#15

Nawaz was standing with Ashfaq under a long abandoned underpass at late night. Their car was parked a few yards away from them near the opening end of the underpass. Ashfaq looked at his wrist watch.

" It's about to strike eleven. "

" He'll be here shortly. "

The sound of a car came from the other end of the underpass.

Nawaz said, " They have arrived. "

They saw a car approaching towards them of which the lights of the headlights was falling on their face. The car stopped near them. The door of the was opened by Gosef (in his mid thirties) who was sitting on the driving seat. He came out of the car with a tabet in his hand. He walked towards Nawaz and gave him the tablet. Nawaz took the tablet. The screen of the tablet displayed the unfilled details of bank account.

Gosef said, " Your account number here. "

Nawaz looked at Ashfaq who nodded. He typed the bank account number in the blank and handed over it to Gosef who smiled and tapped the 'PROCEED TRANSACTION' button.

" You are just a step closer to the package. It's waiting for you in the hangar. "

Gosef's phone began to ring. He took out his phone and attended the call.

" Yup...... Just wait there. "

He hung up the call.

Gosef was driving his car. He was being followed by Ashfaq who was driving the other car and Nawaz was sitting on the passenger seat. Technician Jebb (in his late twenties) was standing at the hangar where MQ-9 Reaper drone was parked inside. The two cars stopped at the hangar. Gosef came out first of his car. Nawaz and Ashfaq came out of their car.

Gosef asked, " Have you checked it? "

Jebb nodded.

" Haven't found any fault in the internal system. "

Nawaz and Ashfaq joined them. They followed Jebb to the drone.

Gosef said, " The drone is in the class of its own. The price is just double in the black market. "

Nawaz said, " MQ-9 Reaper. The drone is made in America. "

" French army had imported the weapon last year from America. "

Ashfaq asked, " Can we test it right now? "

Jebb accessed a tablet while standing at the corner of the hangar in order to access the control system of the drone. Nawaz, Ashfaq and Gosef were standing by the drone. Jebb started the ignition system of the drone which led it to make sound similar to a PC system fan. The drone started moving towards the exit of the hangar. The moment it began to come out of the hangar a police car arrived there. DST officer Sam came out of the passenger seat along with three other police officers. They all were wearing bullet proof vest and were carrying assault rifles. The cops followed Sam and stepped towards the hangar.

Sam yelled, " Everyone hands up in the air. "

Gosef took out his pistol and began to shoot at them while taking the cover behind the drone. Gosef ran out of bullet. As he prepared to run Sam came to him and pointed the gun at him. Gosef raised his hands and dropped the gun. Nawaz was lying under the drone. He could clearly see Sam's legs. He pulled his legs which made him to fall on the ground. Gosef tapped Sam's face under his feet. Ashfaq came forward and shot one of the cops who was heading towards Jebb. He looked at Jebb who nodded his head. Another cop was about to shoot Ashfaq when he was held by Nawaz from his back who crushed his neck. The cop fell on the ground and died. He took his rifle and shot the third one on his head. Jebb came to them. The bodies of Sam and the other cops were lying in the hangar.

Nawaz said, " We have to get rid of them as soon as possible. "

Gosef said, " I'll take care of them. "

Sam looked at him and nodded.

Gosef added, " No one will be wiser about what just happened here. "

A media helicopter was circling in the sky. A female reporter who was sitting in the helicopter was facing the camera installed behind the pilot's seat. She was carrying a mic in her hand.

" A very good morning to the beautiful people of France. We have started reporting a bit earlier today because we have been informed that an Indian delegation is about to arrive in order to carry out a bilateral cooperation with the French ministry of armed forces . The delegation is arriving on the behalf of the Indian Prime Minister and is going to have a bilateral talk with the Minister Jeffrey Laurson. "

A charter plane was parked on the runway. A number of French commandoes were alerted outside the plane. A convoy including two black cars and four police bikes were at the spot. Sarika was standing by the convoy with a few French DST officers. Two Indian secret service agents were standing at the either sides of the stairs which was kept at the exit door of the plane. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Vivek Chauhan (in his early sixties) walked downstairs with his wife Mrs. Sushmita Chauhan (in her late fifties) to the convoy while being followed by the agents.

Sarika introduced herself before him. He shook hand with her and gave a smile.

He said, " Good to see you in secret service, Sarika? "

She smiled, " Thank you sir, I have been entrusted with the responsibility of your safety. "

He nodded.

Vivek and his wife, Sushmita were sitting at the back seat of the second car. Sarika was sitting at the passenger seat of the car. They were following the other black car. The police bikes were moving at the front and back of the convoy. Sarika accessed her phone. She dialled Sam's number. He tried his number twice but didn't attend the call.

Vivek asked, " Everything alright? "

She smiled and nodded.

" Yes sir. "

She picked up a radio from the dashboard.

" Nine - Mile - One - One - One. Confirm your position. "

A sniper was alerted with his rifle on the terrace of a commercial building. He was keeping an eye on the movement in the area through the lens of his rifle.

He said, " Nine - Mile - One - One - One. Position confirmed. "

" Any ground movement. "

" Negative. "

She spoke, " Birdeye - Zero - Zero - One. "

A pilot was flying a military helicopter.

He said, " Birdeye - Zero - Zero - One. Confirmed. "

" Air movement? "

" Negative. "

The barricades were placed at various turning points for the convoy.