Love and the White Wolf - Book 1

15. The Honeymoon Part 3 - Wakanda

Because of the feast that celebrated the return of James to his adopted village (and my adoption into the village) we declined dinner and instead requested private time in our quarters.  T'Challa had also opted to use the mealtime to catch up on diplomatic matters.  So it was unexpected when, in the middle of some very enjoyable foreplay, that a polite but persistent knock was heard on our locked bedroom door.  James donned a robe and opened the door.  Intanda begged our forgiveness but the king was requesting James's presence to discuss an urgent matter.  I was welcome to attend but it was his expertise that was needed.  We both agreed to be ready in 10 minutes.  Intanda said she would wait to guide us to the king's office.

T'Challa, his mother and Ross were all in the office with a large map.  Two of Wakanda's army generals were attending via online meeting.  The young king was angry.  When James and I entered T'Challa apologized for the interruption and requested James help him come up with a plan to track and apprehend a band of poachers. They had infiltrated deep into the lands of the Border tribe and had killed a breeding pair of white rhinoceroses, removing their horns, then had taken three young rhinos.  It was believed they were headed back to a camp on the other side of the border where buyers were believed to be waiting to take possession of the young ones.  Due to the mountainous nature of the terrain they were having difficulty tracking them by land.  With it getting dark it was too dangerous to use helicopters at low attitude.  They had requested assistance from the adjacent country but had yet to hear back.  He suspected some involvement in the incident by high level members of that government. 

James asked if they had a helicopter or hover jet equipped with infrared technology.  They could then track the poachers from a higher vantage point and avoid the mountains.  By sending members of the Border tribe along the border and heading inland they would be able to trap the poachers between two different teams.  Alternatively, they could equip a drone with infrared scanning and send it out but they would need an experienced drone technician to keep the unit out of danger.  Plus they would still have to send soldiers out to trap the poachers.  A general interrupted to say they had a hover jet equipped with the required technology but needed 30 minutes to complete some maintenance.  T'Challa remarked that would give him time to get out to the base to pilot the craft.  Everyone objected but he was adamant that he be involved.  James and Ross both said they would go also.  Ross had used the technology when he had been a military pilot and would be able to interpret the images.  I think James just didn't want to be left behind.  T'Challa ordered the general to coordinate the ground troops and advised he would be leaving in five minutes.

I waited with the Queen while the men got ready.  We walked with them out to a waiting flyer.  They all wore black flight suits with a Wakandan crest on the left front chest and were strapped into parachutes. Side arms had been issued.  James also had another pocket holster strapped to his thigh containing a knife, which were his specialty.   I saw another aspect of James personality at that moment that I would describe as his business face.  He was already going over possible scenarios and tactics in his mind.  It was serious to him.  Just before he boarded he turned to me, kissed me firmly, and said he would see me in the morning once it was confirmed the young rhinos had been rescued.

The flyer took off and the Queen invited me back to the office where we could monitor the mission in real time.  About 30 minutes later we learned our group had taken off in the hoverjet and were about to begin infrared tracking.  We watched and listened while Ross identified the poachers and the young animals.  The ground troops had been deployed from both ends of the path being used by the criminals.  Suddenly, T'Challa called a Mayday saying the hoverjet had been hit by a rocket projectile.  He was struggling with controlling the craft and it appeared that someone had been sucked out of the aircraft.  Suddenly I started feeling my world swirl around me and I fell to the floor.  I was aware of the Queen hovering over me, calling for help, then I knew no more.