~ * ~ * ~ * ~
El Diablo was livid. “What do you mean that only thirty men returned to the fortress?” he screamed. “I sent out nearly 150 men to take out that village.”
“I know, Comandante. I have the only officer to escape outside your office door to answer your questions for you,” El Diablo’s bodyguard Santiago said.
“Good, bring him in, I want answers. I cannot believe we lost over one hundred men,” he said incredulously.
In seconds the officer was standing in front of El Diablo. “Explain to me Captain how it is you could have lost over one hundred men to a bunch of untrained guerillas?” El Diablo yelled, his face going red.
The captain was about to lie his butt off to save his suddenly worthless life.
“Sir, somehow they learned we were coming. They were laying in ambush for us. We were able to kill many of them during the battle but our losses were very heavy. During the first minute of the battle we lost fifty percent of our men. By the time we were able to regroup we had to fight our way out of the village to survive.”
“How many men did you face in the battle Captain? How did they learn of your attack beforehand?”
“Comandante, they must have an informant inside this fort. As for how many men were there my best estimate would be two hundred.”
“One hundred and fifty well trained men against unorganized and untrained guerillas and you lost?”
“It was the ambush that did it, Comandante. By the time we knew what had hit us we were only a force of seventy five against their two hundred.”
“Very well Captain. If I find out that you are lying to me I will have a noose and saber with your name on it. Do you understand what I am telling you?” he threatened darkly.
“Yes Comandante,” the man squeaked in fear. “As God is my witness what I have told you is the truth.”
“You may leave now but I don’t want you to leave this fort. If I do find out you are not truthful I want to be able to find you when I need you to answer for your dishonesty.”
“As you wish my Comandante,” the officer said in fear as he backed out of the room.
“Santiago, ring up Havana for me. I need to talk to my cousin Fidel about getting replacement troops.”
“Fidel, I hope you are in good health my cousin,” The Comandante started the conversation out.
“Leonardo, how is everything in El Diablo Alcazaba these days. It’s been weeks since last we talked,” Fidel responded.
“Not very well my cousin. I sent in troops to Bayarno like you told me to do. They were ambushed. While my men inflicted heavy losses on the enemy we suffered over one hundred men dead.”
“How was something like that possible? The men I provide you with are well trained front line troops.”
“We fear that we might have an informant in the fort cousin. They knew in advance that we were coming. I have called to ask for replacement troops so I can go back in and finish the job.”
“Very well, it will take us several weeks to furnish you with new men Leonardo. Bide your time until they arrive. Troops are expensive to train and maintain. Do not waste the replacements I send you. Before you conduct the next operation you need to shut the fort down days beforehand so word cannot leak out to our enemies.”
“I will make you proud of El Diablo Alcazaba once again Fidel. The next attack I will lead personally. I want Carlos and Francisco Estaban dancing for me on the end of my rope.”