Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 16:05:39 -0500
From: Gstrdr15 <Gstrdr15@msn.com>
Subject: KOMBAT KIDS, CHAPTER 41

Disclaimer; If you are under 18 years of age, or material such as this is
illegal in your locale, please do not continue reading. All persons, places
and thing depicted in this story are purely fictional; any resemblance to
people, living or dead, past or present, places or things are purely
coincidental.  However, I will admit to there being a Washington State.


Kombat Kids
By; GhostRyder15

Chapter 41
Showdown


15:00 DAY TWO, DON PRINCE'S OFFICE

	Don Prince was in his office talking on the phone to a highly
placed bureaucrat in the FBI Office in Spokane.  When the man was younger,
just starting out as a lawyer for the government, he had gotten deeply
involved in a get rich quick scheme and had embezzled funds from the local
office of the GSA.  He had gone to Don Prince who was a friend when he was
in college, thinking he could trust him, he told Prince what had happened
and begged him for help.  Don Prince came through and loaned him $250,000
and told him he understood and to not worry about paying him back until he
could afford it.  That was ten years ago, now, Don Prince was calling in
the lawyer's marker.  Up until the man received Prince's call, he was
blissfully unaware of the kind of person he was dealing with, he soon found
out.  The FBI under J. Edgar Hoover always prized their sterling reputation
first; solving cases was of a lesser priority to them.  J. Edgar always
stressed to his department heads that under no circumstances will the FBI
or he ever be embarrassed because of a mistake by one of his agents.  While
J. Edgar has been dead and buried for over thirty years, his decree
regarding the FBI not being embarrassed was still held by whoever the
current director was.  Thus . . .  let's call him Mr. Smith
. . . . Mr. Smith couldn't afford any hint of scandal being associated with
his name, no matter how long ago it happened.  So when Don Prince called
him in his corner office of the Federal Building in downtown Spokane and
reminded him of the $250,000 that he was still in the process of paying
back, he readily agreed to sidetrack the report of a fourteen year old boy
that was kidnapped in Moreland.

	Prince sat behind his desk, a just opened liter bottle of Makers
Mark sour mash bourbon sitting in front of him while he drank some of it
from cut crystal glass.  After staring at the bottle thinking about the
situation his idiot sons had gotten him into, he made the decision that
would affect many and cause much pain and suffering.  Picking up the phone
he speed dialed a long distance number with an international area code.
The phone rang twice before it was answered; "You got those men I asked you
to put on standby? . . . . . .  Okay, here's the deal, there's five males
ages 14 to 25 in my cabin south of Toppenish Ridge.  I want them dead and
the cabin torched, I mean burnt completely to the ground.  . . . . . .  I
don't care if it starts a forest fire, in fact if it doesn't, I want your
men to start one. . . . . . . . . . . Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, I don't care, I
want as little evidence remaining as possible, tell your guys that I'll
double what I promised them if they can make it look like an
accident. . . . . . .  Fine, I'll give you an extra ten percent per kilo on
the next shipment. . . . . . .  I won't be contacting you for awhile, and I
don't want any calls from you either."  Prince hung up and thought about
his two boys who were about to die, sighed and thought: "Fuck em, I'm young
enough to have more, besides that's all that dumb bitch I'm married to is
good for, that and spending my money."


17:30 AT THE BATEMAN COMPOUND


	Earlier that afternoon they had received a call from Greg Bailey
telling the Gunny to call Major Hobson.  The Gunny thanked him and hung up
and punched in the number Chief Bailey had given him.  The phone was
answered on the first ring; "Special Air Operations, Sergeant Matthews
speaking sir,"

	"Sergeant Matthews, this is Master Gunnery Sergeant Mcnaughten
calling for Major Hobson."  The Gunny said using his best D.I. voice

	Sergeant Matthews replied; "Please standby."

