ACV's 1 Operation Black Gold (57 page)

CHAPTER 59

We sat and drank coffee discussing how we could lure the Americans into a trap, but we didn’t seem to be getting anywhere very fast.  ‘Sir the radio jamming has stopped.

‘OK, Willie switch on the tape.’

‘What tape?’ enquired Mike.

‘You know yourself we don’t use conventional radio waves anymore, but they don’t and the longer we keep them thinking we do the better.’

It gave me an inkling of an idea.  Someone put a coffee down in front of me and I sipped away at it absentmindedly.  I eventually became aware of the silence that had descended around the table.  They were all looking at me with an amused look on their faces.

‘Oh sorry!’

‘I hope you were working on our problem and not reminiscing about Paris on a wet spring day.’  Tom laughed.

I grunted.  ‘Never been near the place Tom.  No, could you get me through to General Pearson, HQ Scotland?’

‘We can try; do you think he’ll still be there?’

‘Should be, if he’s no, he will be with the Prime Minister.’

‘Maybe we should just call him first.’  Mike laughed.

‘If I have to call him Mike, I will.’

‘Aye, OK Jim.’

‘Is he nae still miffed at ye for telling him to stick his job up his arse?’  Buff grinned wickedly.

‘Nah, he wiz pretty cool the last time I saw him.’

‘I’m not so sure, he did get ye to stick that thing in your arm, are ye sure he can’t just switch it on?’

‘Aye I checked.’

‘What have you got in your arm?’

‘Never mind that Tom, can you get me through?’

‘Yes OK, but would you mind telling me what you’re planning?’

‘I will in a minute.  How much small arms ammo have you got?’

‘We could drown in it.’

‘Good, let’s go speak to Andrew, oh and switch that thing off and put on a proper operator.’

‘What for?’

‘You’ll see.’

We had no problems getting through to Andrew.  ‘So let me recap Jim, you need a genuine operator on this side and a dodgy line somewhere within Government?’

‘Aye that’s right.’

‘Have you got sometime on your hands, you would probably be able to find one quicker yourself.’

‘Good point but where would I start looking?’

‘Give me five minutes and I’ll give you a starting point.’

‘OK, when you do, switch your computer on and give me your computer number.’

‘OK see you in five.’

I put the receiver down and turned to Tom.  ‘Now this is what we need to do-----.’

Tom shook his head.  ‘I don’t know, it’s quite complicated.’

‘Aye but it’s not out with their capabilities and they certainly wouldn’t accept it in clear.’

‘Good point, if they have to dig for it they might actually believe eh.’  Both of us looked at our watches as they buzzed on our wrist.

‘I wonder if the sky’s clear, Mac come with me.’  They left me to it.

Andrew came back on with the information I needed.  I set too it, but there was no easy fix on this one and it took me a couple of hours hard graft to find what I needed.  I sent the details to Andrew who set to work at his end.

Tom’s part hadn’t taken long and he and Mike had sat and watched me work in silence. 

‘Who the hell are you?’  Tom asked when I switched off.

‘Who you see.’

‘No, no way, man you just broke into…’

I grabbed his arm to stop him saying anything further.  ‘No I didn’t, and you never saw anything either, do the pair of you understand that?’

They shared a look.  ‘OK Jim but I don’t like it; Christ a man of your talents shouldn’t be here for fuck sake.’

‘Who knows Tom; if this works, you might just be glad I am, eh!  Think about that before you try and fucking cage me.’  I stormed off.

He finally caught up with me as I was checking in on Davie.  He apologised and so did I.  ‘It’s just something I’m a wee bit touchy about.’

‘I noticed there’s still no sign of an attack.’

‘If it’s working they’ll wait until they get a good satellite fix.’

‘Yes makes sense, there’s been two over passes so far but a lot of cloud.  It’s beginning to break up again now though, and there’s another pass due in an hour’s time.’

