This is a work of fiction any similarities between the characters, events, or locations in this story and actual locations, events, or people are purely coincidental.
© 2004 Warlord
(A story in the Sea Cruise Universe)
I became aware of tapping on the soles of my feet. Gentle tapping that was annoying as hell to say the least. I opened my eyes intending…
Whatever I was intending died as I opened my eyes to see Captain Dale Buckley in full uniform standing over me in the pink light of pre-dawn with a tiny twig that he’s been using to get my attention. Dale softly said, “Ted, we have a problem. I need you to join me on the ship immediately.”
Dale always talked calmly and softly, even in an emergency; another hallmark of a good leader. I started to sit up. Adrian was stretched out with her head on my chest, her blonde hair a halo. I gently moved her, discovering my Sally Angel curled up with her cheek resting on my belly. I moved Sally Ann slightly until she was cuddled up to Adrian.
Dale helped me to my feet. I looked up to see the luscious Rhiannon standing in the shallows, holding the captain’s personal Zodiac Proluxe 870 diesel jet tender. I climbed aboard, still naked. Dale tossed me a plush cotton robe, while she handed me a large mug of hot coffee.
Rhiannon expertly backed us off the beach, pivoted smartly, and headed for Sunrise’s well deck. I stood quietly next to her helm station, sipping my coffee. Dale was standing in the bow, with a line ready to tie up to the dock.
When I stepped on the dock in Sunrise’s well deck, I was naked and barefoot in an unbelted robe, clutching a coffee cup, as I followed Captain Dale to the bridge. He led me down to the communication center -- the Sunrise CIC -- that today was a briefing room filled with maps, charts and large-scale photos.
Rhiannon refilled my coffee cup while we greeted Tawny, who was very business like today! Dale started out, “Ted, somewhat closer to Madagascar in the north end of the Mozambique strait is the archipelago of Comoros, an independent country. Comoros is, however, a very unstable independent country, which has had 19 coups or attempted coups since its independence from France in 1975. Its natives call it ‘coup-coup’ land. Recently to resolve a ‘dispute’ separate presidential elections were held on each of the four islands as well as for an overall president of the republic!”
I nodded; even my morning fogged brain was getting the picture. Tawny had maps up pointing to the geography being described. Dale went on, “Comoros is one of the poorest countries, with fully sixty percent of its population below the poverty line! Ninety eight percent are Sunni Moslem. It is a recipe for disaster, and yesterday one struck.”
Okay. I was fully awake now. Dale continued, “The lovely tropical volcanic island of Ekwueme, part of the Comoros chain, is the site of one of the cheapest nursing schools and yet most beautiful campus in the entire world. The government, in an effort to gain foreign ‘hard’ currency, subsidizes the school. The staff and students are entirely non-comorans. Not a policy so much as an economic reality that no citizen of the ‘republic’ can afford even the heavily subsidized tuition.”
My foreboding was building as Dale went on, “The staff is European with many French, as you might guess, given Comoros’ former French administration, with a smattering of Swedish and German. The students are primarily EU. I have been informed this morning that there are United States Citizens among these students.”
I said, “Okay, great overview. Can I go back to sleep now?”
Poor Tawny looked she was going to have a heart attack at my comment to the Captain. Dale snickered, saying calmly, “No, you’ll miss my punch line. I hate that.”
Rhiannon refilled my coffee as I settled back. Dale smiled as he began sorting though satellite imagery tossing an eleven by fourteen to me. Dale said, “Sometime Christmas Eve Day the school was occupied by armed men. The circled items are the Soviet BTR-152 and BTR-60 APCs that are part of this assault. We believe that the date was not a coincidence nor is the feminine makeup of the hostage pool. Thus far no notice of the seizure or any demand has surfaced. We are unsure if this is an internal matter or an external raid. Given the proximity of Somalia either theory has a base in logic.”
I nodded with a frown. I said, “Okay, so the SAS or GSG9 blast the shit out of a bunch of bad guys. If the US of A wants to play cop then Seals place a beacon and a shitload of Rangers float down to blast the fuck out of the bad guys, rescuing the damsels.”
Dale nodded. “Good work, Ted. You have quite captured the flavor of what needs to happen. Sadly, none of those assets are readily available due to other global commitments -- but we are!”
I blurted, “What the fuck do you mean?”
