Chapter 17

Posted: April 12, 2007 - 12:39:22 am?

Father Ortega and Father Gonzalez administered Holy Communion to the town's people and soldiers alike from their makeshift alter, unaware of the events unfolding on the mountains to their east. After the Mass, both priests led the jubilant congregation back to town. Colonel Nuñez walked the priests to the edge of the airfield and thanked them for coming by. It was bizarrely comical to Father Ortega, as the AUC Colonel and Father Gonzalez shook hands, as if the older priest had just dropped by for a chat.

Colonel Nuñez was just as glad to get rid of the old priest, along with the women and children. These backwards people were extremely perplexing to the Colonel, because they did not act at all as Nuñez had experienced during operations all over the country. The wisdom of his decision was reinforced less than half an hour later, when an irate Arturo Guzman called.

"Pedro, what in the hell is going on down there? Why am I suddenly making excuses for your actions to the Minister of the Interior concerning kidnapped priests and children?"

Colonel Nuñez smiled into the phone, thankful that he had dodged a bullet by releasing the priest and his charges.

"A misunderstanding surely, Señor Guzman. Yes, Father Gonzalez and a few of his parishioners were my guests, but they all returned to town after celebrating Mass with my soldiers and me. The only detainees at my camp are the mayor, constable and a few business men, as you yourself suggested."

Guzman scowled into the phone, Nuñez's unctuous, smarmy voice grating on his nerves.

"That is most gratifying to hear, Pedro. Now tell me, how goes the hunt for Comendadora Zorra?"

It was Nuñez's turn to grimace.

"I swear, Guzman, that woman is the devil incarnate, but we have her on the run now, and it will only be a matter of days before she meets her end. I am personally going to make sure she suffers appropriately before she dies."

Guzman smiled into the phone at the colonel's resolve, the woman was causing much more trouble than she was worth.

"Very good Pedro, the sooner, the better. The destruction of her and her band of insurgents will be a feather in both of our caps."

One half of the Tiger Battalion's 'C' Company was spread out along the north side of the road that ran between the mountain of the caves and the mountain to its south. They were the blocking force that El Tigre had promised Captain Delgado. The soldiers were deployed along a hundred yard front at the edge of the jungle. They were perfectly positioned to cut down anyone trying to cross the pass between the two mountains. Unfortunately for the Tiger Battalion soldiers, they were facing in the wrong direction as Gabe and his troops crept down the mountain behind them.

Gabe left his squad five hundred meters up slope and went down to reconnoiter the pass. It took him about a half an hour to locate what he thought was every position. He worked out the details of attacking the reinforced platoon as he worked his way back up hill. He brought the soldiers with him the second trip down, and placed each one of them in a position that gave them an open shot at two or more of the AUC troops, then moved to where he could take out the company commander.

Once in position, Gabe drew a breath and held it, sighting in on the man as he knelt, peering out toward the road. When he gently squeezed the trigger, the weapon made a muted 'pop' and the cycling action was very quiet. The men at the pass heard only the sickening thump as the heavy slug cause the AUC captain to pitch forward with a grunt.

Gabe rapidly swung the sniper rifle to the left and dispatched the radio operator, then to the right to down a rifleman five meters away. As the third man fell, the first answering shots screamed over Gabe's head. The men around the soldiers Gabe shot were firing indiscriminately, because they had no point of reference as to where the bullets lodged in there fellow platoon members had come from. The fire from the AUC men was the signal Gabe's troops had been awaiting, and they all opened fire at once. Each member of Gabe's detachment fired three aimed shots, and then melted back into the jungle. They linked back up two hundred meters up the mountain and waited for Gabe. Gabe maintained his covered and concealed position, as the sporadic firing of the AUC soldiers grew silent. He was waiting for the units on the southern mountain to arrive before rejoining his troops.

