Alpha Threat (52 page)

Ben shouldered his weapon and knelt beside the bunker, peering in.
 
His eyes moved about the bunker and came to rest on a small radio lying on a narrow ledge.
 
The tiny green light on the top of the radio denoted that it was turned on.
 
Tecal and his men pulled the dead men out of the bunker while Tim prepared a hiding place beyond the area.
 

“Let’s pull ‘em over here,” said Tim quietly, using a large branch to pull back groundcover.
 
As Tecal and his men struggled to hide the bodies, Ben was in the bunker looking for information they might use.
 
There was a small amount of freeze-dried food, water, ammo but that was all.
 
He finally found a cylindrical case buried slightly under the first log inside the bunker.
 
He quickly dug it out.
 
Ben uncapped the case and pulled out several maps.
 
He unrolled one of them to find a map of the area with strange markings and symbols.
 
He brought the maps out and sat on the side of the bunker.
 

“Tim, take a look at these.
 
They seem to be maps of the area but I can’t make out these odd markings.”
 
Tim joined Ben and took a look.
 
One map seemed to denote several other defensive bunkers dispersed in a semi-circle east to west.
 
There was a small check beside one of the markers.
 

“It looks like these are other bunkers,” explained Tim, pointing to several marks.
 
“This must be this one,” his finger noting the checked mark.
 

“Damn, if that’s it, there are at least a dozen more bunkers like this east and west of here,” added Ben.
 
“I wish we could get this to Dane and Hugo before they run into these.”

“Give them a call,” said Tim.
 
“We can at least give them a heads-up as to what we find even if we can’t show them.”

“I guess that’s the best we can do,” replied Ben, taking the map in his hand.
 
He gave Dane a call on the comm link.
 

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Fortress Alpha;
 
6:45 p.m.

Jorgen Maas felt good about the security measures that had been taken.
 
He and Grübner were getting hourly reports that said there were no strange occurrences noted.
 
This was what they wanted to hear.
 
The two men walked together down one of the corridors checking their protection measures within the Fortress.
 

“Several days have passed with no adverse reports from our outposts or patrols,” said Maas without emotion as they walked.
 

“Yes, sir,” replied Grübner.
 
“It is very quiet out there.
 
I don’t think we’ll see those American intruders again.”
  
Grübner walked faster to keep up with the long gait of Maas’ stride.
 

Maas glared at Grübner.
 
“I’m not so sure about that.
 
If I were in their position, I would not give up easily.
 
Either way, the information does not support the idea that our intruders decided to give up their efforts.”
  
The two men rounded a corner and stepped up to a checkpoint.
 
The two guards snapped to attention.
 

“Report,” snapped Grübner, eager to show the efficiency of his men.
 
One of the security guards reached down and picked up a clipboard and handed it to Grübner.
 
Maas watched intently.
 
“All is normal.
 
No incidents during our watch, sir,” said the guard mechanically.
 
Grübner quickly reviewed the pages and handed the clipboard to Maas.
 
Maas scanned the page quickly and handed it back to him.
 

“Very well,” said Maas.
 
“All actions and incidents are documented no matter how small?”

“Yes, sir,” replied Grübner.
 
“From my experience, to ensure compliance with a procedure, all of the actions supporting the procedure must be documented in detail.”
 

Maas sneered at Grübner.
 
“I trust your men are committed to security matters as well as they are committed to their paperwork.”
 
Maas was impressed but did not want to show him any leniency.
  
He really hated this man, Grübner.
 

“Sir, I assure you my men are completely committed and capable,” answered Grübner.
 

“We shall see,” said Maas with a slight grin.
 
“We shall see.”
 
The two walked further down the corridor.
 
They were nearing Maas’ office.
 

“Sir, might I suggest that we interrogate the two American captives to get more information from them?” asked Grübner.
 

“You don’t believe my men did an adequate job?” questioned Maas, a bit taken aback at his suggestion.
 

“Oh, no, sir, I do not imply that at all,” answered Grübner, backpedaling with all his might.
 
“They have been here for several days secured in relatively comfortable lodging.
 
Maybe they will talk now.
 
Maybe they have become a bit complacent and less confrontational.
 
They may welcome some conversation even if it is with us.”
 

“Bullshit!” thundered Maas, clearly angered at his comments.
 
Besides, Grübner had no idea that Maas had moved the two captives to another holding cell, one not so comfortable.
 
Grübner’s eyes were like large saucers.
 
He was scared.
 
Maas was an evil man.
 
He had personally seen him torture, maim and kill more people than he could count.
  

Grübner quickly changed the subject.
 
“Sir, would you like to survey some of our newest sensors?
 
These are the ones we implanted throughout the jungle in the areas not covered by our security patrols.”
 
