by Cliff Deane
It was readily apparent that no enemy sniper had been shot in that area.
The Trial
20 October 1100
M-TOC
The Road
Corporal Sanders was interviewed and returned to duty after fifteen minutes.
PFC Thorne was held in isolation until 1600 hours.
Colonels Murtaugh and Guyardo were in charge of the interrogation, under the lead of Gus.
“Pvt Thorne, is there anything you wish to tell us that may be different from your official report?”
Thorne looked innocently at Gus and replied, “No sir, of course not. Why would you even ask such a question? I didn’t do nuthin’, I’m innocent.”
“Innocent of what?” asked Gus. “We have only asked if you stand by your report. What do you claim to be innocent of?”
For a second, Thorne looked confused, and a possible nano-second of fear may have flashed across his features before regaining his composure and saying, “Whatever you are accusing me of. I did nothing wrong, you must believe me, I am innocent.”
Gus leaned back in his chair and looked Thorne directly in the eye as he said, “Thorne, you are guilty of the murder of Lt Costello, and making a false report of the happenings which resulted in the death of Lt Costello. You may as well knock off the poor, poor innocent crybaby crap and tell us what really happened. Is that clear enough?”
Thorne’s eyes became black pools of hatred and hostility as he slowly raised his head until he was staring directly into Gus’ eyes. He said, “Infidels, you must accept the one true God, the God of peace, Allah. There is no God, but God and Mohammed is his Prophet. Accept his love now, or you shall surely die.”
“What is your real name?”
Now, Thorne looked proud, even arrogant as he said, “My name is Mohammed Abdullah, bid Saud, a Prince in the House of Saud. I command you to fall to your knees and accept the love of Allah, the God of Peace.”
Gus looked at Mike and said, “Tell me, Mike, you ready to fall to your knees and beg for forgiveness?”
“Uh, no, I don’t think so, and I also think we have found Lt Costello’s murderer.”
Thorne shouted and tugged at his chains, “MURDER? No, you are the murderers. I was simply following the commandment of Allah. NOW, RELEASE ME AT ONCE! I do not answer to your Godless law. I am only subject to Sharia. NOW, RELEASE ME, OR I WILL KILL EACH OF YOU!” screamed bin Saud.
Barely able to maintain his composure, Gus said, “Listen up, asshole, I am Colonel Murtaugh, this is Colonel Guyardo, and you are nothing. This interrogation has received your confession to the killing of Lt William D. Costello, as witnessed by myself and Colonel Guyardo. You will be remanded to General Levins for final disposition. Tell me dickhead, where is your god, now?”
Suddenly very calm, bin Saud said, “If it is God’s will that I die, then so be it, for I shall die a Martyr to Islam.”
“Possibly,” said Gus, who had become so angry that he burst out saying, “but I will personally see to it that your forehead is coated in pigs grease.”
Then, as quickly as he had become calm, his demeanor again became that of a possessed madman. The eyes of bin Saud were, in fact, the window to his black soul, and that window displayed the image of Satan as he began to spout the Quran’s words of death to Infidels. Gus had him gagged and chained inside one of the semi-trailers where he would remain, in safekeeping, until Levi decided to pass final judgment.
The Verdict
21 October 0700
M-TOC
The Road
Levi decided to deal with bin Saud while the Troopers were having breakfast before getting back on the road.
Saud was brought, in chains, before Levi, who sat behind his desk in the M-TOC. Saud had thought that General Levins would begin the interrogation by screaming at him; instead, Levi said, “Saud, please have a seat.”
The prisoner remained standing, refusing to even acknowledge his predicament.
Levi smiled and said, “You prefer to stand, fine, as you wish. I do, however, have a couple of questions; you are obviously a fanatical Islamist, and being from Saudi Arabia, I would have expected you to look more Arabic. Do you mind explaining why you look and sound so much like an American?”
Saud stood rigidly erect, yet after a couple of seconds, he slowly lowered his gaze from the area above Levi’s head and stared at him through cold dark eyes, filled with a venomous hatred, yet he refused to speak.
