ACV's 1 Operation Black Gold (58 page)

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Sparks flew from the instrument panel and smoke filled the interior of the Bell Huey Stallion.  ‘Could you open those doors again Bill.’

‘No Mac, but don’t worry we have plenty of ventilation buddy.’  It was a feeble attempt at wit but it gave both men a little strength to fight on.  They had no radio; few instruments and both were bleeding badly from a number of flesh wounds.  Their titanium back plates had offered little or no protection.  Vibrations started to shake the ship.

‘I really need your hands on the stick Bill.’

‘Only got the one, sorry,’ he screamed as he stretched his good hand out to grab the stick, but he got a hold and hung on grimly.  She steadied a little.  ‘Think we’ll make it Mac?’

‘Two years we’ve been with this bird Bill, she’s the best there is, she won’t let us down.’  If the Bell Huey had a soul then it heard; the vibrations almost ceased.  Mac grinned, ‘that’s it baby you can do it.’  A warning buzzer sounded in their ears for two seconds then cut.  ‘At least that still works.’

They struggled for height as the Helicarrier loomed into sight and cleared the deck by barely a meter landing neatly on the crash pad.  Rescue teams raced in, cutting the men free.  Fire extinguishers blasted their suffocating gasses to little avail.  The holes that had kept the engine cool during flight now supplied the greedy flames with oxygen.

Mac and Bill were dragged free and placed onto stretchers; medics hastily cut away their clothing to begin treating their wounds.  The fire teams ran clear as hydraulic rams started to tilt the crash deck and the Bell Huey began to slide towards its final home.  Tears ran freely down Mac’s face as he bid her a silent farewell.

‘This fell off; I thought you might like it.’  One of the crash crew placed a holed nameplate on Mac’s stretcher.  He lifted it so he could read the legend ‘Barbarella.’

‘Thank you, she was a good ship.’

‘The best,’ Bill agreed drowsy from loss of blood.  As their stretchers were lifted and carried below, the burning husk finally gave up her tentative hold on the world and slid over the side into the sea.

CHAPTER 60

We had cleared the decks of the dead and wounded.  My lot were all fine and I left them scrubbing stretchers while I dragged myself up to the Ops room for an Ó group.

‘What’s the butcher’s bill, Jim?’  Tom asked.

‘Seven dead, ten wounded, three seriously.  I’m sorry.’

‘Why?’

‘It was my plan.’

‘It seems to be going well.’

‘Aye seems to be, but if it goes wrong now it will have been a terrible waste.’

‘Is this your first time in a real stand up fight Jim?’  Mac asked.

‘No Mac it isn't, but it is the first time I’ve lost anybody.  The worst bit about it is they weren’t even my men to lose.’  Mac opened his mouth, no doubt to try and placate me with words of wisdom.  ‘Don’t, I’ve heard all clichés before Mac, and they won’t help, don’t worry I’ll live with it.’

‘OK, let’s get down to business gentlemen.  Mike are your birds OK?’

‘Yes they’re fine.’

‘Good, Jim I’ve been round the men, according to them your men have conducted themselves with distinction, two men in particular your Sergeant and Corporal Chambers.  Sergeant George exposed himself to heavy enemy fire to rescue one of my men and Corporal Chambers...’

‘Is a nutter,’ interrupted Mac.  ‘I saw him, he jumped up on the railing right in front of the chopper and waved at it to attract its attention and well less waved as gestured, you know, wanker’s.’  He gave us a practical demonstration, which had us all laughing.  ‘When it turned on him, he just stood there cool as you like and shot the fucker down, then went and helped the big boy wí Thomson.’

‘I’ll need a statement from you on their actions Mac but leave out the nutter and wanker bits.’

‘No probs.’

‘I’m going to recommend both of them for a medal; of course I’ll need your endorsement Jim.’

‘You’ve got it.’  I couldn’t wait to see their faces.

‘We have one major problem, the TV crew.  If we start pulling out missiles now and they catch us we will all end up in deep shit.  We have to get them out of the way for a while.  How?’

