44 |
44 |Over the Arabian Sea
“Thank God you were able to make that shot, Niner, otherwise the mission would have been blown.”
Sergeant Carl “Niner” Sung eyed Sergeant Will “Spock” Lightman. “Excuse me?”
Spock cocked an eyebrow. “What?”
“You’re thanking God? I like to think I had a little to do with it.”
Spock gave him the finger. “Thank you, Niner.”
Niner folded his arms, Command Sergeant Major Burt “Big Dog” Dawson chuckling at the show put on by his team. “You’re welcome.” Niner leaned forward. “And on behalf of God, He says you’re welcome too.”
Sergeant Leon “Atlas” James groaned, his impossibly deep voice echoing through the hold of the MC-130J Commando II transport they occupied the rear of. “So, now you’ve got a direct connection to God?”
Spock shook his head. “Careful there, we might have to toss you out the back for blasphemy.”
Niner shrugged. “I’m Buddhist. I’ll just return even more handsome.”
Atlas grunted. “And shorter.”
Niner flipped him the bird. “Kiss my short, handsome ass.”
“In your dreams, shit ball.”
Niner stared at Atlas. “You better hope reincarnation isn’t real, otherwise you’re coming back as something I’d scrape off my shoe.”
Atlas regarded him for a moment then shook his head. “You’d still be too short.”
The team, all elite operators in 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment—Delta, commonly known as the Delta Force, erupted in laughter at their friend’s expense, even Dawson joining in. As the highest ranking among the team of Non-Commissioned Officers, he was in charge, and the mission they had just completed, installing surveillance equipment on several ghost ships being used to illegally sell oil to North Korea, had been a success. They had installed the devices, and nobody knew they had been there.
Except for one crewmember who had spotted them boarding one of the vessels, Niner taking him out while floating on the water. The Korean-American was the Unit’s best shot, and he had once again proven his skills, God-given, were as sharp as ever. And the guard falling into the water unnoticed meant those on board would chalk it up to an unfortunate accident.
And if they continued unawares, the US government would be able to provide proof to the UN that the Iranians and North Koreans were violating their respective trade sanctions.
All in a day’s work.
Dawson’s comm squawked in his ear.
“Zero-One, Control, come in, over.”
He activated his comm. “Control, Zero-One, go ahead, over.”
“Zero-One, stand by for Control Actual, over.”
Dawson held up a hand, silencing the chatter, as Colonel Thomas Clancy came on the line. Clancy was their commanding officer, and a man Dawson implicitly trusted. And respected.
“Zero-One, Control Actual. Change of plans. We’ve got a situation developing with our professor friends in Dubai.”
Dawson shook his head at the mention of two civilians he had been ordered to kill as terrorists several years ago by a corrupt administration, and now counted not only as two of the most solid, reliable civilians he knew, but friends as well. It had been a long, twisted, strange road, but there was little the men of Bravo Team wouldn’t do for the two professors who so often found themselves in the middle of events bigger than themselves. “Acton and Palmer? What did they do now?”
The mention of their names had everyone leaning forward.
“Looks like the Saudis kidnapped a friend of theirs in Sweden, forced them to steal some ancient ring, then bring it to Dubai where we think the exchange is happening.”
Dawson’s eyes narrowed. “Why not just exchange it in Sweden?”
“We’re not sure. Langley seems to think the Saudis are panicking, and are either trying to figure out a way to keep everyone alive, or are planning on killing everyone on safer soil.”
“How about just not doing stupid shit to begin with?”
Clancy chuckled. “Since when have they ever done that?” There was a pause. “Listen, we’re still waiting for the mission to be sanctioned, and what the ROE will be, but I’m redirecting you to the general vicinity immediately. By the time you get there, you’ll have your orders, and hopefully a location on your targets. All the intel we have has been sent to your phone. Copy?”
“Copy. I’ll brief the men.”
“Do that. Control Actual, out.”
