Kharon

by Wayne Marinovich

  'On Roosevelt Island?' Gibbs asked.

  'Yes. We are currently pinned down on the west access roads to the Ed Koch Bridge, but I will retreat and get everyone here to regroup on the west side of the river. Are you in the position we discussed?'

  'We have moored up in the Eleventh Street Basin, to the south of the bridge, and could move the ship further north to engage them from the east side of the island.'

  'A two-pronged attack just might work, but let me settle in one of the buildings to scope out their defences. I have positioned a couple of two-man ops teams on the east bank too. They can do some recognisance from your side. Then we can decide on the best way to attack,' Andrei said.

  Chapter 36

  NAGCC Bertholf, Eleventh Street Basin, New York, NY, USA- 2033

  The sterile, cold bridge of the NAG coastguard cutter, Bertholf, caused the conversation to echo as a group of people sat around a large map table, a map of Manhattan spread open before them. None of the group looked out through the large bridge windows, across the pleasant view of the East River in front of them.

  'I'd just like to thank Captain Yeager for allowing us the use of his bridge to plan this operation,' Gibbs said, nodding at the slim figure with the short black hair that stood across from him. 'I have also got hold of several old photographs of the warlord's six buildings from different angles. You can see from pictures that they are built in a straight line, leading away from the bridge. Sources tell us it is from this location that he runs the whole of New York.

  'As you know, the buildings are all located on the north side of the island and not visible from our current position. Andrei has said that although most of them have glass frontage and ground entrances, they are all linked together by four to five skyways that traverse the gaps between them.'

  'I bloody hate those death traps,' Christina said.

  'Don't we all,' Shredder said.

  ‘Andrei said that they are better built than the usual ones we encounter in the Floodzone. But, we still need to be careful when crossing over them,’ Gibbs said.

  'I bet they have laid charges underneath them so that they can disconnect the buildings from one another at a push of a button,' Shredder said.

  Gibbs nodded. 'We have to assume that is the case. When we approach, can you make it one of your jobs to scan them with one of the scopes? It's the main reason why I want to attack at low tide. If the skyways are blown, we can still move between the buildings on the paved walkways on the ground.'

  'Low tide will make it difficult to get this ship close to your target,' Captain Yeager said.

  'Don't worry about that, Captain. I have a different plan for the Bertholf,' Gibbs said. 'I had a long chat with Andrei, and the low tide does coincide with a possible dawn raid, which always has its set of advantages. If anyone has any serious doubts about going in at dawn tomorrow morning, let me know now.'

  Everyone shook their heads.

  'Now for the plan. Firstly, at high tide tonight the Bertholf will sail up the east side of the Roosevelt Island and then around the small inlet to drop anchor at Ways Reef, and out of sight of the six buildings,' Gibbs said, pointing to the small inlet on the map. 'Here, we will drop off two inflatables and all disembark to spend the night on shore.'

  'I will get stranded there at the first low tide,' Captain Yeager said.

  'That is why I want you to sail straight back past the island and moor up in the middle of the East River, just south of the island. They will be watching you carefully, expecting an attack and that is exactly what we want them to think. Andrei has all his soldiers on the west bank of the river, and they will initiate the attack with mortar fire. At the same time, you can hit the concrete barricades on the bridge with those fifty-seven-millimetre deck-guns of yours from your southerly position.'

  'Allowing us to attack from our position in the north without being seen,' Smithy said.

  'That is the plan,' Gibbs replied. 'We will hit the island about thirty minutes after the initial attack so hopefully their eyes will have been turned to the south and the west.'

  'Will Andrei simply stay on the west bank or join us on the island?' Christina asked.

  'I'll contact him after this meeting to clarify. I think it would be wise for him to come across if they can lay their hands on some boats,' Gibbs said and sat back in his chair. 'Now get some rest. It will be tough out there tomorrow.’

