Onboard a half filled CH-49 Mohawk, I sit alone at the very end of the helicopter, right next to the ramp. My buddy Lolgasm is sick and out for this operation. So I’m on my own for this mission. We’re too understaffed to get me a partner, but I suppose it’s not the worst thing to happen. It’s better than having to take care of some rookie, and getting my ass killed tryin’ to save him. I look toward the pilot, and I notice the rest of the seats are mostly vacant, there’s about one person for every three seats in this 16 seater helicopter. Like I said, we’re understaffed. The ramp opens and I ready my parachute and line up to eject out of the Mohawk.
Green light.
The first one jumps, then second. I’m up. I hesitate a little to find the right landing site. “Got one.”
I jump.
“No one’s shooting at me yet” I think to myself as I rush towards a small walled garden next to a meager stone hut. I start taking shots about 30 meters from the ground to the East and West of me. I land, and immediately run inside the hut. I hear guys from behind one of the windows. Then I see two of them. It’s a squad and it looks like they’re going to try to enter. I put away my AK-12 and take out a satchel charge. I set the timer for 40 seconds just in case I don’t get away. He’s at the door, I sprint away into the second half of the building and close the door behind me. I hear the door open, and pull out the detonator.
*Click*
The first thing I feel is pain. Pain in my ears. Rubble from the building is falling on top of me, the entire roof is gone and so are most of the walls. Only the middle supports and a couple of edges are left standing. I’m surprised I still have all my limbs. I look around the corner where the door used to be and see the remains of two backpacks and blood. I look around the other side to the right and see one guy on the floor unconscious and bleeding out. I take a deep breath and try to relax. I wait for about ten seconds then drop the detonator and pull out my primary.
I assess my situation, I look to the right and see the wall protecting the garden more houses to my left and, an AAF infantry man? He’s coming right at me. I wait patiently. I hear the zipper of a first aid kit and stand up then shoot the guy in the back. He was trying to revive his downed buddy. Sorry mate, not today.
I move into the next section of the building where the satchel exploded. Hunker down to the North East section of the hut and peek over, There’s a road heading north to a good vantage point on any infantry coming in, and a small skirmish to the West. I decide not to get involved and head north. I enter a medium sized building, two rooms on the bottom and two on top, stairs in the middle. I clear out each room and close all of the doors, then peek out to the north.
I wait. Patiently and stubbornly looking out the window for any sign of movement. Then finally, I see three guys getting out of a Little Bird. They get out and hide in a destroyed building 100 meters from me. I load my 40mm GP-25 and fire out the window.
1, 2, 3, *boom*
Lands right in the middle of the road 50 meters away from them. I fire again for 150.
1, 2, 3, 4, *Poof*
“Fuck. I’m still 20 meters short.”
I sight in for 200 this time and fire away. I don’t bother counting this time. I hear the explosion and look out to see someone flying across the road. I fire another one and don’t seem to hit anything.
*SNAP!* *SNAP!*
“Well this is bad.”
I peek carefully peek. Out the window. Just…just a little look. Just to see. Who’s shooting at me? * *Snap! Snap!* *Whizz!*
“OK shit, alright, I gotta get out of here.”
I lay down on the floor and roll over to the other side, then crawl towards the stairs. I keep hearing shots. He’s trying to get a pot shot at me through the wall. I book it down the stairs and hide next to the front door. I see a small church to the south, seems to be under construction or repair. I head for it.
I pass through three yards and some downed walls to get there, I don’t see anyone though. The church is facing the West and as I get closer I hear gunfire from the church. I lean up against the wall. Remembering the layout of the church, it’s small and has two windows on each side. One open arch doorway in the front and two pillars holding it up. I switch my gun to semi auto to maintain accuracy, I don’t want to waste all my ammo either if there’s more than one. I hear movement. I walk around the corner and fire two rounds into this guy’s back. Blufor. Apart of NATO, I can see his patches. He falls to the ground screaming for help. I put another one in him.
“I’m sorry man.”
He’s got a buddy. I run to the right side of the church, peek the corner and fire on his buddy running full sprint towards the other side of the church. He didn’t have time to realize what had happened. I pace myself and walk around the church towards his body.
“He’s unconscious. Good.”
“Hey he’s got a RPG-32.” I think about it for a sec. “Nah, too heavy.”
There’s a small niche in the church at the back and I sit tight for a minute trying to relax. Taking deep breaths. In the nose. Out the mouth. I start looking around for anyone. There’s a house to my left, door wide open. Another two story building on the right past the road…
“Hey help me! I’m hit!” I to my right.
I look over my shoulder and see a member of another squad down and bleeding out. He must have been paradropped and shot on his way down. I threw two smokes but the wind was heading towards me and didn’t cover his body, I risked it anyway. I ran up, put down my rifle and got a tourniquet from my FAK to treat the bleeding.
*Pop Pop*
I’m taking fire from the West, I see the guy down the road, more Blufor. I grab my rifle and run. There’s no reason to risk two of us.
“Hey help me! Where are you going!” “Just, just help me get the tourniquet on!”
“I’m sorry man, you’re on your own.”
I felt so selfish after saying that. In a way, I knowingly killed one of my team mates, an ally. But there’s no time to think about it now, I’ve got to get that guy.
“Okay” I say as I look around the corner and load another grenade. “He’s hiding behind another downed building. He’s probably waiting for me to go help that guy. I think, I see him. I think he’s about 150 meters away.” I fire. I miss, again. “Okay, a little further.” I fire again, a little higher this time. It lands behind the wall he’s hiding behind. I don’t know if I got him. I reload another one.
I look back and a HMG Humvee rolls up and two people get out, one runs towards the wall the other around the right side of the Humvee.
“RPG!”
I run up to that guys body and grab his RPG, I aim for about 200 meters and fire. I watch the whole thing. I’m watching this rocket fly, it arcs up just a little bit before landing right in the door of the vehicle and detonates bursting into flame.
“Yes!” I yell and decide it’s probably better if I left the area.
I head towards the house with the open door. It’s a small house, a side room for a bed, and two corridors. One main corridor connecting the rooms, then the mudroom for the back door. I enter from the front and clear out the bedroom to the left, I close the doors behind me and move to the next room.
“Clear.”
I open the next door leading to the backyard and peek out. It leads straight to a road, one building left and many more down the block to the right. I can’t see anyone so I walked down the first step. As soon as I took that step, someone kicked in the chest. Then he did it again. I couldn’t hold my breath. I fell on the ground and dropped my gun.
“Oh. Well, shit.” I think to myself. “That’s it isn’t it. Heh.”
I was alone.