Run Decker Run

By David D. Allen

FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA
The Seals team assigned to work with the CIA has now been aboard the Ponce, their floating home, which migrates from the Mediterranean through the Red Sea and to the Arabian Gulf. Their principal claim to fame is that jobs get done without their identity being made public which was one of the mandates from the President to the CIA. Rebellion has escalated in the Middle East and there are various groups who desire to take control.

Notable characters continuing from book 1, Run Randall Run, include the SEALS team under Commander Bill Janes and Master Chief Phillips. The team includes David Decker, Steve Morrison, David Smith, and Joseph Kearney. They continue their assignments in the Middle East. Linda Marlon represents the CIA. Marlon and Decker have a personal love-hate relationship that withstands and aggravates their nomad-like life style. Ralph Evans, Chief of the CIA’s Middle East Desk, works with President Randall in directing the team’s assignments.

The team is currently assigned to the Middle East and currently lives aboard the Ponce, an Afloat Forward Staging Base, AFSB-15.
On the Washington DC side, Martin Phelan continues his work as a lobbyist with the President and the CIA.

The book continuously adds new characters and places for the action of the SEAL team and ultimately within the White House. The action continues right up to the next volume in this series of books where Marlon and Decker take on surprising new roles in their relationship to the team.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David D. Allen
• Release date: Dec 29, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311776235

David D. Allen

DAVID D. ALLEN1938 -After finally managing to get a 4 year degree done in five, I managed to get a job as a technical writer where I could use the skills I generated while working in photo labs during summer breaks. Technical writing is consumed with finding the fewest right words to explain something. I worked at various companies between the Wall Street demands for profits and the subsequent layoffs.I spent just 6 months working as an advertising manager for an electronics company and that was all I could stand. The company dealt with the Middle East as their primary source of revenue. However, that six months provided insight into the Middle East not available to most people. I am convinced that I have a better understanding of the mindset of the Middle Eastern peoples and their culture and I keep learning more every day.I had a long career in developing software that is still flying airplanes today but I was the one who always wrote the documentation for a project because I could write. I started a job at a compiler company and the first thing they did was to ship me off to Germany to write a book because ‘I could write’.After a lifetime of writing what other people want, I get to have some fun and comment on the World situation based on 77 years of experience with the World. The world is a dangerous place and it is not hard for me to conjure up the scenarios based on what I know, primarily about the Middle East. Watching man’s cruelty to man in the press, it’s not hard to develop situations that correspond to World events.

Book preview

BOOK 2 – OF THE FULL DECKER SERIES

BY DAVID D. ALLEN

Edited by Barbara Brady

Characters, situations, and text are a copyrighted work by David D. Allen.

All rights reserved Copyright © 2016

PREFACE

Notable characters continuing from book 1, Run Randall Run, include the SEALS team under Commander Bill Janes and Master Chief Phillips. The team includes David Decker, Steve Morrison, David Smith, and Joseph Kearney. They continue their assignments in the Middle East. Linda Marlon represents the CIA. Marlon and Decker have a personal love-hate relationship that withstands and aggravates their nomad-like life style. Ralph Evans, Chief of the CIA’s Middle East Desk, works with President Randall in directing the team’s assignments.

The team is currently assigned to the Middle East and currently lives aboard the Ponce, an Afloat Forward Staging Base, AFSB-15.

On the Washington DC side, Martin Phelan continues his work as a lobbyist with the President and the CIA.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE SEALS TEAM

DAVID DECKER

STEVE MORRISON - SEAL

DAVID SMITH – SEAL

FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA

DAVID MARKS

ART LANCASTER

LOST SALESMAN

JOY RIDE

INTELLIGENCE

GO, NO GO

WORK AROUND

THE REAL WORK

REAL TIME

I TOLD YOU SO

I WANT SOMETHING

MOVING ON

REALLY?

GUESS WHAT

LOS ANGELES - CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS

MIKAEL LATROFF

IT’S WHERE?

YOU CAN’T QUIT, SLAVES ARE SOLD!

