Jones opened the door to their suite before he got his hand on the key card.
“Kyle’s on his way,” Mark informed him.
They heard screaming and more gunfire through the opened doors of their balcony. Sanouk sleepily walked into the room in his pajamas.
“Get your clothes on, dude. There’s a firefight outside and we need you to stay with the women,” Mark told him.
“You know what the plan is?” Jones asked Mark.
“Kyle’s call, but some have to stay behind, some have to go underground. We got a couple of rebreathers, some ammo and gear in Lifeboat 26. Remember that one. On Deck 5, outside the chapel. You can make it to the kitchen from the end of the hallway. From there, you’re on your own.”
“Got my sidearm. Wish I had my H&K.”
“You and me both.”
“Moshe?”
“Haven’t heard.”
Just then they heard an announcement over the loudspeaker. The distinctive Italian accent of the captain crackled. They opened the door to their cabin to better hear the message, since the speakers were loudest in the common areas.
In Italian first, the captain made a brief announcement. “La nostra nave è stata comandeered da forze esterne che stanno chiedendo per la collaborazione.”
“The ship has been commandeered by outside forces that have asked for your cooperation,” Jones translated as Cooper and Fredo burst into the hallway, fully dressed.
“Where the fuck is Kyle?” Coop asked.
“Right here,” Kyle said behind them, breathing hard. “We aren’t going to have much time.”
“Moshe get information off?”
“Ship’s internet has been shut down. His call to the Maersk lines was interrupted. I had to get back here.”
“Is he okay?”
“He was taken prisoner by two masked men in black. I escaped by hiding in the secret compartment he’d designed and had built at his own expense.” Kyle and Mark shared a look. “Moshe knows he’d be one of the first they executed, if they want to make a statement. The man saved my life. I owe him.”
“Understood,” said Cooper.
Mark nodded. Yes, he’d help Kyle in that mercy, or death mission. His Team leader had a wife and child, and he would need help from someone who didn’t. And they wouldn’t be able to spare more than two others.
“So no one knows about this takeover?” Jones asked.
“The signal was sent,” Kyle answered.
A distress signal had been broadcast, notifying all listeners within a five hundred mile radius. Problem was, Mark knew, it couldn’t discriminate about who received the signal.
“But I got in the calls with my sat,” Kyle added.
The scratchy voice of the captain came over the loud speaker again, this time in English.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” he began, as he had begun all his other happier announcements on board. “Our ship has been commandeered by persons unknown who are asking for your cooperation. I have been assured that, if everyone cooperates, there will be no danger. There will be no injury or loss of life.”
That last statement had a chilling effect on the group. Several people in nightgowns and pajamas opened the doors to their cabins and stepped out into the hallway. Groups of family members and friends began to form.
“We’ve gotta move.” Kyle said. “Say your goodbyes, quick. Jones and Fredo, you stay here with the women. If they start executing people, they’ll start with the white boys first.
Sanouk peered out from the darkened room wearing loose pants and gi-type top that wrapped around his waist and tied at the side. Underneath, nestled in the folds of light gray fabric, Mark could tell he had secreted a curved, bladed knife. Mark had no doubt he fully knew how to use it, too.
“I’ll be here to help defend, Kyle,” the boy said.
“Fuckin’ A. Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about,” Fredo said.
“Mark, Armando and I are going to find Moshe. Tyler and Rory, you’re on mission to go with Coop to the engine room and find the bomb. Nick and Grady, go see if you can find Teseo on the bridge. I’ll text you, so keep your cells on. Everyone charged up?”
Nods all around.
“We have a small cache of weapons on Lifeboat 26, gents,” added Mark. “But don’t leave me stranded without any equipment, and—whatever you do—don’t lead them there.” You see Sophia, you need to get a message or something delivered there, she’s in on it and ready to help. But be careful.”
“Everyone have some sort of sidearm? Anyone short?”
The group shook their heads.
