Free Salby (Book 2): Salby Evolution by Ian D. Moore Page A

Gladstone here, he’ll get you suited, booted, and ready to fly. Grab a drink and a bite before we head out, it’s a fair flight and we won’t be stopping at the services. That’s all,” Hicks barked.
    He didn’t wait for a response, didn’t ask if there were any questions, and instead turned back the way he’d come and simply walked away.
    “Gladstone, I am Lieutenant Colonel Evelyn Shepherd. I have a few questions I’d like to ask before we go, just to get a heads-up on the plan,” Evie said boldly.
    “I’m sorry, Ma’am. We’re just the supply chain and taxi service. The director has his orders, I have mine. We’re heading to Russia with enough firepower to start a new war, not to mention an expert in chemical, biological weapons. Go figure, Ma’am. You’ll be briefed when we land—I’ve no doubt. Now, if you’ll all follow me, please,” Gladstone instructed.
    “Now, hold on a minute—” Evie began but was cut off by the wave of Gladstone’s hand.
    A short walk towards the office areas of the hangar, guarded by armed, black-suited men, saw the three of them in some kind of storeroom, lined with every weapon imaginable.
    “Now this is an armoury!” Stewey quipped.
    “Easy, Tiffy, we’ll get to play later,” Nathan quipped.
    Gladstone escorted them around the racks of clothing, body armour, and electronic gadgets such as night vision, thermal detection, and specialist tech. Each took a black holdall with numerous items picked from the shelves and instructions to find kit to fit their respective sizes. It looked like a military hardware superstore, every closet soldier’s dream, Stewey thought. Directed to separate rooms to change from civilian clothing, before an opportunity to take on food and water for the flight, all three were ready in under a half hour.
    “Weapons you’ll get when we land, just in case we need them. We don’t want to spook our hosts, now do we?” Gladstone stated.
    “I don’t like this cloak and dagger stuff, freaks me out,” Stewey replied.
    “You know how it is, Staff Sergeant. Need-to-know. Right now, you don’t,” Gladstone replied curtly.
    Stewey eyed Gladstone, tension clearly evident between the two men, the beginnings of a testosterone duel in the makings.
    The tall, lean, deceptively athletic agent had a certain air of confidence about him. Besides the matter-of-fact look that seemed to be a permanent fixture, his emotions and expressions were kept tightly in check, which made him seem so much more dangerous. Stewey smiled, confident in the fact that he could take him.
    “Gladstone, would you give us a minute, please?” Evie interjected.
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    Evie waited a moment for Gladstone to be out of earshot before she waved Nathan and Stewey back towards the hangar wall, in an attempt to gain at least some privacy.
    “Listen, guys, it’s pretty clear we’re not going to get any information from this lot. Let’s at least try to get along with them until we get to Russia, then, with luck, we’ll find out what we want to know. They don’t need to know why we’re going, or any more information on us than they already have, okay?”
    “Yes, ma’am,” they replied.
    “Stewey, go double-check the kit for me—make sure we’ve got everything. Nate, a minute, please.”
    Stewey gave them some space as he made his way over to the rear of the helicopter to oversee the loading of their recently acquired equipment.
    “They know something we don’t, Nate,” Evie stated.
    “Yeah, I’m getting those vibes too. Some of the kit they loaded there could bring down a small nation. Have you spoken to Charles since we left the hotel?”
    “No, figured I’d leave it until we got to wherever we’re going. He may well be there to greet us, with luck. I hate being in the dark. That ship will have either been sunk or worse, made landfall by now. Expect trouble when we get there, be prepared, and please, don’t take any unnecessary risks,