A FAVOR FOR THE PRESIDENT
(ARROWHEAD 2)
JAMES EDWIN BRANCH
Edited by
Frank Fuentes
DEDICATION:
To the wounded warriors of the United States Military
DISCLAIMER
This is a work of fiction any references to persons places or event is purely coincidental.
Printed in the United States of America ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
Publishers Note: This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and events are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to real person, places, or events is coincidental. This title is available in both ebook and paperback from VGR 2010
INTRODUCTION
Covert operations are like sex to a young man. You might wonder how I rationalize that remark but if you think about it like this, maybe you’ll see.
First think about the mating ritual. You see an attractive person you check them out and decide how you’re going to make your move. Let's be clear about it though don’t lose sight of your objective. Your intentions are to select, infiltrate, obtain and escape. Anything less is a failed mission. Young men are exactly what fathers of teenage daughters fear the most. Regardless of what they say they have only one objective in mind and their seldom thinking with the proper part of their bodies.
In covert operations you chose your target. It could be information or the capture of an individual or even the destruction of an undesirable element.
If it’s a target you feel you can score then you do a little recon and check out the lay of the land. Good intelligence is everything. See, how is it different? You have to know what she likes to get close.
Next, now that you’ve got your recon and you feel comfortable with what you want to do. You have to find a way to reach your objective.
In a relationship this might seem fairly complicated but it could begin with a cup of coffee or a casual drink.
In a covert operation this might mean putting yourself within range of your objective without being detected. Secrecy isn’t always healthy but it is always important.
Then comes the romance. Here’s where you have to be careful. As you get ever closer to the objective you must watch each and every step you take trying not to seem too eager to obtain the prize. If you’re detected, the game is over and the prize is removed from the playing field.
It’s not any different in combat; you don’t want your enemy to see you coming. It’s always better for them to realize that they’ve let you in after the fact. That fact being that you’ve got your hand on the prize and you’re getting away with what they thought they’d never let you near.
Smooth talking won’t get you out if you get caught where you shouldn’t be. You have to learn to run and choose your fights.
You have to become the unobtainable; something that can’t be caught. Give your lover a taste but never total control.
Make them want you, reach for you only to find you’re no longer in the same place. Be mysterious and formidable, yet still caring and involved.
Then if you need to escape their clutches you must leave yourself an out. Find a way to steal away without being too offensive. You don’t want a war; it was just foreplay and casual sex. You don’t really want them angry with you, who wants that? You’d rather part with some respect and mutual admiration.
You want them to appreciate your skills and maybe even sometimes you want them to feel that the separation between you was their idea.
In covert operations sometimes you let them chase you off the battlefield. They might not realize it but in the end you might have the greatest political prize in your possession; something that empowers a nation and inspires national pride.
Sometimes you might not even realize that you have this item yourself until it’s all said and done. But that doesn’t matter. It’s the end that counts and no matter how much finesse you use to get there or get out of there the ultimate question is did you score?
Chapter 1
A Call To Arms
She pulled the black Corvette onto Interstate 81 and headed south. Her plan was to rocket thru Virginia to a rendezvous with Bart Taylor. Her name, Susan Fielding, her job, control officer for project Arrowhead. She is second in command under Colonel Paul Campbell. The supervisory department in charge of Arrowhead is under the Department of Defense.
Her primary charge as control is operating as the liaison officer between the Arrowhead committee and Arrowhead itself.
Arrowhead consists of Barton Thomas Taylor and Jack Hall. Two highly trained individuals under verbal contract with the United States Government. Their purpose, though considered to be “Top Secret” is to infiltrate, remove, destroy or kidnap whatever the government asked. As a civilian operation they are deniable and expendable. They provide the United States Government with an explosive alternative to conventional military solutions.
She hadn’t seen much of Bart the last few months. He’d been finishing up with a job for Colonel Campbell. Neither one of them would discuss it with her.
She thought that with her working in his office the Colonel would tell her everything. But certain things, when they pertained to Bart, couldn’t be discussed.
He would always say it’s too secret or that’s classified, when in reality Bart was in danger and he didn’t want her to know it.
Maybe he was right. She would have worried about him. Not as much as some women over their man being in danger. She’d met him while she was under cover; a Columbian drug cartel was trying to kill her. Bart and his partner Jack stood up to them and took them down.
As long as he was with his partner Jack Hall, he was okay. Jack wouldn’t let anything happen to him and he wouldn’t let anything happen to Jack.
Together they were an elite unit; a two-man war machine and whatever they were aimed at had a problem.
She looked in her rear view mirror at the state trooper coming up behind her. She looked down at the speedometer. She was only going about four miles an hour over the speed limit.
“Maybe he won’t stop me,” she was thinking as the trooper’s car came closer.
Ever since she’d bought the Corvette, these encounters with police on the highway seemed to be escalating. She wasn’t a radical driver and didn’t really speed much but the Corvette looked like it was speeding when it was standing still. That was the reason she bought it, because it looked so damn racy.
The state trooper turned on his red and blue lights, and she immediately pulled over to the side of the roadway.
She pulled out her driver’s license and vehicle registration in anticipation of his question as he walked up to her door.
The trooper walked up to the Corvette and looked at the license plate. “It’s the one,” he thought as he drew closer to her window.
She rolled down the window and handed out her paperwork but the officer wasn’t interested in it. He just keyed up the microphone next to his shirt collar and said. “I’ve got her. I’ve got the Fielding woman.”
