Chapter 54
Singapore, Seletar Air Base
November 13, 2006, 09:00 local time
A Singapore Air force helicopter had taken Jackson and Joe off the LNG carrier in the early hours of the morning and brought them to an airbase in the center of Singapore. Since then they had been kept under armed guard. All they had been given was water.
Joe asked, “What do you think will happen to us, Sarge?”
“We'll either be treated as heroes or they'll throw us in jail for some violation of international law.”
“You really think they'll throw us in jail?”
Jackson realized fatigue, hunger and the uncertainty was making him bad-tempered.
“No, they will release us to our people. It's just that in a crisis, non-urgent things happen slowly, because the people who need to make the decision are busy with the important stuff. We are no longer important. Just be patient.”
A couple of hours later, two Singaporean military policemen entered the room where they were detained.
One of them said, “Follow me.”
Jackson asked, “Where are you taking us?”
“Just follow me.”
The MP ignored Jackson when he asked the question a second time.
Jackson and Joe followed the MP, while the second MP brought up the rear. Neither had drawn their weapon or seemed to be taking any special precautions. Both were in their early twenties and the slight hesitation he detected in their actions said to Jackson, they were probably conscripts or at least new at the job.
Jackson could easily take both of them out, but that would just make him and Joe fugitives in a foreign country. What would they do then? Try to get to the American Embassy. If they were lucky, they might make it. They'd need to hold the Military Police at gunpoint and force them to show him and Joe the way, which would be kidnapping and probably a few other serious crimes beside.
He'd wait and see how things developed.
The MP led them to a military police car with a steel grill between the rear seat and the front seats. He opened the back door and told them to get in. Jackson and Joe both entered the car through the same door.
The car left the airbase and after a few minutes entered a free flowing highway. Jackson thought from the road signs they were heading for the Central Business District, although he couldn't be sure because of the frequent confusing use of unfamiliar acronyms and abbreviated names on the signs.
A half an hour later, he found he was right about them heading toward the business district. He recognized where they were, a few minutes before the car turned into the driveway of the US Embassy.
Joe said, “I was worried there for a while, Sarge. Even though I was sure you were right when you said they would hand us over to our people.”
Jackson was touched by Joe's faith in his judgment.
One of the Singaporean Military Policemen got out of the car and talked briefly to a US Marine Lieutenant. He returned to the car, opened the rear door and brusquely told them to get out of the car.
The Marines separated Jackson and Joe. Two Marines took Jackson under escort into the Embassy building and left him in a small room containing a table, with a single plastic chair on one side and three plastic chairs on the other side. It looked suspiciously like an interrogation room.
One of the Marines returned a short time later with a plate of sandwiches and a selection of cold drinks in plastic bottles.
“Let me know if you need to use the bathroom, Sergeant. I'll be just outside the door.”
“I will Corporal, and thanks for the sandwiches.”
Jackson was ravenously hungry and began to eat his way through the sandwiches.
Forty minutes later, two men entered the room. Jackson could see that the two Marines who had escorted him to the room were standing guard outside.
One of the men took out a small tape recorder and placed in on the table. The other man started speaking. Jackson recognized Carl's voice.
“Sergeant Delisle Jackson, this is a formal debriefing on the events of the last twelve hours. We know the events that occurred, what we need from you is details of your role in those events. Please start at the point you and Corporal Bao joined the SEAL team.”
Jackson proceeded to recount what had happened since the previous evening. He wasn't interrupted and the second man made frequent notes.
It wasn't until he reached the point where he had Anil guide them through the ship that the questions started.
Carl asked, “What do you know about this man?”
Jackson replied, “Just what he told me. That he was an engineer responsible for the liquefied gas containment equipment.”
“Do you know his nationality?”
“I didn't ask.”
“Continue.”
Jackson continued with his description, knowing they were going to ambush him when he reached the point he gave the weapon to Anil, but seeing no way to avoid it.
“When I knew the SEALs weren't capable of playing a role in rescuing the hostages, I decided Corporal Bao and I would have to do it on our own. At that point, I asked Anil whether he had any weapons training. He said he had been a conscript in his country's army and was familiar with firearms. I gave him my pistol and told him to guard our rear.”
