The Wrath of Shakira Page 4
“Thank you Roy you know how to flatter a lady.”
Roy looked at Vince in amazement she knew it was me; that said that!”
“But of course; she can hear and also see you.”
Both Max and Roy looked at Vince and then turned to GAIL.
“But that’s impossible Vince,” Max replied.
“Impossible maybe gentlemen but not unfeasible.”
Vince continued like a giddy student.” GAIL is the only one of her kind in the whole world, I have been researching and working on her for the last twelve years, she has been operational for three weeks.”
Max looked at Vince in admiration. “I hope there paying you well Vince.”
“The monies inconsequential Max, just give me the facilities and I’m like a pig in muck.”
“So how does she work,” replied Roy?
“Do you want the technical brief or the simple one?”
Max and Roy just looked at Vince in silence.
“Okay guys; simply GAIL can tap into and access any computer system in the world; she does this covertly without the host knowing anything about it, FBI CIA,
Israeli, French and many more intelligence networks.
She is also linked into all the CCTV systems at all the world’s major airports and shipping ports and other transportation areas, together with access to British immigration and passport services, in fact there’s very little my girl can’t access.”
GAIL’s voice caused Max and Roy to turn around. ”I could not have put it simpler Vince.”
Max looked at Roy. “Ever had that feeling you are about to become redundant!”
“Now boys; until Vince can come up with a way of allowing me to leave this room and into the world outside, your careers are safe.”
Both men looked at Vince and Roy smiled. “That could be sooner than we think.”
“You never know, remember nothings impracticable,” replied Vince.
Max and Roy burst into laughter.
GAIL’s voice spoke. “What’s so funny Vince?”
“Don’t worry GAIL it’s a human thing called humour!”
“Now Max let’s get back to business, GAIL Bring up the data on the Paddington suspect.”
A large two-meter square Visual display screen appeared on the wall to their left.
“Pretty snazzy Vince must get one of those for the house.”
“Sorry Max; this is a one off proto-type from a friend of mine, it’s called a plasma screen probably will not hit the streets for another ten years.”
A photo appeared showing their suspects CCTV photo taken at Paddington, alongside it appeared a similar photo the word ninety-nine point nine percent positive match flashed on the screen.
Vince spoke. “Like a fingerprint the facial features have certain points that can be mapped, the shape, pattern and positioning of facial features; then cross referencing from one image to another, GAIL can build a three dimensional image from a photo and acquire these reference points, I call it Bio-Metric scanning, the statistical measurement of biological data.”
“So what do we know about this man.” Replied Max.
“Quite a lot Max, GAIL if you could be so good and display the antecedents.”
Below the two pictures, details began to appear.
GAIL’s voice interjected. “Name Abu Wael age twenty five years old, born Mogadishu Somalia, first came to notice of the American CIA five years ago suspected of arms trafficking but they could not pin anything on him, he was arrested two years ago by the South African Police after a racial demonstration.” GAIL paused.
“Go on GAIL,” said Vince.
“He escaped custody and in the process killed a white Police officer, he is on their most wanted list, and his recent whereabouts’ have been sketchy and unconfirmed.”
“GAIL, has he any known associates,” said Max.
“Most unusual Max there is no record of any associates, just wait a moment I will access the CIA and South African Police intelligence files.”
The three men waited in silence.
Ten seconds later GAIL spoke. “It would appear someone has deleted this information from the files.”
“It would have been nice to have had some other names to go on,” Roy replied.
“I said the files have been deleted Roy, however they can still be located.”
“My knowledge of computers is limited GAIL,” replied Max. “But I thought that when a file is deleted, it was history.”
Generally you would be right there Max,” Vince interjected. “But as you are no doubt now aware GAIL is no ordinary computer please explain GAIL.”
“With pleasure, during the first week of my inception I discovered that the hard drive on a computer leaves a ghost image of all deleted files and information I also discovered that I could access that information.” GAIL
paused. “I have only tried it once the annoying thing is that it is a lengthy process that diverts a lot of my resources and can take days.”
Max looked at Vince.
“Don’t worry Max I can read your thoughts, GAIL I want you to commence the process to retrieve the ghost image information.”
With that, GAIL’s holograph image began to fade her voice came out of the fading image, “be seeing you gentlemen.”
Max looked at his watch 16:00hours. “Time to hitch our ride back Roy!”
Vince walked towards the lift door and pressed the call button, he turned at looked at Max and Roy. “As soon as we have more information I’ll let you know.”
Fifteen minutes later the Gazelle was airborne with Max and Roy strapped in.
The Naval & Military Club
The Naval & Military Club,
St James’s Square,
London
Lat = 51 degrees, 30.4 minutes North
Long = 0 degrees, 8.4 minutes West
The Naval & Military Club, is one of London’s oldest clubs, founded in 1862.