	Thirty seconds later Major Hobson came on the line; "Good evening
Gunny, we developed some more information from a low level pass we made on
the back to McCord this morning.  We did another flyby on the last track we
flew this morning and detected a fifth person in the second cabin.  The
reason he didn't show up on the first pass was, and this is just conjecture
now, that he's in the basement of the structure.  We got a pretty good read
on the person, it appears that he was lying on his side and looked to have
his hands bound behind him.  I wanted to let you have this, but I didn't
have your number and I couldn't reach Greg.

	"Major," the Gunny said; "don't sweat it sir, we're getting ready
to launch one of our guys to do a walk about in the area, this new info
will cut down his need to recon three different places.  Thank you very
much for all of your help sir."

	"No problem Gunny, if you need us, give us a call, I presume you
have ground/air communications?"  The Major asked.

	"Yes sir."  The Gunny responded; "Unit one uses 47.7 MHz. for voice
communication, unfortunately, our encrypted communications are none
standard single use requiring a key contained in the single use CD we
generate on our Cray when we practice OpSec (Operational Security)."

	"Okay, we'll be practicing combat insertions and lift offs at the
Moreland Airport tonight starting at 01:00 through 07:00.  We'll guard 47.7
MHz. starting 00:01 tonight and continue to do so until at least 07:30
local tomorrow."  The Major said.

	"Thank you sir, I hope to see you sometime early tomorrow morning."
The Gunny then hung up and thought for a moment before heading to the
lounge and repeating what the Major had said.

	It was decided that Keener would do a walkby of the cabin east of
the primary target to ensure there wouldn't be any surprises.  Keener
didn't have a problem with the extra walk, he'd been involved in operations
that had gone south on him because of letting things slide.  He and the
Gunny had gone over the maps and the CD with the Air force telemetry data
on it and didn't think it would add more than twenty to thirty minutes to
the first part of the operation.  Besides reconing the two cabins Keener
would set up the jump beacon in a fairly large meadow approximately a
kilometer from the main target.  The beacon would be activated five minutes
before the jumpers exited the aircraft and then Keener would provide area
security until everyone was down and ready to advance on whichever cabin
was identified as the main target.

	As the day advanced, the team makeup was finalized.  The only
problem that was encountered was with Mitch, he wanted to go, but his
father refused to talk about it.  George Babcock was afraid.  Not for
himself, but for his oldest boy, he knew he was capable of doing what was
required, but all he could think of was that he had almost lost Mitch
twice.  Once in the car accident that was caused by his mother driving
drunk which resulted in him loosing his leg.  The second time in another
traffic accident where James Bateman lost an arm and a leg because a truck
driver was driving after going for thirty-six hours without sleep.

	Mitch and his father had gone to the conference room to argue about
him going. It came down to a confrontation between father and son. Mitch
was adamant about going.  George was equally adamant about him not going.
Finally Mitch told his father; "Dad, everytime you were deployed you told
us you had no choice, it was your job and you had to go."

	George tried to interrupt; "That's not fair s . . . . . ."

	Mitch didn't give his father a chance to continue; "That's what you
always told Shane and me, 'It's not fair, but it is my job and I have to
go.'  Well it's my turn now, I know I'm only fourteen, I know I only have
one real leg and I know that I gotta go on this jump or I'll never be able
to look at myself in the mirror again.  I'm going and the only way you'll
stop me is to lock me up somewhere, if you do that, then I'll never speak
to you again as long as I live."

	George Babcock looked at his son and realized how much he had
changed since he had moved from the coast to Moreland.  He seemed to be a
lot older than his fourteen years and for the first time he realized how
much he had matured physically.  He thought to himself; "If he dies I'll
never be able to forgive myself, if he never forgives me because I didn't
let him go, I might as well be dead."  These thoughts and several others
flashed through his head as he stood there staring into his son's eyes.  He
had no choice. With a gentle sigh he nodded his head; "All right son,
you've given me no choice, if Matt will let you go, I won't stop you.  BUT.
But you have to promise me you'll follow orders and think before you do
anything, alright?"