I’d been musing over that one for a while.  ‘During the flight a gunship exploded just in front of us.  The rotors broke off and went right underneath the rig.  We could send the head engineer down to see if there is any damage to the structure and tell the TV crew, stressing there might be major damage down there.  They might want to tag along.  If they do, we could send a man down with them.  He’ll warn us when they’re on their way back up, hopefully by that time well have all the rifle missiles distributed and under cover.’

‘That’s a good idea and I’ve got one or two of my own.’

When they got back from their inspection of the legs, they got a couple of surprises.  The first was a private placing tape across the corridors and hanging up signs ‘Warning, civilians only beyond this point.’

‘What are you doing?’  Tina asked one of the SBS men.

‘I was told to seal off this area and put these signs up ma’am and that’s what I’m doing.’

‘Why?’

He gave her a blank look.  ‘I don’t know,’ he turned back to his task.

Tom Hall appeared.  ‘Are you about finished Asher?’

‘Just about Sir.’

‘Are you clear on your orders?’

‘Yes sir.’

‘Good man.  Could I have a word Tina?’

‘Yes certainly.’

‘Could yow turn off the camera for a moment.’  The cameraman complied.  ‘When the next assault occurs I would like both of you to confine yourselves to this area or the medical centre.’

‘I protest.’

‘No, I’m sorry it’s for your own safety and I will broke no argument, until then you are free to roam.  If you give me your word you’ll comply with the order, I won’t have you escorted.’

‘OK you have my word.’

Tom knew she had no intentions of keeping it, but accepted it gracefully.  ‘Mr. White, could I have your report in Ops please?’

‘Yes I’ll be right with you.’

‘Tom.’

‘Yes Tina.’

‘What’s wrong, why all of this?’

‘Things aren’t going to well but please don’t report that, if anything say they’re fine.  This is a just a Precautionary measure.’

We watched her performance on TV.  Although she tried to be cheerful and reassure the viewer’s we were in good shape, there was an air of dejection about her.  Nommy sat down beside me.  ‘Fit are ye grinning at Jim, she’s just told the whole world every things fine here when we’ve just gone to a lot ó bother trying to make out otherwise?’

‘How much d’ye want to bet half a dozen of America’s top physiologists are sitting round a table watching this right now and when it’s over they’re going to tell the powers that be she’s lying through her back teeth.’

‘Aye,’ Grizz agreed.  ‘She’s good, but if ye ken what to look for ye can see she’s putting it on.’

‘I hope so Grizz.’

‘Was this one ó your idea’s Jim?’

‘No not this time, it was Tom Halls.’

‘You sure, it stinks like one of yours.’

‘Thanks a bunch.’

‘Nah, it can’t be one of Jims.’  Gigs plonked himself down beside me grinning.

‘Why can it no be one of mine Gigs?’

‘Because Jim, that is subtle.’

I had to laugh.  She did the rounds of the hospital and Abie winced as the camera settled onto the man he shot.  I gripped him by the shoulder.  ‘Don’t worry about it man.  Hey did ye hear Buff and Gigs have been recommended for a medal?’

‘Whit!’

A riot erupted with a lot of backslapping and slagging; they were both thoroughly embarrassed.  The euphoria soon wore off though and the tension began to mount.

CHAPTER 61

‘I want you ready to go at 1300 hours and I want that rig by 1400.  Do you understand Admiral?’

‘Sir I must protest, I’m beginning to get a feel for these people and I think it’s a set up.’

‘Admiral, I’m surrounded by a dozen experts, who are telling me they are on their last legs.  Those men are trained to the highest standards in their fields; they deal in facts not feelings.  The attack is going on Admiral.  I will take full responsibility now get on with it.’

‘Yes Mr. President.’  The screen switched off.

‘That’s it then Sir?’

‘Yes Captain, that’s it.’

The Admiral picked up the model of a ship he had on his desk and admired it in silence.  ‘Guile.’

‘I’m sorry Sir.’

‘Guile, I once read a book in college on the Highland clansmen.  It said the Highland warrior was brave bold and full of guile.  I actually lost points in the report for describing guile as resourcefulness; I always resented that, until now.  I want the XO’s plan implemented immediately.’

