Chapter 198 Planning It Perfectly
Coban’s POV
After dinner, we headed upstairs to the king’s sitting room, which had been converted into a makeshift war room. Maps were spread across the long table, laptops and tablets lined the edges, and every surface was covered with scribbled notes, lines, and diagrams. The warm glow of the overhead lights reflected off polished wood, casting long shadows and emphasizing the tension that hung over the room.
The woman and children came with us, as usual. I guess they chose not to go to the playroom. Cassian and Atlas were playing in the floor, golden auras flickering faintly as they squirmed and babbled to each other. Kael, Selene, Elias, Orion, and Theron rode were all surrounding the two older ones as their tiny heads swiveling to watch the adults move about. Even at their young ages, they were able to do much more than they should. Especially Cassian and Atlas. Trixie stayed close, keeping a steady hand on their shoulders, whispering calm reassurances as they fussed. She would eventually get them calmed down.
The women gathered around the edges of the room, speaking quietly while observing the babies. Margaret, Roxie, and Trixie exchanged brief nods, allowing the men to dominate the discussion without interruption. The room smelled faintly of roasted nuts and coffee, small comforts amid the weight of planning for tomorrow night’s attack.
The men moved with focus and precision. I stood at the head of the table, tracing the route of Clarence’s compound across the map with a finger. “We're taking in three teams. Plus we will have the ghosts already there for backup." he said, voice calm but firm. “Kevan leads one team. His squad includes Darien and Lucian, will handle surveillance and coordination. Mark leads the second team, and Benjamin takes the third with his demolition crew.” He said as his eyes flickered across the room.
Kevan leaned over a corner of the table, pointing to key areas on the digital map. “We’ll have real-time updates. If anything moves outside the paths we know are clear, we’ll see it immediately. Nothing gets past us.” He said with certainty as his eyes stayed focused on the maps.
Benjamin scrolled through schematics, tracing the minefield routes. “I’ll reinforce the path through the cleared areas. If any of Clarence’s men try to escape or flank, the charges take care of them. Timing is everything and we can’t afford a repeat of last night. This time they won't be able to let them off without actually triggering them theirselves. You won't be able to take a machine and detect these babies." He said as his grin was so wide it covered his entire face.
Mark smirked, resting his arms on the table. “So, just to clarify. I get to not step on any mines, avoid dying, and still have a flawless operation?” He said sarcastically in his best Mark charm as ever.
I raised an eyebrow. “That’s the idea. Try not to be the one who screws it up, Mark.” I said as I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt.
A small ripple of laughter passed around the table, some even choking on their drinks. Then everyone returned to focus. Darien tapped at his laptop, pulling up Clarence’s compound from last night’s feeds. Smoke still lingered from the explosions at the minefield. “The path is clear for our teams, but inside the compound, we don’t know what traps or reinforcements he’s prepared. We proceed carefully but move fast.” He looked at everyone and then back at the feed on his screen.
Lucian added, “Any delay gives him time to react. Benjamin’s demolition crew will block the exit points once we move in. We’re synchronized, but there’s no room for error. You have to remember, he will definitely be prepared." He said sternly without an ounce of humor in his voice.
My eyes flicked toward the children. Cassian and Atlas babbled excitedly, waving tiny fists in the air as if arguing over something only they understood. Kael, Selene, Elias, Orion, and Theron watched with wide eyes, occasionally reaching for the other one's toys or each other, absorbing the tension in their own small way.
Caden leaned against the table, watching the twins. “They may be small, but they have a presence. Clarence won’t see it coming.”
Trixie's head shot to us after what Caden said. He raised his hands in the air.
I shook my head and then smirked. “That’s exactly why we leave them here with Trixie. The babies get to observe, the adults get the plan executed.” I said and then winked at our girl. She smiled at me and nodded her head. I guess that satisfied her.
Hours passed as we traced every line, coordinated every movement, and adjusted contingencies. Kevan and his team rehearsed monitoring and communication. Mark’s team planned flank maneuvers. Benjamin detailed where charges would go, ensuring any attempt to escape would fail. Every angle was accounted for, every risk weighed, and every team member understood their role.
Once we were satisfied that we had everything down perfectly we all split up and called it a night. Atlas and Cassian were still full of so much energy they were running everywhere. Well, as good as they could anyway.
"Babe, is there anything I can do tomorrow." Trixie asked as her beautiful hazel eyes stared into mine.
"Actually there is. You can sit on my lap and watch the screens with me." I said with a wink. She smiled and shook her head as she slid onto my lap.