Dale smiled his very calm Captain’s smile as he said softly, “Ted, on the long cruise here, you and your lady friends demonstrated a certain competence with violence. We are close to the scene and by moving quickly before they consolidate we can effect rescue without the messy diplomatic fallout of an actual invasion by US or EU troops. We are at the south end of the Seychelles chain with Ekwueme at the north end of the Comoros.” He smirked. “Practically next door.”
I said, “Aw, shit, Dale. We’re not that good. Even if we don’t lose our people, you will certainly have collateral damage and lose hostages. Especially when we’re blasting the APCs mixed in the buildings. What can you get for help?”
Dale replied, “Ted, to be cold hearted, the plausible deniability gained using you and your girls outweighs the hazards. Face it; the bad guys capture Blackhawk and your crew... “
He made eye contact, “…They got nothing!”
He went on, “The good news! For help, an unnamed aircraft carrier is standing by that will launch a Hawkeye E-2C AWACS to act as ATC and provide countermeasures including jamming the bad guys’ radios during your attack. The carrier will also launch fast movers -- F-14 Bombcat fighter-bombers who will take out targets you designate.”
Dale made eye contact as he slowly said, “Targets to include any wreckage, Ted. Scorched earth -- nothing on the ground with our fingerprints unless it’s smashed flat.”
I looked up as I said sharply, “My people. I want my people out before I call in the wrecking crew. Walking, wounded or dead, I want them. Now how about their rescue?”
Dale nodded as calmly as before saying, “I expected nothing less. A Ticonderoga class Aegis cruiser with an escort of Arleigh Burke class Aegis destroyers, and attack submarines will form a ‘picket line’ from the island. If your people can find the water we’ll get em. Now…”
I gave deep sigh as I replied, “Show me where they’ve collected the ‘kidnapped’. We go tonight to arrive at dawn tomorrow.”
Now the detailed briefing began.
Dale shared the incredibly high-quality and extremely top-secret NSA satellite images of the school grounds. From the meticulous coverage, with exterior pictures of extraordinary resolution, we could pretty much tell who needed a shave!
The hostage heat signatures were all in the upper floor of one dormitory with the bad guys with the guns scattered in the other buildings and around the school grounds.
They were emplacing a couple soviet 12.7 ‘Utes’ heavy machine guns by the roadway otherwise depending on their APCs for support. The orientation of their Utes with that of the armored vehicles seemed to be toward perceived threats approaching along the road from the beach.
Finally after adding another legal length yellow page to my to-do list I announced:
“I’m fucking fried. I need a shower and food. Where do you want me to hold the briefing?”
Dale said, “I’ll set up a hangar. Anything right now?”
I nodded. “Yeah, Nikki, my suite, ASAP!”
The Captain merely pointed. Rhiannon was out the door at a brisk walk. I turned to Tawny, asking, “So this is why you missed the bonfire?”
She nodded. “Sorry. The captain needed me here in the Comm Center.”
I replied, “Don’t apologize, lover, there’ll be other bonfires. Before I head for my suite somebody share the MET summary.”
Dale smiled. “Clear tonight, moonlight with dawn CAVU.”
Tawny mouthed, C-A-V-U?
I answered, “Ceiling And Visibility Unlimited! Perfect weather for flying.” With that and a tired wave, I headed for my suite.
It was deserted. After my days and nights in the constant company of my bevy of women, it felt odd, to say the least. I tossed my notes on the dining room table before shedding my robe in the bathroom, stepping into my water haven shower. I turned on ALL the showerheads – the four horizontal and two overheads. I stood in the pounding spray of very hot water, letting my brain catch up!
The horizontal sprays shut off as soft arms gently encircled me. Amanda silently pressed her body in to my back holding me. I greeted her quietly. “Merry Christmas, Amanda love. Sorry to pull you off the beach so early.”
I turned to kiss her as she replied gently, “It’s OK, Ted. You needed me here. Is it bad?”
I snickered. “It is logarithmically beyond horseshit, on the way to total irretrievable fuck up. It is so far past bad…”
She gave me a little smile as she said, “You’re going to fix it.”
It wasn’t a question. I shook my head at that then I asked, “How’s your flying?”
She nodded with real enthusiasm as she replied, “Nikki has us practicing every day. I’m flying ‘regular’ Huey II and UH-60 very well. I don’t feel as good in the gunship models.”
I asked a follow up. “How do you feel about a night flight over some water?”