Levi mentally counted off ten seconds, before saying. All right, Saud, here’s the thing; if you refuse to answer my questions now, I can wait until we stop for the night. We will meet again, following our evening meal.
Levi turned to Gus saying, “Colonel, please coordinate with the Sergeant Major to have Saud secured in his trailer, with one change; since his preference is to stand, arrange his restraints so that he must remain standing. Do not place any undue stress on his body beyond that of standing; since he prefers to remain erect, we shall honor his desire.”
Once Saud had been led out of the M-TOC, Gus asked, “Well, it seems we have a teachable moment here, Boss. I have to ask why you just didn’t have him hanged and been done with this whole mess?”
Levi smiled at Gus and said, “I apologize for not telling you of my plan, but that plan didn’t materialize until that arrogant bastard was standing in front of me. I’m not sure I like saying this, but I want him broken, not through torture, but exhaustion, and I do want an answer to my question about his appearance. If there are more like him, I want to know if there is a way to root them out.”
“Okay, good idea, but what if he still won’t sit, or talk?”
Levi made it clear to Gus that Saud would remain standing until he was ready to talk to them.
“Well, all right,” said Gus, “and then we hang him, right?”
“Oh, hell yes!”
Bin Saud spent the day standing in the back of a fifty-four-foot semi-trailer that was forced to wind its way around stranded vehicles; by 1700 his arrogance had deserted him completely. He would say or do, anything to end the suffering of this bouncing around, and he had to pee. However, Saud remained unattended until 2000 hours. A guard finally opened the trailer door, unchained Saud and watched as the murderer was unable to stay on his feet after a day of standing in that wretched trailer.
Saud offered up his hand, expecting help to stand, but the guard just stared impassively at him. Slowly, he managed to regain his feet and asked to use the toilet. Then, rather than allowing the use of a camping toilet, the guard led him into an open area and directed him to dig a hole in the sandy soil with his bare hands.
Saud was enraged at this treatment, but held his tongue, fearing a beating from the guard if he complained. After relieving himself, Saud was then ordered to cover his hole before being unceremoniously taken before General Levins.
“Good evening, Saud,” said Levi as the prisoner stood before him. Saud’s legs were weak, and he desperately wanted to sit in the chair which was placed beside him.
Levi asked, “Well, Saud, are you ready to answer my questions, or must we wait until the morrow?”
Saud looked from Levi to the chair before saying, “Yes, I am ready to answer your questions, Infidel.” He then moved to take a seat.
Levi calmly said, “Not quite yet, you murderous bastard, remain standing.”
This latest assault on both his body and his dignity broke through the final, though crumbling mental wall of Saud’s resistance. He pleaded for Levi to allow him to sit, and for some water.
Levi said, “Water? Oh, yes, I regret that you have not, as yet, been fed or watered.” Levi directed the guard to hand Saud a bottle of water, which he immediately guzzled.
“May I please sit?” asked the defeated prisoner.
“Of course, you may, as soon as you have answered my first question.”
Saud nearly collapsed before asking Levi to state the question.
“Wonderful,” said Levi, “I again ask you, you are
a Saudi, yet you look and speak like an American.”
The prisoner quickly answered, “My accursed mother was an American. I received my appearance from her, as well as my ability to speak like an American Infidel.”
“Infidel, huh?” said Levi, “Please understand that if you use that term again, you will spend another twenty-four hours standing in your trailer. Am I perfectly clear on this, you worthless piece of camel dung? Now, sit, before I change my mind.”
Saud collapsed into his chair, as he awaited his interrogator’s next question.
“Saud, I allowed you to sit; perhaps I should require you to stand again until you say the magic words?”
For a few seconds, Saud’s exhausted brain was unable to process Levi’s words. It finally donned on him to say, “Thank you, sir.”
“Saud, you are welcome. Now comes question two; are you part of a cell, and remember, if I believe you are lying, well, we will just have to ask the same questions again tomorrow evening.”