‘Yes Sir, Sir, do you think the TV reports are accurate about the damage to the rigs?’

‘I’ve half a dozen reports, from surviving pilots that tells me it’s already looking like a Swiss cheese, I have no doubt about that.  One way or the other we won’t be able to attack it again.  Now leave me.’

‘Yes Sir.’

The Captain saluted and left, leaving the Admiral to admire the model of his first command in peace.  The die was cast.

CHAPTER 62

‘I want you and your men here Jim, it’s off to the side a bit I know, but there’s plenty room for all of you’

‘It’s quite open.’

‘Yes, but because of the different heights of these containers and crates it’s impossible to land on and if they try to rope down you can pick them off easily enough.  Try and keep yourselves safe we’re going to need you.’

‘OK.’

‘Well I think that’s it, all we can do now is wait, have you all been fed?’

‘Aye, we’ve all had copious amounts of all-in-stew, bread and coffee.’

‘Good the satellites report a great deal of activity aboard the carriers, both their flight decks are crammed with choppers so they shouldn’t be long now.’

‘Hurry up and wait,’ quoted Abie.

‘You’re the footballer aren’t you?’

‘Aye that’s right.’

‘Could I have your autograph for my son?’

‘Aye sure, what’s his name?’

‘Tom,’ he handed Abie a notebook.  ‘Supplies for your birds are coming in tonight.’

‘How?’  I asked.

‘By sub.’

I frowned, ‘subs, I didn’t know we had any.’

He nodded then grinned, ‘as far as anyone else is concerned we don’t.  There is an airlock in one of the legs.  Fresh troops will come through there and the wounded leave.  Supplies are piggy backed, a diver will go down with a hook and you just hoist it aboard.’

At ten to three, the tannoy blared a warning.  At five to three, we could hear their rotors on the sea breeze.  ‘Right check your weapons are fully charged, spare magazines handy, nothing flipping loose and I want everybody to fix bayonets.’

‘Fit for, we’re supposed to be á right here?’  Buff humphed.

I could feel the tension ripple up my back and every sense I had was screaming at me to run.  ‘Look I have a really, really bad feeling about this.’  It was enough bayonets clicked onto rifles.

The tannoy clicked into life.  ‘They’re coming in waves, there’s two waves of gunships then the air assault troopships.  Try and keep them engaged with small arms until the air assault troopships are within range.’

‘Aye suck the bastards in,’ Grizz grunted.  He was shoving a weighted nightstick into his belt.  I stuck my knife behind my holster, where I could get to it easily enough in a hurry.  Buff was a puncher and had a knuckle-duster made with a blade on the end of it, in case he missed.

‘Engage nothing until I do.’  I ordered.

They hit the other side of the rig and swung round.  One exploded in sight of us and another limped away trailing smoke, some seemed unscathed.  They swung round in a big circle; there were dozens of them.  It wasn’t long before the first missiles whooshed out.  The whole rig shook as something hit it.  Another wave came in dropping smoke.  It was soon clear the main effort was being made on the other side of the rig.  Orders blared out over the tannoy and men raced away; soon there was little or no fire coming from our little corner.

‘Abie go kick they smoke pods to fuck out ó here and lets spread out a bit.’

‘Fit dé they still use that shit for anyway?  Even our sights can see through it,’ he spluttered on the way back.

‘Nae idea.’  We were no longer wreathed in the heavy yellow smoke but there was plenty coming in from other parts of the rig to limit visibility drastically.

‘Jim.’

‘Aye Gigs.’

‘Feel the deck.’

I placed my hand against the cold steel, although I couldn’t hear anything the deck seemed to be pulsing to a steady beat.  ‘Got ye.’  I jumped onto the nearest crate and used my rifle sight to search through the suffocating yellow smoke.  I clocked three gunships flying in line astern about two miles out; as I watched, they turned towards us and raced in.

