Desert Strike

by Leo Nix

  “You know, Matty, we might lose some of our friends on this stunt. But we can't stand by and let more civilians die because we were too afraid to act. Hughes is paying the price for that right now.” Vic looked at Sundown. McFly saw it and lifted his eyebrow asking the obvious question.

  “McFly, you won't be needed to defend the general now. He's a broken man.” Sundown had resumed his pacing but stopped momentarily. “He's under the care of the hospital staff. They have a room for him and a few others. I'm sorry it had to end that way but at least the decisions are no longer in his hands. He can now rest without worrying about people's lives and those damn armoured carriers.”

  “Sundown, there's something else before we get to Commander Cullen.” Lieutenant Colonel Thompson sat up straight as he prepared to tell of the latest developments.

  “What is it, Vic?”

  “The boys have noticed an aeroplane flying regularly from south to north and back again, probably from Adelaide to Darwin. It crosses the West McDonald Ranges almost every Saturday but it's too high for us to fire on from the ground.” Vic shifted some of the papers on his desk and pulled out a map.

  “How high is it, Vic? Is it too high for our Bill and his Cessna?” asked Sundown.

  Vic nodded and continued. “You've read my mind. Our pilots have been observing it. They reckon one of our planes should be able to get above and into the sun. They believe that they could shoot it down if given the opportunity.”

  “McFly, you'd better have a chat with Bill. Call a meeting for tonight and ask the pilots along too. And include Sergeant Tobi, he knows a bit about aircraft weapons I believe.” Sundown was still pacing back and forth his hands shoved into his pockets.

  “Yes sir, consider it done.” McFly left the room.

  Sundown stopped his pacing and tried to sit down but got back up again. Vic was becoming a little anxious just watching him and decided to say something.

  “What is it, Sundown? You look edgy. What are you worried about?”

  Sundown stopped and swung around to look at him. It was as though he'd not noticed he was even in the room.

  “Sorry, Vic. I'm feeling really jumpy and I don't know why. I've got this meeting with the commander of Pine Gap, maybe that's what's making me nervous.” He went back to his pacing then stopped and sat down. It was deliberate and he forced himself to sit still.

  “That's the part I think we need to talk about next.” Vic paused while he waited for Sundown to stop wriggling as he tried to set his chair at the right height – and failed again.

  “Thanks Vic, please fill me in. I think the berserker inside me is restless and it's getting to me.”

  The lieutenant colonel continued smoothly, as though he were telling a fairy tale. “Commander Sue-Ellen Cullen is an experienced American navy intelligence commander. She's smashed more balls than Steve Waugh or Babe Ruth. I don't know what she wants to talk about but be careful. She's smart, attractive and always gets her way. We've had next to nothing to do with her or Pine Gap since the day of the apocalypse. They're US intelligence and so outside our jurisdiction. They've never shared a damn thing, no news, no information, nothing. Those Pine Gap spooks are close mouthed and they've never even visited the Alice for a feed or a drink since the apocalypse. The only contact we've had is when my boys have gone knocking on their door each week to see if they'll come out and play. Each time we were told to go away.” Vic looked at Sundown to see if he wanted to say something. He didn't so he continued.

  “I have no idea what Commander Cullen wants. I bet she even has a bug in this room and she's listening to us right now.” Vic looked at the walls and ceiling to emphasise his point. “I've got a jeep ready to take you there in an hour. Here's the little information I have on Pine Gap, the sort of supplies I think they have and their personnel.”

  Sundown took the handful of papers and stared at them. “OK Vic, I'm off to freshen up.” He paused for a fraction of a second. “Hmm, attractive, did you say?” He smiled in spite of his obvious agitation.

  “Sundown, that's exactly what the young Praying Mantis boys ask before their wedding day. You do know male Praying Mantis' never live to marry a second time?” Together they chuckled as Sundown walked to the door.

  “See you in an hour, Sundown. I'll send McFly to get you.”

