by J C Ryan
When everyone had cleared out as requested, the new captives were treated to the same wolf-enhanced interrogation techniques that their other comrades had enjoyed earlier.
“I don’t want to be accused of workplace discrimination by treating some Russians better than others,” Dylan explained through Carter to the new captives as they were tied to the trees next to their other comrades, and the wolves were called in closer.
Carter was there to hear and interpret any muttered Russian that passed between the two groups. He might have been amused at the characterization of the wolves as demons had it not been for the seriousness of the morning’s attack.
And as the “chat”, as Dylan liked to call the interrogation, progressed, Carter got more and more worked up. Hearing the admission that the group had instructions to retrieve all the information about the library of the giants and the Dolphins was sort of digestible, but when the leader told them they were to abduct Carter and Mackenzie and kill everyone else, including the children, Carter pulled his Sig Sauer from the holster, popped the magazine out, checked that it was fully loaded, slammed it back into place, cocked the gun, and walked up to the nearest captive.
“Carter! What are you doing?” Dylan shouted.
Carter didn’t even look at Dylan. He had his eyes fixed on the first target. “I’m going to shoot vermin, my friend. All of them. One by one, I am going to put a bullet in their heads, and don’t you dare stop me.”
“Carter! Stop it! Right now, that’s not how we do it. There’s no honor in that. Don’t do it! We’ll get a lot of information from them. They’ll help us track the Nabateans down. They’ll help us get Rick’s killer. Come on, Carter, stop it.”
Somewhere in all of that, Carter got his senses back and stopped in his tracks. Tears of fear were streaming down the face of the Russian in front of him. Slowly he turned around and put his gun away. He didn’t say a word, but his face was ashen with rage.
Dylan continued with his questioning for another half hour or so before he contacted Sean to arrange for transport of the fugitives to DC, which required a round of diplomatic jockeying with Canada. The Canadians were naturally keen to understand how and why a group of sixteen former Spetsnaz operatives had entered their country, not to mention the individuals who had entered with them to provide cover. But they were also not very keen to get into any unfriendly discussions with the Russian government. Especially when they heard that the Russian Director of the Federal Security Service (FSB) might be involved. That sort of “diplomatic” discussions were best handled by their big brother to the south.
Eventually, the President managed to “persuade” the Prime Minister that the attack had to do with an ongoing mission, and that when all was said and done, he’d provide a full briefing for his Canadian ally. And Canada was welcome to the cover people if the US could have the soldiers. “Reluctantly,” the Prime Minister agreed to look the other way as the illegals were transported out of his country. If the President would promise to brief him fully.
Chapter 62 -
A funeral
While these negotiations were going on, JR, the wolf pup, was afforded full military honors in a hastily-arranged burial next to the grave of Will Devereux. Keeva and Loki, JR’s brothers and sister, Nadia, and her pups mourned in the wolf way, keening softly at times, and at other times howling their anguish.
Each sound of grief uttered by her beloved wolves ripped through Mackenzie’s heart and soul. It seemed to Carter that the howling was in response to Mackenzie’s tears and heartfelt tribute to JR. He couldn’t decide who felt the most pain, Keeva and Loki or Mackenzie. A chill went down his spine when he thought of how easily it could have been Liam or Beth they mourned. If it took him until his dying day, he vowed to keep them safe, and along with them, all the world’s children. Monsters who sent armed Special Forces against kids could not be allowed to walk the earth. He’d find out who it was or die trying.
***
After the wolf funeral, a teary-eyed Liam and sleepy Beth were put to bed by their equally exhausted mother. Mackenzie told Carter she needed just a short nap, and then she’d be at his side to help with whatever came next. Carter agreed, but he couldn’t rest himself.
Two questions vied for answers in his and Dylan’s discussions after the prisoners had been evacuated. In a surprisingly short time after the President had concluded his negotiations with the Canadian Prime Minister, two Sikorsky choppers had arrived to take away the Russians. Carter thought of them as vermin, and of their employers as the scum of the earth.
“Dylan, from past experience and from that leader’s clues, even though he couldn’t give us names, I have no doubt their employers are the Nabateans. Too bad Durand isn’t still around to help us find them.”
“I don’t think he ever knew their exact location. You should probably delay your expedition until we can root them out.”
“Unacceptable. It’s more imperative than ever we find that city, and those nukes if they’re still there, before these scumbags get their hands on them. You saw to what lengths they are prepared to go to achieve their goals. No, we must step up the launch of that expedition right now.
“I have one more question, and that is how did those rats get past your security measures? We can’t go on expedition and leave our kids unprotected. We have to plug those holes.”
“Carter, I can’t answer that right this minute, but believe me, by the time the CIA and Sean gets through with said rats, we’ll know. I suspect some very sophisticated detection and jamming equipment allowed them to see and bypass our electronics. The spooks will be ecstatic to get their hands on it.”
“Before it disappears into their Black Ops division, make sure your engineers get to thoroughly examine it and come up with ways to beat it. I mean it, Dylan. If one hair on my kids’ or wife’s heads is harmed . . .” He didn’t have to finish the sentence. Dylan knew. He saw it in Carter’s eyes that morning when he was about to execute the prisoners.
