Task Force Mars - Kevin Dockery [98]
“Radiation?” Falco said.
“Why, you want to have kids or something?” Chief Harris snapped back.
Ignoring the banter, Parvik continued: “One more point, however: Even if your ship reaches orbit around Batuun, we’re going to need a shuttle to get up into space. In effect, we will have three missions, because we’re going to have to steal that shuttle after you destroy the PDB and we rescue the prisoners. Once we have a shuttle, we can try to rendezvous with my destroyer or wait for your frigate.”
“Any ideas where we could find the right transport?” Jackson asked.
“The spaceport. It is a large space to the north side of the city, and there will be many ships there.”
“Right, I remember. We observed it from the air. That’s where we saw Tezlac Catal and our old buddy Professor Zaro land on the planet.”
“You have a buddy, Zaro? Who is he?”
“Well, it’s a figure of speech and a very long story,” Jackson said. “Let’s just say I wouldn’t mind running into him here if I have the chance.”
Olin Parvik gave a shrug that seemed to communicate “You humans are an odd lot.” But he let the question go and continued on task for the upcoming missions. “Of course, if we do make it to the spaceport, the shuttles will likely be guarded.”
“Naturally,” Jackson said sarcastically. “Why would they make it easy?”
Ruiz simply shook his head. “That would take away all the fun,” he remarked laconically.
Eighteen: Nuclear Diversion
Four hours later the plans were made, the troops were rested, and it was at long last fully dark on Batuun. Master Chief Ruiz would lead Harry Teal, Marannis, Sanchez, and the two gunner’s mates on the rescue mission. They had the benefit of the maps and schematics Char-Kane had printed out in the pyramid’s command center. They also had most of the Team.
Olin Parvik would fly the jetcar and carry Jackson, Chief Harris, and Falco on the mission to sabotage the planetary defense battery. The officer had deemed the smaller force better for the infiltration nature of the mission. They made the badly burned Robinson, who was feverish and very ill, as comfortable as possible on makeshift mattresses in the crater. The Shamani woman would stay with him, and if all went well, the Teammates and their rescued captives would gather there when both missions were concluded.
The rescue would be timed to begin a few minutes after the nuke destroyed the space battery. Both Parvik and Char-Kane assured the humans that the attack would shock and disrupt the activities in the great city, and they were counting on the benefit of the diversion. The long-awaited darkness was a welcome asset for both missions.
At the same time that Ruiz led the rescue attempt, the sabotage Team would fly back to the pyramid and collect the rest of the SEALS and, they hoped, the freed prisoners. Then the whole group would head for the spaceport. Still relying on the diversion caused by the battery’s destruction, they would attempt to steal a shuttle, take off, and, if all went well, rendezvous with Parvik’s starship in space. He classified the ship as the rough equivalent of the destroyer class—slightly larger and more heavily armed than a frigate. There they would await the arrival of Pegasus from the star system known as Sol.
To the SEALS, of course, it was home.
The planetary defense battery was in a massive tower just outside