Chapter 7

Said and Done

It shouldn't have been this easy, Athos thought. Seven fully loaded cargo aircraft landing in the middle of a Yuktobanian plain, without attracting attention of the enemy, was an unbelievable feat if not an outright miracle.

Exhausted and fatigued the Flamin' Angels and their new arrivals worked into the early morning. After all the hard work, six AH-64D helicopters with support equipment were unloaded onto the sprawling flat open field. Against the early morning sun the helicopters looked like strange and terrible metal beasts designed to obliterate troops and armored behemoths known as tanks. Silently, they waited to wreak death and destruction upon the land.

More paratroopers were expected to drop in, within the next couple of hours. But the boys of Echo still had to tend to guard duty around the new base, which they affectionately dubbed the barnyard, a tribute to the red barn that sat atop the hill. The helicopters and aircraft sat in the Yuktobanian plain like grazing cattle. Echo Company stood lonely, watching and waiting for an enemy, that most guessed, just decided to pack up and leave. But regardless of what the Yuktobanians decided to do, Athos was sure that his First Squadders remained alert.

"All that work to get six lousy helicopters out here." A patrolling Wilkes yawned looking towards the base.

"Six helicopters that can back you're a$$ up when Yukes start swarming around." Jenkins replied rubbing his eyes.

"You think anyone heard those planes last night?"

"Uh… Yeah. My heads still ringing from all that noise."

"Well besides you hearing bells ringing. You think any Yukes saw us?"

"If they did, I didn't see 'em."

"Thank goodness. 'Cause I certainly don't feel like fighting."

"What? You scared or something?"

"I didn't say I was scared. I just said that I don't feel like fighting."

"By fighting, do you mean the war, or just fighting in general? There's a difference y'know."

"If kicking your a$$ qualifies as fighting, then I don't mind. But killing another human being, I'm not so fond of."

"First of all you could never kick my a$$." Jenkins laughed.

"But incase you didn't know, none of us are fond of killing people."

"Then why in the hell did we enlist?"

Jenkins and Wilkes stopped just short of the red barn.

"Listen buddy. I enlisted to defend my country. Isn't that why you joined up?"

"Kinda."

"Hey, c'mon Wilkes. It ain't like we're gonna be mowing down innocent civilians here. If we kill anyone its gonna be a Yuke soldier."

"But those guys could be fathers, brothers, sons, just like us. So what gives us the right to take their lives?"

"No one gave us that right. That's why people don't fight wars everyday. Even though you and me haven't taken anyone's life, I know and you know that we don't look at the enemy like that."

"I know, they're simply obstacles that need to be eliminated." Wilkes quipped.

"And we're told to leave it at that. I mean when guns are blazing and people are getting shot at, you can't humanize the enemy. You kill him so you can live another day. At least that's how I look at it." Jenkins explained.

"Okay man. I understand that just as much as you. It's just… That… Really, I just want to get this whole war done and over with. I don't wanna kill anyone and I don't wanna see any of us get hurt."

"Same here. But how do you think the Sarge would explain this to ya? The killing sucks, yes it does. But if you're not going to fight for your country, then at least fight for the guy beside ya, because when sh!t hits the fan, that's all you got out there."

"Good to know you got my back out there."

"Hey, don't mention it. Now lets continue this patrolling the barnyard for weasels."

"Yessir!" Wilkes replied with a smile and mocking salute.

Wilkes and Jenkins continued along their monotonous patrol. Meanwhile, Myers and Addison were admiring some finer members of the Osean Army.

"Y'know, if we weren't at war right now, I'd get her number." Andersen said looking towards an Osean helicopter pilot.

"One things for sure, I wouldn't mind her using my joystick."

"Hold up Myers. You gotta an old lady back home and if anyone, I'm supposed to be making comments like that."

"Okay, I didn't mean to say that. She's probably a smart, caring… Sexy, woman."

"Now I see why you can't keep a girlfriend." Addison joked.

"What? Can I please admire a beautiful woman?"

"Excuse me, gentlemen. But can you point me to Captain Schneider?" A female voice said.

