| Subject: ...For Meritorious Service, Chapter 27 - continued |
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TxJAG_b
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Date Posted: 09:35:59 07/09/10 Fri
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TxJAG_b
's message, "...For Meritorious Service, Chapter 27 - continued" on 10:56:42 07/07/10 Wed
PREVIOUSLY:
Frank glanced at Bruce and Greg who silently urged him to finish this. “Eagle 21, this is Bassett Three; abort delta bravo; abort delta bravo; abort delta bra--”
Frank Witt keeled over onto his back, an ugly bullet hole marring his forehead. His death could have been caused by one of the stray bullets from the Polish BRDM or even the weapons of Sergeant Canella’s MP squad, Special Agent DiNozzo, or even a precise shot from Special Agent Gibbs.
But the bullet that killed Sergeant Witt came from Bruce Day’s pistol. And instead of being confused or horrified by Day’s action, Greg was pleased.
Harm had heard Witt’s call sign, then what sounded like the abort code for the operation, but the rest of his voice was drowned out by a pistol report.
“Bassett Three; confirm, abort delta bravo? Over.”
Sergeant Saunders nodded to Day, who mimicked Witt’s voice. “Eagle 21, this is Bassett Three; continue…you are cleared hot…”
**********************
Harm not knowing what had just taken place, acknowledged the transmission. “Eagle 21, continuing…cleared hot...roger.”
Darcy had never intended for Frank Witt to issue the abort code. The Force Recon CO instead wanted Eagle squadron to hit the decoys and declare them destroyed. That would leave the real SCUD and FROG missile launchers free to initiate their devastating strikes without the worry about an impending air strike.
Sergeant Witt had just been one more willing dupe who could be conveniently disposed of when no longer needed. Darcy knew that he was more comfortable with aborting the Alpha Strike than letting them hit decoys so, in a sense, Frank had outlived his usefulness. And Bruce and Greg were more than happy to take his share of the gold. They both knew that Darcy thought Frank’s conscience was a liability they couldn’t afford.
*~*
Gibbs heard the pistol report in between the noise of the dueling machine guns. His flinty blue eyes narrowed. A pistol at this range would be practically useless against a BRDM, much less an AMTRAC. There was something else going on and he was going to find out what. “November Two, remain in overwatch…”
“Solid copy, November One,” Tony replied gratefully. “Remaining in overwatch…”
The senior silver haired NCIS Agent carefully worked his way around the immobilized LAV. Though it couldn’t move, Rover One was still a dangerous opponent; especially if they…
The heavy thunk, thunk, thunk of the LAV’s M-242 25 millimeter autocannon announced they had been able to strengthen their defensive capability. Gibbs hoped they wouldn’t be able to knock out Baranova’s BRDM or Sergeant Damato’s AMTRAC. Right now, though, he was more concerned with what was going on in that farmhouse.
Saddam Fedayeen Arif [Sergeant] Abu al-Khammesh rolled his faded orange and white Nissan pickup truck to a stop in the trees adjacent to al-Izz’s troops. The Saudi born soldier nodded to the machine gun crew manning the 12.7mm DShK on board. Every little bit would help them defeat the infidels. The big machine gun began chattering away, adding to the amount of lethal fire aimed at the U.S. Marine and Polish positions.
It seemed to Tony that things were going from bad to worse. Samir’s foot soldiers were rushing to the aid of the renegade Rover One. Canella’s troops were holding their own for the moment, but they needed more backup than the two NCIS Agents could give.
And at the moment, Tony was their only backup. He wished that Colonel Baranova’s scouts would join the fray, but they were in a really precarious position so he could understand their reluctance to come out into the open.
(Okay Tony, make these shots count,) he thought to himself. The Senior Field Agent pointed his rifle at the shape of the pickup truck that he could make out in the trees and fired off an aimed three round burst.
The DShK machine gun chattered wildly for moment and then stopped. Al-Kammesh looked back at the pickup bed and saw why. His machine gun crew was dead; the machine gun pointing uselessly at the canopy of trees.
Tony noted the amount of gunfire headed toward them had lessened. Even Rover One’s autocannon had fallen silent again. Sergeant Canella’s men were directing fire toward the pickup truck.
