Jack Terral - Guerilla Warfare (2006)

Gusty Olson laughed. "Krista. I'll have to take a picture of it to show her."

"Two reasons you ain't gonna be able to do that," Dawkins said. "First of all you ain't got a camera; and the second reason is that if a cache is done proper, you can't see the godamn thing anyhow?'

Gutsy shrugged. "She'll be honored just the same. I guess."

"Now hear this," Brannigan said loudly to get everyone's attention. "Your mission after digging the cache is going to be pure reconnaissance, got it? Do not make any contact with the enemy unless I okay it first. Your mission will be to pinpoint Falangist movements and locations. The Petroleo Colmo outfit has acquired another Dauphin chopper so each of the assault sections will have one. The Command Element will play its transportation by ear. Let's go!"

"You heard the Skipper," Dawkins bellowed. "Start breaking ground on Krista."

Gutsy scowled. "I don't think I like the sound of that."

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HEADQUARTERS, GRUPO DE BATALLA

CAMPAMENTO ASTRAY

NOON LOCAL

NINE new men had arrived in the garrison the day before after a flight from Argentina aboard the generalisimo's Piaggio turbojet. Six were Spanish officers from both the Foreign Legion and parachute infantry units, and two were Portuguese noncommissioned officers from their nation's Marine Detachment for Special Duties. Additionally, one disaffected Spanish-speaking sergeant from the French Gendarmerie Nationale was also among the new men: He'd gotten into hot water for killing a stubborn and defiant Algerian terrorist suspect he had arrested; it looked like he was headed for a general court-martial. He made a critical decision to flee France to avoid prosecution.

The Frenchman's name was Arnaud Chaubere, and he was one of those individuals with cold eyes and a calm exterior not unlike that of a leopard preparing to attack. When the new men arrived, they were formed up for a quick inspection by Generalisimo Castillo. He looked at each one, but he stopped for a long moment in front of the former gendarme. "I've heard of you, Chaubere."

"Yes, mi generalisimo," he answered in French-accented Spanish.

"You had a bit of a problem with a terrorist prisoner, did you not?"

"Yes, mi generalisimo," Chaubere said. "I bent him a little too much, and he broke."

The generalisimo laughed aloud. "You're the type of man we're looking for. I hereby appoint you to the rank of sargento-mayor."

"Gracias, mi generalisimo! "

Coronel Jeronimo Busch, standing off to the side, was favorably impressed with all nine. They were obviously in top-notch physical condition, well-experienced and proven in combat, and had the right political attitudes to put forth the aims and goals of the Falangist movement.

After Castillo had finished his inspection, he turned the men over to Capitan Silber to be taken to an orientation. As he was walking back to headquarters, Busch hurried and caught up with him. "Generalisimo," the coronel said. "I have a suggestion."

"And what might that be?" Castillo asked.

"I think we should team up that Frenchman Chaubere with Punzarron and Muller."

Castillo came to a halt and looked at him. He suddenly smiled. "That is an excellent suggestion, Coronel. I will have Ignacio take care of the paperwork for the assignment:'

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1400 HOURS LOCAL

WHEN Generalisimo Castillo walked into the staff meeting area of the thatched headquarters hut, he found everyone present and accounted for. Comnel Jeronimo Busch, Comandantes Javier Toledo and Gustavo Cappuzzo, and the intelligence officer Capitan Diego Tippelskirch were ready to conduct business. Even diminutive and edgy Suboficial Ignacio Perez was in his place with his pads of papers and folders.

"First things first," Castillo said, sitting down. "What are our latest strength figures, Ignacio?"

Ignacio quickly pulled out the correct folder. "With the nine new men who arrived today, we now have a total of ninety-four men, mi generalisimo. So far we have had six men killed and one is missing in action."

"They shall be avenged, por Dios!" Castillo said. "Anything else?"

"Our rations, ammunition and equipment inventory is more than adequate, mi generalisimo," Ignacio said. "Also, we will soon receive another helicopter that has beenwell--that is to say--donated to the Ejercito Falangista by members of the Argentine Air Force."

Everyone laughed loudly at the little man's understatement, and Castillo asked, "What sort of aircraft is it, Ignacio?'

"It is an SA-330 Puma, mi generalisimo," Ignacio reported. He pulled out a descriptive document on the helicopters. "It is manufactured in Great Britain by Westland Helicopters and can travel at two hundred and seventy-eight kilometers an hour."

Busch didn't give a damn about the mechanical or technical features of the aircraft. "How many men can it carry, Perez?"

"Sixteen fully equipped soldiers can be transported in its troop compartment, mi coronel," he said replacing the papers in the folder. "It should arrive here sometime within the next two days."

"That's good news!" Busch exclaimed. "Now we can get serious. Between the new helicopter and the EC-635, we will be able to carry twenty-four troops into battle."

"Things improve almost on a daily basis:' Castillo stated happily. He nodded to Tippelskirch. "Anything going on in intelligence, Capitan?"

"Si, mi generalisimo," Tippelskirch replied. "I have been very curious about this petroleum research company that flies constantly over the Gran Chaco. My usual sources have no information on them, but I have a contact in the Chilean Bureau of Security that can get me the information I need. However, it will take some time."

"Stay on that," Castillo ordered. "Anything else?"

"I visited the village of Novida and interrogated the headman there," Tippelskirch said. "Suboficial Punzarron acted as my interpreter, of course. I wanted to find out more about that enemy unit that passed through the area. After an hour of questioning, I have reached the conclusion the interlopers are Americans."

"Are you saying that the United States has dispatched armed forces into the Gran Chaco?" Castillo asked.

Tippelskirch shrugged. "I can't be sure of that. Perhaps they are from an American private military company. This is a new industry that has sprung out of the attack on New York City on Nueve-Once--Nine-Eleven."

"I believe such businesses only provide local security and bodyguards," Castillo said.

"Well, there is always the possibility they are CIA," Tippelskirch pointed out.

"Bah!" Castillo snarled. "They are bandidos, eh? And that's the way I want them to be referred to. Not as honorable soldiers or even guerrillas. everyone make a note of that! They are bandidos! That will give our men more confidence when they go out to fight and kill them."

"I have a couple of suggestions, mi generalisimo," Busch said. "I strongly suggest we move out of this garrison. The bandidos know this location and have even attacked us here. We should set up a fortified area with bunkers, barbed wire and mines."

"But we do not have the labor force necessary for such an undertaking," Castillo argued.

The Argentine Capitan Argento interjected, "I have an excellent solution to that problem, mi generalisi take care of it through contacts I have in the Argentine Federal Police."

"I'll leave that to you, Argento," Castillo said. He gestured to Comandantes Toledo and Cappuzzo. "You two will each detail men to search out a proper area where field fortifications can be constructed." Now his eyes snapped back to Busch. "Any more suggestions, Coronel?"

"Since the two helicopters give us the capability of setting up ambushes and sneak attacks, I think we should form up a special equipo comando--commando team," Busch said.

Once more Castillo approved. "And who are you considering for the team?"