by Bryan Murray
CHAPTER 38
Andy and his wife Cheryl with his assistant Sharon, were totally in awe of the opulence of the White House and to be there with their senior executives Doug and Roddy, was like an evening from their wildest dreams.
The President and John Mulroney had made them most welcome and the First Lady and First Son had been equally friendly. The latter had also been delighted to see Jake and Sarah once again, following their last involvement with them, when Jeff, the First Son had been kidnapped and later rescued safely by Jake and Sarah.
After an excellent meal and a speech from the President, thanking Andy and Sharon for their outstanding efforts in foiling the terrorist attack in DC, they were all relaxing and almost ready to leave.
It was then that Jake’s cell phone rang and when he excused himself to take the call, it was Joseph on the line.
“Hi, Jake, this is Joseph, can you talk?” Joseph asked.
“Yes, Joseph, what’s going on?”
“We’ve had a very significant development over here, Jake and we’d like you to get involved if you can spare the time.”
“Involved in what, Joseph?”
The young Mossad agent started to explain and, Jake’s face changed to a look of sudden interest. When he had finished, Joseph inquired. “What do you think, Jake?”
Jake’s mind was working fast. “That’s incredible news, Joseph. As a matter of fact, I’m at the White House as we speak, Can I call you back after I speak with Sarah and Steve and I’d also like to run it by the President as well?”
“Of course,” Joseph replied. “Please get back to me as soon as you can.” he rang off.
Jake flicked off his phone and looked across at Sarah who could tell that something was going on. The President also sensed that the call had been of importance.
“Everything okay, Jake?” he asked.
“Yes, sir,” Jake replied. “Could you perhaps spare us a minute in private, if your other guests would excuse us, sir?”
The President nodded. “Of course,” he turned to the First Lady. “Elizabeth, perhaps you could give our other guests a tour while John and I have a chat with Jake?”
“Of course, darling.” Elizabeth replied. Doug and Roddy waved them on as Jake, Sarah and Steve accompanied the President and Mulroney to the Oval Office.
Once inside, the President turned to Jake. “So, what’s going on, Jake?”
Jake explained the conversation he had just had with Joseph and when he had finished he turned to the President.
“What do you think, Mr. President?”
President Parker didn’t even hesitate. “I think it’s a great idea for you to go over there, Jake. It’s about time we put an end to this JOD crowd and if your good friends in the Mossad think you can help, then go for it!”
Jake looked quickly at Sarah. “Thank you, sir. The problem is we’re absolutely snowed under at the office.”
Sarah interrupted. “I can take care of that, Jake, if you and Steve go over there, particularly since Steve speaks the language. What do you think?”
“That’s fine with me,” Jake replied. “In that case I’d better let Joseph know since the clock is ticking!”
“Exactly,” Sarah replied with a wry smile. “And you’d better get packing again!”
He smiled. “Tell me about it!”
Mulroney added. “And let me know if you need any CIA help over there, Jake?”
“Will do, sir.”
When Jake and his colleagues were leaving. The President took Jake to one side.
“You know how this is likely to play out, Jake. This Al-Bengari is a madman. We don’t need any martyrs in captivity, so extreme prejudice is the order of the day!”
“I understand, sir.” Jake answered as the President added. “However, if there’s one person I’d like to get our hands on, it’s that damned general who tried this latest stunt here in DC, okay?”
“I’ll see what I can do, Mr. President.” Jake gave a grim smile.
“Great, have a safe trip.” The President shook his hand as he left.
CHAPTER 39
The minute that Jake and Steve arrived in Tel Aviv, they were met by Joseph and rushed through immigration before being flown north by chopper to a safe location from where they could plan their attack on the old fortress at al-Farakesh.
Joseph was glad to see them and with Ephraim in attendance, they brought Jake and Steve up to speed on Ephraim’s recent mission. When the latter had finished his debriefing, Jake was curious.
“So, Ephraim, how many hostiles would you guess are there already?” he asked.
“I would say with Jamal’s thugs and the general’s security detail that would make about twenty,” Ephraim replied. “Plus the elite guard with Abu al-Bengari as well as the security details of the other generals attending the meeting.”
“So, we could be talking at least forty or so? And what’s the status with the drones, Joseph?” he inquired.
“We have the general’s location already under surveillance by one of our UAV drones and they are updating us on every movement.”
Jake nodded. “Good, and when Al-Bengari arrives?”
Joseph thought for a moment. “They will all probably be in the fortress and that’s when we load the reconnaissance data from the UAV into at least three Death Darts!”
Jake was impressed. “Six DM4’s heading for that fortress will be quite a sight!”
Joseph gave a wry smile. “That’s what we thought.”
“There is one other thing, Joseph,” Jake added. “If there is a chance that we can grab this General Ibrahim Al-Amabakhu for questioning, who planned the raid on Washington, I’d like to have that as a contingency plan. What do you think?”
“Maybe that could work, Jake,” Joseph replied. “Remember, he and his thugs will already be in their building down below the fortress and if we can time our hit on the fortress, with everyone else in there just before Al-Amabakhu arrives, then you could take out his guards and grab him while we make sure everything is taken care of up on the ridge.”
