The spinning barrels of the dogs’ rotary guns spun down as they let up on their jaw triggers and the cover panels on their vests slid closed.
Tera blinked behind her monocle, and sent the team an icon that looked like a hand patting a dog’s head.
The five police dogs turned to face Hamish, Musa, and Tian. They all started to wag.
The men just stared for a moment. Musa then smiled a huge toothy smile, and the rangers and policemen stationed around the compound erupted in shouts and cheers.
Sholto was standing between the boerboels. She nodded to each of them and their big black jowls pulled back into a smile as they returned her nod.
Tera turned to Spot and growled, The upgrades you made to the targeting system are…acceptable.
Sholto and the boerboels walked up to Hamish. He knelt and took Sholto’s graying muzzle in his hands. He’d seen her big brown eyes thousands of times since she was a puppy, and he immediately noticed the change in them. Sholto had always looked at him with love and intelligence, but now she seemed to look into him, the way Spot and Smudge looked into people. He saw that same smart look from Rook and Vuur, and Seamus.
The line of dogs wagged their tails, and Hamish noticed they all wagged in sync with Spot.
“What have you group of flea-bitten numpties gone and done?” Hamish said, “So you lot are smart now, is that it?”
Sholto nodded. She vocalized a series of grumbles and whines, and Ben flipped down his yellow eyepiece.
He said, “Sholto says when this is over you two are going to have a long talk about Sholto’s last insult.”
The old shepherd licked Hamish’s gray-bearded cheek and pressed her face to his before running off towards Christa’s sniper hide on the ridge.
As she crossed the lot Hamish saw the carbon fiber attack vest looked a little large on Sholto’s thinning shoulders, but they fit snuggly on the two massive boerboels staring up at him. Their fitment straps were extended to the ends, and Vuur and Rook each had an extra pair of ammo canisters slung low on their ribs.
“You two are the bloody stuff of nightmares,” Hamish said.
The police dogs wagged, and their huge black jowls pulled back into the strange smile again.
“Don’t do that,” Hamish said, waving his hand at them, “Makes you look pure radge, and not in a proper William Wallace kinda way.”
As the dogs dropped their big floppy cheeks back to normal Ben said, “You three better get going. Keep them safe.”
Seamus, Rook, and Vuur nodded to the men, nudged Spot and Tera, and sped off through the gravel. In an instant they were over the ridge and racing down the watering hole trail towards the ranch house.
Hamish stood, and looked down at the German shepherd they had rescued from the chopper crash. The bandaged dog was wearing a gun vest and helmet, and looking up at him with that same smart stare.
“Do I even want to know what the deal is with you?” Hamish asked, folding his big arms over his chest.
“Later,” Ben said, “just don’t shoot her.”
Tera raised her shaved forelimb and wiped her paw down her nose.
Hamish recognized it as a salute.
He smiled down at Tera and then rapped his knuckles on Ben’s helmet before he clicked the talk button on his radio and turned to face the men protecting the compound.
At the ranch house Theo heard the radio click and held it up so the circle of people huddled around him in the dark kitchen could listen.
“Listen to me gents and ladies, and, um, dogs,” Hamish boomed, “There are seven chopper gunships coming this way. The man in charge of those bloody nasty birds is certifiable. He’s a murdering thug hell bent on causing everyone in this ranch harm, and there isn’t much chance he wants to just talk. Watch your fire, we have lots of friendlies running about…two and four legged. Stay close to your wing man and listen for Musa’s orders.”
Musa stepped forward and raised his arms. He clapped his hands together twice and shouted a Zulu war chant as Hamish translated into the radio.
“Niyabasaba na!” Musa yelled.
“Are you afraid of them?” Hamish yelled.
"Hhayi asibesabi siyabafuna!” the men in the compound, and at the ranch, shouted back.
“No we are not, bring them on,” Hamish shouted.
As the men rattled their rifles against anything hard Hamish noticed Ben was still standing by his side. He said, “Time for you to go, lad.”
Tera grumbled and yapped.
Ben read his monocle and said, “Too late,” as he pointed to the north.
