Got another one for you all to read and enjoy, also be sure to read and drop a review if you want.

Chapter 44

Missions, man what is the deal with missions? To every Joe that I know even Strike the word mission, is a special word. It really excites anyone who comes in contact with it. Everyone likes to go on missions here. Well except for me of course. If I had it my way, I would just train and live at the pit for as long as I could and occasionally go out on liberty.

But its been almost six months now, and were still here in Saudi Arabia. It's been a slow but steady progress in driving Cobra out of the region. If they manage to do anything other than steal oil, they sure have screwed with the price of it as well. Even when we would take over a facility or field the price still skies rockets. With strong backing from the Saudi government and allied forces we were able to secure almost all of the oil fields back. Only one part remained, that was in the north east near the border of Kuwait and the Persian Gulf.

We had a lot of equipment, munitions, and even man power flown in to repel these assholes. The bad news about this mission, was that the enemy was really prepared for us. The good news however, was that once we dig out these snakes from here we would be going home at last.

Which comes down to my job for today. One I was to do as much reconnaissance of enemy encampment. Once again, I was working with my sniper teacher Low-Light. The great thing about this last place that we had to take was the mountains. It provided lots of hiding spots for us. We weren't alone either. We had about a dozen or so green shirt troopers with us hiding all along the mountain range almost surrounding the facility at hand.

I had my trusty M110 rifle along with my AS50. From my vantage point I was able to make out some light armor vehicles in the area. They looked like Hiss tanks, but only smaller. Nothing that our M.B.T.'s or MOBATS couldn't handle. For the most part they were step up to the north west and east of the main refinery.

I guess so they could cover their flanks. As far as air power, none was present since we practically owned the skies. But that didn't mean that they didn't had any compact SAMS placed in certain areas. In total they had about twenty of these scatter throughout the refinery. As well as plenty of machine gun encampments on the ground and towers as well.

The difference from the Nicaraguan mission, was that the encampment had more armor all around them to repel any machine gun fire. Yet with someone like myself who is a quick sharp shooter, it was easy to find some key weaknesses. From my observations it housed two men but only one .50 caliber machine gun.

If any thing this battle is going to not only rely on numbers and fire power, but also attrition. Who ever could last against the elements mainly. After all the sun is very blistering today. Normally I would have my normal camel pack of water and one extra canteen for medical. But now I have at least one extra canteen just for drinking or medical.

I made sure to take a salt tablet before we went out and took another while on mission. Though Lifeline would try to encourage me not take too much of it, since it is bad for your health. Yet his dosage recommendation was ok for me and everyone else. They did do its job, in keeping me from sweating constantly.

Once the information was relayed back to Duke, I was told to keep a low profile. All in all, today was the day that we were going to end this. After an hour or so, I finally got the heads up on the plan at hand. From what I was told, that there was no chance of an air strike to obliterate them completely. However, that didn't mean we couldn't hit them with strategic bombs. We had to hit them hard and fast after that before they could mount an offence.

The plan was rather simple, X-30's were going to come in with precision laser guided lock on bombs on their part to take out the SAM's. Then after that they will do their best to take out as many armor units as possible. First and final wave will come in on choppers and A.C.P.'s to overwhelmed the enemy. Hopefully by then, me and the other snipers would have taken out most of the machine gun encampments and nest. If all goes to plan, we would have this base secure before the end of the day.

Attack was to commence at 14:00's on the dot. The easy part was using the laser guidance boxes that we all had on hand. It basically emits a red laser that looks like small dot. Me and Low-Light along with twenty other snipers would paint the SAM's at hand. I check my watch only to notice that's it's thirty seconds till 14:00 hours. The X-30's I heard so much about are really fast and stealthy planes that could dodge any radar systems. After thirty seconds passed that's when I saw some small flashes of light before the impact explosion. These precision bombs were awesome. Nothing was left, not even the poor saps that had to be there manning those things.

My only comfort for them was, that they didn't felt any pain or suffering. Yet once all the SAM's were taken out alarms were going off to alert Cobra that they were under attack. I see their troopers scrambling to their perspective positions. My special instinct told my body to wait, until the time was right. After all I was given first crack before anyone could fire their weapons.

Just after a minute or two more explosions in the north west and east could be heard. Again, my instincts focus was on the first target at hand. It was a cobra trooper climbing up his ladder to get to his firing position. Once I see him cock his machine gun, that's when my instinct told me to fire. One shot zipping out of the suppressor and zipping through the air till it lands dead on its target. One shot in between the eyes on the forehead. Or at least that is where I think it hits, since these Cobra troopers tend to wear tinted visors over their heads.

