Kombat
Kids by GhostRyder
Chapter 41: Showdown
15:00
DAY TWO, DON PRINCE’S OFFICE
Don
Prince was in his office talking on the phone to a highly
placed bureaucrat in the FBI Office in Spokane. When
the man was younger, just starting out as a lawyer for
the government, he had gotten deeply involved in a get
rich quick scheme and had embezzled funds from the local
office of the GSA. He had gone to Don Prince who was
a friend when he was in college, thinking he could trust
him, he told Prince what had happened and begged him
for help. Don Prince came through and loaned him $250,000
and told him he understood and to not worry about paying
him back until he could afford it. That was ten years
ago, now, Don Prince was calling in the lawyer’s
marker. Up until the man received Prince's call, he
was blissfully unaware of the kind of person he was
dealing with, he soon found out. The FBI under J. Edgar
Hoover always prized their sterling reputation first;
solving cases was of a lesser priority to them. J. Edgar
always stressed to his department heads that under no
circumstances will the FBI or he ever be embarrassed
because of a mistake by one of his agents. While J.
Edgar has been dead and buried for over thirty years,
his decree regarding the FBI not being embarrassed was
still held by whoever the current director was. Thus
. . . let's call him Mr. Smith . . . . Mr. Smith couldn't
afford any hint of scandal being associated with his
name, no matter how long ago it happened. So when Don
Prince called him in his corner office of the Federal
Building in downtown Spokane and reminded him of the
$250,000 that he was still in the process of paying
back, he readily agreed to sidetrack the report of a
fourteen year old boy that was kidnapped in Moreland.
Prince
sat behind his desk, a just opened liter bottle of Makers
Mark sour mash bourbon sitting in front of him while
he drank some of it from cut crystal glass. After staring
at the bottle thinking about the situation his idiot
sons had gotten him into, he made the decision that
would affect many and cause much pain and suffering.
Picking up the phone he speed dialed a long distance
number with an international area code. The phone rang
twice before it was answered; "You got those men
I asked you to put on standby? . . . . . . Okay, here's
the deal, there's five males ages 14 to 25 in my cabin
south of Toppenish Ridge. I want them dead and the cabin
torched, I mean burnt completely to the ground. . .
. . . . I don't care if it starts a forest fire, in
fact if it doesn't, I want your men to start one. .
. . . . . . . . . Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, I don't care, I
want as little evidence remaining as possible, tell
your guys that I'll double what I promised them if they
can make it look like an accident. . . . . . . Fine,
I'll give you an extra ten percent per kilo on the next
shipment. . . . . . . I won't be contacting you for
awhile, and I don't want any calls from you either."
Prince hung up and thought about his two boys who were
about to die, sighed and thought: "Fuck em, I'm
young enough to have more, besides that's all that dumb
bitch I'm married to is good for, that and spending
my money."
17:30 AT THE BATEMAN COMPOUND
Earlier that afternoon they had received a call from
Greg Bailey telling the Gunny to call Major Hobson.
The Gunny thanked him and hung up and punched in the
number Chief Bailey had given him. The phone was answered
on the first ring; "Special Air Operations, Sergeant
Matthews speaking sir,"
"Sergeant
Matthews, this is Master Gunnery Sergeant Mcnaughten
calling for Major Hobson." The Gunny said using
his best D.I. voice
Sergeant
Matthews replied; "Please standby."
Thirty
seconds later Major Hobson came on the line; "Good
evening Gunny, we developed some more information from
a low level pass we made on the back to McCord this
morning. We did another flyby on the last track we flew
this morning and detected a fifth person in the second
cabin. The reason he didn't show up on the first pass
was, and this is just conjecture now, that he's in the
basement of the structure. We got a pretty good read
on the person, it appears that he was lying on his side
and looked to have his hands bound behind him. I wanted
to let you have this, but I didn't have your number
and I couldn't reach Greg.
"Major,"
the Gunny said; "don't sweat it sir, we're getting
ready to launch one of our guys to do a walk about in
the area, this new info will cut down his need to recon
three different places. Thank you very much for all
of your help sir."
"No
problem Gunny, if you need us, give us a call, I presume
you have ground/air communications?" The Major
asked.
