by Ian Redman
Sonia looked puzzled, then smiled as she noticed her employer’s secretary’s eyes, they were slightly bloodshot. Ah, she thought, too much to drink last night, “no problem Ms Zeist. Mister Von Kurst, what would you like?”
“Black coffee for me please Sonia, with no sugar as usual.”
Sonia’s smile continued, “of course Mister Von Kurst, and how was your stay at Feldtberg Castle, pleasant I trust?”
“Very pleasant indeed Sonia, thank you.” Von Kurst sat back in his seat and turned to face Helga as the attractive stewardess made her way to the aircraft’s galley. “How are you feeling my love?” Gently, his hand took hold of Helga’s as he looked deeply into her eyes.
“To be honest Otto, I feel very sick.”
“Try to relax, once we are under way, you can sleep.” Soothingly, the Chairman and Managing Director of Von Kurst Electronics leaned over and kissed Helga’s forehead, which he noticed was warm and clammy. He smiled again at the woman whose life was changing rapidly, right in front of his very eyes.
Their bodies shook with the thunderous power of the CH47 Chinook’s twin engines, its two massive sets of rotors revolving at breakneck speed. The Central European Anti Terrorism Agency’s Rapid Reaction Team, more commonly known in CEATA as Team Echo were the best of the best from Europe’s elite anti terrorist teams. France’s GIGN, Germany’s GSG9, Belgium’s ESI, Holland’s BBE, Italy’s NOCS, Spain’s GEOS and Great Britain’s SAS all played their part in Europe’s most formidable, highly covert anti terrorist team.
Ash Piper’s detachment from Team Echo sat stern faced on hard benches to the sides of the Chinook’s cavernous interior, fully equipped with the latest Kevlar Body Armour, visor mounted helmets and Heckler and Koch MP5 Submachine Guns. Twenty-four men and women, a major contingent from the forty members of Team Echo who were always on standby, ready to move at a moment’s notice to counter any major terrorist threat across Europe.
As the large troop transport helicopter flew low over treetops, highways and towns, its well-armed passengers listened intently to a message arriving in from Commander Maurice Hertschell. “Team Echo, this is CEATA Control. The photograph you are about to view is of Claude Bescann…” Piper flicked a switch and adjusted the brightness control as a photograph appeared on a drop down screen for all to view and study…carefully. “Some of you from the GIGN will know this man and quite possibly, greatly respect him…” the Commander’s words echoed in everyone’s headsets as his voice and the photograph, transmitted by satellite, relayed important information. “However, it is currently of vital importance to bring Bescann in for questioning with possible reference to the current terrorist activities affecting mainland Europe.” There was a pause as the thunderous vibrating of the helicopter’s rotors continued, “hopefully we will not have to use force, however, our current intelligence suggests there may be a threat involving firearms around this farmhouse!” The photograph changed, this time to an overhead satellite view of Piper’s team’s destination, a farmhouse and its outlying grounds in the Versailles region of France. “At present a contingent of GIGN officers, along with local Gendarmes have arrived at the vicinity of the target area. They have instructions not to move in until your arrival. This is important Team Echo, as our satellite recon suggests eleven suspects moving in and around the vicinity of the farmhouse. These may well cause the threat which you, will have to counter.”
“If you and Ms Zeist would like to fasten your seat belts Mister Von Kurst, we are ready to taxi.” Sonia wore her bright smile again, but this time she looked slightly concerned. “Ms Zeist, are you alright?” she asked politely.
“Helga is feeling a little under the weather Sonia, it’s nothing to worry about,” replied Von Kurst. With a satisfactory nod of her head Sonia walked back to her seat, fastening herself in as Von Kurst turned to Helga, a look of dire concern quickly emanating across his face. Something is wrong he thought, terribly wrong. Ever so gently, he squeezed Helga’s hand, the gesture being a show of warmth and compassion for the woman he was falling deeply in love with…once again.
“Let me make this quite clear, you do not fire unless fired upon.” With the CEATA Chinook Helicopter flying at break neck speed, thundering ever closer to its drop zone, Team Echo continued to listen intently to Commander Hertschell’s briefing. “Once Victor Nine lands, you will follow instructions from Sergeant Piper. Our plan is to drop you half a kilometre from the target zone, with the GIGN team then liasing with Piper. You will quickly spread out, circle and close in on the farmhouse. This is a very important mission ladies and gentlemen, Bescann must be taken alive. I wish you good luck. CEATA Control out!”
