Alpha Threat (42 page)

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

The Jungle, Brazil;
 
11:50 a.m.

Hugo, Dane, the girl and the cook flew through the jungle.
 
They traveled slightly south of the trail they used before.
 
This precaution hopefully would keep them out of harm’s way since there was a chance the Germans were lying in wait for them.
 
They decided to circle south and come around downstream from where Ben and Tecal were waiting.
 
They would then go upstream, pick up Ben and Tecal and race back to the base camp.
 

With Hugo on point, they moved at breakneck speed but ever aware of any threat in their way.
 
After taking the southerly route for 20 klicks or so, Hugo turned the group back northwest.
 
By his reconnoitering they were about 20 kilometers from the stream.
 

The group stopped for a water break to refresh them.
 

“Everything looks good so far,” said Hugo.
 
“I figure we are a few hours away from Ben at this pace.”

“Good.
 
The quicker we get back, the faster we can learn more about the complex and return for Dana and Randall,” said Dane, breathing hard.
 
He looked at the cook and the girl.
 
Both poor captives were worn out.
 
“You have to keep going,” explained Dane.
 
“If you stop, you die.”

The cook and girl nodded, catching their breath and each taking a drink of water from Hugo’s canteen.
 
Two minutes later they were on the go again.
 
After about ten minutes, Hugo called the group to an abrupt halt.
 
He found something.
 
While Dane and two captives crouched under some bushes under a capirona tree, Hugo scouted the immediate area.
  
Within minutes he returned to the group.
 

“Okay.
 
We spotted a small campsite ahead.
 
It looks like it could have been the Germans.
 
No fire, but there’s evidence of people spending time there,” reported Hugo.
 

“Any chance they were natives?” asked Dane.
 

“No.
 
I found a small fuel spill probably from a camp stove; definitely not natives.
 
They were good.
 
They cleaned up pretty well; but not quite good enough.”
 

Dane nodded in agreement.
  

“It looks like they cleared out early this morning.
 
They went north, back toward the old trail.
 
I don’t think they believe we would be this far south.
 
I say we make a hard break for it and get out of the area quickly,” suggested Hugo.
 

“Great!
 
Let’s get going then,” said Dane, standing and pulling the two up with him.
 

Hugo took off.
 
Less than a minute later Dane, the girl and the cook followed in almost a dead run.
 
Speed was the key, thought Dane.
 
We have to get back into the complex and rescue Dana and Randall.
 

They moved quickly for four hours.
 
The sun was beginning its slow trek into the horizon.
 
All were exhausted.
 
But Dane and Hugo were close to their objective of escaping from the Germans.
 
They decided to take one last five-minute break.
 

“Looks like we are in the clear,” said Hugo as Dane and the captives squatted beside him.
 
They were all panting heavily.
 

“How far are we from Ben?” asked Dane, slowly regaining his breath.
 

“Not far now,” answered Hugo.
 
“How are they doing?” he said, nodding at the captives.
 

“They’re alive.
 
They know what will happen if they fall.
 
They have a real incentive to keep going.”
 
The cook and the girl were bent over panting like dogs, drenched in sweat.
 

“I’m okay,” the cook croaked.
 
“Some water, please?
 
She needs some too,” he said, motioning to his girlfriend.
 

Dane gave the cook his canteen.
 
He passed the canteen to the girl, who took a long drink.
 

“Not so much,” snapped Dane, taking the canteen from her hands and handing it to the cook.
 
“You’re going to get sick if you drink too much.”
 
The cook took a few gulps and handed the canteen back to Dane.
 

Dane turned to Hugo.
 
“I’m guessing we have an hour or so before it starts to get dark.
 
Think we can make it to Ben by then?”
 

“Not sitting here,” answered Hugo as he stood up, grinned and headed off into the brush.
 

“Amen to that,” cried Dane as he stood pulling the captives to their feet.
 
“Off we go, my friends.”
 
With that they were off behind Hugo.
 

It was dusk as Ben pulled out his radio and turned it on.
 
Again he adjusted the squelch and keyed the microphone.
 
“Ben calling base camp. Ben calling base camp.
 
Come in base camp.
 
Over...”
 
There was silence for a few seconds.
 

“Base camp here,” answered Lee.
 
“Over...”

”We are still waiting for Dane and Hugo.
 
Have not heard anything.
 
All is well here.
 
Over...”

Ben heard some commotion over to his left.
 
He reached for his gun in time to see one of Tecal’s men trot into the clearing.
 
Right behind him was a smiling Hugo.
 
Ben keyed the microphone again.
 

“One second, base.
 
We have someone coming in.
 
Over...”

