by John Morris
Dan was busy on his secure line, but overheard staff talking. Wendy burst into tears. She could see what was happening, and yet her colleagues continued to take no action.
Dan informed MI5 of the new target, and they became most interested. Veronica opened a dedicated channel to liaise with them. Dan updated the NCA, but all knew their hands were tied, for the moment.
Dan looked up, and said, “Who have we missed?”
Veronica offered, “The Port Authority?”
Alison replied, “No already dealt with, and they’re talking to me. Dan, what about the Navy? If they are after the ship, like a Twin Towers style attack, then we could use a gunboat.”
“Excellent Alison. All of you, tell me if you spot anything else we may have missed. I need to speak to the Director, get a destroyer headed there at once.
“Veronica, if this goes to sea, we’ll need coastguard and rescue services standing by. Spread the word, but only as standby.”
Alison interrupted, “Can we stop the ferry leaving?”
“Call the shipping line immediately.”
… “I reached a clerk, who will pass the message on. This is not good. Can we stall them with security?”
“Call the Border Agency, they may be able to pull a rabbit out of the hat.”
Veronica said, “What about bomb disposal? The van is sure to be packed with explosives.”
“Good. Get on it. You had better alert Fire and Rescue, and have ambulances standing by. What else?”
Alison said, “Oh. Parkeston and Harwich are the only destinations left. I’m through to the Border Agency, one moment … They’ve got nobody nearby, but will tell security to raise their threat level.”
“That doesn’t sound too promising either. We need the van prevented from embarking.”
“They have the registration number and details, Sir.”
Wendy said, “Our team are on their way, but they need to know where to land?”
“The docks Wendy, on a public road if necessary. Regardless, they will arrive too late again. We need a response team stationed here, under my command. At least we would react. This response is abysmal. I’m going down to ask Sinjun to attend, he may have a perspective we are missing. Excuse me a moment.”
Minutes later, Sinjun stated, “You called this correct Dan, from the outset. I can’t believe these civilian agencies are so bad, the Met especially. I will report them to the military, as they appear to be working for the terrorists.”
Voices joined in chorus. “Dan said the same a minute ago.” “Yes, he thinks the Met are working with the terrorists, by not responding.” “This is a threat to our nationhood, and the Met are doing as little as they can.”
The last person to speak was Wendy. “I mean that. This operation, your previous ones, are being stalled at a high level.”
Dan said, “Thank you Wendy. Now you fully understand what we are up against.”
Sinjun spoke up. “This is war Dan. Out and out war. How long before they strike at the heart of Blighty? I’d say weeks, not months. What you are chasing here, today, are cells. The real strike is yet to come. With what I am monitoring below, that will be extremely effective, whatever it turns out to be.
“Regards this hit, presuming two girl suicide bombers, one female controller, and one man in command, with a van full of explosives, then the options are few. There is no border control, you said?”
“No, and we’re not even signed up to Schengen.”
“Yes, feeble. Regards the ferry, there are limited options, and using it as a weapon against another watery target doesn’t fit. My best guess, without full consideration, is they will scuttle the ferry in the waterway, rendering further service to the port impossible for many months.
Dan said, “Alison, confirm underwater topography.”
“On it ... Yes, a dredged channel. If the ferry goes down, it will blockade the port.”
“The vehicle will be below the waterline, get a ship’s diagram.”
Alison said, “Working on it …Yes. Got it.”
Sinjun continued, “I would expect one girl to take out the terminal, killing as many innocents as possible, and the other to do likewise once the ship is at sea. The van will be below the waterline, and on a timer, thus when it explodes, it will block the channel to port. I would expect the man to take over the Bridge, and the woman and girl setting explosives at exits below. Anything else?”
Dan smiled, a curious smile, and answered, “Then Sinjun, stick around and see how this pans out. You may be wrong. Ever considered that?”
Sinjun grinned back. “Yes, I have been wrong a few times in my career, but this is not one of them. So who will take them out?”