She nodded again. “I could do that. No problem.”
That was cheering news. The scale moved from wholly impossible to merely incredibly unlikely. Yeah, much better!
Amanda began to wash me, squirting me with ropy strands of liquid soap before using her body as a sponge, the pleasant friction making thick suds on both of us. She washed my hair with deep scalp massage. Then she went to her knees, using her fingers to scrub my butt, reaching under me to spread soapsuds on my balls with gentle caresses. Both her soapy hands were stroking my cock. I turned to face her, as she continued to ply my cock with soapy strokes and caresses. She increased her gentle pressure as my arousal built, with her stroking becoming more insistent.
Her soapy fingers played with my balls, while her other hand stroked me toward her open mouth. My fingers went to her wet curls as I began spending. Amanda stuck out her tongue, her mouth wide open to catch the gooey cum. Most of it ended up on her face, running down her chin.
Amanda giggled as she kissed me on my tummy. She began rinsing me with the portable showerhead, then engaged the top sprayers full force. When I was squeaky clean, Amanda turned the side sprays on.
I could actually feel my body shedding stress, as I stood pummeled by water from all directions. The water shut off. I stepped out of the shower into the huge fluffy towel that Amanda held.
After a quick kiss, Amanda led me out of the shower into the suite’s main room. I confronted a whirlwind of activity. Rhiannon had exceeded her instructions, but in a very good way.
Nikki was sitting at my dining room table, along with my favorite chauffeur Cyn and Akira Miori, reading briefing materials and studying images on a laptop. Clarice was sitting at one of the computers ordering up images and files.
Miriam, Dixie, Leticia, and Kimberly were sitting across from them at a another laptop, passing 11-by-14 and 16-by-20 high-res satellite photos back and forth, while pointing at images flashing up on one of the room’s eighty-inch plasma monitors.
They were passing my legal sized to do list notes back and forth between their groups, adding their own remarks to mine.
20-by-24 high resolution pictures of the school site, with the same size close-ups of all the buildings, were propped up on chairs and sofas. Every table and flat surface had a computer or laptop sitting on it, surrounded by more photos.
Shannon, Sunrise’s chef, was in the kitchen with stewards Carol, Anne Marie, Vickie, Kylie and Shana, preparing a family style breakfast. Honor brought me a mug of coffee with a distracting kiss. She asked, “You look tense, Ted. Do you need a blowjob?”
Several ladies snickered as I demurred, “Thanks, love. Maybe later.”
Honor joined Adrian, Sally Ann, Rachel, and Nancy Jansen sitting at a keyboard in front of another large plasma screen throwing up more sat imagery. The rest of the Arkwright family – JR, Ardelia, Betsy Rae, Mavis, Kenny, and Catherine Jean – were sitting at the next table with another laptop and more photos.
Donna and Penelope, with Anna and Kristen my stewardesses come to stay, were circulating the room with coffee and drinks, as well as the most recent images that Clarice was pulling off the server.
Miriam spotted me standing with my coffee and towel over my shoulder. She asked loudly above the noisy room, “What’s shakin’, dude?”
I answered, “You tell me, my warrior.”
Miriam smiled. “It ain’t so bad, dude. This is doable.”
I said, “No shit?”
Dixie looked up, laughing. “She wouldn’t try to shit our biggest bullshitter.”
I said, “Yeah, she would.”
Leti and Kim together said, “YEAH, she would…”
About this time, Shannon announced breakfast. Concierge Donna, with the room stewards, swiftly set the massive table. Shannon and her helpers began shuttling outsized serving pieces with all manner of breakfast goodies. I stared at the array of eggs, bacon, sausages, ham and potatoes, realizing that I was famished. The group was now assembled around this gigantic table in my suite, eating breakfast. Through the meal, more and more members of my Sunrise family entered the suite, to be quickly brought up to speed.
Finally, after stuffing my face, I sat back with an espresso made by Anna, who was sitting on my lap after serving me. She was quietly holding me, while the group settled.
Dixie handed me the sheaf of legal sized notes that my to do list had morphed into. I reviewed it aloud, bouncing questions off the group to clarify the situation in my own mind. Finally I looked around the table to see my Sunrise family with expectant expressions.
I gave them necessary background about Comoros, then described the situation on Ekwueme.
JR very quickly asked, “Ted. What do you want us to do?”
