Reprisal in Black

by Dan Fox

  Marcel’s earpiece buzzed again. ‘I’m taking them one by one from your right, okay.’ With that Marcel saw a slight muzzle flash and the furthest attacker to his right dropped and lay still. Steve got the next two in the same fashion before there was any alarm. Six down with six bullets and eight left in the magazine. Not bad, not bad at all.

  Realising there was a problem the foot soldiers were now without a leader and were unsure what to do. A couple of them started firing in the general direction of the house and were taken out by Jean and Robert. A couple more started to retreat slowly and were popped by Marcel. There were now only two left and they started running back to where they’d come from. Robert got the first and Steve finished them off. He then ran to the house to organise their escape.

  ‘Jean, Marcel, put the prisoners in the boot, we can’t leave them here. Robert, just check around to make sure we’ve left nothing behind. We’re out of here in one minute.’ With everything loaded, they sped up the track with lights blazing this time and had turned onto the main road towards Bagram in less than a couple of minutes. They went as fast as they could, weapons at the ready. When they were a couple of miles or so away from the farm, Steve phoned the emergency contact and told him of the situation.

  The guy said, ‘Same routine as before but no torch this time. Back off the road say four hundred yards and wait. We’ll be there as soon as we can. We’ll dispose of the captives for you, but you need to be aware that the CIA may take them for further interrogation before they are disposed of.’

  Steve said ‘Be my guest, I don’t think anyone will get any more useful information from them, but by all means try.’

  The contact said ‘In the meantime we’ll organise an ex-filtrate which could be in minutes or a few hours. Don’t know yet but we have to get you and your team well away from this place before the big shit hits the fan, okay?’

  Steve said, ‘Thanks. See you shortly.’

  He’d explain to the rest of them when they stopped. He knew where to turn off, torch or not, and drove away from the road for a quarter of a mile and stopped. Marcel parked behind him. They all got out for a pee and a chat. Steve told them all of the revised plans. Jean, of course was disappointed, but knew their overall mission had been an unparalleled success.

  Marcel allowed himself the first cigarette of the mission careful to hold the glowing end out of sight. They were exhausted. Next to no sleep for four days, and very little to eat and drink. They would need to re-stock and rest for several days before they were truly fit for another mission. Sod’s law then knocked and entered, as they would shortly see.

  Chapter 25

  Hawaii, late Spring 2012

  Damned interminable meetings and briefings said the president to himself as he drew the final session to a close. God, he needed some rest. If he was lucky he’d get four hours sleep. He wanted fourteen.

  Their stop in Hawaii would only be brief. Enough time for the president to meet the Governor for a couple of hours or so, have a nice lunch with some of the local dignitaries and businessmen, then there’d be the open top tour of Honolulu and a few minutes meet and greet to finish off with. There would also be a high profile photo session. Security, as always, would be a nightmare but it had to be done. They hadn’t assassinated a president in Hawaii yet. So maybe luck was on his side.

  He didn’t want to think about the journey to Chennai (Madras) in India. His internal time-clock would be well fucked by then. He’d have to practice the new Indian premier’s name a few times so he didn’t forget it. Why the hell was he going there now anyway? He’d absolutely no problem with the Indian nation, but he could have gone when he’d made sure he’d get re-elected. Unfortunately he also knew that India was key to the peace talks with Pakistan and that would help the general security and stability of the region. That should help his standing in the opinion polls and his position on the world stage. They’d negotiated the meeting in Chennai just to save a few hours flying time, probably four in total, and the president’s patience.

  The vibrations of the Aircraft and the passage of recycled air had gradually moved a finely balanced pin that prevented a battery making connection within a certain device. This had happened en route to Los Angeles. It only allowed the receiver to function. Without proper discharge the battery would last for months. When the device was properly activated it would drain in less than a minute. But that wouldn’t happen yet.

  Chapter 26

  South West Pakistan, late Spring 2012

  Cell Leader Kamir Jaffri’s men were becoming bored and restless and he was struggling to enforce sufficient discipline when there was no immediate prospect of moving to the Al Gharam airbase. Yes, there may have only been a few more days to wait but there was absolutely nothing for the men to do at their camp and Jaffri smelt mutiny in the air.

  The phone rang in his pocket, Kamir Jaffri quickly answered it.

  ‘Kamir, we are almost ready for you and your team to take over the Al Gharam airbase. One of my team leaders has a gang of repair men there at the moment as you know and is progressing quite well. I need you to be prepared to take over there with twenty-four hours’ notice, no more.’

  ‘I am more than ready to serve our great cause and so are my men. There are fourteen of us in total. All are experienced fighters and know what to do’, said a very relieved Kamir Jaffri, the leader of the terrorist cell destined to control the operational happenings at the repaired airfield. ‘We are camped near a small village in the very south of our country just a few miles to the east of the air base. We can get there comfortably in less than a day. We have sufficient weapons and ammunition to repel any that are too inquisitive.’

  ‘Good work. The military plane of which we spoke is being prepared for its journey and you will know in good time when it is due to land.’

