"Great idea!" Brannigan exclaimed. "They really don't want the damn thing back, but they have to cover their asses. That supply officer doesn't want to pay for the vehicle any more than I do."
"Murchison is in my section," Dawkins said. "I'll brief him on the problem."
Monty Sturgis, the petty officer of the watch, stepped into the bunker. "Chopper's coming," he announced. "Two visitors. Can't see who they are from here."
"Right," Brannigan said. "I can't wait to see who they might be." Then he added under his breath, "Not!"
Ten minutes later, Lieutenant Commander Ernest Berringer entered with PO Doug MacTavish. The SEAL who had been wounded was in good spirits as he reported in. His face, which had taken a combined load of shrapnel, rocks, and dirt in the explosion that injured him, still showed the effects of the incident. But it was obvious he was healing nicely. There was none of the tattooing that Doc Bradley had feared.
Ensign Taylor was happy to see his SAW gunner back in action. "It's great to have you home again, MacTavish. We've had need of your expertise. You play pretty tunes on that squad automatic weapon."
"Glad to be here, sir," MacTavish said.
Berringer spoke in his usual somber manner. "He's not going to be here long. And neither are the rest of you. A detachment of Army Rangers is coming in to relieve you. You're to be back at Shelor Field by tomorrow at the latest."
"What's with this shit, sir?"
"All I know is that orders came down to move you guys back to Shelor Field," Berringer explained. "And I don't think it's for R and R."
Brannigan pointed over to the informal supply dump just outside Doc Bradley's clinic. "It's gonna take us a hell of a long time to pack all this stuff up."
"Leave it for the Army," Berringer said. "All you lug out of here is your personal weapons and equipment. Leave the fifty-caliber machine guns too."
"Aren't I charged with all that?" Brannigan asked in way of a protest.
"Your name is removed from all supply and ordnance considerations here," Berringer assured him.
"Does that include the DPV?" Brannigan asked.
"There's never been a desert patrol vehicle up here on Operation Battleline," Berringer said. "And you're still going to have to answer for the one that was misplaced during Operation Rolling Thunder."
"Not to worry," Brannigan said. "The paperwork is in the mill." He turned to his section leaders. "You heard the commander. Go round up your guys. It's moving day."
"The chopper will be here at fourteen hundred hours," Berringer said.
The officers and chiefs left the bunker to muster their sections and teams.
.
SEAL HANGAR
SHELOR FIELD
30 AUGUST 1300 HOURS
BRUNO Puglisi sat next to his buddy Joe Miskoski among the other SEALs scattered around on folding chairs. The last two days had dragged by very slowly. Puglisi whispered, "They might as well leave this meeting stuff set up permanent."
"Yeah," Miskoski agreed. "I'm beginning to feel like I've spent half my Navy career getting briefed in this freakin' hangar."
Mike Assad, in the row just behind them, leaned forward. "Yeah. But this time we're gonna really be able to go at the bad guys down and fucking dirty, man!"
"Sail on!" Puglisi agreed with a wicked grin.
Brannigan, Jim Cruiser, and Orlando Taylor were in the cubbyhole of an office with Commander Tom Carey and Lieutenant Commander Ernest Berringer. When the latter two officers had shown up at Shelor Field after the Brigands' impromptu transfer from the OA, they had kicked up everyone's adrenaline with the revelation of the blueprints of the Zaheya mountain fortress. A well-hidden and skillfully camouflaged rear entrance was plainly shown on the plans. Now they knew how the ragheads had managed to get out and catch up with them during the exfiltration after the HALO attack.
The officers came out to join the rest of the detachment. The Skipper, Cruiser, and Taylor went behind the chairs and stayed on their feet for the briefing that was about to be delivered. Carey and Berringer tacked a blown-up reproduction of the fortress layout on the wall. Then Berringer stepped aside while Carey took the floor.
