Chapter 17

Its summer time again here at the pit and boy it is hot as always. Pretty much my days just consisted of doing my routine here and there. I can now read and write at a real decent level that I don't need any more lessons from Strike.

But I did take some time to hang out with her, even though she's a Joe. I was getting really good with my sniper training with Sergeant Low-Light, that I've master the art of invisibility so to speak. I mean I'm no ninja here but I could hold my own.

Every day I was getting stronger and stronger. I also can drive just about every tank and vehicle here at the pit. So all in all I think I was doing pretty well. If life was going to be like this for the rest of my days, then I say that I'll be here till I'm fifty maybe.

Yet I still thought about Pop's, even though he was gone and much older for my taste in friends, but none of the less he still was my friend. I was quickly taken out of my thoughts when Strike came by my way letting me know that Hawk wanted to see me. Since I was near the recreational area since I had little bit more free time on my hands.

So without delaying much further I went ahead straight to Hawk's office. At first I thought Strike was going to come with, but nope. I guess I'm on my own this time.

Soon enough I got to his office in about a few minutes. I was going to sit down to relax a bit, until I was told by his secretary to just go on in.

Soon as I got in I exchange formalities with Hawk, in an obedient fashion as always. "Private Mark reporting as order sir." I quickly saluted as well waiting for Mr. Hawk's acknowledgment which was quick as always.

"Take a seat private," was all I heard out of him. I sat here nervously wondering what was going on or what he wanted. I continue to sit here looking at Hawk shuffling some papers." So kid how are you doing?"" I'm doing ok sir."

"Well I'm just going to cut to the chase with you private."" I'm sending you out on a mission more or less to test your abilities out."" A mission, like what kind of mission," I said confusingly?"" Pretty much just a rim of the mill reconnaissance mission, basically observe and report."

"Uh I got question sir.""Yes Private."" One when am I going and two am I doing this by myself."" Well you'll be briefed in a couple of days, and no you will not be alone." Ok was my only real response to Hawk. I just continued to sit here taking it in trying not to look too nervous around the general.

But too late, I think he finally took notice as Hawk continued to look me over. Hawk sighed a bit to himself, but tried to reassure the kid that it's ok.

"Ok kid calm down. ""Just to let you know it's ok to get a bit jittery especially from a pre mission briefing from me."" So just go about doing your routine as always and in a couple days you'll be briefed."" Yes sir, is that all then?"" Yes you can go now." I got up and saluted to Hawk as he did the same back to me.

As soon as I got out of there my stomach felt like it had a knot in it. I guess this is a normal feeling I suppose, then again I checked my watch seeing that I was nearly dinner time. So I guess that knot feeling was hunger after all.

I just make a quick dash to the mess hall to get some dinner. Man I had so many unanswered questions going through my mind right now. Why didn't I ask something like where it was or how many people were coming along? Well I guess it's too late now I suppose. I just wanted to get my food and maybe eat outside while I try not to ponder on this too much.

As soon as I got my tray prep and ready I was about to walk with it outside, till I heard a familiar voice calling to me." Kid…hey kid…." I stop to look over my shoulder to see who's calling me. It was none other than Tunnel Rat calling me and waving me down.

"Hey kid why don't you come over and sit with us ok, we saved you a seat." I sighed a bit to myself, but none the less turned around. I smiled a bit to Tunnel Rat as he pulled out the chair for me. I sat down right with Strike right across from me giving a nice bright smile to me.

"Hey Strike," I said kind of plainly to her but with a little bit of an upbeat to her. "Hey yourself kid," Strike said back to me with a small chuckle to her voice.

I just start to dig in from there on not really saying much to everyone. Of course for Strike she picks up on the kid's uneasiness. As if something was bothering him. So naturally she tried to poke and prod with the kid to see what's wrong with him.

"You ok Kid?" I look up towards Strike and try to play it off as if I was ok. "Uh yeah I'm ok.""Hmm you don't look so sure." Tunnel Rat then opened up next." You know you can always talk to us kid."" If there's anything bothering you, then you shouldn't keep it bottle up inside."

I guess I wasn't going to talk myself out of this one. So I sighed a bit to myself before I blurted out my problem to theses two." I don't know how to cope with this, but I've been selected by Hawk to go on a mission."

"Well normally most people I know would be rather excited to go on a mission. ""Yet I do sense that in a way you are unsure about it," Strike pointed out. "Hey it's ok to get the pre mission jitters; everyone goes through the motions with it.""And besides you should be a bit proud and happy that Hawk wants you to do this."