The large screen in the Chinook’s transport hold closed out. “Alright everyone,” said Piper over his Com-link, “twenty five minutes to the target area.” Piper turned to the Team Echo colleague to his left. It was a long time since he had been in the company of Sergeant Tim Winters and he was glad to have him by his side. “It’s good to be working with you again Tim.”
“You too mate, feels like old times, hey?” Tim Winters had been a close friend in Piper’s days with the British Parachute regiment, with both having seen active service together in the Kosovan War in 1999 and Sierra Leone in 2000. In January 2001, Sergeant Winters had been recommended for Special Air Service duty, with Piper joining just four months later. From then on, they had never had contact with each other.
“So Tim, when did you get pulled into CEATA?” Although Piper’s mind, like everyone else aboard the Chinook was firmly set on the job ahead, he was happy to find out more about his old friend’s recent past.
“Just over four months ago, but I didn’t realise you’d been pulled in as well!”
“It’s a long story; I’ll tell you all about it when I have a chance.” Piper paused and looked around at the other body armoured men and women sat in the Chinook. They were all talking to each other or sitting silently. He returned his gaze to Winters, “so what have you been involved with since you joined CEATA?”
Winters eyes suddenly held a look of cold steel. “Operation White Swan,” he said as Piper fell silent.
“Herr Standartenfuhrer!” Josef’s voice snapped through the small radio handset on Claude Bescann’s desk.
He picked it up, “yes, Josef!”
“We are nearly finished dismantling the assault course, all the timber is stored in and around the barn. No one would notice anything out of the ordinary if they checked around the place.”
“Well done, and the netting over the target range?”
“All cleared up. The target boards are in the back of the van, along with the four boxes of MP44s. We are just about ready!”
“Excellent Josef. Call in the rest of the grenadiers and make your way to my office.”
“Of course, Herr Standartenfuhrer.”
Claude Bescann put the handset back on his desk and smiled to himself. Good he thought; we can leave!
“Operation White Swan?” Ash Piper looked puzzled.
“Of course! You wouldn’t know about it with you only recently joining CEATA.”
“SERGEANT PIPER, FIFTEEN MINUTES TO THE TARGET AREA!”
The pilot’s voice resonated clearly through Piper’s Com-link as he acknowledged the communication. “Quickly Tim,” he said, somewhat perplexed, “tell me about White Swan.” It was the familiar feeling of warning, the sixth sense he had gained from the wolf, creeping across the back of his neck that suddenly made Ash Piper feel very uneasy!
“I’d only just arrived at CEATA, and was immediately briefed about a situation that had been developing over the last four months or so. CEATA and the Russian Federal Security Service, you know, the FSB, think it involves the Mafia and quite possibly the SVR.”
“Yes, go on!”
“Russian customs officials recently came across two HGVs crossing into the Ukraine, their final destination was Kiev. The two trucks were carrying crate loads of some of the vilest DVD footage you have ever seen. The DVDs wer
e to be distributed on the black market and sold on to various perverts across Europe, with the profits being used to help fund small terrorist groups and a white slavery ring.” The hairs on the back of Piper’s neck became rigid as Winters continued, “have you ever heard of Snuff movies Ash?” Piper nodded his head, dreading what Tim was going to say next.
“As you know, like you I can speak fluent Russian! Well, I’d been working under cover with the FSB for a few weeks, when we found out more about the content of the DVDs and where some of them were being filmed. I joined a raid with a team from the Alfa Group. We hit a warehouse on the outskirts of Moscow,” Winters shook his head, not in sorrow, but in revulsion. “Shit Ash, you’d never seen anything so fucking disgusting in all your life. They’d been torturing and raping three girls, all kidnapped, aged between fourteen and eighteen. The bastards had been filming every damned little bit of their torment and were about to film their murders!”
“Fucking hell,” muttered Piper, shaking his head in disbelief, his blue and amber eyes aglow with anger.
“The girls were killed in the raid, used as shields by the bastards! I tell you Ash, it’s all connected to the Russian Mafia and we think the SVR are definitely linked in somewhere.”
