SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
The Mexican Navy Knox-class frigate Mariano Abasolo (the former USS Marvin Shields) was five miles due west of Point Loma. A sister ship, the Ignacio Allende (the former USS Stein) was 300 yards abeam the starboard side of Mariano Abasolo. Ballast Point in the Point Loma area was home to the San Diego Naval Submarine Base. The San Diego Naval Station and the North Island Naval Air Station were in close proximity. On high alert, the military facilities presented a target-rich environment.
In response to the early morning attacks on the air bases, an angry Mexican admiral had ordered the ship s captains to stand off the southern California coast. The frigates were cruising slowly as they continued on a northerly heading.
Attempting to appear calm, both captains were nervously waiting for an order to return to the safety of the closest Mexican port. Considering what the Americans had recently been through, and their amazing performance in the liberation of Iraq, the captains had no doubt the U. S. Navy would sink them at the slightest provocation.
Three F-14 Tomcats from the USS Abraham Lincoln battle group had been launched to encourage the men-of-war to return to Mexican waters peacefully. One of the VF-31 fighters was clean (no bombs, no missiles, and no external fuel tanks) but had a full complement of rounds for its M61 20mm multibarrel cannon. The other pair of F-14S carried four 2,ooo-pound bombs, two Sidewinder missiles, 20mm cannon rounds, and two 280-gallon external fuel tanks.
An E-2C Hawkeye vectored the Tomcats to the Mexican frigates while a marine corps KC-130 Hercules orbited overhead to provide fuel for the fighters.
Lieutenant Commander Dallas "Hollywood" Houghland was leading the trio in the clean Cat, the fastest fighter in the U. S. Navy. Flying at an altitude of 21,000 feet over the Mexican ships, Houghland initiated the first phase of their mission.
"Hollywood One is outbound," he radioed to his two wingmen.
"Two."
"Three."
They would remain in a high holding pattern to await the results of the first flight demonstration.
Heading straight south, the clean F-14 began a gradual descent that rapidly increased. At ten miles from the frigates, Houghland initiated a steep 180-degree turn passing 11,000 feet. Rolling wings level, he was heading toward the fan tails of the frigates.
He engaged max blower, and the dual afterburners quickly accelerated the Tomcat as it descended through 6,000 feet. The wings were swept back, making the F-14 look like an overgrown lawn dart as it dropped from the sky like a slab of iron.
Leveling the fighter at seventy feet above the calm ocean, Houghland was approaching the ships at the speed of heat. He had disappeared from the Mexicans' air-search radar.
Dash Two keyed his radio. "Look at Hollywood scoot. Leaving a rooster tail!"
"Those boys are gonna have the shakes," Dash Three replied. "Hope no ones shaving."
Transonic vapor was flickering off the aircraft seconds before it shattered the sound barrier 150 yards behind the frigates. Houghland passed between the two ships and snapped the Tomcat's nose skyward.
The teeth-rattling sonic boom rocked the Mexican frigates. Sailors spilled their coffee; others dropped to their knees. Most thought they had been hit with a bomb.
Both frigates went to general quarters, but it was clearly not in their best interests to engage the Americans. They increased their speed and continued north on a straight course.
Houghland had one more option to try. Then, if the ships refused to turn back, he would contact the Hawkeye. A mission systems operator would check with the admiral on the carrier and then give the F-14 flight leader his orders. Houghland reversed course, approaching the frigates head on.
"Hollywood's in hot," he radioed, as he armed his cannon.
Flying slower than the speed of sound, Houghland waited until he was a few hundred yards from the ships. He squeezed the trigger and laid down a curtain of cannon shells between the frigates.
Houghland was climbing in afterburner when Dash Two keyed his radio. "Message sent--message received." "Say again," Houghland said. "They're coming about, heading home."
Hollywood turned his head to look at the ships. "Good decision." The two F-14S closed on Houghland's Tomcat. "It's time for a lunch break," Two radioed.
"You have the lead," Houghland calmly radioed back. "Take us home to Mother."