I answered, “The ladies need help desperately. The powers that be have decided that the only brown boots on the ground at Ekwueme will be OURS! Somebody give me the start of a plan.”
Miriam handed me a 16 by 20 print of a building roof with a feature circled, while Clarice put the same digital image up on the big TVs. Mir said, “This is the building the hostages are in. At least so far... Looks like some kind of roof hatch. This could be our entry point.”
The tempo picked up briskly with this revelation. Clarice began tracking mission statuses, enumerated by phonetic alphabet, using PowerPoint displayed on the big screen. After we talked for a bit, passing the pictures back and forth, I said, “Nikki, I need you to check out the copters, then line ′em up on the runway, please.”
She nodded. I continued, “Mir, Leti, Dix and Kim. Ladies, you’re in charge of arming the choppers. Miniguns, door guns, rockets. Everything. Okay?”
At their four affirmatives I pointed to JR and Kenny, saying, “I need you two to pilot the AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters. Sally Ann will shoot for Kenny, with Mavis shooting for JR. Nikki will fly the OH-58D Kiowa with 2.75 marker rockets and the 50 Cal - XM296 machine gun with tracers, fingering the targets for you. Use the Hellfire Missiles and your twenty mil cannons to kill the APCs and clear out heavy machine guns.”
I made eye contact as I continued, “I have help for you. The Navy has provided ‘fast movers’ for us. Nikki can paint the targets for them. Don’t be afraid to waste their ordnance before it gets ugly!”
They were all nodding and smiling as I went on, “I’m in the command Blackhawk with my entry team, Adrian flying, with Nancy second seat. Cyn is cover, flying UH-60 Blackhawk gun ship shadowing us with Rachel second seat. I will need extra comm. We have an AWACS keeping us company.”
There were more nods as people began sorting out crews. I interrupted loudly, saying, “They promise an Aegis cruiser with destroyers and subs will provide search and rescue. Get out over the water if you can. If you can’t make the water... “
I looked around the table making fierce eye contact as I continued hotly, “…Then land and keep you fucking head down because I PROMISE that I will find you. I WILL get you home. Count on it.”
“Now, last but not… We need rides for our new friends. How many are we talking about?”
Clarice perked up as she answered, “No one has the proper information about students and faculty. It’s all locked up at the school, naturally. I’ve tried counting the signatures of the hostages Ted. They are so crammed together that I can’t differentiate very well. My best guess is 75 to 110, with no more than 125.”
I asked, “Nikki, can we put three Blackhawks for hostage transports in the air? We need to criss cross their cabin floors with rope lines. Cram twenty to thirty people aboard each one. They tie off to the lines. We haul ass for home.”
I looked around. Everybody seemed to be smiling and nodding. I said, “Team briefings will happen throughout the day. Mission final ‘go’ briefing in hanger.”
Adrian spoke up. “Ted, you need help?”
I replied, “I was just coming to that, love. Yes.”
I looked around, grinning. “I need a shitload of help.”
They were laughing as I continued, “Some of the things we need to get ready besides prepping our rides are refining plan with defining detailed mission statuses, and providing complete navigation charts showing course headings with GPS settings.”
There was a quick show of hands, with my warriors designating Miriam while they headed for the armory. I sent Nikki with them – she had much work ahead of her.
Our mission planning team was a smaller group sitting around the table. Adrian sat next to me, applying her considerable intellect and organizational skills to our planning. Nancy Jansen, our romance novelist was on my other side, lending an imaginative “outside the box” perspective. Clarice continued displaying our information on one of the big screens.
Bridget Johansen joined us with our now annotated charts, with course headings and GPS waypoints. She had the latest metrological briefing as well. I thanked her then I said, “Bridget, please have copies of ‘marked up’ charts for each pilot. Also plan that you will program all the GPS.”
I looked around as I said, “We’re preparing to go there and return in a single group but everybody needs to be able to find their own way home.”
We discussed the weather on Ekwueme. No surprises there. They were still forecasting clear air all the way. Rhiannon delivered the most recent communications. This included the news that the Navy now had a Predator on station above the school site sending back real time images and information supplementing the satellites. Clarice promised all the updates would be available before departure.
It was time to head for the hangar and line up our rides.
