cc.fireice-第67部分

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t　Max　had　leveled　the　playing　field。　As　Yaeger　had　poked　around　in　the　yacht's　electronic　nervous　system；　he'd　e　across　two　very　important　connections。　The　first　was　the　vessel's　troubleshooting　program。　It　was　similar　to　the　visual　displays　used　in　cars；　only　far　more　sophisticated。　The　system　could　tell　the　people　running　the　yacht　the　status　of　the　watertight　doors；　and　the　performance　of　the　gas　turbines；　power　flow　and　the　other　electronic　veins　and　sinews　that　kept　the　ship　running。　Most　important；　Yaeger　had　located　the　central　control　room。　Everyone　in　the　raiding　party　carried　a　water…　proof　map　of　the　ship；　based　on　Max's　snooping。
　
　The　second　breakthrough　was　more　prosaic　but　equally　important。　The　yacht's　payroll　records　had　the　names　and　titles　of　practically　everyone　on　board。　Since　the　yacht　served　as　Razov's　home　and　corporate　center；　he　had　a　full　plement　of　housekeeping　staff；　cooks；　bookkeepers；　accountants　and　secretaries。　The　ship's　crew　was　unexpectedly　small；　indicating　that　the　vessel　was　loaded　with　automated　systems。　Austin's　interest　had　centered　on　a　category　that　Petrov　had　translated　to　mean：　〃nonregular　crew。〃　In　other　words；　Razov's　private　shipboard　army　of　thugs；　like　those　who　had　e　after　Austin　in　Boston　Harbor。　There　were　fifty　of　them；　and　their　ruthlessness　and　loyalty　were　not　to　I　be　ignored。　Petrov　insisted　that　the　odds　were　nothing　his　men　couldn't　handle。
　
　Stealth　would　be　their　primary　weapon。　They　would　silently　slip　aboard　the　yacht　and　race　to　the　control　center；　which　they　would　destroy　with　well…placed　explosives。　Opposition　would　be　quietly　neutralized。　If　they　had　to　fight　their　way　out；　they　had　enough　firepower　and　the　element　of　surprise　to　put　them　on　an　even　footing。　At　the　same　time；　Austin　and　Petrov　were　realists。　They　knew　that　the　odds　of　discovery　were　high；　and　casualties　were　likely　on　both　sides。　But　given　the　stakes　involved；　it　would　be　worth　the　losses。
　
　The　night…vision　goggles　the　boarding　party　wore　gave　the　ship　and　the　sea　a　greenish　tinge。　Austin　could　see　the　water…level　door　he　and　Kaela　had　entered　to　attend　Razov's　party。　It　would　be　too　risky　trying　to　gain　access　through　that　door　because　the　open　portal　would　show　up　on　the　ship's　visual　display。　Instead；　they　would　employ　the　time…tested　method　used　by　pirates；　castle　stormers　arid　mandos　alike。　Grappling　hooks。　In　their　folded　position；　the　hooks　were　tucked　into　metal　tubes。　When　the　grapple　was　launched　like　a　mortar　round；　the　hooks　opened。　The　prongs　were　covered　with　foam　rubber　so　that　even　someone　standing　a　few　yards　away　wouldn't　hear　them　grab　onto　the　rail　of　a　ship。
　
　Two　grapples　shot　out　of　their　mortars　with　quiet　coughs　of　pressed　air。　The　lines　were　tested。　The　ropes　were　taut；　indicating　that　the　grapples　had　engaged。　Petrov's　men　pointed　guns　equipped　with　silencers　toward　the　rail　where　anyone　looking　over　would　get　a　rude　surprise。　All　was　quiet；　and　they　moved　on　to　the　next　phase　of　the　operation。
　
　Austin　and　Petrov　made　the　first　ascent；　not　an　easy　task　with　their　packs。　They　lunged　awkwardly　over　the　rail；　surveyed　the　deck　and　saw　it　was　deserted；　then　signaled　the　others　to　e　aboard。　Within　minutes　they　were　squatting　on　the　deck　like　a　flock　of　black　and　heavily　armed　ducks。　Two　men　stayed　with　the　boats。
　