Mac saw as they cleared the saddle of the ridge that whoever was hidden in those trees on that low rise south of this group of buildings was under fire from insurgents. Commander May’s HMMWV began firing on the insurgents.
“Corporal!” Mac barked above the firing of their truck’s own machine gun, “Get us closer to that farm house!”
“Aye ma’am!”
Gibbs couldn’t believe what he was seeing. A trio of camouflaged Dodge pickups and a sand-colored HMMWV, followed by a Desert Patrol vehicle were headed straight toward him. All were firing over him at the insurgent positions.
Rather than drawing attention to himself, the Head of the Washington DC MCRT continued his progress toward the farmhouse.
Kayce suddenly spotted a Marine making his way toward the farmhouse.
“Colonel! Starboard side!” she called out.
There was something about his bearing that made Mac wonder if it could possibly be Leroy Jethro Gibbs. At that moment he turned and looked her in the eyes. It was Gibbs all right.
“Hard to starboard, Corporal!” Mac ordered.
Don nodded and veered the truck to the right.
*~*
Staff Sergeant Fuller could see the fortified hill ahead, staring at him like some kind of malevolent monster. He’d thought their trouble were over when they bulled their way through the insurgent positions at the farm. Now the Staff Sergeant realized that had only been the beginning. He looked over to his right and saw Sergeant Sewett in Rover Three staring at the same obstacle.
They didn’t have to exchange comments on this. Even with helo air support this would have been one tough nut to crack. They knew with the minimal air support they had right now it was going to be really tough.
Zack Fuller hoped his units’ scouts had located any man-portable SAM systems that might be able to harass what air support they had. Once they neutralized those, it would be up to artillery to blast the opposition and then use the combat engineers to subdue any stubborn holdouts.
“Rover Four Alpha to Rover Four…” 1st Lieutenant Chapps, OIC of Rover platoon’s scout teams was reporting in; hopefully with some good news.
The Staff Sergeant keyed his mike. “Rover Four, go…”
“All tangos sierra alphas accounted for…” It was the news Zack had hoped to hear from Owen Chapps. This would make their job a tad easier.
Zack keyed his mike again. “Roger Four Alpha, standby…”
“Standing by, Four…”
Staff Sergeant Fuller switched frequencies and made his call. “Rover Four to Gatorforce Leader…”
Colonel Baxter must’ve been sitting right by the radio considering how quickly he responded. Old Man Briggs had never responded this quickly to his reports. “This is Leader; go ahead Four…”
He gave his new boss the good news. “Alphas are in position.”
Baxter’s response was terse and to the point. “Execute Four; Leader out.”
Zack Fuller switched his radio back to the platoon net and spoke the code word Chapps had been waiting to hear. “Four to Alphas; Wolf.”
Chapps responded immediately. “I copy Wolf; Four Alpha out…”
Now began the waiting. Unless the insurgents discovered their positions and began firing back, no one would hear the scouts’ silenced sniper rifles take out their targets. The only way the NCOIC would know if the plan had worked was if he heard from Owen Chapps again.
Seconds turned into minutes. Still nothing. Zack soon heard the tell tale whop, whop, whop which signaled the approach of Baranova’s Hinds. He was really glad that at least they had those. He didn’t like what he was thinking, but he couldn’t help it; Briggs was a fool for grounding Firefly squadron. And he probably wasn’t alone in that assessment. Oh well, at least Colonel Baranova let them ‘borrow’ her helos. He looked around to see from which direction they were approaching.
He couldn’t see anything in the skies around him. All he could hear was the chop of the rotors as they faded in and out on the desert wind. If the insurgents had helos, he would’ve have been worried by the haunting thump, thump.
Sergeant DeWald in the FiST [artillery fire support] LAV was expecting to hear the precise English tones of Porucznik Wawrzyniak any moment—
“Firefly Six to Hawk One…” Sergeant DeWald exchanged amazed looks with Corporal Roca. Corporal Yamura nearly fell out of his seat.
“Firefly Six to Hawk One..acknowledge…” The voice said more insistent. Stephen DeWald hastily keyed his mike. “Hawk One; go…”
“Firefly is inbound; mind if we join the party?”
