The Claymore mine, known as a directional or anti-personnel mine, is commonly referred to as "this side toward enemy." It's probably the most famous and widely recognized type of anti-personnel mine, frequently seen in military-themed movies and games. The mine is a small, curved rectangular metal box containing less than a kilogram of C4 and about a thousand steel balls.
Although called a mine, it's rarely buried in the ground like traditional mines. It's usually mounted upright, with its four small legs inserted into the ground and its sighting hole aimed at the target area, ready to be detonated at the right moment. It can also be hung from a tree or placed in a puddle. The mine's effective range covers a 60-120 degree arc in front of it, up to 50 meters, and can inflict moderate injuries even at distances of around 100 meters.
The airdropped ammunition included a whole box of these Claymore mines, totaling 24 units. The PMC team positioned them on trees along the road, 12 on each side, spaced about five or six meters apart, all aimed at the center of the dirt road.
"Shebek!" Jack shouted after being hit in the left leg, where a bullet had gouged a deep groove in his thigh.
"Detonate!" Shebek ordered. The 24 Claymore mines exploded simultaneously, unleashing tens of thousands of steel balls down the 60-70 meter stretch of road.
The gunfire stopped instantly, as if the world had been paused. Apart from the lingering dust from the explosion, there was silence. Jack cautiously peeked out to see two figures frantically fleeing.
"Bang! Bang!" The two militants, who had escaped the Claymore blast zone, were quickly taken down by the arriving PMC team.
"Are you guys alright?" Shebek asked, extending a hand to the sitting Jack.
"Just a few more seconds and we would've been done for," Jack muttered, using Shebek's help to stand, then assisting Gaspare, who, despite his thick skin, was visibly shaken.
It wasn't that the two were cowardly; they knew the engine block would protect them from most bullets. But being surrounded by dozens of automatic and semi-automatic rifles, with bullets flying and sparks everywhere, was a harrowing experience.
"Leave the rest to us," Shebek said, gesturing for the two other PMC members to advance in a three-man assault formation towards the now chaotic convoy.
Jack drew their MK24 handgun and, along with Gaspare and his original AK47, hobbled behind them to witness the aftermath of their ambush.
The PMC team had strategically placed the Claymores on trees two to three meters above ground, ensuring the steel balls covered the entire road. The militants, whether on foot or still in their vehicles, were caught in the deadly blast, leaving no one unscathed.
"Bang! Bang!" The three-man team methodically approached the immobilized convoy, finishing off the wounded. Terrorists had no rights in such situations, and given the lack of adequate medical facilities on the island, a quick death was deemed more merciful than a slow, painful one.
While the Claymores were effective anti-personnel devices, their power wasn't immense. They relied on the explosive force to launch steel balls, which were lethal against unprotected personnel but less so against vehicles or heavily armored targets. Many were wounded rather than killed outright, but the injuries rendered most unable to fight.
The scene was grim, with survivors writhing in pain, waiting for their inevitable death from blood loss. Some, fortunate enough to be shielded by their comrades or vehicles, were lightly injured or unscathed but terrified.
At the back of the convoy, a few vehicles had not yet entered the Claymore kill zone. Seeing the carnage ahead, the drivers hastily turned around. As the PMC assault team approached, these militants abandoned their wounded comrades, fleeing in their vehicles.
"That old man got lucky," Gaspare said, pulling an elderly one-armed man, covered in blood, out of an SUV. It was Raduran Shasilun, a top leader of the "Abu Sayyaf" group on Holo Island. Shasilun had been protected by two loyalists during the blast but was struck by steel balls in the head, causing a concussion.
"Do you think they'll trade the hostages for this old guy?" Jack asked, tying Shasilun's hands and feet together with a rope and hoisting him up.
"Who knows? Let's hope he still has enough clout," Gaspare replied with a shrug.
"Shebek, leave one alive to send a message. We have their leader and want to exchange him for the hostages," Jack called out to Shebek, instructing him to spare a wounded militant.
The PMC team left nearly 80 bodies on the dirt road, over a third of Shasilun's force, temporarily alleviating the crisis. They had no intention of cleaning up the battlefield, lacking the manpower. After releasing two lightly injured captives to deliver their message, they spent the most time repairing vehicles.
The decoy pickup was completely destroyed, leaving them with only four vehicles, barely enough. Fortunately, the Claymores' steel balls had minimal impact on the vehicles, which needed only a few tire replacements. The rest of the vehicles were set ablaze after being disabled.
Upon returning to the abandoned mine, they were greeted as heroes, especially the wounded, whose actions embodied the Western values of individual heroism. Gaspare, previously eyed warily due to his prisoner status, now found himself embraced by two stewardesses, basking in newfound acceptance.
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