Clay's POV
1130 Local
We left the airport and headed to the jail where Balik was being held. Jarot interestingly enough was there. He had apparently come over from Jakarta after we left. He invited us to begin talking with the prisoner and left. He told us he had a meeting with his superiors.
Robert Bitang accompanied us into the interrogation room. Josef Balik was standing looking out of the small window. As we entered he turned to look at us. His features were Malay but he got his height from his Dutch ancestors.
"Ah more interrogators. I'm not going to tell you anymore than I've already told IS. I had nothing to do with the bombing, I didn't even know about it until the next morning."
"Mr. Balik. Why don't you wait until we ask a few questions?" Tracy responded.
Like the lawyer she was she began laying out the evidence we had collected against him. By the time she was finished Balik was pacing the room and sweating.
"So, Mr. Balik. Can you explain the money that was mysteriously deposited to your bank account? We were unable to justify it with the accounts receivable from your businesses. Why did this money leave your accounts and go to known terrorists? Why did one of the bombers tell us that you had allowed them the use of your resort as a gathering place for the planners?"
I silently watched Tracy grill the man. He didn't respond to her rapid fire questions other than to get more and more nervous. He looked everywhere but at the three of us. Robert walked over to him and sat him forcefully into a chair.
He began speaking to him in Malay. Balik didn't respond until Jarot's name was mentioned, then it was as if floodgates had opened. At the end Robert turned and gave us a worried look and motioned us out of the room.
"I told him that Jarot had him arrested not us. He said that Jarot would not have arrested him. Our friend Jarot is the key player in all this. He is the one that got the Timorese separatists and Balik connected to al Queda. Clay we have got to get out of here. This stinks of a trap."
"That's an understatement. Let's get out of here." The reason for the feelings of uneasiness that we had all had was now all too evident.
1330 Local
We left the interrogation room and told the guards we were going to get some food. We informed the Marines about the situation and headed to the hotel. Half the way to the hotel our SUV was surrounded by four other cars. Men jumped from them and began firing. I pulled Tracy down to the floor and lay on top of her.
The Marines, Robert and I began returning fire. We were in a hopeless situation. Robert appeared badly wounded, and one of the Marines was dead. When we could no longer return fire the doors were ripped open and Tracy and I were pulled roughly out with the other Marine and forced into one of the cars. We were tied and blind folded as the car sped away. The pulled my backpack off and tossed it on the floor, idiotically not bothering to inspect it.
I didn't get a chance to see which way we were headed. I could only tell we were weaving in an out of traffic. After what seems like a half hour we stopped weaving and were moving a steady pace. We must have made it out of the city into the countryside. Going who knows where.
Tracy was leaning against me. I could feel her body shake, and believed that she was angry rather than crying. I know I was pissed. I tried to reassure her by moving closer and placing my head on hers. She nodded her head and slowly stopped shaking. We had to think our way out of this one.
I could have used Sarah's sense of time, I could only estimate that we had been traveling about ninety minutes when we came to a stop. The last hour the motion of the car meant that we had been moving up a mountain.
We were removed from the car and were forcibly moved into a room. Our blindfolds and bindings were removed and the door locked. We looked around. The room was small, the only furnishing a single bed, a small table and a stool and the single bulb overhead shed minimal light over the dismal interior. There was a very small window set high in the outside wall that I could't look out of. No one had spoken to us since we had been picked up and we had no idea how many held us captive.
The Marine pulled the stool to the window and looked out.
"Clay, who's holding us, do you think its Jarot?" Tracy questioned.
"Either he or his compatriots. We have got to get out of here. Jarot knows we are on to him. They don't need to question us and holding us only puts them in more danger. Killing us is their only option."
The Marine spoke up. "Ma'am, do you think you could shimmy through the window? When I looked out I didn't see anything behind the building except thick jungle. If you could make your way to the road you may have a chance to get some help."
Tracy looked back at us. You could see the determination light up her dark eyes.
"You bet your ass I could. Get me up there and I'll be back here with the Marines!"
