15 Mission Prep
Pru and Zaratta dragged the rather large trunk into the center of the common room. The others were busy finishing up after breakfast. The evening had been a pleasant reunion; Jazira seemed to be reassured and relaxed by having her friends with her. She and Pru had filled the others in on what was happening, but they tacitly agreed to leave mission preparation for the following day. Now, they were getting down to business.
Before Pru could start to open the trunk, however, the door opened and Isabella Buonfortuna came through. She was a small blond with the look of a northern Italian. They often referred to her as The Italian from Algiers”. There were greetings, hugs and talk for a few moments; then Pru assigned Jazira to brief the new arrival, and they went back to the trunk.
The lock yielded readily to Pru´s handprint, and they began unpacking. There were the fatigues and wristcoms Terry had promised, and much more. Six stunners a model Pru had never seen before with holsters and three extra charge packs each. There were six bandoliers, each containing 20 stun grenades. Night goggles, two pair of binoculars, restraint bands, heavy wire cutters. Pru was sure Terry had included everything he thought would be useful, but she was also sure they´d find themselves short of something, just at the wrong moment.
They each took a share of the equipment, and Pru began with a discussion of the various items. This isn´t like The Yemen, kids. We´ve got serious opponents and we have pretty serious equipment.
Do we have backup?” Alia asked. She was a dark woman, tall and blocky, with a musculature that reflected her role as bouncer, when needed, at the restaurant.
Sort of,” Pru said. OSG forces will move in as soon as we have secured the target and found Zahlman. That is, they won´t be standing right beside us in fact, they´ll be at least 20 minutes away. Don´t count on them to get us out of trouble.”
Sissies,” Alia said with a grin. Don´t want to get their pretty uniforms dirty.”
Zaratta asked, Are we sure Zahlman´s really there?”
No,” Pru acknowledged, but they are guarding one building.” She pointed it out on the image displayed on the com screen. And, there´s enough going on there, that´s not legal, to justify our operation. As for me, I´m sure that´s where they´ve got him.”
They spent the morning going over the equipment, doffing their kilts and trying on the fatigues. To Pru´s surprise, everyone found a set that fit. Pru made them all read the documentation for the new wristcoms, checking that everyone understood their operation. These models had come with a device that fit in the ear as well as a throat-band microphone. Pru was not especially surprised to find a set for her in the package. Her ear cuffs and necklace were just not robust enough for this mission.
Their lunch was frozen meals from the safe house stores, then Pru led an hour of aerobic exercises. None of her friends had let themselves slide, physically, and she noted that Jazira, despite her worries, was among the best. She spoke to her about it.
Nothing surprising, Pru.” Jazira answered. Neo-Tantra puts you in the mood for some pretty athletic action you know that. And, I never was a sit-in-the-corner.”
What´s Neo-Tantra?” Isabella asked. Jazira briefed her friends on how she had taken up the new discipline and her reasons for it, only omitting Pru´s involvement.
When Jazira had finished, Pru added, As it happens, I work for Neo-Tantra now.”
Is that where this safe house comes from?” Alia asked.
Neo-Tantra is providing this house. That´s all I´m going to say.”
Well,” Alia said, I notice the fatigues are as close to OSG issue as anything I´ve ever seen, and you don´t find stunners like this or any kind” she raised hers, at the corner knife shop.”
Alia,” Pru interrupted, I think you´d better keep your speculations to yourself.”
Right, boss.” Alia nodded, not at all offended. You´re right. Truth be told, I don´t even want to think about what I´m thinking about.”
Stick with that, and we´ll all be better off.” Pru changed the subject. Enough of this goofing off. We´re going outside. Take your full kit and fatigues in your backpacks. Isabella, grab the other set of binoculars. Let´s go.”
They donned their kilts and left the safe house by an alternate exit, avoiding the risk of appearing in the alley next to the gift shop. Once outside, they made their way in groups to the Qatal portal. There were two ´mobiles there, positioned for their use by Said. They moved off through the fields, turning east before the beginning of the town of Qatal and went on over field ways into a desolate, un-irrigated area in the foothills. They parked behind low hills from which the almost transparent energy fields that kept weather outside of the CA were a gleam on the horizon, but only if you climbed the ridge. The ´mobiles were concealed under the few, stunted trees. They spent several hours checking the operation of their wristcoms, stunning passing birds. Each of them practiced arming and disarming their stun grenades, until Pru was satisfied they understood how they worked.
The main issue was the wristcom network. Pru worked with them all to establish communications discipline, and finally, when she was satisfied, she contacted Home Office.
As soon as she had coded, Solly´s voice came to her earbug. Hello, Pru.” His voice quality changed slightly as he changed channels. Can all of you hear me?”
Pru gestured everyone into a circle. They all silently acknowledged contact.
Everyone hears you.” Pru said.
I am Solly. You will use that name to contact me. If you are on your local command net and say that word, you will be connected to me, so do not use it unless you need to. It will enable you to get to me in case you can´t get to your commander. Your commander is Alpha. Please use only that name on the air. Only Alpha should contact me under normal circumstances. I will be in contact with her normally on another channel. I know all of you speak Arabic, but when you talk to me, please use English. Use what you like on your local net.
Each of the rest of you will be Bravo One, and so on. Please, each of you identify yourself to me, saying your call name three times.”
Each of the others spoke as Pru pointed to her in turn.
Solly said, The repetition is to get a voice print of each of you. If you need to contact me directly, I will know who you are without you having to tell me. Alpha, I´m signing off. Thanks.”
Alpha out,” Pru acknowledged. All Bravos. Perform routine recon.”
All six women moved away in a pattern they were clearly used to, scanning the area and moving almost silently to check out imaginary hiding places and possible real ambush locations.
Alpha. Bravo One.” Jazira spoke. Unidentified flowers 100 meters at 12 o´clock relative.”
Very well, Bravo One.”
Alpha. Bravo Five.” It was Isabella. Good sample of mica´ed granite at 3 o´clock relative, 150 meters.”
Pru acknowledged each of them as they reported some trivial find. It was a routine they had practiced before, using their normal com remotes.
On her earbug, Pru heard Solly´s voice. It dominated but did not obscure the occasional chatter of the Bravos. Very good, Alpha. The distances are just about right on, as well. To switch from having to hear me, just say ‘localnet´. Have you tested the other equipment?”
Check, Solly. We´re as ready as we can be without live targets. I plan a recon tonight after 2300 local.”
Check, Alpha. Make contact 15 minutes before you start. Good luck. Solly out.”
Alpha out.”