Dawn of the Tiger

by Gus Frazer

  ‘The plan is this: a four-man team on motocross bikes will travel at high speed to this point and lay an explosive charge, a rail-splitter, on the railway line. This bomb is designed specifically for inflicting maximum damage on railway infrastructure. I will be leading the team accompanied by Hunt, Bull and Carver. The rest of you will remain here and assist the lieutenant in communications and base defence.

  ‘We will be relying on our comms team back here to give us advanced warning of any enemy activity. We don’t know how they will react after this series of attacks, but I think we can safely assume that they will be upset.’

  Finn was still reeling from hearing his name called out. His mind was so scrambled he hadn’t heard a word Higgins had said. Finn forced himself to listen and concentrate on what Higgins was saying.

  Higgins continued. ‘I’m going to be briefing my team outside. The commander is going to take the rest of you through the comms protocols. That is all.’

  General Stephens was sitting at his desk in the SOF finishing his dinner. With a single knock on the door, Fletcher came bursting in without waiting to be asked. ‘Marty, you’re going to love this — the first squads are all stationed at the assigned ops bases. The first deployments have all gone to plan. Tomorrow morning the first attack wave begins. There will be a series of successive operations, which will start in the south and move north. We’ll be hitting them where it hurts — their transportation and logistics centres.’

  ‘Fantastic!’ said General Stephens, dropping his fork to his plate and wiping his mouth with a napkin.

  ‘It’s finally happening, Marty. Can you believe how big a shit Xian is going to have when he hears? That skinny little fucker is going to get his ear chewed off by someone back in Beijing.’

  General Stephens suddenly looked contemplative. ‘It’s not Xian that concerns me, it’s the possibility of Chinese reprisal attacks. Beijing may well go back on their word and put civilians at risk.’

  ‘God knows,’ replied Fletcher, ‘I mean, they’ve been true to their word so far, but I guess we’ve never tested their word like this, have we?’

  ‘No, we haven’t. I guess we’ll have to cross that bridge when we come to it,’ said Stephens. What he meant, really, was there was nothing they could do about it now. If the Chinese decided to lash out at a civilian population because of their attacks, then that was a price that had to be paid. Though the general would do everything in his power to avoid civilian casualties, there would be one positive to a Chinese strike on civilians. It might jolt the public into realising that they were all being held hostage in the greatest act of geo-terrorism the world had ever seen. Alternatively, the public might turn on Stephens and demand a return to diplomacy. These were such extreme times that there really was no way of predicting how the media, and therefore the masses, would react. There was no way of telling how the Chinese would react, either.

  ‘Well, by this time tomorrow, we should know how the Chinese are going to take it — one way or another,’ said Fletcher.

  Chapter 10

  As the men milled about after the briefing, Finn noticed that the mine had taken on a darker, more sinister look with the weaponry unpacked. His chest had tightened the moment he’d heard his name called and he realised his breathing was shallow, a sheen of nervous sweat accumulating on his brow. Was he ready? How would he react under pressure? How would he react to being shot at?

  Higgins walked past. ‘Hunt, Carver. Outside please,’ he said, without stopping to make sure they heard.

  In the scorching afternoon heat outside, Higgins faced them both. ‘Well, you two have landed yourselves right in it, haven’t you?’ he said with a faint smile.

  ‘We’re ready, Sergeant,’ said Carver, not at all convincingly.

  ‘Shut it, Carver. You’re barely ready to wipe your own arse,’ Higgins retorted.

  His gaze now alternated between the two of them. ‘Now, you two have done well in training. In fact, I think it’s fair to say you’ve excelled. However, that does not make you real soldiers in my book. Out there is a very different story. I have faith that you will both do well out there tomorrow, but slow down. Remember your training, listen to my orders and keep your eyes open — always looking, always thinking.’

  Finn and Carver nodded, staring at Higgins’ face as though hypnotised.

  ‘You stay alert and you stay alive,’ said Higgins, so fiercely that it frightened Finn.

  ‘So what’s the objective, Sarge?’ asked Carver.

