‘Look at this lot,’ Loader said as they passed the hostel. ‘Running around like headless chickens. We could drop these idiots in their sleep.’

‘They’re not the ones we have to worry about,’ Mallet said. ‘It’s the KUF rebels under the command of the Russians. General Kakuba’s men. They’ll be a different proposition.’

‘Would they really be much better than this mob?’

‘You’ve worked on training teams before, Tiny,’ Bowman said. ‘All they need is a handful of elite warriors to take charge, drill them and instruct them in some basic manoeuvres, and they’ll be a tough opponent for anyone.’

Loader grunted his agreement.

‘How many guys are we talking about?’ asked Casey.

‘A dozen Russians,’ Mallet guessed. ‘They’ll be spread out across the country with units from the KUF. Kakuba’s best men. Three or four hundred rebels, I’d say. One group in the capital, another to take the airport, a third to secure the borders. A fourth to seize the mines. That’s the way I’d do it. With the Russians pulling the strings, they could have the coup wrapped up in a matter of hours.’

‘Not once D Squadron and the other SF teams get in. They’ll send the twats packing,’ Loader said. ‘All we’ve got to do is make it to Rogandu, protect the family, and it’s job done.’

No one replied. Casey stared out of the window at the burning buildings, the mutilated corpses dumped at the side of the road.

‘What’s the plan once we get to the mansion?’ she asked Mallet.

‘We’ll link up with Mike Gregory, secure the family, sort out the defences around the estate. Then wait for the reinforcements to come in.’

She inclined her head slightly. ‘Do you think we’re in for a fight?’

‘Anything’s possible. But General Kakuba and his men won’t be heading to Rogandu, not immediately. It’ll take them a while to search the president’s other homes. By the time they arrive at Rogandu, we’ll be getting a brew on.’

‘The timing is tight,’ Bowman said. ‘If there’s a delay, we’re fucked.’

Loader said, ‘I think we can handle a few poxy rebels.’

‘We’re down to the bare bones, mate. We were counting on those forty lads from the Presidential Guard to bolster our numbers. If Kakuba attacks us in force, we’re gonna be up against it.’

‘We won’t have to wait there for long,’ Mallet said. ‘A couple of hours, max.’