Kung Fu Panda: Apocalypse Now by
Mitchicus
Chapter 2: Charlie Don't Surf
A/N: I'm back from vacation, and now have a new chapter of Apocalypse Now! I changed the name of this chapter because it sounds better if you ask me. It is a famous line from the Vietnam War movie Apocalypse Now, and the big attack in this chapter is inspired completely by it. Also, I have recently begun taking in OC submissions to have YOUR OC in Apocalypse Now! Want to see them in chapters like this? Send me your OC's name, rank, appearance (clothes, species, etc.), weapons of choice, personality, or anything else you would like for him! Here are the names of the OCs used in this chapter, and their owners. Koru from SFTA and other stories, owned by SilverTigerDirector respectively, Xueren, owned by Racin Mason 24, and Kajirn from Missing, owned by TheMysteriouswatcher. So you know, I will still be asking for more OCs submissions from you guys throughout the story, for I'll always have room for them (since a platoon actually has up to forty four men in it). Please also listen to the music in this chapter and in this entire story of course, because it sets the mood of the time period and in this case, how the soldiers were feeling. Once again, please do not flame the story because of its time period and everything. I recommend that you all look up the Apocalypse Now helicopter attack to see what this battle looks like. Also, Mitch actually is smoking in this chapter. You could call him out on being a Christian and all, but no one knew how destructive smoking is to your body in the 1960's. I certainly don't smoke, and though Mitch, the OC modeled after myself does, I don't want that to reflect myself or my character in a bad way. One could find the first part of this chapter angering, but this is what really happened. I have another quote to set the mood for this, because it represents what happens in the beginning of this chapter somewhat. Please R&R and enjoy of course!
"Let us understand: North Vietnam cannot defeat or humiliate the United States…only Americans can do that." –Richard M. Nixon, 1969
Ryu sat in her dorm, Song in a seat next to her.
"Ryu," Song said, turning to her, "I think I'm going to Vietnam myself."
"What do you mean?" Ryu asked, turning to her.
"I mean that I'm going to be a nurse. I was talking to my friend Yunwei, and I think that God wants me to go and help our wounded soldiers." Song said firmly. "Do you want to come too?"
Ryu sighed and shook her head. "Those poor men are coming out of the combat zones missing limbs, eyes, and some have even lost their souls. I couldn't go, knowing that Mitch or Po may suffer the same fate."
Song nodded solemnly. "I understand. I am going to go volunteer-"
The two began hearing shouts outside, stopping their conversation and turning to a window.
"Oh shit, it's another anti-war march." Song said, the two running out the door and facing the mob as they went down the grass of the campus.
The group carried signs saying "End the War in Vietnam" or "Pull US Troops Out of 'Nam". Others said "Stop the Murdering Americans" or "Hell No We Won't Go". These students were truly anti-American, believing that they could choose the laws that they wanted to obey as long as it was in the name of social protest. They hated their parents and despised them for keeping to traditional values. The students' values: protesting the US, listening to rock and roll, and smoking marijuana and other drugs.
Ryu saw one in the front holding a Blue Military Service Flag. The flags were given to relatives, family, etc. of active members in the military and the students had stolen this one from a family's home for their protest. The flag had a red trim, then a white square around the blue star in the circle.
"A message to GIs serving in Vietnam." The student yelled, stepping forward and turning to them. "We don't give a damn about you!"
He pulled out a lighter as the others cheered, and he lit the flag on fire, dropping it to the ground as it was consumed by the flames. Ryu and Song watched in shock, seeing the blue star fade into black.
"What the hell do you two want?" The student asked, a red fox.
Ryu was unafraid. "My boyfriend and his friend are in Vietnam probably dying for trash like you."
"We don't care! Haven't you gotten the message?" The student said. "Each day more and more civilians are slaughtered by US troops. They are nothing but murderers!"
"They are fighting for freedom in Vietnam and are protecting the civilians from the communists! Murderers? Not a chance; they are unsung heroes thanks to bastards like you. If you want America to still have democracy-"
"I am a communist, bitch." The student said. "I want the US to become communist."
"Then you are not an American."
The fox hissed and turned to a flag behind Ryu. It was another Blue Service Flag that Mitch had gotten for Ryu to proudly hoist over her dorm.
"Give me that damn flag." The fox said stepping forward, being stopped by Ryu.
"You aren't going any farther." She said firmly.
The fox grinned. "Oh yeah?"
