Page 102 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

“Keppler. Two things I need you to deal with.”

“Yes, sir.” Inside, he relaxed.

I’m still safe.

“Our VIP will be arriving Friday afternoon, by plane. It’ll be your job to sort out sleeping quarters for him.”

Milo removed his phone from his pocket and tapped the screen. “Certainly, sir. How many nights will he be staying? And will I need to accommodate any staff that might be accompanying him?”

“He’ll be leaving here Monday morning.” The commander peered at his monitor. “And he’ll have two guards with him. I don’t care if you have some of our men sleeping outside—he must be shown every courtesy and consideration, and that means providing him with his own room.” He glanced at Milo. “Can you arrange that?”

“Yes, sir.” Milo could sound confident when he needed to.

“Excellent. And now for the other matter….” The commander leaned forward, his long fingers steepled. “Who is our best marksman in your opinion? I need a sniper.”

Milo frowned. “Walsh is good, sir, and so is Bradley, but for accuracy, I’d have to say O’Neill every time.”

“That was my thought also. We’ve been asked by our VIP to perform a small task, for which we will require O’Neill’s expertise. One of the prisoners is to be eliminated.”

Milo gave him an inquiring glance. “I don’t understand, sir. Why use a sniper for the job? Why not simply give the prisoner a lethal injection?”

“Because, Captain Keppler, our VIP wants to make an example of him. His instructions are that the prisoner will betaken out with a single shot while he’s on the exercise yard. No one else is to be harmed. This is to be a lesson for the others. A little fear is no bad thing. A reminder that everyone is expendable.”

“And when is this to take place, sir?”

The commander sat back in his chair. “Ah, nowthatI don’t know yet. Apparently the timing has to be right. I’ll know more when we receive further intelligence about the Fridan raid.”

“We still don’t know when they’ll be making their move?”

He shook his head. “Although I have it on good authority that it will be within the coming week. As soon as I know, I’ll share the details. You’ll need to bring in reinforcements.” He smiled. “They’ll be walking into a trap, and not one of them will leave here alive.” He glanced at Milo. “That’ll be all, Captain.”

“Sir.” Milo gave a sharp salute, then stilled. “Excuse me, sir, but I’m missing one important detail.”

“Which is?”

“The name of the prisoner to be executed?” Milo forced a chuckle. “O’Neill needs to know who to aim at, after all.”

The commander laughed. “Good point. His name is Jake Carson.” Then he frowned. “I’m not sure I understand the reasoning behind killing one of their most successful experiments, but I’m sure the powers that be know what they’re doing. As they say, ours is not to reason why.”

Milo gave another salute and marched out of the office, the following line of the quotation ringing inside his head.

Wasn’t it something like ‘ours is but to do and die?’

Except if Fielding got his way, it wouldn’t be the Gerans who were dying, but the Fridans.

And Dellan’s father.

He hurried out of the block and into the open air. It seemed incongruous to feel the warmth of the sun on his face, to see theclear sky above the canopy of trees, and to have to give the order to end a life for no reason that he could fathom.

Milo took a deep breath.Jana? Can you hear me?

A heartbeat later, her sweet voice was in his head.Yes, Milo.

I can’t tell you when exactly, but I’m going to keep my promise. I’m getting you out of here.He swallowed.And I’ll be going with you.

His career with the Geran military was about to reach an abrupt end.

Really?

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