Page 75 of Exit Strategy

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The driveback to the house was tense.

Maybe it was because she sensed it, or maybe it was part of their plan, but Sadie showed us a part of the house we hadn’t seen before. The mansion had a panic room. Not a tiny, armored box with a panic button, but a regular-sized room with armored walls, an arsenal of weapons in wall cases, and a full suite of electronics and communication equipment.

“What if they cut the power?” I asked.

“Solar panels on the roof and about half of the windows in this place generate electricity through piezoelectric principals,” the captain said. “Plus, there is a small outbuilding behind the house that houses a diesel generator, and there are battery packs lining the walls of the basement. Despite how big this house is, its carbon footprint is almost zero.”

“Almost?” Callie asked.

“We’re still attached to the grid, state law, and in certain situations, we do draw a small amount of power. Most of the time, this house is putting a modest amount of electricity into the grid. It’s when we hit a long period of overcast weather that also happens to be hot, and the solar isn’t running full capacity and the AC is. Rather than drain all the batteries down, we meter in electricity. When the sun is out, the panels are charging capacitors and batteries, and the house can run on what’s been gathered throughout the day.”

“That’s surprisingly green of you,” Callie said, her eyes wandering across the room, bulging a little at the large variety of guns and other weapons lining the walls.

“When we recommended our mutual friend Worthington to New Eden, it was because we had been fooled by them and assumed that they were what they appeared to be – a group interested in saving the earth,” Sadie said.

“Let’s not get preachy,” Kyle said. “We thought they were green. Roan did a lot of green stuff in this house, and it’s saved money, and gave everyone warm fuzzy feelings, and now we know what they’re really about.”

“Is that why you’re doing this?” Callie asked.

“It kinda is,” Sadie said.

“I’m going to get a drink. Does anyone else want anything?” Kyle asked and excused himself.

“He drinks a lot, doesn’t he?” I asked.

“Not as much as it appears. The drinks are smaller than you think,” Sadie said.

“So why did we make an appearance atLe Jefferson,” I asked. “It seems like a foolish and pointless risk, and if it was for some dish, they obviously make to-go orders.”

“You are familiar with the concept of a strategic feint?” the captain asked.

“This isn’t the Royal Marine Corps, sir,” I said as calmly as I could. “And we aren’t tanks and helos.”

“It isn’t and we aren’t,” he agreed. “But that’s what we are doing. We want New Eden to make a play, to show their hand. Fallout and Tate have a timetable on their press releases and subpoenas that they’re going to be firing into New Eden like torpedoes.”

“And what does that have to do with us exposing ourselves?”

“Because it’s part of the plan,” he said. “In the morning, Sadie and Lach are going to pack up and go stay at that cabin of yours in the park. There’s some accidental intel in the Fallout missives that is going to refer to it. We both know that there will be moles inside Fallout who are still faithful to New Eden, and they will know that Kurt and Callie are going to be at a remote and secure location.”

“You’re putting Kyle and your girlfriend in my cabin as decoys?” I asked.

“Yes, they are highly capable and competent, plus we have a few other friends we reached out to, for an assist. If New Eden sends some sort of package to find you and the lovely Mrs. Rex, they’re going to find an elite paramilitary force waiting for them in an entrenched position, well-armed, well-equipped, and highly informed.”

“You’re going to kill them?” Callie asked, her voice a little strained.

“While there is certainly that chance, the plan is non-lethal apprehension. We want to, ideally, take them prisoner. We shall then turn them over to DHS, since human trafficking and sex crimes are involved. They’ll likely treat them as terrorists operating in the United States.”

“That’s… that’s not a terrible plan, actually,” I said.

“I’m glad the staff sergeant agrees with his captain,” he said. “Because the subpoenas and media firestorm are going to be a kick in the knackers for New Eden. Capturing and interrogating a New Eden paramilitary force operating in proximity to the U.S. capital, that will be a knife in their heart. This has to be public and visible, because the real heavy hitter that is going to take New Eden down isn’t us, or the Justice department or even Homeland Security.”

“Public opinion?” Callie said. “New Eden has a huge PR wing, and public opinion is a major concern for them.”

“Exactly,” he said. “So, Sadie and Lach are going to go camping, and you two are fully welcome to all the amenities of the house for the duration of your stay. Full kitchen – I like to cook for company – a pool, a hot tub, a boat down on the dock, a full library with a billiards table, and a pretty solid gym.”

“Home delivery takes care of the rest?” Callie asked.

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