‘What’s that?’ asked Mallet.

‘You’re going to have to get over to Karatandu,’ the Voice said. ‘Locate the president’s family and protect them at all costs. Before the Russians get to them first.’

Seventeen

Seventeen

The four members of the Cell looked round at one another. No one said anything for what felt like a long while but in reality was no more than five or six seconds.

Casey broke the silence. ‘Why us?’ she asked.

‘Because there’s no one else,’ the Voice replied.

‘What about those other SF teams? The ones going in to sort out the rebellion?’

‘The SAS squadron is currently on an operation in Libya. That’s D Squadron. Those fellows have got to get back to base, refit, get a full briefing and then fly down to Karatandu. That will take time. Twenty hours or so.’

‘And the other units? SFSG, SBS?’

‘They’re scheduled to fly down from their respective bases in the UK and link up with D Squadron in Libya. We’re expecting both teams to arrive in Tripoli shortly before midnight. They’ll depart at one o’clock in the morning, local time. Libya is an hour ahead of Karatandu. Flight time is a little under six hours. Which means the combined SF force won’t land in Karatandu until tomorrow morning. By that time, it might be too late. The coup might already have been triggered.’

‘Besides,’ Mallet added, ‘when those lads do come in, they’ll have their hands full stamping out the resistance. They won’t have time to safeguard the family.’

‘So it’s down to us,’ Webb said. ‘Is that it?’

‘More or less,’ the Voice replied.

‘And how are we supposed to get to Karatandu faster than D Squadron?’

‘We’re preparing a diplomatic jet for Mr Seguma for his flight to Libreville. Courtesy of our friends at the CIA. The jet is due to land at RAF Northolt shortly before heading down to Nice. You’ll take the jet and accompany the president as far as Libreville. We’ll arrange a connecting flight to take you from there to Karatandu. Once you’re on the ground, it’s a forty-minute drive to the palace. Should get you into the capital for around midnight. Six hours earlier than the other units.’

Bowman said, ‘What’s the plan once we get to the family?’

‘You’ll be the tip of the spear. The advance party. You’ll locate Mr Seguma’s loved ones, secure the perimeter and wait until the main strike force arrives to secure the country and snuff out the rebel forces.’

Bowman considered. ‘It could go badly wrong. What if the coup kicks off before the other lads arrive?’

‘It won’t,’ the Voice said. ‘You’ll have time.’

‘Easy for you lot to say. You’re not the ones putting your necks on the line.’