The Prime Minister was quick to reply with, “I second that proposal.”
Each of the Everest team also agreed to the request.
The Prime Minister said, “thank you gentlemen, the Americans have a person that is hundred per cent reliable at their end to liaise and work with our teams.
The Prime Minister looked at Max and said, “Colonel Storm I would appreciate your thoughts?”
Max had sat back listening to the exchanges and was temporarily caught off guard by the PM’s question.
“Ma’am, gentlemen, I agree with Major Strayker; if this is left unchecked we may well be facing another world war and as a result the world as we know it will change forever. Have the Americans supply the contact details of their man, I will also need someone who can defuse any device we may find?”
The PM looked at Max before replying, she knew this man and his teams had placed themselves on the line on previous occasion with losses, but they had always triumphed over adversary.
This however was a mission that if it failed could result in a world war and this time there would be no winners.
“On behalf of me and everyone around this table thank you Colonel, We only have thirteen days left before the SALT-1 signing, anyone else have anything to add?”
Sir Richard Evans head of the British army replied, “I have just the man for you Colonel to defuse any device you may come across, as soon as your transport arrangements have been finalised let me know and I will have him come to you.”
“Thank you Sir Richard,” replied Max.
The Prime Minister said, “I will inform the American and Russian Presidents of our decision immediately.”
Thirty minutes later the Prime Minister had spoken with both the American and Russian Presidents informing them that the OSC would assist with their issue.
The US President advised her he would contact her later with details of the contact and the best way for the OSC to enter America, without drawing any attention from the authorities.
31
OSC operational base
Hesters Copse
Hampshire, England
Lat = 51 degrees, 12.8 minutes North
Long = 0 degrees, 57.1 minutes West
Saturday 16th September 1989 (Next day)
Zero eight twelve hours BST
Following the meeting at number 10, Max had come straight to Hesters Copse and assembled two of the teams and their respective leaders.
Roy Smith eagle 4 would head up team two and Vas Dembo eagle 6 would head up team six.
He had given the teams a briefing on their mission and had then given them the directive to assemble their kit bags and weapons.
As the two teams left the room, Max had instructed Roy and Vas too also add two of the new AX-500 50 calibre rifles, they had tested at Warcop Training Area Camp eleven days ago.
As Roy and Vas left Max picked up the phone and contacted ICIS, Vince picked the phone up and immediately identified the call was from Hesters Copse.
“Vince here.”
“Vince; Max here, have you an update for us on our destination?”
“The Major has just given me the details from the PM; you are going into Montreal Canada and will be met by your liaison and transported down to Newark.”
“What’s our flight package from here Vince?”
“I will arrange a VC-10 from RAF Odiham for the flight, also the man Sir Richard selected will meet you there and I just need to contact him.”
“Excellent stuff Vince, just give me the heads up for the departure time as soon as you have it? I will have the teams there within the hour.”
“Will do Max, I should have it by the time you are at RAF Odiham, I’ll contact you on your Codex.”
“Speak to you in a bit Vince.”
Max replaced the phone, left the room, and went to organise his kit bag.
32
RAF Odiham
Hampshire, UK
Lat = 51 degrees, 14.1 minutes North
Long = 0 degrees, 57.3 minutes West
Saturday 16th September 1989 (Same day)
Zero Nine zero six hours BST
Fifty minutes later Max and the teams were at RAF Odiham, where a VC-10 of Number 10 squadron, from RAF Brize Norton was already waiting on the tarmac.
The original RAF VC-10’s were named after Victoria Cross (VC) medal holders, displaying the VC holder’s name above the forward passenger door.
A man approached Max and said, “Colonel Storm, I am Sergeant John Cray, I am your explosive expert.”
As neither man was in uniform the usual regulation, regarding saluting was not necessary.
“Good to meet you Sergeant, you can load your equipment onto the plane once we have the order and I will brief you once we are airborne.”
Twenty minutes later the men were on board with their equipment.
The Captain of the VC-10 call sign Zulu Delta 235 spoke into his Comm’s, “Zulu Delta 235 to control tower we are ready to depart, over.”
“Copy that Zulu Delta 235, you are clear to continue to runway 09, once there hold for take-off, over.”
“Roger that tower, Zulu Delta 235, out.”
The VC-10 taxied over to runway 09 and held facing east for clearance.
“Tower to Zulu Delta 235, you are clear for take-off, you have a westerly tail wind of 18mph, over.”
“Roger that tower 18mph tail wind, Zulu Delta 235 clear for take off, out.”
The captain powered up the four Rolls-Royce Conway 310 turbofans that generated 84,000 pounds of thrust before releasing the brakes.
The aircraft lurched forward and immediately began to pick up speed consuming away at the asphalt below it as the captain pushed the throttle controls further forward.
The nose wheel lifted followed a few moments later by the main wheels as the aircraft became airborne, the undercarriage quickly retracted as the aircraft began to gain altitude.
