The Covert Element (2 page)

Tonight’s coordinated attack left no room for machete
fantasies. He needed to keep his focus on the mission at hand.

Descending to a height of approximately 100 feet above the DZ,
Fuentes released the catch on his duffle lanyard. The eighty-pound
ruck dropped until it dangled fifteen feet below him. The ruck
touched down first, leaving Fuentes to land with his legs free to deal
with any terrain issues.

There were none.

Fuentes gathered his chute, clearing the way for other jumpers.

All of the team members wore glint tabs on their jumps suits
and helmets. Through the IR goggles, the glint tabs glowed brightly
in the infrared light, ensuring the last jumpers down would not
collide with those who had landed earlier.

Upon landing, each soldier shucked his primary and secondary
chutes, his oxygen system, and finally, his brown jump suit. The
chutes and OD systems fit neatly inside duffle-like "kit bags,"
enclosing the gear in a tidy package for swift extraction. Even
though the Mexican government had approved the strike, the
Rangers knew better than to leave clear evidence of American
involvement behind. One never knew when politicians might recant
their statements or deny their approvals. The Rangers’ gear must
depart with them.

Maintaining communication silence, the team members,
including the Master Sergeant, stacked the kit bags along one edge
of the mesa. Then, gathering near the pinion pines on the uphill
side of the DZ, they reviewed their plan of attack.

The target was on the other side of the mountain, some three to
five klicks easterly of the DZ, depending upon the approach route
each would be taking. Two would round the peak low along the
north side of the mountain, gradually climbing the remaining 150
meters to a position just below the villa. Fuentes would lead the
others along a higher route on the southern slope. It was a longer
hike, but it would allow them prime observational positions above
the target and its surroundings.

Each soldier wore a military-precision GPS locator to
complement his wrist altimeter. The two pieces of twentieth century
technology would guide them unerringly to the target. The infrared
NODs would allow them to detect any unanticipated hostiles before
they, themselves, could be discovered.

Any team communications from here on would be whispered
through encrypted VHF radios inside the soldier’s helmets. As an
extra precaution, they would use code names rather than given
name or rank.

Although the Rangers had cross-trained in multiple tactical
and operational specialties, each brought a particular expertise to
this mission.

Mud Slinger was the team’s machine gunner and carried a
Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). His largest and heaviest gear was
the ammo box containing 200 rounds of 5.56 mm linked
ammunition. The SAW was designed for use in hostile force
suppression. In the present operation, Mud Slinger’s role would
likely be to facilitate his team’s withdrawal from the target area
after the objective had been destroyed.

Mongoose (Fuentes) was a sniper. His primary on-person
weaponry was a Colt M4 multi-purpose assault rifle, modified with
a telescopic sight and sound suppressor. In addition to his own
supplies, his ruck also contained extra ammunition for the machine
gunner.

Trophy Wife was the team’s Forward Observer, also known as a
13 Fox. Forward Observers typically serve to target artillery
barrages or to call in close air support. On this night, Trophy Wife’s
main responsibility would be reconnaissance. He carried an M4
rifle, like the sniper rifle, but with an aim point – red dot – scope
and no sound suppression. His rifle also had a grenade launcher
attached under its barrel. It was no RPG, but even "lobbed"
grenades added to the team’s potency.

"Alpha Team," as these three soldiers would be known for the
remainder of the operation, would approach the objective via the
uphill southerly route, ultimately establishing a high-ground
vantage point well above the target.

"Bravo Team" would take the northerly, down-slope route.

Bravo Team was charged with placing explosives to assure
complete destruction of the target. Red Fox was an Explosive
Ordnance Disposal Specialist (EOD). His rucksack contained thirty,
half-kilogram bricks of C4 plastic explosive, together with a
matching number of radio-controlled blasting caps. He carried an
M4 rifle, configured identically to Trophy Wife’s – an aim point
scope with no sound suppression.

The second Bravo Team member was Blue Hawk. He would
accompany Red Fox on the lower route. Blue Hawk would assist
with placement of the C4 beneath the villa. He carried an additional
sixteen bricks of the high explosive. Blue Hawk’s rifle was also an
M4.

The fact that four of the five team members carried the same
make of rifle was no accident. This tactic allowed sharing of
ammunition among team members . . . often a detail of critical
import.

The riflemen’s weapons were capable of single shot or three-shot bursts. It was not practical for them to carry SAWs, like the
machine gunner. They had had to pack light for the jump and would
need to conserve their ammo supplies.

Thusly outfitted, and eager to accomplish their objective, the
team split up and moved toward their respective target positions.

* * *

When Master Sergeant "Mongoose" Fuentes and Alpha Team
arrived on station above the villa, they got a pretty clear picture of
the scope of the gathering being held there. Twenty-seven black
limos and Mercedes sedans lined the edges of the courtyard
between the buildings. Some even had to park along the narrow
crushed-limestone drive leading to the secluded compound.

Fuentes radioed Trophy Wife to scout the area further east to
determine if there were additional hostiles in that direction. Mud
Slinger and Fuentes selected well-concealed positions beneath the
low scrub pinions, which grew thicker on this easterly, and
therefore wetter, side of the
Sierra Madres
.

