by Geoff Wolak
‘Yes, good idea. You out all night?’
‘Yes, sir, back in the morning.’
‘Good night.’
Phone away, I said, ‘Air Troop did a HALO drop over the base, and the Wolves are setting ambushes. Oh, and “A” Troop were sniped at.’ I swiped away a large brown millipede intent on crawling over my leg.
Swifty said, ‘So we tab to the mine, and snipe at them some more,’ the lads laughing through the dark.
The night passed without incident save something attacking a Pathfinder, no one sure quite what it was, painful bite marks needing some attention. His screams had penetrated the dark and disturbed the animals around us as much as they were disturbing us. And according to him this creature was ten feet tall, his buddy’s estimate closer to twelve inches.
At dawn we moved out, and east, down the slope at a steady pace, no smoke seen. Stopping for a bite to eat and a drink, I checked the map and realised that we were close to a mine, so after our rest we moved south towards it.
Finding a warning sign oddly placed in dense jungle, we halted, sending Swifty up a tree.
‘I can see a mine, four hundred yards away. Hang on, I can see some cheeky chaps as well.’
‘How many?’
‘Three.’
‘Shoot them then.’
Swifty got comfy, took aim and fired. ‘Three down.’
‘Stay up there. Rocko, forwards, but don’t go near the mine. Pathfinders, go left, a have a look.’
I took out my sat phone and called Harris. ‘It’s Wilco, we’re half a mile north of the mine just north of you, just dropped three irregulars sneaking up on it. Warn the troops at the mine.’
‘I’ll do that now.’
Rocko finished off a wounded man, and withdrew back to us, the Pathfinders not spotting anyone. Moving east, we skirted the mine, its huge ore mounds in sight through the trees, and around to the southeast following a river, a few locals waved at.
Hearing the Skyvan, and then seeing it, fixed the airstrip position well enough, and half an hour later we moved along the northern edge and around to the gate, facemasks off.
I sent my sweaty and muddy team to the billet and headed into SIGINT, and into a row, all eyes on me, Major Bradley looking frustrated.
‘Captain,’ Major Chalmers began. ‘One of my men at the mine was wounded, at the time you were engaging rebels just a few hundred yards north of the mine’s perimeter.’
‘Are you ... suggesting it was us, Major?’ I calmly asked, wiping my brow.
‘You’re damn right I’m suggesting it was you, who the hell else would it be?’
‘Rebels, Major. We shot three, there could have been others.’
‘Or one of yours took a pot shot for fun!’ All eyes were on me.
I stood firm. ‘I could imagine that the other way around, but we’re not jealous of you, we don’t pinch all the good jobs ... from you. So why would we want to shoot at you? Besides, we were close together, I would have heard the shot.’
‘Your men have silencers!’
‘Yes, sir, they also have my trust. Do you have the round fired?’
‘No, it was a scrape.’
‘Could still find the round, sir.’
‘A bit late for that. Did you hear the shot?’
‘No, sir. Was it before or after I called Captain Harris?’
‘Barely a minute later, we’ve worked out,’ Chalmers said, as if that was a piece of damning evidence.
‘And who was shot, sir?’
‘Listerton.’
‘May I, sir, have a full list of names of men that were in that mine?’
A troop captain wrote them down.
‘Were they together?’ I asked the troop captain.
‘What are you suggesting?’ Chalmers demanded.
‘That we investigate, sir. Now, were they together?’ I pressed of the captain.
‘No, two groups, some in the canteen on occasion.’
‘And when the man was wounded, who was with him?’
He gave me two names and I ticked them off the list. I faced Chalmers, stony-faced. ‘You’ve made a formal allegation in front of witnesses, and it will have very serious ramifications.’ He blinked. ‘I have operational command on the ground here, you can check that fact if you like. All of your men with return here, all your activities suspended.’
Chalmers glanced at Bradley.
Bradley said, ‘It’s a very serious allegation, and in front of witnesses, and I did warn you. And we have operational control here, so bring in all your men.’
