by W. R. Benton
“Do you really think you or I will live to see the war end?” Woo asked.
“I do, and it is not a secret that the Russians need a big win to stay here. That alone is why I think we've been targeted. But, remember, they may have Spetsnaz or other units looking us over and probably today even. I'm sure our increased activities have been reported to the Russians in Saint Louis, I really do.”
“Once they have a big operation moving, they can't stop it now, boss. They're committed, no matter what they discover we're doing. They may alter their drops to locations with no mines or poles, but eventually some of them will have to cross our mine fields. I expect more than one booby-trap to slow them down too.”
Standing, John said, “Yes, they will slow them down, maybe kill a few, but the majority of their troops will arrive here, ready to fight.”
“Have the Chinese been notified?”
“Oh, yes, and they are on standby with fighter jets, attack helicopters, and even bombers to help.”
“Good, because when they attack us in force we'll need all the help we can get. One of our eyes was caught this morning, and the reason you don't know is I just got the notification from a Chief Master Sergeant, Partisan Air Force Ground Defense Section. They run twelve sets of eyes for us and this one killed was taking images of Russian Paratroopers practicing leaving the door of a transport aircraft. He'd taken about a dozen photos, when a Full Colonel arrived and while taking images of the Russian Colonel, two guards caught him red handed. The Colonel, who has been identified as Colonel Andrei Lazarev, personally shot the man in the head. He was made to kneel and you know the routine. The dead man's name was William R. Barnes and he lived in the local area. He was hired as a janitor at the start of the war and furnished us information for 8 years.”
“Not much we can do about him now, but he knew he could one day be caught. See he is awarded a medal for his actions, Silver Star, and another medal for his long service to our unit. When the war is over, we may find a relative to give the medal to, but if not, we'll add his name to those patriots that have given their lives to the effort of recovering their homeland.”
“A medal for a life. That doesn't sound hardly fair, does it?” Colonel Joshua asked.
Thinking of all the deaths he'd caused with the suitcase nuke, John said, “No it doesn't, but there is a war on and people die. In the morning, have the staff, all of them, here at 0400 hours and working, because at 0500, I have a staff meeting with the General. He will be briefed on all the information we have and he'll make the final call for defensive steps we need to take. I feel this attack will come sooner than later, perhaps in a day or two. My feelings tell me it could happen any minute, and I've rarely been wrong in this war. When I return, I'll have a staff meeting of my own and starting today, we're on 12 hour shifts. After the meeting, release our night shift to get some rest and we'll do as the General wants done. See to this, Major Woo.”
The next morning was cool but not cold as the Colonel walked into his office at 0410. He looked around and spotted most of his staff in place. After getting a cup of coffee, he moved into his office and noticed his classified safe had been opened and reading the name of Major Woo on the access roster, he opened it to see what new information was added overnight.
He removed a manila envelope, which was 8 by 10 inches and a good 2 inches thick. He quickly untied the back and opened the envelope. He pulled out the papers and photographs and began reading. Five minutes later as he was trying to put all the information he'd read together, Woo entered, smiled and asked, “Does it all confuse you?”
“No, not overall, but the part about the additional transport aircraft and helicopters does seem confusing.”
“There are images of an Ilyushin Il-76 "Candid" aircraft; 20 of them are currently in Saint Louis loading supplies and gear. Our eyes saw the bulk of them, oh, fifteen maybe, land the last few days. We know they are also used for airborne troops. As a drop platform, they are similar to the old American C-5, Galaxy, and are capable of not only dropping troops, but also LAPES, and on the same mission. The helicopters, mostly the Mi-17 general purpose transport helicopters, are also new to the base in the last 48 hours. Our eyes indicate two squadrons, and with them came a division of standard Russian Infantry, which we think will be transported by the choppers.”
Scratching his beard, John said, “Interesting, and almost proves to me that the attack is imminent. I read something about attack helicopters, but it was confusing with some varieties in Saint Louis and others in Kansas City. What do you know about them?”
