A C-17 over the Mediterranean Sea, 2035hrs Egypt Standard Time
"We will land one mile out and swim in towards Sharq at Tafriah, from there we will infiltrate the area surrounding the Port and watch as the missile is unloaded, then obtain transportation and see where they transport the weapon. With the six thousand eight hundred mile range that the Topol M can hit, DC is well within that target radius. We need to make sure that we don't miss the hand-off so that we can tail the tangos and light them up once we're clear of the populated area." Team 10 Leader looked at his wrist altitude indicator. He preferred the MA3-30 because it indicated clearly what altitude he was at from thirty thousand all the way down. He didn't have to count how many revolutions the jump indicator had unwound in a high-stress environment.
Making sure everybody checked their gear once more time, he noticed the jump-master hooked up make his way over to the group. "Five minutes to drop zone" the man radioed over the sound of the engines as he started to walk over. At thirty-thousand feet altitude, the men had to have their oxygen masks on in order to be able to survive, or they wouldn't have enough oxygen in their bloodstream to stay conscious.
At the one minute marker, Team 10 Lead ordered. "Masks on!" The aircraft was pressurized with 100% oxygen so that there would be no experiencing of bends on the way down, the same as it was for scuba divers, but once the divers were out of the aircraft they had to have oxygen so they . They carried oxygen bottles with enough reserve oxygen for 3 minutes, two primaries and a reserve just in case the first one malfunctioned. So they had roughly about six minutes of oxygen attached.
"GO GO GO!" sounded in their helmet earphones as the ramp came open. It was a stampeded to the end of the ramp as adrenaline pumping they hurled themselves out of the back of the C-17 Globemaster II.
"Watch the first step…Jonas! It's a doozy!" yelled one as he somersaulted off the back end of the ramp.
"Shit…don't wanna do this, but what the hell…you only live once." Jonas replied as he hopped off.
Prince Abdullah Airbase, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 0800hrs.
The aviators hit the sack since it would be an early morning when they checked back in with the boots on the ground to see what was going on. The ship transporting the missile was scheduled to be in Port Said at 0430 Egypt Time which would be one hour behind in Saudi Arabia time. Then the missile would be transported along Egyptian roads down to the crossing at Al Salam Peace Bridge then they would clear the bridge and move the truck across the bridge…at least that's what they figured on the map as the most logical route.
It would be a long route that would take at least fifty hours for the Topol-M to cross to Morocco so the aviators opted to catch some sleep while they could because it would be involve several hours of flying before they caught them somewhere between Algeria and their final destination of Morocco.
It was about 0800hrs by the time that Harm stirred from his rack. Shaking out his boots hard enough to make sure that there weren't any creepy crawlies in the boot; too many soldiers found out the hard way that fat-tailed scorpions could kill. Adults could vary in color from a light brown to reddish to blackish-brown, to black; they had highly potent venom and despite their size, could kill in minutes. Having been assured that his boots didn't gather any nasty little creatures of the Androctonus species, he slipped his socked feet into his boots.
"You awake?" Animal grinned cheerily as he looked over at his wingman. "Keeter just got the latest update and O'Neill's about to brief us. KH-12 caught the handover at 0415 and they now have about four hours on the road and a second KH-12 picked them just south of Alexandria. Libya wants no part of the Islamic Brotherhood in their lands; a transit of a ballistic missile launcher and nuclear missile would leave egg on their face and Muammar Gaddafi has told us in no uncertain terms that if they cross into Libya that we are allowed to take them out, which is a feat in itself." Harm looked shocked. The flamboyant Libyan leader was known to dislike American involvement in Libya and had more than once defied the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone Act of 1977 including two famous incidents that involved US Navy fighters versus Libyan fighters to the Libyans' detriment.
By this time, Harm was fully up and cognizant of his surroundings, grabbing his overseas cap, he walked out into the bright morning sunlight towards the operations tent. Harm looked over to find walking towards the tent were also Scooter, Skates and the British crews of the Tornadoes that had just come in last night. After a rapid flurry of morning and good mornings from the crews, they found seats in the operations tent.