"You can sort say that it's a way of seeing how you handle yourself to him and us," as Strike continued on with me. "Now I'm not going to ask you when you're going, or who you are going with, but I will see you off when time comes." I just smiled back to Strike and continued to munch on with my dinner.

Later on in the week, I finally get the orders from the boss to go to the briefing room, i.e. that conference room next to Hawk's office. As I reported in, I quickly saluted to Hawk and remained standing as I was order to do so.

I quickly look around to see it anyone was else was here. Yet I'm pretty sure I was the only one. Till Hawk opened up to me," just waiting for one more kid." Soon someone did come as I quickly take a gander with my eyes, to my surprise it was none other than my self defense teacher Sergeant Scarlett.

"Ok I'll get started you two are to go on a reconnaissance mission to observe a potential Cobra sub base to gather some strategic Intel in area." "We believe it is located in the Central high lands near the border of Nicaragua and Honduras.""Since the area is rather covered in dense rainforest you two will be deployed in a transport chopper under the cover of darkness to avoid detection by radar near the Caribbean low lands in the east.""We'll try and get you close to the area as best we can. ""From there it should be no more than forty klicks due northwest.""Before you ask private, that means kilometers." "Total time in mission should not exceed no more than seven two hours."

"You have any questions on the mission?"" No sir," Sergeant Scarlett replied. "What about you private?" "Uh yeah how long is seventy two hours?"" It's about three day's kid."" So were going to be out there for three days?" Hawk sighed a bit, but none the less answered in a calming tone.

"Not necessarily kid, I said that mission shouldn't last more than three days.""Oh ok well thanks for clearing it up."" Anymore questions private?"" Are we supposed to like go right now or later?""Now would be nice, but I don't want to inconvenience you by any chance."" Ok I get it Sir you want us to leave now."

"Good I'm glad you are starting catch on.""Oh one more thing private, sergeant Scarlett is in command, is that understood?"" Yes sir."" Good you two are dismissed and good luck."

As soon as I walk out of the room Sergeant Scarlett, turns around to face me. "Ok private, it is 1400 right now, so you I'll give you an hour suit up and prep your weapons."" Also be sure to meet me up topside by the tarmac." I kind look at her with a bewilder look. To which she look at me as if I got something to say. "Is there a problem private?"

I just hold up my hand gesturing to her with my fingers asking her if I could maybe have a little bit more time. "Ok well since this is your first time, I suppose I could be a little bit lenient."" Fine I'll give you an extra thirty minutes." "Thanks Sergeant," is all I said to her.

I just took off immediately back to my quarters. The first thing I did was that I took a quick five minute shower. Then I suit up in my black field uniform. I made all the necessary arrangements with my stuff. I packed up my ACR with six magazines of ammo along with my side arm as well. I made sure I carry and decent size medical kit. As always I made sure my camel was full along one extra canteen of water.

The only thing at the time that was bugging me was which sniper rifle I should take. I thought at first that I should take my trusty AS50, but I also thought about taking the m40. Decisions, decisions as I mutter to myself.

Soon enough I hear a knock on my door, as I stood there deciding which one I should go with. That I take a quick gander on my watch only to notice that I still had a least a good hour before I was to report to Sergeant Scarlett.

I wonder who it could be since I wasn't expecting any visitors today. So I answer my door fairly quickly. Only it was rather nice surprise from sergeant Low-Light. "Sergeant Low-Light, um is there something I can do for you?"

Even thought for the most part that Sergeant Low-Light wore his sun glasses on a daily basis, I could tell that he was looking me over. I guess with some approval, as I hoped.

"Hmm…, I see that you are going with your black field uniform, of this I approve."" Uh.. Thank you Sergeant," I said to him a bit confusingly. "But more importantly private, have you chosen which primary weapon to take?"

"Well Sergeant I'm sort of stuck in the middle on this one, I really want to take my AS50, but I think the M40 might be just as suitable." Low-Light chuckled a bit with the. "Hmm I would never have guessed that you like that AS50 so much."

"But needless to say private I don't think you would need it on this particular mission you're going on." "Wait a minute how do you know I'm going on a mission?"" Trust me kid I'm usually the first to know when they are sending a reconnaissance team."

"Besides your AS50 is a good weapon, for open spaces."" However you'll be in the jungle, which is less open. ""The M40 is a good pick, but it lacks the ammo capacity in case you get in a fire fight."" Yeah fire fight huh; I don't know if I'm ready for this Sergeant."" I mean I don't want to kill or hurt anybody."

Low-Light answer back with his own wisdom on the matter, since his student feels very self doubtful. "Listen private, I'm hoping that you don't have to use it.""As you are putting trust into Scarlett in guiding you and keeping you safe, she hoping for the same trust within you."

