Nick smiled. “Let’s get going. See you all on the other side.”
*
“Oh Muerto, this baby is fast as hell!” Gus maneuvered in an exaggerated approach pattern, zooming from far side to far side, varying speed and pattern.
“This will be close guys. They will open fire on us the moment we get in sight or slightly before,” Nick said. “I’m glad you thought to bring my M107 too, Payaso. Johnny can fire the XM25 EMP round and use my range finders, while I keep an eye on any targets I can spot on the ship.”
“You’re nuts,” Gus muttered while paying close attention not to repeat any movements. “I know how good you are, but hitting anything from this moving Panga boat is beyond even your Muerto death magic.”
“Heh…heh. If we make the frigate dead in the water, the Unholy Trio will show the Monster Squad how to have a little fun.”
“You do know we can hear you, right Muerto?”
“Uh oh. I forgot it was open mic night,” Nick joked. “Yeah, I know, Lynn. Hey, Laredo… you have the Stealth ready to back us dumb-shits if this doesn’t work, right?”
“Nope. Clint said we’d fire the RGM-84 using you guys as laser pointers.”
General hilarity ensued for a few moments until Johnny indicated they would be in sight within seconds.
“Ready the XM25, Kabong. Hold her full speed for a broadside parallel to the frigate’s starboard side, Payaso. That would be the frigate’s right side and our left on approach.”
“Fuck you, Muerto!” Gus smiled, listening to everyone on the line enjoying Nick’s insinuation Gus didn’t know the difference between port and starboard.
Search lights turned on, scanning the area as Gus paralleled their target inside the five hundred yard range going in the opposite direction. The frigate fired with 20mm cannon and .50 caliber machine gun fire with tracers.
“Fire, Kabong!”
Nick had found the machine gun turret with the M107 night vision scope. His six shot semi auto burst stitched through the machine gunner as if he were made of papier-mache while the 20mm cannon fire crept nearer. Johnny fired the XM25. The EMP airburst load exploded over the oncoming frigate with incredible effect. Instantly, the frigate cruised to a floating stop, bobbing in the water.
“Holy shit, Muerto! That was at least a six hundred yard shot from a moving boat. You, my friend, are scary good,” Gus exclaimed, bringing the Panga boat around.
“Those tracers were getting too close and I couldn’t tell where the guy was without the night-vision scope. Now we deal with that damn 20mm cannon.” Nick moved behind their portable XM307 turret and obliterated the 20mm cannon emplacement aboard the frigate.
Johnny switched to 25mm airburst grenade rounds and fired at will while Nick swept over the bridge with 25mm rounds. Gus turned the Panga boat to move toward the Valkyrie. The frigate was ablaze. The ammo magazines blew then, turning the main deck into an inferno with survivors jumping overboard.
“It’s all yours, Laredo,” Nick said.
“Understood.”
Gus retreated away from the fiery hulk with Nick and Johnny relaxing near him. They waited with anticipation for what they knew to be on the way. The faint roar introducing ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ echoed across the water, gaining momentum into a tumultuous, mind numbing horror for the frigate’s surviving crewmembers. The AGM-114 Hellfire missiles hit the frigate, sending waves of heat, sound, and force across the Panga boat with Gus turning to stunt the effect. The Unholy Trio watched the Monster Squad repeat wave after wave using everything aboard the Stealth, including the 70mm Hydra rockets.
“Holy God in heaven,” Gus whispered. “We are very bad men.”
“We’re going back to the Valkyrie, Muerto,” Laredo said. “All the bodies are on the Valkyrie for-”
“Mexican F-5 fighter on approach!” Denny wasted no words. “John’s locking in by radar on the fighter with the RGM-84. It’s only a few minutes away. What do you have left, Laredo?”
“Nothing, boss. Clint’s on the .50 for all that will do. I have chaff to deter a first attack and then we’re history.”
A moment later, the F-5 zoomed low over the burning frigate debris before barrel rolling upwards. Nick detached the XM307 from its portable stand. “Grab the stand, Johnny. Laredo, fly over us!”
“Okay… nice working with you, Muerto.”
“Hold that thought. Turn the boat toward the frigate, steady as she goes. Help me get this damn gun mount pointed upward, Johnny. We’re going to run the F-5 into our flak fire. Yes… that’s it. Gus, put her on auto and come steady me and the mount while Johnny fires the 25mm airburst.”
Using life jackets, ammo boxes, and equipment bags, the three men turned the mounted XM307 into a surface to air launcher. Johnny shoved against one side of the mounting with the XM25 in hand while Gus steadied the other side and Nick.