Traveller Manifesto

33. Turkey – Today.

All too soon, Professor Taylor and the other members of the team headed for home. They desperately needed some R&R and Osborne was relieved to note that McAlister recovered rapidly. After a few days in hospital, he opted to leave as soon as Zoe came to collect him.

Osborne liked Zoe. Dressed in her rockabilly style with her 50’s hair and tattooed arm, she was a gorgeous, tough chick who none would want to muck with. Yet, for McAlister, she seemed perfect. He was a hard man and would be hell to live with, but they were undoubtedly in love and made a striking, though somewhat mismatched couple.

The Byzantium Traveller mission was finally in roll-up mode. Only a UAV team and guards remained on the ground at the Constantinople Area of Convergence. Professor Taylor and Colonel Babacan suggested that the team remain to monitor any aftermath of their rescue. If there was an escalation of military activity to the extent that the team at the Area of Convergence was at risk, then they would be immediately extracted.

Osborne knew he would soon be able to spend some real time with Nuray. The mission debriefings went smoothly and she was able to attend many of the civil ceremonies that were to highlight the Turkish elements of the mission.

He received news of the signal just as they were about to depart for an overnight escape to an expensive rural resort. The Government had no hesitation in footing any costs for the recuperation of their brave Traveller team, especially as the mission had been a public relations tour-de-force. Turkey had gained significant prestige on the international stage and was again a tourism mecca. Osborne had laid his plans and hoped to offer Nuray a romantic experience. He was so engrossed that the call at first irritated. “What do you want Chuck?” he asked brusquely. Though Osborne was technically in charge of the on-the-ground windup of the operation, Chuck was to supervise the final week with the crew still in the Byzantine forest. The trainers, Baki and Hami, took turns in travelling back to the team while taking care of any minor operational matters in relation to the R&R for other members of the team.

Chuck then exclaimed the most irritating phrase Osborne could have imagined. “Boss, we need you here. Sorry mate, but something urgent has come up.”

He checked his watch. There was time. He was due to travel to the airport for the chopper flight with Nuray, so a brief diversion to the Transporter would not take too much of his time.

“What signal?” he asked. “It wouldn’t be Ahmet or Hazan. We know where their chips are. They haven’t been disturbed, have they?” It was vital that their men, murdered by the Varangians in that lost village, would remain undisturbed.

“No way,” replied Chuck. The craggy Australian trainer appeared unusually uncomfortable as looked to Hami for support. The odd couple had not begun their professional relationship on the best footing, but now the three trainers were almost inseparable. The only reason Baki was not there with them as he had been sent to supervise the ground team still in the Byzantine past.

Hami continued, “Chuck had me do our homework, Boss. As you know, the chips we were fitted with are powered by electrical impulses from our muscles and have a pretty good, though narrow broadcast range. The chips from our two lads have gone dead, both because their bodies will be decomposing and because they’re covered with earth. Besides, the location’s all wrong. Our UAV crews only discovered this when they participated in the wider recon requested by Professor Askar and the historical team. It’s been a great test for the UAV, plus they can map and survey the area to collect all sorts of data. You know, historical, geological, environmental, weather for Climate Change, and the sort.”

“Yeah, I get it!” nodded Osborne tersely.

“Well, this chip isn’t one of our team.” Hami looked to Chuck as he continued. “It seems to be two signals, travelling together. We think it’s a couple of the Ukrainians.”

Osborne stood a moment as if he had misheard. “The ones who stole the Transporter?” he confirmed.

“The same,” verified Chuck.

“You have ID’s? asked Osborne.

Chuck nodded and showed his boss the computer files.

Osborne closed his eyes briefly and nodded.

Damn! There goes another romantic notion.