Hector did sleep the entire four hours and forty four minutes to Romania, he had been really tired and didn't sleep well the night before because he was so busy making sure everything was ready for the deployment. It was on him to make sure the guns were ready, the vests, and helmets too. He spent most of his day at Fort Striker doing just that and Tallon, along with Inferno helped him out to get it done faster. They weren't hard things to do-there was just a lot of it. When they deployed, they went in full gear in case of attack upon landing. They went with guns at the ready, but usually didn't put their vests or helmets on until after the layover. Hector had to make sure there was enough for everyone, make sure the guns were working properly, had been cleaned. He had to ensure so many things as company leader and it was stressful for him. He had constant headaches and chest pains from it all but Tallon was there for him as he promised he would be. Tallon was so many things to him: lover, best friend, battle buddy, second in command. The two had never been closer after Hector's break down a month prior to shipping out for the third tour.
The total layover was three hours before boarding once more, doing another roll call, then continuing the flight to Afghanistan. They landed around 3:15pm, Afghanistan time, thankfully there was no issues on landing either. When the pilot announced that it was wheels down-the back hatch opened and Hector was out first to see a man standing with caramel brown hair on the short on top, faded on the sides and back, he also had hazel eyes but more on the green side instead of brown. The man stood at six foot two inches, looked to weigh about two hundred and ten pounds. Hector had to assume this man was the Lieutenant Colonel in charge of the Ember Fire Battalion.
"You company leader?" he asked firmly as the engines began to slow and power down.
"Yes sir," Hector replied firmly.
"Kinda young to be a Major, but I've heard good things about you, Mr. Haddock. I hope I get to witness some of it. Welcome to Afghanistan. Twenty minutes from here is Camp Lightning Strike, home of the Ember Fire Battalion. I'm Caleb Steele, Battalion leader." Caleb introduced with a hand out, Hector took it and gave it a shake with a nod. "Get your soldiers unloaded and we'll get to base, I'll finish tellin' ya everything when we get there," he added.
"Understood," Hector nodded as he he faced his soldiers who were still on the plane and awaiting orders, "Alright Nightwave! File out, fall in by platoon with leaders at the front!" he commanded.
"Yes Major Haddock!" they replied and began filing off with their bags, backpacks, and guns into groups by their platoon. This didn't take long for them to do since Hector had them sitting according to platoon even since Romania to make things easier on himself. After ten minutes all of them stood 'at ease' awaiting orders.
"Looks like one platoon is a leader short," Caleb mentioned pointing to Dragon who didn't have anyone standing in front of them.
"I'm their leader, Lieutenant Colonel," Hector stated now.
"But your company leader. Each platoon is supposed to have a leader who reports to you while stay on base while they are on missions," Caleb said.
"Yeah, no. That's not happening." Hector informed him.
"But it...doesn't work that way, Major Haddock. You stay on base and stay upda-" he was cut off by Hector's glare.
"Maybe you didn't hear me the first time, allow me to reiterate for you what I said," Hector began firmly and the others bit back a bit. Hector was never one to go back on protocol, it was true that his company went out and did missions or guards but he was supposed to stay on base and command from there. Hector wasn't a sit back and command guy, he was a get right in it guy and they all knew that-but nothing shocked them more than seeing him talk back to a commanding officer. "That's. Not. Happening. I don't care if I'm supposed to stay on base and be updated by them. I refuse to sit back in the safety and protection of the base when my soldiers are out there with their lives on the line. If my soldiers have to stay up for twenty hours on guard, then so will I. If my soldiers go into battle, then so will I. If my soldiers go on a dangerous mission into enemy territory, then so will I. If my soldiers have to risk their lives out there, then so will I. I might be commander of the Nightwave company, but I also command the Dragon platoon, Where my soldiers go, I go. So you do your job and I will do mine. Have I made myself clear, Lieutenant Colonel Steele?"
"Yes, Major Haddock. My apologies for upsetting you," Caleb replied nodding.
"Good. I hope we don't have to have this discussion again. Now then, I believe we should be getting a move on to base," Hector crossed his arms over his chest. "As we are...sitting ducks out here in the middle of the airfield," he added.
