Wiress pulled her sweater around her before pushing Beetee's chair down the halls of the bomb shelter to the makeshift command center. "Here, Mrs. Tesla." Gale said gently before draping his camoflauge jacket over her shoulders even as the cold dampness seeped through his District Thirteen jumpsuit. "I'll be ok."
"Thank you, son." Beetee said gently while smiling at Gale. "She spent the first twenty-four hours of the raid fussing over me."
"Beetee – that's because you kept getting out of bed to talk to the other engineers –" Wiress began before Beetee blushed. Gale held the door open as Wiress steered her husband to a rectangle conference table where Plutarch, President Coin, Boggs, Cressida, and other members of the revolution sat. Once Wiress settled her husband in his seat, she examined the monitor attached to the wall and the projector connected to Beetee's computer. "It's ready."
The room was silent as Beetee turned on his computer and loaded a map of Panem onto the monitor on the wall. "The bombing is slowing down." President Coin said as Beetee made the map zoom in on District Thirteen. "Hovercrafts are targeting only fifty per-cent of the district." She paused. "After the first twenty-four hours, they believed they destroyed our underground network, but they only destroyed the surface levels. They do not realize how far down we have built. Once the hovercrafts leave, we will resume fighting."
"Boggs tells us that there is another command center and weapons storage in every level of the district." Plutarch added smiling at the District Thirteen president.
"Correct." President Coin said beaming. "We can all survive in the deepest level of the district which is this level here. However, I do not think it will come to that. The Capitol believes they have obliterated us. Therefore, our focus will be to re-rally the districts with our presence."
"I can send out secret messages over the existing satellite communications the Panem military uses and has not disabled." Beetee offered. Wiress nodded knowing many rebel fighters were using communicators the Teslas had invented for that purpose.
"No, that's not powerful enough." Plutarch objected oblivious to the Teslas' eyerolling. "We can have The Mockingjay do a propo once it's safe to go above ground."
"However, the radiation from the dirty-bombs used in the firebombing will be too high for at least –" Beetee began.
"We need to do the propo." President Coin cut in. "The Mockingjay can be treated for any radiation exposure after the fact. We need to see her in action as much as possible" Looking over at Gale, Beetee noticed he sat at the table with his jaws clenched.
"Can we at least suit her up and have a geiger counter on her so we know if she's in a particularly hot area?" Beetee asked. "She needs to be kept healthy to fight later."
"Very well." Coin said. "I plan for her to enter the Capitol once the districts are secure. Snow will most likely send the victors in the Capitol to try to intercept her, but they will obviously join her. Then she along with the other young victors will be in combat. They shall fight against the Panem Military and their martyrdom for the revolution will be broadcast on national television." She finished staring hard at the camera crew.
The room fell silent at her announcement. "No!" Wiress gasped jumping to her feet. Marching over to her Commander-in-Chief, she slammed her hands down on the metal table. The sound reverberated around the room. "She is a girl. A teenager. You – sacrifice her – just like the Games – you will not –"
"Sit down, Mrs. Tesla." President Coin said coldly. With all her might, she maintained her composure as she stared into large eyes full of fury. "This has been our tactic all along. Do not question me."
"With all due respect, Madame President, I agree with Victor Tesla." Plutarch said. "If The Mockingjay is not present at the end of the revolution, we can't use her interviews to bolster reconstruction. Think about it, we could do news series of her visiting the districts once they peace is restored"
"I will think about that plan. Sit down, Mrs. Tesla, I will not ask you again." President Coin hissed.
"The young kids – should live." Wiress insisted. "For all the children – for my children the Capitol killed." Taking deep breaths, Wiress knew she couldn't keep her cool for very long. "What shall I fix – while you meet?"
"Why don't you test some equipment in the room next to us, hon?" Beetee asked. "I'll fill you in on the meeting later." Without a word, Wiress exited the meeting room and escaped into her world of fixing machinery for the revolution. Knowing the hardier pieces could withstand impact, she found satisfaction in flinging rusty parts across the room as she disassembled and cleaned robotic equipment and munitions manufacturing equipment. Tears ran down her face as she formulated a plan. Coin wanted to use Katniss as bait or as a sacrifice for the revolution. However, the Teslas would make sure that Katniss survived the revolution and thrived in a free Panem.