Missions of the Retrieval Team - A Kilt By Any Other Name

[davedove]

Scene 48

A road in South Carolina

“What do you mean?” Mike asked.

“Think about it,” I answered. “The FBI captures who they think is a major terrorist leader. Oddly enough, this terrorist seems to have no knowledge of the organization he is supposed to be leading. Since David is from another Earth, he would have had no knowledge of the KLF. So, not wanting to admit that their capture didn’t really help them, the FBI develops a plan to use David as bait to attract the KLF. They arrange a prison transfer, making a tempting target for the KLF; surely they would attempt to rescue one of their leaders.”

“They planted a bug on David?” Mike asked.

“Possibly, but they wouldn’t have to,” I answered. “They get lucky and capture Ms. Raven outside the prison. Ms. Raven is carrying a unit that tracks signals. They quickly determine what frequency the unit tracks. Using their government connections, they tap into the satellites and find out where that frequency is located. And that signal leads them right to Franklin.”

“But how would they know it was David?” Diane asked.

“Simple,” I said. “They arrange a little meeting in a park where we rescue Ms. Raven. They have the unit with them and when the van approaches, the unit detects the signal. They might not know it was David, but they sure knew it was us.”

“But we got away before they raided Franklin,” Mike said.

“I don’t think they wanted to catch us just yet. They can still track us.” I said.

“Can we turn it off?” Diane asked.

“Not without the proper facilities,” I answered.

“But if they can still track us,” Mike began.

I finished the statement for him. “They can follow us right to X Marks Mountain.”

Mike’s face took on a deadly serious expression. “Dave, we want to help you, but we will not compromise the location of our headquarters.”

“You won’t have to,” I told him. “I have an idea, but we’re going to need to coordinate this with your people.”

“What do we need to do?” he asked.

I looked over at Ms. Raven. She thought a moment and then smiled. “First of all,” she said, “You need to contact your headquarters. In the meantime we need to find an electronics store.”

[davedove]

Scene 49

Brasstown Bald, Northern Georgia

We had transferred from the truck into a van on a small road in northern Georgia and bid goodbye to Susie.

Michael pulled the van into the parking lot of the short trail to the summit of Georgia’s highest peak. A small number of vehicles were also parked there. Diane and Ms. Hawk stayed in the van with David, but the rest of us got out and moved to a small picnic table.

As we waited, a small car pulled in and parked across the lot from the van. Grant stepped out of the car, stretched, and casually walked in our direction. When he reached our table, he sat down with us.

“The others should be here soon,” he said.

We sat and made small talk as we waited. Over the next hour, four more cars pulled into the lot and their drivers came over to join us.

“That’s everyone,” Grant said.

“Good,” I answered, “Ms. Raven?”

She picked up the bag she had sitting on the ground beside her and put in on the table. She reached inside and pulled out five small electronic devices.

“These are the decoys,” she said. “I have adjusted each one so that it gives off a modulated signal identical to David’s on the same frequency. Once you get in your cars, all you have to do is pull out the antenna and flip this switch.”

“Once you have activated your devices,” I said, “we will all drive away at the same time. Once we hit the main road, we will begin separating and driving to different destinations. That way, the FBI will have to trace six different signals. My team and I will take David back to the mountain. Now, it’s possible that we will still be followed, but we will just be one possibility out of six. Any questions?”

“No, but I do have one thing to add,” said Grant. “Once you reach your assigned destination, take the device and plant it somewhere, then quickly leave the area. Hopefully, that will give you enough time to get away before the Bureau closes in on the signal.”

He turned to me and extended his hand. “Good luck,” he said.

“Thanks,” I told him, shaking his hand, “You too.”

We all left the picnic table and got into our vehicles. All the cars started and each pulled out of the parking lot.

[davedove]

Scene 50

X Marks Mountain

As we approached the mountain, my radio suddenly came to life.

“Dove, come in, do you read me?” said David’s voice.

“This is Dove,” I answered.

“We have foxes surrounding the coop. Do not come home until after supper. I say again, do not come home until after supper.”

“I understand; wait until after supper.”

“We need to wait until after dark,” I told everyone in the van. “The mountain is being watched.”

“We need to ditch the van then,” said Mike. “We can’t make it to the garage entrance without headlights and those will be seen.”

I looked over to David. He was recovering some as the drugs were working out of his system, but he still seemed weak. “Can you walk?” I asked.

“I suppose I’ll have to, won’t I?” he responded.

I turned back to Mike. “Where will we leave the van?” I asked.

“There is an overlook about a mile from here,” he answered. “Michael and I will take the van there. We’ll let the rest of you out of the van at the base of that mountain. You’ll still have to circle around our mountain though to reach an entry. Julie can show it to you. You won’t have to go all the way around to the vehicle entrance.”

We drove the van around for the couple of hours before dusk. As the sun set, Michael pulled the van to the side of the road. We all climbed out of the door. Diane and Julie helped David while the rest of use readied our weapons.