"Of course. Right this way, it's a quick walk." Caleb informed motioning the way they were going. They all began walking towards the base, while walking-Lieutenant Colonel Steele explained that the barrack were set up by platoon, meaning they were co-ed. This didn't sit with some people but they'd deal with it. Each barrack had forty eight beds, then one bathroom with ten showers, toilets, and sinks. Also, they were sharing their area with the Americans-also fine because they'd worked together before in Iraq. They got dropped off at their spot and Caleb left them to get settled. Dragon platoon took A barrack like always and he looked around it, needed serious upgrading but what could he do about it? They'd all just have to suck it up and deal.
"So what's the plan, Major?" asked Amber from Howler unit.
"I don't know yet just...grab a bunk and start unpacking. I got shit to figure out," Hector mumbled making his way towards the door of the barrack-he and Tallon always took the bed closest to it since in the event of an attack, he was out first to survey the situation.
"U-um...Major?" came Suzie's voice.
"Yes?" Hector faced her.
"You're...not afraid of bats, are you?" she inquired.
"I'm not really afraid of anything anymore with some of the shit I've seen, so no. What's the problem?" he asked her, she motioned to under one of the top bunks. Hector walked over towards it looked under-there was a small bat hanging upside down there. "It's just a baby, they like the dark...it won't bother you."
"Well I don't want it there when I'm sleeping so can you move it?" asked Melanie who was going to be taking bottom bunk obviously. Hector rolled his eyes as he moved towards it but it tried to fly away, Hector noticed it couldn't due to a hurt wing. It flopped to the ground hard as he felt bad, it was likely trying to heal. Hector pulled a pack of saltines from his pocket and broke one in half as he crouched down near it after having everyone stay quiet.
"Hey, it's okay, little guy...I won't hurt ya," Hector said offering it the cracker. The bat seemed to stop and looked at him, then the cracker. "Come on, it's alright..." he tried again, the bat moved closer to him curiously and sniffing. Hector placed it down and pulled his hand back as it started nibbling at the cracker. When it was finished it seemed to be looking for more, "Still hungry, huh?" Hector grabbed the other half and offered it to the bat, which circled Hector's hand a bit before getting in his palm and starting to eat again-it even started licking his fingers. Hector used one of his other fingers to rub the top of the bat's head and it started to squeak a bit. Hector stood up now smiling and walked it over to his bed and set it down but it refused to let go of him.
"Seems like you made a new friend," Tallon chuckled a bit.
"Curse me and my kind nature, reminds me...of Luna in a way..." Hector sighed a bit but kept the smile. The bat started nibbling his finger, "Hey, ow. Don't bite the hand that feeds you," he said and the bat stopped, now licking his finger again as Hector grabbed the other cracker from the pack and set it in his palm as the bat started eating again. The bat began to wander his hand, then arm, lap, up on his shoulder too. Hector thought it was adorable when it tried to get into his backpack, "Something in there you find interesting?" the bat came back out a moment later with a small piece of fabric in it's mouth. "Found my blanket piece," Hector chuckled some.
"Blanket piece?" Evan asked.
"Yeah. It was originally a full blue and black fleece blanket that my Mema sewed for me when I was little. Loved it until someone decided to ruin it..." Hector glared at Darius.
"I was having a bad day," Darius mumbled.
"Then destroy your shit, not mine..." Hector huffed, "That was kind of the last piece of my grandmother I had..." he added as he took the blanket piece and laid it flat, the bat seemed to lie down on it and snuggle up, "You like it that much?" the bat rolled itself around in it squeaking with delight. Hector picked it up carefully and moved towards his and Tallon's closet, he set the blanket down in the back corner of the lowest shelf then dug through his bag and found two small metal cups. He filled one half way with water, then the other with another two crackers that were broken up into smaller pieces. "There ya go. Little spot to heal up,"
"Wait, it's staying in here?" asked Melanie.
"It's not hurting anyone. It's wing is hurt...not gonna leave the poor thing to die. Everyone should have the chance to live their life. Human or animal," Hector smiled some.