Chapter 95
A low pounding rose quickly in the dark skies around the compound. It started behind the ridge just beyond the north access road, and was immediately followed by more thumping from the small rises to the east and west. They couldn’t see the choppers, or make out any individual rotors. In an instant the sound seemed to come from everywhere. The low frequency and identical hammering made it difficult for even the dogs to get a fix on them.
Spot and Tera spun in tight circles with their ears rotating as they followed Ben. He was on the heels of Tian and Hamish as they ducked between the trucks lined up in a tight row in front of the ranger’s building.
A chopper streaked by in the dark just above their heads and two fiery flashes leapt from its side pods. The missiles slammed into the hilltop, and the base of the compound’s communications tower erupted in a ball of fire. The tower’s metal framework buckled and crashed down into the brush. The chopper was only visible for an instant when it fired, otherwise there was just the slight thumping of the rotors and black in the sky above as it disappeared again.
“I got nothing,” Christa said over Hamish’s radio, “It was too fast. No shot. I’m only getting flashes of heat signatures from the helos. They’re hiding, and that bastard has some good fucking pilots.”
Ben huddled with Spot and Tera behind one of the truck wheels. He thumbed quickly through the menus in his monocle display and found the camera feeds from the attack teams. An icon showed if it was a canine or a human soldier he was monitoring. Different views of soldiers packed tightly inside the choppers flashed by until he stopped on a camera that looked out through a helo’s windshield. Through the trees he could see parts of the clinic and the guard building. He even saw the truck they were hiding behind. Ben searched the ridgeline trying to figure out the position of the chopper based on the angle of the video feed. He could tell the general area, but there were just too many steep ridges and tall trees that could hide the helo.
From his vantage point in the copilot’s seat Semion scanned the tactical display monitors in front of him. He saw the spread of his choppers hovering on the perimeter of the compound, and he could see Lobb’s teams approaching the sprawling domicile on the opposite ridge. The helos stayed low, moving among the hills and trees to keep clear of any snipers.
Semion nodded at his screens and turned to smile at Berluti. The dogs, equipment, gunships, and a dozen of Brother Sacarius’ elite soldiers and pilots had cost him a fortune, but they were worth every ruble.
He could feel the sweet rush of revenge starting to build up within him. He relished the moments leading up to grinding the bones of his enemies. It was a feeling he knew well, and for Semion it always started out low, between his legs. He whispered, “Finally daughter, we have our day.”
Semion looked down on Harley’s chopper hovering just in front of him. It was closer to the compound but still well hidden in the trees. He thumbed down to Harley’s icon and clicked their private channel. “I assume your cousin to be in the dormitory of the security building,” he said, “I doubt they would allow him to bed down with the rest of the family, da?”
“Agreed,” Harley slurred, “but we have to be sure. Tian is to be unharmed. My grandfather was very clear about that. No accidents, Semion. You have more than enough firepower this time, don’t use it until we have Tian.”
“Da, da,” Semion mumbled dismissively, “Relax,
a little show of force and they’ll cooperate.”
Semion moved a small joystick with his thumb and the missile targeting drew a red outline around a pair of huge rhinos huddled together in the paddocks. His thumb moved over to the fire button just as one of his canine soldiers sent an urgent string of communication to his display. Semion scanned it, and replied by sending the positive head-patting symbol to the dog.
Semion’s smile broadened. One of his smart dog soldiers had noticed what he and all of the human soldiers had missed. He took his thumb off the missile trigger and scrolled down to his communications display.
“Dobroye utro, Good morning,” Semion said cheerily, “So who down there in the compound is wearing one of my tactical helmets? Hogans? Walkers? Hello? I can see you are online.”
Ben and Tera looked at each other. She did the accelerated canine version of shrugging her shoulders. He’d seen Spot and Smudge do it often but it looked odd coming from another dog.
“Hey Unc,” Ben said, tapping his great uncle’s elbow, “Semion wants to chat.” He pointed at his helmet.
“Aye?” Hamish said as he looked down at Ben, “Well go ahead lad, find out what that piece of shite wants.”
