Alpha Threat (53 page)

It was several days since their original break-in at the Fortress.
 
Now Dane and Hugo were back.
 
They were dead tired, but with the information Ben found in the patrol bunkers, they were able to skirt the bunkers in their area and arrived north of the Fortress’ helicopter landing area.
  
Dane slid under the brush and up to Hugo’s side.
 

“Welcome to my nightmare,” joked Hugo.
 
It was his way of coping with the stress.
 
“It looks like we found our way in.”

“What do you have?” asked Dane.
 

Hugo slightly raised a frond from one of the bushes in front of them.
 
They were about twenty-five yards from a slight clearing, something odd in this thick jungle.
 
But upon closer scrutiny, one could see the jungle floor in the clearing was not as it looked.
 
There was a low growth of plant life but almost too flat for a natural area.
 
Under the trees and underbrush around the clearing were several low huts.
 
These reminded Hugo of his old duck blinds back home in Texas.
 
The huts were small and heavily camouflaged.
 
To the unknowing, it looked like more jungle.
 
However, as they sat there in the darkness, they donned their night vision goggles and bingo!
 
There was plenty of activity all around the clearing.
 
Each hut looked to be made of concrete block with a small door and numerous firing ports.
 
Through the goggles Dane and Hugo saw about a dozen men working and patrolling the area in the dark.
 

“Damn, this looks bad,” huffed Hugo.
 
“There are people everywhere.”
 
He kept his eyes on the closest hut, just ten yards away.
 

Dane was also looking.
 
“We have to be very careful,” he said whispering.
 
“We must assume they have night vision goggles too.
 
That could cause us a problem.”

“It certainly could,” sighed Hugo, trailing off to a yawn.
 
“Getting a bit tired, Boss.
 
We should get some shut-eye before we go in tomorrow.”
 

“Agreed,” said Dane.
 
“I want to go in at daybreak.”
 
Dane motioned to Hugo and the two slithered back into the jungle away from the security guards.
 
They found a small hole about a half klick back in a small grove of trees.
 

“Looks like a feather bed to me,” smiled Hugo.
 

“Yeah, this is perfect.
 
Even if someone comes along, our heat profile will be below ground to the extent that they shouldn’t be able to “see” us with night vision unless they are right on top of us.”
 

“If they are on top of us, they won’t be able to see…they’ll be dead,” said Hugo quietly.
 
“Should we check in with Ben before we crash?”

“Not a bad idea,” answered Dane.
 
“We need to coordinate our attacks.”
 

Dane got Ben on the comm and noted their location and plans to go in at 5:30 a.m.
 
They discussed a few other logistics quickly and stopped their transmissions.
 

“I hope the bad guys didn’t pick any of that up.
 
Could cause us all kinds of trouble,” said Hugo quietly.
 

“Yeah, I know but we had to check in.
 
I guess we have to trust they didn’t but act as though they did hear us.”

Hugo smiled, “Sounds like a plan, Boss.”

With that the two men hunkered down in the hole and covered themselves with as much brush as they could pull on top of them.
 
Then they went to sleep.
 

Meanwhile Ben, Tim, and Tecal and his men were doing the same.
 
However, Tecal set his two men up as lookouts for the night.
 
Their position was more at risk as they were jammed up under some tree roots behind several large ferns.
 
Ben thought it prudent to have a guard in case someone happened to come up on them.
 

Tim was cleaning his rifle and preparing his ammo for tomorrow’s action.
 
He was scared.
 
He admitted it.
 
But he also felt Ben, Tecal and the others were excellent partners to be involved in such a mission.
 
He kept a watchful eye and listened intently as he readied his weapon.
 

“Getting nervous?” asked Ben quietly as he opened his eyes.
 

Tim grinned.
 
“Yeah, a bit, I guess.
 
It’s been a while since I was involved in anything like this.
 
I guess I’m a bit rusty.”

Ben smiled.
 
“You and I both, buddy.
 
It’s been a long time for me too, but it’s like riding a bicycle; you start up again and everything falls into place.
 
You need to get some rest before morning.
 
Looks like you’ve got everything ready.”
 

“Yeah, pretty much.
 
I do need the rest.
 
Something tells me tomorrow is going to be one interesting day… one way or another.”
  
With that, Tim put his weapon aside and leaned back against the tree trunk.
 
He had one last question.
 
“Ben, are you scared of dying?”

Ben looked out into the jungle.
 
“Sure.
 
I guess everybody is, but my mother once told me that death was like going to sleep.
 
Once you are dead, you don’t know it.
 
So I figure once I’m gone I won’t know it.”

Tim cracked a weak smile.
 
“You can’t beat a mother’s wisdom, Ben.
 
They always have a way of being right.”
 
Tim closed his eyes and thought of his mother.
 

About 5:10 a.m., Dane nudged Hugo.
 
“Wakie, wakie, time to hit the trail.”
 
Hugo snapped awake instantly and checked his weapon.
 
“Damn, I wish I could do that,” said Dane.
 

“Do what?” asked Hugo.
 

“You know, awake from a dead sleep and are ready to go in an instant.”

