Monday, April 6, 2009

A Few Ugly Days (Prologue pts 1 & 2)

Note: both reposted from Jspace but this time in one piece

Prologue pt 1

The missile was a long way from home, according to it’s records it was currently sitting in an munitions store in the Hellenic military base of Eleusina about 20km’s NW of Athens. This however had little bearing on its ability to cross the distance between the small freighter and HMAS Bathurst in less than a second.

The bridge windows were constructed from armoured glass, however they had little resistance against the mass of the missile travelling at over 400m/sec. Within a microsecond of it entering the bridge the bursting charge expelled the reactive gas mixture into the bridge area, before the detonator charge ignited the fuel/air gas mixture.

All the bridge crew had been stunned by the concussive force of the missile blasting through the bridge window and the fuselage of the missile had almost reached the rear of the bridge before the F/A mixture exploded. The results were catastrophic.

The ignition by the detonator charge turned the cloud of explosives into a superheated pressure wave that burned through the ship at high speed. It blew out every window and porthole plus any hatches. The pressure wave also distorted the keel and superstructure causing numerous splits in the aluminium sheeting of the exterior of the ship. The blast wave also damaged the fire suppressant system and so when the fires started and the aluminium started to burn it was less than useless. The roof of the bridge whilst not blown off completely, peeled back raggedly like the lid of a tin of beans

Fortunately for most of the crew the pressure wave killed or incapacitated them before the fires started. It was only the two engineers in the engine room who were unlucky enough to survive the pressure wave the only thing that saved them from dying painfully in the metal fires was the poisonous fumes that permeated the lowers spaces in short order.

In less than a minute after the missile struck the Bathurst was listed badly and fires were raging throughout causing the ammo stores for the typhoon 25mm cannon and the small arms stored onboard to cook off causing even more damage. The fuel lines were also ruptured by this time which contributed to a build up of fumes which exploded just over 4 minutes later breaking the back of the Bathurst.
As soon as the ammo started to cook off the freighter moved away and the captain had men checking the airspace to make hopefully spot any airborne surveillance. HMAS Bathurst sank just less than half and hour after the unprovoked attack. Except for the security team held on the freighter there were no survivors.

In the next few days the body count would rise tremendously.

Prologue pt 2: Meeting

The General’s limousine bounced softly down the lightly rutted track that had ran off from the edge of Cadasari village. The track led to a small plantation that obviously dated back to colonial times, although with the plantation house’s bright whitewashed walls, it was clear that the owners took pride in their home.

It was the clearly armed guards at the compounds gate with green inscribed headbands, that reminded the General that he was a stranger here. He was also only a go between, a facilitator because of his links with the man he had come to meet. No longer holding an active role in the Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia (or ABRI) the General still had his fingers in many places hence his visit today.

His driver a veteran of Kopassus’ SAT-81 Gultor anti-terrorist unit broke from his usual silence
“Looks like the Madhi like to be protected by Arabs rather than us poor locals, Boss”
The General just shook his head and smiled
“Don’t let them hear you call him the Mahdi Try, these people don’t have a sense of humour”
Try just smirked
“Better to put your faith in a MP5 than a green headband boss”
The General laughed, for the first time in days
“I know, I know but let’s be careful here, yes?”
‘Yes Boss’ came Try’s response

As the limo reached the gates four guards stood in front of the open gateway. Three of the four clearly form the middle east wearing bushy beards, the fourth a local man who was desperately trying to be as righteous as his fellow guards but only managing a straggly piece of face fungus. All of the guards were armed, two with AKMS’s (both with the stocks extended as they both had a 75 rnd drum mag inserted), the local had a battered Uzi and the tallest of the four had a grenade launcher which Try recognized as a South African Milkor MGL.

The limo stopped and the Uzi totting guard moved over to the drivers door whilst one of the Kalashnikov wielders moved to the passenger side of thee limo and the other went to the rear. The grenade totting guard remained in place like some Classical stone guardian his eyes scanning the tree line at the edge of the plantation estate.
The Indonesian guard knocked timidly on the driver’s
“Please could you identify yourselves and open the trunk?”
Try bristled at this “WE don..”
His outburst was stalled by the General’s hand on his shoulder.
“I am General Feisal Sudirman, I’m here to meet the Emir? Try open the trunk for the gentlemen”
‘Yes boss” grumbled his driver, and the trunk popped up, all the men could hear the man at the back rummaging through the trunk’s contents. There was a brief pause and then the sound of smashing glass as the bottle of the General’s favorite tipple Johnny Walker blue label was destroyed in a fit of religious pique. Then the trunk lid was slammed down shut.