"I can see the eagerness in your eyes," Carey said. "It's show time! You're going into that goddamn place via that hidden entrance. We're going to issue a vocal OPORD to you this afternoon, and when that's done, you'll draw some concussion grenades to take the place of the M-two-oh-threes. There won't be any machine-gun support per se, but the fire support section will all carry individual SAWs. That procedure will be explained later."
"When do the festivities start?" Pech Pecheur asked.
"HALO insertion will be in the early morning of one September," Carey said. "You will launch your attack immediately after landing. You're not going to have a lot of room inside that damn fortress, so you can forget the fire-and-maneuver drill. I'm not going to try to fool you guys. This is gonna be tough and deadly. Figure some hand-to-hand in the deal. And also keep in mind how confined it's gonna be in those tunnels and bunkers." He turned and indicated the layout on the wall. "The one thing you won't have to worry about is having the bastards come at you from all directions. When the Russians built that place, they kept it simple and orderly. For all intents and purposes there is only one passageway, but it leads to each separate bunker."
"Man!" Pete Dawson exclaimed. "The few guys in front are going to catch all the hell."
Brannigan interjected himself into the proceedings. "We've taken that into consideration. Fire teams will be rotated as we progress through the place. That will be the section commanders' responsibility. And as soon as the last team of a section has put in its time, the next section will immediately take over."
SCPO Dawkins turned in his seat and looked at the Skipper. "Sir, what about a rear guard? Those Zaheya guys can send some of their own riflemen around the back and come in behind us."
"That's going to be Chief Gunnarson's responsibility," Brannigan responded. "His fire support section with those SAWs is going to set up a perimeter around the area of that rear entrance. There'll be half a dozen of 'em with beaucoup ammo."
Gunnarson now spoke up. "I've been wondering about that, sir. We could end up getting hard-pressed out there in the back. SAWs are great, but I'm sure gonna miss those beautiful fifties we left them Army guys."
"That's been taken into consideration, Chief," Brannigan said. "Gomez is going to be with you. He'll bring along his faithful Shadowfire radio for long-distance transmissions. He'll also have his AN/PRC-twenty-six to keep in touch with me. So if things get real hairy back there, he can call in CAS from Shelor Field. There'll be half a dozen F/A-eighteens from the local CVBG standing by if needed. They're due to arrive here early this evening."
"What about medevac, sir?" Doc Bradley asked.
"That won't happen until the show comes to an end," the Skipper said. "You'll set up an aid station at that rear entrance close to Gomez and the SAW gunners. We'll bring any wounded down to you during the fighting. You'll have to do your best with 'em there until the situation is under control."
Carey said, "I might add that those carrier guys will also be able to plaster the front of the fortress, if it becomes necessary. However, don't forget the Army Rangers in your old trenches. They'll be keeping an eye on the enemy's front lines, so if you need their help, let 'em know. Any questions or comments about the air or fire support?
Okay, then. I'm going to jump to the exfiltration phase, since Lieutenant Brannigan will be covering the procedure you're going to use inside the fortress." He checked his notes. "When it is decided it is time for you to withdraw and you've pretty well shot the place up, you'll make a careful exit and head out the same way you entered. The AFSOC choppers will be in to pick you up. If things didn't go real well and you're under pressure, you'll have to fight a delaying action while you pull back. Once you're out in the open, those F/A-eighteens will be there to turn the back part of the mountain into molten lava. And, of course, the Air Force will make their usual time
ly appearance. So! I'll let your esteemed commanding officer take over now."
Brannigan walked to the front of the room and gave his men a solemnly proud look. "Guys, this is gonna be a fucking load. So be mentally prepared for it." He walked to the wall, turning his laser pointer on the blueprint. "Now you can tell there are eight--I say again, eight--bunkers inside this place. Each has two entrances, or exits, depending on which way you're going. One leads to the trenches and fighting positions outside and the other to that connecting tunnel within the mountain. It's those interiors we'll be wading through first. That means when you charge into one of those rat holes you'll be exposed to fire coming from outside. The advantage at that point is they'll be firing through a narrow opening."
Matty Matsuno raised his hand. "How's us headquarters weenies gonna be organized, sir?"