Sue was wondering what was going on, “What’s this all about?” she asked.
The trooper only smiled and told her that someone would explain in a moment. He waited there with her, occasionally making her feel uncomfortable as he scanned her legs or looked at the arch of her breasts. She was a tall leggy brunette. She carried herself with confidence and had the looks to merit a second or third look from any man she passed.
This wasn’t foreign to her. She was used to the reality of the male animal. No matter what package you put them in, or how they covered it up, they all had to look. If they didn’t they were probably dead.
In about five minutes a Marine Corp helicopter set down in the field next to her car. Three Marines got out of the helicopter and walked towards her.
In the past few months she got used to strange happenings in her life involving the United States Military. Despite the oddity of waiting for a Marine helicopter, she wasn’t shaken. She watched patiently as they approached her vehicle.
One of the Marines took up a position at the back of the Corvette while another went to the front. They immediately assumed a position and began guarding the car.
The last Marine came to her window and handed her a note with a familiar seal on the bottom of it. The note asked her to please come with the Marine and that she would be returned to her car as quickly as possible.
After giving her the note and making sure she had time to read it the Marine said, “These men will watch your car for you Miss Fielding.”
She knew she couldn’t refuse, the seal on the bottom of the note said it all without them having to tell her.
She got out of the car straightened her skirt and followed the Marine to the waiting helicopter. As she walked towards the helicopter the Marine dropped slightly behind her and followed. She’d been with Bart Taylor too long. She took note of the Marines breathing as he followed her. He was taking in her perfume and generally enjoying his view.
Once in the helicopter she strapped herself into her seat despite the Marines attempt to assist her. Within seconds the helicopter was off the ground and headed north.
The flight took them over the freeway and swung northward over the Virginia countryside. As the Corvette went out of view, the Marine told her, “Don’t worry, they will watch it for you.”
She could only nod her head and go along for the ride. It was a silent ride; there was no need for conversation she had nothing to say to them until they almost landed.
As Washington came into view she realized they were entering the restricted zone. “You know this is a no fly zone?” she asked the Marine.
He just smiled and said, “I don’t think it’s a problem for us.”
She heard the helicopter radio as they slowed and began to touch down. She could hardly believe where they were landing. The seal on the note she held in her hand suddenly became reality to her. They were headed to the White House.
As the south lawn of the White House came into view she knew she was right. They were landing on the south lawn of the White House.
After the blades stopped spinning she noticed a well-dressed man approaching the helicopter. It was the White House Chief of Staff. He seemed to have a nice smile and a confident stride.
It was only her first impression but he didn’t seem to be the gangster the news media made him out to be. He reached thru the open door, and offered her his hand. As she was stepping out of the helicopter he told the helicopter crew to stand by to take the lady back to her car.
He told her she would have to give her pistol to a member of the helicopter crew to hold for her. She understood that she wouldn’t be allowed to enter the White House armed. She complied, handing the Marine at the door her Glock 19. He seemed a little taken back by the custom tooling on it as he clutched it in his hand. “This is a custom weapon, very nice,” he thought as he took it from her.
The chief of staff escorted her across the lawn and into the White House. As they walked she marveled at the amount of activity around her. People she saw only on the nightly news were standing all over the grounds.
There were prominent people standing everywhere. Some of the men and women wore small white coils of wire attached to their ears. She knew these people had to be Secret Service.
She could hardly believe she was even in this building and she certainly didn’t know why she was brought here so abruptly.
After a few minutes walking, she was led to an office door. “Stay here,” the chief of staff told her. “He will be with you in a moment.”
Sue looked thru the doorway and looked around. She felt as out of place as any one person could. No matter what she thought of, there was no reason in her life she could think of that would bring her to this door.
Just then the door opened and he let her in. “Come on in Miss Fielding,” he told her.
She was in an emotional shock. Although she hadn’t voted for him she still considered it an honor to meet him. “How are you Mr. President?” she managed.
He only nodded and smiled at her. “Have a seat,” he said. She sat in the chair he pointed out to her. He seemed taller than she thought he would be.
“You’re probably wondering why I sent for you today?” he asked. He was right; she was certainly wondering why she was in the oval office.
“I need a favor,” he continued. “I need you to speak to Barton Taylor and Jack Hall on my behalf.”
She raised her hand like a schoolgirl and waited till he actually told her to speak. “I don’t know why you don’t speak to them yourself Sir?” she asked him.
“I have been advised that any meeting between us might be misconstrued as a presidential sanction,” he explained to her. “I need them to do a job that I can’t order my men to do.”
“I’ve sent a submarine to watch them and I’m hoping that when the commander explains the mission to them that you will be there to convince them that it’s in the countries best interest for them to take the job.”
When it came to Bart she became ever watchful of the situations he seemed to fall into. Her affiliation with Campbell was giving her further insight into the inner workings of the committee that watched over Arrowhead. Even a smile from the president and a trip to the Oval Office wouldn’t budge her judgment when it came to Bart.
Despite who he was, she was beginning to smell a rat. What kind of mission could this be that he couldn’t order his own men on? There was only one reason that she could think of and that was that they wouldn’t be coming back.
“You always have submarine and Coast Guard vessels watching them. Even I noticed that,” she began. “This time you want to order them on a suicide mission and you need me to convince them to go?” She said straight at him.
