New Guard (CHERUB) - Robert Muchamore Page 0,44
are capable of sourcing spare parts and repairing equipment at oil wells in Islamic State-controlled areas. Some of these people may be working willingly. Some, like Yuen and Sachs, appear to have been kidnapped and are being forced to work against their will.
‘I then worked with Morag Henderson. We made a list of eighty-three active oil wells that are controlled by groups affiliated to Islamic State, and are still believed to use OME pumps and control systems.’
The deputy prime minister cleared his throat. ‘Oil wells are large facilities that stick out of the ground, yes?’
He got a few nods.
‘So, why can’t we use air strikes to disable the oil wells?’
The head of MI6 answered. ‘US and UK policy with regard to Islamic State and illegal oil exports has been one of containment. Namely, stopping the oil being smuggled to refineries, either by sea or by pipeline. Destroying hundreds of oil wells with aerial bombing would be highly destructive, lead to thousands of casualties amongst civilian workers. It might also lead to retaliatory attacks on oil wells by Islamic State groups, and potential disruption to the global oil supply.’
The deputy prime minister nodded, then looked at James. ‘So we can’t bomb the oil wells, and I assume we can’t move in and arrest this “Uncle” character until the two British hostages are safe?’
James was about to continue, but the defence minister spoke over him. ‘Might I remind you that the current government has a strict non-intervention policy with regard to ground-based operations against Islamic State. Even if we can find Yuen and Sachs, we will not send British special forces in to rescue them.’
The deputy prime minister sat forward. ‘But we’d look very weak as a government if news of this became public and we didn’t act to help two decent men who appear to have been kidnapped on British soil.’
‘But it isn’t public,’ the intelligence minister noted.
One of the oil industry analysts said exactly what James was thinking. ‘First off, I’d like to think that some kind of attempt to rescue these two men is a good thing. Second, OME equipment is twenty to forty years old and probably goes wrong quite frequently. If we remove two critical personnel who are repairing the control consoles, chances are we’d degrade the amount of oil IS is able to put on the black market with minimal casualties.’
There were a few nods around the big table.
‘How much would we degrade the capacity of Islamic State?’ the deputy prime minister asked.
The analyst rocked her head uncertainly. ‘Let’s assume that a third of the eighty-three oil wells stop working within a year. If each one produces five hundred barrels a day, at a black market price of thirty dollars a barrel that’s—’
‘A hundred and forty-nine million, four hundred and sixty-two thousand one hundred and eight dollars that IS groups won’t be getting their hands on,’ James said.
‘You did that in your head?’ the deputy prime minister asked, smirking.
‘I’m good at arithmetic,’ James said modestly, as laughter rippled around the table.
The special forces colonel eyed James. ‘So what kind of operation would you propose?’
James smiled uneasily. ‘That’s more your field of expertise than mine, Colonel. Obviously we need to know where Yuen and Sachs are before we can rescue them. If we found a large well and sabotaged the control systems – perhaps with a small drone strike – there’s a good chance Yuen and Sachs would be sent out to fix it. As long as we don’t arouse suspicion, a small commando-style team on the ground should be able to deal with whatever security team has been put around them.’
‘And your method of escape?’ the colonel asked.
James smiled. ‘Sir, I’m a mission controller at CHERUB. This is your field of expertise.’
The colonel seemed flattered by James’ show of respect. ‘You’d have to pick a well close to the sea, or near a border with a friendly country,’ he explained. ‘As long as you met that criterion, escape would be far from impossible.’
The defence minister cleared his throat. ‘Escape may not be impossible, but the government is in a fragile state and the policy on military intervention on the ground in Islamic State-controlled areas is not about to change.’
The deputy prime minister thumped on the desk angrily. ‘These are British citizens, kidnapped on British soil. Are you really telling me that you intend to do nothing to assist them?’
‘The policy is clear,’ the intelligence minister shot back.
‘The policy is an ass,’ the defence minister roared, as