hundred and eighty gallons. That's already been taken care of with the Army transportation comp'ny here at Shelor Field. Since the jerry cans hold five gallons each, the DPVs will carry two for an extra ten gallons instead of nine, so we'll have an additional six gallons. This is all applied to my built-in pad.
Yeah, okay, said Carey getting a bit confused by the presentation. I'm sure you've worked this out to the last drop. Now let's get into ammo.
Yes, sir, Dawkins said. We'll have a total of three thousand, six hundred rounds of five-point-fifty-six for the M-Sixteens; there'll also be three thousand, six hundred rounds of seven-point-six-two for the M-Sixties and three thousand for the M-Twos.
Why the six-hundred-round difference between the two machine guns? Carey asked.
The M-Sixties shoot more rounds per minute, sir, Dawkins answered. And both sniper rifles will be supplied with six magazines each of five-rounds. That'll give Puglisi and Miskoski a grand total of sixty rounds between them. Also, each M-Sixty gunner will have an M-Two-Zero-Three grenade launcher. These are for the attack on the rendezvous.
Carey turned to Brannigan. By the way, Lieutenant, there are some people who are a bit miffed that you turned in those HK-Four-Sixteen carbines for M-Sixteens. They were hoping for some test results and evaluation from you.
Piss on that, Brannigan said candidly. We're going into combat. I didn't want the guys stuck with some new brand of shooting irons.
Okay, Carey said wearily. I see your point. He turned his attention to Dawkins. What about the Javelins, Senior Chief? You haven't mentioned them.
We won't be able to employ them effectively in this situation, sir, Dawkins said. You have to stop, dismount, and sight 'em in. Too much trouble.
That's your call, Carey said. Thank you for your briefing, Senior Chief.
After Dawkins was dismissed, Doc Bradley covered the medical side of the mission, such as medevac through the Marine choppers at Shelor Field, and Frank Gomez announced that the call signs of Operation Rolling Thunder would stay the same. The last presenter was Lieutenant Junior Grade Jim Cruiser. His briefback was given quickly and efficiently. We do not expect to require resupply. However, we have made arrangements with Randy Tooley to have such services available through the Air Force.
Who the hell is Randy Tooley? Carey asked.
He's the Shelor Field coordinator of all things important, necessary, and of great consequence to keep things rolling, Cruiser replied.
Carey frowned. Is he that weird kid driving the Air Force-blue DPV?
Yes, sir, Brannigan interjected.
I want to talk to you about that, Carey said. This missing DPV you reported leaves many unanswered questions.
I'd appreciate it if you would wait until after this operation, sir, Brannigan said. I really have a lot on my mind right now.
Uh, I suppose I could, Carey said hesitantly. But you're going to have to give an explanation sooner or later. At any rate, your briefback is approved, so it is now an OPORD etched in stone. Go to it, guys!
Aye, aye, sir! Brannigan's Brigands answered in unison.
Chapter 20
NORTHERN OA
18 MAY
0545 HOURS
THE two C-130s bearing Brannigan's Brigands and the six DPVs made an early morning landing in the reddish illumination of dawn, their props stirring up a miniature but violent dust storm off the hard-packed desert terrain. The unyielding ground provided a perfect landing and short-taxi platform as the pair of large aircraft came in side by side. The Air Force loadmasters immediately turned to lowering the rear ramps as the pilots kept the engines running.
As soon as everything was ready, the SEAL driver/ commanders with their gunners rolled off the airplanes onto terra firma and sped eastward toward the rising sun under Lieutenant Bill Brannigan's leadership. By that time, the pilots had their aircraft running across the desert, quickly picking up speed for the liftoff and return to Shelor Field. Frank Gomez, the M-2 gunner in Charlie Two, impetuously turned and waved at the departing C-130s in an unseen gesture of farewell.
Brannigan would have preferred making the landings at night, or at least late the previous evening, but the Air Force had balked at this. They did not want to risk lives and aircraft by touching down during hours of poor visibility. Since that part of the OA was unpopulated and the enemy had no flyover capabilities, the SPECOPS Center on the USS Combs could not talk the USAF out of the landing-time restrictions that forbade operations in the dark.
Now, as the SEALs mentally prepared for the upcoming battle, the DPVs sped across the desert. Everyone's face showed a grim demeanor as the Brigands instinctively gripped steering wheels and machine-gun handles, unaware of the tightness of their fists. The detachment rolled along in column formation toward their jump-off point. That would be the coordinates from which they would launch the attack against the opium rendezvous site. This was another portion of the mission that the Skipper preferred to do at night, but no one was sure when the smugglers would be returning from their run. Thus, it was determined that the quicker the attack, the less the risk of running into Murphy's Law.
Guy Devereaux, sitting beside Brannigan, who was driving Alpha One, had his GPS out, constantly monitoring their exact grid locations. Now and then, he would announce a slight change of direction over the LASH headset, and Brannigan would respond to the instructions that went, Starboard three degrees...starboard five degrees...port four degrees. It was not an exercise in exactness, but the Skipper could estimate the proper bearing reasonably well by sighting across the vertical spoke of his steering wheel. Within forty-five minutes of leaving the aircraft, Devereaux announced, This is it, sir!
Brannigan braked to a stop, and the other DPVs did the same. Immediately, everyone was off the vehicles and standing with weaponry in hand. Brannigan spoke softly out of habit even though they were still out of sound range of the objective. Assad! Leibowitz! Front and center!
Aye, sir! came the simultaneous responses. The two scouts left their assigned Alpha Two vehicle and reported to the Skipper. After a quick consultation over the map laid out on the hood of Alpha One, the correct azimuth toward the rendezvous was established.
You'll have to be quick since we don't know the bad guys' schedule, Brannigan said. Just give the place a looking-over and figure out what we're facing there. We need to know if they have a heavy-weapons capability.
Aye, sir, Leibowitz said.
The Odd Couple moved out on foot across the desert, with Assad on alert while his buddy referred to the magnetic compass in his hand. It took only twenty minutes to reach the objective, and the scout team's transmission from Assad was a welcome one: It's kick-ass time, Skipper.
.
0710 HOURS
THE detachment had left the DPVs back at their jumping-off point and was now in position to begin the assault. They observed vehicle assignment integrity, lying flat on their bellies as they gazed across the flat terrain toward the objective. Bruno Puglisi and Joe Miskoski, toting their AS-50 sniper rifles, had reported that they were ready for the show to begin on the opposite side. Both SEALs were mentally set to deal with any potential runners who might try to flee the scene of the coming battle. This would consist of close-range, deliberate taking of human life. Back at the DPVs, the M-60 gunners had M-203 grenade launchers on their M-16s, and each carried a load of six additional rounds apiece to put into the tubes.
Frank Gomez's startled voice came over the LASH systems. Oigan! Hay unos burros alla en un corral! He quickly recovered and spoke again in English. Hey, guys, there's a bunch of donkeys in a pen over there.
Next came the sound of Mike Assad chuckling. Let's send 'em to OCS.
Knock it off, Assad! the Skipper said.