Piper didn’t speak. The SVR he thought, the fucking SVR, no wonder Jeanette Descard was so interested in her theories! “Tim,” Piper said quickly, “the clues you have regarding these DVDs, are there any leading to contacts in St Petersburg?”
Winters looked somewhat surprised and shook his head, “no, not as far as I am aware.”
“Shit! Does Jeanette Descard know about this?”
“Yes, and the Commander and the Colonel. I think you’re going to be involved soon enough, that’s why I don’t give a fuck about telling you.”
“When are you heading back to Moscow?”
“Tuesday, and I’m going to make sure we nail the shits!”
“SERGEANT PIPER, FIVE MINUTES TO THE TARGET AREA!”
“AFFIRMATIVE!” Piper rose from the bench, “TEAM ECHO, LOCK AND LOAD! ONCE WE DISEMBARK, SPLIT TEAMS, ECHELONS LEFT AND RIGHT!” As the CEATA combatants stood up, checking weaponry and adjusting their body armour, Piper patted Winters on his shoulder. “If I know you Tim, you’ll get the bastards.” He smiled at his friend as the Chinook began descending. Then, without warning, Ash Piper began to feel violently sick.
The take off had been smooth, Captain Bauer and his co-pilot handling the Learjet with graceful precision as Sonia unbuckled her seat belt and walked over to her passengers. “OH, MS ZEIST!” The VKE stewardess sounded genuinely shocked as Helga Zeist quickly grabbed one of the cabin’s sick bags and vomited into it.
“Helga,” Otto Von Kurst looked desperately worried, “what is the matter, something is wrong, isn’t it?”
“I’ll get another glass of water Mister Von Kurst,” said Sonia, quickly making her way to the galley.
Helga Zeist shook her head, the look in her bloodshot eyes one of grave apprehension, “Otto,” she whimpered, “he hunts again!”
“What!” A deep, rumbling growl emitted from Von Kurst’s throat as he clenched his fists, “Helga, what are you telling me…Helga?”
She vomited again, “oh my head, it aches so much. Otto…I can see him, in my thoughts,” another heave of vomit left Helga’s mouth as she sat back, her eyes now virtually blood red.
“Here we go Ms Zeist,” Sonia began walking back from the galley.
“Turn to the window Helga,” whispered Von Kurst, “don’t let Sonia see your eyes!” Von Kurst took the glass of water, “don’t worry Sonia! I think Helga had a little too much champagne last night. She’ll be fine, she just needs peace and quiet.”
Sonia smiled affectionately at her handsome employer, as most women did, “of course Mister Von Kurst, just let me know if you require anything else.”
As Sonia walked back to the galley, Von Kurst felt the hairs on the back of his neck become rigid. “Helga,” he whispered again, “you must tell me, what do you see?”
The Chinook landed heavily in a clearing beside a large cluster of apple trees, the rear cargo door slowly descending as the powerful helicopter’s occupants prepared to disembark.
“Control to Red Haze, do you copy?” Colonel Mann’s voice crackled through Piper’s Com-link as CEATA’s Rapid Reaction troops formed two groups, one at each side of the Chinook.
“GO AHEAD, CONTROL!” Piper shouted, the thumping of the rotor blades making everyone’s bodies shake.
“We are patching you through to Captain Estelle Rinise of the GIGN. She has worked with Team Echo before. As per our previous conversation, you will liase this operation with Captain Rinise from now on, do you understand?”
“COPY CONTROL, PUT ME THROUGH!” Piper turned and waved to the pilot, who gave the traditional thumbs up sign. It was time for the massive helicopter to leave. Everyone bent low as the Chinook’s twin rotors gathered speed, bringing Victor Nine to a hover then away it flew, furiously beating the air and vanishing into the distance. There was a loud crackling of static through Piper’s Com-link as his colleagues knelt down, their weapons at the ready. With the thumping of the Chinook’s rotors quickly fading away, the Team Echo combatants looked at their team leader, waiting for instructions.
“Sergeant Piper, this is Captain Rinise, it is a pleasure to work with you.”
The Anglo French female voice was clear and resonant as Piper replied, “likewise Captain. I take it Colonel Mann has already briefed you regarding Team Echo’s plan?”
