Covert Commando: A Sam Harper Military Thriller

by Thomas Sewell

  The two marines came to an agreement. Slung their rifles. Advanced toward her.

  She didn't want to stay on board, either.

  Could they catch her? Keep her from the deadly drink?

  The Filipino officer arrived. Handed Sam and Schnier a corner of his sailcloth. Pointed.

  They spread out. Sam and Schnier moved right up to the edge of the pier. Leaned out over the tire buffers.

  The Filipino stepped back. Stretched it into a triangle of cloth.

  Schnier looked up. "Jump! We've got you."

  Okay, maybe there was still one person she trusted completely.

  The two marines coordinated their lunges. Grabbed at her wrists.

  Before they reached her, she let go of the railing. Pushed off of the hull. Let her tumble turn into a back flip.

  One rotation over forty feet.

  Landed in the sailcloth on her back. Dead center. Maximum flat contact area.

  Her parents and coach would've been proud.

  Each soldier held a corner high. Allowed the cloth to give downward as she hit. Slowed her momentum. Turned her fall into a pillow compared to the concrete pier.

  They lowered her to the ground.

  Sam grinned. "Thanks for dropping in."

  The other two groaned.

  She eased her way to her feet. Checked everything still worked.

  It did.

  Grabbed Schnier with one arm. Sam with the other. Pressed them together to crush the Filipino man.

  Schnier let her move him, but squeezed her tight. "Raven, this is Major Larrikowal of the SAF. Quick thinker with that sailcloth."

  "Glad to meet you, Raven. Heard a lot about you from Schnier these last couple of days. Almost caught you in my boat, but that didn't work out. Glad you made it."

  Relief and exhilaration overwhelmed her. She laughed. "Thank you for the timely landing pad."

  Schnier obviously had enough. He pushed the other two men away. Held her in both arms.

  Kissed her.

  She laid a fierce one on him right back!

  A few moments later, he took enough of a breath to whisper, "I've been an idiot, but I still love you."

  "I know, idiot. Me too. I mean, I love you too, but I've also been a muttonhead."

  They kissed again.

  Sam stood there with a grin plastered on his face. "Finally, I've been trying to get you two dudes together for days!"

  Larrikowal waved cheerfully at the helpless marines staring down at them from the destroyer's deck.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven: Island Rest and Relaxation

  Major Larrikowal, head of the SAF's new electronic counter-intelligence agency, rubbed the velvet box in his dress-uniform's pocket.

  Dorenza's election night party at his campaign headquarters should be a validation of his victory, not knock-kneed nervousness.

  But he still had to explain it all to Sheila. Worse than kicking down a bunker door.

  She stood with her arm in his, sipping sparkling wine. Always did love the finer things in life. That's why he'd thought tonight was the best night to be on her good side.

  Instead, he talked about work. About why Dorenza invited them to the party.

  "Hu's sailors confirmed the presence of the American limpet mines, so he folded quickly. Had nothing else to do except go home, anyway."

  Sheila shook her head. "So you weren't ever really in any danger, huh? What if he'd fought instead of run? Then what?"

  "Then his ships go boom. No, he sailed home with his tail between his legs and quietly got them cleared by an explosives expert at a mainland Chinese port."

  "Dorenza nakagago him."

  "Yeah, he looked like an idiot to the world. Lost massive face. No matter what, his superiors are unlikely to be pleased with his results. Not after Dorenza's television broadcast from the pier."

  "How's your retired partner?"

  "Out of the hospital a few days ago. Resting at home, or else he'd be here, but he also needs to get used to life with just one arm."

  She stared at his arms. "Uh-huh."

  Quick, change the subject to something more positive.

  "Tourism on Lubang Island is way up."

  "Well, sure, all that publicity. You looked good on camera, even if you didn't tell me about your promotion yet. What a shock to find out that way, but I guess you wanted it to be a surprise."

  He ignored her potential complaint. "Right, plus the elimination of the terror threat to outsiders."

  She leaned deeper into his arm.

  He swelled up his chest. "My unit accomplished both, of course."

  She sighed. "Very talented."

  He thought she was being serious, but wasn't completely sure. Was the time right?

  A roar from the gathered crowd interrupted their conversation. At least 1,200 people attended Dorenza's "little celebration."

  He stood on top of a raised platform with a bullet-proof lectern. Raised his hands.

  The crowd cheered again.

  "Thank you all! My opponent has officially conceded."

  A roar in response.

  "Couldn't have accomplished this without everyone in this room. Without the support of the Filipino people. I'm humbled to serve as your President. Enjoy the party!"

  Cheers as he stepped down from the platform and returned to mingling with his supporters, foreign diplomats, and other guests.

  Over the next few minutes of chitchat, he worked his way over to where Larrikowal and Sheila stood.

  The Americans Dorenza invited gathered around the couple as well, including Watkins in his wheelchair, pushed by Madsen, who had insisted that just because his foot was in a walking boot didn't mean he couldn't help his buddy.

  Dorenza grinned at Larrikowal. Pulled a handful of cigars out of his pocket. "Well?"

  "Umm…"

  "Courage, Major. Faint heart ne'er won fair lady."

  Sheila cocked her head at the exchange.

  Larrikowal knelt in the crowd. Held up the jewelry box. Opened it to reveal his grandmother's ring.

  She gasped.

  "Sheila, my dearest one. Will you do me the honor of-"

  "Yes. Oh, yes!" She put one hand to her mouth. Reached out to him with the other.

  He slid the ring on her finger.

