Brilliant New Light (Chance Lyon military adventure series Book 3)

by Van Torrey

Morris continued, “Is the rumor these terrorists were Koreans - in fact North Koreans - true? If so, this is the second major incident involving this renegade regime. If it is, at least we are not dealing with stateless terrorists like al-Qaeda or ISIS.”

  Although President Hunter and her National Security Team knew the ethnic identities of the attackers, this information had not been released to the media or to the Congressional community. There was still too much investigation to be done by U.S. intelligence professionals, and there was no possibility that survivors of the attack would know anything about the identities of the terrorists. A previous agreement earlier in the day between Rachel Hunter and the CIA Director established that this information was not yet ready to be released.

  Marilyn Mitchell took a subtle signal from President Hunter and answered the Senator. “Senator, between the FBI and CIA we have some leads, but we’re not yet ready to say for sure what group - or individuals - were responsible for this. At the moment we have a lot of conflicting stories from the crew that we are trying to validate. We may have something definite in a few days.”

  “Well, can’t you tell us something, Ms. Mitchell?” pleaded the Congressman.

  “When we have something that we know is factual, the CIA and DNI Rollins will be informing the President,” was Mitchell’s reply.

  “...And I will inform the Congress promptly,” added the President.

  Sensing the rising frustration from the visiting delegation, Philip Johnson rose to speak. “The worst thing we could do at the moment, gentlemen, is to release information based on conjecture that is bound to be released to the national media. If this turns out to be wrong we risk jeopardizing and alienating people who were not actually involved and, or, risking the outing of valuable intelligence sources. If the media wishes to speculate for the sake of television ratings or sales of newspapers that is their business. We are not going to comment on the identities of these people until we know the facts based on our agencies’ professional investigation.”

  “CNN and the New York Times are already saying that their sources tell them that we have found dead ethnic Koreans in the area of the explosions,” said the Congressman.

  “What I can tell you, Congressman,” said President Hunter cryptically, “is they didn’t hear that from us.”

  *

  The next day Rachel Hunter met with her National Security Team once again to reassess their options. “I’ve given this situation additional consideration overnight. While I abide by my decision to react with force to the terrorists, we should and we will take the time to collect more facts before we tailor an appropriate response,” announced Rachel Hunter.

  She continued, “I have decided to pursue a double edged strategy of completing the law enforcement and intelligence gathering investigation as quickly as possible, while attempting to go through the DPRK’s only Asian ally, the People’s Republic of China, to try to get some reaction from the Fhang government about this atrocity. Toward that end, the FBI and the CIA will continue to pull out all the stops to find and apprehend the mysterious Mr. Yim, and we will try to expedite the interrogation of the wounded Korean. Finally, I am dispatching Secretary Randolph to meet with the Chinese Premier in an attempt to make the Chinese government confidentially aware of the ethnicity of the terrorists as well as using their good offices to attempt to communicate with the Fhang regime regarding what they know about this, more specifically whether they were complicit in establishing this terrorist cell. The results of this dual focused strategy will drive our decisions going forward.”

  *

  Chance Lyon had been staying at his grandfather’s home in Georgetown after he and John Olyphant completed their work on the Caribbean Star. Olyphant had returned to his ranch in southern Arizona, on notice that the two might be sent out on another mission connected with this yet unresolved tragedy. Lyon’s cell phone rang up late in the day after the National Security Team meeting identifying the caller on the phone’s display simply as “Groomer”.

  “Chance, there is some additional work to be done regarding last week. Will you meet me at the K-Street location around six, so we may discuss?”

  Chance saw that Wheatley was in a somber mood. He looked exhausted and had a day’s growth of beard, but reeked of after-shave, probably covering up the fact that he hadn’t showered for two days. “Chance this is Special Agent John Warren, one of my go-to guys when it comes to dealing with the kind of shit-sandwich we’re munching on now. He works counter-terrorism for us and I’m going to turn you over to him for the time being. I’m up to my ass in alligators with the President and Ray Rollins at the moment.”

