Terminal Velocity

by Andy McNab

  He was sitting back in the hangar with the rest of the team. He’d been given no time to rest. Sam had picked him up, but had been about as talkative as usual; he’d voiced his approval of Ethan’s escape, but given little else away. Gabe had wanted every detail Ethan could drag from his brain on what had happened to him, what he’d seen, and had jumped at Ethan’s description of Mr X. When Ethan had described his fight in the cage, Sam’s face had grown dark and serious.

  Once over, Sam had suggested to Gabe that it was now time to send in the UKSF, but Gabe seemed disinclined to agree with him. He wanted the information on the server Ethan had found before anyone else got sent in. That was the priority and he wanted the team to continue with the mission and complete that part of it as well.

  There had been no further discussion.

  Ethan was then able to catch up with his Raiders teammates, the best part so far being the hug he’d got from Kat. But even that hadn’t been able to stop him thinking about the face of the boy he’d fought and the sound of the gunshot that followed the fight; both were indelibly burned into his brain.

  Sam and Gabe now entered the hangar. Sam said, ‘Ethan, I’m getting someone in to run a full medical check on you.’

  Ethan didn’t argue. After all he’d been through, and all the stuff he’d had to put into his body at every meal, he was happy to be checked over.

  ‘Actually,’ said Kat, ‘you look in very good shape, considering.’

  ‘Not really a surprise,’ said Ethan, enjoying seeing Kat’s face again and the fact that his improved physique had caught her eye. ‘All I’ve been doing is fitness training and living on protein shakes for the best part of a month. I’m knackered.’

  ‘Well, I’m afraid we’ve got no time for rest,’ said Sam. ‘We need to move fast. I need you to fill the rest of the team in on what you’ve already told me and Gabe.’

  Ethan leaned backwards against his chair, rubbed his eyes till he saw stars, then sat forwards again.

  ‘OK,’ he said. ‘And Sam, I hope someone’s taking notes, because after this, I’m getting my memory erased.’

  25

  ‘I have no doubt at all,’ said Gabe, grave concern clear in his voice, ‘that the man you described with the cane is Mr X. It could be no one else.’

  Ethan said, ‘It looked like he’d chosen his outfit after watching too many movies with over-dressed gangsters as the bad guys. If I hadn’t been so bloody scared, I’d have laughed.’

  ‘Your description matches him exactly,’ said Gabe. ‘Not just in the way he dresses, but his motives, his personality. And he’s not just wanted for arms dealing and this little cage-fighting racket he’s running. He’s connected to at least a dozen murders.’

  ‘Always with the good news, aren’t you?’ said Johnny.

  Sam pulled out a map of the south coast and looked at Ethan. ‘This is the village we picked you up from,’ he said, pointing to the map. ‘Can you tell me again what you saw when you escaped the facility, from the helicopter?’

  ‘It was like an island,’ said Ethan, ‘but made of concrete. Sounds nuts, I know. It was surrounded by the sea and was definitely a large construction, like it had actually been built out at sea – but not far from the coast. When I was on the helicopter it wasn’t long before we were flying out over land. And that’s about it.’ Then he remembered something. ‘Oh, and when I was heading out, I’m sure I heard a foghorn or something in the distance.’

  ‘Such a thing surely does not exist,’ said Natalya.

  ‘Well, it does,’ said Ethan, ‘because I was on it.’

  Gabe leaned in and dropped a finger to the map. ‘What about that?’

  ‘What is it?’ asked Ethan.

  ‘Napoleonic sea fort. Built to protect the coast against a French invasion. A whole garrison could be housed in one. Not many of them were built. I think one was turned into a hotel a few years ago.’ He pulled a laptop computer from his briefcase and booted up a search on the internet. A picture of a fortress surrounded by the sea flashed up.

  ‘That’s a shitting awful DZ,’ said Johnny. ‘We could go in with RIBs.’

  ‘No, we couldn’t,’ said Sam. ‘You’re not trained in using them, we’d have the whole issue of having to scale the walls, and boats approaching fast would spook them much quicker than you lot dropping in from the sky.’

  ‘But that’s a seriously restricted DZ, Sam,’ said Johnny. ‘We miss, we’re in the sea. And I’m guessing we won’t have a sub waiting to pick us up this time, right?’