"Tracy, you don't have to go far. Get to the car we were brought in. They pulled my backpack off and threw it on the floor. Thank God laptops are a pain to carry around, the backpack may be our savior. If it is still there, the laptop and satellite phone are inside. The satellite phone has built in GPS. Call for the Marines then get YOUR ASS out of here. They'll be able to pinpoint our position from it."
"Sir, it's best if we wait until dark. She'll have a better chance sneaking around then."
I looked at my watch, "it looks like we have about four hours then. Marine I think you could let us know your name. We've got some time to get know each other."
Our Marine friend smiled, "It's PFC Alan Phelps Sir, Ma'am from Leesburg, Virginia."
"Clayton Webb, CIA. And our escape artist is Lt. Cmdr. Tracy Manetti also of Virginia. Let's give our fair state a good showing then."
We continued to talk for an hour. Tracy and I were sitting on the bed and Alan on the stool. I touched Tracy on the arm, "listen, why don't you nap for a while. You need a little rest before your big adventure."
"OK, I'll lie down, but I don't think I'll sleep I'm too wired."
"Just give it a try."
She lay down at the head of the bed and curled into a ball. I remained at the foot while Alan and I continued to discuss options. We didn't have many. We were unarmed against an unknown number of aggressors, in a locked room. Conversation lagged then stopped while we waited. Alan pulled the stool to the wall and leaned his head back and rested. I looked over at Tracy, who thankfully, had managed to fall asleep.
I sat cross-legged on the end of the bed on guard, and thought of Sarah, hoping she was safe. The sky had darkened shortly after we arrived and now the rain was pouring down; things were just getting better and better.
At nine I woke Tracy. Alan was instantly alert. We hadn't been disturbed since we were shoved in here, and I prayed that the situation wouldn't change. There were not many atheist operatives, we prayed too much.
I helped Tracy climb on Alan's shoulders, luckily his height helped Tracy maneuver through the window easily. She went out the window feet first, hips and shoulders barely clearing. Alan held her hands and let her softly drop to the ground outside.
Now we wait.
Hotel Kartai
2130 Hours
Sarah's POV
We couldn't leave the hotel to begin a search. The rain was torrential and we didn't even know where to begin. Further conversation with Bud told us that Jarot had disappeared, and Robert Bitang had been found barely alive in the SUV. He was now in surgery and expected to survive. Bud was keeping us informed as best he could. We were waiting on word from him when we separated and settled in for the night.
Harm and I shared a room, which is nothing new; We had done it several times before on assignment. When we shared before there had always been an underlying sexual tension in the room. Tonight we were two tired individuals worrying about our significant others. We were lying in the one bed facing each other. I decide to let curiosity to get the better of me. It would help take my mind off Clay's disappearance.
"Harm tell me about Tracy. When did this happen?"
He looked at me, "No, not what's going on now. When did things start between the two of you? And before you get your panties in a wad, I'm not upset, OK?
"Mac, you have a way with words, I've always admired that about you."
"Hey, answer the question. I'm curious, not judging. She's a nice lady and you are my friend. I think because I'm happy, I want you to be happy."
"Thanks. She is nice. Don't give me the death glare. I'll tell you. Naples. It started in Naples. I, ah, walked in my room and she was coming out of the shower. She was wrapped in a towel and she was drying her hair." I snorted.
"It was innocent. She had just got there and her room wasn't ready. They let her use mine room to shower and I walked in. I have to confess that I didn't turn away." He paused and said, "She looked cute. I guess it started there." He looked off as if remembering.
I continued looking at him and he resumed talking
"I remember thinking on the flight here that she wasn't you. She has a gentle manner about her that just got under my skin. When you refused to play referee between Clay and I at the hotel, she placed and hand on my arm. She didn't say anything but it calmed me down."
"After you guys went to bed the rest of us talked for almost two hours. Just getting to know each other. Jim and Ramon teased her unmercifully about her obvious Oriental heritage and southern drawl. She talked fondly about her Italian-American father and Japanese mother. She gave as good as she got and was a good sport about it all."