THE WHITE HOUSE
After a fairly short conversation, Cord Macklin placed the phone receiver in its cradle and turned to Hartwell Prost and Brad Austin. "President Cardenas is fully supportive of our grounding his air force. He seemed relieved that only eight people were killed. He understands the gravity of the situation and the urgency of our conference. He'll meet with us early tomorrow afternoon in Corpus Christi." "Did he balk about restructuring his military?" Prost asked. "He knew what I was alluding to, but he glossed over it." Austin looked up. "I have a sense he will give the idea serious consideration. He left me with the impression that he would truly like to reform his country, but he can only tinker at the edges as long as the corrupt generals are calling the shots. The military star chamber has to be toppled. The culture in the military and in law enforcement has to be changed before anything meaningful can happen."
Macklin glanced at his watch. "We'll deal with that after we have the border problem completely under control. I know this is a spur-of-the-moment trip, but I want to keep a lid on it. We'll use a smaller aircraft and a skeleton crew--no press and no leaks." "We'll take care of it," Austin said.
The USS Nimitz battle group was close enough to the North Arabian Sea to launch long-range strikes on a number of targets. Terrorist facilities were being pounded in five countries, and more targets were being added to the list.
The sailors and marines aboard the ships in the Nimitz, Washington, and Stennis battle groups had little time for recreation or breaking news stories. When they were not working eighteen-hour shifts or eating three or four meals a day they were sleeping.
The relatively few who had time to pay attention to world events knew about the howls and shrieks emanating from the United Nations headquarters in New York, the International Criminal Court, European capitals, Human Rights Watch, and U. S. "allies" and diplomats from every nook and cranny on the planet. The U. S.-led war on terrorism was being characterized as "unilateral imperialism."
Predictably, after the bombing of the Mexican Air Force bases, the die-hard media had gone into hollow-eyed shock before responding in unity. There was a massive eruption of name-calling and derisive attacks directed squarely at President Macklin and his administration.
MEXICO CITY
The primary units of the Mexican Army consisted of a handful of brigades based around the Federal District that encompasses the Mexico City area. Along with independent regiments and infantry battalions, the brigades were preparing to move north to the U. S. Mexico border.
The destruction of the air bases had set off a frenzy of anger within the military. Chaos reigned for the first few hours until senior officers began arriving in the Federal District.
A majority of Mexican generals and admirals had a sense of trepidation about hostilities with the United States. Many viewed the call to arms as patently stupid and suicidal. Others, political aspirants in generals uniforms, argued that personal and national pride should carry the day.
The debate mattered not. The secretary of national defense, a corrupt active-duty army general appointed by the previous president, had made his decision. The only way the general could protect his power would be to confront the Americans. President Juan Cardenas had not been consulted, a deliberate insult that was intended to convey a message.
The Mexican military would confront the United States, the country that had stolen the southwestern U. S. from Mexico. The Mexican armed forces would defend the country's honor and protect her borders. The senior general would accomplish two goals: protect his future fortunes in drug trafficking and render Cardenas impotent.
Chapter 29.
> THE WINSLOW ESTATE
Scott parked his rare Ferrari 275 GTB Spider, stepped out, and walked around to open Jackie's door. They were two minutes early when he rang the doorbell. Each was surprised when Hartwell Prost personally opened the massive door.
"Come in," Hartwell said, as he shook hands with Scott and Jackie. "I trust youve had dinner."
"Actually," Scott said, "were planning a late dinner in Georgetown."
"Thats good, because I had to dine on leftovers this evening."
"Where are Zachary and Molly?" Jackie asked.
"Zachary is on holiday, and Molly had to take a few days off to tend to her mother. Let's go out to the veranda."
Jackie and Scott followed Hartwell and took a seat on the lounge. Their host poured each of them a glass of wine.
"The president and I want to thank you--congratulate you--for your efforts in capturing Khaliq Farkas and finding the nukes." Hartwell raised his glass. "We re grateful."
"Glad we could help," Scott said.
Jackie placed her glass on the table. "Did he survive?"
