The Meaning Of Command
Author: Chaoseternus
Chapter 5: Raids and Arrests
It wasn't often that Joan Williams went on an operation, but this one she wouldn't miss, and as a senior officer was supposed to be present… Well, it paid to be able to pull strings. She looked around at the SAS patrol that would lead the assault, the MP's, ready and more than willing to make arrests and the civilian Police advisors, here for their experience in raids on houses and similar properties, not a common duty for the MP's and the SAS usually were more concerned with leaving no evidence, than ensuring all the evidence survived.
A tip-off, just a conversation overheard in a bar in Cardiff and reported to the Army recruiting office was what brought them here. A retired army officer who had listened, heard a group in civvies arguing about the best way to smuggle explosives onto a ship under increased security and hadn't hesitated to report it, even if he hadn't understood the RSS reference, he had heard it, noted it was significant and made sure it was in his report. The Police of both military and civilian branches had shaken there heads in wonder at that and just commented on lucky breaks and how they wished they were more common. Breaks like that they could live with more of. "Movement! Upper window, rear left""Copy your movement, any ID?" Joan replied into the radio.
"Wait one… Looks like Tango 5"
"Tango 5… That's an SAS Lieutenant by the name of Grey" Joan pointed out to the civvies Police advisors.
"Tango 4 just appeared… Tango 2 as well, that's all three heat sources accounted for, all in the back bedroom"
"All units, this is Raid Actual, GO GO GO!" Joan spoke slowly, deliberately into her radio, there was not going to be any mistaking this call. Swiftly, silently the entry team sprinted across the grass covered space between the houses and into the garden the garden of the target house. A sledge hammer was brought forth, and the door battered down, allowing the entry team to pour into the house, a black tide of men and weapons filing quickly into every room.
"Downstairs, secured" an excited youthful voice shouted over the radio, just before the staccato sound of automatic gunfire filled the air.
"Shots fired, shots fired!"
The gunfire abruptly cut off.
"Tango 2, secured! Tango 5, secured! Tango 4 is down, building is secure."
Joan flicked the dial on her radio, quickly selecting another channel, "Alpha team has Tangos 2, 4 and 5, all other teams you have a go!"
Beta Team, Paladin Hangers
"Beta Actual copies" Sarah Williams replied into her radio, the she gestured to the team behind her and they strode around the corner of the hanger, and through its open main doors, heading swiftly for the waiting Paladin, and the repair crew curiously watching their approach.
"Airman First Class Rogers" she pointed her rifle straight at Rogers, and with steel in her voice said "You are under arrest on the charges of Treason, conspiracy to commit treason, conspiracy to commit arson and smuggling explosives with the intention to cause explosions"
Rogers glanced at the guns pointed at him, and raised his hands defeated.
"Tango 1 in custody" Sarah reported.
"Copy" came Joan's voice over the radio, "All teams report!"
"Delta team, no tango's, but forensics looks good"
"Gamma team, Tango's 6 and 7 in the bag, request EOD"
"X-ray team here, no sign of tango 3, attempting entry now"
"Oh shit" Sarah commented, looking up from the road ahead at the expanding cloud of debris. "Looks like somebody had an accident doesn't it? Pity" the handcuffed Rogers commented.
"Can it!"
"X-ray team report!" the radio blared. "X-ray team, come in"