ACV's 1 Operation Black Gold (2 page)

CHAPTER 2

Peter Forbes the Scottish Prime Minister sat behind his large reproduction mahogany desk deep in contemplation.  A soft buzzing brought him out of his reverie; with a sigh, he leaned forward and pushed the soft touch button. 

‘Yes Miss Reynolds?’

‘Mr. Johnston to see you sir.’

He took a deep breath, ‘OK Miss Reynolds, send him in.’ Raymond Johnston came into the room and gently closed the door behind him.  ‘Good afternoon Raymond.’

‘Afternoon Sir.’

The Prime Minister gestured at a chair.  ‘Please.’

Raymond crossed the room; his six-foot tall robust frame seemed strangely deflated.  The black leather briefcase attached to his wrist hung low on his right side giving an impression of great weight, even though it barely weighed a few kilos.  He placed it on the desk between them.

‘You have the final part of the plan Raymond?’

‘Yes Sir, their time table and logistics, plus a complete overview of Black Gold and Black Rain.’

‘OK, you’d better let me see them, then.’

‘Yes Sir.’

The Prime Minister handed him a small silver key and he un-cuffed himself.  On the same key ring was a thin sliver of plastic.  Raymond slipped it into a tiny hole beside the hinge, then dialled in the combination and pushed up the levers with his thumbs.  The case opened with a sharp crack reminiscent of a pistol shot.  He lifted the lid gently, still not trusting the internal thermal device.  Reaching in he removed a case of computer discs.  The Prime Minister looked it over thoroughly before cracking the seal, and placing the first one into his computer.  Raymond lifted out a large folder marked ‘Most Secret,’ broke the seal and removed the contents while Peter Grey reviewed the contents of the discs page by page imprinting them onto his photographic memory to digest later.  It didn’t take him long.  He repacked the discs, resealed the casing with a seal he took from a drawer and initialled it then handed it back.  Raymond checked it and passed over a form, which the Prime Minister signed and passed back.

‘Would you like me to read these out to you Sir?’

‘Yes please Raymond.’

‘Where would you like me to start?’

‘Top of the pile will do fine.’

Raymond picked up the first file.  ‘Operation Black Gold summary, Operation Black Gold phase one code named Deep Blue, the seizure of all Scotland’s offshore oil platforms by an American Naval task force, One…’

Raymond went over the details of phase one, when he finished he put it back in the big folder, after they had gone through the signing routine.  ‘Operation Black Gold, phase two; code named ‘Island Green’ Step 1.  The seizure of any islands with oil related industries.  Step 2; the seizure of all other remaining islands, Primary targets include islands with airfields that can be extended to land military aircraft.  Step 3….’

When he finished, the signing routine was repeated.  ‘Operation Black Gold, phase 3, code named ‘Mountain High’, Step 1…The invasion of the Scottish mainland, estimated time to completion 72 hours.  Step 2…The roundup of all remaining military personnel and incarceration thereof.  Step 3…The Pacification of the civil populace and government.  Step 4…The extraction of oil from the mainland, and the erection of related industries.  Step 5…‘

The paper was signed again.  ‘Operation Black Gold, Phase 4 code named ‘Jungle Run,’ the eradication of the main Scottish Army on duties in Latin America.  Step 1….’

When he had finished summarizing operation Black Gold, he moved onto Operation Black Rain.  ‘Operation Black Rain.  In the unlikely event that Scottish Forces prevent the landing of American Forces for a period of time up to but not exceeding 3 month or holding our forces on the main land for an extended period of time.  All American forces shall be withdrawn and operation Black Rain shall be put into immediate effect.  Step 1…the eradication of all enemy Forces by tactical nuclear or neutron weapons.  Step 2…the eradication of civil…‘

‘Yes, Yes, Raymond enough, I know what he is going to do!’

‘Do you want to hear the psychological profile of the American President Sir?’

‘No Raymond, I read that report until I went blue in the face.  Move onto the latest forecast on political repercussions’

‘No real change their Sir either, most of the Eastern bloc are too dependent on the land of milk and honey to take any great political action.  All of course except for England and Albania.’

‘Yes Albania.’  Peter Grey smiled for the first time that day.  ‘Thank god they’re too far away for the Americans to bother with.  What about the English?’

‘Well Sir, according to our experts, they will still jump in on our side even after the end of the UK defence treaty’

‘Damn them, I’m going to have to talk to my counterpart in Westminster.’  He wrote a note into his diary.

‘Sir, if I may suggest…’

‘No Raymond.’

‘But Sir…’

‘I read your report Raymond but you know that England is included in Black Rain.’

‘Yes Sir.’

‘Any interference by them at any time could bring severe retribution down on their heads and could even lead to an early surrender for us.  Our best hope and theirs is total indifference to our plight.  We will need them strong to help us rebuild.’

‘Yes Sir, I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t be sorry Raymond; you are doing your job properly.  I have never surrounded myself with Yes men’

‘Point taken Sir.’

‘Good, now what position are our other neighbours in?’

‘Wales, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are in no position other than to shout very loudly.’

‘Anyone else?’

‘Just Japan Sir, they are the ones that can hit the Americans hardest.  We don’t really know which way they’ll jump, a year ago, yes, but now with relations so strained, we’re just not sure.’

‘Don’t worry about the Japanese Raymond.’

‘Sir?’

Peter Grey never elaborated, instead he asked for the latest estimates of internal political backlash and the American estimates.  ‘Don’t you think it’s strange Raymond?’  He asked when they’d finished, ‘that we have more faith in the American people than their own President has?’

CHAPTER 3

‘What time is it, Jim?’

‘Eh, Oh…’  I glanced down at the dash, ‘half one.’

‘Could you drop me straight home please?’

