(C-24)
Back at the hood
Fuego!
(Fire)
"Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day,
nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger,
nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book,
until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."
Qur'an 9:29
The apostle said, 'Allah Akbar! Khaybar is destroyed.
When we arrive in a people's square,
it is a bad morning for those who have been warned.'"
(Jihadwatch.org Feb15, 2011)
Eh Cu rumba bring it on! But can you dance in the heat?
‘The burning napalm in the engine air intakes killed the engines, with the wall of fire
totally cut off all of their visibility.
So even if no flame agent had entered the vehicles, they still had two immobilized, blind tanks,
and three armored personnel carriers with the crews packed like sardines inside,
where it was gradually getting harder to breath, and hotter, and hotter.
All the while they knew we were in position waiting outside for them to exit.
One of my men said this was nasty, yes a very nasty place indeed to find yourself,
But this is war, and war is a very nasty reality. I make no apology for having to use
Flame throwers against the enemy’s armored vehicles, because of the stupid laws as they
were applied against the unorganized militia, not allowing us to have the weapons necessary to stop an invader, we were damn luck to have what we did.
I’m not for obeying laws that were unconstitutional even taking into account the verdict handed
down in the 1933 United States v. Miller case.
That Civilians were not to have weapons ‘not suitable for fighting a war.’
Well Duh, we are at war and where are we to get the weapons denied to us now?’
It’s all part of seeing the Elephant!
Taken from Sgt. Maj. Sinclair and Sgt Maj. Morales after action report
The six scoped hunting rifles in the hands of trained men had done their jobs very well, and his having two other men with M1-D’s each backing them up had really made the enemy into true believers on the ability of riflemen, that is for the few Jihadist that survived and ran away.
The Jihadist Battalion commander was a fool, after Sgt. Marcus Johnson’s hidden squads wiped out that first probing platoon, he had sent out some flanking squads crossing through the back yards, attempting to flank us or to find our positions. By sending patrols without any back up or any men in over watching fire support, he was sending them off to be slaughtered, such a waste. That’s where the hidden marksman had waited and opened fire at 200 meters; a very deadly fire too and after each of the enemies’ squads had quickly suffered 50% casualties they attempted to lay down fire and to withdraw.
Our riflemen made them pay very heavily in the next 400 meters as the enemy tried to tactically disengage from our pinpoint shoots, too bad for them. And maybe just dumb luck for the last two Jihad soldiers, who threw down their weapons and ran like hell. Even better for us as we picked up two PKM’s and twenty-five more AK’s, but we sure hated to leave those last six weapons as they were to close to where the enemy might be in hiding
And now all of their probing and recon was being done by squads inside of the few-wheeled APC’s they had left, with the two tanks following and backing them up. Like that’s going to really help them. This small convoy was moving slowly and cautiously into the next ambush kill ground, where one well-placed bazooka round into each of the APC’s engine compartments would leave them with out power and blocking the road. And when the two tanks came around them on either side to cover them, we will give both of them a taste of gelled gasoline.
Then we hightail it out of here, moving over a block from the ambush site, quickly reload the fuel and air pressure tanks on the two flame-throwers as we watch from a safe distance, and wait on their next move. As our two mortars lob a couple of bombs on them, keeping them pinned up.
As for any infantry that tries to come up and help their trapped comrades we will let the hidden scoped riflemen plaster them again.
Quickly and quietly bounding with the others from cover to cover, heading to their next ambush area, Carlos can hear the small arms rounds cooking off of in the boxes of ammunition, on the top of the three APC’s, it sounds like popcorn in the kettle at the county fair. He shudders a little at the thought of the trapped soldiers inside being baked like a pie. No pity though, they would have done worse to use, especially our women and kids if they could have gotten a hold of them.
You bastards got your reward for invading our land, and for the hell you have served onto others, people that you caught before coming to my neighborhood. As he runs he mouths, ‘you f**king Islamic assholes, pay backs a bitch ain’t it.’
Back at their small HQ listening to the radio reports Pepe thinks, ‘If the Jihad battalion CO is going to continue and commit his people piecemeal we will destroy them a few at a time. But sooner or later he will figure it out and send a company or two forward in a rush and then it will come down to a hard slugging match. It that happens it will be a tough fight and the one with the most guts wins, a battle of the 30-06’ against the 7.62x39. They may have the firepower but we have the range and penetration plus a few other surprises waiting. Unless Z gets here first with his own surprise?
But until then, come on you might Muslim warriors we’re ready. But you better ask yourself one question, do you feel lucky.’
(The actions by these soon to be homeless patriots show what all American are capable of, when properly trained for combat, and directed by capable and decisive leaders.)
‘So Few Left’
‘Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse & hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.’
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse & hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.’
Fifth Verse Charge of the Light Brigade
Airman Mathews asking Airman Pettis, “Anne how many missiles do we have left in our attack group?”
Reading the separate screens, “Seven Sparrows and five Side-winders,” she answered. “We have on board one Sparrow and two Side-winders my screen shows that the other three F4’s left have two Sparrow’s and one Side- winder each.”
Since no other surviving pilot was taking charge Mathews said over the intercom, “You other three planes take formation on me, my tail number ending in Mike two-niner.” Glancing at the computer screen for the pilots names he continued, “David you’re my wing-man on my left. Carl you’re my number two on my right and Ester you’re his wing-man.”
Looking at his fuel gauge he knows they haven’t enough fuel to make it back over the mountains and be able to land at one of their bases, so he asks for advice. “Sir, Colonel Stevenson has the Militia any fields ready that are close? I have maybe another twenty-five minuets of fuel left and I would like to save this old bird if I can? And the others that are with me if that’s alright, Sir.”
He was answered with a chuckle as the Col. said, “Don’t blame you I would do the same if my bird had made it. I already called the AWAC’s and they told me that the Militia has several smaller fields ready, but you’re best bet is to head into Travis. They have been alerted, so turn around to a heading of 282 that will take you straight to it.”
Mathews announces to his formation, “Every one do a fifteen degree bank to the right, in three, two, one now.” Leaning to his right and after thirty seconds he announces, “OK everyone get ready to level out on heading 282, watch you’re spacing, good execute now.” Glancing at his radar screen, as he sets upright in his seat, then looking at the GPS map displayed he announced over the intercom, “Runway in four minuets,” his eyes run over the screens in front of Anne’s position and he gives his pilots their landing order. “Ester if our read out is correct you have the least fuel, so that makes it ladies first, Carl ease up a little and follower her in with a minuet lag time, then your next David and I’ll be tail in Charlie. When your ground speed is slow enough taxi over to be near a hanger and we can hope there is a fuel truck around to give us some gas.”
“The AWAC’s is coordinating that now.” Colonel Stevenson said standing behind Mathews, as he plugged his intercom into the spare slot so all of the other air crews in their adjoining cubicles could hear him say, “Don’t stand up airman you have a plane to fly and land I just wanted to come over and say I’m glad to see you step up and take a leadership role, my self and Lt. Xavier didn’t survive the first dog fight, and the rest of the NCOs got knocked out soon after that. I wanted to see who would fill in the command roll and perform, both you and Airman Pettis, I’m promoting to Staff Sergeant and the other surviving air crews to Sergeant.”
Anne looked over at Stan Mathews with a big grin as she said by mouthing the words, “I can live with that.”
“Oh by the way, Sergeant Ester Crowder and her weapons officer Sergeant Gary Lopez had the highest number of kills at six aircraft, Staff Mathews and Staff Pettis had five. That gives us four Aces for our first mission not to bad people, not to bad.”
Even with his head phones on, the Colonel could hear the other crews that had lost their birds cheering as he added, “Even though we lost 61 drones we did our job along with the F 22's and the F18’s following us, we cleared the skies over the Sacramento area. A few of the Chinese jets that turned tail and ran back to their base are toast, that’s where we had some predators up high watching and waiting. So when those planes are being towed inside they and the shielded bunkers will be destroyed along with any ground crews who are waiting to service them.”
“The last I heard about the Chinese planes from the South and West from our AWAC’s, they had all turned around and headed South West to keep out of any follow up fight. Looks like they were afraid we had more surprises awaiting them, right now they are forming up below San Jose. We will soon have sixty F16’s and F18’s swarming the area just north of Stockton, but the Chinese aren’t coming up for another fight. Who would blame them either, after having just lost over a quarter of their fighter jets up here they got real conservative, real fast, especial with all the other F15’s, F18’s and the A10’s showing up on their radars right about now. And the Militia sure helped us by having turned on all of their ground radars for their AA missile batteries around Stockton during our fight,” he chuckles as he said, “I’m sure that give them a good reason to pause.”
“Staff Mathews after your four F-4’s land and shut down the planes they will be towed to a hardened point, refueled and re-armed for a ground support role. You’ll be heading to the flight simulators later and will do some dry runs and brush up for that task. You guys and gals might just be needed this afternoon, more likely in a day or two but I want you ready to go before then.
