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  Faisal was wounded and in agony, but he could see the detonation switch. It was almost within reach. He stretched out his hand.

  “Danny, cover me, over,” Connor said over the comms. He emerged at speed from the access ladder and spotted Faisal reaching up for a box on top of a stack of crates. Connor shot him twice in rapid fire and then sprawled flat against the ground. He’d spotted two more Taliban break cover at the far end of the tunnel. Jacko had them covered and a short burst of fire took them down. Connor rolled to where Faisal lay and quickly checked that the Taliban fighter was dead. He was.

  “Secure the tunnel,” Connor shouted. “Danny, sitrep, over.”

  Danny was already applying pressure pads to Sparks’s shoulder, while Jacko covered the door they’d entered through. “Sparks needs immediate medevac. He’s taken one in the shoulder, sir. Think the bullet’s gone right through, over.”

  “Level three secure, over,” declared Sam.

  “Good, Sam and Jacko hold positions. Ben assist Danny getting Sparks up top, over.”

  Danny and Ben hauled Sparks up the stairs, while Connor pressed on ahead. He was in a hurry. He had to confirm the dam was clear, and he had one more job to do.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The final strike

  Jabir finished his glass of tea and glanced at his watch. It was three minutes to seven. His wait was almost over. He glanced round. Shafiq had wandered off. Jabir rose to his feet and called out to him.

  Unable to hold back the tears, Shafiq had hidden among some rocks with his mobile, out of earshot of his uncle. He repeatedly tried to call his father’s mobile number. Every time it failed to connect. He suspected the signal couldn’t penetrate the thick walls of the dam, and he despaired. He’d not even said goodbye. Maybe he could’ve persuaded him not to do it, not to martyr himself.

  “There you are, Shafiq. What are you doing? What is that you are holding?”

  Tears welled up in the boy’s eyes again.

  Jabir snatched the phone from Shafiq’s hand. The Taliban commander cried out, “No!”

  Shafiq tried to grab it back.

  Jabir took hold of him roughly. He was seething. “What did I tell you? You had to throw this away. They can track mobile phone signals. Allah have mercy, you haven’t left it switched on, have you?”

  Pushing past the guys from bomb disposal, Connor collared a comms sergeant. “Get me Lieutenant Sharp in the Ops Room at Camp Delta.” Connor’s earpiece crackled as the radio channel switched over. “Sharp, come in. This is Delta Primary requesting immediate medevac at our co-ordinates. Area is secure, disposal team is clear to enter, over.”

  “Understood, major,” Sharp said in Connor’s earpiece.

  “The president can go ahead and give his goddamn speech. Now listen up, lieutenant; are you still monitoring the Predator drone’s live visual feed on Jabir’s location? Over.”

  “Affirmative, sir. He’s not moved. He’s still up on the mountainside, over.”

  “Then do it! Put in the call for the strike, over.”

  “Yes, sir. Of course, over.”

  Connor stood and gazed up at the mountains. Circling at three thousand metres the missile targeting system of the unmanned Predator drone locked onto Jabir’s position. Seconds later two Hellfire missiles launched. Less than a minute later they struck their target. Connor saw the flashes and the rising plume of rock and smoke.

  “Goodbye, Jabir.”

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Craig lives in the New Forest in southern England — a stone’s throw from where secret agents and spies were trained during WWII. He has spent more than ten years researching and writing books inspired by amazing true stories of wartime courage and determination. He’s a big fan of gritty action adventures, and the exploits of Special Forces and Special Operations provide a rich seam of material for Craig’s stories. As well as Task Force Delta, Craig has written five thrilling adventure novels.

  GLOSSARY

  checkpoint a roadblock where vehicles are checked

  GMV Ground Mobility Vehicle: a customised Humvee

  IEDs Improvised Explosive Devices, home-made bombs triggered by remote control

  intel short for intelligence

  ISAF International Security Assistance Force — the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan

  medevac short for medical evacuation: used to get injured troops to hospital for treatment

  RPG short for rocketpropelled grenade

  shrapnel a small piece of debris thrown outwards by an explosion

  sitrep short for situation report: an update on the current state of things

  wadi a channel for water

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