by Haydn Jones
"THIS IS THE U S COASTGUARD, CUT YOUR ENGINES AND PREPARE TO BE BOARDED.” Wayne could hear the sound of the approaching helicopter behind him.
Domaradzki climbed down from the helm.
"What's the problem, officer?"
"ADAM DOMARADZKI YOU ARE UNDER ARREST.” Wayne's voice bellowed through the megaphone as rifles aimed at their target.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not Adam whoever. My name is Christian Hansen and I'm from New York City, gentlemen." Domaradzki shouted, through cupped hands.
As the two boats drew closer to each other mooring ropes were thrown onto the cruiser. At the same time Domaradzki pulled the pin out of the hand grenade clipped to his belt behind his back.
McPherson's heart rate was racing with excitement as the Apache approached the two boats. Hunter had flown the helicopter from the Ellington Air Force Base and now McPherson was fully aware of the onboard weapons guidance system Hunter referred to as TADS. Impressive but not something we'll need on this mission....
"That's our man," Hunter said into his helmet microphone. He was flying the Apache just above sea level as they approached the two boats.
"I'll be glad to see him behind bars," McPherson responded.
The hand grenade landed on the deck of the coastguard's boat with a dull thud and rolled between Wayne's legs. He looked at it in disbelief for a few seconds before reacting.
“GRENADE,” he shouted as he dived overboard. As Wayne hit the sea the explosion ripped a hole in the boat’s hull, killing two of the four armed guards instantly. A second grenade exploded, sending splinters of wood, flesh and plastic into the air. There was nobody left on board alive and Domaradzki laughed loudly. Hunter quickly banked the helicopter away from the approaching explosion and circled around.
"This motherfucker plays mighty dirty. It's time to take him out, Rob. You know what to do."
McPherson activated the twin rockets and dropped his visor into position in front of his face to locate the target area ahead. Bullets then started hitting the helicopter from machine-gun fire coming from Domaradzki's boat. Hunter again banked the Apache to move out of the firing line.
"Are you ready?" asked Hunter.
“Yes, I'm ready. Bring her around and give me a line to the target." Responded McPherson.
Hunter banked the Apache around a full three hundred and sixty degrees and attacked the cruiser low and fast. Domaradzki continued to fire at the cockpit as they approached. McPherson moved his head until the message on the inside of his visor display flashed.
-TARGET LOCKED ON-
He flipped the safety lever and pressed the red button on his joy stick. Immediately two rockets roared from the Apache like massive fireworks. Converging seconds later, they smashed through the front windows of the cruiser exploding with a fire ball that ripped the boat apart and hurled Domaradzki into the air some twenty foot or more before he landed on his back on the front of the stricken boat. Miraculously still alive and still holding the weapon, he raised his head and laughed again as the skin on his face peeled off. His finger pulled the trigger almost subconsciously and bullets ripped into the Apache once again. Hunter recoiled as a bullet passed through his upper body near his shoulder. "Shit" he cried, clutching the wound with his right hand.
"GUNS ROB, USE THE GUNS NOW. GIVE HIM EVERYTHING WE'VE GOT.”
McPherson fired as Hunter held the Apache as steady as he could with his one good arm. The noise was deafening as bullets tore into Domaradzki's body. McPherson fired continuously at his target and bits of flying flesh left bloody streaks all over the front of the boat.
"KILL THE EVIL BASTARD.” Hunter shouted, grimacing with pain as he gripped his blood stained shoulder.
Bullets continued to tear Domaradzki's body into pieces and his arms splayed wildly from the recoil. Then the plastic explosive in the boat took a direct hit, sending a huge fire ball of bright orange light and smoke billowing upwards. Splinters of burning wood and shards of glass fell into the sea all around the boat.