　The　raiding　party　split　in　half。　The　group　led　by　Austin　took　the　starboard　side。　Those　under　Petrov's　mand　crossed　to　the　port　side。　Both　units　would　advance　and　meet　at　a　ladder　at　the　base　of　the　bridge。　From　there；　the　plan　was　to　climb　three　decks　to　the　control　center　located　in　a　small　room　behind　the　wheelhouse。　At　this　hour；　only　a　skeleton　crew　should　be　manning　the　bridge。　Austin　gave　Petrov　the　okay　sign。　Crouching　low；　their　guns　at　the　ready；　both　groups　began　to　move　forward。
　
　Austin　was　encouraged　at　their　swift　progress；　but　they　had　just　passed　the　grand　salon　where　Razov　had　held　his　Boston　bash；　when　a　door　opened　without　warning。　Light　spilled　onto　the　deck；　flaring　in　their　night…vision　goggles；　Austin　pushed　the　goggles　back　on　his　head　and　saw　one　of　Razov's　guards　standing　like　a　deer　frozen　in　the　headlights。　The　man　clutched　a　bottle　of　vodka　and　his　arm　was　around　the　shoulders　of　a　young　woman　in　a　maid's　uniform；　his　hand　under　the　unbuttoned　front　of　her　dress。　Her　dyed　red　hair　hung　down　over　her　face；　and　her　bright　lipstick　was　smeared。　Austin　realized　he　had　provided　for　every　eventuality　except　the　human　libido。
　
　The　man's　drunken　grin　faded　at　the　sight　of　the　intruders　with　their　painted　faces　and　automatic　weapons。　As　a　professional　gunman　he　knew　exactly　what　was　expected　of　him：　silence。　His　female　panion　had　no　such　restraint。　Her　mouth　opened　wide；　and　she　let　out　an　ear…piercing　scream。　Her　lung　power　was　opera…star　level。　Her　second　shriek　was　even　louder；　the　howl　easily　drowning　Austin's　curses。　She　finally　ran　out　of　breath；　her　eyes　rolled　up　and　she　crumpled　to　the　deck　in　a　faint。
　
　As　the　echoes　faded；　the　ship　lit　up　like　a　pinball　machine。　Doors　flew　open　at　every　level；　and　yells　seemed　to　e　from　all　directions。　There　was　the　sound　of　running　feet　and　rough　voices　shouting　orders；　with　a　few　more　high…pitched　screams　thrown　in　for　variety。　Those　were　only　the　preliminaries。　A　second　later；　all　hell　broke　loose。
　
　…35…
　THE　SIKORSKY　HH　60…H　Seahawk　helicopters　raced　side　by　side　over　the　ocean　like　twin　Valkyries；　skimming　so　low　their　landing　gear　was　splashed　with　spume　from　the　cresting　wave　tops。　The　aircraft　were　painted　in　low…visibility　gray；　their　insignia　and　markings　toned　down　and　almost　invisible。
　
　As　he　stared　out　the　window　of　the　right…hand　helicopter；　the　platoon　mander；　Navy　Lieutenant　Zack　Mason；　reflected　on　the　urgent　phone　call　from　Washington　and　the　orders　to　scramble　a　special　warfare　task　unit　for　a　secret　mission。
　
　With　his　classic　profile　and　soft…spoken　manner；　Mason　could　have　passed　for　an　investment　banker。　Under　the　patrician　looks　was　a　tough　and　petent　warrior　who　had　not　simply　survived　the　rugged　SEAL　training；　but　thrived　on　it。　Still　only　in　his　thirties；　Mason　had　been　involved　in　missions　that　ranged　from　an　aborted　plan　to　shoot　down　Saddam　Hussein's　helicopter　to　security　at　the　Olympics　in　Atlanta。
　
　Officially；　he　was　the　leader　of　a　SEAL　group　on　the　East　Coast。　Unofficially；　he　was　liaison　to　the　Joint　Special　Operations　mand；　an　amalgam　of　SEALs；　Delta　Force　and　the　160th　Special　Operations　Aviation　Regiment　known　as　SOAR。　The　shadow　force　maintained　its　own　helicopter　support。　The　assault　teams　specialized　in　attacking　at…sea　targets　such　as　shipping　or　oil　rigs。　The　joint　mand　was　authorized　to　conduct　preemptive　strikes　against　terrorists　and　terrorism。
　