Animal stood up, "The latest intel from the KH-12 shows the Topol headed west, their last known location was just south of Alexandria. We'll have more intel coming in as the intel guys can get us the information." He paused for a moment. "Now that's what I got from our eyes in the sky. We also have intel from JSOC who have boots on the ground. And that's what O'Neill will tell us next."
"Well…we just found out that JSOC dropped two full eight-man teams into Port Said last night. They laid low, adopted local attire and are presently tailing Sadik's convoy. They are currently reporting that the convoy has reached El Agamy via the International Coastal Road. We assume that they will be taking that route all the way through. Libya has given us carte-blanche to take them out." Beth O'Neill indicated as she put up an overhead map. Pointing her pointer to the location, she commented. "We will wait until they get into position just east of Tubruq Al Butnan in Libya and then we will take them out. After a successful strike in which RAF Forces will recover at Port Said, where they will take on fuel and then head for home, US forces, that's you two, Admiral Nakamura and Commander Rabb will proceed to Mighty Ike which is in the Med waiting to recover your Hornets. Any questions?" she paused for a moment.
At this point in the briefing, a brief flash of light caused their attention to turn to the tent's entrance flap where Mac and another CIA agent stood: the brief flash indicating the tent flaps opening. "We have a problem." The CIA agent said. "Snake Pen has been captured by Sadik Fahd. We have Lantern here, but there isn't any way to light up the target." Evidently the CIA agent hadn't been briefed.
"You're a day late and a dollar short. Spook." Animal growled, cheesed off that the CIA agent had interrupted the briefing. "JSOC has taken over your duties. But until we are finished our briefing you are not to interrupt."
"…but…Clay…" Mac interrupted.
"What part of what I just said did you not comprehend? Lieutenant Colonel?!" Animal snapped as he stood up.
Mac braced to attention.
"If you wish to confer with us before the mission, you will wait until after the briefing is over! You have two choices, you can either remain silent here or you can wait in the shade by the grove of palm trees. We have four and a half hours before mission start after the briefing is over and we need to ascertain what load-outs are needed to efficiently remove the threat. We need to be overhead target in six." Animal affixed a glare on Mac.
"Yes, sir!" Mac looked unhappy but she knew better than to push Animal's buttons.
It was a long briefing. Every eventuality from target not being taken out to deliberate missile launch was covered and every possible missile threat up to and including Libyan aircraft was discussed. That left barely enough time for lunch.
"Walk with me!" Animal commanded as Harm and Mac fell into step behind him. "So…what was it that you wished to discuss, Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie?"
"Sir, Sadik has captured Webb."
"And the problem is…?" Animal kept striding towards the mess tent.
"We need to get him out before the target is taken out. Otherwise he'll go up with the target."
"Not feasible…" was Animal's brief reply.
"Sir, he'll die." Mac protested.
"Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie. I am up against a brick wall here." Animal growled ominously, stopping abruptly in his tracks forcing Mac to stop precipitously or run straight into his back. Whirling around on her, he snapped. "At any point in this transit, Fahd could drop stabilizers, point the missile and fire it. Do you understand?" Cutting off any further protests, he continued. "In Washington DC, there are over two million people in the area at any given moment. If an eight hundred kiloton nuclear warhead detonates over DC, you will have over six hundred thousand dead, not including injured. Are you reading me, Lieutenant Colonel?" he continued dispassionately. "…and you are asking me to consider the life of one person over six hundred thousand?" He leaned in, his face dark with fury, "I have my orders, if I have to remove Sadik Fahd from this earth with due prejudice, I will drop that JDAM, no questions asked! Do you understand me!"
"Sir, YES SIR!" Mac barked.
"Commander Rabb, with me!" Animal snapped, "You, Colonel Mackenzie." He growled. "Get out of my sight!"
