Free A Northern Thunder by Andy Harp Page B

California borders. At one time, it had only a maintenance crew of ten Marines, but it had enlarged over the years into a modern, battalion-sized training center. It remained both remote and unknown.
    Scott thought, At least he picked one place that’s somewhat isolated. He actually liked the idea of Bridgeport, but was dubious about the colonel’s assertion of control. Admiral Krowl had set the parameters of the mission without Scott’s input, and especially without Parker’s.
    “I need to be patched into the op center at Langley,” Scott said through an intercom. Will heard a door open in the rear of the aircraft, and a short, muscular, blond-haired man appeared through the cabin. Dressed in the same style white shirt and black slacks as the other crewmembers, along with epaulet boards with a single stripe, he, alongside his mates, gave every appearance of being a corporate jet crew member at home at any airport in the world.
    Will, however, thought to himself, This one is probably a senior Air Force enlisted man on attached duty to the CIA. He appears slightly older. A communications tech sergeant.
    The airman placed headphones on in the small electronics compartment, after which the telephone on the wall next to Scott rang in a subdued, buzzing sound.
    Scott picked up the phone. “We need to switch operations training site A to Quantico,” he said. “See if we can get the top floor of the dormitory at the FBI Academy sealed off. And begin planning on operations site B being moved to the Marine base at Bridgeport, California.”
    Scott knew both sites would be made immediately available. Although they weren’t CIA facilities, this mission had been given the highest priority of any he had seen in over a decade. The White House and Secretary of Defense had sent top-secret messages to the director of the FBI and other related agencies that they were to cooperate to the fullest extent possible with the requests of the CIA’s Mr. Scott. More importantly for the U.S. Government, funding authorization codes were provided on each message. Federal cooperation improved exponentially when one part of the government knew others would pay.
    “Okay, Colonel, I imagine you have several other suggestions. I look forward to hearing them.”

Chapter 10

    C omrade Doctor, thank you for both the tour and your hospitality.” General Won, stepping forward from beside Tae Nam-Ki, grabbed Nampo’s hand and wrapped his other arm around the small doctor’s shoulders in a bear hug. Nampo, unaccustomed to any man being so close, was repelled by the maneuver.
    Won put his face near Nampo as he spoke. “Remember, Comrade Doctor, Sun Tzu’s rule: ‘To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.’” The general’s actions were entirely calculated. China would extend its hand to its communist neighbor, but North Korea should never forget Beijing. And whatever Nampo convinced Pyongyang his system was capable of, North Korea best not push it too far.
    “Your advice and counsel are greatly appreciated, General. Perhaps you will be able to return for our advanced testing.”
    “Both my government and I look forward to it.”
    A young aide came up to General Won and Colonel Nam-Ki and clicked his heels in attention, signaling it was time to go. Some time earlier, a covered jeep had departed the military camp near the South Korean border in an apparently routine trip to the helicopter landing zone in the valley. At a pre-designated time, the vehicle would take the curve at a slow pace, proceed undetected into the dark wooded area, and pass into the short tunnel. The passengers would be standing by, waiting to quickly board and delay the vehicle only momentarily. A satellite would know only that the jeep drove into the grove of woods and came out at the other end.
    How could a nation so wrapped in poverty be capable of such efficiency? Won thought as he turned to take a final look at the facility.
    Shortly thereafter, Won would