The captain banked the aircraft around on a starboard pitch to pick up their initial heading of 291.3° West-northwest.
At a cruising speed of five hundred miles per hour with a flying range of 5,800 miles the 3158 miles non-stop trip would take six hours and thirty-one minutes.
33
RCAF base
Montréal, Canada
Lat = 45 degrees, 31.2 minutes North
Long = 73 degrees, 25.0 minutes West
Saturday 16th September 1989 (Same day)
Eleven hundred hours and seven minutes EDT
Six hours behind BST
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is located 9.9 miles east of downtown Montréal.
In operation since 1928 and with an historic occurrence on 1st August 1930, the R100 airship arrived after what was possibly the first non-stop passenger-carrying powered flight across the North Atlantic to land in Canada.
It became part of the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Montréal upon the unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968.
In its heyday as an operational Air Force Station, it was host to two CF 100 All Weather Fighter Squadrons, and two Air Force Reserve Sabre squadrons, in addition to being the host station to RCAF Air Defence Command Headquarters.
Currently the 438 Tactical helicopter squadron operated from the base with the CH-136 Kiowa military helicopter.
Zulu Delta 235 was forty miles out coming in on a final heading of 234.0° southwest approaching the airfield.
“This is RCAF tower Montréal to Zulu Delta 235 we have you on final approach bearing 234.0°, you are clear to land on runway 06/24-R over,”
“Roger that tower runway 06/24-R, Zulu Delta 235, out.”
The pilot and crew had begun the process for approach and landing, engaging flaps and continually
inputting new speed settings.
At twenty miles out the landing gear was lowered and confirmed as locked, the aircrew made adjustments to airspeed and flaps to counter the drag from the landing gear.
Five miles out the pilot had a visual of runway 06/24-R, three minutes later the aircraft touched down with a gentle bump, the runway was long at 7801 feet so there was no need to reverse engines, only braking was required.
“Zulu Delta 235 please proceed to the cargo apron area where your cargo can be immediately unloaded, over.”
“Copy that tower Zulu Delta 235, out.”
Ten minutes later the VC-10 had taxied to the cargo area and had shut its engines down.
Within minutes, a mobile air stair unit had arrived and the forward door was cracked open, Max and the teams stepped out of the aircraft and descended the staircase.
There was a slight warm breeze and the temperature was around sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit, the sky above was partially blue with a scattering of dark clouds beginning to build up.
As Max stepped from the staircase onto the concrete apron a woman approached him she stopped in front of him and said, “Colonel Storm, my name is Tracy Morris; I am your liaison officer.”
Before the flight, Vince had spoken to Max and given him the name of the American liaison officer.
Tracy Morris was the daughter of Chuck Morris the CIA director; she was aged twenty-eight and presently an FBI counter terrorist agent.
She stood at five feet seven inches tall, with medium brown hair that came down to her shoulders; her complexion giving her a fresh look.
Tracy was dressed in a pair of tight hugging jeans with a dark blue coloured blouse with a black windbreaker style jacket.
Tracy was single and had taken three-weeks leave away from the bureau, booked under the guise of a road trip into Canada for her mission with the OSC.
Tracy extended her right hand and Max caught a glimpse of her shoulder holster under her right armpit, she was naturally a left-handed person, he extended his right hand and they both shook hands.
Tracy said, “I have our transport waiting inside that building,” she pointed to large out building a hundred yards away.
“Once you have your equipment Colonel I will escort you over.”
“Thank you Tracy, please call me Max.”
“Okay Max, our drive time will be around eleven hours to Richmond Virginia.”
It had been deemed critical that Max and the teams did not enter the USA via the usual methods, therefore flying into Montréal and then the long road trip was judged the best way to stay undetected.
Once the men had retrieved their kit bags, they followed Tracy Mason over to the building.
Once inside there were four black coloured Ford SUV vehicles, Tracy said, “Okay; three groups of five of you into three of the vehicles, Max you’re in with me. Any surplus baggage can be loaded into my vehicle.
Max said, “Roy and Vas each of you drive and select one of the team for the remaining vehicle, Codetta’s switched on, Sergeant Cray jump in with Roy.”
Five minutes later the four vehicles were rolling with Tracy Mason taking point.
Max said, “What’s the plan gaining entry into your country?”
“We are about thirty-eight miles from the boarder Max; we will take I-15 out of Montréal. I have made arrangements at the border crossing for us to pass through without the usual checks. Once through we take Interstate 87 for three hundred and fifty miles, straight down to Newark where we will take a break and then push on to Richmond.”
Max leaned over and pulled his Codetta radio out of his kit bag switched it on and said, “Eagle 2, too eagles 4 and 6 over.”
Roy Smith and Vas Dembo both replied back.
