“So received, command.”
Kalahari clicked off comms and looked at the rest of his men and said: “He’s like a concerned mother hen, hey, very into his military protocol and all that. How did he get this gig I wonder.”
Staff Sergeant Leeson responded: “He’s a good commander, all the reports we read on him indicated that, but he’s not Special Forces. Never has been. A strike element operating largely independently of a higher command structure scares the shit out of men like him. In truth it scares most people.”
“But that’s the most effective way to operate hey, surely he knows that, surely they all know that?” said Sahara.
“No, they don’t. People back home, politicians, specially politicians and even many military commanders want to believe that all our missions are overseen with satellite imagery, metal birds in the sky and cameras attached to our bodies.”
“If they only knew, hey!” said Sahara with a grin.
Lightfoot who hadn’t said a word since his arrival took out a killing knife from his tac-vest and began sharpening it while humming something quietly to himself.
‘Fuck me, hey, that’s a nice knife, can I see?” said the big South African who then leaned over in an effort to more closely examine Lightfoot’s knife. But before he could touch it the SAS Sergeant had the knife pressed against Sahara’s throat which drew a trickle of blood.
“Whoa boet, I just wanted to have a better look, hey, I’d never try steal another oke’s knife hey, unless I killed him for it first fair and square, hey” said Sahara and then leaned back into his seat against the vehicle’s side.
“He doesn’t say much, does he?” said Kalahari.
“No, he doesn’t. In fact he doesn’t speak at all, pretty much like your men” said Leeson who then gestured to the men either side of him, all of whom now glared at him.
“They do, most of the time, but not much amongst strangers. Besides they’re pissed off because they were supposed to go on leave this morning. They’re all recently from Nigeria.”
“Ya, hey, they’re supposed to be in Thailand now, you know in Bang Cock!” said Sahara who laughed at his own joke.
The men travelled in a comfortable silence for the next 30 minutes or so in that most sacred of times, minutes before an operation which could end one or all of their lives even though the ride was bumpy, stuffy and their limbs ached from the lack of space. It was during this time that most Special Forces operators and mercenaries alike feel most alive. Each breath of air sucked in somehow so much sweeter than just hours earlier. Leeson noted that in that time the South Africans must have eaten at least 2KG of biltong between them. Fuck me it must have tasted good he thought, even though he had declined an offer of some of the dried meat, instead wishing he had remembered to bring a few chocolate digestives to satiate his own pre-battle hunger.
That easy silence came to an end when the driver killed the music, switched off his lights and banged on the back of the vehicle announcing that they were only minutes away from their staging area – a large hill approximately one mile away from the target compound.
“All right, gentlemen. Time to go to work. No more chatter, only battle chat from here on in. If it doesn’t need to be said then don’t fucking say it!” said Kalahari.
“One last thing” said Leeson who then reached down into his duffle bag and produced a mask for each man and handed them out. “Our newest gear, it’s actually earmarked for Taylor and his team – Ballistics Masks with built in Comms and Night Vision.
All the men started nodding their appreciation and each helped one another to fit on the newest kit in military technology.
“They’re Kevlar, level II, good for anything up to a .500 S&W”
“Thanks boet” said a beaming Sahara “I’ll keep mine and put it to good use back in SA and scare the shit out of my brother’s wife and kids hey!”
Moments later and the entire element of highly trained killers looked unrecognisable, demonic and almost identical, like the immortals of old.
“Time for blood, gentlemen. May Mars himself watch over us” said Kalahari.
Under the cover of darkness and thick cloud the men of the task force were lying prone at the cusp of a hill, looking at their target through their respective optics. The local driver and his vehicle had been sent back to base as per the mission briefing. After infiltration the plan was to have Major Braddock and his sniper element swoop in with their two vehicles and make a hot extract of the men after successfully freeing the hostages from just outside the perimeter’s blast wall.