WE’RE GOING

13:00 UMM al-QUMAIN

18:00 UMM al-QUMAIN

20:00 BACK ON THE PONCE

24:00 UMM al-QUMAIN

WHOSE DAUGHTER

WHERE THE HELL?

WHAT’S THE PLAN?

TO AL-BAHA

WELCOME TO RIYADH

RIYADH DAY TWO

RIYADH DAY THREE

POST RIYADH

NUKES FOR SALE

LANKARAN

SCUD MISSILES

PORT SAID

SHOVING OFF

THE ‘MED’

POST MED

DUBAI NEWS

INVITATION TO THE DANCE

HERE WE GO AGAIN

WAIT FOR THE MEETING

THE MEETING

POST DUBAI

WHAT DRONE BASE?

WE NOW KNOW…

THAT PLACE!

MORNING CALL …. AGAIN

RENDEVOUZ

13:00 MEETING OF SECRETS

HEADING OUT

NEW SHIP – The ‘Goodson’

IGOR NASKOV

ASSET MEETING

V-DAY

POST SAUDI

LARAMIE

CONFRONTATION

DAWN AT THE RANCH

READY FOR ILAM

TO AHVAZ AND ON TO ILAM

ILAM ARRIVAL

ILAM PREP

ILAM PRE-DAWN

POST ILAM

EVER BEEN TO ……?

SHIPBOARD AGAIN

WELCOME TO THE GOODSON

TO DAMASCUS

NEW PLAN

DAWN IN BERUIT

TO WORK

READY

BIG BLOW

BEDLAM

RETURN

CALL FROM SAUDI ARABIA

TO THE OFFICE

BACK TO SAUDI

PHONE REPORT

THE TOUR

TO THE MARINA

GUESS WHAT

INTO THE ACT

SPIN DOCTOR

SIGHTED

TROLLING

HEAVE TO

HOMEWARD BOUND

PICK UP

MANAMA

HEADING HOME

TRY THIS ONE ON FOR SIZE

VACATION?

ADDIS ABABA AND ON

WE’RE FLYING AGAIN

END OF THE ROAD

PLANNING TOGETHERNESS

WHEN THE PLAN COMES TOGETHER

NEXT TIME …….

FINDING THE PERPETRATORS

AT HOME?

NEW JOB

WORK PLACE

THE DANGEROUS GAME

WELCOME TO THE WHITE HOUSE

WE’RE GOING SOMEWHERE

EPILOGUE

THE SEALS TEAM

DAVID DECKER

Getting out of a small town without an education was certainly a challenge but finding the right solution was ambiguous without a mentor. The simplest solution to present itself was a letter from a Navy recruiter. The Navy, with its presence in Washington State, offered the most interesting opportunities and besides, some of his friends were taking the same path out of town. He now had a mentor.

STEVE MORRISON - SEAL

Steve Morrison signed on to the SEALS at the same time as David Decker. Morrison kept to himself for the most part. However, his personality showed a little more ‘shine’ when the training with explosives started... His pleasure in blowing things up was obvious and became his claim to fame.

DAVID SMITH – SEAL

Having grown up in Kentucky, David Smith learned to shoot at an early age. Thirteen was old enough to give a boy his first .22. If you couldn’t shoot a squirrel in the eye, you were considered a poor shot in David’s neighborhood. His skill showed up when he was tested on the rifle range and the pit crew advised the officer in charge: The crazy son-of-a-bitch is shooting straight through the same hole he first made in the target. I’ve never seen anything like it! The officer turned to Smith and said: Son we’ve got a job for you!

FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA

The team has now been aboard the Ponce, their floating home, which migrates from the Mediterranean through the Red Sea and to the Arabian Gulf. Now months into the 6-12 month assignment, a few days aboard the ship offer rest after carrying out very difficult tasks. Their principal claim to fame is that jobs get done without their identity being made public which was one of the mandates from President Randall to Ralph Evans during the President’s last visit to the CIA.