Of course it all depends on the Chinese 10th Army Commander and what moves he makes or doesn’t make.”
“One thing I do want you all to know, the Air Force in the last several years has held a lot of high level meetings about flying fighters without any on board pilots. We even have several prototypes for these advanced fighters.” You could hear the smile in his voice as he continued, “You people just proved the concept works on a large scale. With the stripping out all of the extra equipment needed to sustain a pilot we lightened those old birds by over 4,500 lbs and that really increased their performance…
Just promoted Staff Sergeant Mathews zoned out from what the Colonel was saying as he slowed his air speed just a little and took up his trailing position as he was thinking, so I’m an Ace now, not to bad for an 19 year old. I’m one year younger then when my Grandfather made his fifth kill, another Ace from WWII who was now 81 years old a week ago. Two Aces in one family that’s something, he can feel the pride inside but with out that gut wrenching fear he had been told about, but that can’t be helped, time changes all things.
And all of those years playing the many computer games had paid off; wonder what mom would say about that now? Hey if five kills make me an Ace I’ll have to ask the Colonel to step in and give his Uncle some help, mom’s last letter said he had seven downed and captured UAV’s to his credit, he should have the same glory. His mom’s brother, Master Sgt. Tim Bochynski was out there somewhere in the vicinity of the plane he was about to land, along with the rest of his Militia RC unit. Old Ski as he was called had taught him years ago the joy of flying radio controlled planes, and it’s paid off. A smiled showed and he thought I’d bet he never controlled one from as far away though? I’m way down here in Texas and my plane is getting ready to land in northern California, I sure hope Uncle Ski makes it through all of the shit that’s about to happen there cause we are going to have some good stories to exchange.
Saying a silent prayer he asks, ‘Oh Lord our Father in heaven even though I am far away from the fighting and in a safe environment, I ask of thee to protect my Uncle and all his friends in the Militia, and all of our other military forces out in California. To keep them safe, from harm, I thank you Lord for patriots like them and the sacrifices they have made for all of us. As your son Jesus died so that we could be saved, in your name I pray, Amen.’
(C-25)
0830 hrs 10th Army HQ
‘The day that you tarry,
is a day that you lose.’
From the movie
‘Jeremiah Johnson’ (1972)
General Gobi was stunned beyond speaking from this continuous unfolding avalanche of bad news; that the core of his Air Force was gone, destroyed in less then twenty minuets of fighting. Then add to that, the many losses on the ground of some of his reserve planes in their hidden and hardened bunkers, that was even harder to comprehend.
First his Airborne long range Radar Aircraft were blown from the sky when they were supposedly deep behind our lines and protected by our best ground defense system. Then losing some of the best pilots with their irreplaceable jets to a well played out ambush by obsolete aircraft; it didn’t matter one bit that were masterfully flown and fought, as his Air commander had pointed out, these were disaster that we might not be able to overcome.
And now the latest news, the hangers with the two-dozen reserve Xiaolong super-7’s and the one hundred 10’s were destroyed, again with out warning. In warfare one expects bad news and of course a skilled commander plans and makes adjustments for the losses, but losing all of his best equipment so quickly how do you plan for that?
The massive gaping holes in his once impregnable ground radar net that had been systematical taken out by forces unknown. Could the Americans have that many special forces units? His Intel section couldn't say, they had to get their people out to check and find out how they were so completely destroyed.
Add with the reports of the major ground incursion of enemy troops to the east that has somehow succeeded in crushing the left flank of the 28th Corp. Wiping out the 27th Division and forcing the 23rd to pull out of Stockton. Then some how suddenly driving a deep wedge between those badly needed units of the 28th Corp. and the battle worn units of the 25th Corp.
And the Americans then continued there attack capturing a major bridge and making a partial envelopment of the 11th Corp, here in Sacramento. With a gallows smile he thought, that will be their undoing, we crush them if they attack, or in our counter attack to retake the ground they now hold.
Another though rises and this though worries him, where did all of these trained American troops come from? And how could they have been kept a secret from our intelligence people? Or from our whittles allies, the American anti-war cowards and the peace loving fools in congress and of course the American press?
He lowers his chin to his chest as he massages the area around his eyes and forehead with both hands; it is still early morning and another terrible day has fallen on me and my command. Once again he was in over his head, too much to do and no time to figure out the best approach.
So many attacks on three sides, but which one was the real threat and which ones were the diversions? Not enough information to figure that out yet. They attack and we wait to see where they are going before we can counter attack in force. Regaining some composure and in a low voice he orders, “We must have each division send out brigade size units on reconnaissance in force groups, to see if we can drive the Americans back. We must find out what axis they are advancing on, then counterattack in division or Corp strength and destroy them.”
“We are moving our divisions as fast as we can sir, the 25th Corp is sending a brigade down 49 highway to see if they can rescue the artillery brigades in Plymouth. At the same time the 20th and 45th in Jackson will turn and attack northward to assist them.”
“Tell General Chen to send two brigades south at the same time his two divisions attack to the north.”
“I will forward your order sir but it might take some time for him to move another brigade …”
“Tell him to throw what ever is at hand together and to attack as soon as possible.”
“Yes sir.”
“And get some of these divisions from the 11th Corp to move west down 80 highway.”
“The Corp commander informed us it would take at least twenty-four hours before the first division is able to push out to the west along highway 80. The two brigades deployed in occupation duties there have been forced to pull back toward Sacramento and consolidate, they can probe but with out any artillery they can’t commit to an all out attack,” the senior staff officer said with hesitation.
General Gobi exploded in anger, “I know that they are only Militia and just garrison units, but they can still attempt to find the Americans main line of advance and make the effort to stop them. We can’t let the Americans seize the offensive we have to halt them, make them pull back and then all of our units must go on the offense. Our Militia is to fight the American Militia, that is an order, I want you to see that it’s carried out or you’ll find yourself commanding a brigade on the front line!”
“Yes sir, our units will do as you have ordered sir,” the aides face was red with shame as he left the room to personally give the orders to advance.
0845 hrs, Outside of the Hood
“Major Z, you have no idea how glad I am to see you and the armor you have brought along, this clean up has turned into a nightmare,” Lt. Col Rashwan said. “Some how these people knew we were coming and they have set up multiple ambushes covering all avenues of approach? They have machine-guns, flamethrowers, mortars and anti-tank weapons. I have lost most of my APC’s two of my tanks and close to a full company of infantry. Have your men get ready to support us.”
“Yes sir, my men are unloading the tanks form the haulers now, they will be up here in a couple of minuets, what are your plans sir,” Maj Z asked?
“We will use all eight tanks and all of my infantry in a head on attack, I know the American dogs will fight hard, but they haven’t the firepower or weapons to withstand us in an all out attack.”
Z keeps his cool, at least on the out side as he thought, ‘American Dogs, OK you ass’. “Give me a few minuets to brief my men sir, and I’ll form them up in a line behind yours as a second wave, you shouldn’t need them but it will be a precaution just in case? I’ll also have my mortar men join yours.”
“That will work Major Z, I will give you thirty minuets to brief your men. While I gather mine.”
Hurrying back to his officers and senior officers Z outlines his plan of action then adds, “Only after our four tanks fire then let all hell ripe lose, now pass the word. Gary I want your 1st Platoon to watch the Chinese LT and his Sergeants and the Anti-air crews, make sure they stand down. I know the LT has given us copies of orders to get us through any check points, but when the shooting starts I don’t want them to get second thoughts. OK! Once you brief your men then send a runner over to Ricardo, I mean LT Lopez and let him know we will do the ‘Clean Sweep in thirty minuets.”
“Yes sir, I’ll send a runner right now. As for our Chinese friends I don’t think we have to worry, but I’ll be there to help make sure they stay on our side.”
(C-26)
Scum of the Earth
‘Switch on, you little man you,
Or I’ll rip your arm off and beat you with the sticky end.’
(Another Rhodesian NCO phrase used on troopies to get their attention)
Some people are alive for the simple reason,
It’s against the law to kill them.
Popular T-shirt slogan
Talk about a splitting headache, and his whole body hurts, what a way to wake up Neil thought!
Jolting to full consciousness he suddenly remembered he was supposed to be in a kayak, on the river. Opening his eyes he can barely see in the dark, it must still be a while before sunrise. He tries to sit up and look around, but his arms seem like they are tied behind his back, trying to move his legs he finds that his feet are also bound.
What the hell? Are the guys playing a joke on him again, so he shouts out loud, “Not funny guys,” not getting an answer he shouts louder, “enough already. Hey is there any one there?”
“Quiet, or you will get all of us a hiding!” A mans voice with an Chinese/English accent cautions him. The voice sounded close, as Neil looked that way, he can just make out what looked like a hog wire fence and a shadowy figure that is just feet away on the other side.
