Page 115 of Rescuing Mia
Walt leans back in his chair, arms crossed. “What about hiding Mia in the luggage or crates? We could disguise her as cargo.”
Gabe tilts his head, thinking it over. “We could modify a crate to include ventilation, make it comfortable enough for a short journey.”
Ethan looks skeptical. “They’ll search any luggage or crates thoroughly, especially if they suspect Mia is on board. I say no to that.”
CJ leans back and cups his chin. “If they have any inkling she’s here, they’ll tear this boat apart. Hidden compartments, modified crates—it won’t matter. They’ll find her.”
Walt sighs, nodding in agreement. “Alright, not practical. We need something they won’t anticipate.”
Mitzy interjects, “We need to consider all angles. What about using the cover of another ship?”
Forest shakes his head. “Too many variables. We need a solution that’s foolproof.”
The room falls silent again. Everyone is deep in thought, the weight of the situation pressing down on them.
Ethan breaks the silence. “What about a helicopter extraction? We could coordinate with a chopper to pick Mia up directly from the trawler. Quick and efficient.”
Mitzy shakes her head immediately, her fingers drumming on the table. “A helicopter would be tracked by radar. It’s a high-profile move that would draw attention. We’d be compromising our position and making Mia an even bigger target.”
Ethan frowns. “Right, too risky. We need something stealthier.”
Gabe leans forward, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “If we can’t get Mia out on the water or through the air, what if we put her in the water? Drop her in, then have the trawler move away? Ahelicopter could pick her up once we’re clear. They’re less likely to connect the two.”
Hank, ever the realist, crosses his arms. “And what’s to stop them from tracking the helicopter once it picks her up? The radar will still catch it.”
Gabe’s grin fades as he considers the implications. “True, but we could time it…”
CJ cuts in, “Timing won’t matter if they’re actively monitoring. The second that chopper gets close, they’ll be on to us. And splitting Mia from the main group makes her vulnerable.”
The tension in the room ratchets up another notch, frustration etched on every face. The sound of the trawler’s engines hums in the background, a reminder of the limited time we have to come up with a viable plan.
I glance at Mia, her eyes wide with fear but resolute. She’s counting on us to figure this out, and failure isn’t an option.
Forest’s voice cuts through the silence, authoritative and calm. “We need to think outside the box. Conventional methods won’t work. What’s left?”
Gabe’s idea has me thinking.
Mitzy’s fingers fly over her laptop, pulling up various scenarios and data feeds. “Come on, guys, I know you’re more creative than this.”
I tug at my chin. Mia’s going to hate this idea, but it might work.
“Maybe… We extract her underwater?”
Ethan raises an eyebrow. “Underwater?”
“Oh, I know what you’re thinking.” Gabe’s eyes light up with sudden inspiration. “We use dive gear. Take Mia under, away from the trawler, and have her picked up by a submarine.”
Hank interjects, “Submarine? That’s assuming we can contact one in time and get them here without Red Phoenix noticing.”
Forest nods thoughtfully. “It’s risky, but it might be our best shot. Mitzy, do we have any contacts in the Navy who could help us pull this off?”
Mitzy nods slowly. “We do, but coordinating this will take timeand precision. We’d need to be sure the sub can reach us without being detected.”
“It’s a submarine, Mitzy.” Forest huffs a laugh. “By definition, they’re undetectable.”
“Nearly undetectable,” Mitzy corrects. “I bet my drones could find them.”
The room buzzes with a renewed sense of possibility. Everyone leans in, the tension morphing into a focused determination. The stakes are higher than ever, but with a team like this, Mia has a fighting chance.