Clandestine-IsaacHooke-FreeFollowup by Isaac Hooke Read Free Book Online Page A

outward. "And it becomes an RF antenna. When we connect it to our Androids with the built-in adapter, we can use it to send encrypted texts and voice messages among ourselves, or any other agency embeds within typical RF radii—around one mile in cities, or up to fifty miles if we're standing on top of a mountain. Very useful for the areas of little to no cellular coverage we'll be working in."  
    "That's great and everything," Ethan said. "But tell me how this is better than a two-way radio?"
    "Well, it's a lot less obvious, for one. Very under the radar. We come in carrying something like a military-grade PRC-153, that's going to scream 'spy' to the muj. Anyway, here, give me your phone and I'll install the app for the antenna. I'll also pop in the mobile version of Amn al-Mujahid and the other stuff we'll need to stay in touch with Sam, since I'm assuming you wiped your cell before landing."  
    Aaron opened up his laptop and Ethan handed him his smartphone.
    While the other operative worked, Ethan examined the USB. He held it to eye level and depressed the laser. Sure enough, a small red dot appeared on the far wall. "This is great and all that, but you know it's useless for long range targets, right?"
    "That's why we have these," Aaron said, producing a small, binocular-like object from the backpack.
    Ethan regarded the item dubiously. "Looks like a hobbyist-grade range finder. Something a golfer might use."
    "More like a surveyor. It's the TruPulse 360 R laser range finder, except we've replaced the laser with a Class 4 to boost the range, and added in an anti-reflective coating to the lenses for glint reduction. Basically a GVS-5 in a consumer shell. It sends its data to the phone via Blueteeth and—"  
    "Bluetooth," William corrected. "Really grates on the nerves when people mispronounce common words." He spoke it mis-prah-nance with his Texan drawl.  
    Aaron cleared his throat. "As I was saying, it sends the data to an Android app I'm installing on your smartphone that determines the altitude, latitude and longitude of the target via GPS."
    "Well if we're going to carry these, why not just go with a LLDR 2H?" William said. That stood for the Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder, the compact 2H model, also known as AN/PED-1A.
    "You shitting me?" Aaron said. "That's just as bad as bringing military radios. Worse. We carry US Army target designators into the Islamic State, you can bet they'll take them away, then schedule our heads for the chopping block."
    "Point taken," William said. "But what's stopping them from taking away this surveyor crap, too?"
    "Nothing. But other foreign jihadis have successfully brought in golf and sports range finders, so we should be fine. Oh." Aaron grabbed a small leather case from the pack. "Also got this for you."
    Aaron handed the item to Ethan and returned his attention to the laptop.
    Inside the leather holder was the lockpick set Ethan had requested from Sam. He perused the selection of picks and bump keys. It would suit his purposes, and was low tech enough that the Islamic State definitely wouldn't bother him about it.
    "Sam told me you'd brief us on the plan to get into Syria," Ethan said. "So what's the deal? We simply drive across the border and swear allegiance to the Islamic State?"
    "Pretty much. I've been in touch with a people smuggler. He'll get us into Syria and drop us off at an IS checkpoint."  
    "Where'd you find him?"
    "IS is very active on social media. I sent a text to a public Kik Messenger account, saying we were three men on hegira to Shaam ." Syria.  
    "You're sure the account wasn't an NSA honeypot?" Ethan interrupted. The NSA and other intelligence agencies often created fake Islamic State accounts and posted contact information in an effort to catch foreign jihadists.
    Aaron shrugged. "I passed the account Sam's way first, and she confirmed it wasn't NSA. But as I was saying, I messaged the dude and asked how we could join our brothers, and he