[FIC] Explanations, part 6 {Chapter 10}
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2003 6:01 am
The ready room was filled near half-capacity. The noise level was moderate, given that numerous individuals were involved in conversations as they waited for Captain Testarossa to make her way from the bridge. The air smelled slightly musty, as a number of air purifiers were off-line for scheduled maintenance. The flours and halogens were all currently lit to full capacity, and the room was very bright.
Kurz looked up at the lights and put on a pair of garish sunglasses. "Ahhhh. Good time to work on my tan. A man can never look too pret-ttaayy, right? Not even Sousuke!" he drawled, pinching Sousuke's cheek. "You gotta look good for miss Chidori, right?" he said sotto vocce. He then turned to Melissa and quite obviously eyed her slowly up and down along the full length of her body, grinning widely. "Melissa...babe...this would be a good time to get rid of some of those tan lines. How about you--" He was unable to complete his request before Melissa slammed an elbow firmly into his midsection.
The room fell silent as Captain Testarossa walked in and took a seat in the front row. "Mr. Kalanin, you may proceed."
The lights dimmed and the large built-in LCD view screen came to life, displaying the Mithril emblem. Lasers painted the time and date in the upper corners, and a backwaards countdown was present in the lower right corner. Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin stood and walked to the podium.
"Madame Captain, I thank you. Gentlemen, if you were unawares, we are currently on station in the Arabian Sea, 100 nautical miles off the coast of Pakistan." The viewscreen showed a map of the globe, with a red arrow and the letters TDD-1 marking the location of the submarine. "Because of reasons we will cover, today's mission will be very small in the number of outbound personnel but very large in global significance. Plainly put, failure of today's mission would lead to tragic repercussions."
"Heyyyyy...why not put us under even more stress" Kurz said quietly to Melissa. She ignored him. Sousuke, not included in the joking...and not included in today's mission...sat with a very sour expression on his face.
Lt. Cmdr Kalinin continued. "As our target today is in Pakistan, you will no doubt surmise that we are in the grip of a nuclear dilemma. International concern over Pakistan's weapons of mass destruction has been long-standing and well-founded. However, were this simply a conflict between nations, we would not be involved. Mithril will engage the threat today not only because of the skill of those in this room, but also as a result of the complex and delicate political situation that exists. As a result of the latter, we will not have any concurrent assisstance from friendly forces in the region. And if we stumble, the narrow window of opportunity will close, and the forces of our allies would no longer be effective if they chose to put them into play. We are the only ones who can pull this off, and I put my fullest trust in each and every one of you involved."
Kalinin walked over and stood next to a tall handsome bearded man in a utilitarian grey suit and a small petite and attractive young woman in a well-fitted Mithril uniform. "You all know Lt. Casimira Concepcion. She will provide us with an analysis of the military threat we face. The gentleman to her left is Mr. Charles Windham, on loan to us from the United States intelligence community. Mr. Windham has requested that his precise affiliation remain secret. Mr. Windham will brief us on the exact nature of the nuclear threat. Mr. Windham, if you please...."
Kalinin took a step back, and the intelligence operative walked by and took his place at the side of the podium, taking a laser pointer out of his pocket as he walked.
A detailed map of Pakistan filled the screen. Mr. Windham detailed the facts that were known. "As background, let me mention that Pakistan has long possessed missiles capable of carrying nuclear payloads and has continued to produce such payloads despite considerable pressure from the world community. Althought the general public remains blissfully unawares, we in the intelligence community are all too familiar with past attempts at theft of nuclear weapons and their delivery systems. "
The screen now showed photographs of various missile types: some of Chinese origin, some representing Pakistani knock-offs of Chinese designs, and some of indigenous design. The speaker highlighted each appropriate type with the laser during his discussion. "We know of instances where successful theft has taken place involving Agni...Hatf 8...Hatf 5...Hatf 4...and M11 missiles. Such weapons were cumbersome to conceal, and were easily tracked by drones and spy satellites."
The screen showed an new photograph. "The Dhabush is a newly developed ship-based missile capable of carrying low yield nuclear warheads. The missiles have been produced in numbers estimated at 20 bodies, and half that many warheads and propulsion systems. All such items are believed to be accounted for."
The next photograph was of a memo. "This innocent appearing document was obtained by a mole about one month ago. The whereabouts of the author, a government sevant with a large family, is unknown. The document makes footnote to another document that we managed to copy prior to its disappearence. One document mentions the production of ten complete P-1 missiles...the designation of the prototype of the Dhanush. The other document makes a claim that, and I quote, all seven of the prototypes that were produced had been destroyed. The mathematics involved here were of concern to some members of the intelligence community."