"Puglisi and Miskoski are gonna be my goons," Brannigan replied. He looked at the two SEALs. "That means you stick close to me. I'll be directing things and I'll need you two to cover my ass while my attention is directed elsewhere."
"Aye, sir!" the pair responded.
Brannigan swung his eyes to Connie Concord. "The Sneaky Petes are gonna be under your direct command. You'll be the last in the assault column. We'll let Assad be your grenade toter. I'll get to that part of the operation in a minute."
"Understood, sir," Connie acknowledged.
"Now, our basic procedure is going to be simple and calls for everyone to think fast and clearly," Brannigan said. "We'll all have to be adaptable because each time we hit a bunker the situation is gonna be different. Basically, here's how we'll do it. The team grenadier may not have his M-two-oh-three, but he'll be carrying four concussion grenades. These are something we normally don't deal with, since our application of handthrown explosive devices is to tear up living meat. However, Station Bravo sent some down from their prison."
"What do they do, sir?" Puglisi asked, disappointed that they wouldn't necessarily "whack" anybody.
"They have a stunning capability," Brannigan said. "The reason we chose them was to keep from having our own shrapnel whip back on us. I'd rather we got headaches then a bellyful of pellets or fragments. So each time the lead team comes to a bunker entrance, the grenadier tosses one in, and as soon as it goes off, the entire team charges into the interior. The backup team will then move to the entrance for support, being ready to rush in and lend a hand if necessary."
Jim Cruiser was thoughtful. "If each team has four concussion grenades, then we'll be carrying in a total of twenty-eight. That's more than enough. Hell, with eight bunkers that means we'll have more than three for each one."
"Not if we have to take and retake some of those bunkers four or five times," Brannigan said.
"Oh, shit!" Cruiser remarked.
"Yeah," Brannigan said. "Oh, shit."
Ensign Orlando Taylor was leaning forward in his chair, his concentration and attitude showing he was looking forward to the coming action. "You said we were going to do some battle drill, sir. What was that all about?"
"The Air Force has some unused storage sheds east of the landing strip," Brannigan said. "We'll use them as simulated bunkers and work out the best way to get the job done." He looked at his watch. "Well, we'll start right away. There's only about forty hours before we jump into the OA. Tomorrow we draw ammo, supplies, parachutes, and other goodies." He nodded to Dawkins. "Senior Chief, get the detachment outside."
"Aye, sir!" Dawkins said. "Off and on! Move it!"
Carey and Berringer watched the men get to their feet and move toward the exit. Berringer was more morose than normal, and he turned to his fellow staff officer, speaking in a low tone. "I wonder how many of 'em are coming back, sir."
"I don't even want to think about it."
CHAPTER 18
OA
1 SEPTEMBER 0030 HOURS
ENSIGN Orlando Taylor worked the toggles on his parachute by the book, and he stalled enough to land as gently as if he were stepping off a curb. He grinned happily and looked around to see if any of the others had seen this Class A act. The smile faded as he realized his triumph was not witnessed by any of the other SEALs, who had been occupied with their own PLFs.
A few more light skidding and thumping noises of others landing sounded before everyone was down. The jumpers quickly shucked their chutes and organized M-16s, bandoliers, and grenade pouches as they readied for the bloody job ahead. Within three minutes the detachment was formed up. CPO Matt Gunnarson and his SAW gunners, along with Doc Bradley and Frank Gomez, brought up the rear. Gomez had the combined twenty pounds of the Shadowfire radio and battery to lug, while Doc was burdened with extra medical gear he deemed would be necessary for the mission. He anticipated the worst-case scenario, with several badly wounded men to care for.
Up at the front, Garth Redhawk and Matty Matsuno acted as point, with Mike Assad and Dave Leibowitz backing them up. The middle of the column was formed by Lieutenant Jim Cruiser's First Section, Ensign Orlando Taylor's Second, and SCPO Buford Dawkins' Third. Lieutenant Bill Brannigan and Connie Concord had buddied up as Tail-End Charlies until they could rejoin the Sneaky Petes for the assault on the mountain fortress.
