“Steven was distracted,” Rob interrupted, “And I’m sure Steven’s counterparts will be notifying their refineries, so I think we should be doing the same.”
“Hmm, fair point.”
“I would, however, go further and inform all refineries.”
“All refineries!” exclaimed Laura, looking incredulous. “But that could raise panic.”
“Better that than miss something. In any case, if you inform one, they will surely talk to each other and it’s better that they hear directly from you. I expect they share a whole heap of intelligence.”
“Good point. Okay.”
Rob listened as Laura discussed the challenge with Gurning’s assistant, Jill, and was soon calling the heads of security at every refinery, giving the same message each time – there was an unsubstantiated threat against British and European oil refineries that could involve a chemical attack. She didn’t know what precautions they may have in place, but should implement all security measures they have until further notice and prepare for the worst.
An hour later, just as Laura was finishing, Rob returned armed with a couple of pizzas and a fresh round of coffee. “Thought we needed these,” he said when Laura hung-up her final call.
“Definitely! I’m famished and exhausted! But I also need some fresh air – this place has become so stuffy!”
39
During the relative calm, but intense period of Laura’s phone calls, a crack team of Turkish agents led by Polat and accompanied by Nat were landing at Van. They had flown down in two helicopters immediately confirmation had been received of ongoing activity in the tracked accounts from Britain.
Nat’s adrenaline was pumping as he jumped from the lead helicopter, reminiscing of his days leading teams from the British SAS. The only thing missing was the heavy backpack he usually carried back then. Polat had otherwise equipped him with the necessary body armour and a variety of weapons.
Clambering into one of the parked dark green armoured vehicles from a nearby army base, Nat settled on one of the hard seats and gave Polat the thumbs up. Following a short discourse in Turkish with a number of others, Polat indicated they were ready, and the convoy set off.
Looking around him in the near windowless vehicle, Nat took in the stern, tanned faces of his new, temporary colleagues, each clasping an assault rifle between his legs. These guys are expecting action! Nat realised. They must either know something about the individual, or this region is a known hotbed of trouble!
Fifteen minutes later the convoy turned off the main road they had been thundering down to head towards a small settlement on the outskirts of Van. A cloud of dust rose behind them as they continued at pace along what was a poorly surfaced track.
“Nat, this is where we find out if anyone is at home and doesn’t want to talk!” Polat said through the headsets embedded into their helmets. At Nat’s querying look, Polat continued, “We are approaching our destination and one of our helicopters is monitoring the area from a distance. If we are correct about the place, I expect one or more vehicles to leave very rapidly.” Nat nodded.
Army manoeuvres in the area were not unusual, but when the convoy turned east towards the settlement, a great deal of activity broke out. From within the compound of the main house a guard, standing on the roof, immediately picked up his radio. The compound was in the centre of the settlement, as though a central village square, just with a high wall around it.
Watched by a helicopter in the distance, people streamed out of the other houses in the settlement and on to the road. Market stalls were hastily erected and a band started playing.
“All roads through the settlement are now blocked with people,” the co-pilot in the helicopter reported to Polat.
“You what!” Polat exclaimed.
“All roads are now blocked with people. So far, there has been no sign anyone trying to run, but… Wait… Two Jeeps are moving off at speed from the rear of the compound. Four people in each. Heading directly east, towards the border on a barely visible track between the fields.”
“What route do we take?”
“There is no way through by road,” the co-pilot repeated.
“Damn!” Polat was thoughtful for a moment, contemplating at what point to initiate his plans. “Okay, listen up!” he ordered. “As planned, we split in three, two, one – now!”
As Polat said ‘Now,’ half the convoy left the road and started to crash through the fields to head around the settlement in pursuit of the fleeing Jeeps. Immediately, the terrain became rough and Nat, along with all the others, clasped the grab-handles by their seats in order not to be thrown off.
“Observer helicopter, maintain your position and report activity within the settlement to Team ‘A’” Polat ordered. “I want the other helicopter scrambled to join Team ‘B’ pursuing the fleeing suspects! Inform border control – we will need their support!” After a deep breath, Polat continued, “Team ‘A’, you are to secure the compound as quickly as possible and prevent the destruction of documentation!”
The fleeing suspects had a large lead on Team ‘B’ and the distance to the border with Iran was reducing fast as Polat became very agitated with the delay in getting the helicopter scrambled.
Team ‘A’ was equally slow in reaching the target compound as they carefully picked their way through the crowded and deliberatively obstructed streets. After a couple of attempts, the armoured vehicles eventually battered down the large gates in the outer wall as they were pelted by all sorts of objects from the local population. Bullets also rained down from the encircling walls, where Kamal’s guards were loyally standing their ground. Once through the gates it was a very different story – wearing full combat gear and body armour, the soldiers leaped from their vehicles, covered by retaliatory fire from their vehicles’ roof mounted heavy machine guns.
Half the soldiers stormed the house. The other half defended the gates against the demonstrating population who tried to storm in afterward them, intent on making the soldiers’ lives difficult.
As the armed guards fell, one-by-one, the soldiers made their way through the house, arresting as many as they could. Pockets of resistance were met with intense gunfights and quickly terminated to rescue computers, disc-drives and as much paperwork as possible from attempts to shred, smash, or even burn potential evidence.
“How far is it to the border?” Nat asked Polat.
“Just over fifty kilometres.”
“Are we fast enough to catch-up with them?”
“No. Hopefully the helicopter and border patrols will head them off before crossing into Iran – we cannot afford an incursion creating a diplomatic incident.”
Moments later, the clatter of a low-flying helicopter passing overhead raised a cheer from the troops, but caused a headache for the drivers as clouds of dust spiralled into the air.
Their fast, hot and rough journey eventually slowed. “Our targets have been intercepted!” Polat reported. “They are on foot taking cover in an overgrown riverbed.”
A few minutes later, having barked a few orders in Turkish, Polat swung the door to their vehicle open, and Nat and his companions leaped out to join the others.
Bullets immediately started to kick-up dirt around their feet as they ran for places of cover – behind rocks or other undulations in the barren terrain. The armoured vehicles sprayed the area with machine gun fire to provide cover, driving the target suspects back.
Waving Nat to follow, Polat barked more orders in Turkish. “Helicopter: I want to know where they are. Border patrol: move forward. Block their route to the border. Everyone else: form an arc and move forward.”
The helicopter was quick to report in, “Unable to see the targets. They are somewhere in the undergrowth ahead of you.”
