Chp. 6: Thieves in the Night
January 24, 2005
General Ikov's Headquarters
Ikov finished buttoning his BDU blouse as he followed Iivari into the heart of his headquarters. He exchanged hurried salutes with the staff running about, trying to get a full and accurate picture of the situation. Salo was busy sorting files and folders as subordinates brought them to him. He bolted up to salute, but Ikov waved him down. The two men stopped behind a row of technicians at computers, all adding symbols to a digital map on a larger screen. Most of them were red dots. Ikov felt his balding head warm anxiously.
"How long has this been happening?" He asked.
"The first attack happened when ISAF aircraft hit anti-aircraft missile batteries and radars in the northern part of our sector. We classified it as a standard raid, and they went for the airport at Colinbirk." Iivari replied.
"Any idea why?"
"Probably the AEW aircraft there, as well as it being the main base for the New Year's raid."
"How bad was the damage?"
"Initial reports told us it would take three hours to mend the runways and fully contain the fuel fires. They've lost most of the command and control assets and a number of aircraft. Only two of the Tu-126s survived. Soon after, communications all over the place were going out. Mostly landlines; radios have been working but there's been heavy jamming."
"More air raids? The resistance?"
"It seems to be ISAF special forces. Our intelligence section reports nothing from the SSD when we got through to them."
"Has General Andric been informed?"
"We haven't been able to reach him. Colonel Pashkovic sent a small convoy to make contact and ensure, and I made the decision not to waste effort using the radio."
He seemed eager to discuss something else. Ikov looked at him and got an answer.
"My biggest concern is this, sir: we've lost nearly two thirds of our MTO launchers, and the primary coastal radars have been put offline. Further commando attacks and airstrikes, I'm told."
Iivari pointed at the dots right next to the water as he continued.
"I made a request to Corps headquarters to see if any other sectors are experiencing the same, but so far haven't gotten any responses."
"You're concerned this may be a feint of some kind?"
"It's either a distraction or something of a serious magnitude is coming. The problem is we can't coordinate and there are several spots they could come from."
"What do you mean?"
"I fear we're seeing preparation for an invasion, General. The one thing fueling my doubts is the weather. How could they possibly hope to run effective air support with the rain? Laser-guided weapons are practically useless in such weather."
Ikov tensed, then turned towards a man wearing an air force uniform.
"Colonel Patria, I want a request made to district air command. I'm requesting two Tu-142s to conduct a patrol in order to determine if anything resembling an amphibious force is heading this way." He called.
"Yes sir! We may have to use local civilian cell towers to get in touch."
"Can you reach them via radio?"
"Their channel is clogged due to the raid on Colinbirk."
Ikov growled and looked back at the map.
"Continue attempts to reach General Andric. Until then I am assuming he is unable to fulfill his duties and thus taking command. Get the word out to all units to muster and move to their assigned defensive positions. I want my field headquarters ready within the hour." He outlined.
Just then a light on the wall began to flash red. It was followed by a shrill buzzing as the air raid alarm went off.
"Incoming air raid! Standby for vector and distance." One of the technicians declared.
The main screen changed to reflect the radar picture, revealing the attack was coming from the south and east. Despite the tension, the room continued to operate as normal. A few seconds later the map returned to its former place. All Ikov could do was wait and constantly shift his eyes towards the radar display. Despite preparatory measures by ISAF aircraft, several missile sites and guns were still active and If they even suspected that an enemy aircraft had been hit, the younger technicians would cheer before someone silenced them. Ikov let them, even if they thought he'd come down on them. Whatever kept them fighting.
"At least 16 aircraft inbound, and four are at low level."
Mere minutes after that, conversations and machinery in the bunker were broken by a deep rumble. Ikov immediately looked up, expecting to see the ceiling collapse. Instead, he was thrown to the ground as something massive exploded nearby. Those around him tried to keep doing their job but joined him in plunging into confusion. Still, he waited, but not even dust fell down on him. The room went dark for a few seconds, then was bathed in a duller light. Ikov climbed to his feet and saw that several screens had gone blank.
"What just happened? Patria!" He roared over the commotion. The younger officer bolted to his feet.
"They missed!" He shouted in disbelief.
"With what?" Ikov demanded.
"Likely a bunker-busting bomb. If not that, then they might not have been aiming for us. I would need more information to give you a proper assessment."
Patria cooled considerably and looked at the ceiling, searching for something.
"General, I suggest we evacuate. The bunker may be structurally compromised from the shockwave." He explained.
"Alright, we'll move my timetables up, then. Give the order to evacuate. Anyone not attached to my field headquarters is to assist here as needed."
