The Clinic

by Ray Carole

  Gerry and Sean popped out through the small five-foot door within the huge steel chain-pully doors, squinting their eyes a little, as they adjusted to the natural light levels.

  As both rear doors opened, the frames of Mick and Robby appeared.

  Sean waved his right hand that caught Robby’s eye. Waving back they both headed over to the reception party.

  A few quick handshakes and pleasantries, and they all moved inside. The driver drove off to join his team in an over-watch position.

  ‘Okay guys this is what’s going to happen,’ Gerry got everyone’s attention. ‘In the next four hours or so we have a lot to cover with updates and final briefs. This is how it’s going to work. First things first, I want Mick and Robby to sort all your equipment out for the jump in and subsequent shake out on the ice. I mean everything. Get the pulk all packed, individual kit all fitted, test cookers, and put the tent up. The full nine yards please. Sean and I will sort all your communications kit out. Set your GPSs up with the right settings, test all your satellite phones and Sims. Test your beacons and video cameras, along with the handheld radios in case you use them. I know it’s quick-fire stuff, are we all on board?’

  Mick, Robby and Sean nodded rapidly.

  Gerry stepped outside and began the process of activating the two phones. Iridium had a global footprint and were generally foolproof. In Antarctica it was only the odd polar storm or sunspot that denied connection to the orbiting satellites.

  Communications was essential to mission success and Gerry wasn’t going to take any shortcuts testing kit. Most operations that went tits up in a bad way was either due to miscommunication, or just no communication at all due to technical faults or user error. User error normally meant not updating security crypto or failing to follow proper security protocols. This was another thing he would address later, correct protocols.

  Sean was entering all the GPS settings for this part of the world. Once he configured the GPS he entered a number of waypoints. These were vital co-ordinates in case things went wrong. It gave a number of Extraction Points (EP) sites. This would all become apparent in Gerry’s final brief.

  Gerry double-checked all the co-ordinates that Sean had plugged in. They were fine. Last few things were the video camera, dictaphone and point-and-shoot handheld camera. In fact the most important pieces of kit were the lighters and matches. Without a stove to melt snow into water to cook food, and also warm them both up they would be useless.

  ‘Where are we at lads?’ Gerry requested wanting to start moving.

  He rose and moved over to the table which had a few maps laid out on it. Gesturing for the guys to come and join him they looked in curiously. From a distance the paper looked to be blank, on closer inspection it was indeed a map of Antarctica.

  Everyone sat down at the table, it had an annoying wobble on the far right leg that Mick and Sean immediately counteracted with their elbows. Gerry clocked it.

  ‘This place is a far cry from the futuristic operations centre at Langley I know, but it’s growing on me. It will be sad to say goodbye shortly, but it’s served its purpose so let’s give you the latest before it collapses.’

  Gerry’s dry humour had begun to grow on the guys. He always maintained one level to work at, never raising his voice, getting worked up or losing his temper. Gerry just stayed in neutral to an outsider. Though his neutral was the equivalent of most operators going flat out in 5th gear, he simply went about business in cruise control.

  Gerry placed two pieces of A4 paper on the table, then spun them round to face Mick and Robby. They were sketch maps with sequenced timelines, names and scenarios.

  ‘There have been a few changes lads and this will mean a number of things’ Gerry said, knowing this next ten minutes might raise huge debate.

  ‘Really Gerry, at this stage’? Mick said, looking at Sean who was stood next to Gerry. Sean nodded slightly, confirming it wasn’t a wind up.

  ‘Look at this sketch map’ Gerry tapping his finger on the map he had drawn.

  ‘A picture paints a 1000 words and all that shit. ALE have confirmed a few things. One, Trans-Ant team will pick Sean and myself up if we can join them at the South Pole. They seem to have bought into our documentary story.’

  Mick looked at the sketch, waiting for the big ‘but’, as he noted a timeline change. There was also an additional heading of ‘WHITEOUT and TRANS-ANT RV’.

