Chapter 114: Plans are made and disposed

The trip towards Andrews Air Force Base lasted roughly one hour if not a bit more. With the president arriving in two hours for the peace talks, security had understandably been upped by quite a lot. This was an issue.

The trio needed to get inside the base undetected, and find the entrance to Wilson’s underground base of operation. A base of operation none of them had any proof of its existence. They were following their guts which had been developed over years spent on the field during black operations for the United States of America.

A hundred yards away from the base’s fence, at the side of the road, a Toyota Camry's engine was cooling down. With the sun rising and its rays lighting the surroundings, the team was losing the advantage of the dark. The more time passes, the more complicated it will be to infiltrate the base.

For good measure, Rachel had stabbed a tire. A possible good excuse in case the guards found the Camry suspicious and came to have a look. At this point, with the president involved it was more a ‘when’ than ‘if’ situation.

“We geared up for nothing. Worse, our gear is making us stand out.” Rick remarked.

Teresa was determined however. “We’re doing it.”

“Not like I mind, ma’am, but how?” Rachel voiced her skepticism.

The blonde didn’t have to say it, they all understood. If the guards were Wilson’s men, then the entire operation would fall apart if they were so much as seen on the base’s premises. It would tip the man off. Worse it could delay the peace talks or derail them. None of those results were acceptable and avoided at any cost.

In the case of the guards not being at Wilson’s sold then they were regular soldiers. Patriots. The trio couldn’t simply make them ‘disappear’. That they hated the thought was irrelevant. It would create problems and not just for them. Problems not worth the effort.

“We’re going through the front door. Normally.” Teresa announced.

Rick and Rachel’s head turned too fast to look at their team leader. It was a miracle nothing snapped loudly.

““What?!””

Eyes still in front of her, analyzing the possible points of entry and of the guards, Teresa explained what she had in mind.

“The president gave the Lieutenant Colonel and indirectly, me, certain privileges regarding the investigation. If I present myself for a last minute inspection, requested by the president himself then…”

“They’ll check for that, ma’am. If they’re Wilson’s men we’re cooked.” Rick immediately saw the flow with the plan.

Rachel added her own thoughts. “If they’re not, it may go up to the president which… Admittedly it is far better and he might cover for us but will he keep the information to himself?”

“I might have us covered. Go change.” Teresa pulled out her phone and dialed Ethan Hunt’s number. It was only when Rick and Rachel heard her say “Lieutenant Colonel” that they got out of the car and went to open the trunk.

Rick removed the weapons crate and Rachel opened the other. Inside were their tactical gear but also their civilian clothes they had gotten out of before starting their operation to infiltrate the White House. It wasn’t the first time they had to change back to civilian clothes to escape detection after a mission was completed or went tits up.

“Ugh. I would have liked to know we were going through the front door before I slash the tire. How are we going to go there? On foot? You couldn’t do more suspicious.” Rachel was pulling down her form fitting top displaying a lot of cleavage.

“That’s the least of our problems. While the Major has her military uniform, we don’t.” His eyes went from hers to her chest then back to hers, while pulling up his pants.

“It won’t pose a problem.” Teresa came from the front of the car, her phone call over. “You were roped in on short notice, hence why you’re not wearing your uniform.”

Rachel was now putting on her boots. “And how do we justify the presence of not one but two Majors and a Captain?”

“Promotion from the president earlier in the morning?” Rick ventured while he grabbed one of Rachel’s feet and did her laces.

“Yes.” Pulling up her skirt while moving her hips from side to side to make it easier, Teresa explained further. “It’s flimsy but they shouldn’t look too deep into it.”

“Oh, they will look deep, ma’am, but somewhere else.” Rachel pulled down her top to accentuate her cleavage even more, she even undid one more button for effect.

“Don’t you think that’s enough?” Rick gave her a skeptical look.

She gave him a knowing smirk. “For you maybe, but only because you’re used to seeing them.” She turned to Teresa. “What about the car?”

The woman settled her hat on her head and let her hands there while falling deep in thought. What could be weirder? Arriving on foot or with a car without military plates?

“We’re taking it.”

And that was it about the topic for her. Looking deep inside the open crate she pulled out a small black box from the bottom of it. Inside were military IDs. She handed one to each of them.

Rick and Rachel looked at them in sync then up at her.

“Ma’am. Why do you have a copy of our ID? And up to date at that.” Rachel inquired.

“For cases like these. The Lieutenant Colonel suggested keeping valid papers for the two of you even if you had retired. Just in case you’d once again be called to duty. Like now. The president agreed.”

