Kung Fu Panda: Apocalypse Now by
Mitchicus
Chapter 9: Burn 'Em Out
A/N: Another chapter of the story is out! This story has OCs from SilverTigerDirector (Koru and Yunwei, Jiu-Ne, Ko-Ri, and Tigress' real name, Hei-Wa), Racin Mason 24 (Xueren and Michael, with respect for his service), The Mysteriouswatcher (Kajirn), taskarrthetwisted (Kann), Gravidal The Dragon (Gravidal Bian), Psychic ninja (Jiraiya), Tigerizza (as herself), KungFuPandaFanatic (Devastator), and Keelin The Tiger (Keelin Falco). Only one more chapter left of Part I after this, and now to the chapter!
April 16, 1968.
Po cleaned his M-16 in his barracks while Mitch did the same to his M60. Helicopters filled the sky normally, taking off and landing unceasingly. Body bags were filled, enemy prisoners taken away. The base had been attacked twice since the start of Tet. Craters were on the beaches, helicopter and plane wreckage pushed to the sides of the airstrip. Countless bullet shells littered the beach, a testament to the battles that raged there earlier.
PBR gunboats went to and fro the docks, bringing their own supply of hardened, wounded, or dead soldiers. M48 Patton tanks guarded the perimeters, and the M*A*S*H was open on schedule.
"One last mission, Mitch." Po said, the tiger turning to him. "Go into the Ia Drang Valley again and eliminate the VC forces there; we'll be backed with everything from the air, and we'll have two Sheridan tanks by our side."
Mitch nodded. "Po…have I been acting strange to you?"
"What do you mean?" Po asked, trying to avoid what he knew.
"Like am I not being an honorable warrior anymore?" Mitch asked.
Po sighed. "You just don't know when to let up, and won't stop killing."
"I was afraid of that." Mitch said. "Po, I need to get the hell out of here; I don't want to be changed by the war like this; I could even lose my faith by the end of this mission. If I spent another year here…I don't know what I would become."
"We're getting out only a week after this mission, Mitch! You'll be back home with your wife, living a peaceful life." Po said.
"Something tells me that's not meant to be." Mitch murmured.
"Cut the crap, Mitch; and get your gear on." Po said and slapped him on the back, making Mitch chuckle.
They picked up their weapons and headed out, getting what men they had left; a much smaller number than what they had started with; together.
"Two Sheridans and air support is backing us up; we're going into the Ia Drang Valley to eliminate the VC forces there around Don Village." Po said, hearing murmurs among the troops at the mention of the "Valley of Death" as many had called it. "We'll get in there; blow them all to hell, and get the fuck out. Then we just hang out for two weeks, nothing major, and then go home."
At hearing the mention of home, their spirits were brightened. Still, they would give all they had in the fight, if it meant their lives for their country and family. South Vietnamese soldiers among them were overjoyed, since they would be leaving the warzone that was their country and finding opportunity in America, as so many other people had before.
"Let's get going then! Move, move, move!" Po commanded, the troops hurrying to their assigned helicopters.
Po and Mitch got into theirs, Kann getting in as well. Red's huey gained altitude, the other helicopters following his (two carrying the tanks with the cables under them). They soared over the landscape, Mitch squeezing his cross while Po closed his eyes and took deep breaths; neither wanted to die on their last assigned mission. Kann however wasn't worried at all, and planned to head to the States once this was over.
The valley came into view, and the helicopters landed on LZ X-Ray, which was the site where Po and Mitch got their first taste of battle with Hal Moore and the Seventh Calvary, winning a victory for the Americans. However, the US withdrew from the area after driving the communists from it, the VC retaking the area later.
The troops got out, and the tanks were dropped to the ground (the crews of them already inside). Barracuda secured the area, guns pointed at the tree lines. Po and Mitch assessed the area, hearing nothing but the sound of fading rotor blades…then dead silence.
"Move down the valley to the hills, in formation." Po commanded, the troops beginning to move.
They came to the edge of the field, seeing the first part of the tree line, the soldiers and tanks stopping.
"Bruno, light up the jungle." Mitch said, a GI stepping forward with an M2 Flamethrower.
He fired the flamethrower, the flames burning down the first part of the jungle. When the fires died down, they crossed over the charred landscape, the tanks knocking down trees as they went deeper into the jungle.
