through. But the truck stays here."
Bishop nodded, unlatched the door and alighted from the vehicle. The guard said nothing as the PRIMAL operative snapped on his chest rig and slung an AK over his shoulder. Weapons were an every day part of life in this part of the world.
Jess walked to the other guard at the checkpoint. He smiled and slung his rifle across his back before hugging her.
"Which one has the medical supplies?" asked Mirza as he reached into the back of the truck.
"This one." Bishop slung the backpack over his shoulder whilst Mirza grabbed his shoulder satchel and rifle. The backpack contained a full trauma kit, a small gift to show Jess and the SFF they were serious.
"Don't touch the truck or it will explode." Mirza told the two men as he aimed a remote at the Bowler. It emitted a beep and flashed its lights. The guards stepped away from it.
As they continued up the track Bishop turned to his partner. "Did Mitch rig the vehicle?"
"Not really," said Mirza. "I lied!"
It was only a few hundred meters to the meeting location. Jess led them towards a cluster of huts. Smoke drifted and they could smell something cooking.
A guard waved them forward to a farmyard. Grass roofed mud huts surrounded an open patch of bare earth. Tall trees offered shade from the sun. A battered UNIMOG truck was parked behind the huts next to an old Hilux pickup. Two men sat around a low campfire.
The PRIMAL operatives lay their weapons against a log at the edge of the clearing. A small gesture in a game of subterfuge.
Jess greeted the men at the fire. They were dressed as Bishop would expect of resistance fighters; battered boots, torn camouflage pants and t-shirts. Both carried basic AK47s, the weapons worn but well-maintained.
Jess spoke first. "Mirza, Aden, this is Garang and Jonjo. They are representatives of the Southern Freedom Fighters."
Bishop sized up Garang as he grasped the man's hand. He was tall, muscular and handsome, a seemingly confident man with a firm handshake. His face was bruised and battered but he stood tall. Whoever had given him a beating had not broken his spirit.
Bishop moved on to the younger man as Mirza shook Garang's hand. Jonjo was still really only a boy, tall and lightly built. He moved with the awkwardness of someone not yet confident in their own abilities but his handshake was firm. Bishop locked eyes with him, the kid already had the stare of someone who had faced and dealt death.
"Come. Sit." Garang invited them to the fire. They sat on logs as Jonjo stirred a pot of tea.
Bishop handed the backpack to Garang as he took a seat. "Just a small token of appreciation for this meeting. It's a combat medical kit. I thought the doctor might find it useful to help your men."
"I was under the impression you wanted to help us with our fight," Garang said. "Weapons and ammunition would be more useful."
"I'm not the sort of guy who brings guns to a first meeting. Sorry."
Garang nodded. "That's fair. Thank you." He handed the medical kit to Jess, saying, "This is men's business. Perhaps you could wait for us at the vehicles." Garang missed the angry look his girlfriend gave him as she picked up the heavy medical kit and struggled with it towards the Hilux. One of the guards came across and helped her.
Once she was out of earshot the SFF commander continued. "Doctor Hutton tells me you are looking to support us in our battle against the oppression of Khartoum."
"Yes, we represent an organization that wishes to bring peace to South Sudan."
Garang laughed. "The US doesn't want peace. You want to reduce Chinese power and gain control of the oil fields."
Bishop nodded. "And you want to bring peace and
Bishop nodded, unlatched the door and alighted from the vehicle. The guard said nothing as the PRIMAL operative snapped on his chest rig and slung an AK over his shoulder. Weapons were an every day part of life in this part of the world.
Jess walked to the other guard at the checkpoint. He smiled and slung his rifle across his back before hugging her.
"Which one has the medical supplies?" asked Mirza as he reached into the back of the truck.
"This one." Bishop slung the backpack over his shoulder whilst Mirza grabbed his shoulder satchel and rifle. The backpack contained a full trauma kit, a small gift to show Jess and the SFF they were serious.
"Don't touch the truck or it will explode." Mirza told the two men as he aimed a remote at the Bowler. It emitted a beep and flashed its lights. The guards stepped away from it.
As they continued up the track Bishop turned to his partner. "Did Mitch rig the vehicle?"
"Not really," said Mirza. "I lied!"
It was only a few hundred meters to the meeting location. Jess led them towards a cluster of huts. Smoke drifted and they could smell something cooking.
A guard waved them forward to a farmyard. Grass roofed mud huts surrounded an open patch of bare earth. Tall trees offered shade from the sun. A battered UNIMOG truck was parked behind the huts next to an old Hilux pickup. Two men sat around a low campfire.
The PRIMAL operatives lay their weapons against a log at the edge of the clearing. A small gesture in a game of subterfuge.
Jess greeted the men at the fire. They were dressed as Bishop would expect of resistance fighters; battered boots, torn camouflage pants and t-shirts. Both carried basic AK47s, the weapons worn but well-maintained.
Jess spoke first. "Mirza, Aden, this is Garang and Jonjo. They are representatives of the Southern Freedom Fighters."
Bishop sized up Garang as he grasped the man's hand. He was tall, muscular and handsome, a seemingly confident man with a firm handshake. His face was bruised and battered but he stood tall. Whoever had given him a beating had not broken his spirit.
Bishop moved on to the younger man as Mirza shook Garang's hand. Jonjo was still really only a boy, tall and lightly built. He moved with the awkwardness of someone not yet confident in their own abilities but his handshake was firm. Bishop locked eyes with him, the kid already had the stare of someone who had faced and dealt death.
"Come. Sit." Garang invited them to the fire. They sat on logs as Jonjo stirred a pot of tea.
Bishop handed the backpack to Garang as he took a seat. "Just a small token of appreciation for this meeting. It's a combat medical kit. I thought the doctor might find it useful to help your men."
"I was under the impression you wanted to help us with our fight," Garang said. "Weapons and ammunition would be more useful."
"I'm not the sort of guy who brings guns to a first meeting. Sorry."
Garang nodded. "That's fair. Thank you." He handed the medical kit to Jess, saying, "This is men's business. Perhaps you could wait for us at the vehicles." Garang missed the angry look his girlfriend gave him as she picked up the heavy medical kit and struggled with it towards the Hilux. One of the guards came across and helped her.
Once she was out of earshot the SFF commander continued. "Doctor Hutton tells me you are looking to support us in our battle against the oppression of Khartoum."
"Yes, we represent an organization that wishes to bring peace to South Sudan."
Garang laughed. "The US doesn't want peace. You want to reduce Chinese power and gain control of the oil fields."
Bishop nodded. "And you want to bring peace and
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