Mr. Windham took a sip of water from a glass located on the podium. "Similarly, other resources discovered discrepencies in the amount of fissionable materials available and the number of payloads made for the pending Dhanush missiles. The descrepencies have not been accounted for."
The screen again showed a map of Pakistan. "Two weeks ago, French intelligence operatives informed us that they had been tracking the movement of three highly modified Exocet launch systems, each originally configured for shipboard use, and each currently exhibiting structural adaptations that suggest the possibility of landbased use. These systems, in the company of a group of highly capable black market weapons merchants, were traced to the city of Nowshera...population 100,000....paper, chemical, and textile industrial area...Latitude 34.01 degress North and Longitude 71.99 degrees East. Tracking responsibilities were handed over to freelance intelligence operatives who traced the systems to a Hydrogen Peroxide manufacturing plant."
Spy satellite photos of the buildings, including the corresponding GPS coordinates, were shown to the watching personnel.
Mr. Windham turned off the screen and took a few steps in front of the podium. "As you might expect, the sum of these findings was of great concern. What we subsequently learned about about political maneuvering within the Pakistani government was equally foreboding. As you know, the President of Pakistan and his entourage died in a car accident one month ago. Despite great fear that Separist groups or terrorists might have been responsible, the deaths were labeled as accidental when forensic autopsy had reportedly revealed that the driver had died from rupture of a Berry Aneurysm while driving. Slides, blocks, and paperwork from that autopsy cannot be located."
A photograph of a terrorist camp took its turn upon the viewscreen. "The al-mua'tareen terrorist group has been a growing concern for anti-terrorist task forces of late due to an abundance of covert funding and because of its rapid growth in numbers. The group, however, is not known to have perpetrated any acts at this time. By means that I will not reveal, a member of that terrorist organization was brought into our service and subsequently revealed startling information. A majority of the group's funding came from anonymous Pakistani military officials."
Mr. Windham paused to let that information sink in. "He was able to provide us with a number of spy photoraphs of his contacts. And he was able to give us the location of all al-mua'tareen members within the borders of Pakistan. A large concentration of terrorists are located in Nowshera."
Mr. Windham took a momemnt to wipe his brow. "I hope I am not stretching the limits of credibility here. I understand how this might all sound like the plot of a Tom Clancy novel or a James Bond movie!"
Kurz pointed held his hand like a gun and pointed it at Melissa, speaking in a voice that sounded eerily similar to Sousuke's "I'm Sagara, Sousuke Sagara. Urzu 007. Licensed to protect Kanaaammmaaayyy." That earned him another elbow from Melissa. Because he had said it in the quiet during the speaker's pause, his voice carried throughout the room. That earned him a scowl from Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin. Tessa covered her mouth to hide a laugh.
Mr. Windham never missed a beat. "Through clandestine and pharmaceutical means, we were able to get further information from within the Pakistani government itself. The highest ranking Generals are involved in this plot, while very few lower ranking officials are part of the cabal. The cabal is setting up al-mua'tareen to be the scapegoat. They have released information through the official Pakistani intelligence agencies that the terrorist group was responsible for the murder of the President. They were not. The faked accident was set up by killers loyal to the cabal. The cabal furthermore plans to alert world governments and news agencies of the recent discovery of a terrorist plot...an hour or so before the launch of the missiles, which are targeted at highly populated regions within India. They expect that their subsequent rapid and large scale mobilization of armed forces towards Nowshera will serve as proof of Pakistan's noncomplicity. They will also alert the armed forces of the United States and allied nations and will request their prompt assistance. They will inform officials in India. We suspect they have also placed their own operatives close to all members of the terrorist group."
After asking for a fresh glass of water, Mr. Windham moved onto that final portion of his briefing. "As you can clearly imagine, we are dealing with an exceptionally tricky political knot here. Matters are made worse by recent gaps in intelligence data. We cannot be certain that the missiles remain where we originally pinpointed them and we have been unable to get operatives close enough to check in timely fashion. As such, a strike with remotely piloted aircraft or cruise missiles would be highly risky. Additionally, we have not been able to establish a credible timetable. Our best clue would be sightings of large army and airforce movements towards Nowshera; but, as you can appreciate, we cannot wait until that point."
