“I can see that our possessing that much varied firepower might cause us to be put into jail, but I am getting a sense that there is more to the story,” said Madd.
“It’s not just the amount, so much. It is the fact that all of it was brand new. Never been issued, and weren’t stamped as government property. Whoever the people are who put this together, they were able to obtain armament made and intended specifically for the armed forces. There were some exceptions to that, but the preponderance of them had no government markings. Who has that kind of clout, that much power, Madd?”
“I have no idea Dek, but the thought of who they must be and what kind of connections they must have, sure can make a guy’s blood run cold.”
By the time everyone had a chance to read the list, the temperature in the room had dropped by several degrees. All the guys could definitely see why Dek was feeling spooked.
“I won’t ask where you have all this secured. I am guessing it isn’t here at this location.”
“No, it’s as safe as we could make it. When we are ready to move it to the new facility, I suggest a very dark, rainy and stormy night,” said Dek.
“You got it Dek,” Ivan told him.
“One thing we can be pretty sure of,” said Madd. “They may be called captains of industry or politicians, but they are as crooked as a dog’s hind leg. To do what they did they had to break a dozen laws in getting all that together.
“Dek, after hearing Tommy’s report and what you had to say about finances, it is obvious that we are woefully short of capital. Do you have any ballpark figures on how much more we are going to need?”
“Madd, I’ve racked my brain for some type of number to be able to answer that exact question. I have no real way to answer it in dollars.
“Let me explain this way. Our original ballpark was something in the 25 to 30 million range for the number of people we hoped to save. There are a couple of things that have changed in our favor to that figure. For one, we no longer need to set aside money for purchasing armament.”
That got several laughs, the kind that make a chill run up your spine.
“Secondly, the gas well came in more than 2 million under budget. Not only that, we managed to purchase a lot of heavy equipment like 4 D9 cats, 2 C14 and 3 C15 cat excavators, with 7 cat rock trucks. Along with all that we got a selection of smaller equipment that is useful to us. All of it was purchased for 40 cents on the dollar compared to what others wanted for the same equipment. This was from the same gentleman we rented the drilling equipment from. I don’t know if you guys recall the situation or not but he was about two jumps ahead of bankruptcy. We made the purchase in good faith from our end, for cash. What he may have been up to, I have no idea.
“Thirdly, our original estimates didn’t take into consideration that we were developing our own sources of steady income. Our income in no way equals what we are spending, but it does replace some of it.”
“We now have roughly 4.5 million in our various accounts. Frankly, I don’t even like to guess what we will spend completing all the various projects, but if I have to give some type of figure, I would say another 10.5 to 12.5 might do it,” said Dek.
“So with what we started with and your guess, it might be possible to bring all this in for an additional 26 to 28 million?”
“Like I said Ivan, that is just the wildest guess, but yes, we might just make it on that.”
“Dek, do you have any idea of how long ago the containers we grabbed should have appeared at their intended destinations?”
“Let me think, Madd. The people shipping them were being cautious and were using certain ships they felt were safer than others for their contraband cargo. We have been watching the shipping news so we would have some idea when people might start looking for them. Let me make a quick call; the girls have been watching the shipping news.” After getting off the phone, he turned to the cousins. “The ship they are using out of Valencia left Spain three days ago.”
“So they won’t find out they are missing for several weeks yet?”
“Not exactly Madd, why, is that important?”
“Depending on your next answer, it might be. Why do you say not exactly, what were the arrangements for the Port of Valencia? Did we send empty containers to replace the ones we took and are the empty containers getting shipped to Venezuela?” asked Madd.
“Zeb handled all the shipping number changes and strategies. My understanding is that the containers we sent to Valencia in place of the full ones would arrive in Valencia and go to the holding yard. Zeb’s plan was to change the numbers and have the empties sent on to several big international companies. Eventually when they never arrived in Venezuela, it would be put down as a shipping error. The idea was that the search for the missing container would start first in Spain. The port authority would have a solid set of paperwork showing they arrived in Spain, so they had to disappear there. There is a lot of organized theft of shipping containers there, so they would have to at least consider the idea that their goods went to some organized crime gang,” said Dek.
“By your time estimates, it is possible that they don’t even know that their contraband is missing?” asked Madd.
“Well, you would have to check with Zeb to be sure about if empties were shipped or if the plan was for the containers to just turn into vapor in Spain. As for the ship, there is no way it could possibly made it from Spain all the way to port in Venezuela yet. Even if it had, it’s going to take weeks to find out if the right containers are just sitting in a holding yard in Spain through some error. They aren’t going to give up on them easily.”
“OK Madd, I can see you have an idea rolling around inside your head, let us in on it,” said Ivan.
“I do have a sort of idea, actually. We already know those willing to back a revolution intended to send their potential troops weapons. Enough weapons to overthrow a whole country, in fact. As far as the brains behind this know, the weapons are on their way. But what is the one other thing you have to have to create and maintain a revolution?” asked Madd of the assembled group.
“You can’t run a revolution without finances,” said Real.