Jake was pleased with the idea. “Right, sounds like we’ll have to play that one by ear!”
“Exactly.”
He turned to Steve. “Any questions, Steve?”
“Not really,” Steve replied. “Looks like you guys have the bases covered. Let’s just hope this turkey Al-Bengari turns up!”
“Amen to that!” Jake agreed. “Now we need to get some rest, tomorrow’s gonna be a big day!”
CHAPTER 40
By dawn the next day the Mossad had been very busy. The Defense Ministry had all the Death Darts synchronized and the UAV reconnaissance drone was continuing to keep the general’s location under surveillance. The good news was that he and his brother were still in the building.
The Israeli Air Force team that would be running the attack of the Death Darts were in full contact with the UAV still on station at forty thousand feet and Zeke Ephron in the Mossad headquarters had a war room set up to monitor every movement in al-Farakesh.
In terms of boots on the ground, Joseph and a detachment of Mossad agents, including Jake and Steve, were already moving towards the old fortress in a fleet of helicopter gunships, keeping a low profile until they could all land on the ground and quickly disperse towards al-Farakesh.
Jake was also keeping in touch with Mulroney in the White House, who in turn was also keeping the President briefed.
By the time the sun passed its zenith on a cloudless day, the assault team on the ground were in place and the drone pilots in Tel Aviv were also primed to get the Death Darts in the air at the first signal of action from the field.
Up in the foothills, Jake and Steve were watching Jamal’s building through powerful binoculars and it was obvious from the terrorist activity outside the building and at the foot of the ridge leading up to the fortress, that important visitors were expected.
Around one pm, Joseph received a voice message from the UAV drone pilot that th
ere seemed to be activity on the road approaching al-Farakesh from the north. The all-seeing eye of the Israeli UAV, with the capabilities of monitoring all movements in an area the size of a medium city, suddenly reported activity along other desert roads converging on al-Farakesh from different directions.
Joseph spoke to all the Mossad agents on the ground. “Attention, everyone. We are now seeing activity from different directions, all converging on the fortress. Everyone and I repeat everyone, needs to stay under cover and off the air except in total emergency. Nobody must even blink until we see these vehicles safely up at the fortress, is that clear?”
“Yes, sir.” was the chorus in reply.
Jake spoke to Joseph. “Okay, Joseph, now it’s minute to minute. The general’s still in his compound and he will probably head up to the fortress once he knows Al-Bengari has arrived. That’s when we need to assess the number of hostiles in each location as the Death Darts are in flight.”
Joseph was in agreement. “Correct, Jake. So, I’ll give you six of my men so that you and Steve can stay out of sight, survey the scene but still be in a position to isolate and capture the general if the opportunity arises.”
“Good idea, and when we get that bastard and his brother, I have some unfinished business to take care of!”
Joseph looked concerned, “I thought we were going to try and capture the general, Jake?”
Jake smiled grimly. “Exactly, but not his brother. I have plans for that gentleman and maybe Ephraim can bring the young lady with him who helped to set all this up, keep her safely in the background to make sure we get the correct identification of the general?”
Joseph smiled. “I think we can arrange that.”
“Great!”
Steve was watching the approaching convoy and it was clear that Al-Bengari didn’t travel alone. In addition to his lead Humvee, he had his own radio truck as well as four other Humvees each carrying his elite guard of ruthless terrorists. In the radio truck, his operative was already on a secure network to all the other generals including Al-Amabakhu, letting them know that the leader was arriving.
* * *
Back in Tel Aviv, Zeke Ephron and his team were monitoring the video link back from al-Farakesh and the Mossad leader was closely watching the progress of the convoy up to the fortress.
At the Tel Not Air Base in Rehovot, on a secure runway, the three Death Darts were already fueled and armed with double warheads and the pilots in Tel Aviv, were already downloading the target data from the UAV that was still circling five miles above the fortress.
* * *
On the ground, as Jake and Steve watched from cover with their attack group, they could see that the convoy was now almost at the fortress when suddenly, from the north, a sleek chopper came in low across the desert and headed for the plateau up alongside the fortress.
Jake turned to Steve. “Looks like Al-Bengari is ready for a quick getaway!”
Steve nodded and as they watched the chopper come in to land, more elite guards jumped out, checked the area and then waved to the final occupant to exit.
In closer view, using the binoculars, from both Jake and Joseph’s locations, there was no mistaking the tall, angular physique of Al-Bengari, with his long, black beard and flowing robes. He greeted the welcoming party before being escorted into the fortress by his entourage.
Joseph was already on the secure line to Tel Aviv, advising Zeke Ephron that the target was in the fortress. He also confirmed that Al-Amabakhu was still in his building. Ephron immediately gave the order to scramble the Death Darts.
Out on the runway at Rehovot, once again it was as if a ghost had suddenly switched on all three drones and they took off quickly towards the setting sun.
Knowing that the Death Darts were now on the way and that Joseph and his team were now blocking any exit from the fortress, Jake and Steve and his team quickly made their way stealthily down the barren hillside, staying under cover as they got closer to the general’s building.
