---
-IV-
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The Orange Star APCs finally rolled into the designated base of operations late at night, probably near midnight, as Glenn figured. He wasn't wearing a watch or anything of the sort, but nightfall had fallen upon them hours before. He had secretly peeked out the back of the APC he was riding in although Orange Star regulations told it had to be closed at all times while the vehicle was moving. When they finally arrived, he couldn't help but wonder just how late it was.
The APCs chugged up to a space where their engines died. A slew of orange- clad soldiers and medics came sliding out of all of the vehicles, attempting to get the wounded into shelter where they could be treated properly. Glenn Gordon stepped out of the one he had been in and looked around. It was a rather lively base, despite the hour. Orange Star personel were still rushing about going every which way he could see. The attack on Blue Moon in the neutral city had been an important one, obviously.
He pondered where the base exactly was. He had no idea if he was in Orange Star or Blue Moon territory now. After examining his surroundings from his spot, he began walking towards what he thought was the base's command center. It was simple to tell, seeing as how most of the people around him were coming in and out of its doors. As he stepped through the doors of the base's apparent command center, someone instantly came up at a brisk pace to meet him. "Glenn Gordon? Of Green Earth?"
Glenn nodded warily. "That's me."
"Come with me, sir, Colonel Baxter wants to see you." This Baxter fellow must have been the leader of this outfit, Glenn figured. When the kid he was speaking with began walking down one of the hallways, the Green Earth pilot had no choice but to follow him like a dog. He wasn't about to stay here and get a tan, he wanted to get back to where he belonged.
Soon, he was in the office of Colonel Troy Baxter. The first thing that popped into Glenn Gordon's mind when he saw the Colonel was that the man needed a shave, quite badly at that. It also looked as though a bath couldn't hurt.
"Mr. Gordon, it's good to finally meet you."
"You too," Glenn lied. He wanted to leave the Orange Star base whether the people in it wanted to help him or not.
"I saw your picture on the tele, kid. You're the missing pilot everyone's been talking about on the news." He had been on the news? That was certainly interesting. When he had joined the air force, he had never even thought about this little thing called fame, even less of medals and the like. He was in the air force to fly some planes and kick some butt, not get famous and recieve decorations. He had to admit, though, getting his wings formally planted on his uniform by the leader of flight school had been nice.
Glenn got right to the point with his next message, surprising the Colonel a good deal. "Is there any way I can get back to the Clinton airbase as fast as possible?"
"Well, now, don't be so impatient, boy. We're doing what we can to get you moving to Green Earth. We're sending some APCs and recon trucks over there to deliver some supplies to those boys anyway. Maybe they can drop you off at Clinton."
So he was going home, or going to what he felt was a home sometimes. It had been about bloody time, too. "When are they leaving?"
"0800 hours, tomorrow morning, son. 'Til then... you can sleep in the barracks with the other Orange Star fighters. And make sure you get a good night's rest, those guys leave at eight, sharp." Glenn stood before the Colonel a few moments more. "Thank you." He then nodded slightly and anxiously exited the office.
It had taken him nearly half an hour to even find the barracks. As small a base it was, it had proved simple to get lost with all the hustle and bustle going on around him. He had asked nearly a dozen people were the barracks were and he just kept getting more lost and lost until he finally just stumbled into what he thought were the restrooms of the base.
Now, he was lying on a bunk, waiting for himself to doze off. Unfortunately, it probably wouldn't be such an easy thing to do, seeing as how the Orange Star soldiers were just as knowledgable on having a good time no matter the hour as Dario Yossarian was.
Glenn Gordon grabbed his pillow and pushed it around his head, trying to get at least some peace in his ears, gritting his teeth angrily, but finally the soldiers all quieted down after a little while. When he was finally drifting towards sleep, he fully expected the irritating face of Dario to come barging in suddenly, yelling like a banshee about something that was of the littlest signifigance Glenn could ever imagine. Instead, when he was approximately half a second from falling into sleep, something startled him a great deal. Gunfire, and lots of it, too.
Oh no, he immediately thought. His chances of getting home were almost completely torn apart as he listened to the continuing machine gun rounds. Around him, the Orange Star soldiers were all flailing around like goofs, trying to put on their helmets and pants at the same time. They couldn't quite get to their guns yet, either. But outside, there was a different story. Orange Star forces were already engaging the attacking Blue Moon infantry heading towards them from the east.
