Second, if they did nab Conrad, there was the added difficulty of confining the professor until the device was ready to activate; and, once kidnapped, he could never be released. This new development couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time. The whole situation reeked of incompetence. This was exactly why he had asked Weaver to be absolutely certain the machine was functional before he contacted Holloway. Damn him, he thought.
He didn’t have any time to deal with this new situation. He knew he should contact Holloway, but the men would be meeting in less than two hours to study the Livermore job and he didn’t want the hangover from another ugly exchange. He decided to wait until later to contact Holloway.
At precisely 22:00 hours, just as Kilmer had stipulated, the team convened for the briefing on the Lawrence Livermore Lab mission. Each member arrived before the appointed hour, following the team maxim that arriving on time was considered fifteen minutes late by Kilmer. It was far better to be punctual than risk drawing certain reproach from the predictable Aussie.
The men gathered around the conference table, and began discussing the detailed satellite image displayed on the ten-foot-wide video screen in the meeting room. There were distinct white arrows that Dallas Weaver had superimposed on the aerial image, isolating different angles of the entrance, water tower, electrical substation, and containment building along the periphery of the screen. The men offered various opinions about how the initial breach would occur, several expressing doubts about the probability of success. Their mood was somber, most shaking their heads and agreeing that whichever course was taken would involve a lethal gun battle. Thor-Stark’s M24 sniper weapons system-loomed large in the men’s very survival.
“Hey, Dallas…you’ve probably figured the odds on surviving this bloodbath. What’s your best guess on Stark taking out the security team before we get slaughtered?” Rafie asked, directing his question more to the entire group, even though it was addressed to Weaver. “There are too many cover locations for these guys once the shooting starts.”
“How the hell should I know?” Weaver replied to Rafie, who everyone considered Kilmer’s equal when it came to planning covert operations. “You taught the Berets this stuff…why don’t you handicap the odds for us? I agree, it doesn’t look easy, but I’m sure boss has a plan.”
Kilmer was just entering the room and caught the last of the exchange between Weaver and Rafie. He was irritated by the grumbling that greeted him, noticing that Sully Metusack was the only one not already critiquing the operation before he laid it out. Kilmer knew it was obvious from looking at the aerial photo that the target was going to be difficult to breach, but he was prepared to address all their questions.
“G’day, mates. Righto…listen up,” Kilmer said, raising his arms and signaling the men to order. “Here’s the deal,” he began, pointing his laser light at the containment area in the southwest quadrant of the image.
“This is the Lawrence Livermore Lab containment buildin’. The lab has a fusion research program usin’ enriched nuclear fuel for testin’. Our mission is to nick twenty pounds of enriched plutonium, and return without a casualty. Once we’re on site, I guestimate fifteen minutes to pull the job after the first shot’s fired; any longer and we’ll square off with local cops. That’ll turn bloody. We roll t’morrow evening at 01:30 hours. It’s dicey, but the plan for this heist will keep yer balls intact.”
The men sat in perfect silence as they listened to Kilmer lay out the logistics of the mission. Most took notes as he proceeded to fully define the expected role of each team member.
“Starkovich, Metusack, and Krilenko are first in. Stark’ll deploy the M24 from this tower here,” he said, shining the laser light on the water tower at the east end of the Livermore complex. “Tooz will give Stark a leg up with ‘is sniper equipment; Ivan, yer the cover as they climb the tower. When Stark’s peachy, both Tooz and Ivan retreat to this mid-point location here,” he said, shining the laser on the screen. He highlighted a centrally located crossroads equidistant between the main entrance to the facility and what served as the back exit. “Yer to mow down security from this location; lethal force against any resistance.”
Kilmer shifted his attention to the next objective. “Nuzam and Ventura will blow the power substation, here,” he said, pointing the laser. The substation was presented on the screen from a couple of vantage points, which allowed Terry Ventura to estimate the correct amount of C4 explosive to use without causing unnecessary damage. He wasn’t called “Surgeon” for nothing.
“Rafie, ya tee up the back story,” Kilmer continued, “so scrounge anythin’ that fingers a terrorist group for the breach. Use the tower, substation, and containment center to give ‘er a whirl,” he said, highlighting each of these spots. “When our mates kill the lights, Colt’ll blast through the main gate and drive directly to the containment buildin’.”