Ben thumbed his mic and said, “This is Ben Hogan. How can I be of service, Mr. Mogevich?”
“Oh, please, call me Semion,” he said as he scrolled down his display to add Harley to the conversation. “You are one resourceful young man, Benjamin,” he said, “I must admit, until recently I thought you were the one accelerated.”
“I’m the one who’s impressed,” Ben said, “Your equipment’s pretty cool. Of course, we have some pretty cool stuff, too. In fact some of it used to be yours, well technically it was Harley’s.”
“Well, I am sure you have nothing like my dog soldiers. What do you think?” Semion said.
“They’re impressive, too,” Ben said, “Twisted and wrong, but impressive.”
“I can see their headsets are online,” Semion said, “but you’ve found a way to block their cameras and tactical data from me. Well done.”
“I can’t take the credit,” Ben said, “That was my smart pup, Spot. You haven’t met Spot yet…but a lot of your former associates have. I think you did meet his sister Smudge, da? She’s pretty smart, too. As a matter of fact I think she’s the one who arranged for those poor Cooper boys to rip your daughter’s face off. Hey, I also heard Harley’s wearing a diaper now.”
Ben looked at Hamish as he said, “Well, I know you’re a busy man and I don’t want to get too far off topic here, but I hope to formally introduce you to both of my pups real soon.”
Semion’s bandaged cheek twitched and his thumb hovered above the rocket launcher for a few seconds. He flicked the safety back on and said, “I assume none of my soldiers are alive?”
“Oh no, they’re alive,” Ben said as he looked at Tera, “They just decided to switch sides when they realized what a Skippy McArsemuncher you are. So, Semion, how can we resolve this little dispute without me and my dogs having to come up there and kill you?”
Semion laughed and said, “You sound like your Uncle. That Scottish pride may one day be your undoing. Maybe this morning, as a matter of fact.”
Ben said, “What do you want from us?”
“I want to talk to Tian Tzeng,” Semion said, “I know he’s there with you. Put him on, please.”
Ben motioned for Tian, and unclipped the mic and earpiece from his helmet. He pointed to the talk button.
Tian held the earpiece to his cheek and said, “This is Tian Tzeng.”
Semion said, “There is someone here who wants to speak with you,” as he opened Harley’s mic channel.
“Cousin,” Harley slurred, “How the hell are you?”
“Kinda wishing we were back in Chai Wan, eating Mr. Kih’s sui mai and watching his daughter shoot you down,” Tian said.
“We will be, Tian, soon enough,” Harley rasped. He sucked from his oxygen mask and said, “But I’m afraid when Liat sees me I doubt I’ll get that warm reception she owes us.”
“Yes Harley,” Tian said, “You don’t sound well.”
“I met with an unfortunate accident,” Harley wheezed, “Only it wasn’t really an accident now, was it?”
“I’m truly sorry about that,” Tian said, “Why are you here, cousin?”
“I am here on Dalao’s behalf,” Harley said, “Grandfather wants you back in Kowloon. He understands you were confused. No harm done. We’re family, and I’ve come to take you home, Tian.”
Spot and Tera listened closely and could hear both sides of the conversation in Tian’s headset. Spot signed, and Ben whispered what was being said into Hamish’s ear.
“If you pull back and leave this compound, and agree never to return, I will come home,” Tian said.
Harley said, “Tian, please, you need—”
Semion cut him off, “Young man we cannot pull back, but I agree to your terms if you leave with us right now.”
“Semion, I have your word?” Tian said, “This family is not to be harmed in any way, now, or in the future?”
“Da,” Semion said, “We’re just here for you, son.”
“Very well, I’m coming out,” Tian said.
The Chinese assassin nodded to Hamish and tossed him his assault rifle and sidearm. He handed Ben back the headset and patted the boy’s helmet before jumping out from between the trucks.
As he watched Tian walk across the parking area Hamish clicked his radio and said, “Christa, get ready. On my go.”
“Roger that,” she replied.
Hamish nodded to Musa and the big ranger spoke into his radio, “No one shoots until I give the word. Keep out of sight, my brus.”