“Sir, I know there were others; you killed them when the mosque collapsed. Please, this is the truth; I swear before God.”
Levi looked kindly at Saud, and said, “Saud, I’m not sure I believe you, but that is my last question about that for now.
Now, we come to the crux of this Military Tribunal; did you murder Lt Costello?”
“No, of course not, he was an enemy combatant, who had just caused the death of over a hundred of my fellow Soldiers of Islam.”
“Enemy combatant? Yes, I can see your point, and I will consider that defense, as you have now identified yourself as an enemy combatant of Lt Costello.”
Saud felt a spark of hope that he might not be put to death.
“However,” said Levi, “We still have the charges of Spying and posing as a trooper in the ROA. There is also Treason, leading to the death of an Officer in service to the Republic of America by your own hand, and the charge of intentionally killing Lt Costello, which occurred while you were serving as a Private in the Army of the ROA.”
Saud’s spark of hope for life was dashed upon the very words he spoke to the General when he stated that Costello was an enemy combatant. He began to shake, knowing his fate.
“Normally, Saud, I would ask if you had any last words, but I have decided that you have already said them. Therefore, I find you guilty of the remaining charges brought against you. I sentence you to death by hanging by the neck until you are dead.
Sergeant Major, take the prisoner and carry out the sentence immediately.”
“Yes, sir,” said the Sergeant Major who directed the guards to assist the prisoner to his feet and to a nearby tree which would serve as Saud’s gallows.
“May you burn in Hell,” shouted Saud as he was led away.
“Perhaps,” said Levi, “perhaps, but, you first, Mo.”
Gus said, “You do know that we don’t have any pig grease, right?”
Following the execution, Levi turned to Gus and said, “Well, crap, now we have to begin utilizing extreme vetting, which really means we become paranoid as hell.”
“Ayup,” agreed Gus, “do you think I need to begin checking the new recruits back any further than Jay White’s group?”
“Probably, but I feel good about them, so let’s start with folks who joined up after we met Jay.”
“Let’s?” asked Gus, does that mean you are going to help?”
“Nope, it does not.”
“Thanks, pal,” said Gus.
“Oh, you’re welcome, anytime,” snickered Levi.
A series of impossibly loud explosions rocked the camp, as Gus was about to leave to find the Sergeant Major.
Levi jumped to his feet and following Gus, ran toward the explosions. The Sergeant Major met them and directed the two men to the damaged area.
Several men jumped on Levi’s group, knocking them to the ground, and covering them with their bodies. Shouts of Allahu Akbar, followed by automatic weapons fire that filled the air and sprayed bullets directly over their heads.
It took Levi several seconds to realize that the troopers that were holding them to the ground were not the attackers, but were loyal troopers shielding the leadership with their own bodies.
More fire erupted nearby, and shouts of Allahu Akbar ended in mid-sentence as the Islamists were cut down.
Once the firing stopped, the troopers got up and helped Levi and company to their feet. Gus was still pissed and asked, “Trooper, you want to explain that maneuver you just pulled on us?”
The trooper was a bit embarrassed, but said, “Sorry for being so rough Colonel, but Sergeant Penn ordered us to take you down. Those crazy bastards were headed this way and were firing at anything that moved. Truth is, sir, we couldn’t think of any other way to keep you safe other than to tackle you, then cover your bodies with our own. Gosh, Colonel, we only meant to help. I mean, didn’t you hear the rounds pass over our heads?”
Now, Gus was embarrassed for speaking so harshly to the young trooper who had probably just saved his life. “I’m sorry, son, I’m just not used to my own people knocking me to the ground, and yes, I did hear those rounds go over our heads. Thank you, that was quick thinking, and I won’t forget your courage under fire. I’m proud of you, but I sure as hell hope that you never, ever, have to land on me again. General, I may have a cracked rib.”
By this time Levi and the Sergeant Major had also demonstrated their thanks. Levi asked, “Did you say Staff Sergeant Penn told you to take us down?”
