Combat Alley (2007) (37 page)

No refreshments had been served at the conference, and Khumar opened the affair with an announcement in Russian. The Tajik government has made a magnanimous decision to show all the ex-convicts of the former Soviet military prison extraordinary consideration. If you agree to surrender to the authority of said government, you will be interned for a short period of time while your final disposition is determined.

Andy Malachenko leaned down with his head close to Brannigan and Leroux, whispering what was being said in English.

Khumar continued, Those of you who wish to return to the Russian Federation will be allowed to petition for repatriation.

Surov spoke up, saying, I wish to take advantage of that, but there are others of us who have no desire to go back to the Motherland.

In those cases, the Tajik government will seriously consider granting political asylum, Khumar informed him. And, of course, if there are other countries some desire to go to, arrangements can be made to accommodate those wishes.

Grabvosky, the little bookish man who had been an underboss under Luka Yarkov, raised his hand. What are the chances of remaining in Tajikistan? I am qualified as a bookkeeper and wish to seek such a position in this country.

There is no problem with that, Khumar said. You or anybody else with like desires will be allowed to search for employment. You could even apply for Tajik citizenship after you meet the qualifications.

Burly Aleksei Barkyev had another concern. What about our women and children?

You will have to forget them, Khumar said. The women were taken by force from their homes in criminal acts. Because of religion and custom, they would be slain if returned to their families. Arrangements have already been made with a UN mission to have them taken somewhere to live in safety. The children they bore must go with them.

Surov grinned sardonically. We really have no choice, do we?

Are the options you have so awful? Khumar asked. You have a chance to return to decent society and rebuild your miserable lives. One would hope you would demonstrate the intelligence and will to become useful citizens somewhere.

Dagorov was a bit stubborn. What if my woman wants to go with me?

Forget your woman, Khumar said sternly. She is gone from your life forever.

Where will the UN send them?

You need not concern yourself with that, Khumar said. We want your answer now.

The Russians looked at each other, then all shrugged. Surov continued as their spokesman. We will accept your terms. My comrades and I will go to the barracks to prepare our men to be taken into custody.

We will give you fifteen minutes, Khumar said. The quartet of ex-Soviet soldiers stood up and went to the door. As soon as they had left, the Tajik major glanced at Caldwell, speaking in English so Brannigan and Leroux could understand. This is your last chance. Do you desire to have any of them serve your government in some capacity?

They're all useless bastards, Caldwell replied.

Khumar smiled. How unfortunate for them.

.

1300 HOURS

A Tajik army bus was parked with its diesel engine idling as the Pashtun women and children walked toward it. Dr.

Pierre Couchier and a pair of female UN officials stood by the vehicle, offering cordial greetings to the refugees as they ushered them aboard. They would be taken to the airport in Khorugh to begin the long flight to a sanctuary on the island of Cyprus.

An hour and a half earlier, the twenty-four Russian survivors were formed into a column of twos by Tajik policeman and marched up to the entrance to the settlement where transportation awaited them.

Each prisoner's wrists were bound with a plastic strip.

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SEALs BIVOUAC

THE PRANISTAY STEPPES

9 DECEMBER

1330 HOURS

THREE C-130 aircraft had landed in the area used as an LZ. One was from the United States Air Force, while two belonged to the Pakistani Air Force. The two journalists, Dirk Wallenger and Eddie Krafton, had come in on the American aircraft from Shelor Field. They were rather miffed about having to wait almost a week after they did the taping of the feature on Randy Tooley. When Wallenger made an angry inquiry about the delay, Brannigan told him that since nothing special was going on, there was really no rush in having them return. Wallenger's journalistic instincts told him this was an outright falsehood, but it would do him no good to protest.

The Pakistani airplanes were harbingers of very sad news for the Brigands. They had come to pick up the horses for transport back to Sharif Garrison in Pakistan. It was a time of misery for the tough SEALs. But it was Bruno Puglisi who broke into tears when he made his good-bye to Ralph. He leaned over the animal's muzzle and wept like a baby, unable to speak through his sobbing. Ralph, for his part, sensed something was wrong, and he nuzzled his human buddy in an equine show of sympathy and caring. After the horses were put aboard the aircraft, Puglisi turned and walked away. He went a couple of kilometers out onto the steppes, keeping his eyes turned from the sight of the departure.

None of the Brigands paid much attention to him. They each had their own grief to deal with.

EPILOGUE:

:

THE Brigands returned to the USS Dan Daly to resume their between-mission routines. They arrived on the flight deck via a CH-53 chopper from the local CVBG, and disembarked dirty, tired, and ready to go back to the excellent meals provided by the ship's galley crew, as well as sleeping between clean sheets and showering regularly.

The one previous activity the SEALs enjoyed the most while stationed aboard the Daly was now forbidden them by the ship's captain. That was their volleyball league, noted for its lack of rules, decorum, and human decency. A better name for the Brigands' version of the popular sport would have been volley brawl. The punching, kicking, and tackling was more of a riot than an athletic event. The noise and disturbance of the games disrupted the crew's routine to the extent that Captain Jackson Fletcher issued a written order to Lieutenant William Brannigan that his men would cease and desist conducting the games. The captain ended the missive with a serious suggestion that they take up chess. Two other alternatives he recommended were stamp collecting and raising hamsters, although he admitted he was a bit reluctant about the latter hobby. He stated that the SEALs would probably eat them.

But the first few days after their return were spent in maintenance and repair of gear and weaponry before settling down to a routine of PT on the deck under the exuberant supervision of Senior Chief Petty Officer Buford Dawkins. Of course, the usual classes on mandatory military and naval subjects were scheduled for the afternoons. Evenings were spent in card games, consuming beer, and attempts at seducing various female members of the ship's crew.