Officer Wayne watched the movie style action through acrid black smoke that burned his lungs. His strength was almost gone but the large piece of wreckage he clung to in the water would save him from drowning. All around him his colleagues' broken bodies bobbed on the fiery water. In front of him he could see Domaradzki's legless torso floating in the sea. Shark bait. Time to go. Frantically, he waved both arms at the circling helicopter to attract attention. Minutes later the torso started to lunge in the water, as if coming back to life. Under the surface fish were biting at Domaradzki's entrails that dangled and swayed tantalizingly in the wake caused by the overhead chopper. Adam Domaradzki's eyes slowly closed and his last breath gurgled from his bloodied lungs.
Thirty-One
4005th Military Hospital Houston, some weeks later.
Hunter was sitting up in bed reading when McPherson, Vicki and Officer Wayne arrived bearing gifts of candy, cookies and books.
"How's the patient?" McPherson asked, as they entered the room.
“Hey, guys, it's good to see you again. I think I owe you all an apology. This time I promise not to fall asleep, okay."
"I must say you’re looking much better than you did two weeks ago," said Wayne.
"So how are you, my friend? Your black eye has turned a nice shade of yellow and your cuts are healing nicely". Hunter said, shaking Wayne's hand warmly.
"How are you, sir,"asked Wayne
"The bad news is, I'm well on the way to making a full recovery."
"That's wonderful,” said Vicki. "So what have they told you, sir?"
"Luckily it was only a flesh wound, thankfully missing my arteries and bones. The bullet went straight through. I expect to be out within a week and then it's just a case of physiotherapy to tone up the muscles around the wound. They tell me my blood count is back to normal but they're still forcing vitamin and iron tablets down my throat. To be honest I'm going mad here. The nurses are wonderful, I can't speak highly enough of them, but I still can't wait to get back to work."
"Well, things have been happening over the last few days as you already know and last night there was another burst of transmissions that lasted about twenty minutes, but we still can't trace the source and we still haven't been able to break the damn code. It's so damn frustrating."
“Yes, I know, Rob," Hunter said sympathetically. “But we knew it wasn't going to be easy when we set up the project didn't we? And we sure as hell didn't think our lives would have been put at risk like they have been. Saying that though, I never thought I'd fly an Apache again in anger."
Vicki noticed the glint in Hunter's eye as he thought about the incident that nearly killed him.
"Me neither," McPherson admitted.
"What do you mean, Rob?" enquired Vicki.
McPherson looked at Hunter for a while. "I think it's time to come clean, Vicki. I was in the Apache with Hunter. You'd gone home and it was a chance to see Domaradzki captured. We weren't expecting fireworks."
"If you ever do that again Rob I'll...You've got a son to think of now you know."
“Vicki, I have to take the blame for this one," admitted Hunter. “I'm sorry and I promise it won't happen again." Hunter’s words defused the situation somewhat, but McPherson knew he was in big trouble. "The one thing we can all do now is relax and get on with our lives and the project, knowing the threat has gone.”
"Oh it's gone all right," asserted Wayne, smiling broadly. "Rob made sure of that."
McPherson looked at Wayne with clenched teeth.
"What do you mean?” Vicki asked, looking shocked.
Wayne knew immediately that he shouldn't have said it.
Hunter once again interjected to save Rob from another verbal beating.
"I must ask you both, how did the funerals go?"
Vicki looked slightly strained by the question and struggled to keep her emotions under control. And frankly she didn’t appreciate the blatant attempt to change the subject using a tragic event
in her own family to spare Rob any wrath for his careless behavior, especially now he had a family of his own.
"It's been a tough time for all of us sir. You expect to bury your parents don't you? But you don't expect to bury your children. Mom was hit hard by the events." Tears started to fill in Vicki's eyes and she took a deep breath to compose herself. “The baby has somehow given Mom a reason to live though. She absolutely adores the little tike."
"And your sister-in-law, how's she coping?"
"Susan's a tough cookie but she's hurting, I can tell, I know her. Richard’s involvement with the sect came as a shock to all of us, especially her."
"Give my best wishes to your family for me, Vicki. I'm so sorry that it had to end this way."
