I know it seems like I've neglected my other two stories (which I sort of have) but I was commissioned to do this story for a close veteran friend and decided to concentrate on completing it while dabbling on 'Life is a Highway' and 'I Love You But…'.

While the posting of this story, I will be releasing a chapter every Friday until it's end (5 total chapters), I will then be turning my full attention to my other two stories. No promises as to how often I will post a chapter, but I will be working on them. I want to thank everyone who has enquired as to my health and to my intent to finish the stories.

This is going to be quite a departure from my normal stories, much like 'I Will Always Love You' but more intense, so be warned.

The Mission

Judith Hopps, heir to the vast Hopps Family Farms conglomerate, now Judith Savage, was married just a few days ago and is now being held hostage by her new husband, former ZIA Special Agent Jack Savage. Chief Petty Officer Nicholas P. Wilde, and Team 2 is tasked with the unenviable task of tracking her down through the dense jungles of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia and return her to her parents.

~0~

1 The Briefing

~0~

It was the social event of the decade … Judith Hopps was being wed to Jack Savage.

Judith, the eldest daughter of Stuart and Byonica Hopps and principal heir to the vast vegetable empire that is Hopps Family Farms LLC, who despite the festive atmosphere surrounding her, seemed at best detached, but to some observers actually seemed anxious to have the entire affair over and done with.

Jack on the other paw, was extremely jovial, and was seen schmoozing with any and all high-powered business and political mammals that were in attendance.

…

While the overly extravagant setting was held in one of the large Hopps family fields, the ceremony itself was simple and unpretentious.

Simple vows were exchanged and the new bride and groom seeming suffered through the required reception, with Judith wanting to slip away as soon as possible while Jack was happy to stay and mingle with the business leaders and politicians.

After a few heated words were exchanged with her new husband, Judith managed to pry him away from the various guests of her fathers, to be finally swept away in a large white limo.

Uncharacteristically, Judith sat on one side of the back seat while forcing Jack to sit on the other.

"Judy" begins the striped buck "I don't understand the problem. Part of my job with the ZIA is to be as sociable as I can be. Besides, after you take over the farm, we'll need to maintain pleasant relations with as many of the business and political mammals that were present as we can."

With her arms crossed in front of her chest and eyes narrowed in an undisguised glare, Judy reminds the buck "I told you before Jack, I have absolutely NO interest in taking over the family business." the doe reminds him, with heat rising in her voice.

"Fine … we'll save that discussion for another time. Now, it's our wedding night, and I've commandeered a company jet to whisk us away to our honeymoon destination! Can we please stop arguing long enough to enjoy that?"

"I'll think about it…."

…

Several uncomfortable minutes later, the couple's limo comes to a stop beside a large private jet that the ZIA normally uses to transport agents to and from various destinations around the globe.

"Well, we're here," begins Jack "would you care to accompany me Mrs. Savage?" holding out a paw in invitation…

Rolling her eyes, Judy accepts "Why yes mister Savage, I shall…" while accepting the proffered paw, allowing herself to be escorted out of the limo and to the aircraft's boarding steps.

Allowing Judy to precede him up the short steps into the plane, Jack amorously eyes Judy's toned bottom and fluffy tail, knowing where this is sure to be leading during the anticipated long flight.

After a few final words to the pilot, Jack joins Judy in the spacious cabin where they buckle themselves in for the impending take-off.

After reaching cruising altitude, Jack has his mammal servant bring out some cold Champagne and a few odds and ends to snack on. Dismissing the help, Jack is about to suggest a few intimate activities as would befit a newly married couple when Judy asks "Jack, why are we heading east? I thought that we were planning on going to Hawaii! That's west of here!

Smiling a smile that Judy wasn't quite comfortable with for some reason, Jack tells the doe "There's been a slight chance of plans I'm afraid, Judith…"

"Jack…?"

"You see" continues the striped buck "I've decided to go to my homeland instead of Hawaii."

"But I thought-"

"You thought what I lead you to believe Judy." says the buck as he removes his tie and unbuttons his shirt "The truth is far more complicated that you can imagine. Now … we have a very long flight ahead of us, so let's forget about everything else for now and-"

"NO! Nothing goes on until you explain yourself!" stubbornly demands Judy.

As a scowl darkens his face, Jack steps forward menacingly "You'll do what I say and when I say it! You're my wife now and-" he threatens.

"I – SAID - NO!" repeats Judy hotly as she pushes Jack back with her hind paws.

*SMACK!* as Jack backpaws (backhands) Judy across the muzzle.

