Rolling Thunder (2007) s-4

by Jack Terral

  That should go smoothly enough, Carey said. Now let's get into Phase Two.

  Right, Brannigan said. Phase Two will be the elimination of the smuggler rendezvous point. Once more he used his laser pointer. As you can see, it consists of three mud-wall buildings. We are going to assume the worst-case scenario and act as if they are well defended and have perhaps a dozen fighting men quartered there.

  Great! Berringer said. And you're probably right. I am positive they have experienced attacks on the facility from smuggling rivals.

  Exactly, Brannigan agreed. We are not going to make this raid in our DPVs because of the noise factor. We want this to be a surprise attack, so we will leave the vehicles here once more, he used the pointer and go on foot to the objective. I am planning a three-pronged attack, leaving an opening for escape.

  Good God, Brannigan! Carey exclaimed. Are you going to let some of them get away?

  No, sir. Puglisi and Miskoski will be in position with their AS-Fifty sniper rifles to knock down anyone who breaks out of the compound.

  Berringer wasn't sure about that one. Don't you think Puglisi and Miskoski might have trouble if they have to shoot a half-dozen or so individuals making a run for it?

  Brannigan shook his head. No, sir. Our two snipers are going to be close enough to have easy targets. I estimate the range to be no more than seventy-five meters at the most. Also, the AS-Fifties are semiautomatic.

  Great, Carey said. Now you're on the ground, you've begun your operation, and knocked out the meeting site. What's next on your agenda?

  We'll take down the main column of smugglers during their return from their run, but before they're within sight of the rendezvous point, Brannigan said. They'll be out in the open and roll into our ambush. Things will be simple. We'll be fully mounted and will engage them in a running battle. It will be a repeat of our fight with the armored cars, except these will be Toyota pickups and unarmed transport trucks.

  You say things will be 'simple,' Carey remarked. Just what degree of simplicity are you going to employ? I'm referring to your basic tactics.

  We'll kill them, sir, Brannigan replied. One thing I've learned on Operation Rolling Thunder is that these vehicle battles have to be played by ear. It's impossible to know how the fighting will evolve. So, we'll primarily concentrate on simply killing the sons of bitches, then adapt to any situation that arises.

  Mmm, Carey said. Yeah. That ought to do it. Okay, Lieutenant, your basic plan is approved.

  The next SEAL up was Senior Chief Petty Officer Buford Dawkins. We're planning on a three-day mission, sir. So we'll have enough MREs for five, just in case things don't go as planned.

  They never do in warfare, Senior Chief, Berringer said. Your CO just said so.

  Exactly, Dawkins agreed. Everyone will carry their basic load. These are all big boys with lots of experience, so each man will determine what he'll need, applying the two-day pad I already mentioned. We estimate we'll be putting about three hundred miles on each vehicle. I know that's a lot, but again, I'm employing a pad here. Anyhow, each DPV will burn every drop of fuel going two hundred and ten miles. That leaves ninety more to go, and that will require an extra nine gallons per vehicle, or a total of fifty-four for all six. That makes a grand total of one hundred and eighty gallons. That's already been taken care of with the Army transportation comp'ny here at Shelor Field. Since the jerry cans hold five gallons each, the DPVs will carry two for an extra ten gallons instead of nine, so we'll have an additional six gallons. This is all applied to my built-in pad.

  Yeah, okay, said Carey getting a bit confused by the presentation. I'm sure you've worked this out to the last drop. Now let's get into ammo.

  Yes, sir, Dawkins said. We'll have a total of three thousand, six hundred rounds of five-point-fifty-six for the M-Sixteens; there'll also be three thousand, six hundred rounds of seven-point-six-two for the M-Sixties and three thousand for the M-Twos.

  Why the six-hundred-round difference between the two machine guns? Carey asked.

  The M-Sixties shoot more rounds per minute, sir, Dawkins answered. And both sniper rifles will be supplied with six magazines each of five-rounds. That'll give Puglisi and Miskoski a grand total of sixty rounds between them. Also, each M-Sixty gunner will have an M-Two-Zero-Three grenade launcher. These are for the attack on the rendezvous.