“Yes sir, he shouted to us that you three mani…, sorry sir, that you would come running and that we must not let you get into the line of fire. Well, danged if he wasn’t right, because right after he said that, here you came; that’s when he ordered us to take you down. Not having any time, we just jumped on top of you.”
“Maniacs, huh?” asked Levi.
Now the trooper was worried; he knew he shouldn’t have used that word to describe the General and, especially the Sergeant Major. Hell, everyone knew that Gus was a maniac, probably even Gus. “Sir, I’m really sorry, that slipped out. Please don’t be mad at Sergeant Penn, he was just worried about you. Why, I’d hate to think of what he’d say to us if you knew he called you, well, you know, sir.”
Levi smiled at the trooper and said, “I know, son, I know and don’t you worry, we’ll just make that our own little secret; we good?”
“Oh, yes sir, and thanks. Sergeant Penn is a top-drawer NCO and, well, we’d all hate to get him in trouble. Oh, sir, is it true that he has been with y’all since day one?”
Levi laughed and said, “Yes, it sure is, and he had been a Corporal in the U.S. Army; yep, since day one, and we are lucky to have him, and lucky to have men like you, too. Now, if you don’t mind, please lead us to Staff Sergeant Penn; maybe he can shed some light on this mess.”
“Oh, yes sir, this way please.”
Staff Sergeant Penn was assisting with the initial assessment of damage, while the Medicos were tending to the dead and wounded.
The blast area was vast, and the rest of the ROA leadership was scattered about trying to figure this mess out.
Levi said, “Sitrep, Sergeant Penn.”
“Yes, sir. Apparently, Thorne was part of a cell of four Islamists. Once he was discovered the other three decided to blow up our ammo trucks. It’s a hell of a mess, sir.”
“Casualties?” asked Gus.
“Many, sir, the medics are sorting that out now, but I know the number will be high.
One thing I don’t understand about this attack. There were timers available, why, if they had set timers for after we were on the road, well, sir, I just can’t imagine how much worse the damage would have been.”
Gus turned to the Private who had saved his life and said, “Son, you go find Colonel Levins, get her here, skosh!”
“Roger, Colonel, on the way,” said the young man as he darted toward the helipad.
“Damage assessment?” asked Levi.
“Sir,” said Staff Sergeant Penn,
“they blew up our entire ammo train; all fifteen trucks are gone. I’d have to say, sir, that the only ammo we have remaining is our basic load. There are lots of dead and wounded, but if those trucks had been closer; my God, sir, we could have lost more than half the brigade.”
“Thank you, Sergeant Penn, carry on; oh, do you know where I might find the Doctors?”
“Yes, of course, sir. Franks, guide the General and his party to the Docs; then stay with the General in case he needs a runner. Is that all right, sir?”
“Yes, thank you, Sergeant Penn.”
“Roger, Sarge; gentlemen if you will please come with me.”
The Aid Station was awash in the blood of dozens of wounded and dead. Levi was sure the total would top one hundred.
Levi entered the Aid Station, and the sight was straight out of an American Civil War Field Surgery. Blood covered every surface, men moaned in morphine stupors. The medical staff scurried about on their tasks of trying to salvage the unsalvageable.
As Levi walked around this chamber of horrors, a bloody hand grabbed his wrist. Levi turned and saw a young trooper trying to speak to his General.
He managed to croak out, “Sir, what number is on my forehead, please, what number?”
It took Levi a few seconds to understand the meaning of this young man’s desperate plea. The number on his forehead was placed there as part of a triage method to save those who could be saved, those who could wait, and those who were beyond help. This trooper had the number three on his forehead.
Levi looked into the fearful eyes of the trooper who would not live, even another hour.
“Please, sir, the number? Please,” begged the young trooper.
Levi smiled at the wounded man, and said, “It’s a two; the ones have to be seen to first, and you have been given morphine to help you wait. Don’t worry, son, it’s a two.”
“Thank you, sir,” the young man said as his lips traced a fading smile; as Levi looked down at his handsome, youthful face, he saw the life force fade from his eyes. The young trooper had given his last full measure.
