Read Online Operation Southern Cross - 02 by Jack Shane - Free Book Online
Authors: Jack Shane
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even as McCune was still in the act of climbing into it. Another line of tracers came up at them, but Autry hit the controls and the gas at the same time, and the line of gunfire began popping along the landing strut, just inches away from the open cargo bay and cockpit. He put on the rest of the gas and they went straight up into the smoke, long lines of tracers following them, licking at their heels.
While all this had been going on, Zucker activated the copter’s digital camera set up on the control column in front of him. Other copter pilots were recording the battle too. It was important that they get the rescue on tape, to help future members of 160 and XBat learn how to do it right. Plus, all kinds of surprising things could be picked up during a battle—if their cameras were pointing in the right direction, that is.
Now that Autry’s copter had cleared the area, the rest of XBat really went to work. They broke from their tight circle and began annihilating what was left of the camp. First the other DAP gunships went in, nearly a dozen weapons firing from each one, tearing up what would be considered the main street of the encampment. They were followed by the Black Hawk troop ships, each man on board firing their personal weapons out the sides and perforating buildings on either side of the burning street.
Then the Chinooks came in, one behind the other, all mini guns and cannons, laying down a spectacular wash of fire that destroyed everything in its path. Behind them, the two Killer Eggs added their mini guns to the mayhem. Then it was the Black Hawks’ turn again.
It went on like this for nearly five minutes, an eternity for someone on the ground being fired at. There was return fire for a minute or so—tracers coming up to meet the copters in scary multicolored back-and-forth spray patterns. But gradually all resistance ceased. All that remained were the flames and XBat’s exercise in moving the rubble.
Autry flew over the moving barrage, surveying the target. It was clear their work was done here. He radioed the message that the unit was to egress, toot sweet. The remaining copters fell into a loose formation behind him and they all turned to the west—all except Mungo, that is. He headed in the opposite direction. In seconds he was over the south beach of the lake, the place where the spy had emerged from his midnight swim.
Mungo pulled up sharply and directed his own spotlight on the jungle below. Here he found the super spy cowering, or simply hiding, in the underbrush. Mungo was flying so low, their eyes met.
And then the spy got to his feet and started running deeper into the forest, looking over his shoulder more than once to see if Mungo was in pursuit.
CHAPTER 6
The next morning
AUTRY HAD NEVER HAD WHISKEY ON CORNFLAKES before…but there was a first time for everything.
He was sitting in the USS Lexington ’s dingy officers’ mess, staring into a bowl of cornflakes and Jack Daniels. The flakes were courtesy of the carrier’s slowly depleting food supply; the Jack was courtesy of the ship’s captain, Jumbo Eliot.
Autry took a huge first bite—it didn’t taste half bad. But at that point, after nonstop action for the last week on little sleep, anything would have tasted good.
At the table with him were McCune, Eliot and XBat’s chief flight engineer, an officer named “Crowbar” Cronin.
Everyone was eating flakes and booze, between draining cups of the ghastly coffee. The three XBat guys were in a rare good mood. They were finally going home. The Lex was now heading to Pensacola, Florida. Once it reached port, XBat would fly off, refuel and proceed to their base in the swamps of Georgia.
To this end, Cronin was reciting the post-combat report for the team’s eight remaining helicopters. All but one of XBat’s twelve original aircraft had been lost during the North Korean operation. This second batch had been drawn from spares belonging to TF-160’s other battalions.
While all this had been going on, Zucker activated the copter’s digital camera set up on the control column in front of him. Other copter pilots were recording the battle too. It was important that they get the rescue on tape, to help future members of 160 and XBat learn how to do it right. Plus, all kinds of surprising things could be picked up during a battle—if their cameras were pointing in the right direction, that is.
Now that Autry’s copter had cleared the area, the rest of XBat really went to work. They broke from their tight circle and began annihilating what was left of the camp. First the other DAP gunships went in, nearly a dozen weapons firing from each one, tearing up what would be considered the main street of the encampment. They were followed by the Black Hawk troop ships, each man on board firing their personal weapons out the sides and perforating buildings on either side of the burning street.
Then the Chinooks came in, one behind the other, all mini guns and cannons, laying down a spectacular wash of fire that destroyed everything in its path. Behind them, the two Killer Eggs added their mini guns to the mayhem. Then it was the Black Hawks’ turn again.
It went on like this for nearly five minutes, an eternity for someone on the ground being fired at. There was return fire for a minute or so—tracers coming up to meet the copters in scary multicolored back-and-forth spray patterns. But gradually all resistance ceased. All that remained were the flames and XBat’s exercise in moving the rubble.
Autry flew over the moving barrage, surveying the target. It was clear their work was done here. He radioed the message that the unit was to egress, toot sweet. The remaining copters fell into a loose formation behind him and they all turned to the west—all except Mungo, that is. He headed in the opposite direction. In seconds he was over the south beach of the lake, the place where the spy had emerged from his midnight swim.
Mungo pulled up sharply and directed his own spotlight on the jungle below. Here he found the super spy cowering, or simply hiding, in the underbrush. Mungo was flying so low, their eyes met.
And then the spy got to his feet and started running deeper into the forest, looking over his shoulder more than once to see if Mungo was in pursuit.
CHAPTER 6
The next morning
AUTRY HAD NEVER HAD WHISKEY ON CORNFLAKES before…but there was a first time for everything.
He was sitting in the USS Lexington ’s dingy officers’ mess, staring into a bowl of cornflakes and Jack Daniels. The flakes were courtesy of the carrier’s slowly depleting food supply; the Jack was courtesy of the ship’s captain, Jumbo Eliot.
Autry took a huge first bite—it didn’t taste half bad. But at that point, after nonstop action for the last week on little sleep, anything would have tasted good.
At the table with him were McCune, Eliot and XBat’s chief flight engineer, an officer named “Crowbar” Cronin.
Everyone was eating flakes and booze, between draining cups of the ghastly coffee. The three XBat guys were in a rare good mood. They were finally going home. The Lex was now heading to Pensacola, Florida. Once it reached port, XBat would fly off, refuel and proceed to their base in the swamps of Georgia.
To this end, Cronin was reciting the post-combat report for the team’s eight remaining helicopters. All but one of XBat’s twelve original aircraft had been lost during the North Korean operation. This second batch had been drawn from spares belonging to TF-160’s other battalions.
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