“It’s a shame any of us get killed, but this is a war and people die.”
“I know, sir.”
Meeting the younger man’s eyes, John said, "It doesn’t make the dying any easier, does it? Now, get to leading us, or we’ll forget about our break later tonight, and Lee, you’re doing a great job.”
The man nodded and then moved to his position and started walking.
At midnight they were all beat, but John only stopped for an hour; he knew the General needed him or he’d not have worded things like he did. This war seemed to be lasting forever, even with the Russian people protesting in the streets of Moscow. The Russians were just as deadly as they had been from the start. He knew in Russia the protests would bring no changes and if the people were not careful, they’d end up shot and dead. But, each day now thousands of people were out and demanding change.
“Thomas you’re on point and wear your NVGs. We're making a bee line home, so head 126 on your compass. The Russians have infrared equipped choppers, so be prepared to go to ground and cover with your poncho. I want us to stop and cover if we hear any aircraft overhead, understand?”
“Yes, of course, sir.”
“Alright people, let’s move. Sara, you’re my drag, and keep awake too. The Russians are famous for letting a small unit pass and then attacking their rear.”
“Will do, sir. I’ve been in this war since the start, and I fully intend to be here when it stops.”
“Good; saddle up, we’re leaving now.” John said and started following his point man.
An hour later, as they moved through a thick forest, he heard random single shots near the point and then heard Thomas cut loose with a burst of fully automatic AK-47 fire. The random shots stopped. John waited a few minutes and then slowly moved forward.
He found Thomas squatting on the faint trail and when he stopped by the young man, he asked, “What do you have?”
“I had a squad of Rooskies, but they’re gone now.” He pronounced Ruskies as ‘Roo-skis’ and then grinned.
“Hit any of them?”
“Unsure, but a couple fell and one screamed, but that means little.”
“I’ll check ‘em out and you cover me. Where exactly were they?”
“See the cedar at our 12 o’clock position? They were hunkered down right in front of that tree.”
John slowly moved forward, with the safety off on his Bison and scanning the countryside for ambush, but he didn’t see or hear anything. As he neared he spotted two dead and one injured. The injured man had crawled to the cedar and was leaning back against the bark.
Pointing his weapon at the Russian, John said, “Ты мой пленник!” Which he pronounced as ‘Ty moy plennik!’ The man instantly dropped his rifle and moved his hands to his knees. John spotted grenades on the man and a side arm. The Russian had a hard time seeing the American, because he was not wearing NVGs.
“Thomas, come here and fetch your prisoner. He still has grenades and a sidearm. Looks like he took a shoulder wound too.”
The Corporal quickly moved to the Russian and disarmed him, finding a folding knife in his coat pocket. He made him stand as he tied his hands behind his back and blind folded him. Once his eyes were covered he doctored the man’s injured shoulder, where a bullet had struck him high, and it was almost a miss. He then had the man sit back against the tree.
“Let me get the others as you go through the pockets of these two dead men. I found others losing blood in the group that left, so more are hurt.”
“They must have overestimated the size of our group.” Thomas said as he moved to the first fallen man.
“Yep, but an AK is a rough weapon to take fire from. I know from experience. Now, let me go get the others.” John said and then disappeared into the darkness.
The prisoner didn’t speak, but Thomas would have the medic check him over when he came with the Colonel.
He’d just taken some money or tokens from the second dead man and added it to his other items. Thomas thought it looked like MPC script and not real Russian Money, but he was unsure. He’d turn it all over to intelligence and wash his hands of all of it. In the man’s left pant pocket he found removable rank of a Russian Full Colonel and a key. He shrugged at the key, knowing the man would never open whatever the key unlocked. His shirt was void of any rank, but was he a full colonel? He found no wallet, but did find a unit patch on the man’s hat. He added it to the pile. Just then John and the rest showed.
Looking at the small pile of collected items, John asked, “Find anything unusual?”