SEAL Team 10, Sid Barrani, Egypt 1200hrs
"Miller, you got the convoy in sight?" Their canvas backed delivery truck was following the missile launcher at a half-mile behind the convoy. Keeping a low profile in the desert was hard to do, but they were managing.
"Got 'em." Miller was their point man. He and his spotter were ahead of the convoy about two miles ahead on Honda off-roading motorbikes specially maintained for hot weather use and specially equipped with wheels that could dig into the sand for greater traction. They'd taken cover behind sand dunes and were off-roading it to keep ahead of the convoy. "Doesn't look like they're stopping."
"Tell Pavelec to keep an eye out if there are any scouts with Stingers. If there are, I gotta report them in, so that Adder and Viper flights don't get ambushed."
"Roger that. Keeping a close eye on 'em." Miller replied. "Let you know if I see anything." Switching over to the channel that he communicated with Pavelec, he whispered. "Marty, you see anything."
SO3 Martin Pavelec grinned. "I see one guy on the passenger side with a Stinger, but nobody's hanging off the rails; too bumpy of a ride. But I can't see in the trucks. We'd best get going. So we don't let them get too far ahead." Getting on his motorbike, he turned it on, accelerating up the sand dune. Likewise. SO2 Rich Miller grabbed his M4A1 SOPMOD carbine and slipped it over his shoulder cradling it across his back, got back on his back and kicked the start on his bike. Likewise he gunned the engine and accelerated to get ahead of the convoy.
Viper Flight, Over the Red Sea, 1210hrs
Animal adjusted the oxygen mask comfortably over his face as Harm flew welded wing on his starboard and just behind his three-nine line. "Viper Lead, Viper Two, settle yourself in, it's gonna be a long flight." At just under three hours, the two F/A-18F Super Hornets were flying at cruising speed, to conserve fuel. Looking back, he could see the eight RAF Tornadoes in two formations of finger four. In one hour they would be over Egypt, "So, Viper Two, you ready for this?"
"As ready as I'll ever be, Lead."
"Good. Need you focused out there, Hammer."
"Aye, that, Lead."
Viper Flight, Over Target Area, 1502hrs.
"Vipers and Adders. Confirmed visual on target." Animal barked out over the comm. "One o'clock low." He could see the dust cloud from the vehicle being kicked up over a mile away.
Harm noted the dust cloud as well. "Roger, confirmed…it's our target."
"Roll on target." Animal commanded as he grasped his stick, looking through his HUD sighting the lead truck and aiming his 20mm's on it. No need to waste a JDAM on that bastard.
Sadik's Egyptian Delivery Truck, five miles east of Tobruk, 1502 hrs
Sadik Fahd looked startled as 20mm shells kicked up fountains of dust in front of his truck. "Brake, you idiot!" he screamed as he saw an American aircraft fly past at high speed. "Get me the Stinger…" he bellowed at one of his followers. Grabbing the Stinger he aimed it out the truck window.
Viper Lead, Over Target Area 1502 22 secs.
"Got a Stinger tone tracking us." Scooter replied as he watched the radar in the WSO
Viper Two, Over Target Area 1502 26 secs
Harm grinned as he saw the truck in front of him as he gripped the trigger on the 20mm cannon and his F/A-18F jerked slightly in its forward motion as the 20mm cannon shells rained down on the truck. He knew he had the truck dead in his sights as he smiled behind his oxygen mask.
MZKT-79221 Missile Truck, five miles east of Tobruk, 1502 30 secs
The missile truck driver had to brake hard to avoid hitting the Sadik's truck in front of him as the engine of the delivery truck erupted in flames. He saw Sadik bail out and hit the ground, rolling several times before the truck went up in a thunderous explosion a hundred feet down the road.
