Agent in the Dark

"Roger that Arc Leader. Commencing turn, will be in target zone in five seconds." Came a voice back over the com into Shalako's ear.

Shalako let the night glasses fall, as he watched the unbroken line of troop transports roar over the savanna headlights glaring in their approach toward him and the tower beyond. The heavy roar of engines overhead signaled the presence of the three fighter-bombers in strung out formation.

Bright white tracer fire began to pour out from the fighter-bombers into the packed convoy like a Trans-Siberian Christmas laser light display gone wild. Bombs fell and explosions rocketed up and down the column, as vehicles were blown apart, under the withering barrage from above.

The screaming birds banked and came back down the long column expending the last of their ordinance upon the chaotic scene of flaming mayhem below in an excellent display of what air superiority is all about.

"That's the last of it Arc Leader. Cut the party down for you some hopefully." Came the voice over the com line again.

"You did great Blue Angel we'll take it from here, Shalom." Shalako said.

The three Israeli pilots responded in kind, as they headed north through the night for home hoping they had enough fuel left to make it so they could participate in the greater struggle that would soon be rocketing around the world.

Already a semblance of order was being achieved out of the survivors of the convoy, as they pulled out away from the burning debris of those transports forever immobilized. Shalako turned to the tall black man beside him, "Alright Utah start your 50 caliber batteries up, when they come into range. As your positions are compromised, fall back into the city and commence guerrilla warfare. Do whatever it takes to slow them down!"

"Yes Sir!" Utah Blaine responded calmly before heading down toward his machine gun locations.

Shalako shook his head, as he watched the capable young man move off in the dark. Where did Chantry keep finding such capable individuals to man the Agency?

Shalako turned to the four waiting mortar crews behind him, "Fire at will!"

Put! Put! Put! Put!

The mortar rounds soared high and then came down with deafening explosive force onto the beleaguered remnants of the convoy, which were now once again charging for the city, as the bulk of the convoy burned brightly lighting up the savanna in the background.

The big fifty caliber's chattered alive, as they carved out their own share of carnage on the convoy converging on the city in a staggered out line, even as mortar rounds continued to fall with mass effect up and down the line of the convoy.