Dylan knew then that Carter was shaken to the core. He had a moment’s white terror himself about what could have happened to the kids or Mackenzie or Liu. And Carter, of course, who was indispensable to national security.
Chapter 63 -
The preparations
Bill Griffin had been busy locating just the right boat for the expedition. It had to be state-of-the-art, but not an obvious US Navy research vessel. And he knew just the boat.
La Solitude looked like exactly what it was — a luxury superyacht — designed and captained by Randall Branson, who was not only an old friend of Bill’s, but a valued operative. Branson was, however, not exactly what he looked like. The billionaire had made his fortune in the communications industry, but before he was forty, he’d tired of the rat race. Leaving his business in the capable hands of a new CEO and his board, he’d “retired” — to the CIA.
Anyone who knew Branson knew he’d always wanted to captain his own yacht and sail the world. What most didn’t know was he’d dreamed of being a high-tech spook ever since he’d watched his first James Bond movie as a young teen. His acquaintance with the director of the CIA through their college fraternity provided him with the opportunity to make that dream come true. He’d made Bill an offer he couldn’t refuse — the use of the yacht for undercover work, provided he was part of the package — Captain of La Solitude.
La Solitude boasted modifications that made her perfect for the jobs she was assigned to. Accommodating fourteen guests in her seven staterooms, she was equipped for ocean travel with ultra-modern stabilization technology, advanced communications equipment, and every nod to comfort that Branson could dream up.
Three-quarters the length of a football field and thirty-seven feet wide, she provided a hot tub, sauna, Turkish bath, infinity pool, gym, gourmet galley, formal dining room, and several lounges. The latter housed sophisticated electronics gear and computer equipment that could be concealed when necessary – that is, when anyone was aboard who didn’t need to k
now anything about the undercover work.
In addition to fourteen guests, La Solitude housed a crew of seventeen, including her captain. All superyacht crews were traditionally trained in several jobs for redundancy in case of illness or injury. La Solitude’s crew took it one step further. They were trained also in weapons and hand-to-hand combat, deep sea diving, and the operation of the underwater survey equipment, including an ROV. Some were ex-SEALs.
She was perfect for the job. The only problem was she was already on assignment, checking out a suspected weapons dealer off the coast of Brazil. With no other asset that came close to having the specifications Carter and his team would need, Bill was ready to pull rank and reassign her, but first he sent Sean and Dylan to inspect and determine whether her existing equipment would be sufficient, and if not, decide what would need to be installed before the expedition.
Dylan returned to Freydís from his “Brazilian vacation” raving about the yacht. He could hardly wait to show every inch of it to Liu, and Liu was just as excited for the voyage, even though potential danger lurked during its primary mission. A cruise on a luxury superyacht with the man of your dreams — what more could a girl ask for?
While Dylan was gone, Carter put Samantha in charge of obtaining the latest satellite imagery of the Alboran Sea and enhancing it to locate potential dive sites. He’d decided to include Mackenzie only after her impassioned arguments that she had the most rapport with the Dolphins, she’d been working with Liu and Sam on the Dolphin language, and that she’d never forgive him if he didn’t. It was the last one that swayed him. As he said to Dylan when they discussed it later, “Happy wife, happy life.”
Dylan was enthusiastic about taking Liu for many of the same reasons. Danger or no danger, it would be the adventure of a lifetime, and besides, he could protect her. Not only that, but she, along with most of the other adults living at the ranch, had been taking the same combat training Carter and Mackenzie had started. By this time, most of them were competent to protect themselves — as the Russian invaders learned two weeks earlier. Even Mackenzie’s parents could if they had to.
As soon as the details of their research vessel were known, preparation for the logistics of the expedition began. Among the necessities was fully briefing Branson on the mission. Bill took care of that, and Branson was then equipped to plan for everything from fuel to food.
Carter had specified the need for an ROV, or remote-operated vehicle, to perform preliminary dives. The best satellite images were still too grainy to show the worst of any underwater obstacles and traps they might encounter. Branson wrote up a full report on his existing ROV, fully prepared to replace it if necessary. Looking it over, Carter was satisfied the ROV would fulfill all his requirements and then some, with the addition of one more instrument. Equipped with both a neutrally buoyant tether and a sturdier, load-carrying umbilical cable housing fiber optics and electrical conductors for power, data, and video signals, Branson’s ROV also had custom additions. These gave it sonar capability in addition to its still and video cameras. It had a robot arm for picking up objects to be examined as well as instruments to measure everything from water clarity to sound velocity.
Carter’s request was that it be retrofitted with a Geiger counter. Anyone swimming near the ancient nukes would also be equipped with dosimeters.
Planning for the expedition also included daily drills. Three SEALS arrived on Freydís to train with the three hand-picked EA men to make a seamless team. Most of the EA team were certified divers. Before the expedition launched, they’d all be experts. They practiced repelling boarders, taking turns being the good guys and the bad guys. Dylan, who directed the training as well as participated, told Carter it was almost as much fun as playing Cowboys and Indians as a kid. And they practiced underwater hand-to-hand combat. They all knew that if bad actors showed up, it would be their most important skill.
In the evenings, everyone gathered at the main house to be thoroughly briefed on the history of the undertaking. It was a lot to take in.
Back in DC, James and Sean were having a battle over whether James would “get” to go. James insisted. Sean dug in his heels.
“Buddy, you’re getting a little long in the tooth for this. Besides, A-Echelon needs you at the helm more than you need to go with us. We’ve got it under control. The President loaned us some SEALs, and my men are as good as they are. We’ll protect Carter, Mackenzie, and the others. You’d just get in the way.”
“Get your ass over here and say that to my face, buddy,” James snarled over the scrambled line. “I’m still in top condition. I can take you any time, any place.”
Sean laughed. “Yeah, right, grandpa. What does Irene say about it?”
“Doesn’t matter what she says. I’m going. If I must, I’ll appeal to the President.”
Irene, standing in James’s office and hearing only half of the conversation, could tell by his responses exactly what his younger friend on the other end of the line was saying.
“James, I agree with Sean. You need to stay here.”
“Et tu, Irene?” he said. “Don’t you start as well.
“I recruited Will Devereux when this snotnose was still in kindergarten. I recruited Carter and Mackenzie, and I’ve been on expeditions and missions with them all. I’ve been there to help rescue Mackenzie, Liu, and the children. Why would I not be going now? I should have been the first on the list of those who are going.
“So now you and Sean Walker get off my back. I’m going, and that’s final.”
Irene held out her hand for the phone receiver. James handed it over, still fuming.
“I have an idea, Sean. He promises this is his last mission, and we stop arguing with him.”
“Will he do that?”
“I’ll see to it.”
“Okay, go for it.”
Irene hung up. “Okay, James, you can go.”
“Damn straight I can go and I don’t need your permission.”
“Maybe not, but you need your doctors’ permission, and if you’ll promise not to make this kind of a fuss next time, I’ll see that you get it. You heard me. This is the last time.”
Still grumbling under his breath, James gave a curt nod. It was settled. He was going, and he’d better make the most of it, because after this, he’d be put out to pasture.
Sean was going, of course. Dylan would be underwater with Carter much of the time, so a second leader was required for the fighting force.
Chapter 64 -
Set sail for the Strait of Gibraltar
Even though Mackenzie had fought hard for her place on the expedition team, it was hard to leave the kids. Dylan assured her that the Nabatean-commissioned assault on Freydís wouldn’t be repeated, or rather wouldn’t stand a chance to get anywhere close to the children again. Carter added that if she didn’t want to leave them, she was welcome to stay home. In fact, he preferred it. But the challenge only settled her mind to go.
“No, I’m Sunhead, leader of the land-humans, remember?” She laughed. “I’m your ambassador to the Alboran Sea Dolphins. We never have completely convinced the Chesapeake Bay pod that you are really the leader.” She pointed to Carter. “You need me. I’ll be all right.”
Liam helped by sturdily announcing he’d be personally taking care of his sister Beth.
The whole family, including Ahote and Bly, Mackenzie’s parents and brother, and everyone who’d found a temporary or permanent home on Freydís, was at the air strip to see them off as they headed to DC.
From DC, a military chopper took them with their personal gear to the waiting research vessel. It wasn’t the most comfortable or luxurious ride they’d ever taken by air, but the ability to drop onto the vessel far out to sea outstripped the need for comfort. It was imperative the make-up of the expedition personnel remained a secret. Sean, who had flown in to vet the final preparations, was along for the ride, though.
For that reason, the flight began before dawn, and a few hours later th
e chopper would land at the naval base in Norfolk, Virginia, before refueling and taking off after nightfall to rendezvous with La Solitude. Of course, anyone who was sufficiently motivated could still track their movements, but this subterfuge made it a bit more difficult.
Mackenzie had been a little apprehensive about the night-drop onto the boat, but she needn’t have been. Instead of what she’d visualized — each person dangling from a sling while the chopper hovered above — the chopper put down on a helipad on the boat’s deck. Schematics of the boat hadn’t prepared her for its size. After a guided tour of the ultra-luxurious boat by her Captain, Randall “Call me Randy” Branson, and seeing her and Carter’s cabin, she was looking forward to the transatlantic crossing. This wasn’t a tiny pleasure boat.
It had been decided that they couldn’t brief the crew before La Solitude was out to sea. Every member of the crew was CIA and had been thoroughly vetted again when the yacht was given the assignment. But there was simply too much to get ready to brief them ahead of time. Like the evenings at the ranch, each shift’s off-duty crew spent their waking hours in the company of the expedition team to learn why the urgency and secrecy.
Although that took only a few hours a day, it was necessary to limit the duration of the sessions so that Carter and those who were familiar with the history of his work could break it to them bit by bit. At times their “students” were just staring at them slack-jawed. There were times when some of them were quite vocal, especially Captain Randy, a self-made and independent man who didn’t have the military training and discipline the others had.
So, it wasn’t uncommon to hear him interject with phrases such as, “You must be kidding me! Ancient nukes? Intelligent humans from fifty thousand years ago! You sure you haven’t been in the sun a bit too long, Carter?”