Rick wasn’t happy by the news. “So we’re what? Not really retired from the Military?”

“You’re not no. Not informally. Roach, the government will always keep you enlisted for what you can do alone. Liquid for your vast experience with bio-terrorism.”

“I really don’t like this.” Rick said, scowling.

“It is what it is. You knew you would always be watched over in a certain manner. You, the Birkins, mother and daughter, the government always keeps an eye on—”

““Dangerous elements or threats.””

Not wanting to particularly speak about being under surveillance or Rachel being on the president’s speed dial for operations needing utter discretion or trust in an agent, and because it really wasn’t the time for it, Rick changed the topic. He suddenly kept quiet however. If Teresa didn’t enter into details about the conversation she had with Hunt, then it wasn’t for them to know. Anyone else and he would have but not her.

It left one issue not talked about yet, which Rachel didn’t miss on doing. “Our gear in the trunk?”

“If they check, we’re also delivering important documents for Secretary Wilson. His eyes only.” Teresa replied as she went back to the side of the car and took back her seat. “I doubt they will.”

“The plates?” Rick asked when he got behind her and Rachel. “If they asked to see the papers of the vehicle…”

“We’ll improvise.”

Resigned to such an airbrained plan, Rachel started the car and went back onto the road. The deflated tire rolling onto the asphalt made a rhythmic and loud sound inside which got on Rick’s nerves. Of all the things about this situation it was what annoyed him the most.

It didn’t take long for the main gate of the Andrews Air Force base to be in sight. Fifty feet away from it, two soldiers, who had already noticed the Toyota, moved in front of it, blocking the way and ready to intercept.

Coming slowly to a stop, one of the guards, a third one inside a check station, signaled Rachel to lower the window.

“Ma’am, this is…” The poor guy was left speechless when he saw Rachel’s humongous tits almost popping out of her top. To his credit, he quickly got himself under control, cleared his throat and tried again. Rachel gave him a bright smile and did her best to not laugh at how hard the man was trying to look at her face and not lower. “Ma’am, this area is a US Air Force military base. It is restricted to the public. Please turn around. If you need help with that flat tire, then we’ll make a call for you.”

“That’s kind of you, soldier but we’re here on low key official business.”

The guard had barely the time to frown that Rachel presented him with their CAC. Once in hand, he looked at them with intensity. She didn’t stop at just that.

“SOCOM?” The guard was skeptical, reading out loud the branch of service on the ID card.

“Last minute security check to make sure there won’t be any danger to POTUS or disruption to the peace talks. Captain Wald and I are also tasked to act as undercover civilians during the press conference, hence our civilian appearance and civilian car. Major Walker is to supervise. We’re in fact a bit late,” Rachel put her arm outside the window to point at the tire. “Got a bit of a problem on the road not far from here.”

Not convinced, the guard ran the card on the card reader inside his booth. It didn’t take long for him to get positive results at their validity but also the identity of the trio. Turning back to Rachel he handed the CAC back.

“Be as it may ma’am, we have strict orders to not let anyone inside from the Secretary of Def—”

The soldier was interrupted by the phone ringing. Asking Rachel to wait for a moment, he answered the call.

“Main gate.” he greeted whoever was on the other end of the line.

Rick, thanks to his enhanced hearing, was able to hear who was talking. “This is Colonel Matthews.”

The guard stood a bit straighter. “Sir.”

“There is a last minute security check ordered by the President. Three officers will soon be at the gate. Let them in and send them my way.”

“They’re already here, sir. I’ll let them go through.”

“Good work.”

Rick nearly snorted by how much of a dick this Colonel Matthews sounded. That was one of the many things he didn’t like in the army. Being treated like shit. Not like he had this particular experience. Teresa, despite her professional and no-nonsense attitude had never been curt and disrespectful like this to him and Hunt, while annoying hadn’t been either. He felt sorry for the guard.

“Everything is in order, ma’am. Colonel Matthews is waiting for you in his office.”

“Thank you.” Rachel turned back to look forward and the two guards in front of the gate opened it to let them through. After raising the window and getting inside the base she let out a sigh of relief. “Count on LC to always go through for us at the last second.”

“It wasn’t him.” Rick corrected. “It was POTUS or so Matthews said.”

“Then the president is aware of our activities. Nevermind we continue as planned.”

Rachel wasn’t of the same opinion. “Planned, ma’am? The plan was to get inside. What’s the plan now?”

