The Fall of America: Winter Ops (30 page)

The Captain began to circle and climb as the loadmaster motioned for them to stand.  Each stood and duck-walked to the ramp.  Besides their parachute, each man had an equipment bag, loaded with gear that weighed around 27 kilograms, and some. The Master Sergeant had another bag of close to eighteen kilograms at his side.  Each had a reserve parachute, oxygen mask, camouflage helmet with visor, communications system to talk as they fell, and individual weapons.  Normal walking was out of the question.

The green light flashed on and off, so they waited.

A couple of minutes later, the light turned green, and they stepped off the open ramp and into the sub-zero winds.

Each man instantly went spread-eagle, with arms and legs extended out to help stabilize them as they fell. Makar, checked his altimeter, saw he was out at the right altitude and then glanced below out of curiosity, but saw nothing; it was pitch black.  He raised his head and kept it on the horizon, his mind on the events after the landing.  

He was still going over the mission when he felt the chute deploy and heard a loud grunt, which he knew came from him.  He glanced up at the canopy, swung a couple of times, released both equipment bags, and then landed.  Knowing the ground winds were high, he quickly released his parachute from his harness.  Free of his canopy, he stood and watched the others land as he counted them.

Once on the ground, the team didn't speak a single word as the jump gear was gathered up and hidden under a rotted pine tree.  The gear was no longer needed.  Each man now wore night vision goggles and moving in the dark was simple.  The Captain pulled out a compass, took a heading, and began walking while Corporal Renat counted paces with his beads.  They'd done this exact same thing many times in training.

All members of the team knew the Americans had snipers with night vision scopes, so they moved slowly and checked the ground closely.  The partisans were also known for deadly booby-traps and they were a bit harder to see with goggles on.

Private Yuliy was on point, with Corporal Ignatiy bringing up the rear.  Suddenly, Yuliy pointed at the ground and squatted.  Pulling his knife he pulled up three toe-poppers and put the shells in his pocket.  He then refilled the holes. He took three steps forward, when he suddenly stopped and began to quiver.

Master Sergeant Makar had heard a swishing sound, then a grunt, followed by low whimpers.  He moved to the point man and saw he'd tripped a booby-trap with spikes. The spikes were secured to a tree limb and held back ready to spring forward by a trigger lock.  The trigger had been a thin length of fishing line across the trail and secured.  Once the line was pulled too far, the trigger released the limb and it swung forward.  Simple, low cost, and effective.

The designated medic, Private Yakim moved forward, glanced at the injuries and shook his head.  Makar didn't hesitate as he whispered, “Morphine.”

The medic knew there was no hope for Yuliy, because three fire hardened barbed spear-like points had gone completely through his chest, so he prepared the medication.  Besides, there was no way they could continue their mission and pack an injured man on a litter.  Each member of the team knew if they lost their mobility, they were dead weight. The team dumped dead weight.

Glancing at Yuliy, the Captain said, “Move closer to the farm house, then hide deep in the brush, because it will soon be daylight.  We will watch the building today and maybe learn something.”

As they moved away, Yuliy was whispering, begging them to stay and help him, but then the morphine entered his system, his pain lessened, and his head fell to this chest.  A minute later his heart stopped.  He was left on his knees, his body weight pulling the limb down, and blood pooling under his legs.  His eyes were open, but dull and unseeing.

Soon, Private Savely, the new point man, stopped and motioned for the Captain to come to him.  When Boris arrived, he was shown the house. The Captain tapped Savely on the shoulder and then the two of them moved to his men.  Using hand sign, he indicated where each man was to go and he had them pair up, with him being the loner. Once in position, he camouflaged his spot well and then ate a cold Russian ration.  He saw a false dawn was starting so he pulled his binoculars and scanned the house, making sure there was no reflection from his glass.  He saw no one, nor anything, moving.  He waited, knowing eventually they would probably step outside to pee, or head to the woods to do more serious business.

Two hours later, he'd still not seen a single person.
Maybe they are using a room in the house for bodily functions
, he thought,
but that will make the place smell.

