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“Technically, the middle of a typhoon is very calm,” Murph said “There could even be blue sky inside the eye during daytime hours”

“So, technically, we can do it,” Juan said

Eric looked at Murph, who shrugged and then said, “I guess so But if you get stuck out there when the eye finishes passing over, you won’t be able to get back to the Oregon for a long time”

“Then we need to have a good plan Have Eddie and Raven join et back” He checked the clock It was nearly two in the afternoon “We’ve got fourteen hours to put together the mission”

Linda shook her head in a ato have a heart attack when he hears this one”

“Then you get to tell him,” Juan said “And maybe have Hux with you when you do just in case she needs to revive h

im”

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Juan didn’t know if this was the craziest thing he’d ever done, but flying in a helicopter in the literal center of a typhoon had to be up there Even though it was four in the htly lit by a nearly fullclouds just a few miles in the distance were a stark contrast to the eerie calm around them

Nobody aboard the Oregon had gotten much rest since the typhoon arrived Max’s repairs to the ship’s engines had been co the tidal surge in the bay was pretty rough

Despite the u a routine recon mission Behind Juan were Eddie, Linc, and Raven, who had taken the last seat in place of MacD Julia had ruled hinosed it as a severe sprain

All of theear and carried M4 assault rifles equipped with flash suppressors and 40 went according to plan, they wouldn’t need to use the Beth, plant explosives to take out the Typhoon pills recovered froet back to the helicopter before anyone besides the guards on duty woke up Though the helicopter had only five seats, the high payload capacity meant they could squeeze Beth in as well

To aid their silent infiltration, all of the Smith & Wesson M&P 22 Compact pistols threaded with suppressors and loaded with subsonic rounds MacD had entrusted his faithful crossbow to Linc

The MD 520N, the Oregon’s onboard helicopter, was launched froar near the ship’s stern It had no tail rotor, steering instead with the turbine exhaust routed through the finned tail This feature not only made it safer to be around because it didn’t have a vertical spinning blade of death, it also made the helicopter much quieter, which meant they could land relatively close to the cavern without betraying their presence

Their destination was a clearing a mile up the dirt road from the cavern Goht vision goggles to verify that no trees had fallen into the landing zone Then he touched down on the soaked grass as gracefully as a hubird