Glenn jumped out of bed, almost looking for all the world like a kangaroo on springs, and dashed towards the exit of the barracks, growling and grumbling not-so-nice things to himself. Of all the driven luck, here he was, so close to successfully reporting back to his stationed base after all the bull he had gone through, and now the chances of even leaving this place were slim thanks to those complete morons outside in the blue outfits!
Not to mention, thanks to the complete morons outside in the blue battle copters and blue tanks that were now coming up from behind the completely moronic blue suited folk from the east towards the Orange Star base of operations. He had to get out of here, and fast. Out of the base, away from this damn fight. He had already seen one earlier, he wasn't about to become a victim of this war, especially after looking death in the eye and slapping it with a glove inside a falling plane.
He was now outside, still in his Green Earth aviation suit. He hadn't even remembered to take the damned thing off before he had hit the sack.
Orange Star soldiers all rushed by him, toting their machine guns in their arms, many of them yelling like maniacs and others quiet as chameleons. Instead of heading for wherever they were all going, Glenn wisely took off in the opposite direction. A few seconds into his run, he spotted the APC he had come into the base in, and he somehow allowed himself to smile.
That is, until the APC was blown in half a tank round.
Now, Orange Star troopers were running by him, these ones carrying bazookas. Much needed bazookas. Glenn Gordon had absolutely no idea what he was supposed to be doing. He sure as the sun wasn't going to stay and fight these Blue Moon pinheads, he was a Green Earth soldier for crying out loud. Fighting alongside Orange Star in a battle such as this would look just plain wierd, anyway.
But then, something almost magical. The APCs and recon units he was supposed to leave with the next morning were preparing to leave now! Like lightning, he sped off for the pack, away from the battle.
At the group of APCs and recon trucks, a soldier was busy yelling orders all around him to the APC drivers and recon units. He sounded so much like what Glenn Gordon had imagined to be one's drill sergeant in boot camp. "Hurry up with the wounded and the Green Earth supplies, men!" They were obviously in a hurry, no doubt due to the ensuing battle on the other side of the dark base.
"Hey," Glenn called to the soldier, having to yell in order to be heard over the battle sounds. "You guys going to Green Earth?"
He got a nod from the soldier still barking orders in response. "Then I'm going with you."
"Ohh," the soldier turned, now giving Gordon his full attention. "You're that dogmeat from Green Earth who almost got his ass burned away over Blue Moon!"
Dogmeat?
"Sure, you can come with us, boy. We have to use the APCs for the wounded and supplies, though, but you can hitch a ride in one of the recon trucks." The soldier gave him a nod and a quick wink before he began yelling and cursing at the soldiers like a truck driver who were all irritatedly working at getting the orders completed. Glenn Gordon instantly went into a rush over towards one of the orange colored trucks that already had someone at the wheel and another soldier out of the roof, holding the machine gun that was actually part of the vehicle.
"I'm coming with you guys."
The soldier at the wheel just gave him a mild shrug. "Hop in, then."
Well, that had been easy. Gordon grinned and quickly slipped around to the other side of the truck, and slid into the passenger's seat inside, shutting the door and instantly buckling his safety belts afterwards.
They didn't get moving as quickly as he had previously hoped, though. The Orange Star troops were still loading into the APCs. The battle sounds on the other side of the base showed no signs of slowing down. "Damn it, how long is this going to take?"
"Probably a minute or so more, hold your horses, Green."
He sighed impatiently, closing his eyes, praying the long line of APCs and recon trucks would get moving very soon.
Finally, after what seemed like hours to Glenn and seconds to most everyone else, the trucks began moving at a quick pace. They all rolled away from the base that was only now being massively stormed by Blue Moon infantry. It had been a very, very close call for Orange Star. Too bad, too, they had lost this battle, apparently.
He let loose his breath which he had been holding for the last minute or so. He was safe, again, or so he thought. Now, he didn't even know safety when it smacked him upside the head and cursed him out. There he had been in a peaceful little Orange Star base when everything suddenly went "to the boiler room" as his superiors put it.
He sighed, and slumped down in the seat, crossing his arms as the long line of Orange Star trucks rolled along.
