an aircraft or in the salon prive of a casino. He was dressed in a dark blue suit and pale blue shirt with a button-down collar. He looked out of place in the deserted farmhouse.
Fry walked over to a map that had been stuck on the wall with masking tape. The map was of the Mozambique area to the east of Rhodesia.
‘ Captain Gallagher, you are familiar with the location of enemy forces within Mozambique? The public believes that this is a territory receiving Chinese aid and military assistance. This is a naive assumption, and we wouldn’t want to change it. The reality is that the majority of aid and assistance is of Soviet origin. Nothing startling about that.
‘ Now, my own government, together with the British government, has accepted that the Rhodesian War of Independence is entering - how shall I say it? - its final phase. Our intelligence reveals the existence of many bases within Mozambique for the supply and control of terrorist operations. Your forces have successfully eliminated some of these in the past. However, the major source of supply and control we have never, until now, been able to identify.
‘ Now, recently the CIA infiltrated this base. It has provided us with the most disturbing information. In short, we have discovered that a major attack on Rhodesia is to be launched very soon. The operation’s code name is Salisbury. The intention, to decimate the capital city of this country and achieve immediate power for the ZANLA, Mashona faction. In short, it will be a Soviet take-over.’
Rayne whistled under his breath. Up to now, the war had stayed out of the capital city. This would bring it to the heart of their fragile society; it would be a bloodbath - something they had all feared but never believed would happen.
‘ They will utilise the very latest Russian fighter-bombers and helicopter gunships. The whole operation will be under Soviet control. Once under way, your army will never be able to stop it.
‘ Many men have died gleaning this intelligence information, now I must utilise it, and that requires both stealth and secrecy.’
‘ But I thought that this was a Rhodesian operation?’ Rayne was perplexed by the absence of any Rhodesian officials. His guard was up.
‘ Relax, Captain. You were recommended to me by the Rhodesians. I needed a man who could operate in Mozambique, and they selected you. It is you, Captain Gallagher, on whom the success or failure of this operation depends.
‘ Your mission is simple. You are to leave this country and to recruit an elite band of mercenary soldiers. You will infiltrate the enemy position, destroy their aircraft and helicopters, and then get the hell out. The rest of the base must be left intact, the fuel storage depot and other secondary installations are on no account to be destroyed.
‘ This mission must not be seen as Rhodesian. The Soviets are waiting for an excuse for invasion - a Rhodesian-inspired attack would give them that excuse. For your operation to succeed, it has to be seen as a mercenary action.
‘ For the Russians, of course, Rhodesia is merely a pawn so that they can then advance on South Africa. That is quite clear, I think.
‘ This mission has the backing of both the CIA and MI6. The governments of the United States and Great Britain want the election process to take place unhindered in Rhodesia. They want the world to know that democracy can succeed in Africa.
‘ Now, do you have any questions, Captain?’
‘ Why?’
Fry looked momentarily disconcerted. Then he smiled good- naturedly. ‘Ah, Captain Gallagher. I am not used to a military man asking such a question. You see, the objective for the moment is to achieve some kind of stability in this part of Africa. We have come to realise that black governments do not trust the superpowers. However if Russia were to help ZANLA get into power, they would then have a considerable hold over them. You see, we don’t need a Soviet government in Southern
Fry walked over to a map that had been stuck on the wall with masking tape. The map was of the Mozambique area to the east of Rhodesia.
‘ Captain Gallagher, you are familiar with the location of enemy forces within Mozambique? The public believes that this is a territory receiving Chinese aid and military assistance. This is a naive assumption, and we wouldn’t want to change it. The reality is that the majority of aid and assistance is of Soviet origin. Nothing startling about that.
‘ Now, my own government, together with the British government, has accepted that the Rhodesian War of Independence is entering - how shall I say it? - its final phase. Our intelligence reveals the existence of many bases within Mozambique for the supply and control of terrorist operations. Your forces have successfully eliminated some of these in the past. However, the major source of supply and control we have never, until now, been able to identify.
‘ Now, recently the CIA infiltrated this base. It has provided us with the most disturbing information. In short, we have discovered that a major attack on Rhodesia is to be launched very soon. The operation’s code name is Salisbury. The intention, to decimate the capital city of this country and achieve immediate power for the ZANLA, Mashona faction. In short, it will be a Soviet take-over.’
Rayne whistled under his breath. Up to now, the war had stayed out of the capital city. This would bring it to the heart of their fragile society; it would be a bloodbath - something they had all feared but never believed would happen.
‘ They will utilise the very latest Russian fighter-bombers and helicopter gunships. The whole operation will be under Soviet control. Once under way, your army will never be able to stop it.
‘ Many men have died gleaning this intelligence information, now I must utilise it, and that requires both stealth and secrecy.’
‘ But I thought that this was a Rhodesian operation?’ Rayne was perplexed by the absence of any Rhodesian officials. His guard was up.
‘ Relax, Captain. You were recommended to me by the Rhodesians. I needed a man who could operate in Mozambique, and they selected you. It is you, Captain Gallagher, on whom the success or failure of this operation depends.
‘ Your mission is simple. You are to leave this country and to recruit an elite band of mercenary soldiers. You will infiltrate the enemy position, destroy their aircraft and helicopters, and then get the hell out. The rest of the base must be left intact, the fuel storage depot and other secondary installations are on no account to be destroyed.
‘ This mission must not be seen as Rhodesian. The Soviets are waiting for an excuse for invasion - a Rhodesian-inspired attack would give them that excuse. For your operation to succeed, it has to be seen as a mercenary action.
‘ For the Russians, of course, Rhodesia is merely a pawn so that they can then advance on South Africa. That is quite clear, I think.
‘ This mission has the backing of both the CIA and MI6. The governments of the United States and Great Britain want the election process to take place unhindered in Rhodesia. They want the world to know that democracy can succeed in Africa.
‘ Now, do you have any questions, Captain?’
‘ Why?’
Fry looked momentarily disconcerted. Then he smiled good- naturedly. ‘Ah, Captain Gallagher. I am not used to a military man asking such a question. You see, the objective for the moment is to achieve some kind of stability in this part of Africa. We have come to realise that black governments do not trust the superpowers. However if Russia were to help ZANLA get into power, they would then have a considerable hold over them. You see, we don’t need a Soviet government in Southern
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