‘Aye, nae bother.’  Her request quite cheered me up.  I had been debating with myself whether to drop her off first or cash in or vice versa.  All this decision-making was a tiresome business.

‘What are you smiling for?’

‘Nothing, just felt like it.’

‘I like it when you smile.’  This revelation made me smile a little harder.  ‘I’ll have to go see Laura later’

‘Oh Aye.’  She launched into a conversation about her friends and kids.  My ears automatically switched off, and my mind went back to the task of driving on the narrow back roads on the way into Elgin.  A couple of jet fighters screaming overhead afterburners fully lit caught my attention for a moment I was sure they weren’t supposed to do that so close to a populated area but shrugged it off, needs must as needs must.

‘What are you doing tonight?’ she asked.

‘Dunno,’ I shrugged.  I knew what she was after and my mind kicked into top gear.

‘Would you like to come round for a while and meet the kids?’

‘I wasn’t really planning on coming in tonight Cath.  I was just going to chill out at home, do a bit of book-keeping and catch up cataloguing my minerals and gemstones.’

‘Oh!’

I could see the disappointment sweep across her face, and felt like a right shit.  ‘I’ll tell you what…’  Her head perked up.  ‘I’ll try and do my shopping quickly, get home, get that stuff done, then pop over to yours later for a quick coffee.  How’s that?’

She reached over and gently squeezed my arm.  ‘Just a quick one.’

I smiled back.  ‘We’ll see.’  Maybe I owed her that and maybe it was about time I tried to have a normal relationship with a woman again.  Still the mere thought broke me out into a cold sweat.

I dropped her off, cashed in, and then went shopping.  First stop was the old gun shop on the high street; I spent a few minutes staring in the windows.  They had a good selection of knives on display, some nice looking ones too, but I had my own.  I moved on to the bank, then up to the games shop, where the Monday Club in Barneys Retro Games, was in full swing.  I wasn’t the only person who took a Monday off and a few of us would meet on a Monday afternoon, try out a new game or two, browse over what was there and argue about games.  The best thing about it was I wasn’t always the oldest one there. 

I eventually made it to the supermarket where I bumped into George Towbridge raking in a carrier bag for something on his way out.

‘Fit like, George?’

He looked up startled, ‘Oh nae bad Jim, fit like yourself?’

‘Nae bad, day off, holiday?’

‘Na, just getting a few odds and ends together before I set off.’

I nodded; George had been in the MT when we were in the army, driving heavy vehicles.  Now he was driving long distance in heavy goods vehicles.  ‘Where to this week, Europe?’

‘No,’ he frowned, ‘same place you’re going probably.’

Now it was my turn to frown.  ‘Where am I going like?’

His face broke into a grin, ‘You haven’t heard the news yet, have ye?’

‘No, fit news?’

‘We’ve been called up again.’

‘Awa n’ fuck!’

He burst out laughing and slapped me hard on the shoulder.  ‘I’d advise you to go and watch the next news bulletin.  I’ll have to go Jim, I’ve got to go home and square the wife away.’

He left me with a cheery wave.  I had to take a minute to collect myself.  Well there was no point in going shopping now. 

I went home, put the TV back on, and waited like a fool with the cat sleeping on my lap for a news bulletin.  It came at last; George hadn’t been kidding me on.  Groups C, D and E. 

‘What the hell does that mean Boy?’  I asked the cat who didn’t give a toss anyway. 

The hunt was on for a small green book of tickets; well it looked like a book of tickets, most of the pages were perforated.  I hadn’t a clue where to start.  When I left the army, I’d been put on the reserve list for about 12 years.  You had to report every year for a day’s training.  I think I’d went two or three times; I can’t remember now.  I’d moved around so much the army had never been able to keep up with me, not that I cared.

I found it eventually tucked into a box of old photo’s I’d carried around with me for years.  Apart from the photo’s it was the only thing I still had of my army life.  All my reservist gear had gone bye-bye, years ago.  I wouldn’t even know where to start looking for it.  I sat down and flicked through it.  Aye that was me.  Description: 5’6’, fair hair, blue eyes.  Distinguishing marks burns on left arm. 

‘And ugly as sin, eh Boy?’

He lolled his head back and grinned up at me. 

I read through it again but still wasn’t sure what category I fitted into, so I picked up my mobile and phoned Buff.  To my dismay he was in, which realistically could only mean one thing.

‘Fit like Murison ye ugly bastard,’ which was his normal greeting.

‘Nae bad, Buff listen, fit’s a’ this groups C, D and E stuff?’

‘Ye haven't got a fucking clue, have ye?’

‘Nope.’

‘Well Group A’s Regulars, B’s the Territorial’s C 20-30 year olds, D 30-35, E 35-40, F, dads army jobs.’

‘Oh, right that means we’ve been called up?’

‘Aye and ye have to turn up.  If ye dinna they’ll toss ye in the punt and throw away the key.  Have you got Glencourse on your ticket, have ye still got it?’

‘Aye it’s in my hand.’  I looked on the report page.  ‘Aye, Buff Glencourse.’

‘Great when are ye setting off?’

‘Dinna ken I just got the word.’

‘Aright, well I’m off in a minute to collect Ali.  Marie is going to drive us to the station.  Try and find us when ye get there, we’ll head out for a pint.’

‘Aye, nae bother, see you then.’

‘See ye.’

I had a lot to do and set to it.  By 5 o’clock, I was rushing for a train.  I made it with a few minutes to spare, I had picked up my boss and handed him the keys, then shook his hand in farewell, he assured me my job would be waiting for me, but I had the strange feeling I wouldn’t need it back.  When I was safely on the train I phoned Cath, I could tell she was disappointed.  I ended the phone call with a sigh of relief; it had been a close call.  I put the phone away and Cath with it.