Tempest - Kris Michaels Page 0,30

anything she gives us to find a toe-hold into Stratus, it would be a boon." Tempest willed the powers to be to listen and attend to what he was saying.

"What type of information?" Archangel queried.

"I don't know. She didn't give it to me, but I believe it is enough to pressure Grantham into talking."

"How do we get the information?" That was Dom Ops.

"I have an idea. If you approve it, we can conceal Pilar's intent to betray her mother and give Guardian time to work any information disclosed behind the scenes.”

Fury's low, evil chuckle came across the line. "Let me guess. You're going to need a boat."

"A yacht actually. The one I'm on now would work well."

"What do you have in mind?" Archangel's query gave him the opening he needed. He walked them through his intentions step-by-step.

"It could work." The woman spoke again. "I can get a webpage up, and have Alonzo back up the history of the website for a solid four or five years. We can spoof the web server into believing the site has been up for years. It won't be perfect until mid-morning, but if you can hold off contacting her until then, there is no way anyone close to her will be able to ascertain the charter company hasn't existed for years. Of course, I'll have to break into the State of Florida's LLC database and load the company, show annual verifications and payments. Tax bases are Erika's specialty, and she can take care of it in the morning. No need to call her in tonight. Are we using established personas for Smoke and Browning?"

"Yeah, we've done the charter boat thing before with Homeland," Smoke responded.

"Snap, that's right. Perfect. You'll have a history established. Awesome sauce. This is entirely doable." The keyboard tapped away in the background.

"I want another asset in the area." Archangel's command cut through the connection. "From all indications, Stratus is disjointed, but they've shifted their focus from political aspirations to economic."

Tempest made a sound of disagreement. "I believe you're wrong on that point, sir. Pilar has been told she will be the first female President of the United States."

The keyboard went crazy. "But she doesn't hold any office."

"She's going to be running for mayor here. A stepping stone to a Senate seat."

"Fuck. All right.” Archangel vented his frustration. “Let's get this put into motion. Alpha, Fury, get together with Anubis in the morning and determine what backup is going to be utilized. Tempest, this is out of your wheelhouse; you can exit and leave it to us."

"It will be a cold day in hell before I leave the woman who saved my life."

"Well it certainly isn't cold in hell. I know. I train men in the bowels of Satan's sandbox every day," Fury snarked. "We'll get backup heading that way. If I know the three I have in mind, they will be lounging around on vacation, but they'll be ready."

"Copy that. I want a full briefing on all points tomorrow morning at 0900hrs. Archangel out."

"Well when you come back, you come back with a bang, don't you?" Alpha chuckled. "Fury, I have Sierra team available."

"Use them. My people are committed, but I need to alter the rotation due to Tweedledee and Tweedledum fucking up my schedule."

"I'm Dee." Smoke interjected.

"No, you're not. I'm out."

Smoke's eyebrows scrunched together. He mouthed, “I'm Dee,” and pointed at himself. Browning flipped him off which returned the man's smile.

"If you need anything, call the switchboard. You're now on their priority list. Whatever it takes, my friend. Alpha out."

"Thanks for the fun, you guys. I totes love having something new to do. Stay safe. Cyber out."

"And that leaves me." Bengal sighed. "I'll brief Anubis in the morning when he checks in. Make sure you're not walking into a shit storm. I'll have Cyber monitor chatter on the Darknet, but Stratus rarely leaves tracks, digital or otherwise. Check in daily."

"Ah yes, the new leash." Tempest leaned back in his seat.

"Necessary evils. It's nice to see you back in action, my friend."

"I'm not doing my job here, I'm gathering intel."

"Guardian is evolving. Shadows are no longer one dimensional."

"Ain't that the truth.” Smoke waggled his eyebrows. “I have so many dimensions. Layers and layers of dimensions."

Tempest rolled his eyes. Smoke was an assassin, but he didn't fit the mold for this line of work. He wasn't a loner. He loved people, and he looked like––

"More like layers of bullshit. Bengal out."

"Damn, a guy could get a complex."

"I wonder why." Tempest leaned