"We'll position ourselves at three principal border crossings in western Egypt-Salum, Arasiyah, and Shiyah," Patrick went on. "We'll have Egyptian Mi-8 and Chinook CH-47 helicopters with us, enough to take at least fifty survivors with us, along with Egyptian security forces and some of our own commandos. In case the prisoners are turned over after the attacks commence, we'll be ready to take them or go in and rescue them if the Libyans have a change of heart. If the prisoners show up anywhere along the border, the other helicopters can respond to help. Questions?"
The telephone in the briefing room rang; all heads turned, because they knew that the Charge of Quarters would not allow any calls through during a briefing unless it was absolutely urgent. David Luger picked it up immediately; he listened, then snapped his fingers at the television set bolted in one corner of the room. "CQ says turn on the TV right now," Luger said.
Patrick couldn't believe his eyes. There, on Egyptian national TV, was Ulama Khalid al-Khan, giving a press conference. The caption at the bottom of the screen, written in both Arabic and English, read "LIBYAN PRISONERS RELEASED TO EGYPT."
"The men were rescued from the Mediterranean Sea by the Libyan Navy," Khan was saying, replying to a reporter's question. "I have no details as to why or how their ships were sunk. The Libyan government detained the survivors until their identities could be verified-apparently there were some survivors whose identities or even their nationalities could not be verified, so it took longer than usual. But once all of the survivors were identified and questioned on the incident, King Idris of the United Kingdom of Libya ordered their release. He requested that I assist-in providing transportation and medical care for the survivors, and I immediately agreed. He asked me to assist in processing the survivors and seeing to their care and repatriation.
"Yes, there are casualties," Khan said, replying to another question. "Several dozen men were fatally injured in the incident. In addition, several men were injured while being detained by the kingdom of Libya, apparently because they refused both to reveal their identities and also to cooperate with Libyan authorities. They were suspected of engineering the attacks on friendly, neutral shipping in the Mediterranean. When they resisted while in detention, they were dealt with harshly, as any detainee who lashes out at his rescuers deserves."
"Yeah? Let's have a look at some of those 'resisters,' " Hal Briggs scoffed. "I'll bet the Libyans tortured the hell out of them." He saw Chris Wohl glaring at him disapprovingly-it wasn't until then that he realized with horrified embarrassment that Wendy and some of the Night Stalkers might be some of the ones killed while in captivity. He looked at Patrick with a silent apology, but Patrick's attention was riveted on the television.
"Despite the unfortunate loss of life, the incident is now at an end, thanks to the king of United Libya," Khan went on. "The prisoners will be taken to a location where they will receive medical care and then released. This spirit of cooperation between Libya and Egypt also paves the way for further talks between our two countries in other matters, such as the cessation of attacks against suspected terrorist training centers in southern Egypt and Chad, and the resumption of talks aimed at bringing more cooperation in planning mutual petroleum production contracts."
The interoffice phone rang again, and Luger answered it right away again. This time, he looked panicked as he slammed the phone down. "The Egyptian base commander, Vice Marshal Ouda, is outside the compound with a force about the size of an armored company. He wants to talk with you upstairs, on the liaison freq."
Patrick donned his helmet, unplugged his fully charged battle armor, and went upstairs to the front of their halfunderground concrete facility. From the topmost security room, Patrick could look outside without being seen. There was a twelve-foot-high fence surrounding their building, topped with razor wire, about fifty feet away. The military district commander's armored vehicle and several dozen light tanks and heavy armored personnel carriers were stationed outside the gate, weapons trained inside. More tanks and armored vehicles were spread out all along the perimeter-the Night Stalkers were suddenly sealed up tight.
"Dave, we got trouble," Patrick radioed to Luger. "We got a company of armor outside the fence. They're not coming through the fence, but they've got us surrounded pretty well."
"I can have a FlightHawk and a couple Wolverines with SFWs overhead in about four hours," Luger said. "We'll have to reprogram the weapons from the Benina strike, but that'll only take a few minutes."
Patrick thought quickly; then: "Find a safe orbit area for the Megafortress and the tanker," Patrick said, "and have them stand by as long as possible. We're just hours away from getting our guys back-I don't want to do anything to piss off the Egyptians now. But I want the strike aircraft available in case we have any trouble getting our folks out."
"We've only got one refueling aircraft available," Luger reminded him, "and it's been on the go for two days straight. If we send the Megafortresses into holding orbits, that means less fuel for the strike package, less fuel reserves for the tanker, and more flying hours. Those guys will be wiped."
"That can't be helped," Patrick said. "We've got to fly those planes hard until our guys are rescued. The tankers will just have to keep cycling as best they can. Contact Martindale and see if he can get us some more tanker support."
"Okay," David said. "Remember, we have that escape tunnel we found as a backup." In the first few hours after occupying the bunker, which was an old security outpost protecting the southern part of the base, the Night Stalkers found an emergency escape tunnel, which ran several hundred meters west. "I'll send some guys out to cheek to see if Ouda is covering it."
"Roger," Patrick said. "Cancel the strike meeting and have everyone get ready to bug out-we might have to move in a hurry." He switched to the Egyptian liaison radio frequency: "Vice Marshal Ouda, this is Castor," he said in his battle armor's radio. His battle armor's communications computer made the translation from English to Arabic and back again for him. "We have heard about the prisoner exchange between Libya and Egypt. We will not interfere. Once our men are returned to us, we will depart."
"The prisoner exchange will take place tomorrow morning," Ouda said via the computer datalink translation. "You are to stay here. No one will be allowed to leave this compound."
"Where will the prisoners be taken?"
"Here, by bus," Ouda replied. "They will be inprocessed, identified, examined by doctors, and questioned first. Then the Egyptian government will contact representatives from the various governments and they will be allowed to take their citizens with them. The airfield will be available for their use if needed. The government of Egypt is doing everything we can to facilitate this exchange-we do not want you or your men to interfere."
"We will not interfere," Patrick said. "I request permission to allow one of my men to accompany the foreign government representatives to see the prisoners."
"Denied," Ouda said quickly. "Not one of you is allowed to leave. If you try to leave, I will order my men to attack."
"Very well. We will comply with your orders, sir. I wish to speak with Mrs. Salaam or General Baris."
"They are not available."
Patrick could hear Ouda's real voice underneath the electronic translation, and his skin instantly tingled-there was something ominous about the way he said that. "Very well, sir. We will stay. Please ask Mrs. Salaam or General Baris to contact me immediately when they return to the base." Ouda made no reply before the connection was broken.