"So why did I see you two in bed together the next morning, huh?" I was holding back a smile. I wanted to see how he explained this.
He blushed. "Don't go there Marine. Just let's say that we got to know each other very well when we went back to the suite, and we may want this to continue. We know haven't had much time to think things out. And we realize that Chegwiddan and the SecNav are going to have strokes"
"That's all the information I need. Thanks for sharing. And before you ask Clay and I are further along in thinking about us. We know we are going to continue and for the long term. We're in love, and Harm, this is it. He's the one. I'm sure of it."
"Mac, this is as much girl talk as I can take and still keep my membership in the Men's Club. I'm happy for you, but let's get some rest."
I pelted him with my pillow as he smiled and turned over. "Give it a rest, I'm ignoring the beating!"
I retrieved my pillow and put my head on it. I knew sleep would be a long time in coming for both of us.
We hadn't settled down more than five minutes when the satellite phone rang. Harm picked it up and I listened to the conversation as best I could.
"Rabb."
"Tracy, honey where are you?"
"OK, just tell me." I listened then Harm motioned for paper and pen. He wrote down a set of coordinates.
"How are the others? My god," he practically screamed.
At my gasp he said, "Clay is alive. He and one of the Marine guards are still being held captive. I'll tell you the rest when I get off."
"Listen, sweetheart is there anything else in the backpack?"
"Can you get it into Clay?"
"OK, do it. Tell them we are coming and go hide and keep the line open."
"Harm, tell me before I strangle you!"
"Calm down. Clay is OK. We've got to get the others. Jarot is our target, not me."
Once we had gathered everyone Harm explained what happened. We decided to call back to DC. We needed backup to get them out and didn't know if all the local IS was with Jarot. We called the Admiral.
"Colonel, what is going on, has Webb screwed things up?"
"No Admiral. He hasn't screwed anything up. We were betrayed by Captain Jarot. He is the one that set up the bombing. We trusted him and now he has three of our people. During the kidnapping one of the Marine guards was killed. The NCIS agent is alive, he was presumably left for dead."
"Tracy got out a window and has given us the GPS coordinates of their location. She has managed to get a weapon to Clay and Alan, the other Marine. Sir, we need a retrieval team in country immediately to get them out."
"Mac, there is a SeAL team waiting in Jakarta for orders. They will be in the air in five minutes. Give me the coordinates."
I relayed them to him. "Ok, I'm going to put you on hold while I get them going."
While I held on I relayed the Admirals plan. Everyone's relief was evident. We felt useless where we were, then Jim spoke up.
"Let's go to the address we have. We'll have the element of surprise. No would expect us to be out in this crappy weather though the rain has let up somewhat. Let's look at the satellite weather."
After a swift computer consult it looked like there would be at least a one-hour window of relatively clear air.
"Sounds like a plan," Harm said. I could tell he wanted to get to Tracy as bad as I wanted to get to Clay. But we were going to do what we could and meet them at the bottom of the mountain.
The Admiral came back on the line. "Listen up people. The SeALs are airborne and have an ETA to the coordinates given of forty-five minutes. They are going in by helo. Do you think Tracy can get word to Webb? Tell her to lay low until it's over. They don't want to take her out by mistake."
"I believe so Sir. I'll get Harm on it."
While Harm informed Tracy, I told the Admiral of our plans to go after the target here. He gave his approval.
I looked up at the two IS agents. "Are you in this with us; or do we take you out now?" There must have been fire in my eyes. They immediately said that they had nothing to do with Jarot and would give us whatever assistance we needed.
We immediately set ou for the address. The target house was off by itself surrounded by jungle; there were no cars in sight. Our two Marines, Dave and Andy, disappeared to do recon.
When they returned they told us they saw seven men in the house. There had been no curtains on the windows so they got a good look. Two looked to be Middle Eastern. And to top it off, one the others was Jarot. Pay dirt!
"Ma'am they were really yelling. I couldn't understand what they were saying but they were sorely pissed." Andy reported.
"Well that's a plus. They're distracted. We need to take these guys, especially Jarot, alive. They're worthless to us dead." Jim said.