"I understand Sergeant," as I said it with a little bit of confidence in my voice." Good then private."" By the way I think this rifle will be best to suit you for this mission." Sergeant Low-Light then handed me rifle carrying case. I quickly unzip it to see what it is.

"The M110 Sergeant."" Well kid you do have a good eye, but yes."" I think this particular rifle will be best suited for you on this mission."" Don't worry about sighting it kid; I made sure that it shoots straight and true."" Also I added in suppressor for those discreet situations.

"Thank you sergeant, I'll do my best to make you proud."" I know you will.""Anyways I think I should get going so you can finish prepping yourself up."' I know for a fact that Scarlett doesn't like to be kept waiting."

As soon as Sergeant Low-Light left, I continued on with my packing and prepping. Before I left to meet up with Sergeant Scarlett, I decided that I should at least pack a few candy bars in my dry pack. I mean I know that the mission wasn't supposing to last more than three days.

And I'm fairly certain that my Sergeant wants to be one of those of types that gets in and gets out in a flash. Once I double checked all my gear, I checked my watch once again letting me know that I had a least another thirty minutes left.

So I thought for a moment if I should leave right now or just wait it out for another twenty minutes. I just chose with my first option. I took off to top side near the tarmac. Oddly enough Sergeant Scarlett was there ready to go as much as I was.

So I just approach over to her a bit silently. Only she looked up at the last minute noticing me. "Gee kid you still had at least thirty minutes left."" But the none the less I do like your punctuality." I really didn't say anything back to her, but I could tell that she was looking me over.

I guess to either approve or disapprove on me or my gear. "Hmm not bad kid, only we got one little problem." She was practically face to face with me, when she reached up to my head.

"No helmets kid, they make too much noise."" However you can take a standard issue cap as your cover if you want. ""Yes Sergeant," is all that I said back to her. "Anyways kid it's almost dinner time, so why don't you stow away your gear here next to mine and get some dinner in ok."

"I don't think you would like it if we left on an empty stomach."" Yes Sergeant," as I answer rather quickly back to her. I took my stuff off carefully and placed it near her gear. I just took off on foot back to the mess hall.

I wasn't really too sure if Sergeant Scarlett was following me or not. Again as before I want to grab a tray and load it with food and maybe an extra orange or apple for the long haul. Also I wanted to see if I could eat by myself this time around.

And just like before as I grab my tray I was about to head on out, till I heard Strikes voice calling to me. So really than just respond to her like normal, I just turn around and sat down at her table. Only this time Tunnel Rat and Dusty were not there.

"Hey Mark how are you doing today?""I guess I'm ok,"as I answer back to Strike with bit of softness in my voice. "You sure, because you look a bit nervous right now." I sort of get a bit upset with Strike as I respond in a more sarcastic way to her.

"Well how am I supposed to feel then, happy and content like you?" Strike then just put down her fork and recollected her thoughts. "Mark I'm not teasing or poking fun at you and if you feel that way then I am sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

"You know Mark it's ok to be afraid." "I know in a way that you are fearful in that you might feel like that you're going to screw up somehow." "But you're not alone; I too was just as afraid on my first mission."

"Well then how did you cope with it," Mark asked?" I put trust into myself and into my comrades here." "You may not know it, but everyone here is pulling for you to succeed, even the Sergeant Major."" You know Strike Sergeant Low-Light said the same to me an hour or two ago."

"Well there you go then."" Look all I'm really saying is just have faith in your training and in your friends and everything will turn out fine."" Well I guess I can put some faith into my training, but I don't know if I'm really friends with Sergeant Scarlett."

"Again kid you shouldn't be so doubtful on that subject; beside if Scarlett didn't like you, then she would have never done this mission with you in the first place."" I know she doesn't show it much, but she actually thinks you're ok. ""But don't go spouting off to her that I told you that ok."

I just nod back to Strike that I understood. Also I started to feel a little bit better. I quickly started to chow down on my dinner, but I also got seconds as well since I wanted to be full as possible. Once I was done Strike then came with me to the tarmac.

She wished me good luck to the both of us, as we started to board on a troop transport carrier. It was a fairly good size plane. Apparently I learned from Sergeant Scarlett that we were going to be dropped off in a small detachment base in Honduras, before we hop and skip on another ride with a chopper.

Here I am strapped to a plane heading out to my first mission ever. It didn't take long for Sergeant Scarlett to start to dose off first. Soon enough I just started to get as sleepy as she did. And in five minutes I was out.