Neil rolls over and with some effort is able to set up, in a low voice he asks, “What’s going on?”
“Do you remember anything,” the voice ask?
The last few weeks of training kicks in, especially the four days of SERE classes and Neil says with a guarded voice, “I remember being on the river at night, and then I don’t know what happened?” As his eyes focus and grow accustomed to the low light he can see the several side-by-side cages made of heavy wire mesh and the large nails fastening them to the dirt and straw covered wooden floor, there is a man in each cage.. The whole place stinks like an outhouse, he suspects the others have had to go in their pants as he can see that they are tied up just like him.
There is a soft laugh and the voice says, “Your training is good. The two bastards brought you in about an hour ago, they tie you up and pushed you into the box next to mine. When Peterson opened the door it was early morning maybe seven o’clock, as I could just see the sun light was coming straight in the door. The Bastards was laughing the whole time saying they had an American boy now, one that smelled like a wet fish.”
“That doesn’t sound good for me,” Neil stated!
“That’s an understatement.”
Neil could hear the dread in the man’s voice and he shuddered a little, bothered by the tone.
The voice continued, “There were eight of us a week ago, my Sgt was chosen first and he put up a good fight. The bastard Peterson slit his throat; he killed him right in front of us, as an example he said. They took private Wu out next and he tried to run away, he got shot in the back and was left to die, a long slow death outside of the shed door. Peterson left him there where he fell and it took Wu two days before he die.”
As Neil becomes more alert he realizes that this is not a part of the SERE course and starts to get a sour feeling in his stomach as he listens to the man talk.
“After he shot Wu they took Corporal Le and both of the bastards are doing unspeakable things to him the last few days. I think he is still alive cause when Peterson feed us this morning he said they would choose a new boy in next day or two.”
Neil shudders and asked, “I don’t think I’m understanding you? Is this a POW camp or what?”
“Oh we are prisoners alright, my American friend, my name is Yu Chang I’m a Lieutenant with the 214th Infantry regiment, a part of the Chinese 28th Corp. But neither my army nor yours is holding us, the pervert Peterson and his friend Luke have captured us. From what he told us they prefer little children, ones that they kidnap from shopping centers, this was before my people invaded. Peterson he bragged about holding them for a year or two then killing them and going to get more. The two bastards are the worst men I have ever heard of, both are real sick men.”
Shuddering he says, “My name is Neil. How did they capture you and your men?”
“We were patrolling the river and took shelter from that bad storm last week here on the bank. The guard must have fallen asleep and we woke up with them having our rifles and holding shotguns on us. They tied our hands, set fire to our boat and pushed it into the current, then they lead us to this old fishing camp and make us get into these cages.”
“We were patrolling the river and took shelter from that bad storm last week here on the bank. The guard must have fallen asleep and we woke up with them having our rifles and holding shotguns on us. They tied our hands, set fire to our boat and pushed it into the current, then they lead us to this old fishing camp and make us get into these cages.”
“Do these two perverts check on you very often?”
“First thing every morning, they give us dog food and water. Why?”
Neil’s head is throbbing with pain from the concussion he received last night, and this latest information he got from the LT. But that information helped him as he made his decision. He then offered Yu a way out, “If I can get free and I free you and your men we have to have a truce, I don’t want to end up in one of your POW camps.”
“Ha, you are optimistic Neil, we have been working on our bonds to get free for three days but so far we are all still tied up.”
Neil chuckled as he said again, “I’m serious about the truce Yu, my hands are almost free and I will work on my feet next. There,” he said cutting through the last of the nylon rope on his wrist and sitting upright as he rubbed them to help restore circulation. “Do we have a truce or not?”
Yu’s eyes open wide as he said, “Yes! We heard the artillery fire last night and then some more artillery firing just before you were brought in. And we have heard jets flying overhead and then distant bombs going off, are you Americans attacking? If they are and you help us escape, will we be your prisoners?”
“Yu, with being an officer I will hold you to your word on the truce,” Neil said. “I’m not sure about taking you guys as my prisoner though.” Neil still wasn’t thinking clearly, and his mind kept thinking back to the SERE class. He wasn’t sure if this wasn’t some type of mind game and that he might still be in training? As he worked the sharpened two inch long hack saw blade back and forth across the rope tied around his ankles, parting the last strands.
Turning to Yu he says, “Shift your body over this way and lay on you side, I’ll cut the rope holding your hands first.”
Yu shifts his body over as he tells his men of the agreement he has with Neil and they all agree to the truce.
Being able to see what he is doing it takes Neil just seconds to cut through the ropes holding the LT’s hands. Handing him the small blade he says, “Cut the ropes holding your feet, then start on the next man.” Looking back over his shoulder he then says, “Tell your man here on my right to lay with his back to me and I’ll cut the ropes holding his hands.”
Lt. Chang instructs the man as Neil had asked, as he begins rubbing his wrist and stretching his arms to get the kinks out, then he starts working on his own feet, as he said, “They searched us. I’m sure they searched you too, where did you hide this blade?”
Neil had reached behind his back and took the second small blade out of the other belt loop of his BDU pants, as he thinks ‘thanks dad for teaching me that trick’. With a whispered laugh he says, “Every read about Houdini, Yu,” as he worked at freeing the next man.
“Yes, that was one of my favorite books and the only one about the west my family had.” With a laugh he remembered, “A good magician never reviles his tricks, was a favorite line of his.”
“That’s right LT,” Neil whispered with a smile as finished cutting through the bonds on the other mans hands. Then giving him the blade he pointed to the rope around the mans feet, he is to finish cutting those himself.
Sliding down to the end of the large dog cage holding him Neil looks at the latch and sees that it is just a simple gate latch, he lifts the lever swinging the door open part way, as he steps out to stand up. He almost falls over as the blood rushes to his feet and leaves him light headed; he grabs the cage’s door with one hand and his head with the other.
With the hand on his head he feels a long blood crusted gash with a large lump under it, then it comes back to him, we were being shelled, and he remembers the near misses. One of them must have been a lot closer, but he doesn’t recall that one.
Walking down the line he unlatches the rest of the cages, and then steps quietly to the door and peeks out between the cracks.
Yu joins him, on legs that are wobbly and tingling at first, but the blood quickly circulates and his steps become firmer, as he whispered, “Look for the bastards.”
Both men move from crack to crack looking outside trying to spy the two bastards. Neil has a slight smirk showing, he likes that designation, Bastards a very fitting name for the two perverts.
No one is making any noise, but Neil holds up his hand and then cups it over his ear, straining to hear.
One of the soldier’s whispers, “Na shi shenme?”
The LT translates, “What is it?”
Neil whispers back, “Artillery fire, I think? It’s a long way off.”
Neil and Yu then work their way back to the door and both shake their heads; neither of them saw the two bastards. Yu points to the left side of the shack and whispers, “The other shack is about fifteen meters that way.”
All of the men are now free and waiting for their Lieutenant to give them the escape plan as they give the two small blades back to Neil. He reaches behind his back and tucks them away just in case he needs them again.
Neil says, “There is a lot of junk scattered about with the marsh grass and shrubs growing everywhere, I checked the wood this building is made of and its still sturdy. If we tried to pry some of the boards off to make an exit it would be very noisy. We are going to have to make our break out by going through the door.”
“I found it the same on my side, I don’t want to wait until dark they might check on us or come for another man before then,” the LT whispered.
Yu tells his men of the plan and they all agree as Neil checks the door, its not locked and he opens it slowly so the hinges won’t squeal, this allows all of the men’s eyes to adjust to the bright light. Then stepping lightly over the sill and treading carefully through the scattered crap lying about they hurry to make their escape.
Before Neil can get to the taller grass and shrubs a shotgun blast goes off and he hears a shouted, “Stop right there. One more step and I start cutting you boys down. Get out here Luke our toys are trying to get away.”
Neil and the LT stop, and the men following them do the same as they all raise their hands.
Neil looks at Yu as he hangs his head in shame and mutters, “We should have waited until dark.”
Neil turns and looks at the man holding the shotgun on them. He is wearing clean dark blue pants and has on a white shirt with the name-tape of Fred over one pocket and the words Janitor over the other.
As the other man comes out of the shack behind him and says, “I tied them good how the hell did they get loose?”
“They stayed put until we brought our soldier boy in, I’ll bet he’s responsible.”
“How did you do it boy, I frisked you myself.”
Neil didn’t answer, let one of them get close enough and he would show-em a very deadly trick.
The one bastard named Luke goes over to a wooden box on the porch and opens it taking out a pair of handcuffs and tosses them at Yu’s feet as he said. “If he’s that good I ain’t taking any chances, hey chink pick them up and cuff soldiers boys hands behind him.”
Yu acts like he doesn’t understand a word and just stands there.