I could see Jim's mind whirling. "Harm, I can use the sniper rifle to take one, maybe two out. I'll go for a disabling shot. Corporal, show us a floor plan, and the positions of the targets."
As Dave drew a floor plan Tracy reported in. She had informed Clay that the cavalry was on the way. She had m into a ravine at least three hundred meters from the house and would wait there. The SeALs should arrive there in fifteen minutes.
We took our positions in the muddy jungle surrounding the house. When Jim's shots rang out we made our move.
Clay's POV
2300 Hours Local
Twenty minutes after Tracy dropped out of the window we heard a faint hiss from the window. It was Tracy. Alan stood on the stool and was able to grab the 9mm. I grinned like an idiot. Sarah had packed the pack. She must have been a girl scout in a prior life. Two clips of ammunition flew in the window after he stepped from the stool. She whispered that she had made contact with Rabb and was maintaining communication. I told her to get away and go hide. I know what Harm went through with Sarah. They both listened, NOT. To top it all off she came back ten minutes later and said that SeALs were fifteen minutes out. We bided our time. I only hope she went and hid this time.
Right on time I heard rotors. It must have spooked our captors because they started yelling and doors began slamming. Alan and I took positions on either side of the door. We waited and a few seconds later the door slowly opened, two men came through. Alan grabbed one around the neck and snapped it. I hit the other with the butt of the nine mil. At almost the same time the SeALs started their assault. We moved to the exterior wall as far away from the door as possible and waited out the firefight. Less than five minutes later is was over.
"Mr. Webb, Cpl. Phelps? Are you still with us?"
"We're in a back room," I yelled. A few seconds after my reply two dark clad men entered the room.
"Welcome gentleman. If you haven't been told yet, you've got a Lt. Cmdr out in the jungle waiting for a heads up. Let's go get her and get the hell out of here."
The SeALs had taken out three of our captors. There had been a total of five now We had two alive to question. Three of the team were going to remain with the captives while we got on the helo back to Manado. We would send trucks back to transport them down the mountain.
Tracy came out of hiding and ran into my arms. Even in the dark I could see that there were tears in her eyes.
"Hey we're OK. What's going on in Kartai?"
"They are taking part in their own firefight. Jarot is there."
"Son of a bitch. Have they checked in?"
"Not yet, here take the phone. I'm going to collapse now."
I held her in one arm, and listed on the phone with the other.
I told the Lieutenant in charge of the SeAL team that I didn't want to take off until I heard from Sarah and Harm. We wouldn't be able to hear in the helo.
"Tracy, Tracy can you hear me?"
"Harm, it's Webb. She's OK. How are you guys?"
Sarah's POV
Once we heard the rifle shots we went into action. Harm, Ramon and I took the back, Dave and Andy and the two IS agents the front. We had the floor plan memorized and we made sure everyone knew to keep Jarot alive. As firefights go this was typical, a lot of gunfire and yelling. The targets were acquired and taken out. Jarot tried to go out a window, Harm caught him and was well on his way to beating him senseless when we pulled him off.
"Harm we said we wanted him alive." Ramon yelled at him.
"But we didn't say what kind of condition he had to be in!"
"Back off big boy. We've got him. Let's secure the scene and get the hell out of Dodge." Dave and I remained in the room after Harm and Ramon left to check on the other prisoners. I walked over to Jarot's slumped body and kicked him in the balls.
"That's for all the people you killed, and for someone I love."
Dave broke out laughing.
"Ma'am I don't ever want to get on your bad side!"
"See that you don't corporal. See that you don't."
A few minutes later I heard Harm yelling into the phone for Tracy. I ran out of the room and grabbed the phone out of his hand. Clay was on the other end of the line.
"Clay, are you all right? Is everything OK?"
"Honey, calm down. We're fine. No one was hurt. What about you?"
"No problems. We're OK too. We're taking the suspects into custody now. It's going to take us a while to get things cleaned up here.
I'll meet you at the resort where we had the dive boat booked. I'll have Bud book us the best rooms. I love you."
