Sci was absent from his office when Thayer got there, but the Dictator's next guess proved a lucky one. Heading for the Batcave in hopes that Nick or Sharon had seen the Major, he found Sci himself in the communications center. The Terra Group commander, in the middle of a holocomm transmission to Jerusalem, didn't seem to have seen Thayer.
"...so if this guy really is in Jerusalem," a holo of Josh Cochran was saying (Thayer reflexively froze at the sight of him, but only for a moment), "I think we'll be needing backup. Lots of it."
"But you don't actually know he's there."
"I don't," Josh admitted. "But he was in Paris. And Cheriss mentions him in her notes, so it seems a safe bet. Chief, he's not the sort to lose a trail like this. He'll be here. I'm sure of that."
Sci nodded pensively. "I'll see what we can send you, then. In fact, I might come myself. The new recruits could use the action."
"Well, we could use them, if you think they're up to it."
"Like I said, I'll see what we have available. You'll have your backup, even if it's only those battle droids NRI sent us last year. Sci out."
The instant the holo from Jerusalem had flickered out, Sci turned directly to Thayer. "So. You heard?"
Thayer nodded, no longer surprised when Terra Group's commander turned out to have known more than one thought he had. "Whom will you send? Aren't most of them in Jerusalem already?"
"Aside from Nick, and the group I just brought back. But Nick's probably best left overseeing the Batcave for the time being. And then I need to send someone up to Luna, too, to take over for Kristy."
"Will you really go yourself?"
Sci shrugged. "Why not?"
"And take the recruits?"
"They have to start somewhere."
Thayer nodded, then paused as a thought came to him. "Sci, whatever you decide regarding your people...I'd like to offer Mendellia's support. Let me send the Graces as part of your backup."
Sci cast an appraising glance over the Dictator. "Are you sure you want to get Mendellia involved in this?"
"Terra's fight has always been Mendellia's fight, as long as your people and mine have been allies."
Sci regarded the Dictator knowingly. "Speaking of allies, this wouldn't have anything to do with what we talked about earlier, would it?"
"Maybe," Thayer grinned. "I have given thought to that matter."
"And?"
"And...If Lt. Cochran is correct, she will be in danger soon. And, whatever doubts I may have, I at least know that I would blame myself endlessly if I were able to help her out of that danger, and I did nothing."
"Hm. As much as I respect that sentiment, I'll have to say no to the Graces."
Thayer frowned. "Look, Sci, if you--"
The Major held up a hand to cut him off. "Nothing personal. I just don't foresee a need for air support, much less space support, on this mission. At least not yet. If we find the enemy somehow got ships past the Lunar sensors to throw at us, I might take you up on the offer, but for now, I'd rather not risk the exposure of taking Mendellian fighters outside Mendellian airspace."
Thayer looked contemplative for a second, then nodded and turned to go. Sci waited until he was halfway out the door before speaking. "However..."
Thayer looked back, confused.
"If you think you can tear yourself away from running your country, you could probably come along yourself."
Sci smirked at how quickly Thayer agreed to that proposal. "That would be workable."
"We'll be taking the Gaia. Two hours?"
"That should be enough." As Thayer turned to prepare to depart, Sci flicked a switch on the companel before him.
"All Terra Group personnel, report to command center."
"So that's the situation. I'll be taking Sylvana and Arrek with me on the Gaia. Bethany, you'll be getting the shift on Luna, and we'll be in constant contact with you as we arrive. Nick, you're in charge on Mendellia for now; if you feel it necessary, or I contact you, join the party. Do it with a modicum of stealth, as you're quite capable of. Emily, you'll be on Mendellia for now. If Nick gets called in, you'll need to stay behind." Emily scowled, but nodded. Sci continued. "We'll take a suborbital route, nice and slow, and the Gaia will be running partial cloak visible, full stealth. We should arrive around what amounts to predawn February 3rd, Jerusalem time."