‘GET READY….  INCOMMING,’ I screamed diving off the crates as a triage of missiles came screaming in.  Our world dissolved into sheets of flame.  The concussion from the explosions bounced us around the metal deck like ping-pong balls while a lethal rain of wood and metal splinters enveloped us.

‘Are ye aright Jim?’  Buff and Davie lifted a piece of container off me.  I’d been lucky; I struggled to my feet staggering a little.

‘Bastards.’  I cursed.

‘He’s fine,’ shouted Buff.

My body was wracked in pain.  ‘Everybody á right?’

‘Aye they’re fine.’  Buff reassured.

The area in front of us was almost flat, the top layer of crates and containers were gone.  ‘Whit the hell are they up to now?’  I didn’t have long to wait for an answer.  The air in front of us was sucked clear of smoke as a fucking big Chinook appeared from below.  I dived into a firing position selecting low rate and spot, everything forgotten but the target looming in front of us.  Its ramp was already down and men stood poised to disembark.  I almost forgot to fire in astonishment as the big Chinook landed on top of the remaining crates as nicely as you like.

I opened fire as the first man hit the crates and the rest who had mirrored my actions followed suit, a solid wall of fire swept the ramp clean.

‘Jim,’ Grizz roared over the noise and downwash of the rotors.  ‘Side door,’ he pointed.

I nodded and pointed to Nommy then towards the front of the Chinook.  When I looked round Gig’s was waiting to tell me the same thing.  I pointed to Ali.  They both got the message and nodded.

The four of them began to advance down either side engaging the men jumping out of the side doors.  ‘You three ready?’  I had spent thirty rounds under controlled fire, slapped in a fresh mag and tossed the almost empty one at Nommy who I could still see.  ‘Cover us,’ I signalled.

There was only one way to do this; the height and angle of the ramp was protecting most of the occupants.  ‘Ready, ready, ready.’  They called.

One look at Nommy was enough; he laid down a withering fire on the ramp.  ‘Go, go, go.’  We vaulted onto the top of the nearest crates and charged.  Our only hope was to get in amongst them where they couldn’t use their rifles.  Return fire plucked at our clothing and fear turned into a fighting rage.  I could no longer hear anything except the pounding of my heart nor feel anything but the screaming of the bloodlust as it coursed round my body.

Three of us made it to the ramp with Davie on my left and Buff on my right we swept away the men trying to take up a firing position and drove into the backs of the finely packed ranks that were waiting to disembark through the side doors, safe under the angle of fire.

Men fell screaming and bleeding as our concentrated fire smashed into them sweeping them aside with a deadly brush stroke.  Then we were in amongst the carnage.  My rifle stopped bucking and I found the knife in my hands dancing with a deadly grace, a man appeared in front of me and his throat opened almost magically spraying me with hot blood.  Another brought his rifle down like a club.  I caught it on my forearm and disembowelled him with the return stroke, kicking him back into another as his guts fell through his grasping fingers.

I stabbed, slashed, and smashed my way forward.  I grabbed aside the hot barrel of a rifle as it was fired at me in desperation.  The blade turned in my fist driving forward into his abdomen then up into his heart.  A tall skinny redhead lunged at me with an Arkansas toothpick.  I ducked under his swing sweeping through with my own blade, which severed the arm and bit deeply into his chest.  The floor was treacherous with blood and all manner of horrors.

Buff slipped and was butted down by a big black man, as he brought his rifle into the aim I launched myself across the gap, his head landed neatly onto Buff’s chest.  I crashed heavily into the spraying corpse knocking it flying but it stopped my momentum and I was able to keep my feet.  Turning I thrust my blade deeply into the neck of the man behind giving Buff enough time to get up.  Which he did screaming with rage, hatred and fear.

Davie was now under pressure as men turned inside the gap I had made.  I kicked the severed arm into them, one man ran screaming and I killed another who was still recoiling in shock but we were now being hard pressed.  The shock of our assault had passed and even some of the lightly wounded had regained their courage.  Then Abie turned up from somewhere firing into the small groups of men advancing on us.