TBC
1130 Local
We left the airport and headed to the jail where Balik was being held. Jarot interestingly enough was there. He had apparently come over from Jakarta after we left. He invited us to begin talking with the prisoner and left. He told us he had a meeting with his superiors.
Robert Bitang accompanied us into the interrogation room. Josef Balik was standing looking out of the small window. As we entered he turned to look at us. His features were Malay but he got his height from his Dutch ancestors.
"Ah more interrogators. I'm not going to tell you anymore than I've already told IS. I had nothing to do with the bombing, I didn't even know about it until the next morning."
"Mr. Balik. Why don't you wait until we ask a few questions?" Tracy responded.
Like the lawyer she was she began laying out the evidence we had collected against him. By the time she was finished Balik was pacing the room and sweating.
"So, Mr. Balik. Can you explain the money that was mysteriously deposited to your bank account? We were unable to justify it with the accounts receivable from your businesses. Why did this money leave your accounts and go to known terrorists? Why did one of the bombers tell us that you had allowed them the use of your resort as a gathering place for the planners?"
I silently watched Tracy grill the man. He didn't respond to her rapid fire questions other than to get more and more nervous. He looked everywhere but at the three of us. Robert walked over to him and sat him forcefully into a chair.
He began speaking to him in Malay. Balik didn't respond until Jarot's name was mentioned, then it was as if floodgates had opened. At the end Robert turned and gave us a worried look and motioned us out of the room.
"I told him that Jarot had him arrested not us. He said that Jarot would not have arrested him. Our friend Jarot is the key player in all this. He is the one that got the Timorese separatists and Balik connected to al Queda. Clay we have got to get out of here. This stinks of a trap."
"That's an understatement. Let's get out of here." The reason for the feelings of uneasiness that we had all had was now all too evident.
1330 Local
We left the interrogation room and told the guards we were going to get some food. We informed the Marines about the situation and headed to the hotel. Half the way to the hotel our SUV was surrounded by four other cars. Men jumped from them and began firing. I pulled Tracy down to the floor and lay on top of her.
The Marines, Robert and I began returning fire. We were in a hopeless situation. Robert appeared badly wounded, and one of the Marines was dead. When we could no longer return fire the doors were ripped open and Tracy and I were pulled roughly out with the other Marine and forced into one of the cars. We were tied and blind folded as the car sped away. The pulled my backpack off and tossed it on the floor, idiotically not bothering to inspect it.
I didn't get a chance to see which way we were headed. I could only tell we were weaving in an out of traffic. After what seems like a half hour we stopped weaving and were moving a steady pace. We must have made it out of the city into the countryside. Going who knows where.
Tracy was leaning against me. I could feel her body shake, and believed that she was angry rather than crying. I know I was pissed. I tried to reassure her by moving closer and placing my head on hers. She nodded her head and slowly stopped shaking. We had to think our way out of this one.
I could have used Sarah's sense of time, I could only estimate that we had been traveling about ninety minutes when we came to a stop. The last hour the motion of the car meant that we had been moving up a mountain.
We were removed from the car and were forcibly moved into a room. Our blindfolds and bindings were removed and the door locked. We looked around. The room was small, the only furnishing a single bed, a small table and a stool and the single bulb overhead shed minimal light over the dismal interior. There was a very small window set high in the outside wall that I could't look out of. No one had spoken to us since we had been picked up and we had no idea how many held us captive.
The Marine pulled the stool to the window and looked out.
"Clay, who's holding us, do you think its Jarot?" Tracy questioned.
"Either he or his compatriots. We have got to get out of here. Jarot knows we are on to him. They don't need to question us and holding us only puts them in more danger. Killing us is their only option."
The Marine spoke up. "Ma'am, do you think you could shimmy through the window? When I looked out I didn't see anything behind the building except thick jungle. If you could make your way to the road you may have a chance to get some help."
Tracy looked back at us. You could see the determination light up her dark eyes.
"You bet your ass I could. Get me up there and I'll be back here with the Marines!"