  The two men cautiously and formally shook hands while Wheatley continued. “I’ve briefed John in on what you and Olyphant have done for us so far - as far back as the Mexico thing - and he’s in on everything. He’s a former Recon Marine and has been working for me since Nine-Eleven. He knows what it takes to get the job done sometimes. He’s up to speed on your background as well. At least you were both in the Navy...more or less.”

  “President Hunter wants the CIA and the FBI to put on the full-court press finding Yim. He’s the key to getting intel on the unanswered questions concerning this caper. The list of those open questions you gave to me in your report is the punch list for your mission. There’s nothing in writing on this, Chance, but if you and Olyphant can find this guy, I don’t care what it takes, just get something complete and accurate back to John here, and keep Yim on ice somewhere we can keep him safe and talkative. I can’t use my in-house assets for this, for obvious reasons.”

  Later that evening Lyon and Warren met with some CIA intelligence types at their offices at CIA Headquarters in Langley. One of their analysts started the brief. “Based on what you and your partner got from Number One, the escape mechanism seems to have been some type of small freighter - a coast crawler - that works the eastern coasts of Central American hauling mostly legitimate cargo and, occasionally, contraband in the form of drugs, weapons, or people. Frankly, we don’t get much cooperation from our Latin American neighbors on this due to corruption at high levels, and we have to watch out for sovereignty issues when we want to challenge something we think might be illegal.”

  “Any leads on the possible get-away vessel?” asked Warren.

  “We went over some satellite images from the National Reconnaissance Office as well as some IR drone images that DEA have from working this area and there seems to be one vessel that we can trace movements of the night of the attack. The Korean detainee kept mentioning Honduras, so we put two and two together and traced this ship’s movements to a tiny resort and fishing port in northeastern Honduras called Puerto Cortes. The ship is still there and we’re keeping tabs on it.” “What’s the chances of getting a surveillance drone working the dock area of Puerto Cortes and seeing what we can pick up from this scow?” asked Lyon.

  The analyst looked at John Warren as if to ask if Chance was cleared for what he was about to answer and Warren just nodded in the affirmative.

  “We have assets in El Salvador that could possibly make those arrangements. That’s highly classified,” he nodded in Chance’s direction.

  “Well, okay,” continued Chance, “What about access and egress, especially if we wind up with a passenger without a passport, if you know what I mean?”

  “Just a minute guys, this one is a little out of my pay grade,” replied the briefer/analyst. Five minutes later the briefer came back with a person in a coat and tie who introduced himself as “Mister O’Brien”. “Mr. Lyon, you’re well connected around here, I see. The DDI, said to give you everything you need. Evidently Director Mitchell vouched personally for you.”

  Lyon merely nodded in affirmation toward a skeptical Mr. O’Brien.

  The suit continued, “As far as access in this area we have certain...arrangements...with some of the natural resource companies who have business interests in the Caribbean. In this case, Texaco has a refinery in this port that is vital t
o the economy of the area and they have a helicopter pad at the site. We can move you in and out under the guise of being engineers at this facility. I can get you bullet-proof IDs and phony passports right away. Mr. Lyon, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you - but I will anyway - this site is extremely important cover for us in the region and any compromise of it would be very embarrassing for Texaco and a strategic disaster for CIA.”

  “Got it,” was all that Chance offered in return.

  With the inter-agency coordination complete and the documentation arrangements made, Chance Lyon and John Warren agreed to meet at FBI Headquarters early the next morning. With operational plans swirling in his head, Chance would get little sleep this night.

  The next morning he called John Olyphant at his ranch and gave him a head’s up. “Blackie, this is Chance. As soon as you can get to Belize City, meet me at the Princess Hotel. Just tell your friends you’re going scuba diving for a few days. I’ll fill you in when we get there. You’ll have to leave your heater at home for this one. And bring along some Pentothal.”

  True to his Navy SEAL cultural roots, Lyon’s plan was simple and straight-forward, with a few “safety outs” along the way. Since insert and recovery would be by helicopter, they would travel to Puerto Cortes from the Belize City airport by a CIA Bell JetRanger with Texaco markings. He and Olyphant would go through the motions of clearing with the Honduran authorities at the Texaco refinery and hang around the refinery for show and stay at one of the local hotels. CIA had a couple of reliable locals on the pad who might be useful getting a lead on Yim, if he was still around, or might be able to point Lyon and Olyphant in the right direction if he had already bugged out. Either way, he was confident they could run Mr. Yim to ground. If so, he would talk!