He took one more step, and that was it. Ryu punched him in the face, sending him to the ground. The fox had blood dripping from his now broken nose, and his drugged friends tried to attack Ryu and Song but the fox signaled them not to, now seeing a new target. The wolf picked himself up and turned to his confederates.
"Come on guys, they're not worth the trouble; I do see a nice target; the cause of all this shit happening in 'Nam." The fox said, pointing to a figure going across the grass.
The figure was a GI, his term of duty over and he was now home. He had a large pack on his shoulder, still carrying all of his belongings from Vietnam. A smile was on the wolf's face as he walked, not noticing the group of angry students. He whistled as he walked until he heard cursing at him and stopped, turning to see the angry mob.
The mob ran towards them, Song and Ryu standing still, knowing that they would not be able to help him against an outnumbering mob. The GI tried to run but was tackled by the fox, the drugged student beginning to hammer the GI with punches. Soon the rest of the gang was there, hammering the helpless GI. Suddenly, the mob stopped as they heard the wail of police sirens and ran out of the campus, Ryu and Song rushing over to the bloody GI.
They helped him up and picked up his pack for him. The GI's eyes were glassy, and it sounded like he was crying; though he did not shed a single tear. He was in shock that people he had fought for would do such a thing to him. Seven police officers soon appeared, their guns out yet pointed at the ground.
"Are you all alright?" One officer asked, knowing the two were not from the mob.
"We're fine, but we wish that we could say the same of this serviceman." Song said, and the officer nodded.
"Take him to the hospital if he has major injuries please, and be on the lookout for that mob again. We've seen houses burning only five blocks from here thanks to Molotov cocktails. We don't want that to happen you your dorm, ma'am."
"Yes sir," Ryu said as she and Song helped the GI into the dorm, the two offering the soldier food and water and tending to his wounds.
The lead policeman sighed, turning to the others. "This war, I tell you; it is dividing our country. It is the same kind of noble cause like that of WWII but why can it not be treated as such? Why do people think that the US is murdering civilians?"
Another sighed. "This younger generation is really fucked up. It thinks that it can do whatever it wants and thanks to the lies of the media, it has even more fuel."
December 11, 1965.
It was always hot in Vietnam. The country was now in the dry season, and both sides continued to suffer in the heat and humidity of Southeast Asia. It would soon be 1966, and the war would drag on long past that year.
Po walked casually with his hands folded behind his back, whistling as he heard the constant roar of helicopters coming in and out of Firebase Van Tre. He saw Red's huey on the landing pad beside the barracks and went into he and Mitch's personal barracks, finding Mitch sitting on his bunk as Red, Chase, and Mason sat in the room smoking cigarettes and playing cards. Mitch had recently begun smoking after Ia Drang, seeing it as a way to pass the time and stay alert. "Riders on the Storm" by The Doors played on a nearby radio.
The White Tiger looked up and grinned, pulling the cigarette out of his mouth and blowing out smoke.
"Hey Po, what's up?" Mitch asked.
"Quite a party you have going on here; don't tell me you have drugs too?"
Mitch and the others laughed. "No, those are for the lowlifes back home."
Mitch sat with his M-16 on his lap, carving words into the flat part of the gun's left side saying Peace by Firepower. That was when he saw the new attachment on his friend's gun.
"Mitch, what is that?" Po asked, reaching out his hands for the gun.
Mitch handed him the gun, the panda looking at the weapon.
"That my friend is a new attachment; that is an M203 grenade launcher." Mitch said, grinning. "We also have new magazines; they hold thirty rounds instead of twenty."
"And where is my-"
The panda stopped as he saw his own M-16 sitting neatly on his bunk with the grenade launcher on the end of the gun as well. He looked down at Mitch's weapon one last time, reading words that were scratched into the right side of the M-16's grenade launcher.
They read Communist Photographs: smile and wait for flash!
Po chuckled and set down the gun. "Oh they'll smile alright."
Mitch laughed and took another puff of his cigarette. He handed Po a folder.
"Our long time task is to be the test subjects of Operation Barracuda." Mitch said as Po opened the folder, which contained countless files. "We are to command handpicked troops from the marines and a few from the ARVN and lead them into special operations, such as the one we will be going on today."
Po nodded, and came to a file of an ARVN soldier. "Corporal Koru."
Mitch nodded. "I read his file; he is former NVA."