  Carey turned to Brannigan. By the way, Lieutenant, there are some people who are a bit miffed that you turned in those HK-Four-Sixteen carbines for M-Sixteens. They were hoping for some test results and evaluation from you.

  Piss on that, Brannigan said candidly. We're going into combat. I didn't want the guys stuck with some new brand of shooting irons.

  Okay, Carey said wearily. I see your point. He turned his attention to Dawkins. What about the Javelins, Senior Chief? You haven't mentioned them.

  We won't be able to employ them effectively in this situation, sir, Dawkins said. You have to stop, dismount, and sight 'em in. Too much trouble.

  That's your call, Carey said. Thank you for your briefing, Senior Chief.

  After Dawkins was dismissed, Doc Bradley covered the medical side of the mission, such as medevac through the Marine choppers at Shelor Field, and Frank Gomez announced that the call signs of Operation Rolling Thunder would stay the same. The last presenter was Lieutenant Junior Grade Jim Cruiser. His briefback was given quickly and efficiently. We do not expect to require resupply. However, we have made arrangements with Randy Tooley to have such services available through the Air Force.

  Who the hell is Randy Tooley? Carey asked.

  He's the Shelor Field coordinator of all things important, necessary, and of great consequence to keep things rolling, Cruiser replied.

  Carey frowned. Is he that weird kid driving the Air Force-blue DPV?

  Yes, sir, Brannigan interjected.

  I want to talk to you about that, Carey said. This missing DPV you reported leaves many unanswered questions.

  I'd appreciate it if you would wait until after this operation, sir, Brannigan said. I really have a lot on my mind right now.

  Uh, I suppose I could, Carey said hesitantly. But you're going to have to give an explanation sooner or later. At any rate, your briefback is approved, so it is now an OPORD etched in stone. Go to it, guys!

  Aye, aye, sir! Brannigan's Brigands answered in unison.

  Chapter 20

  NORTHERN OA

  18 MAY

  0545 HOURS

  THE two C-130s bearing Brannigan's Brigands and the six DPVs made an early morning landing in the reddish illumination of dawn, their props stirring up a miniature but violent dust storm off the hard-packed desert terrain. The unyielding ground provided a perfect landing and short-taxi platform as the pair of large aircraft came in side by side. The Air Force loadmasters immediately turned to lowering the rear ramps as the pilots kept the engines running.

  As soon as everything was ready, the SEAL driver/ commanders with their gunners rolled off the airplanes onto terra firma and sped eastward toward the rising sun under Lieutenant Bill Brannigan's leadership. By that time, the pilots had their aircraft running across the desert, quickly picking up speed for the liftoff and return to Shelor Field. Frank Gomez, the M-2 gunner in Charlie Two, impetuously turned and waved at the departing C-130s in an unseen gesture of farewell.

  Brannigan would have preferred making the landings at night, or at least late the previous evening, but the Air Force had balked at this. They did not want to risk lives and aircraft by touching down during hours of poor visibility. Since that part of the OA was unpopulated and the enemy had no flyover capabilities, the SPECOPS Center on the USS Combs could not talk the USAF out of the landing-time restrictions that forbade operations in the dark.

  Now, as the SEALs mentally prepared for the upcoming battle, the DPVs sped across the desert. Everyone's face showed a grim demeanor as the Brigands instinctively gripped steering wheels and machine-gun handles, unaware of the tightness of their fists. The detachment
rolled along in column formation toward their jump-off point. That would be the coordinates from which they would launch the attack against the opium rendezvous site. This was another portion of the mission that the Skipper preferred to do at night, but no one was sure when the smugglers would be returning from their run. Thus, it was determined that the quicker the attack, the less the risk of running into Murphy's Law.

  Guy Devereaux, sitting beside Brannigan, who was driving Alpha One, had his GPS out, constantly monitoring their exact grid locations. Now and then, he would announce a slight change of direction over the LASH headset, and Brannigan would respond to the instructions that went, Starboard three degrees...starboard five degrees...port four degrees. It was not an exercise in exactness, but the Skipper could estimate the proper bearing reasonably well by sighting across the vertical spoke of his steering wheel. Within forty-five minutes of leaving the aircraft, Devereaux announced, This is it, sir!

