1
The Chinese freighter looks small from a mile away, but the HCLI commandos knew it was as long as a football field. It is the only ship on the pristine blue waters of the Pacific Ocean a hundred nautical miles west of Guam. The huge whitewater wake behind the vessel could be seen even without the help of high-powered binoculars that Koko Hekmatyar is now using.
"You shouldn't have come, Koko," Lehm Brick said as he eased the stick. The AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter losses altitude and gained speed towards the freighter. "This is a very dangerous mission."
"Do not worry, Lehm," Koko replied from the copilot seat. "I can take care of myself."
"Lehm is right, Koko," Sofia Valmet said on the intercom line. "It would be better if you just stayed on the ship."
Koko glanced back and smiled at the female commando. "And let you guys have all the fun? Nah. Besides, you're gonna need a copilot."
The boy commando named Jonah Mar looked at Koko. He smiled and the young arms dealer smiled too. "Take care, Jonah," Koko reminded her favorite bodyguard.
"I will," Jonah replied.
"Hey Jonah," Akihiko Tojo said, passing a huge grenade launcher with a six-round drum to the boy. "You think you can handle this?"
Jonah gleefully took the Milkor SuperSix 40mm multiple grenade launcher like a kid opening a Christmas present. "Of course," he said, quickly checking the weapon.
"Careful with launching those 40 mike mikes, kid," Lutz, the team sniper said.
"It's time, guys. Lock and load," Lehm ordered.
Weapons were checked for the last time, safeties are turned off. The sliding doors on both sides of the helicopter opened, exposing the cabin into the howling wind. Jonah, Valmet, Lutz, and Tojo hung on the left side while Mao, Ugo and Wiley are on the right. The helicopter approached the freighter from the bow and they could now see Chinese men on the deck, excitedly pointing at the fast approaching chopper.
All are armed with AK-type weapons.
"Light them up!" Lehm ordered.
The HCLI commandos opened fire with their HK416 rifles. NATO 5.56mm rounds rained on the deck, killing several Chinese in a spray of blood and gore. Jonah launched a 40mm grenade, exploding a crow's nest into a ball of fire. Burning body parts fell on the sea. A few Chinese managed to return fire with their AK's but the helicopter is moving too fast, their bullets only drilled holes in the sky.
Lehm banked the chopper to the right as it approached the ship's bridge. Valmet, Lutz and Tojo quickly riddled the bridge windows with bullets, killing most of the crew. Jonah fired two grenades inside, adding to the carnage. As the chopper sped away, the bridge is now a burning wreck.
"Oh yeah, this is fun!" Koko exclaimed.
The chopper circled for another pass. More Chinese men scrambled on the deck, firing their weapons in vain. The HCLI team made quick work of them, killing scores of the enemy as bodies littered the deck.
Lehm dropped the chopper only a foot from the deck. The HCLI commandos minus Lutz immediately dismounted. Lehm quickly pulled up and circled the ship with sniper Lutz covering their comrades on the deck.
Jonah ran towards the open deck door. A few AK rounds snapped close to his feet. The boy warrior quickly saw an enemy sniper on the railing. Jonah aimed his SuperSix and fired a grenade. The explosive hit the Chinese on the chest and exploded, tearing the luckless man in half. Jonah saw several figures on an open door a few meters on the right. He fired twice, blowing the door and the occupants into smithereens. Jonah dropped on one knee as he took cover and reloaded his grenade launcher.
Valmet and Tojo ran towards another door, firing their HK416 rifles and dropping several Chinese. Mao and Ugo took positions on the deck, providing cover while Wiley approached the closed metal door. Ugo's M249 machine gun rattled as he nailed two more Chinese on the superstructure.
Wiley's Remington 870 shotgun is loaded with breeching slugs. As he is about to shoot the hinge of the door, he spotted a Chinese on the left raising an AK. Wiley swung his shotgun and tripped the trigger, the recoil kicking his shoulder like an angry mule. The Chinese's head exploded as the .12 gauge solid breaching round smacked into his face. Wiley quickly pumped the shotgun and blew the door hinges with two quick shots. With a kick, the metal door burst open.