It was getting obvious that the awe over who he was and where they were talking was no longer an issue with her. Her feelings for Bart were taking over.
He turned a little, straightened out the fingers on his right hand, and pointed like he was about to make a point when she interrupted him again.
“You should probably know before you ask me to do this that I have a relationship with him. I love Bart Taylor and I won’t sell him out for anyone, not even you.”
“Miss Fielding,” he interrupted. “I would never ask you to sell them out. However, this is a time their country truly needs them and I’m told you have influence no one else has.”
“What kind of mission is this?” she asked him.
“I can’t give you that information,” he said. She looked him in the eye and it was then that despite all the smooth talk she knew the truth.
Whatever had gone wrong somewhere in the world was about to fall on Arrowhead’s doorstep. She wanted to get to Bart. She knew then the only way out of that office was to agree. “I will discuss it with him Mr. President,” she said.
He walked around from behind his desk, took her by the hand, and escorted her to the doorway. He opened the door and as she walked out he said, “That’s all I ever wanted.”
She went out of the building and back to the south lawn. On the way she stepped in a small patch of first dog Bo’s poop. She tried to get it off her shoe and finally getting really angry just said, “Dog shit, and all I thought they had here was bull shit.”
A Marine guarding the helicopter on the lawn overheard her and by the time she approached him his face was beet red. He was still at attention but it was obvious that her remark hit home. She retrieved her pistol from the Marine and climbed into the helicopter.
The helicopter crew took her back down the path she’d flown and back to her car. The Corvette was still sitting in the same place with both Marines; one in front and one in back.
After they landed she got back in her car and drove away as quickly as she could. She continued south then turned east to Cape Hatteras. When she got there she drove to a small airport and waited. The whole trip she experienced pains in her stomach and felt physically ill. It was obvious that the whole affair upset her to no end.
She waited about 45 minutes and off in the distance, over the water, she could see the black Jet Ranger barely dancing over the waves of the Atlantic. As it approached it gracefully climbed and made a smooth turn towards the field.
“Tower, this is AH1 Jet Ranger negotiating a landing at Helipad 23 on the north end of your location,” the voice on the radio called out.
“You are clear to land AH1, we have no inbound traffic at this time,” the tower called back.
She watched as the black helicopter swooped over her head and then made another graceful turn before it set down.
Inside was a familiar face. As the rotors slowed a tall athletic man climbed from the cabin, ducked, and ran towards her. He grabbed her bag and together they ran to the helicopter. The pilot opened his door, placed her luggage behind his seat, and then ran around the front of the helicopter to open the passenger door for her.
When he had the door open he outstretched his arms and she jumped into them. “Hi ya sweet thing.” He said to her. She kissed him on the cheek and then broke off the hug.
She wanted in the helicopter as quickly as she could get in there. She took her seat and strapped herself in while he ran around and took the pilots seat.
“How’s my guy?” she asked him.
“Oh mean and bitchy as usual,” he replied.
“Well, I thought you were working on that,” she responded.
“I am but it seems only you can bring a smile to the old dogs face.”
“He better not be an old dog,” she joked. The pilot pulled back on the collector and the Ranger became airborne.
“This is AH1 taking off from helipad 23 north end of your airport. I will be east bound low level flight,” he spoke into his microphone.
“Roger AH1 have a nice flight,” the voice from the tower answered.
Within a matter of seconds the Ranger was again skimming the ocean headed out to sea.
She sat comfortably watching Jack fly the helicopter. Being in one of these things would have made her nervous a few months ago but flying with Jack was never uncomfortable. It was as if he became part of every machine he flew. She couldn’t help but think about the ride she’d taken only a little while before.
She felt uncomfortable on that ride not like now, she trusted Jack with her life.
She knew that in this machine he was in total control much like he and Bart were about their missions. They always knew what they were doing next. They stayed just one step ahead of everyone else. That’s how they managed to survive.
Off in the distance she could see it; the graceful flowing lines of the large Burger Motor yacht. Its large white hull was gently rocking in the ocean waves. They circled it once before they prepared to land. She couldn’t help but ask Jack, “Heard from Dalton?”
Her question changed his facial format to one of concern. “No,” he answered. “She’s undercover doing something, I’m a little worried.”
She tried to assure him but his plight wasn’t too much different than hers. She always found herself worrying about them.
Something she saw disturbed her. There was a periscope a couple of thousand yards off the Raiders port bow. She pointed at it and tapped Jack on the shoulder. “I haven’t seen one get that close,” she called out to him.
“I know,” he began. “She’s been there for 24 hours now.”
“They’re awful close this time. Do you know what they’re up to?” she questioned him.
“Nothing yet. Probably waiting for something to happen,” he added.
She watched as he prepared to land on the back of the Raider. She kept her eyes on the periscope as they landed.
“I think I know what they’re waiting for,” she said. The remark made him turn and look at her when he turned to her she added. “They might be waiting for me.”
“Aren’t we all?” Jack shouted as he pointed at the tall man standing on the deck. He was watching her as she unstrapped her belt and got ready to get out of the Ranger.
Nothing made Sue feel like a little girl these days but seeing Bart made her feel like a 16 year old again. Each time she saw him lately it got better. She just couldn’t help herself. If he were a chocolate bar he’d be in trouble; she’d be eating him up.
Once she got her belt off she emerged from the Ranger and with her head bent over she ran towards Bart. He was still standing on the deck. As she got close he outstretched his arms to welcome her.