They began to move up a hill when a shot was fired, driving through a GI's chest and sending him to the ground yelling. Soon the hill was lit with gunfire, and the GIs began to take heavy casualties from the surprise attack. Mitch dove onto the ground and crawled to the wounded GI, pulling him over his shoulder and taking him back down the hill and setting him down behind a rock for cover. He then charged back up the hill, diving onto the ground again and mounting his bipod.
"Shit, now what?" Po asked.
Mitch calmly pulled out his radio. "Thunder 2-1, make 'em toasty."
"Roger, 'Nape's on the way." The pilot responded, Mitch putting up his radio.
Po began firing into bushes up the hill, hoping to find enemy troops hiding behind them. They couldn't see anything hardly. Po then saw three flashes from the enemy's guns, and tossed a grenade, hearing a scream. The grenade exploded, a chunk of flesh hitting Po in the face and making him shiver.
They soon heard the roar of jets.
"Here it comes!" One GI yelled out.
One jet screeched over, dropping its cargo on the hill. They heard screams, and Vietcong got out of their positions and stood up, trying to put out the flames. The GIs shot down the VC when they did this, putting them out of their misery. The tanks fired into a cave, the two shells killing all who were inside.
"Po, move up the hill, I got your back!" Mitch said, readying his M60.
"Give me suppressive fire in 3…2…1…now!"
Po charged up the hill, Mitch firing in a large spray to draw the fire. Po sprinted up, his adrenaline pumping as he went up. A Vietcong soldier popped up behind a rock, but Po shot him with his rifle before he could fire. The panda continued to run, and dove behind a large rock, shielding himself from enemy fire.
"Bruno, there's a cave up there infested with Charlie! Fry them!"
"Yes sir!" Bruno said and charged up, Mitch getting up and continuing to give suppressive fire, but this time running up the hill himself as he did so.
The two dove to the ground, Mitch on Po's right and Bruno on his left.
"Nice suppression, Mitchi." Po said grinning.
"Don't call me that." Mitch said laughing.
"Alright Bruno, clear out that cave so our troops can move up more." Po said, and the wolf nodded.
"Got it sir." The brave soldier said before charging up to the cave and standing to the side of the entrance, hearing the VC fire inside.
He took a deep breath and jumped to the side, facing the shocked VC. He burned them, the tigers screaming before they were finally dead. He took a deep breath and went back out, seeing the accomplishment he made as more troops moved up.
Huey gunships, called in by Po, made a quick attack run and devastated the area higher up the hill, managing to kill a large number of the communists. Red's huey went above the enemy lines, Mason opening fire down on them with his M60.
Suddenly, an RPG was fired, destroying one of the tanks.
"Shit, we can't lose another." Po said.
"I can handle this." Mitch said and charged forward.
"Mitch! What the hell are you doing!"
"What I'm born to do!" Mitch said laughing.
He began yelling, as if it was a war cry or an attempt to intimidate the enemy, which it did. He fired his M60 as he charged, two VC coming out of hiding only to have Mitch spin around and shoo them. He continued up, seeing the VC with the RPG loading another grenade onto the launcher. While holding his M60 with his right hand, he drew his machete and made a horizontal slice; beheading the soldier.
The Vietcong soldier's head rolled to the ground, his body following. A soldier with a bayonet on his AK-47 charged at him, but Mitch dodged his attack and thrust his bayonet into his chest. The White Tiger kicked him off of his blade.
"Move up! Move up!" Mitch yelled, waving his bloody machete.
Po tossed two grenades farther up the hill and sprinted up, diving behind a rock to only come eye to eye with an enemy soldier. The VC aimed his AK but was too late. Po shot him through the head, his body falling to the ground.
The panda fired a grenade from his M203 and blew two concealed Vietcong to pieces, and moved up with the rest. The last tank moved up slowly, but managed. Kajirn, Koru, and Gravidal used their accuracy to their advantage and shot far targets with excellent skill.
Xueren and Michael opened fire up the hill, downing a large number of communists each. Jiraiya tossed a grenade into a cave, wounding those inside and finishing them off. Kann jumped behind a Vietcong that did not see him and pulled out his knife, slitting his throat and dropping his body to the ground. Tigerizza threw a grenade behind a rock, making the Vietcong behind it yell and try to escape, only to be shot down by her. Keelin went on a rock and shot a group of concealed Vietcong, and the Allied forces moved up even farther.