  • • •

  The central structure of the ship was cold as Gibbs leant back on the sheet metal plating. The afternoon sun warmed him a little as he looked east, across what once must have been a busy quayside, but now was just a graveyard for rusting harbour buildings and cranes. The daily flood took no prisoners, and that include any man-made structures. The loud clunk of a nearby deck door opening made him look to his left. Warren stepped out, blinking in the sunlight.

  'You not resting?' Gibbs asked.

  'Nah, can’t sleep.'

  'The nerves getting to you a little, are they?'

  'A little, I guess,' Warren replied.

  'That's good, Warren. It'll make you more careful.'

  Warren smiled. 'I was speaking to Christina to see what she knows about Kat, but she keeps being vague.'

  'I guess there is still hope that we’ll find her once we have captured the blond German.'

  'That's what she said, but I get the feeling she is hiding something.'

  'Why?'

  'She can barely look me in the eye when she mentions Kat, or the other women for that matter.'

  'I am sure that it's nothing,' Gibbs said, walking across the deck to the metal railing. Warren followed him.

  'Don't you start patronising me either, Gibbs. I deserve to know,' Warren said. 'I may not be a seasoned soldier like you, but I saw my father murdered in front of me so I can handle any news about Kat.'

  Gibbs turned and looked at the young man. 'You have been through a lot and toughed it out, haven't you? Plus you helped us topple Butler. So I guess we owe you.'

  'Yes. What happened on the ship?'

  'All she said to me was that Kat had been putting up a tremendous fight with Butler's men from the minute they were kidnapped to when they were split up. She never saw Kat again.'

  'Tell me honestly. Do you think that she is alive?'

  Gibbs looked out into the Floodzone. 'No, I don't think so, but I have been wrong before. I am sorry, mate.'

  'That’s what my gut says. I would just like to know what happened.'

  Gibbs took a deep breath. 'Christina was told by a soldier that Butler's men took an interest in her. She thinks Kat may have been thrown overboard with other troublemakers.'

  'I don’t think she made it across,' Warren said, covering his face with his hands, his shoulders shaking with grief. The sobbing made Gibbs uncomfortable. Part of officer training was letting family members know that their boys and girls had fallen. It was never easy.

  'Warren, we have all lost people dear to us because of this man. He will get his deserved punishment. I can promise you that.'

  Warren looked up, his eyes red.

  Gibbs placed his hand on the young man's shoulder. 'You have to move past this before tomorrow. You can grieve for her after that. Staying focused on getting Butler and his thugs is the only thing that needs to be in your head right now.’

  Warren nodded.

  • • •

  With a roll of his thumb, the flame from his Zippo lighter flickered in the frosty morning. Andrei looked at the yellow and blue flame for a few seconds and then raised his hand to the filter-less cigarette that was between his teeth, taking in a long draw. Exhaling the warm smoke into the cold air, he looked at his watch and then across to the six tall buildings. Each had fourteen floors that were lit up against the dark city background. The distant early morning light was pushing the night sky back, and his eyes caught the shape of the four iconic red and white towers of the Con Edison Plant. He took another long draw.

  He looked down from his position on a low r
oof next to the Rockefeller University building, across to the seven M120 mortar teams that had set up in the abandoned FDR Drive that ran along the East River. The assistant gunners all looked up to his position. He glanced down at his watch one last time. With the cigarette between his fingers, he flicked a gesture to the bridge.

  The gunners dropped the explosive projectiles into the barrels and ducked away, their hands over their ear defenders. Like a repeated clap of thunder, they began firing at the barricades on the top of the bridge. The gunners looked at the target and realigned the barrel, allowing another projectile to be launched on its way a few seconds later.

  Miguel was standing alongside Andrei, his binoculars scanning the barricades on the bridge and then back to the buildings.

  'A few hits on target, sir. Those sandbags are doing their job.'

  'Any movement around the buildings?'

  'Yes, sir, there are machine gun positions on top of buildings one, three and five. Some have begun firing, although I am not sure at what, sir. They are firing in the wrong direction.'

  ‘They will find our position soon enough. Look for snipers on five and six. They will have a view of where Gibbs and his team are attacking from.’

  'Cannot see anyone moving up there, sir.'

