"We will not fly our flags in there country. We are entering Iraq to free a people and the only flag that will be flown in that ancient land will be there own"
Colonel Tim Collins Royal Irish Regiment.
Sgt Alex Lormouth:
Royal Marines Commandos, 30 Commando, x company, FOB Stallion,Helmand province Afghanistan:
Time deployed 1 month:
Alex sat on his bunk, head in is hands listening to his roommates enter, drop there kit on there own bunk and walk off laughing in there own groups, looking forward to there first night of not conducting any raids outside the compound. He sat there as the last of his platoon eventually left,as they left Alex opened up his combat trouser pocket and pulled out a picture of the family he had left behind, for the family he was choosing to be with now. Looking down at the photo of him, his wife, his 4 year old daughter Lily and the newest edition to there family his 6 month old son Damien. Alex smiled as he looked down at the picture remembering a better time and a better place. They had already lost 3 marines in the first month they had been there. There names forever etched into Alex's mind, their last words, screams for mothers and family members in desperation, or just silence as they hit the floor.
Alex sighed, stood up from his bunk slowly, repeating the names of the kids who had been killed already this month. Bennett, Marshall,Edwards. The young marines names running through his mind. He opened the billet door letting the midday heat rush into the building. Alex took one last look around, looking at his squads bergens giving them a glance to make sure they were all prepped and ready to go for the next morning, NODS, check, First aid kit, check, Binders,Check, ammo,check,rations, check,breaching charges check. "God I hope they got the right intel this time", Alex muttered grabbing his rifle and washkit from his bag under his bunk.
As Alex walked across the base to the makeshift showers, he looked at his marines, taking cover in the shade from the heat, other marines playing rugby whilst some really cocky bastards tried flirting with the intelligence corp women as they strode around the FOB. "Sargeant?!" A voice running up towards him asked. "Yes sir?" Alex asked trying to sound awake and in the game. His fresh faced 2nd leftenant, Harkness looked at him an excited glint in his. "Have you heard the reports of the meteors crashing 50 miles outside Helmand?" The young leftenant asked clearly getting more and more excited. "No sir, is anyone injured?", Alex asked in a monotone voice, "oh god no! Command have said they've seen movement near the site!" The leftenant said bouncing on his feet. Alex didn't hide his lack of interest anymore. "Look sir, that's all good and well but can I please go and shower?!". Alex asked starting to walk away. "Oh right sorry sergeant, Carry on", the young leftenant shouted after him.
As alex stood in the shower letting the coolness of the water rince a weeks worth of sand and grime off him, the flow waking him up, he thought about what Harkness was saying, movement near the crash site? Must be an F-35 Ditch Landing. As he finished his shower he spotted one of the intelligence corporals skulking around watching his lads play rugby. "Oi! Corporal Anderson!", he shouted to his closest friend since childhood, growing up together, joining the military together and eventually getting into the same unit together they were almost inseparable. She looked at him and started walking over. As she walked over Alex couldn't help notice how beautiful, she was and how much she had changed, her long blonde hair tied up in a messy bun her long sharp face, with high cheek bones, beautiful grey eyes and a almost permanent smile, suited her small petite body, her hips being more notable in her PT Shorts and tight green top. "What can I do for you sergeant?". She asked smiling at him. Alex stepped out the shower wearing his combat shorts and running his towel through his hair. "Jazz do you have any idea about this crash near bastion", he asked giving her a grin and walking and gesturing for her to walk with him. "Sorry Alex I can't say anything about it as not even command knows what it is," she sighed, turning to him and asking "I'm so sorry your brothers In the RAF! I only just realised!". Alex gave her a sad smile as they walked on. "I'm sure he's fine just thought you'd know something." Jazz place a hand on his shoulder rubbing it gently in comfort. "I'll ask",she whispered quietly before walking away. Alex smiled to himself before heading back to his room.