Kilmer noticed that Rafie’s body language was anything but supportive. He looked doubtful, with his arms crossed, but slowly nodded his head.
“Stark, ya’ll be goin’ like a blue ass fly when the substation blows,” Kilmer continued, “but shoot the guards at the main gate first. Colt, when ya see the guards drop head for the main gate at ramming speed. Good oh?”
Colt nodded his understanding.
Kilmer switched focus again, magnifying the main entrance of the containment building on the video screen. “Terry, have a gander at this door here. We’ll need a Simtex shape charge. Good for us the containment room is bunkered thirty feet under ground, but we can’t chance damagin’ the elevator or, worse, releasin’ any radioactivity…so be spot on, pally.”
Terry nodded solemnly.
“Dallas, yer and me arrive ‘n hazmat suits. We blow the door and rush the containment room. The cargo elevator is directly back of the main door and will run us to the underground bunker; emergency backup power should keep the elevator operatin’. We locate this pushcart to ferry the cargo out the facility,” he said, highlighting a compact box that would contain the twenty pounds of enriched uranium. “Then we’re off like a bride’s nitie and meet back at Colt’s Humvee. This is a very tight op, but it should be no sweat.
“Stark, keep droppin’ the guards. Same goes for Rafie and Terry…as soon as ya blow the lights, fall back to the Humvee and provide cover fire. Ivan and Tooz, ya’ll wait for Dallas and me to bring the goods. Cover Stark ‘til he flees ‘is perch…then y’all beat it back to the Humvee. No playin’ possum. Like I said, we finish this dealo in less than fifteen minutes or we’re pinched. Short of that… were aces. Alrighty, let’s hear yer thoughts, mates,” he said, bracing for an onslaught of disagreement.
The men maintained their rapt attention. Rafie was shaking his head in disbelief and was the first to speak. “What’s the pay on this job, Boss; ’cause I’ll tell you…it ain’t nearly enough. Crazy fucking plan, if you want my honest opinion. I’ll create your diversion easy enough, but we’re gonna lose some guys. How do you justify a plan like this?” he asked, shrugging, palms turned up, looking for support from the group.
Kilmer looked hard at his second-in-command. A confrontation between the two had been brewing for some time. “Rafie, there’s no back hander comin’. It’s dangerous, sure; of all people, ya know this. If ya squib out, I’ll find someone else, but fat chance gettin’ ‘nother call if ya sit this one out,” he warned. “It’s a big job with a big risk… but if we stick to the plan, we’re good as gold.”
Weaver spoke next. “Tell me a little more about the containment area. I blow the door with Terry’s shape charge, then you and I enter the bunker below. How will we know what to take or when we’ve got the correct amount?”
“Good on ya, mate,” Kilmer replied. “Holloway promised the cargo will be stashed and ready to roll. We have and insider. All we do is locate this containment cart,” he said, pointing to a small pushcart that was isolated on the screen. “The booty’s sealed for transport. The package is lead-lined and heavy, but we’ll roll it right out the blummin’ door. Don’t ask how he arranged it; but trust me…its the full quid.”
“What’s the total number of men on the lab’s security detail?” Tommy Starkovich asked. “As soon as Terry and Rafie blow the lights, Thor will be busy with more than a dozen men.”
“Sorry, mate, that part of the recon’s a tad wonky,” Kilmer answered, rubbing his hands together. “We can expect a dozen guards on duty any given evenin’. Two bloats each are usually located at the main entrance and these two side exits” he said, pointing out the guard shacks that controlled access to the complex.
“More on our side’ll be the blackout when the lights blow. Ya’ll clock the backup lightin’ when they come on. Our night-vision gives us a big advantage. If Stark takes out the six guards at the gates and helps shoot out the emergency lightin’, I’m dead cert the rest of ya can handle the remainin’ security. Then it’s simply a matter of blowin’ the containment door, nicking the cargo, and haulin’ arse.”
“Usual getaway?” Colt Hamil asked, as the buzz in the room began to quiet down.
