Rolling Thunder (2007) (33 page)

The government agent who monitored Orakzai's acquiescence the word surrender was never used was a veteran of relations with warlords. His name was Zaid Aburrani, and he was well known by Brannigan's Brigands. It was Aburrani who oversaw the taming of the former powerful warlords Ayuub Durtami and Hassan Khamami after the SEALs had dealt them a proverbial ass-kicking on their first mission. Now he was having an easier time of it.

Orakzai was very happy to deal with Aburrani, whom he knew very well. They had been involved in the opium poppy industry for several years before Orakzai took his people to the Gharawdara Highlands. Now that the Pashtun mujahideen would cease their fighting activities and get back to farming, they would return to poppy cultivation up in the hidden meadows of the mountains above their village. Zaid Aburrani would see that they were not molested and would have easy access to the old smugglers, who had now taken back the opium trail the Iranians could no longer use.

It was like that old song with the refrain: Boy does the money come in!

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THE WHITE HOUSE

THE OVAL OFFICE

WASHINGTON, D.C.

5 JUNE

1015 HOURS

A rapping at the door caught the President's attention. He looked up from the press briefing he was preparing and called out, Come in.

Arlene Entienne entered the office. She was elegant and beautiful as always, but it was obvious she was tired. Good morning, Mr. President.

Hello, Arlene, he replied to the greeting. I heard you came in at four a.m. today.

Yes, sir, she replied. I received a call from Edgar Watson at the CIA a little after three. Operation Persian Empire has kicked up into high gear.

The President got up and walked over to the side of the room where a coffeepot was plugged in. He poured a cup of the brew, then brought it over to Entienne. Here, Arlene. You need this.

I sure do!

Did we hear from Aladdin again? the President asked, sitting back down.

Edgar said it was a quick transmission, Entienne answered. Evidently, he is in a particularly dangerous area. At any rate, he informed us that a compact group of Iranians and Arabs are occupying a fortified area in the far west of the Gharawdara Highlands. When the time is right, they'll make their move. Their objective, of course, is to gain control of the Gharawdara Highlands in western Afghanistan.

A 'compact' group, hey? the President remarked. They evidently don't want to make a big fuss. That's good. We don't want to either.

Mr. President, Entienne said, you gave me authorization to put your special executive order into effect. I did so at a little past five this morning.

Alright, he said. It's amazing when one considers the fact that this sensitive international crisis is going to be settled by dozens rather than thousands of troops.

It's a mind-boggler, alright, Entienne stated.

And now our own so-called compact group will answer the challenge. They will go into harm's way. The President sighed. The worst part of this job is having to put the lives of our finest young people at risk. He stood up and walked to the window, gazing out pensively. I cannot describe how much it distresses me.

Entienne got to her feet and went over to him, standing close to the Chief Executive. Would it make you feel better if I reminded you they were all volunteers?

Not really.

EPILOGUE

SHELOR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

7 JUNE

1430 HOURS

TWENTY-THREE men arrived on the latest flight from Kuwait to be added to the roster of Brannigan's Brigands. However, one was not exactly a reinforcement. Petty Officer Second Class Arnie Bernardi was a Brigand reporting back from Kuwait, where he had been TDy on a training mission. Bernardi's initial joy at being reunited with his old outfit was dashed when he learned of Milly Mills' death. His mood spiraled rapidly down as he experienced a combination of sadness and guilt at not being with the detachment during the battles out on the desert. He truly felt he had let his buddies down, and nothing they said eased his feelings of regret.

Bernardi's fellow passengers had been dispatched into the OA for this one specific operation, of which they knew absolutely nothing. They would have been surprised to learn that their new commander was as uninformed as they. This new mission had evolved out of an earlier one titled Operation Rolling Thunder, and was renamed Operation Battleline by the powers-that-be who ran Special Operations in the Middle East. The Skipper found it irritating to be moved laterally from one tactical situation to another without feeling the first had been satisfactorily wrapped up as an undeniable victory. The ever verbose Bruno Puglisi felt the same, and was not bashful about expressing his disenchantment: The whole thing is too fucking half-ass to suit me, he stated candidly and loudly. It's like changing opponents at halftime in a football game.

The C-130 that brought the personnel to Shelor was one of a quartet that had been arriving since the day before. The earlier trio was crammed with ammunition, equipment, rations, and other war-making material. Randy Tooley had been going crazy coordinating unloading, storing, quartering transit personnel, and all the other headaches that go with the preparatory activities for a campaign in the mountains.