*****
Amanda distributed coveralls in simple gray. Only after we worked on the copters would we change into our flight suits and BDUs, all in ‘tiger stripe’ jungle camouflage pattern. We belted on our personal weapons, carrying our gym bags as we headed for the well deck. A parade of Zodiacs streamed out of Sunrise toward the beach.
Cyn lined up H-1 Hummers on the beach, pulling twenty foot flatbed trailers waiting for us. The Hummers and trailers had ample room for our carried equipment and us. We left the beach heading for the helicopter hangar.
Nikki had been busy! Helicopters were lined up on the tarmac. Kim, Dix and Leti were also extremely busy. Most of those helicopters were fully armed. We bailed off our rides to join the folks working on the copters.
Buck, (Sunrise’s Chief Engineer) had done some type of magic -- a huge cooling unit inside the hanger was pumping out massive quantities of refrigerated air. We could step out of the hot tropical sun into the rapidly cooling interior.
In addition to the air conditioning, Buck had installed a QPA-310 Ice Dispenser, making ice cubes steadily, with a restaurant-sized Niagara 400 stainless steel cold water server right next to it, with pitchers of chilly water on demand.
Shannon, Sunrise’s head chef, had delivered hefty tubs of iced down water holding outsized quantities of various cold drinks that were scattered inside the hangar and outside on the taxiway. She promised a buffet before we ‘saddled up.’ Until then, she had constantly replenished snacks and sandwiches to keep our strength up as we labored.
Nikki was huddled with pilots and co-pilots in one corner of the hanger, while Leticia and Kimberly met with gunners in another. Dixie, Miriam and I were sitting with the rest of the entry team, while Clarice accessed the latest satellite and ‘Predator’ images of the school site, displaying them on another large plasma screen.
Captain Dale and his lovely Rhiannon arrived with Dr. Helen Harvey and Grace Turner, RN. Helen and Grace would be setting up the emergency room with their crash carts in the hangar, waiting for our return. They provided a triage kit for Leticia, who had been trained as a combat medic in her pre-Sunrise life, to take along.
Dale called us all together for a meeting. He offered a brief pep talk, followed by a concise intelligence estimate of the situation currently on Ekwueme and what we would most likely find at dawn. Dale asked me to run through the operation plan.
I gave it a slow, careful walk through, while Clarice put the steps up on the screens. Questions flew thick and fast, but there was no confusion, with team members understanding the mission and their assignments as part of it. Nikki took a few moments to review formation flying along with the nighttime and over water aspects. She made certain everybody had the correct charts. Bridget confirmed that she had programmed the GPS in all aircraft. Finally Nikki pronounced ‘H-Hour’ -- the departure time that would put us over the ‘target’ at dawn.
Dale had stacked the trailer with air mattresses, cushions and mats for us. We would be ‘relaxing’ until it was time to dress and saddle up.
Shannon announced, “Dinner is served. Please help yourself to the buffet.”
Shannon had done excellent work, setting up her extensive buffet on a sawhorse-supported plywood table, with picnic tables nearby. I filled a plate with food, including a couple slices of tender rare prime rib. Looking around, I saw that the team was scattered in small groups inside and outside.
I took my plate outside, sitting on a cushion, leaning up against the hangar in the lengthening shadows. I soon had Adrian and Sally Ann sitting at my sides. Even in their company I was somber, my mind far out in front of us.
Donna, Penelope, Anna, and Kristen were circulating with platters of additional food and trays of beverages. There would be no excuse for remaining hungry. Even with my nerves on edge, the food was so delicious I cleaned my plate!
Sally Ann collected our dirty dishes, while Adrian arranged us on the cushions. She was on her side, spooned up against my back, holding me. Sally Ann, on her return, tucked her back against my chest, pulling my arms around her. Holding Sally Angel with my face, I nuzzled her soft blonde hair, while Adrian murmured gently in my ear. I fell asleep.
*****
Soft kisses slowly brought me awake. As my eyes opened, soft hair tickled my face. Amanda was leaning over us, saying, “Time to get up, Ted. You have to leave soon.”
Sally Ann, Adrian, and I sat up in the morning darkness. My waking protests were effectively muzzled by the application of their lips to mine. They pulled me to my feet, leading me into the hanger, where I immediately grabbed a mug of hot coffee.
Sally Ann pointed to the gang shower set up in the rear of the hangar. I was still mumbling to myself when they pushed me under the water spray. Sally Ann swiftly stripped out of her coveralls. Joining me, she removed my water soaked BDUs. Naked Adrian squirted soap on us both, before stepping under the spray. This washing was not sexual, so much as a gentle union of friends.