‘Aye if we give them a bit of time to work out what their satellite actually saw, we should see some action fairly soon.’

An hour later, there was a fair bit of activity, they even put up a high flying recon bird, but a solid piece of cloud moved in and stayed for the duration.  The activity slowed back to normal.

‘I think we’ve got them hooked,’ Tom stated, slapping me on the back.

‘Is there anything else we can do?’  Mac asked.

‘No don’t think so.’  I was eyeing the news crew who were interviewing one of the NCOs.  Tina gave me a wave I waved back.  ‘Maybe there is Mac, how are you and your boys at acting.’

They came in during the next satellite over pass.  One gunship got in close and fired off a missile into a relatively untouched part of the rig.  It hit a large bunker into which we had piled all our ground to air rifle missiles earlier during the first satellite overpass.  Of course, we had moved them as soon as it was past and replaced them with ships flares and rifle ammunition, with the warheads removed.  The results in the darkness were spectacular and there was a real risk of the fires getting out of control.  Luckily the automatic systems were still working.  Men dropped their weapons and picked up hoses.  The news crew were quickly on the scene.

Men whispered to each other, but refused to comment, you could almost feel the air of dejection that surrounded them.  Tina was finally able to track down Tom and Mac as they waded out of the foam and seawater soaked to the skins.  When they saw her, they were able to remove the worried looks on their faces and smile for the camera.

‘What did they hit?’  She asked.

‘Oh nothing, just an old bunker with a few ships flares in it.’  Tom put on his best false smile.  ‘Don’t worry we’ll soon have the fires under control.’

The radio operator swung into action requesting immediate re-supply.  Of course it was sent in an unbreakable code, but Andrew was waiting at the other end to put the request through the proper channels including the phone line I’d found that was tapped.  Radio traffic onshore and between them and the rig increased dramatically.  Helicopters flew to naval bases around the North West then small launches made an attempt to run the blockade to re-supply us.  The cat and mouse game continued for most of the night without success for our forces.  They were driven back badly mauled.  Dispositions around the rig were changed to reflect the increasing risk.

‘So what happens now Jim?’  Buff asked.

We were gathered together in a small part of the accommodation block.  ‘Not sure mucker, if they’ve fell for it we should catch an attack of medium strength first thing in the morning and it winna be easy coz were going to have to fight them off with small arms.  After that, if we’re lucky their going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at us and if we’re very lucky, we’ll win and break their backs in the process.  As for now we should try and grab what sleep we can.’

It came eventually.  If anyone came near, I would find myself wide-awake, if they passed by I would be sleeping again thirty seconds later.  

‘Stand to, stand to,’ the order rang round the rig.  We roused ourselves.  I decided to split us into teams of two, to act as stretcher-bearers and to fight if necessary.  I left it to themselves as to where to go.

Somehow, I found myself with Abie, which suited me fine, being nearer the same height it was easier carrying a stretcher.  The tension began to grow palatable.  ‘If I’ve got to wait much longer, I’m going to run about in circles an bang my head off these girders.’  Abie grumped

The watch on my wrist buzzed.  ‘Give them another ten minutes.’  Nine minutes later they struck on the opposite side trying to whittle down the missiles there, desperately trying to kill the men firing them before they themselves were struck down.  I lost count of the amount that was fired.  Orders rang out and rubber boots stamped across the metal decks.  More missiles rushed out then they came in from our side.  The sea was calmer and they couldn’t hide between the waves as we had.  They came in, noses down, using their whirling blades as shields.

Abie fired a burst at the nearest, pinpricks of light danced from the near invisible flail.  ‘Wait until he shoves his nose up,’ I shouted grabbing his arm.

‘Fuck off they’ll be shooting then.’

I could only laugh.  I changed my sights to spot then cranked her half way up.  Drew a bead on the cockpit then waited.  When Abie stopped firing to change mags its nose came up firing.  Heavy calibre ordnance cranked past our ears deafening me.  I returned fire, smashing the gunships windscreen.  Whether I actually hit the pilot or not I would never know, but it nose-dived straight into the sea throwing up a wall of water.

