Free First Strike by Craig Simpson Page B

in.”
    Connor shuddered. HALO, or high-altitude-low-opening, parachute jumps were extremely hazardous at the best of times. The lengthy freefall phase could carry you way off target, and if you left it a second too late to open your chute you’d hit the ground with such force that two broken legs were almost guaranteed. But Connor knew Danny was right. It was the only way in.
    “Then what?” Connor countered.
    “We’re going to insert you on the trail to the Khawak Pass, major,” Rogers explained. “There’s a small village that’s been largely deserted for the last fifteen years. There, you’ll rendezvous with our local contact. His name is Hamid. He should be able to assist you.” The colonel introduced one of his team. “This is Lieutenant Bradley. He’s an ex-navy SEAL and is Hamid’s liaison officer. He will accompany you on your mission. Like you, Major Connor, he speaks the lingo.”
    Connor exchanged nods with Bradley, but couldn’t resist asking the obvious question. “If you’re in contact with this Hamid guy, can’t he find out the location of Khan?”
    “I lost contact with him a week ago,” Bradley responded. “But that’s not unusual. I left him a coded message about our rendezvous. If he can make it, I’m sure he will.”
    “When do we go in?” Connor asked.
    “In four days, major.”
    “And tactical support? Can we call in reinforcements? What if we have a man down? Evac by helo may be difficult.”
    “Almost impossible, I’d say,” Colonel Rogers replied. “I’m afraid you’ll be on your own. My advice to you is to not get shot.”
    The initial briefing was wrapped up. Connor went to find Lieutenant Bradley with a question that needed an answer.
    “Are you sure you can trust Hamid?”
    Bradley shrugged. “As far as you can trust any of them.” It was not the response Connor was hoping for. Bradley saw his concern and added, “Hamid comes from a family who have worked the silver mines up there for years. Most mines aren’t even marked on our maps, so having someone who can point us to them will save a lot of time. And, anyway, I’m useful to Hamid. It’s in his best interests to keep in my good books.”
    “Explain,” said Connor, frowning.
    “Hamid’s branched out. Silver isn’t the only precious thing up there. Years back when the Russians bombed the hell out of the region, they revealed seams of emeralds in the rock. Hamid’s family stockpiled munitions left behind when the Russians went home, and ever since they’ve used the explosives to blast the emeralds out. Their problem, however, was smuggling the gems out and getting a decent price for them.”
    “And that’s where you come in?”
    Bradley nodded. “I pay Hamid ten times what he could get from the usual unscrupulous middlemen willing to smuggle them into Pakistan. We’re overdue a deal, too. I’ve got the cash stashed ready. In return he feeds me intel.”
    “Then we’d better pray nobody’s made him a better offer.”

CHAPTER THREE
HALO drop
Four days later
    The Hercules C-130 climbed to 33,000 feet over the mountains of the Hindu Kush and levelled out. Connor sat alonside his men, still running the mission over in his head. Even after four days there were big gaps in the intel, and no contact from Bradley’s man, Hamid. Bradley remained unconcerned, but Connor had to consider the possibility that either something had happened to Hamid or, worse, that his collaboration with US intelligence had been rumbled by the Taliban. If so, Delta Force might be walking into a trap.
    Turbulence caused the plane to jolt, rattle and shudder. Lit by a single dim red lamp, everyone sat in silence, the engines droning in their ears. Connor studied Lieutenant Bradley, who was clearly relishing the mission. At least he had something to be grateful for. Rogers could have lumbered him with someone without the necessary combat experience.
    The jumpmaster tapped Connor on the shoulder. “Five minutes, major,” he