A Failed State by Andrew E. Coussens

Author:Andrew E. Coussens [Andrew E. Coussens]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: -
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2018-10-12T00:00:00+00:00

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Damien’s Hilux was close to the city center when the team heard gunshots over the net during Loki’s situation update. Damien accelerated toward Taimani proper, weaving through traffic along the Kabul-Ghazni Highway. Rifle fire could mean anything in Kabul—someone testing a purchased weapon, a wedding, or another type of celebration, so Cam and Damien chose to ignore it. No follow-on report from Loki was a good sign that ops were normal. It was the sound they heard next that had their hearts racing. A sharp, high-order detonation rang out and shook the city before them. Key that mic, Loki, Damien thought. Please key that mic.

“Be advised, small IED or vest detonation within my AOR.”

Loki’s transmission brought relief, but it also raised their concern. Loki’s area of responsibility had become danger close. Now was a good time for direct contact, and before Damien could finish his thought, Cam had the mic in his hand.

“Loki, Loki, Cam. We are en route to your pos. Please update.”

They waited only a moment.

“Roger, current location is Street 3 near Tazheeb Bakery. Break….”

While Loki depressed the microphone’s key, they heard additional volleys of fire.

“Small arms fire and detonation is west of my pos. Taimani, maybe Streets 5, 6, or 7. Over.”

“Roger, solid copy. We’re five mikes out.”

Damien knew this attack could be over in half that amount of time, and the area they were bound for quartered police candidates for every agency in-country. A cordon could already be in place by the time they rolled up. Dewud was supposed to be residing at an assigned address on Street 4. If ISIS was there and knew this, it was most likely attacking another target to flush him out.

“Omen or Cam. Situation update. No sign of Dewud. Break….”

The consistent sound of gunfire was the clear sign of a firefight.

“At least one known tango in contact with police forces at this time. Looks like Street 7 possible vest.”

“Suicide vest on the shooter?” Cam returned.

“Unknown. Maintaining good standoff. Continuing to search for Dewud. Will adv—”

The boom and wave of over-pressure rattled the Hilux nanoseconds after Loki’s transmission cut short. Through the windshield, Damien could see the massive plume of dust and settling debris half-a-dozen blocks ahead of them as they merged on to Taimani. Damien had never seen anything like it; half the neighborhood was obscured as the plume filled alleyways and streets, creeping over the tops of buildings. On parallel routes, he could see ANP gun trucks closing into the area almost as fast as he and Cam were.

“Loki, Loki, this is Cam. Over. Loki, Loki?”

Damien felt nauseous. They were going in to find Loki no matter what it took. Cam continued trying to raise him on the net. By the time the Hilux reached Street 4, every other windowpane was either partially or completely shattered. Sirens were wailing in the distance and Damien was weaving the Hilux in and out of pieces of smoldering debris. Frightened civilians were picking past police who were storming toward ground zero. Black smoke billowed from a storefront on the corner.

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