"Yes
sir." The Gunny responded; "Unit one uses
47.7 MHz. for voice communication, unfortunately, our
encrypted communications are none standard single use
requiring a key contained in the single use CD we generate
on our Cray when we practice OpSec (Operational Security)."
"Okay,
we'll be practicing combat insertions and lift offs
at the Moreland Airport tonight starting at 01:00 through
07:00. We'll guard 47.7 MHz. starting 00:01 tonight
and continue to do so until at least 07:30 local tomorrow."
The Major said.
"Thank
you sir, I hope to see you sometime early tomorrow morning."
The Gunny then hung up and thought for a moment before
heading to the lounge and repeating what the Major had
said.
It
was decided that Keener would do a walkby of the cabin
east of the primary target to ensure there wouldn't
be any surprises. Keener didn't have a problem with
the extra walk, he'd been involved in operations that
had gone south on him because of letting things slide.
He and the Gunny had gone over the maps and the CD with
the Air force telemetry data on it and didn't think
it would add more than twenty to thirty minutes to the
first part of the operation. Besides reconing the two
cabins Keener would set up the jump beacon in a fairly
large meadow approximately a kilometer from the main
target. The beacon would be activated five minutes before
the jumpers exited the aircraft and then Keener would
provide area security until everyone was down and ready
to advance on whichever cabin was identified as the
main target.
As
the day advanced, the team makeup was finalized. The
only problem that was encountered was with Mitch, he
wanted to go, but his father refused to talk about it.
George Babcock was afraid. Not for himself, but for
his oldest boy, he knew he was capable of doing what
was required, but all he could think of was that he
had almost lost Mitch twice. Once in the car accident
that was caused by his mother driving drunk which resulted
in him loosing his leg. The second time in another traffic
accident where James Bateman lost an arm and a leg because
a truck driver was driving after going for thirty-six
hours without sleep.
Mitch
and his father had gone to the conference room to argue
about him going. It came down to a confrontation between
father and son. Mitch was adamant about going. George
was equally adamant about him not going. Finally Mitch
told his father; "Dad, everytime you were deployed
you told us you had no choice, it was your job and you
had to go."
George
tried to interrupt; "That's not fair s . . . .
. ."
Mitch
didn't give his father a chance to continue; "That's
what you always told Shane and me, 'It's not fair, but
it is my job and I have to go.' Well it's my turn now,
I know I'm only fourteen, I know I only have one real
leg and I know that I gotta go on this jump or I'll
never be able to look at myself in the mirror again.
I'm going and the only way you'll stop me is to lock
me up somewhere, if you do that, then I'll never speak
to you again as long as I live."
George
Babcock looked at his son and realized how much he had
changed since he had moved from the coast to Moreland.
He seemed to be a lot older than his fourteen years
and for the first time he realized how much he had matured
physically. He thought to himself; "If he dies
I'll never be able to forgive myself, if he never forgives
me because I didn't let him go, I might as well be dead."
These thoughts and several others flashed through his
head as he stood there staring into his son's eyes.
He had no choice. With a gentle sigh he nodded his head;
"All right son, you've given me no choice, if Matt
will let you go, I won't stop you. BUT. But you have
to promise me you'll follow orders and think before
you do anything, alright?"
Mitch's
eye's glazed over and moisture threatened to start falling
from his eyes as he moved forward and grasped his father
in a bear hug; "I love you dad, thanks for trusting
me, and I promise dad, I'll follow orders."
George
realized for the first time that his fourteen year old
son was almost as tall as he was, in the five months
they had been in Moreland; Mitch had grown three inches
in height and put on ten pounds.
20:53,
350 METERS UP THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOPPENISH RIDGE
Toppenish Ridge was approximately 1,200 meters high;
the meadow that had been selected for Keener's insertion
was 350 meters from the base of the ridge, on an angle
of forty degrees. Keener kicked the fast line out the
door of the H-13 and then hooked the quick disconnect
friction slider to it that was attached to a body harness
specifically designed for fast lining. Turning to Jeff,
he gave him thumbs up and was gone, his slide took him
down to ground in less than three seconds. Activating
the quick disconnect he was free of the fast line. Moving
quickly down hill twenty or so feet from the dangling
fast line and crouched down. He spoke into his hands
free mic; "Clear." Over his headset, he heard;
"Roger, good luck."