After my shot was taken, everyone was opening up. Everyone was taking out gunners and any stragglers. As for me, my instinct told me to take it easy and shoot every minute and a half so I don't over heat my suppressor.

It wasn't long till the APC's and choppers started to come into the hot zone. Once that occurred our orders changed to provide covering fire so our guys could land safely and get into position to take these snakes down. My instinct was really concentrated at the job at hand, but my conscious was just as worry as ever about Strike and my friends down there. I can only hope for the best and perform my duty admirably to ensure their success. So, I continue with taking out any potential threats in the area.

It's been hours now and Cobra still hasn't let up at all. They were really hell bent on keeping this refinery and the oil wells. I alone have already gone through eighty rounds on my M110. Since I was partnered with Low-Light, he covered for me as I went to get more ammunition from our reserve near some of the ACP's. I also made good use to change out my suppressors.

When I came back with more ammo for everyone, I was order by Low-Light to prepare and join the rest of the Joe's near the perimeter to secure the refinery. Basically, the rest of the snipers would cover the approach, while me and the rest were going to do some old fashion street fighting throughout the refinery. We were going to take out the enemy section by section. When I got the news, I switched out to my ACR. I had twenty mags for it just in case.

Yet by the time I got there pretty much everyone was already on the move. The only one's left for me to partner with was Gung Ho and Grunt. Basically, we were charged with providing relief to any Joe's in the area with support fire. I never really met the Gung ho personally, but from what I was told the guy was really one those charge in types with overwhelming fire power. I mean the dude usually carried one of those m60e4's with a grenade launcher attachment.

I tried it once carrying that type of weapon, and boy I can tell you its heavy and loud. But all matters aside we had a job to do. I pretty much just followed him in the middle, while Grunt took the rear. For the most part we had our fair share of the action. It wasn't just firing blindly at the enemy, there was strategy involved.

For instance, Gung ho being Gung ho, would provide covering fire to pin down the snakes, while me and Grunt would out flank them and take them out. We did this quiet a bit, as we started to progress to the next section of the refinery.

It wasn't long till we got a garble message from some Joes' that needed help, as they were pin down by the enemy. We took the call as we started to make our way to them. We made it rather quickly, till the radio chatter got a bit clearer.

It turned out to be Strike and her team that was pinned down. They were running out of ammo, while a couple of people were wounded. In an instant I volunteered myself to go help out Strike and get the wounded taken care of. Gung Ho at first looked at me thinking that I was just being foolishly brave. Yet he just nodded to me and said, "alright Reaper if you can do it, we'll cover you."

As we kept getting closer and closer, things started to get hairier out here. The enemy was everywhere. They had almost a 360-degree vantage point on us three. It was hell getting through it all. I myself had my ACR set on semi-automatic so I can conserver ammo. My instincts motto was one shot one kill. I couldn't say the same for Grunt or Gung Ho, since they tend to use three round burst fire from their weapons.

We were practically within a hundred yards from our destination. I could see Strike along with Tunnel Rat and Lady Jaye doing their best to repel the enemy. Next Gung Ho relayed a message through his com to Strike that they were within a hundred yards and to be on a look out.

Next, I got the signal from Gung Ho for the both of us to hang close and cover each other's backs. Once Gung ho gave the all clear we were sprinting to Strike's position. To me it was blur as bullets were whizzing on by. But my attention was drawn elsewhere when I heard a yelling of pain from one of my comrades.

Both me and Gung ho stopped in our tracks only to look back at about twenty feet behind us when we saw Grunt on the ground limping and hoping on one leg. Again, my instincts took over as they spotted the culprit hiding behind a small boulder. I took him out rather quickly. While Gung ho grab on to Grunt to get him into cover.

The situation went from bad to worse, since now Grunt was wounded. He took a couple of shots to his right calf and shoulder. The medic part of me took over as I went took work on stopping the bleeding and patching up his wounds. While Gung ho took a defensive position to watch our backs

Grunt was breathing fast and a bit excited to what happen to him. I really needed him to calm down so I can work fast. "Grunt I really need you to calm down ok?"

"Awe man I never been shot up like this before, good god it burns."

"Grunt look me at ok, its not that bad. I just need you to be still and relaxed, while I patch you up."

"Alright Reap just don't hurt me ok."

"I won't."

I use a little bit of water to wash it bit to see if he has any bullets lodged into him. I sigh in relief seeing that his bullet wounds did have an exit wound. So, it was safe to say that they were no bullets lodged into him. I quickly used some blood clotting enzymes and applied enough pressure to get the bleeding to stop I bandaged him up good and tight while writing a few things down for Lifeline on his bandages.