“The compound looks almost identical to the one where our American brothers neutralised Osama in Pakistan” said Leeson. To the right of him Lightfoot nodded his agreement.
“It does, and you can certainly see why they chose to go in via chopper and through the roof” said Kalahari.
“Well no such luxuries for us, hey! We’re going in old school” beamed Sahara.
“Bird or not our way in makes more sense on this occasion given our Intel suggests our quarry are all in the chamber towards the back of the compound.”
The men then all made mental notes of all perimeter and roof sentries and there was a collective sigh of relief.
“They are overprotecting the front, top and sides of the compound thinking an attack to the rear against the mountain side to be unlikely and they’re probably also students of the Osama mission so they’ve likely got most eyes up and most ears listening out for chopper blades” said Leeson.
“And they’re right as an attack to the rear is unlikely via any vehicle borne assault. And if we had a chopper their precautions would be correct. But we’ll get to it on foot without problem and through the perimeter wall with the help of those explosives set by your guys. Your sniper element will be able to naturalise any high threat on the roof and walls, we’ll just have to be as aggressive in action as possible once inside. Getting out though….” said Kalahari.
Getting out was the weak point in the plan as Braddock’s vehicles were not going to be able to get to the wall and all the operators knew it.
“We’ll have to make a fighting retreat back the way we came and over that hillock” said Kalahari pointing to a small rise just beyond the rear of the compound. “Sahara, lock in those co-ordinates and radio them through to command and Braddock and make sure our extract vehicles are there no more than 15 mikes after entry.”
“Copy that, boss” said Sahara who promptly got onto his comms and relayed the message.
“15 minutes – that’s a hell of a long time in a gunfight, Kalahari?” said Leeson.
“I know, but you never know what we might find once in there. Hard decisions may have to be made” said Kalahari who then looked at Leeson very suspiciously for the first time.
“I know what you are thinking but you don’t have to worry, neither myself nor Lightfoot will jeopardise the lives of your men trying to fight a lost cause.”
“No, mate. That’s not it at all. My men and I will fight, we will fight to the death to accomplish our mission. We have no reason to fear death, in truth we probably find it harder dealing with life. But...” said Kalahari
“But we’re the unknown quantity, I get it. While we might not have a death wish you certainly don’t have to worry about us abandoning you or more importantly, with respect, our brothers down there.”
Kalahari studied the SAS Sergeant and in particular his eyes for some time and then he knew, he knew the man was solid. A warrior, a highly trained fighter and a force to be reckoned with. Leeson came to the same conclusion and the two men nodded at each other in mutual respect and recognition.
“Boss, coordinates have been set and extract will be in place 15 mikes from the first knock” reported Sahara.
“Copy that. Once in front of the wall I want us to split off into two elements: Whitey, Blackey, Pink and Blue with you, Sahara.” Kalahari’s 2IC and the rest of his men nodded their understanding. “You will enter first and clear a path to the chamber
’s door which is approximately 15 foot from the wall creating a secure cocoon and perimeter. Leeson and Lightfoot with me, we’ll blast the door and go down and get your boys.”
The two SAS sergeants nodded the affirmative. “Johan, my brother, chances are our entry is going to attract every Jihadi dickhead in there to our position. You’ll have the heaviest of the fighting on your hands” said Kalahari to ‘Sahara’ as though he was asking the man to deal with the pizza delivery guy.
“Ya boet that’s just the way we like it, hey boys!” responded Sahara who then looked at his element and in turn slapped each man on the shoulder.
Leeson would never admit it but he liked the mercenaries not because of their show of bravado but because beneath it all he could see they were all scared. Not scared of dying or the combat to come, but scared of defeat and failing at their mission. He was impressed.
“All right, my brothers, it’s show time. Everyone sync watches” said Kalahari who then took a long deep breath as did the rest of his men while setting their watches and then continued “Sahara, let command know.”
Sahara relayed the mission go.
