Primary Target (1999) by Joe - Dalton Weber, Sullivan 01 Page A
Authors: Joe - Dalton Weber, Sullivan 01
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group of terrorists planned to create nightmares for pilots, passengers, and air traffic controllers. After a quick snack and a change of clothes, Farkas threw his canvas bags into the gleaming white and blue Cessna Citation I/SP and headed for his next destination. If the White House ignored the deadline for the U . S . military to begin leaving the Gulf region, Shakhar had ordered Farkas to deliver an immediate and resounding response.
Chapter 6
En Route to Dallas--Fort Worth International .
The C-37A Air Force Special Air Missions VIP transport, a modified military version of the long-range Gulfstrea m V corporate jet, cruised quietly at 41,000 feet as it neared the southeastern corner of Colorado. Relaxing in the spacious cabin, Scott and Jackie were the only passengers on the specially configured plane.
An hour and a half ahead of them in another Air Force VIP jet, Hartwell Prost and Greg O'Donnell were going over the details of the rescue mission. They would be back in Washington, D . C ., before Scott and Jackie arrived at Dallas--Fort Worth International.
Scott was finishing the report Jackie had written about Maritza Gunzelman's surveillance activities. Setting the confidential report aside, he reached for Maritza's dossier. From the variety of photographs of Gunzelman wearing different disguises in different settings, it was easy to see how she could blend into almost any environment.
Maritza could pass for Spanish, Mexican, Portuguese, Egyptian, Indian, Italian, or a native of the Gulf region. Dressed in a solid black chador with her arms and legs hidden, hair and forehead concealed by scarves, she looked amazingly like the archetypal Islamic woman.
She was well versed in the Muslim religion and spok e several Persian dialects, including Farsi. Covered in traditional Islamic garb and espousing fierce opposition to the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, Maritza had methodically worked her way close to the senior Hezbollah activists operating in the Bekaa Valley.
Scott read a little further, then paused and leaned closer to Jackie. "How did she manage to break through--to actually become a member of the Islamic Jihad?"
"It wasn't easy," Jackie answered with considerable satisfaction. "She gained the attention of the militants by preaching day and night about exterminating the infidels and making Islam the sole religion on earth. She even spent entire days chanting outside the compound about the fury and breadth of Islam's revenge."
Scott shook his head. "Incredible."
Jackie smiled to herself. "Slowly they began to trust her, including Bassam Shakhar. After she was invited to join the terrorist group, Shakhar personally challenged Maritza to prove her loyalty by murdering a man charged with being a heretic."
"That sounds like Shakhar," Dalton quietly commented, his expression unchanged. "Welcome to the psycho ward." Jackie paused and made eye contact with Scott. "She carried out the execution flawlessly."
Scott avoided stating an opinion.
"That solidified her acceptance by the group, and Shakhar invited her to move into the compound."
Scott was about to reply when the aircraft commander stepped out of the cockpit to give them an update on the weather situation in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The present conditions were reasonable, but the weather was expected to deteriorate as a powerful line of thunderstorms neared the metroplex. The pilot explained that they would be descending soon, then excused himself and turned to speak with the pilots who had flown the leg from Andrews Air Force Base to Elmendorf AFB.
"Interesting," Scott said as he handed the report and dossier back to Jackie. "She's a gutsy woman."
"She's one of the best," Sullivan said as the command pilot returned to the cockpit. "Like any good actress, she thoroughly prepares for the part she's going to play."
"Tell me again," Scott inquired with idle curiosity, "what caused them to become suspicious of her?"
"It's only a guess, but
Chapter 6
En Route to Dallas--Fort Worth International .
The C-37A Air Force Special Air Missions VIP transport, a modified military version of the long-range Gulfstrea m V corporate jet, cruised quietly at 41,000 feet as it neared the southeastern corner of Colorado. Relaxing in the spacious cabin, Scott and Jackie were the only passengers on the specially configured plane.
An hour and a half ahead of them in another Air Force VIP jet, Hartwell Prost and Greg O'Donnell were going over the details of the rescue mission. They would be back in Washington, D . C ., before Scott and Jackie arrived at Dallas--Fort Worth International.
Scott was finishing the report Jackie had written about Maritza Gunzelman's surveillance activities. Setting the confidential report aside, he reached for Maritza's dossier. From the variety of photographs of Gunzelman wearing different disguises in different settings, it was easy to see how she could blend into almost any environment.
Maritza could pass for Spanish, Mexican, Portuguese, Egyptian, Indian, Italian, or a native of the Gulf region. Dressed in a solid black chador with her arms and legs hidden, hair and forehead concealed by scarves, she looked amazingly like the archetypal Islamic woman.
She was well versed in the Muslim religion and spok e several Persian dialects, including Farsi. Covered in traditional Islamic garb and espousing fierce opposition to the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, Maritza had methodically worked her way close to the senior Hezbollah activists operating in the Bekaa Valley.
Scott read a little further, then paused and leaned closer to Jackie. "How did she manage to break through--to actually become a member of the Islamic Jihad?"
"It wasn't easy," Jackie answered with considerable satisfaction. "She gained the attention of the militants by preaching day and night about exterminating the infidels and making Islam the sole religion on earth. She even spent entire days chanting outside the compound about the fury and breadth of Islam's revenge."
Scott shook his head. "Incredible."
Jackie smiled to herself. "Slowly they began to trust her, including Bassam Shakhar. After she was invited to join the terrorist group, Shakhar personally challenged Maritza to prove her loyalty by murdering a man charged with being a heretic."
"That sounds like Shakhar," Dalton quietly commented, his expression unchanged. "Welcome to the psycho ward." Jackie paused and made eye contact with Scott. "She carried out the execution flawlessly."
Scott avoided stating an opinion.
"That solidified her acceptance by the group, and Shakhar invited her to move into the compound."
Scott was about to reply when the aircraft commander stepped out of the cockpit to give them an update on the weather situation in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The present conditions were reasonable, but the weather was expected to deteriorate as a powerful line of thunderstorms neared the metroplex. The pilot explained that they would be descending soon, then excused himself and turned to speak with the pilots who had flown the leg from Andrews Air Force Base to Elmendorf AFB.
"Interesting," Scott said as he handed the report and dossier back to Jackie. "She's a gutsy woman."
"She's one of the best," Sullivan said as the command pilot returned to the cockpit. "Like any good actress, she thoroughly prepares for the part she's going to play."
"Tell me again," Scott inquired with idle curiosity, "what caused them to become suspicious of her?"
"It's only a guess, but
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