A/N: First of all, I would just like to clarify a few things. This story is military in nature, but I myself have little knowledge of the military. The information I used has come mostly from `research on the internet/books and my brother, a former marine. I realize it is not entirely accurate, because I tweaked a few things to fit the plot and characters better. I would also like to mention that the controversy in this story surrounding North Korea is entirely fictional, with only a few factual details here and there to make it believable. Any specific details like city names, KPA information, or DMZ disputes are real, but the North Korean General and plot line are all my creation. It is not my intention to offend anyone or make any accusations, so I apologize if it appears that I have done so. I hope you enjoy the story =D

DISCLAIMER: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight and it's characters. I am simply sending them into a fictional war to risk their lives for the sake of my entertainment.

EPOV

"Okay boys and girls, listen up." Captain Swan paced back and forth in front of the projection screen. I was seated in a large conference room at a u-shaped table, along with a small group of fellow marines.

"This is Alice Brandon." A picture of a young woman flashed in front of us. She was young, with spiky black hair and a large smile. She looked so innocent, and joyful; it didn't fit that we were sitting in this room discussing her kidnapping.

"She was born June 18, 1985 and grew up in Forks, Washington. Her parents, John and Cynthia Brandon were killed in a car accident in May, 2005. She attended Washington University from 2003 to 2007, receiving a degree in journalism and graduating with honors. Brandon began working for the Washington Post in D.C. in August 2007, and is now their lead investigative journalist." Capt. Swan paused for a moment and took a deep breath, almost as if to steady himself before continuing.

"She was sent to South Korea on assignment, and arrived there on October 12, 2008. After reporting back to the Post, she entered the demilitarization zone. On October 14, she sent an email to her editor from her cell phone, claiming that she had uncovered sensitive information about the movements of the Korean People's Army. That was the last contact the Post had with Miss Brandon." Capt. Swan paused in his briefing, and I studied him carefully.

His brow was furrowed, and his eyes were troubled; I replayed his words in my mind, trying to find the source of his inner turmoil, but came up empty handed. The story was unfortunate, yes, but hardly worth beating yourself up over.

" It is now January 18, 2009, and Miss Brandon has not been heard from in exactly three months and four days. Our intelligence team has already viewed satellite surveillance of the area and found evidence of Miss Brandon's abduction. We believe she has been kidnapped by Commander Tae-Hyun, and is being held at his base camp in Leh'on, which is located along the Lmjin-gang River. All of our findings up to this point have led us to believe that Miss Brandon is still alive, and is being held as possible leverage in negotiations for U.S. Troops to step down and remove our forces for the DMZ ."

Capt. Swan walked around the room as he spoke, handing everyone in attendance a packet that contained all of the information he had just covered, and more. I opened my folder and flipped through the pages. This was just perfect; another stupid reporter went into area she shouldn't have been in the first place and got herself kidnapped, so now I have to risk my life to pull her out.

"Now, I want you all to look around the room, and familiarize yourselves with the people sitting around you." I looked up from my folder and glanced around the table, taking everyone in. We were an odd-looking group, that was for sure. My buddies Emmett and Jasper had been called here, as well as a blonde supermodel, Chief Cullen, and a handful of random grunts.

"You are all here, because you are the best; you are this woman's only chance at survival. As most of you know, this is HMC FMF Chief Carlisle Cullen. He will be your corpsman on this little adventure." He patted Carlisle's shoulder, who gave a gentle smile and a small wave to the rest of the room. With his soft blue eyes and blonde hair, Carlisle looked more like a movie star than a corpsman. But he was the best damn doctor I had ever seen.

"This is Staff Sergeant Jasper Whitlock. He will be your Recon Team Leader. On this mission, he is God, for all intents and purposes. If he tells you to snort like a pig, you say 'aye, Staff Sergeant Whitlock', and you do as you're told."

"Howdy y'all," Jasper gave a quick salute and a wide grin, causing everyone in the room to chuckle. His honey blonde curls were in disarray, having not been cut since he went on extended leave two months ago. His southern drawl and good looks threw most people off, but that boy was born thinking strategy; he could plan a full-scale invasion in his sleep.

"Sergeant Emmett McCarty will be your Rifleman. He will lead your assault team, and you three," Capt. Swan gestured to other three grunts, "will answer directly to him. He is your momma, understand?" The three men nodded and Emmett waggled his eyebrows, his hazel eyes sparkling in amusement. He was a bear of a man, and the best fighter the world has ever known, but deep down he was still an eight year old little boy. The Captain moved around the table to stand behind the statuesque blonde.

"Gentlemen, this is Corporal Rosalie Hale. As you know, women are not allowed on reconnaissance missions, but you will need her. No one had better find out about her presence on this mission, or I promise you will regret having ever walked through that door. She is your machinist, and will be in charge of all firearms and repairs." I studied the woman in front of him; her cold blue eyes glared smugly at each of us, oozing confidence.

"Moving on, Privates First Class Eric Yorkie and Tyler Crowley are your demolition experts. They will be Sgt. McCarty's right hand men. Private Mike Newton is the combat engineer." He introduced the last three grunts before coming around the table to me.

"This is Sergeant Edward Masen, your Scout Sniper. Masen is an expert marksman, and will conduct any close reconnaissance and surveillance that may be necessary. Should Ssgt. Whitlock be indisposed, Sgt. Masen will take over the reins." I cringed at his casual mention of the risk we were all putting ourselves in, but regained my composure quickly. I ran a hand through my messy bronze locks, painfully aware that every eye in the room was fixed on me.

