The Mistri Virus Read online

  As he stepped outside into the glaring desert sun, he saw a lone Blackhawk helicopter several miles away taking evasive action. Hot on its tail was a R.P.G., rocket propelled grenade. It didn’t appear that the Blackhawk was going to make its escape.

  As the thought flashed through his mind, the R.P.G. connected with the tail rotor. It exploded in a brilliant flash. The chopper tilted severely, nose up, then lay over on its side and began to auto-rotate to the ground.

  Tommy jumped back inside the tent, grabbed his sniper rifle and began to run toward the downed chopper. “Sergeant King,” he yelled as he passed the communications tent.

  “Sir?” King yelled back.

  “I’ll be back! Downed chopper a few clicks to the west. Put it on the wire,” Tommy yelled as he continued to run to the perimeter.

  “Yes, sir!” King yelled after him.

  Tommy had been running for fifteen or twenty minutes up and down sand dunes. He knew he had covered at least three or four miles. Still, he saw no sign of the downed chopper. He continued to run, knowing that if the pilots had survived the crash they wouldn’t survive the arrival of the Iraqis.

  He reached the top of the next dune and fell to his stomach. He was breathing hard but steady; running in the loose sand was an exhausting ordeal.

  In the valley below, the chopper lay on its side. The Iraqis had it surrounded. There were eight he could see. He figured there may be one or two more inside the chopper rummaging around.

  The pilot and co-pilot were kneeling in the sand. The Iraqis had their AK’s pointed at the backs of their heads.

  This is going to be dicey, Tommy thought as he quickly figured a firing solution.

  He decided he would take the two pointing their AK’s at the American’s heads first. Then, he would take the one in front of them asking the questions. He would have to play it by ear from there. He lined the cross hairs up on his first target’s forehead and gently squeezed the trigger. The man’s head exploded in a funnel of red mist. He quickly shifted his aim and the second was slammed back as the first was beginning to fall. The third was knocked forward between the kneeling Americans and his blood, bone and brain matter splattered across the nose of the chopper to overlay the first two.

  Before the rest of the Iraqis could realize what was happening, two more headed to meet Allah face to face. That left three to five. The pilot and co-pilot were face in the sand trying to hide behind the dead bodies. They didn’t provide much cover, though. Geysers of sand sprayed into the air as bullets slammed around them, the Iraqis intent on taking their prisoners with them to Paradise. Tommy was intent on preventing them from doing just that.

  Tommy fired twice more and two more Iraqis left for the Promised Land, leaving one more. Tommy knew he was hiding behind the nose cone of the chopper. At ground level, the man’s right foot was visible from about the ankle forward. Tommy drew a bead on it and as the Rag stuck his AK around the nose of the chopper and pulled the trigger, Tommy squeezed his at about the same time.

  The Iraqis foot vanished in a spray of red across the sand. He screamed and fell forward, reaching for his maimed foot. Tommy sent him to Allah on the express train to join his brothers.

  Eight Iraqis lay around the chopper. Tommy waited. There was only one way out of the chopper; through the opened door on the top. Still, Tommy waited.

  After about five minutes the stock of an AK stuck up through the door. It was followed by two skinny brown arms reaching for the sky. Tommy watched through his scope and as the head poked up through the door, he squeezed the trigger. A spray of red mist stained the top of the chopper and the body slammed back into the frame and then fell out of sight.

  After five more minutes of seeing no movement or hearing any unusual sounds from the chopper, Tommy began to slowly slide down the dune. Close to the bottom he stood up, never taking his eye from the scoped view of the door of the chopper. He stood and walked slowly toward the two prone men.

  He was within ten steps of the chopper and five of the prone men when another man sprang from the door of the chopper like a jack in the box and began spraying the area with gunfire. Tommy fired twice, hitting the man in the chest with both shots. He slammed back into the door frame and dropped out of sight. Tommy continued to scope the chopper door, but there were no more unusual sounds or movements. After another five minutes he began to relax. He stepped forward and his foot came into contact with something on the ground. He glanced down. It was the third kill. He now stood between the two Americans. He looked down at them. They stared back up at him in awe. He recognized Major Ryan. They said not a word as Tommy returned his eye to the scope and once again started forward, slowly, one step at a time.