“So, you gave a CIA issued weapon to a civilian you knew nothing about, except that he was mentally disturbed after having seen a close friend callously murdered.”
Jackson replied, “I knew what he had told me about himself and he wasn't visibly disturbed. I'd describe him as remarkably calm in the circumstances.”
“Continue.”
Jackson described how Joe and he had killed three of the hijackers, then how he had chased down the fourth.
“After I fired a single shot to warn Anil the hijacker was heading in his direction, I heard Anil fire three shots at the hijacker. He hit him with at least one shot, possibly two. I wasn't close enough to see. When the terrorist went down, Anil approached him. I shouted that the man had a bomb vest, and might detonate it. Anil then shot the man in the head.”
“Was this the same hijacker who murdered his friend?”
“Yes, it was.”
“Did he shoot the hijacker in revenge for killing his friend?”
Jackson didn't hesitate and replied, “No. He shot him, because I had warned him the man constituted an immediate and deadly threat that had to be dealt with.”
“I don't believe you, Sergeant. I think you are covering up an unlawful killing and further that you are an accessory to that killing, because you supplied the weapon, used to kill the victim, to someone in a clearly unbalanced state of mind.”
Jackson said nothing.
Carl waited a considerable period waiting for Jackson to respond, before saying, “Fortunately for you, the killing occurred within the legal jurisdiction of the Republic of Korea, and the US Government is not going to allow a member of its Special Forces to go to Korea to stand trail there. However, it makes me even more determined to ensure you face a court-martial for your earlier dereliction of duty.
“What do you have to say to that, Sergeant Jackson?”
Jackson knew considerably more than the jumped-up jackass across the table from him about interrogation. He was transparently softening Jackson up to undertake another mission that he couldn't order Jackson to perform.
“I'm waiting for the offer I can't refuse, or at least you think I can't refuse.”
Carl's face visibly colored at the revelation Jackson was ahead of him in this game.
“Does that mean you will refuse my offer of dropping the court-martial, if you undertake one more mission for me?”
“I haven't heard what the mission entails, but it's a fair guess that I will politely decline your generous offer. I'll take my chances with a court-martial, assuming you go through with your threat, which I very much doubt. I'm a highly decorated, seventeen-year veteran. I can justify every decision I made and every action I took. I'd say my chances in front of that hypothetical court-martial are pretty good.”
Carl leaned back in his chair and said, “In that case, I'll have to send Corporal Bao on his own.”
“What?”
“You heard me, Sergeant. I'll have to send Corporal Bao without you. The mission requires someone who knows what the hijackers look like. There are only two men who do you and Bao. Don't worry Sergeant, I'll find someone to accompany him. Although, I doubt he will be of the same caliber as a highly decorated, seventeen-year veteran like you.
“That will be all, Sergeant. Oh, and by the way, Corporal Bao has already volunteered for the mission, so you won't be seeing him beforehand. I don't want you persuading him not to go. He will be surprised you aren't accompanying him. I did imply you had already volunteered.
Jackson jumped up and was about to lunge across the table, when the two burly Marines came into the room at the double.
Carl said, “Please escort the Sergeant to his quarters. He is under detention pending possible charges, so don't allow him talk to anyone along the way.”
Jackson left with the Marines. The man who had made the notes, but otherwise kept silent during his questioning, followed them. They proceeded to an elevator and one of the Marines pressed the Call button.
The man said to Jackson, “You were treated harshly in there, but this mission is crucial to national security and must go ahead. You and Corporal Bao are the only ones who can undertake it. I'd ask you to reconsider your refusal. With you leading the team, our chances of success are much better.”
That Joe's chances of coming out it alive were also much better was left unsaid.
Jackson knew he had been out maneuvered and answered, “I'll do it on one condition. That I get a written and fully authorized statement from the CIA, absolving me of responsibility for the death of the bomb maker and involvement in an unlawful killing on board the LNG carrier.”
“I'll see what I can do. Of course, any deal is conditional on you capturing the suspect alive, and I stress the word 'alive' given your recent performance in that respect. In the mean time, I suggest you get some rest, Sergeant. The mission will go ahead later today.”
