and Robbie making s’mores, came back to him. “What would Uncle Finn think of all this?” he said quietly to himself. It almost made him smile to think of his peaceful childhood with Finn and Robby. That was a life he could never go back to. His life was different now; he was different now.
Chapter
33
As the sun rose, everyone began waking up. Marie had slept under the tree, having fallen asleep staring at the stars. She was ready for this. She had been planning it for most of her life. The chance, finally, to come face to face with Sergei, to destroy him for every ounce of pain he had brought into her life. Marie stood and stretched and took in her surroundings. It appeared as though everyone was getting up and heading to eat breakfast. She couldn't decide if she was hungry, but knew she had to re-join the group, or they would wonder where she went.
As she approached the rest of the group, she was confronted by Sarah. “You are needed at headquarters. Come with me,” she ordered.
Marie was still waking up and in no mood to argue with Sarah, so she just did as she was told. Marie followed Sarah into the headquarters, where Ray, Warren, and Franklin stood.
Marie looked around. “If this is a meeting of the minds to plan the attack, then where is Gregory?” she questioned.
“He does not need to be involved in this,” Sarah replied.
“Yes, he does,” Marie barked, storming out of the tent to find Greg. Marie didn't have to search long before she found Greg, sitting with Dovia, Jasmine, James, and Rose at a picnic table eating bowls of oatmeal. “Greg and Dovia, I need you both now,” Marie ordered, pointing at the group.
“What about us?” Jasmine questioned eagerly.
“No, just those two.”
Greg and Dovia got up from the table and followed Marie as she walked directly back to headquarters. Dovia look at Greg before they walked in. “This is going to be interesting.”
Once inside, they were met with all eyes on them from the rest of the group.
“Who is she?” Sarah questioned.
“The member of my team, who will be handling the explosives,” Marie replied.
“What are your qualifications?” Sarah inquired, staring at Dovia.
But before Dovia could answer, Marie did. “She's qualified. Now, we have everyone we need. We can actually plan.”
Sarah brushed it off. “I say we airdrop and attack tonight. We have all the materials and can be airborne by nightfall.”
“No, we drop early morning before the sun rises as we attack at dawn,” Marie replied.
“A night attack would be much safer. We would have the cover of night to disguise ourselves. Attacking in broad daylight is suicide,” Franklin argued.
“Sergei knows I'm coming for him. He knows I attack at night. His security is prepared for that. We would be at a disadvantage, but he would never think us bold enough to attack during
the day. His security will be laxer than at night.”
“She's right,” Warren agreed.
“So, we drop early morning. Once on the ground, we will set up. Greg will lead the group to set the explosives. Dovia will control them from our base. Ray, along with Sarah, will lead the military team in to sweep the house, so it is secured for the explosives to be placed. We can anticipate resistance.”
“Intelligence has indicated he runs a security force of at least fifty at any given time,” Sarah interrupted.
Marie ignored her interruption and continued. “We also need to anticipate that Ming is there, along with some of her girls. These girls, although loyal to Ming, it is done out of fear. If we can capture them, instead of killing them, that would be preferred. Ming is also a wanted fugitive. She is not to be underestimated. If she has to be killed to stop her, that is fine.”
Warren cut Marie off, “Wen wants to charge her, make a big stink about it. He wants her captured. It is all over the news; he is calling for justice for the little girls. I would prefer to stay friendly with him.”
“I can make no promises that a stray bullet or knife might not find her,” Marie replied with a smirk.
Franklin had to hide his smile. Ming wasn't going to make it out. Marie would never allow it. Warren would have to let it go.
It was time for Greg to speak up. “Where are we placing the explosives?” he asked, pointing at the digital map of the palace on the table.
“Where do you think they go?” Marie probed. She wanted Greg to show them he was the right person for the job. Greg looked to Dovia and back to the map, examining the ground floor plan. “It is basically a large square with four almost squares on each corner. Sergei's office is on the right corridor, the throne room of the original, correct?” Greg looked to Sarah; she nodded. “Then I think, with the number of team members I have and the structure, I will send four teams, one to each corner square. Set the explosives there, and the ripple effect of those explosives through the corridors should cause the whole building to come down.” Greg looked to Dovia for her approval.
“If the blast is strong enough, he's right,” Dovia approved.
“What about Sergei? How do we make sure he doesn't escape?” Sarah inquired, looking at Marie.
“Leave him to me. He has been wanting a face to face with me for years. He won't run until he gets to meet me.”
Sarah was not convinced, but her glance to Franklin, with the evidence of his confidence in Marie on his face, she decided not to argue. “I will have the materials ready within the next couple hours,” Sarah added, instead.
“Good then, we will take today to prepare. Tomorrow we attack,” Warren firmly added. Everyone nodded.
Sarah turned to Dovia. “Please follow me. I will get the specs on the explosives we will be using, so you can train your team.”
“Yes ma’am,” Dovia politely replied. Dovia started to follow Sarah, but Marie stopped her.
“After you meet with her, come straight to me.”
Dovia nodded, continuing out of the tent.
Marie looked back to the group to see Greg staring at her. “You have your mission. Go inform your team,” she ordered, staring back. Greg turned and left. Marie looked to Ray, Warren, and Franklin. “What are you three staring at? Ray, don't you have a team to coordinate, as well? Chris and Scott, don't you have paperwork do to?” Shock fell over Warren and Franklin as they heard their original names said in front of Ray.
“Watch your mouth,” Warren barked.