After taking another sip of water he continued. "American special forces are ready to strike, and have been on alert for a number of days. However, these forces have held off for a number of significant reasons. First, their available location and resources may not allow them to reach and neutralize the site before the missiles can be prepped, aimed, and launched. Second, the political fallout following American intrusion into Pakistan would be immense. Giving information to India is judged to be too big of a risk. And, we will not be able to stage covert actions against the cabal istelf: we have learned that there are standing orders to launch the missiles if three or more cabal members die or become unreachable. We considered supplying our information to other nations, but are concerned about matters of timing. Were the cabal to hear word of our discoveries, they would likely launch the missiles sooner than originally planned, despite exposure of their plot. Accordingly, members of the United States government who know of Mithril's existence have sent me here to seek your services." He nodded to Kalinin.
"Thank you, Mr. Windham, for an excellent report. Please pass our gratitude on to your superiors. Lt. Concepcion, if you please" This from Lt.Cmdr. Kalinin.
Lt. Concepcion, an attractive young lady in her mid 20s who had once been a member of the Paraguayan Department of Investigations, walked to the podium much to the delight of the male members of the audience.
A muffled noise drew Sousuke's attention. Melissa had her hand firmly clamped over Kurz' mouth.
"I will now present the threat analysis. First, regarding the terrorist group: the number of terrorists in the Nowshera area is between 100 and 150. A majority of those are located within 10 minutes of the factory and up to 50 are estimated to be inside the facilities. An equal or greater number of cabal loyalists are likely to be near the site. Neither group is expected to have anything more dangerous than shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, short-range anti-tank rockets, recoiless rifles, heavy machine guns, and various small arms."
A map of Pakistan reappered on the screen, this time with markings that showed the locations of airbases and troop concentrations. "Our greatest threat is from aircraft that can arrive on the scene 15-30 minutes after we are detected. These will be members of the Pakistani Armed Forces and they will consider us as a threat to Pakistani soil and sovereignty. They are expected to attack with any and all means available." She used her laser pointer to highlight a number of airbases.
"We have a high likelihood of contact with aircraft from Squadrons 16, 26, and 81 of the No.36 Tactical Attack Wing, as well as aircraft from the No.38 Multi-Role Wing and the No.33 Fighter and Multi-Role Wing. This could result in a sizeable number of fixed wing aircraft of various types, a majority of which would be expected to be Mirage IIIs and Vs, and Chinese supplied J7s and Q5s. We can expect to see small numbers of F-16s...and if our American sources are correct, we may see American-supplied A10s. The sheer mass of aircraft could represent an unsurmountable threat should we face delays."
Lt. Concepcion paused a moment and scanned her pocket computer. "Ground forces in the area are currently unlikely to pose much threat. Only a small number of artillery pieces are in range, and all tanks within 10 minutes of the site are T59s of original configuration. Should forces begin moving any time soon, it is possible we could see increased numbers of self-propelled artillery of 100, 150, and 255mm from the 2nd Artillery Division of II Corps, and some small number of Al Khaled, T85II, T80, and Al Zaras tanks from the 1st Armored Division. The tanks are armed with 125mm smooth bore cannon and carry APFSDS and HEAT rounds. It is also possible that our opponents could move a small number of TOW-armed AH1S attack helicopters and LY60N Surface to Air Missile systems to within range. Helicopter transported troops should be expected, but we are not aware of any anti-tank battalions that are close enough to the target to pose a significant risk." She put away her computer and stepped over to Kalinin, engaging him in a quiet conversation.
"Uh-huh, just another picnic" Kurz said, "Sorry you won't be joining us Sousuke ole chum, but I'll save you some hot dogs and relish...MMM mmm." He then turned to Melissa and added "And I'll bring the cucumbers for you, missy. Ohhh Yehhh!!!" He caught her fist before it could connect with his nose. He was not able to stop her from kicking him hard in the shin.
"Can you stop being an ass at least until the briefing is over, Sergeant Weber?! And stop teasing Sousuke...you know how bad he feels about being left out of this mission!" Melissa said, grabbing Kurz by the collar and shaking him, snapping his head back and forth like a bobble-head toy.
Yeh...sure...Sousuke this and Soouusskkaayy that...you're like a mother hen, y'know?! Jeez, Melissa, he's a big boy and can take care of himself. Right Sousuke?" When Sousuke did not respond, Kurz continued "And I don't see why he would be disappointed. We get to go out and face death, and he gets to stay back here with the pretty Captain!" He slid down in his chair when Tessa turned to look back at him.
Looking at Kurz, Kalinin said "I will now commense with the mission particulars, if I may be so bold Sergeant Weber." Kurz slid further down in his seat.
