“Well, we've had our ice-breaker moment. I'm going to grab a cup of coffee and then let's say the four of us sit down and discuss the mission plan. We'll need to get rolling ASAP,” Davis said.
“Fine by me, Mr. Davis. The sooner, the better,” Ron answered.
The four retreated to the headquarters where the agents were staying. All but Lyna had coffee in their hands as they stood around a wooden table containing a large map of Iraq, detailing the roads. The map showed two avenues of approach from Kirkuk to Fallujah, one marked in white and the other in blue.
“The safest route is the one marked in white,” Davis began as he followed the trail with a pen light. “It heads southeast to TuzKhurma. From there, it's a straight shot south towards Baqubah, but you will turn southwest towards Balad before you reach there. Stay on this trail all the way to Fallujah, staying well north of Baghdad. There is a rendezvous point northeast of Fallujah at this location here,” Davis said while pointing at a secluded spot on the map.
Ron and Chris studied the map closely looking for any discrepancies and memorizing the terrain, which in Iraq, lacked distinct features. “I'm familiar with the territory. This route takes us through villages around Diyala. I'm guessing around seven, maybe eight hours?”
“Yes, more or less. We guessed between seven and eight hours. That is why we want to get you on the road this morning, around 1000 hours. The idea is for you to arrive at the designated spot just before sunset. You will stay the night there, waiting, and your rendezvous should take place sometime between 0700 and 0900 tomorrow morning.
“That's a lot of time to just be sitting there, don't you think?” Chris said.
“We can't be sure of the precise time but…”
“It'll be alright,” Ron said. “Please continue.”
“You and Lyna will wear local traditional attire. Your story is the two of you are traveling to pick up your niece and take her back home until things settle down.”
Ron and Chris exchanged glances. “What am I driving?”
“You'll have a white, 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser.”
“Weapons?”
“You'll both carry the Type 56, Chinese variety, AK assault rifle.”
Ron glanced at Lyna.
“I know how to use it, Sergeant Hawkins.”
Ron smiled. “Never said you didn't.”
Chris studied the map. “Show me this rendezvous point again.”
Davis spotted a place on the map and pointed to it. “Right here.”
“Take a look, Hawk.”
Ron stooped over to see the spot Chris had his finger on.
“Those are the six berms just northeast of the armament storage area at industrial park.”
“Is that a problem?” Davis asked.
“Not if you don't mind being exposed to radioactivity,” Chris answered.
“There has never been substantial proof of that and besides, those containers no longer appear in our aerial photos. We assume they were removed and taken to a different location. We selected the berms as a rendezvous because there has not been any activity there in the past few weeks and our contacts within Abdullah's tribe are familiar with the location.”
“So, let me get this straight. Some of Abdullah's men are supposed to meet us there, drop off Mariam, and we simply drive away as one big happy family?” Chris asked sardonically.
“Well, not you, Sergeant Short. Just Sergeant Hawkins and Lyna. We need more than just the girl…
“Mariam,” Ron corrected.
“Yes, Mariam. As I was saying, you will also pick up a brief case containing the maps, ISIS positions, and their offensive plans to attack Baghdad. As you read in the report, they specifically asked for you, 'Commander Hawk,' and will only give the case to you.”
“Geeez!” Chris exclaimed. “It's the first I heard about all this, this stuff. The package? Commander Hawk? And I'm not going in with him? Are you all insane? I'm going and…”
“It will be alright, Chris.”
Chris looked at his friend a moment and then back at Davis. “Can you excuse us a minute, Mr. Davis?”
Brad nodded his head.
“Hawk, a word please.”
Ron looked up at Davis and Lyna and said, “Excuse us.”
The two friends and team members for fifteen years walked out of earshot of the CIA agents. “Hawk! You know what you are doing? Have you lost your mind? This sounds like a trap! They ask for you specifically? It's suicidal.”
Ron looked Chris in the eye but remained silent.
“Aw Hawk, come on. For the love of God and the sake of your family. You can…”
“No I can't, Chris. Orders from the top. They want that intel…yesterday.”
“C'mon Ron! No wonder you have been acting so strange. I'm coming with you and that's all there is to it.”
“Can't, Chris. If they see another male, they'll abort.”
“What about Lyna?”
“They got Abdullah's people to agree on a woman, as long as she appeared to be local and married to me.”
“So that's what this is all about. And I came along to…”
“Carter's idea. He didn't trust anybody else to cover my six.”
“Yeah, well how am I supposed to do that if I can't go down there with you?”
“You'll think of something. Can we go back inside now, pop?”
“Very funny.”
8
The drive south took slightly more than seven hours, with a couple of quick stops before reaching their rendezvous point known as the six-berm. Ron and Lyna did not need to stop for gas since they left Kirkuk with a full tank and had two five gallon filled gas cans sitting in the back of their Toyota. They got on the road around 1100 hours, two hours later than planned, so the hazy orange ball sunk quickly out of view below the western horizon when they stopped behind the largest berm in the center of the field.