By now the General didn't care what his superior was doing. Once again he'd been insulted by a poorly-executed attack, and that had him exceptionally pissed off…
Jamie hadn't seen any new convoys come since that one had rushed up to the estate. Andric hadn't been evacuated with them, so he assumed it was something else. Something that had pissed the fat bastard off, apparently. One of his snipers, Wilcox, had reported the man seemed very animated and red-faced as he talked to a man with the insignia of a Colonel. He'd then stormed back inside. The convoy left and nothing else happened. The guards carried on how they'd been carrying on since the commandos arrived at the edge of the woods. From his position, he could see the barracks and the main road that led to the manor. Between that and the horse stables was a marble slab with a gazebo, probably used for outdoor functions. A lot of flat ground, and it had him placing a lot more faith in Yorke than he usually did.
He checked his watch and looked at the rest of his patrol. He signaled to his machine gunner, Sergeant Hayford, and his demolitions expert Corporal Paulson to fan out and cover them. The men went one-by-one while Jamie and his comms sergeant, Gedry, crawled to the absolute edge of the treeline. Their sights were set on the fence of the estate's horse track. When they were in position, he checked his watch again and looked at the nearest patrol by the stables. A gentle crackle sounded in his ear as he withdrew between some bushes.
"Alpha is in position." Yorke reported. Jamie reached down to his chest and keyed the transmit button for his PRC-148.
"Bravo is in position with Alpha near the track." He whispered.
"Charlie is in position. Delta is approaching the objective, ETA one minute."
That minute was mercifully short, and the Eruseans near Jamie had started towards another spot. When Rupert's Delta Troop was in position to breach Jamie and his patrol moved towards the fence. The pale-white lights from the manor made even the open ground feel like a cloak. Still, the fence was far more comforting to Jamie. They stacked up behind him and moved towards a few trees near the trail leading from the stable area to the track. Wilcox, armed with a suppressed L118, engaged an MG nest facing the road. Jamie and Gedry opened fire on the patrol heading towards the road.
"All Bravo elements, attack attack!" He ordered.
Hayford rushed forward under covering fire and deployed his Minimi next to the trees. A second pair of Eruseans came running around the corner of a house to see what had happened, only to get cut down. Jones and his patrol surged from the woods closest to the road, taking cover behind the low stone wall on either side. Paulson brought up the rear and covered the opposite direction as the Eruseans woke up to the fact they were being shot at. Both his snipers fell into the routine of firing and reacquiring. Jamie directed them to watch the center mansion for targets.
"Bravo 2, move up and we'll cover you!" He added as he switched to his M203.
"Yes sir! Bravo 2, push up! Push up!" Connors shouted, which seemed to thicken the burly man's accent for a second.
Jamie put a round in the direction of the empty MG nest to permanently take it out of action. A blanket of light gray smoke blossomed out all of the sudden, accompanied by a hiss. Jamie had his machine gunners move up and lay down suppressive fire into the smoke while he and the others advanced towards the road and barracks. They stopped in a ditch as rifle rounds flew over their heads. Jamie spotted a muzzle flash and sent back several bullets in reply. The fire subsided briefly, then picked up again. Paulson responded by spraying a few bursts in the general direction of the offending shooter. Gedry joined in, then turned to the left and fired several more shots.
"Contact, by the bridge!" He called over the rough cough of his M4.
"Hayford, take care of them! Bravo 4-3, engage targets by the bridge if you have a clear shot." Jamie responded.
"Be advised we're adjusting for a better position. You're gonna be without sniper support for 40 seconds." Wilcox apologized.
Jamie directed his other gunner, Clifton, to help Hayford suppress the attack moving over the bridge. He ordered Jones and his team to move across so they could get a wider field of fire. The Erusean infantry trying to cross fell back as a BOV came into view. It caught the commandos trying to cross in the open and hosed their advance in 12.7mm rounds. Jamie opened his mouth to order the men back to him as two were cut down and Jones fell, cursing in pain. Jamie took it as a sign to deploy smoke himself. He dropped down into the drainage ditch.
"Light armor, cover me!" Connors yelled.
"Popping smoke, stand by!" Jamie replied.
The Sergeant ran behind those still firing and hopped the fence onto the horse track. He took a LAW 66mm rocket off his back and yanked it open as the armored car moved over the bridge. As the shroud billowed outwards, Jamie ran over to help get his men back to the side of the road. Connors fired the LAW, which struck the BOV dead center. The vehicle jolted to a stop, and smoke and fire poured out as the rocket tore it apart from the inside.
"Davison, get over here now!" Jamie barked as he helped Jones into the ditch.
His medic hurried over while they tallied their losses. Jones's team had been wiped out, save for him, and he'd been grazed in the thigh by a large-caliber round.
"Delta 1 this is Bravo 1-1, what's your status?" Jamie demanded.
