Free Operation Chaos: A Gripping Action Thriller by Himanshu Rasam Page B

obvious. He hadn't imagined this in his wildest dreams.
    ''Damn sure, Sir. We double-checked the area. No sign of anyone operating it. Looking at this mechanism, I think the operator was controlling it using a wireless connection, but can't say anything for sure. Send Capt. Ashish up here. He handles the tech.''
    ''Did you disable the gun?'' David questioned.
    ''Some kind of circuit automatically blew off and the gun now displays offline on its display panel. Looks busted,'' Rakesh answered. 
    10 minutes later when Ashish had checked the gun mechanism, he had a chat with Commander David.
    ''We don't have anything. The entire data burnt up. So now we don't have any information about who was operating this gun. Let me be clear on one point, Sir- whoever these people are, they are well equipped. I mean, nothing this big was ever used during any of the earlier terrorist attacks.''
    ''How was the stored data destroyed?'' asked David.
    ''The data chip must have been rigged to blow if someone came within a certain distance of the gun. Easily achieved using proximity sensors. The gun was attached to a wireless controller with a range, I would say, about a couple of kilometres. Anyone within that range could be our man, who must have vanished by now- so no point in sending a search team. The gun has a camera mounted on its upper end near the scope facilitating the operator to use the gun almost like a first person. Professionally done. No clues left.''
    David was trying to gather what Capt. Ashish had just said when Avinash jumped into the conversation. ''I bet I saw one of these models earlier tonight at those bunkers in Thar desert. Do you think it's the work of the same terrorist organisation?''
    David's brain started putting things together, one piece at a time.
    ''Okay. Here's what we are going to do. Now that we can't trace who operated this gun, there is no point in following that lead. Although, I will ask the Headquarters to send a team to the Rajasthan border to confirm if what Avinash said checks out. If it is the work of the same terrorist organisation, at least we have an idea who we are up against. Until then, the situation pretty much remains the same. They have that goddamn missile and we still need to work on why the hell did that lunatic give us the coordinates to this place. Raghav- check with the NSG team and call an ambulance.''
    President Ajaysingh Chauhan was filled in on the happenings at the Qutub Complex. He had been anxious as Shonali had ended their previous conversation rather abruptly.
    ''David, we NEED to end this,'' Ajaysingh said, with a profound concern. ''I do not want any more of our soldiers to die. Let's get done with whatever this guy wants us to find for him.''
    ''We are working on it, Sir. But I have no idea why we were asked to come here,'' David replied.
    ''Maybe we will have to hear the tape again. Carefully.'' Shonali suggested.
    David took out the tape and played it. ' ... The first clue is written in metal at 28° 31′ 27.68″ N, 77° 11′ 6.89″ E . Take the paper beside this cassette player along. Would be quite helpful if you would know how to read the numbers on the pape r...'
    ''This place is full of inscriptions, ancient symbols and a lot of things made out of metal. How are we ever going to find out? We will have to turn the place upside down,'' David said, with a rising frustration.
    ''Maybe not!'' Shonali hadn't missed hearing what everyone else had. ''I think he meant a very specific inscription when he said- written in the metal . That inscription which was written on iron almost two thousand years ago and still remains intact- surviving almost two centuries without any sign of rust on it.''

Chapter 26
     
    Often regarded as a testament to the skill of ancient Indian blacksmiths, the 23 ft iron pillar at the Qutub Complex withstanding corrosion for about 1600 years was always in the limelight of archaeologists and corrosion technologists. Shonali briefly explained