	Mitch's eye's glazed over and moisture threatened to start falling
from his eyes as he moved forward and grasped his father in a bear hug; "I
love you dad, thanks for trusting me, and I promise dad, I'll follow
orders."

	George realized for the first time that his fourteen year old son
was almost as tall as he was, in the five months they had been in Moreland;
Mitch had grown three inches in height and put on ten pounds.

20:53, 350 METERS UP THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOPPENISH RIDGE


	Toppenish Ridge was approximately 1,200 meters high; the meadow
that had been selected for Keener's insertion was 350 meters from the base
of the ridge, on an angle of forty degrees.  Keener kicked the fast line
out the door of the H-13 and then hooked the quick disconnect friction
slider to it that was attached to a body harness specifically designed for
fast lining.  Turning to Jeff, he gave him thumbs up and was gone, his
slide took him down to ground in less than three seconds.  Activating the
quick disconnect he was free of the fast line. Moving quickly down hill
twenty or so feet from the dangling fast line and crouched down. He spoke
into his hands free mic; "Clear."  Over his headset, he heard; "Roger, good
luck."

	As Keener watched, the spidery form of the Hiller lifted higher and
turned to the north, staying low to the ground, but heading for the top of
the ridge by following the terrain.  Once Jeff Morton crested the ridge, he
would turn and head back to the compound.  Keener remained crouched where
he was for the next fifteen minutes, hardly moving, listening as the sounds
of the forest and the meadow started up again after being silenced by the
giant predator that had flown into its midst.  After insuring that he was
alone, he pulled out his GPS and got a bearing to the first cabin he was to
recon.  Replacing it in the pouch that was attached to his LBE harness, he
pulled out his compass and took a bearing with it, as most military men
were, he always had a backup.  A GPS was great, but whenever possible he
used a compass to insure it was working properly, in an area with high
terrain features such as he was in, a GPS sometimes locked up.  He replaced
the compass in his pocket and headed off towards the first landmark he had
sighted on, he had to make continuous checks with his compass to insure he
was moving in the right direction.  With the light gathering optics he was
using, he had no problem making his way through the heavy brush that
littered the old growth forest he was moving through.  After being on the
move for close to an hour, Keener stopped for a short break; crouching down
with his back to a large tree he made a visual sweep of the immediate area
to make sure he was alone.  With his left hand, he held his 60 by the
barrel shroud just forward of the action while he pulled a water bottle
from its carry position on his LBE.  After drinking the contents of the one
liter bottle (Gatorade), he replaced it in its holder.  Once again he
surveyed the area around him and moved out quietly towards his first
target.  22:00, THE SARTEN RANCH 30 MILES SOUTH OF TOPPENISH RIDGE

	Benny Martine had a bad feeling about this job, he was going to do
it, but he didn't have to like it.  His boss, Tunio Gartimereze, was paying
him big bucks to take care of five men and boys, and that was the problem,
Tunio never before paid him the amount of money he was getting for this
hit.  Tunio had contacted him the day before and told him of the job and
that he and his men would be transported from Sonoyta, Mexico to a ranch in
southern Washington.  Benny and three of his men were driven across the
border in three different vehicles and delivered to a straight stretch of
Arizona Highway 85 just south of Why, Arizona.  At 10:35 PM the previous
night a Lear 35A made a low pass over their section of the highway, with
the flaps out and the wheels down, the aircraft slowed to just above its
stall speed.  After making the pass, the small aircraft lined up on the
two-lane highway from the north and landed, coming to a stop alongside the
area where the men were hiding in the brush.  Within seconds of the plane
stopping the door opened and Martine and his three men ran to the aircraft
and boarded it.  As soon as the door was secured, the pilot advanced the
throttles and released the brakes; the Lear seemed to leap forward and
shortly was airborne.  The 1,500 mile flight to the Yakima Air Terminal,
McAllister Field in Yakima took a little over three and a half hours. When
they arrived; a black Chevy Yukon with a driver was waiting for them.  An
hour and a half later they were in single level ranch house in the middle
of nowhere.  For the twenty hours Benny and his men spent in the ranch
house all that was accomplished was the check out of the weapons that were
supplied by his boss.  Whatever the local situation was, it was going to be
up close and personal when the dance started.  The only weapons they had
been provided with were three pistol grip Mossberg pump shotguns, an H & K
MP5 9mm sub-machinegun, four Berretta 92FS 9mm pistols and four Tanto
styled K-Bar knives.  The shotguns each came with a nylon sling and a 25
round box of .00 Buckshot, three fifteen round magazines were provided for
each of the pistols and three 32 round magazines for the MP-5.  There was
also five 50 round boxes of 9mm hollow points.  With the weapons,
ammunition and the knives was a short letter of instructions that basically
told Benny to wait inside the house and be ready to move out on a half hour
warning.  By 20:00, all four of the men were ready to get the job done and
get back to Mexico. All of them just wanted the job to be over with.