As
Keener watched, the spidery form of the Hiller lifted
higher and turned to the north, staying low to the ground,
but heading for the top of the ridge by following the
terrain. Once Jeff Morton crested the ridge, he would
turn and head back to the compound. Keener remained
crouched where he was for the next fifteen minutes,
hardly moving, listening as the sounds of the forest
and the meadow started up again after being silenced
by the giant predator that had flown into its midst.
After insuring that he was alone, he pulled out his
GPS and got a bearing to the first cabin he was to recon.
Replacing it in the pouch that was attached to his LBE
harness, he pulled out his compass and took a bearing
with it, as most military men were, he always had a
backup. A GPS was great, but whenever possible he used
a compass to insure it was working properly, in an area
with high terrain features such as he was in, a GPS
sometimes locked up. He replaced the compass in his
pocket and headed off towards the first landmark he
had sighted on, he had to make continuous checks with
his compass to insure he was moving in the right direction.
With the light gathering optics he was using, he had
no problem making his way through the heavy brush that
littered the old growth forest he was moving through.
After being on the move for close to an hour, Keener
stopped for a short break; crouching down with his back
to a large tree he made a visual sweep of the immediate
area to make sure he was alone. With his left hand,
he held his 60 by the barrel shroud just forward of
the action while he pulled a water bottle from its carry
position on his LBE. After drinking the contents of
the one liter bottle (Gatorade), he replaced it in its
holder. Once again he surveyed the area around him and
moved out quietly towards his first target.
22:00, THE SARTEN RANCH 30 MILES SOUTH OF TOPPENISH
RIDGE
Benny
Martine had a bad feeling about this job, he was going
to do it, but he didn't have to like it. His boss, Tunio
Gartimereze, was paying him big bucks to take care of
five men and boys, and that was the problem, Tunio never
before paid him the amount of money he was getting for
this hit. Tunio had contacted him the day before and
told him of the job and that he and his men would be
transported from Sonoyta, Mexico to a ranch in southern
Washington. Benny and three of his men were driven across
the border in three different vehicles and delivered
to a straight stretch of Arizona Highway 85 just south
of Why, Arizona. At 10:35 PM the previous night a Lear
35A made a low pass over their section of the highway,
with the flaps out and the wheels down, the aircraft
slowed to just above its stall speed. After making the
pass, the small aircraft lined up on the two-lane highway
from the north and landed, coming to a stop alongside
the area where the men were hiding in the brush. Within
seconds of the plane stopping the door opened and Martine
and his three men ran to the aircraft and boarded it.
As soon as the door was secured, the pilot advanced
the throttles and released the brakes; the Lear seemed
to leap forward and shortly was airborne. The 1,500
mile flight to the Yakima Air Terminal, McAllister Field
in Yakima took a little over three and a half hours.
When they arrived; a black Chevy Yukon with a driver
was waiting for them. An hour and a half later they
were in single level ranch house in the middle of nowhere.
For the twenty hours Benny and his men spent in the
ranch house all that was accomplished was the check
out of the weapons that were supplied by his boss. Whatever
the local situation was, it was going to be up close
and personal when the dance started. The only weapons
they had been provided with were three pistol grip Mossberg
pump shotguns, an H & K MP5 9mm sub-machinegun,
four Berretta 92FS 9mm pistols and four Tanto styled
K-Bar knives. The shotguns each came with a nylon sling
and a 25 round box of .00 Buckshot, three fifteen round
magazines were provided for each of the pistols and
three 32 round magazines for the MP-5. There was also
five 50 round boxes of 9mm hollow points. With the weapons,
ammunition and the knives was a short letter of instructions
that basically told Benny to wait inside the house and
be ready to move out on a half hour warning. By 20:00,
all four of the men were ready to get the job done and
get back to Mexico. All of them just wanted the job
to be over with.
