the south-west defensive tower,’ he said, indicating the tower on the plans. ‘We’ll take out any sentries that are on station, and neutralise any security measures nearby. Keegan, your call sign for this op is Delta. Your objective will be to set up a sniping position in this tower and cover the remaining three towers, plus the exercise yard.’
Keegan raised an eyebrow. ‘Jesus. Talk about multi-tasking, Ryan.’
Frost grinned. ‘Should have brought more women on the team.’
The veteran sniper gave her a withering look. ‘You could do the job if you weren’t smaller than the rifle.’
Frost tipped her coffee to him in mock salute but said nothing.
‘Phase Three is to neutralise the prison’s security and communication systems. Once Keegan is set up, we’ll split into two teams. Keira and Cole, you’re Alpha One and Two, respectively. You’ll head to the prison’s security station in the south block,’ Drake said, indicating a room on the second floor of the prison which they believed served as the nerve centre for the prison’s security cameras. ‘Keira, your objective will be to secure the station and destroy or disable any electronic security measures on site, and take out their communications.’
The young woman smiled. ‘Tell me what you want destroyed and I’ll make it happen.’
This was the part of the job she enjoyed. Computer hacking and data-trunk bypasses had their place, but sometimes a good crowbar was just as effective. And easier.
‘Good. Cole, you’re on cover duty.’
Mason nodded. ‘No problem.’
‘Right, Phase Four – finding Maras. As soon as the security system is down, myself and Dietrich will split off as Bravo One and Two. We’ll make our way along the roof to the north-west tower. That’s our closest access point to the solitary confinement cells, where we’re reliably informed she’s being held.’
Cain nodded. ‘She’s not the kind of prisoner you’d want in the general population, unless you had a pretty decent infirmary.’
‘How cooperative is she likely to be?’ Dietrich asked.
Cain folded his hands and leaned forward. ‘It’s hard to say. She was a rogue agent, so she’s unlikely to have much love for the Agency. There’s also no telling what effect prison has had on her. Whatever the case, you should still consider her extremely dangerous.’
Dietrich looked dubious. ‘She’s only one woman.’
Frost gave him a hostile glare but said nothing.
‘One woman who could easily kill every person in this room, son,’ Cain warned him, his expression deadly serious. ‘Believe me, I’ve seen what she’s capable of. The second you underestimate her, you’re as good as dead. Don’t turn your back on her for an instant, and don’t give her an opportunity to arm herself. Are we clear?’
Dietrich regarded the older man in silence for several seconds.
‘Are we clear?’ Cain repeated.
‘Yes, we’re clear,’ he said at last.
‘Good. You’re not to make any attempt to communicate with her either,’ he added. ‘She might say or do things to make you drop your guard.
Don’t
let yourself get taken in. Don’t believe anything she says.’
The others exchanged curious glances but said nothing.
Drake cleared his throat to resume the briefing. ‘According to the blueprints there are thirty-two cells in this block. Aside from searching them one at a time, our best chance will be to interrogate one of the prisoners and see if they know where she is. That’ll be your job, Jonas.’
Dietrich nodded. He had expected as much.
‘What kind of forces can we expect on site?’ Mason asked.
Drake leafed through his dossier. ‘According to their old personnel listings, there are a dozen guards, one warden and assistant warden, and about ten other support staff in various roles – technicians, cooks and so on.’
Mason raised an eyebrow. ‘That’s all? For a maximum security prison with nearly three hundred inmates?’
‘Cutbacks.
Keegan raised an eyebrow. ‘Jesus. Talk about multi-tasking, Ryan.’
Frost grinned. ‘Should have brought more women on the team.’
The veteran sniper gave her a withering look. ‘You could do the job if you weren’t smaller than the rifle.’
Frost tipped her coffee to him in mock salute but said nothing.
‘Phase Three is to neutralise the prison’s security and communication systems. Once Keegan is set up, we’ll split into two teams. Keira and Cole, you’re Alpha One and Two, respectively. You’ll head to the prison’s security station in the south block,’ Drake said, indicating a room on the second floor of the prison which they believed served as the nerve centre for the prison’s security cameras. ‘Keira, your objective will be to secure the station and destroy or disable any electronic security measures on site, and take out their communications.’
The young woman smiled. ‘Tell me what you want destroyed and I’ll make it happen.’
This was the part of the job she enjoyed. Computer hacking and data-trunk bypasses had their place, but sometimes a good crowbar was just as effective. And easier.
‘Good. Cole, you’re on cover duty.’
Mason nodded. ‘No problem.’
‘Right, Phase Four – finding Maras. As soon as the security system is down, myself and Dietrich will split off as Bravo One and Two. We’ll make our way along the roof to the north-west tower. That’s our closest access point to the solitary confinement cells, where we’re reliably informed she’s being held.’
Cain nodded. ‘She’s not the kind of prisoner you’d want in the general population, unless you had a pretty decent infirmary.’
‘How cooperative is she likely to be?’ Dietrich asked.
Cain folded his hands and leaned forward. ‘It’s hard to say. She was a rogue agent, so she’s unlikely to have much love for the Agency. There’s also no telling what effect prison has had on her. Whatever the case, you should still consider her extremely dangerous.’
Dietrich looked dubious. ‘She’s only one woman.’
Frost gave him a hostile glare but said nothing.
‘One woman who could easily kill every person in this room, son,’ Cain warned him, his expression deadly serious. ‘Believe me, I’ve seen what she’s capable of. The second you underestimate her, you’re as good as dead. Don’t turn your back on her for an instant, and don’t give her an opportunity to arm herself. Are we clear?’
Dietrich regarded the older man in silence for several seconds.
‘Are we clear?’ Cain repeated.
‘Yes, we’re clear,’ he said at last.
‘Good. You’re not to make any attempt to communicate with her either,’ he added. ‘She might say or do things to make you drop your guard.
Don’t
let yourself get taken in. Don’t believe anything she says.’
The others exchanged curious glances but said nothing.
Drake cleared his throat to resume the briefing. ‘According to the blueprints there are thirty-two cells in this block. Aside from searching them one at a time, our best chance will be to interrogate one of the prisoners and see if they know where she is. That’ll be your job, Jonas.’
Dietrich nodded. He had expected as much.
‘What kind of forces can we expect on site?’ Mason asked.
Drake leafed through his dossier. ‘According to their old personnel listings, there are a dozen guards, one warden and assistant warden, and about ten other support staff in various roles – technicians, cooks and so on.’
Mason raised an eyebrow. ‘That’s all? For a maximum security prison with nearly three hundred inmates?’
‘Cutbacks.
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