20:00 hours FOB Stallion, Helmand Province Afghanistan. Time since invasion 1 hour:
Alex was in HQ, sitting around filling in forms for equipment his platoon had taken out the stores for the raid in the morning, and was just about to think of a battle plan with Harkness for the platoons assault on compound one, when he looked up from his forms to see the senior officers and NCOS running around HQ on the phone or talking amongst one another. Harkness leaned over to him, "Sargeant Lormouth", he whispered. "Yes sir?," alex sighed trying to sound calm. "Do you have any idea what the major and the captain are talking about?, he asked In a worried tone. "No clue sir I think it's about the crash but no one has been able to get ahold of bastion." Alex said. As the two continued talking about they knew. Then suddenly Major Silus the CO of the company stood up and shouted. "Right listen in! At this current moment in time Bastion is reporting a code black," he finished looking around the room. "That's right ladies and gents at this moment in time we have no idea the severity of this incident, but it being a code black we will be sending a platoon in tonight to check what is going on. Once there they will establish communication with command and will relay the orders back here." He paused again looking at Alex. "Saregant Lormouth and 2nd leftenant Harkness, get your platoon ready to mobalize in 30 Mikes." Murmurs went around the room, Alex checked over at Harkness to see he had gone a pale shade of white. "The rest of you will stay here to defend Stallion, and to conduct the raid for Al Benhazzi, we still have a mission to complete after all!" He sat down obviously exhausted, and asked, "Any questions?" After a few minutes silence he stated, "dismissed" and everyone went left the HQ to make the arrangements with there platoons.
As alex was just about to leave, Major Silus, said "Alex hang back a second please". Alex stoped and turned around coming to attention. "At ease son" the major said kicking a chair toward Alex. The major gestured for Alex to sit so he did. There's a reason I chose you to go Alex," the major said. "Whys that sir?" Alex asked. "Because Alex your one of the best combat platoon leaders we have, plus looking at your file you've served countless recon operations with the SRS." Alex looked down at his feet, "that was along time ago sir". The major sighed. "I know son, I know, but there's a another reason I'm trusting you to go." There was a pause before Alex said, "why sir?" The Major stood up and chucked a file onto the desk. "In there are the last transitions from bastion they report seeing metal figures coming out of the crash site." The major shook his head before continuing. "There have also been reports of similar crashes at the yanks main camp, and ones outside of Afghanistan, Alex they are reporting crashes in London, Paris, Washington, Delhi, Johannesburg and Sydney." The major took a gulp from his mug of coffee before slamming it back on the table. "Alex this is all highly classified, but I'm telling you so you can retrieve the intell from bastion of the last transmitions and sightings of these crafts". The major stood up and opened the door. "Don't tell anyone what you are going to get, do it alone and descretly, don't even tell Harkness if he questions you, you got that?". Alex was still reeling from what he had just been told. "Sergeant?" The major asked. Alex stood up and said, "descreetly gather intell, you got it sir". The major smiled at him. "Bring extra ammo, rations, water and first aid kit you'll need it, if you find anyone bring them back here." Alex saluted, said a quick, "yes sir". Before heading out the door. "Oh sargeant good luck!" The major called after him.
20:10 hours
1.10 hours after invasion
"Right ladies gather up extra ammo, rations, water, fuel, first aid and batteries, make your phone calls to your families now and burn the letters to your secret lover, this looks like it's gunna be along trip." Alex shouted as his platoon hurried around the vechicle poole. "We leave at 20:30, so if you need to piss go now I don't want to stop because some dumbass forgot to go!" Alex turned around to pack his own Bergen, when Jazz came walking up to him. "Where are you off to Sargeant?" She asked In a teasing manner. "We are going off to bastion corporal, for a search and rescue mission," Alex said. Jazz's face Changed from one of a look of happiness and playfulness to one of horror, "please tell me your joking", she said, hitting him gently. "Nope search and rescue, and gathering up any extra ammo and supplies." He said grabbing her arm, "Calm down Jazz, Ciana knows I've told her move away from London and she's taken the kids to go with my family down south." He said. "That's not the point I told her I'd look out for you, we were supposed to do missions together." She said choking on her words. "Jazz, it's a search and rescue mission nothing bad, I've been on worse ops than this." Jazz looked at him tears in her eyes and said, "forgot it". Before walking away. Alex let out a fustrated groan as his best friend walked away.
20:25 hours
1.25 hours after invasion
"Roberts, stoddard, Wilson, falcone, Harding, snare,othic, eversman, your in the lead wagon with me and the leftenant." Alex shouted, "the rest of you get into your sections and get loaded up!". As the marines crammed into the Viking armoured tanks and pulled out of the FOB, Alex got up on the 50.cal pulled his NOD , down and scanned for movement. His listened as the younger marines joked around to release the tension of the upcoming task. As he was listening to the rumble of the rumble of the Viking and the banter from the younger marines he heard a voice on his radio. "Sgt lormouth, switch to frequency 15 and stand by for briefing". Alex said a quick "Roger". Before making sure his channel was only open to him and command. "Sargeant, the intel you will be looking for is in the centre of the camp 300 metres from the air strip, it will be In a black brief case, the code to that case is 15372." Alex paused to write this down on his notepad before replying with another, "Roger". There was a 10 second pause before he got the second half of his orders. "You are to burn the rest of the room with the intel in it so it isn't compromised, you are then going to send your platoon back here whilst you wait to meet up with our special assets. How copy?". Alex thought to himself, special assets, we are working alongside the SRS why aren't they going with us?. "Solid copy command," he replied. Returning to scanning his area. "Sargeant leave your tags in the ops room." Command said In a quiet tone. "Say again command?!". Alex asked In a confused tone, the only time you removed your dog tags was if that person was KIA. "Just do it sargeant!". Command shouted down the mic at him. "Roger that command", alex replied curtly.