Though local parlance called any advanced stealthing technology a "cloak," there were in fact many different electronic warfare technologies at work. Full, double-blind cloaking devices themselves were only used in conjunction with computer-powered flying--with the limited amount of air traffic on Terra in high atmosphere, seeing wasn't necessary if your computer could plot the route. Partial cloaks, for low-level technologies, were more commonly used, such as the system on the Red Home. The Gaia also had a suite of sensor-stealth systems: Radar jammers, scatter fields, absorbitive paneling, the works. Even so, since Israel had one of the best Air Forces in the world, the trip was going to be a slow one.
"Any questions? Very well. We leave in an hour and a half. Those of you who are going, pack up and be ready in an hour."
"So, whatever happened to 'I've-got-a-full-schedule-and-I-can't-take-a-step-from-the-Palace-without-things-falling-apart,' Boss?" asked Reth. The General in command of Mendellia's armed forces was taking his ease, leaning back in the Dictator's chair with his feet propped up on the Dictator's desk, while the Dictator darted from room to room of his office suite, packing things.
"Well," Thayer called from the next room, "I went to Paris despite all that. And," he peeked out from the doorway, "things did fall apart at that point, you'll note. Therefore I am decided now to throw schedules to the winds once more and go to Jerusalem, on the chance that things might be put back together thereby." He disappeared from view again.
Reth chuckled. "Love the mixed metaphors. Anyway, it's about time you got out from behind this desk."
"You're looking comfortable enough behind it," Thayer said, coming over to hunt briefly through the desk drawers for one thing or other.
"Ah, it's okay on a temporary basis. . . ."
"Better watch yourself, though," Thayer grinned. "Perhaps I'll find Jerusalem more amenable than expected and just not come back. And then you'd find this a bit more than a temporary basis."
"Oh, no you don't," Reth shook his head, undaunted. "The desk job is Kirret's territory. I'm just here to make sure no one storms the Palace to annoy her while she's in the middle of organizing something."
"Well," Thayer shrugged, "between the two of you, Mendellia will be in good hands while I'm away."
"And better hands when you get back," Reth said with unaccustomed solemnity.
"Well, that's kind of you, but--"
"Because you'll bring Becki back with you," Reth went on, his usual grin returning, "and then you'll finally be able to settle into your throne, and stop worrying about hers being empty, and get started actually ruling this place."
Thayer smiled and shook his head. "I wish I had your optimism, but . . ."
"But you have your determination," Reth said, standing up and coming to stand beside his friend. "That'll do the job. Go on, get out of here," he waved the Dictator in the direction of the door, grabbing Thayer's travel bag from the desk and shoving it at him, "go get her."
Thayer accepted the bag and nodded distractedly as he turned for the door, then turned back. "Wait. I almost forgot. Reth, while you're looking after things in the Palace, there's something else I need you to do."
"I'm at your service. . . ." Reth answered with a bow not quite so low nor so smooth as the Mendellian standard.
"Look after my mother, will you?"
"You mean, keep her out of trouble?" Reth looked uncertain.
"Trouble to herself, I mean," Thayer said. "The truth is--I'm concerned for her. She's been odd enough since she returned from France, but now . . . well, we quarreled today. I wanted only to put a stop to her scheming, but I think she took it worse than I expected. I don't know what she'll do."
"I'll keep an eye on her," Reth assured him.
Thayer nodded thoughtfully. "Good Grace, what is it with me quarreling with women lately? First Becki and now my mother."
"It's all that practice you got on Llessur's girls, I'll bet. Hard to break the habit now, is it?"
"Perhaps I'd best keep my distance from Kir for a time, until I'm sure it is broken," Thayer mused.
"Sure--but just 'cause you know she'd have the best of you if you dared pick a fight with her," Reth winked.
"Granted," Thayer laughed. He turned to go then, glancing back over his shoulder from the door: "Wish me luck, brother."
"Go find your luck, brother," Reth smiled. "It can't have strayed all that far from where you parted with it."
Returning the smile, Thayer set out to join the others at the Gaia.