"Thank you sir, I will." Rob could see Vicki was hurting and held her hand. She looked at him and smiled through tearful eyes. She loved him so much, even if she was mad with him.
"Listen guys, we need to talk about the project for a moment, while I've got you here, before we all dive into the candy. I'm not sure exactly what's happening in Washington as I've been off the scene for a couple of weeks, as you know, but it looks like we're about to lose two of our satellites."
"What? Why?" asked Vicki, already depressed.
"I don't know the reason but the military wants them back."
"Is this anything to do with the tension that seems to be building up between us and North Korea?" Rob asked.
"It could well be but as I say I've been out of the loop, so I can't be sure of that. What difference will it make to the search if we do lose two? Will it be significant?"
Rob hesitated for a while, looking at Vicki for support. "I don't think under the current circumstances it’ll make any difference at all."
Vicki nodded in agreement.
"We're able to pick up the transmissions with just two, but that's not the point is it? Why are they now taking away the hardware from us that was so important to the project only a few months ago? Has their focus changed or what? What's more important than us breaking the alien code and deciphering their transmissions? That's why this project has cost so much isn't it? It's that important.We must obtain their superior knowledge before the Chinese. Remember."
“Rob, I understand your frustration and I promise you as soon as I have any information I'll update you and the team. The last thing I want is for the morale of my team to drop at this crucial stage.”
“Come on, let's crack open the candy. It's time to celebrate." Hunter wanted to sound upbeat even though he was fully aware of the serious military situation developing. He would tell his team if it became necessary, but for now, he knew, they'd been through quite enough already.
"Visiting time is over, guys. Time to go, sorry," said one of the nurses leaning around the door into the room.
Thirty-Two
Karachi, Pakistan
Ahmed Shah was tired. The journey from the mountains of Afghanistan to the suburbs of Karachi had been uncomfortable and arduous. The driver of the Mercedes crossed the Lasbela Bridge and turned right. Journeys end was now just a few minutes away. Ramazan Ali, next to Shah on the back seat of the taxi had been asleep since leaving the airport and was snoring loudly.
After an undisturbed night’s sleep Shah awoke at dawn, feeling refreshed and hungry. It was time to eat because today was going to be demanding. The high rise apartment block in the eastern suburb allowed Shah a panoramic view of the sprawling streets of Karachi. He stood on the balcony in deep thought and lit a cigarette. He could hear the sound of snoring reverberating from Ramazan Ali's bed and he smiled.
Ahmed Shah was now a very different person to the young man who once lived off a veritable diet of parties, drugs, sex and alcohol. On reflection he now knew of course they were just temptations of the flesh, evils of the western world and soon that world would suffer. From the blackened ashes would emerge the young green shoots of Islam that would in time grow and spread like a fertile forest, until the whole world lived according to the Koran. The death of the infidels was quickly becoming reality and not just a dream for the future Caliph.
“Salam," Shah said on seeing Ramazan Ali.
"Salam," he replied before lighting a cigarette and taking in the views of Karachi from the balcony.
"You snore like a spitting camel."
"I know."
"I expect Kamran Khan Rana to call in the next hour. He’ll bring the passports and flight tickets." Shah said, exhaling smoke through his mouth and nose as he talked.
"Are you sure you're happy with the satellite images, because we fly tonight?" Ramazan Ali asked nervously.
"Don't worry, they are fool proof, my brother. Believe me, the North Koreans will buy into this one. The day after tomorrow we will be in Pyongyang implementing stage two of the plan. The consequences of our actions will bring the western infidels to their knees. The third and final stage of my plan is getting closer now. On that day the true believers will watch America beg for mercy, moments before they are annihilated from the face of the Earth.”
Thirty-Three
The Ellington Building, Houston.
Hunter had called a ten o'clock team meeting in the control room and people were gathering with some minutes to spare. Yuri Klyushin, Jerzy Rozanski and Walter Rottenburg were drinking coffee and chatting by the drinks dispenser while Rob McPherson was sitting at a screen on the main console discussing some statistical charts with his wife.
