Page 53 of Corey
Corey finished reviewing the quantum sensors on the drone then glanced over at Wes who checked his weapons. It felt like old times. Well, before things went to shit. Missions like this filled him with purpose once again.
When Mitch first pitched forming a ghost ops team to Brand and the others, Corey didn’t have to think too hard before joining. None of them had. They’d all happily come out of retirement to take on dangerous, secret missions too hot for the US military. He liked working off the books because they didn’t have to take orders or deal with red tape. And Mitch proved to be an excellent handler.
Forget the superheroes in the DC Universe. General Mitchell Evans was Superman in the Special Forces Universe.
“Okay, eyes on the water,” Brand said, lowering his NVGs. “Emerson, is the drone ready to deploy?”
“Locked and loaded,” Corey replied, standing up, legs akimbo as he aligned his balance with the helo’s movements. Lex slowed the bird down, and when they were hovering in position, Corey looked over at Xander who had eyes on the laptop screen where intel scrolled.
Xander gave him a thumbs-up, and Corey released it. Using the remote control, he guided it forward over the open ocean.
“Why do I feel like this is going to take for-fucking-ever?” Chaz grumbled. “Like searching for a needle in a haystack in the dead of night.”
“Because you don’t understand the capability of the sensors attached to that drone,” Xander said.
“Yeah, Mitch gave a brief explanation,” Jayson said, “but quantum sensors are above my pay grade.”
“What the hell is a quantum, anyway?” Wes asked.
Xander studied the screen. “In physics, it’s the smallest unit of something. The sensors on the drone will tell us exactly where that sub is by detecting the most minute change in fields like gravity and magnetism. Trust me, there’s nowhere for it to hide.”
“Looks like there’s a whole ocean for it to hide,” Chaz said dryly.
“Sonar or radar are pretty useless, but those sensors will get the job done faster than you can imagine,” Xander assured them.
“I’m imagining myself stuck out here for days and days and endless fucking days,” Chaz said grumpily. “I hope somebody brought snacks.”
“Ye of little faith. I don’t need days,” Xander said with a cocky grin.
Chaz let out a snort of disbelief. “I’m giving you ten minutes, spook. Otherwise, I’m going to be supremely disappointed.”
“I may need eleven minutes,” Xander responded smoothly. “Unless, of course, your eagle eyes spot the sub sooner.”
Chaz barked out a laugh and slapped the other man on the back. “I think he’s developing a sense of humor. Fuck, Hawke, against my better judgment, I’m really starting to like you.”
“Call me crazy, Madden, but the feeling might be mutual.”
“Do we have a bromance brewing?” Jayson asked, and everyone chuckled.
“Okay, eyes on the water,” Brand reminded them.
While Chaz, Jayson, Wes and Brand kept their gazes glued to the ocean below, Lex kept the helo flying steadily as Corey expertly manned the drone and Xander studied the real-time readouts pouring in from the sensors.
Of course, the former CIA agent proved to be right, and by midnight, they had a clear reading on a submarine. And, as luck would have it, the sub floated to the surface, most likely recharging its batteries before setting off again.
“Cor and Jay, you’re up,” Brand announced.
It was time for them to fast rope down onto the submarine, force the hatch open and neutralize the crew.
Nothing to it,Corey thought as he pulled his gloves on, checked his helmet and moved over to the open door.
Chapter Twenty-One
The wind whipped around him as Corey fast-roped from the helo, dropping through the darkness with barely a whoosh. His boots hit the top of the submarine and Jayson landed beside him, already pulling the large breach tool off his belt.
Pulling his pistol from its holster, Corey waited while Jayson easily breached the hatch. If a nuclear sub was the equivalent of a bank vault, then the narco sub was like a cash box. The door busted open easily and, a moment later, a dark head popped up through the opening.
Corey took the smuggler out with two perfectly-placed shots.Three tangoes left.And he doubted they’d be poking up through the opening like a gopher now that their buddy was dead.