Adder Lead, 15000 feet, five miles south, 1503hrs
"Target acquired." Wing Commander Chamberlain grinned. "Adder Two Flight Lead on target." In the Tornado heads up display, there was a scrolling altitude indicator and the bomb target reticle. The target danced in the reticle for a brief moment, but stabilized as Wg Cdr Chamberlain managed to steady the Tornado on its bomb-track. "There's a good bloke. Stay in the target reticle." The seeker on the GBU-24 2000lb Paveway sighted in on the MZKT-79221 as he triggered the release of the guided bomb unit and the Tornado felt suddenly lighter. "Adder Two Flight, acquire your targets and release as necessary."
"Adder Two Two…Roger."
"Adder Two Three Roger
"Adder Two Four Roger."
Having two bombs each, the Tornadoes were to do one pass, drop a bomb and then come around from a different angle and acquire the target again and repeat the process.
MZKT-79221 Missile Truck, five miles east of Tobruk, 1503hrs
Clayton Webb hyperventilated, knowing that he was a dead man. When he saw the truck in front of the missile truck passenger compartment on which he was riding in go up in flames, he knew that his time was short. He knew that there was no way out with him handcuffed with both hands to the support beams on the truck compartment and that no-one would be coming for him. Actually since the truck itself was the target he was right on ground zero. There was no way out. The first bomb hit the rear of the missile truck blowing away the wheels on both ends and igniting the rocket fuel in a combustible vapor around the truck, the second impacted to the left, causing the missile to erupt in an massive explosion, the only thing protecting Clayton Webb was the passenger compartment which was designed to withstand a launch of the Topol M. Unfortunately it only granted him a short reprieve as the third and fourth GBU-24s landed right on top of the passenger compartment allowing him only a brief flash of light and unbelievable pain before his sight ended in a conflagration and he knew nothing more.
Viper Lead, Over Target Area, 1504hrs
Animal circled the target area, Harm on his wing. The missile truck looked like an inferno, the missile had ruptured and the warhead was destroyed spreading radioactive uranium all around the area for at least a square quarter-kilometer, the on-board Geiger counter in the aircraft was ratcheting up. "Adder flights, abort second pass, Mongoose exfil! NOW!"
All aircraft and trucks departed the area as quickly as they could. Hopefully, Animal thought as he engaged burner, that they would be able to escape radiation contamination. The F/A-18s headed towards the Mediterranean and Adder flights exfiltrated to Cairo. The radiation meant that any survivors from the Islamic Brotherhood would be contaminated and would no longer be a problem. That would solve the problem of Sadik Fahd once and for all. Sadik being exposed to radiation would spell a death sentence for him within a few hours let alone a few weeks – they had not left him with any sort of transportation out of the hot-zone. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy, Animal thought sardonically as he and Harm flew out over the Mediterranean.
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, CVN-69, in the Mediterranean Sea, 1545hrs
"Viper Lead and Viper Two are inbound, just called out feet wet, sir." CAG said. "Changing callsigns to Black Lion 206 and Black Lion 208."
"Good, they made a good kill on that missile." the Admiral said. "When Admiral Nakamura gets on board, ask him to come see me." RDML Webster ordered the CAG. The CAG understood that since RADM Nakamura wore two stars and the COMSTRKGRP, the RDML's request was just a request.
"Sir, they just trapped aboard. They've notified us that they are checking in with medical. When they targeted the missile, the warheads ruptured, spilling radiation and they are ensuring that they weren't exposed."
"Very well…"
Medical Office, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, CVN-69, In the Mediterranean Sea, 1615hrs
Running the Geiger counter over Harm, the doctor nodded his head. "Commander Rabb, you're fine. Lieutenant Commander Hawkes, you're in good health too. Nothing indicates that you two received excessive exposure to radiation." The checks of the last two aviators noted that there was nothing wrong, but it was a competent CO to make sure that the aviators under his command weren't unduly exposed to radiation.
Skates grinned widely up at Harm. "Well…that's a relief. At least I won't be giving birth to babies with three eyes and two heads." A bit of macabre humor, but well, when one was back from a mission like that, there was bound to be some off-color joking.