Hugo smiled.
 
“Ya gotta train for that, my man,” joked Hugo.
 
“It comes from many battles and many women.
 
I don’t know which one has the most influence.”

“Figures,” said Dane.
 
“You ready?”

“Let’s hit it, Boss.”

With that Dane and Hugo began their journey back to the clearing.
 

Tim and Ben were awake for several minutes.
 
It was now 5:15 a.m.
 
Ben looked over at Tecal, who was chewing on some jerky of some kind for breakfast.
 
Ben knew better than to ask what kind of jerky.
 
He really didn’t want to know.
 
He knew it was nourishing and took the piece Tecal offered.
 
Tim took a piece as well.
 

“Beef jerky, I love it,” whispered Tim.
 

“It’s jerky, yes, but what kind?
 
You would have to ask Tecal.
 
But I can assure you that it is not beef,” said Ben, getting up to one knee.
 

“Oh,” said Tim, “Mystery meat, huh?”

Ben grinned.
 
“Yeah, something like that.
 
If you want to know, ask Tecal.
 
But for God’s sake don’t tell me what it is.
 
I just don’t want to know.”

As they chewed on the jerky they readied themselves.
 

“Tecal, are your men ready?” asked Ben.
 

“Yes.
 
My men ready to go.”

“Good.
 
Let’s get into position.
 
Dane will kick off in a few minutes and we must be ready.
 
You know your positions around the hatch and in a defensive position around the immediate area.
 
Let’s do it,” said Ben as they all rose and headed into the jungle toward the hatch.
 

Monday, July 18, 2011

Fortress Alpha;
 
5:00 a.m.

It was several days since the incursions.
 
Maas ordered increased security and his men were on high alert.
 
Patrols outside the complex were increased.
 
No new incidents were reported.
 
Maas was up early to deal with the Grübner situation.
 
Maas sat alone in the senior staff dining room eating breakfast when his assistant, Max Delper, strode into the room.
 

“Good morning, sir,” Delper said triumphantly.
  
“Your issue is resolved.
 
Captain Boehm will join you at 7:00 a.m. to discuss any orders.
 
Oberleutnant Grübner is in custody and awaiting your attention.”

Maas smiled widely.
 
Something he very seldom did.
 
“Very good news, Delper,” he bellowed.
 
“No, in fact, that is extraordinarily good news.
 
You handled the situation well.
 
I will see you are rewarded.”

“Thank you, sir.
 
I appreciate that, sir,” answered Delper as he turned and left the dining room.
  
Maas smiled again and savored his sausages and eggs.
 
This is a fine day.
 
Yes, a fine day indeed.
  
He continued eating.
 
He looked up and saw Captain Boehm enter the far side of the dining room.
 

“Captain Boehm, please join me!” Maas bellowed.
 

Boehm strode across the room, smiled politely and sat down across from Maas.
 
“Good morning, sir.
 
I must thank you for the opportunity you’ve bestowed upon me.
 
I will do my best to make you proud.”

Maas continued eating but stopped long enough to answer her.
 
“Captain, I have full confidence in your abilities.
 
I am glad you were available at such short notice.
 
As you may be aware, many times we have very little time to settle unfortunate situations that arise.
 
In this case I believe we have chosen well.”

Boehm nodded formally to Maas.
 
“Thank you, sir.”
 
She knew his comments were complimentary but she also realized she was informed her situation could change at his whim.
 
She was certain she could do a good job.
 
She felt the veiled threat that he could crush her at any time.
 

“Waiter,” cried Maas, “Please take the captain’s order.
 
We have things to discuss.”
 
Boehm’s breakfast arrived and they discussed the security situation Grübner screwed up so badly.
 
Maas wanted to fill her in before he retired to the holding cells in the subbasement where not only the Finleys were taken but now Grübner.
 
 

Maas finished his breakfast and pushed his chair back from the table.
 
“Captain, I have complete confidence in you.
 
I know you will do well.”

“Thank you, sir,” replied Boehm.
 
“I will do my best.”

Maas smiled slightly, “Yes, I know you will.”
 
He stood and walked away, stopping to share a few comments with three officers at a table beside the door.
 

Maas left the dining room and returned to his office.
 
He checked the morning reports.
 
Again there was nothing of interest, until he came to a one-line item on the communication center’s nightly report.
 

11:35 PM – Picked up a phantom radio transmission.
 
Transmission lasted less than one minute before it was lost.
 
Recalibrated the radio and attempted to reconnect.
 
Unable to reconnect.
 
Listened to the frequency for another two hours.
 
No activity.
 
Placed a watch on the frequency.
 
Could be a bounced signal.

It was probably nothing but Maas knew any radio transmission in the jungle was odd.
 
This was not an area many people entered in general and even more rare, people with radios.
 
It could have been a common shortwave radio signal bounced off of the ionosphere.
 
But Maas felt there may be some validity to the interception.
 
He was convinced that the Americans were going to try to re-enter Fortress Alpha sooner or later.
 
He damn well wanted to be ready.
 
He picked up the phone and dialed the Security Command desk.