Team members washing up before breakfast quickly occupied all the showerheads of the gang showers. We were greeting team members entering and leaving the water spray.
The three of us stepped out of the shower, drying each other with fluffy towels. We moved to the clothing hangers. Adrian and Sally Ann dressed up in flight suits, while I put on my ‘tiger stripe’ jungle camouflage battle dress.
Captain Dale had a plank table set up, containing maps and charts for the pilots, with scale drawings of the school site. The hostage location building was marked with a broad red ‘H’. A line up of synchronized Torgoen T1 flight computer watches was there for pilots, co-pilots, and entry team to take.
The next table held our personal weapons. I strapped on my Colt .45 in my thigh tactical holster. My Cold Steel Recon Tanto was attached to the same holster. I had preloaded my MTV Goldflex IIIA entry team vest and I carried it out to the copter now.
I stepped out into brightness of a line up of Amida LT 7000 diesel generator light towers, each with six spotlights on a thirty-foot mast. Additional halogen work lights were plugged into each generator set, making every helicopter comfortably illuminated.
I threw my vest in the helicopter cargo area, while Adrian put her tri-fold kneeboard on her pilot seat. Sally Ann walked down the line to put her ballistic vest in the front seat of her AH-1S Cobra.
By now, breakfast was served. Another of Shannon’s delicious buffet repasts was set up on the sawhorses. Captain Dale quietly joined us for the meal, lending support by his presence in the ready area.
Clarice distributed the latest images, showing no change in hostage disposition. Tawny announced the metrological summary, giving us the same ideal weather over and back. Dale gave us frequencies and call signs for our Navy ‘friends’ in this operation. I would be contacting Neon, our Hawkeye E-2C AWACS as soon as we were airborne. We were Audra flight tonight with me being Audra’s ’Six’, the commander’s callsign.
I was dawdling over my coffee, when Nikki sat on my lap. She kissed me deeply then whispered softly, “It’s time to go, love.”
We climbed to our feet joined by Sally Ann and Adrian. Dale and Rhiannon wished us luck. This was the signal -- everyone was moving toward the runway.
I walked back to the last helicopter, giving each crewmember a hug and kiss. As I walked up the line, I repeated this with each and every helicopter crew. When I reached my ride, my warriors were waiting to greet me.
I climbed aboard, taking a station between the two window gunners, just behind the cockpit. I put on my Sennheiser HMEC 400 noise canceling headset, tuning the radio to our flight’s frequency. I checked in with Dale, in the tower above the hangar. He gave final go ahead. It was time to rock and roll! I announced, “Please go to status ALPHA. Please announce when you are at Alpha.”
With that, all the helicopters came to life. Pilots started the engines and did the final preflight checklists. One by one, the pilots replied with their readiness. I keyed the mike, saying:
“Please go to status BRAVO. Maintain formation and call at Bravo.”
In a few moments Adrian lifted off, gaining altitude smoothly down the runway. at a thousand feet, she announced, “Audra One is bravo.”
Looking back, the rest of the flight was lifting off in line, following our UH-60 into the night sky. Our helicopter had extra navigation and marker lights to allow quick recognition and easy following.
Each pilot announced Bravo in the same fashion. When the pilots were all cruising behind us in a stable manner, with no initial trouble reported, it was time to get on course and altitude for Ekwueme.
Keying the mike, I said, “Flight Audra is going to CHARLIE on my mark.”
Pausing for a moment to let them get ready, I keyed the mike. “Please go to status Charlie now.”
Adrian efficiently turned us on to course, then began to climb to cruising altitude. She announced Charlie, followed by the rest of the pilots chiming in.
I switched radios to a secure transceiver and called, “Neon, this is Audra Six, over.”
Immediately, “Neon Four Five, we have you five by five, weather is clear for your flight plan tonight, over.”
Neon four five had a lovely well modulated contralto voice, that I fell in love with immediately. I did mention that Neon Four Five was a girl? I replied, “Four Five, Well, it's a marvelous night for a Moondance, over.”
This got me the tiniest giggle as Neon four five recovered to say, “Please maintain course and speed, Audra Six, we have other traffic to vector, over.”
I replied, “Thank you, Neon Four Five. Please inform when we reach point DELTA. Audra Six, out.”
