Planning Decisive Action Part 2

1530 – Undisclosed location

It usually did not take Laura this long. Elvis could see that the target was thinking the very same thing and who's agitation seemed to be growing as each second ticked by. Elvis rocketed to his feet when the target began to pound on the restroom door shouting, "What do you think you're doing in there?!"

"I'm not finished!" Laura's muffled voice could be heard.

"Oi!" Elvis shouted, stepping into the aisle.

"Back off!" the target snarled, turning around, practically handing Elvis his semi-automatic rifle when he tried to butt at the SF Commander with the stock.

"Fuckin idiot!" Elvis muttered. Grabbing the weapon he forcefully pushed back, ramming the unsuspecting target with a horizontal thrust of the barrel to his throat. The sudden lack of oxygen weakened his foe and Elvis took advantage by punching his head back against the wall. As the subdued target slid limply to the floor Elvis tapped a familiar cadence against the door and said, "It's OK angel. It's me."

There was a brisk click as the latch opened. Laura peeked out with one eye then opened wide when she saw her father standing outside. Her eyes grew huge when she saw the target in a heap on the floor.

"Daddy, what happened?"

"You OK?" he answered instead.

She nodded staring at the unconscious man at her feet as Elvis helped her step over his sprawled limbs. Urging her back to her seat, he reached down for the weapon. "Here. Shove this under your seat," he ordered. Woods blanched taking the rifle in both hands, teetering the unexpected weight of it in his hands.

"Why my seat?"

"Just do it!" Elvis said, "and be quick about it."

"Are you alright love?" Wood's fiancee asked Laura.

The six-year old adjusted her bouncing pony tail and regarded the woman with the inherited Harte confidence. "I'm good," she said.

Elvis got to task easily dragging the downed target into the restroom, depositing him like a rag doll onto the toilet. He peered out, "Scarves or neckties out there? I need 'em ASAP!"

Several passengers busied themselves undoing belts, scarves and ties.

"Good work," Elvis encouraged as the items collected were handed to him. Passengers at the far end kept vigilant eyes on the door, anticipating the return of further targets at any time.

"Loo is officially out of order. Sorry." Elvis said, calmly taking his seat next to Laura. Woods and his fiancée exchanged an incredulous glance with each other all the while studying Elvis as though he were a newly discovered specimen.

"Who the fuck are you?" Woods asked.

"James Bond. Now listen in….." Elvis said tossing further cheekiness aside whilst he dug into the side of his boot. "The shit is gonna hit the fan so to say. Stay alert, eh?"

"No thanks to you," Woods said.

"Yeah…..well…..I never could sit still." The captain replied, thumbs flashing over the screen of his mobile.

Xxxxx

MI5 Headquaters, London, UK

Dave Warner mentally digested the grim update from Jason Speers. Shortly after the ominous call to Paddington at half past, the Depot Master received another call, but this one issued a direct threat. The caller demanded the release of two incarcerated males involved in an attempt to assassinate members of the House of Commons. A response was expected within two hours or there would be irrevocable consequences.

"Did you have direct words with the target?" Warner asked, unbuttoning his collar.

"I did. He knew we were there Dave. Told him we do not negotiate on these terms and he quite literally informed me there are no other terms." Speer replied pouring water from a carafe and wishing it were scotch.

"Bastard," Warner growled. " Let's brief Baxter. MoD may need to shut down these lunatics. Metro cannot possibly intercede sufficiently here."

"We simply cannot put those passengers at risk Dave!" Speers said.

"Negative, and we cannot put the multitude of lives at the station at risk either. We need to intercept that train somehow….." Warner scowled mid-sentence when his assistant interrupted him with a call. "Yes Jessica?"

"MoD sir."

Both agents braced themselves for whatever development may be forthcoming from Baxter.

"Warner here. Yes sir, Jason is here as well. I shall put the call on speaker."

"Good afternoon sir," Speers said pacing with his water glass in hand.

"Gentlemen I have received word from Hereford. There is an SAS operative on board 1L83." Baxter said prompting Warner to sit bolt upright.

"Who?"

"Elvis Harte."

A set of jaws dropped to the floor.

"Serious?!" Speers said stunned by this fortunate revelation.

"Affirmative. The Regiment is assembling their CT and sniper units as we speak. This is classified intel gentlemen. We have not brought Metro up to speed on this yet. We absolutely cannot risk a breach into the wrong hands," Baxter said.

"Understood sir," Warner said. Speers nodded his agreement and glanced at his watch.

Xxxxx

1540 – SAS Garrison, Hereford, UK

The Special Air Service Regiment instills a high degree of patience into their operatives. They are quick and deadly, but are accustomed to waiting out. Jackson was sat with legs stretched out in front of him, head resting back. He had fallen asleep in worse positions. Spunky immersed himself in digital games on his mobile but Spanner thoughtfully stroked at his beard, concerned Elvis had gone incommunicado for far too long. The team had been apprised of the demands. Time was slipping away from them. He looked at his watch and felt taunted by each tick of the second hand. The government will not concede to the terrorists demands.

The ping..ping of his mobile sent a shock wave through Spanner and with the acute bustle of activity drew the attention of his team mates as he quickly answered the call.

"We're in the shit here. One target down. No eyes on us presently. I 'ave an AR-15 and my fuckin pocket knife. Looks to be 1 target policing each car. Talk to me Spans. Wha' do ya know?" Elvis said, stunning the nearby passengers with his no nonsense control of the situation.

"Targets demanding the release of Cecil Spence and Rory Knapp," Spanner replied tight-lipped.

Elvis exhaled a sardonic laugh. "As if this day could not 'ave gotten any fucking worse. Alright, listen in," he said controlling his volume and moving away from Laura. "This is not going to fare well mate. They're planning to ram us into the station, eh?"

"Affirmative boss. That is the popular opinion."

"I 'ave got to try and move Laura as far back as possible. It's the only way I can protect her."

"Roger. We'll monitor your location," Spanner said.

The team glanced at each other from beneath hooded lids.

"Boss, they're sending Duvall's explosives unit in. They do not want that train to make it to Paddington. There's no other way to stop it. Intent is to minimize collateral damage." Spanner said.

Elvis looked up at the location indicator. "Negative. We 'ave not cleared the tunnel boys. Get in position. It's gonna be one hell of a ride."