“That is our problem. We have nobody responding to our calls for assistance.”
“You cannot be serious!”
“Deadly serious. Apart from going in myself, there is zero response, for the third time.”
“Dan, let me make a call. Not for this time, the play is all but done. But maybe next time you will have the people on the ground you need.”
“Who. Who are you contacting?”
“I cannot say, but he is rather senior.”
Dan smiled. “I need to speak to somebody like that, the Marshal of the Air Force precisely. Is that who?”
“I cannot say.”
“Oh, so it is the Marshal of the Air Force. Tell him, when you speak to him, that Dan Glover needs a piece of his time. Remind him of our latest intelligence, the SCUD D’s.”
An argument was brewing, but Alison cut in. “They took the ferry road outside Parkeston. No guesses now the destination.”
“Harwich Ferry. Veronica, call all hands to action, the target is confirmed as Harwich Ferry. Wendy, where are your units?”
“En route, Sir.”
“Not good enough.”
Alison said, “They are in Harwich, but I’ve no camera coverage, they have old style GATSO’s. I’m asking the port authority for live CCTV footage.”
Dan’s mobile rang, it was MI5. “Dan Glover? MI6 right. Agent Steve Sterling, on the ground at Harwich, what are we doing here?”
Dan pointedly showed his mobile to Wendy, before saying, “I have MI5 on site, and I need to speak to them. Let me know if your lot ever get there.”
Dan explained the threat, outlining what, where, and whom. Dan said, “I’m sending images now, I need you to locate the van, we no longer have visual. They should be entering the port within one minute.”
“You need these imbeciles dead or alive?”
“The two girls alive if possible, they will be the easiest to break. Regards the other two, take no extraordinary measures to save their lives. Here’s how we think this may go down.”
Dan explained the scenario they had worked out. “But we are profiling unknown individuals in a group situation.”
“Guessing then, Dan. At least you have the balls to say so.”
“Have you drones with you?”
“Sorry. No drones, but we are armed. I’ll put two of our men near the boarding gate, they’ll have tickets to board. The other two, one on traffic, and me on the ship.
“I’ll call you back, Vince just got eyes on a white van, and two females wearing niqāb’s got out of the vehicle, and did something front and rear. I don’t know what.”
“They probably stuck on new plates, damn.”
“We are following on foot, but being seriously slowed by security. There’s not much of a queue either, but we’ll try to stop the van boarding. What if it’s loaded?”
“Follow it. Find out where it’s parked, and then follow the occupants. I suspect one will head for the bridge.”
“Understood, Dan. Out.”
Dan called the Director to update her. She was in a good frame of mind. “So as we expected from the Met. We will not use them again. I am leveraging for our team to work with the NCA, regards whatever you come up with. By the way, I had a working lunch at the Jamaica Inn today, deep inside the catacomb
s of the City. They call it a Wine House nowadays.
“Samuel Pepys used the place centuries ago. Regardless, I met a dear friend, and journalist. He received a tip-off earlier today, and is already in Harwich with a photographer. The evening press should make interesting reading. I’ll update him now.”
“Everything now rests with MI5 Ma’am. We’re working together to stop this atrocity, but are behind the clock.”
“Do your best, I know you will. Ciao.”
In the event, both girls surrendered before exploding their suicide vests, but the ferry left dock with the van on board. Steve called Dan. “We have eyes on the van, new plates stuck on, known registration below. The back is packed with explosives, and we cannot disarm the bomb. That needs to be done by a professional.”
“Bomb disposal are on their way, but will be too late. What about the general situation and bridge?”
“Damage limitation. The van is parked next to the hull, on the lowest level. Confirm, below the water line. Trucks, oil tankers and those carrying chemicals surround it. The fallout will be quite nasty. The bridge has been taken, as you suspected, but we are about to take it back. The man is in control there, but we’ve lost the woman.”
“She may be planting bombs. Check the main exits.”