Finally the door opened and out stepped a man dressed in a Russian uniform except for a wide arm band on his left arm.  In his hand he had some old paper, so Boris suspected the man was moving to the woods. Tossing a pebble to the Master Sergeant and Private Nika, he nodded toward the partisan.  Both men melted into the brush and disappeared.

When the two Russians neared the American he was buttoning up his trousers and totally unaware he was being stalked.  From out of what seemed to be nowhere, he was suddenly grabbed, gagged, and his hands handcuffed behind his back.  A rope was placed around his neck and he was lead toward the Captain.  The man had not had the time to offer any resistance.

Once close to Boris, Makar moved to the man and then all but Corporal Renat moved deeper into the woods.  They then met with Nika and the captive.

“Move south about two kilometers and we will speak with our captive.  Let us hope, for his sake, he talks and doesn't make me use torture. The Afghans taught me well how to torture a man to bring much pain and yet keep him alive.”  The Captain spoke in excellent English, which all members of the team were required to learn.

The captive's eyes grew large as Marka led him further away from the farm house.

Once the distance was covered, Boris sat on a log, pulled his sheath knife out and stuck it in the wood beside his leg.  Meeting the eyes of his prisoner, he said, “We can do this the easy way or the painful way, and it does not matter to me.”

The captive didn't speak, but his eyes narrowed.

“Bring him to me and place him on his knees in front of me.”  the Captain said.

“Yes, sir.” Marka said and moved the man forward.  He then forced him to his knees.

“Let us start with something simple, shall we?  What is your name?”

“My name is Ellis Perry and that's all you're getting out of me.  I'm a prisoner of war and the Ge—.”

“Now, we both know that's not true, Mister Perry.  See, this not a war and besides, your country no longer exists.  You will be a nice man and answer all my questions, right?”  He picked the knife up and let the sun glance off the sharp edge.

“Kiss my as—”  Perry screamed as his left ear fell to the grass.

“There is more pain to come, sir, if you do not answer my questions.”

The injured man grabbed his ear and shuddered as pain shot through him. He suddenly realized, these aren't regular Russian troops and he thought,
I don't know much and by now, they know about the farm house, because they must have seen me leave it this morning.

“Well?  Will you talk with me or do I need to get bloody?”

Ten minutes later, Captain Boris had all the information he needed, except about the two boxes.  Finally he asked, “Do they have any boxes that are made of high impact plastic?”

“Two;  I have no idea what is in them, but they're guarded all the time. They look like large suitcases to me.”

“Where in the house are they kept?”

“Second floor, in the top left bedroom.”

“Stand.”

Marka pulled Perry to his feet.

“Are you going to free me now?”  Perry asked.

“Oh, yes, my new American friend, and in a way you will never again feel pain or worry ever again.”  Captain Boris said and brought the knife blade up and under Perry's rib cage, sinking the blade in to the hilt.  He then jerked the knife from side to side, viciously.

Perry shuddered and shook, gave a heinous shriek as blood spurted from his body and mouth.  He fell to his knees, where Boris grabbed his hair, pulled his head back and cut his throat. The Captain then kicked the dying man to the dirt and grass.  Blood spurted into the air with each beat of Perry's heart, but his body was shutting down. The fatally wounded man kicked madly at the grass, as his hands clawed at the dirt.  Finally, he lay still, his eyes reflecting his fear of death.

Bending over, Captain Boris said, “Let us get back to the farm house and prepare to assault the place.  We must recover the nuclear weapons.”

As they moved, snow began to fall, and hard.  The winds picked up, the temperature dropped, and each man pulled out his winter gear.  Each wore a white fur cap, winter camouflage gloves, and white scarfs around their necks. When they neared the house, it was the same as before, no one was spotted.  Boris decided to wait ten minutes and watch, but if nothing happened by then, he'd attack.

I
peeked out the hole in the window and saw the Russians, squatting in the brush.  Mary, my sniper had reported them as moving into position, before dawn and saw them leading Perry away.  Everyone knew Perry had gone out to do his business and when he didn't return, we knew something had happened.  Until now, only Mary and I knew the man was probably dead.

“Silverwolf, pass the word there is a squad of Russians outside in front of the house, and there is a good chance they are Spetsnaz.  Perry was taken prisoner and assumed dead.  He is not with them now.  I want everyone in position right away.  Mary, when they move toward us, take out as many as you can, as quickly as you can.  Don't worry about killing shots.”