-IV-
---
The Orange Star APCs finally rolled into the designated base of operations late at night, probably near midnight, as Glenn figured. He wasn't wearing a watch or anything of the sort, but nightfall had fallen upon them hours before. He had secretly peeked out the back of the APC he was riding in although Orange Star regulations told it had to be closed at all times while the vehicle was moving. When they finally arrived, he couldn't help but wonder just how late it was.
The APCs chugged up to a space where their engines died. A slew of orange- clad soldiers and medics came sliding out of all of the vehicles, attempting to get the wounded into shelter where they could be treated properly. Glenn Gordon stepped out of the one he had been in and looked around. It was a rather lively base, despite the hour. Orange Star personel were still rushing about going every which way he could see. The attack on Blue Moon in the neutral city had been an important one, obviously.
He pondered where the base exactly was. He had no idea if he was in Orange Star or Blue Moon territory now. After examining his surroundings from his spot, he began walking towards what he thought was the base's command center. It was simple to tell, seeing as how most of the people around him were coming in and out of its doors. As he stepped through the doors of the base's apparent command center, someone instantly came up at a brisk pace to meet him. "Glenn Gordon? Of Green Earth?"
Glenn nodded warily. "That's me."
"Come with me, sir, Colonel Baxter wants to see you." This Baxter fellow must have been the leader of this outfit, Glenn figured. When the kid he was speaking with began walking down one of the hallways, the Green Earth pilot had no choice but to follow him like a dog. He wasn't about to stay here and get a tan, he wanted to get back to where he belonged.
Soon, he was in the office of Colonel Troy Baxter. The first thing that popped into Glenn Gordon's mind when he saw the Colonel was that the man needed a shave, quite badly at that. It also looked as though a bath couldn't hurt.
"Mr. Gordon, it's good to finally meet you."
"You too," Glenn lied. He wanted to leave the Orange Star base whether the people in it wanted to help him or not.
"I saw your picture on the tele, kid. You're the missing pilot everyone's been talking about on the news." He had been on the news? That was certainly interesting. When he had joined the air force, he had never even thought about this little thing called fame, even less of medals and the like. He was in the air force to fly some planes and kick some butt, not get famous and recieve decorations. He had to admit, though, getting his wings formally planted on his uniform by the leader of flight school had been nice.
Glenn got right to the point with his next message, surprising the Colonel a good deal. "Is there any way I can get back to the Clinton airbase as fast as possible?"
"Well, now, don't be so impatient, boy. We're doing what we can to get you moving to Green Earth. We're sending some APCs and recon trucks over there to deliver some supplies to those boys anyway. Maybe they can drop you off at Clinton."
So he was going home, or going to what he felt was a home sometimes. It had been about bloody time, too. "When are they leaving?"
"0800 hours, tomorrow morning, son. 'Til then... you can sleep in the barracks with the other Orange Star fighters. And make sure you get a good night's rest, those guys leave at eight, sharp." Glenn stood before the Colonel a few moments more. "Thank you." He then nodded slightly and anxiously exited the office.
It had taken him nearly half an hour to even find the barracks. As small a base it was, it had proved simple to get lost with all the hustle and bustle going on around him. He had asked nearly a dozen people were the barracks were and he just kept getting more lost and lost until he finally just stumbled into what he thought were the restrooms of the base.
Now, he was lying on a bunk, waiting for himself to doze off. Unfortunately, it probably wouldn't be such an easy thing to do, seeing as how the Orange Star soldiers were just as knowledgable on having a good time no matter the hour as Dario Yossarian was.
Glenn Gordon grabbed his pillow and pushed it around his head, trying to get at least some peace in his ears, gritting his teeth angrily, but finally the soldiers all quieted down after a little while. When he was finally drifting towards sleep, he fully expected the irritating face of Dario to come barging in suddenly, yelling like a banshee about something that was of the littlest signifigance Glenn could ever imagine. Instead, when he was approximately half a second from falling into sleep, something startled him a great deal. Gunfire, and lots of it, too.
Oh no, he immediately thought. His chances of getting home were almost completely torn apart as he listened to the continuing machine gun rounds. Around him, the Orange Star soldiers were all flailing around like goofs, trying to put on their helmets and pants at the same time. They couldn't quite get to their guns yet, either. But outside, there was a different story. Orange Star forces were already engaging the attacking Blue Moon infantry heading towards them from the east.
