Hammer of God

CHAPTER 10

Hammerson scrolled through a screen of the latest Intel. “We’re blind and deaf in there now. I can use our orbiting hardware to guide you, but we’re just eyes from a long way up. The rest is up to you.”

“Got it,” Alex said. “It’s a weird one, Jack. These… things were not really alive. It was more like someone jump-started a Mac truck. They were all sewn together, no blood, just a weapon delivery system on two legs. Got the strength of a dozen men — hard to kill.” Alex snorted. “No, already dead; make that, hard to stop.”

“But you took one down,” Hammerson said.

“Yes and no. I beheaded it, but I didn’t see what happened to the body. Might still be jerking around down there, or worse, having another head fitted, and then coming right back at us.”

“Jesus Christ.” Hammerson spat the words. “These things are hard to see. They don’t show up on thermal, as there’s no body heat. And trying to find a single slow moving person in the entire Middle East is damned near impossible.” Hammerson exhaled. “And now they plan to take their war to the armies of Rome. One goes off in Italy, and we’ve got a world war on our hands.”

“Got to find that Traveler, and find the source. Both need to be totally destroyed,” Alex said.

“Agreed — find them, and take them down, hard.” Hammerson sat back, thinking. After a few seconds, he ran a hand up through his hair. “I can swing the satellites in on this to watch borders and sniff for any high energy particle traces. I’ll arrange for coded updates to get to you, but for the most part you’ll need to go dark when you cross into Iran. They’ve got some pretty sophisticated surveillance equipment in there — mostly Russian and Chinese, but top of the line. As soon as you start talking, they’ll begin to close in on you.”

“Blackout might be a good thing,” Alex said. “From now on, the less you know, the less you’ll have to deny to anyone who asks.”

“Works for me. You got any firm leads?” Hammerson asked.

“Maybe. Adira seems to think she has an idea where to start, but it’s a long shot. She told me that this reanimation process was thought to be a myth or a legend about an alchemist named Jabir ibn Hayyan, who lived over a thousand years ago in an ancient city called Tous — it’s still there today in northeastern Iran. She thinks that should be our first call. Best way in for us is to cross from Afghanistan into Turkmenistan, then drive a few hundred miles through empty desert.”

Hammerson whistled. “Wild West; nothing but a graveyard of fallen military power up there.”

Alex snorted. “Compared to Mosul? Walk in the park. I’ll contact you again when we’re on the ground. Good luck finding that last Traveler.”

“Same to you, and stay alive. Over and out.”

“Just you. A smaller team is a faster team.” Adira folded her arms.

“My full team, you and Eli, that’s five; all we need,” Alex said. “We’re better trained, and ready to go.”

“Than who?” Adira snorted. “Too many, and which ones can speak fluent Farsi? Which ones know where the safe houses are? Which ones know how to spot Sepah or Quds commandos on the ground?” She shook her head. “I know you’ll fight to the death, but what good are dead HAWCs to me?”

Alex exhaled. “Sam Reid can speak Farsi.”

Adira raised her brows. “Like an American.”

“Sam and Franks, and Big Brother looking down over our shoulder. You need the Intel.” He folded his arms. “We’re ghosts, and we’re going in, with or without you.”

“The Intel I need, ghosts I don’t.” She folded her arms tighter and narrowed her eyes. “But you have proven useful before, and there is something I need.”

She waited, and eventually Alex raised his eyebrows. “Well?”

“Clear me with Jack Hammerson. I may never go back to America, but if I do, I don’t want him expending any energy getting in front of me.” She shrugged. “And I’d hate to have him send you to bring me in.” She smiled, tilting her head. “Or would you like that?”

Alex grinned. “I’ll talk to the Colonel.” He straightened. “So, we’re all good; three HAWCs for the price of one.” Alex half bowed, and then Adira led him to a small table where they sat down and she poured a coffee. He sipped and then looked up at her. “Afghanistan is a risk — bad country in the border regions. Turkmenistan at least pretends to be neutral. Easier in and out.”

She nodded. “Normally true, but it also has more IRG spies than most other countries. Many live and work out in the open, but they are flush with cash, and pay locals handsomely for information. A group of strange-looking people flying in or moving around would attract high-value attention. They’d be on us in an hour.”

“I agree. Do you know the city of Tous?” Alex asked.

She shook her head. “I only know the area; it’s in the Mashhad Province. Not much out there — mountains, cold grassland plains, and some nomadic tribes. The city itself is old, like most cities in the area. It’s changed hands many times, even been captured by Alexander the Great in 330 BC. Then almost totally destroyed by the Mongols around eight hundred years ago. It was always a city of poets, sciences, and learning, and a natural fit for an ancient alchemist’s dark magic. I have my network gathering information before we leave, but an interesting thing to note is that there has been heavy traffic in and out of the area lately — by land and air.”

“Crossing into Iraq — by helicopter perhaps?” Alex half smiled. “Looks like our number one suspect after all.”

“Yes, and a good place to start. We leave tomorrow morning, early.” She smiled. “Time for another outfit change; I get to wear a simple abaya. But you and Sam look too much like soldiers to pass as anything else, so… we have some Iranian regular army uniforms.” She grinned. “And please let me tell Casey Franks she will be in fetching all-over black this time, just like me.”

Alex went to turn away, but she reached out to grab his arm. “Not so fast. I have just one more change of clothing for you… and one more request.”

His brows came together, and she tilted her head. “You owe me, Alex… at least for that thing I did for America. I saved your friend Matt Kearns, and probably half the country.”

Alex raised an eyebrow, but then slowly nodded. “Fire away.”