23:00 TARGET ONE

	Keener's navigation of the forest was right on the money, he
stopped at the edge of the clearing surrounding the most eastern cabin,
crouching down, he watched the cabin for any sign of movement or noise.
After observing the cabin for five minutes, he carefully made his way to
the nearest window and looked inside.  There was a night light glowing on
the south side of the room and the one bed in the room was occupied by what
looked like a teenage girl of maybe fourteen or fifteen.  Moving to the
next window, he was able to see a boy about twelve years old lying on his
back on the couch in the main room.  Turning around, Keener moved directly
west away from the cabin. When he was once again in the woods he spoke into
his microphone; "GhostRyder Base, GhostRyder Base, this is Walker One,
over."  After waiting for ten seconds, he repeated his call; " GhostRyder
Base, GhostRyder Base, this is Walker One, over."

	Just as he was about to try for the third time he heard; "Walker
One, Walker One, this is GhostRyder Base, over."

	Speaking softly he said; "GhostRyder Base, Walker One, target one
is a negative, I repeat, target one is a negative, over."

	The response was what he had expected; "GhostRyder Base copies
target one is a negative, proceed to target two, GhostRyder Base, out."

	Keener didn't say anything more, after checking his compass, he
moved off quickly in the direction of the primary target.  Moving quietly
he made the two-mile hike in just over thirty minutes.  Coming upon the
cabin from the east side, he immediately saw the white van with the 'Prince
Lumber Co.' sign on the passenger door, and parked along-side the van was
an older CJ model Jeep.  Keener moved to the front of the vehicles and one
at a time, placed his hand on the hoods of each, neither of them had been
driven for several hours.  Placing his 60 on the ground, he pulled his
K-Bar from its sheath and cut the valve stems of all four tires on each
vehicle, all that could be heard was a soft, almost sibilant hiss as the
tires slowly deflated.  Moving quietly around the cabin, Keener determined
that the only window that was not shuttered was one in the foundation on
the west side of the structure.  Setting his 60 on the ground once again,
he looked in the window, if it hadn't been for the night optics he wore he
never would have seen Jacky tied to the post in the center of the basement.
Studying Jacky closely he thought he might be dead, then he saw the boy
lift his head off his chest and shudder, while he watched, the large
fourteen year old boy vomited down the front of his MarCams into his lap.
Jacky seemed to shudder again and his head dropped forward again.

	Keener grabbed his 60 and moved quickly and quietly away from the
cabin, he made the decision to move away instead of trying to bust his way
into the cabin.  He probably could take whoever was holding Jacky captive,
but if he failed, he would be dead and Jacky would probably die shortly
after him.  Keener moved to the clearing that had been designated as the
'Drop Zone.' Once there, he set his 60 down and removed his ruck.  Opening
it, he pulled the beacon out and moved to the center of the clearing and
positioned it, pressing the 'Press to Test' button on the side of the
device he got a steady green light indicating the batteries and circuitry
were good.  Moving back to his 60, for the first time since he was in Iraq,
he chambered a live round for use not against a paper target, but against
an enemy that he would gladly kill.