  Gerry continued: ‘Trans-Ant are going to try and meet WHITEOUT in three or four days at approximately this point’, Gerry placed his fingers on the spot. ‘They have predicted if he skies for four days at 18-20NM per day on a 127 degree bearing, it will place him around this area’. Gerry repositioned his finger to the RV position.

  ‘Don’t get flustered.’ Gerry saw Mick twitch. ‘Nothing changes, it just means you take him down 24hrs earlier than planned. If you don’t, then he will make it to the RV with Trans-Ant. If that happens, that’s where we take over’. Gerry gestured at Sean who gave a confident nod before Mick started talking.

  ‘Okay.’ Mick slid the sketch map closer. Looking at the sketch it was numbered chronologically. Without Gerry needing to prompt Mick, he took control of the operation ‘Point 1. 0700 tomorrow you two go to Union Glacier and set up. 2. We jump the night after tomorrow, landing at approx 0230 hrs. 3. You give us his latest position, the bearing and distance we need to ski on to intercept his tracks.’

  ‘Correct’ Gerry said.

  ‘Okay, 4. After you give us this, we will still need to locate his tracks by doing a box search’ A box search was a simple technique of starting from a known point and working outwards in larger size boxes to locate whatever you’re looking for, in this case WHITEOUT’s ski tracks.

  ‘5. Then we follow them, before stopping short out of distance so he can’t detect us’

  ‘Okay I’ve got that’ Robby spoke up, acknowledging the plan.

  Mick continued to trace his finger along the timeline of the sketch.

  ‘6. We follow him that day staying a few hours behind him. Wait for him to set up tent, then 7. We close in around 0230 for the retrieval of the Memory Card and then do what we have to do?’ He stopped knowing Gerry would have something to say.

  ‘Correct again’ Gerry happy with Mick’s initiative. ‘Now Sully has informed me his preference is to detain him first, then dispose of him as planned after he has spoken to him’ Mick rubbed his head with both his hands, before scratching his stumbled chin.

  ‘Right, so if we can we will detain him, retrieve the Memory Card, place our new battery in the camera and delete anything incrimination on it. Once Sully has spoken too him, we dispatch him with the injection and make it look natural, then ski to Point 8, EP 1 for extraction?’

  Mick wasn’t looking for Gerry’s approval, he knew he was spot on, as he followed up with another question.

  ‘So what happens if we don’t close in on time? Say we can’t find him by the WHITEOUT-TRANS-ANT RV day?’

  ‘Then you pull off. No questions, no pushing it. Sean and I will intercept him at the WHITEOUT-TRANS-ANT RV. You guys will make your way to EP 1 as planned. Once Sean and I have sorted it all out we will pick you up. I don’t want questions about Trans-Ant and how we cover it all up, Sully and I have it covered. You two either make your timeline or you don’t. This is the NO-GO line for you.’ Pointing at the words on the sketch. ‘If you have not found him or taking him down by here, you pull off to EP 1. Understand?

  Mick surveyed the sketch.

  ‘Right so our NO GO is about 10NM short of the estimated WHITEOUT-TRANS-ANT RV?’

  ‘Correct, and remember guys either way you will get picked up. Clear?’

  The scenario’s simple and even if they lost communication, they would know WHITEOUT’s rough position, be able to hunt him down or not, then get to the EP 1 or pick up site.

 
Gerry’s little scrap of paper made these major changes look simple, though Gerry knew the pressure was on and no mistakes could be made from now onwards.

  Robby started talking, which even surprised Mick. ‘To keep it really simple, it’s the exact same plan, except the take down time has been brought forward 24 hrs?’

  Sean and Mick grinning at the honest statement.

  ‘Yes Robby, when you put it like that.’

  ‘So we will leave tomorrow at 0700hrs, set up HQ at Union Glacier, speak to you tomorrow night before you leave here at 2200hrs’ Gerry surmised.

  Mick acknowledged him, looking settled before asking his final question. ‘M4’s? Our main weapon system?’