“Exactly. In some account or bank vault, somewhere it can be accessed, is money for expenses. From what I have heard, revolutions are expensive. We need to find that money. Now all we have to do is see if Zeb can find that money for us. If you guys will excuse me for a few minutes, I better get Zeb on this ASAP,” said Madd.
At that point, the cousins started laughing.
Chapter 6
“Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as sudden global nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers we have not yet thought of.” Stephen Hawking
Central Texas Airport, midnight
A Gulfstream G550 with a well-known international company logo on the side is finished fueling up. After clearing customs and being given the go ahead to taxi for takeoff, it swings around a larger parked jet. As it slowly passes on the side away from the tower, 5 men quickly exit the larger jet and board the Gulfstream as it rolls by. The pilot, a former Air Force combat pilot, and his uncle, also a former combat pilot flying as copilot, pull up to their take off position and receive final clearance. Leveling off at 41,000 feet altitude and 600 miles an hour, pilots and their passengers settle in for their 5,900 mile flight to Sao Paulo, Brazil. With a 6,820 mile range the Gulfstream was the perfect choice, but as soon as they touch down, they will need to refuel for the return flight.
On-board are 5 men who are virtually unrecognizable to anyone but close family or friends. Madd, Ivan, Real and Hey are wearing very expensive, well-cut suits. The suits are cut to minimize the fact that they are armed. Each carries a 9mm in a shoulder rig as well as a backup weapon. Madd and Ivan are carrying expensive oversized attaché cases, containing two Heckler & Koch MP5SD each. This variant had the built in suppressor. Along with extra magazines for the HK there were extra magazines for
the pistols carried by everyone, and eight fragmentation grenades in each case. Their hair now appeared to be longer and much darker. Their skin had been dyed to make them look very swarthy. Two of them now sported various facial scars; nothing extreme, just enough to make them look as if they had seen a hard life. The back of some hands sported gang like temporary tattoos. Inserts in their nostrils made their noses seem broader and flatter. Dark colored contacts made their eyes either very dark brown or almost black.
The fifth man, Zeb, was wearing what appeared to be a $6,000 custom fitted light gray Savile Row suit. He sported a Montecristi Panama Hat and a handmade silk tie, worth $2,000. While all the suits the group wore were high end and expensive, the suits were also technological marvels. Each suit was lined with several layers of a high tech material, which used nanotechnology. The material was comprised of the same carbon nanotubes designed for US troops’ uniforms in Iraq. Yet, the patented suit material was a lot thinner, more flexible, and fifty percent lighter than Kevlar (the material commonly used in bullet-proof gear). The entire suit would act like a shield, with nanotubes in the fabric hardening to block force from penetrating through. With bullet resistant under shirts, dress shirts, vests and suit coats, the chest area was particularly well protected.
Additionally Zeb carried a high end attaché case, slightly smaller, sleeker and more expensive looking than the other two. It contained a Heckler & Koch UMP chambered in 9×19mm. It was close to four inches shorter than the MP5SDs carried by Madd and Ivan, allowing it to fit the case while retaining commonality of caliber. It wasn’t silenced as it was felt that if things got to the point where Zeb needed his weapon, noise would be the least of their worries. The usually clean shaven man now had a well-groomed mustache and goatee. The mustache was full, with the ends well waxed and twisted up. He looked as if he had just stepped out of one of the finest men’s clubs London had to offer. Everyone took their coats off and hung them up, loosened their ties and reclined their seats to get some sleep.
Ten hours later they were touching down at the end of Guarulhos International Airport reserved for executive jets. They taxied into a private gate, where they were greeted by a high government official. Exiting the plane, Real and Hey rolled two expensive soft sided suitcases each. Each rolling bag also contained large gym bags folded flat. Madd and Ivan would have rolled an additional suitcase along with their attaché cases, but felt it was a bad idea. If something went wrong and they had to fight, having both hands full would be a good way to get killed.
Their credentials would pass any inspection. After all, they represented the best effort of an unnamed US Government black ops agency. The official examined the credentials closely. Additionally, Zeb presented papers and letters of introduction that were very good forgeries; actually, probably better quality than the real ones. Stepping to a phone, the government official called a contact number in the US. The call was intercepted by one of the family that worked in that same black ops agency that produced the papers. The official was assured these men were in fact who they claimed to be. He was firmly told these men were on a mission of utmost urgency. The people paying the official and his cohorts such handsome bribes expected good service for their money, and he was only too happy to oblige. He was asked to smooth the way as much as possible when the group reached the Banco.
Zeb and crew were escorted to a very plush limousine, then whisked away to the Banco. Timing for their visit had been carefully planned. They arrived an hour before the official bank opening. Having been notified ahead of time to expect the visit of distinguished and powerful men, the bank president was there himself. Greeting them cordially, the bank president invited them to his personal office and had a secretary take drink orders. Knowing that men of this nature did not like having anyone view their financial transactions, the government official excused himself and said he would be in the secretary’s office when they were ready to leave.
