Freedom, Humanity, and Other Delusions (Death's Handmaiden Book 3) by Niall Teasdale (best summer reads txt) 📕

militia believed they were being held. There were a few other markers too: one showing the location the bodies were found – about ten kilometres to the north and west of the primary target – and flashing icons to show where militia squads were operating.

Nava examined the display carefully while Rhianna handled the communication with Stefan. Courtney was along too; no one had tried to stop her despite what she might hear. The area on the map seemed to be relatively undeveloped, except in that south-east corner where there were a number of buildings, probably a small town. Beherbergen had a total population of around ten million and a little more than half of those lived on clan lands. There was a lot of empty space on the planet.

‘Would you mind explaining why you believe the two officers are being held here?’ Rhianna asked the Oberstleutnant.

‘Intercepted communications,’ Stefan replied. ‘Our scouts detected radio transmissions coming from a disused factory complex. We knew nothing about this location prior to our searches for the missing soldiers. We believe it’s been set up recently and it’s a major Befreit Beherbergen camp. They’re up to something. Unfortunately, we can’t decrypt all of the methods they use to secure their communications, but we have deciphered some low-priority messages and found references to prisoners. Two prisoners. It appears they are considering moving them to another location in the near future.’

‘Then we need to go in and get them before they do,’ Courtney said. Rhianna glanced at her and she quickly went back to examining the map.

‘My colleague does seem to have a point, Oberstleutnant,’ Rhianna said.

‘Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as that,’ Stefan said.

‘I’m not sure I see why not.’

‘We don’t have the people trained in special ops to go in without being spotted. We believe there could be up to two thousand Befreit troops there and anything we try could turn into a siege. The hostages would be unlikely to survive something like that.’

Rhianna nodded. Beside her, Nava expanded the map display to show more detail of the target site. ‘We do have a team capable of performing an undercover extraction,’ Rhianna said. ‘We can be in and out before they even know we’re there.’

‘I’m afraid that won’t be possible. A decision has been made to eliminate the threat this base poses. We’ll be enacting the clan’s decision at twenty-one hundred tonight.’

Rhianna frowned. ‘If you’re not going to go raid the place, how do you plan to eliminate anything?’

‘A high-yield thermobaric device will be delivered by guided missile.’

Courtney froze, which was probably for the best.

‘What about the people living in the houses around this factory?’ Nava asked.

‘The town has been deserted for years,’ Stefan replied. ‘We expect no collateral damage.’

‘Aside from the two ASF officers.’

‘They’re soldiers. They know the risks.’ Nava turned to put a hand on Courtney’s shoulder. The ex-SSF captain was looking murderous. ‘If we’re lucky,’ Stefan went on, ‘they’ll be moved prior to the strike. We’re keeping the area under constant surveillance. Anyone who leaves will be tracked. It’s possible that this single operation could break the back of Befreit entirely.’

‘You’re going at nine tonight,’ Rhianna said. ‘That gives us time to go in and get the prisoners out. We’re ready to move. We can have our extraction team in position in less than an hour.’

‘I’m afraid I can’t agree to an operation like that. If they know we’re coming–’

‘I think you underestimate the Greyling family’s capabilities, Oberstleutnant.’

‘I think you are underestimating Befreit’s capabilities, Rhianna Greyling.’

‘We’re not,’ Nava replied before Rhianna could. ‘I’m quite aware of their ability to resist intrusion by a skilled magician and Rhianna has read all of the reports on my experience with them. I note that none of your staff use sorcery. Perhaps you are also unaware of what a well-trained magician can do, Oberstleutnant Stefan Sieger.’

‘I’m sorry, you are?’

‘Second Lieutenant Nava Greyling Sonkei, ASF Intelligence Response Directorate.’

There was a slight pause while Stefan’s brain caught up with what she had said. ‘You’re not in uniform.’

Nava was, in fact, in casual clothes; there was no reason to associate the school with this operation. ‘I’m here as a member of the Greyling family, not as an ASF officer. I only mention it now so that you know that I do know what I’m talking about. I was involved with the resolution of Free Beherbergen’s attack on the conference in Alliance City last year. Almost our entire team were, in fact, at that incident.’

Stefan’s jaw tightened; he was annoyed, though about what Nava could not tell. ‘I see,’ was all he said.

‘We’re quite capable, Oberstleutnant,’ Rhianna said, smiling. ‘I’m quite sure we can come to some form of arrangement which gets everyone what they want. Except Befreit Beherbergen, of course. Let’s talk about it further…’

Graugebiete Region.

In the end, Stefan had said he would have to contact his superiors and Rhianna had short-circuited that by calling someone high up in the clan. Whatever the House clan believed concerning the need to eliminate the Befreit Beherbergen base, they could not afford poor relations with the Sonkei clan. Stefan had received orders to allow the Greyling team to attempt a rescue at the earliest opportunity. They were not, however, calling off the missile strike.

Now, not long after midday, the rescue team was making its way on foot toward the town where their target was located. A stealth dropship had been called down from the Yosozume to transport them out to five kilometres from their destination. The ship was a fully armed vessel designed for mounting assaults from orbit. It could carry up to twenty-four troops in comfort – or as much comfort as military vessels usually supplied – along with three tons of gear, and provide ground suppression and point defence support when it got there. It was overkill for what they were doing here, but it could get them to their landing zone without being spotted. Stealth was important on this job.

Their personal gear helped. Everyone was in military-grade combat suits.