Mike stepped out of the van briefly and shook my hand. “We’ll go ditch the van on the overlook. It’s going to take us a few hours to get back from there, probably more since it’s night. I know you’re probably going to try to get home tomorrow morning, so if we don’t see you before then, good luck. It was nice working with you.”

“You too Mike, and you as well Michael,” I said into the van.

Mike got back into the van and they pulled away, leaving us in the darkness.

[davedove]

Commercial Break

The Open Sea

The scene zooms in on a small cruise ship. On the bow is painted the ship’s name, Ceilidh.

We hear the narrator’s voice. “Are you tired of the same old cruises? Why not try the world’s first Celtic themed ship, the Ceilidh?”

The scene changes to the ship’s dining room. Several kilted men and their families are enjoying a meal.

“The dining room of the Ceilidh serves not only the best world class cuisine, but also includes many Scottish and Irish dishes prepared by our first class chefs.”

The scene changes to a dark, pub-style bar. Many kilted men are talking and sipping from glasses.

“Sample some of the world’s best single malts at our Highland Bar.”

The scene changes to a large stage, where kilted men and their women are dancing to highland tunes.

“Learn a new Scottish dance.”

The scene changes to the deck. A lone piper is playing as the sun sets.

“Or just sit back and enjoy the pipes.”

The scene changes again. The ship is shown cruising through the waters. The scene zooms in to see a multitude of kilted men standing at the railing with their families. All are waving towards the audience.

“Come cruise on the Ceilidh, a little taste of the Highlands on the open sea.”

[12stones]

Now that's a cruise I'd sign up for! You may be onto something there, Dave.

[davedove]

Now that's a cruise I'd sign up for! You may be onto something there, Dave.

Readers may recognize the ship from my third story: Missions of the Retrieval Team - Kilts in a Cage.

[Arlen]

*Phew* Finally caught up. You write a great tale, Mr. Dove.

[davedove]

Scene 51

X Marks Mountain

Julie directed us as we slowly moved through the darkness.

“Down!” Ms. Raven ordered and we all dropped in the darkness. She pointed ahead of us and I saw two men moving through the trees.

“Keep your eyes open,” one of the men said. “The boss said that the signal was coming close to this mountain.”

“I wonder why they would do that,” the other man said. “Their headquarters was destroyed. Why would they come back here?”

“Who knows? All I know is that the boss said that device she’s carrying detected a signal and that it was closing in on the mountain.”

I quietly got Ms. Raven’s and Ms. Hawk’s attention and signaled to them. Each of them rose quietly and moved away in the darkness.

As we hid in the shadows the two men slowly made their way in our direction. I readied my rifle in case I had to use it.

My rifle wasn’t needed though. Two other shadows rose up behind the two men. The only sound I heard was the bodies of the two men slumping to the ground.

Ms. Raven and Ms. Hawk returned, carrying the weapons the men had held.

“Where to Julie?” I asked.

“The door is about halfway up the mountain here. It’s somewhat steep, but there are no climbs,” she answered.

We slowly picked our way through the rocks in the direction indicated. As she started to climb over a rock ridge, Ms. Raven suddenly dropped back down. She motioned for us all to get down.

“What is it?” I whispered.

“More men, at least twenty.”

“Can we get around them?”

“It won’t do any good,” Julie answered. “The secret entrance is just on the other side of this rock.”

“There’s no way we can take them all out without them raising the alarm,” said Ms. Hawk.

“Okay,” I said. “The three of us will move to the right and try to distract them. Julie and Diane will take David in through the passage. We’ll circle back around and sneak in later. Has everyone got that?”

Ms. Hawk and Ms. Raven both nodded. I looked back at Diane and David; they nodded as well. I looked over to where Julie was watching our rear to see her response, but she didn’t answer me.

Julie was no longer there.

[Kilted_John]

[davedove]

Scene 52

X Marks Mountain

I looked around frantically to find her. The sound of rocks rolling down the hill drew my attention. When I looked, I saw Julie moving around the mountain.

The men on the mountainside saw her as well.

“Over there!” I heard one of them yell out.

Suddenly several flashlights were pointed in Julie’s direction and I clearly saw her fleeing form. She seemed to be making no effort to be stealthy.

“What’s she doing?” Diane asked in confusion. “They’ll catch her for sure.”

I knew the answer. “She’s distracting them for us. She wants them to follow her.”

“We can’t let her do that!” Diane said and started to follow Julie.

I caught her shoulder and held her down. “No,” I said. “Don’t waste her effort. She's doing it for us. You’ve got to get David inside the mountain. Hopefully, the rock in the mountain will block his signal.”

The men above us on the mountain all moved away, chasing after Julie. In doing so, the path to the secret entrance was cleared.

“Go!” I said. “Get David inside.” I pushed Diane and David towards my associates.

“What about you?” Diane asked.

I looked in the direction Julie had moved. “I’m going after her,” I answered.

I stayed hidden behind the rocks as I watched my companions move up the mountain. They stopped and Diane moved to an old stump. She did something on the ground next to the stump and then lifted the top. She climbed down into it and then my associates helped David inside.

I knew David would be safe now, so I moved away in Julie’s direction.