REVELATIONS
TWENTYFOUR
The Shrake global defenses were impressive but that wasn't surprising considering the nature of the planet's occupants. Wil had managed to keep the TARDIS hidden as she orbited, but just barely, and the fear was it was only a matter of time before they were detected.
"What do we know?" Jack asked Wil while he pulled on a black ballistic vest over his black long-sleeved shirt.
"We know approximately where he is," she responded. "He's somewhere inside a small facility sequestered from the main compound. The defenses are considerable but not impregnable. I can bring you in close. The trick will be to get in and out as fast as possible, before they have sufficient time to react or spread the alarm. You really could use a team, Jack."
"No, in an operation like this I prefer to go in unaccompanied." He continued putting on the rest of his body armor.
Wil nodded and resumed. "He's alive and alone, but under constant electronic surveillance. He's definitely not well…" She shook her head, afraid to say more but compelled to nonetheless. "He may be incapacitated mentally as well as physically. I can sense it – there's something not right with him."
Her heart was breaking for Rose, who was listening silently, pale as a ghost.
"Jack, I'm not sure he'll want to leave with you or even recognize you. He may not know who he is. You need to be prepared…"
"I know," he interrupted her. "And I am. What else?"
"You'll be able to communicate with us via your PASGT Helmet, but I recommend radio silence unless absolutely necessary. I can't tell you The Doctor's exact location, but the helmet's HUD should assist you once you're in proximity. It's set to detect his life signs and specifically programmed to identify a Time Lord."
It occurred to Wil that Jack was going to be exceedingly well armed. Besides the "big honkin' space gun" he had pocketed several smaller, but no less lethal-looking guns, concealed numerous knives, and clipped what seemed to be a large number of grenade-like devices to his vest. She eyed them curiously. He noticed.
"Flash bangs," he said. "And some smoke bombs. I've also got a couple of fragmentation grenades and a few incendiary… I'm not going to be screwing around." His stare was deadly. She nodded mutely.
The Captain folded a particularly nasty looking switchblade and shoved it into his boot.
"Then here's the plan. You bring me in close as you can. I leave immediately, no farting around first looking to see if its 'safe' or 'clear'. It won't matter. You wait. The TARDIS defenses should provide adequate shielding for a short amount of time. I find him and bring him back. We leave."
He peered at them intently, his voice soft yet at the same time powerful.
"I may come in hot. If so, there are loaded weapons by the door.
"You wait as long as you can. If you can't wait any longer, leave.
"If it goes to hell, leave.
"If it FUBARs, leave.
"If you think you're in danger, LEAVE."
He inspected them. They looked scared.
"But that won't happen. I'll be back, with The Doctor, before you know it."
He patted his vest and clipped on his massive assault rifle.
"Let's go."