Free Hot Zone by Ben Lovett Page A

be sharp, just in case."
    "I'll take up the rear." Roo said, then looking at Skip: "I got your backs fellas."
    Roo always thought of and treated Skip like his little brother. He knew right now his friend was terrified by what he had witnessed and was proud of him for how he was handling the situation.
    Skip was one of the toughest, strongest-willed of all the SAS soldiers he'd seen over the years. His talents for hand to hand combat were second to none and it would not have surprised Roo if Skip had taken on whatever monster had killed Shooter and lived to one day tell the tale
    But not now.

11
 
    At the same time as Jordan and the Team stood on the summit gazing at the structures below, Grosjean awoke to find his brother standing over him grinning. In his hand was the list of vessels he had requested.
    "You look awfully proud of yourself." Grosjean chapped.
    "I have your list, Marc. It's short but incredibly distinguished."
    Grosjean sat up, snatching the list out of his brother’s hands and read it silently:
    _P&0 CRUISE SHIP STARLIGHT_
    _CRUISE SHIP SUN VISTA
    _FIJI CRUISES X 3 SHIPS
    _USS KITTY HAWK
    _WHALE WATCHING CHARTER-PAPEETE
    _AUS SUBMARINE-DARWIN-TRAINING
    _GREENPEACE WARSHIP RAINBOW WARRIOR
    _52 PRIVATELY OWNED VESSELS 50 FEET OR LESS_
    Grosjean scanned the list up and down, missing it the first two times before he saw it.
    _USS KITTY HAWK
    "François, you're a good man. Whom did you show this list to?"
    "No one. I came straight here."
    "Good. Don't tell anyone you got me this list. And don't tell anyone what was on it. Not until I say so."
    "Sure, whatever."
    Grosjean left his brother standing in his room breathing in the dust trail Grosjean create when he raced from the residence. That race against time he'd felt only hours earlier just took on a whole new meaning.
    He took his brother's jeep and sped off to the other side of the Atoll where Special Ops trained for combat. In their off time they also helped to carry out the security measures needed for the on going nuclear tests.
    They were about to get their first mission in years.
    Exploding through the doors of Colonel Hansie Farry was the exact impression Grosjean wanted to give. Grosjean entered to find Farry lighting up a cigar and reclining back in his seat like he had not a care in the world. Grosjean hated the fact he had to be the one to ruin this falsehood.
    "It's like this Colonel. The Greenpeace ship we intercepted a couple of days ago with that body, the guy who made the Mayday call. I am concerned Sir, that the mayday call may have been intercepted by a third party."
    "A third party, Marc?"
    "Not just any third party Sir."
    "The Americans?" Farry drew hard on his cigar.
    "Yes."
    "Are we sure?"
    "We have to plan like we are, yes. A carrier was within radio frequency of the distress call when it was transmitted. With the equipment they have on their ships Sir it's more than likely they heard the call."
    "And that means?"
    "We need to dispatch a team out to the site immediately. I will take the lead myself."
    A light bulb went on in the Colonel's head. "Marc. The location where that ship was found, is that the problem?"
    "Judging from the distress call Sir I believe the dead Professor may have seen something. Anyone listening to the call would have taken it that way. We need to make sure that area is still secure."
    "Form a group, six men including yourself. Chopper out to Mururoa and find out if the area is compromised. Do whatever you have to keep it secure."
    Grosjean was relieved. That was what he wanted to hear. The Colonel had been known in the past to get loud and animated over such situations. This time, however, he had stayed calm.
    "You are dismissed Lieutenant." Farry said.
    Grosjean turned to leave, not even reaching the door when Farry added: "And Lieutenant."
    "Yes Sir."
    "Control this situation would you."
    "Of course sir." Grosjean said.
    Grosjean walked out breathing a sigh of relief. Nodding with a grin to the secretary as he