Into Africa
By
UCSBdad
Disclaimer: I own no Castles. Or Becketts. Rating: K+ for language. Time: The present day, but in an alternate universe.
"Med bunker says we have two wounded coming in." Hobbes called out. "We may need a medivac."
Rick got on the radio to ask for air support.
"Base Aerienne 201 this is Snowshoes Six Actual. We're taking heavy fire. I need close air support and I need it now. Over."
"Snowshoes Six Actual, this is Base Aerienne 201. Perfect timing. We have two French Air Force fast movers that just finished tanking and can be to your location in fifteen minutes." Rick was given the aircraft's call signs and told what their ordnance was.
"Base Aerienne 201 this is Snowshoes 6 Actual. Thanks. Anything else you can give us? Over."
"Snowshoes 6 Actual this is Base Aerienne 201. We have nothing now. Got problems all over. We may have something later. Base Aerienne 201 out."
"Reed, grab a radio. The French fast movers are going to need a ground observer. That's us."
"You're going out there?" Kate asked.
"That's what I do."
Kate didn't say another word, but kissed him, hard. "Just remember you have a reason to come back inside." She whispered.
Rick and Reed grabbed an ATV and headed for the northern end of the mesa. "I think the ruins of the old Roman fort will give us some cover and give us a good look at the damned rock spire to the east. I'm sure that fucking OP is there." Rick yelled over the noise of the ATV's engine.
They had just made it to the old fort when two delta winged shapes appeared overhead. Rick contacted the lead and told him he wanted the rock spire to the east hit.
"Snowshoes 6 Actual, this is Cigogne 34. We have two 500 kilogram LGBs apiece. Can you lase for us? Over"
"Cigogne 34 this is Snowshoes 6 Actual. I think we can. I'll get back to you. Out." Rick had Reed change frequencies on the radio. "Ranger sniper team, this is Snowshoes 6 Actual, where are you? Over."
There was a moment of silence until Rick heard a scratchy reply. "Snowshoes 6 Actual, this is sangar nine. What do you need? Over."
Rick quickly explained that the aircraft overhead had laser guided bombs and needed someone on the ground to paint the spire with a laser to give the bombs an aimpoint.
"Snowshoes 6 Actual, this is sangar nine. More than glad to help out. We do have a laser designator. It'll take us minute to set up, but I think I have a rough idea of where their spotter is. Out."
The minutes dragged on like hours, but finally the sniper team had the laser designator set up and operational. Rick called the French aircraft and watched as the two aircraft came in low and each dropped one bomb. He watched as the two bombs guided towards the spire and exploded in a cloud of dust, sending shattered pieces of rock flying.
"Outstanding Cigogne 34. Outstanding! I think you got him."
He heard a chuckle from far above him. "Thank you, Snowshoes 6 Actual. Any more work for us?"
"We have a mortar position that's been giving us hell. We can't lase it for you, but I'll get out mortar team to put some smoke on it to give you a target. It's dug in well so you'll need to drop your bombs right in the mortar pit to knock it out."
Rick struggled to coordinate the drone to spot for the mortar, and to try to put the aircraft above on target. At last, he saw the two aircraft heading for the enemy mortar position. He saw each drop a bomb and then heard two explosions. He waited for over a minute, afraid the bombs had missed. Then he heard cheering over the radio."
"This is Snowshoes 6 Actual. Anybody? What happened? Did they hit the mortar?"
Lt. Glass answered him. "No, sir. They hit the side of valley and dropped about a ton of rocks on them. It'd take a week to dig what's left of the mortar and crew out."
Then Rick was interrupted. "Snowshoes 6 Actual, this is Cigogne 34. We have no bombs left, but we do have 30 mike mike cannons. Any targets?"
Rick looked around. There were no mortar rounds impacting the mesa. "Cigogne 34, the mortar fire has stopped, but we've been getting machine gun and other small arms fire from the ridge to the east of us. I'll have our mortar drop some smoke on it to give you an aiming point. Out."
As Rick and Reed headed for the command bunker, he could see the two aircraft working over the ridgeline with cannon fire.
"Any good news?" Rick asked as he entered the bunker.
Lt. Glass shook his head. "The drones have lost the one mortar we'd spotted. The crew packed it up and scooted. We never did spot any more mortars, and we're not getting much incoming from the ridge east of us. We may have seen the last of them."
Rick waited for an hour after the aircraft had left before he allowed anyone to leave the shelter of the bunkers or the sangars. One of the archeology team suggested they have a barbecue to celebrate and to commemorate the end of the dig, but Rick refused.
"There are still enemy mortar teams out there and lots of other bad guys. I want everyone to stay close to their bunkers or sangars. The dig team will be leaving tomorrow and I don't want anyone getting killed or wounded now."
Kate took a long look at Chris Sullivan, who nodded. She wouldn't be having the farewell with Billy that she'd wanted.