“Back in thirty secs,” Kyle said and disappeared into his cabin. One by one the men slipped in and then back out of their rooms after a private farewell.
Armando and Mark waited for Kyle in the hall. Armani was checking one of the magazines he’d pulled out of the lower pocket or his cargo pants. He knew Armani’s Sig was holstered at the small of his back, right where Mark carried his.
“Amazing they didn’t spot these in our luggage,” he said to Armando.
“I had mine disassembled and tucked all over the place. I don’t think they knew what the fuck they were looking at.”
“Great minds…” Mark was going to continue, but Kyle appeared at the doorway and quietly closed it behind him.
“We go,” was all the guy had to say.
The men from SEAL Team 3 ran in two directions. Mark followed Kyle, with Armando bringing up the rear. They threaded through passengers who were confused and more than a little panicked. It was going to be bedlam soon.
“You really get through to SOCOM?” Mark asked Kyle’s back.
“Left a message for Commander Ramsey and Timmons.”
“Shit,” Armando said behind him.
“They can track the phone,” Kyle added quickly. “I had the tracking device installed last year. They’ll know it was me, just as if I sent up a red flare, though. They’ll figure it out.”
“Hope it’s in time,” Mark whispered.
Kyle stopped and faced Mark. “You stop that shit, man. We’re all going to make it out alive. All of us. No one gets left behind.”
“I’m all aboard, Lanny. And if someone has to take the hit, it’s gonna be me and not you. I’m clear on that,” Mark retorted.
“Nah, not unless I get there first, man,” Armando said behind him.
Kyle’s phone began to ping. Mark recognized the unique ringtone of their Chief, Timmons.
“Bad timing, Chief,” Kyle said into the phone as he watched the hallway.
“What’s this thing about terrorists…”
“Look, I’m real sorry, but I’m waiting for a return call from SOCOM, unless you got a chopper or some reinforcements, I’m not being conversational.”
Mark could hear Timmons yell at the insult. “You fuckin’ prick. You think I’m just being conversational?”
“Get to the point, sir. We’re outnumbered. You might retire in a couple, but we might wind up dead.” Kyle delivered it with his blue-eyed steely stare right into the pit of Mark’s stomach.
They all heard the crash as Timmons did the nasty on the frog statue the team had bought and replaced.
Kyle shook his head and had to chuckle. Mark had to admit it was a light moment, and they were needing a bit of that right now. “I see you got Flipper again. His replacement isn’t going to like spending the rest of his days next to your wife’s dolls.”
“I don’t want another one. Get your butts to a safe location and get yourselves home. I understand they’re working on something. Just wanted to check for…for…”
“We’re all good so far. A lot better than Flipper. No one injured or killed. Working to keep it that way. I gotta go, Chief. Will be in touch.”
“You fuckin’ do that, Kyle. You better get yourselves safely home.”
“Roger that.” Kyle hung up. “Okay, now we go balls to the wall,” he said to Mark and Armando. No more distractions.”
Kyle whipped aro
und and continued running. Mark had to work to keep up with him. He wondered when the terrorists would get to the crew decks. He wondered if they would mess with the women or only go after the men. He stopped himself and corrected his thought pattern.
Looking for options. There are always options. Improvise. It was what they trained for every workup.
Way too soon to start thinking about casualties.
Rapid gun bursts were making staccato appearances on most levels, most of them seeming to come from the upper decks. The security officer’s quarters were at zero deck at the backside of the medical bay. Mark was glad they weren’t carrying anything but sidearms. No duty bags to draw attention. Not that the extra firepower wouldn’t have been nice.
A tray had been knocked to the floor and broken dishes and silverware scattered about. They could hear heavy boots coming around the corner, so the three SEALs deflected toward the medical officer’s station. On the way they noticed the cargo doors wide open, the night sea breeze refreshing the stale air of the zero deck. Laced in the salty sea smell was diesel engine fuel. The SEALs could see several smaller ships bobbing alongside, their lights flickering like stars. They were about to be boarded.