  He eased around the nose of the chopper and looked inside through the windshield. There was no movement at all inside. He saw two bundles of what appeared to be rags, but he knew it was the two dead soldiers.

  “Clear!” Tommy yelled, lowering his weapon. He turned and rapidly stepped back to the two pilots. When he reached them they were setting up, checking themselves over for wounds.

  “Well, Captain. I now owe you my life. I’ll never forget, ever!” Ryan promised looking him in the eye.

  “Nor I,” the co-pilot stated as he stood up and offered Tommy his hand. “Captain Wendell Cartwright.”

  “My pleasure Captain,” Tommy replied.

  “Wendell, this is Captain LeSade. He is a real hero. He has saved many lives today and has also taken a fair number. I count around twenty five in less than three hours. Whatever you do, don’t make him mad at you,” Ryan smiled. “I wish we had a thousand like him.”

  “Not a bad day in my book, since one of the saved lives was mine!” Cartwright smiled.

  In the distance, four Blackhawk helicopters were approaching from the east as the officers stood talking. All four choppers turned and landed at the four corners of the downed bird. One co-pilot stepped out and came over to them.

  “Mornin’ gentlemen,” he smiled. “Need a lift?” he said in a west Texas drawl.

  “Wouldn’t hurt,” Ryan replied smiling. “Beats walking,” he added, as they walked to the waiting chopper.

  When they were airborne, the chopper spun around on its nose and fired two missiles into the dead bird. It exploded in a massive fireball and black smoke. The chopper then spun on its axis, and nose down, began to gain altitude and speed as it headed back toward the fire-base. The other choppers took great pleasure in destroying the pickups the Iraqis had arrived in.

  The chopper dropped Tommy off at his fire-base. After handshakes all around and promises to stay in touch, Major Ryan and Captain Cartwright climbed back aboard the chopper and were flown back to their base for another Blackhawk. Tommy watched the helicopter until it was out of sight in the east, then turned his attentions back to his fire-base.

  First off, he noticed that the flats on the Humvees had been fixed and that most of their gear had been packed up. It looked as if they were ready to travel and it wasn’t even noon yet. He was impressed.

  “Sir,” Sergeant King said, saluting, as Tommy approached. “We’ve been ordered back to headquarters ASAP.”

  “Sounds great. When will we be ready to leave here?”

  “As soon as you are, sir,” King replied. “Your gear’s in the Hummer,” he added.

  “Let’s go, then,” Tommy said walking to one of the Hummers and climbing in. He sat in the passenger seat with the butt of his sniper rifle resting on the toe of his boot and holding it upright between his knees. It had been a long morning and he was exhausted from the constant adrenaline rush that was now in the process of leaving his system.

  Five minutes later, he was asleep in his seat. His body rocked gently back and forth and his head bounced on his chest.

  After reaching the headquarters compound, Tommy spent nearly two hours filling out after action reports, down-playing his part in the rescue of his company. However, despite his modesty, the story of Captain Tommy LeSade was already racing through
out the battalion like a tidal wave. He tried to keep a low profile. He didn’t want or need attention. He had just done his job to the best of his ability, nothing more, nothing less. Any soldier would have done the same thing given the opportunity; or would have died trying. Tommy was convinced of that, so didn’t feel that he had done anything special. However, General Adrian Hawk thought otherwise and ordered him to report to his office at 1500 hours that afternoon.

  Tommy didn’t know it, but he had been selected for a top secret mission. He was exactly what General Hawk and a few CIA operatives had been looking for.

  After the last form was filled out and placed in the out basket on his desk, Tommy glanced at his watch and saw that he had an hour to clean himself up and report to General Hawk’s office. It would be close, but he would make it. If nothing else, Tommy was punctual!

  Tommy showered, shaved, found clean desert camouflage BDUs and had three minutes to spare as he approached the General’s orderly.

  “Captain LeSade to see the General,” Tommy said as he approached.

