Page 121 of Critical Mass
His blood went cold.
At least a dozen armed men loaded sealed drums into various white vans—drums that bore hazardous material symbols.
This wasn’t a single attack, Hudson realized. This was mass deployment. Those drums wouldn’t just be unleashed in Norfolk. They were headed to multiple cities.
And there near the gangway, surrounded by armed guards, stood Natalie and her father.
Even from fifty yards away, Hudson could see the fear on Natalie’s face. Could see Dimitri standing behind them, weapon drawn, preventing any escape.
And then there was the third man.
A man who looked all too familiar.
It was just as Hudson had feared.
Brass.
He really was alive and well.
“I’ve got visual,” Hudson whispered into his comm. “Two hostages, twelve-plus hostiles, and at least thirty barrels of chemical weapons being loaded for transport.”
“Copy,” Colton’s voice crackled in his ear. “Five minutes out. Hold position.”
Five minutes might as well be five hours. Those ships could finish unloading and the vans could depart in five minutes.
Hudson studied the situation, his mind running through scenarios.
They were outgunned and outnumbered.
A direct assault would get them all killed.
But if they could create a diversion, draw the guards away from Natalie . . .
“See that forklift?” Hudson whispered to Atlas.
Atlas followed his gaze. “Affirmative.”
“It runs on propane. If we can puncture the tanks?—”
“There would be a massive explosion. Chaos. Everyone would focus on the fire.” Jake nodded slowly. “It would give us a window to take over the scene.”
“It’s risky,” Atlas said. “We can’t let the explosion be too close to these drums of chemicals. It could unleash them.”
Flashbacks of that terrible day in Ankara pummeled his mind. The pain. The devastation. The suffering.
He couldn’t let something like that happen again.
“Everything about this is risky.” Hudson’s eyes never left Natalie. “We keep the explosion far away. But sitting here while they finish loading those weapons isn’t an option. We move now or thousands of people die tonight.”
“Agreed,” Jake said.
Maverick pulled a computer from his backpack. “I think I may be able to remotely kill those vans. They’re new enough to have the latest technology, and technology can be hacked. If I can override their systems . . . then those vans won’t be going anywhere.”
“Great idea. See what you can do.” Jake turned back to them. “Okay, Atlas and I create the distraction. You get to Natalie.”
They split up—Jake and Atlas circling toward the forklift and staged drums, Hudson moving closer to the pier, positioning himself for a fast approach once chaos erupted.
He had one chance to get this right.