I lifted my sat phone with a threatening look, took in the faces and stepped out. ‘Bob, problem here. Someone took a shot at the SAS lads at a mine, a scrape, but Chalmers just accused my patrol in front of a room of witnesses.’
‘Are you certain that it was not one of ours?’
‘More or less, I would have heard the shot, and they’d have no reason.’ I walked towards the billet. Seeing Air Troop I waved them over. ‘Bob, I have a list of names.’ I read them out. ‘Check to see if any had a grudge, and fast.’
‘Will do.’
‘And I’ve suspended all “A” Squadron operations, and you need to shout a little.’
‘Great. More hassle.’
I put my phone away as they closed in. ‘Your Major has accused my lads of taking a shot at one of yours.’
‘We just heard,’ the lead man said.
‘Do you know of a grudge between the men there?’
‘There’s always a chance of something, and we’d not know.’
‘All of your operations are suspended, get a tan.’
‘What?’ they complained.
‘You heard. I’m having you shipped out.’
Upstairs, I called everyone together. ‘Listen up. At the time that Swifty was up the tree shooting the bad boys, a trooper was winged.’ I focused on Swifty. ‘Could one of you rounds have gone astray?’
‘There were big mounds in the way, and I was firing down at an angle. Besides, I don’t fucking miss. What are they saying?’
I gave him a flat palm. ‘Rocko. Any chance you fired high and a round went off into the distance?’
‘No, I aimed down and double-tapped.’
‘Did anyone hear a shot that was not us?’
They exchanged looks.
‘Anyone know a man called Listerton?’
‘I know him,’ Rizzo offered.
‘Any grudges?’
He made a face. ‘Not that I know of. I did a radio course with him.’
‘All of you – no hassle with the men downstairs or I’ll get very upset. Staff Sergeants, keep the men in check. If the men downstairs make a comment, ignore it – or else. Max, not a fucking word written down.’
I wandered downstairs, rifle in hand. ‘Listen up, gather around.’
They closed in, and some appeared annoyed. ‘One of yours was wounded, allegations made against my lads. Now, does anyone know of a grudge between one of my lads and this man, or a general grudge?’
They exchanged looks.
‘Did this man Listerton serve with any of mine? What regiment did he come from?’
‘Came from the Light Infantry.’
‘I don’t have any Light Infantry with me, maybe a lad in the Lone Wolves, but I will check. And if any of you have any ideas about grudges against the man, let me know. I was there, I’ve checked the rounds fired and the angles, and there were large mounds between us.
‘I heard no stray shots, and we would have known, my lads stay in pairs – even to take a piss. Oh, and you lot may be out of here in the morning, never to work with us again.’
‘Not our fucking fault!’
‘Your major has made a formal allegation.’
‘That twat,’ they complained.
‘Listen up. If there’s any hassle with my lads you’ll pay a very heavy price for it. We’ll investigate, and we may get to the bottom of it. And if it was one of mine ... I’ll put a around through his foot, you can be
sure of that.’
I left them to debate things, and it was a loud debate.
Later, coming back from our new make-do self-service canteen, Fishy approached me. ‘You never heard this from me, but Listerton’s wife may have been playing away.’ He walked off.
I called Bob. ‘Listen, that man Listerton, check all calls to his house and out, especially when he was away.’
‘You have a lead? I spoke to Rawlson and he’s warned Chalmers.’
‘Maybe. Work fast.’
The Wolves came back in as the sun started to set, many looking hot and tired. I walked with them to their patch of sand.
‘How was it?’ I asked one of the civvies.
‘Didn’t get shot at, sir, but the jungle can be spooky, all those odd noises. And that roar at night - hard to hear yourself think.’
‘You get used to it. I love the jungle.’
‘Facemask came in handy, all sorts of things crawling over me, and a ruddy great spider.’
At the range, I lined them up in the fading light. ‘OK, you now have some experience of what a patrol feels like, a real one. We were north of you and we shot at two separate groups, so the bad boys are out there and close by.
‘What you will not have heard ... is that an SAS soldier was wounded at a mine, and that his boss has accused my lads of taking a pot shot at the man. So, be careful who you talk to over the other side, never go anywhere alone or unarmed.