“I think the second dead man was a Russian Colonel. I found these in his pocket.” He handed the man’s rank to the Colonel.
“Yep, full bull too, but why was his rank off his shirt?”
“Maybe they’re on a classified mission and have orders not to be seen.” Thomas said.
“That’s the only thing that makes sense, because it would also explain why they didn’t want to fight. But, they’ll have a heap of explaining to do when they report a Colonel they left behind.”
“What now?”
“We will report this and continue on our way home, unless HQ has other orders for us. Radioman, I need ya.”
“I’m behind you, sir.”
“Good, send a message to HQ letting them know we killed a Russian Full Colonel, but he had his rank boards in his coat pocket. Also let them know we killed two and wounded an unknown number. Oh, and tell them we have a prisoner, a Senior Sergeant. Ask them for further orders.”
“Yes, sir, but should I send in code?”
“Do that, because if the Russians are listening and we report contact with a Russian unit, they’ll know where the men were spending the night.”
“Will do, sir. Holmes, come and keep a poncho over me so I can use my flashlight to find the code.”
“Sure, Dan.” Holmes appeared from the darkness as Dan squatted on the freshly broken trail and began looking up code words to send his message. He was covered with a poncho and began to finger through the code book.
“I’m tired as hell.” a female voice from the group said.
“We’re all tired, but we need to get back. Just remember, the sooner we return, the sooner you can eat, shower, and sleep.” Sergeant Jenkins said and all could clearly hear the fatigue in his voice. He was as tired as they all were.
“The message has been sent, sir.” Dan said as he removed the poncho. I expect a reply in about ten to twenty minutes, after they decode the thing.”
“Let’s move, people. We’ll head back unless they want us to stay and I don’t see that happening. Thomas, you’re off of point to guard your Russian, and DeFalice, you’re on point. Jim, keep your eyes open and remember there is at least one group of bad men still out here.”
“I’ll do just that, sir.”
“Wait sir, I have their message coming in and with no code. HQ says, ‘Continue. Bring our guest, uh, and ignore his buddies. The General wants to speak with you, Colonel, as soon as you return. That’s it, sir.”
“Send them a reply and tell them we understand and will arrive within the next four hours.”
“Got it, sir.”
Three and half hours later, they walked into their base camp, placed their weapons in their tents and then ran to the showers. After cleaning up they’d be starved, so John had the dining hall opened to feed his people. He and Thomas moved to Headquarters and quickly told what they knew of the Russian squad they’d ran into. Intelligence seemed to think they were Russian Special Forces, but John didn’t care. Then, Thomas presented his guest and the intelligence wienies started questioning him in Russian right there.
“His name is Danya Filippovna and he is a Senior Sergeant. He has been in the Russian Army for twelve years and was getting out when he returned from this tour. He claims there was a Russian Colonel and General in their group.”
“Do you believe him?” John asked.
“Yep, every word. He has no reason to lie to me. I
have promise him medical attention with a doctor if he is honest with me.”
“Why would a General and senior officer be out in a squad?”
“He says he has no idea, but he was with the group. He claims they are Spetsnaz and they don’t share mission information with other members, unless needed. A man only knows what he needs to know to complete his mission.”
John shrugged and replied, “Makes sense to me, but anyway, I need to see our General, and he’s expecting me.”
“Colonel, it’s 0330, do you really want to wake up a two Star General?” the Lieutenant Colonel of Intel asked.
“Not really, but my orders are to wake him if needed, and I’m to report immediately, so yes, I’ll wake him. I have to leave and now. Thomas, stay here for about an hour, learn what you can from the POW and then brief me later today. I’m with the General if anyone needs me.”
“Sure, sir.” Thomas said, and moved for the coffee pot.
John walked across the open field that was used as a staging area before large attacks, like their attack on the Russian Base he’d just led. It served a good purpose. He stopped in front of the General’s tent, knocked on part of the wooden frame of the door and said, “Sir, it’s me, John, and I’m back.”