  Ethan and the rest of the team looked over to Sam. He was quiet for a minute then spoke. ‘Gabe, we need a satellite run on this place now. If it checks out, if we see any hint of activity, like this helicopter Ethan jumped from, then we’re good to go. Agreed?’

  Gabe nodded. ‘The team’s still the best option for this part of the op. UKSF will be called in afterwards for the cleanup. But for this bit, it’s what you’ve all been trained for.’

  ‘Good,’ said Sam. ‘Now, Ethan, what about when we get inside? What can we expect? We need specifics, OK? Number of x-rays and abductees, weapons, layout of the place. Reckon you can draw us a detailed map of the place and write it all down? The main thing is obviously the location of the server.’

  ‘Totally,’ said Ethan. ‘It’s not a big place. The layout is dead simple. From the roof, we go to the first floor which has the server, the room for the cage fighting, armoury, kitchen and staff room for the instructors. The rest is where I spent most of my time. Nothing much – just a small canteen, shower and toilet block, and gym. Then on the floor below that are the cells.’ Ethan grabbed a piece of paper and a pen from Sam’s desk and started drawing a plan of the building.

  ‘What about security?’ asked Luke.

  ‘I don’t think it’s seen as a problem,’ explained Ethan, ‘probably because of the fact that the place is out at sea; so escaping is pretty much impossible.’ He then flashed a look at Kat. ‘But not totally impossible, as you can see. The place has no surveillance, and at night only one instructor is on guard, along with the Chief, who runs the place. Though I’d guess he isn’t there every night.’

  Gabe said, ‘You’d better be prepared for additional security when you go back in. Your somewhat elaborate escape, Ethan, will have spooked them. They won’t be keen on allowing such a thing to happen again. Expect more resistance, probably armed.’

  ‘Good point.’

  Johnny laughed and said, ‘You know, after what you pulled off, Eth, I reckon we’re going to have to keep an eye on you.’

  ‘Why’s that?’

  ‘If we’re not careful, you’ll go all Mission Impossible on us.’

  ‘This is no laughing matter,’ snapped Gabe suddenly, breaking with his usual calm demeanor. ‘In many ways your actions, Ethan, could well have blown our cover completely. We’re going to have to work damned hard to recover this operation at all.’

  Was Gabe saying he’d have been better to stay put? ‘You make it sound like I shouldn’t have escaped!’ Ethan said.

  ‘There’s escaping, Ethan, and there’s making a whole song and dance about it.’

  ‘What? Have you got any idea what I went through in there? I—’

  Sam stepped in. ‘Ethan …’

  But Ethan wasn’t having any of it. ‘No, Sam! I’m the only one here who knows exactly what I’ve just been through. I was abducted. I was beasted every day, with the threat of being whipped or electrocuted hanging over me. I was beaten up within an inch of my life and it was me who had to climb into that cage and come out alive no matter what! And despite all that, I managed to get the hell out and bring back the intel you and Gabe sent me to get in the first place! I had to kill someone! So, Gabe, here – none of you – have a clue!’

  ‘That’s not what I was implying,’ said Gabe, his voice calm again. ‘We know you have been through a terrible ordeal, Ethan. My apologies.’

  ‘Terrible ordeal? Are you mental?’

  Gabe sighed.
‘I’m simply saying, Ethan, that although I understand why you had to escape, and indeed applaud that you were able to effect it at all, I just wish it had been a little less noisy. Beating up and binding that instructor, then skydiving out of a helicopter in the middle of the night, can hardly be classed as covert.’

  ‘I had no idea where I was,’ said Ethan, already tiring of explaining his actions. ‘I was bloody lucky the helicopter arrived at all, otherwise I doubt I’d have made it any further. And I think we can all guess what would’ve happened to me had I been caught, right? You saw the video, and I can tell you it really was kill or be killed in there.’

  Gabe said nothing else, just folded his arms, sat back in his chair.

  ‘Luckily,’ said Sam, ‘the cover story is already sorted. We’ve put out a report on the news about someone matching your description, Ethan, being found washed up dead on a beach. We also mentioned the fact he was found with the remains of a skydiving rig still attached, and hopefully that will do the job.’

