Free Fall: A Prelude to Hidden Order Read Free Page A

Sienna Star had been very clear. Harvath and his team were to not only rescue the tanker, but the entire crew . That most definitely included the captain.
    Right now, though, Harvath had a bigger headache. There were still two levels above them that needed to be cleared and their occupants dealt with. He rapidly interviewed the Greek for any useful intelligence he had on who occupied the floors above them.
    Based on what the man had seen, it sounded like there were only three pirates remaining, including their leader, a young man named Abuukar. The Greek claimed he was easy to spot because he spoke English and, unlike the other Somalis, wore a New York Mets cap instead of a turban.
    He had appropriated the captain’s quarters for himself, as well as the large desk on the bridge, from which he could place satellite phone calls and handle all the ransom negotiations with the shipping company.
    Harvath was confident he would recognize the pirate simply from his voice. He had been played recordings of the young man’s phone call. Abuukar was not only arrogant, but particularly sadistic in what he had threatened to do to the crew if his demands were not met. He was the reason that the Sienna Star ’s owners had decided to redouble their efforts to have their ship recaptured. They had made it quite clear that no tears would be shed if Abuukar never left the supertanker alive. According to the Greek, it was Abuukar who had pulled the trigger and murdered the Sienna Star ’s navigator.
    As the crew members all had prior military service, Harvath chose the first three who stood up, and handed them the AK-47s taken from the dead pirates in the hallway. He then left them under Kass’s command as he and Sanchez made their way to the stairs.
    They found two more Somalis on the next level, eating. Harvath shot one and Sanchez the other. If the Greek engineer was right, that left only Abuukar and Mukami, who should be on the bridge at the very top level.
    There were multiple ways to access the bridge, and Harvath decided that he and Sanchez should split up. From the level they were on, Sanchez could step outside and take one of two metal staircases leading to the deck wrapping around the bridge. Harvath would come up via an interior staircase. Synchronizing their assault, they inserted fresh magazines into their weapons and parted ways.
    Harvath moved quickly down the hallway and into the stairwell. Once Sanchez was in place, he transmitted three quick clicks over his radio. It was time to hit the bridge.
    Harvath crept silently up the remaining stairs. Reaching for the bridge hatch, he tested to make sure it was unlocked and then whispered the command to launch the assault, “Go!”
    Pulling the door open, he button-hooked onto the bridge, sweeping his weapon from side to side, taking in everything all at once.
    He ID’d both Mukami, the Kenyan engineer, and Abuukar, the Somali pirate.
    Sanchez came exploding through the door on the port navigation deck as Harvath advanced on Abuukar, yelling, “Drop the weapon! Do it now!”
    As the Somali fumbled to pick up his AK, Harvath splintered the desk he was sitting at with rounds from his MP7. “Hands up!” he yelled. “Do it now! Do it now !”
    Slowly, Abuukar complied.
    “If you fail to follow any of my orders, I will kill you,” said Harvath. “Do you understand? If so, nod your head.”
    Abuukar nodded.
    “Keep your hands in the air and stand up. Do it now!”
    Abuukar did as he was told.
    “Take three steps to your left, away from the desk. Do it now!” Harvath commanded.
    Once Harvath had the Somali where he wanted him, he directed the pirate to assume an arrest posture, with legs spread, bent at the waist, weight on the balls of his feet, and arms out and swept back like an airplane. Sanchez ordered Mukami to do the same.
    “If either of you make even the slightest move, you will be killed. Do you understand?”
    When both of them nodded, Harvath signaled for Sanchez to