“Come in, John. I’m not asleep. Do you want a cup of coffee or a shot of something stronger?”
“What flavor of stronger do you have, sir?”
"Bourbon or Rye whiskey, and that’s it.”
“Give me a double Bourbon then.”
“John, sit in an empty chair and I’ll explained why you are here, but hear me out before you start rejecting what I am about to tell you.”
Chapter 2
Danya Filippovna was taken to an open room not much bigger than a janitors closet and locked in chains as his door was locked twice. He spoke English, but there was no reason in his mind to advertise that knowledge yet. And, playing dumb might pay off one day.
He’d given the Americans semi-honest information, at least about the General and Colonel traveling with Spetsnaz. Danya was a big man at six feet and four inches, solid muscles and his shirts all fit tight around the sleeves. He’d been the number three weight lifter in Russia during his younger days, in his twenties. Now at 32, he was still in great shape but had lost some muscle off his stomach and legs. As a member of Spetsnaz he kept in good shape for the team. His blond hair was kept in a crew cut so it’d be easier to clean and to avoid fleas and other parasites. His blue eyes were piercing when angry, and more than one woman had crawled in bed with him because of his good looks and slow calculated speech. He was a woman charmer for sure.
Danya knew he was in a mess and if Captain Vitaliy hadn’t run, then he’d not have been captured. No, he didn’t consider the Captain a coward, because he had orders to avoid the Americans and to complete his mission, no matter what the cost.
Minutes later a tin plate with a cup of tea was slid into his room by a small opening in the bottom of his solid oak door. The plate had stew, a large chunk of rye bread, butter and two biscuits that he’d never seen before.
I may die here, but it won’t be from starvation, not if this is how they’ll feed me all three meals, he thought as he tasted the stew with a tip of his right index finger. He took a cautious taste of the biscuits and decided he liked them. As he ate he knew his chances for escape were poor now, because he was locked up in a POW cage. He’d just finished his meal when he heard the door opening and in walked a guard with rifle and an old man in his mid-fifties.
In Russian the old man said, “I am Drotenkov Rodion 'Rodya' Yakovich, the head surgeon at this camp. I was born and raised in Mother Russia, but came here when I was twenty to go to medical school. I never returned, and America is my home now.”
When Danya did not respond, Rodya added, “I am to see to your gunshot wound. Please sit on your bed as I look your injury over.”
Ten minutes later the wound was cleaned, bandaged and wrapped.
“Thank you, Doctor Yakovich.” Danya said in Russian.
“You are welcome. I can see by your eyes that you are more than a common soldier. Are you Spetsnaz?”
“No, sir, I am airborne infantry,” he replied and added, “out of Moscow.”
“I see.” the Doctor said, but thought, This man is special forces for sure, but of course he will not admit it to anyone.
Picking up his black medical bag, the Doctor said, “I must leave now and attend to others. I will check on you and change your bandage tomorrow.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“You are welcome, and we will keep you healthy here.” the older man said and then walked from the cell.
As the clanking key turned, locking Danya up once again, he gave escape further thought. It might be possible if he overpowered the doctor or armed guard.
“Has anyone reported in from our Spetsnaz team yet?” Wing Commander Colonel Milomir Igorevich asked in his morning staff meeting. He stood in front of the group, with a cup of tea in his hand and a cigarette dangling from his lips. He didn’t drink alcohol much and his only vice was smoking. He’d tried to quit, but finally said to hell with it and continued. He was about six feet tall, carrying no extra weight, and had pale blue eyes that reflected his deep intelligence. His hair was brown as was his mustache and he was 49 years old. He was an old airborne troop and loved his tea in the mornings.
The intelligence director said, “Sir, he radioed in last night and reported that he was attacked by the Americans and has two dead and one taken POW. He immediately broke contact and withdrew from the fight, as his orders tell him to do. He is now approximately twenty miles from that short battle and making good time on his mission. The Colonel and General with him were killed. Also, his Senior Sergeant was taken prisoner.”
