HARRIS (Detonation)

by Eldon Kellogg

  "I've read your file. I know that was a horrible time for you. My question is this: can you maintain your objectivity as a battalion commander? This can't become a personal vendetta. Do you understand me, Lieutenant Colonel?" General Alcott asked.

  "I'll be honest with you, General. I hate these bastards with a burning passion, but I'm a professional soldier. I'll operate within the mission parameters, as determined by the Army and our civilian leadership," Anthony said.

  "Good! Here's the latest information that I have from the Pentagon, and it's ugly," General Alcott said, as he picked up a document from his desk.

  "At approximately 1900 hours today an assault team, comprised of an unknown number of rogue Chinese Special Forces operators, attacked the access post at the Harris Nuclear Plant and killed three guards. They then proceeded to the Security Building at the main entrance to the plant, and subdued the security personnel located there. Based on the timing, the security staff, approximately 30 individuals, were conducting turnover from day shift to night shift. The majority of the personnel would have been in a single meeting room. The site also has six gun towers. It seems that they were able to take control of these locations, also. One call was received by 911 operators from a woman on site who identified herself as the Site Vice President. The call ended abruptly, and there have been no other calls from the plant. Attempts to contact personnel inside the plant have also been unsuccessful," General Alcott said, then paused, looking up at Lt. Colonel Thompson.

  "Based on the best information available, it is likely that these individuals are in possession of the last missing nuclear device from the Chinese plot. The device is projected to be in the 30 kt to 40 kt range. Analysts from various federal agencies have concluded that the terrorists intend to detonate this weapon inside the Fuel Handling Building. Duke Energy records show that over 3000 spent fuel bundles are stored in pools located in the building. If the weapon is detonated inside the building, the effects will be catastrophic. And that, Lt. Colonel Thompson, is about as bad as it gets. Any questions?" General Alcott said.

  "A few, Sir. Are we going to have any air cover?" Anthony asked.

  "Son, you're going to have air cover from 500 miles up, down to treetop, and everywhere in between," General Alcott said.

  "When do we leave and what's our mission, General?" Anthony asked.

  "Good . . . I want your Stryker battalion on the road in two hours. Your destination is the Harris Nuclear Plant, up near New Hill. By the time you're ready to move out, you'll have all the contact information you'll need to get there and execute your assigned mission. You'll be heading straight up Highway 203 to 401. From Fuquay-Varina, you'll be on Highway 55 until you turn toward the plant. Local law enforcement and the Highway Patrol will clear all civilian traffic from your path . . . and Lt. Col. Thompson . . . you will have to remain flexible. The mission parameters could change rapidly. The initial mission is containment, but I can envision a direct combined arms assault on the plant as this situation develops further," General Alcott said.

  "One other thing, your battalion won't be the only unit involved in this operation. As things develop, you will receive additional information. Good luck, Lieutenant Colonel Thompson," General Alcott said, rose from his chair, and saluted.

  "Thank you, Sir. My battalion will be ready," Anthony said, saluted, and left the office.

  CHAPTER 48

  2555 Beard Road

  Fayetteville, NC

  August 2, 2017

  2310 hours EST

  "Damn, Colonel, this place is sweet! Kind of an odd time to have us drop by for a beer," said SFC Ancellis York, as he and the four other operators of C/A 1A (Delta Force, Charlie Squadron/Alpha Troop/Assault Troop 1A) walked into the entry way of Colonel Mike Jankens' home on the outskirts of Fayetteville.

  "First of all, you're late. I said be here at 2300 hours. Second, no beer until this mission is completed. Come with me," Colonel Mike Jankens said, as he turned and walked down a long hall into the home's great room.

  "Well, well, better late than never," said SFC Brian Mays, while sitting in the room with the rest of team C/A 4A.

  "Damn, the 'back of the bus' team. I hope this isn't anything serious, we might come up a little light," SFC York said, as he and SFC Mays shook hands and bumped shoulders.

