Don't own Chuck
Banai was thankful for Chuck's intel but he could tell the new base Commander standing next to him didn't feel the same way. All the Commander was thinking was the information came from the Great Satan and couldn't be believed or trusted. But he didn't know Chuck nor the things they'd done or gone through together. No, this was his operation and Chuck was more than an asset for him.
"I want you to keep your men here and make sure no one escapes. I'm going to take my men circle around then drop in on them from behind..."
"You can't trust what your American told you," said the Commander. He couldn't but American and friend together in the same sentence. "He could be lying... you know what it is they could be trying to steal our technology. I'm sure of it."
"You are? Why would they do that? They have no reason to steal our technology when they have their own. I'm sure they'd like to know about ours but they wouldn't steal our missile to find out. No, my gut says there's more going on here than we know and I want answers. But I'm not going to get them standing out here. You cover here. We'll go up and around then drive them out. Remember dead men tell no tales so I need at least one of them alive."
"If they shoot at us we're going to shoot back. As far as I'm concerned they're all traitors now and they get what they deserve starting with the Colonel. He betrayed us..."
"Yes he did but you need to channel that anger in the right direction. Do you want to give him the quick way out or do you want him to think about what he did first? If I take him he'll have plenty of time to ponder plus, we'll extract every bit of intel he has on who's behind this before he's taken out into the square."
"As far as I'm concerned we know who's behind this and you're falling into their trap. Some of us remember what it was like before."
"And some of us know how we'd like it for our future. We're not getting anywhere here. You've read your orders and you know I'm in charge of this operation just do as you're told. If you're right and I'm wrong I won't be around to hear you gloat."
"I would never do that," said the Commander as he smiled at Banai. "You are a strange animal Aaghaaye Banai."
"I've been called worse," said Banai. "When I give you the signal I want you to move some of your men from side to side. That should shake them up inside and draw some fire..."
"And give you a chance to drop in on them. I get it a diversion," said the Commander. "If you'd stayed in the Army you might've been a General by now."
"Or shot for insubordination," he said with a smile then turned and moved his men out. Banai's men were more adapted to this type of mission then the Army people stationed there. The Army troops were trained to face an enemy head on and fight it out while Banai's was trained for covert and clandestine operations behind the trenches. In the tunnel his small force would be outnumbered but in the tunnels that wouldn't matter. After a small hike they found what Chuck had seen from above a section where the roof had caved in.
"Okay tie off ropes over there. I want two lines down we rappel in pairs," said Banai. "Abram you and I are going down first. We'll signal back then everyone after us. I don't have to tell you these people won't give up that easily so watch your backs. In a firefight they've got nothing to lose."
Everyone nodded then everyone did a quick weapons check followed by a comms check too. Two of Banai's men tied off the rope then the others stood on the lip watching and listening for movement as it was tossed in.
"Okay we could use a little distraction now Commander," radioed Banai. As he and Abram repelled down they heard small arms fire not far away which was reassuring that they wouldn't be looking in their direction at least not right away. The lighting was still on in the tunnels even if every now and then there was an electrical spark from a roving short. But at least for now they didn't need night vision goggles. As soon as their feet hit the floor they set up a perimeter then brought the rest of the team down after them.
"Good are targets are busy at the entrance but we should still keep the noise down. In here sound will travel far," said Banai as they moved forward towards their targets.
They moved down the tunnel quietly trying to avoid stepping on anything that could cause noise. Banai and his men were making good progress when they heard voices up ahead around a corner. They could've been coming from just around the corner or a hundred yards away. There just was no way of telling in the tunnel.
"Hold up," signaled Banai by raising his fist. From his jacket he took out a mirror then held it around the bend. He saw what he needed to see then he looked back at his men and pointed to two of his best marksmen.
"Okay about the corner and down the hall about fifty yards from here are two guards. You're not going to have much time to set up but you need to take them out with one shot so you need to make it quick." They both nodded then got themselves ready by the wall behind Banai. He continued to monitor the guards with his mirror.
