The Hundred Days Shannon reassembles his old team to execute the attack on Kimba's palace. They and Shannon trawl Europe to procure a nondescript tramp cargo vessel (later finding the Toscana), inflatable motorboats, uniforms, submachine guns or carbines ("Schmeissers"), mortars, and anti-tank weapons. To conceal the nature and purpose of these purchases, Shannon spreads them over several countries, buys from both legitimate and black-market suppliers, and establishes a holding company to thwart attempts to unmask the buyers' true identities. He also finds time for a brief sexual liaison with Julie Manson, Sir James's daughter, from whom he learns the object of Sir James's true plan. Simultaneously, Charles Roux, one of Shannon's arch-enemies, incensed that he did not receive Endean's project despite the freelance writer recommending him, puts a contract out on Shannon. Hearing of this, Langarotti tips Shannon off and they lure the assassin, Raymond Thomard, into a trap. They then send Thomard's head to Roux, permanently silencing him. Martin Thorpe has meanwhile secretly purchased the controlling interest in a shell company (Bormac Trading) from the ailing widow of its founder. Endean has obtained the agreement of Colonel Antoine Bobi, a former commander of the Zangaran Army who fell out with Kimba and is now in exile, to participate in Sir James's scheme: once installed as president, the venal and illiterate Bobi will sign over the mineral rights to the Crystal Mountain to Bormac for a nominal price but a large bribe for himself. Having loaded the arms and other equipment aboard the Toscana, the mercenaries sail to Freetown in Sierra Leone to pick up six African mercenaries, disguised as casual stevedores, who will also participate in the attack, and Dr. Okoye, an African academic. Part 3: The Killing Spree The mercenaries attack President Kimba's palace at the break of dawn. After a mortar bombardment, Semmler, Shannon, Langarotti, and the other four African mercenaries storm the palace; Semmler shoots Kimba as he tries to escape through his bedroom window. Kimba's KGB bodyguard escapes the firefight and shoots Vlaminck in the chest, while the Belgian kills him with his last bazooka rocket before he dies. Dupree and his two African mercenaries attack the nearby army camp following the bombardment. A Zangaran soldier throws a grenade at them as he flees (but did not pull the pin beforehand) and one of the African mercenaries throws it back (after pulling the pin), but