By Blood Alone by Dietz William C

Author:Dietz, William C.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PENGUIN group
Published: 2010-11-21T16:00:00+00:00

The officer looked up into the quickly darkening sky. Had the first blow been struck? He certainly hoped so ... because if the newly named Rear Admiral Tyspin failed to provide the necessary air support the raid was doomed from the start.

The muties had spy sats, plenty of them, many of which could and did monitor his activities. They were up there right now, watching the airport, feeding data to Harco.

Tyspin’s job was to take them out. Not just some, the ones that could report on Africa, but all of them worldwide. It would be a major blow if the admiral could pull it off.

The suggestion to enlarge the scope of the mission to include strategic objectives had originated with Chien-Chu. That was proof of the industrialist’s experience and long range purpose—all of which made Booly feel better about the older man’s motives.

The troops were assembled and waiting by the time Booly passed under the hangar’s lights. Not ideal prior to a night mission, but there would be time for their eyes to adjust. The legionnaires stood in a semicircle, their backs to an old bush beater, the smell of fuel hanging in the air.

Fykes had gone to some lengths in order to beat his commanding officer into the hangar, and looked sharp enough for inspection. He shouted “Ten-hut!” and the entire squadron crashed to attention.

Booly nodded and scanned their faces. The words were Naa. “Welcome to Operation Phoenix. The objective of tonight’s mission is to rescue a prisoner, put the resistance effort on the offensive, and kick some mutie ass. That okay with you?”

The Naa were thrilled to hear their language. More than two hundred voices replied in unison. “Sir! Yes, sir!”

Booly grinned and switched to standard. “I thought you might say that! All right ... let’s run the mission one last time.” He looked at his wrist term.

“We load twenty-eight from now, and lift at 1800. There are two birds, one for the 1st and one for the 2nd. Decoys will depart just before we do, scatter in every direction, and lead the fighters away.

“I’m going with the 1st. Lieutenant Nightslip will command the 2nd. Standard night ops and radio procedures are in force. Check your wrist terms for call signs, passwords, and a copy of the TO.”

Booly motioned to a tech, said, “Light the tank,” and accepted the remote. He pointed to a spot in what had been the ancient country of Ethiopia. “This is Addis Ababa, or what’s left of it, after your last visit.”

The city had been one of the Legion’s favorite watering holes prior to the revolt, and most of the troops had been there. They laughed, just as they were supposed to, and Booly waited for the noise to subside.

“The muties fly a transport out of here at roughly 1900 hours every evening and head straight for Johannesburg.

“Tonight will be different. The transport will run into a shoulder-launched missile just south of Jima. That will be our cue to pop onto the radar and complete their journey.

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