The youth looked at Geoff’s arm and said, “Shouldn’t you get that looked at?”
Geoff looked down at his arm; the bleeding appeared to have stopped and he replied, “Maybe in a few minutes I’ll find a medic,” he looked up at the sky thinking how lucky he had been and that was the last image and thought he ever had.
The secondary device in the litterbin detonated, as with the first device it tore through the surrounding zone, causing death and destruction.
People whom had survived the first blast that were close enough were killed, emergency response personnel were also caught up in the blast.
The final death toll would be forty-nine with another sixty-three seriously injured and eighteen with minor injuries, O’Rourke had made his mark.
He was now the most wanted man in the UK.
42
Safe house
Stockton lane
Richmond, Virginia
USA
Lat = 37 degrees, 33.2 minutes North
Long = 77 degrees, 30.0 minutes West
Tuesday 19th September 1989 (Next day)
Fifteen thirty-nine hours EDT
During the last two days, the two teams had covered and eliminated four of the twelve zones of any chance of a warehouse being the one with the nuclear device in it.
In addition, the OSC’s designated satellite had been scanning 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 OSC’s satellite code name eagle eye 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.
Max was now talking with Strayker and Vince at ICIS giving them a SITREP as he finished Vince spoke.
“Gentlemen, GAIL has just completed sweeping the last zone and I believe she has found something, GAIL if you would appraise us with your findings?”
GAIL responded with, “Firstly I will put the images up on the screen here, Max if you could access your PCDL and turn it on I will relay the images over to you on it.”
Max went to a nearby kit bag and pulled out the Personal Comms Data Link 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 Max entered and very quickly, four images appeared with the screen split into four quadrants.
Being portable, the PCDL can be taken on operations, it gave real time updates and has infrared capabilities to show heat sources especially related to people in or around the area.
Vince had developed the PCDL ten months ago and the OSC had used it successfully in an operation in South America earlier in the January of this year, he had recently added a camera feature to the unit that could take pictures in darkened conditions using the infrared facilities.
Back at ICIS Strayker and Vince were looking at the same images on the large Plasma screen when GAIL said, “The images you are looking at are daylight images from a warehouse on Nicholson Street on the corner of Williamsburg Avenue, in your zone twelve Max. I have had our satellite do two passes over the area and can confirm there are armed men apparently protecting the building and perimeter.”
Max studied the images for a few moments and then said, “GAIL; enhance image three?”
Immediately his PCDL enhanced the third image filling the screen.
Max could now clearly see figures around the perimeter of the building and on the roof, he counted eight, he pressed a button on the PCDL and it zoomed in onto the figures on the rooftop.
Back at ICIS their screen uploaded the rooftop image from the four, Strayker’s keen eye was first to observe the images on the roof top and he said, “Two sniper posts on the roof Max.”
Max replied, “I agree sir, certainly not the sort of thing you would expect to see at a plain old warehouse?”
Max looked at the images, the warehouse sat directly on the corner of the two junctions running horizontal with Nicholson Street.
On the roof were four men, two had what appeared to be rifles one trained on the eastside area overlooking and covering Williamsburg Avenue and the other on the Westside looking down Nicholson street towards the river.
The two other men were positioned on the north and south side and the image was clear enough to see they were watching the areas with binoculars.
Max said, “Give me the entire image and overlay with Infra-red GAIL?”
Within a couple of seconds, Max’s PCDL was now showing an aerial view of the whole area of the warehouse, for a few moments he studied the image and said, “it has a full perimeter fence system and one gated entrance on the south western corner coming in from Nicholson street. One man patrolling on each external perimeter wall presumably armed.
Max countered twelve additional heat sources from within the warehouse and said, “GAIL can you confirm the heat sources within the warehouse are bodies?”
GAIL quickly replied, “That’s correct Max.”
“That’s twenty and would make sense for relieving the external guards; it’s your call sir?”
Strayker knew exactly what Max was requesting and replied, “prepare your IAP and have you liaison person advise her people, I will speak with the PM and call you back in two hours’ time”
“Understood sir, I will have an initial action plan in place when you call back, eagle 3 out.”
Tracy Morris had been listening to Max’s conversation and when he finished he turned to her and said, “I believe we have found the warehouse.”
Max went over to the breakfast table where the large map was laid out, he looked at his PCDL and then at the map and located the warehouse.
Tracy had moved over to the table and watched as Max highlighted the warehouse with a pen and she said, “What’s the plan of action Max?”
“Firstly you need to contact your people and give them a SITREP on the location and secondly I will recall Roy and his team back here. Then we look at our plan of action,” replied Max.
