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He frowned skeptically "And you’re positive Martinez is down there"

"It all makes sense, sir Babcock used a cave, too And El Paso is just a hundred ht a ree, the pattern fits, but how can you be so sure?"

Alicia hesitated "I can’t really explain it, Colonel I just know"

Peter was seated at the far end of the table "Perar rolled his eyes "Fine, Jaxon, go ahead and say e all know you’re going to say"

"I’m the only other person here who’s seen one of the Twelve I trust Lieutenant Donadio If she says Martinez is down there, he’s down there"

"We’re all aware of your history, Lieutenant That doesn’t change the fact that we’re just playing a hunch here I don’t see risking anyone unless we know for sure"

"So inal test subjects were chipped, like Anal to locate him"

"I already thought of that Just one probleh rock How do you propose to get a signal froet it froet it froain "We do like Alicia says, positioning an H2 pack inside the tunnel that leads from the base of the , but in tight quarters that ought to be enough to get Martinez’s attention The package is wired back to the base of the main entrance, where it’s connected to the surface by a radio detonator, so we can blow it at a safe distance Call that Blue Squad"

Apgar nodded "I’le man down the elevator shaft to meet Martinez on the way out We send tith a radio direction finder Call that Red Squad The first thing Red Squad does is plant a second pack of H2 near the base of the shaft We put it on a short timer, say fifteen seconds Man one proceeds into the cave, using the RDF to locate Martinez, but man two holds his position at the elevator The trick will be keeping lines of sight to maintain radio contact with the surface, so that’s o-between Basically we use a daisy-chain system Man one is connected by radio to man tho’s connected to whoever’s positioned at the top of the shaft, call him man three, who’s connected to Blue Squad That e can coordinate all the elear nodded "Fair enough, but I’ the problems, Lieutenant It’s a maze down there What ifcollapses"

"It’s a risk, but there’s no reason they should, so long as the first o any farther than these three junctures" Peter showed theive us a whole view of the cave, but we should be able to survey es,for Martinez, man taits to hear After that it’s just a question of the ti Once man one locates Martinez, he radios back to man tho contacts the surface Blue Squad blows the hole Martinez is pissed Man one beats it back to the shaft, drawing hio, the second package blows, Martinez is history" He clapped his hands "Siin for error there I know Donadio’s fast, but fifteen seconds won’t be et clear of the blast I don’t knoe can winch anybody up that quickly"

"We won’t have to The shaft itself will offer enough protection Fifty feet should do it"

"Just to be clear, you’re talking about using man one as a decoy"

"Correct, sir"

"Sounds like you’ve done this before"

"Not me Sister Lacey"

"Your mystic nun"

"Lacey was a lot ers together, glanced at the map, then raised his eyes to Peter’s face "Man one is Donadio, obviously Any idea who this other suicidal character ht be?"

"Yes, sir I’d like to volunteer"

"And why aar turned to the others "Anybody else want to chireed

"Donadio?"

She glanced at Peter-Are you sure about this?-and then gave a tight nod "I’h of surrender "All right, Lieutenants, this is your show Henneman, you think two squads should do it?"

"I believe so, Colonel"

"Brief Lieutenant Dodd and put a detail together to outfit the portables And let’s see about that RDF I’d like to ar looked at Peter again "Last chance to change your mind, Lieutenant"