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Elena studied the thermal imagery, comparing it to the maps she’d drawn from memory. “No. It all matches. But there are details I can add that technology won’t show you.”

She pulled out her hand-drawn map of level three, spreading it across the table. “The cell block where they’ll be holding Marguerite is here—interior section, no windows. That’s why thermal can’t see in. But I know the layout.”

She traced the route with her finger. “Six cells, electronically locked. Guard station at the entrance, but during shift change it’s usually unmanned. The guards go to the breakroom on level two for handoff—they’d leave their posts to get coffee, gossip, complain about the night shift.”

“Human nature,” Cal said. “I observed the same pattern during yesterday’s eighteen hundred shift change. Level three guard station was empty for four minutes and twelve seconds.”

“See?” Atticus said, looking around the table. “This is why we needed both. Cal’s tech gives us current operational status—what’s happening right now. Elena’s memory gives us behavioral patterns, cultural knowledge, the things satellites can’t see. Together, it’s a complete picture.”

“What else can you tell us that won’t show on thermal?” Jade asked Elena.

Elena closed her eyes for a moment, letting herself remember. Not the pain, not the fear—just the details that mattered now.

“The guards get complacent on level three,” she said. “They think because it’s interior, it’s secure. They’d prop the door open to the guard station so they could hear if anyone came up the stairs. They’d play music—loud enough to cover small sounds.”

“So if we’re quiet during insertion, the music works in our favor,” Reza said.

“Exactly.” Elena opened her eyes. “Also—the ventilation shaft exit. It’s tight, but there’s a trick to it. The opening angles northwest, and there’s a lip you have to clear. If you go in feetfirst on your back, you can use your legs to push through. Headfirst, you’ll get stuck.”

Jade’s knife stilled between her fingers. “That’s the kind of detail that saves lives. Thank you.”

“There’s more.” Elena pointed to a section of her map. “The maintenance shaft that connects to level three—there’s a junction point here where it splits. Right goes to the electrical room, left goes to the cell block. Seven years ago, they’d marked the correct route with yellow paint. If that’s still there, you won’t waste time at the junction.”

“I’ll look for it on the next satellite pass,” Cal said, typing notes. “See if I can pick up any visual markers.”

Atticus studied both sets of intelligence—Cal’s high-tech surveillance and Elena’s hand-drawn memories. “All right. Let’s build the tactical plan. Infiltration team?”

Jade stood, moving to the map with fluid grace. “Three-person team—Eden, Reza, and Max. You’ll insert through the drainage tunnel at twenty-one forty-five hours. That’s fifteen minutes before shift change, gives you time to navigate to the maintenance shaft before the guards start moving around.”

She traced the route. “You’ll go through the tunnel to this junction, then up through the maintenance shaft to level three. Follow Elena’s yellow paint marker to the cell block. Cal disables the electronic lock, extract Marguerite, and you’re out via the western ventilation shaft. Total time inside the temple—twenty-two minutes.”

“Perimeter security?” Atticus asked.

“Nick, Griffin, and I stage here.” Jade marked positions on the topographical map. “Clear sightlines to both the drainage tunnel entrance and the ventilation shaft exit. We provide overwatch and cover if things go sideways.

“This ridge,” she continued. “Six hundred meters out, elevated position, clear line of sight to the entire western approach. If they bring reinforcements, I can slow them down.”

“Nate, you’re our wheel man,” Atticus continued. “Two vehicles staged—one at the drainage tunnel extraction point, one at the ventilation shaft. Whichever exit the team uses, you’re there to get them out fast.”

“What about me?” Brock asked from where he stood near the back.

Atticus looked at him, then at Elena. “You stay with Elena. You’re her protection detail during the infiltration, and tomorrow you’re her shadow when she meets with Toro.”

“We’ll be here at the hotel,” Elena said. “On comms, providing real-time intelligence support if needed.”

“Exactly.” Atticus’s expression was firm but not unkind. “Elena, I know you want to be there. But your role is critical in a different way. If something goes wrong and the team needs information about the temple layout, you’re the only one who can provide it. That’s not a small thing.”

Elena wanted to argue. Wanted to demand they let her go. But looking at Jade’s focused competence, at Reza’s quiet confidence, at Eden’s professional bearing—she knew they were better suited for crawling through tunnels than she was.

“I understand,” she said. “I’ll be here.”

“Good.” Atticus began rolling up maps. “We’ve got four hours. I want everyone to study these maps until you can navigate that temple in your sleep. Cal, keep monitoring their systems and flag any changes. Max, scout that overwatch position before dark. Everyone else, check your equipment and prep your gear. We execute at twenty-one hundred hours.”

The team began to move, some heading out to prep, others staying to study the maps. Elena felt the familiar pre-mission energy—focused, purposeful, everyone slipping into their roles.

Nick approached her as she stood looking at her maps. “You did good work here,” he said. “Seriously. This level of intelligence—it’s going to make the difference.”

“I just hope it’s enough.”