  Chapter 8 - The Saviour

  Tim's hand accidentally fell on the stock of an AK47. Just as the dingoes rushed forward he found the trigger and fired. The sound of gunfire frightened the skittish dogs, sending them howling into the desert. He sat wondering how the rifle came to be there. Then he remembered, this was the same place he'd shot the Crusader in the head, this must be his rifle. His own head hurt like hell and he closed his eyes to dull the throbbing pain.

  Tim woke at dawn, having fallen unconscious not long after the dingoes disappeared. He threw the strap of his rifle over his good shoulder and looked around. 'How did I survive this? It must be God's doing. I really must be blessed.' He thought to himself.

  A voice spoke inside his head. “I am here, and yes, you truly are blessed, my son.”

  Tim flinched and sat back down, his head spun from the pain of movement and he put his good arm to his face. “Blimey, I don't believe it. I survive a massacre and the dingoes, now I hear voices.”

  “I'm no voice, Timothy, my beloved. I deliberately placed you down here out of sight of the enemy. I placed the AK47 under your hand to fight off the wild dogs and now I shall guide you to complete the mission I've set you,” came the voice.

  Tim felt a buzzing in his ears and his head swayed but he distinctly heard that voice, the voice of his God.

  He must have fallen asleep again because the next thing he knew, he was climbing the hill to find his mates. The voice came to him again.

  “Timothy, it is not a pretty sight up there. Your friends have all joined me in paradise. Your mission is to stay on earth and finish what I've planned for you.”

  Tim paused as he rested his injured arm against his side, then wrapped his shirt around it like a sling. It hurt and he grimaced as he tried to clench his left hand into a fist, he couldn't even move it. Slowly, putting one foot in front of the other, the Stosstruppen survivor climbed the hill and up over the lip of the escarpment.

  Once on the hilltop he could see that what his God had said, was true. He saw bodies piled atop of each other where they'd died. Some were torn apart by the starved wild dogs. He had to step carefully over entrails and patches of dried blood. It looked like the inside of a slaughterhouse that Tim had once worked in.

  The cawing cry of the gathered crows came to his ears. As he looked up he realised just how sore he was. There was blood in his hair and his ear was smashed and swollen where his head had hit the rocks. His head swam in a misty haze and he wondered if he'd been shot in the head. Thirsty, he was so thirsty his tongue was swollen. He struggled to open his mouth and his lips started to bleed.

  The first thing he did was take a water bottle strapped to one of the dead Talons. With only the one useful hand he pulled it out of its pouch, opened the top and poured the refreshing liquid into his mouth. He groaned in relief as he poured some over his face.

  “Slowly now, Timothy. I suggest you go back down the hill where you came up, there are others, dangerous others,” came his God's soothing voice.

  Tim looked around at every body on the hilltop, not one showed any sign of life. Those who survived must have either bled to death, or were torn apart by the dingoes.

  'There must have been a dozen or more dingoes up here last night. What a disaster, poor beggars,' he thought, noticing some of the bodies were wet with blood, these had their throats ripped out. He walked over to one of the Talon officers, the body was stiff. The morning sun was already blazing down upon his back, it was going to be a hot day. Pulling the Talon's Luger from its holster he tucked it into his pocket, along with a spare magazine.

  Tim stood straight and bent his back to the sides and felt it crack as the vertebrate s
hifted back into place. Still thinking of how strange it was to hear God's voice he returned to the base of the hill. For the past half hour he could smell something pleasant in the morning air but couldn't quite place it in his disturbed mind.

  “Go around the base and you'll find food and water at the Talon's camp site, your enemy. But check your weapon and have it ready.”

  The young Stosstruppen stopped and checked the Luger's magazine, it had one round in it's magazine.

  “Yes,” came the voice, “it's just as well you checked.”

  His training took over as he moved into stealth mode and he crept around the hill, the pistol held in front of him. He heard voices, not the one inside his head but other voices. Tim didn't recognise any of them. They weren't the voices of his friends. Flicking the safety off he crept silently forward.

