Chapter 25: The Plans
Lucifer had left us to inform Caraway about our arrival. He said that it may take a little longer, considering it was lunch now, and he may be with superiors or ambassadors or something like that. So we were told to be patient, not to wander and he'd do his best to have Caraway see to us as soon as.
It was raining now. Deling was known for its cloudy and dull weather and got very little sunshine, no wonder everyone was so pale. Felt as though we had be waiting forever. I looked over at the clock, seeing it was half two. It hasn't been as long as I had thought. I felt so tired though. Everyone else was sharing my boredom. Most of us were too tired to speak and stuff.
"Hmph, he always does this," Rinoa groaned in frustration. She then stood up and went for the door. "Wait here. I'm going to go complain," Um... okay? I'm not sure if you can do this in a General's home but... well you invented that ridiculous train escapade so go nuts. "Oh, this is my house so it'll be fine. Just... don't leave me here, okay?" Her house. So Caraway's her father?
"Is it dangerous?" Squall asked. Caraway is her father?
"Just treat it as an order from your client, okay?" Aren't all of our orders from you null and void until this mission's over? Caraway is her father?
"The Hell's going on here?" Zell blurted.
"Wait if she's the General daughter why couldn't she have just told the guard to piss off and let us in?" Lysander blurted out afterwards. Wait good bloody point she could have got us past instead of wasting half a bloody day!
About ten minutes later Lucifer and Caraway entered the large office we were told to wait in. Caraway was a fairly old man, far along in greying, and the stress of being in the military showed on his face.
"Where's Rinoa?" Squall asked.
"She's been grounded," Lucifer stated. Caraway cleared his throat and went for the more formal approach.
"She isn't specially trained as you all are," He explained. "I fear she will become a burden, and I wish no harm to come to my daughter from this mission. It's best that she stays out of it."
"So Rinoa is your daughter?" Selphie asked. We've established this.
"It's been a long time since she called me that," Caraway frowned.
"The father's a General and the daughter's part of an anti-government organisation?" Zell deduced. "That's... that's pretty bad."
"Well if we're all done stating the blatant obvious I think we should move forward, we're wasting time," Lucifer interrupted. Caraway nodded.
"Indeed. It's a serious problem," He said. "But it is between Rinoa and I. It would be best if we didn't press further; it is not of your concern." I shrugged, remaining seated.
"Fair enough, we're here for an assassination, not a family feud," I stated.
"And we should get back onto that subject," Caraway announced. He was good at keeping family issues at bay.
"Sir, I should tell you that once this contract has ended some of us will return working for Rinoa, as per contract," Oh Squall shut it, we know. "We don't know what your problem is but do not interfere when the time comes." Squall, you are trying to warn a seasoning military General to back off. He takes no shit off his daughter, why should he take shit from a stranger?
"And if I do?" He challenged. Lucifer, stepping in between them in a fluent sweeping motion, got the conversation back to our plans.
"Sir we understand you have a contract with Rinoa but we will deal with that when the time comes," He spoke calmly. "If we choose to interfere, we will interfere. If you were a parent you would understand that Caraway is trying to look out for his daughter," He leant on his crutch, still staying calm. "But enough of this, this way, if you'll please," He directed us to a table that had a scale model of Deling city, as well as some figures. "This is where our plot, and scheme, shall unfold." He's got a flare for drama, I see.
"In three days from now, President Deling will be holding a parade in the honour of the new ambassador, Sorceress Edea," Caraway explained. He placed several small figures in front of a large building. "The parade will start at the Presidential Residence, where the Sorceress will make a speech, before travelling through the city on a float. All of you will lay low until the float has passed the gates; the parade may be cancelled if there is commotion." Lucifer grabbed several figures and moved them to the archway opposite the Presidential Residence.