The tank rumbled upwards, some soldiers sticking behind it for cover. Bruno stood up on a rock and fired his flamethrower into a group of trees, yelling. Screams were heard later, and the burning communists were shot down.
"Keep moving!" Po commanded, the troops battling bravely as their fathers in World War II did.
They charged up, firing their weapons at the still fighting Vietcong. Mitch broke the jaw of a large tiger with the butt of his machine gun and shot a long burst point blank, creating a large hole in the guerilla fighter's chest.
Po kept moving, dodging bullets. He turned and shot two Vietcong who popped out of a hidden hatch, and reached the top of the hill. He stopped, the adrenaline ceasing and leaving him tired. He looked down at the valley, seeing the village. He didn't see any more Vietcong, but he was damn sure they were hiding around the village.
The hill was cleared, the US forces standing on top of the hill. The tank sat on it as well, and Po scanned the area.
"I'll bet a cigarette that there's still VC in the jungle around the village, thinking that we'll go to the field where the village is first and ambush us; we're not taking the bait." Mitch said.
"I don't smoke." Po said grinning.
"Then perhaps a beer." Mitch said.
"You know what? If there's VC down there, I'll get you a cigarette, and that will be the last cigarette of your life. You know, since you're ready to quit." Po said.
"Sounds like a deal." Mitch said, and moved the men forward.
There was no activity in the village, which was strange to them. They kept moving, and sure enough, they heard shouts in Vietnamese. The tank opened fire, killing a large number of the communists. The VC were not expecting the Americans and South Vietnamese to find them, and now they were at the disadvantage. The troops moved forward, Po going prone and beginning to pick of the VC with Mitch beside him.
"Looks like I owe you that cigarette." Po said grinning, making them both laugh as they fired…and killed the Vietcong.
The Vietcong moved across the field, trying to get into the village for cover. The Allied forces moved more quickly, however, and shot them all before they reached the area. The triumphant troops rounded up prisoners and wounded, and continued on, cleansing all around the village of the Vietcong. The United States truly did own the day, but unfortunately, Charlie owned the night.
Finally, they walked through the tall grass towards the village, guns at the ready in case more were hiding inside. Po stuck close to Mitch, his friend holding the M60 at the hip, and turning it from side to side to prepare for anything. Bruno led the long line of troops, holding his flamethrower at the ready.
They looked around, and just at Hue…what they saw was horrific. Villagers…mutilated…all strewn around the village. Mitch's rage filled him, the hatred for the enemy that killed innocent civilians. Though he had become a merciless killer of the enemy, he would never shoot a civilian.
The troops were careful not to step on bodies, detached limbs and heads, and pools of blood. Po went around, slowly checking the pulses of the villagers to see if they were alive. A Vietcong flag hung on a flag pole, Mitch shooting down the pole and sending the flag to the ground with it. Then Mitch went into one of the homes, seeing a husband and wife embracing each other…dead on the floor. He then heard a whimper.
He stopped, his eyes widening. The parents had died protecting their child.
"It's ok; I'm not here to hurt you." Mitch said in Vietnamese, looking around the room for the child.
He walked all along the wooden planks and heard a hollow one, lifting the plank and finding a terrified young boy hidden there. At seeing the American, he cringed, thinking that he would be shot like his parents were by the Vietcong.
"It's ok; I'm not here to hurt you." Mitch said, giving a light smile.
The boy slowly opened his eyes and looked at Mitch.
"You're safe now." Mitch said and picked up the tiger, cradling him in his arms.
"Mitch, what did you find-" Po was stopped at the doorway of the hut by the sight, and nodded.
Mitch took the child outside and set him down on a box, giving him a chocolate bar, something that had been given to kids since WWII. The child had never had chocolate before, and at the taste of it, his eyes widened in happiness, a small smile going across his face.
Mitch chuckled and rubbed him on the back, giving him another bar. Soon the air was filled with helicopters once again, landing to pick up the wounded and dead. The prisoners were loaded, as were the little survivors from the massacre. Mitch carried the young boy to one of the helicopters, saying goodbye and watching it take off.
Po swore he was crying, though he never shed a single tear. Mitch turned to him.
"His parents died for him; now he's an orphan. That's what this war is about, Po; Freedom for the Vietnamese People. So they can enjoy the same privileges as we do in the States." Mitch said, Po nodding.