"I knew you'd be a pawful …just not this early." sighs the buck as he smiles coldly at the totally shocked doe in front of him, tears rimming her large amethyst eyes "No matter. Thanks to my connections, I know that you've been given an injection of hormone suppressants to curb you natural mating desires, but I can wait until you get your next heat-"

"Which will be in six months … give or take…" smirks the grey doe. "That along with the birth control injection that I received just yesterday."

*SMACK* "You little bitch …" growls the now furious buck "I could take what I want now and no one on board the plane would lift a finger to stop me, but then again … I can wait." states the buck as he struggles to calm himself. "And I could have antidotes to both injections administered when we land, but … perhaps it's for the best. Having your stupid parents know that their sweet virginal daughter is in desperate peril will only motivate them all the more to do my bidding."

"So ... you don't actually-"

"Love you? Good gods no!" the buck cackles "This has all been a sham, an elaborate hoax for one purpose. To bring one specific mammal to the land of my birth. To bring him to me so that I may humiliate and destroy him at my leisure."

"But …" the doe struggles to understand "how can you be sure that that one certain mammal will actually come to you, and to know where to go?"

Once again struggling to remain in control of his temper, Jack simply turns addresses his servant "JEEVES!"

"Yes master Savage?" answers the older rabbit buck as he reenters the compartment.

"Has the package been delivered?"

"Schuster just communicated that it has sir." comes the reply.

"Excellent. I should be receiving a call shortly, thank you, that will be all. Oh, and take Miss Hopps, that is Mrs. Savage to the rear cabin and lock the door."

"As you wish sir … Mrs. Savage, if you please…" politely invites the elder rabbit.

Casting a hateful glance first at Jack, then his servant "Don't ever call me that again…"

"As you wish madam…" comes the uncaring reply.

"Mister Savage" comes an announcement over the loudspeaker from the pilot "an incoming message for you."

"Send it over the comms Thomas." replies the buck.

As the radio static clears, Stuart Hopps' voice comes over the speaker "What the hell's this Savage?" asks the elder buck "We got a message that you're taking Judy to some far-off backwards country?"

"That's correct Hopps." calmly answers the buck. "I will return your daughter unharmed as long as my conditions are met."

"And they are … what?" asks Stu, his voice betraying his anger.

"You have complete instructions in the packet that I know you now have in your possession. Follow them to the letter. You will be receiving no further communications from myself and none from your daughter. The way I see it, you have two choices here … comply exactly with my instructions or never see Judith again. I either get ten million in cash and the mammal that I have indicated or Judith becomes part of a breeding harem that I have at my disposal, either way I win. You have exactly one hundred and twenty hours, that's five days by the way, to have the mammal indicated in the packet on the ground where I have indicated, or you will never see your darling Judith again.

"It will you no good to try to track my plane as the transponder has been turned off. By the time you have reached the proper mammals who will be able to deal with this, I will have safely landed at my destination and the location won't matter.

"That is all…" and Jack motions for the pilot to sever the connection.

17 hours later, Teams headquarters, SDV 2 – Coronado, California

As a number of skilled misfits assemble in the ready room, normal banter for an elite military unit ensues:

"Wolford," begins a maned lion "where the hell did you disappear to last night? Ramirez was buyin' since his ol' lady left him fer another chick."

"I had a line on that zebra mare that works the booze section of the commissary and I wasn't gonna pass that up Del!" answers the timber wolf.

"Wilde!" yells a cheetah "How'd things go with Fangs last night? Did ya score?"

"Why don't ya ask her yerself Claws, she's standin' right behind ya." answers the red fox, smirk in full force on his muzzle.

"Hell no, I ain't fallin' fer that bullshit-" comes the answer that's cut short by…

"What bullshit would that be Clawhauser?" comes the retort from the attractive Bengal tigress standing directly behind the cheetah.

"Fuck!"

"That would not be any of your business…" tersely answers the muscular feline.

As everyone enjoys a good laugh at the cheetah's expense, a massive rhino enters the room, followed closely by a very muscular and sour faced water buffalo.

"Attention on deck!"

As everyone in the room immediately snaps to attention:

"Awright, awright, awright, shut the fuck up and be at ease!" bellows the buffalo, even louder than his next in command.

"Nice to see you again as well Senior!" snarks the todd as the rest of the room takes their seats.

Shooting the fox a look that could easily cause a heart attack in a normal mammal, Senior Chief Adonis Bogo almost ignores Wilde.

"Fuck off Wilde … now, listen up ya bunch of misfits, there's a mission that's come down the pipe directly from CNO!" which immediately grabs everyone's attention and immediately quiets the room.