Lyna attempted conversation with small talk during the trip but Ron politely acknowledged her words each time with very few to exchange, and an occasional head nod, often causing an awkward silence. Though the journey was uneventful, as far as Ron was concerned, locals often stopped to look at them. Ron was not sure whether there was a backup plan in order in case all hell broke loose. Maybe Colonel Carter was not fully aware of the agency's plan after all, Ron thought.
Turning the engine off, he got out to stretch. Lyna slammed the door on the other side and walked around the front of the vehicle, heading directly towards Ron. He watched suspiciously as she approached, removing her facial scarf.
“You don't think too much of me do you, Sergeant Hawkins?” Before he could answer, she continued. “Not everything is as simple as it seems. I know you must hate me because of your friend, Banks, but it's not what you think.”
“How do you know what I think?”
“Because I can tell by the way you and Sergeant Short looked at me and acted towards me.”
“Well, I can't speak for Master Sergeant Short, but I don't hate you.”
“No? You hardly said a word to me the whole trip.”
“I was deep in thought.”
“Well, in case you want to know, I had to leave Sergeant Banks because he beat me.”
Ron looked back at her somewhat in disbelief and then with a slight spark of revelation.
“That's right. You don't find that hard to believe, do you?”
Ron, aware of past incidents involving Banks and First Sergeant Talbot concerning domestic violence, answered sheepishly, “No, I don't.”
Lyna turned away and walked towards the end of the berm.
“Hey.” Ron called out.
She kept walking until he called out again, “Lyna!”
Turning to face him, she wiped her cheek. “What?”
“I'm sorry for my behavior—and I really do have a lot on my mind. Please don't take it personally.”
Lyna smiled back at him. “Thank you, Sergeant Hawkins. She continued towards the end of the berm.
&nbs
p; “Where are you going?”
“I'll only be a moment, but don't follow me.”
Ron stared at her.
“It's private. That was a long haul, you know. I'll be right back.”
Ron turned away chuckling. “Take your time, and be careful. Watch for the snallygasters.”
She stopped suddenly. “WHAT—what are those?”
“Just kidding.”
She went on ahead, less urgently, and when she returned ten minutes later, Ron was studying the map, holding a 3H Tritium lensatic compass in his left hand. “Everything is good?” She asked.
“Geographically, yes.”
“Well, I'm glad we're in the right place. Can I ask you a question?”
“Go ahead.”
“This mission. What do you think of our chances?”
“Chances of what, success?”
“Sort of, I guess. Mission success and…survival.”
Ron pocketed his compass and looked at Lyna. “I have special people waiting for me at home. I'm sure you do too.”
Lyna gave him a nervous smile. “For what it's worth, I'm glad this mission is with you. I know a lot about you.”
Ron looked at her. “Maybe too much. Maybe nothing at all.”
“Only what we studied from your dossier.”
Ron cracked a smile. “I bet.”
“You seem to have a heart for saving the oppressed. This is how you met your wife in Afghanistan, yes?”
“You people know more than you probably need to know.”
“Well, it's okay. The agency was going to assign somebody else to you for this mission, an American, but after I read about you, I volunteered.”
Ron listened.
“At first, Richard Crane, the director, did not want me to have any part of it but many others in the department, including myself, thought I would be perfect for this mission.”
Ron looked at her indecisively. “Perfect? You're risking your life.”
“But who better could pass as a Sunni wife in the Anbar province than a Sunni girl from there?”
“You have a point. So, he, Richard, changed his mind, and let you go?”
“Of course. It made sense.”
“Well, dear one. I'll just have to make sure I get you back home safely then.”
Lyna smiled and said, “That's what I'm counting on from you.”
“Tell me, what else has the agency told you about this mission?”
“Well, only the fact about Sheik Abdullah requesting you, 'the Holy man,' to take his daughter, Mariam, from this wasteland, and bring her to America. In exchange, he provides us with valuable intelligence.”
Ron pondered her answer.
“He will only trust you,” Lyna added.
“He's an old friend. I trust him. How did you know about his request and come about his letter?”
“His son, Hassan, delivered the first package and the message only a month ago.”
“He delivered this to you, in Kirkuk?”
“Not to me. I was not here at the time. He gave it to Brad.”
Looking at Lyna, Ron rubbed his chin with forefinger and thumb.
“What are you thinking?”
“Just wondering. Why do you suppose your director readily agreed for you to come here and play the part of my wife for this mission?”
“I told you before; I was perfect for the job.”
“And he was okay with this? I mean, he didn't try harder to keep you from coming here?”
“Why should he?”
“Well, I heard the two of you were…”
“Together? No. He is married and not intended to divorce his wife. When she caught on to our relationship, she gave him the ultimatum, so we had to break it off. In fact, he has sent me away on many field missions before this one, trying to keep me from him to please his wife.”
“I wasn't aware.”
“It's just as well. I think he felt sorry for me during my relationship with John. The two of them worked on a project together here in the north.”
“Back in 2010?”
“Yes, it was then. American troops were pulling out of the country and we were linking up with the Kurds to secure pipelines.”