I flipped back to our ‘flight’ channel to check in with each pilot. Neon was certainly able to monitor this channel, given the AWACS capability. I switched back into the intercom, chatting with Adrian and Nancy for a bit. All the members of the entry team were plugged into the intercom as well, chatting back and forth in relative comfort.
I checked in with the rest of the crew. Kimberly and Leticia were our door gunners. They each had M-Deuce fifties mounted in the windows. Two 7.62 FN Minimi Mark 48 mod 0 were hanging in the door openings, from bungee cords mounted to the top frame of the doors.
The only exception to our conviviality was Honor, who sat curled up in the back of the cabin. Honor was our throwback to the Viking berserkers. She built her rage as the battle approached, then attacked heedlessly. She carried a Benelli shotgun. Our heiress was a crack shot with that shotgun. She credits her skill to her European boyfriend’s macho need for hunting and shooting sports. Her competitive nature – hiring coaches and practicing several hours a day with her shotgun in order to beat those boyfriends – might be more to the point.
Adrian gave us a time check for getting suited up with our equipment. Removing our ‘Mae West’ flotation devices, we dressed carefully, checking each other frequently. If we forgot something, there wouldn’t be time to go back and get it!
Miriam distributed our guns. All our guns had Trijicon illuminated sights ranging from my MP5SD2 silenced having the RX01-17 while Miriam’s Barrett M107CQ had the TX30 TriPower scope. All our handguns had their tritium self luminous iron sights.
Akira Miori would have her Steyr AUG while Dixie carried a FN Minimi 5.56 Mark 46 mod 0 squad automatic weapon. Mindy Charles and Cynthia Curtis, my hometown girls, would each have another MP5.
Kimberly poured some coffee out of the thermos that Shannon provided for us when we were ready. Adrian said, “Ted, I make us only a few minutes from Delta.”
I put my headset back on. In only a few minutes, as promised, Neon Four Five was calling. “Audra Six, I have Audra flight at point Delta in one minute, over.”
I replied, “Neon, Delta is our commit point. Please say GO or NO GO, over.”
The was what seemed a longish pause but it was probably my nerves before Neon Four Five came back with, “Audra Six. You are GO; repeat, GO. No changes since take off.”
I replied, “Thank you, Neon Four Five. Committing now.”
I switched over the radio to say to our flight, “We are GO. Please go to status ECHO. ECHO now, please.”
Nikki in her Kiowa, followed by Kenny and JR in their Cobras, pulled out of line, taking the lead and forging ahead of us. I informed Neon Four Five, requesting her to move the air assets into position.
I asked Adrian, “How are we doing for arrival at dawn?”
She answered, “We should hit the coast line at the predicted dawn, with gunships ahead of us over the school grounds.”
Next call would be Nikki’s when she arrived at the school she would announce ‘Foxtrot’ as she attacked. Neon could halt the attack up to that point by calling for ‘Zulu’, which would be the order to break off and return to base for us.
I listened on her separate frequency as Nikki closed in on the school. She could definitely multi-task! The beach was ahead of us, with its white rollers clearly visible in the moonlight, becoming more so as we approached. I commented to no one in particular, “I wanted to hook up big speakers under the copters and play ‘The Ride of the Valkyries’ while we attacked.”
Adrian laughed as Dixie asked, “Why would you want to do that?”
I shook my head as I lamented, “Children. I am an old man surrounded by babies.”
Kim answered quickly, “You sure don’t fuck like an old man.”
Right about them we were interrupted as the radio just exploded with activity, Nikki calling out, “FOXTROT, Foxtrot. Commencing NOW.”
I flipped over to our flight frequency to announce, “Going to GOLF now please.”
Cyn in her Blackhawk gunship pulled up next to us, while the Blackhawk transports began a slow orbit of the beach.
We hit the tree line just behind the school buildings to see the results of Nikki’s initial fast mover handiwork. A wall of napalm was burning along the creek that formed a front boundary of the school grounds. Two Armored Personnel Carriers were upended and burning while the ‘Ute’ machine gun nests were cratered.
Kenny and JR had their Cobras buzzing angrily back and forth, with Sally Ann and Mavis firing Hellfire missiles and bursts from their twenty-millimeter cannons. By the time we arrived on the scene no working APC remained.
Cyn passed us to drop over the buildings into the common area. Her gunners directed fire into the campus buildings except for one – the hostage building.