"Barely. He's in critical condition. We hope to begin questioning him in a few days--at least by next week."
Prost paused to light a cigar.
"It was coincidental that President Macklin and I were discussing a new course of action when we received your message about Farkas. As you may know, the CIA has created a new super-secret hit team to target terrorists abroad. It's a paramilitary unit that conducts covert operations directly under the command of the Agency's counterterrorism center. The number of people on the team, their weaponry, and the location of their base are highly classified."
Scott had a question. "No congressional oversight?"
"Very little. The president's signed intelligence order, including the authority to use lethal force, expands a previous presidential finding. If Congress knew, it would be leaked, no question about it, and the lives of many brave people would unnecessarily be placed in jeopardy. Therefore, briefings are limited to the two ranking Democrats and Republicans from the intelligence committee of each chamber."
"Will the unit be able to operate anywhere in the world?" Jackie asked.
"For the most part. They will be free to disrupt, capture, or destroy terrorists in over eighty countries."
Scott had a question. "Does this have anything to do with the new assignment you mentioned?"
"Yes, one I hope you 11 consider." Prost smiled reassuringly. "We believe you could bring another dimension to the covert operation: the ability to gather the ground truth from human sources. We dont want different factions competing on the same mission."
"Fm not sure I understand," Jackie said.
Prost looked her in the eye. "We want you to track Saeed Shayhidi, find him, capture him, or kill him."
Jackie and Scott were quiet for a moment before Scott spoke. "You want us to assassinate Shayhidi?"
Prost shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Well, let's say we want you to find him and give us his coordinates to allow precision air strikes."
Jackie looked up, her eyes quizzing Prost. "Do we have any idea where Shayhidi is, the last known contact?"
"We've traced his charter flight from Siem Reap, Cambodia, to Geneva. A chartered jet left Cambodia a short time after our people went to the hotel where Shayhidi had been staying. He left so fast he didn't check out or take his clothes." His tone of voice hardened. "Shayhidi has been making a fool out of us. I'm embarrassed for the CIA, and President Macklin is beyond being upset, to put it mildly."
Prost paused and gazed across the grounds. "Geneva, his business headquarters, is where we would like you to begin. We, the president and I, need you to find him, whatever you have to do."
He turned to Jackie. "Your thoughts?"
"This may sound strange," she ventured, "but as a fighter pilot, if someone was shooting at me, I'd shoot back--doing my job. But morally speaking, I dont fit the profile of an assassin."
"I fully understand," Prost said quietly.
"I feel the same as Jackie," Scott admitted. "However, I'm willing to go after him. Well leave Shayhidi's future to someone else after we've found him, unless he tries to take us out."
Scott looked at Jackie. "You okay with that?"
"Sure, as long as we all agree on what our role is."
Prost smiled with relief. "No argument from me. The two of you have the talent, training, and tenacity to accomplish things most people wouldn't even consider. The president and I deeply appreciate everything you've done."
"Thank you," Scott said. "Any problem with using our plane, carrying our personal weapons and all the gear we need?"
"None that I can think of." Prost considered the options. "You have a legitimate business conducting safety audits for corporate flight departments, including major companies overseas. In addition, you have your FBI and CIA credentials along with current passports. That seems to cover all the bases."
U. S. AIR FORCE CLOBAL HAWK
Flying at 63,000 feet above Mexico City, the unmanned surveillance craft relayed the movement of four army brigades heading north at 11:25 RM-The brigades comprised one armored, two infantry, and one motorized infantry. Their olive-drab "deuce and a half" cargo trucks with canvas tops were, for the most part, Korean War vintage. Once established on Highway 85, the caravan advanced toward Ciudad Victoria, a transportation center east of the 13,300-foot peak of Cerro Pefta Nevada.
If the brigades stayed on 85 after passing Ciudad Victoria, that would take them through Monterrey to Nuevo Laredo, across the Rio Bravo del Norte from Laredo, Texas. If the convoy took Highway 101 at Ciudad Victoria, they would arrive at Matamoros, Mexico, across the border from Brownsville, Texas. Regardless of the caravans planned destination, the president of the United States had a decision to make.
