Red Hawk Rising

Byrne was excited. His colleague telephoned Wensley Electronics to say that Sean Byrne had been rather sick during the night and wouldn’t be in to work that day. They then headed out to the van. Major Garasov had also made a radio call to Captain Petrovsky on the trawler and told him to have the agent slip ashore by changing places with a person that would supply some spare parts for equipment on the trawler. Within minutes, a ships chandler’s van pulled up at the jetty and a person got out of the passenger side, went round to the back of the van and took out some boxes. He went on board the ship with the boxes. A few minutes later, a person dressed in the same clothes left the trawler and got into the passenger seat of the van which then drove off. As the van, with Sean Byrne in it, arrived at Rothbury Terrace, another pulled up and the passenger got out and went to the same address. The Communist Party member opened the front door of the house and the visitors went inside. Introductions were made all round and they all received their instructions. While the Brennan Transport drivers were in the cafe at Scotch Corner they were to break into the van and remove the crate labelled for Wensley Electronics. They were to drive back to the shed in Byker and the chandler’s van would be there. The crate would be re-labelled as spare parts for the trawler and put in the chandler’s van. Vasiliy, the agent, would go with that van back to the trawler. Sean Byrne was there to check the contents of the crate and make sure it was the right piece of equipment. Vasiliy was to be in charge and give the instructions. They estimated that the truck would be at Scotch Corner by 11 a.m. and that they should be back at Byker by 2 p.m. Heading out of the house they saw that the chandler’s van had gone. They boarded their van, two of them climbing into the back, and then drove off in the direction of the city to cross the river and head south on the A1.

Heading out of Manchester from a different direction was a black Ford Consul. Its driver had received a call from Major Garasov to tell him which vehicle should be followed. They estimated that the vehicle would take a northern route through the Pennines rather than go over the top and the driver should be able to catch up with it. The driver’s role was to follow the Brennan’s truck and report back on its progress by the radio installed in the car. He would follow to Scotch Corner and watch and report back. He had a further instruction and that was to help a Russian agent called Vasiliy if he approached the car for help, otherwise he was not to get involved. Vasiliy had been given details of the car.

Leaving Manchester and passing through Oldham, the Brennan Transport vehicle picked up speed. Evan Lewis pulled down the glove compartment cover and a radio unit slid out. He switched on and let it warm up. Once the ready light came on, he picked up the microphone and called the office. “Transport 05 calling. We are en route and just through Oldham, proceeding east. No sign of a tail yet but when we spot one, we’ll call in. Otherwise we’ll call in again in thirty minutes time. Over.”

“Roger, 05. Received and understood. Out.” Evan switched off the radio and slid it back into the compartment.

“Evan, check the weapons and make sure they are ready,” said Jack Simmonds. Evan reached down and slid a drawer open from under his seat and lifted out a tray with two .38 revolvers in it. He lifted each out in turn and checked their loading and action. Then he returned them to the tray and slid it back under the seat.

“They’re fine, Jack,” he said. Taking a busy road across to Leeds and then the Wetherby Road to the A1 reduced the risk of anyone attempting anything.

“We should be okay but it’s best to be prepared,” said Jack. The transport company was genuine enough but it had a ‘Special Contracts Division’ that had some interesting assignments and some interesting personnel. That division was effectively run by MI5 personnel. The company had been purchased by a government front organisation when Mr Brennan retired. Jack and Evan were two of its operatives. They drove on.

Also driving south on the A1 were Hamilton and Andy Hill. From time to time, Hamilton used the radio to check on progress. Louden was shadowing the Commer van and they were ahead of Hamilton. Hamilton spoke to Andy. “That cleaning company in Manchester that upset you, tipped off the Russian consulate this morning. Shortly afterwards our communist friends in Heaton moved out in a Commer van and it’s heading south on the A1. It looks as if our hunch is correct. If they break into the carrier’s van and take the crate they are in for a surprise. As I mentioned before, your tech friends gutted the u/s klystron unit and installed superseded components last night. This is a precaution in case they get away with the unit. MI5 operatives will handle things but we are there to apprehend any who may succeed in getting away. Your particular skills may come in handy but we want them alive. Try to avoid a repeat of your last episode, please.” Hamilton made the last remark with a wry smile on his face.

“I’ll do my best, sir,” replied Andy.

“While we’re working together like this, you call me Iain. No need for formality. I understand you are Andy?”

“Yes, sir. Sorry, Iain,” was Andy’s reply. “I’m curious. Why the informality? It isn’t the British way,” Andy asked.

Hamilton responded, “When reflex action is needed in the situations we may experience, we