Next, I gave Grunt the option to the numb the pain with morphine, or a regular non-drowsy pain shot. He chose the non-drowsy pain shot, so that in some way he could still be aware and help out to an extant in the fight. Yet I was having none of that. Instead I asked Gung Ho to take him back to the aid station.

He did look a bit concern in thinking that I was trying to be a hero, but I assured him that I was just doing my job. Gung ho just nodded back to me as grabbed on to Grunt and headed back. As for me I packed up my med kit, and ready my ACR to get to Strikes position.

The fighting was so intense all around me. Cobra wasn't really letting up at all. It was literally an all or nothing fight. Only the one of us was coming up on top. It was us or them. As I kept fighting on, I made sure to check up on my ammo count. I only went through four mags out of twenty. So, I had plenty of ammo. It wasn't long now till I came close to Strikes position. From the looks of it she was pin down in a fox hole I suppose. She was the only one returning fire to those snakes.

I just hoped that Lady Jaye and Tunnel Rat with her are not too seriously injured. I tried to make some contact with Strike via on our com's, but it was no use. Either her radio was damaged or the mountains around us interfered with the signal. So, I ducked into some cover behind some pipes, and picked up a small rock and chucked it over to hit Strike's helmet.

It worked really well since she immediately turned her head around to see who did that. Only when she saw me in the distance, I see some relief on her face. She yells out to me to get over to her. Within that small moment everything seemed to die down a bit. I start to head over to her in a semi sprint. As she got out of her fox hole.

Only for my eyes to widen in shock, as I see a pair of Cobra troopers about to take Strike out, as they came out of their hiding spots. I started to yell to her to get back into her hole. I quickly aim my rifle up as I was running to take these guys out.

It was as if time was at a standstill as Strike looked over her shoulder slowly to see what's up. Yet when she turned around that's when she felt some pressure near her shoulder. She was oblivious as to what had happened. The only thing she saw next was a blinding flash as it threw her back.

Yet to Mark he yelled in utter horror seeing Strike getting wounded, while taking a percussion grenade. I literally whence at the amount of punishment that she took. Yet I got out of those thoughts quick as I let my instinct deal with these snakes. I'm cursing like a sailor at them. As I made dame sure they were dead.

But the fight was far from over. I jumped into Strike's fox hole while quickly dragging her back into the safety of the hole. I take quick notice as to my surroundings. It was what I feared the most, seeing my friends in terrible shape.

Both Lady Jaye and Tunnel Rat where incapacitated. I quickly checked for their pulse's. To my relief they both had a fairly strong one. they were alive but injured none the less. Before I could check for Strikes, more bullets were whizzing and hitting near me.

It didn't take long for my instinct to follow through in bringing these assholes down. I was popping off rounds every three seconds. My instinct was aiming, while picking targets out as fast as it can. In a span of twenty minutes I had this section cleared of activity.

Next, I started to call for some emergency evac on my com's hoping that I was able to get through to anyone. I tried at least ten times, while I started to get my med kit out ready to deal with the wounded. By the eleventh time someone had pick up.

It was Duke on the other line. "Go ahead Reaper what's your status."

"I've got wounded Joe's that need an immediate evac."

"Sorry Reaper but evac is not possible, the area is still too hot. I'll send some back up."

"Copy that Duke, just send a couple of gurneys and some ammo, that should cover it."

"Roger, it's on its way."

Once, that's was taken care of, I got to work on patching up Sergeant Jaye and Tunnel Rat. At the same time, I would peek out a bit to see if any more snakes showed up. If any did, I hope they take a good long look at their own hoping that they would think twice about come my way.

Luckily for me activity was at a minimum. I quickly got started on Sergeant Jaye first. She was semi-conscious seeing me while trying to give me a nice smile. She took a good couple of shots to both of her legs. Nothing serious other than some really nasty flesh wounds. As for Tunnel Rat he took a good solid hit on the side of his torso. Again, nothing vital. For the most part he was really out of it.

Finally, I was about to start on to Strike, as I see her moaning a bit. Her wounds were the most serious. Mostly she took a clean hit on her shoulder near the collar bone area. She was losing quite a bit of blood. I tried not to get too emotional about it, since that doesn't help anyone.

As I working on stopping the bleeding, that's when my back up was calling to me on my com link. Well that was fast as I thought to myself. At this point I was really happy to see anyone. As promise Duke send me six green shirts. I ordered them quickly to take Lady Jaye and Tunnel Rat back to the aid station. They did as they were told no questions asked.