Miriam quickly handed me my Nomex Balaclava with bib, as I tossed my headset aside. I plugged my earplug transceiver just before I pulled on my hood, adjusting my ear muffs and protective goggles in place.
Adrian hovered just inches above the building roof, saying loudly, “Get the fuck out of my helicopter.”
I yelled, “Yes, Dear.”
As we unassed the bird, Honor boiled out of the Blackhawk running to the roof hatch. When it did not open IMMEDIATELY, she placed a charge on it, yelling, “Fire in the hole!”
We all flopped on our bellies while Adrian pulled straight up, sheering to the right. The charge blew scattering bits of wood and splinters in all directions, leaving a hole four foot across in the roof. We were on our feet with me hanging from the hole, just that quick.
I was in an ‘attic’ – a six foot high, ventilated space above the ceiling over the living area, probably intended to help dissipate the tropical heat. The roof trusses were above this, and the ceiling was cheap insulating tiles, held up with one by twos. It was perfect for our purposes. Miriam dropped three Combined Tactical Systems 6210 blue smoke grenades and three blue Cyalume light sticks on the edge of the roof.
I dropped onto the ceiling, running toward the front of the building. The tile was bowing immediately. I picked a spot and JUMPED! The ceiling collapsed in a spectacular fashion. As I fell I shoveled a Combined Tactical Systems 7290 Flash-Bang grenade to the front. As I hit the ground in my three point stance, surrounded by a massive cloud of choking dust, the grenade went off.
The grenade bounced to a stop six feet from the two guards, who turned away from the air strike to see what the commotion was behind them. The 175 decibels and six million candelas stunned them into immobility. I had my MP5SD2 up immediately, and hosed the corner they were standing in. They dropped, riddled. I used a full clip on them, I was so completely wired.
Behind me the rest of the team was falling through the ceiling, accompanied by the panicked screams of the hostages. Honor was immediately yelling in French. Akira threw three CTS 9590 ‘sting ball’ grenades down the stairs. Each was a flash-bang with 180 rubber ‘OO’ buckshot spaying in all directions.
A very tall blonde wearing French cut panties and a cowboy hat detached herself from the crowd of hostages to ask, “I’m Tex. Any of you guys speak English?”
I said, “A little. We need to know if these are all the hostages? Have any of you been removed to other locations?”
She replied, “Her calling the Dean of the school a cunt isn’t helping. Anyway, we’re all here. They were going to separate us today. I think the rapes were scheduled to start then too.”
I said, “My girl has an excellent command of the language. Her boyfriends saw to that. Are you absolutely sure, Tex?”
At her emphatic nod I held up my hand as I keyed my microphone. “Audra One, be advised. All the friendlies are under the blue smoke. I repeat hostages are all together in building marked by blue smoke and blue lights. We are now at HOTEL. Repeat HOTEL.”
I said, “Thanks, Tex.”
I whistled sharply, pointing at Honor. She turned around immediately. I jerked my finger toward the stairs. She bounded for the stairs, charging down them as I followed. The door to the room the guard was ‘supposed’ to be in was closed. Honor fired into the hollow core door half a dozen times destroying the lock and the hinges. She tossed another flash bang through the rents in the door.
When it went off she hit the door with her shoulder. It collapsed into the room with her sprawling. I stepped across her to cut down the guard. I walked up and fired a quick burst into his head to make sure.
Suddenly we were taking fire through the wall and window from next door. I called on my radio, “Hey. Somebody shoot the cocksucker in the next building before he gets lucky.”
From the second floor Miriam was firing her SAW down into the next building with Miriam next to her pumping rounds from her Barrett fifty. All the while Honor and I lay on the floor firing toward him.
Seconds later the cavalry arrived as Cyn brought her Blackhawk in close allowing Rachel to use their M-134 Minigun. The buzz saw sound of the gun was comforting to us at least. The bullets stopped. After Cyn moved out of the way Sally Ann pummeled the building with twenty mil rounds until it sagged inward with its interior support walls shot away.
Mindy and Cynthia were already checking the rest of the rooms in the building, finding no other guards. I climbed off Honor, accompanied by her disappointed look. I said, “Get up, you slut. Daddy spank. We have work to do”
Honor stood up, giggling. “Promises, promises.”
I said, “Come on, love. Time to load the ladies into the buses for home.”