  On a dead tree branch he saw two Talons. They were sitting together having their breakfast. Their red embroidered shirt pockets stood out in the morning sunlight. There was a billy of water on the fire. They appeared to be waiting for it to boil for their morning cup of tea.

  Tim walked straight up to them, his pistol in front of him.

  “Hey, mate, you can put your pistol down, it's all over,” said a startled Talon, a distinct tone of fatigue and sadness in his voice.

  The other leaned forward and began to stand up. 'Obviously he's going for his rifle,' thought Tim as he noticed that neither of them had a weapon near at hand.

  “Mate, the shows over, we're no longer enemies so put the pistol away,” said the bloke who was now standing, moving towards his weapon.

  “So you're the elite Talons? I don't think you guys are really that good at all. Like I said yesterday, 'one Stosstruppen is worth a dozen of you bastards.' ” Tim giggled as he pulled the trigger.

  There was grim satisfaction in finishing what they'd started the day before. His Stosstruppen were superior. The fact he was now under the eye of his Lord on high made this shameless act righteous.

  “They would have killed you, Timothy. Now they have provided you with a hot meal and a resting place while you await the arrival of the lieutenant. He'll return you to Marree as your reward for surviving and winning the battle.”

  Tim ate the remaining bacon and eggs in the men's mess tins and drank their hot tea. He'd never before eaten a meal that tasted so good.

  “My gift to you, my loyal, beloved child.”

  As the blessed of all Stosstruppen finished his meal he suddenly felt dizzy. His head buzzed with a loud whistling sound then he collapsed. Tim awoke to the sound of a truck approaching. Looking up he saw the lieutenant climb out of his truck followed by the two guardsmen.

  “I don't believe it! You survived that massacre? It was bloody brilliant! We watched it again this morning, that's why we're running late. A damn fine blood bath it was too. The best so far. That knife and bayonet charge? Wow, that was the most vicious hand to hand fighting we've seen,” said the excited lieutenant.

  The young officer stopped talking when he noticed the two dead Talons around the camp fire, his face darkened. It was then that Timothy noticed the red insignia on the officers front pocket, the lieutenant was a Talon. He looked at the two guardsmen, they too had red embroidery on their shirt pockets.

  “What's your battalion soldier?” asked the lieutenant holding his rage in check.

  “I'm Stosstruppen lieutenant, the finest of the finest,” said Tim his head was still paining him and he didn't quite understand the change in the officer's manner. He reached for his cold cup of tea while nursing his inflamed and throbbing arm.

  “What about these dead soldiers here? It looks like you killed them this morning. Did you?”

  “I woke up and came around the hill and found them here. My Lord told me to be prepared for them, and I did. They would have killed me, so I shot them, dead. I won, they lost,” said Tim looking confused as he noticed the lieutenant's tone was now quite different to that of a moment ago.

  “I believe your Stosstruppen joined up with the Crusader platoon. Don't bother answering because we saw it on the video. I'm sorry private but you've broken all the rules. No one's allowed to kill after first light the following morning and no battalion is allowed to join and support another. That's against the rules.” The Talon lieutenant pulled his pistol from the holster at his waist and chambered a round with a loud click.

  Tim looked up in bewilderment. “But I'm the blessed son of the Lord on high. I've a mission from God. I was rescued from this hell-hole to complete the mission my Lord planned for me,” he stammered looking into the barrel of the pistol. His eyes widened as the realisation struck him. “You can't kill me! Not me lieutenant, not me!” he yelled.

  The voice of his God spoke clearly inside his head. In a resigned voice it said, “Oh, shit.”

  “Son, your fucked that's what you are. You, the Crusaders and your Stosstruppen.” Then he pulled the trigger - but his pistol jammed. In frustration the lieutenant threw it to the ground and looked impatiently at his guards. They opened fire with their assault rifles.

  “Mate, your mission from God will have to wait until your next incarnation.” As the lieutenant picked up his jammed Luger he looked at his guards and his face brightened. He said with a bright smile. “Wouldn't it be great to run this competition against Sundown's Commando?”