  *

  Alexander Randolph was well respected by the Chinese. When Jeremiah Bledsoe, the U.S. Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, requested an urgent personal meeting for his boss, Secretary of State Randolph, with the Chinese Premier, his request was granted the next day. In diplomatic parlance, the word “urgent” was rarely used unless it was deemed warranted by both parties.

  Randolph and Bledsoe were granted an audience with the Premier and China’s Foreign Minister in the Premier’s private office - the equivalent of the White House Oval Office. As the Chinese Premier spoke no English, all the parties were grateful for the presence of Bledsoe, who had an excellent command of the frequently nuanced Chinese Mandarin dialect spoken by the Premier and his Foreign Minister.

  After greetings and pleasantries that were always part of any meaningful dialogue with the hospitable and ultra-civilized Chinese, Randolph came directly to the point. Of course, the Chinese were aware of the attack on the cruise liner in the Caribbean but displayed mild surprise when Randolph revealed to them in confidence that the evidence was irrefutable it had been carried out by civilian operatives from the DPRK who had been dispatched to the United States as a sleeper cell, with the intent of perpetrating this act of terror. The Secretary did not reveal the source of the intelligence in hand, but he did say that the men were definitely not North Korean military. “I would not be telling you this, Mr. Premier,” said Secretary Randolph, “unless we had information directly from someone who participated in the attack...and he, too, is an ethnic Korean.”

  After a moment, Randolph continued. “Mr. Premier, this act, combined with the killing of President Braxton, is considered a most reprehensible act of insult and aggression against the country of the United States of America and its citizens. I hope you will appreciate the fact that President Hunter is displaying a sense of patience and restraint while we investigate this matter to the fullest, before she decides on any response. There are certain questions that must be answered very clearly and in the shortest possible time. The President has asked me to speak to you directly for your assistance in this extremely grave matter.”

  Once again in the lexicon of international diplomacy, when the words “extremely” and “grave” were used together, particularly by high ranking diplomats, this was a signal to all parties that a flashpoint was potentially near. Bledsoe could tell by the body language of the Foreign Minister that Randolph had gotten the attention of the Chinese leadership with his careful phrasing of events.

  Both Americans were looking for at least some non-verbal reaction from the Chinese Premier to these revelations, but when the phrase “inscrutable countenance” was mentioned in conversation, the Chinese Premier could have been the poster boy for its visualization.

  Then the Premier spoke softly and briefly to his Foreign Minister, which elicited this response.

  “Mr. Randolph, the Premier wishes to extend his deepest regrets to the people of the United States and to President Hunter directly for this tragic loss. Additionally, he wishes to know how the government of the People’s Republic of China may be helpful in this matter.”

  This was precisely the opening Randolph had been looking for, and he cleared his throat before responding. “Mr. Premier, the United States is most interested in determining whether this group was acting under the orders of the current regime, that is General Fhang, or were they directed by holdovers from the previous Chong regime? As you know, we have no diplomatic relationship with the DPRK and it is, therefore, extremely difficult for us to communicate meaningfully with them.”

  Bledsoe thought he noticed a slight twitch in the Chinese Premier’s facial expression that might be interpreted as an expression of annoyance - but with whom? He wondered.

  “Finally, and of equal importance, Mr. Premier, we are most anxious to know if there are other cells currently in place in the United States who have similar intentions of terrorist activities.”

  Once again, the Premier spoke softly and at greater length with his Foreign Minister.

  “How, specifically, may we be of assistance in this matter?” asked the Chinese Foreign Minister.

  “My President is asking your Premier to use the good offices of the government of the People’s Republic of China to query General Fhang directly about this matter and to get answers to these questions,” answered Randolph evenly.

  The Foreign Minister paused briefly and then raised his eyebrows as if to say that this was a matter for consideration on the part of the Premier. “If you and your ambassador can come to my office tomorrow at one in the afternoon, perhaps I will have an answer for you,” he said. “Until then, gentlemen...”

