Omega Missile (Shadow Warriors)

by Bob Mayer

  "Jesus, sir," a senior sergeant in coveralls called out. "It takes over an hour just to get the hatches off a missile to get to the warhead. Omega Missile's only got a three-hour flight time. I only have enough men to do two missiles at a time. We won't even get a tenth of our warheads disabled in that time."

  "I know that, but it's better than sitting around with our heads up our asses," Major Ferrel replied. He looked at the platoon leader for Alpha Platoon. "Lieutenant Cruz, since all aircraft are down you have to go by road. Take the Peacekeepers."

  Cruz was a twenty-four-year-old Hispanic woman, dressed in camouflage fatigues and sporting the blue beret of the Security Police with a single silver bar indicating her rank on the front of it. She was chewing a piece of gum and slid it to the side of her mouth. "Ah, sir, how am I supposed to get into the LCC? Have we heard anything from the crew?"

  "We have no idea what the status of the crew is," Major Ferrel said. He handed her a piece of paper with a red top secret cover on it. "This is the override door code to get into the LCC."

  "No idea about the threat, sir?" Cruz asked.

  "We're getting some information forwarded from the Pentagon. We'll radio it to you, but right now you need to get moving."

  "Yes, sir."

  Cruz and the twelve men and women of her platoon ran out of the hangar. They broke into three groups of four and got into three lightly armored Humvees with M-60s mounted on top.

  Cruz stood in the top hatch of the lead vehicle and waved her arm. The convoy rolled toward the airfield gates.

  *****

  Inside the Security Police headquarters, a distraught Lisa Thorpe had to be sedated after her second attempt at tearing off the straps binding her down so she could go look for her missing son. An alert was put out to all personnel to look for Tommy Thorpe.

  Chapter Fifteen

  "company," thorpe announced as three heavily armed men walked to the gate of the LCC surface compound and piled into a Humvee. "McKenzie swallowed our bait. Let's move," he said to Parker. They headed deeper into the woods at a trot.

  The phone in Thorpe's vest buzzed. "He wants to track us by the cellular phone."

  Parker shook her head. "Does he think we're so stupid that we'll answer?"

  Thorpe took the phone out. "No, he knows we're that desperate. Let's bring the fly to the trap. Take your place," he ordered Parker.

  They were next to a dirt road, about a quarter mile from the LCC. Trees hugged both sides of the road and the branches interlocked overhead, making the road a dark, green tunnel with limited visibility. Thorpe and Parker had already talked out what they were going to do. She moved down the road to her position while Thorpe settled into his.

  "I knew you'd call back," Thorpe said upon opening the phone.

  "How are you and the lady major getting along?"

  McKenzie asked. "Parker is her name isn't it? How does she feel about being paired up with a has-been?"

  "You're really pathetic, McKenzie. Good thing you have Kilten with you or you couldn't figure out how to take a leak. I know for sure that he's the brains behind this operation." Thorpe knew McKenzie wanted him to stay on the line while his men in the Humvee closed in on his transmission.

  "You really don't understand, do you?" McKenzie said. "I'm doing a good thing."

  "A good thing?"

  "In three hours, the threat of annihilation by an accidental—or deliberate—launch of nuclear weapons will be gone. In fact, if things go the way I plan, the people of the world will demand that nuclear weapons be done away with altogether."

  "Is that Kilten's plan?" Thorpe asked.

  "We have the same general objectives."

  "Uh-huh," Thorpe commented. "So you're single-handedly going to disarm the world? Listen, McKenzie, my wife and kid live on Barksdale."

  "No one was hurt there," McKenzie said. "The good professor made sure of that. We sent a warning and they should have gotten everyone under cover. If they didn't, well, that's not my fault. What's a little personal sacrifice in the face of the greater good?"

  "Not your fault?" Thorpe repeated. "You started this whole thing! You're responsible."

  "No, I didn't start this," McKenzie said, "but I am going to finish it."