Glenn jumped out of bed, almost looking for all the world like a kangaroo on springs, and dashed towards the exit of the barracks, growling and grumbling not-so-nice things to himself. Of all the driven luck, here he was, so close to successfully reporting back to his stationed base after all the bull he had gone through, and now the chances of even leaving this place were slim thanks to those complete morons outside in the blue outfits!
Not to mention, thanks to the complete morons outside in the blue battle copters and blue tanks that were now coming up from behind the completely moronic blue suited folk from the east towards the Orange Star base of operations. He had to get out of here, and fast. Out of the base, away from this damn fight. He had already seen one earlier, he wasn't about to become a victim of this war, especially after looking death in the eye and slapping it with a glove inside a falling plane.
He was now outside, still in his Green Earth aviation suit. He hadn't even remembered to take the damned thing off before he had hit the sack.
Orange Star soldiers all rushed by him, toting their machine guns in their arms, many of them yelling like maniacs and others quiet as chameleons. Instead of heading for wherever they were all going, Glenn wisely took off in the opposite direction. A few seconds into his run, he spotted the APC he had come into the base in, and he somehow allowed himself to smile.
That is, until the APC was blown in half a tank round.
Now, Orange Star troopers were running by him, these ones carrying bazookas. Much needed bazookas. Glenn Gordon had absolutely no idea what he was supposed to be doing. He sure as the sun wasn't going to stay and fight these Blue Moon pinheads, he was a Green Earth soldier for crying out loud. Fighting alongside Orange Star in a battle such as this would look just plain wierd, anyway.
But then, something almost magical. The APCs and recon units he was supposed to leave with the next morning were preparing to leave now! Like lightning, he sped off for the pack, away from the battle.
At the group of APCs and recon trucks, a soldier was busy yelling orders all around him to the APC drivers and recon units. He sounded so much like what Glenn Gordon had imagined to be one's drill sergeant in boot camp. "Hurry up with the wounded and the Green Earth supplies, men!" They were obviously in a hurry, no doubt due to the ensuing battle on the other side of the dark base.
"Hey," Glenn called to the soldier, having to yell in order to be heard over the battle sounds. "You guys going to Green Earth?"
He got a nod from the soldier still barking orders in response. "Then I'm going with you."
"Ohh," the soldier turned, now giving Gordon his full attention. "You're that dogmeat from Green Earth who almost got his ass burned away over Blue Moon!"
Dogmeat?
"Sure, you can come with us, boy. We have to use the APCs for the wounded and supplies, though, but you can hitch a ride in one of the recon trucks." The soldier gave him a nod and a quick wink before he began yelling and cursing at the soldiers like a truck driver who were all irritatedly working at getting the orders completed. Glenn Gordon instantly went into a rush over towards one of the orange colored trucks that already had someone at the wheel and another soldier out of the roof, holding the machine gun that was actually part of the vehicle.
"I'm coming with you guys."
The soldier at the wheel just gave him a mild shrug. "Hop in, then."
Well, that had been easy. Gordon grinned and quickly slipped around to the other side of the truck, and slid into the passenger's seat inside, shutting the door and instantly buckling his safety belts afterwards.
They didn't get moving as quickly as he had previously hoped, though. The Orange Star troops were still loading into the APCs. The battle sounds on the other side of the base showed no signs of slowing down. "Damn it, how long is this going to take?"
"Probably a minute or so more, hold your horses, Green."
He sighed impatiently, closing his eyes, praying the long line of APCs and recon trucks would get moving very soon.
Finally, after what seemed like hours to Glenn and seconds to most everyone else, the trucks began moving at a quick pace. They all rolled away from the base that was only now being massively stormed by Blue Moon infantry. It had been a very, very close call for Orange Star. Too bad, too, they had lost this battle, apparently.
He let loose his breath which he had been holding for the last minute or so. He was safe, again, or so he thought. Now, he didn't even know safety when it smacked him upside the head and cursed him out. There he had been in a peaceful little Orange Star base when everything suddenly went "to the boiler room" as his superiors put it.
He sighed, and slumped down in the seat, crossing his arms as the long line of Orange Star trucks rolled along.