The Operation’s Route and Logistics

This flow follows how the mission moves from intelligence and arms procurement through insertion, field positioning, and extraction.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Regional Insertion

Regional Insertion A Staged Arrival Lawson arrives in Karachi expecting to meet an arms contact, but Niles is waiting at the airport and takes charge of the first leg. They travel through heavy traffic and avoid drawing attention, moving from the international airport toward Orangi Town. A Temporary Safe House Niles leads Lawson through back streets and into a concealed apartment. The route itself reflects the operation’s priorities: remain mobile, avoid unnecessary scrutiny, and keep the number of witnesses to a minimum. The safe house provides a weapon, briefing space, and a short pause before the journey north. It is not a permanent base. Lawson’s passage through Karachi is only the opening stage of an operation that must continue without making his presence easy to trace.

The Road North

The Road North A Long Drive Lawson and Haydar leave before dawn and head north in a Land Cruiser. Their route follows National Highway 55, with the Indus River beside them for part of the journey. Haydar keeps driving while Lawson learns more about his guide and the region. A Stop in Dera Ismail Khan At Dera Ismail Khan, Haydar chooses an out-of-the-way place to rest. He warns that apparent calm does not make the town safe: political and sectarian violence can erupt without warning, and outsiders should avoid provoking local people. A knife attack in an alley abruptly turns the stop into a security crisis. Lawson disables the attacker, but Haydar kills him, judging that he could otherwise expose their presence. They conceal the body and leave town that night, choosing movement over the risks of remaining in place.

Peshawar’s Armed Market

Peshawar’s Armed Market Entering a Watchful City Haydar drives Lawson through Peshawar, pointing out the intelligence teams and foreign interests that make the city a dense, watchful environment. The visit is not a conventional reconnaissance tour; it establishes how many groups may notice a foreigner moving through the area. Buying What the Mission Needs At Shaba Used Auto Parts Market, Lawson meets Mubar and covertly asks for an M4, ammunition, tactical equipment, and grenades. The shop’s respectable exterior conceals an arms operation, and its proprietor tests Lawson before bringing him to an underground showroom. The purchase equips Lawson for the Afghan leg but also creates a deliberate ripple. Haydar expects word of the foreign buyer to spread through the armed community, potentially prompting Taliban clients to contact the Shepherd and move across the border. The procurement is both resupply and bait.

A Plan Reassigned

A Plan Reassigned The Council’s Decision Niles calls with a revised order: Lawson will not trail the Shepherd through Peshawar because that could expose Haydar. Instead, Haydar will locate the target and determine his route, while Lawson waits across the border to intercept him. Separation of Roles Lawson dislikes surrendering control, but the Council’s decision is final. Haydar’s cover is valuable because he can move around Peshawar without attracting the same attention as a conspicuous foreign operative. Lawson, by contrast, is better suited to the confrontation once the target’s location is known. The new arrangement divides intelligence collection from the use of force. It protects Haydar’s long-term position but leaves Lawson dependent on timely coordinates and information sent from a distance. The operation gains discretion while increasing the consequences of any error in the handoff.

The Return Route

The Return Route Crossing Back with Veena After the fight, Lawson calls Niles and arranges to meet Haydar near the insertion point. He crosses the border carrying Veena’s body, while Haydar warns that a Pakistani patrol may soon use the route. An Unplanned Passenger Haydar had expected to extract Lawson alone and is uneasy about the added risk. Lawson insists that Veena cannot be abandoned: she took the force of the trap and saved his life. Haydar accepts the extra burden and helps place her in the vehicle. They make the return journey toward Peshawar and bury Veena outside the city beneath a small tree beside a granite marker. The logistical objective of extraction is achieved, but it now includes the obligation to return a fallen ally to the ground with care.

Lawson’s arrival at Jinnah International Airport

The day after Lawson’s Karachi arrival

Before dawn on the pair’s arrival in Peshawar

Immediately after the arms purchase

The morning after the Shepherd’s death