“They are confirmed, Viper.”
“Can you try raising them and act as relay?” I asked.
“Roger, stand by.”
Eagle came back a few moments later informing us that they had negative contact with Atlas 21.
“Copy that, Viper, out,” I said rethinking our plan.
Without contact, we ran the risk of absorbing friendly fire and unable to relay our plan for getting them out. We had to head inside. The volume of gunfire being poured into the field didn’t make the odds look good but there were soldiers down there needing help and there’s no better reason to try what we could.
“Okay, change in plans,” I told the team. “I can’t raise anyone down there. We’ll head to the east as planned then I’ll head inside and make contact.”
We made our way east, creeping just below the crest. The firing at the base of the ridge, just fifty meters away, didn’t let up. The ridge eventually sloped down with the ridge ending just at the eastern edge of the field. The trees lining the open area continued to the south along the eastern side. Only a few shots rang out from there. Behind the few firing on that side, we went on line and crept forward keeping in sight of the team member to our left and right.
The large-leafed vegetation kept our field of vision limited but the sounds of gunfire guided us in. Luckily only a few desultory shots were fired in our direction from the soldiers in the field. There was an occasional spray of bark from one of the large trees flew as rounds made their way in our direction. My concern was how to exit the trees and make my way across the field without becoming the main attraction for the soldiers firing this way. Lowering a large frond, I saw a man laying behind a fallen log firing short bursts blindly into the field.
“We have tangos to our front, fifteen meters,” I whispered into the radio. The copy and additional sightings were radioed in from the other team members.
“Take ‘em out,” I said as I raised my M-4 and centered my red dot on the back of the soldier firing in front of me.
My carbine kicked slightly against my shoulder and the muted coughs of my short burst were hidden beneath the din of the firing all around. The soldier flinched and then settled to the ground; the only difference in the span of moments between his living and his introduction to the next world was that his Ak-47 ceased firing. The sounds directly around us diminished as the others’ rounds found their marks as well. The area to our immediate front became quiet. Now, how to get to the troops out in the field without becoming aerated? I thought edging to the perimeter, keeping low as rounds continued to pepper the trees around us.
“Anyone have anything white?” I asked as we drew closer together.
“You’re kidding right?!” My ATL answered.
“I have a hankie,” our point man said brandishing said handkerchief.
“You guys wait here, I’m going in. Keep the comms open,” I said.
I tied the white, I might also add used, handkerchief to the end of my suppressor. Lying behind the fallen log next to the recently departed, I waved the small flag overhead and started yelling “friendlies.”
I heard someone shouting close by and noted the decrease in incoming rounds. Raising my head above the log, I saw a helmet bob up just above one of the rises. I stood and ventured slowly out to the edge of the tree line keeping my M-4raised and to the side along with my other arm. I didn’t want to stand there long as the firefight was still in full swing. I yelled “friendlies” once again and the helmet became attached to an arm waving me on.
I crouched and ran into the field very much aware of the steel filling the air. With some rounds peppering the ground from fire to the left and right, I dove behind the rise which hid the body beneath the helmet.
“Where the hell did you come from?” The soldier asked.
“Oklahoma,” I answered as if it was the stupidest question I’d ever heard. “Who’s in charge here?”
“Sergeant Connell,” he answered pointing to a group of soldiers hunkered behind one of the larger rises.
“Thanks,” I said and dashed in a crouch plopping myself next to one of the soldiers lying in the center.
Crashing on the ground in a rather less than graceful manner, I looked at the soldier lying next to me. Blue eyes, with a sporting of blond hair peeking out from the helmet, met my look.
“I’m looking for Sergeant Connell,” I said.
“You found her,” she replied.
“Jack Walker,” I said extending my hand as best I could lying pressed into the dirt. She returned the shake lightly and quickly.
“What’s the situation, Sergeant,” I asked.
“Well, we are pinned down on three sides by at least company strength. There are some blocking our route out to the east. The fire has been increasing so I think they’re being reinforced,” she answered.
“Casualties?” I asked.
“Three indigenous KIA with seven wounded. Two soldiers wounded but mobile,” she replied.
“Anyone unable to move? I mean besides the KIA,” I asked apparently full of questions.
“Four.”
“Fuck. That’ll make it harder. “What freq are you on? We tried calling,” I said.
“The radios are out. Both of them have taken hits. And who are you again?” She asked. “Any idea when our support is showing up?”
“You’re looking at it,” I replied.
“What? Just you?” She asked with a measure of shock recording on her face.
“I’m all you need,” I answered chuckling. “Okay, way kidding. I have a team to the east just in the tree line. We took out the blocking force there.”
“So, how is it you are here?” She asked. “Don’t get me wrong, we could use the firepower but I was expecting a little more.”
“We were in the area and heard there was a party here,” I answered.
“Aren’t you the funny one. Seriously, they only sent you guys?”
“Apparently you pissed someone off at some point so they sent us,” I replied not able to help myself.
Her blue eyes and face, although covered in sweat and dirt, were quite attractive but the sound of the rounds buzzing overhead kept my thoughts in line. A line stitched its way across the top of the rise pelting us with dirt clods and dust. I buried into the dirt trying to actually get my back flush with the ground.
“Viper Six, Viper Five,” I barely heard the ATL say over the radio.
“Viper Five, go ahead,” I answered as the shower of dirt ended. I was thankful there weren’t mortars at this point or the only thing left of us would be picked up and put in buckets.
“We have visitors coming up on the east side from the south, platoon strength,” Viper Five said.
“Roger that. Pull back and set up behind them. On my way shortly. Viper Six, out,” I responded.
“Well, crap! There goes our way out,” I said.
“What do you mean?” She asked.
“Tangos in platoon strength coming up on the east side from the south,” I answered.
Sergeant Connell turned and yelled, “Corporal Hedges, we have unfriendly company coming on the east side from the south. Keep their heads down.”
“What unit did you say you were from?” She asked turning back to me. The soldiers around us were sending semi-automatic fire out to the tree lines on all sides.
“Yeah, let’s cover that some other time, shall we?” I answered. I looked around as best I could being pressed down. The circle of troops was closest to the north tree lines so I thought that may be our best way out.
“Okay, our goal is to get to a landing zone a few klicks to the north,” I say showing her on the map. “I’ll leave you my radio and head back. We’ll circle around to the north and clear a hole for you. Try to get the wounded that aren’t mobile onto stretchers. The cheek beating will have to be intense and we’ll have to move fast. We have helicopter assets on standby but for some stupid reason, they can’t assist with keeping our backsides clear.”
“Okay. The wounded are already on ponchos. We’re getting low on ammo so it’ll have to be soon. I’ve already given the order to conserve but we’ll lay down cover fire for your dash out of here,” she said.