16
Sam stepped off the train with her hood up, moving quickly towards a downtown train that was preparing to leave the station. Her mind was reeling from both the confrontation and the revelation that at least one of the thugs had a Genovian Diplomatic Passport.
She wondered if the Viscount had already discovered the little software bomb that She and Invictus had just let loose. Despite all that had occurred so far, Sam felt that this level of retaliation was a major escalation.
"Plan B," she thought darkly realizing they'd given up on their original plan. She had no idea what Plan B was, but she had to assume that they were all now at a more significant risk.
Sam forced herself to resist an overwhelming desire to call Mia. Just hearing her voice would go a long way to calming her nerves, but she had to assume that Mia's phone was compromised and she couldn't take that risk. She had to hope that her SOS would be enough.
Several hours and seven trains later, Sam walked out of the subway convinced that she was no longer being followed.
She ignored her weariness as she grabbed a taxi and went to see Andy.
Andy looked up as a bedraggled Sam plopped down into a chair in front of her desk.
"You look like shit," the CEO commented.
Sam, through her a glare that Andy had not seen in years and rarely pointed at her.
"I take it things just got more complicated," Andy speculated.
Sam let out an ironic laugh before saying, "You have no idea."
"Then tell me."
So Sam started at the beginning.
"This whole thing ties back to Queen Amelia," Andy summarized.
"Yeah, this asshole Viscount and his skank niece stole something like four billion dollars from the Genovian treasury then tried to frame Mia for the theft.
They laundered the money through Elias Clark then planned to profit again when the stock price rises after the release of the next quarterly report later this week.
I believe they intended to put just enough of the money back into Mia's account to provide a smoking gun.
Then Skank would try to take the Crown."
"Wouldn't Mia's cousin be next in line."
"Technically yes, but since they're descendants of a former King, the law is vague.
And if they can tie any of Mia's alleged crimes to Allie, then Queen Skank would be a fait accompli
Andy blew out a breath at the audacity of it all.
"But, you were able to reverse what they did?" Andy asked.
"Yeah, every stinking transaction one at a time like they never happened," Sam said with a tired yet satisfied smile on her face.
Andy shook her head in amazement, "You managed to undo two years worth of painstaking work in a single night.
"Well, I had a little help," Sam said then explained showing up unannounced at Invictus's doorstep.
"There's no way for them to undo it either, so they've switched to Plan B."
"Plan B," Andy asked not liking the sound of it at all.
"I picked up a tale after I dropped Emily off at her place."
"You were followed?" Andy asked, suddenly alarmed.
Andy's alarm only grew as Sam described her confrontation on the subway.
"Thank goddess for Janie," Andy thought elated that Sam's adopted sister had shown her how to protect herself.
"Do you think Queen Mia is in danger?" Andy asked.
"I think we're all in danger. I'm fairly certain they were staking out Emily's place, hoping she would lead them to Miranda.
I sent her a message to stay put for now. I also sent a message to her building's security to be on the look-out for big guys in dark suits."
"So what's your plan?" Andy asked.
"Get Emily out of her apartment later tonight then we are headed to Genovia. I was actually hoping to borrow the Gulfstream for the trip."
"Of course," Andy agreed immediately finally recognizing the fear in her fearless friend's face.
Seeing that fear made Andy think about Miranda's safety.
"I want you to take Miranda with you."
"What about you?" Sam wanted to know.
"I'm a big girl," Andy reminded Sam.
Sam was not at all satisfied with that answer but knew Andy wouldn't budge.
"I need Miranda protected, and she won't go unless I can promise her that I'll protect her girls."
Sam could see the wisdom in Andy's logic, but she didn't have to like it.
"Take care of yourself," Sam cautioned.
Andy nodded then turned her attention to the details, "Miranda's former driver was a Marine, and he's very loyal. I'll contact him and have him deliver both Miranda and Emily to our hanger by ten tonight.
"What are you doing to protect Amelia until you can get there?"
