The Patrol
The small patrol boat meandered through one of the countless tributaries of the Rio Araguaia. On both banks there was nothing but jungle. The branches of immemorial jungle trees hang over the greenish water of the river and sometimes some particular long branches blocked the ride of the boat. Then the seven soldiers would for one or two seconds feel the jungle. Michael loved this feeling. If he was a poet he would write a entire poem just about this feeling. How the fresh and green leaves smelled, how he could taste pure life on his skin... But he was no poet he was a soldier! His job was to fight the enemies of Russia.
Michael, stop dreaming! Open your eyes! There might be some resistance left in this part of the river. I dont want to become piranha food because you dont see a Brazilian water mine or something!
Yes Sir!
The captain was right. In the last week more then a dozen patrol ships had been lost to water mines and ambushes. After hours of watching on the on the water soldiers often became unobservant. Michael knew this feeling. He had to concentrate. Only one hour left, then Chagathai, the Mongolian gunner, would take over his post at the bow of the boat. Besides Chagathai there were one Bosnian, who had fled from Diamond Sword Empire, when it became to opressie, one Hungarian and three Russians on the boat. The captain was one of the Russians. He was a good leader. During the landing and the brutal city fighting, he had guided them safely through the war.
A bunch of wonderfully coloured parrots, maybe toucans, flew out of a one of the trees some hundred metres in front of them. With grouching they disappeared behind a bend of the river. Michael loved birds. When he was young he had always wanted a canary bird, but his family was too poor. Now he could see them every day in the nature. The boat passed the bend, following the swarm of parrots. Suddenly Michael saw something. Maybe it was just a tree, maybe just a Cayman. He could see the shade of something below the water. As he the boat came nearer he could see another one to the left of the first on and a third one to the right.
Captain there is something in the water in front of us! Im not sure what it is - Maybe a bunch of hungry Caymans or a dead tree.
Okay! Peter, slow down so we can take a closer look.
Immediately the boat lost speed. Soon it was only floating water. Chagathai and one of the Russians, Alexander was his name, had came to Michael and now three pairs of eyes stared into the water. They could see not three, but at least six shapes underwater.
Chagathai, Alex, get back at your posts! Watch the jungle! This could be an ambu
The screeching of a mortar grenade interrupted the captain, followed by a terrible explosion. The mortar hit only then metres in front of the boat and the water fountain sprung several metres in the air. The fountain hadnt reached its highest point yet when the clattering of a machinegun was heard somewhere and Alexander, the twenty year old boy from Sevastopol, was hit. The vehemence of the high calibre bullets of the MG smashed him against the cabin right behind him. A large splash of red blood obscured the view of the driver Peter and as a result a Bosnian curse was heard.
Dovraga! Get Alex from the pane or I will drive you into hell!
Another burst of the MG hit the side of the boat and now some smaller calibres, most likely assault rifles had joined the fun. Michael had found cover behind some crates and Alex was just lying flat one the ground with his AK17 in front of him. He was shooting a curtain fire in the jungle to the left, but it was very unlikely that he would hit anything. The Mongol had turned the heavy mounted MG at the back of the boat and he had already put an ammo belt into the gun.
Turn around, turn around! We have to get out this hellhole! Return fire and keep your heads down!
Another mortar round screeched towards the ship. This time it hit only five metres in front of the boat. Michael had located the MG and two of the other attackers. He had started to fire salvos into the thick bush where he could see the muzzle flash of the MG. With a deafening rattling the heavy MG started to spread their rain of death upon the attackers. Meanwhile the panes of the drivers cabin had been shot and the driver had started the machines again. In a risky manoeuvre the boat turned around.
Faster Peter, get us out!
The machines of the little patrol boat protested, but with a jerk it started to move. Another mortar round exploded to the left of the boat, but farther away as the last on. Apparently the Brazilians had used the underwater roots (or whatever) as reference points, but now it was hard for them to hit the fast moving ship. Only the mg was still able to reach them, but the Mongol had ensured that it stayed quite.
Wow that was close! We better be more
Damn!
Two small motor boats had suddenly appeared right behind them. Maybe they had been hidden under some scrubs near the right bank. One of them was armed with a light navy gun and the other had a light 4x flak mounted on the bow. Although they were only lightly armoured, they outgunned the patrol boat by far! And they were faster
Chagathai, get those suckers!
Both, the flak and the cannon had opened fire at the patrol boat. Closer and closer came to water fountains of the cannon and the shield of the heavy MG was covered with holes. The Mongol hung smashed in his little cockpit. Now only the driver could save them. But sooner or later they would get them. Michael didnt want to wait for them. He needed an idea. But what should he do? They were out of range of his AK17 and they didnt have any water mines either
Suddenly a strange clattering was heard in front of them, just behind the next bend. Michael couldnt explain this sound
He had never heard something like this before. Curious he turned his head towards the bow Just in time to see a strange flying object clattering over their heads, only few metres above them. Some rockets were lunched on the flak boat and it disappeared in a big red flame. The other boat tried to turn around and some of the crew jumped into the water to avoid the certain death
The dual MGs of the Helicopter shredded the little cannon ship into 1000 pieces. As suddenly as it had appeared it disappeared again, tracked by the surprised eyes of the Russian patrol boat crew.
Picture of the unforseen help