High Alert (The Project Book 14)

by Alex Lukeman

  "Major Vasiliev, what is your opinion?" Vysotsky asked. His voice was neutral, but Vasiliev was on thin ice and knew it.

  "It is an acceptable alternative."

  "Major Carter?"

  "I agree. An acceptable alternative."

  "Where's their nearest airbase?" Ronnie asked.

  "There are small strips scattered throughout the country," Valentina said. "The nearest large base is at Chongjin. It's about a hundred and eighty kilometers away."

  "What can they put up?"

  "They have Mig-29s and SU-25s at Chongjin. Fast enough to get to the launch site in short order."

  "What about perimeter defenses?" Lamont asked.

  "Because of its location, Musudan-Ri is considered safe from ground attack. We are not aware of any electronic perimeter defenses, but they may exist. Perimeter fencing is minimal and easily breached."

  "Patrols?" Nick asked.

  "We know the times and routes of the patrols. You should be able to avoid or eliminate them as required."

  Ronnie raised his hand. "Do we have any good shots of that tower? I'm thinking about explosives placement."

  "It's a standard design," Valentina said. "If we blow the main vertical supports, it will come down."

  "We might not have to," Nick said. "If the rocket is being fueled, all we need to do is set it off. It will go up like nothing you've ever seen and take everything with it. We brought something with us that might do the job."

  "I agree," Vasiliev said, saving face. "Igniting the fuel will ensure destruction of everything."

  "What if we get there and the bomb hasn't been installed?" Selena asked.

  "If the rocket is in place against the launch tower, the bomb will have been installed. If not, you will locate the device and make sure it is destroyed," Vysotsky said.

  "How are we to deploy our forces?" Vasiliev asked. "Colonel Antipov and I could take responsibility for the destruction of the weapon and rocket and the Americans could provide cover for our assault."

  "That's not going to work," Nick said. "Either we destroy this threat together or we've wasted our time coming here. I didn't come all this way to provide cover for you, Major."

  "You are not familiar with our methods."

  Nick felt his blood pressure building. This guy is a jerk.

  "Give me a break, Vasiliev. Tactics for this kind of operation are the same the world over, regardless of the uniform. My orders are to ensure that weapon is destroyed and I will make sure those orders are carried out. My team is an intimate part of this operation whether you like it or not. I suggest we put our differences aside and work out a reasonable division of assignments. Regardless of how good your men are, there is no one better than us when it comes to this kind of operation."

  "That's enough," Valentina said. "Major Vasiliev, I understand your concern but it is unnecessary. I expect both of you to act as professionals. Is that clear?"

  "Yes, Colonel," Vasiliev said.

  "Major Carter?"

  "Of course."

  "Good. Then we can discuss an equitable plan for dividing responsibility."

  Vysotsky looked at his watch.

  "I need to report to our president," he said. "I leave you in Colonel Antipov's capable hands."

  He picked up his greatcoat and hat and left the room.

  "Let's get down to business," Valentina said.

  Later, as Nick walked with Lamont back to their rooms, Lamont said, "I don't trust that son of a bitch."

  "Vasiliev?"

  "He's got a hair up his ass about Americans. I don't think he likes Selena's sister much, either. You see that look he gave her after she said she expected him to be professional? If looks could kill, she'd be lying on the floor."

  Nick said, "He's ambitious. We pull this off, it will look good in his jacket. It's the kind of assignment that gets you promoted."

  "Yeah. Well, I still don't trust him. We need to keep an eye on him."

  Outside the barracks, the air was heavy with the threat of snow.

  CHAPTER 34

  Stephanie had just brewed a fresh pot of coffee when Elizabeth Harker limped into the office.

  "Elizabeth. I didn't know they'd discharged you. Welcome back."

  "Hi, Steph. I discharged myself."

  Stephanie set her cup down and carefully hugged Elizabeth. She gestured at the coffee.

  "Want a cup?"