“The Kurds, not the Iraqi government?'
“Correct. Our agency did not trust the government so we established ties with the Kurds. Al-Maliki led this country to disaster, the reason for the current problems now.”
“You believe he was the cause?”
“You should know this. He was afraid of the Sunni's taking away his power so he replaced his best Army officers and excluded them from government.”
“Yeah, I knew he didn't support our efforts with the Sahwa eight years ago.”
“Funny you should mention this. It was during the Sahwa when I met Sergeant Banks.”
“I know.”
“You do? Well, what you may not have known is he brought me back here in 2007, right after they discharged him medically.”
“He came back here in '07?”
“Yes, in fact, I helped him get atmospheric information for the company we worked for as contractors.”
“You two came here to work for the LED Iraqi task force?”
“Yes, that is the name. His company collected information from different cities. I was recruited for Fallujah.”
“Atmospherics?”
Lyna chuckled. “Well, you know. Gossip and street talk.”
“Yes, I am familiar with it but I was wondering what the focus was at the time.”
“Our focus was to listen for anything said about the American army, especially if it had to do with the Sahwa.”
“Now, here you are again.”
“Yes. His company lost a contract rebid and he did not want to work for the new people, even after they offered him a job. Instead, he returned to the US, requesting me to join him. He told them I was in grave danger and it was mission essential that I return stateside with him. He was quite convincing.”
Ron smiled. “Yes, he was.”
“That was amazing, what you guys did in '06 and '07 with the Sahwa!”
“What, rallying more than 100,000 Sunni's to fight Al-Qaeda for us? That was a miracle.”
“So, maybe your commander believes you can do this again?”
“Maybe so. He believes I can help sure up a new alliance with the Sunni's if I follow through with Abdullah's request to bring Mariam home. We could form a wedge between the Sunni's and ISIS, as we did before against Al-Qaeda. I've always believed major wars could be prevented if we were allowed to exercise preventive vigilance needed to stop it.”
“I believe this too! The Sunnis looked to ISIS as a way to fight against the Shi'a government. However, in his heart, Sheik Abdullah asks specifically for you because he does not really trust ISIS. Hawk, this could work! Oh, sorry, Sergeant Hawkins.”
“Hawk is fine. I'm more concerned about the bigger picture.”
“Which is?”
“A much larger war looming, one involving Iran backing the Shi'a led Syrian and Iraqi government and Hezbollah, while Saudi Arabia and Turkey back the Sunni tribes. Then there is the Kurds, right smack in the middle of it all, sitting on the pipelines.”
“Don't forget the Jews in Israel.”
“Any idea what their goals are at the moment?”
“You mean besides their own pipeline they wish to build through Cyprus, Greece and Italy into all of Europe?”
“Wow, really?”
“There's a lot you are not aware of, Hawk.”
“I'm a soldier, not a politician.”
“Well, you should know why you are here doing what you are doing.”
“You mean I'm not here to rescue another oppressed girl and build alliances?”
Lyna laughed. “Hmm, if it were only this easy. Now, tribalism, fundamentalism, and terrorism are the norms in the Middle East. Nation-states are disappearing. And there are plenty of nuclear dangers all over here.”
“Yes there are. What els
e can the agency…you, tell me about the pipelines?”
“Please. A lot more than what the world thinks. Everything is falling in place, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Israel and ISIS; even in Eurasia with Kazakhstan…”
“What do you mean, falling in place?”
“It's all about the pipelines. I should not say anymore. I asked questions about John's mission once, when he was in Turkey. He was not the same when he returned. That is when he started hitting me. The director came to my rescue and moved me to a safe house for a period, telling me to keep low until it was safe. He came to see me often, and not always for business. I believe he felt sorry for me.”
“How long did this go on?”
“Several months until he offered me a position in the agency and then began sending me on field missions.”
“Jeez! Are you sure his wife found out about you?”
“That's what he told me anyway. We couldn't see each other anymore because of it.”
“Lyna, have you ever heard the term, 'expendable?”
“Yes of course, but…” Lyna stopped abruptly and looked wide-eyed at Ron. “You don't think…”
“Yes I do.”
“And-and, this mission?”
“I'm not sure now. I know Abdullah and Hassan. He may really want a better life for Mariam. Your agency, however, may have stumbled upon an opportunity.”
“My God!”
“We will need him.”
“Who?”
“God! So, how are you with this AK?” Ron asked while handing her the weapon.
“I've shot with it many times on the range.” She thumbed the large, sheet metal safety lever on the right side of the weapon frame and made sure that the lever was set in the uppermost position. Then, she pushed the safety lever down, slid the bolt to the rear and said, “You want me to chamber a round.”
“Go for it.” He handed her a magazine and watched when she placed her left hand over the top of the stock and inserted the magazine into the mag well while rocking it rearward. Ron heard the loud click, indicating it was secure. Lyna canted her rifle upward exposing the ejection port. Then, she reached over the top of the receiver and vigorously charged the bolt without riding it forward, allowing the heavy recoil spring do its job.
Love In The House Of War Page 17