Now that he has everyone's undivided attention, Bogo begins his mission pre-brief: "The daughter of a very influential individual has been kitnapped by her new husband and has disappeared behind what is considered enemy territory, somewhere in the Golden Triangle. Team Two has been chosen for the mission to rescue the young rabbit doe."

Directing his attention to the vulpine and pinning him in a no-nonsense stare, Bogo continues "Wilde, you're team leader, pick three more members for your team and meet me in briefing room three in two zero mikes. That's it for now, dismissed"

After the buffalo and hippo leave the room, eleven sets of eyes immediately turn to the fox.

With several moments' thought, Wilde picks his team" Midnight … Wolfie … aaaand …. Goldie!"

"What the fuck Nick?" immediately asks a suddenly very pissed tigress. "I'm the best damned comms and medic mammal in the Teams!"

"And you're in heat!" replies the fox evenly "Anyone with half a nose will smell you coming from a klick away, even someone with a scent dead nose like Senior's."

"Gods damn it anyway Nick…"

"I know Liz, I know, and I'm truly sorry," intones the todd "but I can't take a chance on losing a good team member and possibly a hostage simply because you'd alert the tangos long before we get to the site, wherever the hell that is."

"Nick…"

"I'm sorry Fangs, but if it'll make you feel better, I'll let you get me drunk and take advantage of me again when we get back. Besides, we need to break Goldies cherry sometime, and what sounds like a simple snatch and grab, a milk run like this is just what the doctor ordered."

"You'd better come back in one piece then fox, 'cause I'm gonna miss that knot while you're gone…"

"I knew it!" yells Clawhauser "Del, you owe me twenty!"

"Shit! Way to go Wilde, you just cost me twenty bucks." complains the lion as he reaches for his billfold.

"Sorry dude," answers Nick "but you can blame it on Liz. She's the one that got me drunk last night, but let me tell ya, it was worth every second of the hangover that I feel comin' on."

"Yeah, well you can whine about the hangover later, we gotta be ready to be briefed on the mission in two mikes, so we'd better move it." Wolford informs the other three Team members.

Exactly two minutes later, four mammals, three male and one female, file into briefing room three.

…

Noting that Bogo is already in the room, the four mammals stand at attention until he tells them to sit.

"Alright, settle down," begins Bogo, "let's get this shitshow started. On the table in front of you are your mission packets, thoughtfully provide by miss Skye Winters of the ZIA. If you'll-"

When Wilde suddenly stands, takes his packet, walks over to the closest trash can and drops the entire contents into said receptacle.

"What the literal hell Wilde?" thunders the buffalo.

"Sorry Senior," calmly remarks the fox calmly as he returns to his seat "but these packets are nothing more than an attempt to keep some black marker company in business. About every third word is redacted (marked out). It looks to me like any actual intel would fill up half a page at best, and what's there is basically useless. If this is all we're gonna get, you need to scrub the mission, 'cause I ain't taking no one nowhere based on this crap!"

Suddenly leveling his gaze on the young the artic vixen, Bogo's attention suddenly makes the small predator slightly nervous.

"I'm sorry Senior, but his is all that the Agency gave me to present to your mammals."

"Then you can take your mission back to the ZIA and tell them to shove it as far up their collective asses as their arms will reach. My mammals will not, I repeat will NOT undertake any mission with no viable intel to go on!" growls the massive bovine.

"I-I, on the other paw" continues the vixen somewhat shakily "have complete access to any and all information that I believe that your team will need. If you'll allow me, I'll give out what pertinent information that I have at my disposal, and will provide whatever your team needs in the case that they have more questions than I have answers for."

"Then, by all means, please proceed." Bogo prompts the Agent with mock politeness and a smile that doesn't reach his eyes.

Reaching into her briefcase, Winters pulls out a rather large file, placing it on the desk in front of her. After extracting a photo and sliding it in front of the Team members, she begins: "The grey and white rabbit doe you see in the picture is Judith Savage, formerly Judith Hopps of the Hopps Family Farms conglomerate. Hopps Farms produces roughly one third of the nation's fresh fruits and vegetables. The white hare with horizontal stripes on his ears and face that you see in the photo, is or rather was, Special Agent Jack Savage, formerly of the ZIA, now gone rogue.

