by John Morris
There was silence on the other end of the phone. Dan could hear Tom breathing, while he considered the request. In time, Tom replied, “You believe this is a threat to the very fabric of our nation.”
“Yes Sir, I do. It is a tangible threat, and one due any day now. I believe a major atrocity will be committed on our soil. I do not as yet know what that could be, but I believe what they have done so far is only the tip of the iceberg.”
“I’ll see what I can do. Leave it with me. I’ll also need reasons, so send me a supporting file, with links to full information. Come over for Sunday lunch, so we can go through it together.”
“Thanks Tom, Wilco. Ciao.”
Dan began making notes to outline why he needed a personal meeting with the Marshal of the Air Force. He had made good progress when the Director called via secure satellite link. “Dan, I hate politicians!”
“What’s up, Ma’am?”
“We laid out a great presentation for the Defence Minister, and do you know what the nit-wit said? ‘We’ll take this under consideration’.
“I told him straight, ‘If there are any more of these atrocities that we have foreknowledge of, then I hold you personally responsible for the innocent, civilian deaths that could have been so easily avoided, if only you’d man-up and face a very real and present danger’.”
“You have balls, Ma’am, it appears he does not. Well done.”
“We did not stay much longer, and we were politely shown the door. Once I get back to the office, I’ll start on the Chief Constables. I’ll keep Alison for that as well. You should have her back for tomorrow morning. Thanks for listening, I just needed to let off steam, and you were it.
“Oh, and both Belgium and Luxembourg have general elections today. Keep an eye on the outcome. I have a bad feeling. Ciao.”
Dan realised it must be hard at the top, especially when expectations were so needlessly confounded. His thoughts were turning to his proposed meeting with the Marshal of the Air Force, when Veronica said, “I have the Met’s liaison on the secure line again. They want to visit us. What do I tell them?”
Dan took a moment, lounging back in his chair, considering carefully the implications. He even profiled the group situation quickly, and made a decision. “Overall, we need the Met fully onboard, and they do not understand us, yet. Tell him to be at Norwich airport for eight tomorrow morning, and that he will return as soon as we are done. I expect that to be before five p.m.”
Veronica was a few minutes, as Dan got back to his work in hand. She said, “We’ve exchanged work mobile numbers, sent to your phone. Do you need me to make the pick up?”
“No, thanks. I am in Norwich tonight. Felicity officially became a Chief Inspector today, and they will have a party. She wants me there. You have an image of the man?”
“Woman. Being sent to you now. Her name is Wendy Colbert, and she has rank of Detective Constable.”
“Fine, I’ll be there. Why is it women always end up in admin?”
“Perhaps because we’re better at it than men. It’s all in the details you know. Plus we have better memories.”
Dan looked across, his male ego affronted, needing to reply. Veronica had her head down concentrating on work. Dan received a message, and let the moment pass. He also needed to work.
Time passed quickly, Percy perfecting controlling multiple drones, while Martin surveyed Lillyworth Moor in greater detail. He also monitored Luton. When a flight came in, Martin flew a small drone inside to get better footage. On one beam he found electrical wiring, and said, “We have drones that will charge off a cable. We need a couple in Luton, inside the warehouse.”
Dan was overly gruff in reply. “See to it.”
He finished the sentence he was working on, and apologised. “Martin, do it. This is your operation. Now my attention is all yours, let’s do this together, you on controls, and me monitoring. I need to know the installation intimately, camera angles, specific placement.”
“Sure Dan, hop aboard. This is what I plan to do…”
After discussing Martin’s plan, Dan said, “Good, Martin, I’m impressed. Fly down tomorrow morning, or take the car. The latter would save money, as the Director is on budget watch at the moment. Take four miniature drones, and place them later, when you are able.”
“Great, thanks Dan. I’ll leave them on the roof, and monitor if needs be. That’s as close as can be, but out of sight. Next time the doors are open I’ll work to our agreed plan. Oh, and driving down is fine, I hear your runway is rather short.”