The gunship behind reared up to avoid it and there was a whoosh from above my head as the last missile was fired.  It penetrated the underside of the gunship and exploded in spectacular fashion.  The rotors broke free and skipped across the wave tops disappearing under the rig.  We felt it shudder slightly under our feet.

‘Fucking hell!’  Exclaimed Abie now reloaded and trying to peek under the rail.  ‘I hope that never took a leg out.’

‘Heads up.’  There was another line of gunships heading in.

‘Hey Jim!’

‘Whit?’

‘Is this the reason were supposed to wait afore we fire?’  He was now inspecting the red-hot holes in the girder behind us.

‘Well it’s always handy if he disná ken far ye are afore he becomes vulnerable.’ 

That was all the time we had for small talk.  The gunships changed formation from line astern to line abreast and charged.  They swept in and around the platform; their fire was murderous.  One brave heart hovered directly above us correctly assuming we wouldn’t risk shooting him down there and preceded to pick off men at his leisure.  I became aware of what was happening and raced up a flight of stairs.  I caught sight of Mac being chased by a sweeping line of fire.  I took aim and sent a long burst into the gun housing, it stopped firing with a bark.  Abie fired at my side and the door gunner that had appeared fell out to dangle by his harness.

‘Thanks Abie, I never noticed that cunt.’

‘Ye canna dé it a’ by yourself Jim.’  He grinned.

Mac appeared limping and elsewhere the firing slackened as the attack was broken off, leaving this solitary gunship hovering above the deck.  Mac gave us a wave then the pilot one, although his wasn’t as friendly.  Men appeared surrounding the gunship.  The pilot who had been desperately trying to reset his weaponry suddenly realised the predicament he was in.  He turned helplessly caught like a fly in a jar.  Mac indicated for him to land but the pilot returned his earlier gesture with one of the single fingered variety.  I noticed some signs of life in the door gunner and moved over to stand beside Mac.

I pulled a field dressing from my pocket and opened it, gesturing towards the door gunner.  I handed my rifle to Mac in an attempt to make my intentions clear.  The pilot was conversing with his co-pilot; they came to a decision.  The co-pilot moved out of his seat and appeared at the door with the latest version of the Armalite in his hands.  I moved underneath the wounded man, standing clear of his dripping blood.  Under direction from the co-pilot, they lowered him down.

I found a weak pulse and looked up into the barrel of his rifle.  ‘He’s alive,’ I shouted.  He couldn’t hear me but it was obvious what I was saying.  He nodded.  I produced the knife and cut the harness; I then slipped it under his clothes and cut them open from chest to groin.  He had three sucking chest wounds on his right side.  I slid the knife back into place and pulled out a small package from a pouch ripped off the top and pulled out the plastic sheet.  I peeled of the backing and pushed the sticky plastic into the holes, rolled him over, packed a field dressing into the exit wounds and sealed them too.  ‘He’ll be fine,’ I mouthed up at the co-pilot.

He was squinting at the patch on my sleeve.  Then looked over at Abie who was kneeling in the classic stance, rifle aimed at his forehead.  The steely glint in his eyes left him in no doubt what would happen if he put a foot wrong.  The same shield I wore on both arms was also evident on Abie’s.  He nodded and spoke to the pilot who pulled her back up into a hover.

The co-pilot regained his seat and they looked around at the silent waiting men, then pulled her up into a steep climb, flicked her round and down shooting over the edge of the rig, dropping to wave top height fighting for speed and distance.  Fifteen rifles spoke.  The sea around it erupted as it raced away, but for as many that missed, as many hit.  It staggered, once, twice, thrice, smoke poured from one of the engines and pieces of fuselage dropped into the sea, but it pulled out of range.  ‘Ceasefire,’ roared Mac.