Disclaimer: I don't own characters that appear in the TV show. Otherwise I would have written this an all these stories of this series into episodes on the show :) No, all I can do is smile while you appreciate these stories. Thanks so much for reading them. The characters are all owned by Belisarius Productions and CBS. The Marine sequence you're about to read is an adaptation of JAG Season 2: Force Recon.
A/N: I want to thank my beta and friend Emypink for all her help with this story. I appreciate all your help and hope to continue to have a good writer to writer friendship. You're awesome Em! Enjoy the chapter and please review, its good to hear your ideas and thoughts. Kandon
The thump of the Blackhawk's rotorblades lifting it through the air had become something normal to Tony. He eased himself back on the flat seat and sat back leaning against the wall. His eyes flicked to the other Blackhawk flying off the portside. Rodriguez had placed him in charge of this helicopter, while Rodriguez had command of the opposite helicopter. Only on the ground would the sergeant retain command of the team. The co-pilot turned backward to look at Tony, gesturing for Tony to grab a set of headphones for the intercom. Tony acknowledged him by nodding and slipping a pair on, the co-pilot spoke into his microphone, "Corporal, we're approaching the LZ, ETA is 30 seconds."
Tony nodded, "Right, thanks." He pulled the earphones off his head and turned to the two men either side of him, "ETA 30 seconds, lock and load." The message was passed on and the sound of magazines being rammed into M16's was heard, while a couple of the team replaced their helmets. Tony took a deep breath, this would be the make or break part of the mission. He was nervous he had to keep it together, he had to be a tough marine in front of these men in the helicopter. He let out his breath as thoughts swarmed through his head, It's one thing to be able to lie to a girl you'll never see again. This is a whole new ballgame, your lying to men who think you've been a Marine for eight years. Oh crap. Tony's eyes fixed on the landing zone they were about to land in. Gibbs would be proud, well at least that's what I would choose to believe. The helicopter hovered a few feet above the grassy field. Tony and the five other Marines jumped out of the helicopter.
Each man held his M16 steady as they formed a three man perimeter of fire on either side of the helicopter. Proving once again that the tactics of Vietnam were still playing a role in some aspects of the Marine Corp of today. The two Blackhawk's lifted off again leaving the twelve men to regroup. They formed a perimeter around Rodriguez and Tony who both knelt studying the map. "Right so we're here and the town with the command post is a click to the north," Rodriguez muttered as he looked around. Tony nodded and the sergeant continued, "We make our way up the main road to the town and to the bridge, from there my squad will head to the command centre. I'll leave Fredricks and Gale with you." Tony continued to nod, Rodriguez looked him in the eye, "Are you going to be able to defuse the explosives underneath the bridge?"
"You know I can," Tony grinned, he was glad of all the training that Gunnery Sergeant Bill Atlas had given him. It had prepared him not only for this moment but also for later.
Satisfied with Tony's answer, Rodriguez nodded then spoke into his microphone headset under his helmet, "Good luck, move out and head for the road, keep your eyes sharp and fingers on triggers. Remember we have to complete both obejectives on this live fire training mission for us to qualify for strike team status when we are deployed with the next Marine Experditionary Force." Some of the team smiled, others nodded while Tony returned to his solitary thoughts and focused on his job of defusing dummy explosive traps and mines. He had to prove not just to himself but to his team that he was a demolition and explosives expert and could disarm almost any explosives and use it against its former owners.
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The team reached the bridge on the outskirts of the town. Tony let out a slow deep breath; this was his chance to prove he was in control of the situation. Rodriguez held up his hand to halt, he crouched down on the bridge to speak with Tony, "Okay Corporal this is where we leave you, try not to blow yourself up!"
"When have I ever done that?" Tony replied, then he remembered that Rodriguez wasn't Gibbs, "Other than last time." Rodriguez rolled his eyes.
"Good Luck, Sempre Fi," Rodriguez placed a firm hand on Tony's shoulder, "Just have those explosives removed before we get back." With those words Rodriguez signalled for the rest of the team to rise from their covering positions and move forward across the bridge. Tony watched as they disappeared into the town buildings.
Tony turned to Fredricks and Gale, "Assume covering positions," Tony unslung his M16 and undid his webbing, "Take this stuff while I inspect the explosives."
Fredricks took the Assault Rifle and webbing, "How will we know if we have come under fire, Corporal?"
"Gale will be informed over the radio," Tony said nodding at Gale, "He'll assume command if I can't get up or if I'm busy with an explosive." Tony grabbed the rope and wrapped it twice around the bridge rail. Tony grinned thankful for all of Gunnery Sergeant Clinton's instructions on how to make a makeshift climbing belt. He nodded to Fredricks and Gale before he lowered himself over the bridge, grateful for his abseiling experiences with Kate and Gibbs. Tony grabbed the pylon support as he examined the explosive that was attached to it. Tony let out a whistle, "C4 explosive connected to a vibration detonator…oh I wish Ziva was here this is her field of expertise." Tony pulled his pliers out of his specialist's kit. The sound of gunfire met his ears, he pushed it from his thoughts. Time was now of the essence, if he was to remove each explosive in time.