"Now," he signaled by waving them on. Both men dropped out from behind the bend in the open with weapons up at the ready. The guards at the end of the corridor just saw muzzle flashed before oblivion.
"Good work but now we need to get a move on it. Sooner or later someone is going to try to contact them and they're not going to be able to answer."
They made their way down to the bodies. Banai stopped only long enough to grab the comm device off of one of them so he could monitor what their targets were up to then they pushed on. As they got closer what he heard over the radio was confirmed by the voices he heard. There was mass of confusion and chaos with the Colonel trying to hold his men together in a desperate end run.
"Why did you lead us back here in this tunnel?" said a Major. "There's no way out we're going to die in here and it's all your fault."
"Major, I did as I was instructed by the Old Man of the Mountain the same one all of you swore allegiances to as our one true leader. We follow orders because that's what we're trained to do and if this is my last battle... well I'll fight it to the death."
"I was thinking maybe if some of us go out the back of the tunnel we could escape to fight another day. Surely there's some merit in that. I'm not saying run away like a coward but make a strategic retreat. I can't believe the Old Man wants us all to die for nothing."
"I wouldn't say what we've done is nothing and there will be rewards for that. Any day you die for what you believe in is a good day to die," said the Colonel. Just then a Lieutenant came running back to them.
"Sirs it looks like they are getting organized out from the final assault to breach the entrance. They've brought up RPGs and flamethrowers. We can hold them back for a little while but I don't know for how long."
"Go tell the men to hold the line at all cost," said the Colonel. He looked over at the Major shaking his head. "Lieutenant, you've got your orders now go rally your men."
The Major stood there and waited for the Lieutenant to disappear from sight before he turned back to the Colonel.
"You know as well as I do you just sentenced all of them to death. Why won't you go along with my plan? At least if we did it my way some of them would live to fight another day."
"Because that's my escape plan," said the Colonel as he planted a knife in the Major's chest all the way up to the hilt. "I need them to lay down cover for me while I get away. You're right when you said live to fight another day those were the Old Man's words."
The Major looked at him with anger in his eyes as he tried to grab the Colonel by the throat. But the Colonel pushed him off then stood over the top of him as he cascaded to the floor. He smiled for a moment then began changing into civilian clothes to make his great escape. What he didn't know was Banai and his men had been watching him and had seen everything. Then when he was about to make his escape they stepped out.
"Are you going somewhere Colonel? You know you should really fire your tailor if that's the best he can come up with you to wear. That cut just isn't you. You should try something in a yellow that would best suit you."
"Stand back or I'll bring the roof down on our heads. I've got explosives planted all through this tunnel," he said as he held up a detonator in his hand. "One step towards me and I'll blow us all up. I'm not kidding around. Now step aside and let me go."
"You know I can't do that. You're not getting past us so put the detonator down and come peacefully along before I have to hurt you. I've got some questions to ask and you're going to answer them. The first one being who is this Old Man of the Mountain."
"Only the fidā'iyyūn, the devotees are worthy enough to speak his name. You'll never know who he is until it's too late."
"Look around you you've got no place to go so give it up," said Banai. Suddenly they heard explosions and small arms fire. The ground shook under their feet after each explosion. "Soon what's left of your men will fall back here and when they do they'll see what a coward you really are."
"You have no idea what being a fidā'iyyūn means. None of them will fall back and none of them will run. They will fight until they can't fight anymore."
"Which is exactly what you were doing when you were trying to sneak out the back. I can't even look at you," said Banai turned around giving the Colonel his back which got Banai the result he was looking for.
"Don't give me your back. You know who I am? Turn around and face me like a man," yelled the Colonel as he lost his temper. Which gave Banai the window he was looking for.
"Here's what I think," said Banai as he turned back around with his weapon in his hand. "You're my prisoner." He fired at the Colonel's hand disintegrating the detonator and taking out a good portion of the hand with it.
