***
John steadily descended into the dark shaft that used to house one of the lifts in Goodge Street Station using the steel maintenance ladder that was fixed solidly to the shaft wall. It was a long and arduous descent as this was one of the deep level tunnels used during the Second World War. Some of the group’s stores had been moved there and he knew that attack from above was always going to be difficult so he encouraged meetings and some training in the shelter.
The deep shelter was well equipped because much of the infrastructure that had been installed in General Eisenhower’s war room was still intact. His commanders and section leaders sat in a group as John approached. He was not sure whether it was a measure of respect or just ingrained discipline from their military backgrounds that caused them to stand as he walked towards them. ‘Please, sit down gentlemen. I‘ve called you together because we have a very important and I have to say dangerous job to do within the next three days. I will be selecting a group that will take over a police station, release a prisoner that is being held there and eliminate the guards that have been sent to transport him to the new prison in Dartmoor. In fact, their job is to murder this prisoner once he has been handed over to them.’ John explained what he had been told about the murder squad. ‘I realise that what I have just said may appear to be a contradiction to our stated aims. But I believe we have no choice but to prevent these State paid assassins from carrying out their task and more of them in the future. I believe that they are already responsible for many disappearances and the only way to stop this cancer from growing is to cut it out. We will deal with the Police at the station in the same way that we did at Southwark Park, they, apart from their section leader, a Sergeant Cranson are not responsible for this aberration. I will go into the details of how this operation will unfold later. Does anyone have any reservations or questions so far, if so, speak now?’
Terry asked ‘How many of these dirt bags are we going to deal with John?’
‘We believe there are six police staffing the station at any one time. As to the assassination squad, we don’t know how many are involved in total but in terms of the operation at Kings Cross I believe it will be no more than three plus Cranson.’
John looked around at his men he saw only determination in their eyes, not fear or uncertainty, no doubt or questions, but a steely resolution.
Terry spoke first and he was angry, ‘I believe I can only speak for myself John, but you’re right, this needs to be stopped. This State is acting like a South American Dictatorship; they can’t get away with picking people up off the street and eliminating them, it’s barbaric.’
John’s commanders’ Paul, Mal and Derek made their views known and were also totally behind their leader. Alan Walker, who had been given a leadership role for his section, remained silent.
Terry directed a question to the quiet section leader, ‘how about you Alan, we haven’t heard from you yet?’
‘I’m sorry; of course I’m fully behind the operation. I didn’t say anything because I was too angry to speak. I know what these people are capable of and I have friends who have disappeared so my silence wasn’t reluctance. I could think only of getting the chance to look into their eyes before I despatched them.’
John noted Alan’s anger but continued, ‘Mal, I will need two vans that can carry six of us and equipment in each. Arrange it that you only collect them on the day we need them. I don’t want the Stapo getting any advance warning through stolen vehicle reports?’
‘Yes, I think I can manage that John. Where do you want delivery?’
‘Once the two sections have been dropped off 200 metres from the target I want the vehicles to be available outside the Police station at 0050 hours in three days time. One of them is to face North on Kings Cross Road, the other to face South with engines running. Select two reliable drivers for each vehicle and park them in an off road position until the time of the pickup. We will complete the mission inside the Police station by 0055 hours. Five minutes after this the Police station will receive its hourly check call from HQ. We need to be loaded up and out of the area before the alarm is raised. The northbound vehicle will drop its load off at Kings Cross tube entrance. That group together with their package will make their way underground to the Goodge Street rendezvous. The vehicle southbound will proceed to Holborn Underground and drop the rest of the team off. They will also make their way underground to Goodge Street. The two vehicles are to be discarded at least 500 metres from the drop off points. The drivers must make their way underground to the rendezvous; I want no over ground activity by anyone until we have regrouped at Goodge Street. Is that understood?’
There were positive acknowledgements from everyone present. John proceeded to go through his plan in meticulous detail. Once he was satisfied that there was absolute clarity of the task and each member fully understood his role the group dispersed.
John Judge Page 15
