by Bobby Akart
The young man returned to the screen that displayed a satellite view of the building. “We are very fortunate to have this static perspective of the Varnadore. Ordinarily, the NSA satellites move in a synchronous orbit around the planet. However, it appears that due to the attacks, the ECHELON surveillance satellites have been placed into a stationary orbit.”
“Echelon?” asked Bravo.
“Yeah, it’s old technology, dating back to the cold war days of the sixties and seventies, but is still widely utilized by the NSA. For our purposes, it enables me to continuously monitor the Varnadore Building and its surroundings, but unfortunately, I don’t have the control capabilities like zoom and infrared that are available to the operators within the NSA.”
Bravo asked another question. “You were able to follow the vehicles back to the nest, right?”
“Yes, in the archived videos. That won’t help us with the rescue. We’re gonna need real-time footage so I can guide the teams in.”
“What do you have in mind?” asked Blair.
X-Ray fidgeted and glanced over at Alpha. “We’re gonna deploy our two infrared drones to help. Two of our drivers are also experienced drone operators. After the teams are dropped off to mount the rescue, they will operate the drones with my guidance.”
“Wait, won’t this guy Chepe and his people hear them? I mean, as quiet as it is, and with a lack of traffic, they’ll be noticed as soon as they get close.”
Alpha addressed Blair’s concerns. “We’re gonna create a loud diversion—one that leads their attention away from the point of insertion and also generates noise to mask the sound of the drones.”
“The two teams will only need a few minutes to get past their perimeter defenses,” added X-Ray. “The diversion will give them time, and the drone cameras will give them a set of eyes.”
“Plus, we have our own night vision to assist,” added Alpha.
He moved to a table behind him and picked up two black-zippered pouches. He opened one of them and pulled out a square device that resembled a small camera. He continued. “This is a night-vision monocular. It doesn’t have the capability of those used by the military and private contractors, but for the money, it’ll do for our purposes. It has six-times magnification, digital zoom, and is also capable of recording onto a micro SD card. Each team will have one of these that, coupled with X-Ray feeding us information from the drone, will allow us the ability to see in the dark.”
X-Ray paused as Alpha finished discussing the benefits of night vision and also the two-way communications system the teams would use to keep in contact with X-Ray. Once he was finished, he turned his attention to the more difficult aspect of the operation. He returned to his laptop and, with a few keystrokes, pulled up a set of blue-lined drawings from the early sixties. They were the original schematics of the Varnadore Building when it was permitted for construction.
He explained as he flipped through the pages of the drawings using a program called Scribd. It was a digital library subscribed to by the NSA and embedded within their secured website.
“Although it won’t be easy getting the two rescue teams inside the building, the real challenge begins with finding the needle in the proverbial haystack,” began X-Ray. He caught himself as he made eye contact with Meredith. “Um, I’m sorry, ma’am. I meant no disrespect.”
Meredith gave him a reassuring smile. “It’s okay, X-Ray. Thank you for doing this. Please go on.”
He nodded and continued. “Anyway, the building has been empty for over ten years, and during that time, vagrants and now Rosa Negra has occupied the space. I sat down with Echo just before our getting together this morning. He did business with the Varnadore company many years ago when they wanted to buy a part of his farm for a subdivision development. I learned a lot from him regarding the layout of the building. We’ll plan the rescue operation based upon his recollection of the floor plan, and our expectations of how that might have changed over time.”
One of the drivers raised his hand. “I noticed that you’ve referenced just two teams. Is that gonna be enough? I mean, we have lots of people capable of stormin’ the place.”
Ryan took the question. “Hannah’s life would be in danger if we took the building head-on. We’ve got to be stealthy in our approach, but once inside, based on Alpha’s plan, we’ll use what these people fear the most—anarchist tactics.”
Chapter 16
Haven Barn
The Haven
“Anarchists utilize tactics that instill intimidation and fear in those they oppose,” explained Ryan. “They dress in all black and often cover their faces to obscure their identity because, after all, they’re breaking the law when they engage in protests accompanied by property destruction.”
Alpha picked up on Ryan’s thought. “We plan on blending in with them, relying on the fact that this hastily assembled group in Charlotte may not be entirely familiar with one another. All we need is the slightest hesitation, a brief moment during which our enemy tries to process who we are, in order to have the upper hand.”
Charlie added to his statement. “I take it we’re going in weapons hot, but we’ll try to use alternative methods to take them out first.”
“Initially, during our approach to the building, we’ll use X-Ray’s overhead sets of eyes to identify targets for us. We’ll eliminate them using blades until we’re inside the Varnadore. Then I’ll take Foxy up the service elevator shaft to start a top-down sweep of the building. I expect the stairwell to be well guarded. Based upon the drawings he found, and Echo’s input, the former executive offices on the top floor are the most likely location of Chepe and Hannah.”
“What’s the plan for us?” asked Bravo.
“Target practice,” replied Alpha. “You two will be equipped with our AR-15s with multiple sixty-round magazines.”