  She lifted it in the air. Stared, delighted. Showed it around to the others. Lifted him up.

  Dorenza clapped him on the back.

  "Excellent work, Major!"

  The Americans added in their congratulations.

  Larrikowal felt like he'd fought his way across a jungle, then a mountain, and finally swam the ocean.

  But he guessed he needed to grow up sometime.

  * * *

  Michelle watched Raven as Larrikowal's big proposal progressed. She kept glancing at Schnier. Snuggled into him.

  Offered him meaningful looks of encouragement.

  He'd need to watch that one, if he didn't want to end up hitched on a ranch in Texas.

  But maybe he did.

  After the congratulations died down, she grabbed Sam. Pulled him aside to a quiet corner of the party.

  Out on a balcony, overlooking Manila's government quarter.

  "We need to talk."

  Sam tugged at his dress uniform pants, as if by messing with them, he could convert them into a pair of shorts. "We talk all the time."

  She put her hands on her hips.

  "I had to trade in a bunch of bureaucratic chips to get Schnier off the hook. Pay for the down drones we sent after you. Allow my mission to expense those mines you gave to the Chinese."

  He grinned. "Not to mention that resort you burned down."

  Such a brat.

  "That was you two obnoxious clowns, leading the SAF back from Manila. I just got stuck cleaning up your mess!"

  "Thanks again, by the way. Wouldn't want to figure out the hard way what Omar planned for me next, even if technically I escaped on my own, just so I could save Schnier. Well, with Raven's help."

>   Obnoxious. And to think, she'd worn her thinnest black dress and the shell necklace he'd made for her in anticipation of this conversation!

  "At least you still have your talent for destruction, everywhere you go."

  "Seemed to work out alright. The Philippines has a new President inclined to work with America instead of staying busy collecting Chinese bribes."

  She rolled her eyes at him. "The Agency and the Army are forming a new unit. Designed for physical infiltration of sites. To access data and equipment on isolated networks. Where we can't just break in from the Internet. Organization's most secure locations."

  "What's this newfangled covert commando unit called?"

  "Got a bureaucratic name. Designed to conceal as much as it reveals. Joint Army Unit Special Task Force - Urban Cyber Terrorism. Plan is to work out of Texas. Take over empty offices in the Johnson Space Center. Blend in with the geeks and the astronauts."

  "Funny."

  She lifted the necklace from her cleavage. Separated and clacked each black and white shell in turn. The action settled her spirit.

  Not to mention, drew the eyes of male admirers.

  "Anyway, I want us to be partners. To work in this new unit together."

  He stared into her eyes, as if seeking some truth. "Partners? As in working together as friends on a joint venture, or the kind of partners with benefits?"

  She actually blushed! Of course he'd take her statement that way. Was he serious about maybe getting back together, or teasing her?

  So difficult to tell sometimes.

  "Why, not sure you can handle me?"

  "Have before, if you recall. Still sprint faster than you, also."

  "I do recall you running away a lot, when it came to our relationships."

  He laughed. "I'm not the one who fled sunny San Diego for brisk Berkeley."

  "Well, this time, I'm not sure you have much of a choice, except to go chasing after me to the new unit."

  "What do you mean?"

  Had she blown it? He never liked to feel coerced.

  She put her hands up in the air, as if to surrender.

  "It wasn't me. I'm being roped into this by my management as well, but apparently Major Williams isn't your biggest fan. He's figured out a way to get rid of you. Donate you to the new joint task force."

  "Don't you still have leverage in the Agency?"

  She lowered her hands. Coincidentally, lay them on his shoulders.

  "Used it all to pull Schnier's independent command out of the fire. No, I'm being voluntold as well. Langley isn't super-excited about all the stunts you guys pulled during my mission, however well it all turned out."

  "I don't mind being with you, but when people are making me do something, I tend to resist, just on principle."

  And what exactly did "being with you" mean in this particular context, surfer Lieutenant Sam Harper?

  "I understand. Really, I do. I feel the same way. But that doesn't change the opportunity to do something great. Besides, my boss let me have some cookies for you."

  "Cookies?"

  She pulled herself closer to him using his shoulders. Whispered in his ear.

  "Remember, it's a brand new unit. Not only can you recruit just about anyone you want from the rangers, but I've been authorized to let you in on a little secret."

  "Oh? I'd snag Madsen and Watkins. Have to consider which intelligence analysts to bring along."

  She pressed herself into his chest. If this next didn't get him, nothing would.

  "Your parents. You'll have clearance for the Agency's codeword-only file on what happened to them. In our spare time, between other missions, we'll be allowed to follow-up on what actually happened that day. Who killed them. Why they died."

  "I went through what's known already. Nothing but dead ends."

  "The CIA knows more about your parent's assassination than you think. As an officer in the joint task force, we can go after the perpetrators. Together."

  He paused to consider. Looked down at her. Squeezed her in a bear hug.

  "Okay. Let's do it."

  Now, she just needed to tease out of him exactly what he meant by that. At least they'd have time together now.

  She needed to teach him a little lesson in interrogation, that's all.

  For series updates and free bonus stories such as the tale of Sam's Ranger Selection, email TR@catallaxymedia.com or visit books.bookfunnel.com/militaryheroes.

  Terrorist Interrogator is next in this series.

  Acknowledgements

  Thanks to Christi Sewell, Michael Sewell, Larry Kowallis, Liza Wood, and David Parker for their feedback. Special thanks to Clint Baker for pointing out cave clearance is a bad idea and thus almost getting Watkins killed.