  ‘The M4 Carbines will be dropped off tomorrow by the surveillance team here’

  ‘Sound. What happens if they don’t turn up?’

  ‘They will.’ Gerry answered.

  ‘Let’s fucking hope he’s in a coma when you get to him and collapse that tent on him.’ Sean added.

  ‘Our ride to the airport with Roman?’ Mick enquired.

  ‘As planned you will jump in the back of Romans vehicle and head to the airport. If there is any trouble at the entrance with the guards, the Surveillance team will back you up and rip you out to the safe house.’

  ‘Cool, can they watch the place a few hours before to see if anything out of the norm is occurring?’

  ‘Good point Mick, of course they can. They will also sanitise this place after your pick up tomorrow.’ Waiting for someone to say something, no one did.

  ‘Well it’s down to business. Let’s get in, and get the hell out so you guys can take an extended leave to top up your already tanned bodies, and thaw your frost bitten flesh.’ Gerry mimicked lost fingers.

  All the guys let a minor smile break their rigid jaw lines. Gerry was actually surprised by the little drama from Mick. No toys out of the pram, just an attitude of hurry up and end this chapter before something else changes.

  ‘Tomorrow this whole building will be sanitised. Not a trace left here. This leads me on to you guys,’ Gerry started again. ‘It is vital that you leave on Ilyushin tomorrow completely clean. If you are caught, die on the drop zone, or end up getting killed. It is inconceivable you have any information on you of operational, or personal value. The information we have given you is obviously limited for everyone’s protection. Let’s not make any novice mistakes with regards to personal phones, any notepads or IDs of any sort. Place anything of this nature in the grab bag next to the chair over there. I will take it with me and secure it.

  You should have read your cover stories and be able to live them now without thinking. I am not going to test you, just make sure you are all over them. It’s the difference between 5 years and 5 days in prison. I have done a lot of talking this afternoon but we are at a place where we all want to be now. Are we all set for the main meat of this operation guys?’

  Gerry felt the surge of adrenalin flow through his veins again. The Clinic back in the UK had successfully hacked into ALE’ servers and were ready to monitor any beacon updates if they came through. Gerry and Sean would be setting up in Union Glacier, with the ability to also jam any attempted communications at Union Glacier when Gerry and Sean set up, the plan was robust. They would have complete control of the airwaves when they wanted.

  The passiveness of OP IGNITION was about to enter the active phase. Seeing that there were no more words between his crew and that they all looked as though they needed a caffeine injection the four men left the lock-up and headed to the wagon that had just pulled up outside.

  *****

  Sully watched through the covert cameras placed around the lock-up as each member sat around the table and had their last opportunity to air any concerns or last-minute questions. By now they all knew the plan intricately including the contingencies and the possibility of them not returning. This was the eleventh hour of OP IGNITION. Icarus along with Gerry were probably about to execute the most unique assassination ever undertaken. Each of them could argue that there were simpler ways to end WHITEOUT’s threat to The Clinic, but Sully needed him dead on the ice to limit any potential risk of him letting his Clinic theories go viral. He had already tried it once via the video diary, and after his historic journey his exposure would be massive. Sully was ecstatic that The Clinic was launching its first live target set and so far the huge barriers had been defeated. The people he had to answer to weren’t interfering or monitoring his actions, majorly encouraging. This was also about global reach. The Clinic’s capability to be dynamic and reactive to mission requests and rely on widely spread underground networks around the world.

  Watching all four men clamber into the large Nissan patrol pick-up, Sully placed his iPad down happy in the knowledge that things were all good after the recent changes. Not one phone call from Gerry or Sean complaining about the goalposts changing rapidly.

  Gerry was Sully’s perfect right-hand man. His only concern was that Gerry hadn’t killed for a long time, and was probably banking on never doing so again in this capacity. The Clinic didn’t quite work like that unfortunately and he knew Gerry’s days of killing were far from over.

  Sully smiled. Whether Gerry was still smart enough to realise this was another question, but the new peli case that Sully had planned for delivery later by the surveillance team to complement their jamming equipment, may ruffle Gerry slightly he thought.

