Rogue Threat by A. J. Tata

Author:A. J. Tata [Tata, A. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Conspiracies, Fiction, Paramilitary forces, Suspense fiction, War & Military, Thrillers, Men's Adventure, Terrorism, War on Terrorism; 2001, War on Terrorism; 2001-
ISBN: 9781935142096
Publisher: Variance Publishing LLC
Published: 2009-10-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 35

Vermont-New Hampshire Border

“Hello,” Ronnie Wood said into the small Kyocera phone powered by a Qualcomm CDMA chip and protected by U.S. encryption technology.

“This is Ballantine,” the voice said, distant but clear.

Wood sat up in his bed. “Good. Do you have an update?”

Ballantine’s voice was distorted over the secure phone. “I have been compromised, but I escaped. All other operations are set. I have one enemy captive. I am moving to my alternate command post and will wait for transmission of the signal.”

“Tell me more about this compromise. We have seen the news,” Wood said.

“They sent a special operations commando after me and my crew. I captured their agent and questioned him. A second team arrived and tried to rescue him. I am wounded but am healing and will be fine for tomorrow’s operation.”

Ballantine looked over his shoulder at the bound and gagged Zachary Garrett. He had hog-tied Garrett and stuffed him in the cargo compartment behind the pilot and copilot seats.

“What kind of condition is your captive in?” Wood asked.

“He will live. I shot him in the upper back. Flesh wound only. Bleeding has stopped.” Ballantine spoke in deliberately concise sentences to minimize airtime on the phone, despite the secure connection. He knew the technology existed to intercept the traffic and decipher the coded signals. He had also just lied. The pool of blood gathering on the floor of the airplane provided an indication of Zachary Garrett’s dire condition.

“What about your television appearance? Do you have the facilities for that, or do we need to execute the backup plan?” Wood asked.

“My facilities were captured. The backup plan is a go,” Ballantine said.

“Are you certain you can execute?”

Ballantine seethed for just a second at his contact, letting the fuse burn, and then affirmed, “Absolutely.”

“Your picture is on every television station in the world. The news media are providing the public with your aliases and your Muslim name. Without your secure facility, how do you intend to make an international statement without the risk of getting compromised?”

“I have a plan,” he repeated, this time with less patience.

“Don’t screw it up.”

“I won’t.”

Ballantine pushed the end button on the satellite phone, removed the battery and stuffed both components in his pocket. He then banked the airplane toward a small set of lights to his south. He was glad that he had at least accomplished that task. He had considered not calling the contact, but he was concerned that the news programs might cause delay or even postponement, which he could not afford. While most of the Phase Two operations seem to have been completed with a success rate of about 80 percent, these next missions provided the most hope for achieving victory to his personal satisfaction.

Ballantine replayed the scene in his mind: the two commandos in his sights, moving along the woods toward the cabins. His first shot struck the lead man in the chest; the second shot narrowly missed the wingman. He fired successive shots, but the team to his rear was being overrun, diverting his attention long enough for him to lose sight of the other operative.

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