As Silverwolf made his way around, men and women moved to their assigned positions quietly.  I heard safety’s click off and then the charging handle on a machine-gun moving.  My folks were ready.  I expected a grenade first, then they'd come in through the widows.  I moved from person to person, telling them this. I moved down stairs and waited; the minutes were long and hard on my mind. I had a squad of men upstairs with the nukes.

Then, I heard three shots from Mary in the span of three seconds and I knew a man fell with each shot.  The old shutters were flung open and our guns began to speak.  I saw bullets strike the men, but they quickly stood and came at us again.  

“They're wearing protective armor, aim for the heads or legs!”  I screamed to be heard over the gunshots.

I saw one Russian struck in the head by the old .50 caliber machine-gun and his head simply disappeared as a fountain of blood shot from his throat.  He fell to the ground thrashing around.  Two men were lost from view due to smoke grenades the Russians used.  Since a target could not be seen, we stopped firing, but every finger was on a trigger, ready.  When the smoke cleared, seven Russian bodies were laying in unnatural ways on the freshly fallen snow.  Blood gathered under each.

“Cease fire, but stand ready.  Mary, put a shot into the head of each Russian!” I yelled. Seven times her rifle barked and with each shot, I knew a Russian was dead, beyond any doubt.

“Now we wait.”  I said, “But remain in your positions.”

“John, I mean Colonel,” Silverwolf said, “why didn't they split up and hit us from all four positions of the house at the same time?”

I smiled, put my hand on his shoulder and said, “You can call me John in private, but Colonel around the troops.  That is a damned good question and one I can't answer.  Maybe Perry told them there were only a few of us here.  I have no idea, but they paid for their mistake.”

“Well, it could have ended differently if not for Mary, and I think she needs a promotion. She saved the bacon this time.”

“Later; right now, I want you to take Jones and make sure the Russians are dead and the other two gone.  We'll cover you from here.”

“Sure.  Jones!”

“Yo?”

“Come with me and let's check the bodies out there.  Go through the pockets and take anything intelligence might want.”

They walked to the door, stepped out and with their weapons at the ready, moved toward the downed Russians.  In a matter of minutes, all were confirmed dead, so they started going through the pockets.  

“Sir, I've checked two and nothing.  No wallets, rings, identification or anything.”

“See the blue and white striped tee shirts?  These men are Spetsnaz and some real bad-asses.  I suspect they're sterile for this mission.  Now, come with me and let's see where the other two are headed.”

Twenty minutes later, Silverwolf walked back into the house, kicked the snow from his shoes and said, “Spetnaz for sure and the two that got away moved east, upwind of us.”

“So?”  I asked.

“Why would they move upwind, unless there was to be a fire or gas used on us in some way?  They were moving fast too, running their asses off.”

“Shit, I never thought of that; too tired, I guess.” I said and then suddenly realized our danger.  “Everyone, out of the house and now!  Top, make sure the two containers are brought with you!  Move, I think we're due an air strike and any second now!”

As the last were leaving the build and running for the woods, someone screamed, “Jet!”

All of us ran like hell and as fast as possible. I saw one man with a nuke cast it aside and I picked it up without breaking my stride.  I heard the high scream of a jet in a dive, saw it pull up and watched as two egg shaped containers rolled end over end toward the house.

There was a huge explosion, with an oily fireball that rolled inside itself, and the air around us instantly grew scarce.  I knew the air was being sucked into the flames.  The oily flames were tossed onto the house by impact and the farm house vanished in a few seconds, replaced by a wall of hot flames.  

A second jet lined up, put his nose down and moved toward us.

“Trees, run for the trees!” I screamed.

It was then I heard a Gatling gun and people around me began to fall.  Body parts flew through the air in different directions and blood seemed to hang in space, stationary.  I knew then my mind was in shock.  Clods of dirt flew ten feet in the air all around me as bullets zinged off rocks and metal guns we carried. In just a few seconds the Jet nosed up and pulled away. I glanced behind me and saw I'd just lost half of my people.