I split the skull of the man in front of me withdrawing the knife from his neck.  As he fell away, all that were left were the wounded.  Some had pulled themselves over to the side.  One raised his rifle, there was no way to reach him or reload in time so I spun the blade and threw.  It entered his right eye and went through to the hilt pinning his head to a brace, the rifle dropped onto his lap.

A man in a flight suit appeared going for a pistol; mine leapt to my hand before he’d managed to unclip his holster.  He froze in place his eyes flying wide with shock and the expectation of death.  I walked over and took the automatic; kicking his feet out from underneath him, he quickly placed his hands behind his head.

The beat of the engines grew louder and the vibrations increased.  I fired my pistol through the bulkhead spreading the shots across it, blood splattered onto the small piece of windscreen I could see.  The engine noise began to decrease and I could feel the Chinook settle back into the crates.  I indicated Buff to check forward and made for the side door; dead and wounded men were scattered across the cold metal of the rigs deck, others were still firing.  I calmly put a bullet into those I could see, and then repeated the process on the other side with the captured pistol.  The bucking of the cold metal in my hand felt good.

‘Two dead,’ Buff signed.

I reloaded my rifle and pistol then scrounged some magazines off the captured flyboy.  Men ran up the ramp into the charnel house, I relaxed; it was Mac with some men from Ops.  Mike was with them.  Abie jumped out of the side doors to lend a hand outside.  Mac said something to Mike who made for the cockpit.  I stopped him.

‘Switch off,’ he indicated.

‘No.’

Mac noticed and came over.  ‘Why?’  He gestured.

I pulled him close so I could shout in his ear but he recoiled from me.  I didn’t have time for this shit; I still had men fighting outside.  I grabbed him and held him tight.  ‘If the rotors are still turning they can’t land anybody else, tell him,’ I pointed to a green-faced Mike.  Mac nodded his understanding.  I jumped out the side door but it was all over.

Abie, Ali and Gigs were beginning to attend to the wounded.  I ducked under to find Grizz standing over a few wounded.  Nommy was at the rail with his ear cocked out to sea.  A great sense of relief washed over me, they were all alive and in good nick.

Nommy waved me over.  ‘Listen,’ he shouted.

I shook my head and raised my rifle, there were another two Chinooks hovering below the level of the rig and behind them the three gunships as escort.  I handed him my rifle, a bullet had smashed his sights.

‘Shit,’ he mouthed.

‘Go get the others.’

With Macs men guarding the wounded, we lined up against the rail.  ‘Wave to them.’  They would be able to see us through their own optical devices but not distinguish whose side we were on.  The gunships popped up for a look.  ‘Fire!’

Two of them collided and exploded, the blast knocked us off our feet and flames washed over us; we rolled about trying to put them out.  A ten-foot piece of rotor blade was imbedded in a container above our heads.

‘Jesus!’  Gigs exclaimed, ‘fire did the bastard say?’

The explosion had blown most of the smoke away.  Nommy had regained his feet first.  ‘Jim,’ he screamed out pointing.

The Chinooks were making a break for it.  I pulled a GARM from my side pocket and fitted it to my rifle.  A red circle appeared on my sight.  It turned green and I fired.  It bucked hard on my shoulder as it was fired free, twenty meters away the rocket motor engaged and it left with a whoosh exploding against a Chinooks rear motor.  Another three did the same before it shattered and spun the big machine into the sea.  I fixed on my last one and got a lock on, but I tried something different this time.  I aimed low before firing.  The missile almost hit the sea before levelling out.  It raced after the Chinook coming at it from underneath.  I winced as the missile penetrated the fuel tanks and it vanished in a sheet of flames.  I turned away; I had no idea where the last gunship had disappeared to.

With the bulk of their attacking forces lost, they soon drew off.  The rig was wreathed in smoke from a myriad of small fires.  The Chinooks rotors slowed to a stop and I was left with a ringing silence in my ears.  I went back inside to recover my knife.  I had to brace my boot against his head to pull it free.  I turned to the sound of retching.  The news crew was there.  Tina was spewing over the side of the ramp onto some bodies that were there, which was only making her worse.