Both men looked. It was the female helicopter pilot. They gawked for a second at the attractive woman. Though not startlingly beautiful, she was pretty enough to attract the attention of most men, especially Myers and Addison. Her slender body and fine features were hidden underneath her olive green flight suit. But her most surprising feature was her nice full lips.

"Well, are you two just gonna gawk or help me out." She replied with a smile.

Addison was the first to snap out of his fantasizing. His eyes widened upon seeing she was a Lieutenant. Not wanting to get yelled out he made a crisp, sharp salute

"Oh, sorry ma'am we were just admiring the sunrise for a second." Addison quickly apologized.

Addison kicked Myers, who dutifully saluted.

"Sorry ma'am. Yeah, he's over there."

"The captain should be on top of that hill, next to the red barn." Addison directed.

"Thank you, gentlemen." She said with a smile.

"No problem Lieutenant Ortiz." Both men replied in unison.

The helicopter pilot laughed and shook her head.

"Dude, she totally wants me." Addison exclaimed.

"You're wrong there buddy. She's mine." Myers replied bravely.

"Well, hey. At least I didn't forget to salute. While I was being a gentlemen, you were busy staring at her chest." Addison bragged.

"Bullsh!t! Like you weren't?" Myers laughed.

"Umhmm." Someone said.

"Damn. Bosshog's here." Addison said.

"Hey Sarge. We were just assisting the helicopter pilots with directions." Myers tried to explain.

"Nice try you two. But you're fooling no one." Athos said.

"Besides you two wouldn't stand a chance with Ortiz. Enlisted never date officers. You know that."

"Aren't you enlisted sir?" Addison asked trying to be smart.

"Yes I am, Corporal. But in case you didn't know, Ortiz likes guys with brains." Athos smiled.

"Oh great, now we gotta contend with the Sarge." Myers said.

"Yes you do. But for now I got a job for you two. The Captain wants two more men posted up at the barn."

"What? You expect us to do that." Myers said.

"Well Addison certainly can't do it by himself. Get a move on you two. Hoo oh!"

"Hoo oh!" Addison and Myers replied running toward the hill.

"Kids." Athos laughed.

Andersen, Blake, and James were given lookout duty. They were lying in the grass, looking for enemies behind a pair of binoculars. The tall blades of grass rustled as a light breeze blew by from time to time.

"I saw a hawk." Andersen said.

"Really. Let me guess you also saw a fox holding a machine gun and grenades?" James asked angrily.

"No. But thanks for reminding me. I'll be sure to keep a look out for it." Andersen replied sarcastically.

James sighed, "You see anything Blake?"

Blake didn't answer.

"Blake? You see anything?" James asked again.

He looked over at Blake whose face was lying in the dirt. For a moment, James thought the worse. But then he realized Blake had simply fallen asleep.

"The genius fell asleep again." James said.

"Long night huh. Guess you gotta wake him up."

James elbowed his fellow paratrooper in the side. Shortly afterwards, Blake scrambled awake.

"Huh? What?" Blake asked looking around.

"You fell asleep again." James said.

"Now get behind those pair of binoculars and look out for the enemy."

"Oh sorry about that." Blake yawned.

"Won't happen again."

"Yeah right." Andersen whispered.

"Say, James, you think they're waiting for us?"

"Who? The Yukes?" James asked.

"Yeah. 'Cause there's no way our little operation could have gone unnoticed last night."

"It's possible, but they obviously didn't show themselves last night."

"Scares the hell outta me." Blake said.

"Just the fact that our enemy could be hiding in the shadows spooks me."

"Me too." Andersen said quietly.

"C'mon guys it isn't like the Yukes are ghosts, right?" James countered nervously.

"But ghosts just scare the sh!t outta ya. They don't kill you." Blake replied.

"Unless you're an old man. Heart attacks." Andersen joked.

"Let's just stop talking about the enemy. I can't concentrate." James said.

"Good idea." Andersen quickly replied.

"Don't hear me complaining." Blake added.

With that said, the three paratroopers kept on the look out for an enemy they couldn't see. They were worried and it was quite obvious in their conversation. To some, the peace felt like the ominous calm before the storm. Only time would tell when that storm would arrive, a portentous time that no one was looking forward to.