  Chapter 24

  An unexpected double bang sent shivers straight down the spines of Mick and Robby. Even though they were fully alert, desperately trying to listen and gauge what was happening a moment before, it caught them off guard.

  In a position of zero control, the situation was painful for them to endure. Remaining motionless in the pitch-black of the van, they could just hear each other consciously trying to regulate their breathing to a shallow depth, and steady their heart rates.

  Mick recognised the uncontrollable surge of adrenalin that counteracted these futile attempts and instantly poised them for the fight or flight response, automatically generated by the nervous system.

  Tonight was starting to turn in to the worst possible start to this operation. Hours earlier the surveillance team had carried out a serial to collect the M4s from the same bar. This time the man with the bag was not present, the three drunks at the bar were. After waiting nearly an hour the situation remained unchanged. The trail had gone cold.

  Obviously Sully was informed within ten minutes that there was a no-show upon entering the bar.

  It was made clear that rifles were gold standard, to mean it was the ideal option. This operation would continue with the Glock pistols as the primary weapon system if needs be.

  Catching a few snippets of local dialect that were drowned out by Roman’s gregarious laugh, Mick’s fears were abandoned as the gear stick was clumsily rammed into first and they moved forward through the checkpoint. Feathering the clutch and accelerator heavily, Roman jolted the van forward with the engine revving as violently as the men cursing beneath their breaths in the back.

  ‘Christ I hope he flies an airplane better than he drives this piece of shit,’ Mick whispered into Robby’s ear.

  The erratic noises of the careless gearshifts began to drown out the pounding of their hearts. Robby wiped his brow clean of sweat.

  ‘We are through. No more checks. Told you. Very simple,’ Roman shouted back informing the two guys huddled up in the silver aluminium transit box normally used for luggage, not human trafficking.

  ‘Thanks Roman,’ Mick shouted forward awkwardly canting his head that was jammed in the metal box’s top right corner.

  Twelve hours previously Gerry and Sean had been driven to the Ilyushin on a coach with another twenty or so other tourists, climbers and South Pole enthusiasts. Not bent over, cuddling each other in a tin can worrying about being compromised by the securi
ty gate guards, immediately followed by an escape and evasion effort with the surveillance team to a safe house.

  Though the issue was never raised Mick knew he and Robby had the rough end of the deal, especially now that they had no M4 capability, and just had the living shit scared out of them at the freight entry gate.

  The van stopped abruptly. The side door quickly slid open with Andrei motioning them to get out fast. Mick cringed at Andrei’s antics that were straight from a 1970s spy spoof. Exiting the van door and immediately walking straight up the retractable stairs still cringing, they were out of sight inside the airframe. This was briefed beforehand so it went as slickly as planned. Even though it was dark and all the freight for the logistics drop at the South Pole station had been crammed in tight, Roman had still been paranoid that anyone could come by unexpectedly for an innocent chat or quick shot of vodka, only to notice Mick or Robby.

  This flight was a routine logistics drop that meant the Russian crew and no one else would be present for the flight. The rescheduled logistics drop had worked in Icarus’s favour; due to the expected 48hr bad weather window, Ilyushin had been tasked with two extra flights before the bad weather arrived.

  ‘I wish they would hurry the fuck up,’ Robby whispered within the sparse shell interior of Ilyushin.

  ‘Ah we’re looking at a good 30 minutes mate. You seen how slow Sergei is checking everything, he’s not exactly your stereotypical Russian ballet dancer, more a shot-putter I reckon in his heyday.’

  Robby smirked at the accurate comparison as Sergei struggled around the interior of the airframe, flicking his torch at various instruments in between losing his footing then finally handing them a bag full of yellow foam ear protectors.

  With this done, Roman had started the pre-flight procedure and various pieces of equipment started to power up. Followed minutes later by the four deafening turbine jet engines. Talking was no longer an option. Any communication was left to shouting at each other and pointing.