"Special Agent Savage whose birth name is Xio Zuian, is actually a native of North Vietnam. Mister Savage is an Annamite striped rabbit (Nesolagus timminsi) which is a rare species of rabbit native to the Annamite Mountain range on the Laos-Vietnam border. The particular species of rabbit is striped, with a red rump, and resembles the Sumatran striped rabbit. The species only recently became known to Western scientists: striped rabbits were first observed in 1996 by biologist Rob Timmins in a market in Bak Lak in Laos, and the species was described in 2000 and named after Timmins' find. Mister Savage, as you can see in the photograph, has horizontal stripes on his face and ears. It should also be noted that there are no further stripes on his body proper.

"While the previous information on the species was thought to be true, certain more current information has led us to believe that this particular breed of rabbits, or rather hares actually, have been in the Bak Lak province for hundreds of years. For this reason, we believe that Savage has taken Hopps to his home country."

"So, what's the big deal that it takes a Team to get the doe?" asks a curious Wilde. "Wouldn't it make more sense to have someone like say Blackwater or the local militia go in and get her? A lot less chance of an international incident that way."

"Under normal circumstances you'd be correct Wilde" answers Winters honestly "however, when Savage contacted Stuart and Byonica Hopps, the owners, CEO and COO of Hopps Farms, and parents of Judith Hopps, he gave them a timeline of only five days and sent this as well …"

Tossing a subdued military patch with a small note attached to it on the table in front of the four Team members, Winters notes the reactions of all five mammals.

While all five mammals easily recognize the patch, only one freezes. Wilde.

The patch, an olive drab and black combat patch, depicts a skull wearing a green beret with an anchor below the skull on it, and the letters MACVSOG.

On the small scrap of paper, only two words are printed … 'Send Wilde'.

"While I'm reasonably sure that we all know what unit the patch represents, we're not sure what your particular involvement is with it!" announces the artic vixen while looking directly at the todd.

"It's – it's not that difficult actually." answers Nick despondently "Mom told me that dad was in MACV when he was in the Special Forces. I never got to talk to him too much since he died before I really got to know him, but mom kept a bunch of his stuff. After mom was … anyway, when the cops came and got me and stuck me in the hellhole that was called an orphanage, they must have dumped all of his stuff 'cause I never saw any of it again."

"That's very interesting," announces a suddenly very interested Winters "because we don't have anything on file that even references your father, the only parent we have is information on is your mother. Hold on while I make a call or two…" as she leaves the briefing room.

Several minutes later, the vixen returns and immediately turns her attention to her laptop.

"This could take a while, so please bear with me. The reason for Savage wanting one particular mammal to make the rescue, or at least attempt it must be somewhere, and according to my sources back at Langley, there are evidence files stored in impound at Precinct 1 in Zootopia that could yield the answers that we're looking for."

Roughly forty minutes later, Winters' computer comes to life and signals incoming data:

Studying the screen as the information downloads, the vixen's face undergoes several emotion changes – from interested, to angry to finally disbelieving what she's reading, Winters waits until she's at least partially digested the information before she shares the important bits with Bogo and the Team members:

"Okay, let's see if I can give you the short version of all of this before I download and print the info and assemble useful packets for you …. Staff Sergeant Joseph Edward Wilde, species vulpes vulpes … family Canidae. … attached to MACVSOG 1 May 1959 … squad leader of Animalia Special Forces unit Bravo One ... led unit on search and destroy mission along Laos-Vietnamese border 27 June 1961 … encountered heavy resistance at village of Mai Bae, 29 June 1961 … massive casualties of villagers who were believed to be North Vietnamese sympathizers … mammals killed were mostly Annamite striped rabbits, a species only rumored to exist before contact was made with a few other subspecies thrown in … the Staff Sergeant was wounded in the battle as were several other members of his team … purple heart, bronze star … that's about all of the really important stuff…!

"Wait a sec, I stand corrected" adds the vixen, suddenly staring directly at the lone wolf in the room "Of the four ZPD officers that had been assigned to investigate the death of Vivian E. Wilde, three are deceased, and one is in a nursing home in Zootopia battling dementia. The single surviving member of those mammals is … James Edward Wolford … senior."

Looking up from her laptop, Winters observes not one or two, but all five mammals in various stages of disbelief.

As four sets of eyes turn to Wolford, the timber wolf hurries to try to explain: "Guys … Nick … I – I never knew. Ya gotta believe me, plea-"

Reaching over and placing his paw on his teammates shoulder, Nick is quick to reassure his comrade-in-arms.

"It's okay Wolfie, I believe ya. There's no way your dad would ever have told you about it, and as much as it hurts to admit, I'm sure he actually forgot about it by the time you were born. Even if he didn't forget, he couldn't talk about that mission any more that we can ours. Chill dude."

