Page 28 of The Team (The Milvus Files #3)

FIFTEEN

The plane landed at Dachang military airbase in Shanghai. Mid-morning, sun shining, air brisk and fresh.

Rhett had never been to China before. Not for any other reason than it was just somewhere the Australian government had never sent him.

He had no idea what to expect. Now, he’d seen a lot of military bases in a lot of different countries. Some with a budget of billions, others substantially less.

China, on first impression, was at the former end of the scale.

The aircraft, the vehicles, the hangars, the buildings, all new. The grounds immaculate, and every soldier awaiting their arrival was standing at attention so perfectly they could have been statues, their faces masks of stoicism while their eyes missed nothing.

It reminded Rhett of Yin.

Rhett followed King and Zihao off the plane, alongside Yin and Chen, the rest of their team behind them.

They wore their combat blacks but carried no weapons.

They wanted to make it clear that this was an amicable, peaceable discussion; a plea for assistance, given the person selling biowarfare recipes was now on Chinese soil, as was the person they believed to be buying.

They needed to be transparent.

This was an international operation that could have possible global fallout if it were to go balls-up.

It was also a matter of diplomatic relations, and Rhett knew enough about Chinese hierarchy and respect that Yin and Chen needed to be seen with their captain.

They were greeted by a uniformed officer, who saluted Zihao, and escorted them into the main building, security doors held open by fully armed uniformed officers. The precision of their movements, trained discipline, and well-practised efficiency Rhett could only admire.

The walls were adorned by the Chinese flag, photos of political leaders and generals, and writing that Rhett couldn’t read.

And as sterile as this military base was, Rhett could feel their presence was an event. He felt curious eyes on him, from officers to the staff who looked at them through glass partitions and doorways as they passed.

They were finally guided into a conference room, where three men rose from their seats at a large oval mahogany table. They were dressed in crisp, olive-green uniforms with red epaulets and adorned with enough stars and chevrons for Rhett to know these men were generals and commanders.

They were greeted formally, Zihao leading the exchange. The only person he introduced was Director King. He never acknowledged any of the Milvus team, though he did afford them a smile and instructed them to please sit at the table.

Which Rhett and his team did. Well, his team except for two.

Yin and Chen remained standing at ease, staring straight ahead at the side wall, not looking toward the front of the room, as if that was standard procedure, not sitting down as instructed.

Rhett had the odd urge to join them, and if it weren’t for Zihao’s instruction to sit, he probably would have.

Then Zihao spoke and the three senior officials listened, exchanging concerned glances, and King stood there, chin raised, obediently silent. It was moments like this that reminded Rhett that King had been a senior ranking officer himself, before battle stole the use of his leg.

Rhett risked a glance at Jay to find him watching the conversation intently. Rhett had never been gladder to have his bilingual partner alongside him. For all the times Rhett had been sworn at or cussed out in Mandarin by Jay, this made up for it.

Would he catch every word?

Maybe not.

But Jay would know if shit was about to go south or if Zihao told them something he shouldn’t have.

Not that Rhett expected him to, but it didn’t hurt to know.

Zihao asked King for his laptop, which he handed over dutifully, and a few moments later, everything that Yunho had sent through to them was now on the screen at the front of the room.

Images of Frankston and photos of Wong Bo-chen, then of his home. It was an island fortress, something out of a James Bond movie. The same location where Yunho believed Jun-mei was being held.

And Rhett knew the moment Zihao mentioned her because the three senior officials all glanced at Yin. Yin stood stock still. His only tell was the slightest flare of his nostrils.

But Zihao kept the meeting on point, quickly moving on to the next set of images. One general asked some questions, while the other nodded, the third concentrated on the images.

And for twenty minutes, Yin and Chen never moved a muscle, and not once was Rhett asked for any input. Hell, King wasn’t even asked.

Then Zihao turned to the team and smiled, gesturing to the officer by the door. “Officer Wei shall show you to the amenities.” And just like that, they were dismissed.

Rhett followed Officer Wei, his team behind him, to a large hall-like cafeteria where they were shown to three tables in particular, in the far corner.

But then Officer Wei stopped in front of Yin and Chen. He saluted Yin. “Fù-shé.” Yin nodded, maybe even almost smiled, and replied a greeting in a sharp friendly tone.

