Rolling Thunder (2007) s-4 Page 23

  The Iranian soldier, a machine gunner, had been discovered out in the open, lying helpless with a compound fracture of the fibula just above the ankle. He was also badly bruised from the fall off the back of the speeding pickup truck where he manned his weapon. The SEALs spotted him at the battle site when they returned from the excursion into the foothills. The injured soldier expected them to shoot him straight off. He knew no English, so there was a marked lack of conversation between him and his captors. He tried to be as brave about it as possible, but a very obvious trembling, paleness, and continuing struggle to keep from crying showed he was badly frightened. Later, when he received first aid prior to the trip back to Shelor Field, the Iranian relaxed a bit. An offer of food further calmed him, and by the time they brought him to the Shelor Field infirmary for treatment under a doctor's supervision, the soldier was in a very relieved state of mind. It was obvious no summary execution loomed in his future.

  When the Pashtuns were picked up, the pair was sitting cross-legged among their dead brethren in the midst of burned transport hulks. Unlike the Iranian, they were ready to die, though not exactly pleased about the prospect. Once more, the application of care to their wounds brought about a relaxation of inner tension. When they were handed hot rations warmed in an FRH, they realized they would be treated with dignity and a degree of kindness. The old man, who had worked with an American CIA agent during the war against the Soviets, showed a gap-toothed grin as he slurped up a spoonful of spaghetti. T'ank you, he said.

  Before returning to Shelor Field with the EPWs, Brannigan allowed Frank Gomez and the Charlie Two team to make a quick trip to the smugglers' rendezvous site to put out additional feed for the donkeys. When they arrived, they saw that local villagers had looted the place and led the animals away. The guys will be glad to hear about this, Frank remarked. They were worried about those little burros starving to death.

  Are you kidding? Chief Matt Gunnarson remarked. If they hadn't been stole, the wolves would have got them long before they died from hunger. You can bet a prowling pack had already sniffed 'em out.

  THE first thing Brannigan did after returning to their hangar at the airfield was to have Frank Gomez send a transmission to the USS Combs to inform them of the prisoners. The encoded message gave all the available information about them, but that wasn't much. All that was determined was that one was an Iranian soldier in the uniform of his army. This seemed incongruous since he was on a clandestine, illegal mission, but nobody ever accused the Iranian Government or military of operating in a logical or smart manner. After all, the Iraqis had kicked their asses in a drawn-out war back in the 1980s.

  The other two prisoners were described as mountain Pashtuns who appeared to be illiterate, but with an innate self-reliance and a natural ability to endure hardship and discomfort. This last bit of info wasn't included to compliment the two EPWs, but to make it clear they were not operatives in disguise. The pair of stoic men were genuine Pashtun mujahideen.

  The S-2 aboard the Combs radioed back, instructing the SEALs to continue to take care of the prisoners' wounds, feed them well, and see that they were comfortable at all times. When the senior chief informed the detachment of the orders, Bruno Puglisi gave a snort, saying, Hell! I wish they'd see that we got the same treatment.

  Senior Chief Dawkins showed a sardonic leer, saying, That ain't never gonna happen on my watch, Puglisi.

  Jeez! Puglisi exclaimed under his breath to Joe Miskoski. Even them donkeys is luckier'n us.

  Yeah, Miskoski agreed. You never hear about a donkey going through Hell Week.

  They wouldn't allow nobody to be that cruel to animals, Puglisi pointed out. The Humane Society wouldn't permit it.

  The intelligence officer also forbade any attempts at interrogation. This was to be handled by persons unnamed who would arrive to tend to that most important matter. The Brigands could read between the lines of that latter instruction. There was something above and beyond the ordinary that had been thrust into Operation Rolling Thunder.

  .

  PASHTUN STRONGHOLD

  GHARAWDARA HIGHLANDS

  26 MAY

  0615 HOURS

  SIKES Pasha's Arab unit and Captain Naser Khadid of the Iranian Special Forces were formed up to leave both the stronghold and Afghanistan. Yama Orakzai Mesher had seen that a donkey was provided for them to make the journey a little easier. Although the Arabs had no need of the pack animals since they had arrived carrying everything they owned on their own backs, Khadid had his radio transmitter, field desk, and other items that were too bulky or heavy for human beings to tote through mountainous terrain.