Then again, Kate thought, she wouldn't have the farewell with Rick she'd wanted. They did, however, have dinner together in the command bunker. They were sitting together at one end of the bunker, with Kate's head leaning on Rick's shoulder when Rick heard the metallic thump of a mortar being fired. By the time the round had hit, Rick was working the radios.
"Sir!" Glass yelled. "Machine gun bunker one took a direct hit on the top of the bunker. Not casualties and they say they can't see any damage to the bunker itself, but…" There was another mortar explosion. "That was another direct hit on the bunker. They must have an observer back in the spire."
"Get Base Aerienne 201 on the horn. We need air support again."
To Rick's surprise, they heard from their air support almost at once.
"Snowshoes 6, this here is 'Bama five one. We're an Alpha Charley One Three Zero Hotel. Ah unnerstan' y'all need a bit o' delousing?"
"Bama five one, this is Snowshoes Six Actual. We're taking very accurate mortar fire from some jihadis. We're pretty sure they have an observer on the rock spire to the east of us. Over."
"Ah unnerstan 'that, Sonny. Now you just let your ole Uncle Glen do his thang. Ah think we done spotted us one o' them mortars now. To repeat the redneck's last words, lookee this, everyone."
Kate looked at Rick with a puzzled look on her face. "He's flying a hotel?"
"It's an AC 130 H model, using a phonetic alphabet. The C 130 is a large, four engine transport plane, converted to a gunship by adding in a couple of 20 millimeter Vulcan cannons, a 40 millimeter cannon and a 105 millimeter cannon."
He had no sooner finished speaking than they heard a sound like a giant tearing some sheet metal in half.
"That's the Vulcans."
"Woo-wee, Sonny. They was just about to light out in their truck when we lit 'em up. That's one mortar that won't bother you damnyankees no more. Now what about that there big rock?"
"Bama five one, this is Snowshoes 6 Actual. The spire was shot up by the French Air Force a few hours ago, so I'm not sure where the spotter is. We could paint where we think he might be with a laser. Over."
"Waal, that won't be necessary, Sonny. I'm goin' to do sumpin' I allus wanted to try."
"Sir, "Sergeant Hobbes called to Rick. "We have a visual from the drones of the spire."
Everyone crowded around the computer screen to see.
"What the fuck?" Rick said." He's shooting at the bottom of the damned spire. There's no way the spotter could be there. He couldn't see anything."
"Maybe he's trying to cut the spire down." Kate said.
"No, that's…"Rick stopped. "That's exactly what he's trying to do."
They watched as streams of red tracers from the gunship lashed across the base of the spire, interspersed with the crashing of the 105 mm cannon.
"Sir," Glass said, "there are pieces of rock starting to fall. Big pieces. Oh shit!"
They watched in awe as the base of the spire shattered and it slowly topped into the canyon below.
"I'll be damned." Rick said softly.
"Damn it all." Came over the radio. "Now weren't that purtier than any Fourth of July fireworks you ever seen, Sonny?"
"Bama five one this is Snowshoes 6 actual. Roger on that. Over."
"Ah still got me some ammo, so I'm gonna take a look-see at that there ridge."
After a minute or two, Bama five one called back. "Them jihadis skedaddled. There weren't one of them still there. Okay, Sonny, Ah'm headed for the barn. Y'all need any help in the future, y'all just call Bama five one an' we'll come runnin'."
"Bama five one this is Snowshoes 6 actual. Thanks a lot. I hope your unorthodox radio chatter doesn't get you in any trouble. Over."
"Don't y'all worry none, Sonny. Seein' as how I'm a colonel and the wing commander, I don't reckon I'll git in any trouble. Bama five one, over and out."
Early the next day, the personnel from the dig prepared to leave. As usual the choppers came in early and wanted to get in and out as soon as possible. There was at least one more mortar team out there someplace, or so everyone thought.
Kate put her arms around Rick's neck and kissed him. "You have my cell phone number, both my office and personal email, and my…"
He kissed her back. "Yes, I can call, email you, snail mail you, Skype with you, tweet with you and if all else fails I can use carrier pigeons and smoke signals. Don't worry, I'll keep in touch, Kate."
"You'd better."
He kissed her again. "You have to go. You're the only one not on a chopper."
She took a deep breath, turned and ran to the waiting bird. As it lifted off, he saw her wave from the cabin. Then she was gone.
The next day, the camp seemed empty without the dig crew. Rick decided that he needed to reorganize the bunkers. Now that he had spare bunkers, he'd put some of his troops in the now empty bunkers so everyone would have more room. He had just finished inspecting one of the supply bunkers the dig team had used and was headed to a personnel bunker when he heard the metallic thunk of a mortar being fired.
"Shit!" He screamed and sprinted toward the nearest bunker. He was diving head first into the bunker when he saw a flash of light and felt unimaginable pain through out his body. Then all was darkness.