* * *
In the air, the drones, now at supersonic speed, were focussed on their target. Up in the fortress, as the generals were greeting Al-Bengari, ready for their meeting, the radio silence among the Mossad forces on the ground and the stealth of the incoming drones, meant that the terrorists had no idea of the deadly mayhem that was only minutes away.
CHAPTER 41
In his building, Al-Amabakhu was preparing to make his big entrance at the meeting of the generals with their esteemed leader.
He had also promised Jamal that he would let him meet Al-Bengari and as the two of them prepared to leave, the general was double checking that everything was in order.
“So, Jamal, the security on the gate of the fortress worked as planned?”
“Yes, my brother.”
“And our own security detail?”
“We have twelve armed men, my brother and we also have the two Humvees in case we need to get away for any reason.”
Al-Amabakhu nodded that he was satisfied, he reached for his walking cane and slowly got to his feet. “Very well, let us go!”
Jamal signalled to his men to get ready to leave. Outside the sun was getting lower as they made their way across to the vehicles for the brief ride up to the fortress.
* * *
Back in Tel Aviv, Ephron and his team were watching the approach of the Death Darts on the target and they could see across the barren desert as the ridge with the fortress on the top was seen getting closer.
Ephron turned to his Firing Officer. “Be prepared to launch missiles once we break radio silence with our ground forces to confirm the target is live.
“Yes, sir,” the officer answered.
* * *
From his concealed location at the side of the road, down below the fortress, Joseph finally made contact with the director on the secure intercom.
“This is Joseph?” he whispered.
“Are we a go?” was the question.
“We are go!” Joseph replied.
“Launching now, be prepared!” Ephron went off the line.
* * *
Up in the air, at Mach 1, the three Death Darts zoomed across the desert, as each in turn lowered their missile ramps and seconds later, the six DM4’s roared off towards their target.
Six vapor trails could be seen in a pattern across the porcelain blue and gold desert sunset, all heading in the same direction.
* * *
Outside the general’s building as Al-Amabakhu limped with his cane towards the Humvee, he suddenly stopped and held up his hand. He looked at Jamal.
“What is that noise?”
He looked around and suddenly, his eyes widened in shock when he saw the six vapor trails coming out of the sun and seconds later, the old fortress erupted in a series of vaporizing blasts, that totally took out the building and everyone inside it as well as blowing the chopper and its on-board fuel, up in the air in an additional fireball. The view was spectacular and it was obvious that nobody could have survived the blast. The effect of the explosion reverberated down into the valley and Joseph and his team took cover as the shock waves in a massive cloud of dust almost blew the general and his staff off their feet.
The dust cleared and Al-Amabakhu screamed at Jamal. “We need to get out of here, now!” They were getting ready to board the Humvee when they were spattered by automatic weapons fire as Jake and Steve with their team moved in.
Immediately a dog fight with the general’s security detail took place. The general tried to scramble towards the Humvee. Bullets were flying thick and fast in both directions. The Mossad seemed to be gaining the advantage and the general’s guards were falling fast. Jake and Steve took out an additional man each and then Jake saw Jamal, deserting his brother the general and rushing back to the main building.
He screamed at Steve. “Get the general alive, Steve, I’m going after his brother.”
Steve nodded. “Go for it!”
Jake sprinted off after Jamal, dodging
as bullets started to spatter at his feet. Jamal reached the building first and Jake fired after him, quickly changing the clip in his gun as he continued in pursuit.
When Jake reached the door of the building, he was about to enter when a burst of automatic weapon fire from inside literally demolished the door in front of him as he dodged back. He quickly sprinted around to the back of the building and entered through another door, gun in hand and once inside he started to get his bearings.
He was in the barracks area where the guards presumably stayed. As he moved along, another burst of fire shattered the wooden bunk next to him. He quickly hit the ground and slid around the next corner.
He realized that Jamal was no stranger to close, armed combat and when he saw a shadow on the wall at the end of the corridor, he let off a burst and saw Jamal sprint off to the left. The terrorist popped back around the corner and fired another burst, but Jake heard Jamal’s gun click on an empty chamber.
“Now, isn’t that a shame,” Jake goaded. “Now it looks like I’m going to have to kill you after all!”
Seconds later, Jamal dived on him, coming straight through a thin wooden partition, a knife in his hand and as he lunged forward he caught Jake in the arm and it started to bleed. Jake dropped his gun in shock and when the Arab rushed him again, Jake slid to the ground and leg-whipped him, so that Jamal fell and hit his head on a concrete step, dropping his knife. Jake was on him in a flash, punched him multiple times to the head and Jamal finally fell flat on his face. Jake quickly retrieved his gun and had it pointing unwaveringly at Jamal’s head as the terrorist turned over and finally opened his eyes.
“On your feet, slime ball!” Jake growled. “Time to go and meet big brother!”
Jamal got slowly to his feet as Jake prodded him at gunpoint towards the door, his free hand holding the cut on his arm to stop the bleeding. Once outside, Jake could see at a glance that the Mossad had overpowered the general’s security detail, most of whom were dead and the general was leaning on his cane, an alarmed look in his eyes as Jake approached prodding his brother at gunpoint.