.
0105 HOURS
REDHAWK and Matsuno had the same deadly task as in the first HALO assault, but this time it would be in a different place. The original attack outflanked the southern enemy positions and worked its way down the Zaheya MLR. This time the two point guys would be taking out a guard or guards at the camouflaged entrance to the fortress interior. In fact, the Brigands would literally be going in through the back door.
It took twenty minutes of careful maneuvering to get into position to sight the ingress within the heavy thorn vegetation and boulders. The two SEALs' NVGs showed only one guard on duty, and he didn't seem to be too attentive to or concerned about the assignment. The ragheads obviously considered the place secure, and had posted a sentry simply because it was SOP to have someone at each entrance and exit. Redhawk and Matsuno had agreed that it was the Japanese-American's turn to tend to this latest unpleasant silent killing, and he pulled his K-Bar knife from its scabbard.
Matsuno moved softly through the darkness, working around a stand of tangled brush, then easing between a camouflage net and the mountainside. The dozing guard squatted at the entrance, facing forward with his back against a rocky outcrop. Matsuno moved in, bent down, and drove the sharp blade into the guy's throat, then pushed the blade sideways, slicing around to the jugular vein. The gurgling and gagging were muffled by the SEAL's hand and did not last long.
Matsuno spoke into his LASH. "The entrance is cleared."
Brannigan replied, "We're moving up. Go ahead, First Section."
Jim Cruiser and his men appeared at the entrance a couple of minutes later. Rick Morales, the grenadier of Alpha Fire Team, led the way in, a concussion grenade in his hand. Gutsy Olson and Pete Dawson were on his heels, with Cruiser behind them. The Bravo Fire Team followed the section commander.
The Sneaky Petes left the entrance area and made their way back down the column until joining with Brannigan and Connie Concord. Then they assumed a fire team formation and trailed closely behind the senior chief's section. The column had now penetrated 100 percent into the interior of the fortress.
When the last man entered, Chief Matt Gunnarson kept his men outside, arranging them in a defensive perimeter, with the SAWs around the ingress site. At the same time, Doc Bradley and Frank Gomez found a good place within a stand of rocks to set up their combination commo and medical center. The dead guard still lay slumped over, the last of his life's blood now pumped out of him through the large, jagged wound inflicted by Matty Matsuno.
.
0115 HOURS
THE going was slow, since sound discipline was vital at this stage of the assault. There were a couple of places where the tunnel either narrowed perceptibly or made sharp turns. The tight spots required extra care to avoid bumping weapons or equipment against the stone sides. An
y noise created in such incidents would be intensified in the tubular environment. The tunnel was also leading upward at a ten-degree angle, meaning that it required extra sound discipline because of the tougher walking conditions.
A light glowed dimly ahead, getting steadily brighter as they moved toward it. Suddenly Morales sighted the entrance to a bunker. "We're ready to make the big move."
"Do it," Brannigan said.
.
THE BATTLE
MORALES looked into the bunker, noting that the men inside were sleeping. A glance to the right showed the egress to the trench in front. He looked back to get the combined attention of Gutsy Olson and Pete Dawson, then pointed to it. They nodded to indicate they were ready.
Morales pulled the pin on the concussion grenade and tossed it into the interior. The explosive device clattered across the rock floor, then detonated. Morales leaped in, his M-16 spurting three-round automatic bursts into the sleeping men. Gutsy Olson and Pete Dawson covered the exit to the trenches, and a moment later a Zaheya man stepped inside, totally bewildered by what had just happened. His arms flew up and he staggered back into the trench, to collapse under the impact of the combined volley cut loose by the two SEALs. Olson led the way outside to the trench, with Dawson half a step behind. They rushed across the narrow, open area to a sandbagged parapet, then turned their weapons down the Zaheya defensive line, squeezing out more bursts at ragheads rushing their way. The impromptu enemy attack broke off as they took casualties. The survivors sought shelter in bunkers and ramparts.
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