ACV's 1 Operation Black Gold (56 page)

Mike and Gordon popped up and fired off their remaining air to air then dropped into the next trough.  I thought the newswoman was going to puke.  I took one of her pale hands in mine and rubbed it gently.  ‘Don’t worry.  Look at it like this, no matter what happens now, you’ll have lived more in the last thirty minutes than you probably ever have or ever will again.’

She found her courage and smiled.  ‘Thank you.’

‘Heads down people, here we go.’  We popped up out of the waves and headed for the gap the air-to-air missiles had created for us.  Two gunships tried desperately to close the gap, but Mike and Gordon were ready.  Side by side, both aircraft juddered with recoil.  One gunship turned away sharply trailing smoke.  The other was blown sideways out of the air as one of its hard points was struck.

Then we were through racing for the rig safe from missiles but tracer laced the sky around us.  We all jumped to the thump, thump, thump as we were struck.  ‘Don’t panic,’ Mike soothed, ‘we’ll be all right as long as they don’t hit the engines or the cockpit.  We’ll soon be out of range.’  The rig was looming fast.

‘They’re pursuing us,’ Bruce sounded calm almost bored.

‘Hello CV9 this is Sunray Oscar 1, land immediately on the Helidecks, do not disembark.  Stay put we’ll cover you in over.’

‘CV9, Wilco out, Gordon you take the top pad, I’ll take the bottom.’

‘Roger.’

Missiles flashed out from the rig’s deck.  The note of our engine changed as the rotors clawed at the air.  My stomach churned as we turned and dropped.  As we touched down there was a whoosh as some kind of wall came up.

‘Hello 09 this is Tango Tango, One One and one two objective reached over.’  Mike had reverted to his own call sign now we were down.

‘09, roger TT11 well done, out.’

As the engines wound down, we could hear the odd sporadic burst of gunfire.  The loadmaster swung open the door and a waft of sea air, oil, and steel rushed in heaven sent.

‘You fine?’  I asked the news lady.

‘Yes and thank you for what you did up there.’

‘Don’t thank me lass, I wasn’t flying or fighting.  I was just along for the ride, same as you and just as frightened.’

‘I don’t believe it, you were all so calm.’

‘Oh believe it.’

‘Aye believe it, has anybody got a clean set of drawers,’ Abie’s voice came over from the other helicopter.  It got the round of laughter needed.

‘Just think, all you’ve got to do now is get your video back to your station and you’ll have the scoop of the year.’

A wicked grin creased her face.  ‘Video, this isn’t a video camera.’

‘It’s no?’

‘No,’ she shook her head.  ‘It’s a digital sat cam.’

‘A what, digital you mean you have to phone the pictures through.’

‘No it’s a sat cam, satellite camera; we’re transmitting live to the nation right now.’

‘What ye mean?’

‘Yes you’re all television stars.’

My face drained of colour.  ‘Oh shit, I mean.’  I hid my face in my hands as a wave of laughter almost rocked the rig.  ‘Nae beeps or nothing?’

She shook her head.  ‘No all live, everything.’

I took a deep breath and turned away.  ‘Oh, --- damn.’

The outside walls came down and two men stood in the doorway.  I recognised Tom Hall; a broad dark looking Celt accompanied him.  They looked around the interior of the helicopter; everyone was in hysterics except me.  I just wanted to crawl away.

‘I’m going to have to rewind that bit,’ Mac looked cheated at having missed the joke.

Davie swung into action.  We dragged out our gear, while the SBS boys unloaded the missiles.  A discreet word in the ear of the cameraman and he was only too happy to keep his camera pointing the other way.  The news crew followed us down to the hospital and tried to interview the conscious Americans, to no avail.  They wouldn’t co-operate, but it didn’t matter, seeing them there was enough. 

Davie was grabbed the moment he walked in.

‘This one’s very confusing,’ admitted the surgeon.  ‘He’s dying but we don’t know why.  All we can find is a tiny cut on his hip.’

‘OK, I’ll take him over here; Abie Gigs put those two tables together.  Jim, set up the machine, full torso.’  We hurried to do his bidding.  A green sheet was produced and laid over the tables.  The patient was placed gently on top and I rigged up the framework while Davie set up his machine.

‘What’s that?’  Asked a surgeon.

‘If you wait a second you’ll see,’ invited Davie.  We had received the first production model and I’d spent many hours coaching Davie on it.  He was probably better than me with it now.  He set the shuttle over the cut on the casualty’s hip and it immediately started tracking internal damage.

Davie turned the screen so the surgeon could see properly.  His jaw dropped.  ‘That’s incredible.’

‘There we go; a metal splinter has hit the hipbone and was deflected upwards into the heart.  We’re going to have to open him up now his heart’s struggling as it is.’

Trained orderlies rushed in pushing us out of the way.  When we had finished unpacking the gear, we were left with nothing to do.  A strange sort of silence had descended on the place only being disturbed by the odd command for a surgical instrument and the clicking of the lifesaving machines.

‘Fit do we do now Jim?’  Buff whispered.