"Just reached the floor our target is on. Heavy resistance, be alert that they might try to escape in your direction!" Rupert replied over lots of gunfire.
"Enemy is popping fresh smoke all around the barracks. Advise we move in immediately, Bravo 1-1." Yorke suggested.
"Copy, have your MGs lay down suppressing fire. We'll take the side closest to the road." Jamie replied.
"Copy, move in ten!"
Jamie reloaded his M4 and ordered his medics to stay with their casualties. On Yorke's command they rushed the barracks, firing at the hip as they closed. Connors went for the left stables while Jamie went right. The Captain threw himself against the stone wall and pulled out a frag grenade. A few seconds after he pulled the pin, he threw the L109 through the broken window.
"Frag out!" He announced while turning away.
There was a brief commotion inside, then a muffled thump as the explosive went off. Jamie moved left and turned the corner of the building. He found a door and the rest of his patrol, sans medic, stacked up behind him. The door was unlocked, so Jamie kicked it open and tossed a second grenade inside. They surged in after the explosion subsided, laser sights dancing about the dark space. A dozen bodies lay strewn about the remains of bunk beds and furniture. Jamie moved forward and spotted a figure rise, weapon in hand.
"Contact, contact! Front!" He declared before taking a shot.
The Erusean guard fired blindly, then fell back as he received three bullets to the upper torso. Jamie cringed as he felt something hot slice his DPM blouse on the shoulder, but kept moving. He looked back and forth as he hurried past the intact beds, finding most of them empty. Jamie stuck himself halfway out the far door, where he saw nothing but smoke. To the left, Connors burst from the door, shouting "all clear" to his patrol and any friendlies near him. The two exchanged acknowledgments before Jamie took to the net once more.
"First and third stables cleared!"
Jamie then looked to the right and saw a familiar figure; Yorke recognized him in return and raised a thumbs up. Jamie returned the gesture and looked left.
"Second and fourth stables secured!" Yorke boomed on the radio.
"Copy Alpha. Advise we set up a collection point for casualties in the second stable. Anyone heard anything from our taxi, yet?" Jamie replied.
"Alpha and Bravo this is Charlie, Voodoo reports they're eight minutes out. Charlie is shifting position to secure primary LZ as planned. Delta, you got that fat bloke yet?" Monroe reported.
"All assault elements be advised, target is moving towards the garage area. Repeat, the fat man is on the move towards the garages." Rupert announced with frustration.
"Bravo 4, move up so you can cover the garages. Bravo 2, secure our casualties and keep the road covered."
"Bravo 1-1, Alpha 3 will take care of the casualty collection. Get over that bridge and secure the road. Alpha 4, move up to the stables for better fields of fire. Alphas 1 and 2 will assist Bravo as needed."
Jamie darted to Connors, then around the corner of the third stable and onto the grass. They did the same maneuver as before, with Clifton and Heyford covering the other six moving forward. Despite his snipers' efforts, Eruseans continued to fire from the upper levels of the center estate. Jamie kept his head lowered, but didn't stop running until they were halfway to the bridge. He raised his M4 and returned fire while the gunners moved up. When they hit the ground, he took off once more. Seconds later, another BOV appeared from the garage area like it'd been waiting. He dropped down again and rolled onto his back. He pulled his second smoke grenade and threw it.
"Pop smoke and concentrate fire on that BOV!" He radioed.
Jamie crawled to the bushes and stayed down as he readied his M203 again. Paulson appeared to the left, heading for the bridge itself. When the smoke filled out enough, he rose and fired his grenade launcher in the direction the armored car had last been seen. The explosion lit up part of the silhouette, but it continued to move forwards.
"Can anyone see that BOV?" He radioed.
"Bravo 1-1 this is Charlie 1, I can see the tracers. Standby and hold position." Monroe piped up.
Jamie crawled to the bushes and looked for an opening big enough to fire through, but found nothing. The NSV mounted atop the armored car tapered off for a second as they seemed to have suppressed the commandos for a minute. It picked up again when a pained cry broke out on the Erusean side of the fight.
"Bravo 1-1, Bravo 4 will continue to engage hostels near the garages. Be advised, I can see at least one squad advancing to the left of that armored car. Bravo 4 will try and thin 'em out before they reach the bridge."
"Copy! Charlie 1-1, can you move any reinforcements to the left flank to assist Bravo?"
"Already on it, Bravo!"
Jamie made it to the bridge and rose to a kneel. At the edge of the smoke, he saw figures moving towards him from the opposite direction. He fired several bursts, then dropped down when one of them fired back. One lobbed a grenade towards the commandos, sending them scrambling for cover. Jamie rose and fired some more after the concussion faded, then ducked down once more to avoid another burst of fire. A second grenade fell on the other side of the road, failing to do anything of value. Jamie looked in that direction and saw Monroe's troop set up along the edge of the track.
