Chapter 19: Steady as She Goes

11:47 a.m.

Somewhere outside Carbondale, PA

"Now why do you get some fancy name and I have to be Hill?" J.T. parked the rental pick-up truck in front of what they had narrowed down to be the most likely site for Cobra's operations. He was dressed in khakis and a short-sleeved brown button-down with "U.S. Department of Energy" embroidered on the pocket. Sitting next to him in the passenger seat, Lady Jaye wore a similar outfit. Each had DOE lanyards around their necks and official-looking badges tucked in their back pockets. Patterson, true to his word, had provided them with very realistic covers.

"Because I've done this before and you haven't. The best cover is sticking with what you know." She looked over at J.T. "What would you propose?"

J.T. grinned, "Nolan, Mr. Nolan."

"Nolan?"

"Yep. Nolan. Greatest pitcher ever to don an Astros uniform."

"Fine, Nolan it is."

"Just like that?" J.T. broke out into a big grin, feeling unexpectedly triumphant in getting his way.

"Just like that." Jaye reached behind her seat and pulled out a messenger bag with "DOE" embroidered on the side. Rummaging through the bag, she paused for a moment. "Nolan, did you pack the clipboards?" J.T., who was busy running a last minute check on the GPS system, paid no attention.

She tried again, "Nolan?" Still no response.

"Hill."

"Yesmm?"

She leaned back into the seat. "And that's why you're Hill."

J.T.'s face remained blank.

"I called you twice. You didn't even hear it because it's not natural to you. If you're going to take a cover, it has to be second nature. You blow it the first time you don't respond. We didn't have the time to practice, so we stick with what you know, Hill. There's no shame in it. I've been doing covert ops a lot longer."

"I know—I never get to do this stuff." He shrugged his shoulders. "Kind of wanted to have a little fun."

Lady Jaye poked him in the shoulder, "Come on, these shirts are the epitome of fun."

J.T. let out a mock chuckle. "If you say so." He grabbed a similar-styled messenger bag and handed a clipboard over to Jaye. "Once you go in, I'll have everything up and running in the back." He then passed her a small rock. "Put this in your pocket. When it starts to heat up down there, just drop it wherever you are. It'll go off. When I get the signal, that's when the strike team will start moving in."

"Nice." Jaye put it in her pocket. "Any last questions?"

"Nope. Let's saddle up."

Exiting the truck, they walked down a dirt road approaching an open gate. Surrounding the perimeter was a twelve-foot steel chain link fence. As an added precaution, the top was wrapped with another six inches of barbed wire. Inside the gate, various crates were stacked in groups and equipment lay strewn about the worksite, discarded. It wasn't bustling by any means and Jaye couldn't help feeling that there was definitely something sinister a foot. To the right of the dirt road just past the fence was a corrugated metal shack. A few larger brick buildings lay beyond. To their left, a wooden structure on stilts appeared to be attached to the mountain by crazy glue. Underneath it were two sets of railroad tracks. Empty hopper cars parked on the tracks looked like they hadn't been touched in ages. Jutting from the top of the wooden building was a metal framed apparatus, two wheels on top with thick cords wrapped around spindles dropping down the middle, disappearing into the structure.

J.T. pointed up, "That's probably the shaft elevator. We need to get you in there."

As they approached the nearest shack, a medium-sized man with slicked-back brown hair emerged, shielding his eyes from the light. He was wearing a denim work shirt with a badge affixed to its front pocket. There was some logo underneath it. He was chewing on a toothpick out of the side of his mouth. "Can I help you?"

"I sure hope so." J.T. stepped forward. "I'm Hill and this is Anderson with DOE. We're here for the safety inspection."

The man looked at them with a blank stare. "I'm sorry? Did you say safety inspection?"

"That would be correct."

The man took a step back, eyes darting around, looking for something. "I'm sorry, but I wasn't told about any safety inspection. You're not on the log. You're going to have to come back after you've been cleared."

J.T. took a step forward, pressing his advantage. "That's the thing about safety inspections, if y'all had advance notice, I don't know what we'd be inspecting, catch my drift?"

The man started to back track. "Well, a bit. It's just we haven't been up and running all that long. I really need you to clear your visit with management. It's probably best if you came back at a later time."

J.T. turned to Jaye, "Can you believe this guy?" He put his attention back on the man. "I don't care if you've been open two hours or two hundred years. When you come up on our list, you're up. I understand if you need to call someone with authority to assist us. But I can tell you right now we're not leaving until I get my samples and she checks your equipment. If you'd like to accompany us, you're more than welcome. You know this place better than we do."

The man scratched at his forehead. It reminded Jaye of Flint's nervous tic. His eyes resumed their fast scrawl across the landscape. He was looking for someone to come and bail him out. After the third pass over their heads, the man's eyes popped and settled back down. Glancing behind her shoulder, sure enough Jaye saw a man from one of the brick buildings walk over. He was wearing a hard hat and the same denim shirt. Lady Jaye could make out the logo on the pocket now, SMMC. J.T. rubbed a spot just behind his ear. Bingo, he had noticed it as well.

"Ray, what's going on?"