Morrison, Kearney and Smith are reasonably content with the accommodations on the Ponce. Decker likes the arrangement best when staying with Linda for the evening in her stateroom. Smith said that it often sounded like a cat fight was going on but what can you expect from ‘high spirited’ young people …….. who might be considered horny? On these occasions shore leave in a town that has women supplying the ‘commodities of interest’ to young seamen has always been a mainstay of shipboard life. When everybody gets what they want, everybody is happy. The people that don’t have or get what they want, usually rebel. Rebellion has escalated in the Middle East and there are various groups who desire to take control.

DAVID MARKS

David Marks made a good living as the Middle East sales representative for Hi-F Comm, an electronics company specializing in HF radios. The HF (High Frequency Band) radios serve as voice and data communications links in places where no cables or fiber optics are installed. HF radios can cover the vast stretches of desert between cities. Microwave was not an option since microwave is line-of-sight where HF frequencies ‘bend’ just enough with the curvature of the earth. HF works where there would be no power for microwave relay stations in the desert. For these and other reasons Hi-F Comm was able to conquer large parts of the market. Their aggressive and knowledgeable salesmen were also an asset.

Being single made Marks just about as nomadic as the peoples of the Middle East countries. The climate made Marks about as tan as most of the Middle East peoples whose complexions, for the most part, were not white but never black – just a robust tan.

Almost all of the Islamic countries have areas where visiting workers can stay and not be bound by Islam. These are the only places where alcoholic beverages are available. After making the rounds as a salesman all day, the watering holes are where David and most of the foreigners congregated. Places like these were also the gathering place for persons who deal in the arms trade, the drug trade, and any other illegal clandestine endeavor.

Some of the establishments, for lack of a better term, provided female companionship. The girls were usually those caught up in human trafficking in Europe and sold in the Middle East and usually ended up as ‘staff’ for the establishment. Marks was careful who he talked to whenever inside the ‘watering holes’. Sometime a client would come along if Marks swore he wouldn’t tell anyone. These were deals that closed within the confines of the ‘establishment’.

ART LANCASTER

Art Lancaster, born in England, joined the ranks of Hi-F Comm as the salesman whose territory included all of Europe but only Israel in the Middle East. His confinement to Israel relates to the problem that an Israeli stamp on your passport precluded you from traveling anywhere else in the Middle East let alone be allowed to conduct business there.

Europe, being his exclusive territory, supplied some commissions but Israel supplied more. The combination of the two territories did make for a comfortable life. Art was able to establish a home base in the London area. The excellent train service with a few airport hops allowed him to cover Europe with ease.

LOST SALESMAN

Commander Janes and Captain Jordan were having their periodic CIA phone call with Ralph Evans. Jane’s concern was always ‘what’ he was going to have the SEALS team do. Jordan, as Captain of the Ponce, the question was ‘where’.

Evans started by laying out the problem: We have a request from an American electronics company to help locate and recover one of their salesmen in the Middle East.

Jane’s response was: Why? This sounds like something for a detective agency.

No. The Man is important to the success of the company and he also possesses proprietary information that would be of interest to persons who we are not on reasonably good terms with.

OK. I couldn’t even guess which country that would be since they all seem to hate us except for our money. Can you be more specific?

The Russians

Any idea of where to start looking?

Iran

Ouch. They hate us more than most. Any specific location in Iran?

Abadan. Apparently they grabbed him in Kuwait and took him to Iran. Iran and the Russians seem to get along on anything contrary to American interests.

What do they want from him?

Information. He knows how they got a lot of bang for the buck out of their radios and Russia wants to know why and how.

Any idea how we get to him?

We have a contact there who thinks he knows where they’re keeping him.

OK. When do we do this and how?

I’ll give you the contact’s name and where he is. I’m also sending updated maps of the area.

OK

Captain Jordan asked: How do we proceed as a U.S. Navy warship right up to their front door?

The Ponce has a large deck. You’re going to do a rehabilitation cruise, R&R for ‘our wounded’. The team and crew can spend time out on the deck as you head for Iran, especially at the Strait of Hormuz.

Where should we head while we get information from your contact?

