Chapter 11 #2
“Bioterrorism is the new trend for bad guys,” Roman noted.
“Pathogenic fungi destroy a third of all food crops every year. Imagine if someone coordinated and induced an attack on the most important global crops—wheat, soybeans, rice, potatoes, maize. Or introduced a species of seeds not native to a land, allowing it to invade the host crop and destroy the existing food supply. Massive starvation would be the result.”
Harper’s gaze connected with Roman’s, and she nodded in agreement. “Which is why this facility was designed to be one of the most impenetrable sites in the world.”
“So, if the bad guys aren’t able to hack the security system, the next best thing is kidnap the man who designed it,” A.J. pointed out.
“Surely, their security protocol will be updated given his abduction.” It’d be the first thing Wyatt would do if he were in control of such an invaluable facility. “But why send us for something like this?”
“The Norwegian government would prefer not to have their fingerprints on this case for a few reasons,” Harper began.
“And the Crop Trust and Nordic Genetic Resource Center, who also manage the seed vault, want discretion. They don’t want to draw attention to a potential breach and scare off countries from utilizing their bank. ”
“Are they alerting the other companies Roland Nilsson has designed security systems for? Shouldn’t they all know they could be at risk, too?” Roman asked, and it was a damn good question.
“That call is out of our hands. We’re under direct orders not to share any information about this case with anyone,” Jessica responded, clearly sharing Roman’s concerns about other security breaches as well.
“The area you are flying to is under Norwegian control for the most part, but other countries were granted access to mining minerals there. One particular location, an old coal mine, is under Russian sovereignty.”
“Russian?” A.J. mumbled. “And here’s the other reason we’re going, brothers.”
“We’ve already begun coordinating with Norwegian authorities on what they know about the abduction,” Jessica said, “and there’s been a sudden spike in electrical activity in a place that currently only has two occupants. Tourism there is shut down right now, so the activity is a red flag.”
“Pyramiden, the ghost town? The forgotten Soviet city?” Roman asked in surprise, catching everyone’s attention.
“Yup.” Harper flipped to an aerial view of the town.
“Pyramiden is about a four-hour journey in the winter by way of snowmobile from the largest city, Longyearbyen. The place was mostly deserted in ninety-eight, but to maintain sovereignty, Russia needs at least two citizens living there at all times.”
“And you think our bad guys took the security specialist to this place?” Chris stood and edged closer to the screen to view the map.
“If they’re planning an attack, it’d make sense. A perfect place to hide out before they attempt to go into the seed bank,” Harper answered. “The governor of Svalbard tried to reach out to the two men living there, but it was radio silence.”
“And the Norwegians don’t want to take a trip there themselves for a little looky-loo?” A.J. asked.
“A looky what?” Finn threw his paper airplane straight at him, but A.J. snatched it with his quick reflexes before it hit his face, tossing it right back at him.
“The Norwegians would prefer not to have to ask the Russians for permission to head there, nor do they want to go in without it,” Jessica continued, ignoring the boys’ typical goof-off behavior.
Wyatt played out the possible infil situations for a hostage recovery operation in his head. “No available LZ’s to cut down the travel time?”
“I wouldn’t want to fly there,” Roman said. “In ninety-six a plane crashed, killing everyone. And a couple of years ago, a Russian Mi-8 helo carrying three scientists crashed after take-off from Pyramiden, killing everyone, too. The place is doomed.”
Chris faced the team. “Well, personally, I’d rather take my chances on a helo than a Ski-Doo.”
“The heliport is too close. Our abductors would hear you coming. Plus, the site is owned by Arktikugol, a Russian company. I doubt it’s even operational this time of year, anyway,” Jessica said as Harper showed an image of the terminal and a Mil Mi-8 helicopter parked outside.
It’d been taken in the daylight, which meant it wasn’t a recent image given the area was experiencing its dark days.
“And what are the odds our targets will still even be there by the time we arrive?” Wyatt asked. “The Norwegians have a better chance if they infil now instead of waiting for us.”
“The seed bank is in the process of altering their security protocol, so if the abductors managed to get anything out of the American contractor, the information will be useless—that’s their priority,” Harper explained.
“Our objective is to recover the American, and if we can, take the abductors in for questioning.”
“And we’re bringing them all back with us on our snowmobiles?” A.J. asked in surprise.
“We’re coordinating with the Norwegian authorities. They’ll have everything you need for any given situation when you arrive,” Jessica said. “There’s an ambulance attachment you can use to bring back Nilsson and any abductors.”
“Yeah, and who’s pulling that back?” A.J. asked. “I suggest the youngest here.”
“I’m not that much younger,” Chris retorted.
“Then stop acting like a new guy all the time with that bullshit over-the-top working out you do, and you won’t earn yourself these Captain America challenges.” A.J. shot him a shit-eating grin.
“I do not look like Captain America, by the way.” Chris swiped a hand over his short dirty blond hair.
“Since daylight’s not an issue, we’ll head in, get our hostages, then exfil.” Wyatt spun his chair to the side to better view Jessica. “We flying private or commercial?”
“Private jet. We need you there as quickly as possible.” Jessica slowly rose and braced the table at her side.
Good. He’d prefer to bring his own long gun on the op.
“Shit, we’ll have to use muzzle caps for the rifles if it’s snowing,” Finn said.
“Nah, just grab some condoms.” A.J. peered at Wyatt. “Sure Boss Man has some we can use.”
Wyatt was on the verge of responding, but shit, A.J. was right. He did always have condoms on him. Not enough to cover everyone’s rifle muzzle so snow didn’t get into their long guns, though. Shooting rounds downrange in the intense cold was always tricky.
“You’ll only have twenty or so minutes before comms go on the fritz because of the temperature.” Harper frowned. “I’ll be staying in Longyearbyen, so I won’t be right there with you all, which I hate, but hopefully, the satellite phone will work so we can remain in contact.”
“Good call,” Roman cut her off. “It’s going to be a dangerous trek out there, and I’d prefer you stay back.”
“Nah, this op should be a walk in the park. It’ll just be,” Chris said with a shrug, “really damn dark, filled with bears, and you know—in a cold Soviet ghost town.”
“So, like any other day, really,” Finn deadpanned.