Nuclear Surprise

by Rob Carnell

  "Can you take a look at this picture and see if it looks familiar?" asked Natasha as she passed over the picture from the boat yard.

  "You don’t sound Russian" remarked O’Brien.

  "So I keep getting told, would you prefer I spoke Russian?"

  "I speak fluent Vodka" joked O’Brien.

  "It is hard to see much in this picture, it doesn’t ring a bell instantly, but I guess it could easily be him. I remember him as a fit looking guy and this guy looks that way too."

  "Can you tell me what this is all about?"

  "Do you have a security clearance?" asked Matt.

  "Do I need one?"

  "Yep, this is absolutely top secret, but I can tell you some" explained Matt, "we figure this guy Pashwari is on his way to California in a boat packed with explosives. Your mission if you choose to accept it, is to help us find him!"

  "So let him blow up some fish, what’s the big deal?"

  "That is the bit I can’t tell you. It is a big bomb and a big target. Can we just leave it at that?"

  "Do I have any choice?"

  "None whatsoever" said Matt slowly.

  "Count me in then, I always wanted a holiday in California, I have never been there."

  Chapter 110

  CIA Headquarters

  Langley, Virginia

  * * *

  THE DOOR to Bill Simpson’s office flew open and in bounded Matt and Natasha.

  "Sorry to barge in Bill, but this couldn’t wait" said an out of breath Matt Peterson.

  "What have you got?" questioned Bill as soon as the three had seated themselves at the round table.

  Matt passed across a large blowup of a picture of a blue green mess.

  "What the hell is this?" enquired Bill.

  Matt explained, "This is a blowup of a satellite picture from the U.S. Maritime Administration. One of the things that poses the greatest danger to shipping is containers that fall into the sea during bad weather. They are supposed to be securely lashed to the deck, but sometimes they move around and fall over the side. If they sink then there is no problem, but sometimes they float, or worse still, they partially float just above or below the surface. USMA use regular satellite passes to try and identify the location of these containers, and these are noted and either picked up, or they just advise ships of their location. I have been reviewing images all day and came across this one."

  "Ok, but how does that help us?"

  "Take a good look at this part of the picture" said Natasha pointing with a pen.

  Bill grabbed a magnifying glass from his desk drawer and took a really good look at the image.

  "I am not exactly sure what I am seeing, there is something that looks rectangular, and there is maybe a fish or a whale beside it" speculated Bill.

  "Bingo" said an excited Matt "I got the scale of the picture worked out right. The rectangular shape is a twenty foot shipping container, maybe just below the waterline. The shape beside it scales to thirty five feet long, way too big for a fish, it is a sailing boat."

  "Fine, but what makes you think this is the boat we are looking for?"

  "There is no one thing, but a number of things together that grabbed our attention" explained Natasha.

  "First, there was no mayday call from the boat. At the very least there should have been a call to USMA letting them know the location of the container to advise other vessels."

  Now it was Matt’s turn to speculate "After the lead from USMA, we got footage from other satellites. I was able to plot the course of the boat after hitting the container. First it sailed south east, away from the U.S. coast. Then it turned directly toward California. That was last week, but we had bad weather for three days down there and we could not see anything through the cloud mass over California. It could be almost anywhere along the coast by now."

  "What are the most likely targets?"

  "Maybe San Francisco, or more likely San Diego. Perhaps our naval facilities there would be a high value target. Or maybe even Miramar air station. There is even a nuclear power plant down that way" speculated Natasha.

  "Good work, grab a flight to California. You can’t get to San Diego directly, head to L.A. or San Francisco and let me know when you arrive. I’m going to brief Adam so he can have a word with the President."

  The telephone rang and Bill picked it up straight away, it was the White House calling.

  "Please hold for the President".

  A few seconds President Connolly came on the line.

  "Bill, we have a major incident."

  "What happened, Mister President?" asked Bill.

  "Adam Scott has been shot."

  "On no" said Bill with a sinking feeling "is he ok?"

  "He was shot from long range by a sniper. He was killed instantly. I know you guys were starting to get close so I wanted to tell you in person. I am very sorry."

  "Thank you Mister President, I really appreciate you taking the time to call personally."

  "One more thing Bill, I have been thinking about this Pashwari guy. I think maybe our paths crossed once before."

  "Can you tell me about it?" asked Bill in surprise.

  "I am a few years older than him, and I was studying Law at Harvard. I also used to sail, and sometimes we competed against other Universities" announced the President.

  "What exactly do you …." began Bill, but was cut off in mid sentence.

  "Please let me finish, I am not proud of what happened. There was a foreign guy sailing one of the boats, I am pretty sure his name was Kamal. He was in front, I was in second place. He had rounded the final mark, and was sailing back towards me. I was on starboard tack and had right of way. I steered right for the guy, clipped his sail and made him capsize. I went on to win the race. Later on I found out that the guy was a poor swimmer and nearly drowned. What I did was legal, but I should not have put him in danger. This might be personal."

  "Mr. President, I hardly think that….."