"Take him," said Banai. They took his weapons then left him in the middle of the floor bleedin. "Abram watch him while we're gone. The rest of you with me we'll help our friends outside mop up what's left of this trash."
Banai and his men disappeared down the tunnel then out of sight. The Colonel and Abram heard yelling and more small arms fire. The Colonel looked up at Abram from the floor wrapping a rag around his hand.
"So this is how the mighty fall. It is such a shame when you think about what you could've done. It seems such a waste," said Abram as he gave one last look down the corridor to make sure everyone was gone.
"Who says I'm over? I still have a few cards I can play. No, I'm hardly done for I can still negotiate my way out of this. If you want answers to your questions you're going to have to offer me something."
"You really think I do? What do you have that you can offer? Do you know where the missile is being stored or will you give up the name of the man who took it? I thought I heard you say something about an oath to keep his name secret?"
"Well, I really don't like pain and I'm sure if he were in my shoes he'd do the same. You don't have any way of contacting a medic for me? My hand is starting to throb. I'm going to need a pain killer very soon."
"You won't have to worry about a pain killer. I think you've just shown me your hand. The Old Man wanted to see what your intentions were so I guess this is where I say goodbye to you for him."
"You? But how? You're one of us. That's good you can help me get out of here. I can still be of service... I can. Just give me an opportunity to talk with him and let me explain..."
"You had your chance and you blew it my dear Colonel," said Abram as he pointed his weapon. "You die a double traitor."
"Wait before you shoot you have to know you'll never get away with this. Your boss is no fool and he'll see right through this for what it is, an execution."
"You're right he will that's why I'm not going to hang around afterwards. But I have to thank you now I'll be able to come out of the dark and do what I have to do in the light of day," he said as he fired two shots one in the Colonel's chest and the other for good measure in his head.
"Now to the extraction site. I think I'm going to miss this old life but now on to bigger and better things."
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Margo gave it to Chuck with both barrels as Sarah stood off to the side and watched. She'd warned him that sooner or later his chickens were going to come home to roost and it seemed that they finally did. Chuck got an ear full but he took it then afterwards he spent time trying to calm her down.
"Margo, don't worry about anything if you need to know anything about puffins I can tell you," said Chuck. Margo gave him a look but Sarah jumped in before Margo was tempted to strangle him.
"What Chuck is trying to say is don't worry. You're not going anywhere unless you want to. One of the agreements we have with the agency to use this facility is that we get to sign off on who's assigned as chief here. We did that so... well you know Jack. We needed someone who could look over his shoulder and keep him on the straight and narrow but also look the other way when he slipped..."
"What does that mean? Am I supposed to be some over trained babysitter? Is that why you wanted me here to begin with? Anyone can do that."
"Not anyone," said Chuck. "But if the day comes and you find you don't want to be here anymore all you have to say the word then we'll look for someone else. But if I were you I'd look around at what you've got here. It's not a bad gig..."
"Chuck, the General's on the horn for you and to say she isn't angry is an understatement," said Mike as he broke into their conversation. "I need to patch her through before I get a colonoscopy with a two by four."
"I'm not too happy with her right now either so patch the old girl through. We need to have a talk and clear the air."
"Chuck, please don't get yourself in any more trouble than you already are," said Sarah. "I'm going to stand behind you and... well you'll know when I think you're out of line."
"General," said Chuck as she came on the monitor. "I like what you've done with your hair but did you stay too long under the dryers?"
"I wouldn't be joking around if I were you Agent Carmichael. I want to know what the hell you were thinking when you called Iran? You basically admitted we're watching them and you revealed we have spy satellites. Is there any other secret you want to tell them? Do you have any idea the crap storm that's going to drop on me tomorrow?"
"Don't worry I'm about to call Banai back and based on the intel he gives me I'm sure people will have other things to worry about instead of me revealing what they already knew."
"You don't know that and even if it were true you can't prove it. Chuck, you put me out on a limb then cut the tree down."