As for me I continue working on stabilizing Strike. Her pulse was a bit weak, but she was still alive. Stopping the bleeding was my first priority. I used some special blood clotting enzymes and tried to give her an adrenaline shot to keep her awake. Again, she was moaning in pain. I see her looking towards me with her tired eyes.

"Reap…is that you?"

"It's me Strike, I really need you to stay awake ok."

"Unnn…. I'm…sooo, tired right now."

"I know Strike, but please do this for me." Again, I see her about to slip into forever rest. I tired to nudged her awake and give her slight slaps to her face, but nothing was working. "Strike…Strike wake up…wake up."

I can't let her go to sleep, she might slip into a coma. I was getting nervous and feeling helpless at the same time. I mean I made a promise to her little brother that I would keep her safe and sound to bring her back home to him.

So, as a last-ditch effort, I did the most unconventional thing to get her awake. I gave Strike a deep and passionate kiss on her lips hoping she could feel it. I clasp my hands to both sides of her head, while I close my eyes leaning in for it. In my mind I was really hoping it would work.

As for Strike she was nearly out of it. Feeling really tried and drowsy wanting to take a nice long nap. This mission as awesome as it was to her, was also the most taxing it could be for her. That is until she felt something swimming in her mouth as if it was searching for something. The feeling was rather foreign to her, as her eyes started to slowly open to see what it was in her curiosity.

Only then her eyes started to widen in shock and awe as she saw Mark giving her a kiss for the first time ever. Strike held in her own gasp, as she wanted the moment to last forever. For some this would seem crazy as this wasn't the most romantic setting to do this. After all we are in war zone, but that didn't matter to her. What matter is that Mark has finally started to share his feelings to her, and she wanted to do the same.

Her instincts told her to wrap her arms around him to get him closer to her. Yet when she tried to move her left arm it was hindered from pain, that she let out a grunting yelp from her lips. It was enough of a distraction, that Mark released his embrace from me. I was pissed with myself after that, as Strike thought.

I see Mark looking at me with some slight happiness from his eyes. Before mark could talk, I beat him to it. "Mark, what was that for," Strike asked a bit surprisingly.

"I had to keep you awake somehow. But I also love you Strike. And I'm never going to let you slip away form me. So please stay awake for me?"

"Oohhh I love you too," as Strike lifted her right hand to caress the side of his face gently. "I'll be awake as long as you want me to."

"That's great Strike, now put your right arm around my shoulders and hang on tight. I'm going to get you out of here." Strike did as Mark asked, as he held on to her bridal style.

For Mark however, it was bit changeling since, she was a bit hefty do to amount of gear she was carrying, including her FN-SCAR. But he brushed that aside, as he was on a mission to get her out of harms way. Before he left, he take's a peek out of his hole to make sure the coast was clear. When Mark was satisfied that's, when he started to get Strike the hell out of there.

He was hurrying as fast as he could back to the refinery entrance. As soon as he got there that's when he saw Lifeline near the front office working on the wounded at hand. Near them was also a make shift C.P.

Things looked pretty hectic, with the com's going off and everyone hurrying about to bring this fight to an end. When I showed up with Strike in tow, I didn't really have to say anything, as a medic nearby saw me and decided to assist me. It also alerted Lifeline who there as well.

I was about to offer my help to him, when instead Beach Head came to me with more orders. I basically had to go with him, to continue to flush out Cobra and finish this fight. After a couple more hours, we finally secured the last refinery here in Saudi Arabia. We've been fighting for six hours straight. It was tough and hard, but we won in the end.

After all that, we had to stay until Allied forces along with the Saudi troopers were able to secure it. It took another couple of hours. Next our drop ships came on by to take our equipment, gear, and personnel back to our forward base near the capital.

From there we were giving some chow, a shower, and a chance to a take a breather for a day or so. But for me I was more interested in checking how Strike was doing. Our wounded was there along with us. So, I ate a little bit of food and decided to pass on the shower, as I went straight to medical. For the most part my weapons were still attached to me. Because normally we weren't allowed to carry them inside a sterile medical area.

Yet no one seemed to mind. The only difference to me was that there was so many wounded Joe's. A lot of my friends were in here. I shook the thoughts to the back of my head and looked for Lifeline to offer my help. He reluctantly agrees as he led me to Lady Jaye on a gurney. Basically, I was to change her bandages and maybe give her a pain shot of morphine or a regular one.

I looked over to her noticing that she was resting. As I started to work on them, I was more focus on trying to find Strike in here, that I didn't realize that I was causing some discomfort to Lady Jaye. I only knew of this when she was grunting a bit out loud saying, "hey watch it greenie."

