CHAPTER 8: THREE HAWKS IN MOROCCO
GINO'S STORY
At the end of the sixth month, Danny and I are together our dream of working side by side is becoming a reality.
Chuck starts it all with a call. " Danny, I'm on my way to the CIA Director's office. As our resident expert on terrorism, you should be included in the conversation. There will be questions for you, so can you be ready for a conference call in ten minutes?"
"Yes."
She calls me over. "Gino, I'll put this call on speakerphone. It sounds portentous."
Ten minutes later the phone announces an incoming call from Chuck which turns out to be with who's who in intelligence agencies and beyond.
It's her work phone she refers to as the Chuck phone. She answers in a business-like voice. "This is the Jeweler."
"Hello Mando, this is Chuck from the FBI. I'm here with the Directors of the National and international defense, security and intelligence agencies. Can you talk?"
"Certainly," She can't exactly refuse them. "What is the topic of such an elite conclave?"
"As a field operative, you are listed as a chief advisor to the Government on terrorism."
He speaks to the men in the conference room. "Gentlemen, not only has this individual had extensive experience in counter-terrorism, he was born and raised in an Arab country where his Father was stationed. He infiltrated the terrorist group, the Right Hand of Allah and provided the CIA with valuable Intel. He is an independent consultant on terrorism, conducts rescues and extractions, and provides VIP protection."
They seem to be impressed. "Mando, tell us about the Right Hand of Allah's project, DFA."
"Yes, sir. That event has been almost five years in the planning. It is intended to follow 911's lead in humiliating the USA by showing it's incompetence in leadership, military, and agencies like the CIA."
"How will this be done? And what does DFA stand for?"
"A key figure of the USA leadership, someone of a high rank, will be abducted and taken to one of five compounds in Arab countries," She says with a grim face.
"The Compounds are surrounded by stone walls topped with five more feet of razor wire, spreading into a canopy, like the top of a circus tent. There are four guard towers, a roving spotlight, a small movie studio, and accommodations for a thousand soldiers in-house, and other quarters outside the walls for twenty thousand soldiers. Tunnels allow the troops to be far enough away to be out of sight. Any shorelines are or will be mined to prevent subs, troop carriers, and SEALS."
"Are the troops housed there permanently?"
"No, sir. Ten to fifteen thousand members of the right Hand will assemble in the area surrounding the compound. When a rescue of the victims is attempted, those troops will attack. They'll have preset signals, such as a flare, gunfire, or sound of an enemy helicopter. The walls have only one entrance. They will rush the entrance, sealing off any chance of escape, and fill the compound and the surrounding area. Some of the newer compounds have underground barracks that can house at least another five thousand. The point of that is to avoid detection."
"Excuse me, Mando, but what is the studio for?"
"International broadcasting. The VIP will read the demands live during a live broadcast worldwide. The demands will be impossible. If a certain deadline isn't met, the VIP is raped on camera and broadcast for the world to see. Thus the name of the mission, Double Fuck America, or DFA for short. The country will be humiliated. They hope America will retaliate, or attempt a rescue. Any military involvement or aggression from the USA will be declared an act of war. Upon this declaration, selected major US Embassies will be blown up, and twenty major hospitals in the USA will be destroyed. While America is in shock, the white house and Pentagon will be taken."
"But sir, if any attempt at rescue is made, the VIP will immediately be beheaded, eviscerated, and evacuated through a secret tunnel to remove all evidence that would justify US aggressive action. Rescue teams will be publicly violated and beheaded to emphasize the incompetence of the US and US military strength."
The silence in the conference room confirms the shock of my news. The division officer for the CIA anti-terrorism group breakes the silence. "Mando, there is a buildup of terrorists around three such compounds. Do you have any contacts that can verify the one to be used, and possibly the candidate and time frame?"
"Affirmative on the compound, but the candidate will be one of a few chosen. The one with the best opportunity and lowest risk for abduction at that time will be selected. No one but the leaders knows or will know who those selected VIP's are."
"How long will it take for you to acquire that information?"
"Within twenty-four hours. About how many soldiers have congregated in the areas, sir?" This information is crucial.
"About five thousand or so at each compound."
Danny sighs. I can see that's what she was afraid of. "Then we'd better be prepared. If they are amassing troops now, the event will take place within two weeks at the outside. Probably one or two days before D-day one of the compounds will be top heavy with outside soldiers."
"How could an extraction be done?" General Thompson jumps in.
"No firearms can be used, sir," she replies. "One shot and the hordes are released. One rescuer in the compound, one sniper for cover, and one expert driver is the only way to avoid detection, sir."
"ONE? Just one goes in?" Saying he isn't pleased with the idea would be underestimating his response.
"Stealth is the key to success in this matter, General," Danny tells him with a serious voice. "More infiltrators increase the likelihood of detection. It will take a rare kind of person to be willing to attempt a mission with a fifteen thousand to one chance of success. The guerrilla commando can only use silent weapons, like knives, garrotes, hatchets, nunchucks, etc. This mission has only one chance, and the window is small. It must be done within two to three hours of the abduction."
"Mando, DI Floyd, CIA. Who would chance such odds, and who is qualified for such a mission? SEALS, maybe?"
I'm expecting this question. "This is a solo mission in and out. I know only one individual or team that could pull that off, but the fee would be astronomical to reflect odds of one to fifteen thousand. If successful they'll become enemy number one of all terrorist organizations. Like Ben Laden in reverse. "
"Like how much?"
"Don't know, sir. Just go high and multiply it by a couple of hundred, and you might have a workable number. Remember, the likelihood of you having to pay it is one in fifteen thousand. If that team or infiltrator's identity is discovered, terrorist all over the world will be gunning for them. They won't give up easily. After all, they had the patience to wait five years for this project."
"Mando, Chuck again. What course of action do you recommend?"
"Simple; once the compound is identified, get the team over there to be on site within an hour of the abduction. It will be too late to fly from America or a military base to any Arab country."
"Mando, General Hogue, here. Is this a mission you could accomplish?"
Danny laughs. "There's at least one chance in fifteen thousand I could. Seriously, I'll have to see if the other two specialists are available and I'll give you an answer. If I can't do it, I can plan it."
We hear Chuck speak to the other attendees. "Gentlemen, do you have any questions?"
"General Hogue here, Mando. I assume the military can't offer assistance to avoid the tie-in, correct?"
"We may ask for certain equipment that will have to be unidentifiable, but no fighting personnel. More than three rescuers will seal the VIP and America's doom."
"If you take this mission, how soon would we receive your strategy?"
"After the mission is over, or during the mission, if you are watching via the satellite cameras."
"But how would we know it is a solid plan?"
"When we come back alive with the VIP. All information is on a need to know basis, and the team is the only ones who need to know. Such is the nature of black ops, right General?"
He chuckles "I see you are experienced. That is encouraging."
"Any other questions, gentlemen? Shelby?"
"No," Shelby from the NSA says with confidence in his voice. "The fate of America and the world will be in the hands of three people. These must be extraordinary people who believe they can succeed in a mission-no, an impossible mission such as this. How many such people do you know?"
"Three total, including me. I work with no one else. I'm allergic to body bags."