Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of "Storm Hawks", nor am I making any type of profit from this story. It is a work of fan fiction, for enjoyment only.
Chapter 6 - The Next Target
The next few days were a blur of activity, with little time for food or sleep. Piper met daily with the strategists, but saw nothing beyond what they did. Aerrow and she sat in on the daily planning meetings in Captain Thrush's office. Junko, Radarr, and Finn joined them in their nightly patrols. Stork recovered. The up side was that no other robberies occurred during that time. However, their luck was running out.
--
"Excuse me?" Piper was aghast. Up until today the planning committee had been listening to her ideas with an open mind. Now, when she finally had something important to say, they were treating her like a child again. She ground her teeth in frustration and glared across the table at Chukar. The obnoxious little man cowered behind his boss, pretending not to notice the Storm Hawk's pointed gaze. Re-directing her attention to Thrush, she pressed her argument. "You're telling me that you're transporting the Eye of Siam across the 'No Man's Land' of Gnossus to Central City by train, and you don't want the Storm Hawks to guard it? Heck, that would be the only thing I'd post guards on tonight!"
"It's called 'subtlety', but I wouldn't expect you to understand the concept," sneered the Lieutenant from behind the Captain's shoulder.
Thrush quickly held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Come, now. None of that." Folding his hands again on the table before him, he leaned towards the young woman. "Only the people in this room know the actual transport plan for the Eye - it is scheduled to be moved next week by a heavily-guarded transport airship. Even the guards carrying the crystal tomorrow are unaware of its true identity; they just think it's a small chest of weapons-grade gems."
"All the more reason to have one of us on board that train - an air-skimmer could be transported in one of the cargo cars, and no one would be the wiser. Your men on the train would be reassured that the Storm Hawks were helping watch the shipment of crystals, without being privy to just how valuable the cargo really is!" She pounded her fist into the tabletop in emphasis.
"Well…" considered Thrush.
"You know she has a point." Aerrow was quick to support Piper's position. The other strategists looked at each other and nodded. Finally, one of the older Gnossians hazarded, "It wouldn't be detrimental to our plan at all. In fact, the rest of the Sky Knight's squadron could reach the train faster than anything we've got should it be attacked."
"You aren't seriously considering…" began Chukar, only to be silenced by a pointed look from the Captain.
"I think it is a reasonable compromise; but only one Storm Hawk. Otherwise it's too suspicious. Also, I'd still like the crystal repository guarded." Thrush turned his attention to Aerrow.
"No problem. We'll manage the grain shipment, as well."
"Then it is agreed." Thrush stood, and the rest of the attendees followed suit. "The train departs at 7 pm tonight - have your man in place by then."
"Yes, sir," Aerrow respectfully replied.
--
Back at the Condor, the Storm Hawks had their own impromptu strategy session. Piper unrolled a map of the proposed route of the train from Middleburg to Central City, to include as much detail of 'No Man's Land' as was available. That area of the terra consisted of poorly-plotted barren formations of jagged rock upon which nothing grew, and stretched for miles. No minerals or crystals had been identified there, and it was unsuitable for farming, so the region had never been developed, or even really explored. The only sign of civilization at all was the train tracks running through the stone. It was the perfect set-up for an ambush.
Piper pointed at the region. "If I were the bandits, I'd hit the train here - particularly if there was no visible air support." Her eyes narrowed. "At least now we'll find out if there is someone on the inside - there's no reason to attack the train unless someone at the planning meeting today tipped the thieves off to the value of the cargo."
"Of course, if they don't attack, it could mean that the 'inside man' warned them off," objected Stork.
"I don't think so," considered Aerrow thoughtfully. "This is too great an opportunity to pass up. I mean, the Eye of Siam is one of the most powerful crystals on Atmos."
"Wouldn't that be kind of hard to sell?" asked Finn.
Aerrow's brow darkened. "Not to the Cyclonians. They wouldn't ask any questions, either. And the 'inside man' would probably get a hefty 'commission' for the information."
"Good point." Piper's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "My money is on Lieutenant Chukar. He seems awfully eager to accuse other people of working with the thieves, possibly to divert attention from himself." She smiled deviously. "That's why I want a second one of us on board that train - even if they know about one Storm Hawk, they won't be expecting two. The first will be assigned with the guards, while the second will be traveling incognito in the passenger compartment. When the attack occurs, we'll have an ace up our sleeve."
"So, who do you suggest?" asked Aerrow.
"Well…" Piper considered. "You and I are too recognizable to the inner circle, and therefore any informant the thieves might have. Junko, Radarr, and Stork are too difficult to disguise…"
"Thank Atmos," muttered the Merb under his breath.
The tactician continued as if she hadn't been interrupted. "So, Finn, that leaves you. You haven't been to any of the planning meetings and, other than the warehouse and a few 'group' gatherings, no one has really seen you. Some casual clothes, a hat, and a travel bag, and you'll look like everyone else. We can give your air skimmer a quick paint job and have it loaded into the cargo car as a regular motorcycle."
"What about my crossbow?" Finn asked, liking the idea so far.
"That's the beauty of the travel bag; we'll just put your weapon in there, along with spare ammo and a silent alarm you can trigger at the first signs of trouble."
"Sweet." Finn grinned. "I'll be, like, a spy to counter their spy! Who's gonna be in the armored compartment - you know, my 'front man'?"
"I was thinking Junko. Chukar did have a point - if there isn't an informant, Aerrow or my presence on the train might encourage an attack just to see what was so important for one of us to be guarding it." Piper had clearly thought this through thoroughly.
She pointed to the map while the others leaned over her shoulders. "Now Junko, you'll join the guards on the train platform at 6:30; I suspect they'll want to divide the guard duty since it is an 18-hour trip. Whatever you do, make sure you're in the strongroom with the Eye for the 6 hours you travel through 'No Man's Land'." Tracing the train's route, she indicated the area. "That'll be about 9 o'clock tonight, until about three in the morning."
Junko nodded. "That shouldn't be hard."
Piper turned to the Sky Knight. "Meanwhile, Aerrow, I'd like you and Radarr to watch the crystal repository again, while I manage the grain shipment. We'll each carry radios keyed to Finn's frequency - when he hits the alarm, we'll come running."
"Sounds good," nodded the Sky Knight.
Turning to the last member of the team, she continued, "Stork, I want you on board the Condor with the channel open as well; at the first peep from Finn or Junko, rev those engines!"
The Merb nodded; this was the type of assignment he preferred.
The group broke up - they didn't have much time to put Piper's plan into action. Still, as they exited the control room, she grabbed the Wallop by the arm. "Junko, there's one more thing for you to do, if you get the chance."
The mechanic looked at her questioningly, "Yes?"
"Come with me to my lab…"
TBC…..
AN: Hmmm….wonder what Piper has planned? What do you think? Let me know what you think of the story so far!