“Yes, sir,” was all he could get out before a spasm of pain shook his body.
“That’s it, Master Chief. Six live bodies accounted for. I’ve got the healthier ones trying to pull apart the cockpit to get to the pilots. It doesn’t look good.”
“Come on, Toad, I need a hand here,” Jenks said as he shook the fingers of his right hand free of the dripping blood. “We have to get this kid out of here.”
Everett saw how the boy was speared to the damaged fuselage. He moved and stood next to Jenks. “What do you need?”
“Just lift him enough to take the pressure off while I try and bend that piece straight, so we can pull him free.”
“Got it,” Carl said, as he reached down and placed his hands on the boy’s shoulders. The Master Chief nodded his head and Everett pulled up as gently as he could. The commando squeezed his eyes closed as the searing pain took hold.
“Damn it!” Jenks said as he tried desperately to bend the shard that pinned the kid down.
“Master Chief,” Carl said as he saw the relaxation of the kid’s extremities. He let go of his shoulders and Jenks cursed that he didn’t have the room to straighten the aluminum. “Master Chief, damn it, listen to me.”
Jenks stopped his cursing and then looked up at a blood-soaked Everett.
“He’s gone.”
“Ah, damn,” was all the Master Chief said as he looked at the kid’s serene face. He reached out and closed the boy’s eyes and then placed a bloody hand on his own face and rubbed at the growth of beard there. Then he stood up and looked around at the damaged C-130’s interior. “What’s the situation outside?”
“Out of the twenty-two commandos, we have six. The rest were either lost when the fuselage blew apart in the air, or they died on impact.” Carl shook his head and then surveyed what was left inside. “The six are in varying states of injury. Cuts and bruises for the most part. Everyone on the starboard side of the Hercules didn’t make it.”
“Yeah, that’s where the damn heat-seeker hit. It had to have been a Russian built weapon. The Chinese missiles aren’t that damn accurate.” Jenks cursed again and then plopped a cigar into his mouth. “Well, what’s the plan, John Paul Jones?”
“As close as I can figure it, we’re about six miles from the field team basecamp.”
“Communications?” Jenks asked, and then quickly saw the sour look on the Captain’s face. “Don’t tell me, everything was on the pallet on the starboard side.”
“That means what’s left is spread out over approximately twenty square miles.”
“The Europa link?”
Carl looked to his left and Jenks’ eyes followed. The laptop was on the floor of the aircraft in several pieces.
“Well, I can honestly say that when we fuck it up, we do it with style,” he said as he wanted so badly to light up his cigar, but the smell of aviation fuel was still too strong. “Can those boys out there walk?”
“They don’t have a choice. We’ll have tribesmen here at any minute to scavenge anything they can get their hands on.”
“Captain, we got the two pilots and the crew chief free.”
Carl looked at the Air Force sergeant and saw the negative look on his face. Everett shook his head. “Tell the men to gather up anything useful. Rations, weapons, and then destroy anything we cannot use. Master Chief, I need your expertise here. By the smell, we have plenty of fuel left in the inner wing tanks. Burn it all, leave nothing for the tribesmen to get.”
“That I can do.” Jenks turned his attention to the young Air Force commando. “Bring the bodies inside.”
“Inside, aren’t we going to bury them? They deserve at least that.”
Jenks started to shout at the young sergeant when he received the look from Everett and his raised brow. He took a breath and faced the kid. “Son, there isn’t a soldier that has died in the line of duty that doesn’t deserve to be buried with honors, but that option isn’t available to us. Bring the bodies inside.”
Everett slapped the sergeant on the back. “Now, sergeant. We have ground to cover and a short time to do it in. We’re going to have some very unfriendly company very soon. Burning the bodies is the only way we can guarantee that Mongol tribesmen don’t strip them and leave them for the buzzards. Okay?”
The young sergeant seemed to come to his senses and then abruptly turned to follow his orders.
“You come in handy, Toad. I never got the knack of trying to calm down scared kids.”
Everett reached down and picked up a discarded M-4 assault weapon and then made sure the magazine was full. He charged the weapon and then fixed Jenks with a knowing look. “Not true, Master Chief. I remember a young SEAL frozen in terror in his first assault in Panama. Hell, I was just nineteen and was about to shit my pants when the bullets started coming our way. I remember this gruff bastard talking softly to the kid that I was that he had to move or die. Then you pulled me to my feet and shoved me out of my safe cover. So, you do know how to speak to scared men.”
Jenks removed the cigar from his mouth. “Hell, Toad, by the time of the Panama invasion, I was just an instructor. I was the scared one. And the only reason I pulled you from cover was to use your dumbass as a human shield to get me the hell out of there.” He smiled and then plopped the cigar back into his mouth. “Now, shall we see if we can get our asses out of another god-forsaken desert?”
“Asshole.”
* * *
Hong Kong, China
Tram and Jack waited for Farbeaux to return from the charter office. A bearded Collins slapped Tram on the back and then looked honestly into his eyes. He smiled as best as the situation would allow.