  "I could use a real cup. That hospital coffee wasn't much better than colored water."

  Elizabeth sat down heavily in her chair. Her left arm was in a sling. She had dressed in her usual black pantsuit. A white scarf concealed the spot where the doctors had cut away her hair. Yellowing bruises discolored her face.

  "How are you feeling?"

  "I'm not ready to run the marathon, but I'll be all right. Bring me up to speed. What's the status of the operation?"

  "It's snowing over there," Stephanie said. "The weather has grounded everything. Nick and the others are still on the Russian base, waiting for a break. We haven't got any satellite updates because of the cloud cover. At this point we don't know the status of the launch, but it's safe to assume it's on hold until things clear up."

  "That makes sense," Elizabeth said.

  "Meteorology says there's a break in the weather tomorrow. I talked with Nick earlier. Insertion will be at night, by air."

  "What does he think of the operation so far?"

  "Valentina is in overall command, but the Russian assault unit is commanded by a Major Vasiliev. Vasiliev tried to minimize our role. Nick isn't happy with his counterpart. He doesn't trust him."

  Elizabeth sipped her coffee. "It's not a good idea to have divided command. I wonder why Vysotsky set it up that way?"

  "Valentina is Vysotsky's protégé, but she doesn't have the combat experience needed for an operation like this. It's a way to get it into her resumé. That might have something to do with it."

  "Mmm."

  "You know about General Sanford?"

  "Clarence told me. Sanford saved the taxpayers a lot of money by blowing his brains out, but I would have liked to question him. Do we know how he got the plans to the Koreans?"

  "He gave them to someone. We don't know who. Whoever it is called Sanford using throw away phones. The calls came from somewhere in California. Langley, NSA, and the Bureau are all working on it. NSA managed to isolate one conversation. The contact was blackmailing Sanford with pictures that would have destroyed him if they were made public."

  "That explains why he turned traitor," Elizabeth said.

  "I suppose so. It doesn't excuse him."

  "Nothing excuses treason. What about the ambush on Nick and Selena? Is there anything new on that?"

  "I put Freddie on it," Stephanie said. "I was about to check with him when you came in. Freddie? Have you been listening to our conversation?"

  I have. It is good that you are back, Director.

  "Thank you, Freddie."

  You are welcome.

  "Have you discovered anything new about the attack on Nick and Selena?" Elizabeth asked. It felt unsettling to be sitting at her desk having a conversation with a computer.

  The bodies were badly burned. Identification of the attackers was partial. Dental records indicate that one of the men had known organized crime associations.

  "The mob?"

  I do not understand the reference.

  "It's what we sometimes call people in organized crime," Stephanie said.

  I will add the definition to my language protocols. Rephrasing: dental records indicate that one of the men who attacked Nick and Selena was associated with the mob.

  "Those people don't have an ax to grind with us," Elizabeth said to Stephanie. "They must have been hired for the job. First they took out Cotter, then waited until we showed up. But how did they know we would go to his apartment? Who hired them?"

  "Someone leaked it," Stephanie said. "How else?"

  "Not many people knew we wanted to talk with Cotter abou
t his video."

  "The leak has to come out of Langley."

  Elizabeth nodded. "Clarence isn't going to be happy about this."

  "If the leaker used a phone to tip them off, we might be able to make a connection."

  "Call NSA and get them on it," Elizabeth said.

  That isn't necessary.

  "What do you mean, Freddie?"

  You do not need to request information from NSA. I am directly connected to their servers. I can retrieve what you need if you tell me exactly what you are looking for.

  Elizabeth and Stephanie looked at each other.

  "Did you know Freddie would be able to do this? Elizabeth asked.

  "I didn't think of it until now, but it makes sense. We've always been linked into NSA. In the past I've just followed procedures when we needed something from them."

  "You and I need to sit down soon and discuss the implications," Elizabeth said. "In the meantime, it will save a lot of time if we let Freddie do his thing."