  'Great. Get the trucks moving in towards the barricade.'

  The distant thumping of the fifty-seven-millimetre deck-guns of the Bertholf drifted across the calm water. Looking back at the bridge, men scurried back from the concrete barricades, to the safety of the sandbagged lined machine box. Chunks of concrete flew across the bridge and into the river below.

  'Get the trucks up there now,' shouted Andrei as he looked down to see the mortar teams getting into a nice rhythm. Explosions of sand, tarmac and concrete ballooned up on the top layer of the bridge, which naturally protected the barricades on the lower level.

  'Miguel, get on the radio to Captain Yeager. Tell him to concentrate all his fire on the lower level. We will focus our attention on neutralising the top level. The arc of the mortars means we can only get to the top level.'

  Andrei looked down to the river and saw two speedboats approaching from the south. They were for him and twenty infantrymen. Looking back out to the buildings, he saw a movement towards the machine gun posts. The fight had begun.

  Patting Miguel on the shoulder, Andrei straightened his bulletproof vest and started across the abandoned road. He ran as fast as he could, lungs burning and his old legs stiff with inactivity. Run, you fat old politician. Reaching the metal railing of the walkway that ran along the entire riverfront, they climbed onto the ropes that had been tied up under the cover of darkness and made their way down. Andrei cursed, his boots slipping on the muddy stones and debris of the exposed riverbed.

  The two boats had pushed up onto the silt, their engines still running. Grabbing the sides, the men heaved the boats back, the odd sound of gunfire drifting across the river. As they jumped into the rubber-lined hulls, the large motors whined into reverse gear and dragged them backwards. Andrei jumped forward and stood next to the boat pilot, a young man with black hair.

  'Aim for building four, Corporal. And you had better hit the throttle. They’ve just spotted us.'

  A single trail of bullets flicked its way in the water towards the boats, missing the front by two meters, and then a second one traced them as the front lifted out of the water, and they surged forward. Steering an arc around to the right, the two boats aimed at the fourth building.

  'Come about!' Andrei screamed, his eyes wide with fear at the sight of men with shoulder-mounted rocket launchers on buildings one and two. A puff of white smoke from building one erupted as a rocket was set on its way towards them.

  The boat swerved hard to the left, almost throwing Miguel out into the river. The rocket hit the water and exploded, sending a plume of water several meters into the sky. The second boat followed them, through the falling water, drenching the occupants as a second rocket missed to the right of them.

  With a gentle tap on the young man’s shoulder, Andrei guided the pilot as they turned back towards the buildings. Another puff of smoke and a third rocket was underway.

  'Turn away!' he shouted, and the young man spun the wheel. The rocket fizzed past them into their churning wake. It gave Andrei the chance to scan the rooftops again. Running men with rocket launchers took up their positions.

  ‘More men with launchers forming up on the road level,’ the young man screamed.

  'I see that. Take us out of here, Corporal,' shouted Andrei. The boat hurtled back around towards the bridge. 'Get us to the other side of the bridge, and quickly.’

  The young man needed no second command, and spinning the steering wheel, he aimed the boat in the direction they had just come from.

  'Miguel, radio one of the trucks to collect us at the boat pick-up point. We will have to attack the barricades instead.'

  • • •

  A loud crack made Andrei jolt as he crouched low again to shield his face from the debris and glass. The three trucks had been set up to shield them as they parked across the upper onramp to the bridge. Most of the men they were targeting had retreated to the centre of the bridge where the sandbagged cage wire was situated. Miguel knelt next to him and slammed another magazine into his M27, before firing a volley at the two troops who were hunkered down amongst the sandbags. One of the soldiers lobbed a hand grenade over the sandbags. It bobbled and rolled down the tarmac towards Andrei and his men, stopping twenty meters short where it explode, the blast hitting the truck, rocking them from side to side on squeaking suspension. He blinked as a radio squawked nearby.

  'Captain Yeager wants to know if we want that cage wire structure taken out from his side,' Miguel said, looking across to Andrei. 'It could sure help us secure the bridge.'