  Thorpe pulled the phone away from his ear. He could hear the sound of a vehicle engine getting closer. "Sorry McKenzie, gotta go. Call you back in a bit."

  He could hear McKenzie's voice even as he hung up. "I don't think so."

  Thorpe was hidden behind a log angled off the side of the road. He settled the stock of the MP-5 into his shoulder. The engine was much closer now. The front end of the Humvee appeared around a bend in the road fifty meters away. Thorpe could see two men inside and a third standing in the turret, manning the M-60 machine gun.

  Thorpe waited until it was within twenty meters then fired, stitching a pattern of hits into the windshield, shattering it. The M-60 gunner returned fire and Thorpe ducked as chunks of wood went flying from the log. He peered around the edge of the log. The Humvee had halted and the two men had gotten out, leaving the one in the turret to cover them.

  In the branches above the Humvee, Parker used an underhand toss to throw a grenade right into the hatch past the gunner. She immediately pulled the pin on a second one and threw it behind the two men on the ground.

  The M-60 gunner saw the first grenade tumble right in front of him. He immediately vacated the turret, throwing himself over the rim onto the ground.

  The second grenade exploded, knocking the two gunmen to the ground. They were trying to get back up as Thorpe rose over the log and fired two quick bursts, killing both.

  The machine gunner stayed prone and reached for his holster. His body was pounded into the ground by bullets from directly above as Parker fired her pistol six times.

  Thorpe slowly walked forward as Parker climbed down. She stared at the bodies. "I've never killed anyone before," she said.

  "You mentioned it." Thorpe looked tired and worn. "It gets easier, believe me."

  She looked up from the bodies. "How can you say that? Look at you, you're an emotional wreck. Whatever's going on inside of you is going to win if you don't start feeling something."

  "I feel it," Thorpe said.

  "You don't act like it."

  "Now's not the time," Thorpe said.

  "If it isn't now, when is better?"

  "How come the grenade in the Humvee didn't blow?" Thorpe asked, changing the subject.

  "I didn't pull the pin," Parker said.

  Thorpe stared at her. "You what?"

  "I thought we might need the ride."

  "And if the M-60 gunner hadn't jumped out?" Thorpe asked. "I was the one he was aiming at."

  "But he did." Parker looked at him. "Now we're even. And admit it—I had a better idea."

  Thorpe ignored her and pulled the phone out of his vest and punched in memory one. "Told you I'd be back," he said as the other end was answered. "Scratch three of your bad boys," he said, then he flipped the phone shut.

  "Are you trying to piss him off?" Parker asked.

  "Most definitely," Thorpe said. "Anger is a great equalizer. Besides, he could have killed my wife or Tommy at Barksdale."

  "Your family lives at Barksdale?" Parker was surprised. "I—"

  "We're separated," Thorpe explained.

  "Your son is very sweet," Parker said.

  "He's a good kid. He's having a hard time dealing with the separation. He just wants to go home. That's how come he stowed away on the chopper."

  "I think he stowed away on the chopper to be with his dad," Parker said.

  Thorpe didn't say anything.

  "Which came first?" Parker asked. "The separation or the drinking?"

  "Let's cut the personal stuff, OK?" Thorpe looked around. "We need to get into that place. We've got to stop this before it gets out of control."

  "This nickel-and-dime stuff isn't getting us any closer to REACT," Parker pointed out.

  Thorpe slammed a fr
esh magazine into the weapon. "But it's putting fewer obstacles in our way if you ever figure out a way to get in there. I'm doing my part, you do yours. Get us in there!" He pointed at her vest. "While you're figuring that out, let me borrow your radio."

  Parker took her survival radio out of the vest. It was identical to the one Thorpe had left with Maysun at the chopper. He turned the frequency knob, then pressed send. "Maysun, you hear me?"

  "This is Maysun. Loud and clear."

  "How's Tommy?"

  "Fine."

  "Have you gotten ahold of anyone?"

  "Not yet, but I'm at the aircraft and I just about have this radio working. It has better range than these little ones. What's happening? I've heard a lot of firing."

