13 Making a Plan

“Wait a minute,” Ostin said. “There might be a way that our disadvantage could work in our favor.”

Everyone turned to look at him.

“We’re, like, ninety-nine-point-nine percent certain that we can’t get close to the colony without them knowing because they can smell, see, and hear electrics within a few miles.

“And we can be sure that Bryan and Kylee would have already told them that we were going to come for Abi. Even Bryan knows we never leave a soldier behind. So, it’s safe to assume that not only will they sense when we’re close, but they’re already waiting for us to come.”

“Still not seeing the advantage here,” Zeus said.

“They’re waiting for us to come, but they’re not waiting for two groups to come. I say we split up the Nonels and the electrics and come in separately. The colony will focus all their attention on the electrics, while Jack and Alpha Team sneak in, rescue Abi, and get out before the colony even knows what happened.”

“Then, are you going with the Nonels?” Nichelle asked.

“No, I’m an electric,” Ostin said.

Taylor didn’t say anything. But I could tell she wasn’t happy.

“You’re saying we use their overconfidence against them,” Jack said. “Just like Washington crossing the Delaware and attacking the Hessians.”

“What would that look like?” I asked.

Ostin walked over to the map of the VRAEM.

“So, they’re right here, near the town of Misión. Team A, that’s the Nonels, would fly into one of these nearby cities, probably Huancayo. They would drive up to around here, Anapati, then down near the Ene River. From there they would hike south along the river to Alto Anapati. From Alto Anapati they hike through the jungle to here, staging site one, about a mile from the colony.

“At the same time, the electrics—team B—fly into Ayacucho, then drive to Tanquín, cross the river to the east, then move north toward the colony.

“We use the nickel tracking devices, so we know where everyone is at all times. When team A is in place, team B starts their move in toward the colony. They’re not the only ones with eyes. Ian will be able to see when they mobilize toward team B. When they do, we alert team A, who advances to staging site two, a few hundred yards from the colony.

“As soon as team B has drawn them out, team A rushes in and rescues Abi. Hopefully, Ian will be able to direct you to where Abi is being held.” Ostin looked us over to see how we were responding. “That’s my idea.”

“It makes sense,” Quentin said.

“Let’s tear it apart,” I said. “What could go wrong?”

“What do we do if they attack team A?” Taylor asked.

“Then they have a two-front battle,” Ostin said. “It’s like Hitler simultaneously battling the Soviet Union and the western Allies. It’s why he lost.”

“If they discover team A,” I said, “team B takes the compound, rescues Abigail, and attacks the colony electrics from the rear.” I turned to Quentin. “You said Torstyn’s cartel is in that area. Is there any way we could get him and his men to help?”

“We’d have to find him first, and that’s not likely. The entire DEA and Peruvian army are looking for him, and they haven’t found him yet.”

“I thought you knew how to contact him.”

“I don’t. He calls me.”

“But you were going to call him when we were fighting the Chasqui.”

“I was going to try contacting one of his dealers.”

“Can you still do that?”

“No. The dealer just went to prison.”

“So that’s not an option,” I said. “That’s too bad. He could have been useful.”

“What if the Shining Path or the cartel engages with team A?” Tara asked.

“If team A comes under attack, we change our course and help them,” I said.

“We’ll shred them like a credit card at a debt control seminar,” Nichelle said, which might have been the funniest thing she had ever said.

“All right,” my father said. “We have a plan. Are there any questions?”

“When do we go?” Jack asked.

“When do you want to go?”

“Yesterday,” Jack replied.

My father looked around the room. “Let’s put this to a vote. The soonest we can fly is tomorrow morning at first light. Who would like to go at the first chance possible?”

One by one every hand in the room rose. I looked over at Taylor. She was looking at me with her hand raised.

“Tomorrow morning it is,” my father said. “I’ll alert the pilots. We’ll meet up at the Veytric terminal at seven a.m. It will be a direct flight, so we’ll arrive at our first destination around ten p.m.” He looked around the room. “On a personal note, I’ve never seen a more courageous group of men and women. Good luck and Godspeed.”

We got up slowly. To my surprise Taylor walked up to me. “Will you give me a ride home?”

“Of course.”

We walked down to the car. As soon as I got in, she said, “So you’re going.”

“Yes.”

She said nothing. In fact, she didn’t say another word to me the whole way home. As I pulled into her driveway, I said, “Come on, Taylor. We need to talk about this. We need to decide together what’s right.”

“You not getting killed is what’s right.”

“There are worse things than being killed.”

“Oh, really? What would that be?”

“Seeing my friends killed. Having you killed. Having Abi live in slavery.”

Taylor didn’t answer.

“How is this different from when we went back to Hades and Tuvalu? You were mad at me then. And look what came from it. We literally saved the world.”

“And if you hadn’t literally become a god, we would all be dead. How many times do you think you’re going to be that lucky?”

I breathed out heavily. “All right. I’ll tell you what. If you can answer yes to this honestly, I’ll stay home.”

She looked at me. “Seriously?”

“Yes.”

“All right.”

“I understand how you feel. If our places were reversed—if I’d seen you dying in the jungle—there’s no way I’d want you to go. My question is, if that were the case, would you stay home and let me go without you?”

She was silent for a moment. Then her eyes began to well up.

“Would you?”

“You know the answer.”

I put my forehead against hers, then said softly, “It’s no different, Tay. That’s exactly how it is.”

She put her arms around me and wept.