THE broadcast efforts of Dirk Wallenger paid off handsomely for the journalist. After his and the cameraman Eddie Krafton's return to the States, Wallenger was the toast of the TV airways because of his reports titled Somewhere in the War. He appeared on all the major talk shows while broadcasting nightly on the GNB network. Eddie received very little credit for his part in the presentations, but like most people who did the taping, he was used to a dearth of accolades.

THE warmth of Florida suited Luka Yarkov and Igor Tchaikurov. They were placed into the U. S. government's Witness Protection Program with new identities. They were able to move in smoothly with the new and growing population of Russian emigres in the Miami area to build new lives for themselves.

Yarkov had a rough time since he had to learn to speak English before being able to find decent employment. While studying the language at night, he worked the counter of a meat market dealing with mostly Russian customers. Although Tchaikurov had the advantage of possessing a reasonable working knowledge of English, he could find no better employment than that as a security guard on a bank armored delivery truck. He worked for minimum wage, but liked being able to pack a pistol and wear a proper uniform.

THE tradition of nonwatai was practiced faithfully by both the Yousafzai and Janoon tribes. The Mahsuds et al. humbled themselves before them in a public display of apology and regret. Consequently, instead of being slaughtered, the victorious clans offered no punishment other than for the losers having to pay a hefty retribution out their shares of the coming opium poppy harvest.

ZAID Aburrani was sent from Barri Prison in Bahrain to an unnamed detention center in the south of Poland. He was scheduled for further examination before being returned to Afghanistan for final disposition. The Coalition Forces knew he would go unpunished by his own authorities. All crooked politicians and bureaucrats have enough dirt on their associates that they get no more than slaps on the wrist after being eased back into corrupt systems. It's never long before they are once again playing sleazy games.

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GLOSSARY

2IC: Second in Command

2-Shop: Intelligence Section of the staff

3-Shop: Operations and Training Section of the staff

4-Shop: Logistics Section of the staff

AA: Anti-Aircraft

AAR: After-Action Report

ACV: Air Cushion Vehicle (hovercraft)

Afghan: Currency of Afghanistan 43.83 = $1

AFSOC: Air Force Special Operations Command

AGL: Above Ground Level

AK-47: 7.62-millimeter Russian Assault Rifle

AKA: Also Known As AKS-74: 5.45-millimeter Russian Assault Rifle

Angel: A thousand feet above ground level, e. G., Angels Two is two thousand feet.

AP: Armor Piercing or Air Police

APC: Armored Personnel Carrier

ARG: Amphibious Ready Group

AS-50: .50-caliber semiautomatic sniper rifle with scope

ASAP: As Soon As Possible

ASL: Above Sea Level

Asset: An individual who has certain knowledge or experiences that make him helpful to individuals or units about to be deployed into operational areas.

AT: Anti-Tank

AT-4: Antiarmor rocket launchers

Attack Board (also Compass Board): A board with a compass, watch, and depth gauge used by subsurface swimmers.

ATV: All Terrain Vehicle

AWACS: Airborne Warning and Control System

AWOL: Away Without Leave; i. E., absent from one's unit without permission, AKA French leave.

Bastion: Part of a fortification or fortified position that juts outward.

BBC: British Broadcasting Corporation

BDU: Battle Dress Uniform

Blighty: British slang for their home nation.

Boot: A rookie or recruit.

Boot Camp: Navy or Marine Corps basic training

BOQ: Bachelor Officers' Quarters

Briefback: A briefing given to staff by a SEAL platoon regarding their assigned mission. This must be approved before it is implemented.

BUD/S: Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL training course

Bushido: The philosophy and code of conduct of Japanese samurai warriors.

BX: Base Exchange, a military store with good prices for service people. AKA PX in the Army for Post Exchange.

C4: Plastic explosive

CAR-15: Compact model of the M16 rifle

CAS: Close Air Support

CATF: Commander, Amphibious Task Force

CDC: Combat Direction Center aboard a ship

CG: Commanding General

Chickenshit: An adjective that describes a person or a situation as being particularly draconian, overly strict, unfair or malicious.

CHP: California Highway Patrol CLU: Command launch unit for the Javelin AT missile CNO: Chief of Naval Operations CO: Commanding Officer Cover: Hat, headgear CP: Command Post CPU: Computer Processing Unit CPX: Command Post Exercise CRRC: Combat Rubber Raiding Craft CRT: Cathode Ray Tube CS: Tear gas CSAR: Combat Search and Rescue CTT: Combat Training Tank swimming pool at BUD/S CVBG: Carrier Battle Group Dashika: Slang name for the Soviet DShK 12.7-millimeter heavy machine gun DDG: Guided-Missile Destroyer DEA: Drug Enforcement Agency Det Cord: Detonating Cord DJMS: Defense Joint Military Pay System DPV: Desert Patrol Vehicle Draeger Mk V: Underwater air supply equipment DZ: Drop Zone E&E: Escape and Evasion Enfilade Fire: Gunfire that sweeps along an enemy for mation EPW: Enemy Prisoner of War ER: Emergency Room (hospital) ERP: Enroute Rally Point. A rally point that a patrol leader chooses while moving to or from the objective. ESP: Extra Sensory Perception ETS: End of Term of Service FLIR: Forward-Looking Infrared Radar Four-Shop: Logistics Section of the staff French Leave: See AWOL FRH: Flameless Ration Heater Front Leaning Rest: The position assumed to begin push ups. It is customary to place malfeasants or clumsy personnel in the front leaning rest for punishment since it is anything but a rest.