  Brannigan braked to a stop, and the other DPVs did the same. Immediately, everyone was off the vehicles and standing with weaponry in hand. Brannigan spoke softly out of habit even though they were still out of sound range of the objective. Assad! Leibowitz! Front and center!

  Aye, sir! came the simultaneous responses. The two scouts left their assigned Alpha Two vehicle and reported to the Skipper. After a quick consultation over the map laid out on the hood of Alpha One, the correct azimuth toward the rendezvous was established.

  You'll have to be quick since we don't know the bad guys' schedule, Brannigan said. Just give the place a looking-over and figure out what we're facing there. We need to know if they have a heavy-weapons capability.

  Aye, sir, Leibowitz said.

  The Odd Couple moved out on foot across the desert, with Assad on alert while his buddy referred to the magnetic compass in his hand. It took only twenty minutes to reach the objective, and the scout team's transmission from Assad was a welcome one: It's kick-ass time, Skipper.

  .

  0710 HOURS

  THE detachment had left the DPVs back at their jumping-off point and was now in position to begin the assault. They observed vehicle assignment integrity, lying flat on their bellies as they gazed across the flat terrain toward the objective. Bruno Puglisi and Joe Miskoski, toting their AS-50 sniper rifles, had reported that they were ready for the show to begin on the opposite side. Both SEALs were mentally set to deal with any potential runners who might try to flee the scene of the coming battle. This would consist of close-range, deliberate taking of human life. Back at the DPVs, the M-60 gunners had M-203 grenade launchers on their M-16s, and each carried a load of six additional rounds apiece to put into the tubes.

  Frank Gomez's startled voice came over the LASH systems. Oigan! Hay unos burros alla en un corral! He quickly recovered and spoke again in English. Hey, guys, there's a bunch of donkeys in a pen over there.

  Next came the sound of Mike Assad chuckling. Let's send 'em to OCS.

  Knock it off, Assad! the Skipper said.

  Aye, sir!

  You better keep in mind that we're on an objective, and there're nasty people over there, Brannigan snarled. He was flanked by Guy Devereaux and Andy Malachenko, and spoke again into his LASH. Vehicle commanders, report!

  Alpha Two, Connie Concord replied. Ready! The others Jim Cruiser, Gutsy Olson, Senior Chief Dawkins, and Chief Matt Gunnarson all answered in proper order.

  Very well, Brannigan said calmly. He had been studying the mud huts through his binoculars and had seen no one stirring in the area. It was obvious that the inhabitants took advantage of being able to sleep in late while the main caravan was gone. This was also a sign that their smuggler rivals were no longer a threat, having undoubtedly learned a couple of hard lessons in the past when they tried to raid the place.

  The Skipper estimated the range to the objective to be approximately 100 meters, well within the limits of the M-203's 1,500-meter capability. Okay. The first maneuver element will be Bravo Two, Charlie One, and Charlie Two. The covering element will be Alpha One, Alpha Two, and Bravo One. On my command, the grenadiers will fire one round at the huts. That will be the signal for the maneuver element to move out and the cover element to go to the deck and lay down fire. Get ready. Execute!

  The six weapons were fired at almost the same time, making what seemed like one loud detonation. The projectiles arched upward and the trajectory continued until they hit in a scattered pattern within the site. The wall of one of the huts was blown in and the roof collapsed, crashing down on the men inside.

  The maneuver element, responding to the bellowed commands of the senior chief, was already rushing forward under the protection of the covering fusillades that splattered into the target area from the covering element. One individual appeared in a window and began to return fire. Doc Bradley, the only man with a grenade launcher in the maneuvering group, slowed down enough to quickly aim and shoot off a projectile. The round missed the window, but struck the building just below it, sending chunks of dry hard mud inward, cutting down the would-be resister in a whirling shower of loose but lethal earthen clods.