She jumped into the air and wrapped her legs around him skirt and all. She squeezed him tight, so tight that he said, “Whoa, Sunshine you afraid this is the last hug?”
“I want every kiss and every hug I ever give you to be like it’s the last one,” she said. “I want to savor them all, every last one.”
There wasn’t a thing he could say about that. A few months back he wouldn’t have believed that a woman like this could love him. Now he knew this was the real thing and he shared her desire and never wanted to waste a moment. There weren’t any secrets about their feelings between them. She knew he truly loved her just as much as she loved him.
After their short hellos they went towards the salon. On the way an English man walked up to her and she kissed him on the cheek. “Hi Bearden, I’ve missed you,” she said winking at him.
Bearden seemed to enjoy the attention from her and returned her kiss on the cheek with one of his own. Bart gave him a funny look and Bearden told her, “I’ve missed you too.”
“Maybe I should be worried Bearden?” Bart asked him. “Perhaps you should Sir,” Bearden replied smiling and winking at Bart.
Bearden, now with a little spring in his step, returned to the bridge while Sue and Bart went to the salon. She had barely entered when an older man walked in carrying a tray of sandwiches.
“I made some of your favorites,” the older man said.
She waited for him to put the tray down and then hugged and gave him a big squeeze.
“No one anywhere makes crab cake sandwiches like you Mr. Wells,” she told him.
“Oh,” he said. “You’ve been trying to find better ones?” He questioned looking a little jealous.
She laughed and with a little grin and her eyebrows moving, she added, “I would never cheat on your cooking.”
Bart liked watching her with these guys. She flirted harmlessly with them and knew that it didn’t bother Bart. She accepted them like big brothers. Neither he nor she had known them that long but they were already family to them. They treated her like she was their little princess and she loved it.
“I just love coming home,” she said.
Bart smiled and replied, “If you didn’t have that job in Washington.”
“Don’t get started sweetie,” she said to him. “I have that job for both of us.”
He knew she was right. She took the job with the Department of Defense to watch over the newly revived Arrowhead Committee.
Whether they wanted to admit it they didn’t trust those Washington bureaucrats. They had good reason. They hung Bart out to dry before and she was determined that they wouldn’t do it again.
They needed someone on the inside to monitor what was going on around them and with her position next to Colonel Campbell; she was the only one who could.
Washington hadn’t given them a reason to trust them. The politicians frequently changed the rules to suit their political mood.
Since their team leader Colonel Paul Campbell convinced the committee to reactivate Arrowhead, he was working furiously behind the scenes to put in place some safe guards for the guys.
They remained outside the territorial waters of the United States and away from the FBI and local law enforcement officers.
The government might have pushed the issue and brought them in but neither side wanted the problems associated with explaining to a Senate Sub Committee about covert military operations. It was the military that finally decided to keep them off the radar.
Despite the claims of transparency, some areas of covert operations must remain secret to protect the country and the men who do the job. The men of Arrowhead fell under this dimly lit veil.
While taking down a Columbian drug cartel and eliminating a terrorist as an international threat they had wreaked havoc in Dallas, Texas. They ran up a body count of more than twenty.
The cartel leader provided the funds for their new home on the sea. It wasn’t in his plans but after trying to kill Bart and Sue, he wasn’t planning anything these days.
Regardless of how they said all is forgiven, Campbell like Bart and Jack, didn’t trust the powers in control including the oversight committee in charge of them. Keeping the boys in international waters was the best way.
Although Jack made short hops to the mainland in the helicopter for supplies, he seldom came announced and never stayed on the ground more than a few minutes. The only other transportation to the mainland was a Scarab fast boat Colonel Campbell had gotten them from a drug runner the Coast Guard had captured and convicted. It was part of an asset seizure and found its rightful place resting by the Raider.
After Mr. Wells left the salon Bart asked her, “How’s Paul?”
She laughed and shook her head. Bart knew him well and expected some addition from her on the good Colonels exploits.
“I traveled with him for a couple days last week and each time we met someone he would flash a different identification and tell them he was with a different arm of the government.”
Bart laughed, “I know. The scary part is that every one of those departments acknowledge him.”
“I’m still not sure who he really is,” she mused.
“Neither are we,” Bart replied. “Its always been like that even back when he was a Captain.”
“Who do you really think he is?” she asked him.
Bart sidestepped the question and for the first time she realized that he knew all about Campbell.
“You know all about him don’t you?”
Bart just smiled and avoided the subject. “You guys and your secrets,” she said as she grabbed his shoulder.
“Let’s just say that you’re working for the right guy,” he said. “When he’s ready he will tell you everything.”
She sat with him in the salon and told him about the White House incident. He didn’t seem surprised that something was up.
He told her not to worry, just relax. Sooner or later they would let them know exactly what they wanted.
Aboard the nuclear submarine, Queen Fish, the Captain was talking to the executive officer.
“Captain Martin, you asked me to let you know when the woman was aboard.”
The Captain listened to the executive officer and then replied, “I’m not sure they know what they’re doing.”
“Sir?” the executive officer questioned.
The Captain swaggered around his cabin for a minute and then told the officer. “Send this message to the Department of Defense.”
He took out a pen and wrote the following message down.
We are requesting to run a simulation test on the asset to insure they’re in operational readiness.
“Send that out „Eyes only‟ to Department of Defense and let me know as soon as you get an answer.”