“What’s up, BD?” asked Spock, everyone eager to hear what was happening with the professors. Dawson held up a finger, opening the data file sent from Control, quickly skimming the details, his head shaking the entire time. He turned to the men, the plane already banking, their updated orders obviously received in the cockpit. “Well, it looks like there’s no rest for the wicked.”
Atlas jabbed a massive finger at Niner. “I blame him for insulting Him.” The finger’s target adjusted upward.
Niner was about to deliver a retort when Dawson cut him off. “The professors are in a situation again.”
Spock grunted. “When aren’t they?”
Dawson smiled. “They do keep us employed. Looks like this one isn’t their fault. Pop quiz: what’s the only type of building you can enter, but never leave the same way you came in?”
Niner shrugged. “A morgue?”
Dawson chuckled. “Close. The correct answer would be a Saudi embassy.”
Atlas groaned, Dawson swearing he felt it over the vibration of the airframe. “Don’t tell me we’ve got another Istanbul.”
Niner leaned forward earnestly. “Please tell me my future wife is okay?”
Dawson gave him a look. “If you’re referring to Professor Palmer, then as far as we know, she’s fine. I’ll let her husband know you’re concerned.”
Niner grinned. “Do you think he’ll tell her for me?”
Atlas shook his head. “You’re going to get your ass waxed one of these days.”
Niner stood, dropping his pants to reveal a cheek. “Already done. Feel that. Smooth as a baby’s bottom.”
Spock pulled his Glock. “If that ass isn’t holstered in three seconds, I’m adding a new hole.”
Niner pulled up his pants and sat back down. “You’re all just jealous that I have the balls to get a Brazilian when it’s needed.”
Atlas grunted. “That’s only because we have man-sized balls and it would hurt too much, not like those giblets you’re sporting.”
Niner squeezed his boys. “I’ve had no complaints.”
“Why would you. They’re yours.”
“I meant from the ladies.”
Atlas gestured toward Niner’s hands. “Why would they? They’re—”
Niner spun toward Dawson. “BD, they’re picking on me.”
Dawson eyed him. “You’re the one who cocked a cheek.” He became all business. “Here’s the situation. A Swedish professor went into the Saudi embassy in Stockholm this morning and never came out. He was supposed to meet the professors but never showed. Acton, in his infinite wisdom, went to the embassy himself—”
“Now he has balls,” observed Atlas.
“—then came out a few minutes later. We assume he went in looking for his friend. Shortly after he left, Interpol Agent Reading received a message from Acton on a hotel staff member’s phone. That message indicated their friend had been kidnapped by the Saudis, who wanted them to steal some ring that had been discovered, and hand it over in exchange for their friend. Reading passed the message on to Dylan, and that’s how we’re in the loop.”
“I miss Dylan,” sighed Niner. “He was always nice to me.”
Atlas cleared his throat. “That’s because he always had a thing for Asian chicks.”
Everyone split a gut laughing, even Niner joining in. “Okay, that was a good one.”
Atlas stood, taking bows. “Thank you, thank you, I’ll be here all week. Try the Pork Rib MREs, they’re fantastic.”
Dawson regained control and continued. “After that message was sent, there was a police report that there was a robbery at the missing professor’s university, and arrest warrants were issued for Acton and Palmer for armed robbery and attempted murder.”
This wiped all the joviality from the cabin. “That doesn’t sound like them,” said Spock. “It must be some mistake.”
“Probably,” agreed Dawson. “But the fact remains, they’re now on a flight to Dubai for some reason, we assume to meet with the Saudis to do the exchange for the professor, and the moment they land, the locals are going to arrest them and send them back to Sweden.”
Niner chewed his cheek. “Wouldn’t the Saudis know this?”
Dawson nodded. “Exactly, which is why Langley thinks they have a contingency in place. We’ve got agents on the ground that will try to track them until we arrive.”
Niner frowned. “Let’s just hope we get there before they’ve moved them to the Kingdom. I really didn’t enjoy my stay the last time I was there.”
Dawson smacked his hands together. “Check your gear then get some mental health time. We’ll be into the thick of things before you know it.”