Then Wei looked up at Chen and broke out in a grin. He slapped Chen’s shoulder and Chen picked Wei up in a bear hug, laughing.

Christ. Yep, everyone loved him.

Yin looked on fondly but then turned to the team. “Tea, coffee, any food you would like, you can have,” he said, gesturing to the cafeteria line.

Jay and Azrael were roped into Chen’s conversation with Wei, so Rhett shook his head and smiled. “No thanks. Tell me, what was said back there?”

Yin sat down beside him. “Formalities. A brief rundown. I can tell you they won’t have liked us having satellite information on their civilians or locations, but they will appreciate our transparency.

And they will appreciate our asking for assistance.

” Yin’s brows pinched. “Our inclusion into the Milvus Division is good for politics.”

Rhett knew that. Milvus was a geopolitical game of chess, and anyone would be a fool to believe otherwise.

“It’s all political; everything we do,” Rhett said.

“When Milvus was first formed, it was with good intentions. I do believe that, and I continue to believe in what it should stand for. We were supposed to be above the political bullshit. Starting wars for oil and shipping ports. I mean, Jesus fucking Christ. That’s what we were supposed to prevent.

But there’ll always be political motives.

Our own governments will always try and manoeuvre us on the chess board for the best advantage points.

” Rhett shrugged. “Yours. Mine. Each of us. Makes no difference. We’re still just pawns in the game. ”

Yin sighed and looked back at Chen, Jay and Azrael talking to Wei. He seemed enamoured with Azrael’s beauty and Jay’s accent. Another soldier had joined them now.

“Lucky Sid is not watching,” Yin said with a smirk, nodding to where Sid, Echo, and Coyote were inspecting the food in the fridges. “They’re not used to seeing a pretty blonde French woman in combat gear.”

Rhett smiled at them, at Az playing along, and at Jay laughing. He was so damn lucky to have him here with him every day, every mission. But it reminded Rhett that Yin didn’t have that.

“Zihao mentioned Jun-mei,” Rhett whispered. “What did they say about that?”

Yin gave a tight shake of his head. “Zihao said the hostage was known to me, that was all. That we believe she was taken to lure us here, to set us up, but we didn’t know to what end.”

“Do you think they’ll help us?”

Yin nodded. “Yes. But for what price, I don’t know.

Information on the bioweapon, maybe? A simple press release saying that it was the People’s Liberation Army who helped take down a global enemy?

” He shrugged. “I don’t know these political games.

At the end of the day, I’m just a soldier; I follow orders.

And I just want to get Jun-mei back. At first, I wanted to get her out of this country.

..” He shook his head, his eyes meeting Rhett’s. “Now I just want her safe.”

“We’re gonna make sure that happens,” Rhett said. “With help from your guys or not.”

Yin held Rhett’s gaze for a long beat, searching his eyes before looking away.

He scrubbed a hand over his face and laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound.

“I see you look at him,” he whispered. “At Jay. Out in the open, in front of others. No hiding.” He sucked air in and let out a shaky exhale.

“That’s what I want. That’s all I want. To not hide as if it’s shameful. I’m not ashamed of her. That’s not?—”

“Hey, I get it. I understand,” Rhett said. “You don’t have to explain. It’s not shame; it’s fear for her safety.”

Yin sighed and looked around the large cafeteria, at the tables at the other end where soldiers were watching them with curiosity or annoyance. Rhett found it hard to tell .

Just then, Chen put a plate in front of Rhett and grinned. “Special order. Unseasoned chicken.”

Everyone laughed, though Jay’s laughter was the loudest. Even Yin smiled.

And Rhett didn’t even mind. If it gave his team a moment of levity before shit got real, he’d take it. “Thanks,” he said, but he certainly wasn’t about to eat it. Thankfully, another officer came in and spoke to Wei.

“If you will come, please,” Wei said, gesturing to the door they’d come through.

Rhett stood up and Yin did too, looking a little nervous. Rhett guessed they were just about to learn if the hostage extraction was part of their mission.

Or if they’d be going off-script to do it themselves.

Rhett’s team waited for him and Wei to spearhead the walk back to the conference room.

When he entered the room, he was surprised to see the three senior officers still there, but maybe they intended to see the entire thing through.

There were other officers in there now, and more equipment: laptops, monitors.

He knew without being told, things were a go.