"Tracy, you don't have to go far. Get to the car we were brought in. They pulled my backpack off and threw it on the floor. Thank God laptops are a pain to carry around, the backpack may be our savior. If it is still there, the laptop and satellite phone are inside. The satellite phone has built in GPS. Call for the Marines then get YOUR ASS out of here. They'll be able to pinpoint our position from it."
"Sir, it's best if we wait until dark. She'll have a better chance sneaking around then."
I looked at my watch, "it looks like we have about four hours then. Marine I think you could let us know your name. We've got some time to get know each other."
Our Marine friend smiled, "It's PFC Alan Phelps Sir, Ma'am from Leesburg, Virginia."
"Clayton Webb, CIA. And our escape artist is Lt. Cmdr. Tracy Manetti also of Virginia. Let's give our fair state a good showing then."
We continued to talk for an hour. Tracy and I were sitting on the bed and Alan on the stool. I touched Tracy on the arm, "listen, why don't you nap for a while. You need a little rest before your big adventure."
"OK, I'll lie down, but I don't think I'll sleep I'm too wired."
"Just give it a try."
She lay down at the head of the bed and curled into a ball. I remained at the foot while Alan and I continued to discuss options. We didn't have many. We were unarmed against an unknown number of aggressors, in a locked room. Conversation lagged then stopped while we waited. Alan pulled the stool to the wall and leaned his head back and rested. I looked over at Tracy, who thankfully, had managed to fall asleep.
I sat cross-legged on the end of the bed on guard, and thought of Sarah, hoping she was safe. The sky had darkened shortly after we arrived and now the rain was pouring down; things were just getting better and better.
At nine I woke Tracy. Alan was instantly alert. We hadn't been disturbed since we were shoved in here, and I prayed that the situation wouldn't change. There were not many atheist operatives, we prayed too much.
I helped Tracy climb on Alan's shoulders, luckily his height helped Tracy maneuver through the window easily. She went out the window feet first, hips and shoulders barely clearing. Alan held her hands and let her softly drop to the ground outside.
Now we wait.
Hotel Kartai
2130 Hours
Sarah's POV
We couldn't leave the hotel to begin a search. The rain was torrential and we didn't even know where to begin. Further conversation with Bud told us that Jarot had disappeared, and Robert Bitang had been found barely alive in the SUV. He was now in surgery and expected to survive. Bud was keeping us informed as best he could. We were waiting on word from him when we separated and settled in for the night.
Harm and I shared a room, which is nothing new; We had done it several times before on assignment. When we shared before there had always been an underlying sexual tension in the room. Tonight we were two tired individuals worrying about our significant others. We were lying in the one bed facing each other. I decide to let curiosity to get the better of me. It would help take my mind off Clay's disappearance.
"Harm tell me about Tracy. When did this happen?"
He looked at me, "No, not what's going on now. When did things start between the two of you? And before you get your panties in a wad, I'm not upset, OK?
"Mac, you have a way with words, I've always admired that about you."
"Hey, answer the question. I'm curious, not judging. She's a nice lady and you are my friend. I think because I'm happy, I want you to be happy."
"Thanks. She is nice. Don't give me the death glare. I'll tell you. Naples. It started in Naples. I, ah, walked in my room and she was coming out of the shower. She was wrapped in a towel and she was drying her hair." I snorted.
"It was innocent. She had just got there and her room wasn't ready. They let her use mine room to shower and I walked in. I have to confess that I didn't turn away." He paused and said, "She looked cute. I guess it started there." He looked off as if remembering.
I continued looking at him and he resumed talking
"I remember thinking on the flight here that she wasn't you. She has a gentle manner about her that just got under my skin. When you refused to play referee between Clay and I at the hotel, she placed and hand on my arm. She didn't say anything but it calmed me down."
"After you guys went to bed the rest of us talked for almost two hours. Just getting to know each other. Jim and Ramon teased her unmercifully about her obvious Oriental heritage and southern drawl. She talked fondly about her Italian-American father and Japanese mother. She gave as good as she got and was a good sport about it all."
