Oath of Honor

by Matthew Betley

  “Get me the chief security officer. Now!” he barked at his executive officer. He looked back out the window, and that was when he saw it—them. Two low-flying shapes behind the boats were moving quickly toward him. He recognized them immediately as helicopters. Even though their running lights were off, his hawkish eyesight picked up the soft glow of their instrumentation.

  He dropped the binoculars, grabbed the handset to the ship’s intercom system, and spoke calmly but quickly. His men were trained for such matters.

  If there’s one thing we’re good at, it’s keeping secrets. Unbeknownst to the United States Intelligence Community, Captain Baek and his crew had been operating as a clandestine counterespionage unit managed by North Korea’s Ministry of State Security for over twenty years.

  After all this time in the shadows, they were about to engage the enemy directly, and Captain Baek relished the possibility, hoping it was the Americans or the British. They were the real enemy he longed to humiliate. He’d done it before, and it seemed he’d been gifted the chance to do it again.

  CHAPTER 14

  “Twenty seconds to target. They’re still not responding to our calls. Be prepared for anything,” Inspector Romero screamed into his headset.

  Logan pulled the charging handle on his Heckler & Koch MP5K-PDW and chambered the first 9mm hollow-point round. He checked the safety and ensured it was still on. He didn’t need a negligent discharge on a Spanish Navy helicopter.

  A sudden rush of wind filled the cabin as the two crew chiefs slid open the side doors on both sides of the NH90. The helicopter suddenly banked to the right, and Logan caught a glimpse of the ship, an illuminated behemoth lurking below the helicopter. It’s still a piece-of-shit-looking rust bucket. And then something else struck him. That’s odd. No movement on deck.

  A heavy rappelling line dropped from each side of the helicopter, and UOE members descended in a synchronized maneuver.

  Logan refocused on the immediate task, removed the helicopter’s internal communications headset, and shuffled to the door. He waited as Inspector Romero exited the helicopter and moved into position.

  The sound of the rotors filled his ears as he grabbed the rope between black-gloved hands and stepped across empty space off the NH90. He cinched the rope between his feet in a J-hook, pinned it against his left boot, and pressed down with his right foot.

  As he rapidly descended, he spotted the second helicopter hovering three hundred feet away on the forward side of the ship’s bridge.

  Twenty feet to go, he thought as the rope slid through his hands with growing heat. Suddenly, darkness engulfed the ship.

  A bright flash originated from one of the main structure’s decks, immediately followed by a smoke trail as a rocket-propelled grenade streaked toward the stationary helicopter.

  Not good, Logan thought, reacting swiftly. He let go of the rope and dropped like a stone as the RPG reached its target.

  ———

  John and Cole had exited the helicopter first and were already on the deck when the lights went out. Four more UOE team members surrounded them and scanned the cluttered stacks of the cargo area for immediate threats.

  “What the fu—” were the only sounds John was able to utter as automatic gunfire shattered the night. Bullets cracked overhead as unseen attackers targeted the helicopter.

  John heard several impacts as the NH90 was struck. He looked up and watched as the pilot tried to veer away from the ship. Unfortunately, the fifth UOE member hadn’t reached the deck, and the violent motion shook him loose. John watched in horror as the man plummeted thirty feet, crashed to the deck, and lay motionless.

  Cole ran to the fallen operator and checked his pulse. “He’s still alive!” he shouted over the roar of the gunfire and rotor blades.

  A loud, wrenching metallic sound filled the space above them. Crrraaannngggg!

  Something in the helicopter’s engine exploded, and the rotors ground to a halt in a horrendous cacophony of sound. The NH90 pitched away from the ship, hovered momentarily at an awkward angle, and then dropped from the night sky. They watched as their ride disappeared below the railing. Moments later, a loud splash echoed up as water sprayed the side of the ship.

  Motherfuckers! We should’ve sunk this boat years ago, John thought. He looked toward the bridge and saw four men lying prone on an elevated platform at the base of the main structure. The dim ambient light from the night sky illuminated their position. Three cranes and a distance of two hundred feet were between their team and the North Koreans.

