Free Seal Team Seven #19: Field of Fire by Keith Douglass

cord.”
    “Israel has promised us they can supply as many explosivesas you can carry. We do believe that the desert location is somewhere east of Damaseus. That area is actually a semi-desert with considerable sheep grazing in selected areas. We assume that the location is to protect the population in case of any accidental explosions or pulses.”
    “Will we have a general location by the time we meet your operatives in Syria?” Murdock asked.
    “We hope so. Half of our men are on the problem right now. We’re calling in all of our favors in Baghdad.”
    “Will we have the use of a SATCOM?” Bradley asked.
    “Usually we don’t let SATCOMs go into hostile environment countries. Is this a vital concern?”
    “Mr. Director,” Murdock said. “We’ve been hung out to dry by diplomatic standoffs several times, and twice we have had no SATCOM to communicate for a possible pickup or even for air support. It is against our fundamental operating guidelines to function in adverse situations without at least one SATCOM.”
    The director nodded. “Agreed. You have one. We can change the encrypting if it gets captured.”
    “Before it would be captured, it would be totally destroyed,” Bradford said. “Our SATCOMs are prewired for that event.”
    “Good.” The director hesitated and looked at a paper on the big table. “Now to last-minute preparations. You have your clothing and a spare set and old suitcases. You have your weapons selected and will pick them up in fifteen minutes. You have your well-used Syrian I.D. cards, resident papers, and work places. They are all authentic, so there should be no problem being stopped.
    “Each of you will receive two thousand Syrian pounds, that’s about a thousand U.S. A chopper will take you to the airport at one-fifteen. Have a good meal, and I’ll see you off at the chopper pad.”
    “Will Mr. Stroh be going to Haifa with us?” Murdock asked. “He is tremendously helpful in these situations.”
    “Yes, he will be your control.”
    “Thank you, sir.”
    Admiral Hagerson stood and the SEALs leaped to attention.“Good luck, gentlemen. I’ll see you off at the chopper pad.” The admiral and the director walked out the door. Don Stroh came up and grinned.
    “Couldn’t get along without me, right?”
    “Right,” Murdock said. “Now, where do we go to get our weapons and our ammo? I’ve felt naked long enough.”

6
    Near Buraq, Syria
    The desert heat rose in waves and shimmers on the dirt road ahead of the army staff car. Dust devils spun along the road, then darted across in front of the car and momentarily blinded the driver.
    “Slow down, idiot,” a voice shouted from the rear seat. General Mahdi Diar had no time for incompetents. He tried to relax. This was to be the start of his ten days of glory. Ten days to crush the hated Israelis and smash them into the sea. He tipped up the ice-cold drink from the cooler near his feet and drank. Pure lemonade, he told his staff. But they knew that it always contained a generous portion of vodka.
    The car’s air-conditioning purred quietly, gushing cool air to counteract the harsh reality of the desert’s oppressive temperature outside the car.
    “How much farther, Sergeant?”
    “General, sir, we have covered thirty-two kilometers. We should have only five or six to go.”
    General Diar settled back in the plush seat and let his imagination run wild. The test would be a dramatic success. The schedule would be moved forward two weeks and all preparations would continue unabated. Then the day of revenge would come. Then Israel would go down, mortally wounded, and would gladly turn over the northern half of itself to Syria, including the rich city of Haifa. With this great victory Diar would have no trouble taking over the reins of government and proclaiming himself president and commanding general of the army. He smiledjust thinking about it. His round face flushed for a moment, then returned to normal. He brushed back