Michael Reagan - The Devil's Handshake

“I did raise that with him,” replied the Minister. “But he replied that they had confirmation they needed.”

“What confirmation?” the President of Russia asked.

“A desperate call from one of the residents of the compound…a young German woman,” the Minister replied checking his notes.

The Russian President looked towards the Director of the GRU to see if their listening post in Yemen had picked this call up.

He got answer he didn’t want.

“We did pick up this call. It was made to the United Nations offices in Djibouti and then followed by another one to Viper. In both cases the woman asked for help and blamed HARE,” he answered using Wasir’s and Jawari’s codename.

“Sir, I recommend we declare to United Nations that we have a brigade on the way that can provide support for the mission,” the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian military said knowing they were thirty minutes away from entering Adwalland’s air space. He could see the situation descending into a full-blown confrontation between Russia and America if they didn’t.

The Russian President took stock for a moment through the placement of his hands into a praying form under his chin elbows on the table.

The political loss of face at having Americans arriving at Russia’s new significantly publicized Navy base to secure it was bad enough. The loss of his new ally in Africa would have political consequences with respect to Russia future plans for the region would be disastrous. Privately, he reflected somewhat bitterly that the Americans were out-thinking him on this.

He reached a decision. The United Nations Mission at this moment was of secondary importance.

“Sergey Viktorovich please notify the Americans as soon as the Brigade enters the Adwalland air space that we are sending Russian Armed forces to provide assistance in stabilizing the situation in Borama. Let them know they must not to interfere or prevent our aircraft. Also let them know that although we welcome their help in supporting the United Nations Mission at Lughaya; they must not to confuse the situation by stepping outside their United Nations remit.” the Foreign Minister nodded and took notes.

“Once our troops are on the ground inform the Secretary General and get our Ambassador to call a Security Council meeting immediately reviewing the situation on the ground,” The Russian President further added. Again the Minister of Foreign Affairs nodded his acceptance at his orders without comment.

“Valery Vasilevich, as soon the troops are on the ground and have secured the situation in the capital, tell the Brigade Commander to send his troops with all haste to relieve the Americans at the Mission,” the President then informed his Chief of General Staff.

“Sir, may I suggest that we set all Russian forces on Elevated Combat Readiness?” suggested the Marshal, referring to the equivalent of the American’s DEFCON TWO knowing these decisions by his President would in probability lead to an exchange of fire between Russia and America.

The Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation took this as his cue to enter the discussion.

“That is required by law Mr. President!” he said. Being a former lawyer before he entered politics at the President’s side over thirteen years ago, he was ever aware of the need to do things in line with in accordance with the federal constitutional law “On the Government of the Russian Federation” and as his position demanded of him.

The Russian President inwardly sighed, knowing his Prime Minister was correct in his demand.

Because Russia had never forgotten the loss of face over the Cuban Missile Crisis, they had written into their constitution that all Russian Armed Forces must be ready for combat when declared members of the Russian military were to enter into theatre.

“They will automatically respond accordingly,” the President replied reluctantly knowing that the Americans would respond in kind.

Ever the diplomat, the Minister of Foreign Affairs offered his thoughts.

“Sir, I believe the moment we do that, the Americans will not yield the security of the Mission,” he said reflecting on his personal dealings with the current Secretary of State and their determination to prevent the President at every turn in his foreign policy goals.

The President of the Russia Federation took a further minute to reflect on the advice offered around the table, as he did so he fixed his piercing gaze upon the Prime Minister.

In response the man quickly sat up straight and straightened his tie. To those who knew him well, this was his poker tell whenever he had gotten one over on the Russian President.

“Make it so!” the leader of Russia ordered with all the authority of his office towards the Marshal ignoring his Minister of Foreign Affairs warning and putting his Prime Minister back in his place.

“No trumped up little Prime Minister is going to make me look weak!” the President of the Russian Federation thought.

Borama

The coup d’état started with Andrew Martin pulling in his Land Cruiser up outside the Presidential Palace walls in the center of the small city.

Picking up the Codex phone at his side, he promptly dialed the President’s direct number to ask him to surrender.

The exchange was quick and ended with the President telling him he personally would put a bullet in both him and Wasir.

“I take it he told us to fuck off!” asked Wilson. Martin nodded.

Five minutes later the ex-colonel sent the first two armored personnel carriers towards the gates at speed. One went left of the wall, the other to the right to take up offensive positions so to provide covering fire to those who would follow them.

Seeing this, the Gurkha’s and the militia loyal to the President’s reply was instantaneous. They let loose a barrage of defensive fire towards the Turaegs as they exited from their vehicles, killing several in the process as they took up defensive covering fire positions behind the vehicles.

The M60 mounted on a Toyota Land cruiser of Martin quickly stopped them in their tracks. A ripple of heavy machine gunfire attacked the wall, forcing the Gurkhas beneath the wall.

Deciding there and then he would need to use one of their RPG on the mounted M60, the senior NCO, an experienced solider who had seen service in Afghanistan and Iraq, of the men behind the wall spoke into the speaker attached to his earpiece.

“BUFFALO cover fire needed on 60,” he said using the call sign of the team on the left of the wall.

Instantly three of the Gurkhas, from the team on the other side of the wall to the ex-corporal responded to his appeal. They let off a volley of bullets in the general direction of the M60 so to draw the man in charge of the weapon to shift his assault towards them.

Seizing his moment to strike, the forty-three year-old former Corporal took a deep breath and poked his head over the wall. He took aim then released the Grenade from the weapon. He had never missed during his two tours of the Helmand in Afghanistan. He didn’t miss today either.

The loud explosion and the screams from the fireball that followed on from the blowing up of the open top Jeep forced the Turaegs to scatter in panic.

As they did so, they gave the Militia on the wall the opportunity to pick off four of them and wound at least fourteen.

With the first assault in full flow Wilson ordered up another carrier, this one though had a battering ram attached to the front.

“Take it out,” he said to the Ukrainian commander using his call sign.

At full speed, the vehicle did just that as the bullets fired from the Militia and the Gurkhas on the walls bounced off the carrier.