23:00 TARGET ONE
Keener's
navigation of the forest was right on the money, he
stopped at the edge of the clearing surrounding the
most eastern cabin, crouching down, he watched the cabin
for any sign of movement or noise. After observing the
cabin for five minutes, he carefully made his way to
the nearest window and looked inside. There was a night
light glowing on the south side of the room and the
one bed in the room was occupied by what looked like
a teenage girl of maybe fourteen or fifteen. Moving
to the next window, he was able to see a boy about twelve
years old lying on his back on the couch in the main
room. Turning around, Keener moved directly west away
from the cabin. When he was once again in the woods
he spoke into his microphone; "GhostRyder Base,
GhostRyder Base, this is Walker One, over." After
waiting for ten seconds, he repeated his call; "
GhostRyder Base, GhostRyder Base, this is Walker One,
over."
Just
as he was about to try for the third time he heard;
“Walker One, Walker One, this is GhostRyder Base,
over."
Speaking
softly he said; "GhostRyder Base, Walker One, target
one is a negative, I repeat, target one is a negative,
over."
The
response was what he had expected; "GhostRyder
Base copies target one is a negative, proceed to target
two, GhostRyder Base, out."
Keener
didn't say anything more, after checking his compass,
he moved off quickly in the direction of the primary
target. Moving quietly he made the two-mile hike in
just over thirty minutes. Coming upon the cabin from
the east side, he immediately saw the white van with
the 'Prince Lumber Co.' sign on the passenger door,
and parked along-side the van was an older CJ model
Jeep. Keener moved to the front of the vehicles and
one at a time, placed his hand on the hoods of each,
neither of them had been driven for several hours. Placing
his 60 on the ground, he pulled his K-Bar from its sheath
and cut the valve stems of all four tires on each vehicle,
all that could be heard was a soft, almost sibilant
hiss as the tires slowly deflated. Moving quietly around
the cabin, Keener determined that the only window that
was not shuttered was one in the foundation on the west
side of the structure. Setting his 60 on the ground
once again, he looked in the window, if it hadn't been
for the night optics he wore he never would have seen
Jacky tied to the post in the center of the basement.
Studying Jacky closely he thought he might be dead,
then he saw the boy lift his head off his chest and
shudder, while he watched, the large fourteen year old
boy vomited down the front of his MarCams into his lap.
Jacky seemed to shudder again and his head dropped forward
again.
Keener
grabbed his 60 and moved quickly and quietly away from
the cabin, he made the decision to move away instead
of trying to bust his way into the cabin. He probably
could take whoever was holding Jacky captive, but if
he failed, he would be dead and Jacky would probably
die shortly after him. Keener moved to the clearing
that had been designated as the 'Drop Zone.' Once there,
he set his 60 down and removed his ruck. Opening it,
he pulled the beacon out and moved to the center of
the clearing and positioned it, pressing the 'Press
to Test' button on the side of the device he got a steady
green light indicating the batteries and circuitry were
good. Moving back to his 60, for the first time since
he was in Iraq, he chambered a live round for use not
against a paper target, but against an enemy that he
would gladly kill.
23:45, THE BATEMAN COMPOUND COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
Matt and the Gunny were sitting in the Com room talking
quietly about the upcoming jump when the radio came
alive; "GhostRyder Base, GhostRyder Base, this
is Walker One, over."
"Walker
One, GhostRyder Base, go ahead." Matt answered
into the microphone.
"GhostRyder
Base, GhostRyder Base, this is Walker One, Target acquired,
I say again Target acquired."
"Walker
One, GhostRyder Base, roger your last, what is target's
condition, over?"
"GhostRyder
Base, Walker One, target is alive, but needs immediate
medical attention. Walker One observed target secured
to vertical floor support and he was vomiting at the
time of sighting. Walker One was unable to affect rescue
due to access problems, Walker one was unable to eyeball
other occupants of cabin or how they were armed, over."
"Walker
One, GhostRyder Base, set up insertion beacon and remain
in DZ until told to activate beacon, then return to
cabin and observe area, do not, I repeat do not attempt
rescue of Target, confirm, over"
"GhostRyder
Base, GhostRyder Base, Walker One, insertion beacon
is in place but not activated, all vehicles at the cabin
have been immobilized, Walker One understands no rescue
attempt without backup. Walker One will remain in vicinity
of DZ until told to activate beacon, then return to
cabin, over."