“Here’s where we part company, old friend.”
Tram looked momentarily confused as they sat on a wooden bench outside of the office. He tilted his head as if he wasn’t understanding. Tram was wearing civilian clothing for the first time Jack had ever seen. The small man looked to be the most normal of civilians, but he also knew Tram to be a dedicated soldier and by far the best shot with a rifle he had ever seen. Now that the time was upon them to part, Jack felt sick that he may never see his friend again.
“It’s time for you to go home and leave this mess to us. You’ve done enough.”
“Cannot go home.”
Jack was caught off guard by his simple comment. “What do you mean you can’t go home?”
“I have made my choice, and that choice does not coincide with my soldiering duties.”
“What damn choice?”
“We all have to make choices in our lives, Colonel. You know this better than most. I have made mine. I am now a criminal in my government’s eyes.”
Van Tram had disappeared for about two hours while Henri and himself purchased clothing and, after visiting one of the Frenchman’s contacts in Hong Kong, procured weapons. He never asked where Tram had vanished to and now he thought he knew.”
“How do you know this?” Jack asked, growing angry at a man he most respected from another military organization.
“A contact I have here checked in back home. An arrest warrant was posted three days ago. I am being charged with assisting a foreign power inside Vietnam. You see, I am now a man without a country. After I assist you, I will surrender to my government.”
Jack stood and slapped his thigh. He started pacing. He stopped when the answer came to him. “No, say what you will about me, I have friends in high places. This will not stand. Even the President of the United States knows who and what kind of soldier you are.”
Tram bowed his head at the compliment. Then he looked Collins square in the eyes. “It’s because of this praise in your reports from the field that I was placed on a watch list by my government. They thought I became a little too close to your government during the war with the Grays.”
“And you still chose to put your neck on the line for me?”
“This is what one does, Colonel. I have learned many things in our time together. One of them is that you ta
ke risks to save friends.”
“Damn it.”
“Mongolia seems the place to be for my immediate future,” Tram said, and then saw Henri exit the charter office. He stood.
“Inform Doctor Compton he now owes me fifty-two thousand dollars.”
“Jesus, someone saw you coming and raped you on price!” Jack said.
“It seems on my last visit I chartered a plane, and well, failed in my obligation to return it.” Henri handed Collins a receipt. “By the way, that receipt is only for the previous charter. They failed to renew any continuing service agreement with me.”
“So, you’re out over fifty thousand dollars, and we still don’t have a way to get there?”
Henri smirked and then produced a set of keys. “Airstream, tight and cramped, but it will get us there.”
Tram smiled as he watched the banter.
“From a soldier to a pirate all in one day,” Jack said as he looked at the smiling Tram.
“What, now he’s coming too?” Henri asked as he was tossing the keys up and down as Tram reached out and plucked them from the air. “I guess so.”
“There is an American sporting goods store nearby. I need a weapon and ammunition,” Tram said as he started walking. “The receipt you can give to me.”
“You know Colonel, I once thought of myself as a devious person, but since I met you and your organization, I could take lessons.”
“Let’s go procure what Tram needs. I have a feeling we’re gong to be happy he’s along.”
“Happy? You?” Henri snorted laughter.
“Yes, this is my happy face,” Jack said, as Henri took an involuntary step back as Collins passed by him and started following Tram.
“That’s not comforting at all.”
* * *
Xinjiang, Eastern China
The six tank regiments sat at idle on the northern border of Xinjiang Province, situated on the northern border. The assault element was prepared. The air Assault helicopter units were gathered nearby at Nanjing. They would delay their assault while waiting for the tanks to get through the mountain pass leading to the Altai Mountains in Eastern Mongolia. At the moment, the entire division was facing only a token border security unit of the Mongolian army.
The commanding armor general, Wei Li Cheng, looked at his watch inside his command vehicle.
“If we delay too much longer, the Mongolians will reinforce the border. Then we will have a battle on our hands before we even enter Mongolian territory.”
His adjutant, a full colonel, sat at the map table and then looked up at his commander. “Why are we delaying, sir?”
“We have orders to await a person from Beijing. He and his personal detachment will arrive shorty. We are to commence operations after he arrives.”
“Does Beijing know the current border situation?” the colonel asked.
The general finally stood and then climbed to the upper hatch and opened it. He took his field glasses and scoured the men and equipment of his command.
The division had been newly formed since the disaster of the Gray invasion where over seventy-five percent of the Division’s armor was lost in the streets of the capital. Now he hoped this unexpected delay would not cost him unnecessary casualties before they even started their mission in full.
He turned when he heard the sound of several helicopters. He tried to focus on the clear blue skies overhead. “I told the aviation battalions to stand down and not to give any indication of their positions. It’s imperative we keep some of our aspect of attack to a minimum.”
“Western outposts report civilian aircraft heading in this direction, General,” the colonel called from below. “Six choppers in all.”