  “It’s an honor, Sir,” the orderly said, jumping to his feet and attention as he saluted a living hero.

  Tommy returned the salute and stood waiting on the orderly. He stood frozen in idol worship, a look of longing admiration on his face.

  “The General, Lieutenant,” Tommy prompted.

  “Sorry, Sir,” the Lieutenant said, dropping his salute and stepping to the General’s door, then knocked and waited.

  “Come!” the General roared from behind the door.

  The orderly opened the door and stood to the side. “General, Captain LeSade reporting.”

  “Captain LeSade, may I offer you coffee?” Hawk asked, rising and offering his hand across the desk rather than saluting.

  “That would be perfect, sir,” Tommy replied dropping his salute and taking the general’s hand.

  “Coffee times two, Lieutenant. That will be all,” Hawk said, dismissing the Lieutenant and turning his attention back to Tommy. “Have a seat, Captain. We have some things to discuss.”

  Tommy studied the general and decided he in no way looked like his name would imply. He was far from being a hawk in any sense of the word. Tommy thought turkey would be more appropriate. In fact General Hawk greatly resembled a turkey in every sense of the word; he was red-faced with wattles under his chin. He was cocky and strutting as if preening his plumage constantly. His belly and chest led his rear end by a good three feet, as if his tail feathers were on public display and he was inordinately proud of them, even though they didn’t exist, except perhaps in his mind.

  “Yes, Sir,” Tommy replied, taking a seat across from Hawk.

  “Captain, I have two after action reports here, filed by Major Ryan. Very impressive, Captain. Very impressive, indeed. Care to read them?” he asked, holding the AARs up for Tommy to see.

  Tommy took the reports and read them as the orderly entered with two cups of steaming black coffee, then left. When Tommy finished reading he laid the reports back on the edge of the desk and looked into the general’s red rheumy eyes.

  “That pretty much what happened, Captain?” Hawk asked, never blinking.

  “The language is a little rosy, but, yes, sir, that’s pretty much what happened. It’s fairly accurate. However, I can’t say I’m responsible for all the head shots. It was dark, sir. I fired twenty two rounds. I doubt I made head shots eighteen of those twenty-two.”

  “Any other explanation?”

  “No, sir,” Tommy replied thoughtfully. “However, other men at the fire-base were firing as well.”

  “Naw,” the general shook his head slowly. “They were under fire. Shooting sporadically. Scared shitless, probably on full automatic. If they hit a head it was pure accident. They probably hit nothing but the side of a sand dune. So, the only logical explanation is that they are all yours,” he reasoned looking down at the reports. “Now, at the chopper,” Hawk continued. “Major Ryan and Captain Cartwright were eye witnesses. There is no dispute there. Ten ragheads, right? Laid in the sand?”

  “Yes, sir. That’s correct.”

  “Very well. Both Major Ryan and Captain Cartwright have recommended you for the Congressional Medal of Honor for your actions. I don’t know if that will fly, Captain, since you’re not dead or wounded, but I will back it as well. What you did this morning was far and beyond the call of duty. It’s an honor to be in your presence, sir. Now, at your base camp, Major Ryan and Captain Cartwright are recommending the Silver Star and the Distinguished Service Cross. I will also support these through Congress and the President. Comments?” the general finished.

  “Sir, I didn’t come here to be a hero,” Tommy said seriously. “Nor did I come here for medals and awards. I came here for over two - thousand innocent Americans at the World Trade Center who cry out for justice. I’m here to see that they get that justice, or to die to secure it for them, Sir!” Tommy continued, his eyes never once leaving the general’s.

  “Well said, Captain LeSade,” the general said proudly standing and saluting Tommy. “That is what makes a hero, Captain! You make me proud to be an American and a soldier, by God! If it were in my power, I’d promote you to the rank of full Colonel. You are a man of honor, humility, dedication and principle! If I knew it wouldn’t make you mad, Colonel, I’d kiss you full on the mouth! By God!”

  “I’ll pass on the kiss, General,” Tommy smiled, then stood and returned the general’s salute. He dropped it when the general dropped his and took the general’s hand when it was once again offered across the desk. It was surprisingly strong for a man of his appearance. Tommy was impressed.