"All callsigns, all callsigns this is Delta 1-1. They're trying to get the fat bastard out through your lines. Hold position, he's got nowhere else to run!" Rupert announced.
"Copy! Bravo, Charlie's got that BOV!" Monroe shouted.
The bang of another LAW echoed across the estate, followed by the breaking of metal. The NSV stopped and Jamie thought he saw a man-shaped fireball rise in the midst of the haze.
"Push across the bridge, push across the bridge!" Jamie yelled.
The commandos, despite themselves, let out a warcry. Jamie led his troop across, firing from the hip at anything that looked remotely like a person. He exited the smoke and was confronted by the sight of a black sedan charging forward. Jamie skidded to a halt and emptied his magazine into it. The rest of his patrol stopped on either side and did the same until the windshield was covered in cracks and holes. Several bullets tore open one of its tires, and the sudden balance shift sent it onto the grass. It tried to correct and hit the burning wreck that'd once been a BOV.
"Hold your fire!" Jamie barked.
The car remained still, doors shut. Rupert's men emerged from the wall around the garage area to help make sure the vehicle was trapped. Every man was shouting for the Eruseans inside to give themselves up. When the car continued to remain still, Paulson ran forward with a palmful of C4 and smacked it against the rear passenger door.
"Open it up or we blow it open!" He barked.
Gedry repeated the words "get out" in Erusean a few times. The door was kicked open and General Andric threw his hands up. He was quickly dragged out onto the pavement, and the front door was opened to retrieve his guard and driver. Both men had been badly injured by the crash. Rupert came around and yanked up Andric's head to make sure it was him while his subordinates got a much gentler treatment. Jamie was immediately on the radio.
"All elements, all elements, we've secured the package. Repeat, the fat man is secured. Move to LZ immediately for extract; Voodoo will be on scene in less than five minutes." He commanded.
"Charlie is moving to secure the LZ." Monroe replied.
"Bravo, we could use a hand with moving casualties!" Yorke added.
"Copy that, break, Voodoo 11 this is Bravo 1 do you copy on casualties?"
"Copy that Bravo 1, will be ready to receive casualties when we arrive."
Things were moving at an even higher pace, now. Rupert and his men had secured Andric and were pushing him towards the landing zone: the gazebo area. Jamie divided up his remaining men; half would help carry casualties and the other half would provide security. Jamie took up the former job and carried one of Yorke's gunners over his shoulders.
"Voodoo 11 is three minutes from LZ. Ground elements be advised, you've got another aircraft approaching from the northwest. Radio's buzzing; expect enemy reinforcements to arrive in less than ten minutes." The lead helicopter pilot radioed.
"Copy, we'll be waiting for you!" Monroe shouted.
Jamie slowed and sat the man down in the grass near the stone slate. He knelt down nearby and lifted up his NVGs so he could examine his wound. It was nothing more than a graze, but he still pulled out a bandage to wrap it and cover the wound. In the distance he could hear the beat of rotorblades from multiple directions. He pulled his NVGs down and raised his M4 to the night sky.
"Bravo 4, fall back on the landing zone immediately." He radioed.
His two sniper teams appeared from the bushes around the track and ran across the grass to the new position. As they redeployed to cover the estate, Jamie noted the sound of a helicopter was getting louder. He scanned left and right for anything, hoping to get a drop on the incoming aircraft before it could do something. A light drew his attention, and he turned to the west to see a small helicopter inbound.
"Aircraft spotted! Single helo from the north!" He declared.
A Bell Jet Ranger appeared over the countryside beyond the estate fence, moving low and fast. Yorke did the same and over a dozen laser sights rose to the sky. The Jet Ranger nosed down briefly and fired the gun pod hanging from its side. Jamie opened fire along with several others, all aiming for the cockpit. The helicopter abruptly nosed up and pulled away from the ill-advised attack. Connors, who'd "liberated" an M84 from the barracks, even went so far as to stand up and hip-fire the machine gun at the enemy helicopter. The Jet Ranger kept going, and never came back before a pair of Mi-35 Hinds appeared above. As a signal they were friendly, the lead Hind waggled back and forth and the pilot radioed the word "Taxi" to the commandos. The lead aircraft turned towards the estate and hosed the side it faced with its gatling gun. Its wingman did the same, then circled around so the door gunners could pour it on. Behind them were two Mi-8 Hip assault helicopters. Jamie helped the gunner onto his shoulders again and rushed towards the Hip that was coming in for a landing.
"Hurry up, lads; we got five minutes before we gotta go." Voodoo 11 called.
"Four more than we need, Voodoo; don't worry!" Jamie replied.