“How many Americans were killed?”
“Since the Captain broke contact with the Yankees he has no idea, sir.”
“I should have expected that answer. Keep me informed on his progress. Notify Moscow the senior officers were killed in combat. Get both of them submitted for the highest medal we can get for their families.” He took a deep drag of his cigarette and then exhaled. A cloud of white covered his head and face. He then moved to his seat and said, “Let the normal briefing take place now. Colonel Andreevich, I want to speak with you when this briefing is completed, and in my office.”
“Yes, sir.” a tall thin man said.
Everyone spoke and then it was time for the Chief of Intelligence to give his briefing.
“Sir,” Krutanov said, “we have word from Moscow that the Marshal of the Russian Federation is considering pulling us from America, due to the property damage and deaths from the civilian protests in Russia. Along with that word, I was informed we are to secure what we can in case the decision is made quickly. The more American POWs we have and land we control, the more we have to bargain with during the peace meetings.”
“Any other sources validate the withdrawal?”
“I have another message from the General of the Army and he spoke of a withdrawal maybe as early as two months from now. None of this withdrawal talk is official yet, but we’d be smart to listen to it and prepare, just in case it proves to be true.”
“Okay, we’ll do that, but what can we do to help Mother Russia?”
“Capture as many of the Americans as we can and keep them for prisoner exchange.” “Yes, see that is done as soon as we leave this meeting. I want the word out that a captured American is worth a promotion, ten day leave, and medal. Let's keep their dead too, because it will give us more leverage in the peace talks. Do any of the rest of you have anything to discuss?”
The room was quiet.
Standing, the Colonel said, “This meeting is over. Now see to your jobs.”
Senior Sergeant Alyona Zhukova yelled from the pit of his stomach, “Tennn-huuuttt.” But it sounded more like two barks than a word. Nonetheless, his bark brought all the Russians to their feet.
“As you were, gentlemen.” t
he Commander said.
Colonel Andreevich approached and said, “You wish to speak with me, sir?”
“Umm, yes, come with me to my office.” he said as he left the room.
“I have some things to discuss with you about the end of this war and how we can both benefit from our time here.”
“Do you really think Moscow will withdraw from America? We have been here for years and we’re no closer to winning than we were on the first day.”
“My job is to serve and fight our enemies, not make political decisions. Leave or stay, we both need to benefit from our time here. Agreed?”
“But of course, sir.”
The Commander walked past his very attractive female Sergeant, who was his mistress in the evenings, and into his office. He turned to Andreevich and said, “Please have a seat, Kirill, and get comfortable. I have a plan to strike the Americans where it will hurt them and the Chinese. Currently over 200 Russian soldiers are being kept prisoner in a POW camp in southern Missouri. Our reports indicate they are treated fairly and fed well. I want them out, to give us the upper hand in any peace agreements between our two countries. I know of more than one location, but we will take this slowly, in case Moscow does not like us thinking on our own. Moscow can be hard to please at times.”
“Looks to me like they would love to get our men and women released early.”
“Now, if we do this and it is successful, we are assured a promotion and a medal for our efforts. I want it done with Parachutists, using our airborne infantry, and then we will land aircraft to remove the POWs. Some can leave by helicopters and others by small transportation aircraft. We must be fast and to our target quickly before the Americans have the time to respond. I want it to happen at about 0300 hours too, when most of them will be sleeping.”
“You have thought this out well, huh?”
“Yes, I think so, but I need you to look it over and tell me what you think. I have a folder with the mission planning ready for you to review. Lose this folder and you will pay with your life. It is classified, but higher than any level you or I have.” the Colonel laughed and then continued, “Look it over and then tell me honestly if you think it will work.”
The Fall of America | Book 10 | No Winners Page 2