“We are retaking the bridge now, three, two, go.” Two shots rang out. “Dan, terrorist taken out, bridge secure.”
Dan overheard Steve give the captain orders. “Sir, with respect, Islamic terrorists have a van on board, filled with explosives. This ferry is about to be scuttled and capsize on the left. We need it out of the deepwater channel at once. Their aim is to blockade the port.”
The captain responded, “Hard a-port, engines full ahead. Helmsman, steer into the side channel. It’s only just wide enough for us, so keep her central and steady as she goes.”
The ship was almost fully in the channel when they heard a dull roar from below. The ship lurched to port, and began to slowly keel over.
“Man the lifeboats, all crew to passenger emergency evacuation stations. Take them to starboard, and if necessary, have them sit on the starboard hull, when we hit the water.”
Steve’s men had found some of the secondary bombs, and hurled them overboard. They did not find them all, but MI5 directed passengers through cleared exits, soon supported by ship’s crew. TV crews arrived before the Met’s anti-terrorist instant response, anti-terrorist unit. Their leader was questioned live on television. Many in power watched the evening news.
Chapter 38 ~ Calm Before the Storm
The team worked late on Friday evening, Percy took over as tea boy, and when Martin returned, he assisted where he could. Martin managed to get the four drones in and around the Luton warehouse, and Bude were given access to the live feed.
MI5 were deemed heroes of the hour, but they insisted this was a joint operation controlled by MI6. Nevertheless, they received the public plaudits, and Dan did not mind at all. He needed to keep his team and what they did out of the public eye.
Regardless of being publicly shamefaced, the Met tried to take the two girls into custody for interrogation as terrorist suspects. MI5 refused to release the prisoners, and The Chief Constable of Essex Constabulary backed them up when he visited the scene. They were taken to Parkeston police station, and Dan would see them the next day.
Felicity called, “Dan, I am leaving Norwich now, and presume you are still working.”
“Yes, it’s been one hell of a day. We have several hours work still to do. I think we’ll all need a good drink and a meal when this is done.”
“Good, I feel a Pernod moment coming on, and want to try Ayesha’s chicken tikka marsala. I’ll stay over and take her statement tomorrow. Anything you need?”
“Just you. Perhaps a kiss.”
“Mwah! Ciao.”
No sooner had Dan finished the call, than the Director rang. “Dan, best result possible, under the circumstances, well done. The media are crucifying the Met, and so they should be. I’ve had calls from mandarins related to some powerful people. You remember those strings we pulled a few days ago? Well, I am now yanking them hard.
“Something will give way. I am pushing all out for our unit to work with only the newly formed NCA instant response, anti-terrorist support force. I think I’ll get it approved by early next week. Our relationship with MI5 has greatly improved. Well done Dan, that’s an unforeseen bonus. Hold.”
The line went silent as the Director took another call. “Dan, I have just been asked to meet with the Minister for Defence, in thirty minutes time. I know the head of the NCA has already been called to that meeting. Things look promising. I need your interim report soonest. Within twenty minutes. Get Alison to back up with files and feeds, we work late tonight.
“Please monitor the election results from Belgium and Luxembourg. I am not expecting any change of the status quo, just yet. But I must have the ethnic origins of those elected. That will be key to their power.”
“Ma’am, consider it done.”
Dan finished the call, and made a short speech to the team. He detailed Veronica to follow up the elections, considering them a minor irritation, and said, “Any questions?”
Veronica said, “This is my long weekend off, and I have worked the whole first day of it.”
“From now on, days off are a luxury we cannot afford. We are at war. Until this threat is resolved, only special exceptions will be made.” Dan added with a wry grin, “And neither are you allowed to be ill.”
“Veronica, you said it was your parents wedding anniversary?”
“Yes, their thirtieth. They have planned a big celebration.”
“Go now. I need your report this evening, and be back here Monday morning. Hurry before I change my mind. The rest of you, let’s get back to work.”