Luckily the doors to the medical office were unlocked, so they ducked inside the reception area, keeping the lights out, and hid behind the counter. They saw a trio of combat troops in dark camo run past the glass window of the sick bay door, headed toward the open cargo bay or the elevators beyond. A crowd of confused crew in their nightclothes converged. Multiple languages were being shouted angrily.
Mark remembered studying the footprint of the zero deck when he considered searching for Sophia before they’d begun their trysts in the lifeboat. He scampered to one of the treatment rooms and pulled a lower cabinet off the rear wall. Listening to be sure he hadn’t generated any attention on the other side, he kicked the wall once, his boot coming out the other side. With another two kicks and the help of Kyle and Armando to pull back the flimsy wall, they managed to make a hole large enough to crawl through. Armando was the last one through, and he pulled the cabinet behind him to cover up their passageway.
Inside Moshe’s office they found the desk and drawers had been tossed. Kyle quietly closed the private door and heard a satisfying click as the built-in security kicked in. Broken pictures of the Israeli’s wife and family lay at the floor. Mark noted the door had been ripped off the safe, rendering it useless.
“They get anything?” Mark asked.
“Nah, I got his Jericho and three clips earlier, thank God,” Kyle said as he crouched near the door and peered out the tiny glass window slit above the key lock on the reinforced door.
“Armani, see if you can find some master passkeys. Moshe always had a handful of them somewhere in his office.”
“Roger that.” Armando and Mark searched through the mess on his desk, and then rummaged through the contents of the spilled drawers.
“Got ’em.” Armando said as he held up a fistful of plastic key cards for Mark and Kyle to see.
“Think they were looking for weapons, but they’ll figure it out sooner or later, after they get tired breaking down their twentieth door,” Kyle said. “They’ll be back for sure.
Just then they heard the unmistakable sound of the engines grinding to a complete stop. Lights flickered in the hallway as the power was rerouted.
“Shit. They’ve stopped the ship. Now what the fuck?”
They didn’t have to wait long. A blast hit the side of the ship, knocking them to the floor and sending a couple of metal file cabinets crashing down on them.
“That can’t be our bomb,” said Mark.
“Sounded more like percussive flash bombs intended to scare anyone who thought they should stay put in their cabins. My guess is they’re boarding us big time,” Armando said.
As soon as he’d said it, shouts and single pistol shots were heard as the crew was rounded up and herded down the hallway. Women screamed and occasionally something was said in Arabic.
But then all of them heard the unmistakable command of a Russian officer. Someone tried to open the office door, then kicked it so hard Mark thought the hinges might burst. The butt of a rifle broke the glass window and a hand reached through to grab the lever on the inside of the compartment. Broken glass scraped against someone’s arm and the trio heard swearing in Russian when the scrape caused more than surface injury. Wrapping his arm and hand in a rag, the man tried again to reach through the jagged opening. His fingers could barely grip the handle as he pulled and frantically moved it back and forth without luck. Mark was grateful the door had that extra security feature.
The three of them breathed a sigh of relief, although only temporary as sounds emerged from their passageway on the other side, in the medical clinic, as bottles and glass cabinets were smashed.
The SEALs had nowhere to hide when at last all sounds from both sides of the corridors stopped. Muffled bursts of gunfire from far away and the gurgling of diesel engines from the flotilla outside the open hatches of the cargo bay gave them the impression it was raining bullets and destruction on everyone in the intruders’ path. It was a full-on, well-planned assault on a defenseless ship, and they were getting up to speed fast. Mark’s heart was in his throat, thinking about the women, hoping Sophia and the others, especially the ailing Libby, were safe, or left relatively alone.
The captain’s voice began to crackle again over the intercom system.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are asking that all the women and children come to Deck Nine immediately.”
“That’s the cafeteria level and outside on deck by the pool, on top of the ship. They want all the women on the top? It’s freezing up there,” Mark said.
“They’re bait,” Armando whispered sadly.
