Brown, Dale - Rogue Forces by Brown Dale

Author:Brown, Dale [Brown, Dale]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, McLanahan; Patrick (Fictitious character), Fiction, War & Military, Action & Adventure, Men's Adventure, Political, Turkey, Iraq War; 2003-, Iraq
ISBN: 9780061560880
Publisher: Harper
Published: 2010-02-23T05:00:00+00:00

OVER SOUTHERN TURKEY

H O U R S L AT E R

“Ankara Center, Scion Seven-Seven, level, flight level three-three zero over reporting point Afsin, estimating reporting point Simak in twenty-six minutes.”

“Scion Seven-Seven, Ankara Center copies, good evening. Expect handoff to Mosul Approach five minutes prior to Simak.”

“Scion Seven-Seven copies.”

The radios fell silent for several minutes until: “Scion Seven-Seven, change to Diyarbakir Approach frequency VHF one- three-five- point- zero- fi ve.”

It was a rather unusual request—they were transitioning well above the local approach control’s airspace—but the pilot didn’t argue: “Roger, Ankara, Scion Seven-Seven switching to Diyarbakir Approach.” He made the frequency change, then: “Diyarbakir Approach, Scion Seven-Seven, level, flight level three-three zero.”

A heavily Turkish-accented voice responded in English: “Scion Seven-Seven, this is Diyarbakir Approach, descend and maintain one-seven thousand feet, turn left heading three-four-five, vectors to Irgani intersection, altimeter setting two-niner niner eight.”

“Here we go,” the pilot said cross-cockpit, taking a deep cleansing breath to control his quickly rising excitement. He keyed his intercom button: “They just vectored us for the ILS approach into Diyarbakir, sir.”

“Question it but take the vector,” David Luger said via encrypted satellite link from Scion headquarters in Las Vegas. “We’re ready.”

“Roger.” On the radio, the pilot said, “Uh, Diyarbakir, Seven-Seven, why the vector? We’re on a priority international fl ight plan, destination Tall Kayf.”

“Your transition through Turkish airspace has been canceled by the Turkish Ministry of Defense and Frontier Security, Seven-R O G U E F O R C E S

2 1 1

Seven,” the approach controller said. “You are instructed to follow my vectors for approach and landing at Diyarbakir. Once your plane, crew, and cargo have been inspected, you will be permitted to continue to your destination.”

“This is not right, Approach,” the pilot protested. “Our fl ight did not originate or terminate in Turkey, and we filed a flight plan. We are not subject to inspection as long as we are only overfl ying your airspace. If you want, we can exit your airspace.”

“You are instructed to follow my vectors for approach and landing at Diyarbakir, or you will be considered a hostile aircraft and we will respond accordingly,” the controller said. “There are fi ghters standing by that will intercept you and escort you to Diyarbakir if you do not comply. Acknowledge.”

“Approach, we’re turning to your heading and descending,” the pilot responded, “but I will be messaging my headquarters and advising them of your threat. We will comply under protest.”

“I have been informed to notify you that the American consulate has been notified of our actions and will meet you at Diyarbakir for the inspection and interviews,” the controller said after a lengthy pause. “They will remain with you at all times while you are on the ground and will observe all of our enforcement actions.”

“This is still not right, Approach,” the pilot went on. “You can’t divert us like this. This is illegal.” On the intercom, the pilot asked,

“You want us to keep descending, sir?”

“One more minute,” Dave Luger said. The Boeing 767 freighter

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