"So why did I see you two in bed together the next morning, huh?" I was holding back a smile. I wanted to see how he explained this.
He blushed. "Don't go there Marine. Just let's say that we got to know each other very well when we went back to the suite, and we may want this to continue. We know haven't had much time to think things out. And we realize that Chegwiddan and the SecNav are going to have strokes"
"That's all the information I need. Thanks for sharing. And before you ask Clay and I are further along in thinking about us. We know we are going to continue and for the long term. We're in love, and Harm, this is it. He's the one. I'm sure of it."
"Mac, this is as much girl talk as I can take and still keep my membership in the Men's Club. I'm happy for you, but let's get some rest."
I pelted him with my pillow as he smiled and turned over. "Give it a rest, I'm ignoring the beating!"
I retrieved my pillow and put my head on it. I knew sleep would be a long time in coming for both of us.
We hadn't settled down more than five minutes when the satellite phone rang. Harm picked it up and I listened to the conversation as best I could.
"Rabb."
"Tracy, honey where are you?"
"OK, just tell me." I listened then Harm motioned for paper and pen. He wrote down a set of coordinates.
"How are the others? My god," he practically screamed.
At my gasp he said, "Clay is alive. He and one of the Marine guards are still being held captive. I'll tell you the rest when I get off."
"Listen, sweetheart is there anything else in the backpack?"
"Can you get it into Clay?"
"OK, do it. Tell them we are coming and go hide and keep the line open."
"Harm, tell me before I strangle you!"
"Calm down. Clay is OK. We've got to get the others. Jarot is our target, not me."
Once we had gathered everyone Harm explained what happened. We decided to call back to DC. We needed backup to get them out and didn't know if all the local IS was with Jarot. We called the Admiral.
"Colonel, what is going on, has Webb screwed things up?"
"No Admiral. He hasn't screwed anything up. We were betrayed by Captain Jarot. He is the one that set up the bombing. We trusted him and now he has three of our people. During the kidnapping one of the Marine guards was killed. The NCIS agent is alive, he was presumably left for dead."
"Tracy got out a window and has given us the GPS coordinates of their location. She has managed to get a weapon to Clay and Alan, the other Marine. Sir, we need a retrieval team in country immediately to get them out."
"Mac, there is a SeAL team waiting in Jakarta for orders. They will be in the air in five minutes. Give me the coordinates."
I relayed them to him. "Ok, I'm going to put you on hold while I get them going."
While I held on I relayed the Admirals plan. Everyone's relief was evident. We felt useless where we were, then Jim spoke up.
"Let's go to the address we have. We'll have the element of surprise. No would expect us to be out in this crappy weather though the rain has let up somewhat. Let's look at the satellite weather."
After a swift computer consult it looked like there would be at least a one-hour window of relatively clear air.
"Sounds like a plan," Harm said. I could tell he wanted to get to Tracy as bad as I wanted to get to Clay. But we were going to do what we could and meet them at the bottom of the mountain.
The Admiral came back on the line. "Listen up people. The SeALs are airborne and have an ETA to the coordinates given of forty-five minutes. They are going in by helo. Do you think Tracy can get word to Webb? Tell her to lay low until it's over. They don't want to take her out by mistake."
"I believe so Sir. I'll get Harm on it."
While Harm informed Tracy, I told the Admiral of our plans to go after the target here. He gave his approval.
I looked up at the two IS agents. "Are you in this with us; or do we take you out now?" There must have been fire in my eyes. They immediately said that they had nothing to do with Jarot and would give us whatever assistance we needed.
We immediately set ou for the address. The target house was off by itself surrounded by jungle; there were no cars in sight. Our two Marines, Dave and Andy, disappeared to do recon.
When they returned they told us they saw seven men in the house. There had been no curtains on the windows so they got a good look. Two looked to be Middle Eastern. And to top it off, one the others was Jarot. Pay dirt!
"Ma'am they were really yelling. I couldn't understand what they were saying but they were sorely pissed." Andy reported.
"Well that's a plus. They're distracted. We need to take these guys, especially Jarot, alive. They're worthless to us dead." Jim said.