23:45, THE BATEMAN COMPOUND COMMUNICATIONS ROOM


	Matt and the Gunny were sitting in the Com room talking quietly
about the upcoming jump when the radio came alive; "GhostRyder Base,
GhostRyder Base, this is Walker One, over."

	"Walker One, GhostRyder Base, go ahead." Matt answered into the
microphone.

	"GhostRyder Base, GhostRyder Base, this is Walker One, Target
acquired, I say again Target acquired."

	"Walker One, GhostRyder Base, roger your last, what is target's
condition, over?"

	"GhostRyder Base, Walker One, target is alive, but needs immediate
medical attention. Walker One observed target secured to vertical floor
support and he was vomiting at the time of sighting.  Walker One was unable
to affect rescue due to access problems, Walker one was unable to eyeball
other occupants of cabin or how they were armed, over."

	"Walker One, GhostRyder Base, set up insertion beacon and remain in
DZ until told to activate beacon, then return to cabin and observe area, do
not, I repeat do not attempt rescue of Target, confirm, over"

	"GhostRyder Base, GhostRyder Base, Walker One, insertion beacon is
in place but not activated, all vehicles at the cabin have been
immobilized, Walker One understands no rescue attempt without backup.
Walker One will remain in vicinity of DZ until told to activate beacon,
then return to cabin, over."

	"Walker One, GhostRyder Base out." Matt said

	Matt turned to the Gunny; "Get them suited up, I figure we got
about an hour to and hour and a half before we're airborne."

	The Gunny nodded his head and left to sound General Quarters.  Matt
turned back to the microphone, set the band width to 47.7 MHz and started
calling; "Snoopy 09, Snoopy 09, GhostRyder Base, over."

DAY THREE, 00:15 BATEMAN COMPOUND COMMUNICATIONS ROOM

	As Matt released the transmit button on the microphone once again,
he started to worry, if Snoopy 09 didn't answer soon, they'd have to try to
move on the cabin in vehicles.  That was the last thing Matt wanted to do,
there was every likelihood that Captain Eagletooth was watching the roads
into the reservation and would stop them before they could close on the
cabin.  Just as he was about to try again he heard; "GhostRyder Base,
GhostRyder Base, this Snoop 09, over."

	Hitting the transmit key, he responded; "Snoopy 09, this GhostRyder
Base, go ahead, over."

	"GhostRyder Base, Snoopy 09 is at angels 20 at 250 knots, turning
to 125 in five, over."

	"Snoopy 09, this is GhostRyder 6, we are at GhostRyder Base and
need a lift from home base (Moreland Airport) on 224 at angels 25 at 01:30,
over."

	"Ah roger your last GhostRyder 6, Snoopy 09 copies last, wait."

	"GhostRyder 6, Snoopy 09, how many require lift, I say again, how
many require lift? Over."

	"Snoopy 09, GhostRyder 6, thirteen, I say again one three, over."

	GhostRyder 6, Snoopy 09, see you at 01:30 at north end of home
base, Snoopy 09 out."

	While Matt was talking to Snoopy 09, the Gunny had come in and
listened to the conversation.  When Matt had finished he asked; "Matt I
really want to go in on this, I know we already talked about it, but I need
to go with you."

	Matt shook his head; "Sorry Gunny, but I need you to lead the
ground element; I know George will be there, but I need you to do this for
me.  I don't want to have to worry about what's happening on the ground
while Steve and I are herding these boys down from 20,000 feet.  Please,
please do this for me."

	The Gunny sighed; "Alright, but we ever have to do this again,
you're staying on the ground and I'll be doing the jumping. Deal?"

	Matt smiled; "Deal."

	The smile on Matt's face faded as he ordered the Gunny; "Assemble
the troops Gunnery Sergeant."