  The President interrupted again "Bill, it gets worse I am afraid. When he was brought ashore, I laughed at him, and he shouted he would make me regret it. I thought he meant he would beat me in the next race, but I never saw him again after that."

  President Connolly severed the connection.

  Bill Simpson just bowed his head.

  "It looks like you got some bad news. Do you want us to come back later?" suggested Matt.

  "Yes, give me a few minutes will you? Adam Scott was just shot and killed. Also the President just explained that there might be some bad blood between him and Pashwari, let’s assume he is the target."

  Chapter 111

  White House, Office of the Secret Service

  Washington D.C.

  * * *

  BILL I’M sorry I can’t help you. The President is away from Washington and he won’t be back for three days" explained Neil Baker, the chief of the President’s security detail.

  "Neil, I thought you travelled with him?" said Bill Simpson.

  "I do, I’m leaving in a few minutes. There were a few loose ends I needed to attend to."

  "Where are you headed?"

  "Sorry Bill, it is top secret as usual."

  "Ok, if I can’t speak to the President, can you at least relay a message to him when you next talk with him?" pleaded Bill.

  "Sure, no problemo. Go ahead."

  "Please tell him we have tracked the bomb threat to the Californian coast, either San Francisco or San Diego, we have peo…."

  "Stop, let me think for a moment" said Baker and the line went quiet for a few seconds.

  "I need to share something with you. The President is on his way to a super secret summit meeting in San Francisco right now. He is meeting the Prime Ministers of Britain and Australia to discuss coalition troop numbers in Iraq and Afghanistan."

  "Fuck" yelled Bill "you have to call it off!"

  "I will try" whispered Neil as he hung up hastily.

  Chapter 112

  Aboard Airforce One

  Ov
er Kansas

  * * *

  "AIRFORCE ONE Operator" said a deep southern voice.

  "This is Neil Baker, I need to speak to POTUS pronto."

  "Please hold sir."

  "Hey Neil, what time are you leaving?" asked President Connolly.

  "Any minute Mister President. I have just had a conversation with Bill Simpson at CIA. They have hard data about a possible terrorist target in California. He wants me to get you to scrub the San Francisco visit."

  "Neil, you are starting to sound like my wife. Listen up young man. I am going to this meeting. If there is a terrorist somewhere, I have every confidence that our people will neutralize the threat. Never ever am I going to get scared and run from fanatics, never ever" said the President deliberately.

  "I understand sir, but I do need to let you know that I also advise against the visit."

  "Advice heard and noted. Anything further Neil?"

  "No Mister President, see you in California."

  A few moments later the President’s phone rang again. The caller line identification indicated that it was Admiral Nelson.

  "What have you got Horatio?"

  "Sir, our plan with the remarked helo worked perfectly. We just completed the scan of the Pashwari Palace. There was a positive scan. There is definitely weapons grade radioactivity inside the southern part of the palace."

  "Do you have any idea of possible collateral damage to civilians if we bomb the place?" asked President Connolly grimly.

  "Sir, we have rock solid intelligence that there are around twenty people in the palace at this very moment. Most will be asleep in the northern part of the palace. We will target the southern section where the bomb is sitting, but we must assume 100% casualties due to radiation fallout anyway."

  "Horatio, you have my approval to go ahead with the operation. Destroy that weapon. Please update me when it is done."

  Fifteen minutes later the phone rang again.

  "Mister President I can now report the mission has been successful. The palace has been destroyed. We did a second scan with the chopper and they picked up trace radiation levels in the atmosphere. The weapon has been destroyed."

  "Great work Horatio. I will get the press on to this right away."

  The President called the White House Press Secretary Jennifer Warwick.

  "Jennifer, I have something for you" he announced.

  "Thank you Sir, please go ahead."

  "We have just received word of a terrorist bombing in Riyadh. Some place called Pashwari Palace has been attacked by a bomb. It was what is termed a dirty bomb. That is a conventional bomb surrounded with radioactive material. It causes low level radioactive fallout over a small area. We believe that the bomb was detonated by an unknown terrorist group unhappy with the current Saudi regime. Can you please call an immediate press conference?"

  "Of course Mr. President. Can I reveal the source of your information?"

  "I’m afraid not Jennifer. We were able to do a radiation scan from a helicopter that is not supposed to be there."

  "Sir, were we involved in this in some way?"

  "That would be outside our rules of engagement."

  "I think I get what you are telling me Mister President. I will find a way to spin this."

  "Thanks Jennifer, I know you can handle this."

  Chapter 113

  CIA Headquarters

  Langley, Virginia

  * * *

  "BILL, THIS is Neil Baker. I spoke to the President. He can be a stubborn pain in the ass, just like you, and refuses to change his plans in any way. There is just no way he is going to cave in to a terrorist threat. I tried everything I could, he wouldn’t budge on this. I am headed there right now, I am ramping up security. We will keep him safe."

  "I wish I was as certain as you are Neil. Good luck, and stay in touch."

  Bill picked up his phone and called Matt Peterson.