“I’ll deal with Colonel Matthews. Liquid, you snoop around. Wilson comes regularly here and I doubt his activities are above ground. Find an entrance. Roach, after fixing the tire, prepare the gear.”

““Yes, ma’am.””

“How am I supposed to carry around our gear, though?”

Teresa’s answer was annoying to him but it displayed her trust in his outside the box thinking. “Like always: improvise.”

Resisting the temptation to grumble some nasty words, he began to mentally check the possibilities of how he could do that. Meanwhile Rachel parked the car in an appropriate spot for visitors. There was no car but their own and it made the Toyota stand out like a sore thumb.

The moment the engine stopped, everyone moved without a word. Teresa walked without looking back towards her destination. Rachel walked by her side and would split off soon enough. She wasn’t looking for an entrance at random. Most illegal underground facilities were built the same way. Inconspicuous and hidden access close to the Head’s office for easy access. Chief Irons had one directly inside his office in Raccoon City Orphanage, that was quite the proof and years of clandestine operations didn’t disapprove the theory.

Rick opened the trunk and removed the crates to open the false bottom into which he picked the spare tire, a jack and a crank. He took his time to do the job. Since he was the one supposed to move around their equipment, he couldn’t just wander aimlessly. Information and green light from Rachel were needed and he would go to her directly.

The issue, however, was that changing a flat tire was something limited by time. Not in how fast he had to do it but in how long it took. Too long and it would be quite suspicious. On average, for an experienced person, it was a 10 to 15 minutes task. Rick could go for 20 but more and people patrolling around or simply observing would find it odd.

At the 17 minutes mark he received a text from his partner.

“Found it. Warned Sky. She’s busy with the Colonel. Ordered us to go alone and she’d joined us as soon as she could. Also ordered us to get Wilson alive.”

Another message followed with the location of the entrance. Not without much surprise it was an elevator going way down with very restricted access to the lower and lowest levels.

Quickly finishing what he was doing and tucking back the flat tire, jack and crank where they belong, Rick stacked the two crates on top of each other and made his way to their rendez-vous point.

The solution about moving around the equipment was that simple really. He just followed Major Walker’s lead: go the normal way. Nobody knew what was inside the crates and if somehow he got stopped on the way for them and the civilian way he looked, he just had to flash his CAC. Being a captain and affiliated to SOCOM, he doubted anyone on base patrolling would insist on investigating further.

Again, It was that simple.

So much that it made him inwardly laugh. Years of acting in the shadows during clandestine operations with the exception of the Spencer Rain and that one time in Bielorussia and in the end, he simply walked around in plain sight, discarding his whole experience he acquired in the black ops.

‘Could it be considered ironic?’ He got no answer to his own question and would ask Rachel later once the mission was over and they were back home.

Making his way inside the building, he was glad it was so early in the morning. Most soldiers were either at breakfast or going through PT. President coming or peace talks didn’t matter to a base schedule.

He found Rachel drinking a cup of coffee and waiting near the elevator in question. The uniformity of military bases was both an advantage and disadvantage. It made it easy for newcomers to find their way but it also made it easy for anyone wanting to infiltrate one. Of course, they were not all identical but some things were roughly the same. An elevator was always near the center of a building.

At Rick’s sight, Rachel pushed the call button and waited.

“How are we doing this? We don’t have any kind of access to reach down.” She asked.

It took Rick by surprise, as he hadn’t thought about it either. Both had been way too focused on entering the base without getting caught. When the doors opened, Rachel moved, taking one step inside the elevator. Having a sudden moment of genius or perhaps insanity he stayed outside.

“Push all the buttons above this floor.”

Giving him a puzzled look, Rachel did as instructed and got out when Rick made a come hither sign with his hand. He laid the two crates on the ground and let the elevator go do its own business. When he pulled out a long black rope from the tactical one, she got an idea of what his plan was.

“You’re not thinking of abseiling, are you? Someone going through here will see the rope! Where are you even going to attach it in the—” She was left speechless when he circled the rope around her hips. “Oh, hell no!” She hissed but didn’t stop him from doing so and making sure she was secure.

“We’re climbing down, the rope is for you to keep your strength and to take the crates with us.”

It was even worse than what she thought. In her mind one of them was about to serve as the anchor while the other went down. The reality was far more ridiculous but then again if anyone could pull that off, it was him.

“I could just climb of your back, there is no need to—”

“Waste of time. Hook the crates, I’m opening the doors.”

Rachel looked at him in disbelief for a second. The moment he put his hands on the elevator’s door, denting them a bit to have a good grip, she knew it was futile to protest. With no other choice, she began her own task.