"Considering the nature of the target, the type and numbers of military threats we face, and the long distance of Nowshera from the coast, we will be forced to use a quick penetrating attack. Because of those same factors, our team will have to complete their mission promptly, destroy their equipment throuroughly, and disappear into the surrounding populace without drawing undue attention to themselves. Operatives in the area will gather up our combatants and help them return to safety."
He continued "In exactly three hours, we will deliver three piloted Arm Slaves to the target site by means of transport missiles. Because the Arm Slaves will need to be destroyed, they will be M9s and they will be fitted with augmented self-destruct charges. For this reason, ARX-7 will remain behind. A fourth piloted Arm Slave will remain in silo as a contingency measure, ready for immediate launch should we suffer an early catastrophic mission failure. Urzu 6 will be fitted with a gas deployed slow descent chute and will provide high cover. A Starburst portable anti-aircraft cannon will provide some measure of protection from sky-based opponents. Urzu 2 and Urzu 4 will make hot landings and will carry Javelin missiles and the Hellbore flame cannon respectively. Both will be armed with high intensity white phosphorus, and both will carry Heavy Cutters. Urzu 5, held in reserve, will be configured similarly to Urzu 4."
Kalinin looked in the direction of the Arm Slave pilots before continuing. "It is imperative that we find the threat as rapidly as possible. We must not allow time for launch. We must terminate all individuals with extreme prejudice, as we have no means to select out launch personnel. Similarly, all consoles and control panels should be considered possible launch equipment and should be destroyed quickly and completely. If possible, avoid the Pakistani armed forces. But...I should not need to inform you of your prorities: if they get in your way, take them out. Urzu 6, you are expected to remain outside to provide surveillance and long range interdiction. Urzu 2 and Urzu 4, you will gain entrance to the factory building, locate the missiles, and destroy them. Do not simply locate a single missile and lay waste to your surroundings. If you do not locate the full complement of missiles, inform us immediately. Are there any questions?"
Melissa raised her hand. "Sgt. Major Mao?" Kalinin acknowleged her.
"Sir, why are we limited to three Arm Slaves in the active role if we have four transport missiles available? And, should we expect to encounter any Arm Slaves?"
"A good question," Kalinin replied "As I mentioned, we need one M9 in reserve, in case an unexpected outcome leads to the early destruction of the attack team. Equally important, should our intelligence prove faulty and the missiles are present at a different location, we will still have the capacity to launch a desperate last minute strike augmented with cruise missiles...should satellite images pinpoint the correct missile site. Lt. Concepcion, can you speak to the Sgt. Major's question regarding Arm Slaves?"
"Gladly, Sir. We have long suspected that Pakistan was in secret negotiations to purchase a small number of Chinese model TX-1s, Arm Slaves roughly similar in capacity to the M6. At this time, however, there is no confirmation that a deal has been reached or that hardware has been delivered," the young intelligence officer quickly replied.
"Thank you," Melissa said.
"Are there any further questions?" Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin asked.
Kurz raised his hand. When Kalinin said nothing, Kurz stood up and started waving both arms.
"Do you have a question, Sergeant Weber?" Kalinin asked.
"Yes, Sir. You mentioned that the attack squad members would have to blend into the populace after the attack?"
"That is correct."
"Sir...Sgt. Major Mao could probably blend in anywhere she wanted to, and Sgt Conrad is so ugly that no one could look at him for more than three seconds...but how am I supposed to blend in?" He actually struck a pose and pushed his flowing locks forward. "Sousuke would blend in well, and his urban skills are far superior to mine."
Kalinin replied "Mission personnel were selected by myself, Captain Testarossa, and Sgt. Major Mao. The matter is not subject for discussion."
Sousuke looked especially wooden and his thoughts were dark. Kalinin continued "But, I appreciate your inquisitive nature and your analytical skills. You have asked me a good question, and I will now supply you with a good solution."
Kalinin looked in Sousuke's direction. "Sgt Sagara, at the end of this meeting you will see to the proper preparation of Sgt. Weber's M9, as Sgt. Weber will be involved in a separate task."
"Yes, Sir" Sousuke replied sharply.
"Sgt. Weber, you will report to the barber and the cosmetician. You will have your hair cut to standard length and dyed black. You will then have your skin tinted with temporary dye." Kurz grimaced when he heard that. He jumped when Melissa smiled and said "Barber!!!" into his ear.
"If there are no further questions, report to your stations and prepare your equipment for missile encapsulation. Good hunting gentlemen, and Godspeed."