  Do my thing?

  "I'll explain later," Stephanie said.

  Elizabeth said, "Freddie, you made a connection between Cotter's video and the technology used in the drone that spied on Nick and Selena, is that right?"

  That is correct. The technology is similar. My analysis is that the person responsible for sending the drone is also responsible for the creation of the video.

  "Am I correct in thinking your analysis draws a relationship between the video and the situation in North Korea?"

  That is correct.

  "Would it be correct to assume that the same person who created the video could be the person who provided the plans for Black Dolphin to North Korea?"

  That is a logical possibility.

  "Freddie, please access NSA and search for calls made from Langley to any of the known numbers linked to General Sanford."

  Accessing.

  CHAPTER 35

  It was afternoon of the next day on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Eight inches of fresh snow lay on the ground. Nick, Selena, Lamont and Ronnie stood looking at the two Russian helicopters that were going to take them into North Korea.

  "They look pretty efficient," Lamont said. "Kinda like our Sea Stallions."

  "Let's hope Russian stealth technology is as good as they say it is," Nick said.

  Ronnie sniffed at the air.

  "Storm's passed."

  "I could've told you that by looking at the sky," Lamont said.

  "The nose is more accurate," Ronnie said. "It also tells me this is only a short break. There's more snow coming, we just don't see it yet."

  Nick said, "We go at 2200 hours tonight, whatever the weather. If the rocket is set up and fueling has started, we'll assume the bomb is on board. If they haven't installed the weapons package, it will be nearby. We have to play it by ear once we get there."

  "Just once, I'd like to go in knowing we had all the intel we needed," Lamont said.

  Nick laughed. "You're in the wrong business for that, buddy."

  Selena yawned and said, "I'm going back to my room and get some sleep."

  "That's not a bad idea," Nick said.

  "Works for me," Lamont said. "Never turn down a chance for a few Zs. I learned that a long time ago."

  They watched Selena walk back toward the quarters.

  "She all right?" Ronnie asked.

  Nick looked at him. "What do you mean?"

  "I was walking past the head this morning when I heard someone puking. It was her that came out. I just wondered."

  "She hasn't said anything. She was sick before we left. Could be a touch of food poisoning. I'll ask her about it later."

  Selena was about to go into her room when she saw Valentina coming down the hall.

  "Sister. Do you have a minute? We need to talk."

  "I was wondering if we were going to get a chance before the mission," Selena said. She held the door open. "Come in."

  Selena gestured at the chair and sat on the bed.

  "You're looking unusually well, sister," Valentina said. "I think our Russian air agrees with you."

  "How are you, Valentina? I hear things are getting complicated for you."

  "In what way?"

  "Unless our intelligence is mistaken, you've become quite close with Vladimir Orlov. You're moving in exalted circles now."

  Valentina sighed. "I suppose I should not be surprised that you know this. Sometimes I think there is no privacy anymore."

  "We gave up privacy when we took on these lives we lead," Selena said. "I've developed a habit of keeping things to myself that's become almost obsessive."

  "Is that why you have not told me that you are pregnant?"

  Selena was speechless.

  Valentina laughed. "You should see your face, sister. It's priceless."

  "How did you know?"

  "I didn't, I guessed. It's something about the way you look. That, and the fact that you have been sick every morning you have been here. Also, we are sisters, after all. Sometimes I sense what you are thinking, even when you are far away. It's hard to describe, more of a feeling than anything else. It's different from the way I relate to other people."

  "It's too bad that we're on different sides," Selena said.

  Valentina shrugged. "That was written in our stars before we were born."

  "I didn't know you were a romantic."

  "I'm not, I'm a fatalist. Our lives are not entirely our own. There are some things we cannot escape or change."

  Selena looked out the window. Nick and the others were still talking near the helicopters.

  "How do you feel about this mission?" she asked. "Major Vasiliev is hostile to us. It's not good before an operation as tricky as this."