Abadan, Iran. It’s on the coast of the Persian Gulf near Iraq. It was nearly abandoned during the Iran – Iraq war 1980 thru 1988. Now it’s a busy city and true to form, the Russians always have an interest in any warm water seaport.

All right. We’ll head for the Persian Gulf now. We’re still in the Red Sea.

OK. Good luck everybody.

Thanks.

The phone call ended. Jordan set his crew to changing course to the Persian Gulf and Janes headed to Phillip’s cabin to get ready for a meeting of the team.

JOY RIDE

The news about pretending to be on a ‘rehab’ cruise was well received by the team.

Linda wanted to know: Do I still have to wear that damn black potato sack of a Burka if a man can see me from shore?

Janes said: No. You’re on a U.S. ship. Their rules don’t apply at sea. So get your bathing suit on and work on your tan ….. and that goes for the rest of you. Now we’re going to go through the Strait of Hormuz. We need to make sure they see everyone on deck because we’re feeding the Iranians and all the other countries that this is an R&R trip for wounded servicemen.

OK

After the team was out of earshot, Phillips asked Janes: Do you really think the Iranians will buy it?

No, but it will give us time.

INTELLIGENCE

Finally the Ponce was within range of Abadan. Captain Jordan stayed on course to get closer for sending a small boat ashore to meet the contact that Evans had arranged to meet with the team.

Captain Jordan explained to Janes: We’re now close enough that you can use the launch to go ashore. They probably know we’re here but their old radar probably won’t discern a small boat from the ocean swell. You can depart any time you are ready.

Janes responded: Ok, I’ll tell the others.

Janes stopped by Phillips cabin and said: Get the team together. We’re going ashore."

Yes Sir was Phillips verbal response followed by his presence at the team’s bunk area. Commander Janes brought Marlon with him and he started by telling: You’re going to meet the CIA contact ashore. Decker, Marlon, you’ll be going ashore. Linda will interpret as necessary. The meet is at a coffee shop in the market right on shore. The contact will take you there. Linda you need to dress appropriately – jeans, long sleeved coat, and hair covered. Decker you need to be dressed for the occasion. You’ll wear a thobe, a long sleeved coat over an izurr. An izurr is like a skirt but you’ll get used to it. The scots did.

This brought a few chuckles from the rest of the team.

Janes continued: Never mind. You’ll also wear the traditional headdress, the agal which is really black rope doubled twice around the crown of the head and it holds the ghutrah which is like a full head cover. The Agal keeps the ghutrah on. This way not much of your American style shows, except for the blue eyes. Dressed like this will keep you from attracting unwanted attention even though you won’t be accustomed to the clothing ….. and don’t you guys laugh at Decker’s new look. You are all going to get your turn. OK. Next assignment. Smith, you’ll ride atop the launch’s cabin and keep a lookout on the waterfront. We don’t expect trouble but stay sharp. Morrison you’ll be the helmsman. Kearney you’re to be forward lookout and deckhand. Master Chief Phillips is in charge. It’s almost dark so let’s get ready and do this.

After Decker had donned his Arabic garb, Janes inspected the fit to make sure that nothing was amiss. He also checked Linda after she finished dressing right down to her black shoes.

Phillips came up to the team and said: OK. The ship’s crew is putting the launch in the water. We’re ready to go.

When meeting a contact who has been working under cover, you just don’t walk up and say ‘Hi’. Extreme care must be taken that you approach the right person in the right place at the right time and with the correct identification greeting which acts like a password.

Evans had given Janes all of the information that Decker now needed to make contact. All of the details were drilled into his head so that responses became automatic.

After the team was aboard Morrison helped shove off and the launch started off for the harbor with everyone in their assigned spaces. Evans’ instructions directed them to a place on the West side of the harbor closest to Abadan.

As they approached the designated mooring place in a small marina, Morrison went to the Green running light and by covering and uncovering sent an innocuous Morse code message. The answer came immediately from one of the more deserted piers. The launch idled up to the pier and Morrison and Kearney tied up.

The next step was to wait with all lights out until a designated time.