Sousuke walked up to Kurz and gently placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "I knew YOU'D care, Sousuke" Kurz said, sounding very dejected.
Sousuke put his mouth to Kurz' ear and said "Bar-ber."
Kurz looked up at the lights and put on a pair of garish sunglasses. "Ahhhh. Good time to work on my tan. A man can never look too pret-ttaayy, right? Not even Sousuke!" he drawled, pinching Sousuke's cheek. "You gotta look good for miss Chidori, right?" he said sotto vocce. He then turned to Melissa and quite obviously eyed her slowly up and down along the full length of her body, grinning widely. "Melissa...babe...this would be a good time to get rid of some of those tan lines. How about you--" He was unable to complete his request before Melissa slammed an elbow firmly into his midsection.
The room fell silent as Captain Testarossa walked in and took a seat in the front row. "Mr. Kalanin, you may proceed."
The lights dimmed and the large built-in LCD view screen came to life, displaying the Mithril emblem. Lasers painted the time and date in the upper corners, and a backwaards countdown was present in the lower right corner. Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin stood and walked to the podium.
"Madame Captain, I thank you. Gentlemen, if you were unawares, we are currently on station in the Arabian Sea, 100 nautical miles off the coast of Pakistan." The viewscreen showed a map of the globe, with a red arrow and the letters TDD-1 marking the location of the submarine. "Because of reasons we will cover, today's mission will be very small in the number of outbound personnel but very large in global significance. Plainly put, failure of today's mission would lead to tragic repercussions."
"Heyyyyy...why not put us under even more stress" Kurz said quietly to Melissa. She ignored him. Sousuke, not included in the joking...and not included in today's mission...sat with a very sour expression on his face.
Lt. Cmdr Kalinin continued. "As our target today is in Pakistan, you will no doubt surmise that we are in the grip of a nuclear dilemma. International concern over Pakistan's weapons of mass destruction has been long-standing and well-founded. However, were this simply a conflict between nations, we would not be involved. Mithril will engage the threat today not only because of the skill of those in this room, but also as a result of the complex and delicate political situation that exists. As a result of the latter, we will not have any concurrent assisstance from friendly forces in the region. And if we stumble, the narrow window of opportunity will close, and the forces of our allies would no longer be effective if they chose to put them into play. We are the only ones who can pull this off, and I put my fullest trust in each and every one of you involved."
Kalinin walked over and stood next to a tall handsome bearded man in a utilitarian grey suit and a small petite and attractive young woman in a well-fitted Mithril uniform. "You all know Lt. Casimira Concepcion. She will provide us with an analysis of the military threat we face. The gentleman to her left is Mr. Charles Windham, on loan to us from the United States intelligence community. Mr. Windham has requested that his precise affiliation remain secret. Mr. Windham will brief us on the exact nature of the nuclear threat. Mr. Windham, if you please...."
Kalinin took a step back, and the intelligence operative walked by and took his place at the side of the podium, taking a laser pointer out of his pocket as he walked.
A detailed map of Pakistan filled the screen. Mr. Windham detailed the facts that were known. "As background, let me mention that Pakistan has long possessed missiles capable of carrying nuclear payloads and has continued to produce such payloads despite considerable pressure from the world community. Althought the general public remains blissfully unawares, we in the intelligence community are all too familiar with past attempts at theft of nuclear weapons and their delivery systems. "
The screen now showed photographs of various missile types: some of Chinese origin, some representing Pakistani knock-offs of Chinese designs, and some of indigenous design. The speaker highlighted each appropriate type with the laser during his discussion. "We know of instances where successful theft has taken place involving Agni...Hatf 8...Hatf 5...Hatf 4...and M11 missiles. Such weapons were cumbersome to conceal, and were easily tracked by drones and spy satellites."
The screen showed an new photograph. "The Dhabush is a newly developed ship-based missile capable of carrying low yield nuclear warheads. The missiles have been produced in numbers estimated at 20 bodies, and half that many warheads and propulsion systems. All such items are believed to be accounted for."
The next photograph was of a memo. "This innocent appearing document was obtained by a mole about one month ago. The whereabouts of the author, a government sevant with a large family, is unknown. The document makes footnote to another document that we managed to copy prior to its disappearence. One document mentions the production of ten complete P-1 missiles...the designation of the prototype of the Dhanush. The other document makes a claim that, and I quote, all seven of the prototypes that were produced had been destroyed. The mathematics involved here were of concern to some members of the intelligence community."