Captain Delgado and his company were five hundred meters from the pass between the mountains, when he heard the small arms fire from that direction. He grabbed the radio from his RTO and tried raising the commander of C Company. Delgado didn't realize that the tables had been turned on the soldiers laying in wait in the pass. His first thought was that the FARC insurgents had walked right into El Tigre Gordo's trap. With the prospect of falling on the rebels from the rear dancing in his head, Delgado rapidly deployed his lead platoon on line and led them forward.

He was within two hundred yards of the pass, when the firing died out and someone from the unit in the pass came on the radio. Delgado was stunned when a panicky voiced sergeant urgently requested assistance because they were under attack from their rear. Delgado reformed his troops in a fast-traveling overwatch formation, and hustled down to the pass. He halted his troops on the far side of the road and called the sergeant on the other side. When he was sure the sergeant had the remnants of his platoon prepared to cover his crossing the road, he cautiously sent one squad across. When the squad was safely across without receiving fire, he dispatched a second.

'A' Company arrived at the pass just after the second squad had crossed the road. Delgado and his fellow company commander conferred for a few minutes, and decided that 'A' Company would cross the trail a hundred meters east of Delgado's position. Delgado sent the rest of his men across the road towards the east so they could cover 'A' Company's crossing.

Gabe sat in his secure vantage point watching the AUC soldiers cross the road. The first unit across was textbook perfect, as one squad at a time rushed across the road and took up covering positions on the other side. Gabe never had a clear shot at the Company commander or his RTO as they rushed with the fifth squad to cross. He had better luck with the second company as they picked a spot almost directly below his position to cross. The second company commander tried dashing across the road with the first squad across, and Gabe spotted him immediately. Vanity cost the man dearly, as Gabe caught the glint from the captain's prized silver bars and dropped him in his tracks in the center of the road.

Delgado had the unpleasant task of informing Colonel Nuñez that both of the other company commanders were down, one KIA and the other badly wounded.

"Consolidate the battalion, Captain Delgado, and form a perimeter where you are. I believe the mountain you are now on is the rebel's base of operations and that they will make a stand there. I will be there shortly to evacuate the wounded and bring in more troops and equipment. Tomorrow we will rout this Comendadora Zorra and her followers once and for all."

Delgado concurred with the colonel's assessment and went about consolidating his position. The veteran captain knew that if the rebels chose to defend the mountain, the Tigers could ground them down with mass and firepower. He designated the senior lieutenants of 'A' and 'C' Companies as the new company commanders and assigned them sections of the perimeter. Delgado visited the make shift aid station and received the casualty figures. Their losses had been relatively light for the size of the attack that the new commander of 'C' Company estimated. They'd suffered five killed and eight wounded.

Shortly after 1500hrs (3PM), Colonel Nuñez roared up in his command jeep and took charge of his battalion in the field. He brought three trucks with him to evacuate the dead and wounded to Prado. Delgado took the colonel on a tour of the new base camp's defenses. Nuñez was pleased to see the cleared firing lanes, claymore mines and trip flares that surrounded the camp. Any nocturnal visitors that night would receive a most inhospitable welcome.

"You have done very well, Juan. When this is over, I will see that you are suitably rewarded. This has been a difficult campaign, but the potential rewards are great. When we finish with the FARC rubbish up on this mountain, we will spend the next two months sitting around the airfield watching the Yanqui helicópteros. Life will be good for us once again."

Delgado nodded and thanked the colonel, even though he knew in his bones that the rebels were not going down without a huge fight. He and Colonel Nuñez sat and planned the next day's strategy, until Major Pasada pulled up with four trucks full of heavy weapons and a hot meal.

Gabe and his group arrived back at the caverns at 1600hrs. Gabe sent the squad members to clean their weapons, while he and Selena looked over the defensive positions the commander had been preparing. Zorra had rushed the defenses towards completion and had done a thorough job of it. When Gabe arrived, she and Morales were walking in front of the defenses, trying to spot any gaps in coverage or weak spots in the fields of fire.