  This exodus was not a voluntary one. Orakzai had made a decision the day before that the best thing he could to for his people was to get rid of the foreigners, then make peace with the Afghan government in Kabul. Khadid, secretly upset about the Iranian mission being ended, had given a subtle warning that this would displease another government, that of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and there would no doubt be a reaction from Tehran. This was his understated way of saying that the Iranian Army would be given full rein to either get the Pashtun group back into their operation or destroy them. Khadid had learned much during his time with Orakzai's people, and knew that a full-blown threat to a Pashtun would be answered by him and Sikes getting decapitated and their heads sent back to Iran in cardboard boxes. Thus, even the subtle warning was given with a friendly smile, along with assurances that the Pashtuns and Iranians would always be brothers.

  The mutas between Sikes and Banafsha, along with that involving Khadid and Mahzala, was dissolved. It was determined by a couple of old Pashtun women that neither wife was pregnant; thus, the marriage contracts were ended simply and rapidly to accommodate the situation. The two girls returned to their families and, although their fathers were not required to return the bridal gifts, they would have to pay hefty dowries for their daughters to be married again. They were no longer virgins, and even though their innocence had been lost honorably under Islamic law, they were second-hand property. If either father wanted to marry off his daughter, it would cost so much as to be prohibitive. Both consoled themselves with the knowledge they would have daughters at home to look after them in their old age.

  When the Arabs and the Iranian officer leading the donkey began their trek from the stronghold, the population watched them impassively. There was some minor grumbling among those who thought the foreigners should be held responsible for the loss of their men on the smuggler run, but since Yama Orakzai Mesher had made no accusations and showed no inclination to punish them, the Pashtuns accepted what appeared to be a peaceful parting of the ways.

  .

  WASHINGTON, D.C.

  THE STATE DEPARTMENT

  28 MAY

  2300 HOURS

  EDGAR Watson of the CIA's Iranian desk showed the obvious distress of severe jet lag as he sat at the table where a meeting of the Lamp Committee had just been called to order by Arlene Entienne. The other members of the group Carl Joplin and Colonel John Turnbull immediately forgot the discomfiture of the late hour when they noticed Watson's condition.

  Entienne, as the chairperson, gave the CIA man a few extra moments to make himself comfortable before she addressed the small group. As I'm sure you all have guessed, some extraordinary circumstances have developed in Operation Persian Empire.

  Excuse me, Turnbull interjected. I keep hearing about two operations. One is called Rolling Thunder and the other is Persian Empire. I'm confused as to how the two are tied together.

  Then let me make that clear once and for all, Entienne said. Operation Rolling Thunder refers to a SEAL operation in that OA. Persian Empire identifies the Iranian project of combining all Islamic Shiite insurgencies into one big army under their command. The SEALs, sent on a completely different mission, have now been pulled into that big picture. They are not locked into any one set of activities, but presently are under the President's direct command.

  Joplin, thinki
ng of Brannigan's Brigands, asked, Are they aware of this big picture?

  Entienne shook her head. No, Carl. But it appears they soon will be. And that includes receiving reinforcements.

  Mmm, Turnbull mused. It sounds like the shit is about to hit the fan.

  It is, Entienne assured him. Big-time. She glanced at Watson. Edgar has just returned from a quick trip to Afghanistan. He had to endure a heavy schedule and a quick turnaround. She gave him look of deep sympathy. How are you doing?

  He grinned weakly. I'm holding on, Arlene. And I'm ready to address this august assemblage. After one deep, steadying breath, he began his oral report to the committee. I am happy to let you know the mission to neutralize that one particular smuggling group has been accomplished by those intrepid SEALs Arlene mentioned. This does not mean that the smuggling of opium poppies has come to an end. Others will take up the slack in that profitable enterprise, but not the Iranians. At least, not for the time being. They have lost the advantageous edge that was financing Operation Persian Empire.

