Firestorm - 26. FS Chapter 26

I activated my ear piece and watched the Cadet carefully as I spoke, “Staff Sergeant Benning to Lt Colonel Harding, over”, and we waited for a few moments, till there was a reply, “CO here, go ahead Staff”. “Sir, due to the limited number of Army staff, and my need to remain at Bird’s Nest, I am in need to field promote the most outstanding CUO, to Senior CUO for this next exercise, do I have permission to go ahead with this recommendation?” I stated to the CO.

“Permission is granted and authorised, is the Senior Cadet Under Officer close by?” the CO replied, “He is Sir, and he is listening in on a sat comm’s, that I just issued to him, his name is Hamish Banner from Swan Grammar School, Sir” I responded. “Senior Cadet Under Officer Banner, raise your right hand and repeat after me.

I, Hamish Banner, swear that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her Heirs and Successors according to law, as a member of the Australian Army... and that I will resist her enemies and faithfully discharge my duty according to law. So, Help Me God!” the CO and Hamish said together.

“Congratulations Hamish, you are now officially a temporary member of Australian Army, you also are sworn to secrecy on anything that you may be part of or overhear on the Sat Comm’s, as part of the Official Secrets Act section 74” I added afterwards, “Staff Sergeant, I am afraid I am going to have to take your original nickname, and pass it onto SCUO Banner, especially now that you have a new one, from what I have heard, good luck in the exercise, CO out” Lt Colonel Harding say, before ending the communications.

“Right Senior, you will be leading the squad that has three CUO’s, you will be able to stay in contact with myself, and the three Corporals, by just tapping the button lightly, if you initiate the comm’s you need to tap it again once you have finished, to disconnect the link, just like the CO just did. Remember these are SAS equipment, and everything is monitored at base on Campbell Barracks in Perth, so keep all communications brief and to the point. Stick to hand signals at all times during the exercise.

I will put you on one of the south navigation courses, so I will be monitoring your movements, and assist you where needed. Remember, the aim of this exercise is different, you are to monitor the movements of the Cadets, as they go through their navigation exercise, and tag the boots of Unit Commanders and Cadet WO’s, only if it is safe to do so, without causing any injury to them, and without being discovered” I explained.

“I will do my very best to meet your standards, Staff Sergeant” SCUO Banner said, and he headed down the stairs to join the rest of the group. “Right, Banner here has been sworn in as a Senior Cadet Under Officer for the remainder of this week, by Lt Colonel Harding, he has worked hard to get this and he deserves the respect of everyone, with his new rank” I announced, “Yes Staff Sergeant” everyone chorused, and the Cadets all patted Banner on the shoulder in congratulations on the promotion.

“SCUO Banner will command Delta Squad, Hamish you have first choice of three CUO’s for your squad” I announced, and after he selected his three Cadets, the others were divided up to the other squads, “Hamish, go and get your camo kit on” I said quietly, and he quickly headed to the tent to collect his gear, and the other squad members assisted with applying the paint.

“Corporals load up into the two jeeps, and move out, Delta Squad has No 3 South navigation course. Camouflage the jeeps once all squads are in position, good luck and good hunting” I said, and a few minutes later the two jeeps set off with the 12 Senior Cadets and 3 Corporals. “Lots of regular cups of tea and snacks please chef Angela” I said as I headed back upstairs. I soon spotted the two jeeps heading out to get into position, one heading north, the other heading south, as I glanced at my watch, which read 0945 hours.

I picked up my mobile and dialed the CO’s mobile number, “Hello Staff, how can I help you” the CO said when he answered the call, “Sir, I thought I would let you in on, what the exercise is at my end. With SCUO Banner commanding a squad, I have one squad for each avigation course, their aim is to intercept and follow each navigation team and mark the boots of the Unit Commanders and Cadet WO’s without being detected” I explained.

I heard the CO chuckle, “That is 12 pairs of boots per squad, do you think they can achieve that, with 36 other pairs of boots in each navigation team?” the CO commented, “We will just have to wait and see Sir” I replied with a smile, “That is quite a difficult task, and I look forward to receiving the results from both the navigation teams plus the Assault Platoon, at lunch time, which has been set at 1300 hours, to allow enough time for the navigation exercises to be completed” the CO said, “Understood Sir, bye for now” I said and I ended the call.