	The Gunny came to attention; "Aye, aye sir."  Turning to the
building announcing system he hit the transmit key and ordered; "Jumpers,
Ground Team and support personnel muster in the Cavern, that is, Jumpers,
Ground Team and support personnel muster in the Cavern."

	Within five minutes the Unit One boys and men who were involved in
the operation had assembled in the Cavern.  Broken into the three
sub-groups, Jumpers, the Ground Reserve Force used to seal off the cabin
from the highway and the support personnel. The support personnel were
mainly adults, added to older teenage Squadies with driver's licenses who
would operate the vehicles and provide logistical support for the other
groups. Everyone was wearing MarCams.  This was the third time the plan was
gone over in the last eight hours, with the exception the adults and one or
two of the boys, everyone had worked together on several different
exercises.  The only unusual aspect of the operation was the
sniper. Instead of using his Barrett .50 caliber rifle, he would be using
an accuratized Springfield Armory M1-A1 (civilian version of the M14) with
an NVWS-6 Low Light Amplification Telescopic sight.  The rifle used a much
smaller, lighter round (7.62 X 55 mm cartridge, with a 150 grain bullet),
which they wouldn't have to worry about going through the front wall and
taking out a good guy when it exited the building through the back wall.
This was a really good idea since two of the jumpers would be stationed
behind the cabin to insure nobody left that way once the shooting started.

	The briefing lasted only ten minutes, reserve force and the
logistic teams were getting ready to move out, as it would take them an
hour and a half to make it to their staging point. Terry English had been
able to scrape up three 'low boy' flat bed trailers and a sixty-foot box
trailer.  The four tractor-trailer rigs would transport the Unit's wheeled
vehicles to a point on the reservation where they could be unloaded and
used in the assault on the cabin, if necessary.

	Terry English felt out of place wearing the MarCams he had been
given, even more so because he was also issued a Kevlar 'Fritz' style
helmet.  While never serving in the military, he had lot of experience
handling heavy equipment and could operate all of the equipment the Unit
used.  When he was asked to help with the operation, he quickly agreed,
thanking God that it was Jacky that had been kidnapped rather than his son
Tyler.

	Earlier that day, the low-boy trailers had been loaded with four
HUMVE's, an LAV and a FAV; all the vehicles on the flat beds were covered
with canvas tarpaulins to disguise them.  Two more FAV's had been tied down
in the box trailer, and ramps secured to the interior sides of the trailer
for rapid loading and unloading.  The four tractor-trailers units exited
the Bateman compound at 00:55 and headed towards the staging point.  The
reserve and logistical teams rode in the vehicles secured on the flat beds
or in the box trailer.  Doctor Davidson rode in the front of the box
trailer, with all the medical supplies he anticipated needing, but prayed
that he wouldn't have to make use of.  Soon the small convoy was moving
along at 55 miles per hour on its way to be part of the rescue team for
Jacky.

	While the trucks were in route the thirteen members of the jump
team had suited up and climbed into eight different vehicles and headed to
the Moreland Airport.  After arriving at the airport, the boys and men
grabbed their jump and equipment bags then moved to the end of the ramp to
await their transportation.  While they were waiting, Matt pulled Jap away
from the group and said; "You're our team sniper, I'm depending on you to
keep the assault force safe.  I'm also depending on you not to lose your
head the first time you get one of those assholes in your sights.  I want
as many of them alive as possible, so promise me Jap, and I need to hear
you say it, promise me that you won't splatter their brains all over the
countryside the first time you get a clear shot.  Promise me Jap or you
aren't going."

	Jap looked Matt in the eyes and nodded.

	Matt shook his head; "No Jap, that won't do, say the words and mean
them or you don't go."

	Jap once again looked the man in the eyes and said; "Matt, I
promise I won't kill anyone unless I have to, to save one of our guys, I
promise you on Jacky's life."

	Matt looked at the boy for a few more seconds and nodded; "Thank
you Jap, go ahead and join the rest of the team."

