The Dark Edge Chronicles - Clan War

Drogue Drop

"Roger. Setting our course for Hunters' Fjord," Ballan indicated. "Are we picking up any traffic from the regular humans?"

Lash did a quick scan over his electronics officer's interface.

"Yup. Looks like the battle was observed by both civilian and law enforcement locals. Law enforcement are sending Quick Response helicopters out of Brussels to investigate." He paused as, without warning, Naryan leaned against him to also scan over the interface.

"And it looks like the local military have also been alerted," she added, wrapping an arm over his chest and reaching around him with the other to point to an indicator on a secondary screen that Lash hadn't noticed before. "But our present speed and stealth capabilities should allow us to avoid detection."

"Let's just hope they chalk up the down helicopters to the ongoing issues with the eastern European terror group," Lash said, feeling Naryan nod in agreement against his neck. "The White Flames are making it harder and harder to maintain the Dark Secret."

"If they expose us for the normal human world to see, they risk doing the same for themselves," Ballan noted. "I'm pretty sure they've kept themselves hidden just as vigorously as we have."

"Before they began killing normal humans out in the open in Ireland, I would've agreed with you," Lash said with a frown. "Speaking of hidden." He quickly shut down the electronic officer's interface and, giving Naryan a motion with his head to get her to step back, he pushed away from the console and stood.

Turning, he looked at his childhood friend.

"Feel up to a little excursion down into the city?" he asked, looking down into her beautiful face. Naryan immediately smiled.

"More spec ops stuff?" she asked and, when he nodded, her smile broadened considerably. "I am good to go, as long as we're working together."

Lash smiled a bit lopsidedly as, for the briefest of moments, he found himself thinking about them in the warehouse before entering the Salt Palace enclave in Esbjerg.

"We are," he confirmed. "And I promise, no sloshing this time."

Naryan's eyes instantly widened as the not so subtle reminder brought back memories of her own and she found herself biting her lip nearly hard enough to punch through with her fangs.

"Don't make promises that may not be in your power to keep, big fella," she said, struggling to keep her voice level and nonchalant, and Lash chuckled.

"Fair enough." Then he sobered as he looked over at Ballan. "Bal, prep for a spec ops into the city. We need to go and retrieve a prisoner." He then turned and walked into the passenger bay, currently filled to capacity with Strike One, and Recon One and Two. "Tanner, Galloway, prep for a spec ops into the city. We need to go and retrieve a prisoner."

"You got it, Lash," Tanner replied, even as Galloway added: "Right-o, boss man," the two standing as they replied.

Lash nodded and, after a quick scan, found every other set of eyes looking towards him in the hopes of getting their names called.

"Absinthe, you too," he said and the nano-tattooed vampiress flashed a happy, satisfied smile and stood from where she was checking her gear for sundogs. "Five minutes. Then we drop in drogue pods."

Lash looked up at the ceiling.

"One, prep three two-unit drogue pods with full infil kits for drop in six minutes. Acknowledge."

"Acknowledged, Lord Commander. Preparing three two-unit drogue pods with full infil kits. Time to complete preparations: two minutes, thirty seconds."