Dan seldom multi-tasked as regards work projects, but he was viewing Tom’s recording, and making notes regards the Marshal of the Air Force sequentially. One or the other would catch his attention, and he would swap interest for the moment.
Dan put his notepad away, so he could focus on the video. Something was nagging him. Because of darkness, it was difficult to define precise detail, but large military type trucks were offloaded from six cargo planes. Tanks and howitzers loaded.
Concerned he said, “Martin, can you enhance these images?”
“Yes, although Alison has the best software.”
Veronica chirped up. “Let me have the feed, I’ll see what I can do with it.”
Martin and Dan discussed what they saw. Veronica sent them her enhanced version some minutes later. The images were much clearer. Martin exclaimed, “Dan, those trucks are carrying SCUD D’s. I also make out anti-missile batteries. These are strange weapons to be bringing into our country. Why? They need to defend something?”
“Wrong. SCUD's are offensive weapons. The question is, what are they going to target? These SCUD's have a range of over seven-hundred miles, and deliver a large warhead via operator controlled targeting.”
“Look, four of the planes took off again, and landed at the other unofficial airports they use. These must be to protect their airfields.”
“Agreed, and the other two?”
“Somewhere else. I’m stumped.”
“So am I, but we need answers. Crikey, is that the time. I must call Tom, and then get going for Norwich.
“Tom, I’ve looked at the video, and it’s bad. They landed SCUD D missiles on mobile launchers. Veronica is sending the enhanced video through to you as we speak. I’ll run this past Sinjun, see if he can figure out what’s going on. I must run. As you know, Felicity was officially promoted today, and they’re having a party in Norwich.”
“Yea Gads! This is most serious, Dan. Add it to your request, with the enhanced video. It gives me a far stronger hand. Speak later.”
Dan stopped by to have a word with Sinjun, who said, “This changes things.” He quickly became absorbed with the enhanced feed.
Dan left for Norwich as soon as he could, knowing he would be late, but Felicity seemed not to mind. The one thing he needed to finish, the request to the Marshal of the Air Force, remained a collection of notes, and that was his most important work. He dictated into his mobile on hands-free, as he drove, covering most of the points needed to put into written format the next day.
The party was not a surprise, but Dan arrived just as things were getting going, and he was not the last to attend. Felicity enjoyed the evening, but they saw a window to escape, and took it. She had a call of duty, a robbery with violence she could attend, or not, and used it as an excuse. They spent twenty-five minutes at the crime scene before heading to her hotel.
“They haven’t given you a flat yet?”
“No. The incumbent is being medically retired, and that might take years to come through. I have requested an alternative solution, but know I will be living at home. It’s the only viable solution.”
As was their habit, they were both early to bed, early to rise, but running late. Felicity manned up to face her first full day as Chief Inspector, and Dan buffed her ego. They departed together.
Later that morning, Felicity was busy. She had received the results of her probe into the histories of Karen and Benaris. She read the memo, th
en spoke the important parts aloud. “They joined at the same time, and went on the same initial police induction and training course. There are few other notes, other than both had Master’s qualifications in police work, and were flagged to be looked on favourably for promotion.”
Her thoughts coalesced. “I’ll need to contact our training school. No, that might raise flags. Instead, I need to make a phone call.”
Felicity called George Lovell, and later spoke to John Stonehouse. “I can get the personnel files and course records for you, on these two, but why? And especially with Inspector Khan being under suspicion.”
“Sir, please indulge me. It may be nothing, but I have a coincidence I wish to pursue. Let’s just say they knew each other from before joining the force. I need to establish how that interconnection is working today. If it is, it may explain why she volunteered for Lower Meddlington.”
“I trust your judgement, and you have no fact of any worth at present. Okay. The files will be with you later today, but keep me in the loop. Do you suspect a fifth column?”
