Shock and Awe

Coming up on the vessel at a blistering 45 knots, the captain makes a snap quarter-turn of the steering wheel and we zip across the wake of the boat we’re pursuing. Our bow slingshots over the white water a mere 10 inches from the outboards.

“Failure to heave-to is a felony!” an agent yells into the haler, but they don’t listen and keep running. We zip across the wake again and power ahead, moving up the starboard side of the 27-foot center console that’s trying to elude us. We’re so close I could reach out and tie a line to the runner’s stern cleat.

A Black Hawk helicopter slides sideways above us, pointing its nose at the boats and staring down like an angry hornet. The rotor wash from the big chopper throws as much water as a summer squall, and its massive blades sound like they’re about to chop us into bits. Two boat lengths behind our 41-foot SAFE Boats Interceptor is another Coastal Interceptor Vessel. We’ve got some major backup. There’s no escape, but the runners continue running.

The captain tells the shooters on board to get into position. Two agents grab firearms out of a special storage compartment aft of the second row of seating. They place the gun butts into their armpits, holding the barrels out, and step forward. One agent heads to the bow with an M4 automatic rifle. A large magazine sticks out of the bottom in a reverse J shape. He’s the cover guy. It’s his job to protect the captain and the other agents. He watches every move of the operator on the boat we’re about to overtake. The other agent wedges himself into position on the port side deck just forward of