Manipulation. D.K. Wilde

of the drive and made their way along the nine hundred metre gravel road.

      Each vehicle had four occupants, their packs, weapons, ammunition and all the equipment they would need for most situations. Wine sat in the front passenger seat of the lead vehicle staring straight ahead and thinking about the missions that the team and Kiwi had been through. They had been operating for three years. Their success rate was one hundred per cent without having lost a team member. Wine knew they would all react differently and he had to ensure they were given the opportunity to mourn the loss of their friend.

      As the vehicles pulled up outside the cabin and the team members saw Jacko, the reactions erupted. Some hugged and patted their mate, some looked and stared and some were angry with themselves but all offered their condolences.

      “Grab and stow your gear. In the meeting room in ten,” commanded Wine.

      The shock of the order brought all the team members, Jacko included, back into military mode and they set about the instinctive action of mission preparation.

      Jacko was reaching into the back compartment of the second Suburban, lifting out the deflated IRB (Inflatable Rescue Boat), when Wine approached and asked, “Does he know yet?”

      “No sir,” replied a dejected Jacko.

      “I want you to explain to all of us, everything you know about what’s going on and what happened with Kiwi. No one’s blaming you Jacko … they’re all reacting differently because he was a good friend and a great comrade and they’ll all miss him in their own way,” explained Wine.

      Jacko nodded and dropped his head as he headed for the cabin.

      Wine approached Crystal. “Are you okay?”

      “I’m fine thanks Colonel,” she replied looking him straight in the eyes. “How will Wade react?” she asked.

      “I’m not sure … Kiwi and Wade were exceptionally close and they’ve been through a lot together. Did he ever tell you that when Kiwi’s grandmother died, Kiwi asked him to go to New Zealand with him to be part of a sacred burial service? Kiwi’s grandmother was a Maori and his only living relative so the significance of the request developed a very strong bond between them … Therefore, I hate to say this but there is a possibility he could go on a warpath of revenge,” replied the Colonel looking across the lake to the lights of Geneva.