  Dawkins' group had reached the edge of the enemy camp, and the senior chief ordered his men to hit the dirt. Now they became the covering element while Brannigan led his group in a rush toward the huts. The return fire was steadily building up, but the SEALs replied in kind, sweeping the area with three-round automatic fire bursts from their M-16s. The mud construction of the buildings was pocked by multiple strikes of slugs as hunks of the material flew off in all directions. Brannigan's bunch took cover in the collapsed structure, putting down a heavy fire on the other two.

  Dawkins led his men into the compound, taking cover near the donkey pen. Both groups of SEALs were now positioned to inflict a heavy cross fire into the other buildings. The fiery fusillades struck windows and blew holes in the walls from two directions. Most of the resisters were down within a half minute, their sprawled corpses badly torn up by multiple hits from the 5.56 rounds. A half-dozen defenders toward the rear couldn't take it anymore. They pulled away from their fighting positions and made a run out the rear where there was no incoming fire.

  Bruno Puglisi and Joe Miskoski saw the six people running toward them. The two SEALs lay on the ground, their sniper rifles supported by bipods. They began aiming through the telescopic sights, their trigger fingers working methodically and rhythmically. Every round was a head shot, and the fleeing men's craniums began bursting open like hot ripe watermelons being struck by hard blows from a baseball bat. A couple were flipped over on their backs, three spun around before collapsing to the ground, and the sixth continued running for an astounding half-dozen paces without a head before he stumbled and fell.

  The battle was over.

  Back among the buildings, most of the SEALs glanced over at the donkeys. They were glad to see that none had been injured during the short, blazing firefight. Senior Chief Dawkins bellowed, What the hell are you standing around for? Check the area out! There might be some crazy ragheads playing dead.

  The men moved through the debris, noting the corpses of the defenders. All had died in the heavy hail of bullets from the attackers. Pete Dawson announced, These guys ain't rag-heads. They're military. See? Ever'one of 'em is wearing some sort of uniform.

  Chad Murchison, who collected military insignia as a hobby, knelt down beside one dead man for a closer look. Hey! This isn't the Afghan Army. They're Iranians.

  Brannigan walked up. Are you sure, Murchison?

  Yes, sir, Chad replied. Those are Iranian insignia without a doubt.

  Brannigan looked around. Where the hell is Leibowitz?

  Here, sir!

  Get out that digital camera and take pictures of these guys, the Skipper said. Commander Berringer will be interested in this.

  As Leibowitz went to work recording the unexpected evidence, the rest of the detachment began searching for more intelligence. By that time, Puglisi and Miskoski had rejoined the group. Nobody got away, Miskoski announced.


  Puglisi gave his AS-50 a fond look. I wish the Godfather in my old neighborhood hadn't been ratted out. If he was still running the family, I could use this baby to make a lot of money whacking guys he didn't like.

  You fucking gangster, Miskoski remarked dryly.

  Hey, it's a living, Puglisi protested.

  Dawkins reported to the Skipper, informing him the search was finished without any significant results. These dead Iranians got nothing that would interest Commander Berringer.

  Okay, Brannigan announced. Let's get back to the DPVs. We've still got the main smuggler group to deal with.

  Sir, Gomez said. There ain't anybody to feed them donkeys. Let me put some fodder out in the troughs and make sure they got enough water for at least a few days, okay?

  Sure, Brannigan acquiesced. But hurry up!

  Gutsy Olson, Garth Redhawk, and Pech Pecheur joined him to take care of the animals, who were badly shook up from the noise of the gunfight. It only took ten minutes to make sure the beasts of burdens could get by comfortably for a little while.

  Form up! Dawkins yelled.

  The SEALs quickly fell into a column formation and headed back toward their vehicles with Assad and Leibowitz in the lead.

  .

  OPIUM DELIVERY SITE

  IRANIAN SIDE OF THE BORDER

  1100 HOURS

  THE sale of the opium poppy powder was not made in Turkey. Instead, the transaction occurred a short distance away on the Iranian side of the border. This temporary arrangement had been necessary due to the increased activity of Turkish Army and police units. These groups had been showing a growing propensity to search out poppy smugglers, even if the Turks could not legally cross over the international border to make arrests. This increased activity had also stymied the arms dealer Harry Turpin; he was unable to bring in an anticipated load of ammunition.