  With the helicopter in the water, the sounds of a battle from the aft side of the bridge reached their ears. John couldn’t worry about Logan and Inspector Romero. He had to attend to more pressing matters.

  “Cole,” John spoke calmly, “we need to take that position out. This entire area is their kill zone. We can’t do anything until they’re gone.”

  Bullets suddenly ricocheted off the deck behind them. John whipped his head around in time to witness two UOE members drop to their knees and fire in simultaneous, short bursts.

  Brrrp! Brrrp! Brrrp!

  John looked past them to see four men who had been hiding near the bow fifty feet away collapse to the deck. Cole and John exchanged a glance. “Nice shooting, boys,” Cole said softly under his breath.

  Gunfire erupted from near the bridge of the ship once again. John, Cole, and the four UOE members crouched down in a futile attempt to hide from the automatic fire. They finally see us, John thought.

  But no bullets struck anywhere near their location. What the hell? John thought, but then he saw the enemy shooting into the water on both sides of the ship. They’ve spotted the UOE teams in the rafts.

  John assessed the situation. “Now’s our only chance, while they’re distracted. Use the darkness and shadows of the cranes to close the distance. I’ll take the lead. Move when I move. One of you needs to stay here with your injured man. Let’s go,” he spoke quietly. The safety off on his MP5, he stalked his way forward with Cole and the UOE team close behind.

  ———

  Logan crashed down on top of a heavy tarp covering one of the ship’s lifeboats. The impact knocked the wind out of his lungs, and he lay on his back, momentarily dazed.

  Above him, he watched as the pilot yanked the NH90 up and to the right in a last-ditch effort to avoid disaster. The RPG streaked underneath the helicopter, missing it by inches, the light from the rocket’s trail illuminating the rivets in the helicopter’s underbelly.

  Gunfire suddenly erupted from three levels of the main structure. It was directed toward the remaining NH90. It spurred Logan into action, and he rolled off the lifeboat and landed on the deck next to Inspector Romero and four UOE members.

  The main structure of the Wonjo Buhwal lay directly in front of them, a hulking tower at least eighty feet tall and built with four levels, each with its own walkway connected by ladders to the levels above and below. At the top was the ship’s bridge, where Logan was certain the North Korean captain coordinating the ambush lurked. He spotted at least twelve shooters spread out in teams of two among the walkways.

  The fourth massive crane rested on top of a supporting platform directly to their left. He and the team were currently hidden in its shadows, but once they moved forward, they’d be exposed to the gunmen arrayed on the main structure.

  “This just turned into a clearing operation,” Logan said. “Until we eliminate all hostiles, we can’t secure the ship or look for the cargo.”

  “What do you suggest?” Inspector Romero asked.

  Logan turned to Lieutenant Commander Fernando Alexia, the senior UOE commander, and said, “You still have comms with the teams on the rafts?”

  “Yes,” the veteran leader said. “They’re about to board the ship on either side back here with us.”

  Logan shook his head and spoke intensely. “Negative. Wave them off. If they board here, they’ll give us away and then be sitting ducks just like us. Tell them to move forwar
d on each side directly next to the main structure. As soon as they’re in position, we’ll provide covering fire so they can board.”

  “But what then?”

  Logan pointed at the walkways. “The walkways wrap around the side of the structure. We should be able to provide them enough time to climb up and flank these fuckers from both sides. And then, between us and your two teams, we should be able to take them all down.”

  Inspector Romero and Commander Alexia nodded, and the UOE commander issued quick instructions in Spanish into his throat microphone. He looked at Logan and said, “Twenty seconds.”

  “Good. Let’s get into position.” Logan looked around for cover. The enormous metal cargo doors that covered the massive storage area below deck were retracted. That’s odd, but we can use it to our advantage. The accordion-folded roof created a thick metal barricade at least four feet tall that would provide solid cover for them in the coming firefight.