After choosing a position for his M4’s bipod and establishing
clear lines of sight around the objective, Fuentes proceeded to
assess the target’s characteristics.

The villa compound consisted of the main villa – a luxury home
of approximately 5,000 square feet – an oversized attached garage,
and an auxiliary building that appeared to contain barracks-style
accommodations. The latter probably served as housing for drivers,
guards, and other personnel who would provide for the safety and
comfort of the drug lords and their immediate families.

One of Alpha Team’s first duties was to confirm the accuracy of
the intel on which their mission was based . . . namely, that this
was, indeed, a meeting of drug cartel leaders and not a simple
family gathering. Fuentes had memorized the faces of many of the
cartel leaders. But everyone was inside the buildings, so that
wouldn’t help him now.

Reaching into his ruck, he acquired one of the combination
communications units which both he and the 13-Fox carried.
Observation satellites had not been able to identify the vehicle
licenses at this gathering owing to the heat distortion projected by
the slowly cooling mountain shale. Fuentes would accomplish that
task now.

Using the secure satellite link, he radioed his base asking for
confirmation of the license numbers of the cars at the villa. He
couldn’t see all of them from his position. But with the aid of his
sniper scope, he could read and relay many to HQ for validation.

The intelligence operatives in the communications center at
Fort Benning, Georgia were expecting his call. They were ready with
a previously prepared list of license plates, as well as the
information connections necessary to determine ownership of other
vehicles. It took them less than a minute to confirm that at least
eight of the cars belonged to cartel higher-ups. This information
sufficed to green light the attack.

Fuentes was relieved they would proceed with their mission.
No sane person
wants
to kill people. But to Fuentes, cartel
members were less than people . . . less even than animals.

There was also the adrenaline rush he had felt in planning the
attack, the execution of the technically difficult night jump, and now
the visual confirmation of his cartel targets . . . it would be a shame
if his team’s preparations had been for naught. All his training, not
to mention his loathing for the drug lords, drove him toward a
single goal – completing this mission.

He had his orders. His men were was ready to execute them.
The American Army had provided him with means, motive, and
opportunity. Of course, he would take it!

The radio in his helmet crackled.

"Mongoose, this is Trophy Wife. Over."

"What you got, Trophy Wife? Over."

"The lawn is clean. Two guys manning the garden gate. One
jeep with a fifty. Over."

"Copy that, Trophy Wife. Keep watch on garden men. Come
home when you hear the party. Over."

"Roger that, Mongoose. Out."

Fuentes wasn’t too concerned about the men with the jeep at
the end of the driveway. He knew from mission prep that the road
was at least a klick and a half away. That’d be a couple long minutes
before they could be on site with their .50 caliber machine gun.
We
should be long gone by then.
And the jeep couldn’t follow the path
he and Alpha Team would be taking home.

"Red Fox to Mongoose. Over."

"Go ahead, Red Fox. Over."

Bravo Team, having the shorter route, had arrived at its
position on the slope below the target a few minutes before Alpha.
They had assessed the target’s structural vulnerabilities and now
were reporting to their leader.

"Brick house down here. Need charges up top, too. Over."

Fuentes understood what Red Fox was saying. In addition to
the explosives to be positioned beneath the home, Bravo Team
needed to place charges along the villa’s front foundation. While
placing the explosives, they would be in plain view of anyone in the
courtyard, even from many of the parked cars.

"Stand by, Red Fox. Out."

Fuentes needed to reassess the situation in the villa’s front
courtyard . . . and do it quickly. He surveyed the area with his scope.
Nothing had changed since his report to HQ. There was a single
guard with an automatic rifle strolling idly near the home’s entry.
No other hostiles were visible.

He checked the house. The drapes had been pulled on all the
windows. The cartel’s desire for privacy would work against them
this time. No one would be able to see Bravo Team at work from
there.

It wouldn’t be hard to take out the sole guard under the
portico. But how much noise would he make when he fell?

He could countermand the plan to rig the front of the house.
But his EOD had recommended the additional charges. He wouldn’t
have made the decision to expose Bravo Team lightly. The charges
were almost certainly necessary.

If the enemy discovered Bravo Team in action, how should the
team respond? Mud Slinger could provide cover fire until the
charges had been laid or until Bravo was forced to retreat. That
wasn’t a very desirable Plan B. Fuentes hoped it wouldn’t be
necessary.

The situation required a quick decision.

"Red Fox, this is Mongoose. We got you cover. Advise when
you ready to go. Over"

"Acknowledged. Out."

Minutes went by before Fuentes’ radio crackled again.

"Go now. Over."

Fuentes already had the guard in his sights when the word
arrived. He waited for the best shot, exhaled, and gently squeezed
the trigger on the M4. The guard dropped hard. Even up on the
mountainside, Fuentes could hear the thud of the body and the
rattle of the guard’s weapon hitting the limestone. Both he and Mud
Slinger scanned the compound for any sign of reaction from the
villa or the barracks. When no one appeared, Fuentes was back on
the radio to his team.