Chapter 17 – Preparing for War
Chapter 17 – Preparing for War The Wicklow lodge buzzed with hushed activity. Salty sat at the wide oak table, blueprints spread out before him. Sarah leaned over his shoulder, marking entries and exits with a stylus, while Karen stood at the end of the table, arms folded, braid swinging as she paced. Ruairí O’Donnell watched silently from the fireplace, sipping black coffee from a white china cup. Outside, dawn was beginning to break through the mist, casting pale gold across the mossy courtyard. “So,” Salty said gruffly, tapping the Port Tunnel map, “they’re using the old maintenance access shafts as backup data vaults?” Karen nodded. “Yes. The diplomatic protection covers the main server floors. But their darkest files – the unregistered asset lists, child trafficking manifests, EU payment proofs – they’re hidden down here.” She pointed to a shaded section beneath the tunnel entrance. “Heavily guarded by Horizon private contractors. Ex-military, ex-Garda, and pure scum.” ...