  "Gentlemen, listen up, this will be the most significant op you'll ever undertake. If I told you that the fate of the entire country was riding on this mission, I wouldn't be exaggerating," Colonel Jankens said, as the 10 warrior brothers greeted each other.

  "Well, that's different. Usually we're just taking out some pogue that the government wants to transport to some virgins in the next world," said SSG Bennie Clay, as he plopped down on the sofa.

  "Shut up, Bennie. Colonel, what's the deal? You don't usually play with this 'end of the world' stuff," said, SFC York.

  "Everybody, sit. This is gonna be quick. I don't have time for a long, detailed, formal brief. There will be no mockups, no walkthroughs or practice jumps. You're going to go into this cold with minimal intel," Colonel Jankens said, while pointing at a 6' by 6' satellite pic of the Harris Plant mounted on a side wall.

  "We all know the crap that's been going on in the country with these 'imported' nuclear weapons. We've had teams spread around the country to help collect these devices and the people who were guarding them. There is only one weapon left unaccounted for, and now we know where it is. At approximately 1900 hours today, a dozen or so Chinese Special Forces operators from the Siberian Tigers took over the Harris Nuclear Plant. They attacked the plant at shift change so most of the guards on both shifts were at a turnover meeting," Colonel Jankens said.

  "Daaaaamn, I'm smart! You owe me $20, York. I told you that was the way to do it," SSG Clay said.

  "Shut up, Bennie, and listen to the Colonel," SFC York said, while opening up his wallet and handing Bennie a $20 bill.

  "That's why you’re here, plus your availability. I know you're familiar with Harris," Colonel Jankens said.

  "Sir, we've practiced on most of the nuke sites in the Southeast. SSG Clay commented during that particular evolution that turnover was the perfect time to hit the Harris plant. 'Almost all the eggs in one basket' was the phrase he used, as I remember. We included that as part of our after-action report. I guess they ignored it," SFC York said, as he and SSG Clay fist bumped.

  "Harris was one of the stronger plants we tested. These Chinese guys must be pretty damn good. The plant probably had 30-40 guards on site when they struck. Have we heard anything?" asked SFC York.

  "The site VP called 911. She said that the 'guards' were killing everyone," Colonel Jankens said.

  "Which means they were dressed as Harris guards," SFC Mays said.

  "That was my assumption. At about the same time, 911 got another call from a woman who said her home had been taken over by Chinese soldiers. Her husband is a guard at the plant," Colonel Jankens said.

  "Daaaamn, that's another $20," SSG Clay said.

  "Shit!" SFC York said, while reaching for his wallet.

  "The only way a team that small could take out the whole security force is with inside info, Colonel. Take the family hostage, and force the husband to cooperate. I'd do the same thing," SSG Clay said, while pocketing the second $20 bill.

  "Now, the bad part. They are in possession of a 30 kt nuclear device. Best guess, they're going to place the device in the Fuel Handling Building and blow up 6,000,000 pounds of spent fuel," Colonel Jankens said.

  "That would make a big mess," SFC York said.

  "The intelligence wonks say it would be like a volcanic explosion and contaminate the whole Northern Hemisphere, maybe the whole planet," Colonel Jankens said.

  "Any threats or demands?" SFC York asked.

  "None, no communication at all. We think that their intent is to destroy the US, so China can take over the world," Colonel Jankens said.

  "That's bad. These guys are like jihadists. They have a higher mission, and they do
n't care if they live through this," SFC York said.

  "Well then, I guess we have to drop in and kill 'em all," SSG Clay said.

  Colonel Jankens then briefed the ten Delta Force operators on every detail that the Pentagon and CIA had provided to him.

  "So, they've got one guy in each armored tower, that's six. The others are probably scattered across the plant site or moving the weapon into the Fuel Handling Building," SFC Mays said.

  "What other assets do we have?" SFC York asked.

  "A Striker Battalion will be leaving Bragg in about two hours. Their mission is to seal the plant and then start pressing in," Colonel Jankens said.

  "Good, we'll need a diversion. This looks like a HALO insertion. The roof on the Fuel Handling Building looks like you could land a C-130 on it. We can drop one team on this building, and the second team on this other one. What's this one called?" SFC York asked.