43
Central Intelligence Agency
Langley
Fairfax County, Virginia
USA
Lat = 38 degrees, 57.2 minutes North
Long = 77 degrees, 8.8 minutes West
Tuesday 19th September 1989 (same day)
Sixteen twelve hours EDT
Chuck Norris was sitting in his office listening to Tracy’s report when she had finished he said, “How certain are they about this location Tracy?”
“Fairly certain, although it will be a hundred per cent confirmed later tonight.”
“Okay Tracy, I will update the President, give me a call as soon as you have any further updates?”
Chuck Norris replaced the phone and dialled the Whitehouse number from memory, the call was answered at the other end and he said, “Chuck Norris CIA director, put me through to the President.”
The President took the call and listened to his CIA directors report, when Chuck had finished he said, “What are your thoughts Chuck?”
“As soon as they have confirmation and when they are ready to go in, I will ensure the local Police are informed and have them set up a hard perimeter around the area.”
“Will that not bring it in the open Chuck?”
“That it will sir, however if we do not the Po
lice will no doubt receive calls of any action and could walk straight into a firestorm.”
The President paused for a moment and then replied, “I agree Chuck as soon as they are going in; contact me I want to be in on this?”
“Will do sir,” replied Chuck and then he hung the phone up.
44
Safe house
Stockton lane
Richmond, Virginia
USA
Lat = 37 degrees, 33.2 minutes North
Long = 77 degrees, 30.0 minutes West
Tuesday 19th September 1989 (same day)
Seventeen hundred hours EDT
Roy and his team had returned from the warehouse areas and along with Vas Dembo and team six and Tracy, they were all sitting in the kitchen area around the big table.
Max had spent his time using the Intel from the PCDL and the map to create an action plan, he waited as everyone settled down and said, “we have reliable Intel for the warehouse location from ICIS, it is here in our zone twelve area,” Max leant across the table and pointed to the area he had highlighted.
“The warehouse is situated on the corner of the junction of these two roads, Nicholson Street on the corner of Williamsburg Avenue,” he paused as the team members leant across to look at the location on the map.
Max continued, “Satellite thermal imagery shows the following, the perimeter has four men each one patrolling one of the sides of the building, there are four men on the roof. Two have rifles one trained on the eastside area overlooking and covering Williamsburg Avenue and the other on the Westside looking down Nicholson Street towards the river. The two other men are positioned on the north and south side and are watching these areas with binoculars; we have to presume they are also armed. Also there are at least a dozen more inside the warehouse, Roy, Vas your thoughts?”
Max had always valued input from his team leaders especially in operational matters.
Vas was first to speak, “sir, a low profile recce one during daylight and the other during the night would give us the additional Intel we need.”
Max said, “Anything to add Roy?”
“No sir, I agree with Vas.”
Max looked at his watch, seventeen zero-nine hours, “okay Roy your team for the daylight recce with Tracy at eighteen hundred hour’s and Vas you and your team can go in at zero three hundred hours in the morning. I want a two-hour window on each recce and then back here, full Intel update and briefing zero six hundred hours tomorrow morning. Any questions?”
There were no questions with Max saying, “okay let’s get to it?”
45
New Scotland Yard
London
Lat = 51 degrees, 29.9 minutes North
Long = 0 degrees, 8.0 minutes West
Tuesday 19th September 1989 (same day)
Fourteen hundred hours BST
On the seventh floor, a full briefing was just about to take place with Chief superintendent Attlee in charge on his first day back at work from his recent injuries.
He looked around at the several officers seated around the table every one of them known to him; he looked at Superintendent Benson of SO-13 Anti-terrorist branch and said, “Where are we with tracing O’Rourke Colin?”
“I have officers visiting all his known haunts and associates, nothing yet but if he stays in the capital, we will find him.”
“Okay Colin, I know everyone in the room understands this man needs to be found like yesterday, every divisional and operational commander has been told that any resources you need you can have. Anyone of his associates that are brought in I want them leant on hard and I mean hard.”
He turned his gaze to one of the officers at the table and said, “Janine, what’s the final damage from these bombings?”
Chief Inspector Janine Owen was one of a small number of female officers in the Metropolitan police holding a senior rank and she replied, “Sir, total numbers dead is forty-nine, sixty-three seriously injured and eighteen minor injuries. The Wimpey bar was destroyed totally after the second blast with several other nearby properties also sustaining damage along with a dozen vehicles damaged, including emergency response vehicles at the scene.”
“How many emergency responders are included in those figures Janine?”
“Eight dead, eleven seriously injured, sir.”
