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2012
Chapter 4 Page 20
Mike Campbell watched the Genzin team at the front of the aircraft, and then commented to Jane beside him "I take it that our host does not have any great love for Americans."
Jane shrugged "Maybe, maybe that's not what's bugging our Capitan. I noticed that they have one Englishman on their team."
Just then the English looking man walked back to them. "I am Sargeant Dirk Lauder. Captain Tupok asked me to inform you that we will be landing at the Lei Po airfield in forty five minutes. A Thai offical will board us there, and check all of our credentials."
"No problem here, we all have the proper documents." Mike replied, and then ventured to ask "Is the Captain resentful to have us along?"
The stocky Australian smiled "Oh I wouldn't worry about it governor. Ole Tupok is really top flight. It's just that this mission is so rushed. Buon is the type that likes to have everything figured out, and planned down to the last sneeze."
Mike seemed to relax somewhat "That's encouraging Sargeant. I'd probably be edgy too. Have you heard anything about our in country transport?"
"A wing of choppers and a tanker left before we did, about an hour or so. They will rendezvous with us at the airfield once they have cleared Thai Air Control. The Thai's are very jumpy about foreign nationals operating inside their borders." Dirk responded confidently.
Mike nodded "I felt that they were that way at our briefing. The Foundation will do whatever it has to in order to meet our timeline. We're even prepared to accept a Thai representative on the mission if necessary."
Dirk took a deep breath in anticipation "The Thai's may require more than that. They may assign a squadron to keep track of us. Uh, on a short leash as it were."
John Thomas grumbled "Don't they realize that it's just as much their necks at stake as anyone else?"
Dirk chuckled lightheartedly "Welcome to the orient mate. Twenty percent are in the twenty first century, twenty percent are in the twentith century, and the rest are still way back in the sixteenth century. And even all that considered, they still work things out their way for their own reasons."
Mike nodded "That is exactly why we need Genzin's co-operation. So long as the mission is following it's directives, we're quite happy to follow Tupok's lead."
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Last updated by Denton on 2/20/98