“Why not the hundreds?” asked X-Ray. “I’ve got two drum magazines that—”
“Hold a hundred rounds, but they’ll jam after twenty or thirty,” interrupted Bravo. “We’ve tested every brand made, and the failure rate is ridiculous. They’re a bulky toy and I wouldn’t trust them in battle. I like the Schmeisser sixties, made in Germany. They resemble the Surefire sixty-rounder, but they’re made out of polymer.”
“Pricey,” added Charlie.
Alpha pointed toward Ryan. “Well, thank Ryan for them. When he asked my opinion, he didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger and buy a couple of dozen.”
Bravo got back to the mission. “I’m gathering you want us to light it up.”
“Absolutely!” exclaimed Alpha. “Shock and awe. These jerks break windows and cop cars. We break bodies. When they attacked the Haven, the rules of engagement changed. Now we’re at war.”
“Aren’t you afraid they’ll hurt Hannah when the shooting starts?” asked Cort.
“That’s where our communications come in,” replied Alpha. “Foxy and I will get into position to sweep the top floor, and then we’ll give Bravo-Charlie team the green light. During the chaos, I expect two things to happen. The entire building will panic because these thugs aren’t used to pushback. They’re flamethrowers who know the cops will stand down because they don’t want to make a scene for the media. They’ll cower in the corner when we come at them. Most importantly, Cort, I firmly believe that Chepe will opt for self-preservation. He’ll use Hannah as a bargaining chip to gain his freedom. Otherwise, he knows he’ll take a bullet like the rest of the cowards.”
“What about cover?” asked Charlie. “When we walk in the lobby, they’ll make us immediately.”
Alpha gestured to Ryan, who answered the question. He picked up a box bearing the yellow and black logo for the EG Grenade Company.
“P-40s,” said Delta. “I trained with those when I was brought aboard Philly SWAT.”
“That’s right, Delta,” said Ryan. “EG, which stands for Enola Gaye, started their company in England. I like them because they have a low-heat formula. The stick doesn’t produce an exte
rnal flame, and the casing doesn’t get hot. You can hold it longer and place it exactly where it has the maximum impact.”
“These things can be pretty toxic,” added Delta. “If the teams are going to use them inside, they’ll have a helluva time breathing.”
Alpha began to toss plastic bags to Bravo, Charlie and Hayden. “These are Holulo full-face respirators. They’re designed to prevent the inhalation of paint and pesticides, but the activated carbon respirator prevents smoke inhalation, too.”
“What made you think of these?” asked one of the drivers.
Ryan took that one. “Well, certainly not for this mission, to be honest. Actually, all you have to do is look around the Haven to realize we live in a huge tinderbox of hundred-year-old wood. These homes weren’t built with fire-retardant materials. They’re all in their original condition and vulnerable to fires. The masks were purchased to aid us in dealing with structure fires.”
“And now, the rescue of Hannah,” added Alpha. “Once you enter the lobby of the Varnadore, you’ll ignite the stick grenades, which produce black and gray smoke. Scream fire and try to flush people toward the front entrance, which will act as a choke point.”
“What about the rear exits?” asked Charlie.
“They’ll be locked off with chains and disk locks. Do not forget this. You’ll only have one way out as well.”
“What about you guys?” asked Bravo.
“Rear fire exit,” responded X-Ray. “The wrought-iron structure has a drop-down ladder that can be extended from the second floor to the ground.”
The room grew quiet as they contemplated the plan.
Finally, Ryan spoke up. “Alpha, are you certain that we can’t add another team or two? You know, to supplement you guys on the inside.”
“Thanks, Ryan, but no. We need seasoned gunners who can handle weapons and threats. If we have too many people in the building, we run the risk of friendly fire. Truthfully, and I’ve already discussed this with Foxy, so she knows where I’m coming from, having Delta on the inside on my team made more sense than her. That said, we’ve trained together at the Haven in the past and understand each other’s movements. Plus, when we find this little girl, I believe a female voice and her gentle touch will be more likely to keep her calm.”
“Yeah,” added Hayden. “She’d probably run as fast as she can from Alpha the way he’ll be dressed.”
The group shared a laugh and then Bravo raised a point. “You guys talked about blending in. Why don’t we dress in all black like they do? That will buy us another few seconds for that whole recognition thing you mentioned.”
“Bandannas. Trench coats. The whole nine yards,” added Delta, who then appeared solemn. “Sadly, my son had a lot of clothes and accessories that might help. I can check.”
“I like it,” said Alpha. “If we go in there with camo and our chest rigs on, it’ll be obvious.”
Blair spoke up. “I’ll speak to our residents and see what they can provide us.”
“Good, thank you, darling,” said Ryan.
*****
Throughout the day, the teams researched every minute detail of the Varnadore Building and its surroundings. They identified and debated points of insertion for the teams. They strategized about the potential countermeasures Chepe and his group might take. Most importantly, they talked about extraction methods once Hannah was retrieved.
Dinner was brought into Haven Barn for the group, and as they ate, Cort addressed them. With Meredith by his side, he spoke from the heart.
“Meredith, Hannah and I are a close family. Because of my responsibilities in Washington, we’re apart a lot during the week, but when we’re together, we’re inseparable.