  With Logan pointing the way, they fanned out in a short line behind the steel barricade, concealed in the shadows and waiting for the commander’s signal.

  Logan rested his left arm on top of the metal door and laid the red dot of his reflex scope on a prone figure on the second-level walkway. Steady . . . steady . . . breathe . . .

  “Fire.” At Commander Alexia’s word, their automatic weapons chattered loudly in a symphony of death for the unsuspecting gunmen who’d seen them rappel from the helicopter but had lost sight of them once the lights went out.

  Darkness works both ways, assholes, Logan thought as he pulled the trigger. His first burst struck his target in the head and shoulders. He couldn’t see the resulting damage at this distance, but it wasn’t necessary. The man went limp and dropped facedown on the walkway.

  Logan shifted the weapon slightly and aimed at the dead man’s partner. He opened fire, but his rounds went high and struck the railing. Sparks erupted in a bright shower and fell to the main deck. He adjusted his sights, and his second burst struck home, dropping the target.

  Those who weren’t killed by the sudden onslaught of bullets returned fire. Bullets struck the metal barricade, and Logan ducked behind it. He glanced left to see Inspector Romero crouched and reloading his submachine gun. Two UOE members on the other side of him emptied their magazines and began to reload as their teammates next to them continued to fire.

  With each burst from their weapons, the returning fire diminished in intensity. Logan heard the sounds of the NH90’s rotors as it hovered near the side of the ship. So it didn’t crash. Thank God.

  Logan popped his head up in time to see two men on the third-level walkway lift a Chinese Type 67 7.62mm machine gun. One man stepped behind the crew-served weapon, grabbed the handle, and opened fire.

  Even though Logan couldn’t see the helicopter from his position, he heard several impacts and the tearing of sheet metal. He stood to provide cover when a second two-man team lit up the entire barricade with another Type 67.

  Bullets slammed into the metal and penetrated several folds of the steel, although none passed all the way through. Logan and the rest of the men dropped to the ground behind the folded door. The first machine gun strafed back and forth in a relentless barrage. A moment later, the second Type 67 team, having successfully driven the NH90 away from the ship, joined the assault on Logan’s position.

  Logan was almost certain the only remaining shooters were the two-man machine gun teams. Unfortunately, both were on the third level just below the bridge and had unobstructed fields of fire. There was no chance Logan or the Spanish team could approach without being torn to pieces.

  Inspector Romero shouted, “The helo’s hit but still flyable! He’s pulling back because he can’t take much more!”

  What now, Logan? Think! Think! Think! His mind searched for options. He low-crawled to the right edge of the barricade, paused, and glanced around the corner. The sight before him told him the tide was about to turn, even as bullets struck only a few feet away from his head.

  The aft UOE teams had successfully boarded the ship undetected. With predatory appreciation, Logan watched four men dressed in black combat fatigues slowly work their way up each side of the main structure. They reached the third-level walkway and moved forward toward the corners where it joined the open area behind the structure.

  “Commander, tell them it’s only the two machine gun positions. I don’t see anyone else moving on the walkways.” Even as Logan spoke, the intensity of the fire diminished. “Tell them to go now while they’re reloading!”

  Commander Alexia issued the orders, and Logan stuck his head back out to watch the attack. It wasn’t an assault so much as an execution, but Logan was relieved just the same. Better them than us.

  The two lead UOE shooters simultaneously stepped around the corners of the walkway from each end. The UOE member from the right side of the ship fired first, killing the North Korean manning the Type 67 machine gun. Even as the North Korean’s body slumped backward against the exterior bulkhead, the UOE member aimed and fired three rounds into the gunner, who was in the process of reloading the weapon. One team down, Logan thought.

  The UOE team from the left was just as efficient and had an easier time, since their targets were still prone on the walkway. The lead shooter dispatched the man pulling the trigger with three shots to the back, and the machine gun fell silent. His partner managed to roll onto his side, hoping to return fire, only to die on his back from the three bullets that struck him in the chest and head.