"Charles, these guys say they're here to do a safety inspection?"

Charles rubbed his chin. "Is that so? Can I see your identification?"

"Gladly." J.T. pulled his badge out of his back pocket and handed it over to Charles, as did Jaye.

Charles studied them closely, scanning both for some abnormality only he could decipher. Jaye knew he'd done this before. Maybe at one point he'd been legit, possibly. He had to be working for Cobra now. "Alright then." Charles handed them back. "DOE never likes to play fair. I can take you around topside and then we can go below."

"Actually," J.T. spoke up, "We'd like to speed it up a bit and have enough time to check one more site off the list today. If you wouldn't mind showing me around so I can get some samples," he patted at his messenger bag, "and somebody takes her down so she could check the elevator and shaft," J.T. made a show of looking around, "we'd appreciate it. Really appreciate it."

Charles narrowed his eyes, "Hmmmm." A slight smile broke through his lips. "I think I see. You'd appreciate it?"

"Yesmm. Just doing our job. If there's nothing to report, there's nothing to report." J.T. shrugged his shoulders. "From what I can see standing here, nothing appears amiss. Be great if that was the case."

Lady Jaye had to bite the side of her mouth to keep from smiling. J.T. was doing a fantastic job. With a bit more time, he'd be a natural.

Charles held out his hand. "Hill is it? I think everything can be arranged." The men shook hands. "I'll take you around here and Ray can take Anderson?" Jaye nodded her head. "Right, Miss, Ray will take you to check out the elevator. I assume that's all you'll need?"

J.T. flashed a big, bold, disarming smile. "That'll do just fine."

Hidden up in the mountains surrounding the mine, Flint and the strike team observed the action below. Call him paranoid, but there was something amiss about the hard hat. Flint was picking up all sorts of bad vibes from the man. After the handshake, Flint watched as the pair split up with J.T. and the hard hat going right and Jaye and the other man heading left. "Shipwreck, keep alert."

Shipwreck, binoculars plugged to his eyes replied out of the side of his mouth. "Aye aye captain. I'm on it. No one messes with my lady. Although, if I have to rescue her do you think I'd stand a better chance at getting a date?"

"Doubtful." Flint raised his binoculars and continued his watch. It pained him to send her straight into Cobra armed with nothing more than a fancy rock and a hidden tracer. She was right though; it was her job. Still, he didn't have to like it. He liked it even less when he felt his suspicions were confirmed. The man assigned to Jaye led her into the building's entranceway and left her waiting while he went around to the side of the wooden structure. Once he was out of her sight, he pulled a communicator out of his pocket and held it up to his mouth, blocking Flint's ability to read his lips. As the man spoke, he scanned the surrounding mountainside, looking for something, most likely them. Flint reached down for his gun. He could make the shot from here. He didn't always need Lowlight.

Shipwreck placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't do it boss man. You do, they're dead. We knew she wasn't going to go waltzing in there with a little song and dance. Let it play out, no matter how hard."

Flint closed his eyes, nodding his head in reluctant agreement. He continued to monitor the man until he and Jaye disappeared from sight, swallowed by the mine. J.T. was circling the site, pretending to take notes. In actuality, he was taking pictures with the camera hidden in his clipboard. Even as Flint watched, those pictures were being transmitted to Mainframe and the secondary team assembled in Scranton.

"Nothing yet." Mainframe's voice buzzed in his ear. Flint leaned against a boulder and slid down to the ground, his elbow on his knee, rubbing his forehead. What did I just do?, he chided himself. He clenched his fist and struck out at the ground, grimacing from the sudden jolt of pain. He stifled a moan and announced, "Well boys, we wait."

And wait they did. J.T. seemed to be taking his own time setting up the transmitter receivers in the back of the pick-up truck under the guise of running test samples. Everything hinged on the signal from J.T. Flint hated this waiting; this feeling of uselessness. Minutes seemed like hours. The half hour that had passed was an eternity. Come on Jaye, give him a sign, something. Flint stretched his legs out in front of him, easing out the knots in his muscles. Mainframe was busy on his computer, prepared to lock in on J.T.'s information. Agent Miller was chatting with the rest of the squad in Scranton, relaying the real-time information and coordinating strategy. Shipwreck sat next to Flint, gun in his hand, ready to spring into action.

"Don't worry boss man, we'll get her out."

"I know." Flint wasn't much in the mood for idle chitchat.

"You really care about our lady don't you." Shipwreck wasn't asking a question.

"Same as I care for all my men." He starred straight ahead, knowing the slightest look could give his true feelings away.

"Nah, you wouldn't mind if I was made into Shipwreck flambé, but I think you would mind if she was. It's cool. I don't mind the competition."

Flint laughed. "Seriously, I admire her. I think she's a good solider, nothing more."

"Right, that and I have a bridge to sell you. It's in Brooklyn." Shipwreck elbowed Flint in the arm. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me. Just help a sailor out and hold off on the hanky panky for another two days. Then, Ace's pool is all mine. I'll even give you some of my winnings."

Flint turned to Shipwreck in disbelief, "Ace has a pool?"