DeWald looked over at Yamura who nodded. Obviously, the Corporal had just received confirmation that this actually was Captain Maxwell and not an insurgent trick.
HMLA-975 was back in the game.
“Glad to have you back Firefly…” DeWald said; the smile on his face was infectious.
“Glad to be back Hawk One,” Steve Maxwell replied, “Got any eyes on the target we can have, over?”
Kevin Yamura nodded to Sergeant DeWald. The ‘eyes’ that Maxwell was referring to were the numerous drone aircraft that were buzzing around their current objective like bees looking for pollen.
“Wait one, Six…”
Kevin took over talking to the ‘Blue Max’. “Hawk One to Six; eyes and ears have your targets…will feed to you when green….”
“Roger wilco Hawk One; Six out.”
Lieutenant Jim Hawkins and Combat Engineer Lieutenant Ansel Paige looked up as the thumping of the rotors grew louder and louder. “Here comes our Polish close air support…” Gunnery Sergeant Sanchez noted.
The yells, whoops, and hollering took Hawkins by surprise. Why were the men so excited the see the Hinds?
“Hot damn! The air cavalry’s here!!” Barked out a PFC.
“Bout time!” groused another PFC “Where the hell have they been?!”
Jim Hawkins looked to the east and saw the unmistakable shape of AH-1 Cobras flying in formation with the Hinds. A smile slowly spread across his face. As he turned to Sanchez “Gunny!’ Get the men ready, as soon the helos finish their assault and artillery barrage lifts we move in.”
Sanchez was all smiles as well. “Aye, aye sir!”
*~*
Mac, Gunny, Kayce, Cienfuentes, Gonzales and Burke lay tight and rigid, prone on the ground just behind a slight rise. Staff Sergeant Dallas was hammering away at the stone farmhouse with the .50 caliber M-2HB machine gun on board Corporal Burges’ pickup.
On the other side of the field, Sergeants Al Bradenton and Casmir Szymas were banging away at the insurgent’s positions with Sergeants’ Williams and Dahl’s machine guns. Sergeant Canella had moved his men next to the two pickup trucks.
In the middle of the field, Colonel Baranova and her scouts had dismounted and were now opening fire as well.
Mac looked to her left. Special Agent Gibbs darted between points of concealment making his way toward the farmhouse and ignoring the hail of fire coming from it.
“Concentrated fire!” The JAG Corps Light Colonel ordered. “Keep them off Special Agent Gibbs’ back!!”
“November Two, one suspect visible; I’m almost in position…” Gibbs reported to Tony.
Tony in the meantime had left his position and was now circling around to the right of the farmhouse.
“Copy November One; I’ve got another tango visible at my nine o’clock….”
Aboard Rover One, Jesse Strong was lying unconscious on the turret floor of the armored truck.
“What the hell did you do that for?!” Pogue was livid and started toward him.
Jay drew his sidearm and pointed it right between his eyes. “Get on that two forty! I’ll take over the main gun and the coax!” he snarled.
“What about Jesse?” John Pogue said in a more subdued tone.
“Screw him…!” Jay spit out and motioned for John to move toward the turret hatch.
*~*
The once seemingly impregnable hill was now boiling with smoke and flame. A GAZ-66 truck mounting ZPU-2 23mm anti-aircraft machine gun shuddered to stop as 20mm rounds from Cobra walked all over it. The crew, dead or dying, never felt the warmth of the explosion as a Hellfire missile found its mark, obliterating the insurgent technical.
“Zero two! Rolling in hot!” Anwar Hafez announced as he shot up UAZ jeep trying to make a getaway. The driverless jeep gushed flame as it overturned on the steep incline of the hill and tumbled even over end.
Ben Lukens was above and behind Firefly Two. As Two swung to the right, Lukens saw an insurgent pull himself out of a shattered bunker and drag an SA-7 anti-aircraft portable missile launcher with him.
“Break left Two! Break left! MANPAD to your right!!” Lukens barked. As Firefly Two swung sharply to the left. Chief Buell fired off long rippling burst of cannon fire at the identified target.
Firefly Five flew in from the right about to add his cannon fire but he could see the insurgent was sprawled on the ground, arms and legs at impossible angles.
