The Phoenix Enigma Trilogy by Jay Aspen

Author:Jay Aspen [Aspen, Jay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sandfire Publishing
Published: 2019-11-03T22:00:00+00:00

17

‘Raine, you sure this is a good idea?’

Cass was sitting opposite him, frowning over the lists of numbers on the tablet he’d passed to her. The two of them were alone in the corner of one of the barns Raine had been using as a makeshift office. He waved a vague hand as if the cramped space between the crates and boxes was answer enough, then acknowledged he’d need to present a few more reasons. His head of intelligence could be extremely demanding on proper explanations––and wasn’t shy about using the fact that she was twenty years older to question his orders.

‘Cass, I don’t think there’s any choice. The Tarn’s too far from the city while this manhunt is going on.’

‘But going back to the Warren so soon after it’s been raided? How can you be sure the military won’t go back there, checking it’s still abandoned?’

Raine pointed to the tablet. ‘Scroll through to the report from the scouting team I sent back. It’s risky whatever we do. The recurring bad connection up here almost cost Luc his life and four of our people are under arrest. We have to reinstate the Warren’s analogue link before we lose anyone else. We can’t rely on Parry. He’s under too much pressure to prove himself to Moris, even if his conscience is telling him otherwise.’

Cass sighed, acknowledging it was true. ‘Have you told anyone else he’s a potential ally?’

‘No. I can’t even be sure he’s an ally. Not yet. It could be disastrous if I persuade someone to trust him––and then discover I’ve just handed the new security chief the chance to make his career by capturing another high-profile prisoner.

‘So. How many will you take if you go back to the Warren?’

‘Eighty. I’ll send half to train with Pendrac in the western mountains, a handful at the Warren, the rest on patrol in the forest. Sixty rangers, intel, equipment, archives, stay here with you. We can set up a better relay for you using the Warren hub to improve transmission. All right, your turn.’

Cass considered for a moment. ‘Actually, I think you’re right. It’s overcrowded here, the animals are having a hard time finding forage and communications go offline just when you don’t want them to.’

Raine took back his tablet and flipped through a series of images. ‘The scouts just got back from their second recce at the Warren. The military made quite a mess of the place but didn’t find the coms hub or the hydro connection for the electric, so probably didn’t think it was particularly useful or significant as a base. They didn’t burn it or leave guards watching it.’

‘Cameras?’

‘A few. The tech team located and looped them. They’ll tell a peaceful story till the batteries die.’

Cass conceded. ‘All right. It mostly makes sense.’

*

Parry sat in one of the three planes heading for the marshes, scrolling through Raine’s data on his handset, preoccupied with memorizing every detail of the fake base and its location.

Smith sat opposite, staring disparagingly at the rest of their inadequate air cover.

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