Hunt of the Sea Wolves

Blackwell looked down at Carlos and spit in his face, just as the small man shoved the knife in his back. Blackwell fought to keep his balance, but with the cinder block in his hands, it was futile. He pitched over, fell twenty feet to the water, and was gone.

Carlos wiped the spit from his face, turned, and winked at Rudy. “Next.”

Rudy was determined not to give the Filipino the satisfaction of seeing him cower, or be forced over the side. Instead, he did something very uncharacteristic for him—he started to curse the Filipino guerrillas, their families, and their entire ancestral line.

This amused Carlos and he started to laugh at the crazy little Guamanian. He turned to look at the two men standing where Captain Blackwell had just been forced over and they too began to laugh.

Rudy continued to rant and one of the men made a sign that the Guamanian must be insane. Rudy then did the second thing very much uncharacteristic for him. He screamed like a banshee and charged at the two men. He ran to the right of one and tossed the cinder block to the left of the other—then he hurled himself over the side, the wire cable that ran from his neck to the cinder block took the two Moros with him. The terrified duo screamed all the way down to the water’s surface. And all the way down, Rudy thought, at least I’m taking two of the son-of-a-bitches with me.

Channel News Asia:

A suspected Tamil Tiger suicide bomber blew himself up on Friday injuring seven people as police tried to search his house in the heavily-guarded Sri Lankan capital, officials said.

The blast went off when police approached the house in Colombo’s commercial district of Kotahena, adjoining the port of Colombo, a police official said, adding that the blast was heard across the city of 650,000 people.

In a massive search carried out shortly afterwards, police recovered six powerful Claymore mines, the type commonly used by Tamil Tiger rebels, from a house in the same area of the capital, the defence ministry said.

AFP:

At least 36 Tamil Tiger guerrillas and five Sri Lankan government soldiers have been killed in fresh fighting in and around rebel-held territory, the island’s defence ministry said Monday.

War planes bombed a suspected Tamil Tiger naval base in the district of Kilinochchi on Sunday, inflicting heavy damage, the ministry said, adding that 10 rebels, including a self-styled lieutenant colonel, were killed.

Another 26 Tiger guerrillas and five soldiers were killed in ground attacks in the north of the island, it said.

Maritime Terrorism Research Center:

Former US Senator Warren Rudman’s recent concerns over port security should not be taken lightly given his history as co-chair of a bi-partisan committee assigned to investigate the threat of international terrorism after the September 11 attacks and his role in setting up the Department of Homeland Security.

In an interview with Congress Daily and National Journal in December 2007, Senator Rudman stated that port security remained a major unsolved problem, and that the domestic ports were effectively “wide open”. But how can the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency effectively monitor the estimated 70,200 truck, rail and sea containers that it processes each day?

The Daily News: 

BAHRAIN’s maritime industry could be the biggest casualty of any war between the US and Iran, an industry leader told the GDN yesterday. Being stuck in the middle of a conflict between the two nations is the biggest threat facing the sector, said Wilhelmsen Ships Service local country operational manager Errol Seaman.

“If a war breaks out we will be stuck in the middle,” said Mr Seaman.

“In the past when there was a war, merchant ships tend to get caught in the crossfire or are targeted directly. Oil tankers especially are vulnerable to explosions.

“This is the main threat of the future in the light of the events that are taking place in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Mr Seaman added that although the strong presence of US troops in Bahrain would help protect the country, it could also make it more vulnerable to attack in the event of a war.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the three-day Maritime Infrastructure Protection conference, at the Diplomat Radisson SAS Hotel, Residence and Spa.

It features speeches from industry experts, including navy officials on the threats facing maritime security.

More than 200 people are attending the event, which concludes today with a series of private discussions between military and government representatives.

Mr Seaman said the shipping industry was vulnerable in a few distinct ways.

“Terrorists may use ships as weapons of mass destruction, they may hide weapons inside containers that are designed to explode when it reaches a specific port,” he said.

“They may target oil tankers or gas canisters, which has happened in the past, which will result in huge explosions as well as pollution.

“There is also a potential for attacks on ferries or large passenger vessels.”

The sun was an hour from setting. Sixteen surviving Eastern Explorer crewmen were lined up along the ship’s railing. Each man stared out across the sea. Eight Moros were behind them and two stood at the railing. A section of the railing had been removed, opening the deck up to the sea.

            Captain Blackwell glared defiantly at the guerrilla leader and Carlos as they paraded in front of him and his crew. Rudy was determined not to show any emotion that would give satisfaction to their tormentors. Standing next to him a young sailor whimpered and was near collapsing. The ship’s crew knew their eminent fate as each held a cinder block in his hands, with a wire cable that ran from the block and looped around his neck.

            The guerrilla leader nodded to Carlos, who walked in front of the prisoners. He smiled at Captain Blackwell, who glared down at him with contempt.

            “Any last words before you—” he paused for the dramatic effect as he smiled and motioned toward the water. “Walk the plank, Captain?”

            “You are a contemptible coward and a traitor,” Blackwell said. “There will be a corner of hell for you and your kind.”

Carlos grinned up at Captain Blackwell. “So British. So traditional, to the end.” He deftly flipped open a long Filipino butterfly knife then he stepped behind Captain Blackwell and poked him in the back with the sharp blade, and nudged him toward the edge. “Another tradition just for you and your crew, captain. Time to walk the plank.”

Carlos stood at Blackwell’s side and poked him again with the knife. Blackwell stepped forward involuntarily. He teetered on the edge of the deck. The toes of his shoes dangled over thin air. Carlos leaned forward and whispered in the officer’s ear, “Think of me on your way down, infidel.”

Inside the second cargo hold there were several large square objects covered by heavy green canvas tarps. Carlos motioned with the AK47 for the officer to pull up one of the tarps, revealing stacks of stainless steel cases. On each was the black and yellow symbol—a three-bladed propeller within a circle—signifying radioactive materials, with the source of origin stenciled below: Department of Atomic Energy, Government of Australia. Carlos grinned and dropped the tarp, and motioned for the officer to leave the room.