Chapter 27
I sat here by the C.P. trying not to think about that rude green shirt I just sort of met. To me he looked like that type guy who's been in here awhile, but someone who was never promoted I suppose. To me he was all attitude. I guess he's a part of the armor support for today's operation. Oddly enough I've met my fair share of green shirts like that, with the exception of Foster, Phillips, Roger, Thompson, and even Pop's. Those guys were always cool to me.
Yet my wandering mind was taken away from that, when I saw Sergeant Low-Light and the rest of the Joe's piling out of the C.P. So, naturally I started to walk on over to Sergeant Low-Light to see what's up. "So what's the plan Sergeant?"" I'll explain it to you when we are enroute ok Private, but first I got rumble in my tummy." I looked over to sergeant Low-Light a bit strangely and added. "What you hungry?"" Yeah private we all are, I mean it was a long flight."
I really didn't think about it too much, I mean when I left the pit I made sure and had seconds and thirds on dinner so this wouldn't happen. I guess most of the Joe's run on a different set of rules I suppose when it comes to chow times. Needless to say I wouldn't mind getting in a nosh I suppose, so I just went with it.
I continue to follow Low-Light, till we came into a clearing just a few hundred yards from the tempory base. I guess this was a landing area for some choppers, however the only thing I saw was some armored personnel carries, some in the helicopter form others in tank. Basically, I was told by Low-Light that we were going to be served some kind power protein ration. Yet when they handed them out it was a rather small pack that fit the palm of my hand. I look over it as is said that it was some kind of sandwich. I think mine said cheese steak. "Hmm sounds delish I suppose," as I mutter to myself.
So I started to walk away from the main group and find a nice soft patch of grass to take a load off. Again, the weight of this gear does bog me down a bit. I rip open my pack, take in a few good whiffs only to smell the nice aroma of cheese. Mmm I'm going to enjoy this, so I take in one good chomp and munch away. Only for about two seconds though.
Awe man this thing may have smelled and looked good but oh god this thing was not only dry that it absorbs all the saliva in my mouth, it tasted really weird and awful. Oh god I nearly gagged out loud when I ate this thing. Luckily no one saw it happen and two from the looks of it I wasn't the only one. I practically saw everyone to point of spitting it out of their mouths. So, I just did the same myself. I take quick look all around the pack. I did find something rather strange.
As I read it out loud to myself the package said, "best if used by 08 of 2005." My eyes completely widen in shock as to what I have just read. August of 2005, holy crap this this thing is past its freshness like a fifteen years ago. Awe man I just took some water from my camel to wash the nasty taste from my mouth. I just shook my head to myself thinking about how of fuck up this is. Yet I know I can't sit here and not eat anything, otherwise I'll get yelled at by some other Joe, namely Beach head. So, I did the next best thing, pulled out one of my Hawaiian pow protein bars. This first one I pulled out was my favorite chocolate. As soon as I sink my teeth into it I was in heaven.
Meanwhile, Strike and Lady Jaye along with the rest of Joe's are feeling nothing but miserable as they are stuck eating their horrible outdated sandwich rations. To their own dismay, this was the only food that was available. Strike as always was the first to speak up loud and clear for everyone to hear.
"What kind of fuck up was this?"" Who's the slimily twinkle toes idiot from supply who just signed his own death warrant."" When I get back I'm going to ring his neck in," as Strike got even more pissed. That is until Beach spoke up saying, "pipe down Shrike it wasn't supply that messed up."" Then who was it Beach head," Strike demanded. "It was the cooks from the pit."" Don't worry about reeming their asses in, Hawk already got them out of there. ""I swear the food quality has gone down hill ever since Pop's left," Beach Head added.
"But if you need a better attitude about it Strike, why don't you take a few notes from the kid." Strike started to calm down a bit and started to look over to Mark who was sitting not far away from the rest of the Joe's. "What do mean by that Beach Head. ""I don't see any complaints from him."
From that point on Strike got up and strapped her FN-SCAR to shoulder and started to head over his way. Unknowingly not noticing that Lady Jaye was behind her. Yet she lets her presence known once she starts to tease Strike a bit. "Going to say hello to your boyfriend eh Strike." Strike stops only to look at her roommate with an annoyed look. "Please Jaye don't start with me today?"" Ok, ok I'll be good."
Mark sits there while enjoying his Hawaiian bar, when all of sudden he hears some foot step from the crunching brush near him. He looks up with a little concern, only to ease up since it looks like Strike and Sergeant Jaye is going to pay him a visit.