  "You get that radio up, there's someone I want you to call. His name is Dublowski and he'll be listening on . .." Thorpe proceeded to relay to Maysun the necessary information. While he was doing so, Parker had been sitting on the hood of the Humvee, deep in thought.

  "Come up with anything?" Thorpe asked as he turned off the radio.

  "If, as you say, they took out the flight line, the security force for our missile wing will have to come here by vehicle," Parker said. "They'll have the vault door override code with them."

  "You can be sure McKenzie's thought of that."

  Parker nodded. "There's only one road they can take to get from Barksdale to the Omega Missile LCC."

  "Ambush," Thorpe summarized.

  "Right." Parker slapped her hand on the hood of the Humvee. "And that's why we need this."

  "Let's roll," Thorpe said. "McKenzie might have set up an ambush, but I doubt he'll have it pointing both ways."

  *****

  "Let it go, McKenzie," Kilten said. "We've got more important things to worry about. Thorpe and Parker are not going to be factors in this."

  "Thorpe isn't going to just sit around," McKenzie argued.

  Kilten waved a hand around the LCC. "Even if he can deal with the men up top, there's no way he can get in here. Believe me."

  "You let me worry about security," McKenzie said. He pointed at the REACT computer. "Are we all set?"

  It was Lewis who answered. "We have complete control of REACT and Omega Missile with the laptop."

  "We've got their attention," Kilten added. "They'll give in. It's working just as I planned."

  McKenzie nodded. "Good." He pointed to the other side of the room. "Could you show me how to operate the thermal surveillance cameras? Despite what you say, I'm concerned about Thorpe running around up there."

  Kilten and Lewis got up and walked with McKenzie around the front of the consoles. Lewis began explaining the working of the surface security system.

  As soon as they stood up, Drake slid over to the laptop and pulled a 3.5-inch disk out of his vest. He put the disk into the REACT laptop and began typing.

  The screen cleared and then a prompt appeared:

  To access target matrix from drive A hit enter

  Drake hit the enter key. A listing appeared on the computer screen:

  target: grid: warhead

  Tel Aviv, Israel:ftr295867: 20 megaton

  Arlington, Virginia: puy859345: 20 megaton

  To confirm target matrix, press enter.

  Drake hit the enter key.

  Target matrix accepted and programmed.

  Drake cleared the screen and ejected the disk. He slid it into his vest and moved his seat away from the laptop.

  Chapter Sixteen

  "sir, we have inquiries coming in from the National Security Agency about the Kentucky launch," Colonel Hurst announced. "They say the Russians have picked it up and tracked the missiles. The Russians have moved up one level of strategic preparedness."

  Lowcraft looked at Hill. "If Kilten keeps this up, we're going to have the Russians or the Chinese or both launching on us."

  Hill pointed at the red phone. "I'll inform the president. He can contact the Soviet president and the Chinese premier." Hill paused. "Do you have any positive news I can give the president?"

  "The EOC at Barksdale has sent out a contingent of Security Police to the Omega Missile LCC," Lowcraft said. "They're moving on ground so it's going to take a little while."

  "When will they reach the LCC?" Hill asked.

  Lowcraft turned to Hurst who answered, "Forty minutes, sir."

  Hill kept his focus on Lowcraft. "And when they get there? Can they do anything?"

  "They have an override code for the vault door,"

  Lowcraft said. "If they get in, they can abort Omega Missile."

  Hill nodded. "All right. I'll tell the president."

  *****

  "Are we set?" McKenzie asked Drake in a low voice.

  "Matrix is in," Drake said.

  McKenzie looked at Kilten, who was back at his place at the main console. "I think this will get the message across."

  "And satisfy our clients," Drake added.

  "Fuck them," McKenzie said. "I ain't doing this for them."

  Drake raised an eyebrow. "They paid for all the gear and their money is the reason the Canadians signed up."

  McKenzie ignored the issue. "What about the silo? You know what to do?"

