Free Hot Zone by Ben Lovett Page B

left he began jotting down names in his mind who would be perfect for this mission. The mission itself could boil down to be nothing had the Americans not intercepted the call but he wanted a group of men who could hold their own.
    Grosjean headed across a small field where twenty-nine men were busy training for the up coming nuclear test. Out of these men he would pick the five he felt most suitable for this mission.
    Each man would have to be experts in weaponry hand to hand combat and even more importantly be comfortable diving underwater in the area. Grosjean knew the area surrounding the Atoll well. He was well informed as to the levels of plutonium leakage into the seabed and that long exposure to it could result in serious medical problems. A fact he had believed his government had been covering up for a very long time.
    Approaching the Commanding Officer in charge of training Grosjean already knew whom he wanted. He had followed the current group's progression and had known who the stars would be.
    The Commanding Officer addressed Grosjean formally.
    "At ease Commander." Grosjean said.
    "How can I assist you today Sir?"
    "I need to borrow five of your men for a day or two. I have a small mission to carry out."
    "Do you know who you want Sir?"
    "Absolutely."
    And with that Marc Grosjean picked five men who would alter his life forever.
    * * *
    On Mururoa, Commander Sam Hatick sat in the control tower monitoring the area's radio and radar signals for anything that seemed out of place. With the final test just a couple of days away the area was strictly out of bounds to anyone without the necessary security clearance. When a small blip appeared on the radar screen in front of Hatick, his eyes arched with instant curiosity.
    Hatick took down the coordinates and pulled out his small telescope, specially designed to monitor and control the entire diameter of the exclusion zone. Bringing it into focus Hatick could clearly see two black zodiacs in the middle of an expanse of blue water. In the zodiacs he saw a solitary figure. A man dressed in black waterproof fatigues sporting a large assault rifle.
    Hatick picked up the phone and called into his sister tower on Hao. On the other end of the line François Grosjean answered the call. He immediately sent word out to the island for his Brother, Marc, to contact him immediately.
    It did not take long to get a response.
    * * *
    When Grosjean received the call he knew his worst nightmare had been realized. With his men chosen, but not briefed, he had little time to prepare them and get to Mururoa. It was only a matter of time before the Americans would learn the secret.
    He didn't want that happening on his watch.

 
 
    12
 
    In her mind's eye Jordan could see giant squid diving down with her, encasing their enormous arms around her, squeezing the life right out of her. With the visions came the overture from the movie Jaws. The unmistakable buildup of terror, climaxing in a final gruesome end for the victim. She couldn't help but think it was going to end that way for the rest of them. Shooter had held a spear gun, she remembered and look what good it did him.
    And he was a professional!
    That being said the archaeologist in her couldn't fight off the nagging curiosity brought about by the deep-sea structures below. There was no doubt they where man-made.
    The thick covering of coral and sand made it extremely difficult to tell exactly what they were or how old. For that she would need to get up close to them. She was still diving with Ice, six feet to her right constantly giving her reassuring looks, though she saw through his facade. He was hurting over Shooter's death, but was too strong and proud to admit it. Necessary qualities for a leader , she thought.
    The group was fifty feet above the structures, although the water and the fact that in places the seabed dropped out of sight around them distorted their size and depth. Whatever these were they were perched on higher