  “You’ll hear from me shortly, Colonel. Good luck, son!”

  “Thank you General,” Tommy said, then did an about face and stepped to the door.

  “One other thing, Sir, if I may?” Tommy said, turning from the door to face Hawk.

  “Of course Colonel.”

  “Sir, I didn’t do anything any other soldier wouldn’t have done in the same circumstances.”

  “That may be, Colonel. But, let’s pray we never have to find out.”

  “Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir. Good day, Sir.” Tommy said, then pulled the door open and stepped through, closing it behind him.

  Tommy couldn’t believe they were making such a big deal out of what he had done. As far as he was concerned it was all in the line of duty. Well, he thought, maybe the recommendations won’t be approved. That would suit him just fine. All he wanted was to be a good soldier. Not a hero. Being a hero was too much trouble.

  “Captain, Sir?” the orderly said as Tommy closed the door behind him.

  “Yes, Lieutenant?”

  “May I have your autograph, Sir? I’ve never known a real hero before, sir. It’d be for my kids, Sir!”

  “Sure,” Tommy smiled. “But, between me and you, you still don’t know a hero.”

  The Lieutenant smiled as Tommy wrote his name across a slip of white paper. His penmanship was remarkably clear and legible.

  “Don’t you tell anyone about this, Lieutenant,” Tommy laughed as he slid the signature across the desk to the lieutenant.

  “Not a soul, Sir!”

  Tommy smiled and left the office.

  By six o’clock that evening everyone at the compound had seen the slip of paper bearing Tommy LeSade’s signature. Tommy couldn’t wait to get back out into the dunes. This was entirely too much trouble! Too complicated! He needed seclusion; just to be alone for a while with the men and women he knew and trusted.

  He didn’t know it, but he was about to get his wish. However, not in the way he hoped or expected.

  Chapter 2

  After Tommy had left Hawk’s office, the General opened his top desk drawer and turned off the tape recorder. He had recorded the entire conversation. The recorder had been switched on at exactly three o’clock. Hawk knew that Captain LeSade was very punctual. As a matter of fact he knew everything there was to know about Captain Tommy LeSade. The you
ng captain had been on his radar screen for several years now. He had first come to the general’s attention when he graduated at the top of his class at Ft. Bragg. He was an outstanding athlete, exceptionally proficient in self-defense, exceptionally intelligent, loyal beyond question and as deadly as a black mamba. He was just the man Hawk had been looking for.

  “Lieutenant!” Hawk screamed in a deep voice of command.

  “Sir,” the Lieutenant answered opening the door and coming to attention.

  “Get me the personnel file on Captain LeSade. I’m making a note that he should never be promoted to full colonel without Presidential approval.”

  “Yes, sir,” the lieutenant turned and left. He was back inside three minutes with the file, then went to type up the requested orders.

  Hawk began to read the file carefully. Two hours later he began to smile. Captain LeSade was too good to be true. He would be willing to bet his retirement that there were no more than ten people in the whole U.S. Army with the qualifications of his very own Captain LeSade. The man was virtually trained from birth for the mission he had in mind. There was no way this particular mission could fail, his retirement depended on it! Plus, Captain Tommy LeSade was expendable, actually, Colonel. But, Colonels were expendable, too, in this man’s army! True, he was an exceptional soldier with a bright and promising future. But, the army was full of bright, promising, young soldiers with bright, promising futures, and they were all expendable, without regret or hesitation. Captain, Colonel Tommy LeSade just happened to be in a battle zone and the mission he was being called upon to complete was almost guaranteed a one-way trip.

  As far as General Hawk was concerned, they were all expendable. An opportunity like this came along only once in several lifetimes and he didn’t plan on waiting for a few more to pass; he wouldn’t be here to take advantage of it. So, it was now or never. And with Colonel Tommy LeSade on his team, it was now! There was no way Hawk was going to miss this chance. He would never get another.

  He picked up his phone and dialed a number. He leaned back in his chair and smiled. This was going to top the Nazi sacking of Europe. He’d bet his life on it.