Gabe fell in step with them and described the results of his attack on the unit in the pass. Gabe also relayed to Zorra the number of troops that were camped at the base of the mountain. Zorra was not disheartened that her defense would be outnumbered by five to one, because her opponents were going to have to assault up hill against heavily dug in positions. Besides, Gabe and Morales had some diabolical surprises in store for the Tiger Battalion that figured to even the odds dramatically. She nodded her understanding, and directed Gabe to send four soldiers down to keep an eye on the AUC soldiers.

The mood in the caverns that night was one of quiet determination as the Columna Carlos Sanchez prepared their weapons and equipment for their last battle as a military unit. Many among their number also felt the need to share human closeness before the uncertainties that tomorrow would bring. Gabe and Selena were among that group as was Pete, Marta and Stephanie.

It was really no big surprise that Darla shared Captain Garza's room that night, as they made love for the first time. In the arms of the shy, gentle and patient Garza, Darla exorcized all her demons and became the woman she had always wished to be. Cuddled up under the covers, Darla and Garza discussed opening a medical clinic in Prado. Garza was fairly certain he could qualify for a temporary medical license while he took a few refresher courses. He said Darla's Registered Nursing Diploma would also be recognized in Colombia. They also discussed at length their budding relationship. Both of them were convinced that they were a good fit, but they agreed to test the water for a few months, just in case.

The big surprise that evening happened in Marta's room, when Pilar and Katherine knocked on the door. Marta answered, thinking it some sort of official business, but Pilar disabused her of that notion quickly.

"Excuse the intrusion, Comendadora, but Caterina and I do not wish to be alone on this night."

After an affirmative nod from Pete, Marta stepped aside and ushered the pair into her room. With Katherine and Stephanie sitting on the bed and the other three around the table, they discussed the future and how things might be after the column was disbanded. It was while sitting at the table, that Peter Ballard started learning his fate, the women talking as if he were not there. The unusual consensus was that the best possible outcome would be for them all to live together, sharing everything and each other. Even Katherine and Stephanie indorsed the sentiment.

"I can't imagine ever living away from Petey or Marty, and even though she knows she has to go home and finish school, I think Katie will end up here with us also. Oh, and we can't forget Lorena, she's pregnant with Pete's baby too, did you know that?" Stephanie said.

Pete had barely digested what Stephanie had said about Lorena, when Pilar piped up.

"I too am late, Comendadora, and that is most unusual for me. I hesitated to say anything earlier, because I didn't want you to think I was using being pregnant to become part of your family."

Pete's mouth fell open in shock, and Marta smacked him on the arm.

"So my future husband, your low sperm count seems to be a thing of the past. At this rate, Prado will soon be overrun with little blonde children, two or three of whom better be mine."

Down the branch tunnel around the corner, Selena and Gabe didn't have much need for conversation. Gabe was constantly dumbfounded that Selena knew what he was thinking, usually before the thoughts were fully formed. When he questioned her about it, she said that she didn't know how it worked, but she was so in tune with him that it was like some sort of ESP that only worked on him.

"I think it might be that you are so open and honest around me that I read you so well. I know you never hold any of yourself back from me," she said.

"Then tell me what I'm thinking now, my little mind reader."

Selena giggled and pushed her naked little body tighter against him.

"That is too easy, my love. You are wondering if you can talk me into staying in the caverns with your daughter and her sisters when the fighting starts tomorrow. The answer is no, my place is at your side, and that's where I'm going to be. You are also wondering if you could stay inside me if you held my hands above my head while my legs are over your shoulders. The answer is yes, my big blond stallion."

Gabe looked at her in awe. She was spot on about the first part and damned if after she mentioned it the second was true, also. Selena might be the mind reader in the family, but Gabe knew her well enough to know that changing her mind about going with him tomorrow was not very likely.

