Operation Flower Petal

Chapter 4

Matt Townsend knocked on his boss’s door and paused for an invitation to enter.

“Ah, Matt,” the grizzled man said. “Perfect timing. Have a seat.”

Now that Matt—also known to his friends and fellow officers as Frog—had retired from active service in the New Zealand Special Air Service, he’d slipped into a trainer’s role. Although he thought he’d miss the action, he’d found he preferred the slower pace and the fact no one shot at him daily.

“What’s up, boss?”

“We’ve received the go-ahead for another training mission. It’s down country at a place called Moewai. Ever heard of it?”

Matt shook his head. “No.”

“It’s a country town close to Eketāhuna in the lower North Island.”

Matt shrugged. “My brother-in-law is from Eketāhuna.”

His boss tapped his fingers on his desk and pulled out a file. “We’re calling the training exercise Operation Flower Petal.”

Matt barely controlled his splutter of astonishment. “Pardon?”

His boss’s face lit up with enjoyment. “Ada Buckingham, the landowner, grows flowers to turn into wedding confetti.”

“I can see how training in a paddock of flowers might challenge our men.”

The boss’s eyes twinkled, and a dimple popped into view.

Matt’s brows rose. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Details.” His boss opened the manila folder. “We will restrict the military exercises to the farm’s hill country, and we must stay away from the flowers. Also, we are to contact Ms. Buckingham when we’re using live ammunition or anything that goes bang-bang.”

bang-bang.“Bang-bang?” Matt parroted. “Is that a new technical term?”

Bang-bangHis boss chuckled. “Ms. Buckingham’s phone number is in the file. Ring her if you intend to make noise.”

“I can do that. Anything else?”

“Keep out of her way and away from her flowers. Do that, and she told me she’d be happy. The rest of the op details are in the folder. I know we’ve discussed the program, but my secretary has included everything in here. Questions?”

“No, I’m happy with the mission statement and what we want to achieve,” Matt said.

“Excellent. I’m interested to see what our newer men can do.”

“They’re fit and capable. I’d be surprised if the soldiers didn’t excel.” The exercises they’d devised should test the men because he had a gut feeling this lot would see action soon.

shouldTwo weeks later, Matt tossed the pack containing his clothes and supplies on the back of a utility vehicle. The other two trainers followed suit, then the three dozen men going through the training exercise loaded their packs. One of his trainers pulled the canvas top over the luggage and sealed it securely.

“See you soon,” he said. Minutes later, he drove off.

“Right.” Matt blew a whistle. “We’re off for a run. Ten kilometers,” he ordered. “Followed by one lap around the obstacle course.”

His men knew better than to grumble, but Matt guessed they’d presumed today would be an easy one. Unfortunately for them, the flight was brief. Matt wanted the luggage and supplies to arrive first.

Matt and his soldiers boarded a plane five hours later for the quick hop to Moewai. Except, they weren’t landing in the traditional way. Their arrival would be via parachute.

“Remember, the object is to land within the marked zone. The soldier or soldiers who land closest to the target get to relax instead of cooking dinner tonight. Keep away from the lady’s flowers.”

One man snorted. “Is that why we got landed with the name Operation Flower Petal?” He rolled his eyes. “That is gonna look great on our training records.”

Several of the men whooped, and Matt grinned.

“As long as you don’t land in the flowers, we’ll be golden. Gear up for the jump. We leave as soon as everyone is ready.” Matt donned his parachute, using his typical methodical actions, double-checking as he went. Once satisfied, he ran a practiced eye over his soldiers. They were experienced jumpers, having done this hundreds of times during basic and training exercises. Most of this group had jumped into hot spots, and he had full confidence in their abilities.

There was the usual joking when the plane took off. Matt settled back and closed his eyes while listening to the ribald teasing and gossip flowing around the cabin.

It seemed mere minutes passed before the guy assigned to help with the jump shook him awake. Matt rose and prepared for the exit. After their run and the obstacle course this morning, he’d drilled them on the jump site and told them what to expect.

“Right,” Matt called. The cold air buffeted him, flapping his clothes and chilling his skin. “Who’s first?”

“Me.” A beefy soldier stepped forward, enthusiasm glinting in his eyes.

“Right,” Matt said. “Go.”

The soldier leaped without hesitation, swiftly followed by the rest of the group.

Matt met the gaze of the guy helping. “Thanks!” Then he, too, leaped from the plane. As always, pure adrenaline shot through him. The wind whipped his hair as he fell. He scanned the land below, both to check on his soldiers and to orientate himself. Parachutes filled the sky, and two men hooted.

Matt pulled his cord, and his body jerked upward as his chute opened. He noticed he and one soldier were off course after jumping last from the plane.

Then he groaned because of the blaze of color in the paddock below them—the blue, the pink, the purple, and the white were strips of boldness against the landscape. Beyond, the river flowed in a silver ribbon, cutting through the land as it headed toward the Tasman Sea.

As his chute drifted lower, Matt attempted to maneuver, but a gust of wind caught him and his stray soldier. Matt cursed under his breath.

This was gonna make him real popular with the old lady property owner.

He attempted to change his trajectory but to no avail. His man experienced the same problem, but he landed to the right of the flowers.

Matt wasn’t so lucky.