“Yes Sir,” the executive officer said promptly leaving the Captain’s quarters.
After he left the Captain smirked, “Maybe I’ll get a chance to see if these guys are everything Washington thinks they are.”
It was less than an hour before his reply came back.
It read:
Operational Readiness test approved remain within mock warfare standards. Report findings after completion.
The message came from a laptop in the possession of Paul Campbell. After he typed the message he smiled. He thought, unlike the submarine Captain, that it might be amusing to have the crew test Bart and Jack.
Now the Captain had what he wanted. He intended to try the reputation of Arrowhead by boarding the Raider in the dark with his on board team.
He had several seal level operatives and he intended to use them to prove to the Department of Defense that the Navy could handle national security problems without these outsiders.
He began to consult with his men later that afternoon and they would make the raid that night. He believed they could board the Raider and take the Arrowhead men without firing a shot. He didn’t mind embarrassing the Army at all.
He had no way of knowing that both Bart and Jack were expecting that very same thing. The night before Bart put on his scuba gear, swam out, and placed a small shape charge on the bottom of the Queen Fish's hull. The charge, according to Jack who made it, would only shake them up a bit.
The charge could be detonated at anytime by remote control. They were only waiting for the Captain of the sub to make his move.
That night aboard the Raider with Sue was all Bart could hope for. They sipped tea on the deck and watched the waves rolling past them. They cuddled in each other’s arms and enjoyed the warmth their bodies provided. The gentle sound of the ocean waves lapping against the bow seemed to melt away any thoughts of the subs presence.
Everyone else just went about their business. Jack was down below with Parker working on something. Mr. Wells was trying out some new recipe or reading a book.
Bearden, as usual, was almost always in the Captain’s chair on the bridge or looking thru his binoculars at something off in the distance. Only once did Jack ever catch him out of character. He walked quietly up on the bridge late one night and caught Bearden playing air guitar to an old Beatles song. Bearden had quite the look on his face when he turned and saw Jack standing in the doorway.
The evening was peaceful and serine, everything you’d expect it to be that is with the exception of the nuclear submarine only a couple of thousand yards away monitoring their every move.
Later in the evening Bart and Sue watched a DVD she brought him, it was a personal joke. She once referred to them as Batman and Robin. She had to get him the new Batman movie. Bart watched it intently and thanked her for thinking of him.
She marveled sometimes at how simple he was. Despite all the training and the delicate missions he’d been on he was pleased at the slightest thing that she did for him.
Most of the men she met had expectations for her but not this one. He seemed and was genuinely happy just for the opportunity to spend time with her. He seemed grateful they had these moments. Bart was a man who liked the simple things. She wondered if his attention to detail made him like that.
The more she delved into him the more she grew to love him. In the beginning she was afraid the attraction she had for him was merely because of the danger they faced together. But now it was so much more than that.
He was much more complex than she originally thought. There were many sides to Barton Thomas Taylor.
He had the loving side that he showed her and the side he showed those who went up against him. That side of him she saw in action. He was more than formidable; as Jack had once put it; he was a well-trained, under the wire, run to the danger-killing machine.
If Bart went after you it was like having an angry Rottweiler on your tail. Neither running nor fighting was an option; sooner or later he would get you. He was in control, that side of him stayed in its proper place and he only used it when his duty called and he was required to be that hard.
As they turned in for the night Jack talked to Bart for a few minutes. “I’ve got that hair on the back of my neck thing going on,” Jack said to Bart.
“Yeah, me too,” Bart agreed. “Let’s split watch and turn the monitors on.”
Jack agreed, “I take the first watch while you catch up with Sue.” Bart thanked him and went to his cabin.
Bart touched the monitor button in his cabin and called out to Mr. Wells.
“Look alive down there. I need your ears and eyes.”
A crusty voice responded and Bart laughed after he heard Wells reply by mimicking a pirate’s voice, “Aye Aye me Captain.”
Wells had a unique sense of humor but he was a solid guy. He may have been the cook on the Raider but he was much more
than that. He was a Viet Nam Vet and an original member of Seal Team 4 several years earlier. Bart had a feeling Mr. Wells, despite being in his late fifties, was still a formidable force.
Over the past few weeks Bart began to wonder if this group of misfits aboard the Raider was too good to be true. They all seemed perfectly suited for the life style they lived. Bart’s curiosity was never in check. He was always suspicious.
The whole group was so perfect he couldn’t help but wonder if Campbell had set it up somehow. That guy had a way of knowing everything that went on. He was spooky, just when you thought he was out of the loop you turn around and there he was.
As the night began to run its course, the crew aboard the Queen Fish, under the command of Captain Benjamin Martin, began to take on the mock task of capturing the inhabitants of the Raider.
At approximately two a.m., four divers left the sub undetected and came up near the Raider. As they approached they were careful not to make any noise or disturb the water too much.
Two of the divers swam towards the bow while the other two swam towards the aft swim platform. They were all dressed in black with their equipment and automatic weapons floating along with them.
At two a.m., Jack was awakened by a tiny red light flashing near him. He rolled over and softly said, “Perimeter breach.” A soft voice, almost a whisper, replied saying only, “Bow.” Jack replied with one word, “Aft.”
A few moments later the team began to come aboard. The bow team threw a grappling hook onto the railing of the Raider, began to quietly climb the rope, and pulled themselves aboard.