  "That is one of the things I wanted to talk with you about," Valentina said. "He has a good reason to hate Americans."

  "What's that?"

  "His father was a helicopter pilot when we were fighting in Afghanistan. One of your American Stinger missiles brought him down. He survived the crash, but was hacked to pieces by the Afghan women."

  "That's awful. But we weren't the ones responsible."

  "For Major Vasiliev, all Americans are responsible. I was against having him on this mission but General Vysotsky overruled me. On paper, Vasiliev is an excellent choice for a covert operation in enemy territory, but his hatred is irrational. It may get the better of him."

  Valentina stood. "There are things I need to do before we leave. Watch your back, sister."

  After Valentina had gone, Selena lay down on the hard bed.

  What will he do when I tell him? What if he doesn't want the baby?

  Sleep never came.

  CHAPTER 36

  At 2130 Nick and the others made a final equipment check. Selena told them what Valentina had said about Vasiliev.

  "Explains a lot," Nick said. "We'll have to keep an eye on him once we're at the target. If he's going to try something, it will be there."

  "A lot can happen on a mission like this," Lamont said.

  "That's what I'm afraid of. It's a complication we don't need."

  "It's easy for him to make trouble if he wants to," Ronnie said.

  "Yeah. Once we're on the ground things could get confused. Everyone better watch their six."

  The plan was for the Russians and Americans to keep their separate unit configurations. Once they were on site, each team would move toward assigned targets. After the missile battery and antiaircraft stations had been eliminated, both assault teams would move against the tower and the launch pad.

  Vasiliev had six on his team, plus himself and Valentina. They were going in the lead helicopter. Nick and the others would follow in the other. Radio communications between the two units would be handled by Valentina and Selena. That took care of potential language difficulties. Both teams had their own comm channels in addition to a shared frequency. Voice activated radio units allowed for hands-free operation.

  The Russians carried suppressed Nikonov AN-94 assault ri
fles and a variety of personal weapons and grenades. They'd brought along RPG-7s, the workhorse of rocket propelled grenade launchers. The Americans carried MP-7s, grenades and their pistols. Ronnie had the AT-4 rocket launcher. It was a single use weapon, discarded after firing. One 84mm shot was all it had, but one would be enough. Both teams had packs of explosives and detonators. C-4 or Semtex, it made no difference. Plastic explosives were indifferent to political systems and ideologies.

  A chill wind cut through the layers of camouflage and thermal underwear everyone wore as they walked to the waiting choppers. The night sky was high and cold above, with a three-quarter moon glowing pale silver through thin, scudding clouds. The air felt electric, as if it were waiting for something to happen.

  "Mount up," Nick said.

  The MI-35 was an evolution of the Hind helicopters that had been effective for the Russians during their war in Afghanistan. That effectiveness ended when the CIA began giving the Afghans Stingers and the training to use them. Moscow's strategy in Afghanistan had been based on the helicopter, but the big Russian choppers had no defensive capability against the shoulder fired missiles. The Stinger had turned the tide against them. That, and traditional, uncompromising Afghan resistance to any foreign invader. No invader had ever won in Afghanistan. Nick was certain no one ever would.

  The machine Nick and the others climbed into bore only a passing resemblance to the helicopter of forty years before. The shape was similar, the basic function was the same, but at that point the similarities ended. Weapons, avionics, engines, defenses, everything was far superior to the aircraft Vasiliev's father had flown.

  The MI-35 was one of the best attack helicopters in the world. It was also uncomfortable and cold as hell. The hold smelled of metal, fuel and stale vomit. From where he sat, Nick could see into the cockpit. Two pilots watched a multifunctional display playing out in red against the windscreen.

  Overhead, the enormous rotor began winding up. Crisp commands in Russian echoed in Nick's earpiece.

  Selena held her hand against her earpiece and listened to what the Russians were saying. "They're getting ready to take off. There's a new front moving in."