Chapter 20 #2
One team would lay explosives, starting on the lower floor and working their way up, while the other two teams evacuated hostages and liberated computers and any other records.
After they were clear, the lab would blow from the inside. Then two drones would each drop a large bunker-buster bomb on it.
Peyton wasn’t sure how the bear clan from Poland got their hands on that ordinance, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to know, either.
As long as it did the job, that was all that mattered.
Aisling
It was a struggle for Aisling to keep her mind focused on her work and not think about Tamsin waiting for her in Florida.
The night before Aisling flew out, they left the baby with Carl and Mateo, and the two of them went to a hotel near the airport so they could have as much time together as possible before she had to leave.
Aisling just prayed it wasn’t the last time she ever saw her sweet mate.
Once Aisling had everyone on-site and started going through the plan, any final adjustments would be made based on skillsets and local conditions. There were many moving parts, and she fully expected to make changes on the fly once the actual operation got underway.
At least Peyton had given her carte blanche, deferring to her at every judgment call and telling everyone in no uncertain terms that she was leading this operation.
That meant she wasn’t fighting against stupid bloody male egos. Peyton had lived up to his word from the moment she met him, and while she still felt uncomfortable with Primes, Peyton had earned her trust.
Ten others arrived that day, in addition to her and Peyton, and they all bunked on air mattresses in the warehouse. The next morning, Peyton approached Aisling as she was making a pot of coffee in an ancient percolator someone had procured.
“Before everyone starts arriving today and we get really busy, I want to tell you I’m sorry about this,” he said.
“About what?”
“This.” Peyton waved his hand, indicating the warehouse and piles of equipment being hauled in that morning by new arrivals. “I really thought we could avoid this eventuality.”
She shrugged. “Nothin’ to be done about it. I don’t want Maisie growin’ up in a world where she has to worry more than she already will. If I can be a part of that, then perhaps my life’s been worth somethin’, aye?”
He squeezed her shoulder but she didn’t feel him using his Prime on her. “I really hope we all make it out alive. I want you and Tamsin to be happy. If you wanted to tell me to go fuck myself and walk away, I wouldn’t blame you.”
“No, I signed up fer this, right? I gave my word.”
“I’m willing to release you from that. Help me get it up to the night of, and then you lead the crew waiting on this side of the border.”
She sadly smiled. “No, sir. But thank ye. I couldn’t live wi’ myself if things went tits-up and I coulda’ been here and perhaps made the difference. I gave Tam the chance to ask me to back out the night before I left. She told me she knows this needs to happen and wants me to do it.”
She sighed. “And Tam promised me if… Ye know, if. She promised she’d go on and be happy, and wouldn’t do somethin’ to leave Maisie without her mum. Just make sure we have everything we need. I really want to have a chance to not bollocks things up with her.”
He nodded. “It’s your operation.”
Over the next several days, as the full crew arrived, Aisling evaluated everyone and separated them into teams based on their skills.
Ironically, everyone asked to be part of the team that made entry into the lab, but she needed people to stay behind.
They went over the layouts, practiced infiltration tactics, and planned several contingencies for each stage of the operation. Ideally, the guards would provide no resistance and would, in fact, kill each other, starting with any guards they might have missed compromising ahead of time.
The guards would also cut all communications on the surface and help destroy the signal tower that was part of the complex.
The guards who weren’t scheduled to work the night of the attack had been programmed to go kill any remaining lab personnel who weren’t on duty before killing themselves.
Ironically, the thing that made it more difficult for them to compromise the lab workers without detection—them all living in the same building—was the thing that would make it easier for the security personnel to take them out.
Hopefully, if any outside interest was garnered by the operation, it would look like a revolt from inside, or a terrorist attack, and not be traced to its true origins.
While Aisling slept fitfully every night, the night before the day of the operation was the worst. She eventually gave up, walked outside, and called Tamsin.
“Ash?”
“Hi, pet.” Aisling closed her eyes and pictured Tamsin’s face. “Howzit?”
“I’m not sleeping, and probably won’t until this is over. I am so scared for you.”
Aisling sighed. “I’m sorry. I know this is rough on ye. But keep yer promise, aye?”
“I will.” She sniffled, breaking Aisling’s heart. “I will demand they give you a vacation when you return.”
Aisling smiled. “Where will we go, love? We’ll be free to explore anywhere we want.”
“Ken told me there’s a lovely beach resort not too far south of here, on the Gulf. We could take the baby and go there and just… breathe.”
Tears prickled her eyes. “That sounds lovely. I haven’t seen the water there yet.”
“It’s so warm this time of year…” Tamsin spun out her idea for Aisling as she listened.
Soft, white sand, warm sun, balmy waters.
Just the three of them, because there was no way Aisling wanted to leave Maisie behind. Maybe when she was older, but not now.
“What do you think?” Tamsin said.
“It’s brilliant. I can’t wait.”
Tamsin hesitated. “How long until you can call me?”
“I don’t know. We’ll go radio silent this afternoon.
As long as nothing goes tits-up, I’ll be on the transport plane with anyone we rescue.
I will try to text you during the refueling stop in Norway, but if I can’t, I promise to call as soon as I can in Wales.
Or I will have Trevor send word sooner, if possible. ”
“Thank you.” She sniffled again. “I love you so much. You are so brave, and I’m so very proud of you. I’m not spiritual, but if there are things such as ghosts, I’m certain Maisie and Rupert will be there with you in spirit and trying to assist in any way they can.”
Aisling smiled and opened her eyes to stare up at the starry sky overhead. Clouds were moving in and, hopefully, it would be heavily overcast later during their mission.
“As well as my da and brothers,” Aisling said, wishing she could believe that was true. “Peyton told me when I return that for a while my most dangerous assignments will be knocking sense into teenage girls wantin’ to date the worst possible guys,” she joked.
At least it made Tamsin laugh. “Let’s hope so.”
Overhead, a shooting star streaked across the horizon and Aisling let out a breath. Please, Goddess. Please please please.