“No Sir, perhaps a honey trap, or Cat’s Paw.”
“Run with it, but keep me updated. Excuse me, I have to go.”
Chapter 37 ~ Harwich Ferry
Dan was early to collect Wendy Colbert from Norwich airport, and they chatted amiably on the way to the office. During the trip, Dan filled her in on what they did. Alison had returned for breakfast, so they indulged the newcomer, but only up to a point.
They had both been distracted, helping Wendy settle in at a strange computer, and showing her previous attacks. Dan ran through their view of the latest at Birmingham, pointing out what the Met had, and had not done. Wendy said, “It’s so obvious when seen from here. They let you down. All those lives could have been saved. Oh my God.”
Once she had a handle on the way the team worked, Alison helped Wendy bring up secure feed with her operations staff, and settle in to monitor.
Veronica said, “I got another one. Lillyworth Moor headed south. Similar occupants: two girls, one woman, and a male driving, traffic cameras coming up now. This time they’re using a white Transit van. I’m not sure why, but there must be a reason. Perhaps to pack more explosives in the back?”
Dan said loudly to Wendy, “This is where you step up. I will need your team ready for takeoff pronto, and see if we can save some lives this, the third time around.”
Wendy appeared overawed at first, but settled when Dan, then Veronica, helped her through what was going down.
Alison said, “They are on the M1 headed south. London could be the target.”
Dan spoke to Wendy. “I’m glad you are here right now, you will learn what we do, and witness events unfold. Normally at this point, we would call you, and other agencies, to prepare, and hope somebody responds in time. Do you want us to do that now, or relay the information through you?”
“Do as you normally do, in this instance, I’m here to observe how you as a unit function as well.”
“I never doubted that for one second, Wendy. Alison, call everybody we would normally contact, but tell Wendy who you are contacting, that’s all. I’ll brief the Director.”
Dan waited as Wendy listened to what was said to each of the Met anti-terrorist unit, MI5, and the NCA. He added, “When we identify the target, we will call the Chief Constable, the person in charge of the target, and initiate pre-emptive response, usually evacuation of premises, that sort of thing.
“At that time, or sooner, we would call for your people to be in the air, closing the distance on the possible targets. Had you done that as we asked regards Birmingham, it would never have happened. Do you understand our concern?”
“Yes Dan. It’s just that they do not trust you yet, which is why I am here today.”
“Agreed. Follow what we do, and how this develops.”
Alison said, “I’m tracking them on motorway cameras, and they just turned onto the M11. Destinations now are east London, Essex, and Kent.”
“Good. Let us know when they turn off. This is how we work Wendy. We will not make another call to your people, or any others, until we have a good idea of what the target may be.
Dan monitored the team for a few minutes, and received confirmation from Martin the new drones were in place, parked on the target roof. Satisfied the team had things under control, he stood and said, “I have an urgent report to write, and this room is totally distracting. I will have a word with Sinjun, and would normally use that office. I’ll be in the front bedroom, so call me the instant you get a whiff of target. Ladies, Percy.”
Dan made a coffee, before going up to the room. He worked for thirty minutes, but the end result would be quite short, the planning of what he needed to involve, and especially links to corroborative information, was a huge undertaking.
Dan had the document in draft form, closing on final edit, when Percy knocked the door. “You are needed.”
He went to the control room at once. “Yes Alison?”
“Dan, they turned east at Bishop’s Stortford, and the only targets I can make out are Braintree, Colchester, and maybe Chelmsford. It doesn’t make sense.”
“Is this a race day at Braintree?”
“Checking … No.”
“Call Colchester Barracks and have them temporarily upgrade their security level to DEFCON Three. That means armed troops on the gate. I do not think that is the target, but better safe than sorry. Research the local shopping centres, and have working communications in place.”