Chapter 55
November 13, 2006, 09:00 local time
A Singapore Air force helicopter had taken Jackson and Joe off the LNG carrier in the early hours of the morning and brought them to an airbase in the center of Singapore. Since then they had been kept under armed guard. All they had been given was water.
Joe asked, “What do you think will happen to us, Sarge?”
“We'll either be treated as heroes or they'll throw us in jail for some violation of international law.”
“You really think they'll throw us in jail?”
Jackson realized fatigue, hunger and the uncertainty was making him bad-tempered.
“No, they will release us to our people. It's just that in a crisis, non-urgent things happen slowly, because the people who need to make the decision are busy with the important stuff. We are no longer important. Just be patient.”
A couple of hours later, two Singaporean military policemen entered the room where they were detained.
One of them said, “Follow me.”
Jackson asked, “Where are you taking us?”
“Just follow me.”
The MP ignored Jackson when he asked the question a second time.
Jackson and Joe followed the MP, while the second MP brought up the rear. Neither had drawn their weapon or seemed to be taking any special precautions. Both were in their early twenties and the slight hesitation he detected in their actions said to Jackson, they were probably conscripts or at least new at the job.
Jackson could easily take both of them out, but that would just make him and Joe fugitives in a foreign country. What would they do then? Try to get to the American Embassy. If they were lucky, they might make it. They'd need to hold the Military Police at gunpoint and force them to show him and Joe the way, which would be kidnapping and probably a few other serious crimes beside.
He'd wait and see how things developed.
The MP led them to a military police car with a steel grill between the rear seat and the front seats. He opened the back door and told them to get in. Jackson and Joe both entered the car through the same door.
The car left the airbase and after a few minutes entered a free flowing highway. Jackson thought from the road signs they were heading for the Central Business District, although he couldn't be sure because of the frequent confusing use of unfamiliar acronyms and abbreviated names on the signs.
A half an hour later, he found he was right about them heading toward the business district. He recognized where they were, a few minutes before the car turned into the driveway of the US Embassy.
Joe said, “I was worried there for a while, Sarge. Even though I was sure you were right when you said they would hand us over to our people.”
Jackson was touched by Joe's faith in his judgment.
One of the Singaporean Military Policemen got out of the car and talked briefly to a US Marine Lieutenant. He returned to the car, opened the rear door and brusquely told them to get out of the car.
The Marines separated Jackson and Joe. Two Marines took Jackson under escort into the Embassy building and left him in a small room containing a table, with a single plastic chair on one side and three plastic chairs on the other side. It looked suspiciously like an interrogation room.
One of the Marines returned a short time later with a plate of sandwiches and a selection of cold drinks in plastic bottles.
“Let me know if you need to use the bathroom, Sergeant. I'll be just outside the door.”
“I will Corporal, and thanks for the sandwiches.”
Jackson was ravenously hungry and began to eat his way through the sandwiches.
Forty minutes later, two men entered the room. Jackson could see that the two Marines who had escorted him to the room were standing guard outside.
One of the men took out a small tape recorder and placed in on the table. The other man started speaking. Jackson recognized Carl's voice.
“Sergeant Delisle Jackson, this is a formal debriefing on the events of the last twelve hours. We know the events that occurred, what we need from you is details of your role in those events. Please start at the point you and Corporal Bao joined the SEAL team.”
Jackson proceeded to recount what had happened since the previous evening. He wasn't interrupted and the second man made frequent notes.
It wasn't until he reached the point where he had Anil guide them through the ship that the questions started.
Carl asked, “What do you know about this man?”
Jackson replied, “Just what he told me. That he was an engineer responsible for the liquefied gas containment equipment.”
“Do you know his nationality?”
“I didn't ask.”
“Continue.”
Jackson continued with his description, knowing they were going to ambush him when he reached the point he gave the weapon to Anil, but seeing no way to avoid it.
“When I knew the SEALs weren't capable of playing a role in rescuing the hostages, I decided Corporal Bao and I would have to do it on our own. At that point, I asked Anil whether he had any weapons training. He said he had been a conscript in his country's army and was familiar with firearms. I gave him my pistol and told him to guard our rear.”