Po's eyes widened. "You're serious?"
Mitch nodded again. "He was born in South Vietnam and joined the NVA. When he saw the atrocities of the communists, he decided to leave. When he and his communist squad heard American troops nearby, he killed his comrades and surrendered to the US forces. He's a smart man to join the right side; I'd really like to meet him. I also heard a rumor that he fell in love with a medic named Yunwei, and the two want to head to the States when they can."
"Ah, a love story." Po said.
Mitch chuckled. "And you are staring at Vietnamese girls up from helicopters."
Po glared at him, making the tiger laugh.
"The Third Air Cavalry is assigned to Barracuda Platoon; it will be there for you two's troops throughout the missions." Red said.
Po nodded. "Do they have just as much armament as we do?"
Mason grinned. "And more. Instead of door gunners having M60s, some of the helicopters have miniguns."
"That's kick ass right there!" Po said enthusiastically.
Chase nodded. "Adding to that, some have larger rocket pods and duel M60s on the doors. The cavalry has a vast array of transports, medevac choppers, and of course, gunships."
"Sounds good. When do we meet the troops?" Mitch asked.
"Right about…now." Red said, almost as if he knew they were right above them already.
Po and Mitch heard extra roars from choppers and went outside, seeing the sky blackened even more by the descending rotors. The helicopters sat down, the troops beginning to flow out of them and form a perfect line in front of the two commanding officers.
The two paced the line, shaking hands with the soldiers occasionally. Mitch came to one tiger who actually had longer stripes than his and shook his hand. The tiger had a traditional green-camouflaged jacket with an oblivion symbol on it. He also wore multi-pocketed pants with tiger camouflage, and had a holster that held high caliber rounds for his rifle and holstered Python revolver.
"What's your name, soldier?" The White Tiger asked.
"I am Corporal Kajirn, sir." The tiger replied.
"What do you use, corporal?" Mitch asked.
The tiger raised a sniper rifle. "Bolt action M40 sir. I pop commie heads from miles away. I prefer high powered weapons, but machine guns and M-16s aren't my thing."
"Son, with this attack, I'm afraid that you won't be able to use that very well. We'll be striking mainly from the choppers, so you'll probably have to use an M60 up there. Can you handle it?"
"Yes sir." The corporal responded, angry that he was stuck with a machine gun.
"Good to hear. I'll see you on Commie Beach." Mitch said.
"Commie Beach?" The soldier asked, shocked.
Mitch smiled and nodded. "Yep, Commie Beach; the one and only."
"That's like one of the largest hot zones in Vietnam!" Kajirn exclaimed.
"Is that a problem, corporal? I heard you were a good soldier, so I'm wondering if you getting handpicked for this outfit was worth it." Mitch said, crossing his arms.
Kajirn grinned. "I love hot zones. I can't wait, Captain Merindus. We finally get to bring down Commie Beach! Soon we'll call it GI Beach."
The line of troops and the two Green Berets laughed, and Mitch shook the tiger's hand again.
"I'll look for you on the beach." Mitch said and went down the line with Po, finding a White Tiger holding an M21 Sniper Rifle with an infrared (thermal) over his shoulder.
The tiger had a silver plated Taurus pistol on his side and had camo pants with a belt that held his high caliber bullets in slots. He wore fingerless leather gloves to help keep his grip on his weapon yet allow him to effectively monitor the wind resistance, calf high combat boots, and finally an olive green tank top. A crucifix with Buddha beads hung from his neck. Po noticed that his face revealed abusive deformity, but made sure to notice it in a quick glance.
"You must be Corporal Koru." Po said, reaching out and shaking the tiger's hand.
"I am, sir." Koru responded.
"I've heard that you are one hell of a soldier." Po said smiling.
"I follow my orders, sir. Tell me to do something and I'll do it." Koru said.
"I like this guy already." Mitch said smiling, crossing his arms.
"You a sniper too, Koru?" Po asked, and the White Tiger nodded. "Glad to have your skills set. However, when we rain hell down on the VC, try and use some big gun or something."
"Will do." The tiger said and Po and Mitch stepped back, surveying the group one last time.
Behind them were the hueys (gunship and transport variants), and finally AH-6 Little Bird and Cobra gunships (armed with rocket pods and miniguns). Project Barracuda was about to be sent into action.