"We've got a live one over here!" Koru called, Po and Mitch turning to see Kann and Koru dragging a terrified Vietcong soldier to the two commanding officers.
Mitch's rage returned. He killed these civilians. He made that child an orphan.
"You mother fucker!" He roared and kicked the soldier in the face, the soldiers around him trying to hold him back but were shoved away.
"You slaughter the innocent, and fight to liberate the people of South Vietnam? No, you fight to conquer and corrupt!" Mitch said, and punched him in the face.
He hit him in the face with the butt of his gun and aimed at him, a hand being put on his shoulder and making him freeze.
"To everything there is a season. A time for every purpose under heaven. A time for love, and a time for hate; a time for war, and a time for peace." Koru said.
Mitch took a deep breath, and exhaled. He lowered the gun, and Po ordered Kann to take the prisoner away, the wolf doing so.
"I must remember the Scriptures, Koru." Mitch said, his back to the tiger. "Without them, I will become a monster."
"You can kill all you have to in order to survive, but do not do such things as killing the unarmed." Koru said, and Mitch nodded.
"Yes. Now let's forget about that, now that we don't have any more missions. We're all pretty much done." Mitch said.
Suddenly, the group heard a scream and rushed deeper into the village, seeing the soldiers crowding around an area. Po and Mitch pushed their way through and saw Bruno…impaled. He had fallen into a large Punji Trap and was impaled multiple places in the stomach, chest, and neck.
"Major Po…" He said, Po leaning down. "Tell my wife and kids…I love them."
After saying this, he went limp. The hero of the day was dead. He saved many lives in the battle with his bravery, only to die by a Punji Trap. Po and Mitch pulled out the body, and gave it to one of the helicopters. Po determined that he would write to his wife and kids, telling them of their father and husband's bravery and valor.
Mitch sat against the wall of a hut, Po next to him.
"It's done, Mitch; there's no more fighting." Po said.
Mitch crossed his arms and shook his head. "I'm not too sure about that; from fighting these bastards in the bush, I know they're smart as hell, and they don't give up. I wouldn't be surprised if they want us in one last fight…one last, costly, fight."
"Major Ping, this General bò chết, come in over?" Po's radio sounded off.
The panda pulled out his radio and put it to his ear.
"This is Major Ping, sir." Po said.
"Has the mission been accomplished at Ia Drang?" The general asked.
"Yes sir; all of the Vietcong in the area are either dead or are now prisoners." Po said.
"Excellent work. You have served the people of South Vietnam and your own country well." The general said. "Return to your base, and stay there until further notice."
"Affirmative, sir." Po said, the radio going static.
He strapped the radio back to his chest and looked at Mitch.
"I just want to see her again." Mitch said. "I want to be able to touch her; to live with her. However, I'm battling myself on whether I should value duty as highly as her or not. If the US needs me, I answer its call."
"It doesn't need you anymore, Mitch." Po said smiling. "You've served it well enough; now we're going home."
Devastator ducked his head as he went down the tunnel, coming to the radio room. Tai Lung sat on a box, leaning against the tunnel's wall and propping his feet up on another box.
"The two will never realize what we have planned, General Lung." Devastator said, saluting.
Tai Lung grinned. "The prisoners have given us all the information we need about Barracuda, for they flew support missions alongside them; are the soldiers nearly all in position?"
"All two thousand have already nearly surrounded Kunee Village, sir." Devastator said. "They lie hidden; waiting for your order to strike once the rest of them get into position."
"Excellent," Tai Lung said. "Execute the four prisoners from the downed helicopter; they are of no use to use now. Is the helicopter repaired?"
"Yes sir." Devastator said. "If you had to go in there yourself to kill them, they'd think you were South Vietnamese flying that."
"That is the point, Devastator." Tai Lung said. "They believe me to be a South Vietnamese general. I will come to their 'rescue', and finally kill them. The two of them are the only things that stand in my way of causing another world war. Without them, the United States will fall." He looked at the map, seeing Tigress' village circled with a red marker. "Kunee will fall…and them with it."
A/N: Po drives out the Vietcong in Ia Drang and Tai Lung prepares to kill Po, Mitch, and the entire platoon! Next chapter: The Fall of Kunee. The Vietcong mass upon the village of Kunee, Po and the others trying to defend it in vain and evacuate the civilians. Please review, share, comment, and please, no flames!