  Ethan said, ‘That’s believable, I guess. When I jumped, if I hadn’t known what I was doing, I could just have easily ended up in the sea; the village I landed by was right at the coast.’

  ‘Exactly,’ said Sam. ‘It’s the best we can do, so we’ll leave it at that. Anything else?’

  Ethan thought for a moment, then turned to Natalya. ‘Your training saved my life. I’ve no doubt about that at all.’

  ‘I am glad to have been able to help,’ Natalya replied. ‘We will continue with your training once this is over, yes?’

  ‘I’ve been thinking about that,’ said Sam. ‘When we draw this to a close, I want you, Natalya, to sort out regular CQC training for the rest of the team. You happy with that?’

  ‘Of course,’ said Natalya.

  Sam turned to Gabe. ‘Let’s get the check on that fort now.’

  Gabe nodded. ‘There’s nothing else close enough anyway that matches what Ethan described. I’ll sort the satellite now.’

  An hour later, Sam brought the team together. ‘Well, against the odds, it seems we might just pull a bunch of roses out of what was beginning to smell like a huge sack of shit.’

  A faint laugh echoed around the room from the team.

  ‘We’ve got Ethan back,’ continued Sam, ‘his intel has confirmed everything we suspected, and he’s given us first-hand knowledge of where we’re going and what we’ll be dealing with when we get there. If the satellite images check out, we should be on for tonight. This will be a drop to a restricted DZ. So I’m betting you can all guess what we’re going to be doing for the rest of the day, right?’

  Kat raised her hand.

  ‘Ethan; about the computers. What am I actually going to be dealing with?’

  Ethan looked over. ‘From what I saw,’ he said, ‘the room was stacked with kit. Lots of impressive flashing LEDs and the sound of fans keeping everything cool. Sorry I can’t be any more detailed; it’s not exactly my area of expertise.’

  ‘So I’m kind of on my own once we get there, then,’ said Kat.

  ‘I guess.’

  ‘It’s not a problem, it’s a challenge,’ said Johnny.

  ‘It could be both,’ said Kat. ‘Gabe; what am I being sent in with?’

  ‘Enough to get the information we need and cripple the whole system automatically,’ Gabe replied. ‘Hopefully it’ll just plug and play.’

  Luke looked up. ‘Gabe, can you get me the rough measurements of the size of the surface of that sea fort? We can mark it out in the clearing behind the house. We’ve not got time to build a structure to land on, but it’ll do.’

  Gabe nodded.

  ‘Just out of interest,’ asked Kat, ‘if we’re jumping onto this thing at night, how are we supposed to find it in the dark?’

  ‘Sorry,’ said Ethan. ‘I forgot that the helipad is lit. It’s not bright, but it’ll be enough for us to find it.’ A thought crossed his mind. ‘Sam, I know jumping from a heli will help us get on target from the off, but won’t the noise of the rotor blades give us away?’

  ‘We’ll be at ten thousand feet,’ said Sam. ‘They’re not about to think it’s anything other than the coastguard or a private charter. And we’ll only hover long enough for you lot to exit.’

  The room fell quiet.

  ‘Well,’ said Sam, ‘if there are no other questions …’

  No one spoke.

  ‘Good,’ nodded Sam. ‘Then let’s get moving!’

  Ethan bundled up his skydiving rig and walked over to Johnny. Once the briefing had finished, and the medic had given him the once-over and all-clear to stay in action, he’d managed to grab a couple of hours’ shuteye. Then he’d been up and skydiving almost immediately. Amazingly, he didn’t really feel tired, the excitement of what they were now doing energizing him better than any number of energy drinks laced with glucose and taurine.

  ‘Piece of piss, hey, Eth?’ said Johnny, his rig slung over his shoulder. It looked like he was carrying the world’s largest – and very dead – squid. ‘That’s the fourth jump and none of us has landed outside the area Luke marked out. We’re doing a star formation next as that’s how we’ll be going in; means we won’t get too split up in the jump.’

  ‘Won’t be so easy at night though, will it?’ said Ethan. ‘I know the helipad is lit, but they’re only very dim lights and we probably won’t be able to see that until we’re almost on top of the fort, and then we’ll hit the dark zone and the bloody thing will disappear!’