“Lets move” said Kalahari in barely a whisper. It was a whisper because he could hardly speak. His adrenalin was already pumping, his heart racing and his breathing heavy.
Every man’s chest was set to burst and soon their hearing would intensify and tunnel vision would try and take over, it was each man’s responsibility to work with the effect but not let it take over. And beneath it all each man smiled to himself and had never felt so alive. To war and glory or death and defeat. Once more into the fray.
*****
It had taken the task force just over 25 minutes to stealthily make their way to within 12 feet of the compound’s wall. The men had divided into their respective elements and were split to the right and left of the left-of-centre part of the rear rock facing wall where the sniper element had placed the explosive charges and had marked the location with two small tree branches lying inconspicuously on the floor. Halfway through their descent they had lost comms with HQ and Over-watch, not surprising given the mountainous region, the tall trees and the heavy foliage. In military terms it wasn’t enough to halt the mission as “mission go” had already been given but Kalahari had tried the radio network a couple of times just to be sure.
When it looked like they were in a definite blind spot Kalahari quickly conferred with his 2IC and Leeson and decided to set the charges themselves. That would start the fifteen-minute countdown anyway. After one last equipment check the men were ready for action.
Using hand signals, Kalahari signalled Sahara “GO!” but as the men were about to move comms crackled in their ears, it was Braddock: “Kilo One, Brava One, urgent.”
Kalahari held up his fist to signal his men to halt and stay in cover.
“Send, Bravo One!”
“Something’s wrong! Wait out!” said Braddock.
Kalahari waved his men to the floor.
“Ya, I know something’s wrong we lost bloody comms!” said Kalahari.
“Negative, not just that, the perimeter guard size has shrunk to less than a third and two vehicles left the compound while you were making your descent. We also heard a significant amount of noise on the western wall which we do not have eyes on.”
Kalahari took in the information and looked at Leeson and Lightfoot and shrugged his shoulders. “So that’s a good thing, then, right? Less dickheads to kill?”
For what seemed like an eternity there was no response from Braddock then: “Proceed but use caution. Something doesn’t seem right.”
“Ya Bravo One, now we’ll use caution because before we weren’t going to. We’re going in stand by for charge. And remember Bravo One 15 mikes from knock, please.” said Kalahari.
“15 mikes from knock, don’t worry we’ll be there. Standing by.”
Kalahari was about to once again give the ‘GO’ signal but stopped and started to signal Sahara. Some hand signals later and Sahara produced a stun grenade from his tac vest. Kalahari nodded and said quietly over the radio to his 2IC “have each of your colours release one directly after breach, just in case they are behind that wall waiting for us.”
“Copy that” said Sahara with a wicked grin of his face.
“GO” signalled Kalahari.
Within a few heartbeats the men had covered the distance and were stacked each side of the breach entry and a safe distance away from the blast to come.
“Bravo One, now!”
3, 2, 1 and there was a small explosion at the base of the perimeter wall creating a man sized entrance into the compound. Sahara and his men each threw in a stun grenade at varying angles, each explosion about half a second apart and then they were in. Kalahari and the two SAS sergeants followed swiftly next. Hearts racing, within secnds they reached the door to the chamber as marked out in the Intel reports.
Kalahari and his element were stacked out to the right of the door while Sahara and his colours set up a perimeter around them. Kalahari and Sahara exchanged a worried look – no enemy in sight, no resistance, no alarm. Kalahari held up his arm to keep his men in position and radio Braddock for a SITREP.
“All the gate, wall and roof guards disappeared down and to the west side of the compound upon first knock” said Braddock.
“Did you engage and neutralise any of the enemy, Bravo One?”
“Negative, no need. Be careful, something is most definitely wrong.”
“No fucking shit, hey!” said Kalahari who then looked at his men and once again shrugged his shoulders. After only a moment’s thought Kalahari proceeded with the plan.
“Bravo One, we’re proceeding as planned.”
