Call Sign: Wrecking Crew (Wings of Eagles)
Chapter 10 (excerpt)
Copyright 2013 by David McKoy and Lynn Hallbrooks via Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC
“Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Memorial Day Weekend, we tested your city on a terrorist event. Houston failed miserably!” J.T. now had the attention of the audience in the North Houston home of the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM). Bill, J.T., and Mac had just concluded a round of introductions with them. An array of big screen televisions came to life in the conference room. “I’d like to thank the FPS inspectors who were in charge of recording our efforts and are sharing it with you today. During this mock event dubbed Operation Chaos and Mayhem we used our terrorist and counterterrorist skills. As you can see this is the Greenway Plaza Financial Building.”
The audience watched a vehicle pull into a disabled persons spot. Due to time lapse photography, the audience saw normal events swiftly speed by. Without warning, three hours later, there was a loud bang followed by red, white, and blue smoke bombs.
“Why did you pick this building?” asked Chief of Police Thompson.
“We picked it because it had unarmed security personnel.” An image of a uniformed male came on the screen. “This man is a Security Guard and that building should have an armed Security Officer.”
“What’s the difference?”
Mac answered succinctly, “Target Practice!”
Mayor Melville glanced up. “Would you care to elaborate on that sir?”
“Yes, the two main differences are training and job descriptions. Security guards are unarmed and are basically required only to observe and report. While this guard probably did call the police, we did not see a meeting with an HPD officer. Security officers have had enhanced training. Depending on the post orders, they are permitted by the state to wear a side arm. This helps them exhibit authority. Either way, a security officer would have been duty-bound to challenge the four men.”
“Why aren’t security guards allowed to deal directly with potential problems?”
J.T. fielded that question. “Mr. Mayor, you just saw a prime example of why. If you were unarmed and otherwise defenseless, would you confront four men who look as though they could beat you to a pulp?”
Mayor Melville averted his eyes. “I see your point, sir.”
“Are there any other questions or comments?”
Chief Thompson asked, “How long did it take for the first unit to arrive?”
The view changed. “Please note that three patrol units drove by the Greenway Plaza building. Twenty minutes after the smoke bombs went off the first patrol unit arrived on scene. As you can see, it took the Fire Department ten minutes to respond. EMS and Paramedics were quicker, arriving in five minutes.”
“Wow that long?”
J.T. grimaced. “Imagine what would have happened if there was a real bomb or say a 5 megaton SADM inside the trunk.”
Winchester saw the dazed looks around the room. “How long did it take for Haz Mat to get there?”
EMS Director Sherman’s glanced at his associates. “No one dispatched them.”
Homeland Security Station Chief Cecil Douglas’ mouth pinched. “Why was that? Were they waiting for an engraved invitation?”
“If I were to hazard a guess... perhaps the firefighters and medics didn’t think about it. You’ll have to ask them.”
All eyes were on the Fire Chief, Stan Johansen. Despite the chilled air, sweat formed over his brow. I don’t like being put on the spot like this. “I understood this to be a training exercise. Nuclear events didn’t enter my mind. We don’t train for those. This isn’t the Cold War you know.”
Roland Peterson rapidly pulled out a cord from his laptop and connected it to a port. “Sir this may not be a Cold War era but that doesn’t mean nuclear devices are not out there. Russia...” Pictures flashed on the big screens. “...had one hundred fourteen 5 megaton SADMs missing in 1992. They found all but two. These devices are encased in lead and will only emit a signature exactly 3 minutes before it blows. How much time does it take to walk down the passageway to use the facilities?” No answer. “On average 5 to 6 minutes.”
Bill leaned in closer. “How do you know these facts?”
“It’s my job to know them, sir.”
“Thank you for sharing them.” I’d like to have this guy working for me!
“Needless to say...” J.T. politely pointed to Mac and Bill. “We were previously aware of the absent atomic weapons. On the other hand, Chief Johansen wasn’t it just as likely that smoke could have indicated some other form of hazardous material besides nuclear?” J.T. let that thought settle in for a few seconds then nodded to the FPS inspectors. Everyone now saw four other men park. They got out of the vehicle and were intercepted by security personnel in a patrol unit. They see security gesture to a man. “This is the funny part during our man’s debrief, he mentioned that the Galleria’s security director’s name was on his uniform. The security officer on site even confirmed his status when pointing him out.” Everyone then saw the group plus the director proceed to a restaurant. “They had a great view of not only the parked car but Post Oak Center and the adjacent Shopping Center. I hope you will pay close attention to what they witnessed.”
Franklin Sherbert, lead FPS inspector took over. “We’re at the Starbuck’s across the street playing tourist.” More time lapse photography showed that three separate events of loud bangs followed by red, white, and blue smoke. “This time Houston Police Department was on site in minutes after that Houston Fire Department. Of course, during the second and third explosions, all first responders on scene were technically wiped out. There again Haz Mat was not alerted. If they had been maybe the mock casualties would have been kept to a minimum.”
J.T. said, “Thank you Mr. Sherbert. Let’s take a ten minute break.”