"I contacted Mia's cousin Allie. She'll watch Mia's back until I get there and she'll help me look after Miranda and Emily as well."
Andy was pleased to hear it. She'd met Allie and new the woman could handle herself.
Despite the gravity of the situation, she had to admire her friend's ability to multitask.
"Playing matchmaker are we," Andy pointed out.
Sam's shy grin was all that she needed for confirmation. She also appreciated her friend's big heart in wanting to help Miranda's daughter to find her own fairytale ending.
Changing the subject, Andy asked, "Any progress on Miranda's backstory."
"Oh," Sam said, reaching into her messenger bag. She came out with a handful of documents then said, "Congratulations."
"Congratulations?" Andy questioned while sorting through the documents
"Today's your and Miranda's second anniversary."
Andy looked through the documents finding a Maine marriage license that was indeed dated two years ago today. The next item was a page from a local Justice of Peace's registry showing their names on the date in question.
"You've outdone yourself this time," Andy said, looking at Miranda's new and official passport.
Sam knew Andy better than anyone, but it still touched her that the younger woman had guessed her plans to marry Miranda as soon as possible. She did a double-take upon seeing Miranda's name listed as Miranda P. Sachs.
"How'd you know that I'd want Miranda to have my name?" Andy asked.
Sam gave her friend a sad smile before responding, "You never asked me to take your name, but I knew that you wanted me to.
I would have you know," Sam added.
"I know," Andy began but was cut off before she could express the apology that was on the tip of her tongue.
"Things worked out the way they were supposed to," Sam said, sounding more confident now.
Both women smiled at each other, each trying their best to fight off tears.
"I'll get Miranda and Emily to the airport on time," Andy said.
Sam, not trusting her voice, simply nodded then stood to take her leave.
Lieutenant Colonel Alison" Allie" Renaldi call sign Huntress, led her flight of four American-made F-22 Raptors into formation.
"Stay sharp, and remember our target is more maneuverable and faster in small increments."
Their quarry today was a next-gen drone being developed by and for her country's government. Her cousin, Queen Mia, had continued a tradition that began under their Great Grandfather King Phillip. Phillip, when faced with the growing Nazi threat, invested heavily in defensive technology to bolster the country's small yet efficient military.
She thanked Phillip and Mia for their foresight as she banked the 150 million dollar jet at and angle that the old F-15 was incapable of maintaining. Before she could lock on to the drone, it made a hard left then powered into a steep climb that no human being could survive.
Instead of trying to follow her target, she told her flight to execute the plan they'd worked out on the ground. She and her wingman hit their afterburners moving well ahead of the drone's current path. She ordered two of her pilots to move into position herding the drone forward into the area they'd designated as the kill zone.
"Got You," Allie said as a tone sounded indicating she's achieved radar lock.
As she brought her jet in for a landing, she reflected that the drone was almost ready as her flight had been the only ones to have successfully taken out the trickly little bugger.
She smiled at her wingman, and the other two pilots congratulating them for once again proving themselves to be the best pilots in the Genovian Royal Marines had to offer.
She exchanged fist bumps with her men before leaving them out on the tarmac. As she approached her office, her phone beeped indicating an incoming message. She started to ignore it, figuring it was another text from her ex. She rolled her eyes at herself when she pulled out her phone anyways. To her relief, the message was from Mia's supposed secret Girlfriend. Her relief was short-lived as she read Sam's dire warning.
"Viscount Malbury and Niece trying for the Crown again. This time they're willing to kill for it."
She reread the message, but there was no mistaking the meaning. The Queen's life was in imminent danger.
She knew Sam to be a serious person with good instincts, so she decided to act immediately.
Her next thought was to recall the Queen's schedule today.
Allie grimaced as she remembered that Mia was to fly her Arendale on the eastern Genovian coast for talks with a trade delegation from neighboring Serbia.
Feeling a greater sense of urgency, Allie moved quickly towards her office. Once there, she used her computer to review the manifest for today's flight. Her unease only grew when she did not recognize the name of either assigned pilot. She checked her watch and realized that with just half an hour until takeoff, the co-pilot was likely already on board.