  ‘Right, Hunt. Get the other monkey over here, will you,’ said Higgins, gesturing at Bull.

  The team gathered. They went over the plans time and time again until late into the night. The operation was choreographed down to the smallest detail and they went through the specific actions as a team. Everyone had to know their role in the operation and the role of the other men, in case something went wrong. The plan itself was very simple: tear in on the bikes, secure the area where they would be laying the explosives, place the device, retreat, detonate and then get back to the ops base as quickly as possible. The rail-splitter explosive they’d be using worked by creating an extremely low-frequency shockwave that travelled through the railway line. The shockwave would go for over a kilometre, literally tearing the rail from the sleepers, lifting the rail into the air. Once the explosion happened, the Chinese would be left with over a kilometre of busted, twisted and buckled metal instead of a railway. The Chinese could build railways so quickly and efficiently that the Aussies had to try to damage as much rail line as was devastatingly possible to have any effect on their operations.

  By midnight the men were all exhausted and thoroughly versed in the operation. ‘That’s enough for tonight, boys. Let’s get some shut-eye,’ said Higgins, wearily rubbing his eyes.

  The men grunted as they shuffled off to their sleeping area.

  ‘I suggest you take a Nightcap to help you sleep better. You’ll need to look lively tomorrow,’ called Higgins after them. The Nightcap was a pill used by athletes that moderated the body’s heart rate, temperature and deep brainwaves to ensure the optimum night’s sleep, with no drowsiness the next day. In the field it was every soldier’s best friend. Finn took the pill and slept soundly all night.

  For an instant, upon waking, Finn forgot where he was and what he was about to do. Unfortunately the blissful ignorance didn’t last long, as he quickly remembered what was happening. The squad gathered in the cave where Higgins and Taylor were giving the day’s briefing. The attack group needed to leave by 1000 hours to make the target on time.

  ‘All right, men,’ said Higgins. ‘You all know the plan. Attack team, we need to be on the bikes and out of here at 1000 hours on the dot. Check your gear and the bikes; we can’t afford any mechanicals out there. That is all, unless you have anything to add, Lieutenant?’

  ‘No, thank you, Sergeant. Except that this is a momentous day, gentlemen. This is the day Australia fights back against our adversary. It’s up to us to make sure they get what’s coming to them.’

  At 0951 Higgins was standing with Finn, Carver and Bull. ‘Boys, you can bet the Chinese are going to be upset about what we’re up to, so stay frosty and keep your eyes to the skies. Our primary threat is the San’s. Any sign of one and you know what to do. Now, let’s get moving.’

  They mounted the electric-powered bikes and started them up. When idle, the bikes emitted a crackling, low-pitched hum. The sound, though not loud, seemed to electrify the whole canyon. Finn’s heart was racing, the adrenalin was pumping around his body.

  At first, they just coasted along the canyon floor, weaving around obstacles. The canyon then dipped down and after a few minutes they came out of it and into an expanse of desert. The going was rough but the bikes were more than up to the task. Finn felt strangely relaxed riding with the others. He knew he had a job to do, he knew how to do it and he trusted the guys around him.

  ‘Okay, boys. Stay focussed. Let’s pick up the speed now,’ Higgins said ove
r the comms. Leading the men, Higgins twisted the throttle and leant into the bars, lowering his body. They all accelerated their bikes and their powerful motors crackled, the noise becoming a higher-pitched whine. They were tearing across the vast, flat desert plain in a tight formation. Each rider hunched down low, with elbows flared out to the sides so their arms could absorb the bumps that their suspension couldn’t handle.

  What a rush, thought Finn, if only Chris could see me now. Fuck, stay focussed dickhead, he reminded himself as he hit a rock that caused him to release the throttle momentarily. His body armour lifted and jagged him painfully in the throat.

  ‘Keep it tight, boys. This speed is good. Eyes on the ground, no stacks,’ said Higgins through their comms units, loud in their ears. None of the others spoke. They were too busy concentrating on the tricky terrain.

  After an hour’s riding Higgins ordered the men to stop.

  ‘Hunt, let’s see the map.’