“Our people spotted Mi-28, Ka-52, and even some old Mi-24P Hind-F attack choppers on the ramps of both locations. Saint Louis has the newer Mi-28 and Ka-52, both estimated at two squadrons of birds, on both bases, even where the older Hind-F was in Saint Louis. The number of Hind-F's were guessed at three squadrons. We suspect the attack helicopters will provide support to the non-airborne troops using the transportation choppers as a way to move men to the fight.”
“What can you tell me about the unknown movement of supplies, gear and artillery?”
“The cargo was in nets and covered well with canvas tarps, and our people were unable to tell exactly what was being carried by the Mil Mi-26 cargo choppers, but the big guns were easy to spot because of their shape. They suspect the big guns were transported to areas near their targets, meaning us and other Partisan Headquarters. We are currently waiting on word from our Partisan field units to confirm the guns are in position there.”
“Great job, Major, and I mean that. I'll take all of this to brief the General and I'm sure he'll be very sat—”
“Sir, our tower reports a huge number of unidentified aircraft nearing us and none will respond to radio calls. The base commander has placed the entire facility on alert, with security at Apha Stage 1. He thinks this base is their target and all personnel, including us, are to prepare for an assault. I have Corporal Brown issuing weapons and grenades to the troops.” Master Sergeant Mary Dias said as she stuck her head in the door.
“Bingo!” John said and met the eyes of Major Woo, who looked concerned. He then added, “Major, call the General and inform him I will not be at standup today, and I honestly think it will be cancelled with an attack coming. Let him know if he needs me my radio call sign is Cobra One. He should have it, but tell him just to make sure. Gentleman and ladies, prepare for war.”
Major Woo asked, “Sergeant Dias, how far out are the aircraft?”
“The tower said about twenty minutes and the ETA could vary as much as five minutes either way. Most of the base is still asleep, but with the siren blaring, that'll soon end.”
“Get our troops ready to move and then check their gear. Within fifteen minutes, I want us near the eastern perimeter. Now, move!” John said and then thought, I wonder if any of the booby traps we have out will slow any of the Russian troops down. There is also a chance some troops will intentionally be dropped on the base proper. I need to get to the command post and see how things are moving. Protect us Lord, as we enter combat and fight to free our nation.
Chapter 3
Senior Sergeant Petr Vova was standing next to Master Sergeant Adam Slava and Vova was standing in the opening where the door used to be on the big Ilyushin Il-76 "Candid" aircraft. He could feel the cold air as it struck him hard. They'd already done their equipment check and all was a go. Slava was the jump master, and would be the last man out the door. The light beside Senior Sergeant Volva was a constant red now. He kept his eyes glued to the light.
“Steady, Petr, the light will change soon. Steady.” The light suddenly showed steady green and the jump master screamed, “Go, Petr, go!”
Vova jumped with his chin down, slightly bowed at the waist, and his feet together. His hands were on his reserve parachute and he was ready to pull the handle if his main chute failed to open. As he twisted and turned in the cool morning air, he saw he narrowly missed the hard horizontal stabilizer on the aircraft, so he stiffened out
of uncontrolled fear and continued to fall. A few seconds later he felt a hard shock as he immediately stopped falling. He heard a loud 'uuummmppphhh,' and realized the noise was from him, and it was his opening shock. He looked up and his chute was in excellent shape and fully inflated. Looking between his legs, he noticed his forward speed was normal. He then glanced at the horizon in front of him and saw his rate of descent was normal as well. Weather had stated the conditions in Texas were excellent, with visibility around 12 miles.
He'd jumped from 800 feet and immediately saw, when looking at the ground, that there were long sharp poles positioned to impale paratroopers, so he grabbed his risers and moved away from the poles. One of the larger men passed him and Vova realized the weight carried combined with the weight of the jumper added to a person’s descent rate and the heavier the load the less control. Watching the man below him, he was surprised when the man touched ground and then went up in a narrow wall of red-white flames and smoke.