Twenty minutes later – “Alpha Squad in position, 1 North, third marker, Beta Squad in position, 2 North, third marker, and jeep is camouflaged, Charlie Squad in position, 4 South, third marker and jeep is camouflaged, Delta squad in position, 3 South, third marker” I heard the four squads report in, within a few minutes of each other, with Hamish sounding a little puffed out of breath.

“Delta squad, are you ok Hamish?” I asked, “Yes staff, we had a little trouble locating marker 3, but we are in position now” the SCUO replied, “Understood, Birds Nest out” I replied, and I smiled as I looked through the binoculars, and saw Hamish, getting his squad members well hidden, in a staggered line, before and after the marker, about 20-metres apart, which was idea to get a maximum number of hits on boots.

Looking over to where Charlie squad was, they were only about ten-metres apart, on either side of the path, close to the marker, and I tapped my ear piece. “Attention all squads, remember you have a total of 12 targets, amongst 58 sets of boots, you need to be in a position to be able to get as many targets as possible, I recommend you ask Delta squad, what formation they have, as it is the best option” I said.

“Alpha squad to Delta squad, what is your squad formation, over” I heard Marc ask, and I could hear Hamish nervously explain his formation. “That is close to what we have here at 2 North” I heard Amos say, “Ok, we are adjusting formation to be the same, well done Delta squad leader” Marc and then Troy said, and I just smiled. “CO to Assault Platoon, be aware that navigation teams are now in transit to the starting points of their navigation course” we all heard, “Thankyou Sir, and understood” I replied.

“Received and understood” each of the squad members replied, and I could hear that Hamish was a lot more confident with his reply, which made me happy, as I glanced at my watch, which read 1025 hours, and I estimated that each navigation team should take 2 hours to complete their respective courses. Over the next 1 ½ hours I watched and listened to everything that was happening on the four navigation courses, and Hamish was the first to report, the arrival of the navigation team, followed soon after by the other three squads.

Soon after that all hell broke loose, “CO to all Squads, intrusion alert, intrusion alert, we have one MP down, and four heavy vehicles with heavily armed men, who have crashed through the front gates, we are locking down all buildings, Staff, get those protectee’s close to you, squads I need you to round up everyone and go into hiding, right now” I heard the CO order loudly.

“Message received Sir, attention all squads, get moving, get all Cadets and Commanders rounded up and find a good hiding spot close by, camouflage as best as you can, all radios are now on silent, sat comm’s only from now” I added to the call, before leaning over the barrier on the tower, “Angela, get Tom, and get some snack and drinks ready for the three of us, we are going into hiding in the bush, we have intruders, who have crashed through the front gates” I said in a loud whisper”, as I retrieved my sniper rifle, and pistol, and ammunition for both, I quickly attached my holster to my uniform, and securing the pistol.

I turned the volume down on all the radios, grabbing one vhf hand held radio and adding it to my belt, and grabbed the day and night binoculars, before charging down the stairs, as quickly and quietly as possible. Once downstairs, I raced to my vehicle, grabbed my hydration pack, and backpack, which had two ration packs for two days each, and placing the backpack on the kitchen table, Angela added to it, water bottles, apples, oranges, damper and a roll of toilet paper, and with the ration packs, first aid kit and two army camouflage ground sheets, the backpack was full.

I handed Angela the hydration pack, which she put onto her back, turning to Tom, he was wearing a green t shirt and brown trousers, which were perfect to blend into the bush, “Angela change into bush colours, like Tom has, and grab a jumper or jacket in case it gets cold later” I said to Angela, and she dashed into the tent, coming out a few minutes later better dressed, and I nodded in approval, as I grabbed the kettle of hot water and threw it onto the fire to put it out, and Angela quickly filled a pot to do the same.

With the fire out, we set off down the south-east side of the hill, showing Angela and Tom how to avoid standing on sticks, and not bending or breaking any branches. Using a branch, that I had broken off on the west side of the camp, I used it to brush away any traces of our path, and we quickly and quietly as possible, heading in the direction of Delta squad, in case Hamish needed help.

“Delta squad to Staff, over” I heard in the ear piece, “Go Delta squad leader” I responded, “Staff, the Unit Commander will not follow my instructions” I heard Hamish say, which I was afraid might happen, “Understood SCUO, pass the ear piece to him and listen close by” I instructed, “This is Captain Yates, who is this?” I heard and I was about to get angry and order him to obey the SCUO’s orders, when I was beaten by the CO.

