Tovah smiled. ‘Every bit of electronic chatter indicates that Sachs and Yuen are alive.’

Capstick nodded. ‘UN estimates four million dollars’ worth of black oil is being smuggled out of northern Syria every week. Guys who can keep pumps working are too valuable to kill.’

‘Is there any indication of the kind of security detail Sachs and Yuen are travelling with?’ James asked.

‘Nothing,’ Capstick sighed. ‘They’re probably travelling in some kind of lightly armoured convoy. Three to six armed guards. Anything more elaborate would make them conspicuous.’

‘What about response time?’ James asked. ‘If a well stops working right now, how long until Yuen and Sachs reach the scene?’

‘On average, we have one to three days from first chatter indicating that a well has gone out of production, to the arrival of the engineers,’ Capstick said. ‘Obviously, Sachs and Yuen can only be in one place at a time, so if two go wrong at once …’

James nodded. ‘Presumably they’ll try and fix the biggest well first. We’re targeting big wells to improve our chances. Speaking of targets, Tovah?’

Tovah leaned across the map. ‘The well at Tall Tamar is my suggested target,’ she began, as she tapped a spot. ‘It’s a big well eighty kilometres south of the Turkish border. It’s in the heart of IS-held territory, which means the military presence will be light.’

James was no military strategist and looked confused. ‘Why light if it’s at the centre of their territory?’

‘Military forces usually defend the edges of their territory,’ Capstick explained. ‘There’s no enemy to fight in the middle.’

Tovah continued. ‘Israeli intelligence tells me that the border with Turkey is open. Main highways are damaged but passable and they can put me in touch with a driver who knows Tall Tamar and can find us a place to hide out until our targets arrive on the scene.’

‘Why is Israel so keen to help free two British hostages?’ Capstick asked.

Tovah smiled. ‘Islamic State wants to destroy the state of Israel. Illegal oil is Islamic State’s biggest source of income and taking out Sachs and Yuen will greatly diminish their capacity to keep it flowing.’

‘Makes sense,’ Capstick said.

James cleared his throat. ‘So, just to be absolutely clear, you’re both saying we can call in the drone strike on the well at Tall Tamar and get this mission started?’

Tovah and Capstick looked at one another and laughed.

‘This is risky shit,’ Tovah said. ‘But we’re as ready as we’re ever gonna be.’

While James planned, the five Currents and three other remaining Crustys followed breakfast with a six-kilometre run around the island. The end point was a clearing on a seaside cliff, where the training assistants had dropped ten dirt bikes, ready for a ride back.