After pleasantries about the weather, the bank president asked if he could see their credentials, which were presented to him. Nothing is quickly done in South America. Excusing himself, he went to the secretary’s office and questioned the official; satisfied, he made some calls to the US of his own. Again, his calls were intercepted and he was assured these men were empowered to manage the monies in the specified account as they saw fit. It had taken some doing but Zeb had people who hacked the appropriate computers and retrieved all the needed account numbers and passwords. Verifying the account numbers, the bank manager returned to his office and asked for the necessary pass codes etc. When everything was verified he asked what he could do for these gentlemen.
In a very upper crust English accent Zeb told him, “We wish to make a cash withdrawal.”
The president wasn’t surprised, as he often dealt with these sorts of men. He didn’t like it. There was no real choice; to refuse was the same thing as asking to be assassinated on his way home some evening.
“How much would you like to withdraw?” he asked.
“First, let me have an accounting of the balance in our account as of today.”
“Of course, one moment while I pull it up on my computer.”
Zeb had resisted the temptation of getting the balance through a computer from the US. They had already done enough hacking; one more time was one more time something could go wrong. Making a seemingly legitimate request while pretending to be the actual owners of the account also had its problems. There was too much danger of the inquiry being casually reported to the actual owners of the account. With his well-manicured hands and a solid gold pen, the president wrote a number on a pristine white sheet of paper, folded it in half and presented it to Zeb.
$224,000,000. Zeb felt slightly lightheaded. Appearing to consider the number, Zeb did some quick calculations. One million in hundreds was around 704 cubic inches and between 20 and 22 pounds. Each rolling bag was expandable to some degree, in their current configuration measured 24” wide, 19” thick and 34 high and 15,504 cubic inches. Size wasn’t an issue, but weight was going to be a killer. Each bag would easily hold 20 million, but then they would weigh 440 pounds. Even if the four cousins could manage to roll 1 bag each at 440 pounds, the bags’ manufacturer didn’t build them with that much weight in mind. The idea of having all four cousins with their attention on a heavy bag seemed way too imbecilic.
Coming with suitcases and descending on the bank with no notice wasn’t their first choice. They had no idea of how much was actually in the account, but they had discussed a truck and more guards. It was decided that slipping in quickly with little fanfare had advantages over renting a truck and chase vehicle for the guards. Too much attention equaled too much risk. They were afraid loading their plane from a truck, might draw even more attention. So they had chosen a low profile over leading a parade through the streets.
The guys were big, strong and very physically fit, but how many pounds of dead weight could they manage in a reasonable manner? Could two of them manage two, 200 pound bags? Over the years he had story after story of failed operations when the men involved got greedy. He needed a few seconds with the cousins to get their input.
Zeb asked for directions to the restrooms and the manager provided him not only with directions, but a key for his personal facility. It was just outside of his office, but Zeb motioned for his armed guards to accompany him. The manager thought nothing of this. Men who wielded great power had many enemies, and in South America, kidnapping and assassination were common occurrences for the rich and powerful.
In the restroom Zeb explained the problem; 200 pounds might ruin the wheels.
“We don’t need the wheels for Real, and Hey, what I am concerned about is the straps on the outside of the bags. Each one has two straps so that you can lay the bag flat and carry it like a duffle bag. I doubt anyone expected those straps to carry that much weight. All we can do is load one up and try it I suppose,” Madd told him.
“You’re telling me they will just walk from where the vault is thr
ough the bank and out to the limousine carrying 400 pounds, with no problem?”
Madd gave him an odd look, then said, “Yes, of course. While I don’t like the idea of having my hands full, it is only about 50 feet to the limo from the front entrance. We should be able to scout it out well enough to make sure we can make the limo without being intercepted. My suggestion is that we use two of the soft bags and load them with at least another two hundred pounds of money.”
With that decided, they headed back to the manager’s office. All this was starting to take too long.
Making quick calculations Zeb picked up the paper with $224,000,000 on it. Removing a gold pen from his inside pocket, one even more expensive than the managers, he wrote 60 million on the paper, folded it and handed it back. It was a nice sounding number and if Madd and Ivan were going to carry 200 pounds in one hand, surely he could carry 75 pounds.
The people who had orchestrated the takeover of a foreign government and the illegal acquisition of armaments to do it with, were criminals on a global scale. They had their fingers in every despicable operation one could imagine. He wanted to clean them out. He knew that was a foolish thought. An amount that looked enormous to him, would be piddling to them. It galled him there was no way to walk out with the entire account, but unfortunately they had to move. The longer they were on the ground, the more chance someone could stumbled onto what they were doing.
“Certainly sir. If you wish to remain comfortable here I will take your men to the vault and oversee the transfer. I take it you will be carrying it out in your cases?”
“Yes we will, but I will have to accompany my associates. Should something go amiss, my employers will want a personal accounting from me.”
The president felt a chill go up his spine; he could imagine all too vividly what the employers of such men would consider an accounting.
What Do You Mean Its Still Tuesday Page 13