“We are heading for the nearest border crossing about thirty-eight miles away, we should be allowed through uninterrupted. Then we stay on Interstate 87 down to Newark for about three hundred and fifty miles, where we will take a break and then push on to Richmond. Keep your radios on, eagle 3 out.”
Tracy had been listening and said, “I have heard of you and your teams exploits Max, do you think you can stop a nuclear bomb going off in Washington?”
“We will give it our best shot Tracy, that’s all we can do!”
“May I presume you have brought your own equipment including weapons?”
“That’s correct Tracy, will that be a problem?”
“Might be a problem if we are stopped by the Police, Max?”
Max looked at her, smiled, and replied, “Let’s hope they have better things to do and we do not give them reason to stop us then Tracy.”
Just then, the heavens opened up and the rain poured down, Tracy flicked on the lights and the wipers and said, “Sit back Max and enjoy the ride.”
Fifty minutes later, they had passed through the border crossing and were now on American soil.
34
Roosevelt Room
West Wing
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C.
Lat = 38 degrees, 53.4 minutes North
Long = 77 degrees, 0.5 minutes West
Saturday 16th September 1989 (Same day)
Nineteen hundred hours and forty-two minutes EDT
Six hours behind BST
Chuck Morris had received a phone call from his daughter forty minutes earlier and had made his way to the White House.
He entered the Roosevelt Room where the President was waiting for him; he sat down in a chair.
The President said, “What’s the news on our pilgrims Chuck?”
“Tracy has collected them from the airport, she called me
Forty-minutes ago from Newark where they were taking a rest break.”
“How many did they send Chuck?”
“Sixteen that includes a bomb and explosive expert, sir.”
The President thought for a moment and said, “That would be two six man OSC teams with two of their team leaders and Max as operational leader. What’s there ETA to Richmond Chuck?”
“They should arrive at the safe house around midnight tonight sir.”
The President was a very perceptive man and had noticed Chuck appeared to have something on his mind and said, “Chuck; you appear to have something on your mind please feel free to talk?”
“Sir,” replied Chuck, “I know it was my suggestion and we talked about this however, I still feel uncomfortable knowing we have sanctioned a foreign armed military unit into our country.”
“We are both aware of the potential political fallout from this Chuck. Nevertheless, as you said before we are probably compromised from within and we must locate the bomb before the SALT-1 signing. I have every faith in the OSC.”
Chuck Morris nodded in agreement and said, “Right I will get back to my office, I will keep you in the loop twenty-four seven sir.”
The president replied, “You have my direct private number ring me at any time.”
Chuck Morris stood up from the chair and left the room.
35
Safe house
Stockton lane
Richmond, Virginia
USA
Lat = 37 degrees, 33.2 minutes North
Long = 77 degrees, 30.0 minutes West
Saturday 16th September 1989 (Same day)
Twenty three fifty-one hours EDT
The four SUV’s turned left from Sulgrave road into Stockton lane for one hundreds along it then turned left into a large paved driveway for number 307 Stockton Lane.
It was a clear night with a three quarter moon as the teams alighted from their transport.
Tracy said, “Welcome gentlemen to your new home for the next few weeks.”
Max l
ooked at the property, it was a two storey colonial style house with a slate roof and he estimated it would have price tag of around a million dollars and said, “Nice gaff Tracy?”
Tracy looked at him in puzzlement and replied, “Gaff, I do not understand Max?”
Max said, “It’s an English slang word for a house.”
“Oh! Not bad though hey Max?”
“No; not bad at all.”
Max turned to Roy, Vas and the teams and said, “Okay grab our gear we will sort out accommodation once inside.”
Once inside Tracy gave them a quick brief on the house, “The house stands on a 1.73 acre lot, there are four bedrooms in the main house and another in the guest house, which will be mine. So sort yourselves out with sleeping arrangements. The kitchen is fully stocked. I suggest we get some sleep and rally for seven o’clock in the morning.”
Max said, “Okay; you heard the lady I am sure you are ready for some sleep after our long trip, so find a place to sleep. Tracy how many vehicles will the garage take?”
“Two, why do you ask?”
“I’ll have two of the vehicles put in tonight; it may look odd in the morning to see four vehicles on the driveway.”
“Good thinking Max, see you in the morning.”
Max grabbed his Codetta radio looked at his watch showing zero hours and nine minutes and called ICIS.
“Eagle 3 to ICIS over.”
GAIL’s female voice replied, “Go ahead eagle 3.”
“We have arrived at the safe house and we will draft up an action plan, later this morning after a few hours’ sleep, over.”
“I will inform the Major in a couple of hours when he gets up Max; also your Codetta GPS shows you are in Stockton lane, Richmond Virginia.”
“That’s correct GAIL; as soon as we have our AP I will contact you, eagle 3 out.”
36
Initial briefing
Safe house
Stockton lane
Richmond, Virginia
USA
Lat = 37 degrees, 33.2 minutes North
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