Chief Superintendent Attlee thought for a moment and said, “We have to expect more atrocities from O’Rourke, and I want his photo blanketed on all the news channels ASAP, along with a request that members of the public report any suspicious activities, now let’s get to it people!”
46
39 Exeter road
Kilburn
London NW2
Lat = 51 degrees, 32.9 minutes North
Long = 0 degrees, 12.5 minutes West
Tuesday 19th September 1989 (same day)
Fifteen twenty-one hours BST
O’Rourke was in the garden shed putting the final touches to the two devices when Shamus came in.
“Patrick; they have your mug shot all over the news come and see!”
He put down his tools and followed Shamus back to the house, where the television was showing his picture with a newscaster talking.
...”Once again the Police are looking for this man, Patrick O’Rourke a convicted IRA bomber believed responsible for the bombings in Oxford Street this morning. He escaped from custody yesterday whilst under escort by a US Marshall following his extradition from America. Please report any sightings to the Police, this man is extremely dangerous so do not approach him.”
O’Rourke went over to the TV and switched it off, Shamus said, “what you going to do now Patrick?”
“Get in touch with Jamie and have him arrange my transport out of the country to Belfast for ten o’clock this evening, I will meet him at the usual place. I still have time to leave the Brits two more packages.”
“I’ll get in touch with him now Patrick,” replied Shamus.
O’Rourke went back to the shed and resumed work on the two bombs.
Twenty minutes later Shamus was walking out the front door, down the pathway just as a Police vehicle was drawing up.
He immediately panicked and ran back down the pathway to the front door and he began fumbling with the keys trying to open the door.
The Police vehicle pulling up was a Rover 800 ARV (armed response vehicle) call sign Alpha-1 and had a three-man crew.
The Officers had quickly noticed the man initially walking up the footpath from number 39 the house they were calling at and then doing a rapid about turn running back to the front door.
Two of the officers were immediately out of the car as the remaining one called it in, “Alpha-1 to MP, we have a possible sighting on the suspect, he is doing a runner back into the house over.”
“MP to Alpha-1 understood, contain the area and do not go into the house over.”
Shamus had managed to open the front door and he was now in the front room peering through the downstairs window curtain at two Police officers coming down the footpath.
The two officers had heard the Comms chatter between their colleague and MP on their personal radios.
There colleague had quickly joined them and they swiftly made a plan, one at the front door, and the other two to go around the back.
Shamus had now run out the back door and down to the shed, startling O’Rourke as he opened the door and was looking down the barrel of the Browning handgun.
“You bloody fool Shamus I could have shot you!”
“The coppers are here Patrick!”
O’Rourke reacted quickly, placing the two devices in a holdall bag that also contained the hand grenades and said, “Go and stall them Shamus; they obviously are just checking everyone with an IRA connection, I am
out of here.”
“Use the gate behind the shed Patrick, it takes you out into an alley, turn left and straight to the bottom and then right. You can make your way around to the underground, good luck my friend.”
O’Rourke was through the gate within seconds and legging it down alleyway.
One of the officers came around the corner at the opposite end too O’Rourke and observed him legging it down the alley he withdrew his handgun and shouted, “Stop armed Police!”
O’Rourke had heard the order but he ignored it, they would not shoot on an unarmed man, he turned right and disappeared out of the officer’s view.
The Police officer gave chase with his colleague close behind him, they turned right at the end of the alley but there was no sight of their man.
The one officer spoke into his PR, “Alpha-1 to MP over.”
“Go ahead Alpha-1.”
“It looks like two suspects at this location; we have lost one through the backstreets at the rear of the house. We believe the one we first clocked at the front is still inside the house, over.”
“Received Alpha-1, secure the perimeter additional units are on route, MP out.”
Fifteen minutes later the house was completely cordoned off and a team from PT-17 the forces firearms unit were just arriving on site.
PT-17 came about in 1987 from the formally known D11 unit.
The Officers were issued with Browning self-loading pistols, and Smith & Wesson Model 28 revolvers, along with training on the Heckler & Koch 93.
Within a couple of minutes, Chief Superintendent Attlee arrived on site, being driven by his driver Pc Paul Mason in the Jaguar motor car.
PC Mason spoke into the radio and said, “MP, show Alpha Papa 5 on scene over?”
Five minutes later, Chief Superintendent Attlee was talking with two of the officers working out an operational plan with the sergeant from PT-17 and one of the constables from the ARV.
“Have we got the details of the house occupants?”
The Police constable present replied, “Should have them in the next five minutes sir from the electoral role.”
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