  In the car on the way back from the meeting with the Premier, Bledsoe spoke softly to Randolph. “I think I smell trouble here, sir.”

  “How so?”

  “My guess is that the Chinese are growing weary of constantly being asked to referee these smoldering disputes between the United States and the DPRK. Perhaps the Premier feels this is a task that is beneath him and he may also be wary of being caught as the man-in-the-middle of a situation he cannot control.”

  CHAPTER 25

  GEO TAGGED AND BAGGED

  “He can run, but he can’t hide.”

  Joe Louis (American boxer)

  *

  Yim Soo-wok was on the run. But it wasn’t as if he had any place to go. His Cuban handler, Mario, was to have made contact with Yim in the Honduran port of Puerto Cortes two days after the attack on the Caribbean Star, but so far he had not surfaced.

  Puerto Cortes was a resort town with a small harbor mostly used by sport fishing boats and an occasional tramp freighter like the Colon. Small oil tankers were frequent visitors as well, but they anchored off the Texaco refinery to take on cargo and were gone quickly. Puerto Cortes was a small place, fairly isolated and off the beaten track, populated almost entirely by Hondurans. Gringo tourists coming ashore from their boats were common, but Asians were extremely rare. For this reason, Yim was self-confined to the Colon, at least in the daytime.

  Captain Orcharo felt confined to the port, primarily because he was responsible for the safety of Yim until the mysterious Mario took him off his hands, but with Yim on board, Orcharo
felt vulnerable and even trapped. His concerns were somewhat allayed, however, by the fact Yim had paid him five-thousand dollars in used United States currency, which could go a long way in Latin America, and that money more than offset the loss of revenue he was enduring by baby-sitting the North Korean. Orcharo’s main concern was some international paramilitary force would trace Yim to the Colon and seize it along with Yim. This would make him, as Captain, an accessory and likely land him in jail, possibly even that hell-hole Guantanamo where he would have to live elbow to elbow with those “Islamic pigs”, as he called them.

  Orcharo was not the only person who felt trapped by this arrangement. Yim was growing increasingly concerned, first with each passing hour, then with each passing day, that Mario had not appeared to rescue him. The plan had been for Mario to charter a sport-fishing rig in Belize, make his way to Puerto Cortes, rescue Yim, rendezvous with a Cuban ship in the Caribbean, and convey the Korean safely back to Cuba. All the papers Yim had with him were relatively poor fakes meant primarily to satisfy the Caribbean Star’s Captain if he was confronted. His real DPRK identity papers were still in Cuba. Yim was essentially a stateless person on a boat registered in Colombia, South America, with no rights or any potential advocate. He was alone in every legal respect.

  *

  Chance Lyon and John Olyphant waited patiently in the friendly environment of Belize City, a haven for Americans and well-to-do Mexicans who enjoyed sport-fishing, SCUBA diving, and general beach bumming. Until the CIA could get the slightest clue about Yim, the plan was for Lyon and Olyphant to lay low.

  *

  The Argus drone was the latest iteration of surveillance platform in the United States intelligence arsenal. With its two gigapixel camera and capability of staying silently aloft over a stationary point for weeks at a time, it was capable of identifying a human being six-feet tall from an altitude of seventeen-thousand feet and transmitting that imagery to a ground station for instant analysis. With the USS Ronald Reagan station-keeping in the Caribbean, the National Reconnaissance Office had one of the high tech drones flown out to the Reagan and dispatched by its ground crew to spy on the Colon, still docked and looking like a dirty penny, in the harbor at Puerto Cortes. If Yim was on the Colon and ever ventured out on the deck or left the ship, there was an excellent chance the drone’s imagery would pick him up and photo-I.D. him. This would be the first step in geo-tagging the man for the subsequent top secret activity of Tag-and-Track, a photo-imaging software algorithm developed by the CIA and NRO to find al-Qaeda leaders traveling in the Middle East, and taking them out with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles launched from the hunter-killer drone. In this case, however, the strategy would be to isolate the presence of Yim factually, and then have Lyon and Olyphant move in for the capture. A secondary goal of the mission strategy would be to identify and track the mysterious Mario, capture him, and wring what was undoubtedly a wealth of useful intelligence out of him.