Located in St James’s Square, the beautiful Grade 2 listed building has retained all of the original features in its staterooms.
The Naval & Military Club is universally known as The In & Out. This nickname heralds from the famous lettering found on the gateposts of its former home at 94 Piccadilly, which existed to guide London cabbies in and out of the Club.
Strayker was sitting in the coffee lounge reading a newspaper when Commissioner Dawson entered.
Strayker stood up smiled extending his hand. “Commissioner Dawson it’s good to see you.”
Dawson extended his hand and shook hands with Strayker, both men stood at equal height their eyes locked on each other’s for a moment.
Strayker was the first to speak. “We meet in not the best of circumstances Commissioner, I have taken the liberty of doing my homework, and you credentials are impressive.”
Dawson looked at Strayker and for the first time found himself lost for words.
Strayker continued. “You have many allies and friends within the community I hope I can be counted as one of them!”
Dawson whilst on his way over had decided he was going to tell Strayker that he was not happy with the working arrangement that the PM had spoken to him about and was also going to tell him that the Police could deal with the incident without Strayker’s help.
How do you take this line with a man that had paid you a sincere compliment?
Dawson now spoke with a smile. “I can see that we will be able to work together.”
Strayker had been apprehensive about the meeting; he did not want to be stepping all over Commissioner Dawson’s back yard.
“Can I get you a drink Commissioner?”
“Call me Robert and I’ll have an Earl Grade tea.”
“In that case I’ll join you, e
verybody call’s me Strayker my first names Mick.”
Strayker beckoned a waiter over and ordered the tea.
“I suppose we had better pool our information on this matter Robert.”
Well at the moment we have very little to go on Strayker; but hopefully by tomorrow morning we will have some information to move on.”
Strayker sipped his tea, he was aware that his people had slowed the Police’s evidence gathering at the scene, he did not want to come over arrogant or sounding conceited.
“My people were responsible for slowing your progress down Robert otherwise you may have been a little further ahead, however; we know the make-up of the bomb and we have a photo of the bomber.”
“That’s remarkably fast work Strayker.”
Strayker reached down to a black attaché case on the floor, he withdrew a brown manila envelope and handed to Commissioner Dawson.
“Details of the explosive device and a photo of the suspect bomber.”
Dawson opened the envelope and studied the contents.
“What’s the game plan?”
“Well Robert; I have a team of people going into the Paddington area first thing tomorrow morning in an endeavour to track down the suspect.”
Commissioner Dawson stroked his chin, picked up his cup of tea and took a sip. “Who’s leading up the team and can I help?”
Strayker had also took the opportunity to drink his tea, “The point man is Lieutenant Colonel Max Storm they will be in plain clothes with two way radio’s and will also be posing as Police officers with Warrant cards.”
Dawson took a few moments to evaluate what he had just heard. “I would like one of my men to join this Lieutenant Colonel Max Storm tomorrow morning.”
“An excellent idea Robert.” Strayker pulled out a card from his breast pocket.
“He can meet up with Max at this address at 05:00 hrs. can I have his name?”
Commissioner Dawson removed a note pad from his tunic pocket and jotted a name down handing it over to Strayker he said, “Superintendent Attlee is my personal liaison officer.”
“Robert; once we have located the suspect we will need surveillance I would like your people to handle that, I have a gut feeling this matter evolved outside the United Kingdom.”
“If that’s the case that’s where my area of responsibility ends and within your remit.”
Strayker stood up. “Well I have enjoyed our meeting Robert, on that card you will find a number you can reach me twenty-fours a day, feel free to contact me.”
Commissioner Dawson stood up. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you Strayker and thank you for the information.”
Both men shook hands and left the club together.
Safe House Three
Safe house three
7 Greenland road Camden
London NW 1
Lat = 51 degrees, 32.4 minutes North
Long = 0 degrees, 8.4 minutes West
And
African Continent
Sumbe Luanda
Lat = 11 degrees, 9.6 minutes South
Long = 13 degrees, 52.7 minutes East
That evening Omar Al-Bazzaz had called in at safe house two and together with Abu Wael, they walked to safe house three where Hussein was waiting for them.
Hussein walked over to Abu Wael and placed his hands on his shoulders. “You do not need to know my name, however you have done well brother, and you have struck a decisive blow against the infidels.”
“Thank you,” replied Abu.
“Come follow me into the kitchen.”
Abu Wael noticed this new man had a pronounced limp.
“This is the next device to be planted.” A suitcase stood on the table.
“Omar will drive you to Stansted airport in the morning,
he will also instruct you as to where to leave the suitcase, now go with Allah.”
Both men left the house with the suitcase.
