Page 117 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

“Where’s Fielding gonna be?” Crank asked.

Horvan pointed to one of the barracks. “In here. He’s been given a room to himself. His bodyguards are in with the regular guards. Dellan, next photo, please.” Milo’s face filled the screen. “Now, memorize this face. This is Milo Keppler, captain of the guard. Under no circumstances are any of you to use lethal ammo on this guy, you got that?”

“Why are we sparing this dude?” a voice called out. “He’s a Geran, isn’t he?”

Horvan glared at the speaker. “He’s the reason we have all the intel we do. And it’s been confirmed by another source. I don’t have to tell you guys, intelligence is the most powerful weapon we have. We don’t want them to know Keppler’s our mole, so don’t treat him any different, okay? Tranq him if you have to, for appearance’s sake. But when we leave, we bring him with us.”

“Two Apache helicopters will control the sky,” Saul continued, “and three Chinooks will land on the airfield to evacall the prisoners. They’ll be flown to the forward operating base in Brunswick.” He surveyed the faces before him. “We have two goals, remember. Rescuing the prisoners and taking Fielding alive.”

“Once the Chinooks are out of there, we come back here, take down the camp, and load everything into the C-17,” Horvan announced. “Rendezvous at Brunswick to refuel before heading back to Illinois.”

“Are we sending Fielding to Brunswick too?” Eve asked.

“Yes, but he goes in one of the Apaches, with Crank,” Horvan replied. “Aelryn has made plans to take the rescued prisoners to several safe places where they’ll be cared for. Well, most of the prisoners. Three will be coming home with us.” He smiled at Dellan.

Finding Jake, Jamie, and Seth was gonna make for some emotional reunions.

“What about the guards?” someone asked.

“Leave ’em where they drop. They aren’t our concern once we’ve got what we came for.” Horvan grinned. “I’m sure their superiors will have a lot of questions for them.”

“Hey, H. Does the kitty have its own headgear and weapon?” someone called out. That earned him a few chuckles.

A snort came from Brick. “The kitty has built-in weapons. They’re called claws. And he’ll be staying right here.”

“Okay, that’s it. Briefing over.” Horvan put his hands on his hips. “Get some sleep, because we’re up awful early, and I want you all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.”

The soldiers stood and filed out of the tent while Dellan disconnected the projector, leaving the team leaders behind.

“H, I’m gonna go spend some time with Aric,” Brick told him.

Horvan gave him a sympathetic glance. “Not long now and you’ll all be together.” He waited until Brick had leftbefore sighing. “He’s still a mess. He’d better keep a lid on it tomorrow.”

“I’ll watch out for him,” Saul told him. “I could do with something else to keep my mind occupied.” He grinned.

Crank huffed. “Like your mind isn’t already overtaxed.”

“I don’t have to worry about you, do I?”

Crank smiled. “No, sir. I’ll be just fine.” He glanced at Eve. “We’re gonna give those delivery guys a change of cargo.”

“It’ll be you and me up front,” Roadkill reminded him.

“I’m not ready for bed yet,” Eve held her hand out to Roadkill. “Want to take a walk and look at the sunset?”

“I could do with a little romance.” Roadkill chuckled. “And seeing as I can’t share your cot bed—not without attracting a lot of unwelcome attention at any rate—I’ll take all I can get.”

DELLAN PUSHEDthe three cot beds together. “I guess there have to be some perks to being Joint Team Leader. Getting to sleep alone in the command tent is one of them.”

Rael dumped the sleeping bags onto the beds. “You call these things a perk? I think we were more comfortable sleeping on the ground sheet. At least then there wasn’t a steel frame poking me the whole night.”

Dellan laughed. “No, that was Horvan’s dick, but I can see how you could confuse the two.”

Horvan rolled his eyes. “We’ll be back in our own bed soon enough. You can put up with one more night.”

Dellan walked over to the tent flap and stared out into the inky blackness. No light pollution made for a gloriously starry night, the pinpoints of light as numerous as a sprinkling of salt on a layer of black velvet.

“Hard to believe we’re so close to Dad and Jamie,” he murmured. He knew without turning that the reassuringwarm hand on his shoulder was Horvan’s. Dellan leaned back, breathing in the smell that reminded him of home—of love.

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