"Our orders," Mitch began, pacing the lines of battle ready troops, "are to assault a beach nicknamed 'Commie Beach' as most of you know that. The Vietcong control a village there, holding the inhabitants hostage and living off of its food supply. The beach has a large number of communists guarding it, complete with twelve anti-air guns and a PT-76, Russian made amphibious tank. They outnumber us three to one, but we have some things we don't. Courage, a just cause to fight, and of course," Mitch went to a huey and patted its miniguns. "firepower."
The soldiers laughed before Mitch went in front of them again, smoking his cigarette as he paced once again. "When the Vietcong know that they are going to lose the beach, they will retreat to the safety of the deep jungle behind it. We will seize the area and the set up defensive lines where the jungle and beach meet. There, we will let the Vietcong fall prey to their own game. Any questions?"
The air was silent until a lone GI spoke up. "Can we get there now sir?"
The soldiers laughed, and Mitch nodded. "Yes we can. Alright people, let's rock and roll. Go, go, go!"
The troops hurried to their helicopters and got in, manning the door weapons and sitting next to the open ends of the helicopter and hanging their feet off of the edge. The helicopters began to start, their blades beginning to spin and Mitch pulled out his cigarette before stomping on it.
"Alright Mitch, let's go!" Po said happily as he picked up his M-16 and hurried to Red's helicopter with Mitch.
The White Tiger hung his legs over the edge and sat his gun on his lap while Po sat down on a bench and manned the M60. Mason manned the other machine gun, and Red and Chase went into the cockpit. The helicopter started and took off; the rest of the platoon's following them as they climbed into the sky. The helicopters banked and went over the ocean, going a distance until turning again to get a perfect, straight angle on the beach. The beach could not be seen yet, only open ocean.
The helicopters flew in attack formation, and Mitch put on a headset to speak with all of the pilots in the cavalry.
"About a mile out, I'm going to put on some music." Mitch told them. "We'll be riding into battle scaring the shit out of the commies!"
"Can this day get any better?" Kajirn said over the radio.
"It hasn't even begun son." Mitch said grinning. "Welcome to Barracuda Platoon."
"What song will it be, Mitch?" Po asked.
Mitch pulled off his headset to answer him. "Ride of the Valkyrie by Wagner." Mitch said, loading a grenade into his under barrel launcher.
"Seems fitting." Po responded.
"Scares the shit out of the VC I've heard. They are about to feel the full might of American military might."
"Come on commies get some!" Mason said happily, checking his magazine on the machine gun.
Mitch put back on the headset. "Make sure that you do not fire in the civilians' direction. We are here to liberate them."
"Will do sir." A pilot responded.
"Alright boys, shall we dance. Lock and load!" Mitch yelled and pressed play on the radio, "Ride of the Valkyrie" by Wagner beginning to play.
The soldiers began to load their weapons, sitting next to the open door bays of the helicopters and preparing for the assault. Po hummed the music as he saw two Cobra attack helicopters bank and get lower to the water, readying to get the best angle on the VC.
"Pilots, aim for the AA guns first, then worry about the ground troops. Everyone else…happy hunting." Mitch said, hearing laughs over the radio before setting down his headset and picking up his M-16.
He switched off the safety and set it on full auto, leaning out the side of the helicopter as he watched the beach come into view. He checked his magazine and nodded to Po. The panda pointed his gun towards the beach and humming the music.
Meanwhile, the Vietcong patrolled the village, when they heard the sound of music and helicopter blades. They shouted to their comrades and villagers began to run and panic, afraid of the coming battle. The Vietcong forced able to fight villagers to wield AK-47s and fight their liberators, and also ordered women to be suicide bombers.
The Vietcong would not go down without a fight. They manned the ZSU AA guns and aimed in the US forces' direction, and others ducked in foxholes and aimed towards the coming copters.
Mitch grinned at this, and pulled the headset to his face. "Alright boys, light 'em up!"
Soon, every helicopter fired its rockets at the ZSUs, blowing the guns and their gunners to bits. The hueys and the other gunships fired down at the Vietcong, blowing them into the air, flying right over their heads as the troops sitting on the sides opened fire.
Po fired his M60 in a long burst, making five enemy combatants drop dead in a matter of seconds. Mitch leaned out and fired his grenade launcher, blowing the legs off of three VC. He leaned back into the helicopter and loaded another grenade, but leaned out and fired a long burst of his machine gun at a group of running Vietcong.
