Уильям Дитц - Battle Hymn

Although Mac had read about the French vehicles, she’d never seen one. She knew they had six wheels and were roughly the same size as a Stryker but more heavily armed. Whereas the BETSY ROSSmounted a 105mm gun, Jaguars were equipped with 40mm cannons, plus side-mounted medium-range antitank missiles. Any of which could reduce a Stryker to a pile of burning scrap.

What’s more, the Jags were equipped with day/night vision, nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protection, a laser warning system, a threat missile-detection system, and they carried gear that could jam radio communications. So the Jaguars were a threat Mac couldn’t take lightly. But why were they headed for Highway 2? Was that a matter of coincidence? Or were the Mexicans acting on intelligence provided by Carbone? The answer seemed obvious. All of it flashed through Mac’s mind as she looked at Evers.

“Congratulations,” Mac said. “You’re the XO now… I’m going to take some Strykers and intercept the Jaguars. Tell the colonel that the C-17s need to circle the city while we secure Highway 2. In the meantime, set up a defensive perimeter, prepare the POWs for transportation, and secure the prisoners. Got it?”

Evers nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. Come on, Harmon… Let’s go.” Time was of the essence, so Mac began to jog. Harmon followed. They passed a group of prisoners who wore hoods and were seated on the ground, with their hands secured behind their backs.

Once outside, Mac keyed her handheld radio. “This is Archer-Six actual to trucks one, two, and three. Mexican armor is heading down Highway 2 to intercept our planes. We’re going to stop them! Crank ’em up and let’s move.”

Mac led Harmon into the BETSY ROSSand ordered Smith to head for Highway 2. Mac fell sideways into a seat as the Stryker jerked into motion. Harmon sat across from her. “Get that Pred operator on the horn,” she told him. “Pronto.”

Harmon did as he was told and gave the handset to Mac. “This is Archer-Six actual,” Mac said. “We’re going to intercept those Jaguars. But the surface-to-surface missiles they carry can kill any one of my vehicles in a matter of seconds. I want you to smoke the lead vehicle with your remaining Hellfire. Here’s hoping the officer in charge is riding in it. Then I want you to crash the Pred into Jag two.”

“That’s a roger regarding the Hellfire,” came the response, “and a negative on the Pred. Those suckers cost four million each. Over.”

“I don’t give a shit what they cost,” Mac replied. “You will crash that Predator into Jaguar two—or I will fly to Colorado, find the fucking basement that you live in, and blow your brains out! We’re trying to rescue some POWs, and money doesn’t mean jack shit. Over.”

Another voice chimed in at that point. “This is Victor-Six actual,” McKinney said. “You have your orders… Carry them out now! Over.”

Harmon’s eyes were wide. “What are we going to do?” he wanted to know.

Mac forced a smile. “After our buddy in Colorado kills those Jags, we’ll tackle the others… And we outnumber them.”

Harmon’s expression brightened. “Okay then. We have this.”

The BETSY ROSSlurched as Smith rounded a corner. Mac hoped that her optimism would be justified. She keyed the radio attached to her vest. “Archer-Six actual to trucks one, two, and three. Prepare to operate independently if necessary… The Jaguars may be able to jam our radio transmissions. The key is to get in close and hammer the bastards! Don’t let up. Over.”

Mac heard a series of clicks as she made her way over to the bench where she could access the air-guard hatch. Most of what happened next would be up to Smith and her gunner. But Mac wanted to see, and firing the LMG would give her something to do.

Mac arrived up top just in time to see a flash of light and the crack of what sounded like thunder. The Hellfire! But was it on target? Harmon’s voice crackled through her earbud. “This is Archer-Nine… The Pred operator confirmed a bug splat. Over.”

Mac knew that a “splat” was a hit. She opened the intercom. “Aim for the flames, Smitty… That’s where the bastards are.”

A second boom was heard, and Mac saw the explosion. It was smaller, however… As if fueled by the Predator’s propellant rather than the gas in the Jaguar’s tank. “This is nine,” Harmon said. “The second target was damaged but not destroyed.”

Ah well, Mac thought. It’s better than nothing… I’ll take it.

That was when a Mexican missile hit the DON’T TREAD ON MEand obliterated it. Mac felt the pressure wave hit her from behind and heard a thunderous BOOM. She turned, saw that the burning hulk was falling away behind them, and knew that both of the Stryker’s crew members were dead. Shit, shit, shit.

Engines roared as the remaining Strykers raced past a brightly lit cantina and out onto Highway 2. Mac stood ready to fire the LMG as she eyed the brightly illuminated area ahead. The lead Jag had been reduced to a pile of burning scrap. But beyond it, and still headed for the section of road where the C-17s were going to land, she could see the other vehicles. And they were turning to face her! The enemy was going to fight.

Mac keyed her mike. “Step on the gas! Get in close! What are you waiting for, Thomas? Smoke the bastard.”

The criticism was unfair. Thomas fired as Mac spoke, the BETSY ROSSlurched, and Mac heard a loud clang as the empty casing hit the street behind the vic and tumbled away. The 105mm shell landed short of the lead Jaguar but just barely.

The enemy unit’s 40mm cannon began to chug, and the BETSY ROSSshook as a burst of shells exploded against the front of the vehicle. The armor held, but Mac knew that it was just a matter of time before the incoming rounds found their way in. As Mac dropped into the cargo compartment, Thomas uttered a loud whoop of joy. “Got the bastard!”

Two to go, Mac thought to herself as she climbed back up. The situation had changed. Now the surviving Jaguars were turning off Highway 2 in an attempt to escape the Strykers. And, thanks to some aggressive driving, the range was closing fast. Could the Mexicans fire their missiles at a target located behind them? Mac hoped they couldn’t.

The damaged machine was trailing smoke. And even though the Jag’s gunner should have been able to spin the 40mm gun around, it was facing forward. Was that the result of incompetence? Or had the turret jammed?

That became a moot point as Thomas fired again and scored a direct hit. The shell hit the Jaguar where its armor was the thinnest and punched a hole through it. The resulting flash of light strobed the surrounding buildings. And as pieces of fiery debris fell out of the sky, the surviving vehicle sped away into the desert.

“Let them go,” Mac ordered as she watched the surviving Mexican vics drive away. “Harmon… Get on the horn. Tell the colonel that the planes can land and tell Evers to get ready.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Harmon replied.

Mac keyed her mike. “This is Archer-Six actual… It’s time to set roadblocks at both ends of the landing strip. Truck one will block Highway 2 at the Del Carmen intersection, and truck two will block the road at Farm Road 3. Don’t let anyone pass in either direction.”

The BOLO IIrolled past as Smith turned out into the road. Ideally, they would have had some soldiers along to manage the roadblocks, but they didn’t. So it was up to Mac and Harmon to handle things at the first checkpoint, while the BOLO’s two-person crew took care of the second. Fortunately, it was late, and there was very little traffic.