  'No, tell him to leave it. We will need it to get across to building one. If this battle keeps going all day, the tide will restrict our options on the ground and boats are too conspicuous from this side.'

  Miguel nodded. Andrei looked at the young American and felt pride that the young man had taken his role on with such vigour and enthusiasm. Andrei took a deep breath. He was tired of fighting. Looking down at the M27 he had in his hands, he remembered his youth and the street fights in Central Moscow where they had slaughtered the protestors. He reached for his cigarettes. Miguel looked up at him.

  'Those will kill you, sir.'

  Smiling with a cigarette between his teeth, Andrei said, 'Just get Delta Kilo and Delta Mike up here in the forward position. Let's set the snipers on those last few soldiers on the bridge.'

  'Yes, sir,' Miguel said and ducked his head down to speak on the radio.

  Andrei reached for his satphone and dialled Gibbs.

  'Sounds like you are having fun over there, old friend,' Gibbs answered.

  'Been better. Not too many casualties on our part, but we weren’t able to get across by boat. They have a team of men with rocket launchers, so beware on your approach. There seems to be a flurry of troop movement towards building three, so that might be a hot target.'

  'Copy that. We'll split up and hit building three and six simultaneously.'

  'That is a bold move, friend. Make sure that your best men hit three, as whoever goes in there could easily be surrounded and trapped.'

  'I intend to lead that one personally. The second our feet hit the mud, we could use a major offensive from you and Captain Yeager,' Gibbs said.

  'Consider it done. I will back off the mortar fire and create a lull in the shelling. That will help to distract them again, just as you land.

  Chapter 37

  Shore Boulevard, Ways Reef, New York, NY, USA- 2033

  Gibbs felt the warmth of Christina's body as she nestled in his arms, standing on the slimy pavement of Shore Boulevard. They stood looking across the low tide at the grey outline of the Robert F Kennedy Bridge.

  'I want you to be careful out there,' Gibbs said and kissed the top of her head. 'Take commands fr
om Shredder at all costs, and you will be fine.'

  'Okay. I know you don't want me to go, Gibbs, but I am quite capable of handling myself.'

  'You were the illustrious Vargen, leader of the resistance, after all.'

  Christina punched his arm.

  'It's going to get hairy over there, and I would rather have the mother of my son alive and well, should something happens to me,' he said.

  'And if something happens to the both of you, I will be without you or my son. How do you think I will feel, not having done anything to help or protect either of you?'

  Gibbs smiled, squeezing her tight. 'We have wasted enough time arguing about this. You and Shredder are responsible for sweeping building six, then moving across to five. I know that you will be able to do that.'

  The occasional crack of sniper fire drifted across the calm east river, and Christina pulled away and turned to face him. 'Shall we go and get our son?'

  Gibbs reached down and kissed her warm, soft lips. They stayed locked in an embrace for a few seconds before he pulled away. 'Let's go and get him, Mrs Gibbs.'

  'Talking of which, when we get back to England we should probably have a proper and official wedding, don't you think?

  Gibbs smiled at her. 'If we all make it back, you can have whatever you want? I am done fighting.' He held her hand. 'Stuart is lucky to have grown up with a mother like you.'

  'And you are lucky to have a wife like me.'

  The warmth of her hand in his felt comforting as they strolled the length of the slimy riverside path, past rows of dead trees which lined the boulevard. Turning right at the first path, they passed a small playground with twisted children's swings rusting in a corner, then walked down to the water's edge.

  'Glad you two finally decided to join us,' Shredder said. ‘Having a quick canoodle while we do all the bloody work?’

  'Shut up, Shredder, and help me get into the boat,' she said.

  The two black inflatables were pulled up onto the muddy stones and brown river sand that was visible at low tide. With some effort, the two teams pushed them back and jumped in. With engines at half throttle, they slowly made their way towards Hallets Point. Beams of morning light had begun to clip the city skyline and filter down onto the shore behind them. In the gentle breeze, they faced their target buildings in silence as each glass and concrete monolith lit up in the warm morning glow.