The Wild Geese

A former British Army colonel turned mercenary who assembles and leads the fifty-strong rescue force. He is pragmatic, fearless, and deeply loyal to his squad, willing to make brutal sacrifices to save Limbani and protect his own people. His leadership is marked by calculated risk-taking and a willingness to face danger head-on.

The deposed southern African president whose survival becomes the mission's catalyst. He embodies national struggle and political legitimacy; though physically weak in captivity, his presence motivates the mercenaries. His escape attempt and the aftermath propel the story toward a costly reckoning.

A wealth-driven merchant banker who orchestrates the rescue plan from London. He treats Limbani as a means to secure copper mining assets, showing cynical pragmatism and willingness to sacrifice others for profit. His manipulations drive the mission's ethical complications and betrayals.

A skilled tactician and single father who becomes the logical anchor of the mission. He mentors the mercenaries, negotiates complex combat scenarios, and carries the emotional burden of caring for his son Emile.

A pilot-turned-smuggler recruited to secure Limbani's extraction. He provides reconnaissance, aerial expertise, and a ruthless drive to get the job done, often bending rules to survive.

A former South African Defence Force member who joins the mission with a pragmatic goal to buy a farm with his earnings. He pays a heavy personal cost, dying in the bush as the operation unfolds.

A seasoned sergeant-major who drills and keeps the mercenaries cohesive under pressure. His experience and discipline help the group endure brutal setbacks and heavy casualties.

Rafer Janders' son, a boarding-school-aged boy who represents the cost of war and the mercenaries' promise to protect him. His presence humanizes the mission and adds emotional stakes to Faulkner's decisions.