‘This...’ I took a moment. ‘... is a good example of the politics and bullshit that come when units compete. You’re being trained to work alone, and you’re lucky; working in teams can be a pain in the arse sometimes. People clash.
‘OK, get some rest, weapons cleaned, you’ll be off at dawn for another patrol. Dismissed.’
I closed in on Sasha and his little team. In Russian, I asked, ‘How are they doing?’
‘I am teaching some swear words, and how to curse like a soldier.’
They laughed.
‘Useful stuff for working undercover,’ I commended. ‘You can pretend to be Russian soldiers.’ To Sasha I said, ‘Stick with your men for now.’
‘I have been teaching team tactics and weapons as well. Just like ... how I used to do it.’
I nodded, smiled, and patted his arm.
I placed two 2 Squadron men on the bottom of the billet stairs, to be there all night, and to keep the peace.
Just before dawn I checked over the Wolves, made sure they had fresh water and supplies – a quick chat with Henri and Jacque, greetings extended to my four, and I bid them a good patrol.
As the sun came up, no shots having been fired by the opposing sides, our opposing sides, I got an early call.
‘Wilco, it’s Bob’s assistant.’
‘Go ahead.’
‘We got a lead, Listerton’s wife in regular contact with Jamieson when Listerton was away.’
‘No reason for the calls?’
‘No, and we got a regular hotel room as well.’
‘Good news, thanks.’
With Rocko behind me, rifle ready, I walked into the “A” Squadron billet as they stirred. ‘Gather around!’
They ambled towards my end of the room, many half naked. ‘Who’s Jamieson?’
‘I am,’ came curtly back.
I looked him over. ‘Mi6 checked your phone records. You’ve been calling Listerton’s house whenever he’s been away, and Mi6 tracked a hotel room you use on a regular basis to fuck his wife. Rumour has it ... she refuses to leave him for you.’ That last part I made up, but his face confirmed it.
All eyes were now on Jamieson, and he knew he was screwed. Fishy moved first, a punch to the side of the head, others joining in.
As we stepped out, Rocko said, ‘If someone had taken my wife ... I’d have given him a few quid.’
After breakfast, I had an unpleasant task. At the command room I faced Chalmers. ‘Major!’ I just about shouted. ‘Mi6 checked the phone records of your men, and discovered a pattern, which led to a hotel room, which led to Listerton’s wife fucking Jamieson, but refusing to leave her husband.
‘As we speak, your men are dispensing justice.’ All eyes were on Chalmers, who was going red, Bradley staying out of it. ‘You made a formal allegation, and I know my rights as an officer, so I’ll be demanding – and getting – a board of inquiry. You’ll have some explaining to do.
‘And my boss in Mi6 will have made sure that any decision about you is reached before you even get in the fucking room. In the meantime ... stay out of my way, I have a job to do, and I don’t give a fuck about politics, and my men don’t take pot shots.’
I walked out, leaving behind a stunned silence.
Sat up on the roof of the billet, chatting to the 2 Squadron lads, my sat phone trilled.
‘Captain, it’s Colonel Rawlson. Got a minute?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Major Chalmers is being withdrawn, stupid thing to do, but he made a rod for his own back by over-reacting and making a formal allegation. I hope you won’t hold it against all of us.’
‘No, sir. But it would be nice to just get on with the job, leave the politics out.’
‘Yes, agreed. You can make use of “A” Squadron, I deputised Bradley. Get them some training in, maybe some live jobs.’
‘Will do, sir.’
‘And that chap Jamieson is being recalled, not least because he got a beating.’
‘I can see a Hercules being loaded as we speak, sir.’
‘Good luck with the operation.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
After sitting in the morning sun and thinking for ten minutes, and maybe some stewing – or a lot of stewing, I clambered down and entered the lower level. ‘Heads up. Gather around.’
I waited as they grouped. ‘OK, Chalmers has gone back to the UK, my Major deputised, which means you now work for me. So ... what would you like to do here?’
They exchanged looks.
