Robert Doherty - Section 8

"So what do we say if captured?" Tai asked.

"Don't get captured," Orson said.

Tai was not giving up easily.

"If our bodies are found, what will be the cover story?"

"We'll be operating sterile with no indications of our nationality," Orson said.

"We won't need a cover story."

Vaughn wasn't sure he bought that, but Tai seemed to have exhausted that line of questioning in the face of Orson's stone wall.

Kasen, the ex-Ranger, raised his hand and Orson acknowledged him with a nod.

"Will killing Abayon destroy the Abu Sayef?

"Abayon founded the Abu Sayef after World War Two. He's the only leader it's ever had. Our estimate is that without him, the organization will splinter into ineffectual pieces that will spend most of their energy fighting among themselves. Without Abayon they'll be vulnerable. At that point it might be possible to get the Philippine government to take a stronger role.

"There is intelligence there" – Orson pointed at a row of laptop computers – "on both Abayon and his organization. As much as we know, which isn't much. One thing to know is that during World War Two Abayon fought with the Filipino guerrillas against the Japanese."

"So he was on our side," Vaughn said. He hadn't even heard of Abayon during the previous isolation for the raid.

"Just like Ho Chi Minh was during the same war."

Orson didn't rise to the bait.

"Gentlemen – and lady – we need to start planning."

"Is there a time limit on this?" Tai asked.

"We have five days to come up with a plan," Orson said.

"We'll brief-back then and either get a go or you start over. So let's make it a good plan."

Like we'd want to come up with a bad one, Vaughn thought.

Orson scanned the other five section members as if assessing them with that simple look.

"Tai, you are intelligence. There's a taped briefing on the Abu Sayef in the computer – I want you to distill out critical points in two hours. Hayes, you assist her with what you know about both the group and the locale, and also start giving me ways to infiltrate and exfiltrate Jolo Island and an idea exactly where our target is.

"Sinclair. Weapons. Find out what everyone is familiar and comfortable with. But I want at least two heavy guns – Squad Automatic Weapons. One shotgun for breaching if needed. Also, any trained snipers?"

Vaughn raised his hand, as did the Ranger, Kasen.

"All right, draw two sniper weapons just in case we take that path. Kasen, explosives and mines. Vaughn, work on how we're getting from here to there and back again. Tai, you also have medical training, correct?"

The woman nodded. Vaughn had noted that other than giving her expertise, Orson had not divulged her background during the introductions.

"Good. Draw medical kit and make sure you check everyone, blood types, personal gear, and all that. Vaughn, you help Tai on targeting. I want you to lock down Abayon's position."

Orson glanced at his watch.

"We will gather back here in two hours for a briefing on Abayon and the Abu Sayef. Tomorrow I want initial thoughts on targeting, tactical possibilities, infiltration and exfiltration."

The six scattered to the various equipment and sources of intelligence in the room. Vaughn logged onto one of the laptops set up on a plywood table and began searching through the classified database, looking for information about Abayon's hiding place.

He was engrossed in the data when the sound of two voices raised in confrontation interrupted him. He immediately recognized Tai's. Looking up, he saw her and the Ranger, Kasen, standing face-to-face, inside each other's personal space.

"What's the problem?" Vaughn asked as he stepped over. Sinclair was watching with interest from his position, making no move. Hayes also seemed to want to have nothing do with it. Orson was nowhere to be seen, having gone out to coordinate with the ASTs.

"The little girl wants one of the machine guns," Kasen said.

"I told her to leave the big guns to the men."

"I can handle a SAW," Tai insisted.

"We're a team. I – "

"Why not just carry a submachine gun?" Kasen asked, making it a taunt.

"Something small and delicate, like you."

Tai's left hand was a blur, the knife edge of it striking Kasen in the neck. The Ranger staggered back, coughing hard. He wasn't off balance long, going into the attack, hands a blur of blows aimed at Tai. Vaughn was impressed as she fended off every one of them with blocks, twisting and turning, getting inside Kasen's range and hitting him two hard blows in the solar plexus, doubling him over, before she skipped back out of range.

"You bitch," Kasen cursed as he slowly straightened and considered his adversary.

"You were lucky."

"I don't think so," Vaughn said, stepping between the two.

"I don't need you to intervene," Tai said.

"Let the pig come at me. I'll teach him the meaning of pain."

"As you said," Vaughn said, "we're teammates. We – " He was caught off guard as Kasen leapt past him, going for Tai's throat. Kasen was left grasping air as

Tai ducked underneath him, then spun about, her left boot toe leading, striking Kasen on the side of his head and dropping him unconscious to the floor.

"Shit," was Sinclair's take on the TKO.

"Seems to me the lady wants the machine gun."

"Seems to me we ought to give it to her," Vaughn said as he knelt and checked Kasen. The Ranger opened his eyes, the pupils unfocused for several moments, then realization set in and he tried to jerk to his feet.

"Enough," Vaughn said, putting an arm across his chest.

"What's going on?" Orson demanded, his short bulk filling the open door.

"A slight disagreement over equipment," Vaughn said, helping Kasen to his feet and glancing at Tai, who stood perfectly still without saying a word.

"If we kill each other," Orson said, "there won't be much of a mission. Back to work."

Vaughn helped Kasen to his place, then went over to Tai.

"I don't need you to help me," Tai hissed.

"We're teammates," Vaughn said again.

"We're supposed to help each other. You going to be able to work with Kasen?"

"He's a pig," Tai said.

"As long as he does his job and doesn't insult me again, I'll have no problem."

"What martial art was that?" Vaughn asked.

"I didn't recognize some of the blocks."

"Something my father taught me," Tai said vaguely. She looked at him.

"You were on that team that screwed up the hostage rescue, weren't you?"Yes."

Vaughn waited for more."Interesting," Tai said, a surprising response.

"Royce approached you after that, right?"Vaughn nodded."An undercover team of terrorist hunters?" Tai asked."Yes."Do you believe him?"Why shouldn't I? We're here."Hmm," Tai mused."How did he recruit you?"How is not important," she said.

" Why is."Then why?"Because of my sister."Vaughn felt like he was pulling teeth to get anything out of these people.

"What about your sister?"She was killed in the attack on the Pentagon. He promised me vengeance against the Abu Sayef, who we believe are allied with Al Qaeda."

"That was years ago," Vaughn said.

"You've been working for Royce all this time?"

"No. He approached me two days ago. There was something else."

"And that is?"

"I was accused of prisoner abuse in Iraq."

"And you just passed a test to get on the team?" Vaughn asked. Tai's head jerked and she reached up and placed her fingers lightly on the bandage.

"Yes. And you?" Her eyes met his, and they were locked in a stare that lasted several seconds, each appraising the other.

Finally Vaughn nodded.

"Yes."

He broke the stare and looked at the other members of the team, wondering what in their past had caused them to be recruited and what they had just done recently in order to be allowed on the team.