There was no sign of life. All was quiet on the deck as they continued their assault. The invaders began to feel confident they would catch their prey sleeping and unaware.
The aft duo followed suit as they climbed aboard the swim platform.
There was a cargo vent just towards the center of the yacht directly in front of the men coming on board at the bow.
After both men climbed aboard they heard a soft “crackle” sound that made them freeze holding their position.
At that moment both teams were hit with a bright light and a loud voice commanded, “Put down your weapons or we drop you where you stand.” Both boarding teams looked around. They were blinded by the spotlights and could see nothing in front of them.
There was no one to shoot at and even if there was they couldn’t do it, this was a mock exercise for them. The invaders realized they were done. There were no alternatives.
They did the only thing they could do. They put their weapons down and raised their hands. Bart came from behind the cargo vent with an AK-47 in his hands.
At the aft swim platform Jack rolled out from behind the bulkhead and held an M203 Grenade launcher in his hand. As they stood on deck they watched as two big Roto-cannons rose from the deck pillars.
The leader of the invading force stood with his hands in the air as the Roto-cannons locked into place and swung towards the Submarine. He looked at the sub and back at the Roto-cannons; he knew the sub was in range.
One of the men Jack was holding said, “That thing isn’t loaded is it?”
Jack smiled at him and said, “Uh yeah,” which sounded remarkably like something a valley girl would say.
When they rounded them up and took them to the salon Bart removed one of their communications devices, put the earpiece on his head and said, “Let me talk to your Captain.”
A voice came over the communication link in a matter of seconds, “This is Captain Martin,” he said.
Bart was less than nice to him, “Why would you choose to board my vessel?” Bart questioned him. “Even though I understand that your men told me this was only a mock exercise and they weren’t supposed to hurt anyone, you still invaded my privacy.”
The Captain agreed that he only sent them to the Raider to teach them a lesson and show they could be taken. “Well guess what?” Bart exclaimed, “I’ve got your men.”
Bart reeled back to him, “And I suppose the next thing you tell me is you’re in a nuclear powered sub and we wouldn’t really stand a chance if this was real.”
“That’s right,” the Captain said firmly, he was beginning to get a little angry with this cocky man who captured his team.
“Well,” Bart began, “I would have never let you get this far.”
The Captain questioned him, “What did you mean by that?”
Bart pushed the remote detonator button in his hand and a large explosion happened underwater about a thousand yards off. Bart nodded at Wells and just off the bow of the shaken sub the Roto-canons began chopping up the water with their armor piercing rounds. The heavy fire would be noticeable inside the sub.
The Queen Fish rocked from the blast and the Captain yelled, “That son of a bitch!”
One of the crewmembers yelled, “They’re shelling us Captain, they’re using an anti aircraft weapon on us.”
The Captain yelled back at him, “Stay on your post sailor, they’re not trying to hit us.”
Bart spoke softly now, “Did you get my drift?”
The Captain looked around the Conning Tower of the sub at his confused men, “If he wanted us that explosion would have been ten times what it was and in four or five locations.” The Captain watched as the crew calmed down then ordered them, “Everyone stand down.”
Bart spoke to him one more time, “How would you like to come over for a drink?”
The Captain agreed and the Queen Fish began to surface. As he stepped off the bridge the Captain said, “Boy is this going to be embarrassing.”
A small boat was launched from the submarine and within a few minutes the Captain of the Queen Fish was aboard the Raider.
The explosion awakened Bearden so he escorted the Captain to the salon. “You will find Mr. Taylor and Mr. Hall in here,” he said leading the Captain to the salon doorway.
It was about two thirty in the morning and the Captain had mixed emotions. On one hand he found out why the government wanted to use these two and on the other hand he felt a little embarrassed. He underestimated them.
As he entered the salon, Bart stepped forward and shook his hand. “I’m Bart Taylor,” he said. “Welcome aboard.”
Ben Martin was career Navy and a proud man but at this moment he didn’t have much pride in his crew. He’d been advised of Arrowheads reputation for being prepared for everything but like most people who encountered them, he thought it was mostly hype.
The captured men were all sitting around a table in the room with coffee cups in front of them. One of the men stood up quickly and addressed the Captain.
“Sir, they had us dead to rights,” he began. “We never had a chance. They were on to us the second we boarded.”
The Captain looked at Bart, “What did you use? Some sort of radar?” he asked.
Jack stepped forward and introduced himself. “Old technology, I stole from a metal detector,” he started. “I amplified it to pick up any thing metal that moved within the area surrounding the hull.”
“Whose invention is that?” the Captain asked.
“Mine,” Jack said. “It’s just a big under water car alarm.”
The Captain was impressed. “What about the charge under my sub?” he asked.
“Light so we wouldn’t do any damage,” Bart told him.
The Captain shook his head as he looked around the room. “How long has that been on my boat?” he asked them.
Bart smiled, “Since about two hours after you arrived here.” “One last question,” he asked Bart. “Were those rounds from a Roto-cannon?”
“Yeah, we have two of them. One on each side of the yacht mounted for 180 degree sweep of each side,” Bart replied. “Good firepower and range with armor piercing shells.”
Bart laughed then added, “We fish with them sometimes.”
He didn’t necessarily like what they did to him but he was beginning to develop some respect for these two wayward warriors.
The Captain laughed and said, “Can I get a cup of that coffee?”
Bart poured him a cup and they all sat down and relaxed.