  Then you can bet your ass they'll want it back, Turnbull commented dryly.

  Exactly, Watson agreed. And they'll not waste a minute of time getting that project rolling. Now! The SEALs managed to take three enemy prisoners of war. Two were rather unremarkable Pashtun mujahideen who were part of the rebel group up in the Gharawdara Highlands. The third was an Iranian soldier who was actually wearing a proper uniform on this secret mission. During the interrogation, I asked him why he wasn't disguised, and he informed me that no other clothing had been issued him. He and his pals had been assigned to the smuggling enterprise from their regular units. They had showed up in uniform and performed their jobs in uniform.

  Turnbull laughed. And got captured in uniform.

  Right, Watson said. This fellow didn't know much about the big picture and was not actually a member of the Iranian Special Forces. His normal assignment is that of a machine gunner in a regular infantry unit. To put it bluntly, he didn't know shit.

  Then how do we know the Iranians are going to try to recover from this defeat? Joplin asked.

  We received a final transmission from Aladdin, Watson said. He informed us that some crack Iranian Special Forces would be making a concerted effort to regain all they've lost. And that will include the destruction of their former Pashtun allies. They are planning on occupying the area. That at least lets us know where future clashes will be happening.

  Turnbull was a bit miffed. We haven't heard one goddamn word about this at SOLS.

  All planning is being done by SOCOM through the USS Combs, Watson said. The staging area will be Shelor Field in southwest Afghanistan. Everyone involved is already pretty much on site.

  Okay, Turnbull said. Now what about that Pashtun bunch? They had their own goals of establishing an independent nation in the area, right?

  Right, Watson replied. However, after seeing the Iranians getting a good ass-kicking by the SEALs, their leader Orakzai is seeing things in a new light. He has made peace overtures to the Afghan government. They are even now hammering out an agreement in which he will turn his war-making efforts eastward to do battle with the Taliban. Orakzai has even consented to evacuate his stronghold in the Gharawdara Highlands.

  Entienne, who had been taking notes, looked up from her writing. Did Aladdin actually say his latest transmission would be his last?

  Yes, Arlene, Watson said. At least for the time being. It would appear this intrepid person is going to be unable to contact us.

  Interesting, Turnbull commented. That could mean he's right in the middle of things over there.

  Who knows? Watson said.

  What else can you tell us? Joplin asked.

  Just a summary, Watson replied. This coming battle in those Afghan hills is going to determine the fate of Operation Persian Empire. If the Iranians are stopped there, they'll be completely stymied.

  Joplin's thoughts turned to Lieutenant Bill Brannigan and his men. And that will be up to a single SEAL detachment?

  A single reinforced SEAL detachment, Watson said. Additional personnel will be assigned to them.

  Turnbull emitted a low whistle. I don't care how many reinforcements they get. Those guys are in for the fight of their lives.

  Chapter 23

  IRANIAN SFOB

  IRANIAN-AFGHANISTAN BORDER

  THE newly organized unit had been officially designated as Zur Jamle Entegham Strike Force Vengeance and was referred to by its Farsi acronym of Zaheya. It numbered four officers, who commanded sixty noncommissioned officers and enlisted men, for a total strength of sixty-four. Although it was extremely short of being brigade size, the overall commander was Brigadier Shahruz Khohollah. An officer of his rank had been chosen to lead the Zaheya not because of its size, but because of the far-reaching consequences of the mission assigned it.

  Neither the civilians in the government nor the General Staff of the Iranian Army wanted to create an attention-grabbing incident along the Afghanistan border. At this point, political and diplomatic events that they hoped were only temporary limited their grandiose scheme for the Middle East. Thus, an all-out war of fully equipped division-size units would do more to impede those ambitions than advance them.

  Such a massive campaign would include the thundering presence of armor and heavy artillery, and would bring about a massive international response.

  Thus, Brigadier Khohollah suggested that a smaller group of elite troops could make very effective probing attacks into Afghanistan to eventually gain control over a large isolated area in the mountains. These tactics would not attract undue attention, and the territory gained would provide a central base of operations from which a larger invasion could be launched in the future.