“Damn me, land mines!” the Senior Sergeant said to no one in particular. He realized the whole field was probably mined. He made the decision to land standing up. He could not risk a standard hit and roll landing, due to the explosives. He then released a lanyard with his 27.2155 kilo pack attached and it now hung below him on a long lanyard.
Just before he touched down, he got a glimpse of the man on the ground, and his left leg was missing and he was removing his belt to use as a tourniquet. He was heard screaming. The Sergeant touched the ground hard, staggered a little, but did not move. All around him explosions were heard and they were almost always followed by loud screams of pain. He looked up and about one third of his unit was yet to land. The aircraft was banking and on the way home.
As he watched, a missile was seen leaving the ground and he watched in horror as it struck the left wing of the Russian aircraft, the lowest one in the turn, and exploded. The aircraft, now in flames, was starting a nose down sharp angle. He saw three parachutes open, but one was in flames. Less than a minute later, the man hanging beneath the burning parachute fell when the fire on his canopy grew too large. He must have fallen 500 feet to his death.
“No one move, and I mean not an inch! This field is —”
There sounded a loud explosion, a scream and then another voice yelled out, “Don't move! Listen to Senior Sergeant Vova! Mines!”
“This field is mined! I need my men with mine detectors to mark a way out of here.”
An hour later about 75% of his men were alive and uninjured. Three men had landed on the sharpened poles and were impaled. One man had the end of the long pole sticking in his rear and the tip was out his chest. He looked ghastly because his mouth was open and filled with bright red blood, which ran down his lips and chin, to fall on his chest. He made no movements.
“Form on me!” Vova yelled. It was then he realized the man on the pole was his Captain, so the responsibilities of the unit were suddenly his. Not overly worried to be a leader, he knew he could run the company with his eyes closed. He'd ran it many times after getting drunk and that was during peace and war. While he'd not felt drunk, he'd been legally intoxicated at the time.
As men neared him, he called out, “Radioman, post!”
An attractive blonde with big full cherry colored lips, wide hips, narrow waist, and large bust neared and handed the radio handset to him as she said, “Here you are, Sergeant.”
He nodded and then took the headset and said, “Monsoon Two to Hotel Actual. We have landed, but approximately 25% of my troops were killed or seriously injured when we landed in a mine field. Do you copy, over.”
“Copy Monsoon Two. Where is your One?”
“KIA, Kilo, India, Alpha, and I am in charge, sir. Request immediate recovery of my dead and wounded, but do not land in the field. The field is mined, over.”
“Copy, Monsoon Two. We will collect your dead and wounded but not land on the field, due to mines, correct? You have orders to break your company down into squad size units and harass the enemy until you get new orders.”
“Roger, correct on the mines. Monsoon Two, I will break them down once away from the landing zone, and we will harass the enemy, Monsoon out.” He handed the handset back to the radio carrier and then began forming his people. After organizing, he called out, “Jora and Ilyich, I want Jora on point and Ilyich you are my drag. Let us move, but expect booby traps along the way. Keep your ears and eyes open and you may be alive tonight.”
The first hour went well, then Private Jora stopped and said, “I need the Senior Sergeant here. I see something that looks wrong.”
When the Sergeant neared, Jora said, “The soil looks a different color in the center of the trail and I think it may be a booby trap.”
“Take the end of your rifle, push it under the soil and then lift it up. It looks like a pungi stake trap to me. Once you feel the weight on the end of your rifle, flip the mat off and we'll take a look.”
The mat flipped off and in the hole were about 20 sharpened stakes, with the barbs smeared with human waste.
“What now, Sergeant?”
“Mark it and carefully move around it. The sides may be booby-trapped as well. They often do that. As soon as you are around the trap, clear any dust or dirt from your rifle barrel and continue moving.”
Once Jora was moving again, Vova moved back to the center of the group and smiled when he realized the young paratrooper was learning and in the most deadly way, on the job training.