“Bravo Zulu One!” Ian Skaggs radioed Lukens “You got him!!”
Anwar Hafez wheeled his gunship around and saw the threat was gone. “Thanks One; I owe you…”
“No sweat Two,” Ben Lukens quipped. “Let’s get the rest of these tangos before artillery ruins our fun…”
Captain Maxwell was pleased; he was glad his unit was back where it belonged. Despite the squadron having been grounded for nearly four months, they hadn’t lost their edge. They and the Polish Hinds had broken the back of this second insurgent strong point. Now all they had to do was find Objective India and do the same--”
“Gatorforce Leader to Firefly Six…”
“This is Six; go Leader…”
“The NCIS agents and our Polish coalition leader, Colonel Baranova, went after Rover One--”
Maxwell thought static might have made him not hear that last transmission correctly. “Leader confirm; did you say Rover One?”
The pause was only momentary. “Affirmative Six; Rover One is a possible tango…their last heading was grid 38; coordinates R 26 and V 22…”
The ‘Blue Max’ didn’t have to be told any more. “Firefly Six, Roger, Leader, out.”
Steve switched his radio briefly to the Polish Hinds’ frequency to see how they were doing.
“Osprey One this is Hound Three, taking heavy enemy fire at coordinates - grid 39; M 18, V 20; Requesting close air support--we need close air support! Do you copy?”
Steve had served long enough to have picked up a smattering of Polish. He couldn’t understand all of the transmission, but he could tell whoever Hound Three was that they needed help.
It was time for Firefly to help out the Poles…after all, they had helped Baxter when HMLA-975 was grounded. He just hoped he could remember the right phrasing….
“Hound Three this is Firefly Six, responding to your request for close air support! Hang tight, help is on the way!”
He had. The Polish radio officer responded in perfect English. “Firefly Six, this is Hound Three…appreciate the assist…out.”
Steve Maxwell quickly switched to the squadron frequency. “Firefly Six to Four…!”
“Firefly Four, go Six…’
“Three and Four; our Polish allies need our help. Hound Three is requesting close air support at coordinates - grid 39, coordinates…M 18, V 20…”
“Roger Wilco. On our way, Cap’n; Four out…”
“And Four…find out where those NCIS agents got to…they should be close to Hound Three.”
“Copy, Six…Four Out…” Both helos banked right and headed toward Hound Three’s position.
Mac, Gunny and the others hunkered down as close to the ground as they could as the amount of gunfire coming from the farmhouse increased exponentially.
“Geez!” Kayce tried to push herself deeper into the sand.
*~*
Sergeant Saunders scuttled to the back of the house and looked out the window. Coming down the dirt road was an OT-64 personnel carrier followed by GAZ-66 technical and a Ural-375 6x6 cargo truck.
“Here’s our bus!” He yelled to Bruce Day. “Time to get the hell outta here!”
“Right behind you,” Bruce called out as he emptied his automatic into Witt’s lifeless body. Bruce figured the more bullets in the body, the better – it would look like he got caught in a crossfire.
Saunders and Day headed out the back door – in the distance they could see the Czechoslovakian personnel carrier supported by the anti-aircraft technical. The GAZ heavy machine gun truck was normally used against helicopters and observation aircraft, but it also served as a decent anti-personnel weapon. The Ural 6x6 cargo truck was just behind the AA technical. The passengers in the Ural’s truck cab were manning the vehicle’s NSV heavy machine gun and had begun to fire at AAV and BRDM.
The OT-64 carrier rolled closer, keeping its heavy machine guns firing at Mac’s team.
In keeping focused on Shark Two and suppressing them, they ignored Sergeant Canella’s men and Colonel Baranova’s reconnaissance scouts.
As the carrier rumbled up to the back door of the farm house, an 83mm rocket shot out to the left of the vehicle, sending up a fountain of sand.
“Shot wide! Shot wide Corporal!!” Canella bellowed above the din of the battle.
Greg and Bruce, recovering from the MP’s SMAW near miss, began firing their rifles toward Canella’s MP squad.