Fred waits a few seconds and then points his shotgun at the closest Chinese soldiers as he warns, “I’m going to count to three and then I’ll blow this yellow son-of-a-bitch in half if you don’t pick them up and do as Luke said.”
Yu looks at him with a ‘what’ expression as he shakes his head side to side and said something in Chinese.
Fred in a loud and threatening voice says, “One.”
Yu still acting dumb says something in Chinese as he again shakes his head side to side.
Fred says louder, “Two.”
Yu bends over and picks up the handcuffs and puts one over his left wrist still talking in Chinese.
Luke laughs and he says, ‘Told you they were a bunch of dumb ass holes Fred.”
“They may be dumb but I know that one understands English. Here,” as he handed the shotgun to Luke, “cover them.” He then steps back inside the larger shack and drags out a badly beaten and bleeding naked Chinese soldier who is hog-tied and gagged.
Neil clenches his teeth to keep from cussing at these two, as he silently damn’s them to a special hell; one just for perverts, with the devils that await them, ones that will torture them for all eternity.
Taking the shotgun back he hands Luke a small key chain and then points the shotgun at the head of the tied up soldier. “Luke unlock the one cuff, and Mr. Chinaman don’t get any ideas our this one loses his head first. Once your unlocked you are to lock the soldier boys hands behind his back.”
As Luke steps forward Yu holds out his one cuffed wrist and glares. When the lock opens he takes the cuffs off and walks over to Neil. Cuffing his wrist behind his back he says in a whisper, “I’m sorry Neil.”
Neil with out moving his lips says, “A good magician never reviles all of his tricks.”
Fred then says, “White boy turn around so I can see that you’re cuffed.”
Neil does so and then turns back glaring at the two men.
Fred seeing the hate in Neil’s eyes pulls the trigger on the shotgun, the blast almost blows the head off of the Chinese soldier at his feet, as the body rolls off of the porch he shouts, “Don’t fuck with me anymore our I’ll…
A single rifle shot is heard behind them and Fred suddenly has a small hole right between his eyes and just above his nose, as the back of his head exploded and the wall behind him is splotched with blood, brains, hair and bone. He drops like a wet rag and he to rolls off the end of the porch coming to rest beside Cpl Le’s body. Luke is frozen in his tracks unable to move.
Neil hears a familiar voice, it’s Eli saying, “Don’t move you ares-wipe, our I’ll but a hole in your bloody head next.”
With out turning his head Eli calls out, “Sgt. Chirau get the key from this waste of human flesh and unlock Cpl. Marion. Then check the house for weapons, we need to get out of here.”
Neil smiles as he turns and says, “It’s good to see you sir.”
“Likewise Neil, how did you get here?”
“I remember being mortared, and I think I was knocked out, I guess my life jacket kept me afloat.”
Eli said, “That's what we figured. These two guys must have fished you from the side of the river and dragged you up the bank. We saw the trail and followed it here.”
Sgt. Chirau unlocking the handcuffs chuckles, “Taking a midnight dip Neil, good for you this river have no garwe, no flatdogs.”
Neil smiles at the Sergeants joke as he asks, “Garwe, flatdogs?”
“Crocs,” the Sgt. says with a smile.
Neil nods his head yes in reply but his smile is gone as he shudders at the mention of crocodiles, as the last cuff is unlocked and falls to the ground,.
Lt. Yu says, “Neil we are your armies prisoners but I ask one favor first?”
“Go ahead and ask, I can’t promise a thing, but the Lieutenant Colonel might?”
In the meantime Eli tells his Sgt, “Check out the main shack.”
Turning toward Eli the LT says, “Sir I am Lieutenant Yu Chang and these are my men, we will not resist being your prisoners, but I ask you to let us to have this man to deal with?” As he pointed at Luke, “He and his friend did things to my corporal that were sickening, disgusting, he should die now.”
Eli shook his head no as he said, “I’m sorry I can’t do that Lieutenant. No matter what he did to your men, but since we are in a war zone he will be tried by a military court, where you will be called as a witness. I’m sure he will get his just punishment and hang, but it might be a day or two before that happens. Now if you would hand cuff this human garbage for me.”
Sgt. Chirau inside the small house shouts back to them. “Colonel there is one folding butt FN, six Chinese Z95 rifles and beaucoup magazines for them. There’s a type 80 Machinegun with five 250 round ammo boxes and one 87 auto grenade launcher with six magazines of ammo for it.” A short pause then he half shouts, “Oh my God. Sir the walls are covered with pictures of these two men doing really sick things to little children sir.” Sgt Chirau steps out of the building and looks at Luke with pure hatred as his hand reaches to his panga (machete).
Eli orders, “As you were Sergeant. Neil go get your FN.” Into his radio he says, “Wolf this is Tango one, send up two men we have extra to carry, over.”
Neil steps into the dark fishing shack with Sgt. Chirau who hands him the FN rifle and his loaded combat vest as he says, “They took some of your stuff out of the pouches but it is here on the table. Don’t look at the walls, it’s sick.”
Neil can’t help but glance at the walls covered with the filthy disgusting pictures, and just as quickly looks away as he takes the rifle and checked the safety it’s on, he pushes the magazine release and places the full magazine on the table, holding the rifle with his right hand he uses his left hand and pulls open the bolt, ejecting the chambered round. As he picked up the ejected round he noticed that the bullet was damp, so he wiped it off and loaded it back into the magazine. Picking up his combat vest he can feel that the cloth is damp. He steps outside and tells Eli, “I need to clean my weapon sir, no telling how long I was in the water?” He looks at his rifle and sees a little rust already forming on the parts where the paint has worn thin and had been rubbed off of it.
“OK, we have a little time Neil, and don’t forget to pull the gas piston and wipe it down then use your cleaning rod and a few patches to clear the inside of the gas tube and the bore. Then pull the bolt out and wipe it down and drop some oil on the slides but make it quick.”
Neil goes back inside to the table working the action of his rifle a few times as he makes sure it’s free then quickly disassembles the weapon, he then opens up the cleaning kit on his webbing and assembles the sectioned rod, taking dry patches out of a zip lock bag he drops some oil on it and then runs the patch down the barrel.
Sgt Chirau offers help as he takes another patch oils it and wipes down the bolt, takes out the firing pin and wipes the moisture off of it too, as Neil then takes the gas piston out and cleans it off next then cleans the gas tube. Then he wipes the rest of the weapon with a lightly oiled cloth and follows it up with a dry one to take off any excess oil. Just as quickly as it came apart he reassembles the now field cleaned weapon.
Out side after cuffing Luke, Lt. Chang is talking to his men, as Cpl. Tao says to him, “Sir the one called Luke needs to die for what he did to Cpl. Le, sir.”
Yu agrees by nodding yes as he turns and address Eli, “Sir my men will cause no trouble but they insist that we be aloud to deal with Luke. He is the lowest type of human alive and…”
“I can’t let you have him, no matter what he did to your people LT.”
“I can’t let you have him, no matter what he did to your people LT.”
“But sir that’s not right.”
“Maybe not LT, I didn’t make up the rules, but I do have to live by them. Now if Luke was to try and run away, I’ll just gun him down. You understand that duffus?”
Eli had turned to the shackled Luke who answers, “I won’t run but that dumb ass Chink cuffed me too tight and it’s hurting, hurting real bad.”
Eli asks one of his men to watch the Chinese prisoners as he sets his FN down, walks the few steps over to Luke who holds his hands up so Eli can loosen the cuffs.
As Eli reaches out to check the cuffs, suddenly to the northeast back towards the bridge there is a series of explosions and everyone glances that way, Eli is also momentarily distracted to and glances that way also. Luke who is a head taller then Eli sees his only chance, he takes one step forward and with both hands attempts to choke the Colonel.
To Luke’s surprise Eli doesn’t attempt to pull away and in turn grabs Luke by the collar and pulls his head down hard as he delivers a swift bone crunching head butt with the top of his forehead to Luke’s nose.
Luke is stunned and can’t let go and is still choking Eli, as he receives another harder head butt. All of the men outside can hear bone popping like a rotten branch, Luke legs fold under him and he drops like a wet rag with blood gushing from where his nose should have been.
Every one is stunned except for Lt. Chang who says, “Neil is there a medical bag marked with a red cross in there with the equipment and weapons from our boat?”
“Yes, what going on?”
“Bring it here quick, Luke attacked your Colonel and he is down and bleeding.”
“The Colonel is hurt?” Neil half shouted, “what’s…”
“No, Luke is down,” Yu says as Neil steps outside with the bag.
Eli a little shaken shouts, “Keep an eye on the Chinese prisoners,” to his other man as he shakes his head to clear it.
Cpl. Toa looks at Eli who waves him off and points to Luke, the Corporal kneels beside the pervert to examine him as Lt. Chang says, “Keep back everyone give Cpl. Tao room he is a medic.” He then says to Cpl. Tao in Putonghua, “I can see that his nose is smashed, maybe back through the thin wall bone protecting his brain. If that is the case we will let him bleed to death.”