He notices Strike first, since she does look a bit different wearing some light green camo pants and shirt to match along with her body armor and her FN-SCAR. Of course, he also notices Sergeant Jaye in own rather dark forest green uniform along with her M-16. She seems to have happy smile for me today. Which get's me a bit suspicious sense she likes to pull some pranks on me.
"Hey Strike and Sergeant Jaye how are you guys doing?"" Were doing fine Mark, by the way what kind of sandwich did you get," Strike said with some curiosity. I pick up the uneatable sandwich pack next to me and said, "uh I think it's a cheese steak."" Why do you want it Strike?"
"Wait a minute Mark, if you're not eating your sandwich ration, then what is that you're eating right now? ""Oh this, its not that special it just a protein bar."" Where did you get it," Strike said with curiousity. "Oh, I brought some along with me from my personal stash from my foot locker."" Do you want one?"" If you want to share," Strike said plainly.
I quickly sit up and on to my knees as I unstrape my back pack, as I started to pull out my knapsack pouch. I started to go through my pack while asking Strike which flavor she wanted. "Here you and Sergeant Jaye can have the peanut butter ones it you like, but I also got some other flavors as well."
To Strike and Lady Jaye, they both were just flabbergasted at the sight of how many protein bars that Private Mark had on hand. "Mark, how many did you have in your sack there," Lady Jaye asked. "About fifty to seventy-five of them."" I thought it was good idea, since Hawk didn't really give a mission time span for this mission that we are on." "And the last time I was out here with Sergeant Scarlett she didn't pack any food for the trip, so I just bought my own stash for myself."
Both Strike and Lady Jaye looked ot each other for a moment, as Strike snatched Marks nap sack from his grasp. "Hey if you didn't want the flavor you wanted Strike, you should've at least told me about it, besides I'll let you two have one since you are my friends after all."
"Well that's very considerate of you Mark, however I think everyone else here would like one as well", as Strike started to turn around and walk back to rest of Joe's. Mark got up quickly while starting to protest to Strike. "Hey where are you going with my stash Strike, I only meant for you to Sergeant Jaye to have one. ""Yeah well kudos to you for thinking ahead, yet if you haven't noticed it yet everyone else is eating garbage."" And I think it would be wise if you decided to share your stash with us."
I started to get angry as I started to grab on Strikes shoulder, to protest even more. "Come on Strike I never do this to you, and those are my property now give it back." Strike turned around immediately while trying to keep herself calm about the situation.
"You know Mark you are a part of team, you do know that right?"" And right now, everyone on your team is suffering from hunger since they can't eat these crappy sandwich rations, the very same ones that you've gotten."" Please try to learn from this ok and not be upset about it."
I tried to grab my knapsack from Strike once again since I want my property back, but Sergeant Jaye got in front of me and restrained me from doing so. So, I just give up then and there and started to sit back down with my back facing them as I started to pout to myself. "Its not fair you all treat me like a kid."
Lady Jaye in that instance puts a hand on Mark's shoulder to explain a few things to him. "Mark, it may seem like that we are treating like a child, but we are not."" You may not think it but we are a team out here, we look out for each other and we help each other out."" Strike is just trying to teach you to be a bit more humbler."" Please don't take it the wrong way ok." Yet Mark still wasn't too happy about it, that in an instant he jerks his shoulder hard to get Sergeant Jaye's hand off of him. In a way Lady Jaye was rather off put to say the least but she knew that he was pretty steamed about it, so she decides to let him cool off and say nothing as she left him alone and started to walk back to where everyone was at.
When that was going on Strike started to hand out Mark's stash of protein bars to everyone who wanted one. Her first stop was to Scarlett. Scarlett herself was a bit hesitant though, since she didn't really wanted another sugary candy bar from the kid. Yet once she took her first bite into it, her eyes completely widen in shock to how good it was. Scarlett looks over the wrap of the bar only to notice that it was not candy bar, but a protein bar. She shook head in approval to Strike as she continue munch along.
Soon enough everyone wanted one. Yet Strike hoped that she had enough for everyone here. Oddly enough she didn't really believe that mark brought this many with him. Yet some how he did. The sack alone started to get a bit lighter. So she made an extra effort to make sure that everyone only got one bar per Joe. As she made her rounds, she some how forgot to get to her buddies Tunnel Rat and Dusty. She sees them sitting on top of a crate as she strolls over to them.
"Dusty, Tunnel Rat, put down those awful sandwiches, I got something much better for you two to eat." Both of them looked up to Strike to see what she is talking about. "Really you got something much better than this crap," Dusty exclaimed. She quickly gives them both a bar. Dusty immediately tore it open and takes one good chomp, only to be really surprise on how good it was. "This is fantastic where did you get this," Dusty asked. "Uh they were a friendly donation."