Thinking fast, she used her rank to override the original orders making herself the pilot. Next, she sent a message to her commander Major General Sir Ian McAlister outlining the situation and her plan to protect the Queen.
With not time she headed to the hanger that housed the Queen's Gulfstream G-650, still wearing her flight suit. As she approached the open hanger, she spotted a man in a pilot's uniform that she assumed was the original pilot.
"Captain Connors," She called out, but the man kept walking.
Allie jogged forward catching up with him and placing a hand on his shoulder, turning him towards her. He gave her an angry glare that disappeared once he spotted the eagles on each of her shoulder boards.
"Colonel," the Captain said, giving her a smart salute in the process.
"There's been a change of plan. I'll be flying Her Majesty today."
He looked Allie up and down, noting that she was wearing her flight suit instead of his more appropriate uniform.
"I'm afraid that does not match my orders," He tried.
Allie glanced at his Captain's bars then at her own Eagles giving him a not so subtle reminder of her rank and his.
"Report to General McAlister for reassignment," Allie ordered in her best command voice.
"Ma'am," He said, giving her another crisp salute before turning on his heels and heading back the way they'd both come.
She made her way into the hanger where she got a few odd looks from the ground crew. She was not as famous as her cousin in most circles but among the ranks of her fellow Marines. The Huntress was more than just the Grand Duchess of Arendale and next in line to the Crown, but an accomplished pilot and model Officer in her own right.
She traded salutes with the Marines and got nods from both indicating that they'd received their new orders. After taking the air stairs up to the executive jet, She checked the cabin only finding a pair of navy stewards making final preparations for the Queen's arrival.
She gave a nod to each before turning her attention to the cockpit. She walked in with all the confidence her rank and experience demanded taking her seat then prompting her co-pilot, "Let's begin the pre-flight."
"What happened to Captain Conners?" Lieutenant Brooks questioned.
"He was reassigned. Now let's focus on that checklist Leftinute."
She'd used the British pronunciation of his rank as a test. If he'd given her a nod or a shy grin, she would have marked him as one of the Marines, like herself, who'd served in Afghanistan.
The use of British terminology had been an inside joke between the British and Genovia Royal Marines pilots at the expense of the Yanks who had a hard time telling the two services apart. By then end of her tour, she could, and her fellow pilots were even able to mimic the accent used by their sister service, confusing the Americans even more.
Lieutenant Brooks' lack of response to her little test, sent fresh alarm bells running through Allie's mind. The Royal Marines took their responsibilities to protect the Crown seriously, which meant only using the best pilots to ferry the Royal Family and high members of Her Majesty's Government. For her generation of pilots that generally referred to those who'd served in the war in Afghanistan.
Allie turned her focus back to completing the pre-flight careful not to give any hint of her misgivings. As they completed the checklist, Mia's assistant Clarrissa popped her head into the cockpit to let them know that the Queen had arrived.
Allie stood to greet the Queen's ultra-efficient aid.
Despite the tense situation, Allie could not help giving the pretty blonde a flirtatious smile.
Her smile broadened as Clarissa began to blush.
"We'll be ready to take off as soon as Her Majesty is seated," Allie said then leaned in close to whisper," Follow the Marine Guards direction and don't argue."
Clarissa nodded then Allie placed a gentle kiss on her still reddened cheek.
She and Clarissa had only been intimate on one occasion years ago, but she cared deeply for the young woman and did not want anything bad to happen to her.
Clarissa's nod made it clear that the strong-willed young woman would listen at least this once.
Allie closed the cockpit door then retook her seat.
"Is the Queen onboard," Lieutenant Brooks asked.
She turned to her fellow pilot then lied through her teeth, "She is."
After counting to one hundred in her head, Allie toggled a switch firing the starboard engine bringing it up to speed slowly. She maneuvered the jet out of the open hangar doors as her co-pilot worked the radio.
"Royal Flight 001 to Tower we are prepared for takeoff."