00:30 Hours 1 mile from camp bastion
4.30 hours after invasion.
"Alright ladies dismount!" Alex shouted at his platoon. "Sir you go with 3 section and take the east entrance". The young leftenant silent mouth thank you, at the sergeant. Alex smiled to himself before shouting, "1 section take the east entrance, 2 section your with me, heringbow, 5 metre spacings we'll take the front." As everyone split of to there separate entrances, Alex and two section walked toward the main gate. He couldn't help but notice the burning metal surrounding bastion, the camp eerily quiet no helicopters taking off, no artillery fire, no soldiers laughing and making the best of they're deployment. Just silence or the occasional cough of one of his marines. Suddenly Cpl Eversman put his fist up and called out, "sarge?!" Alex walked over to where the Cpl had taken a knee. "What have you seen Matt?" Alex asked looking at to where he was pointing. Suddenly Alex made out what looked like a metal exoskeleton,looking almost droid like, it's colour not visible due to the tinted green from his NOD, but he could see the odd rifle it had, like a car exhaust. Cpl Eversmann interrupted his thoughts by asking, "what do wanna do with it sarge?" In a shakey voice. "Leave it, I'll send what we've seen to HQ, get smithy up here to take some photos." Alex said. "HQ this is foxtrot 3-5, we have found the things reported by the boys up at bastion, break we will be taking photos and physical evidence." Alex said looking around gesturing to move off. Not more than 200 metres later
Mne Roberts shouted, "Sarge we got a huge issue". Alex ran over to him and saw the issue. The front of camp bastion had been completely decimated, the machine gun posts blown up, the razor wire strewn across the surrounding area the thick bags designed to stop the shockwaves from explosions were blown to shreds. Bodies littering the floor, both soldiers and the strange androids, were laying on the floor. Alex stood there for atleast 3 minutes, mouth open wide. He finally heard his marines own shocked gasps and stifled cries. "What are you guys standing around for?" He shouted. "Get emergency first aid on these guys!" Alex sighed looking around as his marines sprang into action. Foxtrot 3-4, foxtrot 3-3 be advised we have multiple casualties on the main gate, well its just not here anymore." Alex said the words stumbling out his mouth. "Come again sargeant?" The voice of Harkness came through the radio. "The main gate been breached sir, be advised we have encountered strange android like creatures near the gate". Alex stupid saying it. Cpl Eversman came running up to Alex. "Sarge they're.. they're all gone, no pulse." He said taking off his helmet running his hand through his hair leaving a streak of blood visible on his forehead. "Alright, mate take it easy, get them everyone to have a rest, take some water on, get the tags of the dead and I'll call it in. Alex said taking off his own helmet allowing the carnage to be lit up by small fires in the nearby area. "Command this is foxtrot 3-5, reporting multiple KIAs gathering there tags now, we also have a massive breach on the front gate with the same androids nearby". Alex took his finger of the button to send his message and went to go and check on his marines. "Foxtrot 3-5 all traffic recived, Okay Sargeant move into the base and continue with the SAR mission." The voice sounded tired and worried. "Roger that moving on" Alex replied sticking his helmet back on his head."Alright boys 5 mikes and we set off. Alex sat down and checked the map of bastion with the op centre circled. " foxtrot 3-3,foxtrot 3-4, move towards the opposite ends of the camp and search for survivors, how copy" Alex said. "Roger that sergeant", "yeah I got you sarge". Were the tired responses.