Maas stopped dead in his tracks.
 

“You limited the deployment of sensors?” Maas demanded, his eyes glaring.
 

“Well, sir, we only have a limited number of sensors and…”

“Dammit, your incompetence will kill us both,” bellowed Maas.
 
“You told me you set sensors everywhere.
 
Now you tell me you did not.
 
I want sensors at all locations, even in the patrol areas.
 
Is that clear?”

“But sir, there will be false readings when our men…”

“Look at me, Grübner,” Maas growled as he reached over and grabbed him by the chin, turning his face toward him.
 
“I don’t care if you have to personally track down hundreds of false alarms.
 
I don’t care!
 
What I do care about is your incompetence.
 
You put this facility’s security at risk because you did not take every step necessary to insure our safety and well being.
 
I will be reporting this to the Führer at once.”
 

Grübner was crushed.
 
He stood there like a puppy that had been beaten with a stick.
 

“I assure you, sir, I will take care of this immediately.
 
I will personally make certain the sensors are deployed before morning,” Grübner said defiantly.
 

“Damn right you will!” yelled Maas.
 
“You will or I will take care of it and take care of you.”
 
Maas spun around on his heels and walked away.
 
Grübner swallowed hard.
 
He knew what “take care of you” meant.
 
He wanted no part of that.
 

Maas stormed into his office, still furious at Grübner.
 
That damned man is going to get us all killed, he thought to himself.
 
If we are not killed by the Americans, the Führer would kill them herself.
 
She did not accept excuses for major transgressions.
 
Maas decided to make a mental note to have Grübner killed and replaced immediately.
 
He stood and walked over to a locked filing cabinet.
 
He reached under his shirt and felt for the chain around his neck holding two keys.
 
One was for this filing cabinet, the other for his “private” files hidden in his apartment.
 
As he began sifting through the files, he called out to his assistant.
 

“Max, come here at once,” he bellowed.
 
He was still pissed.
 

Max Delper strode into the office from his desk outside the door.
 
“Yes, sir?” he answered.
 

Maas took several heavy files from the cabinet and handed them to Delper.
 
He turned, closed and locked the filing cabinet door.
 
“Let’s go to my private conference room.
 
We need to find a replacement for Heinrich Grübner.”

Delper knew better than to ask any questions.
 
He complied quickly and with the absolute best of his ability.
 
Something happened and he did not know what it was.
 
But he did know this…Grübner was a dead man if he was not already dead.
 

The two entered the conference room and Delper placed the files down on the table.
 

“I want the best replacement for him,” hissed Maas, “and I want a name now.”

“Yes, sir,” answered Delper.
 
“I have two candidates in mind, Leutnant Foerster and Leutnant Boehm.
 
Both are fine officers with spotless records.
 
Either one would make a fine replacement.
 
Delper pushed the two files over to Maas, who began reading them.
 

“Ah, I know Foerster.
 
I know his parents,” Maas said while intently looking through his file.
 

Delper interjected, “Sir, Boehm is senior and has an impeccable background.
 
Her grandfather was General Paul Boehm, one of Hitler’s closest aides.
 
The General insisted on suicide when he learned that the Führer died.
 
He felt there was nothing to live for without Germany being in control.”
 
Maas pulled Boehm’s file on top of Foerster’s.
 

“Yes, I do like her,” said Maas in a strangely menacing tone.
 
“She would do very well.
 
I can control her much more easily.”
 
Maas ran his finger over the photo of Leutnant Boehm in her file.
 
She was a striking blonde about thirty years old and a fine body.
 
What he could do with that, he thought.
 

Maas smiled and closed the two files and handed them to Delper.
 
“I want you to check on Grübner.
 
He is presently working on a priority one project for me.
 
He committed to have it completed by morning.
 
When he is finished, arrest him and take him to my private retention cells.
 
I will make his death an extremely painful one.
 
Promote Leutnant Boehm to captain and put her in charge of security.
 
Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir, I understand completely.
 
I will inform you tomorrow morning when Grübner has been incarcerated and Captain Boehm is in charge.
 
Consider it done, sir,” snapped Delper.
 

“Very good, Delper, very good.
 
It is good to have such a loyal and committed assistant.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Delper, clicking his heels with a slight bow to Maas.
 
“Now, if you will excuse me, I will check on Grübner and his project.”
  
Delper turned and left the room with the files.
 

Maas sat there thinking.
 
That bastard Grübner may have screwed this up beyond control but Boehm will straighten it out… or she would feel his wrath as well.
 
She was pretty and torturing her would be a pleasure.
 
Maas rose and returned to his desk, feeling in total control and confident that all was well.
 

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Outside Fortress Alpha;
 
11:30 p.m.