Sandra glanced once more around the room. “Sir, how does that affect us in our current situation?”
“We have to pull all of the assets currently en route to Oakland. You can only keep what you currently have on the ground. But, you have 24 hours to verify what you’ve been telling us to be able to keep the critical response team. We may need them to move to Los Vegas. And Derek, you need to check with your people, this may also apply to you.”
Sandra sat up stiffly. “Sir, we have already had violent skirmishes between the two sides. At least one person has died. If the additional resources are pulled, I am certain that a lot more people are going to die. I respectfully request that you reconsider.”
“Sandra, I wish that I could fill you in on the full magnitude of the threat that we are facing in Atlanta. But if the terrorists that we have identified are able to follow through with their plans to use crop dusters with anthrax, thousands, maybe tens of thousands of innocent people will die. Do your best to contain the Oakland situation. You are very capable and have a very capable team. I will see if there are any backchannels where we can get you direct military assistance.”
Sandra answered, “Yes sir, we will do our best.” Alvarez hung up.
Alex walked down the street from the house of Volo and his assistants. He had to admit to himself that Paris and Volo’s other women were very effective in their craft. How had they administered drugs to him again? Somehow they had given him something to break down his resistance along with his inhibitions. He now felt quite drained by these ladies. The information on the Al Quaeda cell in Rio sounded authentic. He would check it out. As he walked, he suddenly realized that if not for his special training and conditioning, Volo’s people would now have a tremendous level of control over him after only two meetings. Their techniques were very effective. His feelings were mixed and he actually felt a little fear as he remembered that there would likely be more meetings and he would probably have to continue with these “treatments”.
Shindo met Jorge at the heliport. “Report. What is the situation at the terminal?”
“Boss, it could be better. Grainger’s people are trying to take control of the port area. Several of our people have been wounded or killed in the fighting. Plus we have been finding hidden video cameras of a type that we think the Feds use. Someone, we think it is the Feds, is picking up some of our wounded.”
Shindo looked at Jorge angrily. “We must not let Grainger take control. It is time to hunt down Grainger’s people and kill them all. Let me call Grainger, offer him a deal, and set up an ambush.”
“Be careful. I am beginning to feel like we may have underestimated Grainger.”
Anyone else talking to Shindo like this would have received an immediate slap in the face. Instead, Shindo glared at Jorge. “We just have to avoid anything that is predictable. Load the weapons on the boat. Grainger cannot be allowed to anticipate our next move.”
DeMario was getting tired. Keying his mike, “Coastie, was that gunshots that I just heard?”
DeMario’s radio crackled. “Yep. Sounded like an AK. The noise is kind of hidden by the sounds of the trucks and cranes.”
“Any sign of the Oakland Police?”
“Nope. But I am not sure if anyone has called anything in. Derek, are you picking up anything on the scanners?”
Derek’s voice came on the air with a background hiss. “Nothing in the port area. I don’t think anyone has called anything in… Hold on, there is an ambulance call.”
Pete interrupted. “This is quickly getting ugly. I have my spotting scope trained on a guy who looks all the world like he is placing charges on some of the shipping containers. Lucky for me, he doesn’t seem to be very good at avoiding detection.”
Derek came on. “You guys, there have been some major developments on this end. Sandra has just given the ok for you guys to get a little more proactive. Do you think that you can regroup and go in to disable any explosives?
Pete jumped in. “Will we be allowed to bring all of our toys with us?”
“That is affirmative. Do what you can. You are authorized to use deadly force if needed.”
Continued ...