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Tony let out a breath as he carefully removed the last of the vibration detonators. Once that was disconnected to the C4 he carefully placed the C4 into a pouch. Tony spoke into his microphone headset in his helmet, "Gale you and Fredrick can pull me up, now." No response…Tony tried again, "Gale, this is Reed can you hear me," Static with a muffled voice was heard. Tony grunted angrily. He began to slowly haul himself up from under the bridge, "Join the Marines they said…it's a man's life they said…your own personal adventure they said…I'm so glad my investment is finally paying off."
Tony reached the rail of the bridge, his head appeared over the rail seconds later. Gale and Fredricks were on each side of the bridge covering his position. Tony's arms ached his strength finally dying, he gripped the rail and took a deep breath, "Hey!"
It had the effect he was after, like so many time with McGee, Fredricks jumped and ran over, "Sorry Corporal, I didn't know you were there." Gale arrived to help seconds later.
"Might have been something to do with my headset or you two are both deaf," Tony mumbled as he rolled over the bridge rail and dropped to the ground painfully.
"Sorry Corporal…the radio isn't working, I've tried to get a frequency to radio in our status but I can't get anything," Gale shrugged, as Tony pulled his webbing on and slung the M16 onto his shoulder. "I think I may have heard you but after that nothing."
Town looked in the direction of the town, eight Marines appeared when there should have been nine. He noted that two dummy prisoners in red jumpsuits were being carried by two members of the eight-man team. The eight Marines halt as they reached the bridge, Rodriguez was not among them, Tony walked over to Lance Corporal Weatherly, "Corporal, where's the Sergeant?"
Weatherly turned and looked around at the marines with him, "He was with us Corporal when we secured the prisoners."
Tony turned and looked at the town, "How long before the Artillery opens up?
Weatherly replied, "Five Minutes, Corp."
Tony made a command decision, "Lance Corporal, take the prisoners and two extra men and head for the LZ. Gale's radio is out of action so as soon as you reach the chopper, have them call off the artillery bombardment, you got that?" Weatherly nodded, then Tony continued, "I'll take the rest back into the town and see if we can find the Sergeant, cause I'll be damned if he's going to get injured or killed."
"Right Reed, good luck," Weatherly nodded, "With the Artillery coming down you'll need it." Weatherly and his men started jogging up the road, Tony watched them leave and took a deep breath, crossed himself. Something he hadn't done in a long time, "Hail Mary, watch over us," he whispered before jogging towards the town.
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"Corporal!" Wilkins shouted at Tony from across the square.
"Yeah, Wilkins," Tony shouted back.
Wilkins pointed at an open door a few houses up, "That door wasn't open before Corp!" Tony made a hand signal for the men to follow him.
Tony walked into the room, "Sergeant!" Rodriguez lay unconscious on the floor a large metal rail lay across his hip. Tony turned to the men waiting outside, "You guys get in here, I need a medic now."
Private Close knelt down by Rodriguez, he assessed the injuries in seconds, "Rail struck his head, possible fracture to the thigh and ribs. We need to free him now Corporal."
"All right, you men," Tony ordered as slung his M16, and looked at the four men who stood watching him, "Lets lift this rail off of him, the quicker this is accomplished the quicker we can complete the mission." The four other Marines stood either side of the rail, Tony stood at the end of the rail that pinned Rodriguez, he looked at Private Close, "Close, you pull him free when we have the rail up high enough!"
"Right, Corporal," Close nodded, as he slid his hands under Rodriguez's underarms.
"Okay, lift," Tony ordered, he face going crimson and his veins popping up under the skin as he and the other four Marines lifted the rail. Close pulled Rodriguez free; another Marine supported the Sergeant's weight on the opposite side. "Let's go, we have like three minutes before the Artillery levels this place." The team exited the building, as the first salvo of artillery shells exploded close by, "Run, damn it, Run!" Tony yelled over the explosions. Exploding artillery raining down on the town, Tony and his men leapt for cover as the shells hit closer around them. Tony placed his hands over his head and closed his eyes.
The salvos suddenly stopped, Wilkins looked at Tony who now opened his eyes. "Well Corp, they've stopped. I can tell you I was pretty much pissing my pants."
"I think most of us did Private," Tony tried to sound nonchalant, he breathed, "Hail Mary, full of grace."
A/N: Okay, Act Two is about to begin. Hopefully it won't be too long before the end. Thanks for the reviews so far, Kandon.