“Civilian?” he asked while trying to punch through the glare of the clear day. Then he saw them. As he focused on the lead helicopter, he saw the gleaming and colorful livery colors of the birds. They were bright red and blue in paint scheme. He saw that the others following were also the same colors as the first. He lowered the field glasses and then went below into the troop carrier. “Let me see the communique once more, Colonel.”
The man handed the general the teletype message received earlier that morning. He read the flimsy for the fourth time.
‘Expect private executive group to join you. Their health and welfare are of the utmost priority. All accommodation will be accorded this group, and their orders will supersede previous orders if detailed.’ Signed; Xi Jinping, President, PRC.
The general handed the message back to his adjutant and then went to the rear door of the personnel carrier and opened the hydraulic system, exiting with the colonel following close behind. The first five very expensive French-made Dauphin EC155 executive helicopters settled to the earth just south of the Great Wall. Men in black Nomex assault BDUs exited and surrounded the choppers. The sixth and final bird didn’t start descending until the others were secured. The Dauphin slowly settled into the circle formed by the other five helicopters.
“Is this what we have become?”
“What is that, General?” the adjutant asked.
“Tour guides for Hong Kong playboys come to enjoy the sight of men in battle?”
The adjutant didn’t respond as three men exited the last helicopter and then opened the rear door. A shapely leg was seen, and then the beautiful woman they were attached to was then seen by every man watching. She carried a briefcase and stood and eyed the men and land around her. The sunglasses she wore covered most of her face, but her demeanor told everyone who saw her that she was very important. The General noticed she was awaiting someone herself. Finally, a man stepped from the plush interior of the helicopter and then slowly buttoned his suit jacket. The black attire was immaculate, and he wore no tie. He was sporting a nicely trimmed beard and his black hair was exactly combed. He placed a pair of sunglasses over his eyes, and then as the woman pointed their way, the man nodded his head and started forward. He was followed closely by his black-clad security detail.
The man smiled as he confronted the general, who stood at rigid attention and then half-bowed to the man and woman. He then straightened and started to salute, but thought better of it.
“General—” he started to say by way of introduction.
“Wei Li Cheng.” The man didn’t take the offered hand of the general and received a look of pure disgust from the tall woman next to the well-dressed man. “I have read your file, General. I approved of your command in this operation.”
“Approved?” the stunned officer asked.
“Yes, we have followed your career from even before the defense of Beijing last year,” the woman said for the man, who walked past the general and his adjutant and examined the row upon row of tanks lined up behind the Great Wall. The general ignored the woman and turned to confront this civilian interfering in his operation.
“Sir, may I ask of whom I am addressing?”
The question was ignored as the newcomer jumped upon the first Type 99-A-2 main battle tank. The crewmen watched as the immaculately dressed man rubbed a loving hand over the 125-millimeter smooth bore main gun of the most advanced tank in the world. He turned and smiled at the woman, who approached the tank and waited as the man hopped down from the chassis and whispered something the general couldn’t hear. The woman smiled at what he had said, and then she turned to face the general.
“Mr. Chang is most impressed with the status of your equipment. He wishes to say that he hopes your command fares well in the upcoming unpleasantness. He is most hopeful you succeed. He has waited many, many years for action to be taken against the backward country to the North.” She smiled, and then finally held out a hand as her boss continued to examine the General’s men and equipment. “My name is Lisa Chow, special assistant to Mr. Chang. I will be your liaison from now on. Mr. Chang will remain behind the Great Wall until your breakthrough is achieved. When you have approached the mountain, stop and await orders.”
“Orders?” The general looked from the smug woma
n to the man he had waited upon for life and death in the coming days.
“Yes, you did receive the message from the capital, did you not?” she asked as she removed her sunglasses and faced the general down.
“Yes,” he said as he bowed to the stranger.
“You will run into more opposition than you were briefed on from high command. The Russians are prepared to stop any incursion of that mountain range at any cost. You will also be facing American and British personnel. Are you prepared, General?”
“You have said you have examined my personnel file, so you understand that I am always very well-prepared Ms. Chow, that is when I am given all of the details of my mission parameters.”
“Very good, General. You have all the information you need for the moment. One point you may not have is the fact that Mr. Chang will not tolerate hostilities once you have captured that mountain. Is this clearly understood?”
“What if attacked? You cannot order men not to defend themselves.”
“I most certainly can, General,” said the man in the black suit as he approached with his hands placed firmly behind his back. “The prize we have sought can be damaged. This cannot happen. Every man in your division is expendable toward that goal. Am I understood?”
The man and woman didn’t wait for an answer, they just turned away and went toward the campsite his security detail was setting up. The general watched them go until the smallish man turned back to face him.
“Once more I am placing my trust in a General.” He placed the sunglasses back on. “Do not disappoint me, or I will see to it that every man in your command never sees his homeland again.” He smiled and then turned away.
“Who is that?” the adjutant asked.
The General felt the chill course down his spine when the question brought to the forefront of his thoughts on the strange little civilian.
“Did you not feel it, Colonel. I think I have avoided evil men for most of my life. But that man is just that. Evil.”
* * *
Empire of the Dragon Page 23