"Okay little one, you go tomorrow, but I want you to stay close to me no matter what happens."

She gave him the 'you said something stupid' look that women master while still in the womb.

"Of course I'll stay near you all the time, hombre tonto (silly man). How else could I protect you?"

Gabe laughed and rolled over on top of her, his larger body effectively pinning her to the mattress. She looked up at him in mock fear as he pushed her arms above her head.

"I'm glad we settled the first item, now lets see what we can do about the second," he growled.

He could indeed put her legs over his shoulders in this position. Doing so rocked her up onto her shoulders and totally immobilized her. Being held down in that manner set Selena off like a bottle rocket; she screamed her pleasure as Gabe relentlessly sawed in and out of her. She yelled even louder when Gabe told her that next time, he was tying her up before he ravished her.

Another couple that had much to discuss, were Sergeant Morales and his lover Lupe Lopez. Lupe was a completely different person when she was not on duty. The gruff persona she displayed during the performance of her duties was a façade. Lupe's temper was legendary, but Serafin Morales had recognized her deep down, sweet and caring true nature almost immediately upon her joining the column five years ago. He was smitten and set out to woo her. It took him almost a year of courtship, before she had agreed to see only him. Calm and steady Serafin was the perfect match for the volatile Lupe, while Lupe's passionately mercurial nature kept Morales on his toes. It was a feisty match made in heaven. Now everyone joked they were like an old married couple, even though Lupe was only in her mid thirties.

Lupe thought Morales' idea of opening a small restaurant was a marvelous idea. They were both excellent cooks, and Lupe had worked as a bookkeeper before events caused her to join the FARC. She thought his idea of getting married and starting a family was even better.

When Morales reached for a condom, Lupe stayed his hand.

"Never again will you use one of those when we make love, Serafin. Tonight I am at my most fertile, so we can start making the many babies I will bear you."

The next morning saw a flurry of activity at both the caverns and the base camp of the Tiger Battalion. When morning finally broke on the western side of the mountain, El Tigre already had his troops on the move. The Tigers were divided into two columns, one column was Captain Delgado's company. The second was the remnants of 'A' and 'C' Companies under Colonel Nunez's personal control. Delgado moved his company out first, with Nuñez and his larger force following a few hundred meters behind. El Tigre was using Delgado's company as bait. If Zorra's soldiers attacked Delgado, he was in position to maneuver his larger force to engulf the attackers.

One of the scouts Zorra had keeping tabs on the Tiger Battalion radioed the location and disposition of the AUC forces to the caverns. Zorra dispatched Gabe with two squads to lure the Tigers towards the defensive positions at the main entrance to the caverns. Gabe surprised his troops when he had them exit the caverns at the gorge entrance, with each of them carrying a box of powdered laundry detergent. They were even more mystified as he poured all the detergent into one of the rubber bladders on the fuel truck. The detergent immediately started to interact with the diesel fuel forming a gooey jelly-like mixture that would continue to thicken as time passed. He drove the truck with the fuel on it while another soldier drove the cargo truck full of his soldiers.

Gabe led them down the logging road and abandoned the trucks along the trail. Gabe reached into his rucksack and dug out a block of C4 and a six-hour time pencil (time delayed detonating device). He hid the C4 over the transmission of the fuel truck, crushed the copper end of the pencil to release the corrosive agent, and stuck the detonator into the C4. Next he tied a piece of fishing line from his survival knife around the time pencil's safety wire. The other end of the string he tied to the trucks universal joint. Time pencils had been around since World War II, and were not as accurate as the modern digital electronic devices. Special Forces still used them, because they were lightweight, worked under water and more importantly, they did not show up during an electronic scan.