Randy's basic attitudes remained unchanged; the senior airman still found it inconvenient to wear a uniform, salute, use the title sir or ma'am when speaking to commissioned officers, or observe any military protocol whatsoever. Because of this new set of circumstances that had evolved into a problematic turmoil, Colonel Watkins, the base commander, became even more tolerant of Randy's unconventional behavior. The kid was fast, efficient, keeping the operations of the facility going along smoothly and in a timely manner through his totally dedicated efforts. Packing him off to the stockade for insubordination would not only accomplish nothing in reforming the young guy, but would create a loss to the Air Force during his incarceration. Things ground to a standstill badly enough when Randy became upset by a dressing-down from some chickenshit NCO or officer and went off by himself to sulk for a day or two. There was an unofficial standing order that he was never to be carried AWOL on base personnel reports.

Randy continued to use the misappropriated desert patrol vehicle that a grateful Lieutenant Brannigan had given him for past services rendered. The young airman, knowing well when guile and subterfuge were necessary, immediately had it painted Air Force blue and stenciled with some phony registration numbers across the hood. He happily zipped around in the purloined conveyance as he tended to his duties.

The new SEAL arrivals, after disembarking from the C-130, were ushered quickly to the hangar Brannigan's Brigands used as a headquarters, living quarters, and warehouse. The newcomers found bunks and mattresses waiting for them, but no blankets or sheets. That meant they would be slumbering in sleeping bags and/or poncho liners. Senior Chief Petty Officer Buford Dawkins had chow passes for them through the efforts of Randy Tooley, which meant the newcomers could get hot food in the base mess hall rather than have to consume MREs in the hangar. All the facilities at Shelor Field were open to them: BX, base theater, NCO and enlisted men's clubs, and the swimming pool. The only downside to their stay was being confined to the base. For reasons of the tightest security, no one was permitted to wander off the Air Force property unless on official duty.

As soon as things were down to a dull roar, the senior chief called a formation. He and Chief Petty Officer Matt Gunnar-son formed up the thirty-six enlisted men for a roll call to make sure that everyone assigned to Operation Battleline was all present and accounted for. The two chiefs were relieved to find that each man listed on either the manifests from the aircraft or the original roster for Operation Rolling Thunder was exactly where he was supposed to be. Nobody was AWOL, lost, or wandering aimlessly in a haze of ignorance and uncertainty. The detachment, now with three officers and two chief petty officers, numbered a grand total of forty-one romping, stomping Navy SEALs who were available for the coming combat.

While the enlisted men were being checked in after the arrival of the last C-130, a new officer, Ensign Orlando Taylor, went inside the hangar to find the detachment officers. Brannigan and Lieutenant Junior Grade Jim Cruiser were in the corner cubicle used as a headquarters of sorts, going over the roster and beginning to organize the assault sections for the coming operation. Ensign Taylor dropped his gear by the door and knocked. The Skipper looked up and noted the somber young African-American. You must be our newly assigned Ensign Taylor. Come in.

Taylor stepped inside the office and rendered a faultless salute. Sir! Ensign Taylor reporting to the commanding officer as ordered.

Welcome, Taylor, Brannigan said, offering his hand. This is Lieutenant (JG) Jim Cruiser. Take a seat and join the party.

Thank you, sir, Taylor said. He took a chair as invited, sitting stiffly and formally.

Cruiser gave him a friendly smile. How was the trip over?

Everything moved on schedule, Taylor said. I am anxious get into the program. When will I be able to meet my men?

Right now, Ensign, Brannigan said, you don't have any men. Jim and I have been mulling over how to reorganize the detachment for the new operation. We went from a total strength of eighteen men to forty-one. Besides the increase in personnel, we also have some added weaponry. All that has to be married together into an effective fighting team. I know that sounds melodramatic, but it's fact. He pushed the rosters and other papers aside. Well, now, tell us a little about yourself.

Sir, Taylor said. I received my commission through NROTC at college. I attended a mostly African-American institution of learning in Georgia. I have only recently completed BUD/S, and this is my first assignment.

Cruiser smiled. Well, I guess you really don't have too much to tell us.

No, sir, Taylor said. But I look forward to this auspicious beginning of my Naval career. Although I hold a reserve commission, I plan to make a career of the U.S. Navy.

Fine, Brannigan said, reaching back for his papers. I've got a couple of ideas to discuss. Jump in any time you feel froggy.

Yes, sir, Taylor said. Thank you, sir.

Okay, Brannigan said. The first thing I want to do is organize a patrol team.

I take it you'll start with the Odd Couple, Cruiser said. And don't forget Redhawk. He's a natural.