The Indonesian guard smiled nervously
‘My apologies General the Emir allows no alcohol on the grounds, you may proceed through. I’m sorry but your driver must remain in the car during your meeting.”

So saying the guards moved away from the limo and Try let off the break and drove to the front of the house before pulling up facing the gates. He then got out of the car and opened the Generals for him.
‘Thank you Try. Stay calm be prepared, yes?”
‘Yes boss’.

The General straightened his back and walked up the steps and into the shade of the veranda.

The front of the house was framed by a veranda and all four windows had heavy metal shutters (which were closed) and a heavy teak double door. A small brass bell hung to the right of the doorway. The first thing the General noticed was that there seemed to be no sound of nature no insects humming no birds singing it was as if nature was hushed and wished not to be noticed. He shivered and hoped it was not a premonition.

Striding to the doors he rang the bell. After about half a minute the doors opened and a tall heavy built man stepped out. He was dressed simply in white but carried a MP5K on a shoulder harness. To the General he looked European but the mans tan was so deep it was hard to say.
“You are the General?”
Gen Sudirman nodded
“Follow me” said the guard and turned on his heel and moved back into the house.
Given no choice the General entered the house. Like the outside the interior was spotless although sparse red tiles on the floor and whitewashed walls and ceilings with only the odd rug or piece of furniture gave the house an echoic feeling. The only items on the walls were some beautifully rendered pieces of calligraphy representing parts of the Koran.

It took only a few moments for the General and his guide to reach the central courtyard. This again was spare with the garden beds empty but covered by small pebbles. The fountain in the centre though was working and the sound of the water falling was a counterpoint to the seeming unending silence of the house and it’s surroundings. The veranda surrounding the courtyard was also sparse with only a couple of worn wooden benches offering some form of relief for the eye. Next to the fountain was a simple round metal table and two chairs both metal. The scars on their painted metal surfaces hinted that they may have been owned by the Dutch colonials, who had originally owned this plantation.

At the table sat the current owner of the property. He also was dressed in plain white clothes and as the General approached, the military veteran could not help but be amazed at a man who had been imprisoned & tortured could still look twenty years younger than his actual 62 years.

The emir looked up as the two men drew closer.
“Ah, Feisal you are early I think? But no matter, please take a seat”
This the General did with few qualms.
“Please excuse my guards, they are overly cautious and protective of me, especially with our upcoming project. Everything is going according to plan I hope?”
The General clear his throat.
‘Err.. yes, all assets are in place and the initial forces will initiate action in tonight at about 20:00hrs local. The airport and harbour incursions should occur within 15 minutes of each other hopefully, given current conditions.’
“God willing” added the Emir
“Er.. yes God willing” replied the General.
“And the president still approves of this?”
“the presidents position is difficult as the recent food and fuel riots have made the political scene uncertain”
A brief smile flashed across the Emirs unlined face
“Yes the recent riots it is most fortunate that Allah has allowed the people to rise up against the injustices put upon them by the infidels and their allies in power..is it not?” the Emirs will shone out from his eyes as he said this, making the General wonder how spontaneous the riots had actually been.

Suddenly the Emir stood up.
“You may return now, my friend as I’m sure that you are needed at the operations post”
Surprised at this dismissal, the General stayed seated
“I was wondering if I might see my son? To see how he is getting on”
“You should be very proud of him he has decided to join the fedayheen on the main ship, so you will be able to see him when the beachhead is secure.”
The General was taken aback
“Oh I see”
The emir grinned widely
“Do not take me for a fool Feisal, his presence in the front wave should ensure that you will pursue this to the very end, I will see you tomorrow.”

The General left the building deep in thought, the main image in his mind during the drive back to the operations centre was that of his son. Try ever the good man that he was, respected his boss’ silence and made the journey in good time. Elsewhere the pawns moved into play.

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