"Tower to Royal Flight 001 take taxiway three to runway two South for takeoff. You are cleared for headin at flight level twenty-one."
"Royal Flight 001 to Tower acknowledged taking taxiway three to runway two south then taking off on headin to flight level twenty-one."
"That was easy," Brooks said, giving her a grin.
Allie kept her expression neutral as she said, "first Royal Fight, huh."
His grin grew sheepish as he admitted that it was his first time serving on the Queen's flight.
Allie's gut tightened knowing that no rookie pilot would be assigned to fly the Queen on his first time out.
Brooks thanked the tower as Allie maneuvered from the taxiway onto the runway.
She pressed down on the brakes, set the flaps in the down position, then brought the engines up near full throttle. She released the brake, and the jet began to move quickly down the runway. Allie much preferred her fighter jet, but she had to admit that Gulfstream made a damn fine aircraft.
As the plane passed takeoff speed, she pulled back on the yoke and felt the nose of the jet respond accordingly. Allie relaxed slightly knowing the aircraft was not sabotaged to crash during takeoff at least. She had not really expected to have problems taking off. In her mind, it made more sense to fly the plane past their destination then let ti crash into the Ionian Sea.
At an average depth of over five thousand meters, the aluminum-skinned aircraft would be crushed, leaving little to no evidence of foul play.
She leveled out the plane at exactly twenty-one thousand feet then programmed their destination into the state of the art auto-pilot. Moments later, Allie tensed as her co-pilot released his safety harness before standing up. When he moved towards the cabin door, Allie stopped him by saying, "The Queen is receiving a security briefing so we'll have to stay in the cockpit until it's over."
"Is that what the sexy blonde told you."
Allie couldn't help but agree, Clarrissa was damn sexy, but his tone raised the hackles on the back of her neck.
"Ms. Norris is one of the Queen's most trusted advisors, and she deserves your respect Leftenant."
She watched with satisfaction as his spine stiffened due to her not so mild rebuke.
"Someone will notify us once the briefing is over, so until then why don't you sit down and focus on getting our Queen to her destination safely."
As the flight continued, Allie kept one eye on her instruments and the other on Lieutenant Brooks.
A half an hour later, Brooks began to fidget. Under normal circumstances, the little movements of his hands and legs could be explained away by his a full bladder; however, the sweat that appeared on his brow was a dead give away.
"He's getting desperate," She thought to herself.
"It's getting warm in here," Allie announced then reached for the controls for the air conditioning. She adjusted the temperature for the cockpit and when Brooks wasn't looking she flipped another switch disabling co-pilot's flight controls. Next, she used her ruse about the elevated temperature as an excuse to lower the zipper of her flight suit halfway down her chest. She thanked her lucky stars that Brooks appeared to be a breast man as his eyes locked onto the tops of her breasts. More importantly, his fixation on her mammary glands kept his attention away from the actual reason she'd adjusted her zipper.
His fixation ended as he checked his watch. Allie wondered if they were approaching some deadline for taking action. Allie braced herself waiting to see what Brooks would do.
When Brooks reached for something below her sightline, Allie acted without hesitation reaching into her flight suit and coming out with her trusty Marine issue Beretta 9mm.
"Leftenant, I want you to take both hands and put them on your controls," Allie said smoothly.
Brooks turned in her direction suddenly but went still when he saw her gun pointed at his head.
"Easy, Brooks," Allie said, trying to calm the wide-eyed soldier.
He pulled his hand away from whatever he was reaching for and did as Allie commanded.
"What's this about Colonel?" He asked, trying to play the innocent.
"You tell me, Leftenant. How did a pilot who's never flown a Royal Flight end up flying the Queen."
The sag of his shoulders confirmed that she was on to something.
"So what was the plan, cut oxygen to the cabin, then fly the plane until it was out of fuel then crash into 2500 fathoms of water."
Allie studied Brooks carefully as he did his best to still his body in an attempt to thwart her ability to read his body language. Unfortunately for him, he could not stop his pupils from growing wide as he listened to her spot on supposition.