‘Don’t know.’  I could feel the silence pushing me out the door.  ‘Let’s go see if we can grab a coffee somewhere.  Then we’ll see if we can lend a hand.’  We left the surgeons and doctors to their game of life and death.

CHAPTER 57

The fires had been brought under control but the Admiral wasn’t any happier.  ‘What the hell do you mean they got through Sheller?  I want their hides damn it.’

‘We’ll have to wait until they come out Sir.’

‘Wait until they come out, what the hell is going on around here.’  A buzzer sounded on his intercom, he pushed a button.  ‘What the hell do you want?’

‘Admiral Sir, the President is calling.’

‘Put him through.’

‘On the vid-screen Sir.’

‘Of course on the bloody vid-screen.’ 

A blast panel slid back in the wall and the President of the USA looked down on them.  ‘What the hell is going on over their Admiral, I’m receiving reports of massive losses.’

‘They’re true Sir.’

‘How in hell can they be true, there was only supposed to be oil workers on those rigs?’

‘There was a damn sight more than that.’  The Admiral gave a brief account of the assault on the rigs.

‘So they were waiting for us?’

‘Yes Sir.’

A piece of paper was pushed in front of the President.  He read it with disbelief.  ‘The Rockwell too, how?’  The Admiral described the ACV’s unit’s dash for the rigs including the fly past of the fighters.

‘Sir, we have aircraft, fighters doing speeds in excess of Mach 5.  What I want to know is where’s the air force with outdated aircraft and the army with plastic rifles because it sure as hell isn’t here, Sir.’

‘You’re not the only one asking that question at the moment Admiral and when I get it answered heads are going to roll.  Now I want that rig and I want it in operational condition, see to it or your head will be one of them.  Understand?’

‘Yes Sir perfectly.’

‘Good, now wait a minute.’  The screen went mute but they could see him speaking to someone on a telephone.  He turned back to the vid-screen.  ‘Admiral, you did say it was an ACV’s unit that broke through our lines.’

‘Yes Sir, that’s right.’

He muted the screen again while he talked down the telephone.  They could see him nodding to the person on the other end.  He put down the receiver and turned back to them.  ‘Admiral when you capture Osprey I want those men held under close arrest, all of them.  I will make arrangements to have them flown back to the States to stand trial.  If they attempt to escape, I want them dead, regardless of what it takes.  If you miss your career is over.’

The vid screen went blank.

The buzzer went again.  ‘Yes.’

‘Admiral, XO here, sorry to disturb you again Sir but I think you ought to see this.’  The screen went back on.  This time it was a woman; behind her, an American gunship could be seen skimming low over the sea.

‘It would seem the American gunships are keeping their distance for the moment but Colonel Tom Hall the commander of the small force defending Osprey assures me they haven’t given in yet.  Colonel Hall------.  ‘

‘XO what the hell is this?’

‘It’s coming through on a satellite link Sir, from Grampian Television.’

‘What the hell is Grampian Television?’

‘It’s an independent Scottish Television channel Sir, their biggest I believe.’  Another gunship appeared trailing yellow smoke.

‘What’s that fool doing?’

‘They claimed they were reporting live from Osprey, so I asked one of our units to circle the rig trailing yellow smoke to see if we could confirm it Sir.’

‘And that’s what we’re seeing.’

‘Yes Sir.’

‘Whom are they transmitting to?’

‘I don’t know Sir.’

‘Then find out and do it now.  I also want to find out how long they’ve been transmitting for and how they got there.’  However, the Admiral was pretty sure he knew all the answers already.

‘Yes Sir.’

CHAPTER 58

I had been dragged up to the Ops room still nursing a coffee.  Tom Hall was giving an interview to the newswoman whose name I’d finally discovered as Tina Flett.  He motioned for me to wait.  So I found a comfy seat and finished my coffee.

‘Whit are ye thinking about Jim?’  Asked Buff who’d decided to tag along.

‘Not a thing man, the head’s a bit numb.’

‘I ken that feeling, bit I just keep thinking I’m glad to be alive, then I remember we’ve still to get out of here.  It’s doing my head in.’

‘Aye I ken mucker.  Bit try and nae dwell on it or ye might just forget to duck when you have to.’

‘Fuck, that’s easier said than done.’

‘Nah, just say to yourself, if I keep thinking about this it could get me killed, an repeat it to yourself ten times.’

‘Dis it work?’

‘Don’t know I don't think about it.’

I received a punch on the shoulder.  ‘Cunt.’

I just grinned.

‘Sergeant Mac.’

‘Yes Sir.’

‘Could you show the news crew down to where the rigs crew are?  I’m sure their families will be glad to see their all safe.’

‘Yes Sir, this way lady and gent, if you please.’

Tina stopped on the way past.  ‘Hello Jim aren’t you helping out the medical teams?’

‘No we were pretty much evicted.’

‘Oh, don’t you mind?’

‘No, not really, those people have been training for this and doing this a lot longer than we have.  I’m sure if they need our help they’ll call.’

‘So what are you doing now?’