The way Gabe rigged the explosive charge, as soon as the drive shaft of the truck turned, the safety wire would pull out, freeing the spring loaded plunger that struck and detonated the primer charge. If six hours had passed before the truck was moved it would explode immediately. If it were fewer than six hours, the device would explode when the timer reached its course. Gabe used such a long delay because he wanted the truck found and driven back to the AUC motorpool before it exploded. He figured in the tightly packed motor park, the explosion of the fuel-laden truck would take out at least three or four other trucks. He also hoped his field expedient napalm would spread a little terror among the right-wing soldiers.

The FARC unit had been moving slowly and quietly for almost two hours, before they heard the AUC soldiers to their front and a little down slope. Gabe adjusted his path, and headed towards the sound of the other unit. He moved quietly and quickly to position himself in their path. Gabe signaled his troops to hit the ground as he patiently waited behind a tree for the point element of the Tiger Battalion to appear. Gabe stepped out from behind the tree as soon as he spotted the AUC's point man.

The man saw Gabe move, and reflexively squeezed off a short burst from his M-16 in Gabe's general direction. Gabe fired at about the same time, but his shot was well aimed. The Point man crumpled to the ground as Gabe stepped back behind the large tree.

The area where the two forces ran into each other was a transition zone between two parts of the jungle. The AUC was moving through an area with less canopy and more underbrush. The FARC contingent was hidden two hundred meters into the triple canopy jungle, where ground vegetation was sparse. Gabe worked his way back towards his unit, as the lead element of the AUC company started to maneuver.

Gabe put his soldiers in a line that spread across the front of the AUC's axis of advance, and had them engage the first element that broke out of the under brush. Two or three of the Tiger Battalion soldiers went down with the initial volley as the rest hit the dirt on their own volition. Because the covering element for the fire team Gabe fired up was still in the dense underbrush, he and his soldiers were able to move back about fifty meters without taking much return fire. Gabe sent one squad another fifty meters to the rear and up slope, while he set up to engage the advancing AUC soldiers once again.

Gabe figured out that the AUC unit was trying to flank him, when no one moved in front of him for about five minutes. Instead of firing and maneuvering, the superior force seemed content to fire a few rounds in their general direction every so often. Gabe had seen enough of these guys to know they were better trained and led than that. He signaled his soldiers and they started withdrawing straight back. Gabe knew the textbook tactic called for the flanking unit to use the high ground and this Colonel Nuñez seemed to be a 'by the book' kind of guy.

As the squad was exiting the battlefield, one of the reasons why soldiers need to be humble was tragically demonstrated when a haphazardly fired bullet sliced through Private Jimenez's carotid artery with laser-like precision. The small wound was less than half an inch deep and about an inch long, yet if it had happened in the emergency room, it would have still been fatal. Gabe was by the soldier's side in less than a minute, but she had already exsanguinated. Wordlessly, Gabe picked the lifeless woman up and carried her off the field. It was a sorrowful task he'd had to perform too many times in his former life, and never expected to perform in his retirement, especially with a woman.

Colonel Nuñez was disappointed that he just missed engulfing the FARC patrol when he swung around Delgado's company. He was heartened though, that evidence on the ground suggested that his men had at last spilled the blood of Zorra's soldiers. He made a big production of that fact after lunch, to counter his soldier's perception that they were facing some sort of super men.

"My warriors, I am standing on the ground where we extracted our first revenge on the insurgent scum that hides like cowardly rats on this mountain. Even now, our scouts are out looking for their base camp. When we find it, we will show these communist running dogs the true might of the Tigers."

As his men cheered, and as if on cue, one of the scout squads found the trucks on the logging road. Nuñez ordered the scouts to have a couple of men drive the trucks back to the airfield. Ten minutes later, another scout squad reported that it had found and was following the trail of the FARC unit that had attacked Delgado's unit earlier. Nuñez told them to follow at a distance and keep him informed. The Tiger Battalion established a base camp under the triple canopy and rested, waiting for the scouts to do their thing. They were confidently ready and eager to end this, once and for all.

Joe J & Wet Dream-Girl

Chapter 18