　The　orders　for　the　mission　had　bypassed　the　normal　links　in　the　chain　of　mand。　This　job　had　been　directly　authorized　by　the　secretary　of　the　navy；　who　had　handed　the　problem　off　to　the　admiral　in　mand　of　the　Naval　Special　Warfare　mand　in　Coronado；　California。　The　admiral　had　been　told　to　avoid　the　usual　red　tape；　and　have　the　operations　decisions　made　at　the　lowest　possible　level。　Mason　would　report　directly　to　Coronado　from　the　field。
　
　After　Sandecker　talked　to　him；　Sid　Sparkman　had　gone　to　the　president　and　told　him　the　truth　about　his　connection　to　Ataman。　He'd　admitted　to　being　seduced　by　the　chance　to　make　billions　of　dollars；　but　he'd　said　he　had　no　inkling　of　Razov's　plans　against　the　United　States。　He'd　handed　in　his　written　resignation；　to　be　announced　at　the　pleasure　of　the　president。　And　he　had　offered　himself　up　as　a　sacrificial　lamb。　If　the　operation　blew　up　in　their　faces；　Sparkman　would　take　responsibility　for　the　rogue　action　to　contain　the　damage。　Ever　the　pragmatist；　the　president　pocketed　the　resignation；　accepted　Sparkman's　offer　and　told　him　to　call　the　naval　secretary。
　
　Based　in　Little　Creek；　Virginia；　Mason's　SEAL　team　was　chosen　because　it　had　been　trained　in　boarding　a　ship　at　sea。　The　mission　goal　was　simple：　Swarm　aboard　the　ship　without　warning　and　deactivate　a　bomb。　Mason　knew　that　reaching　that　goal　would　be　the　hard　part。
　
　〃ing　up　on　target；〃　the　pilot　said；　with　a　lazy　drawl；　interrupting　Mason's　meditations。　〃T　minus　ten　minutes。〃
　
　Despite　his　calm　demeanor；　Mason　couldn't　avoid　the　adrenaline　rush　and　excitement　of　a　SEAL　mission。　He　was　what　was　known　as　an　〃operator；〃　one　who　had　joined　the　navy　for　action。　He　glanced　at　his　Chase…Durer　Swiss　watch；　turned　and　gave　the　men　behind　him　a　ten…fingered　signal　like　a　basketball　player　making　a　two…handed　free　throw。
　
　Dressed　in　black　uniforms；　their　exposed　faces　streaked　with　war　paint；　the　SEALs　were　barely　visible　in　the　cabin's　dim　light。　As　an　elite　force；　SEALs　were　given　leeway　in　dress　and　weapon。　Some　wore　〃drive…on　rags；〃　Rambo…style　around　their　heads；　others　the　more　traditional　floppy　hats　with　the　brim　turned　up　at　front。
　
　There　was　a　rustle　as　the　SEALs　patted　the　pouches　of　their　assault　vests　and　laid　reassuring　hands　on　their　automatic　weapons。　Most　in　the　team　carried　Colt　automatic　rifles；　the　shortened　version　of　the　M…16　that　fired　rounds　with　no　cartridges；　allowing　them　to　carry　more　ammunition。　One　man；　who　was　built　like　a　bull；　carried　the　M…60　E3；　a　light　machine　gun　that　normally　requires　two　men　to　operate。　Another　was　armed　with　a　12…gauge　shotgun　whose　slugs　could　penetrate　metal。　In　addition　to　his　own　rifle；　the　explosives　expert　carried　a　rucksack　that　contained　C…4　plastic　charges　and　fuses。
　
　Mason　manded　the　sixteen…man　platoon　that　would　board　the　starboard　side。　His　executive　officer；　〃2IC；〃　for　second　in　mand；　headed　the　group　that　would　secure　the　port　deck。　No　matter　how　heavily　armed　they　were；　thirty…two　men　posed　a　small　attack　force　for　a　target　as　huge　as　the　Ataman　Explorer。　The　last　thing　the　SEALs　wanted　to　do　was　get　into　a　firefight　with　a　vastly　superior　force。　Their　main　weapon　would　be　surprise；　their　allies　would　be　confusion　and　shock。
　
　〃m　check；〃　Mason　said。　Like　the　men　in　his　platoon；　he　carried　a　Motorola　MX300　radio　with　throat　mike　and　earpiece。　The　men　answered　in　order　of　their　seating。　Mason　counted　the　answers。　Sixteen。　Everyone　was　connected。　His　2IC　c