  Chapter 9 - Girls Train to Kill

  Sundown and Vic, in consultation with Major Lewis, decided they weren't in a strong enough position to assist the Flinders Ranges community. Even though Riley was one of those affected, he was ordered to wait for the right time. The fighting patrols on the Birdsville Track, reported the Revelationists had tightened their control of the region until the flow of refugees became a mere trickle.

  With news that the Deaths Heads were back in Marree, everyone was nervous. It was now possible that the Revelationists would push them out of Birdsville. The ASLAV's and Bushmasters were the only things stopping them now.

  The day they arrived at the palace from Birdsville, Nulla sat down and spoke to Riley, Roo and Bongo. “Boys, I'm sorry but it's a no go. We're expecting resistance to increase from the Marree terrorists and you fellas aren't fully recovered yet. We can continue to put pressure on them, but as for a rescue, that's a 'no' and that's from the top.”

  After the talk, they went back to their horse and camel training in readiness for the holiday patrol. As Bongo said, “Sometimes we just have to let go and wait. I guess this is one of those times.”

  Nulla liked and respected the three scouts. He was there after they took down Joey Wilson in the Arkaroola wilderness. It was during their desert trek to Birdsville, that he learned how much Riley and Katie loved the Flinders Ranges and their neighbours. Katie had nursed many of those neighbours back to life in their one-room home. Nulla was finally satisfied the boys wouldn't do anything silly but just in case, he spoke to Katie and Charlene, knowing they would keep an eye on their men.

  He worried about Bongo though. Bongo liked Lucy, but Lucy had ignored every hint and opportunity Bongo presented to her. Glenda spoke about it quite a lot. They both liked Bongo and were keen for him to find happiness, but it seemed Bongo would never find what he sought with Lucy. Glenda told Nulla not to worry, sometimes love just happens.

  “You're a smart one, me girlie,” he chuckled trying to sound like Pedro. “Maybe Bongo will just knock his true love off her feet one day. They'll fall in love, like Shrek and Princess Fiona, or Nulla and Glenda.”

  The girls were on a mission to get up to speed on the camels under Kris and Nulla's tutoring. When they weren't riding, they were learning the art of killing, with Shadow and Captain Johnny Walker. Lucy and Heidi said they preferred Nulla now because Johnny was tough, tougher then Nulla ever was.

  “NO! How many times have I got to show you, Jaina. Get them tits of yours out of the way, strap them down or something! You've got to put your knee in there, harder! Then your arm goes here, then the knife!” He was clearly frustrated. Even Blondie, who'd
participated in self defense courses for many years was fed up with him.

  He stopped when he saw Jaina tearing up with shame and embarrassment. Johnny's hardened face changed when he realised what a bastard he'd become. He was pushing the girls too hard.

  “I'm sorry, Jaina, I didn't mean that.” He walked her over to the bench where the other girls were sitting. She broke down when she saw Heidi crying.

  “I think we might grab some water and take five, what do you think?” Shadow said, throwing water bottles to everyone. Her pulse was pounding and her face was red. “Johnny, I'm taking over the self defense classes as of now. I want you to grab Pedro and Halo and ask them to bring the weapons and pistols. You can start weapons training and skirmishing this afternoon. Go take a break, it looks like you need it.” She didn't stay to notice his stunned reaction. Instead she turned to the girls.

  “Right girls. In pairs, follow my moves.” Then she went back to the kung fu kata they were learning.

  Behind her his voice came soft, seductively venomous. Shadow knew a fight was coming and she was prepared for it.

  “I do believe I outrank you, lieutenant,” the captain said coldly.

  In a whirling blur of fury she spun on the balls of her feet and Shadow was in his face. She was right up on her tip-toes, in a fighting stance.

  “You may outrank me, Johnny boy, but I'm Sundown's Commando, an original. I think you're confusing your rank with my authority.” Shadow stood in his face for just long enough to see his eyes shift away from hers. She then coolly turned back to the girls and resumed her lesson.

  Nulla was watching the lesson inside the enormous sheering shed. He wandered over to Captain Walker and tapped him lightly on the shoulder.