Terrorist Task Force
Major Stanley Timms stood at the window of his office, looking at the River Mersey flowing past. A tall four-mast, wooden sailing ship was docking next to the historic Albert Dock buildings. The port of Liverpool played host to the fleets of tall ships that constantly circumnavigated the globe when they visited British shores. As he watched the sailboat the Major recalled the last voyage he had made aboard a sailing vessel. It was as part of the Marine Task Force that was sent to fight Argentine military forces, which had invaded the Falkland Islands, in the South Pacific, 1982. The naval task force that had publically left English waters watched by the worlds television networks was spearheaded by the Royal Navy`s nuclear submarine the Water Sprite. As the fleet sailed from the port the submarine dived beneath the surface in full view of the cameras. The Argentine military Junta feared the presence of a Polaris nuclear submarine in their waters more than anything else, so they kept most of their fleet harboured safely in port. The truth was that the Water Sprite never actually left Liverpool harbour. When it dived beneath the waves at the head of the Royal Navy fleet it stayed on the ocean floor for the whole period of the conflict. It had suffered a major fire in one of its reactors several weeks earlier, which virtually rendered it useless. The mere suggestion that Britain had sent a nuclear submarine to the Falklands was enough to neutralise the entire Argentine Navy. The Major had received a citation for his service in the Falklands where the regiments of The Royal Marines and the Parachute Regiment had dismantled the invading Argentine army in a matter of days. He had followed his distinguished career in the Royal Marine Commandos by heading up the formation of the Terrorist Task Force. Military life seemed far simpler in comparison to the world of espionage that he now worked in. Using hindsight he realised that conventional war was straightforward. The enemy wore different uniforms, waved different flags and drove different vehicles, which in theory made them easier to identify and eliminate. The world of counter terrorism was far more cynical. The hidden enemy were masters of disguise and deception, avoiding close quarter battle was an art form. Tank and his team had raided a crucial target earlier that day arresting nineteen suspects. While this was a serious blow to organised crime in the region, they had made little impact on a potentially critical political disaster, which still faced the Middle East.
“Sorry to disturb your thoughts Major but the team are ready,” Tank said poking his big baldhead round the doorframe.
“Come in for a moment John,” the Major, said waving his hand. He was the only Terrorist Task Force member that called Tank by his first name, and when he did it usually meant that he was troubled by something. Tank stepped into the glass walled office that was called the goldfish bowl, and closed the door behind him.
“MI5 have requested a full update on the Jeannie Kellesh situation. They are concerned that the Saudis will discover that we were aware that she didn’t die in the riverboat bomb from the start. The political fallout would be disastrous,” Major Timms said shaking his head, “so, I have confirmed that they can release the information that we have to the Saudis.” Tank thought that the Major suddenly looked old and tired. The creases in his forehead seemed deeper when he frowned, and he frowned a lot these days.
“We have ordered our interrogation teams to concentrate their questions on the kidnapping, but we seem to have arrested only low level or prospective 18th Brigade members. No `tier one` personnel were captured at the scene,” Tank explained. `Tier one` was the description applied to leaders or key individuals of a target organisation.
“No one is talking at the moment, or my guess is that they are all too far down the ranks to know about the kidnap,” Tank said, thinking about the empty gun racks in the cellar, “It looks like all the Brigade`s serious muscle were otherwise involved. Their armoury room was empty before we arrived, which is very concerning.”
“Ask the team to join us in here John please; I need to bring everyone up to speed. The international consequences are frightening,” Major Timms said picking up a file and tapping it on the desk for effect. Tank thought about reinforcing the point that the key personnel from the 18th Brigade were at liberty and armed, here in the UK not in the deserts of the Middle East. That was a bigger priority to Tank than the ramifications that could potentially take place thousands of miles away. Major Timms was becoming increasingly concerned about political claptrap and less concerned about taking down terrorists in Tank`s opinion. Tank`s loyalty lay with the British public and he would ensure their safety at any cost. Westminster could worry about foreign diplomacy and political correctness, which was bullshit as far as Tank was concerned. He waved to the rest of the team and beckoned them into the goldfish bowl office.
“What is the latest from the interrogation rooms?” the Major asked Faz as she walked into the room. She shot Tank a glance that indicated there was little progress so far. The longer the interviews went on the more obvious it was becoming that the detainees didn’t know anything of any value.
“The only new information that we have is that there was a shooting incident at the Orford Arms yesterday, which involved foreigners,” Faz began. This was news to most of the team as the Brigade had refused to involve the police, even though two of its senior members were shot. Organisations like the 18th Brigade dealt with their issues internally.
“According to the barmaid that we interviewed two Russian men walked into the Orford and asked to speak to Pete Dodge. There was an altercation in the back room and two Brigade Lieutenants were shot, one in the foot and one in the leg. Dodge`s right hand man is called Terry Nick and he was shot twice in the right foot with a 9mm weapon. The second man is still a critical condition with a gunshot wound to the thigh and serious facial injuries. Apparently the Russians left through the back doors but no one seems to know what the altercation was about,” Faz finished shrugging her shoulders and took a seat next to Chen.