Checking the map he said, “They are at least ten minutes out of Colchester, and they have several shopping centres, which are likely targets. Ask the Met to get airborne, and land at Colchester airport. It won’t take them long to get there, if they respond this time. Inform the other agencies as well, but make clear this is a provisional target, one as yet to be confirmed.
“Now, when’s the last time any of you had a drink?”
“Breakfast.” “Six a.m.” “Can’t remember.” Came the replies.
Dan said, “I’m the tea-boy, we have time. What do you want?”
Percy volunteered, “Put the kettle on Dan, I’ll come down with the orders, I’m not actually doing much, except liaising with Martin, and he’s driving back.”
They returned with hot and cold drinks, biscuits, pork pie, and quiche. Wendy said, “You’re allowed to eat, drink at your station?”
Dan eyeballed her and said, “Yes. We are at work, and it is past lunchtime. The job comes first. These are matters of national security. If you blow up the keyboard by spilling your drink, you pay full retail for a new one, which we have replacements for, at cost price, in the store cupboard. Okay?”
“Yes, I like working here.”
Alison reported, “They’re on the ring road, still headed east, and past the last possible target in Colchester. Where the hell are they going, there’s nothing there.”
Eyes turned to screens, and targets became fewer. Dan said, “Yes there is, Harwich. A major UK ferry port. They hit an airport last time, so this makes sense. Tell Colchester Barracks to return to normal status. I’ll speak to the Chief Constable in a moment.
“Wendy, move your people from Colchester to Harwich.”
She sat there, and stared at the screen.
Dan shouted, “What is it? Out with it.”
“They are still in London, Sir. I told them to mobilise, just after Alison made the request, and they did nothing.”
“Wendy, after last time, you cannot be serious. Are your governors in the pay of these Islamic terrorists? Because from where I stand, it certainly looks that way. I am reporting this as such, immediately. There can be no excuses for such diabolical dereliction of duty.”
Wendy began to say, “I agree Sir…” However, by that time Dan had turned away, and was speaking to his Director. “Ma’am, same as before The Met are sitting on their arses doing squat. I want them prosecuted, because I believe they are in the pay of these Islamic terrorists, otherwise they would b
e doing their job…”
The Director was equally disbelieving. She was in a ‘take no prisoners’ frame of mind, which Dan thought excellent. The call was short.
Dan was about to share with the team, when a thought came to him, and he rushed out of the room, sat on the stairs, and wrote it on his tablet. The final piece of the request he was making of the Marshal of the Air Force, had come to him out of the blue. His words were almost prose, Churchillian in nature, and supported the heart of his proposal.
Dan took time to complete his closing statement, knowing the shorter the work was, the better. He annotated items for deletion, or links, generally abridged his request, and satisfied, returned to his war room. “Status report.”
After update, Dan spoke to the Chief Constable of Essex Constabulary, alerting him to the potential strike on Harwich. “And most likely the ferry sir. We are not sure if it will be the terminal, or the ferry itself. I need the direct line for the head of the Border Agency … what d’you mean, there isn’t one … Damn, so they can just go on board with only cursory checks?”
That call was also briefer than Dan expected, but he said to the team, “The Chief Constable is reacting with a squad of trained men, and firearms units. He was contacted by us this morning, and so was alert to possible strikes. Sorry the Met are not, Wendy.
“Other targets, Alison, Veronica?”
“A few small shopping centres, nothing like the scale we have seen before, and a local gas pipeline. That’s it. They are already past the turn off for Clacton-On-Sea, so it has to be Harwich, or Parkeston, the larger nearby town. And yes, I have that covered.”
“It has to be the ferry. Focus. I’ll update the others. Wendy, see if your misfits can summon the energy to stop an atrocity occurring on British soil. This is their third, and last try.
“I am calling MI5 now, and the NCA next. Wendy, the NCA do not as yet have an anti-terrorist team, because that remains the Met’s, for today. Tomorrow, the NCA will have a response team, one that will react to national terrorist threats.”