“Affirmative Sergeant, we are ready to move when you are.”
“Very well Captain, we are now advancing toward the close proximity of the farmhouse. Stand by for further instructions.” Piper took a firm grip on his MP5, “ALRIGHT EVERYONE, WE SPLIT AS USUAL! TWO TEAMS, KEEP TO YOUR ECHELON POSITIONS! USE THE TREES AS COVER AND REMEMBER…” Piper paused, he had a headache, “DO NOT FIRE UNLESS FIRED UPON. LET’S MOVE OUT!”
Otto Von Kurst put his hand into his inside jacket pocket and pulled out a small oblong box. “Helga, stay calm,” he whispered, “just stay calm.” Somewhat nervously, he glanced behind him. Sonia was busy in the galley. Good he thought, quickly opening the oblong box and pulling out a hypodermic syringe and a vial of yellow liquid. Hurriedly, he plunged the needle into the vial and drained a small amount of the liquid into the syringe, tapping its side with his index finger, removing any unwanted, dangerous air pockets. “Your arm Helga, quickly,” he whispered.
Helga Zeist tried her best not to cry, but the pain in her head was unbearable and so too, the visions of the man, the lone wolf…hunting! Calmly, Von Kurst rolled up Helga’s sleeve, rubbed a small sterile wipe around a tiny part of her skin and inserted the needle into one of her veins. He looked around again. Thankfully, there was still no sign of Sonia. “I had hoped not to use this Helga, but I fear I must, as of now.” With the injection complete, Von Kurst returned the syringe and vial to the small box and deftly returned it to his inside jacket pocket. He turned again to Helga and rolled her sleeve back down her arm. “There my love, the wolf will recede for some time now. The injection I have given you is a serum developed by my father,” he paused as Helga vomited into yet another sick bag, her sweat dripping off her brow and down her pain racked face. “The injection will arrest the shifting of your body into wolf form for over twenty four hours. Only I know of its formula.”
Helga looked into her lover’s eyes and smiled. “Thank you Otto,” she whispered weakly, “thank you.”
Von Kurst held Helga’s hand once more, kissed her gently on the cheek and whispered again into her ear. “Now Helga, tell me what you have seen…quickly!”
“I tell you Herr Standartenfuhrer, it was a fucking Chinook, I’d recognise that sound anywhere.” The grenadier named Josef knew trouble was coming.
“Yes I know, I heard it in the distance too. I think it has landed near the apple grove,” replied Claude Bescann.
“So what do we do Herr Standartenfuhrer?�
�� There was a look of tension on Josef’s hardened face as he and three other grenadiers waited for their orders.
“We stay calm Josef, and out of sight!”
“Very well, I will arm the men. We still have several MP44s in one of the bedrooms.”
Claude Bescann nodded his head, “yes, do that!” Josef and the other grenadiers bowed their heads, clicked their heels and swiftly left Bescann’s office. So, what now, thought The New Totenkopf’s Colonel as he opened one of his desk drawers and pulled out a Glock 17. Sitting back in his chair with his thoughts racing, he put the handgun gently on his desk and gazed at the clock.
“Team Echo, hold position,” Ash Piper’s voice was calm yet authorative. Both he and the rest of the Team Echo detachment had moved stealthily but quickly, and were now just several hundred metres from the southeast section of the farmhouse.
“Just like Kosovo, hey Ash?” Tim Winters had the same look in his eyes as Piper. It was a look telling of imminent combat, with only one simple rule. Kill or be killed!
“Yes Tim.” Piper scanned the farmhouse with his high-powered binoculars. “Red Haze to Control.”
“Reading loud and clear Red Haze,” Colonel Mann stood watching the events at Claude Bescann’s farmhouse unfold with great trepidation, so too, were his CEATA colleagues.
“Team Echo are now in position. I am about to liase with Captain Rinise then we move in. Can you reconfirm the expected number of combatants in the target area, over!”
“Thermal satellite recon suggests eleven combatants total, one will be Claude Bescann. All are inside the main farmhouse building, most probably forming defensive positions. They obviously know you are coming Red Haze, good luck!”
“Affirmative Control, Red Haze out!” Piper glanced at his watch then at Tim Winters. “Well,” he whispered, “here we go. Captain Rinise, Team Echo are go, you may move into position!”