A black chopper hopped over the tree line and shot forward. It dropped into the parking area as its landing gear slid out and it set smoothly down on the blowing gravel.
A side door slid open and three large German shepherds in tactical helmets and gun vests jumped out, followed by three big men wearing the same matching gear as Ben. They also had the same assault rifles. All of the soldiers took a few steps forward and formed a ring around the chopper door. The side panels on the dog soldier’s gun vests slid open.
“If those weren’t pointed at us I’d say that was bloody awesome,” Hamish said. He turned to Ben and Spot and said, “Time for you two to fall back some. Lissa’s rifle is in the barracks.”
Ben and Spot crouched and moved quickly through the ranger station’s front doors. He set down the Chinese assault rifle and grabbed the sniper rifle and the ammo. They found a vantage point on top of a desk where they could see over the trucks. Smudge handed up two chairs to Ben and he sat backwards on one and used the other to support the big rifle barrel. He chambered a round and looked through the scope just as Tian approached the sleek black chopper.
Tian lifted up his shirt and spun in a slow circle. The dog soldier in front of him nodded and moved to the side, and the human soldier lowered his rifle until he passed.
Tian stepped to the open door of the helo. In the shadow at the rear of the chopper he saw a horrible something that roughly looked like his favorite cousin.
Harley stared back at his favorite cousin as well. The cousin he’d taken a beating for as a boy. His painfully shy cousin, who Harley had setup with a string of girls Tian never had the courage to talk to. The cousin Harley had saved one night by crashing his classic car through a restaurant. His traitorous, selfish cousin. Harley’s remaining good eye roamed over Tian’s handsome face, his lightning bolt tattoo, and the curves of his muscles. He took a long draw from his oxygen mask and ran his crooked thumb along the grip of his double barrel dragon cannon before he unclipped his seatbelt and painfully slid to an empty seat by the door.
As Harley leaned out from the shadows Tian watched his cousin wipe a trail of spittle from the ragged hole that was his mouth.
He saw Harley had one lip. It only covered part of his upper jaw and quivered as he sucked breaths. His lower
teeth were ringed by a tight band of pulled together flesh that used to be his jaw and cheeks. There was no discernable nose, and two bumps that might have been an eye and an ear were lost in a mix of pink and white skin folds. Gone were Harley’s expensive sunglasses and soccer jerseys, they had been replaced by an oxygen mask and a burn victim’s compression tunic.
A sickening shift of facial skin that Tian interpreted to be a smile worked its way across Harley’s cheek. He sucked in a breath and slurred, “Hello cousin.”
When Harley reached out for him Tian noticed his cousin was missing most of his fingers. What remained were little more than twisted stumps at the end of his thin arm. Tian wondered why the tips of those stumps were black.
Tian reached out and gently grasped Harley’s clawed hand, but he didn’t get into the chopper.
He shook his head and said, “You shouldn’t have brought them here. You know I can’t go with you, Harley, and you know that monster will never leave this poor family alone. I just wanted to see you one last time and say goodbye in person. I love you, cousin.”
Spot had been reading Tian’s lips through Ben’s spotter’s scope, and Ben was translating his signing to Hamish through the radio.
“Christa, Ben, take them,” Hamish replied as he and Musa stood up from behind the truck.
Chapter 96
Tian yanked Harley out of the chopper, and his little oxygen canister came tumbling out behind him. His wrecked body thumped to the gravel just as Ben’s shot punched through the helo’s windshield. The copilot bounced back in his seat and slumped forward. His hand constricted on the throttle control, and the chopper’s rotor blades raced as its turbine engine screamed.
The pilot made a grab for his seatbelt release just as another larger hole ripped through the windshield in front of him. His head exploded inside his helmet. Christa’s cannon blast continued through the back of his headrest, and both bulkheads behind him. The fifty cal bullet exited the back of the chopper, knocking the rear rotor off. It dropped to the ground and sparked as it shot across the parking area and disappeared, slicing its way into the dark forest.
Let Slip the Pups of War: Spot and Smudge - Book Three Page 44