"Walker
One, GhostRyder Base out." Matt said
Matt
turned to the Gunny; "Get them suited up, I figure
we got about an hour to and hour and a half before we're
airborne."
The
Gunny nodded his head and left to sound General Quarters.
Matt turned back to the microphone, set the band width
to 47.7 MHz and started calling; "Snoopy 09, Snoopy
09, GhostRyder Base, over."
DAY
THREE, 00:15 BATEMAN COMPOUND COMMUNICATIONS ROOM
As
Matt released the transmit button on the microphone
once again, he started to worry, if Snoopy 09 didn't
answer soon, they'd have to try to move on the cabin
in vehicles. That was the last thing Matt wanted to
do, there was every likelihood that Captain Eagletooth
was watching the roads into the reservation and would
stop them before they could close on the cabin. Just
as he was about to try again he heard; "GhostRyder
Base, GhostRyder Base, this Snoop 09, over."
Hitting
the transmit key, he responded; "Snoopy 09, this
GhostRyder Base, go ahead, over."
"GhostRyder
Base, Snoopy 09 is at angels 20 at 250 knots, turning
to 125 in five, over."
"Snoopy
09, this is GhostRyder 6, we are at GhostRyder Base
and need a lift from home base (Moreland Airport) on
224 at angels 25 at 01:30, over."
"Ah
roger your last GhostRyder 6, Snoopy 09 copies last,
wait."
"GhostRyder
6, Snoopy 09, how many require lift, I say again, how
many require lift? Over."
"Snoopy
09, GhostRyder 6, thirteen, I say again one three, over."
GhostRyder
6, Snoopy 09, see you at 01:30 at north end of home
base, Snoopy 09 out."
While
Matt was talking to Snoopy 09, the Gunny had come in
and listened to the conversation. When Matt had finished
he asked; "Matt I really want to go in on this,
I know we already talked about it, but I need to go
with you."
Matt
shook his head; "Sorry Gunny, but I need you to
lead the ground element; I know George will be there,
but I need you to do this for me. I don't want to have
to worry about what's happening on the ground while
Steve and I are herding these boys down from 20,000
feet. Please, please do this for me."
The
Gunny sighed; "Alright, but we ever have to do
this again, you're staying on the ground and I'll be
doing the jumping. Deal?"
Matt
smiled; "Deal."
The
smile on Matt's face faded as he ordered the Gunny;
"Assemble the troops Gunnery Sergeant."
The
Gunny came to attention; "Aye, aye sir." Turning
to the building announcing system he hit the transmit
key and ordered; "Jumpers, Ground Team and support
personnel muster in the Cavern, that is, Jumpers, Ground
Team and support personnel muster in the Cavern."
Within
five minutes the Unit One boys and men who were involved
in the operation had assembled in the Cavern. Broken
into the three sub-groups, Jumpers, the Ground Reserve
Force used to seal off the cabin from the highway and
the support personnel. The support personnel were mainly
adults, added to older teenage Squadies with driver’s
licenses who would operate the vehicles and provide
logistical support for the other groups. Everyone was
wearing MarCams. This was the third time the plan was
gone over in the last eight hours, with the exception
the adults and one or two of the boys, everyone had
worked together on several different exercises. The
only unusual aspect of the operation was the sniper.
Instead of using his Barrett .50 caliber rifle, he would
be using an accuratized Springfield Armory M1-A1 (civilian
version of the M14) with an NVWS-6 Low Light Amplification
Telescopic sight. The rifle used a much smaller, lighter
round (7.62 X 55 mm cartridge, with a 150 grain bullet),
which they wouldn't have to worry about going through
the front wall and taking out a good guy when it exited
the building through the back wall. This was a really
good idea since two of the jumpers would be stationed
behind the cabin to insure nobody left that way once
the shooting started.
