Jamie Fredric
Silent Vengeance
For All Those Who Have Served
All Gave Some, Some Gave All
Gregg: Godspeed, my friend
THE FREEDOM OF MANY
IS PROTECTED BY THE FEW
Team Alpha Tango
Home Base — “Eagle 8”
Grant Stevens — Captain, (Ret.); graduate U.S. Naval Academy; born in California; brown hair; brown eyes, 6’1”; fluent in Russian and Japanese; Code name“ Panther”; Team call sign: “Yankee Zero-Niner”
Joe Adler — Lieutenant, (Ret.); born in Oklahoma; brown hair, blue eyes, 5’10”; fluent in German; Code name“ Mustang”;“Yankee Two-Seven”
Frank Diaz — CPO; born in NY; black hair, brown eyes, 5’9”; EOD; fluent in Spanish, some Portuguese;“Yankee Three-Six”
Rob Draper — Lieutenant; OCS, Newport, R.I.; born in Connecticut; brown hair; hazel eyes; 5’9”; fluent in French;“Yankee Niner-Niner”
Matt Garrett — Captain, (Ret.); graduate of U.S. Naval Academy; born in Maryland; brown hair; brown eyes, 6’0”; fluent in French and German;“Yankee Eight-Four”
Darius “DJ” James — Petty Officer 1st Class; born in Florida; dark brown hair; brown eyes; 5’9”; communications; speaks some Turkish, Arabic;“Yankee Six-Eight”
Vince Milone — Petty Officer 1st Class; born in NJ; brown hair, brown eyes, 5’10”; SB (Special Warfare Boat Operator); fluent in Italian, German;“Yankee Three-Six”
Mike Novak — Petty Officer 1st Class; born in Wisconsin; dark blond hair; hazel eyes; 6’0”; sniper; speaks Hungarian and some German;“Yankee Seven-Three”
Ken Slade — CPOS (Senior Chief), (Ret.); born in Alaska; bald; brown eyes; 5’10”; pointman/navigator; speaks the Inuit language, some Russian;“Yankee Four-One”
Cal “Doc” Stalley — Petty Officer 1st Class; born in Virginia; dark blond hair; blue eyes; 5’10”; corpsman; fluent in French, some Chinese; youngest of the Team;“Yankee Five-Two”
Prologue
Yaba, (yar bah), known as "crazy medicine" in Thai, is a powerful central nervous system stimulant. With longer lasting effects than those of cocaine, it's a combination of methamphetamine and up to 65 mg caffeine, but mostly meth.
During World War II Hitler ordered the manufacture of a drug that would keep troops awake for days. They labeled it "Nazi speed." The Nazi method employed the drug ephedrine, a natural stimulant found in the ephedra bush. Far Eastern ephedra has a higher concentration of ephedrine than the Western plant, and is frequently used in allergy and cold medicines. The other main ingredients of yaba are found in common household cleaning products, salt, rat poison, a binding agent and food coloring. Preparation time is only a couple of hours, as compared to "speed" formulas that could take days. All that's needed are a stove or open fire, a heavy cooking container, and a pill press. But with a mixture of volatile chemicals, anything could go wrong — explosions, massive destruction.
At one time legal in Thailand, yaba was sold at gas stations, alongside cigarettes and soft drinks. Truckers would take it to help them stay awake for longer periods of time. In 1970 it was finally outlawed, at which time production and supply simply went underground. Hidden laboratories produced as many as 10K pills an hour. In Bangkok each pill sold for as little as $3.
Side effects from normal doses could cause intense hallucinations; susceptibility to rapid heart rate; increased blood pressure; psychotic episodes; damage to internal organs and small blood vessels in the brain that could lead to stroke; severe depression, and suicidal urges.
Yaba had found its way to the American aircraft carrier, the USS John Preston.
Chapter 1
Primary Flight Control — Pri-Fly, the "Perch." The control tower for flight operations on the carrier. From here the Air Boss and Mini Air Boss were in charge of takeoffs, landings, controlling an area that stretched 2,500 feet in altitude and spread over a five-mile radius.
At 2200, the Preston went to“ darken ship”conditions. All lights inside turned red. Air Boss Unger spoke into the 5MC notifying flight deck personnel that pilots would be manning their aircraft. Launches would begin at 2400. The flight deck crew was reminded to suit up in protective gear: earplugs, cranial helmets with thickly padded ear protectors, and goggles. Everyone wore "float coats" (life jackets) with water-activated strobe lights and a whistle. Anyone not assigned to the flight deck was ordered to vacate the area.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Kent Helmon was on his way to Pri-Fly to report for mid watch (0000 — 0400). This morning he'd be acting as a forward spotter, watching planes launch from the flight deck. One of his responsibilities was charting in a log book every plane that was in the air.
He walked unsteadily into Pri-Fly, catching the attention of Senior Chief Ted Bristol, who immediately noticed something was very wrong. Helmon was having a hard time putting one foot in front of the other. The senior chief looked at him through narrowed eyes, then stepped in front of him, pressing a hand against his shoulder, bringing him to a stop.
Bristol found himself staring into bloodshot brown eyes, and a sweaty, pale face. "I sure as hell hope you're sober, Helmon!" No response.
Hearing the senior chief, Commander Stetson (CAG) and Air Boss Unger turned away from the window. Unger called out, "What's goin' on over there, Senior Chief?!"
"Petty Officer Helmon is having some kind of problem, sir!" With hands on his hips, Bristol leaned toward Helmon. "What's wrong with you?!" Again, no response. "Petty Officer! I asked you a damn question!"
"Don't … know, … Senior … Chief." Helmon began swaying, as he wiped a hand over his face.
Bristol grabbed hold of his arm, trying to steady him. "You don't have the goddamn flu, do you?" Other men in the room glanced quickly at Helmon, then immediately turned their attention to the flight deck. Night ops were about to get underway.
"I … I … " Helmon's body went into uncontrolled spasms. His eyes rolled back. Bristol caught him before he hit the deck.
Kneeling next to the unconscious sailor, Bristol ordered over his shoulder, "Contact sickbay! Now!"
Petty Officer 3d Class Dan Worster, OS (Operations Specialist), sat up then slid his legs over the side of the lower rack (bunk) after another sleepless night. His pillow was soaked with sweat again, and his heart rate seemed higher than normal, but he felt energized in a good way. In an hour he was due to report for mid watch in CIC, the tactical "nerve center" of the carrier.
He reached under the mattress, feeling for a small plastic bag. Sealed inside was a tin holding a fresh supply of "go" pills. He removed the tin from the bag, then glanced briefly overhead, hearing Al Fiske snoring in the rack above, with an occasional grunt escaping from Shane Munroe in the top rack.
Returning his attention to the tin, he opened it and made a quick count. He paid for twelve 6mm pills, and that's what he got. Twelve to a tin — no more, no less — keeping transactions swift, and at a steady pace. Somehow he'd have to make these last until the next shipment.