“So, you gave a CIA issued weapon to a civilian you knew nothing about, except that he was mentally disturbed after having seen a close friend callously murdered.”
Jackson replied, “I knew what he had told me about himself and he wasn't visibly disturbed. I'd describe him as remarkably calm in the circumstances.”
“Continue.”
Jackson described how Joe and he had killed three of the hijackers, then how he had chased down the fourth.
“After I fired a single shot to warn Anil the hijacker was heading in his direction, I heard Anil fire three shots at the hijacker. He hit him with at least one shot, possibly two. I wasn't close enough to see. When the terrorist went down, Anil approached him. I shouted that the man had a bomb vest, and might detonate it. Anil then shot the man in the head.”
“Was this the same hijacker who murdered his friend?”
“Yes, it was.”
“Did he shoot the hijacker in revenge for killing his friend?”
Jackson didn't hesitate and replied, “No. He shot him, because I had warned him the man constituted an immediate and deadly threat that had to be dealt with.”
“I don't believe you, Sergeant. I think you are covering up an unlawful killing and further that you are an accessory to that killing, because you supplied the weapon, used to kill the victim, to someone in a clearly unbalanced state of mind.”
Jackson said nothing.
Carl waited a considerable period waiting for Jackson to respond, before saying, “Fortunately for you, the killing occurred within the legal jurisdiction of the Republic of Korea, and the US Government is not going to allow a member of its Special Forces to go to Korea to stand trail there. However, it makes me even more determined to ensure you face a court-martial for your earlier dereliction of duty.
“What do you have to say to that, Sergeant Jackson?”
Jackson knew considerably more than the jumped-up jackass across the table from him about interrogation. He was transparently softening Jackson up to undertake another mission that he couldn't order Jackson to perform.
“I'm waiting for the offer I can't refuse, or at least you think I can't refuse.”
Carl's face visibly colored at the revelation Jackson was ahead of him in this game.
“Does that mean you will refuse my offer of dropping the court-martial, if you undertake one more mission for me?”
“I haven't heard what the mission entails, but it's a fair guess that I will politely decline your generous offer. I'll take my chances with a court-martial, assuming you go through with your threat, which I very much doubt. I'm a highly decorated, seventeen-year veteran. I can justify every decision I made and every action I took. I'd say my chances in front of that hypothetical court-martial are pretty good.”
Carl leaned back in his chair and said, “In that case, I'll have to send Corporal Bao on his own.”
“What?”
“You heard me, Sergeant. I'll have to send Corporal Bao without you. The mission requires someone who knows what the hijackers look like. There are only two men who do you and Bao. Don't worry Sergeant, I'll find someone to accompany him. Although, I doubt he will be of the same caliber as a highly decorated, seventeen-year veteran like you.
“That will be all, Sergeant. Oh, and by the way, Corporal Bao has already volunteered for the mission, so you won't be seeing him beforehand. I don't want you persuading him not to go. He will be surprised you aren't accompanying him. I did imply you had already volunteered.
Jackson jumped up and was about to lunge across the table, when the two burly Marines came into the room at the double.
Carl said, “Please escort the Sergeant to his quarters. He is under detention pending possible charges, so don't allow him talk to anyone along the way.”
Jackson left with the Marines. The man who had made the notes, but otherwise kept silent during his questioning, followed them. They proceeded to an elevator and one of the Marines pressed the Call button.
The man said to Jackson, “You were treated harshly in there, but this mission is crucial to national security and must go ahead. You and Corporal Bao are the only ones who can undertake it. I'd ask you to reconsider your refusal. With you leading the team, our chances of success are much better.”
That Joe's chances of coming out it alive were also much better was left unsaid.
Jackson knew he had been out maneuvered and answered, “I'll do it on one condition. That I get a written and fully authorized statement from the CIA, absolving me of responsibility for the death of the bomb maker and involvement in an unlawful killing on board the LNG carrier.”
“I'll see what I can do. Of course, any deal is conditional on you capturing the suspect alive, and I stress the word 'alive' given your recent performance in that respect. In the mean time, I suggest you get some rest, Sergeant. The mission will go ahead later today.”
Chapter 55
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