The
briefing lasted only ten minutes, reserve force and
the logistic teams were getting ready to move out, as
it would take them an hour and a half to make it to
their staging point. Terry English had been able to
scrape up three 'low boy' flat bed trailers and a sixty-foot
box trailer. The four tractor-trailer rigs would transport
the Unit’s wheeled vehicles to a point on the
reservation where they could be unloaded and used in
the assault on the cabin, if necessary.
Terry
English felt out of place wearing the MarCams he had
been given, even more so because he was also issued
a Kevlar 'Fritz' style helmet. While never serving in
the military, he had lot of experience handling heavy
equipment and could operate all of the equipment the
Unit used. When he was asked to help with the operation,
he quickly agreed, thanking God that it was Jacky that
had been kidnapped rather than his son Tyler.
Earlier
that day, the low-boy trailers had been loaded with
four HUMVE's, an LAV and a FAV; all the vehicles on
the flat beds were covered with canvas tarpaulins to
disguise them. Two more FAV's had been tied down in
the box trailer, and ramps secured to the interior sides
of the trailer for rapid loading and unloading. The
four tractor-trailers units exited the Bateman compound
at 00:55 and headed towards the staging point. The reserve
and logistical teams rode in the vehicles secured on
the flat beds or in the box trailer. Doctor Davidson
rode in the front of the box trailer, with all the medical
supplies he anticipated needing, but prayed that he
wouldn't have to make use of. Soon the small convoy
was moving along at 55 miles per hour on its way to
be part of the rescue team for Jacky.
While
the trucks were in route the thirteen members of the
jump team had suited up and climbed into eight different
vehicles and headed to the Moreland Airport. After arriving
at the airport, the boys and men grabbed their jump
and equipment bags then moved to the end of the ramp
to await their transportation. While they were waiting,
Matt pulled Jap away from the group and said; "You're
our team sniper, I'm depending on you to keep the assault
force safe. I'm also depending on you not to lose your
head the first time you get one of those assholes in
your sights. I want as many of them alive as possible,
so promise me Jap, and I need to hear you say it, promise
me that you won't splatter their brains all over the
countryside the first time you get a clear shot. Promise
me Jap or you aren't going."
Jap
looked Matt in the eyes and nodded.
Matt
shook his head; "No Jap, that won't do, say the
words and mean them or you don't go."
Jap
once again looked the man in the eyes and said; "Matt,
I promise I won't kill anyone unless I have to, to save
one of our guys, I promise you on Jacky's life."
Matt
looked at the boy for a few more seconds and nodded;
"Thank you Jap, go ahead and join the rest of the
team."
As
Jap was heading back to the group, a Sheriff’s
police car turned the corner with its emergency lights
on and pulled to a halt alongside the rest of the vehicles.
The lights went out and the engine was shut down. When
the door opened and Tommy Martin climbed out, Matt let
the pent up breath out he had been holding. Tommy was
dressed in hunter’s camouflage and had his Sheriffs
gun belt around his waist and his Deputy Sheriff’s
badge pinned to his chest. While Matt watched, the man
opened the trunk and removed a jump bag very similar
to the ones the jumpers carried. After closing the trunk,
he walked over to Matt and gave him a rather sloppy
salute; "Hi there captain, nice night for a jump
ain't it?"
Matt
took a second or two to figure out what Tommy had just
said, then he shook his head; "Nope, no way, un-un,
there ain't no way you can go with us."
With
a shit eating grin on his face Tommy said; "Yeah
there is, I'm the lawfully constituted police contingent
of this jump, besides I got a search warrant for three
different cabins in Toppenish, signed by a federal judge.
This way, if Eagletooth or his bandits try to stop us
I can fend him off, you really need me for this."
Matt
tried to tell him the problems with him going with them,
about the jump, the altitude they would jump from and
the terrain they would be jumping into. Tommy just grinned
at him and let him talk until Matt finally ran out of
reasons for him not going. Tommy answered his objections
one by one, concluding with; "And to your final
reason why I can't go, I am a certified jumper, I been
jumping for the last three years. I've been doing HALO
jumps for a year and a half and I'm good at it, I even
have a MC-5 Tactical RAM-AIR Parachute and a Scott bottle
for high altitude jumps."