  ‘When do you think that the first shipments to Africa will begin?’ asked Jaffri.

  ‘I do not think it wise to discuss such matters over the telephone, do you?’

  ‘I am sorry Sir, I was not thinking properly. I am too anxious to serve you.’

  ‘I accept your apology. Now continue to prepare your men for the next stage of our great plan.’ The call ended abruptly and Jaffri cringed at his mistake.

  At that moment Jaffri and his men were camped very close to the sea and the border with Iran, probably no more than five miles from each and well off the beaten track. They probably had only thirty miles to travel as the crow flew but this would be overland and through the Bahukalat Protected Area which would not be easy but would keep them well away from prying eyes in this forgotten quarter.‎

  Jaffri then got his men together for a brief chat on the plans. ‘I have been told that we need to be ready to move to the airbase with as little as twenty-four hours notice. Continue to prepare yourselves for this great mission. Be ready when the time comes and make sure our truck is ready for the last push into Iran.’ With that his men went about their business. They knew little specifically about the mission except that they were to guard an airfield and help to load and unload a large transport plane as required. They were getting paid well for this and it looked to be long term employment for which they were grateful.

  Ashiq and his airfield repair team continued to work tirelessly, mostly at night, and had succeeded in sorting out the main runway and had restored power via generators to all the buildings they were told to, namely the main hangar and the smaller hanger which had the accommodation beneath it. They had restored running water and made sure that the shower and toilet facilities functioned satisfactorily. They had also installed the Beacon as requested and proved that it was operational. All in all they had done a good job in a very short time and Ashiq was satisfied that his bosses would congratulate him on a job well done.

  He had not spent all of the money he was allocated, and had even been able to make a substantial contribution to his private funds. He knew they would be pleased with the economy of his work. He missed Tehran though. Not the cit
y or the job so much, but he missed the Whisky and his dalliances with young girls and boys that were supplied to him periodically. Of course it had not been possible to drink at the airfield with so many other people about who may have held strong views about alcohol, and his sexual predilections had been forced to go on hold for the duration of the mission. Yes, he was looking forward to go back to Tehran as soon as possible. It was looking like yet another gold star for Abdul Ashiq and he wondered how long it would be before he was invited to Pakistan to meet with his bosses as reward for his continuing good work.

  The airfield repair work had taken less than a week to accomplish, but although Ashiq didn’t know it, machinations were in progress elsewhere which would have been compromised had the job taken even a few days longer.

  Despite the promise of moving to the air base sooner rather than later, Kamir Jaffri was still concerned about the morale of his men. He was therefore very happy when the phone in his pocket rang and he saw that it was from the number he’d been waiting for.

  ‘Yes sir’, he said, ‘how can I be of service?’

  ‘You move on the base as soon as you can. Can you get there within twenty-four hours?’ said the caller.

  ‘Of course sir, we are ready, we are always ready to serve’, said Jaffri.

  ‘You will call me when you are still out of sight of the base but have no more than two or three miles further to travel. This can be at any time of the day or night. I shall not be angry if you wake me. I need to give you further instructions when you are much closer. Do you understand?’

  ‘Yes sir, perfectly’, said Jaffri as the call was disconnected.

  ‘We are on our way at last’ said Jaffri to his men who were overjoyed at the news, but nowhere as much as Jaffri who had imagined himself waking up with his throat slit by his mutinous team.

  ‘We will leave in one hour. Make sure that anything that could identify us is either burned or buried. We need to be at the Air Base in less than twenty-four hours. There is no time to lose.’

  With that his men began breaking camp and stowing their weapons, ammunition and belongings onto the back of their truck. Of course Jaffri would travel in the cab with the driver. That was his prerogative.

  The journey through the Bahukalat Protected Area was uneventful and slow. The terrain was difficult. Not so much mountains and rocks but areas of swamp to avoid, several streams to cross, and of course the local wildlife which included crocodiles. Nevertheless they made their target location in a little over twelve hours which was excellent going.

  As soon as they had parked up out of sight of any other buildings or roads, Jaffri made the call.

  ‘Jaffri, I assume that you have made it.’

  ‘Yes sir, we are here about two miles east of the airfield. I can see the top of the Control Tower but nothing else yet’, said Jaffri.

  ‘As soon as it gets dark you are to make your way to the airfield but you must do this without any lights. Make your way to the large hangar where the team leader will be waiting for you. Get him and whoever else he needs to show you all the important aspects of their work, including power and water. You must be totally aware of how to operate everything that is there. Do you understand?’

  ‘Yes sir, of course sir, I understand’, said Jaffri.

  ‘When that is done you will have one final task which you may find a little unpleasant. Are you prepared to do a difficult task for me?’

  ‘Of course sir, what is it that you want me to do. I am happy to do anything to further our cause.’

  His boss thought for a moment considering how he should put over his request. Remembering that Jaffri was a deeply religious man he thought he would appeal to his religious nature.