Cpl. Tao takes a few seconds as he slips on some medical examination gloves then he takes a closer look at Luke, who is starting to go into convulsions, he tells the Lieutenant, “That is correct sir. At least that’s what it looks like, he will die but it will be a slow and painful death it might take as long as an hour.”
Yu translates, “His skull is fractured behind the nose and he is going to die, but very slowly. It might take as long as a hour, maybe longer.”
Hearing some more very loud explosions several miles away, back toward the bridge and just as quickly they hear what sounds like a helicopter approaching very fast from the northeast Eli tells them, “We can’t wait that long, things are happening and we need to get back to the American lines. Are you sure he is going to die?” As he stares into the Lieutenants eyes looking for any lie or doubt.
With out blinking or turning away Yu asks Tao, “Are you sure he will die from this injury?”
“Yes sir, and in pain.” What he doesn’t add, if there is a hell he will be they’re soon following his friend Peterson.
Yu still staring back at Eli says, “Yes, he is going to die.”
Eli can see that Lt. Chang didn’t completely tell him the truth as he orders, “What aren’t you telling me Lieutenant.”
“That I would rather let him die in pain, sir,” he answered as he turns his head away in shame for being found out, ashamed for not showing the proper respect for the Colonel. Then he adds, “But we can give him three shots of morphine it will be a quick and painless death then.”
“I understand, I know how you feel LT, give him the three pain killers and make it quick we need to leave in two minuets. And don’t try any more deceptions LT, OK?” The sound from the helicopter is getting louder it must be heading their way.
“Yes sir,” Chang answers, then he gives the order to Cpl. Tao, as Eli using his radio and calls the crew he left with the boat and warns them, “Wolf get your people out of the boat and have two of the Stingers out and ready.”
“Way ahead of you Tango one, we are behind the levee and watching him, he’s not one of ours, what ever happened at the bridge he’s running away from and fast, if our luck holds for a few seconds more he won’t see the boat.”
Eli turns to Lt. Chang and before he can say a word they hear the sonic crack of shells passing overhead and everyone hits the ground, this is followed by the sound of rapid small cannon fire, chchchch, and then a whoosh from a rocket. More of the sonic cracks and then a kaboom as the rocket finds its target.
“Tango one, as you heard he saw the boat and riddled it with his chain gun, but we got him with one of the stingers.”
Eli pushed the talk button and asked, “Can we patch the boat? Over.”
“Don’t think so, its sinking fast.”
“Salvage what you can and follow the trail that we took to the south east, we are a little over two hundred meters away you’ll see the shacks on the south side of the berm, sorry I mean the levee.”
“We’ll do, see you in ten.”
Using his Satellite phone Eli calls his executive officer, and informs him that we found Neil alive, to let CSM Wolf know so he can pass that info on to Dan, then he tells him what happened to the boat as he asks for a helicopter to extract them.
“Don’t know if any are available right now, things are really getting hot around here. I’ll have to see what I can do. Can you walk out?”
“We will have to look into that, call me back if things change.” Turning off the phone Eli says,
“There goes our ride out of here, Lt. Chang do you know if these two had a boat?”
“Yes they talked about it, but I don’t know where it is?”
Taking out his map and looking at it, Eli motions for Sgt. Chirau to come over as he points to a couple of the inlets on the lakeside of Sherman island and say’s, “Here or here are your best places to look, but don’t limit yourself to just looking there if you don’t find anything. I don’t think these two would have walked very far, take Cpl Marion and follow this other path to the southeast.”
“Yes sir, Corporal are you ready,” the sergeant asks Neil?
Fastening his vest Neil says, “Ready,” and follows the Sgt who is already moving out in a fast trot as he asks, “Sarge is that Sam Wolf up at the boat?”
“Yes,”. Sgt. Chirau answered.
Eli tells both of them, “Hold up for a second Sgt, Cpl. Marion come over here I want the LT’s medic to look at that cut on your head before you leave.”
“Yes sir,” Neil smiles, his best friend is with Eli’s team, he came to help look for me, I owe him one.
With out being ordered Lt. Chang has his medic to clean up Neil’s head wound. The medic applies an antibiotic ointment to it and to the several small facial lacerations above his eyes and on his checks. With a smile he says something to Neil in Chinese that makes Lt. Chang laugh, he then translates, “You’re going to have some tough guy scars, the girls will love those.”
Neil gives them both a sour look, and when the medic is finished he covers the head dressing with his boonie hat and turns to Sgt. Chirau who says with a smile, “Your lucky this wasn’t Africa, other wise garwe would have eaten you for a late night snack.”
“Garwe wouldn’t have like me, I’m short and all bones,” Neil said smiling as he follows the Sgt. down the trail to go look for the boat.
Eli asks Lt. Chang, “LT ask your men to sit down please, so Corporal Phillips can watch them. Tell them we mean them no harm, but if they attempt to run away or jump him he will shoot to kill. Then I want you to come with me, you and I are going to look for some food and clean water in the main shack to give to your people, then we will fix a quick late breakfast for all of us, OK?”
Eli’s kind words, and the offer of food and water, at the same time along with his blunt warning takes Yu by surprise. He nods his head in agreement, then translates the warning for his men and they all sit down to wait. After watching the Colonel deal with Luke, they know he won’t hesitate to use force and his warning for them of no resistance will be followed.
The Lieutenant then follows him inside and after his eyes adjust he sees that Eli has set his rifle to one side and is busy taking cans of food from a shelf and setting them on the tables. All of their weapons are stacked to one side too, and it would be easy to grab one and take charge. He pushes that thought quickly out of his mind, he saw how fast the Colonel had moved against Luke. He might be my height and older, but he was faster then a mongoose and far deadlier then the cobra they hunt.
With out looking over at him Eli points to the corner and said, “There are several five gallon water cans there find a full one, make sure its clean water and grab those cups, take it back outside and give your men water first. I’ll open two cans of fruit for them to pass around followed by some beans, we just have to make sure you guys eat slowly or you will upchuck it all, OK.”
“Yes sir, I will tell them. Since your boat is destroyed are we your prisoners?”
“Yes you are my prisoners for now, but we can work out an agreement. As you can see my men and I are here and that means the American Army is here in force, the war will soon be over for your side. For you and your men to continue fighting us and getting killed, it won’t affect the out come, but in helping us, that will. Now go ahead and give your men the water as you think that through. Then maybe we can work out a truce? I’m going to open these beans and heat them up, they will taste better hot.”
Stepping back outside with the water and cups, his men stand up to help him saying that is not the job for an officer. “Sit back down that is an order, I’m doing what the Colonel told me to do, he has opened some cans of fruit and I will bring them next. And he is heating up some beans and other foods right now for all of us. If he can cook food for us, I can at least serve that food.”
Cpl Tao is sitting by Luke’s body and checking his pulse said, “He stopped breathing a few seconds ago and I can find no signs of a heart beat sir.”
Lt. Chang turns to Sgt. Phillips and says, “My medic says Luke he is dead, I would like for two of my men to drag him over to the side by where Cpl Le and the body of Peterson fell?”
“That’s a good idea LT,” Eli said standing in the doorway holding the two opened cans of fruit. “Select the two men for the job, and take these cans and pass them around for the rest.”
Yu pointed to two men and gave them orders as he took the two cans from Eli, “Drag Luke’s body over by Petersons and Cpl Le come right back. Make no attempt to escape the war is close to being over here in America, I don’t want any of you to die a useless death.” He looks into the faces of his men and he can see that they agree with him. Handing the cans of fruit to the other two men he tells them to take small bites and to eat slowly, that hot food will follow.
Stepping back into the shack Yu says, “My men and I will give you no trouble Colonel, what truce do you propose?”
Using a spoon to stir a pot on the small stove Eli answers, “That we work together to get back to my Armies lines. We will avoid any fights if we can, once there you will be taken to a camp for evaluation, it’s where a lot of other Chinese soldiers are. Several of your Generals have surrendered their Divisions intact and almost all of their troops are working with us. From what I’ve been told when the war is over here, you will be allowed to go back to China and sort out the mess there.”
“I won’t fight against my own people here in California Colonel.”
“We won’t ask you to, the closest unit to us right now is two or three companies of the Jihad Army and they are down guarding the bridge over the San Joaquin between Antioch and Sherman Island. We will be heading northeast back towards my unit.”
Since the Colonel is being truthful, and with no respect for the Jihad Army Yu tells him, “There is only one company plus a platoon of the Muslims Army guarding the bridges, maybe one hundred and fifty men, at least that’s all that were there a week ago.”
Eli could feel the Satellite phone in his pouch vibrating and takes it out, pushing the talk button saying, “Yes.”
