Page 114 of Rescuing Mia

The camaraderie among the men of the Charlie team is palpable, and their easy banter provides a comforting backdrop. They saved two spots for Mia and me.

Blake elbows Gabe, his mouth full of a sandwich. “Hey, leave some for the rest of us, will ya?”

Gabe grins, stuffing another strawberry into his mouth. “What can I say? I need my energy.”

Walt snorts, reaching for a slice of cheese. “Yeah, because lifting those grapes is such hard work.”

Hank chuckles, tossing a grape at Walt. “Careful, you might strain something.”

CJ watches the exchange with a bemused smile, his arms crossed over his broad chest. His eyes, though, are sharp and focused, always assessing. “Glad you could join us. We were just about to get started on planning the next steps.”

Forest’s imposing figure looms beside him, his shock-white hair and ice-blue eyes giving him an almost mythical presence. Skye sits next to him, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the boisterous men around her.

Mitzy, the technical lead, sits at the far end of the table, her fingers tapping away on a laptop. The rhythmic clicking is a constant background noise. Her expression is one of intense concentration.

She pauses, looking up. “So far, no incoming ships on radar, but that doesn’t mean we’re not being watched.”

Mia’s eyes widen in surprise. “You’ve been scanning for incoming ships and aircraft?”

Mitzy nods, her gaze serious. “Yes, we’ve been using advanced radar and satellite tracking systems to monitor the area. We can’t take any chances.”

The constant hum of the ship’s engines vibrates through the floor. Mia’s grip tightens on my hand, her knuckles white.

“I didn’t realize… I mean, I knew I was in danger, but…”

Forest steps in, his voice calm but firm. “Mia, the threat against you is very real. Red Phoenix is a powerful organization. Paired up with Sentinel, we have to assume they have extensive resources and they are monitoring us, waiting for any sign of you to surface.”

Mitzy swivels her laptop around, showing a complex array of screens and data feeds. “We’re using a combination of radar sweeps and satellite imagery to keep an eye on the surrounding waters. This system alerts us to any unusual activity, be it ships, aircraft, or even drones.”

Gabe leans in, peering at the screen. “Mitzy is a wizard with tech. She’s got eyes on everything within a hundred-mile radius.”

Walt nods, a hint of pride in his voice. “She’s the reason we haven’t been caught off guard yet.”

Mitzy’s fingers dance over the keyboard, pulling up a live feed of the surrounding area. “This is our current radar sweep. The green blips are known vessels—fishing boats, cargo ships, and the like. We’re looking for anything that doesn’t belong, anything that moves in an unusual pattern.”

Mia’s eyes flicker over the screen, absorbing the information. “So, you’re constantly watching, constantly analyzing.”

Mitzy smiles faintly, her eyes never leaving the screen. “Exactly. It’s a never-ending game of cat and mouse. We’re good at what we do. We’ll see them coming long before they reach us.”

“But they will eventually reach us. They want you dead.” Forest nods, his gaze sweeping the room. “Which is why we need to find a way to get you off this trawler safely. We can’t assume Red Phoenix thinks you’re dead after falling offSerenity, not after that helicopter. We have to assume they radioed in that you were picked up. It’s imperative we get you off this trawler in a way that makes it look like you disappeared.”

The room falls silent as the gravity of Forest’s words sinks in.

“Every move we make needs to be calculated.” Sam, ever the tactician, leans forward, his gaze sweeping over the team.

Blake, his expression thoughtful, speaks up. “What if we use the RIB under the cover of darkness? We could head for the northern shore of Australia. It’s a stealthy approach.”

Walt nods, considering the idea. “The RIB is small and fast. We could avoid major shipping lanes and reduce the risk of being detected.”

Ethan adds, “We’d need to time it perfectly. Leave during a low radar activity window. Mitzy, can you predict that?”

Mitzy taps a few keys, pulling up more data. “I can analyze radar activity patterns, but it’s not foolproof. There’s always a risk of being spotted.”

Sam interjects, “Even with the best timing, the RIB could still be detected by radar. It’s a dangerous option.”

CJ nods, his brow furrowing. “If Red Phoenix is monitoring us, they’ll be watching for any small craft leaving the trawler. It’s too risky.”

Blake sighs, rubbing his temples. “Alright, that’s out. What else?”

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