"Alright boys move out!" Alex said walking into the camp. The picture inside didn't look better more bodies littered the inside of the camp, the camp itself was lit up by the fires alongside the road that used to be used by vehicles. Alex pulled up his NOD And signalled to the over marines to do the same. As they reached the airfield Alex heard hushed voices underneath one of the huts near the landing strip. He held up his fist and gestured for two marines to go behind the building to check. As Alex lifted up his rifle and turned the corner he saw a squad of soldiers in hiding underneath. "Stay where you are! I'm Sargeant Alex Lormouth 30 Commando". Alex shouted. The soldiers didn't lower there weapons at first, keeping them trained on the marines. Alex took a while to realise but they himself and his squad didn't look like marines, they all had long hair clearly visible sticking out from underneath there sand coloured special forces helmets each with a different mark and writing on it The start of beards , NOD, shmags wrapped around there necks and All of them tall and dressed in either In dessert camo trousers and plain shirts, and half in the new MTP uniform. Alex lowered his rifle and shouted, "Stand down" to his marines. Everyone else lowered their rifles. Alex sighed exasperated and after a struggle with his mag vest and webbing pulled out his dog tags to show the soldiers. "See? I'm one of you, we all are". The soldiers shuffled out and the leader of them looked at alex and said, "Thanks for the assist Sargeant, but you guys have no idea what you've got involved in," before alex could ask what he meant the group had started to walk towards the vikings. Alex sighed and looked at Cpl Eversman," Matt take the section and reorg back at the vikings." Alex said sighing. "What why sarge aren't you coming?" Matt asked looking confused. Alex grinned and said "I am I just need to mark the area for a extract team to come a collect the bodies for the family's to bury back home, plus I need to let HQ know what's happening. He put his hand on the corporals shoulder. "I'm right behind you. Alex said smiling. "I'll hold you to that" the corporal said smirking.
"Command this is foxtrot, 3-5 we have picked up 35 survivors,with 2 para 30 mikes out, this is lone wolf ready to continue phase two." Alex said as he saw his marines leave the base. As he started jogging towards the HQ command building. As he entered inside he started tearing out the draws and filing cabinets looking for this brief case. "Lone wolf, this is wolf pack we are closing in on your position." An unknown voice came through Alex's headset. "Roger that Wolfpack, I am inside target building now". Alex said putting a torch on his mouth so he could look for the case. "Roger that lone wolf, stand by for further messages". The voice said. As alex started to doubt the case was in the building he in frustration chucked a monitor onto the floor. As the hunk of metal hit the floor, Alex was met with the pleasent site of a black case falling out of the casing. Who's smart idea was this? Alex thought grinning to himself. "Sarge are you joining us anytime soon?" Cpl Eversman asked. "Roger just gathering some intell for command, be right with you." Alex replied. As the case popped open Alex saw a strange hexagon symbol with a dot and lines coming out to each side of the hexagon on the front of a sleek silver box. As Alex picked up the box he saw movement outside. As alex ran to the window he said "foxtrot 3-3,3-4 and 3-5 be advised there is enemy movement still in the camp." Alex said panting, "Say.. again.. sa..rgee.. your.. all.. broken up". The message came in all broken up on Alex's end aswell. "God damn it! Anyone come in?" There was no reply. FUCK" alex shouted chucking his headset on the floor. As he bent down to pick it up he noticed two men in white and blue armour, faces covered by helmets walking towards the HQ building. As alex saw them he ran towards the window, smashing the glass and poking his C7 customised rifle at the figures." Halt! On your knees!" Alex shouted. Flicking off the safety at the same time. "Sargeant Lormouth?" A calm male voice answered. The two white and blue armoured soldiers stod to the side revealing a figure in Brown robes, with long brown hair, startling ice blue eyes and a scar just to the right of the eye on the right hand side. The blue armoured soldier with owl eyes on his Helmet spoke, "we are the special unit your Commander told you about." He said in a short sharp tone. Alex still had his rifle trained on the man with the blue eyes, "and what makes me believe you aren't in league with those machines that killed those soldiers?" Alex asked a bead of sweat dripping down his face. The two armoured men started to shuffle around at that comment. The robed man replied "we are here to collect information on this separatist attack so we can help your world defeat the sepratists as we speak." Separatists what the hell are those? Alex thought to himself. "Okay then,I'm lowering my rifle and I'm exiting the building, but I want answers you understand me?". Alex said clicking on his safety. "And you'll get them saregant", said the robed man.
Alex exited the building and was immediately greeted by the mans hand and the words "leave your tags". Alex reluctantly agreed chucking them back though the door. As he did this the robed man nodded at the man with the black bag and said "do it". The two armoured men grabbed a big black bag and carried it into the room, placing Alex's tags on whatever was inside. They both then excited and the one with owl eyes said "it's ready" clearly talking to the robed man, who nodded and pressed a button blowing up the building and whatever was inside. Little did he know but Alex Lormouth was dead to his friends, his wife, his kids and his unit. Yet he was about to enter his own circle of hell.