It’s his executive officer and he says, “Sorry sir, there are no helicopters available. As planned later today the 1st brigade of the 1st Californian will be pushing down highway 160 on toward Antioch.” He explains, “If your recon team could get across Sherman Lake and on to the levee track by Mayberry slough then head south and east to recon the north end of the bridge to give them a heads up. That way two tasks get completed, and it would help in picking you guys up.”
Eli takes out his map and can see the proposed plan; he reminds the XO, “Remember I only have 11 men including himself, plus five Chinese prisoners I’m in the process of working a truce with. I have two people out looking for a boat right now.”
“I understand,” comes the reply, “but that is the best I can do for now, if you can’t find a boat I’ll send one down after last light tonight.”
Just then Sgt. Chirau announces over the short-range frequencies, “Found it, carry six, maybe eight people at the most, with a forty horsepower gassed and ready.”
Eli keys the mike, “Stand by.” Then talking into the phone again he says, “We have a boat it will take about an hour to get us all across the lake, then depending on the cover a couple of hours to work our way down towards the bridge. We will be there to observe, with at least four or five hours before last light.”
“I’ll pass that on, out for now.”
Putting his phone away and then pressing the mike on his radio he says, “Everyone rally on me we’ll have a bite to eat and work up a plan.” Turning to Yu he said, “You heard me tell my HQ we would be doing a reconnaissance of the bridge at Antioch?”
“Yes sir, that won’t be a problem, we can live with that.”
Pointing to some more of the cans he says, “LT open some more of the beans, and then take the other cans of fruit out to my men they will need to eat too.’
Yu knows that this Colonel cares about his men, something very different to what he had seen by ranking officers in his own Army. He knows that Eli can be trusted, and worth following, so he answers with a smile, “Yes sir, I agree we have a truce.”
“Glad to hear that, what are those four launchers by your weapons, Q 3’s?”
“No sir they are the QianWei-4’s even better, more powerful and faster.”
“That’s good cause we might need to use them. Are the controls the same?”
“Yes sir the same.”
Eli nods his head, as he thinks ‘I just hope we won’t need them.’
(C-27)
Deception
Preventing a slash to our throat
(Letting the enemy see what he wants to see.)
‘A man can die but once.’
William Shakespeare, King Henry IV
“Sir, can we really detect one of their stealth fighters before they are overhead?”
“Worked earlier, Boa, we got both of those units they sent down this way just after dawn with a single missile each,” said Col. De Beau, the Air Force liaison officer for the Corp, “but this next time I’m to let em get close enough to take some pictures and report back to their command HQ on the apparently damaged bridge.”
Laughing Boa said, “Those men from the California 2nd Division did a great job. If I hadn’t seen that last convoy roll over the bridge ten minuets ago, I would swear that it was damaged so bad you couldn’t walk across it easily.”
The Colonel chuckles as he answered, “It would have been destroyed earlier if Gen. Marion hadn’t of placed us as the second unit in getting here. Lucky for us the Chinese got distracted by Op Sitting Duck and couldn’t take us on first. As it was we barely had time to get all of my defensive units in place before the Chinese started shooting rockets at us from Sacramento and sending those 10 fighter-bombers up from San Fran at the same time. We were lucky the Lasers were able to knock out most of the missiles and bombs, and the few that got through were eaten up by the Metal Storms.”
“That was impressive, those Metal Storms in the 20mm fired faster then a Vulcan’s ever could.”
“Over four times faster then what two Vulcan’s could do, what I liked best though was in using the Chinese own missiles against their fighters, and then against the two stealth recon jets they sent over to take a look at the damage. Now if they want to waste some more of them we can shoot them down too, but I expect they will wait for this afternoons Satellite fly over.”
“Their Artillery fire has almost completely stopped thanks to our guys counter-battery fire too.”
“That’s true, your Militiamen are well trained Boa, we can be thankful for that, and they did an excellent job ten minuets ago against that attack by the dozen or so WZ-10 helicopters. That sure was a very foolish waste of men and their resources, with these piecemeal attacks, we can easily handle them. The local Chin Commander must be desperate to attempt those, or his boss was demanding action now without thinking through the consequences?”
“Yes that is a waste of good men,” Boa replied.
“Well they should stop soon, especially when the see what they want to see, as the bridge does look unserviceable. Instead it's been transformed into one big prop and now we will let them see what they want to believe, a bridge damaged beyond repair and our units on the north side are cut off and in peril.”
Boa said with pride, “Yes thank the Lord for men like that, ones that are good at deception.”
With a big smile Col. De Beau continued, “Yes and at the same time don’t forget to thank Dan for the overall idea and planning that was started over three months ago, and while we are at it we might as well thank General Greene for the use of these ten metal storms and those six ground mounted lasers units. And of course the last thank you, goes to the Chinese for letting us use their captured missiles against they’re own aircraft. All of that has allowed the Hollywood crews the necessary time to finish the makeup on the bridge.”
Boa with a grimace said, “I won’t thank the Chinese for anything, they ruined my home once before. Now they want to ruin this one too.”
Colonel De Beau shakes hi head in agreement and just hoped that this deception worked, and the Chinese Corp that was facing our forward divisions fell for it? If they did and then attacked over a narrow front thinking they would be able to locate our front lines and then attack individual units we stand a chance. At least with the bridge intact we can get the reserve brigades of the 2nd Californian division across to them quickly if needed; If, if, if, that’s what war was one big IF, and in out guessing what your opponent would do next.
0920 hrs PST, Chinese 314 and 393 Independent Brigades
Senior Colonel Wang Pu Commander of the 393rd Militia Brigade in conference with Colonel Gao Shidu CO of the 314 Militia Brigade and all of their battalion commanders informs General Gobi’s aide, “We think we have located the main position of their forward units, we suspect they are a scouting unit or a Calvary Squadron deployed in front of their Division lines. For our attack to be successful we will need some artillery and air support.”
Lt. Col Deng Xue shook his head as he informed the Senior Colonel, “Sir, at this time we have neither available. Your unit’s mortars and any thing else you have under your commands is it, until …”
“You fool, I will not commit my men to a suicide attack just because you say the Field Marshall has ordered…”
“Sir,” Deng said taking out written orders and giving then to Col. Pu, “As you can see these are orders signed by General Gobi. I do not like this situation any better then you do, but he wants the Americans stopped and if possible for your unit to locate their main axis of advance or to find and attack their main lines before they go on the offensive again.”
Taking the written orders and reading them the Colonels face turned purple with rage, handing them over to Col. Shidu he said, “My men are only Militia units we aren’t equipped as well as the reserve unit, and we have less then half the heavy support weapons of a regular army brigade. These orders will mean the end of our two brigades, the death of most of our men.”
Turning back to glare at Lt Col. Xue he said, “I will follow these orders because I must, but you tell that bumbling old blow hard, our Field Marshall that I will lead my men to hell if necessary for the Khan, but not for him. General Jiu Chen the commander of the 25th Corp, he should have been in command of the Tenth Army, and he was correct last fall we should have kept attacking all across Nevada. If he had been in charge or had been listened to, our soldiers would be fighting the Americas there, and the Americans would have asked for terms by now.”
His anger faded as quickly as it has risen and with a curt order he said, “Your dismissed Colonel Xue, I have a battle to plan.”
Col Pu then turns away from the aide, “Gentlemen we will do as we are ordered, make plans to maneuver your units in company size units with them well spaced out. That way the American Artillery can’t concentrate their fire onto any one main target.
Pointing to the area west of Davis and a little north of Dixon, “This area is where, their Cavalry unit is located.” Then pointing to the hills above Vacaville he added, “I think we will find one of their main units in preparation to attack our 11th Corp. As you can see we have to cover a lot of open ground…”
(C-28)
Clean sweep
From what Z could see, as he watched Lt. Col Rashwan’s 3rd Jihad battalion formed up, those two old Marines had mauled the hell out of them; they only had the four tanks and half a dozen APC’s left running. And they were short of at least a hundred and fifty men, a whole company killed. These civilians were sure making them pay a very steep price. His medical NCO after setting up at the 3rds aid station had told him, there were only ten wounded soldiers over by the Medical APC, with a lot of dead covered by ponchos just fifty meters away.
He let a smirk show for just a second as he thought, ‘Marines, death and destruction guaranteed or they will double the enemy dead next time at no extra cost.’ Well the Jihad Army was getting what they wanted a lot of people killed, only this time they were the ones doing the dying, yep pay-backs are a bitch, especially when your on the receiving end of the pay back.
As he watched his people form a second line and go to ground in good firing positions fifty meters behind Rashwan’s people he knew that the second chapter of this skirmish would be written and over in less then a minuet, even his truck drivers were over by the Thirds drivers at there truck marshaling area half a block away, as planned all of his people would get in on this action.
