Murphy's Rangers 03.Meat Grinder by Eric Meyer

Author:Eric Meyer [Eric Meyer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Swordworks
Published: 2022-03-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

September 15, 1944 – Day 7

For once, the Sergeant’s iron resolution and quick thinking deserted him. The mission teetered on the edge of catastrophe, the enemy was closing in on them, and they’d give the Rangers a hot reception when they landed.

Lawson kept his usual cool head, but he wasn’t thinking straight when he shouted at Rooker. “The mission, Sergeant. It’s all that matters. We must get out of here.”

“I…uh…”

“Not on your fucking life!” Murphy shouted, “Our guys are in trouble, and there’s no way we’re gonna let those Krauts shoot the shit out of them. Kelly, to me. Crockett, you still carrying that BAR?”

“That’s affirmative. What’re you thinking?”

“The Krauts must be about three hundred yards to the east. Our guys are gonna drop halfway between us and them. We head for the LZ, warn them as they land, and keep running. Those bastards think they’ve got us bang to rights, and we’re gonna change their minds. Sergeant, Major, how about it?”

Rooker sounded relieved that somebody had come up with a sensible suggestion that meant action. “What’re we waiting for?”

They raced through the trees toward the LZ, and the Germans fired another flare that descended slowly. It had the benefit of lighting up the entire area, making the going easier for them, and they arrived in the clearing as the first parachutes came down. They were in for a shock. The first man Murphy encountered was a junior officer. One he thought he recognized through the darkened face paint and wished he didn’t, “Lieutenant Adams?”

“Yeah, me.” He glanced around, “What’s with the reception? Which idiot fired those flares?”

“A German patrol turned up, and they’re coming this way.”

A dozen parachutes were already on the ground, and he shouted, “All of you get behind cover and prepare to receive enemy fire.” He saw Rooker staring at the unfamiliar faces. “Sergeant, these are the replacements for the men we lost. Get their heads down and get First Platoon ready to give them hell.”

“Yessir. Lt, when you landed, we were on the way to give them a roasting. We planned to give them a big surprise and hit them before they get here. I believe it’s the best plan, and we should carry on.”

The shouts were getting closer. The flare had finally expired, and darkness had returned to the forest. He glanced in the direction of the enemy and shook his head. “There’s no time, we need to fight a defensive action. Get them undercover. That’s an order, Sergeant.”

The first shots spat toward them, and they ducked down. There was no way the Germans could see them, but they could’ve heard them moving, and they had to have seen those parachute canopies as they descended. Not hard to pinpoint the LZ, and Rooker nodded. “Yessir.”

He swung around to the new arrivals, who were scattered around the clearing. Most were following procedure, securing the billowing canopies, and opening the equipment pods to access weapons and equipment. It was all taking too long. Rooker knew it.

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