Kyle felt the buzz of his sat phone.
“Lansdowne,” he whispered.
“This Special Operator Kyle Lansdowne?”
“Yessir.”
“Hold on for Commander Vinson, sir,” the voice on the other end of the phone spoke.
Kyle put his hand over the mouthpiece and whispered, “Do we know a Commander Vinson?”
Mark shook his head. Armando shrugged, “Nada.”
The phone crackled to life. “I’m Commander Vinson of the joint task force at SOCOM substation in Miami working with the U.S. Coast Guard.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I understand you are running an operation on a commercial cruise liner and are in the process of being compromised, is my assumption correct, sir?”
“Hijacked would be more like it. That is correct, Commander. At approximately zero one hundred hours we got invasion units landing by boat, taking over the bridge and forcing the captain to request cooperation from the passengers. Then roughly thirty minutes ago we got a full hull breech, someone opened the cargo doors, and we believe many enemy insurgents came aboard, sir.”
“How many men is your security force, son?”
“Security force?”
“We understand a Navy SEAL Platoon was dispatched to accompany a high level target on that cruise ship. How many men in your force, exactly?”
“Commander, there’s no fuckin high level target here. We’re on a fuckin’ cruise ship. On vacation with our wives.”
“Excuse me, would you repeat that?” The crackling of the phone was loud. Mark hoped the noise wouldn’t give their position away. He took several of the security pass cards Armando handed him, sticking them into his vest pocket.
“We’re on vacation. This wasn’t a SEAL operation at all. We’ve just found ourselves in the middle of this shit, Commander.”
They heard talking on the other end of the line. “This is not a U.S. Naval Special Forces operation, then, son, is that what you’re saying?”
“Well, no. Hey, I called my Commander in Coronado, how did it get to you in Miami? And where are the SOCs?”
“We monitor all calls coming from international waters, and intercepted. After we heard the conten
t of your call, thought we should do more than just listen. Have already placed a call into SOCOM.”
Thank God someone got through.
“Fuckin’ A. When am I going to get some backup?” Kyle asked.
“Believe it’s in the works, son.”
“Look, I’m in the fuckin’ medical office of a cruise ship off the fuckin’ coast of Africa. We’re dead in the water. There’s a bomb on board and they’re taking hostages.”
Both Armando and Mark’s phones began to vibrate. Something was going on.
“Coop.” they said in unison and showed their phones to each other.
“Look, I’ve got one of my guys down looking for the bomb right now. You better get some frogmen here, and we’re in sore need of firepower. All we have is our sidearm.”
“Roger that.” Kyle gave him Commander Ramsey’s personal numbers, the ones he had left messages for.
“Tell Commander Ramsey they’re probably going to use deadly force with the hostages, and ARE threatening to blow up this boat, sir. We have thirty-four hundred souls on board, sir, nearly all of them civilians. Innocents.”
The long pause was painful.
“I gotta take Coop’s call,” Armando said as he hoisted his cell to his ear. “Coop, I’m here,” he whispered.
“What kinds of precautions does the cruise ship have? Is there an emergency plan?” the Commander asked Kyle.
Mark couldn’t believe his ears.
“I’m not aware that the cruise ship has the ability to do anything but wait for some ransom demands,” Kyle informed him. “The head security officer has been taken at gunpoint by masked men. I’d say he’s in grave danger, sir.”
“Son, you’ve definitely got our attention, but I’m going to be honest. It will take an hour or two to assemble a team unless we get some kind of miracle.”
“That’s exactly what we need, Commander. A fuckin’ miracle.”
“Roger that. Stand by.” The phone went dead.
Kyle sat back. “Un-fuckin-believable.”
Armando was getting information from Cooper. “Holy fuckin’ Christ. Snakes?” Armando asked.
Kyle ripped the phone from Armando’s hands.
Heroes in Uniform: Soldiers, SEALs, Spies, Rangers and Cops: Sexy Hot Contemporary Alpha Heroes From NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Authors Page 79