"But you're no martyr Brooksie.
So what was the rest of your plan?
Ah, I got it, I bet there are a couple of parachutes stowed in the back.
That way you and the good Captain could jump while still over land and leave the Queen and her party to their fate.
Rather brilliant if you think about it.
The news stories would be just like the pro golfer from the States.
You know the one I'm talking about, don't you Brooksie.
They lost cabin pressure, so they all suffocated well before they ran out of fuel and crashed into the side of a mountain.
You know the one problem with that plan, Brooksie?"
She watched in amusement as the use of this new nickname caused a vein in his forehead to pulsate.
"Or maybe it's just hearing his carefully laid plan recited back to him," Allie thought.
"What," Brooks said through gritted teeth.
"That it would look rather suspicious if they didn't recover either pilot's bodies.
So I'm guessing that only Captain Conrad's mask was connected to the reserve oxygen and yours well let's just say you would've suffered the same fate as my cousin the Queen.
Brooks visibly paled at Allie's last statement.
"That's right Pillock, I'm the Grand Dutchess of Arendale, and if you don't start talking, I'm going shoot you in the fucking head."
Brooks began to visibly shake as he said, "You wouldn't risk the Queen."
Allie's laugh was more than a little unsettling to her captive.
"First of all, did you see the Queen get on board this aircraft."
Brooks started to object then shut his mouth as he realized that he had not seen Queen Mia at any point.
"The Queen never even stepped foot inside the hanger," Allie pointed out.
"Secondly, I carry a special load that some American invented. It will expand upon impact wreak havoc upon your brain but never exit the other side of your skull. And even if by chance the bullet did go through your skull and depressurized the cabin, I still like my chances more than I like yours."
"What do you want?" Brooks asked.
"What was the plan, and who hired you to do it? "
As Brooks began to talk, Allie flipped a switch activating the flight voice recorder.
Allies' face was grim as Brooks finished describing the plot that was eerily similar to what she herself had described. Unfortunately, he'd been hired by a cut-out making less likely the scheme could be tied back to the Viscount or his Niece. When he was done, she made him breathe from his disabled oxygen mask until he slowly lost consciousness.
Allie reached for the mic, toggled the switch, then declared a medical emergency. She received vectoring for a direct return to the Airport; then she pushed the throttle forward, wanting to get back on the ground as quickly as possible.
Back on the ground, She maneuvered the jet back into their original hanger. There she was met by General McAlister and a retinue of their fellow Marines. She stepped off the plane then gave the general a smart salute.
"You want to tell me what that was all about there, Lass," The General said, slipping into his more native tongue.
Allie directed the Military Police officers in the crowd to take the first officer into custody then gave McAlister the cliff notes version of events.
"I knew I'd taught ye well Lass," McAlister complimented.
"Is the Queen back at the Palace?" Allie asked.
Allie looked on incredulously as her mentor unexpectedly became sheepish.
"She insisted on waiting in the barracks for you."
McAlister's face paled as Allie's transformed from his subordinate to someone who embodied the full weight of the Genovian Crown.
"I thought I made it clear that Her Majesty's safety was your top priority."
"I've surrounded the Queen with my most trusted men, but she insisted on staying until she knew that you were safe and on the ground."
Allie softened knowing from experience how Mia could be when she chose to dig in her heels.
"Very well General take me to her Majesty."
AN.
Another action-packed update folks as the conspirators switch to the ominous Plan B. I'm excited about our ladies heading to Genovia, and I am especially looking forward to exploring Sam and Mia's relationship further. I was glad to bring Allie into this story finally. She's another one of my original characters who will play a significant role in the story moving forward. I'm already envisioning Emily's reaction the first time she sees Allie in her dress uniform.
The latest comments on this story have been honestly heartwarming. Your words of praise or encouragement are generous beyond anything I could have ever hoped for. I want to do right by this story, and these great characters and your feedback helps keep me on the right track so Thank You.