The near miss had unnerved the OT-64 driver as well and he slowed down which made Greg and Bruce make a run for it – that was all that Kayce Danvers needed. She quickly lined up her target and fired.
Gibbs, taking advantage of the near miss, also lined up his target and fired.
Greg Saunders grunted and dropped his rifle as bullets flew into him from two different directions.
Bruce was horrified as he watched the badly wounded Sergeant drop soundlessly to the ground.
From the passenger compartment, two insurgent soldiers had managed to climb out of the OT-64 carrier and were urging Bruce Day to forget about the Sergeant and get on board.
“Yalla!//Come on!”
“Yalla halan!//Come immediately!”
Before Day could move, a second SMAW rocket found its mark and the resulting explosion incinerated the carrier, sending the two insurgents sprawling face down on the sand.
As parts of the destroyed carrier continued to rain down, Bruce realized it was only going to get worse for him. (Screw Darcy!)
He threw down his rifle and thrust his hands into the air, screaming “I surrender! I surrender!!”
The GAZ and the Ural, seeing the carrier cough flames, hastily shifted into reverse and backed away while continuing to fire. Both had obviously decided it was time to get the hell out of there—Darcy Livingston’s orders be damned. As they pulled out, Arif
al-Khammesh decided it was also time to abandon these traitors to their fate. Darcy and Samir would not fault him for this sacrifice. He backed his truck out of the woods and joined the retreating trucks. The rest of the insurgents, also seeing that the tide had turned, quietly abandoned the battlefield. Corporal Raden and his crew were on their own now.
Gibbs grabbed Day and hustled him to where Mac, Gunny and the others were waiting.
“Here’s your prisoner, Colonel.” The senior NCIS agent shoved a reticent Bruce Day down next to Kayce.
Mac was about to say something to Gibbs when 25 millimeter cannon fire began peppering their position. All five scrambled for better protection as Staff Sergeant Dallas turned his machine gun against this new threat.
Luisa Baranova, finally able to get out of the confines of her armored car, could see that Rover One was now threatening the newly arrived Navy and Marine reconnaissance troops.
While her soldiers could deal with close-in threats, without their vehicle’s missile launcher, they were at a distinct disadvantage.
Sergeant Damato didn’t know Jay Raden or what his motivations were, but he did know one thing; Raden had to be stopped.
*~*
Firefly Three and Four, flying in tandem formation, searched the arid countryside for the Polish vehicle known as ‘Hound Three’.
“See anything, Wayne?” Lieutenant Mason ‘Rich’ Aubrey asked his wingman.
“Negative Rich…” replied Lieutenant Towers sounding bored.
“According to Six, we should be able to see them soon…” Aubrey reminded his wingman. It wasn’t good to be bored when flying in enemy territory.
Andre Lesinki had gotten out of his armored truck to inspect the damage to his missile launcher when he heard the approaching American Marine helicopter gunships. He quickly climbed back inside and got on his radio.
“This is Hound Three; requesting close air support against Marine armored truck--”
Canella [who had just made it back to the amphibious carrier] heard the Cobra gunships approaching and Sierzant Lesinki’s call. Sergeant Damato reinforced Lesinki’s request. “Firefly, Firefly, this is Seahorse Five; urgently requesting close support fire against Rover One--”
Wayne Towers couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Rich, the Polish BRDM and Seahorse Five are requesting we fire on that LAV!”
Rich Aubrey felt the same way. Six had told them to assist the Poles – not fire on a LAV. “I heard them, Wayne….” (What the hell have we stumbled onto?!)
His wingman’s thoughts mirrored his own. “Rich, they’re nuts! We can’t fire on one of our own!”
Then another voice came over the helos’ comm. net. A gruff, forceful voice. “Firefly! Open fire on Rover One!!”
Lieutenant Aubrey knew the first two players, but wasn’t sure who the third voice belonged to. “Who the hell is this?!”
Rich peered out his cockpit to see if he could see the origin of the third voice. All he could see were HMMWVs, DPVs and three Dodge pickup trucks with their guns aimed at what looked like a disabled LAV. Everyone else who had spoken to him must be under the trees. Considering everything that had happened in the past few months, this could be another insurgent trick and the crew of Rover One might be the ones needing help…
Then the angry third voice replied. “This is Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS! Who am I talking to?!”