"Right, so there will be two teams. Team A will be the Sniper Team, who will pass into the Presidential Residence and enter the carousel, where we will position a sniper rifle for your arrival," He went on, moving several figures on top of the President's home. "You will remain in wait there as the Sorceress' parade vehicle travels," He moved the parade vehicle around, showing the route. "The vehicle will pass under the bridge at twenty hundred hours, but this is not where we make our move."
"Why not?" I asked.
"Well you will be facing the Sorceress' vehicle, but she will not be facing you," Caraway answered. "You would be firing at the back of the float and alert her to your presence," He indicated to the figures at the archway. "Team B, the Archway Team, will be in charge of sealing the Sorceress inside the arch and that is when the Sniper Team will assassinate her. Her route is planned in such a way that she will have to pass through the arch a second time to return to the Presidential Residence. This will be at twenty-one hundred hours."
"What about Antara Talbot?" Squall asked.
"Ah, that is when the Archway Team continues their plans," Lucifer answered. "In the commotion of the Sorceress' death, the Archway Team will sneak onto the float and directly kill Sir Talbot," He stopped hunching over the model and leant against his cane. "But as we have two snipers, we could place one sniper in the Archway Team, allowing a better chance of striking both Sorceress Edea and Antara Talbot."
"How about we keep it simple, eh?" Lysander asked. "How about us two snipers take the guns and shoot both the Sorceress and Talbot from the carousel? Then, if we cock it up, the others can jump in and take control."
"Excellent," Lucifer stated. "Well, we must devise the teams. The leader of the mission will be the Sniper Team. A secondary leader will take charge of the Archway Team and then we shall devise the teams accordingly. So... who's in charge." There was a thick silence and I looked around the crowd. Well if no one else is going to say then...
"I will," What? Vanadium, Squall, you complete arses!
"Is there a problem?" Caraway questioned.
"We're got some issues, clearly," Irvine pointed out.
"I should take charge as I have the most experience in the field and this is no ordinary mission," Vanadium explained.
"I should take charge because maybe people will realise I can actually do the job," I snarled in defence. "What about you Squall? A sense of duty?"
"I was made Squad Leader of the Timber Team," He explained. "I have experience as a leader as well. Dante, you have practically no leadership exp."
"Because I'm always being pushed out of the way for you and Seifer to shine!" I snapped. Again, I was surprised no one asked if I was jealous.
"Before we get into a brawl," Lucifer interjected. "Caraway and I will settle this dispute. Tomorrow we will contact your Gardens and choose the strongest candidates for leaders. Then we can stop the five year old squabbling," We all nodded. I scoffed a little. "Are we forgetting anything Fury?"
"There is one more thing," Caraway nodded. "Two days from now President Deling is holding a formal ball to welcome the Sorceress and have her meet integrate into the social circles and meet with other international ambassadors," So basically a party for the sake of it. "You will all attend, as will Lucifer and I, and this will allow you to study your targets, try to find any weaknesses. You may also encounter obstacles you will have to bypass on the mission. If, and only if, you have a clear shot with no consequential actions and witnesses, Kill the Sorceress and Antara. We cannot fail this mission, for the sake of peace."
"As for presentation, take the next few days to buy yourselves some gladrags, on me," Lucifer stated in a more upbeat tone. "Don't worry, just bill on the name Lucifer Solomon, I'll pay for it all and I will also arrange make-up artists and hair stylists for you all. Oh and you at the back we'll need to cover up that tattoo."
"What? Why?" Zell asked, completely offended.
"Well this is a formal ball and it would be suspect is a man with a face tattoo is wandering about with the upper class. Nothing personal," Lucifer then put an envelope on the table. "Oh and Mr. Cross? This arrived in the post. I trust it is from your Garden," Vanadium took the letter and opened it, reading the letter. "One of the servants will direct you all to your rooms. You are all free until the night of the ball. By then we will have your leaders assigned. Dismissed, gentlemen." Vanadium was still scanning over his letter.
"What is it?" I asked curiously.
"It's just a formality from the Garden," He explained. "Just saying that I'm not responsible for Seifer's actions and it will not affect my status as Instructor or a SeeD."