Charles Taylor - First Salvo

Almost in unison, the pilots announced target acquisition. Their on-board computers developed a solution that was then fed into their missile-control systems. Once fired, the Phoenix missile could be guided by the fighter plane until it acquired its target or the recon aircraft could override and take over direction.

“Stand by to fire, Bulldogs.”

Pratt knew that the instant the F-14s locked on to the Soviet planes, a warning signal went off in the enemy cockpits, accompanied by an automatic jammer on the missile frequency. He also knew the Russian pilots had to be aware their missile jammers were only a partial defense, for the recon planes could guide the missiles onto target. He waited for the next transmission.

“Archer, this is Bulldog One. Targets have commenced evasive action.” There was a slight hesitation. “They must be damn sure our birds have been fired. Ho! They’re on a roller coaster ride.”

Pratt picked up the mike. “Bulldog One, this is Archer. When your Bulldogs have visual contact, I want them in on a wing-tip escort. I want those Backfires to understand they’ve been had.” He paused for a moment as he surveyed the air-status board, searching for the next Russian flight. “Bulldog One, you’re already painting the next group. You have F-18s reporting shortly. Follow identical procedure.” Pratt had no more than relighted his cigar when Loomis called out, “Admiral, Hancock ’s got submarines coming out his ears.”

Pratt punched the numbers for the 17 circuit again. “I give up,” he growled. “What’s Nellie’s call sign?”

“Who?”

“ Hancock , what’s their call sign.”

“Hedgehog, sir.”

“For your next project, you can make a list for me, for everyone in here. This is driving me crazy.” Though the communications officer would prepare a special call-sign board for the admiral, he had the feeling that no matter what the situation, Pratt would still be growling about his call signs. “Hedgehog, this is Archer One. I understand you have made contact. Over.”

“Affirmative, Archer. There may be one or two who’ve gone silent for a while, but we have everybody who wanted to make life difficult. I am prosecuting now. Over.”

Dave Pratt relaxed at the sound of Nellie’s soft, mellifluous voice. The man could maintain his calm under any conditions. “Give each unit a chance to conduct an attack, and have them do it over again if you have any doubts. Once you’re satisfied, you may release airborne units. Keep contact if possible until they reverse course toward the Libyan coast. I assume you have your search-and-attack phases on tape. Over.”

“Roger, Archer. We did make a couple of small changes now that we’ve seen how it really works. I think we can distribute to all ASW computers now. We’re not going to have this chance again.”

“Roger, Hedgehog. When you rejoin the formation, request you ferry over to me for conference. Out.”

Admiral Pratt leaned back in his chair, stretching his feet out under the console before him and locking his hands behind his head. Christ, it was good to be out here! It was what he was good at, what he had trained for over the last few years, and it was what he was afraid might pass him by, perhaps fall into the hands of another man who simply did not have the background.

Then he thought of Ryng and Cobb, each off on his own, away from all the supposed security of the electronics world, operating purely by his own wits. Perhaps they were better off than he — even safer! But he sure as hell wished he knew what they were doing and if there was anything he could do for them. He could not communicate with them. Anything that came to him would be relayed — if anything came at all.

Ryng’s eyes snapped shut with the initial burst from the automatic rifle. The reaction was instinctive, and he’d never been able to break it. His first time on the range the instructor had chewed him out, and Bernie never forgot the shock of that first moment — the feeling in the pit of his stomach, the chill running from his groin up through his spine, the shudder through his entire body. Then he had been all right.

This time was no different — it never would be. His finger squeezed and released the trigger in an instant, yet he was aware that his eyes were shut. There was the icy feeling in his groin, a chill like the cold blade of a knife that followed some primal nerve, shooting up his spine; then he shuddered involuntarily, the act shaking his entire body.

Then he was in motion again. That also was instinctive — anyone he might not have seen would have no chance of finding a target.

The Black Beret directly in front of him was spinning wildly as the impact of the bullets flung his body back against the wall. Another reflected a momentary look of surprise as his chest was stitched with the small, steel-cored slugs. Then his lifeless body jumped involuntarily in a neat back flip. The AK-74 bullets, tumbling as they entered the body, were designed to be especially lethal.

The sharp, explosive crack of the guns echoed through the warehouse, increasing in magnitude as each succeeding round was fired. Ryng sensed rather than saw Wally firing. One, then a second, marine were blown backward by the deadly force of the bullets.

Ryng dove to his left, rolling, coming up with the gun at his shoulder, already aimed toward the third Black Beret. But there was no one in the spot he anticipated. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Wally bouncing up from a similar roll, his target just where he’d expected. There was another short burst, and then there was only one left — Ryng’s.

The warehouse was silent now. Only the sound of heavy breathing reached Bernie’s ears, as well as the thumping from his own heart.

He glanced quickly for Wally, receiving a negative head shake for an answer. The last man couldn’t have gone far. How many seconds had it been? Five? Ten? He had to have moved in fear. A dive and maybe a roll. He couldn’t be more than ten feet on either side of where he’d started.

Ryng thought of using a grenade, but then reconsidered. Not in here , he thought. Too close. End up splattering themselves all over the warehouse.

He kicked over a table, shoving it viciously to where the marine should be if he’d gone to his left. That was it! he realized. There was a movement, maybe a head, a shoulder. Bringing the stock of the AK-74 to his shoulder, he squeezed the trigger gently, moving the barrel slightly to either side with his wrist. It was a superb weapon. It had little recoil, and it never climbed on automatic.

The last Black Beret had only a coffee table and the false security of some corrugated boxes for protection. The boxes shredded. The table splintered. Ryng saw the man rise up, hands over his face, a cry of anguish mingling with the last explosive echoes.

Six up — six down! How much time? Ten, fifteen seconds?

That left Denny and Rick outside with a dozen more marines, their rifles precisely stacked to one side, and two aircrews, probably with survival weapons.

As they raced out into daylight, Bernie Ryng was aware of a series of explosions. The neatly stacked rifles were scattered. The Black Berets who were about to load the bombers were caught in the open. They dispersed as best they could, some able to find cover, others falling to the automatic weapons fire.

One enterprising air crewman, crouching behind a bomber’s landing gear, was returning their fire with a pistol. Perhaps it was the sharp, individual crack of each shot as opposed to the staccato chatter of the rifles that caught Rick’s attention. More likely he knew he was the target. Whirling, dropping into a kneeling position, he brought the gun to his shoulder. The AK-74 was intended as a close-in weapon for crowds rather than one person. This was a well-protected individual and harder to hit.