The Vietcong crouched and tried to fire at him but were shot dead and the helicopter banked, passing over their bodies. Mason meanwhile sprayed any enemy he saw, cursing at the communists as he fired down at them.
"Run Charlie!" Po said as he fired his M-16 into eight fleeing VC.
The VC stopped as they were shot, dropping to their knees before falling down dead. Mitch set his gun on semi-automatic and shot a soldier in the back, making him fall down, wounded. Mitch saw that he would not be able to fight any more.
"If they're wounded, don't finish them. We'll pick them up and take them prisoner." Mitch yelled to Po as the panda finished his magazine and slapped in another.
"Will do," Po responded and fired a grenade, blasting several VC.
Two AA guns still remained however, and they both began to fire on Po and Mitch's helicopter. Bullets flew through the helicopter, forming holes in the side of it.
"We're taking heavy fire over. Frances, care to assist?" Red asked another pilot.
"With pleasure," Frances responded.
Piloting a Cobra gunship, Frances dove towards the two anti-air guns and unloaded his miniguns and all of his rocket pods on them, turning the land around the guns into a giant crater and making the guns and their operators disappear.
"Thanks for the help Frances, I owe you a beer." Red said, hearing Frances laugh.
"I don't drink beer; I'll settle for a coke."
Red laughed. "That'll work."
Mitch pulled the headset to his face. "Begin landing troops at the front of the beach, and then move them up!"
The cavalry obeyed, hovering over the sand and dropping off the soldiers. The US forces immediately jumped off of the helicopters and crouched, beginning to fire and move up the beach. All the while the helicopters provided air cover to the troops below.
A lion named Xueren jumped off of a huey, immediately beginning to blast Vietcong with his powerful M60 machine gun. The lion wore tiger camouflage pants and had a green flak jacket, with two belts of bullets around his shoulders.
"USA shitheads!" He said grinning, causing GIs around him to laugh as he fired.
An enemy sniper shot from a rooftop, hitting a GI on the head and killing him. Xueren growled and fired a long spray at the sniper, pelting him with bullets and making him fall, dead from the rooftop.
"Alright guys, let's move up!" He said and charged up the beach with his comrades.
As they moved up, another huey dropped Koru and Kajirn onto the beach, the two running towards a hut and jumping onto its straw wall and beginning to climb. They reached the top and began to set up sniping positions. Kajirn deployed a bipod and went prone, tracking a running communist as the soldier ran towards the American troops.
Kajirn fired, the bullet driving through the tiger's head and sending him tumbling to the ground. He grinned and pulled his hammer back, putting another bullet into the M40.
Next to him, Koru crouched and squeezed his cross before aiming down the scope of his M21, seeing the infrared signatures of everyone in the battle. He saw three enemies running towards Xueren and his allies, and shot them all in the head with three bullets. He adjusted his sight and saw seven communists fire at him. He acted quickly, diving to the roof as bullets whizzed around him.
One communist pulled out an RPG, and aimed the launcher at the straw hut. He knew that the hut would not stand from a single shot from the rocket propelled grenade. Suddenly, a bullet went through the communist's chest, the soldier firing the rocket into the air accidently and falling down dead.
Before the others could react, they were hit by a grenade from Po's M-16, his helicopter swooping over them. Kajirn saluted to Po for saving them, and Po returned the salute as he passed.
"Get us down there!" Mitch commanded and Red slowed the helicopter, hovering over the ground as Po and Mitch jumped onto the sand.
Mason meanwhile fired at a group of communists charging at their position before the helicopter took off, the wolf continuing to fire down at them. The communists fired at Po and Mitch, the two rolling behind crates and beginning to fire back at them. The communists reached the two and one rushed at Mitch, an AK-47 with a bayonet on the end in his hands. He thrust it towards him to impale him but the tiger dodged him and punched him in the face, making him drop the gun and stagger backwards. He then swept his legs out from under him and while he held his M-16, pulled out his pistol and finished him off.
Po meanwhile hit a tiger in the face, breaking his jaw and sending him to the ground. He shot him with a single bullet as he lay there, and fired a short burst at three more advancing VC. The Vietcong fell dead to the ground, the American troops soon forming up behind their two leaders. A long group of Vietcong formed a line in front of them and tried to fire but three gunships swooped over the Americans' heads, blasting the communists with miniguns and rocket fire. Soon there was nothing but bodies, and the Americans advanced.