“I didn’t mean to rattle your cage,” Martin began. “It just seemed to me that we could do this job they wanted from you.”
Bart looked him over, “I don’t even know what the job is yet. Maybe we don’t want to do it. No ones actually asked us for anything.”
“My lady’s been rousted and taken to the White House. You came along and cornered us with a nuclear submarine. I’m just waiting for someone to lay the whole thing out for me.”
Martin took a breath, “I can’t show it to you yet, they’re calling you guys the contingency plan right now.” Bart had heard that before. He knew the scenario and how it played out.
“I say someone is being held captive and they’re negotiating.” Bart stopped talking and looked in the Captains eyes. He was looking for a poker tell, that little indication that he hit a nerve. When the Captain wrinkled his brow and blinked at what he said he knew he was on the right track.
“If the negotiations begin to break down that’s when I get the proposal,” Bart finished his statement, went to the coffee pot, and poured himself another cup of coffee.
The Captain watched him closely, “Word could come any moment.” Bart just nodded and waved the pot of coffee at the Captain.
“Yes Sir,” the Captain said. “I would like some more.”
The Captain sipped the coffee and then asked, “How do you get the coffee to taste like this?”
Bart laughed, “I have nothing to do with that. We have a man on board who does all the cooking and such, his name is Wells, you would have to ask him.”
Captain Martin smiled, “Robert Wells?” he asked.
“That’s right,” Bart told him. “Do you know him?”
The Captain was shaking his head affirmatively. “I sure do,” he said. “That man was on my ship for ten days once. He gave my cook hell. By the time he was on board three days I had to sanction a ships boxing match between them.”
Jack started laughing, “I bet I know who won that one.”
“If you were thinking Wells you’d be right,” he said. “He and the cook ended up good friends. Spent the last five days of his stay drinking the best coffee I ever tasted and watching him and my cook compete over who could make the best chow.” The Captain was smiling and moving his head up and down.
About that time Wells walked into the room
“Sorry to interrupt but I was wondering if you would like a snack or something?”
“I would if you have some of that angel food cake with cherry sauce you used to make.”
Wells looked over at the Captain and realizing who he was Wells turned and walked to him quickly, “Martin?” Wells said, “So good to see you.” Wells took his hand and shook it firmly.
“You old sea dog,” Martin replied. “I thought you were dead.”
Wells just kept shaking his hand. It was obvious to Bart that they were even better acquainted than the Captain said.
“No Sir,” Wells exclaimed. “I was born in the Corpus Christi Bay and I’ll die in the Corpus Christi Bay. Till then I’m looking after these boys.”
“They’re in good hands my friend,” the Captain said.
Wells turned and started out of the room, “Angel food with cherries,” he said. “I think I can fix you up.”
When Wells left the room, Martin turned to Bart and commented, “That is one of the best men I’ve ever met.”
Bart looked towards the doorway after Wells left, “I would sure like to hear why someday.”
Across the room Jack was beginning to understand Bart’s feelings about the Raider crew being some sort of Colonel Campbell conspiracy. He said, “I’m a little curious too.”
On the Captains belt he had a small radio attached, “Sir,” it crackled, “We have an inbound helicopter.”
They all left the salon and went to the observation deck. There was nowhere to land on the Raider since the Jet Ranger was on the pad. They all stood in the early morning breeze listening to the sound of fast turning rotors coming at them.
The only ones who didn’t seem curious about the inbound helicopter were Bart and Jack.
They looked at each other and exchanged a simple nod. They knew who it was, it had to be Campbell; Paul would never miss an opportunity like this to make an entrance.
Sue saw the nod and moved to Bart’s side.
CHAPTER 2
NO TIME TO SPARE
Sue put her arms around Bart and held on tight as the helicopter began to hover overhead. The side door opened and a lone figure came out the door and repelled down a rope they threw down. The man smoothly negotiated the rope like he’d done it a thousand times before.
When he landed on deck the man turned to Bart and Jack and said, “I guess it’s time for us to talk.”
The helicopter he came in turned and headed back inland. Martin watched as the Colonel addressed his men and the same men who seemed in such control moments before quickly followed the Colonel with no questions asked. Captain Martin stood for a moment wondering how he earned so much respect from them and then the Colonel called out, “You want to come along Captain?”
As usual the Colonel negotiated a grand entrance. As they followed him towards the salon on the Raider, Bart watched his demeanor.
He learned to read the Colonel through the years, often learning the severity of a situation from the way he carried himself. This time was no exception.
“I’ve been wondering when you would show up,” Bart said. The Colonel seemed rather solemn and that bothered Bart.
When they got to the salon they were all seated except the Colonel. He stood and faced them; his face had a look of uncertainty and concern.
“I can’t order you to do what I’m about to ask you,” He began. “I can only explain it and let you decide. The mission, whether you take it or not, is entirely up to you.” He took a deep breath and began presenting the situation to them.
“Five days ago a plane carrying the Ambassador to Jordan and his assistant crashed outside Al Zillah just inside Libya. They were returning to Jordan after a meeting in Algiers.
“We had a homer onboard the plane and another one on the Ambassador. We have been implanting these lately because one mounted on or in anything is too easy to remove. I know that sounds like Big Brother watching but that’s another subject.