Valmet and Tojo quickly tossed two flashbang grenades inside. As the explosives detonated, the duo quickly went in. Three Chinese are on the floor, wincing in pain as blood seeping from their busted eardrums. They are wounded but the HCLI could not take any chances. Valmet hosed them with lead and they fell dead on the floor. Her rifle locked empty.
Suddenly, she saw a blur on her left. A Chinese attacked with long knife. Valmet dropped the HK416 as she ducked, the knife glanced her hair. Valmet's own Ka-Bar knife rasped from its sheath. Valmet stabbed two rapid thrust on the man's torso, then swung her knife up and slit his throat.
Just then, Valmet saw another Chinese from behind a counter, raising an AK to waste her. She spun, her right hand drawing the SIG Pro SP2022 pistol from her hip. Two quick shots and the would-be killer dropped with two bullet holes on his forehead. Then another one appeared behind a door. Valmet's left hand snapped, throwing the Ka-Bar on with a spinning throw. The Chinese grunted as six inches of steel buried on his left eye socket. Valmet heard the sound of Tojo's 416 as he eliminated another enemy soldier.
Jonah and Wiley entered the door. The boy wisely shouldered his grenade launcher and now armed with Browning HiPower pistol. "Having fun?" Wiley asked Tojo.
"Not exactly," the Japanese commando replied, reloading his rifle. "I want my laptop back."
"You're doing fine," Valmet said as she retrieved her 416. "Let's go."
The four commandos ran on the corridors, occasionally eliminating some opposition. Finally, they reached the main hold. Wiley quickly set a breaching charge on the metal door. They took cover as the explosive detonated, blowing the door off its hinges.
Valmet and Jonah quickly went it. Two throwing knives flew from Valmet's hands and two Chinese fell with blades embedded on their skulls. Jonah's HiPower erupted in quick shots, killing two more with perfect double taps to the head. "Clear!" he shouted.
"Clear!" Valmet confirmed.
They quickly saw a figure tied on a chair in the middle of the room. The man's head is covered with a cloth bag. Tojo approached and removed the bag.
The handsome blonde prisoner grunted as he saw the four. "Oh for fucks sake, what the hell are you guys doing here?" he asked.
"Saving your ass, Scarecrow," Valmet replied. She cuts the CIA agent loose.
Scarecrow stood up and rubbed his wrist. "If Hekmatyar thinks we are even, she is mistaken-."
"Let's go," Wiley cuts him "We are out of time."
"I need a gun," Scarecrow demanded.
Tojo drew his SIG and gave it butt-first to Scarecrow. "Stay close or we will leave you."
The group ran back towards the door. Scarecrow's eyes squinted as he saw sunlight after a week in the darkness, but he smiled when he saw the helicopter orbiting overhead. Ugo and Mao quickly set up a perimeter as Lehm expertly piloted the AgustaWestland, landing it on the deck. The HCLI team quickly rushed aboard. A few Chinese tried to ambush them but they were quickly eliminated.
Scarecrow was surprised to see Koko Hekmatyar on the copilot seat of the chopper. "Hekmatyar! What is the meaning of this?" he asked.
"Later, Scarecrow," Koko replied. "Lift us up, Lehm."
"With pleasure," Lehm replied, powering the throttles. The helicopter rose into the air, speeding away from the burning superstructure of the freighter.
"Wait, Lehm," Koko suddenly said. "Let's go back."
"Why Koko?" asked Lehm.
"I want to send a message to General Chin."
Lehm smiled as he banked the chopper towards the freighter again. Koko waited until the helicopter was directly on top of the vessel, then she punched the red button on her console. A 500-pound JDAM bomb hanging under the chopper was released, the AgustaWestland sharply flew up as it loses weight. The bomb's petal-shaped fins opened, directing it straight towards the deck of the ship.
The JDAM struck the center of the deck with terminal velocity, penetrating steel towards the keel before detonating. The massive explosion seemed to lift the ship clear out of the water then slammed it back as it broke in two pieces. Within minutes, the ocean swallowed the burning hulks, leaving only debris and oil slick on the surface.
With a smile on her face, Koko ordered Lehm to fly home.