They had to come to a complete stop half a dozen times to do some minor rock climbing as the ascent took them into higher country. The slopes of the Highlands looked like a moonscape except for the scrubby vegetation, but the effect given by the NVGs was eerie and surreal, an impression heightened by the dangerous environment they had entered.
Jim Cruiser, in the middle of the group with his SAW gunner, Tex Benson, kept a constant eye on the formation, making sure it stayed loose but organized. He had already worked out the details of the dawn attack in his mind, but he would wait until the objective was properly reconned before making a final plan.
.
ORP
0045 HOURS
THE two men chosen to recon the objective--Morales and Halonen--were out on their mission. The rest of the team were arrayed in their attack formation, with the Alphas to the right and the Bravos to the left. Cruiser and Benson with his SAW occupied a position in the center rear. The section was only fifty meters from the objective, but had plenty of cover in the scrub brush, boulders, and dips in the ground to keep them concealed.
It was in this risky location that Cruiser really appreciated the features of the LASH headsets. "Okay, guys," he whispered, "we've got about five hours to wait. As soon as Morales and Halonen get back, we'll go on fifty percent alert. Try and get some sleep. I'll sound reveille at oh-four-forty-five and we'll stay on watch until I give the word to move out."
The two scouts returned from their short patrol, and Morales joined his team while Halonen reported in to the team commander. "Sir, there's a fighting position straight ahead. There was only one guy manning it. We won't be able to get too close to it without a sharp climb. It seems to be facing this direction."
"Mmm," Cruiser mused. "Probably there to watch this flank." He thought a minute. "You guys heard Halonen. When the attack starts, I want both grenadiers to cut loose on that position with one grenade each. Benson, you give it a couple of good three-or four-round bursts. Then we rush them and shoot the place up. When I feel we've done enough, I'll give the word we've completed the mission. At that time, turn east for the run back to our own positions."
Now another voice came over the commo system. "Brigand One, this is Brigand Boss. Over." As soon as Cruiser replied, Lieutenant Bill Brannigan continued his call. "It sounds like you're in position. We'll be able to monitor all your transmissions, so as soon as you order the assault, we'll be ready to cover you. Over."
"Roger," Cruiser radioed back. "We'll get as close as we can, then start down the slope toward you. Over."
"Roger. Out."
.
0520 HOURS
THE battle started with one word of command from Lieutenant JG Jim Cruiser: "Go!"
Two M-203 grenade launchers barked, and as their projectiles arced across the thirty meters of ground toward the objective, Tex Benson pumped the trigger of his SAW, sending three short bursts of 5.56-millimeter rounds straight into the enemy fighting position. As soon as the two grenades struck their target and exploded, the entire section leaped to their feet and made a quick rush toward the objective. No fire was being returned, and Cruiser continued the attack completely up the slope without resistance. They reached the top and could see the ripped-up body of a Zaheya soldier sprawled in his own blood on the dirt inside his post.
Suddenly more enemy soldiers appeared from a bunker exit fifteen meters away. They jumped back as soon as the SEALs opened up on them. Cruiser knew that he and his section had pressed their luck about as far as they could. It would be only moments before the whole enemy force responded to the assault.
"Haul ass!"
The First Assault Section now began racing down the slope, able to hear the firing from the Brigands on the east side of the valley. The three M-60s under Chief Matt Gunnarson's command were sending well-directed swarms of bullets crisscrossing across the enemy site above where Cruiser and his men now continued their withdrawal. As soon as they were into the brush, the section split into a wider, more spaced-out formation. They zigzagged through the natural cover, being exposed for only brief instances to view from above.
UP in the Zaheya positions, Captain Naser Khadid personally directed the fire of his Imperial Lions Special Forces detachment. Their FA-MAS bullpups pumped out short automatic bursts in the direction of the fleeing attackers. They had no real targets other than quick glimpses of the scampering Americans, and tried to guess in which direction and how far the enemy was moving. Now the incoming fire swept over them along with some M-203 grenades that exploded just below the location, sending up shards of shrapnel and jagged hunks of rocks. The Iranians ducked under the roaring volleys of rifle and machine-gun bullets directed at them.
A few moments later, the fusillades lessened and the Iranians leaped to their feet to renew the fight. But the only thing they saw was the sight of the attackers entering the cover of their own positions after scrambling up the eastern slopes of the valley.
"Isteet shellik Kardaa!" Khadid ordered. "Cease fire!" The first battle of the campaign was over, and one of their men had been killed.
CHAPTER 6
SEAL BASE CAMP
12 JUNE 0217 HOURS
PO2C Pech Pecheur checked his watch, noting he was two hours and seventeen minutes into the midwatch. The SEAL sighed inaudibly about having an hour and forty-three minutes to go until relieved. He stood in his fighting position, gazing out into no-man's-land, alert for possible attackers or infiltrators, his attention goaded by his impatience. The concealment in the area was pretty good, but didn't offer a lot of effective cover. Thorn bushes did nothing to stop flying bullets, though a few of the boulders were large enough to offer protection from artillery or mortar shells.
The Cajun grinned to himself, thinking it depended on which side of the big rock you were on, of course.
The flicker of movement was fleeting, but enough to snap him into a state of complete alertness.
"Watch it," he whispered over the LASH. "There's movement to the direct front of Two Sector." The assault teams were located by number from left to right, facing out in numerical order. Two Sector was the Second Team's position, and everyone else on watch knew exactly where to look.
"Roger," came back Jim Duncan's voice in Sector Three. "There's somebody out there."
Ensign Orlando Taylor was watch officer stationed just outside headquarters in a recently constructed OP. "Everybody keep your eyes open," he said, hoping something exciting would happen. Now and then fox and other animals scampered through the area, and a small deer had caused a general call to arms a couple of nights previously.
Suddenly a shot cracked from One Sector. "We got infiltrators!" Wally Halonen announced. He squeezed off a couple more rounds. "Two more of 'em!"
Now firing broke out from below the SEAL positions, the incoming slugs slapping into sandbags and zinging off rocks. The off-duty Brigands rushed from their section bunkers with M-16s and bandoliers. The firefight now built up into a crescendo of fusillades that raked across the entire defensive line from no-man's-land. The Brigands returned fire, with Chief Matt Gunnarson's three machine guns now joining in. Sparks flew off boulders, and the vegetation shuddered violently as hundreds of 5.56-and 7.62-millimeter rounds slapped rocks and buffeted the brush to the front of the Brigands.
ARSALAAN Sikes rose from a prone position and aimed his FA-MAS rifle upward at the American MLR. After kicking off a quick full-auto burst, he dropped back down. His Arab Storm Trooper detachment was spread out as skirmishers to his front, with Warrant Officer Shafaqat Hashiri in charge of the left flank, while the Brit commanded the right.
"Kammal hajam ala adi," he ordered over his LASH. "Continue the attack."
The Arabs used fire and maneuver as they advanced across the valley floor, one group covering each short rapid advance of another. Now that they had NVGs, they were able to carry on night operations as often as they wished. Most of the incoming fire from the American positions was proving harmless, but now and then the bullet strikes came close, bringing parts of the assault lines to a halt. Since it is in the nature of Arabs to babble excitedly in stressful and dangerous situations, Sikes Pasha had issued strict orders that squad leaders were the only ones allowed to use the LASH headsets. That way instructions could be easily given as the battle unfolded without being lost in vocal yammering. The conversation was mostly from Sikes Pasha as he directed the operation with the help of Hashiri.