As they went, a male suicide bomber jumped out of an alley and grabbed an American. There was nothing his allies could do. The bomb exploded, killing the GI the bomber held and six around him, wounding three others. Mitch and Po stopped, running to the wounded.
Mitch leaned down and saw one, his intestines and other organs falling out of the GI's chest. The American was gurgling, blood flowing out of his mouth. He patted him on the shoulder, comforting him.
"It's going to be ok, son. What's your name?" Mitch asked.
"Fred, sir." The GI said weakly.
"It's good to meet you Fred. We're going to get you patched up and you're going to get out of here." Mitch assured him.
Fred shook his head. "No, I'm not going to make it. It was a pleasure to fight under your command…I am glad that I died for my country."
After saying this, he slowly closed his eyes, and Mitch stood up, nodding to the medics to take the body to a chopper. He sighed, and went back up to Po.
"The VC are retreating into the jungle." Po said. "What is this that you were talking about as in the VC falling prey to their own game?" The panda asked.
"We will wait for them to come back. I'm calling off all the helicopters, and the Vietcong will think that we've left the area. That's the problem though; after the US clears out VC in an area, they pull out, and the VC come back in. Now, we wait for them to come, instead of us coming to them."
"Sounds great." Po said, ordering the troops to set up a line on the edge of the jungle.
Koru and Kajirn moved up, moving into a tall tree to fire from above. The soldiers took cover behind logs and trees, or dug foxholes and trenches. Mortars, machine guns, assault rifles, grenade launchers, sniper rifles, everything aimed at the jungle. By now it was noon, and the helicopters were called off temporarily. The civilians were ordered to stay indoors until further notice to insure that no civilian was killed in the ambush.
Po made sure he had a full magazine and grenade loaded, and they waited. Two hours passed, and all they heard was the whispers of troops and the constant waves hitting the beach. Suddenly they began to see leaves move.
Po tapped Mitch on the shoulder, the tiger already seeing the leaves.
"I've already ordered that no one can fire until you see the whites of their eyes." Mitch whispered.
"Ah, just like Bunker Hill in the Revolutionary War eh?" Po asked.
Mitch nodded, and aimed down his sight. The Vietcong came into view, leaves tied to them to camouflage themselves. They went forward, not seeing the American lines. They kept walking, eying the beach in front of them.
Soon, they were close enough. "Open fire!" Po commanded, the American lines firing a long, devastating blast of their weapons into the unprepared enemy. Countless soldier fell, the US soldiers not ceasing and the Vietcong trying to retreat. The VC either were wounded or killed, and the Americans went forward and shot the rest of those retreating.
The Vietcong dead were piled, the wounded and prisoners rounded up, and the helicopters called back in. CH-53 and CH-47 heavy lifting helicopters came as well, taking wounded and dead back along with the hueys. They also brought gifts for the battle hardened troops, ammo, and other supplies.
Po walked down the beach, his boots leaving footprints in the sand as he walked to Red's helicopter, which was powered down and sitting on the sand of the beach. Mitch sat on a bench overlooking the beach, smoking a cigarette and talking with Koru, Kajirn, and Xueren in the back of the helicopter. Suddenly, Po turned and heard the roar of three jets just before they dropped napalm on the tree line, sending the jungle up in flames.
He turned back and got into the helicopter, sitting next to the door and resting his hand on a warm M60 from the battle.
"Those heavy lifters are bringing in treats for such a success; beer and other drinks, crab, and even surfboards." Mitch said grinning.
"They caught crab for us?" Xueren asked, cleaning his M60.
Mitch laughed. "Yeah, a group of GIs were sent in with M-16s to go underwater and shoot the crab, then bring them back up."
The group laughed.
"They did catch them though; but in Florida."
"All the way from Florida?" Kajirn asked.
Mitch nodded. "Caught in the coast, given to the military, and sent to us. The beer and the other drinks are from a nearby supply depot, but the surf boards are from California. So what do you prefer, light or heavy board?"
"I use the heavy board." Kajirn said.
Xueren nodded. "Me too."
"I use heavy as well." Po said, not believing that they were having a conversation like this and privileges as well after such a hard fought battle.
"I've never surfed before." Koru said.
Mitch laughed. "Then you can try it today."
"I don't know about that." The White Tiger responded.
"It'll be fun. Yunwei might like to see you able to surf."
Koru widened his eyes. "How did you find out about Yunwei?'
"I've heard rumors." Mitch responded, grinning.