“We tracked the planes homer but when we sent in our team we found only wreckage. The pilot and copilot were killed. We managed to extract their bodies and bring them back. No sign of
the Ambassador or his assistant were found. Three days ago the White House received a ransom request for the Ambassador from a group of rebels in Libya. As you know, there are more than one faction of rebel operating in Libya. This group happens to be Al Queda. They’re not friendly to either side. They’d like to have the country for their own purposes. They don’t support the freedom fighters and they don’t support the government faction. We’re talking about a bunch of loose cannons here. ”
The Colonel watched their faces as he continued. He knew this was a bad request for Bart and Jack. They were no fans of Libya. He had sent them in there a couple of times before and the place never rated very high on their places to visit.
Through the years relations in Libya had taken several turns and as of now things were about as rocky as they had ever been.
Despite current negotiations, many in Washington considered any negotiations inside Libya questionable at best.
The country was filled with rebels and unsavory characters. Despite the government’s claims to be anti terrorist, they had big problems inside that country themselves, they were in the midst of a civil war.
The whole place was like the Bad Lands. Its coastline was filled with pirates and terrorist militants. Much of the military followed their leadership half-heartedly.
The facts were that much of the population was armed to the teeth and many of them hated Americans. Bart wasn’t sure how much the place had changed in recent years but at one time it reminded him of a slightly more civilized Somalia.
There was no easy way in and if you were detected most likely no way out at all.
“The homer in the Ambassador, is it active?” Bart asked him.
The Colonel nodded as he continued. “We have a fix on the homer and we believe the Ambassador is alive. They asked us for a ransom of fifteen million dollars.”
“The United States doesn’t pay ransom,” Jack replied.
“Precisely!” the Colonel exclaimed. “We have been monitoring their movements for these last two days. Because of a couple of problems we can’t send in troops and we can’t send in the seals.”
Campbell looked at Bart now as he continued, “We can stall the negotiations but we won’t make a deal. It’s going to be an embarrassment for the government if we don’t go get this guy.
We don’t want another International hostage situation on this President’s watch.”
“The Libyan Government won’t assist us?” Bart asked Campbell.
The Colonel paced a little then answered, “We think their intervention would guarantee the Ambassadors death. We originally thought we might make a deal with the government and try to send in our own troops. The Libyans wouldn’t go along with us.”
“If we do and we send in the military it will be a mess. We can’t afford another international incident. We have no one to trust and other than satellite photos we have no boots on the ground intelligence. It’s also a no fly zone so there won’t be any air support.”
‘I figure the odds of you going in there and getting out with the Ambassador alive are not much better than fifty-fifty.”
Captain Martin looked on as he heard the Colonel tell them that it was a suicide mission. He knew from his own briefing that they didn’t have to take the job. Whether he meant to or not he just sat there shaking his head no.
Bart got up from his seat and walked around the salon. “Can I see the satellite photos Colonel?” he asked.
The Colonel laid out the photos on a nearby table and they looked them over. At one point Bart asked Jack about the terrain and if he remembered it from the last time they were in there.
Jack said, “Brushy.”
The photos were blown up black and white images of a small building in a remote area. Surrounding the building was a tent city. That many tents meant lots of company. They had to assume that those tents housed armed troops.
“No matter what we do, it’s going to be the wrong thing,” Campbell continued. “We can’t pay the ransom because of national pride. If we send in the Marines or a seal team we get an international incident.
“You know the arrogant Americans beat up little third world country and kill innocent women and children. There is no way to do this without causing problems.”
“And how did you expect us to do it without those problems?”
“I was thinking that we could send you in from the coast at night. You could try to quietly secure transportation in and out.”
“Without intelligence all we have to do is hide or try to look inconspicuous or something,” Bart added.
“That makes sense,” Jack began. “To avoid violence we can dress like tourists and take them shopping.”
“And how long do you think we can fool them before they realize we’re Americans and they start shooting at us?” Bart asked him.
“That’s up to you Bart but it’s the only plan I’ve heard.”
As much as they didn’t like the idea both Bart and Jack agreed on one thing. They thought they could get close enough to grab the Ambassador.
“What happens if it goes up in smoke, we get detected, and we have to run?” Bart asked. The Colonel didn’t answer he only shrugged his shoulders.
“How much time do we have?” Bart asked. Even the Colonel didn’t like his answer to Bart’s question.
“They either make their decisions in Washington too fast these days or too slow,” he continued. “The clock’s been ticking too long on this one.”
Campbell’s jaw tightened, “I need to know now?”
Jack walked over to Bart and put his hand on his shoulder.
“Whatever you say, but I remember the last time we were in there.”
“I do too Jack,” Bart responded. “It’s one of the few times I ever really thought we might not get out of somewhere.”
They looked at each other for a moment. The intensity of the stare was something Sue seldom saw between them. She was certain they were about to tell the Colonel that they wouldn’t go.
“One other thing,” the Colonel added. “We have a language tutor standing by to give you guys some quick lessons if you want them. With about two days work they can make you sound like a native.”
“That would upset the Rosetta Stone people if it really worked,” Jack mused.
Bart walked over to a drawer in the salon, pulled out a Cuban cigar and lit it.
“Those are bad for your health,” Captain Martin said.
Bart nodded in agreement. “Yeah,” Bart said taking a drag off the cigar and handed the Captain another one. The Captain took it then Bart offered him a light.
“We’ll go,” Bart said. “But we pass on the language help. If we get caught we won’t care if we understand what they’re saying while they torture us. And by the way, you have to buy the gas.”
“I’m not sure I follow you,” the Colonel asked.