Harm just shook his head. "Yeah…OK…Skates."
"Shake a leg." Animal interrupted. "Evidently RDML Webster wants to see us." He was now dressed in shipboard khakis with the customary two stars on his collars and naval aviator's wings as well as a Mighty Ike ballcap with admiral's scrambled eggs on the brim. The two-stars looked intimidating and sailors scrambled to get out of the way as Animal led the way across the knee-knockers and up the stairs to the flag bridge. Over his shoulder he said. "So…you got Sadik's truck, hey?"
"Looks like it, sir." Harm replied.
"…and the Adders got the missile truck."
"Well, sir, you got the truck in the lead to stop…so I could potshot him."
By this time they were at the flag bridge and Animal knocked on the door. "Enter!" RDML Webster's voice was a rumbling basso. Animal stepped in and RDML Webster was on his feet bracing, "SIR!"
"As you were, Admiral." Animal stated as he extended a hand to shake the Rear Admiral Lower Half's. "Sorry it took us a while, but we had to check and make sure we weren't glowing."
"Admiral, I hope you don't mind," RDML Webster said. "But I took it upon myself to fill out award decorations for your three subordinates for the demonstration of their valor." Animal nodded. Normally it would be in his purview to do so, but the fact that he was flying the mission didn't allow for that. He'd commend RDML Webster on his foresight.
"Thank you for doing so…" Animal acknowledged.
"Commander Harmon Rabb Jr. front and center. For events today over Tobruk, Libya in thwarting a potentially devastating attack on the United States of America, you are hereby awarded the second award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Today America thanks you for their lives, Commander." RDML Webster stepped forward and presented Harm with the medal. Skates stepped up and gave Harm a kiss on the cheek as per the customary reward.
…and each person, Skates and Scooter with the exception of Animal who just stood to the side and smiled, received the Distinguished Flying Cross. As an Admiral it was assumed that Animal would lead. At least that pretty much was what was expected by his superiors. Harm reciprocated the kiss on the cheek to Skates as she accepted her award.
After the award to Scooter, RDML Webster debriefed them on the mission, and made certain that the CNO would hear about it and mentioned that quarters were made available to them and they made their way to their quarters to get some rest. While on the way there, Animal stopped by at a bank of telephones dropped some cash in and waited for the dial tone then entered in a telephone number. Listening for the ring, "Nakamura residence…" a soft voice answered.
"Hey…it's me…"
"Sweetheart…" a soft gasp sounded on the other end of the line. "Does that mean that you're coming home?"
"Yeah…we got the sonofabitch…Michael awake?" he asked.
"Darling, it's ten in the morning, he's been up for hours. He should go down for his nap shortly though." His wife replied.
"I'm just holding for orders, love, then we may either stick with the Ike depending on what they're doing and if they're not returning to Norfolk, then we'll refuel the F/A-18Fs and pond-hop our way home." Animal grinned.
"Let me know what you're doing then I'll meet you at Oceana." His wife replied. "If I have to I'll bang out, the CO'll let me if he knows my husband's coming home. Otherwise he knows I'll get wicked pissed."
"Love you…" Animal said softly.
"You know I love you…too…" she said softly in his ear.
"Gotta go, gotta get some rest." He said.
"Think of me…lover…" she whispered. "sleep tight."
Animal grinned as he replaced the phone on its cradle as the dial-tone sounded in his ear.
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, Somewhere in the Mediterranean, 0100hrs Libya Time
"So did you get a hold of your wife?" Harm grinned as he watched Animal look through his wallet pics with a wistful expression.
"Yeah…she was just dealing with Mikey." Animal ran his hand through his hair. "He's at his terrible twos."
Harm nodded. Animal's wife had gone staff and was parlaying her career into a good solid one as an NAVSEA Chief of Staff in Naval Systems Command. She had achieved O-6 and was making a good case for RDML. Her CO VADM Bill Templeton was a good solid CO formerly a Navy Surface Warfare type and it made for a good working atmosphere.