“This is Lieutenant Mason Richard Aubrey…” Rich began to spit back his response when it hit him that there was no way the insurgents could know about everything Leroy Jethro Gibbs. But there was something he could ask that would let him know that this third joker was on the level. He paused a moment, then spoke.
“Special Agent Gibbs, as in Gunny Gibbs who used to work with the MP’s at Lejune?” Rich’s weapon officer didn’t know what his boss was doing, but he hoped it worked.
Tony couldn’t resist the dig. Especially since Gibbs couldn’t see him. “Boy Boss; you sure were popular…”
“Shut up and return fire November Two!”
Gibbs was more annoyed than pleased he had run into someone from his past. Right now wasn’t the time for reunions. “Yeah, yeah that’s me; now lay down some suppressive fire against that LAV!”
The LAV wasn’t firing at anyone at the moment. Gibbs’ request didn’t make any sense to the helo pilot. “Sir, I can’t do that…”
“Lieutenant! Don’t argue with me, do it now!!”
“He’s not firing on anyone, Special Agent Gibbs--”
That was when Mac’s voice entered their headsets. “Firefly Four this is Sierra Six Mike actual! He’s listening to our radio transmissions, Lieutenant! That’s why he isn’t firing – ask him! Go ahead, ask him!”
Rich and Wayne spotted the fourth speaker – it was a female Force Recon trooper. Despite her recon garb, Wayne recognized her from when she did her JAGMAN investigation with that hot shot Top Gun lawyer Rabb.
That did it.
There was only one way to settle this. Rich lowered Firefly Four and moved directly in front of the LAV. “Rover One, Rover One; this is Firefly Four; request that you stand down your weapons and explain what is going on….
Rover One turned its turret toward the two gunships and began firing on them. Apparently whoever was on board didn’t like being asked whose side they were on!
“Rich! We’re taking fire from that LAV!!” Firefly Three skittered sideway to avoid the incoming rounds from the Marine armored truck.
Rich had also evaded the autocannon rounds; it was clear to him who was the immediate threat. “She’s not ours, Wayne; warning fire across the bow of that LAV!
The two gunships fired 20mm autocannon rounds along the front of the LAV. Undeterred, Rover One continued to try and track the two helos.
“He’s not listening, Rich!”
“Rocket! Aim for the area in front of his vehicle! Show him we mean business Wayne!!”
Firefly Three and Four fired another burst from their guns and Three sent a 5.00 inch rocket into the dirt in front of the LAV.
Dirt and debris rained down on top of Rover One. Its gun fell silent.
Inside, John Pogue exchanged panicked looks with Jay Raden. “Look man,” Pogue said as he started for the turret hatch, “you can be a martyr for this broad if you want, but I’ll take my chances with the Navy cops!”
Jay grabbed his arm in desperation. “John--!”
John Pogue yanked away from Jay’s grip but also gave him some food for thought. “Jay, it’s over, man – look; if Jesse doesn’t die, the most they’ll have us for at this point is disobeying orders….
Firefly Four again flew directly in front of the LAV. “Rover One! You are to stand down now! That’s an order, Corporal Raden!!”
Louis Casano decided if he was going to prevent a massacre, he’d better speak now. “Jesse!” He yelled. This is Sergeant Casano! It’s over; you can’t get away! These gunships will plow you under if you try to make a break for it! Don’t you see? It’s not worth it! Talk to John and Jay--tell them to give up!!”
‘Lucky Louie’ had survived another brush with death. For that Jay was thankful. He looked over at his partner in crime. With no gas, dwindling ammunition, no backup and an unconscious, possibly dying, crewmember their options were few.
“Yeah…yeah, you’re right, John…you’re right.” Jay said quietly. Surrender was preferable to death at the hands of Darcy Livingston.
The turret hatches on the LAV popped open and two pairs of arms pointed skyward.
“Don’t shoot! We surrender!!”
“Yeah man, we give up!!”
“Secure the LAV crew, Tony!”
“Right Boss!”
While the NCIS agent secured Rover One’s occupants, Mac and Shark Two stormed the farm house, looking for Sergeant Witt.
---TBC...
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