Читать книгу Manipulation - D.K. Wilde - Страница 14

Wade and the SEAL team reached the cliff face, on the eastern side of Mount Walker, early afternoon. Wade had already explained the climb, the building layout and the early warning devices.

Having brought the proper climbing gear, they went higher than the services area and entered from the perimeter fence. The six men split into two three-man groups. Wade and two SEALs coming in from north of the house using the water tanks as cover. Joe and the remaining two SEALs would enter from behind the hangar. They would have more protection both from sight and enemy fire but they also had a one hundred metre open lawn area they needed to cross. Two metres from the fence, the team connected by throat mikes and earpieces, Wade called a halt.

“What’s up?” asked Joe through the mike.

“Something has changed … I’m not sure what but I have a feeling we might be walking into a trap,” replied Wade with his head sweeping from side to side.

“What do you want to do?” asked Joe again.

“I’m calling in a drone gas drop.”

All six men backed away from the fence as they grabbed for their gas masks. Wade called through to General Forest the co-ordinates.

Six minutes later the single, grey, radar reflecting, unmanned drone took off from Fairchild US Air Force base carrying three gas canisters and two infrared disabling devices.

Using his portable GPS and radar tracking signal, that was emanating from Washington DC, Wade was able to watch as the drone approached. At 50,000 feet, travelling at Mach 1.9 and directly above its target, the drone shot its package towards earth. Travelling at the speed of sound, the missile encased package got to 300 feet, exploded and the three canisters and two devices floated into the compound. With knockout gas spewing from the canisters and all the infrared inactive, Wade and the team waited until the occupants rushed from the buildings.

The nine men and four women fell like ten pins as the elite fighters picked them off. Convinced there were no more; they proceeded to cut an opening through the fence and into the compound.

Entering Wade’s eye was caught by the cameras still operational. A dim red flicker was apparent in the background of the dome and the eye was slowly following their movements. He knew they were being watched. Ordering the team to hide from the cameras and put on a dead guard’s clothes, he explained they were to act as normal as possible and keep away from the buildings.

One of the SEAL members, found the power supply and set a C4 block. The small explosion eliminated all power, Wade watched, as the cameras remained operational. Something didn’t make sense and he felt the only explanation was that the whole facility was being controlled remotely and probably wired to explode.

“We need to get out of here … now,” yelled Wade.

Special Forces operatives worldwide know that if somebody orders a withdrawal you react instantly. With the two group’s running back to their respective entry points, Wade suddenly heard the distinctive sound of a landmine exploding. Turning he looked across the lawn to see what remained of the two men who had been following Joe.

Without warning, the buildings and various parts of the perimeter erupted. Troy had pre-empted a possible attack could occur and had prewired explosives to be remotely detonated.

The dust started to settle and the gas was dissipating. The buildings and perimeter looked like a war zone. Hundreds of holes covered the once manicured lawns. Debris and glass scattered over the entire area. The building creaking and groaning as the cantilevered structure fought the gravitational pull to collapse over the side of the mountain. Wade, Joe and the two SEALs had survived the explosions, predominately because of their armour vests and helmets, but were suffering the consequences of blast concussion. No matter how hard they tried they could not get to their feet or keep their balance. The ringing in their ears was excruciating as their noses bled. Wade was staring at the fence, blinking and trying to get his eyes to focus as the welcome sight of the remaining SEAL Team 6 arrived to their aid.

Joe had become concerned when Wade had called in the drone strike and thought it relevant to advise SEAL command, who then deployed the balance of the team. The new arrivals had parachuted in, cleared and checked for further activity, gathered the remains of their fallen comrades and called in a helicopter evacuation.