Jesse stayed several days. When he and Bekka weren’t working radios, the three of them were working with elements of Jesse’s granddaughter’s plan. One of the potential factors Bekka started working was a reverse route in case the group needed help. She didn’t bring this up to Jesse while she was doing it, but it occupied many conversations with Garen.
“Shit Bekka, what could we really do from here if they ran into problems.” Garen asked for the twentieth time.
“It all depends on what their issue is; mechanical, medical, logistical, Indian attack, alien invasion? I don’t know! What I do know is we would try and if we are going to try, we need options and contingencies thought through somewhat so we aren’t starting from scratch if trouble arrives.” Bekka was sounding almost as frustrated as she felt.
Garen understood Bekka was frustrated, but this point counterpoint method was one of the ways they planned the best. “Well I guess the first question after what is the problem would be how far away. If it’s just a medical emergency, we could do on or two of us on the adventure bikes. They have the range, speed and stealth, comparatively, to get a long way quickly to intervene. You and me on ours, or me and Kara or you and Kara. If it’s more serious medically, probably you and your Subaru and me or Kara or Allyson.”
“Not Angelique?” Bekka was curious and wanted to know his thinking.
“Not solo for a long range medical rescue. Not yet, when we have better options. If it’s combat trauma, then, yes she would be an option, but if it’s a different type of medical emergency? Not yet.” Garen knew Angelique would do great at burned, broken or bleeding, but if it was some other sort of medical problem, her library in her head was still a bit thin.
Bekka saw Garen was still thinking on his answer some and hadn’t finished his explanation yet. Soon he continued.
“OK, Bekka, here’s my thought on Angelique. If we are looking at possible retrieve and or assist, we just have to look at who Angelique is paired with depending on the mission. If it’s a medical mission, she would pair well with me, Allyson or Kara. If it’s a resupply or fix or something, she would be good for medical support with any of us.”
“What about people from the other group. We shouldn’t have to shoulder the full responsibility I think.” Bekka reminded Garen.
“True. Thinking on the others, if it came to a mission like we are thinking, I would want either you or Jesse back here to massage the radios. Heidi would be good as long as we stick a medic with her. She would do fine for initial and intermediate care but we are a long way from calling her a medic. Doug would be good with someone as a medic as well. Emilia is too green for a two person team yet. Zed, well, he would be great depending on the mission. He would be good if we are trying to fix something to recover. Jesse says he is a mechanical genius at times. “
“I guess the big questions would be range and mission, all other aspects would be driven from there. If Jesse had safe havens for them to get to, then it would be most likely medical cause for a speed run. Anything else could be stealthier.” Bekka said, some of the frustration gone now. She knew Garen would roll play a hundred scenarios in his head, looking for the pairings and the platforms they would use. So would she.
Plan, Learn, Prepare. Their military careers taught them this again and again, over and over.
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