"On the contrary, part of it I can. Ask the Major since he was the man who pulled the trigger too soon and called you in away from your... well debriefing as you called it," said Chuck. He saw the General's look. "Okay to the point. When I called Banai he automatically looked up, why? Because he knew we had satellites that could see him. So this big secret isn't so big. However, we have other things to worry about. This is what I want him to confirm," said Chuck as he brought views of the Iranian missile silo up on the monitor.
"Okay so what? I asked you to look into that and to take pictures we could use later on. I didn't ask you to phone them to get them to pose."
"Now who's being the funny one," said Chuck. He heard Sarah clear her throat behind him. "I actually thought you were going to kick me."
"If you want me too I will. Please get on with it Sweetie. Remember you're the one who got Margo in trouble and you need to get her out," said Sarah as she smiled over at Margo who mouthed a thank you back.
"Right to the point... okay if you look at the diameter of the silo that will tell us that about the only missile that will fit in that is their Emad class missile. However, there are some discrepancies. This missile is much taller probably a multi-stage rocket..."
"Do you have any idea how many stages it could have and what the range would be?" said the General as she got closer to the monitor. "How can you be sure it's multi-staged?"
"The couplings inside are very similar to the ones we use in our missile silos for fueling, programing, and diagnostics..."
"Chuck, you're making a comparison with an ICBM. What are you telling me? The Iranians have gone nuclear?"
"I don't know. I really don't but I don't think so and let me explain why. When everyone got bent out of shape because I switched to IR mode one of the reasons was to check for residual radiation. You'll be happy to know I didn't find any."
"That is a good thing. But there's more isn't there," said the General as she studied the look on Chuck's face.
"Yes, there's another scenario that scares me. Why did Tehran send Banai from the VAJA to the site and what was he investigating? Then why shortly after he arrived was there an armed conflict with members of the base personnel? Was there some sort of rebellion he was sent to put down?"
"So what's you guess? I hear a lot speculation and I'm afraid I know where you're going with this. But how can we be sure?"
"That's what I hope to learn from Banai now? I don't expect him to be straight up with me for obvious reasons. However, I would've had this all nicely tied up for you in the morning your time if your Major hadn't gone bananas. I think someone owes Chief Silverman an apology. I don't expect one because we both know sooner or later you're going to go off on me again but she didn't need nor deserved the treatment she got... I mean really puffins where did you pull that one from?"
"Okay, maybe you're right. But I had to run with the information I had but Chief Silverman didn't deserve to get caught in the middle of our little tiff..."
"Now we're having tiffs are we? General, you need to be careful or Sarah could get jealous one of these days not to mention poor Roan there standing next to you. You guys should really out and finish your debriefing."
"Agent Carmichael, I expect a complete dossier on my desk in the morning. Beckman out." She had just signed off when the Major knocked then walked in.
"I'm sorry but the chef at the restaurant said he didn't do takeaway and got rather nasty when I tried to persuade him. He suggested if you wanted seafood to should go order a classic tuna sub from Subway. He said you could even make it a meal."
"Now Diane think before you act. He meant well... Diane look at me not at him. That's it, look at me. Just one favor I ask don't say anything for now. Can you do that? Count to fifty slowly," said Roan then he turned to the Major. "Run son. Don't ask just run. Run fast and run far just go before she finishes counting. Believe me you do not want to be here when she finishes."
"But it's not my fault..." said the Major. He could see the veins on the General's neck as they stood there at attention.
"Why is he still here and talking," said Beckman. "I should... oh I should... oh I want to... as sub at subway when we could be... oh why is he still here..."
"I know Diane... I know but it's not the boy's fault. Remember you're supposed to be counting," said Roan. He turned around to see the puzzled look on the Major.
"What did I do? Is something wrong?"
"You'll hear about it tomorrow. I'm sure of it but she'll have the night to cool down before then. Now go before I have to call the cleaners to come in. Remember she's got her service weapon and a license to kill."