Mr. Windham took a sip of water from a glass located on the podium. "Similarly, other resources discovered discrepencies in the amount of fissionable materials available and the number of payloads made for the pending Dhanush missiles. The descrepencies have not been accounted for."
The screen again showed a map of Pakistan. "Two weeks ago, French intelligence operatives informed us that they had been tracking the movement of three highly modified Exocet launch systems, each originally configured for shipboard use, and each currently exhibiting structural adaptations that suggest the possibility of landbased use. These systems, in the company of a group of highly capable black market weapons merchants, were traced to the city of Nowshera...population 100,000....paper, chemical, and textile industrial area...Latitude 34.01 degress North and Longitude 71.99 degrees East. Tracking responsibilities were handed over to freelance intelligence operatives who traced the systems to a Hydrogen Peroxide manufacturing plant."
Spy satellite photos of the buildings, including the corresponding GPS coordinates, were shown to the watching personnel.
Mr. Windham turned off the screen and took a few steps in front of the podium. "As you might expect, the sum of these findings was of great concern. What we subsequently learned about about political maneuvering within the Pakistani government was equally foreboding. As you know, the President of Pakistan and his entourage died in a car accident one month ago. Despite great fear that Separist groups or terrorists might have been responsible, the deaths were labeled as accidental when forensic autopsy had reportedly revealed that the driver had died from rupture of a Berry Aneurysm while driving. Slides, blocks, and paperwork from that autopsy cannot be located."
A photograph of a terrorist camp took its turn upon the viewscreen. "The al-mua'tareen terrorist group has been a growing concern for anti-terrorist task forces of late due to an abundance of covert funding and because of its rapid growth in numbers. The group, however, is not known to have perpetrated any acts at this time. By means that I will not reveal, a member of that terrorist organization was brought into our service and subsequently revealed startling information. A majority of the group's funding came from anonymous Pakistani military officials."
Mr. Windham paused to let that information sink in. "He was able to provide us with a number of spy photoraphs of his contacts. And he was able to give us the location of all al-mua'tareen members within the borders of Pakistan. A large concentration of terrorists are located in Nowshera."
Mr. Windham took a momemnt to wipe his brow. "I hope I am not stretching the limits of credibility here. I understand how this might all sound like the plot of a Tom Clancy novel or a James Bond movie!"
Kurz pointed held his hand like a gun and pointed it at Melissa, speaking in a voice that sounded eerily similar to Sousuke's "I'm Sagara, Sousuke Sagara. Urzu 007. Licensed to protect Kanaaammmaaayyy." That earned him another elbow from Melissa. Because he had said it in the quiet during the speaker's pause, his voice carried throughout the room. That earned him a scowl from Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin. Tessa covered her mouth to hide a laugh.
Mr. Windham never missed a beat. "Through clandestine and pharmaceutical means, we were able to get further information from within the Pakistani government itself. The highest ranking Generals are involved in this plot, while very few lower ranking officials are part of the cabal. The cabal is setting up al-mua'tareen to be the scapegoat. They have released information through the official Pakistani intelligence agencies that the terrorist group was responsible for the murder of the President. They were not. The faked accident was set up by killers loyal to the cabal. The cabal furthermore plans to alert world governments and news agencies of the recent discovery of a terrorist plot...an hour or so before the launch of the missiles, which are targeted at highly populated regions within India. They expect that their subsequent rapid and large scale mobilization of armed forces towards Nowshera will serve as proof of Pakistan's noncomplicity. They will also alert the armed forces of the United States and allied nations and will request their prompt assistance. They will inform officials in India. We suspect they have also placed their own operatives close to all members of the terrorist group."
After asking for a fresh glass of water, Mr. Windham moved onto that final portion of his briefing. "As you can clearly imagine, we are dealing with an exceptionally tricky political knot here. Matters are made worse by recent gaps in intelligence data. We cannot be certain that the missiles remain where we originally pinpointed them and we have been unable to get operatives close enough to check in timely fashion. As such, a strike with remotely piloted aircraft or cruise missiles would be highly risky. Additionally, we have not been able to establish a credible timetable. Our best clue would be sightings of large army and airforce movements towards Nowshera; but, as you can appreciate, we cannot wait until that point."
