another. I think how nice it would be just to enjoy that freedom. I realize this is a rather simplistic thought as their world is just as fraught with danger; finding food and surviving. A day of planning, another night and day of watching and then we’re going in. I drift off as beams of sunlight stream through the air above.
I drift in and out, finally waking in the late afternoon. I realize I heard a radio call from our outpost indicating a Humvee was pulling past. Our backup has arrived. Through the trees, I see the vehicle slowly moving up the road. In periodic glimpses through the gaps, I see an extendable ladder strapped to the top.
With a yawn, I try to banish the remnants of my nap. The day is another warm one but the breeze blowing lightly through keeps it cool enough in the shade. The black fatigues hold the heat however and I soon feel like another nap would be nice.
“What’s the plan, Jack?” Lynn asks after situating herself and I take a look at the gifts they brought.
The ladders are extendable and fold down to about twelve inches. The extension ladder is a monster and will take some doing to get it through the woods quietly but it won’t be taken all of the way inside so it’ll work. I gather everyone around and give a basic layout of the area, both inside and out; drawing a diagram of the camp in the dirt.
“They number their towers in order starting from the southwest corner,” I say pointing to the rocks I put to designate the towers.
“They’ve separated the men from the women. The men are being held in the main gym and the women in the first six classrooms of the middle classroom building. The far end classroom building is being used for a barracks as far as I could tell. The office is manned and lit at night,” I continue outlining guard positions and describing my observations in detail complete with night runner activity.
Lynn stares at the twigs, rocks and lines in the dirt. Well, we all do as if a magic answer will appear. I see the cogs turning in her head to the point I’m surprised wisps of smoke don’t appear from her ears. She rubs her chin in contemplation. “Day or night?” She finally asks.
“You know, I have a plan in mind but I’m not really sure to be honest. Day will eliminate night runner risks but will definitely make it harder. If I knew what their reaction on their ‘guests’ would be, it would be an easier choice. They keep them covered pretty well so collateral casualties are a real possibility if we go in during the day. That’s something we avoid at all costs,” I answer. Everyone gathered nods in understanding.
“So it’s a night op then,” Greg states.
“I think so but the night runners being in the woods last night have me worried. We’ll have to infiltrate quickly and our timing will have to be spot on,” I reply.
“You said you have a plan?” Lynn asks looking up.
“Well, it’s not much of one but it’s the only plan I can think of without truly knowing their patterns and I’m not leaving the kids in there long enough to find each and every one of them. I think the location I went in is the best place to infiltrate. We’ll have to minimize our time in the trees and make it a bit quicker than last night. The last thing we need is to be trapped between the night runners and the camp. We’ll approach the camp toward dusk and wait for deep twilight. Two of us will creep up to the fence and gain entry. Once inside, who are the two best shooters here?” I ask looking around.
Everyone looks at everyone else. “I’m a pretty decent shot, sir,” Henderson finally speaks up. “And Denton is pretty damn good.”
“Okay, you two are it. Those 110’s are sighted in but I want everyone with a 110 to head off tomorrow and get them sighted in,” I say turning back to describe the plan using the diagram etched in the dirt.
“Yes, sir,” Henderson responds. “What distance are you thinking?”
“100 yards but test your bullet drop compensators out to 250 yards,” I answer.
“Hell, sir, I could throw a rock with deadly accuracy at that range,” he says. “But okay.”
“Once inside,” I continue, “and by tower 5, Henderson and Denton will take out the two guards. They need to be further back in the trees to minimize noise but with a good line of sight. We’ll be packing one of the tactical ladders and once the guards are down, one of us will scale the tower and take over the guard functions. We’ve monitored enough of their radio traffic to fit in. The rest will then hurry through the gap in the fence. I want Henderson and Denton on tower 5 replacing the initial team member there. We’ll then make for the trees between the gym and tennis courts. Everyone clear so far?” I ask.
“Who are the initial two in?” Lynn asks.
“Myself and Greg,” I answer. “The tower transmissions we’ve picked up so far have all been male so we need a male voice in the tower in case they notice the spotlight not conforming to its usual search pattern and call to find out what’s going on.”
Lynn nods and I continue. “Last one through closes the fence. Henderson and Denton will keep an overwatch but make sure you also watch the perimeter. We don’t want any night runners interfering with this flawless plan,” I say with a chuckle. Lynn shakes her head. Yeah, I don’t know why she puts up with me either.
“Once in the trees, we’ll split. I’ll take McCafferty and we’ll head into the gym. Lynn, you and Greg will head into the second classroom building with Black and Echo Teams. My thinking is to take the rooms with the women at once. Rush in together by twos, take out the guards and calm the captives. There’s just enough to take on the six rooms,” I say.
“Do you want us to start taking out the guards in the towers?” Henderson asks.
“No. Here’s the funny part. They’ll be helping to keep the night runners at bay if they show up so we need them in place for the time being,” I answer.
“And you two will be taking on the gym all by your lonesome?” Lynn asks.
“Yeah, it’s not really guarded well and we should only need two. I would like more but it’s more important to hit the classrooms at once. The suppressed shots shouldn’t be heard outside of the building but they definitely will within it,” I answer. “Now, we’ll have to clear the gym first because you’ll then bring the women into the gym so I want you to wait under the cover of the trees until we finish and then head in.”
“Why don’t we just bring the women out the way we went in? We’ll have the exit covered with Henderson and Denton,” Greg asks.
“Night runners,” I answer.
“Ah, yeah,” he says with a nod. “Okay then, how do we get everyone out? And what about the other guards?”
“Well, here’s where it gets a little quirky,” I answer. Lynn bursts out laughing and it takes a little time until she can get herself under control. By the end, she has all of us smiling. Laughter is contagious that way.
With more people and the lack of night runners, this would be a piece of cake. Well, nothing like this is a piece of cake but it sure would make it easier. Go in, take the immediate guards out and extricate the captives. The night runners throw a real wrench into the works.
“How many slabs of meat did you bring?” I ask Lynn.
“You’re kidding right?!?” She asks in return. “I thought you were just joking about that.”
“But you did bring them right?”
“Yes, Jack, I brought six big steaks but really?!”
“I’m afraid so,” I answer. I now have everyone’s attention. Heck, I even have my own which has to be a first.
“Henderson and Denton will carry two of them, Lynn, you will have the rest. When we’ve cleared the rooms, Lynn, you and Black Team will proceed to the barracks and block the doors open. Take one steak and set it in the hallway. Drop another outside on your way back. Greg, Echo Team will escort the women to the gym. Henderson, Denton, once we’ve extricated the women and they’re safely in the gym, one of you will then open the fence and toss one into the woods and leave the other by the opening,” I say having a hard time holding back a grin. “Black team will hold up in the woods to cover you as you both quietly make your way there and link up. Once you’re linked up, leave another steak in the woods. Once everyone is in the gym, we’ll seal it up with the chains and wait the night out. The night runners will be drawn in by the steaks and take out the guards for us,” I finish almost out of breath.
There is a stunned silence as I complete telling my plan. I let the silence settle for a moment. I’m once