‘I’m just waiting to see Colonel Hall to see if we can be of any use to him around here.’

‘I see; you don’t really mind me calling you Jim, do you?

‘No I told you to didn’t I, why do you ask?

‘It’s, well, it’s just that you’re well known for your dislike of reporters.’

‘Am I?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well don’t worry about it.  We’ve just spent an entire life time together, I’m sure that entitles you to call me whatever the hell you like.’

I was rewarded with a big smile.  ‘I’ll remember that, thank you.  I had better leave you to it.  We’ll maybe see you later.’

‘I’m sure you will.’

Mac guided them away.  Buff stuck his fingers down his throat and made some belching noises.  I punched him.  ‘Fuck off.’

‘Could you show me some bullet holes Sergeant?  I’d like to see what kind of damage has been done.’

‘Oh, I could show you some really interesting ones on the way down, if you like,’ Mac offered innocently.

‘That would be lovely, thank you.’  They disappeared out of earshot.

‘That man’s going to be the end of me one day,’ laughed Tom Hall.  We introduced ourselves properly.

‘Who was that?’  Asked Buff.

‘That my good man was Sergeant Malcolm McKenzie, a complete and utter pain in the arse, who dogs my life and lives out of my pocket.  He also happens to be my best friend to boot.  We were at school together, joined the Marines together, then transferred to the SBS together and while I attained rank, he attained women, refusing anything above the rank of Sergeant.  He has refused a commission three times, says an officer’s lifestyle would severely curtail his leisure time.  His only concession is calling me Sir in front of the troops, sometimes.  What about you two?’

Buff got his oar in first.  ‘We dinna go back that far.  He found me stacked against a wall one night just after I reached the battalion wee some big Glaswegian trying to plaster me wee it.  I wiz that drunk I could hardly walk, he dragged the Glaswegian off and got me home.  Since then we’ve hardly been out ó trouble and it’s all his fault.’

‘Oh thanks a bunch.’

‘An I dinna call him Sir either.’

‘Aye well he’s got that one right.’

Tom Hall was still grinning.  ‘I have to admit, I have heard of some of your escapades.  I’m glad to have you on-board.’

‘Thanks, now what can we do to help.  Apart from our surgeon, the rest of us are just kicking about.’

‘Could you ask your men to release some of mine, most have had nothing to eat or drink since this started’

‘Aye, nae problem.’

It soon became apparent none of them wanted relieved.  So I had a word with the cooks.  They prepared fish and chips, sausage, and chips, wrapped individual portions in greaseproof paper and packed them into Norwegian containers.  We started at the top; Davie M and Grizz carried a container of tea and coffee.  We finished in the control room.  Mac who had regained his seat thought the fish and chips was a great idea.  We had ours with the film crew.

‘Would you like to watch the news Jim?’

‘Christ is that the time already?’

‘It certainly is.’  Tina linked arms with mine and dragged me over to a TV screen.  Everyone capable gathered round and Tom Hall transmitted it through the tannoy.  We watched in silence to the special news report that was being beamed around the globe.  They had cut the tape very skilfully.  It was more like watching a film than a news report.  The tension almost became palatable as we faced down the Rockwell.  It put a lot of emphasis on our reluctance to fire until we had been fired upon twice.

I flushed red as I watched myself confront the screaming woman and she gripped my arm tightly in response.  Then came the search for survivors from the Rockwell and the dropping of our own life rafts.  They even included our communication with the Wrangler.

Our mad dash for the rigs left us all breathless.  There was even an official communiqué regarding Don’s part.  They then gave a list of our casualties and an estimation of the Americans.  It went on to cover the day’s events on the rigs and the people on it.  Mac appeared pointing out a number of bullet holes on a girder, and then he gave a personal account of the assault.  It was powerful stuff.  Tina detached herself and went over and stood by the windows.  They went live and she ended the report by thanking us for their safe delivery, while the camera focused onto the circling gunships.

Mike came over ‘I’m glad they got in a good mention for the fighter boys.  Did you see what they did?’

‘No, I didn't.’

‘They caught it on a satellite overpass; General Morris thought we might like to see if.  Could you play it for me Corporal?’

‘Yes Sir.’

I was stunned by what I saw.  ‘How did they manage that?’

‘Ever been on a bike and passed by a lorry?’

‘Aye, well a motorbike.’

‘Same thing, they flew along the deck at say Mach 5 and punched up their afterburners, catching those two on the catapults and, basically, just blew them away.’

‘I wouldn’t fancy trying that myself.’

‘That Jim is just pure raw courage.’

Tom Hall ambled over.  ‘Have you seen this?’  I asked him.

‘I have, and if they get flung out for it, I have plenty room for them in my outfit.’

‘I’ll pass on the word.’

‘Please do.’

‘Now I’ve been hearing from our pilot friend you planned most of your little excursion, fancy turning your mind to a few of our problems?’

‘No, fire away.’

‘The way things are going we could be at this for months.  The Prime Minister however wants a fast decisive resolution to this phase of the war.  He wants their offensive capabilities smashed and their morale with it.’

‘Nae doubt he would.’