The Delta Solution by Patrick Robinson

When we last left Commander Mack Bedford, he had be summarily reprimanded by the Navy for being a bit overzealous in handing out battlefield justice. But he has been given a reprieve and returned to Coronado where he began his distinguished career as one of the best Seals ever. He has been given command of the Seals version of boot camp. As a legend, his word carries a bit of weight.

On the east coast of Africa, a war lord has built an enterprising business. Mohammed Salat owns a 'stock exchange' where he sells shares to help finance upcoming hijackings of ships by his band of pirates. The price of the shares go up as success with the commandeering of the ship, rise more with payment of the ransom, and further still when the ship arrives home safe. Old Salat has amassed a pretty substantial profit, now valued at nearly $80 million in cash inside his heavily defended compound.

They hijack a moderate sized container ship for about $5M, a fully loaded oil tanker for $10M, a massive natural gas tanker for another $10M. Salat isn't greedy. He asks for just enough to get the attention of the owners and their insurers. Ask for too much and they just might say No Way Josie. Better to pay the $10M than have the pirates send $100M work of oil to the floor of the Indian Ocean.

The pirates are pretty pragmatic. They want no blood spilled. Just let them call the bosses, relate the demands, then wait for money to fall from the sky. They leave and the ship goes on its way. But one time, an American on the crew kills one of the pirates and himself gets killed. A dead American on the high seas is not well received by the Pentagon.

In response, they activate a new platoon of Seals, Delta platoon, and put Mack Bedford in charge. Pick out the best of the best Seals, experts at climbing and stealth by water or air approach so they can board a hijacked ship, take control, and exact the only kind of punishment that these thugs understand.

The pirates get greedy and hijack a small luxury passenger ship. Bad luck for the pirates as one of the passengers is the father of the SPECWARCOM - the head dog of the Seals; not someone you want to be mad at you. Bedford's Delta platoon has been training for months and the handcuffs are off - Bedford is told to regain control of the ship, eliminate the pirates, then proceed to Somalia where they are to attack and destroy Salat's compound and, if possible, take Salat alive. You could almost hear a disembodied voice saying, 'If you or any of your team are caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your action.'

Needless to say, all goes mostly according to plan. The pirates and their transport end up in a heap on the deep floor of the Indian Ocean and the Seals overpower Salat's guards, destroy the compound, steal back the money, and take Salat out alive.

If it all seems too easy, that's sort of Robinson's stock in trade. Bad guys are doing bad things to the US and the Seals are called in to take out the trash, which Robinson does very ably. Mack Bedford is a compelling an likable character. Too bad, though. Bedford and the Seals are, at least until the assaults on the ship and the compound, a bit of a supporting cast as the Somali's and their operations take the main stage. I guess that's OK. This is pure military thriller escapism and makes no pretensions about being anything else. I've thought most all of Robinson's efforts have been worthy, this one included.

East Coast Don