	As Jap was heading back to the group, a Sheriff's police car turned
the corner with its emergency lights on and pulled to a halt alongside the
rest of the vehicles.  The lights went out and the engine was shut
down. When the door opened and Tommy Martin climbed out, Matt let the pent
up breath out he had been holding.  Tommy was dressed in hunter's
camouflage and had his Sheriffs gun belt around his waist and his Deputy
Sheriff's badge pinned to his chest. While Matt watched, the man opened the
trunk and removed a jump bag very similar to the ones the jumpers carried.
After closing the trunk, he walked over to Matt and gave him a rather
sloppy salute; "Hi there captain, nice night for a jump ain't it?"

	Matt took a second or two to figure out what Tommy had just said,
then he shook his head; "Nope, no way, un-un, there ain't no way you can go
with us."

	With a shit eating grin on his face Tommy said; "Yeah there is, I'm
the lawfully constituted police contingent of this jump, besides I got a
search warrant for three different cabins in Toppenish, signed by a federal
judge.  This way, if Eagletooth or his bandits try to stop us I can fend
him off, you really need me for this."

	Matt tried to tell him the problems with him going with them, about
the jump, the altitude they would jump from and the terrain they would be
jumping into. Tommy just grinned at him and let him talk until Matt finally
ran out of reasons for him not going.  Tommy answered his objections one by
one, concluding with; "And to your final reason why I can't go, I am a
certified jumper, I been jumping for the last three years.  I've been doing
HALO jumps for a year and a half and I'm good at it, I even have a MC-5
Tactical RAM-AIR Parachute and a Scott bottle for high altitude jumps."

	Before Matt could respond, the sound of a large aircraft could be
heard; Matt and Tommy, along with the rest of the air assault jumpers
turned their heads to look for the source of the sound.  As with the
previous night, all that could be seen was the giant outline of the big
aircraft as it made it a combat insertion landing.  The giant aircraft
lumbered towards them, but instead of stopping as it had the night before,
it continued to move past the group of men and boys.  When the aircraft was
past them and stopped, the rear loading ramp thudded to the runway and the
aircraft Crew Chief walked to the end of the ramp and motioned them to come
forward and board the plane.  Picking up their jump and equipment bags the
men and boys trotted up the ramp and into the crowed confines of the
monstrous aircraft.  As the last of the boys and men came aboard, the
loading ramp at the rear of the aircraft started to close as Snoopy 09
started to pivot around to line up with the runway.  The Crew Chief got
everyone seated in the red nylon strap seats attached to the starboard side
(right side) of the cargo bay. The boys tried to look at everything at
once, the 105mm and the 40mm cannon as well as the GAU12/U 25mm Gatling
gun. The fine weaponry seemed to mesmerize the boys.  Being boys, the
hardware on the port side of the aircraft drew most of their interest,
while a few of them wondered what was behind the doors to the aircraft's
modularized electronics suite on the starboard bulkhead.

	After everyone was strapped in and the Crew Chief checked to insure
he had a green light on the door closure panel he contacted the flight
deck; "Aircraft Commander, this is the Crew Chief, aircraft ready for
launch."

	Moving to his seat and strapping in he heard; "Aircraft Commander
to all stations Snoopy 09 is rolling."

	With that, Snoopy 09 surged forward, a very short time later the
nose of the aircraft lifted off the runway and then seconds later the rest
of the giant plane followed.  To confuse anyone watching, Snoopy 09
continued heading south and within ten minutes was orbiting over northern
Oregon, at 6,500 meters (22,500 feet) at a speed of 230 knots.  The time
was 01:43.

	Once the aircraft leveled off, the Unit One men and boys unstrapped
and started donning their equipment, time was running out.

01:10 THE SARTEN RANCH

	The first ring of the phone woke Benny from his dozing, picking up
the handset he said; "This is 063."  He listened for thirty seconds and
then hung up.  Standing up he called out to his men; "Let's go men, the
jobs on, we must hurry."