  Logan exhaled in relief as silence fell across the aft side of the ship. He heard the sounds of battle from the forward side of the structure and hoped John and Cole had the situation under some semblance of control.

  Logan and the rest of the team rose from behind the barricade. “Commander, tell your two shooters nice job and ask them to hold fast on the third level. We’ll make our way to them, and then we’ll assault the bridge.”

  Inspector Romero stared at Logan. “I guess you do really live up to your reputation, or at least the parts they told me about.” He smiled, both in victory and from the unique relief all warriors who just survived battle experience.

  Logan grinned back at him. “Don’t believe everything you hear, Adan,” he said, and winked. “This isn’t even the first ship I’ve taken down this week. Regardless, I’d say the UOE deserves the majority of the credit. Some great shooting. Now let’s cut the chitchat and join the rest of the team, shall we?”

  “Whatever you say, Señor West.”

  Logan smiled in response, stepped around the folded door, and quickly jogged toward the main structure. As Inspector Romero and the rest of the UOE team followed, a steady thrum . . . thrum . . . thrum built in intensity. The entire deck of the ship vibrated violently beneath their feet.

  The sound engulfed them from all sides, but Logan thought it originated from below them. Oh no, he thought. That’s why the door was open. In a moment of horror, he realized what it was. As he turned to run from the new threat, he screamed, “Run toward the structure now! As fast as you can! GO! GO! GO!”

  Inspector Romero and the UOE team were trained to know exactly when and how to follow certain orders. They sprinted behind Logan toward the middle of the ship.

  But they weren’t fast enough. From the enormous open cargo chamber beneath them emerged a hovering monster, a black Boeing light attack AH-6 helicopter armed with two .50-caliber GAU-19 machine guns and two 70mm rocket pods.

  The pilot opened fire, shattering the temporary sense of safety they’d felt only moments before.

  ———

  John led the UOE men along the railing, concealed by the monstrous metal cranes and their accompanying shadows. With Cole and the three remaining UOE members behind him, he covered the distance in fifteen seconds.

  During that short time, the four North Koreans on the superstructure had split into two teams and now defended each side of the ship. They fired into the water below with alternating automatic weapons fire.

&nb
sp; For the UOE teams’ sakes, John hoped that the darkness of the night and the movement of the ship were throwing the North Koreans’ aim off target. Just hold on for a few more seconds, he willed the Spanish Special Forces.

  He reached the base of the last crane undetected and halted. Cole and the Spanish team stopped next to him. The last crane was now directly between them and their attackers.

  “Cole and I will break right and take the team on the right; the three of you move left and take out the other team.” John spoke rapidly, and all heads nodded at once. “On my mark,” he said, and turned as he raised his MP5 to his shoulder. “Three . . . two . . . one . . . now!”

  The North Koreans were completely focused on the boarding teams and never saw their deaths approaching from the darkness.

  John took two quick steps, stopped, aimed at the North Korean closest to the corner of the railing, and opened fire. His target was dead before he knew what hit him.

  John glanced to the left side of the walkway. The other three North Koreans were facedown and motionless, dispatched by Cole and the UOE shooters. The battle for the forward part of the ship was over. At least for now, he thought.

  He turned to Cole and said, “Let’s let the UOE teams know it’s clear.” He looked at the UOE team member with the internal radio on his harness. “Radio the remaining two boat teams that it’s clear.” Even as he finished the order, a young UOE member in his late twenties quickly spoke Spanish into his microphone.

  He looked up at John and said in English, “It’s done. They’re coming up now.”

  John nodded. Before he could utter another word, the high-pitched whine of a large-caliber, electrically driven machine gun reverberated from the aft side of the ship.

  “What in God’s name?” Cole uttered. And then he heard the steady thwap! thwap! thwap! of a helicopter. It sounded different from the NH90s they’d ridden to the ship. Even as Cole processed the sound, John had already reacted and was two steps into a full-out sprint toward the main structure.