Africa.’
Rayne got to his feet and walked over to the map. He wasn’t thinking of the politics, just of the task in hand.
‘ Getting into Mozambique with a band of armed men won’t be easy. The targets will have to be clearly identified. The speed with which we eliminate them will be all-important. A successful escape route needs to be well planned - one mistake and my force could be annihilated. Remember that in the Selous Scouts I’ve been up against ZANLA and FRELIMO, not a sophisticated Soviet force.’
John Fry smiled. ‘You assess the difficulties well, Captain Gallagher. However, you will have every military resource at your disposal, and unlimited financial backing. It is a challenge, of course, but you were chosen for your unique leadership abilities and your fighting spirit.’
‘ So where is the target, Mr Fry?’
‘ The target is Beira.’
The harbour of Beira, on the east coast of Mozambique, had at one time been linked by railway all the way to Salisbury. The war had put paid to that; Rayne had even blown up some sections of the Beira line himself.
‘ Can you now understand why you were selected, Captain Gallagher?’
Rayne ignored the question. ‘How much accurate information do you have on this Soviet build-up? Do you know how they propose to attack Salisbury?’
‘ An airborne assault will be mounted. After initial heavy bombing, fighter planes will move in and strafe designated areas. Then taskforce units will be airlifted in by helicopter. They will be briefed to shoot on sight, no hostages are to be taken.’
Rayne shivered. It was a brilliant, savage plan.
‘ We’ll be able to give you a very detailed plan of the Beira airport. That’s your target.’
‘ Mr Fry, I suppose that while I attack the airport, the Russian and Mozambique forces will miraculously stand back and not interfere?’
‘ Witty. You will have to operate under cover - get in there without being noticed, strike, and then get out as quickly as you can.’
Rayne’s mind immediately went to work on the problem. He and his men would have to be flown in; there was no way they could make a ground-based attack if they were not coming from Rhodesia.
‘ Suppose I’m caught alive?’
‘ Another reason why you were selected. You are not the sort to talk. If they did break you, by that time they’d have to question whether you were telling the truth or lying to stop the pain.’
A frown appeared on Fry’s face as he said this. Suddenly he seemed much older. Rayne noticed. ‘You talk from experience, Mr Fry?’
‘ They got me in Korea. It changes one. I was lucky, I escaped.’
‘ I don’t intend to get caught.’
John Fry got up from his chair and extended his hand.
‘ You’ll be supplied with a contact number and a bank account in any country where you want to start recruiting - we’ll take care of getting you in and out. Good luck, Captain Gallagher.’
‘ Thanks, but I don’t believe in luck.’
Rayne’s first priority was recruitment. Major Long told him he could recruit men from the army as long as they didn’t hold rank, and within a fortnight he’d interviewed seventy and chosen fifteen, including Lois. There’d been a big argument over Lois, but eventually the Major had agreed to let him go.
Next, Rayne and Lois flew to Durban. Rayne planned to launch his force into Mozambique from South Africa, and north of Durban, on the east coast, he knew of the ideal place in which to establish a base. While the other fourteen men flew into Durban on random commercial flights, drove into the base and began a stiff training programme, Rayne and Lois organised stocks of weapons and explosives. Rayne also did some interviewing, but he found no one suitable. He was beginning to be worried; he still needed four more men, men who had proven ability with explosives, and also the ability to lead. Obviously, they weren’t going to be easy to find.
There’d been plenty of candidates, of course,
Rayne got to his feet and walked over to the map. He wasn’t thinking of the politics, just of the task in hand.
‘ Getting into Mozambique with a band of armed men won’t be easy. The targets will have to be clearly identified. The speed with which we eliminate them will be all-important. A successful escape route needs to be well planned - one mistake and my force could be annihilated. Remember that in the Selous Scouts I’ve been up against ZANLA and FRELIMO, not a sophisticated Soviet force.’
John Fry smiled. ‘You assess the difficulties well, Captain Gallagher. However, you will have every military resource at your disposal, and unlimited financial backing. It is a challenge, of course, but you were chosen for your unique leadership abilities and your fighting spirit.’
‘ So where is the target, Mr Fry?’
‘ The target is Beira.’
The harbour of Beira, on the east coast of Mozambique, had at one time been linked by railway all the way to Salisbury. The war had put paid to that; Rayne had even blown up some sections of the Beira line himself.
‘ Can you now understand why you were selected, Captain Gallagher?’
Rayne ignored the question. ‘How much accurate information do you have on this Soviet build-up? Do you know how they propose to attack Salisbury?’
‘ An airborne assault will be mounted. After initial heavy bombing, fighter planes will move in and strafe designated areas. Then taskforce units will be airlifted in by helicopter. They will be briefed to shoot on sight, no hostages are to be taken.’
Rayne shivered. It was a brilliant, savage plan.
‘ We’ll be able to give you a very detailed plan of the Beira airport. That’s your target.’
‘ Mr Fry, I suppose that while I attack the airport, the Russian and Mozambique forces will miraculously stand back and not interfere?’
‘ Witty. You will have to operate under cover - get in there without being noticed, strike, and then get out as quickly as you can.’
Rayne’s mind immediately went to work on the problem. He and his men would have to be flown in; there was no way they could make a ground-based attack if they were not coming from Rhodesia.
‘ Suppose I’m caught alive?’
‘ Another reason why you were selected. You are not the sort to talk. If they did break you, by that time they’d have to question whether you were telling the truth or lying to stop the pain.’
A frown appeared on Fry’s face as he said this. Suddenly he seemed much older. Rayne noticed. ‘You talk from experience, Mr Fry?’
‘ They got me in Korea. It changes one. I was lucky, I escaped.’
‘ I don’t intend to get caught.’
John Fry got up from his chair and extended his hand.
‘ You’ll be supplied with a contact number and a bank account in any country where you want to start recruiting - we’ll take care of getting you in and out. Good luck, Captain Gallagher.’
‘ Thanks, but I don’t believe in luck.’
Rayne’s first priority was recruitment. Major Long told him he could recruit men from the army as long as they didn’t hold rank, and within a fortnight he’d interviewed seventy and chosen fifteen, including Lois. There’d been a big argument over Lois, but eventually the Major had agreed to let him go.
Next, Rayne and Lois flew to Durban. Rayne planned to launch his force into Mozambique from South Africa, and north of Durban, on the east coast, he knew of the ideal place in which to establish a base. While the other fourteen men flew into Durban on random commercial flights, drove into the base and began a stiff training programme, Rayne and Lois organised stocks of weapons and explosives. Rayne also did some interviewing, but he found no one suitable. He was beginning to be worried; he still needed four more men, men who had proven ability with explosives, and also the ability to lead. Obviously, they weren’t going to be easy to find.
There’d been plenty of candidates, of course,
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