"So she ever still manages to get her feet wet?" Harm asked.
"Not often. And frankly lately it seems the only time she ever gets feet wet is at the community pool when she takes Mikey for swimming lessons."
Skates knocked on the door. "Yeah…Harm, Sir?" she acknowledged Animal. "Ops says that orders came through, we're to pond-hop all the way home, sir."
"Perfect. I'll have to let her know, when we reach London. What time are we due on deck?" Animal turned to Skates.
"0400hrs, sir. Hornets are being readied now."
"All right. Kick Scooter out of bed…Harm, we brief at 0230hrs." Animal decided as he looked at the clock. "We're on deck and ready to launch at 0400hrs." He grabbed his gear and headed out the door. "On my way to ops to file our flight plans."
"OK…" Harm replied as he unwound himself from the bunk and got up getting ready to go knock on Scooter's door.
"Hey Scooter!"
"Wuh?" was Scooter's semi-comatose response to Harm's knocking.
"Shake a leg…preflight briefing's at 0230 hrs. We're hopping to Rota, then over to London, then pond-hopping all the way back to Oceana."
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, Somewhere in the Mediterranean, 0400hrs
"Black Lion 206, Cat One. Engines spooled at 100%. Reheat military power." Animal gave the plane captain a thumbs up and a salute and waited for the punch in the back that would throw him off the pointy end of the boat. The cat-shot was a good one and he was flying off the end of the boat at over 250knots. Harm was launched off the Ike about six seconds later and he was on their wing as they pointed their way towards Rota, it was pretty much a straight shot. Straight forward flight enough as they landed two hours and thirty six minutes later on Runway 28 at to the gape-eyed stares of Zoomie loadmasters. They needed to refuel then turn around and head for NAS Keflavik where they would land at 1032hrs after refuelling at Rota. Then they had to sit another two hours and eat over at Keflavik's passenger terminal again. At this point Animal walked over to the phone and called his wife and told her that they were enroute home and that they would hit Halifax International Airport on the way home, get refuelled and be at Oceana at about 1500hrs. Wheels up at Keflavik was at 1232hrs Iceland time which brought them onto North American soil at 1138hrs EST after which with another two hour refuelling enabled them to touch wheels down on NAS Oceana at just after 1500hrs EST.
It seemed as though we were racing the sun through the sky, Animal thought as he unbuckled and pulled off his helmet feeling the wind through sweaty hair. Looking over at the building where the door opened he saw his wife and his child standing there. His Mikey was standing there as grave as could be holding up his right hand in a child's approximation of a salute. Animal grinned widely and saluted him. Harm, Scooter and Skates came up behind him as he grabbed his red-haired wife in a big hug. "I'm back, sweetheart."
"You're lucky you called…when you were in Iceland. I've never had a sweeter oh-six hundred wakeup." She whispered in his ear as she pulled back enough to look at him then put her lips to his in a kiss.
"Are you looking for someone?" a familiar voice hailed Harm who looked around behind Animal's wife and saw Catherine who smiled at him before she launched herself at him wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thank God, you're back…Harm, safe and sound…" she whispered as tears spilled from her eyes. "I'm sorry, I cry at the drop of a hat. Damned hormones."
Harm was absolutely surprised. He had called Catherine from Rota, but he hadn't known that she would make the trip all the way from Langley. It was a wonderful surprise to see her. "I'm glad you came down…" he said as he enfolded her with a hug. In the meantime Skates and Scooter made themselves scarce inspecting the walls of the VF-213 squadron building.
Harm separated from Catherine for a brief moment to find Animal and his wife still kissing. "Hey, Irish…Animal…" Harm said using Animal's wife's callsign for a brief moment. "If you two are finished sucking each other's faces off…" that caused Irish to casually free one hand and aim a middle finger at him.
Scooter playfully greeted Animal's son. "Hey, sport, you didn't see Mommy do that."