Free Echo Six: Black Ops 8 - ISIS Killing Fields by Eric Meyer Page A

didn't need to think, as long as the Iraqis hadn't been responsible for their maintenance. That was unlikely, as they'd just been shipped out from the States as part of America's contribution to NATO. He'd grab them. "I'll take 'em."
    "Good. Report to me at 18.00, and I'll hand you the details of your next mission."
    "Yes, Sir. When does the new operation start?"
    "21.00, Commander."
    "21.00. I see, Sir. I meant, on which day. How long can you give us to shake down these new vehicles?"
    "You leave at 21.00 today, Commander." He checked his watch, "That gives you, oh, about nine hours, so I wouldn't waste any time. You'll need supplies for five days, although you should be back in two or three. I'll tell you the rest when you report at 18.00. That's all."
    "Yessir."
    Talley went to round up his men and give them the news. It didn't go down too well.
    "You're kidding us, Commander!"
    He stared back at them and grimaced. "I agree with you, but that's what the Admiral says."
    Guy strolled up to him. "What about vehicles? We can't drive those Land Rovers. They're not fit for the scrapheap."
    "It's not the Rovers. Come with me."
    He led the way to the tiny compound where the three LSVs were parked. "These are ours, men, and what we'll be using for this trip."
    "Mamma mia!" Domenico Rovere stared at the sleek buggies.
    He smiled. "Mamma mia is about right. We'll drive these into the enemy's heart like a dagger. Get in fast, do the job, and get out just as fast."
    The Italian regarded him thoughtfully. "Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? A dagger of the mind, a false creation, proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain? I see thee yet, in form as palpable, as this which now I draw."
    Heinrich Buchmann's forehead creased in confusion. He responded by drawing out his combat knife, a wickedly sharp tool of which he was more than proud. "Lieutenant, this is a dagger."
    Rovere stared at him in astonishment. "Heinrich, I merely spoke in metaphor. Shakespearean metaphor."
    "This metaphor, what kind of weapon is it?"
    He let him down gently. Buchmann was a man to be handled carefully, like old, unstable dynamite. "Not that kind of a weapon, my friend. One your German philosophers would have once fought with."
    His huge head moved up and down in agreement. It was like a bear shaking off the raindrops after a heavy rainstorm. "Ja, I see that." It was obvious he saw nothing.
    Talley decided it was time to take over. He explained the good points of the LSVs, the speed, maneuverability, the sophisticated, state of the art electronics. "It means if we run across those ISIS characters in the Toyotas again, we'll be able to run around them in circles. And with the electronics we'll be able to call for support from anywhere on the battlefield."
    Guy Welland shifted his gaze away from the LSVs to Talley. "Until they go wrong."
    "They won't go wrong. It's state of the art stuff."
    "Do the Russians know that?"
    "Russians?" He stared back at Guy, "What do Russians have to do with it? We're fighting ISIS, not Russians."
    He stared straight back. "You know that for sure?"
    "Well, not until the briefing, no, but we're in country to destroy ISIS. Russia is on our side. At least, they have the same objective. Destroy ISIS."
    "Don't seem right," Reynolds rumbled in his deep, bass voice, "Russia's been the enemy of the U.S. since before I was born. A leopard don't change its spots."
    "This leopard does. We'll be up against ISIS. These vehicles will give us the ability to strike the enemy hard, pursue and kill him. Then get out before they have time to call for reinforcements. I want you to spend some time checking them out, make sure everything works as it should, and we'll meet in the briefing hut at 18.00.
    The afternoon went slowly, as they dealt with a string of teething problems with the LSVs. A flurry of calls brought men racing out to Sykes aboard a fast truck, to bring up missing ammo and equipment. The engines on the LSVs