Tunnel Rat however looks over the bar package a bit carefully before he starts to blurt out a few things. "Hawaiian Power Protein bars, these are really good."" Where did you get these Strike," Tunnel Rat asked? "Just from a friendly donation Tunnel Rat." His eye widens in some shock, "well who ever your donor is they must rich."
Now Strike was a bit off put to what Tunnel Rat had just said. "What do you mean by that?" Tunnel Rat was already eating his delicious bar, but was still able to get what Strike was asking. "Oh, nothing really Strike, is just that Hawaiian Bars are usually eaten by body builders. ""Also, they are very expensive to say the least."" Expensive, like how expensive," Strike asked with some curiosity. "Hmm let me think for a second here."" Oh yeah now I remember you can only get these in a box of ten."" And box of these run for a minimum of about fifty dollars a box."" What no way they are that expensive."" I'm not pulling your chain on this one Strike; these Hawaiian bars are that expensive."" But they are really good and they fill you up for the most part of the day. ""They are loaded with all sorts of protein, vitamins, and minerals."" But thanks again Strike for such a wonderful treat," as Tunnel Rat continued to munch on.
Strike nodded her head to the both of them giving them a small smile, but deep inside of her she couldn't help but feel really bad about what she has just done. No wonder why Mark was fighting tooth and nail over his stash like that. I just gave away some really expensive food away at Marks' expense.
Strike found a rather semi secluded spot for herself to sit and feeling nothing but guilt as to what she has done. She knows in heart that she was right about trying to teach Mark a lesson, but she also knew that it was a costly lesson. Just then she feels a tap on her boot from someone else. Thinking that it was Lady Jaye, she really didn't want to say anything. Yet she heard a different voice instead.
"You mind if I join you Strike," Low-Light asked. "Uh sure go right ahead." Strike scoots over as Low-Light took a seat right next her. "I got hand it to you Strike, you sure know how to pick a good snack." Strike responded in almost a sadden tone saying "Yeah, I sure do."" You ok Strike, is something bothering you?"
"Well it just that this surprise snack that I got was from Mark."" Well you shouldn't be so surprise by that Strike, we all knew it was from him."" Well, its just that I found out that Mark's snacks were rather pricey."" I didn't realize that I just gave away some expensive protein bars."" All I was doing was to try teach a lesson in helping out with others. ""Instead he now more than ever sees me as a bully."" I see Strike, but don't beat yourself up on this ok."" You were in the right," Low-Light explained. "I could talk to him about it you want."" No that's ok Low-Light I'll just find another way to say I'm sorry and pay him back in full."
Strike was about to continue on in her self-pity, that is till Beach started to sound off to everyone that we are moving out. Strike got up along with Low-Light as they both look over to each other with their respective game faces on. Both of them wish the other one well for the mission at hand. After all Strike is main assault infantry, while Low-Light is sniping from a distance.
Low-Light himself quickly collects Mark as they are ready to head on out. Everyone loads on to gunships while in route on the gun ship, Low-Light orders Mark to go head and load up his suppressor on to his M110. Within thirty minutes the gun ships are making their descent. By that time Low-Light was going over a few things with Mark. He talked to Mark on a private com meant for the both of them.
"Ok private can you hear me?"" I sure can sergeant Low-Light," Mark said plainly. I see Sergeant Low-Light holding up what looked like a small map. "Ok I'll try and explain this as simply as can be. ""Basically we are going to provide covering fire for the main assult, by eliminating any targets would other wise would pose a threat to our guys." "The assault is going to go as follow. ""Green shirt support troops will cover both the right and left flanks, while the Joe's are going up the middle on the main assault."" Sounds like an ok plan Sergeant."" But where are we going to be at in all this?"" I was getting to that, we are going to be set up about a thousand yards back on top of hill with lots of foilage to provide us cover."
"Normally I we would be partner up with you on this one Private, however to cover more ground area to cover our guys as best we can, we are going to be separated by at least a hundred feet."" Oh I see sergeant, are you sure about this? ""What do you mean? ""Well are your sure you want me to be on my own. ""Yes private I'm very certain on this matter, but if you want I'll help you setup."" Thank you I would like that."
Sergeant Low-Light just smiled and nodded to me after that. From that point on it was a rather short trip on the chopper. We seem to be fly very close to the tree tops of the jungle before us. For the most part the low lands of Nicaragua were in some case very spacious. I guess we were flying this low to avoid any radar detection. Soon enough I see the landing zone up ahead. It wont be long now till the moment of truth.