At precisely ten o'clock Hunter and Linda Washington entered the control room. Hunter looked remarkably well considering his recent ordeal. The only evidence of his wounds was a sling supporting his left arm. Today was his first official day back at work. He strode into the room to loud applause from the gathering.
"Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen, it's good to be back." Hunter was smiling and waving in acknowledgement of the warm welcome he was receiving. "Thank you everyone I appreciate it. Okay, please gather round as I have some important information to pass on to you. Firstly, thanks mainly to Rob, the threat we were facing from Adam Domaradzki and his sect has gone away, forever. We can all now feel safe in the knowledge that there is no one out there trying to kill us anymore. From all of us, Rob, thanks for what you did." Applause filled the room and Rob nodded in recognition. Vicki gave him a gentle 'well done' pat on the back and he blushed slightly. She had forgiven him.
"We must stay focused and continue to search for the source of the signals," continued Hunter. "The President wants us to concentrate on the information we've already got and break their code. We need to know what they're saying and we need to know where they are. There's no news on the aliens who escaped from the Pentagon. There have been no sightings by the public or us for that matter but we must assume they are still out there because the signals are still being detected I believe Rob?"
“Affirmative, sir.” McPherson responded. "We have had a number of transmissions now, the last was yesterday morning. The format is the same and the source seems to be the same but we still can't find what's transmitting the signals. It's as if the signals are coming from empty space. I'm afraid we don't have the answers yet."
"We will get there guys, we just need to keep chipping away at it. We have the best brains on the planet, all in one room. How can we fail to succeed?" The team smiled at Hunter's efforts to instil some enthusiasm in the weary team. "The second thing I want to discuss is our resources. The President called me this morning and told me that we are to lose another three of the satellites to the Military." Grumblings of discontent filled the room at the statement from Hunter and Vicki lowered her head in disappointment.
"I know it's not good news but we have no choice I'm afraid."
"What's the reason for it?" Walter Rottenburg asked sternly.
"I honestly don't know. It has something to do with national security obviously, because the military want them back. I can only suppose it’s the increasing tensions between us and North Korea but that Walter is only conjecture." Walter believed Hunter. "Vic
ki will you liaise with the military please because they'll want to take control of the satellites again and they'll need to be repositioned facing back to Earth. The information will also need to be re-routed to wherever."
“Yes, I can do that, but who do I liaise with?"
"Linda has all the information. Can I suggest you two get together after this meeting and sort it out between you?”
“Yes, okay, sir." Vicki nodded at Linda and she nodded back in acknowledgement.
"Let's not forget guys that we've achieved a great deal already and we do have alien transmissions for our efforts. Something we all believed might not happen in our lifetimes. Let’s crack their code. Let’s find out what they’re saying. Let’s get some answers." Hunter paused awhile. "Thank you all for your time, I won't keep you from your work any longer. Good hunting.”
Later in the day, Rob McPherson was working in his office when the phone rang.
“Hi, Rob speaking... Good news, what have they offered…I’m prepared to accept that offer. Tell them it's a deal...When do you expect to complete?... Okay, I'll make sure the place is cleared out by then...Yeah that's great, speak to you soon."
"Is that what I think it is?" asked Vicki from the next office.
"Sure is, Honey, I've just sold the apartment for the asking price."
"That's the first good news we've had for a long time."
“Yeah, it certainly is. We need to go to DC as soon as we can to clear out my stuff. It'll be a chance for you to see the place."
"How do you feel about it? Will you feel sad to sell it?"
“Hell, no; I'm over that part of my life now. I won't feel at all sad to sell it and since Amanda has wavered any claim on the place the money is all mine."
“Ours. We're married now, remember?" Vicki smiled broadly.
“Sorry, darling, ours,” McPherson emphasized. “When this is all over we can find somewhere else around the DC area to live. Leesburg has an executive airport and it’s not to far from the CIA building. I could teach my son to fly the Cessna by the time he's five. We need somewhere where he can grow up and play outdoors in the fresh air."