CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
With the team selected, the two custom-Osprey’s were loaded with men and women and more equipment than they could possibly need. Having called ahead, they had trucks with enclosures and cages waiting for the animals to be transported back to Louisiana.
If needed, they were to be tranquilized but they were hoping that the magic of Belle Fleur would allow them to get the animals away without sedation.
On the team of animal experts and veterinarians was Lucy, Violet, Dani, Summer, Claire, and Caroline. Accompanying them as the team that would enter first was Remington, Joseph, JB, Nathan, King, Matt, Devin, Trak, Striker, Sniff, Dex, Luke, Gaspar, and Rush.
Caroline looked at the rows of men and turned to Lucy.
“God help the people who go up against them,” she smirked.
“Heard that,” said Gaspar. “There will be no one helping them. We’re there for the animals and if there are hunters, they won’t get the chance to plead their case. Hunting exotic animals is illegal and the fact that they’re also hunting humans tells me they’re capable of anything.”
“What will you do if there are hunters there?” asked Caroline.
“You know the answer to that,” said Luke. “We will ask some questions but they won’t leave of their own accord. What we need to know is what the ultimate goal of the compound is. Are they doing this only for profit or is there some other end for them?”
“And what about the compound?” asked Lucy. “It seems to me they should all be arrested.”
“They will be dealt with,” said Luke, “but we don’t want another scenario like the one that happened years ago when the entire place was set on fire and women, children, everyone died.
We want this to end peacefully if it can.
I suspect these people won’t exit peacefully given the weapons cache they have. ”
“Doug, Chipper, Evie, Savannah, Hazel, Autumn, and Clark are piloting. They’re all military trained and will be guarding the Osprey’s, and more importantly, all of you.
When we’re able to give the all-clear, you’ll be brought out to the property and help us with the wildlife,” said Striker.
“Everything will be placed on stealth mode, including the aircraft. No one will see you where we’re landing. ”
“We’re not worried,” said Lucy shaking her head.
“You should be,” said Trak.
They all stared at him as he glared at the women. He didn’t intend to be so harsh but he wanted them to be aware that the situation could get extremely dangerous at any moment.
“Trak,” frowned Rush.
“I don’t mean to sound so cruel but you need to be prepared to defend yourselves. You’ve all been trained with weapons and hand-to-hand. Are you comfortable with that?”
“Yes,” they said in unison nodding at their teacher. He nodded back.
“Good. You are as much my daughters as you are the daughters of my brothers. I will not lose you or anyone here.” Lucy smiled, kissing her uncle on the cheek.
“I love you, too, Uncle Trak,” she smiled. He nodded to her, touching her head and then taking his seat once again.
“ Everyone on board read me?” asked the voice of AJ.
“Roger that,” said Remington. “What do you have for us?”
“We’re trying to gather more cages and trucks now for transport.
This is much bigger than we thought. Some animals are kept at a ranch, caged, some look underfed, probably kept weak to make it easier to hunt.
Others are running wild and look confused.
I can’t tell if they’re drugged or not. But there is a very large group of hunters, in open-air trucks having themselves a good time.
They’ve killed two zebras from what I can see. ”
“Are they taking the animals with them?” asked Claire. AJ was silent for a long time, then finally spoke.
“Negative. They’re skinning them on site and leaving the meat.”
“Dear God,” whispered Caroline staring at her counterparts. “They just want the skins. They’re bringing these poor animals in, making sure they’re easier to catch and kill, and then just skinning them. It’s not like they even want to use the meat.”
“That makes them poachers, not hunters,” frowned Striker. “We can shoot them for that. It makes our job much easier.”
“We’re looking at a lot more animals than we originally thought.
Dex and Luke, you take the girls to the main ranch house to get the animals that are sick or underfed out first. One of the trucks has feed on it.
If it’s something that might attack you, we have to tranquilize it and get it out of there,” said Remington.
“We can handle that. AJ? Any signs of people at the ranch house or main buildings?” asked Luke.
“No one that we can see but there could be someone inside. I’m trying to get low enough to get a heat signature but the winds that are whipping is making it difficult to steady the camera.”
“Keep trying,” said Dex. “We’ll make sure we get those animals out and then set fire to the house. That should send them running back to see what’s wrong. What about security? The fences? Cameras? All of it.”
“Sometimes you guys are seriously fucking insulting. We’ll disrupt all cameras and the fences will be turned off unless it’s for an enclosure of a meat-eating animal. I don’t need a lion or tiger eating my friends.”
“We appreciate you, AJ,” laughed Dex. “Alright, everyone clear on the plan and what we’re doing?”
“I think so,” nodded Lucy.
“Honey, I need for you to know so,” said Luke. “You’re my baby sister, Luce. I gotta know that you’re going to be okay. I know this is scary but you’ll have protection and your own weapons. Are you clear about what will happen and what’s expected of you?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “Yes, I’m clear. And thank you for still worrying about me.”
“We all worry for all of you,” said Gaspar. “Luke and I will be close to see if the animals will speak to us. Hopefully, we can reassure them that we’re not the enemy.”
“Then we’re ready,” nodded Summer. “All of us are ready. Let’s get these animals home.”
“Wait, do we have enough space at the sanctuary for all these extra animals?” asked Dani.
“Shit,” muttered Luke. “Call home and check.”
“Again, you all seriously underestimate all of us. Matthew has it taken care of and he says, ‘that’s all you need to know’.” Gaspar laughed, shaking his head.
“You heard the man. That’s all we need to know.”