  ‘Nice to hear you’re being so positive,’ said Johnny. ‘Anyway, it’ll be visible once we’re under the canopy, so long as there’s enough ambient light around, and there should be because we’re jumping close to the coast.’

  ‘Town lights make that much difference?’

  ‘They should.’

  Gabe called from the house.

  ‘Come on,’ said Johnny, ‘or he’ll get all upset that we’re not having enough fun at his party and send us home early.’

  Back in the house, Gabe brought everyone together. ‘I need to explain a few things before you go any further,’ he said.

  Ethan, like everyone else, listened up.

  ‘This is a high-risk operation and it’s one that few know about. I’d like to keep it that way for now. Your only job in going in is to get the intel. Only – and I do mean only – when we’ve pulled you out, will we call on the heavy guns to go in and rescue the abductees, and deal with the x-rays.’

  ‘Why can’t we do it at the same time?’ asked Ethan. ‘Surely it makes sense? I know my way around the facility. We could wrap the whole thing up in one go.’

  ‘No,’ replied Sam. ‘Too risky. You’ll stick to the job, which is to find the server and get the intel. Leave the rest for the boys who know best. OK?’

  Ethan knew Sam had a point, even if he didn’t really like it, and nodded agreement. He’d been in that place, knew what Rick and the others were facing. He didn’t like to think that by leaving them there any longer than necessary they were placing them in any more risk. The thought that another two could be sent to the cage was enough to bubble up his anger. But he forced himself to stay calm. If they did their job well and quickly, he knew Sam and Gabe would send in the UKSF immediately, probably chasing in on the dust left by their own exit.

  ‘It’s the cleanest way, trust me,’ said Sam. ‘I know your skills better than you know yourselves. I don’t want you going all heroic and getting full of holes. Or getting any of those other teenagers shot. They don’t deserve that.’

  Sam let everyone think about his final point before speaking again.

  ‘You’re jumping onto the fort,’ he explained, ‘because as we’ve already discussed going in by sea is too risky. You’ve not been trained to use boats or done any diving – yet – so we’re going to stick with what you know.’

  Gabe said, ‘You’ll be jumping without LEDs as we don’t want anyone spotting you coming in. I’ve cleared the airspace in that area so hopefully you won’t be in any
danger.’

  Sam took up again. ‘When you’re all down Luke will deal with the entry door – I’ve sorted a fibre-optic viewing cable, so you can check all’s safe on the other side, and we’ve got the electronic lock gun, so it should be a cinch. And you should now all be completely familiar with the layout of the place, thanks to the detailed plans Ethan drew up for us. Finding the server doesn’t look like it will be a problem anyway, particularly as it’s so close to the entrance. Kat will then do what she does best and download everything she can onto a high-capacity portable hard drive.’

  ‘From then on,’ said Gabe, ‘all you need to do is buzz Sam on the chat-net and get back up top. He’ll still be in the air, far enough away not to be noticed. He’ll sweep in to extract you.’

  ‘But the signal will probably be crap once you get inside that place,’ said Sam, ‘so you’ll have to be outside to contact me. UKSF will be coming in on our coat-tails, so get in and get out quick. Don’t get distracted. I want no heroics. And remember, avoid violent confrontation. Your strength lies in being sneaky as hell. If you meet an x-ray, gag and tag, simple as that.’

  ‘Is there not a danger of us being spotted coming in to land?’ asked Natalya.

  ‘I don’t think so,’ said Ethan. ‘From what I saw, they didn’t have anyone on guard duty up there – there was nowhere up on top to shelter or anything.’

  ‘We go in four hours,’ said Sam. ‘So let’s get another couple of jumps in to make damned sure you lot don’t screw this up from the off and just drown.’

  26

  Ethan was in the hangar with the rest of the team waiting for the good-to-go from Sam. Earlier he’d been desperate to get back to the fort and finish the job, but now he wasn’t so sure. In many ways, he wanted to forget the place completely, erase it from his mind. He’d spent every moment there wondering just how long he had left to live, how soon it would be before he was sent to the cage again and his luck would run out. But he had to go back, had no choice anyway. His on-the-ground knowledge would be vital to the success of the mission. And this time, he was part of a team. It wasn’t like he was being sent back in alone.