The Price of Power by Huston James W

Author:Huston, James W. [Huston, James W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller
ISBN: 9780062105790
Goodreads: 11403068
Publisher: Avon
Published: 1999-05-19T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

Dan Hughes was the last SEAL to step over the gunwale of the boat. It was a spectacular crisp day in the Southern California ocean. The other SEALs were getting strapped into their seats in the Mark V, the special forces high-speed Cigarette boat designed for insertion of SEALs into hostile territory.

Hughes crossed to the officer in charge of the boat. “You ready?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Did you get the brief?”

“Yes, sir. Two practice insertions, four Zodiacs, one platoon. That’s it.”

“They give you the beach coordinates?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I want you to drop us at the wrong spot.”

The lieutenant looked at Hughes. “You sure?”

“Not too far off. Maybe a thousand yards, maybe two. Just misread your GPS by a few minutes.”

“Wilco.”

The officer in charge of the Mark V issued the command to his coxswain, who was waiting for instructions. “Let’s go.”

“Aye aye, sir.” The coxswain pushed the throttles forward and the Mark V jerked away from the pier. As they cleared the small bay, the Mark V picked up speed. As it passed through twenty knots, then thirty, it climbed up out of the water, planing across the ocean as it raced toward the designated beach. Hughes stood next to the lieutenant. He yelled to be heard over the roar of the boat. “Did you get the message about the nighttime insertion?”

“Yes, sir. We’ll pick you up at the same place. We’ll have the Zodiacs, and we’ll be armed with .50-cals and grenade launchers. Your men manning them?”

“Right.”

“And I got”—the lieutenant reached inside his shirt pocket and pulled out a piece of paper—“that you want FLIR,” Forward Looking Infrared, “and a thermal site unit. Live ammo shoot and boat launching.” He folded the piece of paper and put it back into his pocket. “Sounds like fun.”

“Any problems?” Hughes quizzed.

“No, sir. No problems.”

The Mark V increased speed to forty-five knots as it headed south around the island, running along the shoreline parallel to the beach. The boat went right by the predesignated drop point and continued for two thousand yards. The lieutenant glanced at Hughes out of the corner of his eye and gave him a conspiratorial nod. The coxswain retarded his throttles and the lieutenant turned to the SEALs. “Prepare for drop!”

As the boat slowed and its hull settled into the water, the SEALs freed themselves from the straps on the hydraulic seats and moved effortlessly and silently toward the Zodiacs, each knowing which boat he was assigned to and what his role was in the launching process. Within five minutes, the four Zodiacs were in the water headed toward the beach. Chief Smith studied his GPS again. He checked Hughes in the next boat and shook his head, turning north. The other three Zodiacs followed him back the way they had come until he reached the initial predesignated drop point. Hughes confirmed their position on his GPS and smiled to himself. Chief Smith signaled his satisfaction with their new position and turned toward the shore. The two lead boats spread out and the other two followed behind.

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