‘ICIS’ Saltbox Hill Biggin Hill Kent

 

Lat = 51 degrees, 19.7 minutes North

Long = 0 degrees, 1.2 minutes East

 

Tuesday 22nd March 1988

 

Strayker had just been on the phone for ten minutes, whilst Max sat drinking a coffee.

“Right Max; a car is waiting outside were going over to ‘ICIS’ Intelligence Collating Information Services.

“They arrived forty-five minutes later and entered what appeared from the outside to be a disused gasholder station off Saltbox Hill near Biggin Hill.

They approached a large Metal panel; on the other side a VDU screen was being monitored and showed the two images on the other side of the metal panel.

Two armed Sentinels stood nearby as the VDU operator pressed a switch. The metal panel slid open Strayker and Max walked through, the metal panel closed behind them.

In front of them was another metal panel; a voice came from a nearby speaker. “Please carry out identification procedure.”

Strayker and Max approached the eye scan monitors and spoke into them; within seconds the panel in front of them slid open.

A man with the appearance in his late fifties stood with the guards. “Welcome Sir, I presume this is Max?”

“Hello Vince, Max this is Vince Edward’s he heads up ICIS.”

“Pleasure to meet you Vince.”

“Likewise Max, this is your first time here!”

“That’s right Vince.”

“Please follow me gentlemen.”

Vince and a tweed suit, he looked like a science teacher from the late fifties, yet he was only thirty-two years of age.

They entered the op’s room, it was equipped with a wide range of computers and other hi-tech electronic equipment.

“We had to reprogram a satellite to scan the area you requested; five minutes ago it began exploring the area, and these are the images I think will interest you.”

Four hundred miles in orbit above the Earth’s surface was a spy-sat named Vulcan, fifteen tons in weight and as big as a school bus, it was transmitting real time images via Milstar communications relay satellites to ICIS.

With the ability to operate in visible and near infrared light, as well as thermal infrared to detect heat sources, the sensors also have low-light intensifiers to see at night.

Max and Strayker looked at the images, they showed four buildings, movement of men a helicopter and a number of vehicles.

Max pulled out his sketch of Shakira’s base he had madefollowing Hussein’s interrogation, he picked a pencil up from the nearby table and added some more detail to it from the image on the screen “The helicopter has been processed and identified as a Huey,” Vince said.

Elated; Max raised his voice. “Bingo.”

“Can you zoom in on the middle building of the three together?” Max asked. Vince operated the computer and within seconds the image was showing the middle building, carrying two large boxes out of the building.

“Follow those box’s Vince,” Max said.

Vince operated the computer mouse and the image on the screen tracked the box’s, they watched as the boxes were loaded onto the helicopter. “There loading the devices,” Max exclaimed!

Strayker turned to Vince, “Okay Vince, I want that chopper followed, this is top priority, I want regular updates.”

Strayker picked up a nearby phone and dialed a number.

“This is Strayker; connect me to the Prime Minister.”

After a short pause, “Hello Prime Minister, we have located the terrorists base, however it would appear that two of the devices are being transported out of there by helicopter.”

“I suggest you switch on the television and observe the news that’s just this minute coming out of Mozambique, then phone me back.” Strayker turned to Vince. “Switch on the television and select the news station.”

Vince walked over to a nearby television and flicked the switch selecting channel one. A newscaster appeared with a backdrop image of Africa. “We have reports of a disaster in the city of Chimoio in Mozambique, reports coming through state that hundreds of the population are dying along with animals on farms, at this moment we have no cause to blame it on.”

“Switch it off Vince, I’ll phone the Prime Minister.”

Strayker was on the phone for five minutes when he hung up he turned to Max and Vince. “It’s started, the Prime Minister has received a communication from the IAF claiming responsibilty for the Chimoio event, they want fifty million within the ninety six hours or we are next.”

“Then we must go in and take them out.” Replied Max.

Strayker looked directly at Max. “Everest have given the authorisation to go; I have to meet with the PM you know what to do Max!”

“Leave it with me; sir.”