  "The Waste Processing Building," Colonel Jankens said.

  "One problem. They'll be waiting for us. We have to remember who we're dealing with. These aren't a bunch of thug gunmen working for a drug lord, or fanatical butchers trying to set up a caliphate for the Mahdi. The Chinese Special Forces have based their training and tactics on us. They study our missions. They would know this is a vulnerability for them. They'll have men on the roof waiting for this," SSG Clay said.

  "Gunships?" SFC York asked.

  "If you do that, we might as well drop the 82nd on top of them. They'd get shot up, but they'd be over them like a bunch of fire ants," SFC York said.

  "Maybe that's what we should do . . . blunt force trauma," SFC York said.

  "That was considered by the Pentagon, but there's not enough time. That's why they called me, and I called you," Colonel Jankens said.

  "Your op, gentlemen . . . how do you want to proceed? I have my ideas, but I want to hear yours," Colonel Jankens said.

  "The diversion will be the Striker Battalion. That will draw their attention to the perimeter. While they're defending the perimeter, we hit the roof," SFC Mays said.

  "Then what? We'll hunt down the bad guys, but what about the nuke?" SSG Clay asked.

  "You'll be bringing a civilian specialist with you. She disarmed the first device found in San Francisco and several others across the country," Colonel Jankens said.

  "She? Colonel did you just say that some female civilian will be making a HALO with us? Sir, with all due respect that's a little . . . chancy," SFC Mays said.

  "She's a parachutist and has free fall experience . . . and . . . she's also 54 years old," Colonel Jankens said.

  "Great! We strap her to a rocking chair and pop her chute at 500 feet," SSG Clay said.

  "Kiss my ass! I've made over 600 jumps and have a 'D' License. I've made over 50 night jumps," said Kate Williams, as she walked into the room from the kitchen.

  All eyes turned to the tall, red-haired woman with cold blue eyes.

  "This is Kate Williams. She's a contractor for the National Nuclear Security Administration, Accident Response Group. She owns a company that specializes in this type of work," Colonel Jankens said.

  "Don't worry, boys. I won't slow you down. All you have to do is get me to the device in one piece, and I'll take care of the rest. All of these devices have been modified the same way. They built a five-minute timer into the weapon that's hardwired. I don't think the Chinese operators will dare to change it. They might risk activating the timer. I disarmed a big one near DC with the timer running. I made it with five seconds to spare," Kate said, while walking up to the large satellite pic on the wall.

  The teams parted like a wave.

  "So, here's the plan. After landing on the roof, we'll rappel down the north end of the Fuel Handling Building and enter through the railcar entrance. I'm a certified Alpine Climber by the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation. So that won't be a problem. If we can't get in that way, there's a side door on the East side, that you can blow open, if it's locked. Then we go up the stairs to 286' and find the device. I disarm the device, and we all go have a cold one down by the lake," Kate said.

  "Damn! I like this woman. I bet she can shoot, too," SSG Clay said.

  "The timing will have to be perfect. Once the perimeter is hit, they may start the timer. That only gives us five minutes to reach the weapon and disarm it," SFC York said.

  "The timing is my job. The grunts will be in position by 0300. You need to be wheels up and over the plant by 0330. I'll forward all updated info to you as it happens, both prior to the jump and after you're on the ground," Colonel Jankens said.

  "Granny, you may not have five minutes. Can you disarm it in one or two minutes?" SSG Clay asked, as he walked up beside Kate and stared at her.

  "Well, I am a grandmother. But if you call me that again, I'll punch you in the face. You can call me Kate," Kate said, as she looked up at the hulking man.

  "Yes, I do like this woman, but answer the damn question," SSG Clay said.

  "Don't mind him. He's all bark," SFC York said.

  "Like I said, all you boys have to do is get me there. You kill the bad guys, and I'll kill the bomb. I've refined this down to 150 seconds. The equipment I need weighs 19 pounds. It'll drop with me," Kate said.