With all of the trucks the Jihad troops arrived in he tries to estimate the number of people we can fit on the flat beds and extra trucks they would have? We should be able to take at least four if not five thousand people with out them all being packed in like cord-wood? That’s a lot of people to move; he knows that his people can’t provide the logistics in food or water if something happens and we get delayed for even one day once we move from here. Oh well he was sure Pepe and Oscar had that plan covered too, and saving that many people is good, too bad it’s not ten times as many. With a sigh he wished that he could save the whole city, but that wasn’t possible either. Oscar had told him that the people being evacuated would take along at least three days worth of food and water, to be on the safe side, Z can only hope that is going to be enough?
And if the Chinese General in charge of the local occupation can keep the few Jihads still left running around from burning down the city when the US Army was rolling in. Way to many things to worry about especially those out of his control, still he had to have some hope. And hope was useful in easing his conscience a little, at least his men had done their part and stopped a full brigade of these murdering bastards, he sure was proud of them for that. Maybe just maybe the Pres would give them all a pardon for saving so many civilians? That wasn’t asking for too much now was it? Pushing these stray thoughts aside, he turned and watched as his four tanks lumbered by, glancing at his watch and knowing, any second now.
Then a strange thing happens a lone figure carrying a pole with a white flag starts walking toward them, have the civilians had enough and are ready to surrender, sure hope not as this would change everything.
Colonel Rashwan smiles a wicked smile as he turns to one of his soldiers and asks, “Habib you have waited for the opportunity to kill an infidel who has resisted, would you like to do so now and with a sword?”
“Yes sir, if Allah would bless me so, I do wish for that.”
“When he is closer we will call out to him to stop, then we will send a you forward to talk to him. Reaching into his white land rover Rashwan takes out a sword in a plain scabbard and hands it to the man.
One of his men yells at the man walking toward them with the white flag, “Stop come no closer, wait.”
Rashwan handing the sword to Habib says, “Leave your rifle and sling this across your back, walk up to him and when you are close enough to address him do so in Arabic then turn and look back at us then quickly draw the blade and strike. With one slash you can cut off his head, your action shall cast terror into the hearts of the rest of the infidels who resist us, your swinging of the sword will be the signal for us all to attack.”
The evil in Habib’s eyes was evident as he answered, “With pleasure sir.” Taking the sword he slings it across his back as he starts walking toward the man with the surrender flag.
His radio announced, “Z, this is Rashwan, are you coming up to my command vehicle, over?” Still unsure of what is happening he answered, “I thought I would stay back with my people. That way I could direct them into any gaps or on to a flank if they were needed, over.”
He gave his people nearest him the hand signal to get ready and they quickly passed it on both ways as his signalman called the mortar crews and drivers and gave them the code word that the action was about to start.
“OK Z that makes sense, I want your four tanks to the left of mine not behind them as they are doing now. Watch my man that went to talk to theirs you will be pleased to will see what happens next, over”
“Will do, I’ll change frequencies and call my tanks, over.”
Pushing two button changing the freq Z asks, “Gunslinger this is Cowboy, you guys have them lined up, over?”
“This is gunslinger everyone else is set, waiting on the word, over.”
With a worried smile Z says, “We have to wait and see what’s going on, for some reason the civilians sent a man out with a white flag.”
“Oscar, this is Larry, over.”
“Go ahead Larry, over.”
“Peter has started walking toward the Jihad lines carrying a white flag, Don say he’s got him in his sights do we take him out, over?”
Oscar a little dumbfounded as to what Peter was up to answers, “Stand bye, over.” Off of the radio he curses loudly, “the stinking son-of-a-bitch. He’s going to give us all up to save his own skin.”
One of the men says, “Just shoot the coward.”
Another says, “Yeah, don’t wait Oscar no one here can stand him, he’s not worth any of our lives.”
The radio sounds again, “Oscar, Larry again, Peter has stopped fifty yards or so away from their skirmish line, over.”
Holding his hand up to quiet his team, he calls back over the radio, “Larry, if he starts moving toward them again shoot him dead. Over!”
“Roger that, wait one of the enemy is walking toward him and talking to him. He’s saying something to the Jihad soldier who just turned and looked back at his people.”
Bang a shot rings out as Don shoots the enemy soldier, and Larry shouts, “that son-of-a-bitch, did you guys see that, their soldier moved as quick as a cat, he pulled a sword and tried to cut off Peters head and he’s down and not moving,” there’s a short pause as he says, “Don is watching him through his scope and his body is just twitching he says Peter’s head is almost severed from his body, over.”
Before Oscar can answer him all hell breaks loose as the Jihad ranks are cut down from behind, some of the Jihad attackers turn to fire back, as the neighbors open up on the ones they can see. Catching them in a very deadly cross fire.
Z watching through his binoculars saw the incident, and thinks, ‘Just what I expected would happen. He pressed the talk button on his radio and says, “Pull-the-plug, pull-the-plug now.”
His four tanks fire as if one and the 3rd battalions four tanks explode instantly killing and wounding a large number of Rashwan’s infantry men that we close by, the concussion and noise was deafening and took everyone by surprise. Even though Z and his men knew this was what it would be like, they hesitated a second before they open fire with their small arms, as they sprayed bullets into the ranks of the 3rd battalion. The four tanks of the Z force had slued their guns onto the APC’s and each of them fired separately as they came to bare on their next target, they quickly reloaded and fired a third ragged volley that drowned out all of the small arms fire and the last APC’s were destroyed. The commanders then manned their 12.7 machineguns as the gunners fired the coaxial machineguns mowing down any of the 3rd battalions men that were still standing.
Taken completely by surprise only a few of Rashwan men were able to return fire on to the Z battalion, and that was very ineffective as they were quickly gunned down from both sides. The one-sided fire surprise attack/battle was over in less then 30 seconds.
Half deaf from the man-made thunder, Z waving his hand up and down, as he shouts into his radio, “Cease fire, cease fire.” As the last of the shooting stops, several of his selected fire teams move forward and they get busy giving the coup-de-grace to any of the 3rd battalions men who might still be alive.
Still partially deaf Z again shouts into his radio, “Romeo get the two Marines and their people moving to your location now. As soon as we mop up here and reload our four tanks on to the lowboys I’ll bring the rest of the 3rds trucks up for more people, over.” Not waiting for a reply and carrying his radio in his hand he walks over to the medical area, he knows that he’s not going to enjoy this next part, but it’s a job that has to be done.
Ricardo answers, “Willco Zulu, over.”
Sgt Lund his mortar platoon leader calls in, “Zulu this is thumper, over.”
“Go ahead thumper, over,” Z answered back.
“Area secured, we have the six wheeled mortar carriers and four spares that were carrying some of the third battalions troops, one has a flat, do we have time to change it over?”
“How much time do you need, over?”
“If you run the mechanics’ truck over maybe thirty mikes if not it will take about one hour over.”
Before Z can answer his XO answers, “Z the mechanics can be there in two mikes, over.”
Z just said, “See to it X-ray.”
His men doing the coup-de-grace are only finding one man alive here and there, and with only the occasional pop of the small caliber pistols sounding, ones they carried just for this job, they were quickly finishing off any of the Jihadist still alive.
Getting over to the medical area, he watches as two of his men are carried in on stretchers, they are followed by three more walking wounded, standing to one side he lets the medics do their job, the ten wounded men from the 3rd battalions fights earlier that day against the neighborhood are all off to one side and being watched closely by a squad of his men.
After his wounded men are unloaded Z asks the litter carriers to take a body bag and go retrieve the civilians body who had been carrying the white flag.
His best medical people and the three medics from the 3rd quickly get to work on the two men carried in, as the last three of his medics each look at the walking wounded. They are quickly bandaged up and are told they will ride in one of the two medics trucks, to help with security.
Z turns back and watches his chief medic who first looked at the worst wounded, one of his men who was hit in the head. After a quick exam that took only a few seconds he looks up and shakes his head NO.
Z nods his head yes he understands, wounds like that are always bad and with the very limited experience of his medical team there wasn’t anything they could do for him. He knows that the man would be given a lethal dose of painkiller to ease his passage on to God, for his final judgment.
The other man on a litter had taken a bullet just above the knee and his leg was covered in blood, he had a tourniquet just above the wound. Quickly hooking up an IV the medical team gets to work as they clean out the wound and get ready to go in and attempt to repair the damaged artery.
An older man carrying a white flag and accompanied by a guard walks up to them and introduces himself. “I’m Doctor Bowers I’m an M.D. can I assist you gentlemen?”
With out looking up Sgt. Lopez getting ready to cut into the injured mans leg says, “Yes sir, I have to see how bad the damage is to the femoral, I have watched the procedure but I don’t have any practical experience, I’ll assist you.”
Taking off his coat and donning a pair of latex gloves the Doc steps in and takes charge and in fifteen minuets has the leg open and is cauterizing the slightly damaged artery.