"The eight of you make up the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, or Force Recon. It is your job to locate Miss Brandon and bring her safely back onto U.S. soil. Corporal James Wilson and Lance Corporal Laurent Moreau will be piloting UH-1 Huey and will drop you in North Korean territory. You will have eighteen hours to complete your mission and rendezvous with Cpl. Wilson at the designated pick-up spot." We all nodded in understanding and the room was quiet for a moment. I glanced up at Capt. Swan and immediately noticed a shift in his mood. His brow was furrowed and his arms were crossed securely over his chest.

"There's one more thing," he started, the room suddenly silent. "The North Koreans have resorted to using alternate means of communication in light of the circumstances. The NSA has an agent that was able to tap into the new frequency, only to discover that they were speaking in code. That same agent was able to break the code, but this is where it gets complicated." He paused for a moment, and we all tensed, unsure of where this was all leading.

"The NSA believes it is best if as few people are made aware of this code as possible. They do not want to risk a leak, and lose all of the progress they have made. At this point, the North Koreans are unaware that we have access to their transmissions, and the NSA would like to keep it that way." He looked around the room, making eye contact with each of us. Everyone was silent, unable to figure out exactly what he was telling us.

"Captain Swan, Ssgt. Whitlock and I are the only ones that would have access to the code. I don't understand what the problem is exactly." I glanced over at Jasper who looked just as confused as I was. Did they not trust us? Did they think one of us would leak the information?

"Bottom line, they don't want anyone to have the code. That's why they have insisted that their agent accompany you on the mission." The room erupted in chaos, as everyone screamed the disapproval of the plan.

"With all due respect, Capt. Swan, that's a death sentence, and you know it. A civilian will only slow down the operation. We can't be expected to do our jobs if we have to worry about babysitting some codebreaker. I'm not putting my life on the line to protect a computer geek." I was seething with anger, and I spit the words out through my teeth.

"I'm more upset about this situation than you are, Sergeant, but the General has approved the NSA's request, and there is nothing we can do about it," the Captain replied, his voice dripping with anger and fear. I tried to decipher the meaning behind his emotions, but he quickly composed himself and continued. "The agent has been training for the past month to accompany you, and she will not slow you down. She is well-trained and capable of looking after herself, so just focus on your mission."

"Wait a minute, did you say 'she'? Captain, we can't bring a girl into enemy territory with us!" I was completely dumbfounded. How could the General possibly think this was a good idea?

"Yes, the agent is female, and yes, you will bring her with you. End of discussion. Oh, and Sgt. Masen?" I looked up at the Captain, and he had a fierce glint in his eyes. "You will put your life on the line to protect that computer geek. If anything happens to her, I am holding you personally responsible. Dismissed," he turned and stalked out of the room, leaving me behind, shocked. Either Captain Swan had finally snapped, or he knew more about this agent than he was letting on.

"Damn, Masen, what did you say to him? I've never seen the Captain that pissed off before," Emmett's booming laughter filled the room.

"I didn't say shit!" I chuckled nervously.

"Don't stress, Edward. We'll be fine. They said the girl's been trained, and I'm sure they wouldn't be sending her if it was too much of a risk," Jasper reasoned, always the logical one. I nodded my head in agreement and stood to follow them out of the room.

"Yo! Masen!" I turned to find the owner of the irritating voice screeching my name. Newton walked toward me, flanked by Yorkie and Crowley, a cocky grin on his face. "I bet you $50 I can get in Blondie's pants before you, pretty boy," he jerked his thumb behind him at Rosalie, who was talking quietly with the Captain. I rolled my eyes at Newton and kept walking, ignoring him completely. He has been in my Platoon for the last four years, and I have hated him from the beginning. He has convinced himself that he is God's gift to women, and he doesn't understand that some of us don't live the 'hit it and quit it' lifestyle.

"Don't be like that, Masen! We're Recon, man! We're the baddest motherfuckers in this place. We can have any bitch we want," he bragged while Jasper snorted next to me.

"Oh really?" A distinctly feminine voice appeared behind us, and I pivoted to watch the scene unfold.

"Oh shit, this is gonna be good," Emmett grinned beside me, causing Jasper to chuckle, and we all watched as Rosalie sauntered over to Newton, swaying her hips seductively.

"Hell yeah," Newton replied. I stifled a laugh as Rosalie approached him, her face only inches from his. She ran her tongue across her upper lip, her bright blue eyes smoldering, and Newton shifted in an attempt to hide his growing erection. Rosalie pressed herself up against Newton, and Emmett let out a low growl beside me. I placed a hand on his chest, cautioning him, wanting to see what she was going to do. Faster than I could blink, she brought her right knee up hard, connecting with Newton's groin with a sickening thud. Jasper and I gasped in shock and Emmett cupped himself in protection.

"If I ever see that pathetic excuse for a hard-on anywhere near me ever again, I swear to God I'll snap it off and shove it down your throat. Got it?" Rosalie leaned over Newton, who was now curled into the fetal position on the concrete, and rolled her eyes before stalking off angrily toward the parking lot.

"Oh yeah, this is gonna be an interesting mission," Jasper chuckled. The three of us laughed and headed to the parking lot behind Rosalie. Yeah, interesting; that's the word I was looking for.

A/N: Sooo how am I doing so far? Is it believable? Because this story has so much detail, it will probably take me a little while for updates. I will do my best to get each chapter to you quickly without compromising the story. R&R plz =D