Before
Matt could respond, the sound of a large aircraft could
be heard; Matt and Tommy, along with the rest of the
air assault jumpers turned their heads to look for the
source of the sound. As with the previous night, all
that could be seen was the giant outline of the big
aircraft as it made it a combat insertion landing. The
giant aircraft lumbered towards them, but instead of
stopping as it had the night before, it continued to
move past the group of men and boys. When the aircraft
was past them and stopped, the rear loading ramp thudded
to the runway and the aircraft Crew Chief walked to
the end of the ramp and motioned them to come forward
and board the plane. Picking up their jump and equipment
bags the men and boys trotted up the ramp and into the
crowed confines of the monstrous aircraft. As the last
of the boys and men came aboard, the loading ramp at
the rear of the aircraft started to close as Snoopy
09 started to pivot around to line up with the runway.
The Crew Chief got everyone seated in the red nylon
strap seats attached to the starboard side (right side)
of the cargo bay. The boys tried to look at everything
at once, the 105mm and the 40mm cannon as well as the
GAU12/U 25mm Gatling gun. The fine weaponry seemed to
mesmerize the boys. Being boys, the hardware on the
port side of the aircraft drew most of their interest,
while a few of them wondered what was behind the doors
to the aircraft’s modularized electronics suite
on the starboard bulkhead.
After
everyone was strapped in and the Crew Chief checked
to insure he had a green light on the door closure panel
he contacted the flight deck; "Aircraft Commander,
this is the Crew Chief, aircraft ready for launch."
Moving
to his seat and strapping in he heard; "Aircraft
Commander to all stations Snoopy 09 is rolling."
With
that, Snoopy 09 surged forward, a very short time later
the nose of the aircraft lifted off the runway and then
seconds later the rest of the giant plane followed.
To confuse anyone watching, Snoopy 09 continued heading
south and within ten minutes was orbiting over northern
Oregon, at 6,500 meters (22,500 feet) at a speed of
230 knots. The time was 01:43.
Once
the aircraft leveled off, the Unit One men and boys
unstrapped and started donning their equipment, time
was running out.
01:10
THE SARTEN RANCH
The
first ring of the phone woke Benny from his dozing,
picking up the handset he said; "This is 063."
He listened for thirty seconds and then hung up. Standing
up he called out to his men; "Let's go men, the
jobs on, we must hurry."
01:30
THE PRINCE CABIN
Keener
had been watching the cabin since he made his report
to Matt, there having been no movement from in or around
the cabin; he decided to make a quick check on Jacky.
Leaving his M60 in his hide he crept up on the basement
window and looked in, it didn't appear that Jacky had
moved at all. Taking a chance, he tapped lightly on
the window, there was still no movement, this time he
tapped a little harder and he saw Jacky's head move
a little towards the sound of the tapping. Quickly he
backed off and made his way back to his hide, feeling
better in the knowledge that Jacky was still alive.
At
01:50 as he was entering his hide, he heard in his headset;
"Walker One, Walker One, this is GhostRyder Six,
over." Keener's heart rate accelerated as he answered;
"GhostRyder Six, Walker One, go ahead, over."
"Walker
One, GhostRyder Six, egress in ten, over."
"GhostRyder
Six, Walker One, roger your last, egress in ten, out"
With that he moved from his hide and headed for the
clearing to activate the beacon, glad that things were
about to happen.
02:05 6,500 METERS (22,500 FEET), 20 MILES SOUTH OF
TOPPENISH RIDGE
The
cargo bay of Snoopy 09 had been depressurized and the
rear ramp had been lowered until it was in line with
the cargo bay deck, the men and boys of Unit One were
wearing their PARIS Rigs and Tommy was in his MC-5 Tactical
Ram Air Parachutes. Their Gear bags were strapped to
their legs and they were wearing M3T helmets and were
breathing from five-minute Scott supplied air bottles.
When the Crew Chief who was acting as the Jump Master
saw the jump light go from red to green, he slapped
matt on the ass and Matt moved quickly to the end of
the ramp and disappeared into the black Washington night
sky. The remaining fourteen jumpers quickly followed,
as soon as the last went off the ramp the Crew Chief
activated the door closure switch, silently wishing
the men and boys God’s Speed.