Right. And I think I'll put Connie Concord in charge of it.

He's a first class and about ready for chief. It's time to start grooming him, don't you think?

Yes, sir, Cruiser said. And I noted that there's a Petty Officer Matsuno on the roster. I know him. He'd make a good addition.

Brannigan wrote down some notes. Done! And I'll leave Gomez and Bradley in headquarters with me. He sank back into thought for a moment. Another thought has just this instant occurred to me. This coming operation will be perfect for a sniper team.

Puglisi and Miskoski, Cruiser said. That goes without a second thought.

It shall be done, sayeth the gods of war, Brannigan said, writing down their names. Okay. I can see we'll be able to have three assault sections with two fire teams each.

Don't forget a SAW gunner for each one, Cruiser urged him.

Right, Jim. You take the First Section, he said, writing down the assignment. He glanced over at Taylor. The Second Section is yours, Ensign.

Aye, sir, the young man said.

And, of course, the Third will be honchoed by the intrepid Senior Chief Petty Officer Buford Dawkins, the pride of Alabama.

You have some guys left over, Cruiser pointed out.

It's all part of my cunning master plan, the Skipper said with a wink. That will be our support section of machine guns. Seven-point-six-twos, as a matter of fact. I'll let Chief Gunnarson run that particular show. He gave Taylor another look. Any suggestions, Ensign?

Negative, sir.

Have you been in combat before, Ensign? Cruiser asked.

Negative, sir.

In that case, I have some advice for you, Brannigan said. You'll be the leader of an assault section, understand? You are the commander, but you listen to the advice of the senior petty officers. Developing that habit will be invaluable to you not only in the beginning of your career, but even after you're a salty old dog yourself.

Yes, sir.

When Brannigan slid the diagram of the organization over to Cruiser, the impassive Ensign Orlando Taylor gazed steadily at the two veteran officers. The one thing he wanted to conceal from them was his fear; not the fear of death or injury, but the fear of failure. He had been raised in a family headed by a capable, ambitious father. The outcome of this paternal supervision was a fierce rivalry among the four Taylor brothers, who had been taught that anything short of success was not an option.

Cruiser handed the quickly sketched manning chart to Brannigan. I'd say it's good to go.

Fine, the Skipper said. So let's put it into reality, shall we, gentlemen?

Lead on, sir, Cruiser said.

The three officers got up to go outside. Taylor followed the two seniors, his apprehension growing.

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GLOSSARY

2IC: Second in Command 2-Shop: Intelligence Section of the staff 3-Shop: Operations and Training Section of the staff 4-Shop: Logistics Section of the staff AA: Anti-Aircraft AAR: After-Action Report ACV: Air Cushion Vehicle (hovercraft) AFSOC: Air Force Special Operations Command AGL: Above Ground Level AKA: Also Known As Angel: A thousand feet above ground level, i.e., Angels Twois two thousand feet. APC: Armored Personnel Carrier ARG: Amphibious Ready Group AS-50: .50 caliber, semiautomatic sniper rifle with scope ASAP: As Soon As Possible ASL: Above Sea Level AT-4: Antiarmor rocket launchers Attack Board (also Compass Board): A board with a compass, watch, and depth gauge used by subsurface swimmers AT: Anti-Tank ATV: All-Terrain Vehicle AWOL: Away Without Leave, i.e., absent from one's unitwithout permission. AKA French leave. BBC: British Broadcasting Corporation BOQ: Bachelor Officers' Quarters Briefback: A briefing given to staff by a SEAL platoon regarding their assigned mission. This must be approved before it is implemented. BDU: Battle Dress Uniform BUD/S: Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL training course BX: Base Exchange, a military store with good prices for service people. AKA PX in the Army, for Post Exchange. C4: Plastic explosive CAR-15: Compact model of the M-16 rifle CATF: Commander, Amphibious Task Force CDC: Combat Direction Center aboard a ship Chickenshit: An adjective that describes a person or a situation as being particularly draconian, overly strict, unfair, or malicious CHP: California Highway Patrol CLU: Command Launch Unit for the Javelin AT missile CNO: Chief of Naval Operations CO: Commanding Officer Cover: Hat, headgear CP: Command Post CPU: Computer Processing Unit CPX: Command Post Exercise CRRC: Combat Rubber Raiding Craft CRT: Cathode Ray Tube CS: Tear gas CSAR: Combat Search and Rescue CVBG: Carrier Battle Group Dashika: Slang name for the Soviet DShK 12.7-millimeter