01:30 THE PRINCE CABIN

	Keener had been watching the cabin since he made his report to
Matt, there having been no movement from in or around the cabin; he decided
to make a quick check on Jacky.  Leaving his M60 in his hide he crept up on
the basement window and looked in, it didn't appear that Jacky had moved at
all.  Taking a chance, he tapped lightly on the window, there was still no
movement, this time he tapped a little harder and he saw Jacky's head move
a little towards the sound of the tapping.  Quickly he backed off and made
his way back to his hide, feeling better in the knowledge that Jacky was
still alive.

	At 01:50 as he was entering his hide, he heard in his headset;
"Walker One, Walker One, this is GhostRyder Six, over."  Keener's heart
rate accelerated as he answered; "GhostRyder Six, Walker One, go ahead,
over."

	"Walker One, GhostRyder Six, egress in ten, over."

	"GhostRyder Six, Walker One, roger your last, egress in ten, out"
With that he moved from his hide and headed for the clearing to activate
the beacon, glad that things were about to happen.


02:05 6,500 METERS (22,500 FEET), 20 MILES SOUTH OF TOPPENISH RIDGE

	The cargo bay of Snoopy 09 had been depressurized and the rear ramp
had been lowered until it was in line with the cargo bay deck, the men and
boys of Unit One were wearing their PARIS Rigs and Tommy was in his MC-5
Tactical Ram Air Parachutes.  Their Gear bags were strapped to their legs
and they were wearing M3T helmets and were breathing from five-minute Scott
supplied air bottles.  When the Crew Chief who was acting as the Jump
Master saw the jump light go from red to green, he slapped matt on the ass
and Matt moved quickly to the end of the ramp and disappeared into the
black Washington night sky.  The remaining fourteen jumpers quickly
followed, as soon as the last went off the ramp the Crew Chief activated
the door closure switch, silently wishing the men and boys God's Speed.


End of Chapter 41 Next;

Chapter 42 Jap's Revenge

Since I posted Chapter 41, I received two e-mails from the readers of
Kombat Kids who found errors in the chapter, one very grievous.  Sorry Dan,
it won't happen again.

Great story.  Makers Mark is not a blended whisky; it is old time sour mash
bourbon and very, very smoooooth, lol,   way too good for a sob like
prince.  Dan: San Antonio, TX

Thanks for the heads up on the police radio codes Dave.

1.  The response code "Code 2" is NOT lights and siren.   Code 2 is
emergency lights only.    The response codes that are normally used in the
US are Code 1 - No emergency lights and No siren...usually a nonemergency
call, Code 2 - Emergency lights only rarely called out on the air but is
usually used at late night when most people are asleep or for silent
alarms, Code 3 - Emergency lights and siren, and Code 4 - usually used as a
"status check" to ensure the officers safety and if the suspect is in
custody.   Dave

I'd like to take a moment and thank Jamie Haze, Author, Mentor, and Friend
for the encouragement he has given me in the writing of this story, and the
editing of it for me.  I encourage you all to read Somerset Farm, Dooby
Rhymes With Scooby, The Good Ship Frig It and Apartment 14B by Mr. Haze.  I
also want to thank David, the owner/operations manager of SHV Webhosting in
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, David is my technical advisor and linguistics
expert.

After receiving several letters from readers, I have talked to my site
designer and he has assured me that some time n the next week or so the
site would be up and running, albeit still under construction.
http://www.gayauthors.org/hosted.html.  Right now we are in the process of
gather the various items that will be present on the site and making a
final determination on its layout.  Please bear with us.


Comments are eagerly requested.  If you feel it necessary to flame, go
ahead, but don't expect an answer.  Address all comments to Gstrdr15
Gstrdr15@msn.com

One more thing please let me know what state you live in, I like to know
where people are who take interest in my story.  Thanks all

Welcome to;

George		In Northampton England
Dan			In San Antoine Texas USA
Peo			In Sweden
Dick			In Yonkers New York USA
Roger			In Virginia USA
Ashwood		In Northeast Georgia USA
Alex D		In Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA