Termination Order: A Team Reaper Thriller

by Brent Towns

  Ramstein Airforce Base

  Germany

  Kane stared hard at the man before him and tried to work out whether he was lying or not. “You’re certain that the best way into the compound is by the river?”

  Falk nodded and pointed at the satellite photo. “There is a place here where you should have no problems.”

  The assault team was gathered around looking at all the intel they had on the Latvian lab. Falk was giving them everything he knew. Axe sat in the background, a scowl on his face. Cara glanced over at him and picked up one of the photos. She walked across to him and held it out. He took it and gave her a quizzical look. “What do you want me to do with this?”

  “I’m going to need a decent overwatch position, and with all of these trees, I can’t seem to find one.”

  He grunted and said, “I’ll take a look.”

  She smiled at him and went back to the others. When she stopped at the table, Kane said, “What was that?”

  “He’s working on finding me a half-decent overwatch position.”

  Kane nodded knowingly. “All right, we’ll insert here,” he stabbed the map beside the photos. “It’s about two klicks out. We’ll infiltrate on foot along the river until we reach the compound and cut our way in through the fence here.”

  “Do we know if it is electrified?” Brick asked his gaze on Falk.

  “It is not.”

  “How many men does the place have watching over it?” Arenas asked.

  “About twenty,” Kane told him. “All Jednostka Wojskowa Komandosów. Ex-Polish Special Forces. If we go in under the cover of darkness with night vision, we should be right.”

  Brick pointed at a small building on its own. “What’s this?”

  “Power.”

  The ex-SEAL looked at Kane. “If we can kill, that it will help.”

  Reaper nodded. “Fine. You do that while Carlos and I clear this building here and plant a charge in the chemical storage. We’ll rendezvous at the main lab before we breach.”

  “Done deal.”

  “Once we breach the lab, we clear it and set another charge in there. Then we blow them on exfil. Cara will cover us until we’re in the trees and then rendezvous with us at the fence.”

  Axe joined them. “Near as I can figure the best overwatch position is here.”

  They all looked at the position his finger indicated and then stared at him. “That’s on the other side of the river,” Cara said.

  “Yes, ma’am. About twelve-hundred meters. But the high ground should offer you full coverage of the target area.”

  “The M110A1 isn’t going to cut it from that distance.”

  “No, ma’am. You’ll need something with a bit more kick.”

  “If you’ll allow me, ma’am, I think I might be able to find you something.”

  Cara looked at Kane. He nodded. “All right, get onto it.”

  “Hold it,” Thurston said as she crossed to where they were working. “There’s been a change of plan. It’ll be a daytime insertion. It’s all fucked up. The short version is, you’ll be dropped just before dawn, and your infil will be in the lovely daylight hours.”

  “Damn it,” Brick cursed.

  Kane studied the map and pictures again. “All right, we’ll insert the same way. We’ll clear the first two sheds before moving on to the lab. Set charges and then exfil the same way.”

  Arenas shook his head. “I do not like it. With three men inside the wire, there is more chance of us getting seen. If I take up position here inside the trees, I can be an extra pair of eyes in case something happens.”

  “Sounds good. And if it all goes to shit, we’ll have both you and Cara as overwatch.”

  Cara snorted. “I may as well be in the next damned country.”

  Axe patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, ma’am. I’ll find you a weapon that’ll put you right in the fight.”

  Kane said, “Now, let’s talk exfil. Dropping in will be fine. But it’s been decided that we’ll make for the port of Skult. We’ll be picked up there by boat then brought back to Germany via sea. And before you ask about air extraction, flying a helicopter across one country and into another is not going to happen. We leave by sea.”

  “That’s all of fifty klicks to the coast. I take it that we’re not walking?” Cara asked.

  “No. We’ll commandeer some transport along the way.”

  “OK then.”

  “All right, everybody, check your equipment and let Cara or me know if you need anything.”

  Axe sat the suppressed sniper rifle on the table, and Cara nodded with a little more than just appreciation. “Nice. A CheyTac Intervention .408.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Blow a tick off a cow’s ass at twenty-five hundred meters.”

  “Where did you steal it from?” Kane asked his friend.

  Axe gave him an indignant look. “I’m hurt you would suggest such a thing.”

  “Where did you steal that from?” Thurston asked as she stepped in beside them.

  “Now I am crushed,” Axe said solemnly. “Ma’am, just because I may look the part, doesn’t mean I’m such an unsavory character.”

  The general rolled her eyes. “That has to be the biggest load of horseshit I’ve heard yet.”

  “OK, I borrowed it from one of them air commando fellers.”

  “Does he know about it?”

  “Yes. I told him we were headed downrange, and I had a lovely lady who was in need of a bit more grunt than her usual M110A1. This is what he came up with. Don’t get too attached to it; he wants it back.”

  Cara smiled. “Maybe one day. You didn’t happen to get me a laser rangefinder, did you?”

  “I might have got you a hand-held ballistic computer.”

  “OK, Axe, it’s official. I’m in love with you.”

  A look of horror crossed his face. “Whoa, ma’am. Just slow your roll there. I’m a happily-single man.”

  They all chuckled. Thurston said, “Everybody get some rest. There’ll be an HC-130 on the tarmac waiting for you at midnight.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Aboard the HC-130

  Over Latvia

  Kane watched the ramp go down and waited for the light to turn green. This was the worst part. The waiting. Check that. The worst part was not knowing if your parachute would open. He shuffled forward toward the edge. Behind him came the rest of the team. He could feel his heart thudding wildly in his chest. His breathing seemed loud in the oxygen mask he wore.

  They’d double-checked their equipment, and it was all good. The last pass of the satellite over the target area revealed fifteen guards. Allowing for extras, the estimation of twenty was good.

  Reaper looked to his right at the loadmaster. The light beside him was still red. He held up a single finger and then crooked it. Thirty seconds.

  He tugged at the straps of his parachute. All secure. Glancing sideways at the loadmaster once again, he then counted off in his head.

  The light changed to green. Kane snapped a quick salute to the loadmaster and then shuffled out into midair.

  Latvia

  “Team Reaper, radio check.”

  “Two OK.”

  “Three OK.”

  “Five OK.”

  “Zero, comms check, over.”

  “Read you loud and clear, Reaper One,” Ferrero’s voice came back.

  “Copy, Zero. Team Reaper, all present and correct. Moving on target, over.”

  “Roger, Reaper One. You’re moving on target. Zero out.”

  The team gathered around Kane. They’d ditched their jump equipment and were now down to combat gear only. To the east, the sun was beginning to rise. It wouldn’t be long until their landing area was bathed in sunlight, and Kane wanted to be far away by the time that happened.

  “Brick, lead us out. The sooner we get into the trees the better. Carlos, you’re rear security.”

  “Sí.”

  “All right, move out.”

  Th
e river was to their left as they walked. It made a rushing sound, running over its rocky bottom. To their right was nothing but pine forest. They made good progress for the next hour before Kane called a halt. Cara came forward and knelt beside him. He said, “This is where we split off. I’ll give you another hour to get in position before we infil. I’ll double check before we do.”

  Cara nodded. “Copy.”

  “We’ll rendezvous back here. If things go wrong and we get split up, head north toward the secondary site. Failing that, make for the coast.”

  “I’ll see you back here.”

  Cara Overwatch

  The river had been cold but shallow. However, the power of the rushing water had almost knocked her from her feet once. But Cara had managed to regain control and get to the far bank.

  From there, the climb was relatively straight forward. Even if it was some distance away from the rest of the team. By the time she reached her hide, the sun was higher in the sky. The last part of her journey was climbing a small rock outcrop. It was flat at the top and afforded her a clear field of fire. Axe had been right.

  She set up the CheyTac Intervention and lay down behind it. Cara peered through the scope and smiled. “Fantastic.”

  Shifting her sights downward, she searched until she found the others near the fence. Into her mic, she said, “Reaper One? Reaper Two in position, over.”

  “Copy, Reaper Two. How is your hide?”

  “Target all clear. Axe chose well.”

  “Copy. Time to go to work. Reaper One, out.”

  Kane

  Arenas cut through the wire just enough for them to squeeze through with their packs. They made their way through the pines until they reached the edge of the tree line. Kane said into his mic, “Reaper Two? Reaper One. How are we looking?”

  “Copy, Reaper One. There are guards on the corners of buildings one and two facing the tree line. Another on the roof of building three, and I spotted a roving patrol of two on the far side of the compound.”

  “Copy, Reaper Two. That’s going to make it difficult to get close. Wait one.”

  Kane looked at Arenas and Brick. “What do you guys think?”

  Brick said, “With all that open area out, there it’s a sure bet we’ll be seen before we get to the first building.”

  “That was my thinking,” Kane acknowledged.

  “We’ll have to take some of the guards out before you go in,” Arenas told him. “When the patrol comes around, Cara and I can take care of them.”

  “All right,” Kane said. Then he spoke into his mic, “Reaper Two? Reaper One. We’re moving to a better position. How copy?”

  “Roger, Reaper One, you’re moving.”

  “Reaper One, out.”

  They circled to the left, taking their time so not to give themselves away. In the thick conifers, the dappled light filtered down, helping them stay camouflaged. Once they were in position, Kane said, “Carlos, you take building one, Brick, you’re two. I’ll stay as backup.”

  “Roger.”

  “Reaper Two? Reaper One. Copy?”

  “Copy, Reaper One.”

  “I want you to hit the guy on building three on my mark. I’ve got Brick and Carlos down here, and they’ll take the others. Once we’re gone, it’ll be up to you and Carlos to eliminate the roving patrol when they get around.”

  “Copy, Reaper One. Waiting for your mark.”

  “OK, you guys, tell me when you’re ready.”

  “Three, ready.”

  “Five, ready.”

  “Two, ready.”

  “All right. On my mark. Three, two, one, execute.”

  The suppressed HK416s spat two rounds each and both guards jerked and dropped where they stood without a sound. The target on the rooftop fell a fraction behind those given the distance the bullet had to travel. All three voices came through Reaper’s earpiece. “Tango down.”

  “OK. Good work. Brick, on me. Cara, Carlos, any problems, let me know. Don’t forget the patrol.”

  “Copy.”

  Kane and Brick raised their suppressed 416s and moved forward across the open ground. They reached the first fallen man at building two and dragged him out of sight. Then they ran across to building one and did the same.

  Kane and Brick halted behind the building. “Reaper Two, sitrep?”

  “All clear, Reaper. It won’t be long until our friends appear, but we’ll take care of it.”

  “Copy, breaching now.”

  Inside were pallets stacked in rows, of formaldehyde, mercury, and ammonium chloride. All the nasty key ingredients to make ecstasy. “Bingo,” Brick said in a low voice.

  “Set the charges. I’ll keep a lookout.”

  “Roger.”

  Cara

  Cara waited patiently, scanning the compound area, looking for threats. The roving patrol was almost in position when her sweep picked up the last thing she expected to see. A young man standing outside of the lab with a cigarette jammed between his lips.

  “Shit,” Cara hissed in a low voice. She let the scope linger for a while as she confirmed it was who she thought. Then she pressed her talk button and said, “Reaper One? Reaper Two, copy?”

  “Copy, Reaper Two.”

  “I just picked up our HVT, Reaper One. I say again. An HVT inside the compound.”

  “Confirm, Reaper Two.”

  “It’s him, Reaper. It’s Bazyli Marek.”

  Silence greeted her last words.

  “Did you get that Reaper?”

  “Copy, Reaper Two. Bazyli Marek.”

  Ramstein Airforce Base

  Germany

  Ferrero came to his feet and signaled to Thurston. She hurried across to where he and Swift were monitoring the team’s transmissions and gave him a curious look. “What is it?”

  “Reaper Two has just laid eyes on Bazyli Marek.”

  Thurston picked up a headset and said, “Reaper Two, this is Bravo, over.”

  “Copy, Bravo.”

  “Confirm your last.”

  “If it isn’t him, ma’am, it’s his twin brother.”

  “Roger, Reaper Two. What’s the position of the HVT?”

  Cara said, “He’s outside the lab, ma’am.”

  Thurston looked at Ferrero. “What do you think?”

  “We may not get another chance.”

  “I agree,” Thurston said with a nod. “Reaper One, copy?”

  “Copy, ma’am.”

  “Change of mission. I want you to secure the HVT before you set the charges at the lab.”

  “Roger. Secure HVT then the lab. Reaper One, out.”

  Cara

  Cara’s voice was calm. “Three, two, one, execute.”

  The CheyTac Intervention slammed back against her shoulder, and the .408 round reached out the 1,238 meters to blow a fist-sized hole in the first man’s head. The second man jerked as he too went down from Arenas’ two well-placed shots. “Tango down.”

  “Reaper One, threat neutralized.”

  “Copy, Reaper Two. Reaper Three, copy?”

  “Copy.”

  “I want you to join us. Once we grab the HVT, you can escort him back into the trees.”

  “Copy, Reaper One. Coming to you.”

  “Reaper Two, keep us covered.”

  “Roger.”

  Kane

  “All set,” Brick told Kane as he settled in beside him.

  “Right. Let’s go and get our man.”

  “Reaper Two, sitrep?”

  “All clear.”

  The two men came out of the building and hooked right. Arenas joined them, and they all moved to the corner of the larger warehouse. Kane took a knee and surveyed the scene before him.

  Marek was still outside but for how long was anyone’s guess. As though on cue, he turned and walked toward the lab door.

  “Reaper One, target is moving.”

  “I’ve got him, Reaper Two.”

  Kane turned to Arenas. “Take up position where you can c
over the guard’s quarters. If this goes belly up, then you can keep them pinned down and give us time.”

  Arenas nodded and slipped away.

  Suddenly the wind picked up, making an eerie sound as it filtered through the trees. Kane said, “Are you ready, Brick?”

  “I was born ready.”

  The two men broke cover and closed the gap to the lab door. They took up positions on either side and paused. “Try not to hit anything that might go bang,” Kane said.

  “That don’t leave me a lot to shoot at,” Brick shot back.

  Reaper reached out and grasped the door handle. He glanced at Brick who nodded. Then with a twist, the door snicked open.

  Kane pushed the door, and as it swung back, he entered the building. He moved left, sweeping the room. Brick went right. The lab was full of everything required for a successful operation. From urns to pipes, and chemicals.

  The first armed guard sighted by Kane was dropped with two shots. The man held an MP7 and tried to bring it up but was a week too late. Still moving, Reaper swept left and right as he went. A second guard fell from a couple of rounds from Brick’s 416. Some of the workers caught sight of them and immediately fell to the hard, concrete floor.

  From Brick’s side, the rattle of automatic fire rang out. Silence, and then another.

  “Reaper Five, sitrep.”

  “All good. Tango down.”

  “Reaper Three and Two, stand-by. You’re about to get busy.”

  “Copy.”

  “Reaper One, I just spotted our HVT. Right rear corner going in behind some kind of vat.”

  “Copy, coming to you.”

  A flood of Marek’s cooks flowed back past Kane as he made his way through the maze of equipment. If they didn’t look to be a threat, he let them go. When he hooked up with Brick, the former SEAL said, “He’s just down there. Behind that stainless-steel tub.”

  “Right, let’s see if he’s listening. Bazyli Marek! We know you’re there. Come out with your hands above your head.”

  Nothing.