Only when Lady Jaye looked up she noticed that it was Reaper. "Oh, I'm sorry Reap, I didn't know it was you."

"It's ok Sargent, it's my fault." "I was a bit preoccupied."

"Hey Reap you got a minute?"

"I'm all ears Sergeant."

"Thanks for saving my life today."

"I was just doing my job."

Lady Jaye sat herself up a bit to watch Reap change out her bandages. She looks over him with some curiosity, only to notice the worry look on his face. "You ok Reap?"

"Yeah I'm fine."

"Well you look like you could use a hot meal and a bunk."

"I'm ok Jaye," as Mark was looking to her for a short moment then getting back to work on her wounds.

Again, she notices that Reap is looking all around the medical area, as if he was looking for someone. Then it dawned on her that maybe he was looking for Strike. "Hey Reap?"

"Don't worry Jaye I'm almost done."

"It's not that Reap. I know you're looking for Strike. She should be at the other end of medical bay in the back you can't miss it."

"Thanks Sergeant."

"Hey don't worry about her too much, she's a strong gal."

"Yeah, I know it's just that she had a pretty nasty wound. Oh, one more thing, would you like some morphine or a non-drowsy pain shot?"

" Hmm, let's see do I want to be wide awake on the ride home?" Or do I want to trip out riding on a magic carpet ride not feeling a thing? "" Now that's a conundrum," Jaye said a bit sarcastically. Of course, to her, Reap didn't seem to entirely get the joke. She sighs a bit to herself while saying, "just give me the morphine shot." Reap just preps the needle while sterilizing the area to inject the morphine into Lady Jaye in a few minutes. He pats the top of her head while encouraging her to take easy, as he bided ado to her.

Jaye was about lie back down and take it easy so the morphine could do its work. But before she allowed that, she had to get someone to keep an eye on Reap. Luckily for her Jinx was passing on by holding some medical supplies. She got her attention by chucking an empty shell casing in her direction.

It worked non the less as she started to make her way over to her, to see what's up. "You ok Jaye," Jinx asked?

"I'll say this fast, before the morphine kicks in. I need a favor from you."

"Oh really, a favor as Jinx smile."

"If its not too much trouble for you could you maybe see to it that Reap gets a hot meal and some shut eye, he really looks out of it. Normally Strike would be the one doing this, but she's in here too."

"I know Jaye, I can see Reap looking over her with concern. But hey its not a problem, I see to it ok."

"Thanks Jinx."

Jinx just nodded back to her as she picked up the medical supplies and went on her way. As for Reap he finally made to Strike's gurney. He looked over to her as she was resting peacefully. He picks up her chart and read it silently. It basically said that Strike was going to undergo surgery to remove a bullet in her shoulder. But before all that she getting some much-needed blood and plasma to replenish what she had lost earlier today.

He looked over her again, trying not to cry. Thinking that he had let her down. He was caressing the side of her face, till he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry Reap she's in good hands," Jinx said calmly. "She will surely recover from all this and be back to old self in no time."" Now why don't you come along with me ok."

Reap wanted to say no and stick to his guns and stay to keep watch over Strike. Yet he knew better than to question a high-ranking Joe like Jinx. So, he followed her out of medical area near some tables in the next room. He sees her unpacking an MRE for the both of them. As it cooked I could tell from the smell that it was spaghetti and meat sauce.

It was no question to him that mostly likely Sergeant Jaye put Jinx up to get me to eat something. Crap I really need to work on hiding it better from others. But as soon as the meal was ready she handed me a fork motioning for me to get eating.

I guess in Jinx's case she wanted to make sure that I was ok, as she watched me eat. Normally I would have said something to say, but I was just too dame tired. So, I just continue to eat silently. Hopefully when I get done, I could go back next door to keep an eye on Strike. Yet that also wasn't meant to be, as Jinx grabbed on to my hand and dragged me to follow her once again.

As if I was some small child that needed to be watched over. It wasn't long till she led me to a vacant cot. All she told me to do was to go to sleep. Again, I chose not to argue with her as I started to lay my weapons near me.

I lied down there in the semi darkness looking up to the ceiling of my own store closet. There was a night light in the room, so it wasn't completely dark. As I laid here as I tried not to think about anything. Instead, I pulled out from my dry pouch near my belt a small memento from a special kid that I got knew a few months back.

It was Alla's tiny brown bear that fit the palm of my band. I looked at it with its small beady eyes and stitched face as I ran my naked finger tips around it. I gave a small smile to myself thinking of the good times I had with her. Yet the darkness and tiredness started to get to me as I slowly started to fall asleep with it near my chest.