“If that`s true then we need to assume that the armoury room in the basement has been emptied for a reason. I think the Brigade has planned an attack against the Russians in retaliation for the shootings at the Orford. Chen you need to inform the uniformed divisions that we suspect an armed incident of major proportions is imminent. Order them to despatch every Armed Response Unit they have available, and to cancel all leave and rest days,” Tank said pointing to the door to underline the urgency of his directive. Chen stood and left the meeting to carry out Tank`s order. The gravity of the situation required immediate communication to the regional uniformed police divisions.
“We still cannot identify which crime organisation is behind the kidnap plot. The Brigade`s involvement looks to be irrefutable so we must assume that the information we have collated from the Organised Crime Unit is correct. They are certain that the Brigade work directly with the Russian Mafia. They supply the Brigade with imported weapons and drugs. We need an up to date list of all suspected Russian business interests in Liverpool, Manchester and the surrounding towns,” Tank pointed to a map of the region that was on the digital display board, “we are looking for casinos, night clubs and brothels that have any Eastern European connections.” The Terrorist Task Force would have to rely on the information that the conventional law enforcement agencies had, but Tank had a hunch that any retaliation attacks would be imminent. Collating information from several departments would take up valuable time that they didn’t have. The Major stood up from his desk and changed the map image on the digital screen. He flicked through several images of the Middle East until he found one that demonstrated his narrative.
“We have informed the Saudis today that we know Jeannie Kellesh was not a victim of the riverboat bomb. We know that there was definitely no Islamic extremist influence involved,” The Major said looking directly at Tank. Tank knew what was coming but he didn’t care, a terror training camp of any description was still a legitimate target for an airstrike no matter what the reasoning behind it. The destruction of the terror networks was the number one priority for his Task Force. The Major was concerned that they had withheld information from the Saudis, and he felt that Tank had influenced his decision to do so.
“We incorrectly allowed the Saudis to believe that Yasser Ahmed may have been involved in the bombing on the River Dee, which resulted in them launching an airstrike in Syrian territory. Syria, Iran and their allies are looking for a reason to attack Israel and the Arab states that support or trade with the West, including Saudi Arabia,” the Major tried to emphasise the international ramifications. No one else in the room could see the urgency of the situation that he was outlining. Tank suddenly clicked, and the point became frighteningly clear.
“What the Major is saying is that if a Jewish Russian becomes implicated in the kidnapping of a Muslim Princess, extreme Islamic states such as Syria and Iran could call open season on the Jewish state of Israel in retaliation, which would in turn drag America into the conflict. We could be looking at the start of a third world war,” Tank said out loud for his own benefit as well as for the benefit of others.
“Exactly,” said Major Timms, “Syria has already mobilised its armoured divisions to defend its southern borders, if they discover that the airstrike by the Saudis was carried out without proper justification then the situation could deteriorate.”
“Point taken Major,” said Tank, “however we need to concentrate on the fact that the 18th Brigade has armed and mobilised its members in the last twelve hours. I want every available Task Force member suited and booted ready for whatever is going to happen. Put the bomb squad on standby and issue fully automatic weapons to every agent. Full body armour is compulsory even for uniformed officers, no heroes.”
The goldfish bowl door opened and Chen returned into the room looking red faced. He crossed to the digital screen without saying a word and tuned it to a Greater Manchester Police Force channel that was being broadcasted from a surveillance helicopter. The image of what used to be Manchester Piccadilly Station appeared. It was a scene of total devastation, obviously the result of a huge explosion. Glass, twisted metal and human remains were scattered across the station`s approach.
“This explosion happened two minutes ago. Early reports indicate a refuse truck was driven into the terminus and then exploded,” Chen explained.
“Chen and Faz, you need to head to that station. Gather what information is relevant and call in when you are ready. I`ll prepare the team here. Call a helicopter to pick you up on the roof,” Tank ordered without taking his eyes off the screen. Tank knew that the explosion was probably unrelated to their current case, but he had a sneaking suspicion that somehow it was connected. He picked up the phone and speed dialled one of his agents.
“John Tankersley speaking, what happened in Bradford when you went to arrest Imran Patel in connection with the van we investigated at the River Dee?” Tank asked. He listened briefly and then replaced the handset gently as if it might break. “Imran Patel left his house this morning to buy a newspaper and never returned. Eyewitnesses report seeing an Asian man was being knocked over by a dark SUV in the vicinity of the newsagents. He was placed in the back of the vehicle. No one remembers the make or model and there is no registration number. I am laying odds that Imran Patel`s disappearance is connected to that bomb,” Tank said staring at the digital images of carnage being broadcast from the ruined Manchester train terminus.