  "Yes. It won't take long."

  McKenzie slapped him on the shoulder. "Get going. Time's-a-wasting."

  Drake walked to the side of the LCC where several waist-high panels were bolted in the wall. He began unscrewing the bolts to one of the panels.

  "What is he doing?" Lewis demanded.

  "Mind your business," McKenzie snapped.

  Kilten had been typing at the laptop when suddenly he looked up. "What is going on?"

  McKenzie walked over and stood behind Kilten.

  Kilten was reading the screen. "Someone's programmed a target matrix for two missiles!" He spun to Lewis. "Did you do this?"

  "No!"

  "Who did this?" Kilten demanded.

  "My friend Mr. Drake did it," McKenzie smiled. "You had Captain Lewis as your wild card, I have my own. You didn't think I was going to rely completely on you, did you?"

  Kilten pointed at the REACT computer. "This wasn't part of the plan!"

  McKenzie shook his head. "Here we go again. No, this wasn't part of your plan. It's part of mine. How do you think I was able to get all these fellows here and purchase all this gear? On the promise of a payoff? Using my credit card?"

  "I've got other clients who have paid very well, up front, and they want those two locations targeted and hit. If those assholes in the Pentagon weren't going to pay, and there's a good chance they won't, then I made sure the men and I would be taken care of regardless."

  Kilten reached for the keyboard. "I won't allow it."

  McKenzie grabbed him by the shoulder and spun the seat about. "You no longer have any say in things. You've served your purpose. You've accessed Omega Missile for me through REACT." He pointed at the laptop. "That's all you were necessary for."

  Lewis pulled his pistol and pointed it at McKenzie. "Let him go!"

  "Oh, the traitor speaks," McKenzie said. His own guards had their weapons pointed at Lewis. Drake paused in opening the maintenance hatch. "Did our good professor get to your sense of moral responsibility or your wallet?" McKenzie asked.

  Beads of sweat stood out on Lewis's forehead. "Just back off. No one's supposed to get hurt."

  "Too late for that," McKenzie said, "I'm afraid it must be you who backs off." McKenzie drew his silenced pistol. "You fail to realize that you weren't part of the original plan and you're not part of my plan. Therefore, as far as I am concerned, you are not what I would call essential personnel."

  Lewis shifted his gaze to Kilten, then back at McKenzie. The muzzle of his gun wavered. "Hey, I just want my money. There's no need for us to be turning on each other."

  McKenzie's weapon was centered on Lewis's forehead. "You've seen too many movies," he said. "Where both parties lower their guns, shake hands, swap a few brews, and live happily ever after. Do you know what they teach us t
o do in a situation like this in Special Operations training?"

  Lewis held up his free hand. "Hey, I don't think—''

  His words were cut off as McKenzie's gun spouted flame. A red dot appeared in the center of Lewis's forehead. The captain's body slumped down in its seat.

  Kilten was surprisingly calm. "You're crazy."

  "I imagine they're saying the same thing about you right now at the Pentagon. In fact, I think you're crazier than I am," McKenzie added. "You don't really care about the money or if you get away. In fact, you want to get caught. You think the president is going to sit and calmly listen as you explain all the flaws in the nuclear launch system? That they're going to publish your report and all that classified material in the New York Times? After all you've done?"

  "They published the UNAbomber," Kilten said.

  "And look where he ended up," McKenzie said. He jabbed a finger in his own chest. "I'm nuts, but at least I know I'm nuts. I accept it. I just want to be a rich nut. And make some of the people who screwed me over feel what it's like to hurt a little."

  "Hell," McKenzie continued, "those two targets getting hit will make the whole world sit up and take notice. You'll get the results you want then. Real results. Not a bunch of people spouting bullshit and at the end we still have the status quo. You wanted real change, I'm giving it to you. All right." He pointed the pistol at Kilten. "Time to finish this."

  "They're going to give you your money," Kilten said.

  "True, and thanks to me you got the president's notice. So we both succeeded."