  ‘When you have been shown how to work all the apparatus by my team leader I want you to call me again but you must do this discreetly. It is important that no-one else hears you make the call. Also, please make sure that your men and his men do not mix together. I want no opportunity for gossip or the exchange of information that might be important. Do you understand?’

  ‘Yes sir, I understand.’

  ‘Good, I will await your call and I will now call the team leader to tell him of your imminent arrival’ and the call was disconnected.

  Jaffri stood there for a moment wondering what task could be so important and so secret.

  ‘Okay, we are ready to go. No lights. Take it steady. Aim for the big hangar entrance and let me meet with the team leader. You are to stay on or around the truck. You are not to mix with his team for any reason. Do you understand?’ and looked every one of his men in the eye to ensure that they got the message.

  The truck moved off slowly towards the airbase and within ten minutes had come to rest about fifty yards away from the large hangar entrance. Jaffri got out of the truck and beckoned to one of his senior men to join him. They then made their way to the hangar entrance. When they’d got to within a few yards a Judas gate opened and out stepped Abdul Ashiq. Jaffri and Ashiq shook hands and praised their missions and their masters. Ashiq then took Jaffri and his helper on a tour of the facility.

  Once Jaffri and his helper had all the information they needed to keep the airfield operational, Jaffri thanked Ashiq and gestured for his helper to return to the truck. Ashiq assumed that Jaffri would come inside the hangar for some tea and a chat, but Jaffri excused himself and walked away for a few yards.

  He took out his phone and made the call.

  ‘You have done all I asked?’

  ‘Yes sir, myself and one of my senior men are now totally prepared to run the base from now on’, said Jaffri.

  ‘Excellent, now I now have a very difficult job for you to do, but first I must explain a few things and ask you a few questions.’

  ‘Of course sir, I will do anything to help’, said Jaffri.

  ‘What do you think should happen to someone who steals from me? What would you think if that person also drank Whisky? What would you think if that person also committed terrible sins against young children? What would you like to do to such a person?’

  ‘Sir, such a person is not worthy of life and should be killed. He is an affront to Allah. Tell me who this person is and I will kill him for you?’ said Jaffri shaking with anger.

  ‘The person who disgusts both of us is my team leader.’

  Jaffri was dumbstruck. ‘Sir, I had no idea. I have only just met him.’

  ‘I want you to kill him simply, quickly and without fuss. Then because of the great shame he has brought upon us all, I want you to kill all of his repair team. They cannot go back to Tehran knowing what they know. Do you understand?’

  ‘Yes sir’, said Jaffri with a little uncertainty in his voice. He was not by nature a cold blooded killer.

  ‘Are you prepared to carry out my instructions to help our mission and please Allah?’

  ‘Yes sir, of course sir, it will be done straightaway. Ashiq’s men are all in the underground accommodation. I shall dispose of him and then I will take my men into the accommodation and deal with the workers. I will not fail you sir’, said Jaffri.

  ‘Good, call me when you have completed your task. Make sure you do not use un-silenced weapons. Do not give anyone cause to attempt an escape. Do your job discreetly.’

  Jaffri stood where he was for a few moments and gathered his thoughts together. He had been told what to do and why it was necessary. It wasn’t a matter of choice. It was for Allah and the mission. With that he strode back towards Ashiq. As Ashiq turned to open the Judas gate into the hangar Jaffri hit him on the back of the head with the butt of his pistol and when Ashiq had slumped to the floor, he knelt down and snapped his neck. He then dragged the corpse around to the side of the hangar away from the accommodation.

  Back at the truck he explained that he had been told that there were bad people in the accommodation area who had jeopardised the mission which could result in his team’s pay being withheld. Of course his men were angry at this and anxious to do anything that redressed
that position. He explained what needed to be done and how.

  He would go to the accommodation area under the second hangar and ask two or three of the workers to come to a meeting his him and Ashiq for a few minutes. That should arouse no suspicions. As soon as these men were clear of the accommodation area, they would each be set upon by two of his men. One of the pair was there to stifle any cries or screams and the other to kill the man with a knife. He stressed it was important that this was done quickly and surely and quietly and that the bodies were hidden around the side of the hangar until all the repair team were dead.

  They accomplished their unsavoury mission in just a few minutes. Only one of the workers tried to escape and had to be shot instead. Otherwise the whole job had been done silently. Jaffri then asked a few men to load the bodies onto the back of a truck, drive away from the base for half a mile and bury them.

  When the truck drove away, Jaffri made his call.

  ‘Is it done?’

  ‘Yes sir, it is done’, said Jaffri.

  ‘Get some rest and expect another call from me very soon. Praise be to Allah.’

  Chapter 27

  Indian Ocean, late Spring 2012

  The freighter, Karachi Moon was en route from Colombo, Sri Lanka to Singapore carrying a heavy cargo of general goods. Singapore despite being a city state was actually part of the geography of Malaysia situated at the bottom of the huge archipelago.

  It was a route the Karachi Moon had completed many times before in the thirty years since it had been launched. This particular journey would take many days and nights to complete the almost two thousand miles between the two great cities.