Out of Time - Encounter at Mid-day by Derek P. Blake - HTML preview

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The goggles showed all of the beam-security plainly and the Jason analysed the patterns for the shortest route to the Ark. In the hall the only lighting was focused on the Ark itself and a circular lighting bar supported six video cameras. The two techies' of the team connected the fibre-optic connectors to the beam emitters and silently fitted sound pods over the listening devices. Two of the squad made their way to the entrance on the other side of the hall and clamped the heavy doors shut as well as induction welding the hinges; this would delay the security men whilst the team carried the Ark to the waiting LIMO transporters, parked beyond the shrubbery. They had now twelve minutes before the next security round, Jason indicated the time to his team, and one minute later they signalled that everything was ready. Four of the team formed up at the four points of the Ark's carrying staves and waited, Jason gave the signal to go. The four stepped forward into the light circle; each took the weight and lifted the Ark. Almost immediately an alarm sounded, together with ultrasonic defence emitters that were designed to inflict severe pain on the interlopers. The team's headgear filtered most of the sound out and the four seemed unaffected as they trotted at the double towards the exit. Jason produced a remote pad that activated the LIMO's engines and pre-programmed instructions to bring it into the parking area outside of the exit.

In the security office the screens showed the Ark floating in mid air, as the suits did their job, but the security officers were not fooled and jumped into action. The commanding officer's hand came up and hit a protected red button that activated the defence shield, a force field that surrounded the synagogue. The generator took a power-up time of twenty seconds and sprung to life just as the LIMO was coming in to land. The force field hit the LIMO at three meters off the ground, the EM pulse from the field cut the engines and the field threw the LIMO twenty meters into the car park. Within a minute the security men were in the exhibition hall and faced a hale of missiles from automatic weapons. The incursion force took shelter behind the Ark, hoping that the security team would not want to damage the sacred artefact. From a storage room off the corridor the security team broke out the mobile ballistic shields which they wheeled into the hall, the shields were large enough to shelter three people. Two teams of three behind the ballistic shields started working their way around the hall to where the attackers had stopped in front of the exit doors. Five minutes later the incursion team were out-flanked by the security force, and following instructions from Sitta attached a limpet bomb to the Ark. They then held up their hands in surrender.

The security commander ordered the six to walk forward with their hands on their heads, and the team complied, when they were half way across the thirty or so meters, Jason made a sequence of touches on the remote that was built into his wrist chronograph, the commander shouted for him to stop moving his hand. It was a command too late; the treasured Ark of the Covenant exploded into a thousand shreds of ancient wood, and was gone. The guards stood in stunned shock; the Ark that had been lost for so long was lost again, this time never to be rediscovered.

The six man team was immediately arrested and disabled with restraints, the commander ordered them to be stripped of their camouflage suits, and then placed in one of the store-rooms under guard. He was almost in tears as he contacted his commanding officer, Major Davidson, who had been involved in the discovery of the Ark, so had a personal interest In the artefact.

“Can you connect me with Major Davidson please, it’s an emergency,” the Captain asked the communications centre operative.”

“Your authorisation code please,” asked the operator. “Alpha, four, seven, six, zero, seven, Charley, 9,” the captain said.

“Thank you Captain Merrill; trying to connect you now.”

“Davidson here, who is this,” asked the Major, obviously annoyed at the late hour.

“Sir this is Captain Merrill Sir, we have been under attack at the National Synagogue, a team managed to break in to steal the Ark.”

“Are you and your men OK, Captain,” the Major asked. “Yes Sir, no causalities, and I have the intruders disabled and under guard.”

“Good man, Captain, and is the Ark safe?”

“Sorry to report Sir, the terrorists destroyed the Ark upon capture, they must have had it rigged,” Captain Merrill apologised.

“OK Captain, I'm going to have to make some calls, but I will be there within the hour.”

The Major's first call was to Benjamin Marks, who then informed the Prime Minister, who asked Ben to handle the situation personally. The Major arrived at the synagogue at just before two in the morning, he found the security detail very depressed and sullen, one solder was weeping and rocking backwards and forwards in the main synagogue. The Major inspected the prisoners but never attempted to make verbal contact, he made sure the security on the prisoners was tight and returned to the security room. At two twenty- five the Major heard a LIMO landing and went to the main doors to meet the Minister.

“How are things Major,” Ben asked.

“The men are a little shaken, at loosing the Ark but other than that, everything is under control, Minister,”

“Good, can you get the prisoners to Mossad headquarters, as soon as possible,” the Minister continued, “I have put them on standby and they are expecting them, we need to get some answers Major.”

Yes Minister, I have a secure LIMO on the way as we speak.”

Minister Marks, entered the synagogue and went straight to the room where the incursion team were

held, he photographed each one with his com-unit and sent the images to Mossad HQ before going to the security room.

“Attention,” shouted the Major as the Minister entered, “this is Minister Marks, for those of you who do not recognise him.” Every man stood stiffly to attention immediately.

“At ease gentlemen,” said Ben, “I would like to congratulate each of you on the capture of these criminals, it is sad that the artefact has been lost, but having made the capture of these men you have delivered a service to your country that may well save many lives. Please do not think badly of the loss, lives are more important than artefacts. Carry on Major.”

“Thank you Minister,” said the Major.