As Hugo walked over to Ben, Dane and the two captives emerged from the bushes.
 

“Welcome back,” beamed Ben.
  
“Damn glad to see you guys!”
 

The four walked over to Ben and sat down, exhausted.
 

“Base, we have Dane and Hugo here.
 
They are okay.
 
Over...”

“Halle-damn-luja,” was Lee’s cry over the radio.
 

“Yeah, same here,” said Ben grinning.
 
“Over...”

“Great news, Ben.
 
You headed back now?
 
Over...”
 

“Yes.
 
We’ll get some rest and start back at first light.
 
We should be back there by tomorrow night.
 
Over...”

“Good.
 
We are scheduled to have some folks in sometime tomorrow from the States.
 
Just a heads-up.
 
Over...”

“Affirmative.
 
We will see you all tomorrow night.
 
Ben out.”

“Roger that, Ben.
 
See you tomorrow.
 
Base out.”

Hugo and Dane caught their breath.
 
The other two collapsed and were lying beside each other still gasping for air.
 
Tecal got them all water.
 
They tried to drink between gasps.
 

Ben stared at the cook and the girl.
 
“Who’s this?
 
Where the hell did they come from?”

“You won’t believe this one,” said Dane, taking another sip of water.
 
“But first, what do you guys have to eat?”
 

Ben began to break out some food and told Tecal that they were leaving at first light.
 
Tecal went off into the jungle to let his men know the plan.
 
After a quick meal for all, Dane and Hugo fell asleep.
 
The cook and the girl were tied to a tree.
 
They were out like a light as well.
 
Tecal set one of his men to watch over the captives while the rest of the party slept.
 
Morning was going to come too quickly.
 

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Fortress Alpha, Brazil;
 
7:00 p.m.

The officer in charge,
Feldwebel
Hilda Bock, was finishing her shift report.
 
She knew the report would cause concern.
 
Not one but two unexplained perimeter violations, both at the same location.
 
Damn curious, she thought.
 
Add to that a report of missing personnel: a cook and a technician.
 
She wrapped up her report and walked down the hall to the security office.
 
As she opened the door she was taken aback.
 
The Captain of the Guard, Jorgen Maas, was standing there with two of his guards.
 
She hesitated a second and then briskly walked into the room.
 
She placed the folder with her daily report on the security officer’s desk.
 

“My daily report, sir,” she barked, standing at attention.
 

“Yes, I see,” answered
Oberleutnant
Grübner.
 
“We were discussing some of the issues we had today.
 
Would you care to sit down?
 
You may have something to add to the discussion.”

Bock glanced quickly around the room. The faces were very stern.
 

“Of course, sir,” she replied.
 
She sat in a straight chair near the door.
 
Maas watched as Grübner opened the folder and quickly scanned the report.
 
He closed the folder and placed his hands on top of the folder.
 
Grübner looked at Maas standing over him.
 

“Her report is exactly as we discussed.
 
The two ‘intrusions’ are accurately reported and the missing man and woman have been reported.
 
Additionally, there are follow-up maintenance work orders and conclusions regarding the viability of the hatch sensors.
 
Everything looks in order.”
 

“Everything is in order?” Maas hissed, clearly concerned.
 
“I cannot and will not report that to my superiors.
 
That is not true.”
 
Grübner’s eyes grew wide.
 
This was turning ugly.
 
“Let me see.
 
We have not one but two security breaches, both on the same hatch to the outside.
 
That in itself is deeply disturbing to me.
 
I do not believe it is a sensor issue regardless of the maintenance reports.
 
Was someone coming in or was someone going out?
 
That is my question.
 
Either way it is a major violation of the security of this complex.
 
Now with personnel missing I have to conclude they left without permission.
 
This is a serious breach of security punishable by death.”
 

Maas continued, “I do agree that Bock did what was required.
 
She followed up with a visual check and found nothing.
 
That seems reasonable and acceptable to a point.
 
After the second alarm at the same hatch, she followed up again with an immediate visual check and left two guards on site.
 
She followed procedure and called maintenance to investigate the hatch and the sensors.
 
You say that all of this information is in her report.
 
Is that correct,
Oberleutnant
?”

Grübner swallowed hard.
 
“Yes, sir,” he croaked.
 
“All of that is in her report.”

“Then I commend you, Bock.
 
You did your duty.
 
You are excused for now,” said Maas.
 
“If I need you, I know where to find you.”

“Yes, sir,” barked Bock.
 
She stood and walked briskly out of the room, closing the door behind her.
 
She was damned glad to be out of there.
 
She could see that someone was going to get chewed out because of this incident.
 
Thank God it wasn’t her.