  "SFC York, you are mission lead. You know the schedule. Ms. Williams is yours. Get her fitted up to jump. Call me when you're in position at Simmons Army Airfield," Colonel Jankens said.

  CHAPTER 49

  North Carolina State Emergency Operations Center

  1636 Gold Star Drive

  Raleigh, North Carolina

  August 2, 2017

  2310 hours EST

  She could put up with the bruised ribs and the scrapes, but the headache wouldn't go away. It felt like someone was driving a nail into her temples. Amanda knew that if she took any more painkillers, she'd just fall asleep, and this wasn't the time for that.

  She picked up her cell phone as she exited off Wade Avenue onto Blue Ridge Road, and called her father.

  "Pick up, Daddy, you and Momma better be heading out of town by now," she said, as the number rang.

  The phone answered, and it was her mother.

  "Hi, Amanda, we've almost left the house. Your father is turning off the gas. I'm packing a cooler. Are you sure this is necessary? WRAL isn't evacuating the station on Western Boulevard," Selma said.

  "Momma, you and Daddy get in that damn car right now and head for the cabin. If you don't, I am really going to be pissed with both of you," Amanda said, as she turned left onto District Drive.

  "Young lady, there is no need for you to use such language. We raised you better than that," Selma said.

  "I'm sorry, Momma, but you two need to get out of this area right now. If nothing happens, then you can lecture me all you want. I look forward to a big 'I told you so'. Until then, you head west on I-40 until you reach the cabin," Amanda said.

  "Honey, we are moving as fast as we can. We'll be out of the house in just a little bit. Your father just walked in. He wants to talk to you," Selma said, while handing the phone to her husband.

  "Amanda, it's your Dad. Now stop talking and listen to me. You take care of yourself, and don't do anything foolish. It would kill us both if something happened to you," Will said.

  "Daddy, I'll be fine. I'll try not to do anything stupid. I just wanted you to know that I love you both very much. Please, do as I ask, and leave town now. Just think about it as a summer trip to the mountains. Just get to the cabin and wait until the government says it's safe to go back home," Amanda said, while wiping tears from her eyes.

  "We're ready to go. Your Momma just nodded to me, and she has her suitcase in her hand. Amanda, remember what I said earlier. Work is fine, and it's an important thing, but life can be real hard when you go through it without someone beside you. Promise me that you'll find that someone special," Will said.

  "I promise, Daddy. Now you and Momma get moving. I love you both, bye," Amanda said, as she reached the entrance to the State EOC.r />
  . . . .

  North Carolina State Emergency Operations Center

  2315 hours EST

  Amanda reached for her CIA ID as she pulled off District Drive and approached the entrance to the NC State EOC. Two Raleigh Police officers were inspecting each vehicle prior to allowing access. As she lowered her window, she could hear the mournful wail of the Harris emergency sirens in the distance.

  "I feel like I'm in a movie and bad things are getting ready to happen," she thought, as the officer shined her flashlight in the window and inspected Amanda's ID.

  "Take the second left and find a parking spot. It's filling up fast. The main entrance is on the other side of the building," the officer said, while inspecting the back seat of Amanda's car.

  Amanda parked the car as directed, and began walking toward the brightly lit main entrance. The sirens could be heard more clearly now. Two National Guardsmen stood at the entrance.

  "They're nervous. I can see it on their faces. This isn't a drill. I wonder how many people with assigned duties will just flee with their families," Amanda thought, while presenting her ID once again.

  "There are emergency staff members inside who will tell you where to go," the soldier said.

  Amanda nodded and entered through the glass doors. The wailing of the sirens disappeared, along with the stifling humidity of the summer night.

  "Hello, Agent Langford. My name is Sheila Warren. I'm one of the Liaison Specialists. We got a call a while ago to expect you. We help people who aren't part of the state emergency organization get acclimated. You know . . . directions about where to go, where the bathrooms are, food, communications . . . whatever you need," Sheila said, as they rode the escalator down to the next level.

  "Thank you very much. I need to talk to the director or manager . . . whoever is in charge of the facility," Amanda said.