Traveller Probo

Osborne sat, stunned, while Professor Askar’s face had turned a pale, olive-green, as if he was about to be sick. None in the researcher office could believe what they had seen. Hami gritted his teeth and asked a little too sharply if the academic was okay. Professor Askar only nodded, swallowed, and then fished for a handkerchief to wipe his eyes and forehead.

“Do we have all the feeds?” asked Osborne, wanting to confirm their data collection system worked efficiently. He had only just jumped back from a thousand years in the past. It was amazing to experience the Transporter again but it seemed whenever he did, there was a price.

One of Professor Askar’s team betrayed his nerves as he exclaimed a little too loudly, “Yes sir, though we haven’t seen if all feeds have recorded the incident.”

“Okay, let’s examine the feeds from each of the team. We’ve seen McAlister’s, now I want Erol, then Ahmet and Hazan. I want to make sure we have the full record before we go any further on this. While we’re at it, Hami, can you contact Colonel Babacan? Just apologise that I can’t make the call but tell him something urgent has occurred regarding our Travellers and that we need him here, immediately. Then let Chuck know what’s happened.”

Hami nodded, gathered up Osborne’s phone, and ran from the immediate Transporter area. As the trainer jogged from earshot, Osborne noticed a couple of the guards who watched the large screen where McAlister’s live feed had been broadcast. They looked furious, for they had known the men who were killed. “This is to remain in this area, understand!” he called to them. They fingered their weapons at their chests and gave a small nod of affirmation.

Osborne shook his head in frustration. In retrospect it was easy to suggest that McFee shouldn’t have allowed Mac and the lads to accompany the Varangians but they had them over a barrel. They would have been buggered if they hadn’t gone. If faced with the same choice, he wasn’t sure what he would have done.

By the time Hami returned and nodded to indicate Colonel Babacan was on his way, they viewed the feed from Erol. Osborne remained silent as they watched. Where some of McAlister’s feed was a blur, Erol’s was clear. They watched McAlister’s shooter stance, then watched Erol’s close up work with the axe and spears. He glanced at Professor Askar and the small man looked on in horrified approval. The scholar may have felt the bloody vengeance justified.

They were still watching when Colonel Babacan arrived. Usually casual and friendly, he was breathless and looked concerned.

After a brusque welcome, Osborne briefly gave his report and together they continued to view Erol’s feed. For the Colonel, the two dead men were heroes, names that every schoolchild would know.

“What do you think?” asked Osborne.

Colonel Babacan thought a moment, his face flushed and angry. Like Professor Askar, the Colonel had given a grim, approving nod at Erol’s bloody retribution but the professional soldier took a mental step back and was slow to respond. “Messy business.”

Osborne nodded, “Very.”

The Colonel sighed as he looked away from the screen. Hami switched off the recording and stood patiently, awaiting for orders. “Well, I have to report this to senior command and, I’m afraid, to the office of the President. We won’t advise the media,” he emphasised sharply. “No doubt the President will wish to make that announcement. What’s McFee’s assessment?”

“He’s understandably, upset Sir,” explained Osborne. “He hasn’t seen the data feed yet but has received summarised reports from Mac and Erol. They’ve taken a couple of the horses and are laid up in a traveller’s rest house. They let their horses go so as to not attract attention.”

“Can we bring them in?” asked the Colonel.

Osborne thought a moment, “I’ll discuss that with McFee. Mac and Erol definitely can’t return to Constantinople in case they’re seen by the Varangian Guard. I was thinking we’d better pull the whole team before the Varangians start to wonder where their squad mates have gone.”

Colonel Babacan confirmed, “So, finish the mission?”

Osborne nodded, and Colonel Babacan sighed. “Well let’s see how it looks on the ground. See what McFee says, so we can plan. Do you think we need more feet on the ground?”

“No,” responded Osborne without any pause. “We’ll use the drone to keep an eye on the lads. Too many at the Byzantine end could attract attention.”

Colonel Babacan only nodded.

Osborne called to Hami, “Mate, go and get Chuck and Baki. Take the chopper. They need to be here and I’m not going to use the phone or radio. Too sensitive. Just text them to be ready to go. You can fill them in on the flight back.”

After the big New Zealander sprinted off, Colonel Babacan gestured Osborne to a private office, “There’s something else I need to tell you,” he added quietly.

Osborne frowned, as he couldn’t see what additional issues might need to be discussed. Progress on Byzantium Traveller had been nothing short of spectacular until this latest incident. He was still processing the deaths of two of his men. They were great guys and superb soldiers. They were all friends. Training for a mission often does that. It was all very unsettling. It always was when one of your team was dusted off.

Colonel Babacan shook his head, “Have you heard of the other Transporter?”

“No. Should I?” asked Osborne carefully.

“It seems that the other Transporter was stolen,” the Turk explained. He quickly ran through the theft and return of the device by British Special Forces.

“Jesus,” exclaimed Osborne in disbelief. “And it’s now safe?”

Colonel Babacan nodded, “So I’ve been told.”

Osborne winced. “What a fuck up. But who would have imagined that the Ukrainian Travellers would have done that?”

The Colonel merely shrugged. Both he and Osborne knew of the background tensions the Ukrainians project had suffered.

“This happened when?” asked Osborne.

“I’ve been informed that the Transporter was returned, in good condition, a week ago. They didn’t want us to know because of the issues with security and to make sure our project was launched successfully.”

“So, you’re happy with our security,” asked Osborne, his face neutral.

“We’ll be fine,” nodded Colonel Babacan with a grimace. “Naturally, I’ve upgraded much of our security and you’ll see we’ve doubled our guard. You just keep our Travellers alive. I have to speak with our President on this.”

“Understood.”

“Oh and Captain?” continued Colonel Babacan.

“Yes sir.”

Colonel Babacan paused a moment and gave a small smile. “Don’t tell Professor Taylor about the theft.”

“Does Professor Askar know?”

The Colonel shook his head, “No. Nor shall he. Not until we’re ready.”

After Colonel Babacan left, Osborne returned to view the feeds from the murdered Travellers. It wasn’t until some hours later that he remembered a promise to Captain Kartal for an afternoon of horse riding. He winced. He had more important things to deal with.