“Relax, he knows.”
“And I will be suiting up as well, so Ray can coordinate with me,” Warren replied.
“As will I,” Franklin added.
“Oh lord, this is going to be fun,” Marie joked, walking out of the room.
Ray turned to face Warren and Franklin. “Look, I don't care who you were, but right now, both of you are heads of state, and there is no way you are going in on a dangerous operation like this. I won't allow it and neither will Ms. Darnley.”
“We are soldiers first and always have been. This is our fight, and we won't sit on the sidelines,” Franklin confidently replied.
Warren smiled. It was nice to see the fight back in Franklin.
“Good luck convincing Sarah,” Ray replied, turning and leaving. He was done dealing with them.
Ray made his way to Greg, who had their team circled around a tablet, showing them the floor plan of the palace.
“Once Dovia has the specifics of how to set the explosives, she will fill all of us in. Until then, we need to get our supplies together and get specifics from Ray on the drop.”
“And you're in luck. I am right here,” Ray said, stepping up to the table. “You will each be given a basic parachute with a watch to show you when to pull the chute. When you land, bend your knees. A straight-legged landing will cause a broken leg. Once on the ground, we will re-group and begin our attack.”
“Will you be leading us?” Rose inquired.
“No, Greg will. I will be leading the military forces sweeping the mansion. We will clear as much resistance as we can for you.”
Everyone nodded, looking back to Greg.
“Four teams, one to each corner of the palace to set the charges.”
“That will spread us thin,” Bradley added.
“We don't have another option. We have to set charges at all four points, and they are too spread out for us to go in bigger groups. I am not risking Dovia by sending her in. She has to stay with the control panel to blow the charges. She will have to stay behind, leaving one team at only two members.”
“Then one of the super humans need to be on that team,” Liam joked, pointing at James and Jasmine.
“Joking aside, that's probably not a bad idea to split you two,” Nathan added.
“Agreed,” James replied.
“Ok then, Team One: James, Rose, and Mitchell. Team Two: Marcus, Liam, and Olivia. Team Three: Ping, Bradley, and Nathan. Team Four will be me and Jasmine. Is that ok with everyone?” Greg proposed to the group. They were silent, but all nodded their heads in agreement.
As each team went over the map and worked out a strategy, Dovia was getting her equipment from Sarah. Dovia inspected it all. It was exactly what she needed, high powered c-4, with computer chip communicators. Dovia folded her control laptop and placed it in the grey bag provided, along with four brown devices, and slung it over her shoulder. She emerged from Sarah's tent and was quickly grabbed by Marie and pulled behind a grove of trees.
“It's computer activated, correct?” Marie questioned.
“Yes,” Dovia replied, shaken by Marie's brashness.
Marie reached into her black leather top and pulled out a computer chip in a plastic case. “This is your first detonation. You detonate this round of explosives first,” Marie said, handing it to Dovia.
“You're planting a second set of explosives?”
“No, I'm setting the first set. This set will destabilize the building. It must go first. Is that clear?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“You will not blow anything until they are all out. I will give you the signal to blow it, once you let me know they are clear, understood?”
“Yes.”
“I may be in an unsafe situation, and I don't want to give away what is about to happen, so the signal from me will be 'to the stars', as in send that fucker to the stars,” Marie said with a wink.
“Yes ma’am.” Dovia said with a smile.
“You're a good girl. It's good to have brains in a group like this,” Marie said, brushing Dovia's dark hair off her shoulder. “Thank you for doing this for me.”
“It is my job, ma’am. I won't let you down,” Dovia said proudly.
“Go join the others. They will need instructions on how to set the explosives.”
Dovia nodded, walking away from Marie.
Dovia joined the rest of her team. They were busy going over the building plans, still working out a strategy.
&n
bsp; “Hey, there you are.” Rose gleefully welcomed Dovia to the group with a hug.
“Yes, I have the information for all of you.”
“To update you on our plans, we have four teams going in, so four sets of explosives, I take it?” Greg informed Dovia
“Yes, I have four sets of explosives.” Dovia reached into her bag and pulled out one of them. It was small, no bigger than a lunchbox, with a couple small lights, red and green.
“Those little things are going to bring that palace down?” Ping inquired.
“They pack one hell of a punch. It is a compressed explosive. I have no desire to give you a science lesson today, but to say the least, each can take down a building on its own. Four of them will level that place,” Dovia replied, placing it on the table. “You see the little lights?” Dovia pointed to the red and green lights on the front of the bomb. “Right under the red light is a little switch.” Each leaned in to get a closer look. “Click that, and it will link it with the control chip I have. Once I activate the chip on the computer, all the explosives connected will detonate within two minutes. I will only do so, once all of you are out. I have express orders to wait until all of you are clear.”
“From Marie?” Ray asked.
“Yes,” Dovia replied.
“Then our mission is clear. Get in, set the bombs, and get out, so Dovia can blow it,” Greg ordered.
“Then I suggest you all rest. We are leaving at 2:00am,” Ray ordered, leaving the group.
Chapter
34
Everyone settled in for the day, going over their equipment and packing and re-packing to make sure everything was perfect. As the sun began to set, they knew they needed to get some rest, but none could sleep. Jasmine was up by the fire, almost nervously fidgeting with her hair. Rose noticed as she was heading into her tent.
“Do you need help with it?” Rose asked gently.
“I just can't get it up the way I want,” Jasmine complained.
Jasmine (Teumessian Trilogy Book 3) Page 16