Read Online Hammer of God (Kirov Series Book 14) by John Schettler - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: John Schettler
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Fedorov’s mind, but he knew they might not solve that here.
“Interesting
point,” said Churchill. “I might run that by our resident expert on time travel,
Mister Wells, and see what he thinks. In the meantime, we could take a roll
call of all troops assigned and see if any names match up. If we do find a
match, it might be wise to see that those troops are assigned elsewhere, and
leave their line of fate untouched by this business.”
Yet
Fedorov realized all this was entirely beyond their grasp. He knew this
division, and others from India, had been sent to secure Iraq. If men were
reassigned to other duty, that decision could change their fate, and this alone
could introduce a variation that might have unforeseen consequences. What if
one of these great grandfathers serves here and came through undaunted, but if
he was transferred elsewhere and killed in action? What then? This thought
passed darkly through his mind like a storm front, but he knew it was beyond
his means to control.
That
was the dilemma they now faced. Once his ship and crew took up sides here, and
now with Kinlan’s forces in this time, they were irrevocably committed to the
here and now—this present war—and they were going to have to realize that the
history they would write here might not look anything like the chapters in his
books. They were again reaching a profound point of divergence here. Who knows
what this operation could lead them to down the convoluted road ahead? He
thought all this, but said nothing, his mind and heart still heavy.
Then
the quiet of the night was broken by the sound of a motor car or jeep rushing
in to the village. It was an officer from the communications section with a
message from Alexandria for Wavell. The man rushed in, saluting crisply,
obviously in awe to see the Prime Minister sitting by the fire with his brandy
and cigar. Wavell took the message, and leaned in to whisper something in the
man’s ear.
“The
gentleman you have just seen is not here. In fact you’ve seen nothing at all,
Sergeant. Understood?”
“Yes
sir. Of course.”
Wavell sent
him on his way, reading the message slowly in the dim light. “Gentlemen,” he
said quietly. “These deliberations turn out to be very timely. The forces
Rashid Ali has sent to overwatch our airfield at Habbaniyah have just begun
shelling the base. There were over 40 casualties and twenty two planes were
hit, mostly the Oxford trainers and a few old Hawker Hart light bombers. Many
were not even in any shape to fly.”
“I was
expecting this,” said Churchill quietly. “In fact, I gave Air Vice Marshall
Smart there an authorization to use all necessary force to move the Iraqi army
off the plateau overlooking our base. Yet this should put the fire to our feet.
Captain Fedorov, I should be grateful to take your offer and see troops ferried
there as soon as possible.”
“I’m
sure I can get an order off within the hour, and Admiral Volsky will certainly
agree. Our Sergeant Troyak is a most capable man, but perhaps we should send
Popski along with that contingent given the language barrier.”
“Popski?”
Churchill did not know the man, but Wavell smiled, and soon explained who he
was. The General had a love for these ad hoc detachments out on special
operations like this, and now Wavell was getting fired up himself, his
reluctance to take on all these other operations burning away like the log in
the fireplace. So it was decided that Popski would go with the Scimitar
company, and join up with Troyak and his Marines in Palestine. As for the X-3
Helicopters, they would have to contact the Argos Fire to make the
arrangements.
“Just
how many Marines can you send us,” Churchill asked.
“One
platoon,” said Fedorov. “But it has firepower worth many times its number in
men. The same could be said for any troops off the Argos Fire , and the
helicopters also can have a dramatic impact.”
“Helicopters,
“said Churchill with a smile. “I
“Interesting
point,” said Churchill. “I might run that by our resident expert on time travel,
Mister Wells, and see what he thinks. In the meantime, we could take a roll
call of all troops assigned and see if any names match up. If we do find a
match, it might be wise to see that those troops are assigned elsewhere, and
leave their line of fate untouched by this business.”
Yet
Fedorov realized all this was entirely beyond their grasp. He knew this
division, and others from India, had been sent to secure Iraq. If men were
reassigned to other duty, that decision could change their fate, and this alone
could introduce a variation that might have unforeseen consequences. What if
one of these great grandfathers serves here and came through undaunted, but if
he was transferred elsewhere and killed in action? What then? This thought
passed darkly through his mind like a storm front, but he knew it was beyond
his means to control.
That
was the dilemma they now faced. Once his ship and crew took up sides here, and
now with Kinlan’s forces in this time, they were irrevocably committed to the
here and now—this present war—and they were going to have to realize that the
history they would write here might not look anything like the chapters in his
books. They were again reaching a profound point of divergence here. Who knows
what this operation could lead them to down the convoluted road ahead? He
thought all this, but said nothing, his mind and heart still heavy.
Then
the quiet of the night was broken by the sound of a motor car or jeep rushing
in to the village. It was an officer from the communications section with a
message from Alexandria for Wavell. The man rushed in, saluting crisply,
obviously in awe to see the Prime Minister sitting by the fire with his brandy
and cigar. Wavell took the message, and leaned in to whisper something in the
man’s ear.
“The
gentleman you have just seen is not here. In fact you’ve seen nothing at all,
Sergeant. Understood?”
“Yes
sir. Of course.”
Wavell sent
him on his way, reading the message slowly in the dim light. “Gentlemen,” he
said quietly. “These deliberations turn out to be very timely. The forces
Rashid Ali has sent to overwatch our airfield at Habbaniyah have just begun
shelling the base. There were over 40 casualties and twenty two planes were
hit, mostly the Oxford trainers and a few old Hawker Hart light bombers. Many
were not even in any shape to fly.”
“I was
expecting this,” said Churchill quietly. “In fact, I gave Air Vice Marshall
Smart there an authorization to use all necessary force to move the Iraqi army
off the plateau overlooking our base. Yet this should put the fire to our feet.
Captain Fedorov, I should be grateful to take your offer and see troops ferried
there as soon as possible.”
“I’m
sure I can get an order off within the hour, and Admiral Volsky will certainly
agree. Our Sergeant Troyak is a most capable man, but perhaps we should send
Popski along with that contingent given the language barrier.”
“Popski?”
Churchill did not know the man, but Wavell smiled, and soon explained who he
was. The General had a love for these ad hoc detachments out on special
operations like this, and now Wavell was getting fired up himself, his
reluctance to take on all these other operations burning away like the log in
the fireplace. So it was decided that Popski would go with the Scimitar
company, and join up with Troyak and his Marines in Palestine. As for the X-3
Helicopters, they would have to contact the Argos Fire to make the
arrangements.
“Just
how many Marines can you send us,” Churchill asked.
“One
platoon,” said Fedorov. “But it has firepower worth many times its number in
men. The same could be said for any troops off the Argos Fire , and the
helicopters also can have a dramatic impact.”
“Helicopters,
“said Churchill with a smile. “I
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