"One of the many things I love about you," Tallon smiled and kissed his cheek before they started working on unpacking their things, Hector was careful not to disturb the bat sleeping there. Around 5:30, it was all done and everyone was settled-he was lying on his bed relaxing when he felt like he was surrounded by people. "Is it necessary to crowd me?" he asked.
"So...song, please?" Ryan asked now. Hector sat up with a groan as he reached under his bed and grabbed his guitar case and pulled it up onto his bed and opened it.
"Pains in my ass, all of you..." Hector grumbled.
"Not yet I'm not," Tallon snickered.
"Tallon!" Hector blushed furiously and smacked his forehead in defeat.
"I'm kidding, babe," Tallon leaned in to kiss him but the stopped when the small bat glided over and sat on Hector's shoulder, squeaking at Tallon with his teeth bore. "And here I thought I was your protector. I got replaced by a bat,"
"Hey, relax there, Fang. Tal wouldn't hurt me..." Hector rubbed under the bat's chin and he relaxed. "Huh...Fang, that's what I'll call ya from now on. Sound good?" the bat nuzzled against his cheek. "No one can replace you, baby," Hector pulled Tallon down by his collar and kissed him deeply just as Lieutenant Colonel Steele came in and blinked a bit.
"Two questions," he began.
"Yes, Tallon and I are in a relationship, also yes that there is a baby bat on my shoulder." Hector answered before he could finish asking.
"Well that wraps that up. Came by to see how you were settling?" Caleb asked.
"All set now, so are the others." Hector replied with a nod.
"Wonderful then. Dinner is being served in the chow hall for Nightwave and Destroyer Companies." Caleb offered a smile.
"Alright soldiers, let's go eat." he ordered and they began to get ready. He headed outside with the others, the rest of his company lined up and ready as well while moving to the chow tent.
(Chow Hall)
It was just like it was in Iraq, everyone sitting around with their friends and eating dinner happily. The fact they were in a war zone didn't seem to phase anyone in the slightest which was fine with Hector-they didn't have to be serious all the time, made the time go by slower. And yet Hector still hadn't heard word on how long they were there for. Somehow, Hector got roped into bringing his guitar because the Lieutenant Colonel suggested there be entertainment of some sort and the guys just casually mentioned Hector was an amazing singer. Hector gave in and just said fuck it, he knew he wouldn't get out of it or Tallon would start pleading with the eyes Hector couldn't resist. He would play after dinner though-he knew his platoon enjoyed it, they were the ones that gave him the guitar after all.
"So what are you going to sing tonight?" Tallon asked him.
Hector shrugged slightly, "I don't know," Hector shrugged some.
"Any new stuff?" Evan asked.
"Few things but nothing finished," Hector sighed some.
"Well do something you've finished, you've got hundreds. I've seen that folder. We can help you pick something," Thaxter offered. Hector opened his laptop as the logon screen came up, a picture of him and Tallon kissing on their bed. Hector typed in the password, opened the folder up and let them look through them all.
"Babe?" Tallon asked, "What's with the folder labeled: Suicidal?"
"Folder that no one was supposed to find...how did you?" Hector moved to the laptop now-this was something he kept locked and it wasn't supposed to be mixed with the others. Hector stared at it minute and clicked it open. A bunch of songs came up labeled different things: Last Resort, Bleed It Out, Scars, In The End, Monster, How Could This Happen To Me, Welcome To My Life, Crazy, etc. Hector put his fingers on CTRL and A, then everything highlighted as he hit DEL. A loading bar came up as it said deleting files, it hit 100% then Hector closed the window and went to the Recyclable Bin, he right clicked it permanently deleted them from the computer.
"Why'd you get rid of them, they are your songs..." Viktor asked.
"Those aren't meant to be to be heard by others. And now they never will be." Hector stated firmly.
"But-" they began as Hector's eyes narrowed.
"Drop it now," he stated closing the laptop, "that's an order," Hector got his guitar case by the handle, his laptop under his arm, gun slung around his back as he walked down the table and out of the tent. Everyone looked at Tallon now and then horn blowing, it went off a second time not even ten seconds later and then there was a loud explosion.