Z watching the procedure is amazed that this man would step up to help them after what was about to befall him and his friends. That’s if we hadn’t shown up in time to turn the massacre around. And he is even more thankful that his man’s life is spared by one of the people that Col Rashwan’s people would have killed with out any thought or a single regret.
The Doc tells Sgt. Lopez how to close the wound as he quickly steps over to the check on the man with the head wound, feeling for a pulse he finds none, he then lifts one of the closed eyelids seeing no reaction he uses a small towel to cover the dead mans face. Turning back to Sgt. Lopes he says, “That was a good call the man with the head wound has expired, you did right by focusing your attention on the man who could be saved.”
“Thank you sir, I learned to do triage while as a corpsman in the navy and had to use it in the infirmary a couple of times at Folsom.”
“Are you referring to the free clinic on Sutter Street.”
“No sir, the infirmary in the prison.”
“Oh, you worked there,” he asked a bit surprised?
“Worked there yes, I was also incarcerated there to sir.”
Shrugging his shoulders and watching Lopez close up the wound the Doc replied, “Makes no difference to me, you’re still doing a good job, your men are in good hands.” Looking around at the Battalion making ready to move out he then said, “I’ve heard about you guys, and how the convicts were being released by the Jihad Army and then getting incorporated into their Army after they converted. Oscar told us this morning that you and your men had reverted back to being Christians, I thank the Lord for that otherwise we, meaning my neighbors and my family would all be dead by now.”
Z glancing at his watch announced, “Doctor Bowers you need to get back to your family and see that they all get loaded up we are going to move out in fifteen to twenty minuets.”
The Doc looked him in the eye and said, “And you are?”
“I’m the Battalion Commander every one calls me Major Z. and we have a long way to go before your people are safely behind friendly lines.”
“My family has already loaded into a bus, I can be of service to all of these wounded men and if needed I’ll be right here and look after your man.”
“My wounded and my dead are going to be loaded up into separate trucks of course, and will come with us sir. We all made the pact before today; dead or wounded we leave no one behind. Most of these wounded over there are members of the same unit who came here to murder your neighbors. You don’t need to worry about them they will be dealt with.”
“Oscar and Pepe said you were a hard man Major Z, and this would be your solution for any of their wounded you captured. I would prefer that you didn’t do that, we are better men then they. It’s not our way, it’s not the Christian way.”
“Listen Doc I don’t have time to debate the fine details of how a POW is to be treated. I know these men,” he points to the Jihadist, “they were going to line up you along with the rest of the men and boys and mow them down, same with the older women and young children. The rest of the women they were going to rape first and then kill, I have several videos that they have made doing this and much more. I made a promise to God that those innocents killed will be avenged. That there lives would be paid for with the blood of the killers. I figured that God saved all of my men and me for a reason, now we have a mission to fulfill and we will do it. There will be no argument and no debate. Now if you want to ride with my wounded I would be glad to have you do so.”
With a sigh the doctor replied, “Major Z I’ll ride with your wounded. I know I can’t change your mind, but I’ll say a pray to the Lord, asking Jesus that your crime will be judged fairly, that you are doing what you must for the rest of us.”
Sgt. Lopez had finished with his tasks, and the other medics took the stretcher and loaded it into a truck, their one dead man had been placed in a body bag and it was loaded into another truck. The Sgt. turned to Major Z and said, “Sir the three medics from the 3rd battalion are just like us, they were Cons to and they want to convert back and come along with us. If things don’t go as planned we might need their help.”
Just for a second Z’s face got a flash of anger, that one of his men was questioning his orders. His anger vanished just as fast because it was a responsible request so he asked his medic in turn, “Do you trust them?”
“To a degree sir, they offered no resistance when we took out their security detail, I will ask for a few extra men to help keep an eye on them for a day or two. They are all Roman Catholics like me and they have sworn an oath on the bible before you came over sir.”
“OK, but keep an eye on them at all times.”
“Yes sir.”
“If some men can change, then all men can change,” Doctor Bowers said.
Looking again at the Jihadist wounded Z shakes his head no as he answered, “Unless one or two of them are Hispanic, the rest were all born into the Muslim world sir, they would kill you even now if they had the chance. And they would kill my men and me first because an apostate like we have become has to be killed, it’s in their culture it’s what they believe in.” Z started to walk over to the prisoners as he asked Doctor Bowers, “Come on Doc and listen as I talk to them.”
Getting over to the prisoners Z told them. “Your forced conversion didn’t work and my men and I, we are all again good Christians, if you were to ask for Jesus to forgive you for your sins then you can join us and live as free men.” His interpreter quickly translated his words for them, but before he finished most of them yelled in rage that Allah would let all Kaffirs, they would burn in hell for their transgressions.
Z then said, “If the roles were reversed and you had us as prisoners what would they do?”
Kill you and cut off your head, disembowel you, burn you in a pit were some of the answers given.
“What, you wouldn’t show your enemy any Pity?”
One of the lesser-wounded Jihad soldiers had stood up and answered him directly in English.
“This is a war to the end, and only Allah will be the one who can show pity. Only when Allah is proclaimed Lord over all the earth will this war end and not one day sooner. Your fate is sealed and your soul will burn forever in hell.”
The Doctor asked that man, “You would kill me and my family even though we have done you no harm. Ten years ago I worked in Yemen for two years treating your children and the sick, and you would still kill me.”
“Yes, because you have been warned to convert or you will be killed. Your people are weak and easily lead by the nose, and yet you refuse to worship Allah and to praise Muhammad the one true messenger. Only by converting will you be spared, as that is written and as it will be.”
“You sound like an educated man can’t we reason out our differences?”
“No, you have only one way to be saved, there are no other choices just pray to Allah or die.”
“Come now this is the modern world, good men…”
“Save it Doc your talking to a wall,” Z said, “that’s how they are, stupid stubborn, and all of them are arrogant bastards, my Grand Dad fought against the same type of fanatical mind set back in WWII in the pacific. We kill them or they kill us, until one side or the other can’t take anymore and gives up, they aren’t like us Christians who believe in any type of compassion. For them this war started back in the 6th Century and their goal hasn’t changed one bit since then.”
The Jihad soldier said, “That is correct your crusaders knew it then and we defeated them, and soon we will defeat what is left of the west. Weather I live or die Allah will be victorious and your pathetic believe in the Son of God having been born to a women will soon be forgotten, never to be taught or spoken of again.” He clears his throat and spits on the ground as he said, “We will die for the one true God Allah, we are not afraid of death. It is as close to me now as the buttons on my shirt. We are eager for death, yes more so then you are for life.” He then begins shouting, “AllahuAkbar, AllahuAkbar, Jesus died and so you will to, AllahuAkbar, AllahuAkbar.”
The other prisoners started shouting to, but they shut up as a single gun shot rings out and the one who had talked to them in English fell over dead, the rest of the prisoners stayed quiet. Major Z putting his smoking pistol away turned back to the Doctor and said, “This is how it must be we either kill them now or they will attempt to kill us later. I won’t give any man a second chance at killing my men or me. That’s why I ambushed their Battalion first and killed them all, you might not agree with my methods Doc. But you’re alive so you can see that the results I get are the correct one, we are alive and they are dead. And it looks like this one is missing a button.”
“No sir I do not agree with your methods, but there has to be another way with out more killing.”
“I wish there was another way, trust me. But for now it’s the only way.” Turning to Sgt. Lopez he said, “Take the Doc and load up I have to go see the two old Marines and give them the convoy’s order of march.”
After Sgt. Lopez lead the Doctor away Z turned to the Sgt. and his men guarding the Jihad prisoners and order, “Make it quick and clean no suffering, and no perversion of any type, you got that?”
“Yes sir,” they answered and their Sgt said with a thick accent, “You orders will be carried out, you don’t know about my family sir, I lost my uncles oldest son, my cousin at Beslan his name was Lieutenant Andréa Alekseyeyevich Turkin he died in freeing the children from the damned Chechen jihadist. I would like to give some of these jihadists a little pay back and make them suffer for what they have done to children the world over, but since you have ordered otherwise, I will follow orders.”
“Thank you for being honest Sergeant Turkin, believe me I understand you’re feelings, but as the good Doctor said, ‘we are better men then they are.’ As I said, quick and clean one bullet to the head and it’s all said and done. Have someone say a Christian prayer over them and leave them face down with the heads pointing to the north.” Z turned and walked away, as he was getting into his vehicle he heard the first pistol shot, a few seconds went by and he heard the second, then telling his driver to start up and head over to the church. “We have a lot of work to do and quiet a few miles to go before we get to a safe location.” Calling out to the XO as they drove by he said, “Hurry the men up collecting all of the weapons and ammo off of the dead, I want to be on the road as soon a possible.”
“Yes sir, the men are already doing that, we will be ready sir, it’s the civilians who will slow us down.”
“Maybe, but they are our one chance at a pardon, and we all want a pardon.”
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