  Pulling the mapscreen out from a holster on the side of the bike, Finn unfurled the tough A3-sized digital sheet. Pressing a button on the side, the mapscreen flickered into life.

  ‘Here you go, Sarge.’

  Looking at the map for a few seconds, Higgins furled it back up and handed it to Finn. ‘Okay. We’ve got another 10 clicks to the target. We pull up a click short, secure the area, ensure it’s clear, then Bull and I go in, place the device and rejoin you before detonating.’

  The guys knew the plan inside out and backwards, so there was no confusion, no questions. ‘Right. Let’s hit it!’ said Higgins, revving the bike hard. His rear wheel tore up the red dirt and he sped off with the others following.

  At the one-kilometre mark they stopped. Finn, Carver and Bull dismounted their bikes and unpacked their weapons. Higgins turned off his bike but stayed straddling it. ‘Hunt, Carver. Set up the tactical surveillance gear. I want a sweep of the area to make sure there are no patrols in the vicinity.’

  Carver pulled out a computer tablet from his pack and sparked it up. The screen gave an aerial view of the surrounds. If it detected human biometric readings apart from their own, they would have shown up as red dots.

  ‘No bio readings, Sarge,’ said Carver.

  ‘Electronic?’ replied Higgins.

  ‘Just checking … nope. We’re clear,’ said Carver, still pressing buttons on his tablet. ‘No patrols, no drones, no other airborne objects.’

  ‘Okay then. Bull. You’ve got the device there. One last check, please.’

  Bull pulled the small explosive package out of his pack and checked its digital screen. ‘Green light, Sarge. We’re good to go.’

  Higgins looked at Finn and Carver. ‘Eyes in the skies, understood. I want you to talk to me the whole time — regular updates. I want to know that you two are watching for any sign of the enemy.’

  ‘All over it, Sarge,’ said Finn.

  Higgins called into their ops base. ‘Lieutenant, we’re in position. Ready to place device now.’

  ‘Roger that Sergeant. Proceed,’ came the reply.

  ‘C’mon, Bull. Let’s do it,’ said Higgins before starting his bike and tearing off towards the target, Bull right behind him.

  Higgins pulled up five metres from the rail track, got off his bike and left it to be kept upright by its proprioceptors, engine still running. Bull did the same.

  Both men looked around, somewhat surprised by how eerily quiet and empty it seemed.

  ‘Place the device, and let’s get out of here,’ said Higgins.

  Bull walked up to the railway track and placed the device. It was small, but he knew how much damage a rail-splitter could inflict.

  Higgins felt that at any moment a chopper or a drone would drop out of the sky to wipe them out. Memories of the first battle for Australia surged back — the Jians that flew in formation and annihilated so many of them. Nothing like that here, though. It seemed surreal, being so quiet and empty. As if on cue, Hunt’s voice came over the comms unit saying all was clear.

  Within three minutes Higgins and Bull were back with Finn and Carver, all of them lying chest-down on the ground, facing the target.

  ‘Still no sign of patrols or aircraft, Sarge’ said Carver.

  ‘Very good. Detonate the device,’ said Higgins, calmly.

  Bull took the small remote detonator, tapped in the activation code and pressed the button. A second later they saw the massive dust-and-fire-ball erupt from the tracks. A split-second later, the shockwave hit, causing them all to drop their heads into the dirt.

  Once the dust had settled, Higgins contacted Taylor to advise him that the operation had been executed.

  ‘I can see it from here, Sergeant, on our sat imaging. I think half the bloody world can see it. Now, get your arses back here immediately,’ replied the lieutenant.

  ‘Right, boys. Job done. Let’s get a hustle-on back to base,’ said Higgins to the men as they picked themselves up off the ground.

  The ride back to the base was as fast and exciting for Finn as the ride out. They were constantly being updated of enemy positions or aircraft by the ops base. Even though the bikes left minimal tracks, there was still a risk the Chinese surveillance technology could identify their signature so they had to ensure they spread out to minimise the risk.