"Hector!" Tallon grabbed his gun and rushed out.
"Battle stations!" Caleb ordered. Tallon got outside first and sat that they were be attacked directly by enemies, Hector along with a pretty big group of others were already engaged in hand to hand combat. Tallon clipped his helmet in place as he ran over to help him.
"What the heck happened?!" Tallon asked as he shot his gun and hit an enemy running towards them in the leg.
"Fuck if I know. I came outside, I was walking to the barrack and then the horn signal-we got attacked right away!" Hector explained pulling his handgun from it's holster on his left leg and firing three time at three separate enemies. Two in the head, another in the heart. "Man that's a big group," Hector panted hard.
"Are you alright?" Tallon asked quickly looking over him to make sure he wasn't hurt.
"Yeah...I got...hit in the chest while fighting...I'm...okay...but you know it can act up if hit too hard," Hector panted some as he saw another enemy coming at them-he raised his gun and knocked him right out with the butt of it.
"Can you still fight?" Caleb asked reaching them now.
"I'm good. Let's just get this over with. We just fighting or you got some kind of counter planned?" Hector asked him as he took the safety off his M16. "Hey! No time to freeze on me!" he scolded when Caleb didn't answer.
"Push them back, we can't use big weapons on base-too many people could be hurt!" Caleb ordered.
"Got it. Tal, where are the guys?" Hector asked quickly.
"Right here, Major! Where you want us?" Thaxter asked rushing up with the other three. Hector stopped a moment, thinking how to handle this. Being attacked by at least two hundred and fifty enemy soldiers, two companies present to fight-they were pretty even but the Battalion might have just a little bit more. Hector saw another enemy come close with his knife drawn. Hector crouched down and used his leg to sweep the guy onto his back-the enemy kicked Hector down and pounced him in a pin.
"Hec!" Tal yelled to him worried when the enemy had his hands around Hector's throat, trying to choke him out. "Don't move!"
"I got...it!" Hector called back as he lifted his knee and hit the soldier in the balls, then pushed him up slightly and shot him in between the eyes. Hector coughed to catch his breath while rolling to the side a bit when Tallon knelt beside him.
"Are you okay!?" he asked quickly.
"Y-yeah...I'm fine..." Hector said forcing himself to his feet with Tallon's help. Hector flipped the radio switch to the number three-the one that would let him contact all members of Nightwave since they all had a radio earpiece connected. It wasn't a two way radio but they'd be able to hear an order.
{Nightwave! Take up your positions for black out onslaught formation. Lieutenant Colonel Steele, black out the camp!}
{Have you lost your mind! That is the worst thing to do, we black out and we're dead!} That was Caleb's reply.
{You said you were looking forward to what I got? Then trust me! Black out the camp on my signal and have everyone shut the hell up.}
{I hope to Odin you know what you are doing...Awaiting your signal then. Over and out.}
Hector looked around as his soldiers were pulling back and getting ready.
{Wolf in position, Major Haddock}
{Bear ready as well, Major}
{Same for Lion, sir.}
Hector looked around, the enemies seemed confused and acting more cautious.
{Now, Steele!}
Within seconds, the whole camp went dark. Hector knew there was a power switch in each area to flip off everything. Steele would of already informed the rest of the Brigade so they didn't try to flip it back on. Hector had on his night vision goggles and he knew the others did too. This was the formation, in black out onslaught, they were invisible to enemies but enemies not invisible to them. "That's it, you mother fuckers...play right into it," Hector whispered watching closely as the enemies began to step back some-the didn't know what was going on and that was Hector's plan. Confuse them, make them rethink their idea, then hit him hard. The fun part was their area of the base was close to the front lines, once they stepped back far enough and were out of base, Hector would set the next phase in motion.
Hector listened to the soldiers talking, he knew the language-he made it a point to study it closely for situations just like these. As soon as he heard them say let's get out of here, Hector grinned but still waited. He needed them back far enough so no one would get caught in blasts or destroy the camp. After twenty minutes and he saw the distance they were from camp he was ready.
