Page 62 of Seamus: Unconventional
MB: “Prometheus showed system fail. I don’t understand but you can feel it here. The crated K-9 are whimpering softly like they’re feeling it too.” His view shows crates where the K-9s are pawing absentmindedly or have heads on their paws but eyes riveted on the partners.
Me: He turns back and I see Martin lower his head and tail. “Block the door!” Before they shift to a run, Prometheus’ hologram board’s sound comes on as the board grows bigger. Martin jumps to attention with Lights order. I see the light in the box shift as the door is closed. I breathe. “Thank you, Brother. Light will get them settled and you may have just saved their lives. They’d have done what they could to cease.”
MB: “It felt like whatever he was doing on the floor was a last-ditch effort, but it’s calm here. I mean for humans it’s calm. The dogs sounded frantic and louder than nine dogs could or should make. This is going to NeuroVision labs. That’s your chip study?” He still sounds off, anxious or something. I don’t know him well but he’s always calm and speaks slowly.
Me: Here in the US? I feel tired and we haven’t even started. Pulling a chair out I sit. “Yeah. Ramsey is giving Light the ID for the others. They’re not military but all are tactical for PD, Homeland and Border. They have them as stolen.” I stop when I see the Maestro Partners flash on Prometheus’ board. Martin physically relaxes then stands at full attention like he’s not just playing at it. I watch Ramsey. He chuffs with tears. K-9s rarely show that but this partner lost his host, has lived through hell since and is smart enough to see the hell they were all in for. “Light, order them to provide security to the K-9s until they all make it here. We’ll need Katie on testing them for any enhancements they got but they are Security until they set down at Maestro.”
Light: “Roger, Boss.” Sean Connery makes me smile.
Me. “You can open the door, MB. With the order and familiar partners, they’re settled.”
MB: “No system failure?” He doesn’t sound convinced.
Me: “No, Brother. They would have bolted, drawing fire, or run in the path of a truck but they’re settled. Prometheus will tell you.”
MB: I smile seeing it on the board but MB says it. “I feel it but he said they’re good or thumbs up.”
Me: I smile right out. “Is there transport for them right away?” I have Myers here.
Jack: “Ops are running everywhere so transport is being challenged. You have a chopper lifting without an engineer. They’ll use ABSZ for engineer position and get the K-9 home. I’m told if you don’t agree they can stay in that box and we’ll get a truck to pull it to Maestro.”
Me: My head turns fast as I stand. Asa and Tony nod. “The flight will calm us all, BSC Ops. I appreciate the option but even MB feels the need for red extract.”
Jack: “I don’t think your crew would have set down if you went the other way. Ranger is telling me I need to get them home before there’s interference spilling over. Right now, the driver thinks he’s been followed by Badass through a whole state. We’re taking him so that won’t change. Bishop is showing as a show to mark the Badass exit.” They’re smart. I’d want a definite guarantee Badass is gone before their shipments come in. This also gets everyone watching a rest stop and not seeing the movement of tactical units all through the trust land that abuts the property just off the ranch land. Champion Asa said. It can’t be the Club, it must be the family name.
Me: “Satellite still on covert?”
Asa: “View blur to outside BSC. Prez Knight have IT to Colorado partner to Delta.” The Badass camera on everything was a concern to me but they have protocols around every procedural scenario I came up with.
Me: I nod and we wait. “Thanks.”
***
Me: After three hours, we finally have more than a surprise K-9 rescue that popped up happening. I was released from Honor to meet the K-9s at the chopper on Maestro so I’m back in my own Ops room with Tony and Chaps. I don’t really need Tony now but he’s interested in the Ops and trained with the protocol, so practice while I have backup for him could come in handy. Phoenix, Colorado and Bishop at Veritable all worked for this Op but my teams got lunch, found prime positions and waited. MB never gave an order to his K-9s. I’m not sure he’s said a word in the last three hours beside ‘roger’.
Cort: “We’re a go, Maestro. ID drivers as trucks arrive in the back, cars and whatever from the front. The meet is on and confirmation from all the partners listed is verified. Ben said good fuckin’ job, Brothers.”
Me: Light turns my way. I bow my head to him. “I’ll pass that on, Boss. Maestro teams, Alpha, One, Enforcer and Protector all attendees identified are confirmed. Tag them as they show. Tag drivers and trucks so there are no surprises. We got recognition for stellar surveillance from the top, Brothers. Stay alert, send concerns and ask for what you need. Follow the plan. We’re a go.”
Light: Light logs everyone rogering, even my teams. We watch the first truck roll in. Their security, that’s trying not to look like security, does a sweep around the building. The front has no movement.
Me: We wait out their apprehensions with the next three trucks, one being a smaller box truck. Light has Shadow up and I see his ‘feel it’ sign. I ready MB. “Team One, Alpha has clear entry.” He doesn’t answer but I see his hand sign to Prometheus.
Light: He sends me a thumbs up as Shadow bounces from the ground onto the loading dock and walks in as if it’s his right to be there. I look for Shadows feed and smile. He’s trotting down an aisle of skid steers.
Me: I ask about the feed in the chip. Light sends ‘Phoenix looped.’ Swiping my boards, I see Web with Cort in Phoenix. I keep going and see Alder in Bravo with Jack and Falcon watching.
Dugan: “SUVs approaching.” The Enforcer Lead speaks softly.
Freedom: “Roger, Dugan. Ops, we borrowed Hunter from Shadow. He’s up in some landscaping with his feed showing the whole drop off area in front. He hears me but I didn't get a way to do dog talk.”
Light: His head is shaking exaggerated no out. I smile but let him handle this. “Team One Lead Protector, Hunter is on Maestro’s Alpha Team. He will be moved if ID is not clear.”
Freedom: “Thanks, VP Light. Shadow didn’t explain anything. He rogered then walked away. Hunter stood in front of me with his ID on the board. Get the voice thing for them or hook up the Leads.” She sounds relieved.
Me: I smile saying it, “Lead glasses show the Maestro partners.”
Freedom: “We could use that before we’re on an Op with the freaky K-9. They’re freakier than Zeus and his crew.”