"Oh yeah, surprised you haven't placed a bet. I don't think there's anything in the rules against it. I alone am the sole better in the Shipwreck-Cover Girl pool. Your pool started right after you guys got back from Scotland. Rumor has it you were none too pleased when a certain chrome dome made a play for Jaye. Duke placed his bet for one month after that. We all figured he had the inside track so there wasn't too much action. After that month passed . . ."

"Wait, did you say Duke is in on it?"

"In on it? Hell, he practically started it."

"Duke? Duke started it."

"Well, not started it. Only Ace can open up an official line. Duke, however, was the first to put his money where his mouth is. And, like I said, we all assumed he had the inside scoop. Ace did not give him great odds."

"Duke bet on me."

"Have I been talking to a rock all this time? Not on you. On you and Jaye and some PDA."

"PDA?"

"You know, public display of affection. One public kiss in two days and I win big."

Flint slumped against the rock. He was well aware that Ace had a tendency to get his fellow Joes to bet on all sorts of things. He just never figured it would get as personal as betting on Jaye and him. So much for his vow to be discrete.

Shipwreck patted Flint on the shoulder. "I wouldn't take it too hard. The boys just like to have some fun. Hawk's been the only one to lay odds on a Beach Head-Cover Girl matchup."

"Hawk?" Flint was flabbergasted. The general was involved in this?

"I know, Hawk betting against me. We'll see about that."

"I can't believe it. What are the stakes exact . . ."

Flint was interrupted by a jubilant Mainframe. "Cut the chatter guys, J.T.'s got the signal."

Feelings of relief washed over Flint, finally some positive news. Shipwreck noted the sudden change in his commander and wished at that moment he was Wild Bill. Lucky guy was down for today.

Flint stood up, checking his equipment. "Ok, you know the drill. Mainframe, you have lead with the map and I'll cover behind you."

Mainframe nodded while he adjusted a pair of clear glasses under his helmet. In addition to the GPS unit, Joseph had provided him with a pair of glasses that would lay out J.T.'s map on a monitor built into the glass of the right lens. It was almost like the Ace's drop down screen but better. He didn't need a helmet and to the outside world, it looked like he was wearing a pair of normal prescription glasses. When the team was down in the tunnels, Mainframe would also see a superimposed path devised by J.T. He felt like a Tron game come to life. Joseph had all the cool toys and he was finally getting to field test them.

"Miller, you're up next and Shipwreck will take rear. Stay tight. Keep your aim focused. Short bursts only. I don't know what they'll be sporting down there, but we can't take any chances. One stray blast and you can set off a fire or a collapse. We have one chance at this and we need to do it right. Jaye is counting on us. Our country depends on us. What happened in DC isn't happening again. Yo Joe!"

"Yo Joe!" The men shouted, even Agent Miller.

Flint led the team to an abandoned air vent that, fingers crossed, would meet up with the main mine. Climbing in, they rappelled down the shaft. Mainframe led the group through a series of twists and turns, one eye on his glass monitor at all times. It took some getting used to the different perspectives. Physically in front of him, all he saw was the blackness of the vent shaft running parallel to the mine tunnel. If he closed his left eye, the glass over his right eye projected a series of green lines representing the path they needed to take. Matching the reality with the glasses caused some fits and bumps to their smooth progress. Flint was unusually patient with the techie. Mainframe knew Jaye had something to do with it. Although she remained mum on the topic whenever Ripcord brought it up, he knew there was something there. He was ok with it; it was Ripcord that had to adjust. Poor Ripcord.

Mainframe soon got the hang of it and led the team to the end of the main air shaft. From that point it branched off in two different directions. He listened to a few words from J.T. and then turned to Flint. "J.T. says the air ducts narrow and split up from here. We have to jump down and take the tunnels. He's pinpointed Jaye's route and thinks he can get us around it. Oh, he also thinks Ray is starting to suspect something."

Flint nodded. He had hoped for more time before J.T. drew any suspicions. Let's face it, a 6 foot five Texan wasn't exactly going to blend into the background. Hopefully J.T. could hold his own until they got close enough. Would they ever get close enough? No. He was stopping right there. This was a mission plain and simple. If there was one thing he did, it was execute missions and bring people home. Jaye was coming home, no ifs, ands, or buts.

Miller worked off the vent cover and each man dropped down into the tunnel below. Flint stretched his arms; it felt good to not have to crawl anymore. Once they were assembled, Mainframe led them with Flint right on his heels, ready to protect him at all costs. Flint began to get that tingly sense he often did when something was off. He held up his hand, halting the group. He closed his eyes, focusing in on the sound, footsteps, three distinct steps. He held up three fingers and then his flashed his palm twice. This wasn't going to be easy.

A/N: Just a quick thanks for everyone who has taken the time to read. This started out as a much shorter story, I swear it did. In its nanowrimo form, it ended here, chapter 19. With edits and additions, it's grown a wee bit. I've had fun fleshing out some of the characters, namely the twins. Originally Tomax only had a small part. As I went back over what I had written, he seemed to have more to say. So thank you again for allowing me this indulgence. Hope you enjoy as I near the end.