I could see Jim's mind whirling. "Harm, I can use the sniper rifle to take one, maybe two out. I'll go for a disabling shot. Corporal, show us a floor plan, and the positions of the targets."
As Dave drew a floor plan Tracy reported in. She had informed Clay that the cavalry was on the way. She had m into a ravine at least three hundred meters from the house and would wait there. The SeALs should arrive there in fifteen minutes.
We took our positions in the muddy jungle surrounding the house. When Jim's shots rang out we made our move.
Clay's POV
2300 Hours Local
Twenty minutes after Tracy dropped out of the window we heard a faint hiss from the window. It was Tracy. Alan stood on the stool and was able to grab the 9mm. I grinned like an idiot. Sarah had packed the pack. She must have been a girl scout in a prior life. Two clips of ammunition flew in the window after he stepped from the stool. She whispered that she had made contact with Rabb and was maintaining communication. I told her to get away and go hide. I know what Harm went through with Sarah. They both listened, NOT. To top it all off she came back ten minutes later and said that SeALs were fifteen minutes out. We bided our time. I only hope she went and hid this time.
Right on time I heard rotors. It must have spooked our captors because they started yelling and doors began slamming. Alan and I took positions on either side of the door. We waited and a few seconds later the door slowly opened, two men came through. Alan grabbed one around the neck and snapped it. I hit the other with the butt of the nine mil. At almost the same time the SeALs started their assault. We moved to the exterior wall as far away from the door as possible and waited out the firefight. Less than five minutes later is was over.
"Mr. Webb, Cpl. Phelps? Are you still with us?"
"We're in a back room," I yelled. A few seconds after my reply two dark clad men entered the room.
"Welcome gentleman. If you haven't been told yet, you've got a Lt. Cmdr out in the jungle waiting for a heads up. Let's go get her and get the hell out of here."
The SeALs had taken out three of our captors. There had been a total of five now We had two alive to question. Three of the team were going to remain with the captives while we got on the helo back to Manado. We would send trucks back to transport them down the mountain.
Tracy came out of hiding and ran into my arms. Even in the dark I could see that there were tears in her eyes.
"Hey we're OK. What's going on in Kartai?"
"They are taking part in their own firefight. Jarot is there."
"Son of a bitch. Have they checked in?"
"Not yet, here take the phone. I'm going to collapse now."
I held her in one arm, and listed on the phone with the other.
I told the Lieutenant in charge of the SeAL team that I didn't want to take off until I heard from Sarah and Harm. We wouldn't be able to hear in the helo.
"Tracy, Tracy can you hear me?"
"Harm, it's Webb. She's OK. How are you guys?"
Sarah's POV
Once we heard the rifle shots we went into action. Harm, Ramon and I took the back, Dave and Andy and the two IS agents the front. We had the floor plan memorized and we made sure everyone knew to keep Jarot alive. As firefights go this was typical, a lot of gunfire and yelling. The targets were acquired and taken out. Jarot tried to go out a window, Harm caught him and was well on his way to beating him senseless when we pulled him off.
"Harm we said we wanted him alive." Ramon yelled at him.
"But we didn't say what kind of condition he had to be in!"
"Back off big boy. We've got him. Let's secure the scene and get the hell out of Dodge." Dave and I remained in the room after Harm and Ramon left to check on the other prisoners. I walked over to Jarot's slumped body and kicked him in the balls.
"That's for all the people you killed, and for someone I love."
Dave broke out laughing.
"Ma'am I don't ever want to get on your bad side!"
"See that you don't corporal. See that you don't."
A few minutes later I heard Harm yelling into the phone for Tracy. I ran out of the room and grabbed the phone out of his hand. Clay was on the other end of the line.
"Clay, are you all right? Is everything OK?"
"Honey, calm down. We're fine. No one was hurt. What about you?"
"No problems. We're OK too. We're taking the suspects into custody now. It's going to take us a while to get things cleaned up here.
I'll meet you at the resort where we had the dive boat booked. I'll have Bud book us the best rooms. I love you."
TBC