  "Matt, I think the target is in San Francisco. The President is attending a meeting there tomorrow, but keep it quiet. Get your team up there. I will alert Homeland Security and get them looking around L.A. and S.F. as well."

  "We are coming up to crunch time Matt. No playing nice guy if you find Pashwari, take him out." said Bill grimly.

  "Message received and understood, I will brief the team."

  Chapter 114

  CIA Headquarters

  Langley, Virginia

  1.00pm

  * * *

  "BILL SIMPSON was getting an update from Matt Peterson in San Francisco when his other line flashed. He put Matt on hold "Simpson here" he announced.

  "Bill, this is Tom Allinson, chief of internal security at the White House, I have something you need to hear."

  "One second Tom, let me patch in Matt Peterson in San Francisco."

  "Matt, I have Tom Allinson from White house security on the line. Go ahead Tom."

  "We routinely record all radio transmissions inside and around the White House. We were able to record a conversation on an unauthorized cell phone about thirty minutes ago. I played this recording to Neil just now and he told me to get it to you immediately. He said you would understand, standby."

  He played the brief recording of a single female voice:

  He will be on the bridge at exactly 4pm.

  "Ok thanks Tom, I got it. Find out who made that call and lean on them. Let me know what you come up with."

  When Tom had dropped off the call, Bill said somberly "Matt, you have three hours to find that bomb. Do whatever it takes."

  "If you manage to locate Pashwari, don’t give him the chance to push any buttons. You heard the President’s speech, shoot first and ask questions later."

  "I hear what you are saying. Let’s see how it plays out. I am still not sure that we will find him, he could be anywhere in the world" said Matt defensively.

  "Trust me Matt, he is nearby."

  Part IV

  End Game

  Chapter 115

  San Francisco Airport

  San Francisco, California

  * * *

  "WHERE ARE all the blonde beach babes?" asked Greg O’Brien as they left the airport "I thought they would be stacked three deep."

  "I think that may be all marketing" suggested Natasha.

  "You may be in luck, we are headed for the harbor" explained Matt.

  "No problem as long as we stay on terra firma, I get sea sick in a bath" said Greg with a giggle.

  "While we are waiting for a taxi, I guess I better tell you some more. Sorry, but we are headed for a coast guard cutter to look for Pashwari. You are coming with us since you are the only one who has ever seen this guy" said Matt firmly.

  "Look Matt, I want to help, I really do, but I just can’t get on a boat. I will spend all me time heaving over the side, I don't even eat seafood."

  "Don’t worry Greg. I know they have some great drugs to stop you getting sick. The captain will have some on hand. Do you need a personal invitation from President Connolly, it can be arranged?"

  "I have a bad feeling about this" said Greg.

  "Don’t worry, that feeling is probably just gas!"

  They joined the queue for a cab and eventually stowed their hand luggage. All had packed light.

  "Where to buddy?" asked the driver.

  "Coast Guard pier, San Francisco harbor" directed Matt.

  "Sure, won’t take too long."

  Chapter 116

  Aboard Coast Guard Cutter Invicta

  San Francisco Harbor, California

  * * *

  "MATT, NATASHA and Greg O’Brien had boarded the ship after some fast organizational work by Bill Simpson. They were immediately shown to the commander’s cabin.

  "I’m Commander Bob Evans. I am in charge of all the coastguard resources in San Francisco. I am not quite sure who you are or what you are doing here, but my orders are basically to turn this ship over to you. But before I do, can you please explain to me what the hell is going on here?" asked the handsome young o
fficer wearing an immaculate gleaming white uniform.

  "There is no time for us to bullshit you. I’m Matt Peterson, this is Natasha Orlov from Russian Intelligence and this is Detective Greg O’Brien. I’m CIA, but seconded to Homeland Security for this operation. There is credible evidence that there is a bomb somewhere in the harbor and we are here to help you find it before there is a disaster."

  "Ok, but why CIA, and what is so important about a bomb? asked Commander Evans.

  "Before we start, I have something equally important" said Greg "I get really sea sick, can you give me something."

  Bob Evans chuckled and walked over to his desk and pulled out a small bottle of pills and tossed them to Greg "These will fix you. Don’t worry, you will be fine." Greg grabbed a couple and popped them in his mouth.

  "Let’s get back to business" said Matt "this is all Top Secret you can’t breathe a word of this to another soul. It’s CIA because we have been tracking this terrorist all the way from Saudi Arabia. What is so important is that we believe he has gained access to a special weapon."

  "What sort of special weapon are we looking for, biological, chemical, gas or what?"

  "You wouldn’t believe us if we told you" mentioned Natasha.

  "Try me" announced the coast guard man.

  "It’s a nuke."

  "No way" said Commander Evans.

  "No fuckin’ way" said Detective O’Brien.

  "Way" explained Matt somberly.

  Greg grabbed Matt by the sleeve "I want a word with you in private."

  "Excuse us a few moments Commander" said Matt as he and Greg O’Brien went outside the cabin and closed the door.