“I hope like hell we’re wrong about this, Jimmy, but we’d better be ready for the worst. “
Forrester nodded in silent agreement. Any situation involving South
Africa seemed to slide inexorably from bad to worse. The U.S. Rangers preparing for a possible assault on Pelindaba were about to get a highlevel hurry-up call.
HEADQUARTERS, I ST BATTALION, 75TH RANGER REGIMENT, HUNTER ARMY
AIRFIELD, GEORGIA
The clatter of helicopter gunships and troop carriers practicing landings and takeoffs filtered into the crowded, smoke-filled briefing room. More than forty Ranger officers lounged on metal folding chairs, their eyes riveted on the black-and-white satellite photos and maps pinned to a chalkboard behind the short, sturdy figure of their temporary commanding officer. Despite their carefully casual poses, no one could miss the tension crackling through the room.
Lt. Col. Robert O’Connell ran his left hand through thick black hair cropped too short to curl, realized what he was doing, and forced it back to his side. This was going to be tricky, he thought.
He’d been brought in to command the I st Battalion because its old
CO,
Lieutenant Colonel Shaw, was still in the hospital, nursing a badly broken leg. Logically, that shouldn’t present a problem for any of the assembled officers. He’d had the full dose of
Ranger training, and he’d commanded a battalion in the 10th Mountain
Division before this. But taking charge of a unit on short notice was always tough-even under peacetime conditions. Those difficulties were compounded by the fact that he’d been asked to lead them on the most dangerous and daring Ranger raid ever conceived. Especially when that operation seemed likely to be a one-way ride for most, if not all, of the men in the room.
Not that he doubted his own ability to lead the battalion into combat.
Far from it. For the O’Connell clan, self-doubt stood right next to sloth on a list of the seven deadly sins. And as the fifth of six children, he’d learned early on that you didn’t get what you wanted by standing around waiting for it to be handed down on a silver platter. You worked hard for it, and you even fought for it when necessary.
The resulting combination of fierce determination, stubborn pride, and considerable talent had earned him an appointment to West Point and pulled him through a miserable plebe year. From there, he’d seen only one logical career path. The Rangers were regarded as the Army’s elite fighting force, and Robert O’Connell had never wanted to be anything less than the best. Now he was being given the chance to prove his real worth.
A slight smile flitted across his face. It would have been nice if the opportunity carried higher odds of survival. On paper, this mission looked impossible. Fly two Ranger battalions and their support units seven thousand miles over the Atlantic Ocean and enemy-held territory without being spotted. Conduct an airborne assault against more than a battalion of crack South African troops. And then hold out long enough to fly every captured nuclear weapon out of the country. Sure.
He buried his doubts deep inside and strode forward to the edge of the fm-bjgh dais.
“It’s official, gentlemen, we have a ‘go’ order for this op.”
Faces around the room tightened.
“Highlevel intelligence sources have now confirmed the existence of these South African nukes. And their location.”
O’Connell nodded toward the mosaic of satellite photos showing a network of military airfields, supply bases, troop barracks, and vehicle parks near Pretoria-a mosaic centered on a single high bluff called Pelindaba.
Red circles drawn in grease pencil ringed identified bunkers and gun positions surrounding both the South African uranium enrichment plant and the suspected bomb storage site.
“The code name for this mission will be Brave Fortune.”
“Looks more likely to wind up as Big Damned Fuckup. ” A twangy Texas drawl lifted from out of the back row, prompting several nervous chuckles.
O’Connell grinned. Trust Lieutenant Colonel Carrerra to say what was on everybody’s mind. The 2nd Ranger Battalion’s commander was a master of ambush, assault, and patrol tactics-skills he’d learned during a career that stretched all the way back to service as an enlisted man in Vietnam and as an officer in both Grenada and Panama. But Mike Carrerra had never been noted for his tact.
Carrerra’s half-joking outburst opened a path for others.
“Mike’s right, Colonel. I don’t mind taking risks to accomplish a mission, but this thing’s nothing but risks.” Charlie Company’s CO, Capt.
Tom Keller, shook his head.
“Why can’t the flyboys plaster the frigging place with a few precision-guided munitions? Or why not hit it with a
Tomahawk strike?”
“Good question, Tom.” O’Connell remembered raising the same objections three days ago when he’d first heard about this crazy stunt. It felt as if a lifetime had passed since then.
“Unfortunately, our lords and masters have a very good reason for wanting our very special services.
Aside from thinking we look swell in our black berets, that is.”
That drew a quick laugh.
He stepped closer to the collection of satellite photos and pointed to a rectangular cluster of squat, camouflaged bunkers labeled WPN STOR
(N).
“Right now, the South Africans have ten nukes stashed away in these bunkers-protected by several meters’ worth of dirt, concrete, and reinforced steel. Navy or Air Force planes could hit the site hard. No doubt about that at all. Trouble is, we’d never know for sure whether or not all ten bombs were actually destroyed-or simply buried. “
O’Connell let the officers mull that one over for a moment, waiting until their murmurs died away.
“You’ve got it. As long as there’s the slightest chance that Pretoria still owns a working nuke, we can’t risk bringing our ships and Marines within range of their coast. If even one bomb got through, we’d be looking at ten or twenty ships sunk and thousands of our guys dead. “
He rapped the taped sheet of satellite photos.
“Nope, gentlemen. There’s only one hundred-percent-guaranteed way to be sure these bastards don’t have any nukes left. ” He bared his teeth.
“And that’s to lay our own hot little hands on ‘em and take ‘em away. Right?”
Several heads nodded, Carrerra’s and Keller’s among them. All of the assembled Rangers looked more determined-not much more confident-but definitely more de ten-nined.
One of the younger lieutenants raised a hesitant hand.
“What about air support, sir?”
“F-14 Tomcats will be covering us during our extraction. Plus the Navy plans to launch diversionary air attacks on several major South African bases and command posts just as we’re going in.” O’Connell jerked a thumb toward a succession of black-ringed facilities that included the Voortrekker Heights Military Camp.
“But that’s not all the help we’re going to get, gentlemen. Apparently, the
Israelis have offered us the services of one of their top nuclear scientists. ” He checked a note card.
“The prof’s name is Esher Levi, and he’s supposed to be an expert on the design, use, and safe handling of the kind of bombs we’re going hunting for.”
O’Connell paused, looking for the dour face of his Support Platoon commander.
“He’ll be training your special teams, Harry. It
The lieutenant nodded.
“What’s more, this Levi character worked at Pelindaba for more than two years. So let’s pump him dry once he gets here. Find out where the weak spots are, okay?”
Heads nodded vigorously throughout the room. Access to someone with detailed knowledge of Pelindaba’s buildings, grounds, and security procedures would make it much easier to plan the assault. Satellite photos and out-of-date maps were a lousy substitute for firsthand experience.