Project Reaper
Page 17
Sam spoke, “did you notice when we landed how all the deck was all dressed up Tony?”
“Yes; it caught my attention, they must be expecting guests.”
Sam replied, “Certainly not for us then, hey?”
“Don’t think so Sam: looks like we will have to do with being down here in economy class.”
With that both men laughed.
HMS Ark Royal
Lago de Maracaibo
Venezuela
Lat = 9 degrees, 48.1 minutes North
Long = 71 degrees, 31.5 minutes West
Tuesday 3rd January 1989
Nineteen forty hours
Five hours behind GMT
Five minutes after The Lynx carrying Tony and Sam had landed a second Lynx HAS-3 Royal Naval helicopter call sign X-ray Zulu 726 was touching down.
On board were the Venezuelan President and his entourage.
As he stepped out onto a red carpet, the band of the Royal marines played the Venezuelan anthem.
Captain Peter Hopkins approached and greeted the President Alfredo Lucena and his wife Kristina; and then introduced them to the British High Commissioner Roger Hardcastle and his wife Catherine, whom were standing nearby.
Once the introductions were complete, the Captain guided them along the red carpet and down to a large room that had been lavishly dressed out to resemble a ballroom.
Captain Hopkins escorted them to the head table.
The Presidents guests were seated along with staff and diplomats from the British embassy at the nearby tables.
Max and the OSC teams had taken over one of the large areas one deck below the flight deck, at the aft end of the Ark Royal and had eaten a large lunch; they were now prepping weapons and equipment.
Max had just been told of the arrival of Tony Walters and Sam Winnett, he spoke to Roy Smith, “Roy; I am just going to see the two British agents for an update, have the men bed down once they have finished weapons and equipment checks.”
“Will do Max.”
Max was escorted to the room with the British agents in by a sergeant at arms and left with them.
Both Tony Walters and Sam Winnett were sitting down drinking a hot drink when Max walked in, Max approached them, “good evening gentlemen; I am Colonel Max Storm, I believe you have met my boss Major Strayker?”
Both agents stood up and walked too Max, the three men shook hands and both agents introduced themselves to Max.
Sam Winnett spoke, “I believe you’re the operations leader of the OSC Colonel.”
“That’s correct.”
Tony Walters spoke, “I would like to say a big thank you
to you and your men for eliminating the terrorists, who caused havoc and deaths earlier this year in the capital; Colonel.”
Walters was referring to Shakira Umbobo’s attacks on the capital in the July of this year.
“It’s what we were created for,” replied Max.
Max looked over to a nearby table, “is the coffee still warm?”
Sam Winnett replied, “should be; I could do with another one myself.”
The three men walked over and they poured themselves a hot drink.
Max spoke; I believe you have some fresh Intel, on the whereabouts of Professor Hooke?”
Tony Walters spoke,” I have sketched a rough diagram out of the place the Professor is now being held at, it’s over on the table.”
The three of them walked over to a nearby table, Tony Walters unfolded a sheet of paper laying it flat on the table.
Max looked down at the diagram, it showed a schematic plan in a rough sketch of four buildings all interlinked by what appeared to be a covered walkway.
These building formed a semi-circular shape, like an open umbrella.
A looped road came around the area from the west side, looping around to the south and back up to the east side
heading north, approximately one hundred yards away from the grounds.
To the west and south sides on the other side of the road was dense foliage, to the east and north the land was mainly flat and open
Max spoke, “talk me through it Tony.”
“Okay, firstly this was where I carried out most of my observations from.” Tony pointed to the foliage area to the southwest.
“I also drove the car around the looped road to gain the extra Intel for the drawing; this is the main entrance into the grounds.” Tony pointed to the drawing indicating the entrance on the south east side.
“Which building is the Professor being kept in?”
“I only clocked him once Max and he appeared to be in this building here.” Tony pointed to the second building from the left.
Max was studying the drawing and noticed something on the north side; he pointed to it and said, “What’s this here Tony?”
“It’s a dirt track, I went and had a look at it and it extends about a mile north, before ending at the edge of a wooded area.”
“How many men guarding the place?”
“Initially there was only eight, but when Ramón turned up he brought another dozen men with him, all armed.”
Max took a sip from his mug as he evaluated the Intel,
“are there any other buildings or residences nearby?”
“No this place is in the middle of nowhere Max,” Tony replied.
“Okay; I think I have all the Intel I need for the moment, you have both done an excellent job on this, and I would like you both to hang around until the operation is over.”
“That’s fine by us replied Sam Winnett.”
May I take your schematic drawing?”
Tony picked it up and folded it before handing it to Max.
Max tucked it into his pocket and walked out the room making his way back to the aft end of the ship.
When Max arrived back at the area assigned to the OSC, most of the men were asleep in the sleeping bags provided from the ships stores, he walked over to Roy Smith, “I have the up to date Intel on the Professor’s location.”