After taking another sip of water he continued. "American special forces are ready to strike, and have been on alert for a number of days. However, these forces have held off for a number of significant reasons. First, their available location and resources may not allow them to reach and neutralize the site before the missiles can be prepped, aimed, and launched. Second, the political fallout following American intrusion into Pakistan would be immense. Giving information to India is judged to be too big of a risk. And, we will not be able to stage covert actions against the cabal istelf: we have learned that there are standing orders to launch the missiles if three or more cabal members die or become unreachable. We considered supplying our information to other nations, but are concerned about matters of timing. Were the cabal to hear word of our discoveries, they would likely launch the missiles sooner than originally planned, despite exposure of their plot. Accordingly, members of the United States government who know of Mithril's existence have sent me here to seek your services." He nodded to Kalinin.
"Thank you, Mr. Windham, for an excellent report. Please pass our gratitude on to your superiors. Lt. Concepcion, if you please" This from Lt.Cmdr. Kalinin.
Lt. Concepcion, an attractive young lady in her mid 20s who had once been a member of the Paraguayan Department of Investigations, walked to the podium much to the delight of the male members of the audience.
A muffled noise drew Sousuke's attention. Melissa had her hand firmly clamped over Kurz' mouth.
"I will now present the threat analysis. First, regarding the terrorist group: the number of terrorists in the Nowshera area is between 100 and 150. A majority of those are located within 10 minutes of the factory and up to 50 are estimated to be inside the facilities. An equal or greater number of cabal loyalists are likely to be near the site. Neither group is expected to have anything more dangerous than shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, short-range anti-tank rockets, recoiless rifles, heavy machine guns, and various small arms."
A map of Pakistan reappered on the screen, this time with markings that showed the locations of airbases and troop concentrations. "Our greatest threat is from aircraft that can arrive on the scene 15-30 minutes after we are detected. These will be members of the Pakistani Armed Forces and they will consider us as a threat to Pakistani soil and sovereignty. They are expected to attack with any and all means available." She used her laser pointer to highlight a number of airbases.
"We have a high likelihood of contact with aircraft from Squadrons 16, 26, and 81 of the No.36 Tactical Attack Wing, as well as aircraft from the No.38 Multi-Role Wing and the No.33 Fighter and Multi-Role Wing. This could result in a sizeable number of fixed wing aircraft of various types, a majority of which would be expected to be Mirage IIIs and Vs, and Chinese supplied J7s and Q5s. We can expect to see small numbers of F-16s...and if our American sources are correct, we may see American-supplied A10s. The sheer mass of aircraft could represent an unsurmountable threat should we face delays."
Lt. Concepcion paused a moment and scanned her pocket computer. "Ground forces in the area are currently unlikely to pose much threat. Only a small number of artillery pieces are in range, and all tanks within 10 minutes of the site are T59s of original configuration. Should forces begin moving any time soon, it is possible we could see increased numbers of self-propelled artillery of 100, 150, and 255mm from the 2nd Artillery Division of II Corps, and some small number of Al Khaled, T85II, T80, and Al Zaras tanks from the 1st Armored Division. The tanks are armed with 125mm smooth bore cannon and carry APFSDS and HEAT rounds. It is also possible that our opponents could move a small number of TOW-armed AH1S attack helicopters and LY60N Surface to Air Missile systems to within range. Helicopter transported troops should be expected, but we are not aware of any anti-tank battalions that are close enough to the target to pose a significant risk." She put away her computer and stepped over to Kalinin, engaging him in a quiet conversation.
"Uh-huh, just another picnic" Kurz said, "Sorry you won't be joining us Sousuke ole chum, but I'll save you some hot dogs and relish...MMM mmm." He then turned to Melissa and added "And I'll bring the cucumbers for you, missy. Ohhh Yehhh!!!" He caught her fist before it could connect with his nose. He was not able to stop her from kicking him hard in the shin.
"Can you stop being an ass at least until the briefing is over, Sergeant Weber?! And stop teasing Sousuke...you know how bad he feels about being left out of this mission!" Melissa said, grabbing Kurz by the collar and shaking him, snapping his head back and forth like a bobble-head toy.
Yeh...sure...Sousuke this and Soouusskkaayy that...you're like a mother hen, y'know?! Jeez, Melissa, he's a big boy and can take care of himself. Right Sousuke?" When Sousuke did not respond, Kurz continued "And I don't see why he would be disappointed. We get to go out and face death, and he gets to stay back here with the pretty Captain!" He slid down in his chair when Tessa turned to look back at him.
Looking at Kurz, Kalinin said "I will now commense with the mission particulars, if I may be so bold Sergeant Weber." Kurz slid further down in his seat.
"Considering the nature of the target, the type and numbers of military threats we face, and the long distance of Nowshera from the coast, we will be forced to use a quick penetrating attack. Because of those same factors, our team will have to complete their mission promptly, destroy their equipment throuroughly, and disappear into the surrounding populace without drawing undue attention to themselves. Operatives in the area will gather up our combatants and help them return to safety."