Less than ten minutes later the sound of an explosion was loud, followed by continuous screams from up front. Vova ran forward and found Jora on the ground and his left leg was missing at the knee. The severely damaged limb was not bleeding much and the Sergeant knew the heat from the mine had cauterized the wound as it removed his leg. He moved to the man's position and yelled, “Ikovle, you take point, but stop out maybe fifty feet and wait for us to treat our comrade. Medic!”
“Yes, Sergeant.” Ikovle replied when beside the older man.
A short, stocky man ran forward and, according to the red cross on his helmet and sleeve, he was their medic. He instantly began working on Jora without a word spoken. Vova remembered the man and his name was Nititovich, Private Yakov Nititovich.
“Makarovich, post on me!” He then remembered his radio operator was the attractive blonde with the full lips he'd seen earlier.
When Olga was near, she handed the handset to the Sergeant, and waited.
“Uh, Hotel Actual, Monsoon Two here, and I am requesting an immediate pickup of a male with one leg missing, numerous wounds to his crotch and chest. We have excessive bleeding and my corpsman is currently doing all he can for the man.”
“Roger that, Monsoon, and I have a Mi-24 with two Ka-50 Attack Helicopters I can send you.”
“I request the Mi-24 and the two Black Sharks at my current location as soon as possible. The man is bleeding profusely.”
“Copy and fully understand. The medical evacuation helicopter has a well trained medic on board and will give your wounded additional blood if that is required.”
“When can I expect the aircraft?”
“Three minutes or less. They are picking up wounded in your mine field. Get someone ready to pop smoke. His call sign is Medic Two Zero, over.”
“Copy, over and out.”
A minute later the radio grew loud, “Uh, Monsoon Two, this is Medic Two Zero and I am about a minute out from you. Have someone pop smoke, so I can see wind direction and your location, over.”
“Copy, Medic Two Zero. Rostislavovich! I want you to move to me and pop smoke in the small clearing to my left, move and do the job now!” He spoke to the pilot of the medical aircraft and also to his Private, to pop smoke.
Orange smoke began to rise in the cool morning air.
“Uh, Monsoon, I see your smoke and have you visual. We are coming in now for the patient.”
“You four, pack Jora to the clearing and place him on the helicopter. Move, he will land in less than a minute.”
The helicopter neared the ground and as the chopper hovered, a medic jumped from the aircraft and made his way to Vova's men. He had the wounded man placed on the helicopter and then the handset in Vova's hand came alive, “Taking ground fire, taking ground fire from the west side of the landing zone.”
“Cover the aircraft and now! Place your fire on the left side of the helicopter, in the bushes on the far side.” The Sergeant ordered.
The sound was loud and when the Sergeant glanced at the helicopter, the engine was smoking slightly and it was climbing for altitude as they left the area.
“Do you think they will make it back to the base smoking like that?” Private Makarovich asked.
“Probably, but if not, someone else will pick them and their patients up, I am sure of that.” he said and then added, “Private Ikovle, start moving and lead us west by south. Keep your eyes open for booby traps and snipers.”
“Snipers? Sergeant I will never see a sniper.”
“Move. We will talk about this later tonight.”
“Yes, of course, Sergeant.”
The afternoon was coming to an end with about an hour of sunlight left, when the radio suddenly blared, “Monsoon Two, this is Hotel, over. Monsoon Two, this is Hotel, how do you read me, over?”
Makarovich neared and handed the radio to the Sergeant.
“Uh, read you five by five, over.”
“Uh, your man Jora is in recovery and will be returned to Moscow in the morning. His left leg was lost, his left eye and part of his left arm. He is expected to make a full recovery, over.”
“Copy and glad to hear that. Our evening coordinates are . . .” Vova starting giving their night position to headquarters so no one would fire on them by mistake that evening. When he finished, he looked around at the tired troops he had and then said, “Call it a day. I want you to team up with a buddy and two to a fox hole. Let us get to digging, folks. Makarovich, you will share a hole with me. I need the radio close to me at all times.”