"Oh, great." Koru said.
"The trick is to have something in between heavy and light, like I prefer it." Mitch said. "That's why back in California I ruled the waves Isn't that right Po?"
"Oh yeah," Po responded. "And now you'll rule Vietnam's waves."
"Probably," Mitch said, Kajirn and Xueren laughing.
Kajirn and Xueren got out of the helicopter. "We're going to go get some beers."
It was a miracle that Po and Mitch were alright with their troops not always referring to them as "sir". Other leaders were much more strict.
"Bring me a coke, Po a beer, and what do you want, Koru?" Mitch asked.
"A coke, sir."
"Bring him a coke, and that's an order!"
The lion and tiger laughed and then saluted, walking off to where the other troops hung out and talked around a long, plastic table (brought in from the helicopters). Mitch took in another puff of his cigarette and began putting new bullets into a magazine of his M-16.
"What do you want to do when you get out of this place, Koru?" Po asked.
"I want to go with Yunwei to the United States and live a peaceful life." Koru responded.
Po nodded. "Sounds like a good plan. What state?"
"She lived in California before she became a medic, so probably there." The tiger responded.
Po nodded again. "I remember that a friend of mine is friends with her. If you're going to be in California, then you'll see us there too."
"Sounds good." Koru said, turning to see the two returning with the beverages and handing them out.
Po drank his beer quickly, crunching it and throwing it into the sand.
"I never thought that beer would be allowed here." Po said.
"It's been allowed in WWI, WWII, and Korea." Kajirn responded. "It's not something new."
"It destroys your body and if you get drunk, turns you into a senseless fool." Mitch said, taking a puff of his cigarette.
"And you smoke cigarettes, which they are researching to be just as harmful I think." Po said.
Mitch bit his lip. "I can sense that it's bad for me, but once I get out of 'Nam, I'll quit."
"Is that what a drug addict would say? 'I'll just stop after a while easily'? No, addiction is not easy to get away from. It can take years to get away from it." Po responded.
"I am not an addict. DO NOT compare me to a drug addict." Mitch growled. "I am nothing like the losers back home."
"Sorry. Yeah, you're right." Po said.
"It's ok. I made my decision, and with God's help, I'll stop when the time's right." The White Tiger said.
"This platoon is handpicked, correct?" Koru asked Po, and the panda nodded. "We lost some troops today. Are they replaced?"
Po nodded again. "Command replaces them with the next best marines and ARVN soldiers."
"I see." Koru said.
Po turned and saw VC prisoners and wounded loaded onto a CH-47. They helicopter took off, going back over the sea and into the distance. He watched as civilians walked around, asking the GIs what would happen to them and asking for help in matters left by the Vietcong. The Americans assured them that the area would remain in US control, since it was a valuable, strategic area located near the Mekong River, and they intended to keep their promise.
Po soon saw PBR gunboats in the distance, as well as large ships holding cargo. This land was to become a major outpost, complete with docks, a supply depot, airfields, a MASH hospital, and more. The Barracuda Platoon had made a major success, and command was so grateful that it wanted to send part of it on another special operation.
A radio operator walked up to the helicopter, stopping the conversation and everyone turned to the GI.
"Captains Ping and Merindus, command has new orders for you. I wrote them down." The GI said, handing him a piece of paper. He saluted to them. "Good luck."
The two returned the salute and Po read the note, turning to Mitch and showing it to him. The White Tiger nodded.
"What does it say?" Koru asked.
Po turned to him. "We are to go into Cambodia to eliminate an NVA general; General Lung."
A/N: Barracuda Platoon defeats the Vietcong at Commie Beach and wins the area, just in time for Po and Mitch to be assigned another mission; to kill General Lung! Wow, bet you didn't see Tai Lung coming into this, but here he is! He truly is evil in this story, and I must warn that the next chapters will get pretty dark and will be gorier. Be warned, torture is coming at the hands of Tai Lung. The story is actually coming to a deeper plot now, and things will get even better once they get to 1968. Prepare for the Tet Offensive! However, the next two chapters are going to be about getting Tai Lung, then I may have a whole chapter completely dedicated to Po and the "girl he saw in the village", aka Tigress. Next chapter: Never Get off the Boat! Po visits Tigress' village for the first time and then goes on a secret mission with Mitch and handpicked others into Cambodia to kill a notorious NVA general, General Tai Lung. Please review, share, comment, and please, no flames!