Hussein picked up the phone and dialled Shakira.
Shakira was sitting on the veranda of his house when he picked up the phone.
“Hussein here sir.”
“Ah! Hussein my friend, I have seen the results of your work on the television a truly devastating triumph.”
“The second device will be deployed tomorrow sir.”
“I look forward to seeing the fruitful accomplishment of this next stage.”
Shakira replaced the phone and stood up and admired the view from his veranda.
Situated on an escarpment at an altitude of one thousand feet, southeast of the town of Sumbe, and one hundred and sixty-eight miles south of Luanda.
A colonial style one storey building, Shakira had purchased it with the monies he had earned as a mercenary ten years earlier, it was his personal retreat and where he had carried out the planning for his present reign of terror.
He returned to the table and picked up the bottle of wine to refill his glass, a white wine named Pinot Gris a full and well-balanced wine from the Worcester region of South Africa.
Shakira’s hatred for the white race stemmed back to when he had witnessed his parents being killed.
At the age of thirteen, he was living in his hometown of Kuito in the central highlands of Angola. The sixties had been troubled times in Angola.
Angola was a Portuguese overseas territory, civil war erupted for the independence of Angola, and during this time three rival nationalist groups fought the Portuguese.
The Portuguese forces, relied heavily on air power, and attacked many villages.
It was one of these air attacks that killed Shakira’s parents.
After burying them he joined the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola-Youth Movement.
During this time he learnt well the art of terrorism, along with his hatred of the whites.
By nineteen seventy five the civil war was soon decided in favor of the MPLA by virtue of the massive influx of Soviet weapons, advisers and Cuban troops.
Shakira was now twenty-six and had spent thirteen years fighting, this was all he knew and he had become very proficient at it.
He had then drifted from one conflict zone to another, as a mercenary building up his wealth along the way. His hatred for whites the unbelievers had never abated and it was this along with the failure of his last plans and the death of his woman Suki by the infidel Max Storm, that had been the driving force towards the war he was now embarked on, it was his personal crusade or in Islamic terms Jihad.
OSC London
OSC London
Whitehall Place
Lat = 51 degrees, 30.4 minutes North
Long = 0 degrees, 7.5 minutes West
Thursday 30th June 1988
Max Storm pulled into Whitehall place and parked his car outside the end building on the left, he noticed Roy’s motorbike parked outside and as he walked past he could hear the exhaust system making the typical crackling sounds as it was cooling down.
He looked at his wristwatch O-four-thirty hours; the rest of the squad would be arriving shortly, the sun was already burning in the east and a strong shaft of warm light came down Whitehall place as it was rising above the Thames.
He entered the building and passed through the security, the rook on duty handed him a message.
“From Major Strayker sir.”
Max opened the message in the lift. Max you will have a passenger with you today, a Superintendent Attlee will be attending at O-five hundred hours for the briefing, and then accompanying you on the streets, he has security clearance up to twelve hundred hours.
Strayker had signed it.
Max entered the briefing room where Roy was seated.
“Long time no see Roy.”
“Yeah it must be all of twelve hours,” replied
Roy with a humorous grin.
“Roy can you go down to the armourer and collect the equipment.”
“Sure thing Max.”
Max picked up the nearby phone and contacted the rook upstairs.
The rook picked up the phone it was on the internal line.
“Yes sir.”
“We are expecting a Superintendent Attlee to arrive here for O-five hundred hours, when he arrives contact me and I will escort him down.”
“Very well sir.”
Roy had returned to the room with the Police warrant cards and two-way covert radio systems.
The briefing room began to fill and the sound of light hearted banter and leg pulling ensued.
The phone rang and Roy picked it up and listened.
Roy replaced the phone and spoke to Max with a quizzical look! “There’s a Superintendent Attlee upstairs for you.”
“We have a passenger to tag along Roy, have the men seated and issue out the equipment whilst I collect him.”
Upstairs Superintendent Attlee was seated when Max entered the reception area.
“Good morning Superintendent, my Name is Lieutenant Colonel Max Storm call me Max.”
Superintendent Attlee stood up and extended his right hand.
They shook hands, Superintendent Attlee could feel the strength in Max’s grip and he looked into Max’s eyes.
The Superintendent was a good judge of character and could sense this was not a man to be on the wrong side of.
“If you follow me Superintendent, we are ready to brief the men.”
They entered the lift and descended; when the lift door opened, the Superintendent followed Max out of the lift and found himself in front of a plate glass door with two armed guards on the other side facing him.
A female voice emanated from the ceiling “Please carry out identification.”
“Superintendent please look into the eye scanner and state your name and rank into the voice recognition system underneath.”
The superintendent looked at the armed guards and then at Max. “What in god’s name is this place?”