{Steele, on the signal-light it up. Nightwave, ten from each platoon throw smoke grenades to throw them off, five each throw flashers, fifteen each follow with frags. The rest of you move to base line, stay down, and use your guns.}
{This will never work, Major. Once they realize they are being attacked they will just break out their RPG's again! We've done this before.}
{You haven't done it my way. Trust me, Lieutenant Colonel...I know what I'm doing.}
{I trust you, Major but-}
{If you trust me, prove it to me and follow the plan. On my signal...the rest of you get ready. Lights go on, follow the order of grenades. Smokers, flashers, then frags. In that order-give one another a ten second leeway before the next line throws. Shooters start firing after the smokers go off.}
Hector looked back towards the slow, cautious, retreating enemy soldiers.
{Lights on...NOW!}
In moments, the lights flipped back on around base. Hector's eyes snapped to his soldiers on Nightwave. Dragon and Wolf on his right. Lion and Bear on his left, all in position. "Smokers, go!" Forty soldiers pulled pins and hucked their smoke grenades in sequence, the made contact on the enemy side of things, circling them in a mass smoke cloud. The ground soldiers were ready in position, already firing into the cloud. "Flashers, launch!" he commanded with a hand signal. Those twenty soldiers threw together as the cloud illuminated with flashes in it. "Frags, go!" he called last as those sixty soldiers tossed their grenades and then it was just a grand show of explosions, enemy soldiers yelling and trying to get out. Those who did ran for it as fast as they could. "Cease fire!" the shooting stopped as Hector pulled his binoculars and looked to the smoke that was clearing after twenty minutes or so to check the damage, quite a few enemies laid dead or...in pieces. The rest were running or carrying wounded soldiers.
The soldiers of Nightwave, and a few others began to cheer at the victory. Day one in Afghanistan and they just took on a full scale attack because of Hector's quick thinking! Caleb rushed over to him, Tallon, and the rest of Inferno while taking deep breaths from the running.
"Nice work, babe!" Tallon smiled wide and hugged him tightly, Hector cringed with a hiss and Tallon let go-backing up some to see Hector bleeding from the side. "When the hell did you get hit! MEDIC!" Tallon saw Hector's knees buckle some and Tallon lowered him to the ground.
"What happened, Major?" Caleb asked kneeling beside as well, they could see know there was a dagger in his side.
"Y-You're...wel...come..." Hector cringed before his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he blacked out in Tallon's arms.
"Hector...Hector, babe!" Tallon called to him but no answer. The medic rushed over and got him on the cot, Tallon went with him to the medical tent while the others were wondering what happened. When had Hector gotten hurt, they'd been in the dark for a while-and he wasn't hurt before the lights went out, was he? They never noticed it if he was. He carried out the entire attack while wounded, he probably hadn't even felt it until Tallon hugged him the pain hit him full force. Caleb sent them all back to their barracks, most of Nightwave was awake waiting on news about Hector.
The news came around 10:30pm when Tallon returned with Hector still unconscious in his arms. He laid him down on his bed and covered him up. "How is he?" Darius asked.
"The wound wasn't deep, nothing vital. Medic says he likely passed out from pain that hit when the attack was over. An adrenaline type thing, where he just didn't feel it until the danger was gone and I hugged him. He didn't lose a lot of blood, knife removed and it wrapped with a few stitches. Medic says he'll wake up tomorrow-that he's probably exhausted from the flight, then the fighting, the wound. But he is okay, and the wound won't keep him down more than two days, she gave him something for pain," Tallon explained. Fang came out of the closet and squeaked a bit as it crawled on to Hector's pillow and licked his nose once before curling up there and falling asleep.
"Tough thing, ain't he?" Caleb asked.
"Very. It's been a long night. Everyone get some sleep, tomorrow is another day." Tallon ordered.
"Yes, Lieutenant Furysen." they replied and all got comfortable. Tallon flipped the lights off and got in his bed to go to sleep. Caleb left to inform the other barrack holding Nightwave soldiers, then he headed off. Everyone went to sleep pretty fast, it had been a long day and tomorrow was another one. So ended the first night in Afghanistan for them.
