The Case Officer Read Free Page B

Okay,
listen up. I called you all down here to listen to Captain MacMurphy. He’s
going to brief us on the current situation and tell us what he wants us to do
about it. Captain, they’re all yours.”
    MacMurphy stood. “Thanks, Gunny.
Have you got something I can write on, a blackboard or something?” One of the
Marines jumped up, pulled an easel with a white pad of paper on it out of a
corner, and set it up next to the captain at the head of the table. “Great.
This’ll do just fine.” He used a black marker to sketch the rectangle outline
of the embassy compound and its relationship to the city and sea to the south
and then turned to the group.
    “Okay, here we are. Afgoy Road
runs along the northern side of the compound. There’s not much beyond Afgoy
Road in the way of cover, so I don’t expect much to come from that direction.
The buildings housing the Ministry of Resources, here,” he indicated its
position on the rough map, “and the Highway Department, here, could provide
some cover, so we can’t disregard the north totally, but we should consider it
our least vulnerable side.
    “According to our best
information, including the most recent overhead from just a few hours ago,
Aideed’s forces are massing to the south and southwest of the compound, here
and here.” He indicated the positions with his finger on the rough sketch. “As
you’re all aware, to the south we have the ring road that runs around the
compound, then a line of trees—I guess you would call it a windbreak—then the
International Golf and Tennis Club sprawling out along here. Then still farther
south is the heart of the city and then the coast. At the time of the last satellite
pass, Aideed’s main force was concentrated around here, about a half mile to
the south of the club, the area between Jalle Siad Road and the club.” He
indicated the positions on the sketch.
    “There also appears to be another
troop concentration here to the southwest, beyond the Somali National
University, and here along our eastern side.” He indicated the positions with
his finger.
    “Along our eastern side, we have
another tree line, which runs about fifty meters deep, almost to Digfer Road
here. Backing onto Digfer Road is the Fire Brigade Compound, and in front of
that is a row of low buildings…you know, bars and shops and restaurants, where
you guys did not hang out just a few short weeks ago.” His comment drew grins
from the Marines around the table. “There appears to be about a company-sized
unit bivouacked in the area just behind Digfer Road, here.”
    The captain moved closer to the
table and rested his hands on its edge. He paused for a moment, making eye
contact with each of the Marines in the room. “So, if they are going to hit us,
they are probably going to do it with their main force coming at us along our
southern flank. I would also expect some activity from the direction of the
university to our southwest, and at least some probes along our eastern flank.”
    MacMurphy sat back down at the
head of the table, studied his fingers for a moment, and then looked back up at
the assembled group of warriors. “I see the question in all of your eyes: So
then why the hell don’t we bug the hell out of here?”
    The room erupted in incredulous
agreement. When they quieted down, he said, slowly and pointedly, “Because the
ambassador won’t let us—that’s why. So we will stay until he says we can go, or
until someone at a much higher pay grade than mine, and his, orders him to
evacuate.”
    The room erupted again, this time
in moans and groans. MacMurphy considered telling them about the ambassador’s
orders not to shoot at anyone threatening the compound, but decided against it.
Telling a Marine not to defend himself was anathema to him, and he simply
couldn’t bring himself to do it. Instead he turned to Gunnery Sergeant
Bradshaw.
    “Gunny, it’ll be dark in a couple
of hours, so we don’t have much time to spare. Pass out