“How does it look Max?”
“No more difficult than anything we have dealt with in the past Roy.”
Max looked at his watch, twenty thirty four hours, “have the men up for Zero-six hundred hours, have them hit the flight deck for a good workout, breakfast and then I will give them a full tactical briefing on the operation at fifteen hundred hours.”
“Will do Max,” replied Roy.
“Get some shut eye Roy; we may not be getting any for the next forty-eight hours.”
“What about you Max?”
“I have a few notes to make on this drawing, before I hit the sack, see you in the morning Roy.”
Roy walked away to his sleeping bag.
Max walked over to one of the nearby tables, spread Tony Walters drawing out and added the following information.
He gave each of the buildings a number from 1 to 4 working from left to right, putting the Professor in building three, the main entrance point on the east side, the dirt track on the northern approach side and finally an estimated number of men as twenty-one including Ramón.
Max folded the map up and found an empty sleeping bed; he slipped into it and within a few minutes was asleep.
Above deck the wining and dining for the Venezuelan President Alfredo Lucena had gone down well with everyone.
The President, his wife and guests were now on the flight deck enjoying a spectacular firework display when the British High Commissioner Roger Hardcastle spoke
Quietly in the President’s ear, “Sir; I have a call waiting from our Prime minister, she would like to talk to you.”
President Alfredo Lucena turned towards the British High Commissioner and looked at his watch, quickly computing the time
in the UK.
“Commissioner; It must be the early hours of the morning in England, can it not wait until tomorrow?”
“I am afraid not sir, she wishes to speak to you now about an urgent and delicate matter.”
President Alfredo Lucena leaned over to his wife Kristina, “I have an urgent phone call to take my darling, enjoy the show and I will be back shortly.”
He placed a kiss on her cheek and then followed Commissioner Roger Hardcastle.
Five minutes later President Alfredo Lucena was in a secure Comms room on the phone to the British Prime Minister.
After the normally pleasantries the British Prime Minister got down to business.
“President Lucena; I need for you to listen to what I have to say without interruption, then I will answer any questions you may have.”
“Certainly,” replied President Lucena.
“We have identified that a British citizen is being held captive in your country by a man named Toledo Verdugo. The British citizen is a Nobel Prize winning scientist, and we believe he is being held because of his development of the Reaper gene technology, you may comment now if you wish?”
President Lucena replied, “I know of this man Toledo Verdugo, a very bad man known for his involvement in the drugs trade, what is it you want from me?”
“I would like you to firstly keep this conversation in your strictest confidence; no one and I mean no one is to be told of this conversation, will you agree on that?”
“Yes; I agree.”
“Good now listen well, to what we are going to do about this situation.”
The British Prime Minister outlined the course of action she had decided upon, when she had finished President Lucena responded.
“Dear Prime Minister; what you are asking is in effect for my country to allow a foreign armed incursion to take place on its sovereign soil.”
“That’s correct President.”
“I feel uncomfortable about this Ma’am.”
“In your shoes I would too, however you do agree that this man Toledo Verdugo is someone your country can do
without?”
“Yes; there is no doubt we would be well rid of him.”
“Well the good news Mr President; is that this can happen without your countries active involvement and can be put down to a drugs cartel feud.”
“How soon will this be happening?”
“Within the next thirty-six hours,” replied the British Prime Minister.
President Lucena pondered for a few moments before he replied, “Okay Prime Minister; I will allow your operation to proceed.”
“Thank you President for your cooperation, I am sure that when this is over we can look at ways the British government can help you.”
“That would gratefully appreciated madam Prime Minister.”
“Remember; you are the only person in your country privy to this information and only a very small number know about it at our end, hopefully we can keep it that way.”
“You have my word Madam Prime Minister; this will go no further than me.”
“Thank you sir, we will speak again soon.”
With that, the British Prime Minster replaced the phone at her end.
Toledo Verdugo’s Warehouse
Rio Negro Twenty miles North of Bucaramanga
Lat = 7 degrees, 15.8 minutes North
Long = 73 degrees, 8.6 minutes West
Wednesday 4th January 1989
Zero Eight hundred hour’s local time
Five hours behind GMT
Professor Hooke had risen early this morning, having eaten his breakfast he was now in his makeshift laboratory, Ramón had entered a few minutes earlier with a box, “Professor these are your mushrooms, I suggest you get to work, Mr Verdugo wants daily updates on your progress.”
“Just tell your men to leave me alone and I will complete the work quicker.”
“Don’t get any wise ideas Professor, the nearest town is ten miles away, this compound is sealed up tight with my men, and I will have one of them look in on you every hour.”
“Do what you have to, but keep your men out of my way, any lack of progress I make; will be because of to many interruptions.”