THE WHITE HOUSE
President Macklin was awakened at 1:05 A. M. and had coffee with Dave Timkey, Brad Austin, Pete Adair, and Les Chalmers. After a secure phone conference call with Hartwell Prost and a conversation with the senior officers at NORAD, the president and his aides went to the library on the ground floor. Macklin closed the door and everyone took a seat.
"First thing," the president said, "I want to make sure they dont get anywhere close to our border."
Secretary Austin glanced at Chalmers and then turned to Macklin. "I respectfully yield to Secretary Adair and General Chalmers on military matters. Having said that, I am convinced that a firepower demonstration would halt the convoy and turn them back like the Mexican frigates."
Macklin removed his reading glasses. "What makes you so sure?"
"These troops are not kamikazes," Austin said with conviction. "When they see what they're up against, they'll know this is an exercise in futility. They aren't a tough, well-disciplined, well-equipped, seasoned fighting force. Besides, they've seen the results of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They'll turn back."
Pete Adair spoke up in support. "I agree with you, but as a backup let's destroy the highway so they can't continue. Give them time to think about it."
"Les," the president said, "what's your view?"
"I would try something to get their attention short of destroying the highway. We have the assets standing by," Chalmers said. "One thing, though--we need to hit them just as the sun begins to nibble at the sky. Regardless of which highway they take, they'll be past Ciudad Victoria by that time and in a sparsely populated area. That's where we want to take action."
"What do you plan to use?" Macklin asked.
"Two AC-130 Spectre gunships, two A-10 Warthogs, and two B-1Bs. Well also have helicopters in the area in case someone goes down."
The president nodded his approval. "If we do have to cut the highway, and it looks like they might try to find an alternative route, cut off the road behind them also. Strand the caravan in place and keep them pinned down with no way out."
"Yes, sir."
"Okay, gentlemen, we have a short night ahead," Macklin declared. "You can rest here or
have breakfast here. Your choice, but let s gather in the Situation Room at five-thirty A. M."
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE
Two B-1B Lancers, affectionately known as the "Bone," taxied for takeoff under a star-filled sky. The sleek swing-wing long-range bomber was capable of carrying eighty-four 500-pound bombs or twenty-four 2,ooo-pound JDAMs. This morning the supersonic bombers from the 9th Bomb Squadron, 7th Wing, would be flying empty with a standard crew consisting of an aircraft commander, copilot, offensive systems operator, and defensive systems operator.
Cleared for takeoff, the B-1Bs took off in interval and climbed to altitude en route to Mexico. They checked in with the E-3 AWACS to receive the latest coordinates of the Mexican military caravan. The brigades were on Highway 101 approaching Santander Jimenez, and Global Hawk was keeping a watchful eye on the procession of vehicles.
CARBON ERAS, MEXICO
Orbiting over the Gulf of Mexico twenty-three nautical miles east of the smil town of Carboneras, two AC-130 Spectre gunships from Hurlburt Field, Florida, waited to turn on course. The ground-attack aircraft were armed with a stunning array of firepower that could be concentrated on a small area.
The relatively low-flying Hercules gunships were equipped with two 20mm Vulcan cannons, one Bofors cannon, and one howitzer that could fire 100 rounds. The new "U" model aircraft had replaced their 20mm cannons with a rapid-firing 25mm Gatling gun. Known as one mean flying machine, the AC-130 was one of the weapons most feared by enemy ground forces.
OYER HARLINGEN, TEXAS
Two A-10 Warthogs from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, were refueling from a KC-135. The close-air-support aircraft were each armed with eighteen conventional Mk-82 500-pound general-purpose bombs. Their showcase weapon, a powerful 30mm Gatling-type seven-barrel rotary cannon, was capable of destroying any tank. The Warthog put cold fear into the hearts of enemy soldiers who witnessed the cannon fire.
Assurred Response (2003) Page 33