  The Zaheya consisted of Arsalaan Sikes Pasha's al-Askerin-Zaubi's twenty Arabs, Captain Naser Khadid's handpicked twenty Iranian Special Forces troopers, and a fire-support element under the direct command of Brigadier Khohollah. He had chosen his newly appointed adjutant, Captain Jamshid Komard, as the actual field commander of the heavy-weapons organization. They were set up for rapid deployment to specific areas when needed. The brigadier had chosen two types of support weapons that would be excellent in the confinement of mountain warfare. They were German MG-3 7.62-millimeter machine guns and a particularly nasty Spanish grenade launcher designated the LAG-40. This crew-served, bipod-mounted weapon was belt-fed from detachable twenty-four- or thirty-two-round ammo boxes that could be fed into the breech from either side. It fired the 40-millimeter projectiles at a rate of 215 rounds a minute with a maximum range of 1500 meters, offering a potential of small but deadly detonations of HE that could be concentrated in a small area or spread across a space up to 100 meters wide. This could be accomplished by well-trained crews employing accurately timed two- and three-second pulls on the trigger.

  Khohollah could also expect infusions of Arab insurgents from time to time. These would be graduates of the Iranian Special Forces Training Center set up to prepare the mujahideen for unconventional warfare. After the tough eight-week course, the volunteers were destined to be funneled into Sikes Pasha's unit. The Brit enjoyed the very real possibility that he might end up with a hundred or so fully equipped and well-trained assault riflemen under his direct command.

  But for the time being, both Sikes Pasha and Captain Naser Khadid's commands were divided into small combat teams of riflemen armed with French FA-MAS 5.56-millimeter rifles. These weapons had selective firing, including burst capabilities, and their worth had already been proven countless times by French armed forces particularly the Foreign Legion in operations as widespread as Lebanon and Bosnia. All twenty of the Iranian SF personnel were graduates of the Iranian Army's tough twelve-week mountain survival and combat course, and were capable of splitting up and grouping as the tactical situation dictated.

  However, the most colorful unit in the Iranian force was Sikes Pasha's Arabs, the al-Askerin-Zaubi. They had been issued the latest Iranian camouflage uniforms that were pa
tterned after the type used by the Russian Army. Sikes Pasha had his corporals and sergeants retain their British chevrons, although he wore the device of an Iranian major. Also, Warrant Officer Shafaqat had changed the crown insignia of the British for the single bar of an ostvar, the Iranian equivalent of his rank. Each member of the unit was back in his keffiyeh headdress with the akal to hold it in place. Everyone, from Brigadier Shahruz Khohollah down to the lowest-ranking rifleman in Khadid's rifle teams, now referred to the egotistical Brit as Sikes Pasha. A special order from the Iranian High Command mandated the courtesy. It was not as much to commend Sikes as it was to attract additional Shiite Arabs to the cause.

  The Iranian government spared no expense for this elite fighting force. Every officer and man was supplied with modern night-vision capabilities, communications that included LASH headsets, the latest in field rations, first-aid kits, and comfort items such as ponchos and small camp stoves.

  The fortified position occupied by the Zaheya along the Afghan border had been constructed a year and a half before by Iranian Army personnel under the supervision of Russian military engineers. They and their construction equipment and machines had been flown in undetected by a small fleet of Mi-10 flying crane helicopters at a time when the area was largely ignored. A high mountain field with an empty flat terrain offered a perfect landing spot.

  The Russian job bosses took advantage of a series of caves in the area, connecting them with deep trenches and well-fortified fighting positions that faced eastward toward Afghanistan. Wells were also sunk to bring up pure cold artesian water. No doubt, any veterans of the Soviet-Afghan War among the supervisors were delighted to be constructing a project that had the fantastic potential of contributing to a future defeat of the Afghan fighters who had made their lives so miserable back in the 1980s.

  The Iranian officers coordinating the effort emphasized the need for protection against aerial attack since the chance of Western air forces being engaged against the site was almost a certainty. The Russians complied by reinforcing the fortifications with tiers of heavy logs and packed earth. The caves required no additional construction or alterations.