quickly.
‘He’s telling the truth.The man on the Morpheus is Jordan Mackay, former member of the Special Boat Service, retired a year ago.’
‘You’re going to the oil platform to rescue a friend?’ Mansfield asked.
‘Did you think I was going for you?’
This didn’t satisfy him. ‘The surveillance system will be set up on the lower levels of the rig without anyone needing to go up top and become exposed. If you go in search of this man, you’ll put the whole operation at risk.’
‘I guess it’s not perfect for either of us. I thought this was a chance for you to prove yourselves.’
‘And for you too, perhaps,’ Rowena added. ‘After your last cock-up.’
Stratton clenched his jaw. The woman was an arse, to be sure, but he was not going to let her get to him this time.
‘That’s irresponsible, isn’t it?’ Jason asked, pressing the point.
‘Look who’s talking,’ Stratton responded.
The scientist remained unsure. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for but the question was: could he achieve his aims under these conditions? ‘How do we get on board the helicopter?’ he asked.
There was a moment’s silence while everyone took in the likely reality of the situation. It was a serious step in itself to try, even if they didn’t get out through the door. If London knew they were even considering it they would not be amused.
‘We get fully rigged and walk on board,’ Stratton said. ‘Leave the rest to me.’
‘The crewman will know we’re not the same team,’ Smithy said.
Stratton had been aware of an air of nervousness surrounding the tall, skinny, pale-looking man. Now that they seemed to be going ahead with the task it was getting even more noticeable.
‘Obviously,’ Stratton replied. ‘So we don’t try and pretend otherwise. We tell them the truth.’
‘Tell the crew that the SBS team are stuck in the airlock, you mean?’ Jackson asked. Jackson was bigger than all of the others but none of the man’s bulk tended to fat. He looked the type who liked to take supplements and press weights, and he did not look apprehensive in the least. He held Stratton’s gaze.
‘Won’t they want to verify any changes with the operations officer?’ Smithy asked, looking to the others for agreement.
‘That’s the bit we need to delay,’ Stratton said.
Jason nodded his understanding. ‘What’s the lost-comms procedure?’
‘They’ll proceed with the plan,’ Stratton replied.
Jason faced Binning. ‘We need to block their comms.’
‘That’s easy enough,’ Binning said. ‘Would they go all the way without comms?’ he asked Stratton.
Stratton shook his head.
‘Then what do we do?’ Jason asked.
‘Baby steps,’ Stratton said. ‘Options may present themselves.’
‘Rather like a trapeze artist releasing the swing without knowing where the other swing is,’ Rowena offered.
‘Welcome to my world. You sure you still want to play in it?’ Stratton asked.
Jason had heard enough. ‘Are we agreed?’ He looked at the other four scientists.
Binning nodded. ‘Most definitely.’
Smithy nodded.
‘Yes,’ Jackson said.
Rowena hesitated. The others waited for her answer.
Her stare was fixed on Stratton. It was him she was unsure of.
‘We need you,’ Jason said.
‘Got to have a babe in the team or they won’t make the movie,’ Binning said, grinning.
Rowena eventually lowered her eyes and remained where she was.
Jason knew her well enough. ‘We’re all in,’ he announced.
Stratton felt his awareness of the insanity of it all rising up in his consciousness once again but he suppressed it. ‘Just one thing,’ he said. ‘I’m in charge, all the way. No arguments, deals, negotiations. I want that understood.’
Jason accepted the condition without hesitation. ‘Agreed. You’re the boss.’
Stratton checked the others to ensure that it was unanimous. There did not appear to be any objections apart from the unvoiced ones from Rowena who remained looking at the floor. ‘How do we get up to the chopper?’ he asked.
‘Same way you came down,’ Binning replied.
‘Then let’s get rigged,’ Stratton ordered.
‘Do you mind if I have a brief word with my troops first?’ Jason asked. ‘Kind of a pep talk, really. You’re welcome to stay.’
Stratton checked his watch. ‘One minute. Let’s not keep the crew hanging around much longer or they may start making calls before we can get up there.’
Jason understood and faced his colleagues with some urgency. ‘You too, Rowena,’ he insisted.
Rowena got to her feet to join them, although a level of reluctance from her was still evident.
‘Up until now we’ve only fantasised about going live, as it were . . . getting stuck into a real operation,’ Jason began. ‘There’s a good chance it will now happen. Granted, it isn’t because of our renowned capabilities but due to a series of unexpected events. Nonetheless, it could put us in the spotlight as a team of operators as well as the boffins we already are. But I want you all to be aware of the risks involved. This may be a surveillance task but it is the nature of this business that when things go wrong it can be costly. I want you all to be completely sure that what it is you’re about to attempt is dangerous and that it could cost lives as well as save them. Frankly, if you’re not prepared to take such a risk for this opportunity you should not be embarking on this task. Am I clear?’
They all nodded.
‘Are you prepared to carry on with this task with the understanding that some of us may not come back?’
They each nodded in turn as Jason looked at them, Rowena last. She made him wait.
‘Good,’ Jason said, straightening up. ‘I’ll take you to the equipment room,’ he said to Stratton who was waiting by the door.
The storeroom was packed with special-forces operational equipment: a rack of hanging dry-suits, fireproof undersuits, a box of harnesses, boots, leather gloves and so on. ‘You guys are well stocked,’ Stratton said.
Jackson, a head taller than Stratton, was beside him, attaching a flare to a diving-knife sheath with a thick rubber band. ‘We trial every piece of equipment we design for special forces and the other clandestine departments in the conditions in which we expect them to get used. That means having similar operational equipment.’ He took his dry-bag and left the room to get rigged.
Stratton searched along another shelf. ‘Do you have any karabiners? ’ he asked the figure in the next row. As he looked between the boxes he realised it was Rowena. She pushed a box towards him through the shelving, gave him a cold look and went out.
Stratton sat alone on a chair. He pulled off his boots, followed by his outer garments, and climbed into the one-piece under-suit. After putting on a pair of rubber-soled climbing boots he got to his feet, ready to go. He picked up the bag containing his dry-bag and harness and looked for somewhere to leave his civvies. He spotted an empty shelf at the top against the far wall.
As he reached up and shoved the bag onto the shelf he heard someone talking softly on the other side of a door. He was about to step away when he recognised Jason and Rowena’s voices. Something about the situation, maybe a defensive suspicion of this crowd, and also the lowered voices, stopped him from leaving. He moved so that he could see through the narrow opening. Rowena and Jason stood close to each other, unaware of Stratton’s presence.
Jason placed his hands on the young woman’s hips and wrapped them around her waist, pulling her against him. She rested her arms on his shoulders, her fingers entwined behind his head. Their lips came together and they kissed passionately, their hold on each other tightening.
