Operation Lavivrus. John Wiseman

time to suddenly decide you don’t like bloody free falling,’ the CO responded, his raised voice sounded strangely flat in the acoustically suppressed office. ‘He can’t pick and bloody well choose. He did the long course in Cyprus last year, as well as Fort Bragg. How many jumps has he done?’

      ‘He was taken off the American trip, Colonel, because his mother died. I guess he’s done at least forty jumps, though.’

      ‘Forty jumps and still not sure.’ There was a long pause as the Colonel deliberated, absent-mindedly rearranging his pens. Suddenly, with a display of frustrated vigour, he slapped his palms down on the desktop, and using his most intimidating expression demanded, ‘Who have you in mind to replace him?’ The dog lifted its head at this outburst, then, overcome by the effort, flopped back in his basket.

      Each troop, when up to full strength, consisted of sixteen men, giving four four-man patrols. Half of 2 Troop were already deployed down in Georgia under the command of Troop Sergeant Hannigan. Peter was deliberately kept back to run this operation with his staff sergeant to assist him.