‘Go for some hostages,’ Fishy said, others agreeing. ‘HALO insert.’
‘Very well, but I’ll check with the Colonel, we don’t want wounded men.’ I pointed at Fishy. ‘Go see Captain Harris, pick a hostage location you like, then – all of you – make a plan. It’s your plan, your operation.’
Feeling better, I told Haines to send out small patrols, the detail left up to him.
After lunch I sat with Bradley as the “A” Squadron troop sergeants outlined a plan. HALO in, Mi8 loitering, Hercules on standby, rescue team on standby back here. Two troops would HALO drop, one would land by Mi8 with kit once the area was secure, one team back here for rescue – that Mi8 to take out any wounded men and maybe some hostages, room for twelve in the back.
The plan was to get the hostages on the Mi8, or to steal jeeps, an airstrip just six miles away. I could see a flaw, but held my tongue.
‘Well?’ Bradley finally asked me.
‘Seems to cover all the angles, sir, but I’d sleep better knowing that we cleared that airstrip first. It’s probably empty, but you never know. So I’ll take men to that strip a few hours ahead.’
‘Fine,’ they agreed.
‘Get ready for an insert tonight,’ I told them, and a happy bunch headed out discussing the plan.
As Bradley observed, I called Rawlson. ‘Colonel, it’s Captain Milton.’
‘Problems?
‘No, sir, just that “A” Squadron nagged to do a hostage rescue, came up with a plan, and it all seems sound, and my men will be in support.’
‘It’s what they’re paid to do, so what’s the problem?’
‘They may pick-up wounds.’
He took a moment. ‘Can’t hold back because of that. Tell them they have a go.’
‘Will do, sir.’
I checked with Captain Harris about the airstrip in question.
‘Has been in use, mention of Russian arms dealers,’ he reported, so I called Crab and had the Mi8 sent out to pick up Sasha and his Russian speakers – as well as Henri, Sandra told to g
et ready for a job.
‘We are not going by parachute?’ she nervously asked.
‘No,’ I said with a smile. ‘In the Skyvan.’ And she still had no bra on.
Moran got the gang together as I kicked around ideas with the Major.
With the gang assembled in a hangar, a crude map drawn over a wall, I began, ‘Our good buddies in “A” Squadron are going for some hostages, save sitting around and getting a tan, we’ll be in support – kind of.
‘Captain Moran, you speak French, so you and Henri will be with me; try and look like bad boy mercenaries. Henri, you don’t need any make-up.’
They laughed at him.
‘Rocko, Rizzo, your teams will land by Skyvan on a road, here, and move northwest to the strip, a few miles. Avoid all contact, get in place, don’t be seen.
‘OK, “A” Squadron will HALO to flat land a mile north of a town some six miles from the strip, two troops. They’ll move in from the north because there’s a large old building on the outskirts ... here that is supposed to house the hostages. After they extract the hostages they will either call in the Mi8 or steal a car and get to the airstrip, thereafter to be extracted.
‘One troop will be in the Skyvan ready for rescue if need be, and the Skyvan could land on a road or the strip, depending on a need for rescue - or lots of hostages. Final troop back here, Hercules here ready for rescue, 2 Squadron prepped to come get us.
‘I’ll land at dusk on the strip, with the Russian speakers and French speakers and Sandra, and if it’s occupied we’ll pretend to be mercenaries.
‘So ... Skyvan lands you lot, returns, lands my team and takes off, ready for the HALO later. Mi8 will be available for any of us if there’s a problem.
‘Biggest problem ... will be the hostage team breaking legs on landing or picking up wounds when they storm the building, so the Mi8 will be needed – in the air when they storm that building. Any questions?
Rocko asked, ‘We hold that strip for them?’
‘There may be no one there, or a hundred heavily armed men. Up to you to advise us.’
‘And if there’s ... twenty armed men there?’ Rocko asked.
‘Kill them quietly, secure the strip.’
‘And a fuck-up at the town?’ Rizzo asked.
‘We may be called forwards, yes, it’s not far. Intel says twenty bad boys and five hostages.’