He continued "In exactly three hours, we will deliver three piloted Arm Slaves to the target site by means of transport missiles. Because the Arm Slaves will need to be destroyed, they will be M9s and they will be fitted with augmented self-destruct charges. For this reason, ARX-7 will remain behind. A fourth piloted Arm Slave will remain in silo as a contingency measure, ready for immediate launch should we suffer an early catastrophic mission failure. Urzu 6 will be fitted with a gas deployed slow descent chute and will provide high cover. A Starburst portable anti-aircraft cannon will provide some measure of protection from sky-based opponents. Urzu 2 and Urzu 4 will make hot landings and will carry Javelin missiles and the Hellbore flame cannon respectively. Both will be armed with high intensity white phosphorus, and both will carry Heavy Cutters. Urzu 5, held in reserve, will be configured similarly to Urzu 4."
Kalinin looked in the direction of the Arm Slave pilots before continuing. "It is imperative that we find the threat as rapidly as possible. We must not allow time for launch. We must terminate all individuals with extreme prejudice, as we have no means to select out launch personnel. Similarly, all consoles and control panels should be considered possible launch equipment and should be destroyed quickly and completely. If possible, avoid the Pakistani armed forces. But...I should not need to inform you of your prorities: if they get in your way, take them out. Urzu 6, you are expected to remain outside to provide surveillance and long range interdiction. Urzu 2 and Urzu 4, you will gain entrance to the factory building, locate the missiles, and destroy them. Do not simply locate a single missile and lay waste to your surroundings. If you do not locate the full complement of missiles, inform us immediately. Are there any questions?"
Melissa raised her hand. "Sgt. Major Mao?" Kalinin acknowleged her.
"Sir, why are we limited to three Arm Slaves in the active role if we have four transport missiles available? And, should we expect to encounter any Arm Slaves?"
"A good question," Kalinin replied "As I mentioned, we need one M9 in reserve, in case an unexpected outcome leads to the early destruction of the attack team. Equally important, should our intelligence prove faulty and the missiles are present at a different location, we will still have the capacity to launch a desperate last minute strike augmented with cruise missiles...should satellite images pinpoint the correct missile site. Lt. Concepcion, can you speak to the Sgt. Major's question regarding Arm Slaves?"
"Gladly, Sir. We have long suspected that Pakistan was in secret negotiations to purchase a small number of Chinese model TX-1s, Arm Slaves roughly similar in capacity to the M6. At this time, however, there is no confirmation that a deal has been reached or that hardware has been delivered," the young intelligence officer quickly replied.
"Thank you," Melissa said.
"Are there any further questions?" Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin asked.
Kurz raised his hand. When Kalinin said nothing, Kurz stood up and started waving both arms.
"Do you have a question, Sergeant Weber?" Kalinin asked.
"Yes, Sir. You mentioned that the attack squad members would have to blend into the populace after the attack?"
"That is correct."
"Sir...Sgt. Major Mao could probably blend in anywhere she wanted to, and Sgt Conrad is so ugly that no one could look at him for more than three seconds...but how am I supposed to blend in?" He actually struck a pose and pushed his flowing locks forward. "Sousuke would blend in well, and his urban skills are far superior to mine."
Kalinin replied "Mission personnel were selected by myself, Captain Testarossa, and Sgt. Major Mao. The matter is not subject for discussion."
Sousuke looked especially wooden and his thoughts were dark. Kalinin continued "But, I appreciate your inquisitive nature and your analytical skills. You have asked me a good question, and I will now supply you with a good solution."
Kalinin looked in Sousuke's direction. "Sgt Sagara, at the end of this meeting you will see to the proper preparation of Sgt. Weber's M9, as Sgt. Weber will be involved in a separate task."
"Yes, Sir" Sousuke replied sharply.
"Sgt. Weber, you will report to the barber and the cosmetician. You will have your hair cut to standard length and dyed black. You will then have your skin tinted with temporary dye." Kurz grimaced when he heard that. He jumped when Melissa smiled and said "Barber!!!" into his ear.
"If there are no further questions, report to your stations and prepare your equipment for missile encapsulation. Good hunting gentlemen, and Godspeed."
Sousuke walked up to Kurz and gently placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "I knew YOU'D care, Sousuke" Kurz said, sounding very dejected.
Sousuke put his mouth to Kurz' ear and said "Bar-ber."
.. 