“Copy that, Kilo One. We’ll keep eyes on until you’re in, then make our way to pick up.”
“Roger that”
Kalahari then reached into his tac vest to produce his charge and blow the door when Leeson leaned over him and tried the handle. The door opened. The SAS Sergeant smiled.
Then with the practised ease of highly trained operators the three-man element single-filed into the doorway checking corners and then down the stairwell. The stairwell was long and deep and with some relief they made it to the bottom without making contact with the enemy. They arrived at another door and to their surprise it was standing slightly ajar.
Kalahari made to go first but he felt an arm on his shoulder and turned to see Leeson looking at him who then said: “With respect friend, those are our brothers in there, we go first.”
Kalahari did not protest and fully understood and in truth was somewhat relieved as the smell of human sweat and excrement and burnt hair had already crawled its way into his nose even through his ballistics mask.
Leeson led the file into the chamber followed by Lightfoot and then Kalahari who watched their six at the rear.
Once inside and while walking backwards Kalahari stumbled into the back of Lightfoot and Leeson who had both stopped dead in their tracks. Kalahari turned to see what they had stopped for more than half expecting to see more than a dozen rifles trained on them. Instead what he saw was a lot worse and would stay with him for the rest of his life.
The three armed operators stood planted to the spot and took in the scene before them: SAS Sergeant Henry Lee, Special Consultant Mark Andrews andKurdish Captain Royja Bhutin and his aide, Lieutenant Ayla Khana were literally nailed to four wooden posts against the far end of the room’s wall – all of them had been nailed to the wooden posts in the shape of crosses. All the men had been stripped from the waist up and had various injuries – from bruises and broken bones, missing teeth and toenails as well as cuts and large welts on their bodies, they were all covered in blood but thankfully all of their chests seemed to be moving slightly up and down from the intake of breath. They were alive but unconscious. It was the site of the singular female who disturbed them most. Her hair had been shorn off, all her clothes removed and it seemed not an inch of her body had been spared a beating. The r
est of what they had done to her was unspeakable and the men witnessing it had to block out the image before them. Thankfully though she was very clearly dead. Her throat had been slit and her head hung at a very unnatural angle, barely still clinging to her neck via only a few strands of bone, flesh, muscle and sinew.
The floor was covered in their blood and urine. One large fold out table stood at the centre of the room with various torture appliances on top of it. Next to it were three car batteries crudely hooked up to wires that had earlier been placed on the male victims’ genitals. A lone standing fan worked slowly in the corner of the room not providing any relief from the intense suffocating heat but instead doing a fine job of moving the powerful stench of human torture around the room.
Leeson noticed a fifth and unoccupied ‘cross’ and then all the men were brought out of their shock by the sound of a man wailing loudly in a far corner of the room. They looked for the source of the noise and then saw the man making it: Captain John Taylor was on the floor curled into a ball holding his knees up with his arms against his chest. Like the other men he was naked from the waist up but other than that looked completely unharmed.
“I’ll start to get these guys down, Leeson, do you want to look after him?” said Kalahari while pointing towards Taylor.
Leeson nodded and made his way towards the Captain. Lightfoot produced a small medical bag from the back of his tac vest and moved towards Sergeant Lee. “Let’s get him down first. Kalahari, if you grab that hammer on the table there we can use the back of it to remove the nails. I’ll then dress the wounds as best as I can.”
“Ya, will do, let me just get a couple of the colours down here to help.” Kalahari then got on his comms and radioed topside “Sierra One, Kilo One”
“Send for Sierra One.”
“SITREP.”
“Nothing. No enemy. No contact. Clear.”
“Copy that, send down two colours to help down here.”
“Ah okay. But what if we make contact, boss?”
“I doubt it, the enemy have had plenty of opportunity already, if they were going to do something they would have done it already.”
SAS Para-Ops: MEGA SET - SAS Para-Ops Books #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 & #6 Page 41