  After more than an hour of flat desert the gradient began to increase, as they rode up to the entrance of the canyon. At the entrance Higgins ordered them to stop. Looking back, there was still an enormous dust cloud where the device had been detonated. And still no sign of Chinese patrols — Higgins couldn’t believe their luck.

  ‘Sarge, look over there.’ Finn pointed to the south of their target where a plume of dark black smoke was rising into the air.

  ‘Gimme the binos,’ demanded Higgins.

  Looking through the powerful binoculars, Higgins could make out three Jians circling an area near the source of the smoke plume. The dust cloud below them made it impossible to see what was happening on the ground.

  ‘C’mon. If we can see them, they can see us,’ said Higgins grimly.

  He knew that the San’s didn’t circle like that unless they had targets on the ground, and the likelihood was that it was one of the other squads down there getting a hammering. There was nothing they could do for them. They were too far away and, besides, four more men wouldn’t make a bit of difference against three San’s and whatever Chinese patrols were on the ground. But the knowledge of the distant bloodbath still left a sick feeling in Higgins’ gut.

  They slowed down in the canyon with the relative safety that it provided — not that they had much choice. It was far more technical riding than on the open desert plain.

  They pulled into the base camp just after 1400 hours, covered in dust and sweat, exhausted from the ride and the waning adrenalin kick. Stumbling off their bikes they stretched their aching backs and joints.

  A few of the men came out to greet them, though there were no high-fives or backslapping. Finn immediately sensed an air of sobriety.

  ‘What’s going on, boys? Thought you’d be glad to see us!’ Finn asked the group.

  ‘Sorry, mate. But we just heard that Delta squad has been hit hard. Reports are that they got mowed down by a couple of San’s and a Chinese patrol,’ replied Jessop, worriedly rubbing his straw-coloured buzz cut.

  ‘Fuck me. I think we saw them on our way back, poor bastards,’ said Finn, his stomach suddenly clenching.

  At that moment Taylor came out of the mine. ‘Well done, men. Mission accomplished. Clean yourselves up, have some food, then let’s debrief at 1530. Oh, and make sure the bikes and all the gear come inside. The Chinese are likely to be sending out recon drones after what happened today.’

  The men dispersed, deflated by the news of Delta squad. Finn shuddered at the thought that it could be them next.

  That night Finn couldn’t sleep. He was too wound up after the day’s activities. He was replaying the mission in his head, trying to memorise every moment, how he felt, what he was thi
nking, the sensations. He was trying to distract himself from a nagging thought … how easily it could have been their team that was taken out by the Chinese helicopters. How it really just boiled down to luck. Yes, he was finally getting what he’d set out to get: a real challenge. But was it worth it?

  He popped a Nightcap to help him relax. It seemed to do the trick and he managed to get half a night’s sleep.

  General Stephens, Sarah and Fletcher were in the conference room with the military leaders and advisors, going through the reports on the day’s attacks. After the final presentation by Fletcher, who was in charge of the overall operation, the room was silent.

  ‘Well, ladies and gentlemen, I must congratulate you on a successful first wave of attacks,’ said General Stephens, leaning back in his chair. ‘There can be no doubt that we have inflicted serious damage to the Chinese transportation lines and it will prove costly to them.’

  ‘With the exception of Delta squad, we sustained minimal losses in the five attacks. But you can bet we won’t have it so easy next time. Tomorrow we strike again with the squads in the north. This will be a different story, I expect,’ said Fletcher.

  Stephens nodded grimly.

  ‘It will be interesting to see the Chinese response to these attacks. The reality is we caught them well off-guard today — and it meant low casualties for us. I wonder how quickly they sharpen up to our guerrilla tactics,’ pondered Fletcher.

  ‘Unfortunately, as we all know, there’s only one way to find out — keep attacking,’ replied General Stephens.

  There was a knock at the door, and a young assistant strode over to General Stephens, bending at the waist to whisper something into his ear as he handed the general a note.

  Stephens quickly read the note, then looked up to the assembled group. ‘Well, people. You will have to excuse me. Ambassador Xian is threatening all sorts of things to my assistants if I don’t return his call immediately,’ he said with a wry smile.