“Hannah is a warm and loving little girl. Well, you know, I see her as little. She really is more mature than what I give her credit for. I think she’ll be tough and hold on until y’all can rescue her.
“I know the danger that you’re walking into to save Hannah. Your bravery is incredible, and your sacrifices will never be forgotten. Please know this. Meredith and I, and Hannah, will be forever in your debt for what you’re doing for us. Thank you and Godspeed.”
Chapter 17
The Varnadore Building
Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina
The teams arrived near the Varnadore Building from different directions. X-Ray needed to position his van close enough to the building to have his drones in range and to be able to communicate with the teams on their two-way radios. He also wanted eyes on the front entrance, albeit using long-range binoculars. The task of finding a location where he could park to avoid detection by Chepe’s people was not easy. Ultimately, he found a hillside near the east on-ramp to the Independence Expressway, east of the Varnadore. He expected Chepe to focus his surveillance toward the west, in the direction of the Haven.
There were several stalled cars on the ramp, and he hoped pulling his van onto the grassy hill wouldn’t be noticed in the dark. Delta dropped off Bravo and Charlie at the Pierson Drive underpass, a tunnel-like stretch that crossed from south to north under the expressway and a stretch of Albemarle Road that ran parallel with the wider highway. He then parked his car below the tree-lined expressway and out of sight of any curious eyes atop the Varnadore Building.
The tunnel gave Bravo-Charlie team cover as they made their way to a position at the side of the building. Once they were in position, they could advise Alpha-Foxtrot team, who were approaching from the adjacent neighborhood located north of the Varnadore.
By two in the morning, all teams were in position, and two vehicles were strategically placed within a half mile of the building to aid in the extraction of the teams and Hannah. Alpha believed in redundancy. If one of the drivers or escape vehicles was disabled, then they needed options. As he put it, “It would be a crying shame to rescue that little girl only to have no way to get the hell outta Dodge.”
Delta arrived at X-Ray’s van and slipped inside. This was his first glimpse of the vast array of equipment at the much younger man’s disposal.
“Impressive,” Delta said as he took in X-Ray’s domain. “How can you monitor all of this stuff?”
“Trust me, it won’t be easy,” he replied with a sigh. He cracked his knuckles and relaxed in his chair. “I have the NSA satellite feed open, just for reference, and I have our people ready with their drones. It’s the comms that will prove the most difficult to keep up with.”
Delta pointed to a radio on the table to his left. “A scanner?”
“Yes. In fact, that’s for you. Here’s where I need your help.”
Delta picked up the portable Bearcat scanner, a device he was thoroughly familiar with, as he kept one at his home in Atlanta. He focused on X-Ray. “Talk to me.”
“As three o’clock approaches, I’m gonna run through a radio check with all the teams. I need you to determine if Chepe and his people have two-way communications. If they do, monitor the channel for chatter. Here’s a list of the most likely frequencies.”
Delta studied the list. “It appears the higher-powered radios use frequencies in the four-six-two range. The lower-wattage types are in the four-six-sevens.”
“That’s right. Most people have Midlands, so I’d focus on the four-six-twos. Once you’ve locked in on the frequency, keep me posted, and I’ll relay it to the team. They only need to hear one voice, you know what I mean?”
“You’re the quarterback,” replied Delta. “What else can I do?”
X-Ray handed him a felt pouch marked FLIR. “This is mine, so please be careful with it.”
Delta studied the Pulsar Helion thermal monocular manufactured by FLIR. He slipped his hand through the strap and felt the weight. “Nice,” he muttered.
“Yes, it is. I offered it to Alpha, but because it has a range in excess of a mile, he thought you could use it to monitor the entrance as well as the highway in case Chepe has the ability to call for reinforcements.”
“Anything that I need to know about i
t?”
“Not really,” replied X-Ray. “It’s point and shoot. You’ll be able to view in real time and so will I. The built-in video recording will simultaneously appear on this small computer monitor to my right as long as you stay within Bluetooth reception. Don’t wander too far away from the van or I’ll lose the feed.”
“Got it.”
“Okay, it’s 2:45. In five minutes, our team is going to use the diesel fuel and Tannerite to cause an explosion at an oil-change station a couple of miles to our southwest. The used oil stored in the containers will create a lot of black smoke, drawing their attention to it. We want their eyes on the front of the building while our people quickly make their way inside from the back.”
“X-Ray, I’m partially responsible for what happened to Hannah because Frankie came after the Haven to get at me.”
X-Ray shrugged. “Well, Chepe wouldn’t know that Cort and his family were at the Haven if it wasn’t for me. I guess we both need to redeem ourselves.”
Delta patted the young man on the back. “Let’s do this, then!”
Chapter 18
The Varnadore Building
Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina
The driver parked nearly a mile away to the north of the Varnadore Building, ensuring that Alpha and Hayden could get suited up without detection. They both preferred to make the trek through the neighborhood streets and yards, using the sparse tree cover to avoid detection from observation scouts on the rooftop. Once the battle ensued and Chepe’s people were distracted, the driver was instructed to take up a position just to the west of the office building, behind a closed-down pool-table store. This would leave his teams a quick sprint across the parking lot and then easy access to the westbound lanes of Independence Expressway.
