Vengeance: (The Brandt Series), #0

Vengeance

A CHUCK BRANDT THRILLER

ROGER WESTON

This book is a work of fiction. The characters, names, incidents, dialogue, and plot are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental. 

Copyright © 2018 by Weston Publishing Enterprises

All rights reserved. 

Contents

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 27

CHAPTER 28

CHAPTER 29

CHAPTER 30

CHAPTER 31

CHAPTER 32

CHAPTER 33

CHAPTER 34

CHAPTER 35

CHAPTER 36

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Get started on the next action-packed thriller in The Brandt Series:

1  The Recruiter: A Chuck Brandt Thriller (The Brandt Series Book 1)

2  The Handler: A Chuck Brandt Thriller (The Brandt Series Book 2)

3  Rogue Op: A Chuck Brandt Thriller (The Brandt Series Book 3)

4  Rogue Op II: A Chuck Brandt Thriller (The Brandt Series Book 4)

5  American Op: A Chuck Brandt Thriller (The Brandt Series Book 5)

6  Global Tilt: A Chuck Brandt Thriller (The Brandt Series Book 6)

7  Vulcan Eye: A Chuck Brandt Thriller (The Brandt Series Book 7)

8  Shadow Lawyer: A Chuck Brandt Thriller (The Brandt Series Book 8)

9  Shadow Court: A Chuck Brandt Thriller (The Brandt Series Book 9)

10  The Doorman: A Chuck Brandt Thriller (The Brandt Series Book 10)

CHAPTER 1

A blast of cool air rushed into the airplane with the suddenness of a surprise attack. Hydraulics whined as the tail ramp of the C-141 lowered and the back doors opened. The plane was flying at sixteen hundred feet over the ship far below. The airplane was not a bomber, but her payload was just as hazardous as a five hundred pound bomb and a direct hit. Chuck Brandt looked down off the rear ramp as he checked his parachute straps. He had been warned that the mission could be hazardous to his health but he’d learned no details yet. First he had to rendezvous with the USS Calhoun County, an LST landing ship.

He hooked up his static line. The light turned green. A drogue chute dragged a Zodiac off the tail ramp, and Chuck ran after it. He dove off the ramp. A parachute opened over the Zodiac below. A static line opened Chuck’s chute.

He worked his toggles against a brisk fifteen mph wind. Gusts and high-speed wind could be dangerous, but these conditions weren’t bad. He worked the toggles and aimed for a landing zone a mile ahead of the ship lights. Thirty minutes later, he was steering his zodiac for the stern of the USS Calhoun County.

The landing ship’s stern gate lowered into the water, creating a ramp right up into the stern of the ship. Chuck pulled his Zodiac part way up the stern, but a couple of sailors rushed to his assistance and took over.

Sir, one of them said, I’m supposed to take you to the salon. The captain will attend the briefing.

Sure. Chuck put on his knapsack and slung his gun-bag over his shoulder. He followed the sailor.

In the salon, a tall man with a long, aristocratic face and a condescending expression stood up as Chuck entered. Chuck stopped and saluted him.

No need, Brandt. You’re not military.

That’s alright. It’s a way of showing respect.

Well that’s fine. Alright then, but you’re not in the command structure, so don’t worry too much about formalities.

Yes, sir. Are you the captain?

I’m Seychel. The man reached out and Chuck shook his hand, but Seychel’s grip was limp and week.

Seychel gestured to a man sitting at the end of the table and introduced him as Officer Casasante. He was a thin-faced man dressed in civilian clothes. Casasante gave an obligatory nod.

Seychel said, Brandt, I’ve heard a lot about you. Why don’t you have a seat?

Chuck did so, reluctantly. Something about this Seychel bothered him, and he was already regretting that he agreed to come all this way to hear about a critical mission.

I heard you did a hell of a job off the coast of Somalia. Seychel removed a cigar from his chest packet and tapped it into his left palm. Rescued a crew of kidnapped sailors.

Half a crew, Sir. The rest were already dead.

Huh. I know. Seychel lit up his cigar. I read the report.

Chuck said nothing.

Like I said, I’ve read your dossier. I understand you’ve been given extraordinarily wide latitude to make decisions and take actions outside of the chain of command.

Chuck nodded.

Seychel blew out a lung full of smoke. You’ve been granted extraordinarily wide latitude to make critical decisions and take bold actions. I’ll be honest, I’ve never seen anything like it.

Patiently, Chuck listened.

Seychel seemed to wait for a response but got none. He tapped ashes into an ash tray. I was taken aback when I saw that you have authority to act as a law unto yourself.

Chuck said, I was told this is very important. I trust you’re going to get to the point and tell me why I’m here.

Seychel exhaled smoke. You’re here because you’re desperately needed. I said earlier, you were chosen because of your track record for saving lives. You’re going to have another opportunity for that, but I’ll warn you right now, it’s high risk.

Chuck shrugged indifferently.

This is a black ops mission, Seychel said. "Off the books. Once you leave this ship, you don’t exist as far as I’m concerned. If you’re captured, the president will not come to your aid. He will disavow any knowledge of you."

Chuck winced in irritation. No disrespect, Seychel, but I’ve heard all this before. Are you going to get to the point?

Seychel frowned. Alright, but you will be briefed on a need to know basis. And until you are committed, you don’t need to know anything.

I didn’t come here to shovel walrus dung, sir. I’m committed to serve my country and—as you say—save lives.

Seychel inhaled on his cigar. He blew smoke out his long, aristocratic nose and watched Chuck carefully. He glanced toward the thin faced man at the end of the table then said, Brandt, a cargo ship has been hijacked by Russian criminals. This isn’t the first time. In the last six months, ships from China, Vietnam, South Korea, Panama, and a several others have disappeared. Some of them were lost in bad weather, but we don’t think they were lost at sea. A lot of circumstantial evidence points to a criminal boss named Lenoid Belkin who currently works out of Kamchata.

Chuck narrowed his eyes.

That got your attention, did it, Brandt?

I’ve encountered Belkin before.

You’re going to meet him again. We think he’s either on the hijacked ship or holed up at a remote compound in Kamchatka. We know where the ship is, but not the compound.

Chuck shook his head. Belkin is a homicidal maniac. If he pirated that ship, you can be sure that the sharks ate well after he assassinated the crew. Don’t expected any survivors.

We have reason to believe there are survivors.

What reason?

Intelligence contact on the ground. I can’t say anything more than that.

Well, that’s not the way Belkin operates.

Maybe he has some reason to vary his protocol.

What reason?

We don’t know.

I don’t like it when someone holds out on me, Seychel? I’m not here to play games. Either you level with me or find someone else.

I’m trying, Brandt. I’m trying.

What about the intelligence contact you mentioned? I need to talk to him.

Seychel shook his head. Not possible. This is a very sensitive situation.

Chuck stood up. You’re wasting my time. This meeting is over.

Wait a minute, Brandt. Just sit down.

What’s the point?

"Look, I’ll give you an encrypted phone to set up a meeting, but do not blow his cover. He’s an important asset."

I don’t like you, Seychel.

That’s irrelevant. For now, we’re stuck on the same boat. Just hear me out, will you?

I want specifics—or forget about it.

Seychel gestured with his cigar. Officer Casasante will brief you on your landing.

Chuck sat down.

Officer Casasante said, The Russians have coastal surveillance radars, and we’re monitoring their radio communications. They know we’re out here, so we have to keep moving and maintain the appearance that we’re just passing through the shipping lanes. Once we drop you, we’ll keep moving and hopefully keep any attention focused on us.

I understand.

Officer Casasante shoved a photo down the table to Chuck. "This is a satellite photo of the