“Now you listen carefully Captain, this is Lt Colonel Harding speaking, you are to obey any and all orders given to you by Staff Sergeant Benning, or by squad leader - Senior Cadet Under Officer Hamish Banner, is that understood?” I heard the CO say loudly, “But why sir?” the Captain asked, “Captain this is Staff Sergeant Banning, all squad leaders, including Senior Cadet Under Officer banner, are aware of the situation, your job is to obey those orders, no matter what, is that understood?” I said clearly and as calmly as possible.

“Yes, but…” “No Buts Captain, just do it, now hand the ear piece back to the Senior CUO” I snapped, “I’m back Staff” I heard Hamish say, “Good, now stay calm, remember you training, and you will be fine, try and find a good place to hide, I am heading in your direction as we speak, so I will see you in about half an hour, if the Captain tries to disobey any of your orders, remind him that his rank and role in the Army Cadets is not permanent, and can be terminated at any time, and that you are acting under the orders of the Lt Colonel, see you soon Staff out” I said, and I signaled Angela to stop for a moment.

“I am just about ready to kick that stupid Captain up the backside all the way to Hong Kong” I said as I took off the backpack and retrieved a water bottle. Once we had all had a drink, and I had checked that both Angela and Tom were ok to continue, we set off once again, stopping every now and then to cover up our tracks and change our direction slightly, to make it difficult to be tracked.

When I heard a loud bang coming from the west of our position, I hit the Sat Comm’s, “Staff to CO, what was that?” I said as we continued to walk at a fast pace. “That was one of the intruder’s trucks, slamming into one of the storage buildings and the fuel exploding, the kitchen staff, remaining MP’s and I are well away from the compound also in hiding, do you have a VHF radio with you?” the CO replied.

“Yes sir, I have a hand held on my belt” I replied, “Good, switch to the Defence Emergency Channel and put out a Mayday, tell them there are 4 heavy vehicles, with about twenty armed men, one Army MP has been shot, but is not critical, the caretaker is looking after him, they are in hiding away from the buildings.

Tell them that one building and one of their vehicles are on fire at the main compound. Ensure that all civilian emergency services stay out and well away from the main entrance of the property, until the intruders have been disarmed and secured, are you armed?” the CO said to me, “Yes sir, I have my sniper rifle and pistol, the Corporals have their pistols only, and all the CUO’s have Paintball rifles” I replied.

I heard the CO chuckle for a moment, “Ok listen up all Squad Leaders, have your squad members aim for and hit any soft spot on the body, preferably the groin, back of the knees, and throat, do not worry about injuries, they are illegal intruders, I will deal with any consequences of that, understood” the CO announced, and all four squad leaders reported in that they understood.

“WO Owens here sir, I am heading east double time, to assist the Cadets in the southern sector, I have a rifle and pistol as well” we heard Mike say, and we could hear him moving fast in the bush, “Move quieter Mike, you are making too much noise” I said to the Warrant Officer, “Message received, thanks Mitch” Mike replied, before the connection ended. Turning up the volume on the radio, just a little, I changed the channel on the VHF radio, and made the Mayday call, passing all the information that the CO had told me, I also stated that all radio communications was on silent, for safety reasons, and that Lt Colonel Harding can be contacted on the SAS sat comm’s.

After making the radio call, I tapped the comm’s again, “Staff to Squad Leader Delta how are you going Hamish?” I asked, concerned that he may be having trouble with the Captain. “Not good Staff, the Captain and most of the Cadets are heading north towards the first marker, I have my squad and all the WO’s supporting me” Hamish replied, “Very well, follow them, create a rear guard, 5 metres apart, with CUO’s at each end, you in the middle, use field signals only, as you heard, we have WO Owens on his way, and I am also heading your way, over” I responded, “understood, Delta squad out”, Hamish replied.

I was angry with the Unit Commander now, as I called Mike, “Benning to Owens, adjust your direction to north east, to meet up with the retreating navigation team and Squad Delta” I said, “understood, adjusting direction now, over” Mike replied before I ended the connection. Ten minutes later I could hear a fair bit of noise, and I had a good idea who it was.

“Angela and Tom stop, rest over there near that big tree” I whispered, and I handed her the back pack, and I squatted down, listened and looked out for the first signs of approaching people, I was glad when I saw that it was not the intruders, but the Captain and Cadets, making a lot of noise as they walked.