Veronica said, “Thanks so much Dan. This means a lot to me, to them, I am their only child. Here’s the information you requested. Luxembourg is sixty-three percent Muslim elected, and Belgium fifty-two percent. Still no overall control. Sound like a takeover to me. Bye.”
Dan stared at the figures. He became most worried, and called the Director. It was far worse than they feared. “Dan, this is a nightmare!”
“Yes it is, when they choose to cross the floor. But when?...”
When the call ended, Wendy raised her hand. “This is not a question, but I am totally disgusted with the way my team behaved today. I am seriously considering applying for a transfer. I’d rather be walking the beat, or working in vice, than put up with their bullshit egos, bullying, and gropes. I want to resign. I’ve had enough.”
Dan saw the rest of the team working, and asked Martin and Percy to begin preparing a précis report of the day’s main events. The clock was ticking. He pulled up a chair, and sat with Wendy. “I didn’t realise it was that tough, sorry.”
“Oh, I’ve learnt to deal with the wandering hands, and unnecessary swearing, but they are bullies, from the top down. Today, everything that is wrong in my life came into focus. I’ll be fine, but I am putting in for a transfer. Can I stay tonight and leave tomorrow. I need a beer as much as you do.”
Dan chuckled conspiratorially and said, “Yes, we all need a beer, but later. Sure, stay, you fitted in extremely well, and I am impressed with you. Don’t do anything rash.” He handed her his card and took her private phone number in return.
“Good,” Dan continued. “I have the distinct impression that come Monday, the NCA will be recruiting their own anti-terrorist response, and if that happens, I’ll put a good word in for you, especially as you already know how we work. You would remain employed by the Met, but on long-term secondment. How does that sound?”
“Super, thanks so much. Can I help with anything, as my work is virtually done for today. I’ve just a short report to finish.”
“No, go when you are ready. Percy, please show Wendy to the inn, and book her in for the night. Also, introduce her properly to Sinjun. As I’m guessing he will be the first of us
in the bar tonight. Now, please excuse me Wendy, I have work to do, and a deadline to meet.”
Dan got his tablet, and was pleased with what Martin and Percy had put together. His report was half done, if it needed abridging in some places, and fleshing out in others. His focus was on what the Met did, and did not do. Martin stayed to watch, Dan explaining what he was writing, and why. He found the teaching role gave him an unexpected lift, and his words appeared on screen with ease.
Alison sent him a related file, and after a quick inspection, Dan associated links for the Director. He glanced at his wristwatch. Nineteen minutes, and counting down. He zipped the file and sent it.
A couple of minutes later, his mobile phone rang. “Excellent work Dan, and on time. Your team is good. I’ll need a full report in the morning, but not first thing, you will need to relax and recharge batteries.”
“Thank you Ma’am. But, we’ll be here for another hour or more regardless. I’m interviewing the two girls tomorrow, over in Parkeston, but their Police Chief was on our side. I also want to keep in touch with Steve Sterling at MI5. They did a good job, and almost saved the day.”
“Good thinking, we need closer contacts with them, but take it slowly. I’m almost at the meeting. Speak with you later.”
Dan dismissed all staff who were not working, which left only Alison at her desk. Taking his brief, and those devised by Martin and Percy, Dan sat down at his desktop computer to compile the full report.
He was putting finishing touches to it, near eight o’clock, when Felicity arrived. She was in a bouncy mood, and totally distracting. They kissed and spoke rapidly about their days. Realising Dan was almost done, she left him with an order. “I expect you to arrive at the pub in five minutes, lover boy.”
Alison made a remark Dan did not hear fully, but guessed the intention. “You jealous? You also need a man in your life. Leave soon, finish up, let’s be done with today.”
It was fifteen minutes before they departed, twenty before they reached the inn, but Dan’s report was sent, and Alison’s work completed. The pub had a great atmosphere that night, and Dan and his team indulged more than they normally would. Later, most of them ate curry. Ayesha was called for, and complimented on her culinary skills. Brian was well pleased.