Ramón considered the Professor’s response for a few moments, “okay professor I think we have what you may call a deal,” with that Ramón left the room.
Professor Hooke opened the box and emptied the mushrooms onto his table. He quickly examined them and confirmed they were of the Shiitake variety; he scooped them back up, placed them in the box and placed them in a nearby fridge.
He still had a nagging thought at the back of his mind that the authorities were aware of his location, and if that was the case, they were surely aware that his family had been abducted; they would not make a move here unless his family was made safe.
The Professor’s mind was a logical one, decisions being made on facts and not subjective information.
He quickly cleared the nagging thoughts from his mind, “I need to concentrate on my work for now,” he muttered.
‘ICIS’ Saltbox Hill Biggin Hill Kent
Lat = 51 degrees, 19.7 minutes North
Long = 0 degrees, 1.2 minutes East
Wednesday 4th January 1989
Twelve eighteen hours GMT
Vince Edwards was sitting in his main office where he had just received communication from Max that contained the coordinates of the Professors location as Latitude 7 degrees, 15.8 minutes North and Longitude 73 degrees, 8.6 minutes West.
GAIL had begun reprogramming the OSC’s new designated satellite code name Eagle Eye to give a live update of the area.
Currently in earth’s orbit at an altitude of, four hundred and ninety-three miles, and travelling in a north to south orbit at two point four-two miles per second, or one hundred and forty-five point 2 miles per minute, was the satellite weighing in at four point seven tons.
Carrying an X-band communications payload to reach military users throughout a large swath of Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Equipped with 24 super-high-frequency and UHF channels, the satellite serves as an orbital relay station for
secure jam-resistant voice, video and digital communications between OSC commanders and OSC troops deployed around the world.
Presently circulating the earth in 11 hours 58 minutes earth time.
Currently over the north Atlantic two hundred and fifty miles north of Puerto Rico, Latitude 25 degrees, 35.6 minutes North and Longitude 66 degrees, 53.9 minutes West.
Gail sent the command to the satellite for a small course
alteration, and quickly calculated at its current speed
together with the course correction, that it would be over the target area eight hundred and fifteen miles away in eleven minutes and thirty-one seconds.
Vince had been following GAIL’s inputs and looked at his watch, twelve twenty-four hours, “GAIL; can you give me the correct time where Max is now?”
GAIL responded swiftly, “it’s exactly Zero-seven twenty-four and sixteen seconds at Lago de Maracaibo Venezuela, Vince.”
“Patch me through to the Ark Royal, I will speak with Max.”
HMS Ark Royal
Lago de Maracaibo
Venezuela
Lat = 9 degrees, 48.1 minutes North
Long = 71 degrees, 31.5 minutes West
Wednesday 4th January 1989
Zero Seven thirty-nine
Five hours behind GMT
Max had been hailed to the Comms room on the ship, and was now listening to Vince back at ICIS.
“Max; the satellite is now over the target area and GAIL is downloading images that she can transmit to you.
“Where will they come through
to Vince?”
“The Royal Signal Corps lads have a new piece of equipment we dispatched to them, that can receive this Intel and as soon as they switch it on it will link directly to GAIL’s system.”
“Is there anything else I need to be aware of Vince?”
“The new equipment is a Personal Comms Data Link or PCDL it is two-way, so it can be used to communicate directly with GAIL, either verbally of through the touch tone pad
system, the signals guys will have figured it out, its state of the art stuff Max; I doubt whether they have come across it before.”
“Another one of your toys that you have invented Vince?”
“Yes you could say that Max.”
“Okay Vince; I will speak to you soon.”
With that, the Comms link was terminated.
Max returned to the deck that had been allocated for the OSC, and found the three men from the Royal Signals, he introduced himself to them as he was wearing civy attire.
“I believe you have a new piece of equipment called a PCDL?”
Corporal Hardwick the senior man replied, “Yes sir, it’s a nifty bit of kit, but we have fathomed it out.”
“I have just been advised that some satellite images have been transferred to it, can we take a look?”
“Certainly sir,” replied Corporal Hardwick.
He picked up the PCDL that was about the size of an A4 sheet of paper and turned it on.
Several seconds later, the screen came to life requesting a password that Corporal Hardwick entered; very quickly, an image appeared showing the satellite image over Toledo Verdugo’s warehouse at Rio Negro.
Corporal Hardwick handed the PCDL to Max, “there you are sir.”
Max observed the satellite image and retrieved the schematic drawing from his pocket.
Max walked over to a nearby table and placed the drawing and PCDL down, he took out a pencil from his pocket and began filling in a few missing items of detail onto the schematic drawing.
Corporal Hardwick had been watching him, when Max had finished he walked over to him.
“Sir the PCDL can be taken on the operation, it will give you real time updates and has infa-red capabilities to show heat sources; especially related to people in or around the area.”