Taking Nick into a tight 'bro hug' that only mammals that have held each other's lives in their paws in combat can understand or appreciate, James Wolford Jr. weeps tears of anguish and of joy at the same time.

As the wolf and fox are quickly surrounded by the other members of the Team in a show of support, Bogo allows the much-needed moment of bonding to happen.

After a few minutes, Bogo finally breaks the moment up "Okay, enough snot and tears. Let's get back to business. What else do you have for the team Winters?"

After clearing her throat, the vixen gets on with other needed details: "First there's one more thing to clear up on CPO Wilde – ZPD will release the evidence that was taken in after his mother's death and will send it here in care of Senior Chief Bogo. You can sign for it anytime after it arrives, Wilde.

"Now, here's the skinny on Savage – Agency records show that his birthplace is actually the village of Mai Bae South Vietnam, so that explains the connection between he and Wilde. But unlike Wilde, Savage seems hell-bent on visiting the perceived sins of the father upon the son.

"Savage has extensively trained in the use of small and large caliber weapons, is very proficient in paw-to-paw combat, and shows an above average aptitude for subterfuge and tactics. It is also quite possible that Savage has managed to accumulate a sizeable amount of mammalpower, weaponry and technical security. All of this leads the Agency to believe that Savage is most likely anticipating that indeed Wilde at the very least will be sent to retrieve the former Ms. Hopps."

"So it's basically a trap and a suicide mission…" speculates Wilde.

"I'm afraid so, yes." agrees Winters.

"Yeah, well, we've got something that this Savage character don't got!" spouts off Wolford.

"And that would be … what?" asks Bogo.

"Another Wilde!" finishes Delgado showing all of his fangs in a wicked grin.

"With all of that out of the way, here are the parameters of the mission." continues Winters rolling her eyes a bit. "Judith Hopps is to be returned to Animalia safe and sound, and preferably undamaged and all in one piece. Likewise, the Agency wants one Xio Zuian, aka Jack Savage, to be returned alive and as undamaged as possible to be dealt with here.

"You are authorized to requisition any and all weapons and other equipment that you may deem necessary that can be provided to you in a such a short time span, since your plane lifts off at zero four hundred (4 am) tomorrow morning.

"Before I leave you to do your mission planning, Mr. and Mrs. Hopps are waiting to address you. Please be as politically correct and as subtle with them as you can manage. Good luck and good hunting."

…

As the elder bunnies enter the room, their sense of unease is almost palpable.

"My word!" begins the buck "Th-they're all predators … and led by a fox of all mammals! Are you sure that there aren't better mammals for this?" he asks the buffalo.

"Mister Hopps" intercedes Bogo with a forced polite smile "would you take any advice related to farming seriously from any of the mammals in this room?"

"Why no, of course not! What would any of you know about farming?" Stu answers indignantly.

"And exactly what, pray tell, do you know of military operations?" asks Bogo in a very condescending manner.

"Ummm nothing?"

"Precisely. Now, the mammals that are assembled here are here because they are the absolute best at what they do. And that is simply this –find and rescue your daughter, and kill anyone and anything that gets in their way without question or die in the process if need be. Before you try to preach from the choir, you need to be a member of the congregation. If you stick to farming and leave the hunting to us, everything will work out splendidly. Do we understand one another?"

Looking from mammal to mammal in the room, the buck hastily nods, gathers his wife and hastily exits the room.

Bogo then quickly addresses the Team "Now, as the Agent told you earlier, it's wheels up at zero four (4 am), so get your shit together, make your plans, draw your gear and get as much rest as you can. You need to be paws on the ground in 'Nam by no later than zero four hundred local time, you're looking at a roughly fifteen-hour flight and a HALO jump, so get enough rations for at least a couple of days or you'll be eating whatever you can find and kill locally."

…

Heading back to the common area, Nicholas Wilde - red fox (aka Nightstalker), James Wolford Junior - timber wolf (aka Wolfie), Jerald M'bai – black panther (aka Midnight) and Sarah Lee - golden retriever (aka Goldie) begin making plans for the infiltration (entrance), action and reaction, and exfiltration (exit) of the now known target site.

Pulling up a detailed map of the area on Zoogle maps and printing out a hard copy of the map for each team member, a main plan and two back-up plans are quickly drawn up.

Heading directly to the armory and supply sections specifically reserved for the Teams, weapons and other critical items are quickly drawn:

~0~

Nicholas Wilde aka Nightstalker- one M4 carbine chambered in .300 Whisper with 5 - 30 round magazines of subsonic ammunition to be used with a detachable suppressor, and 5 - 30 round magazines of standard high velocity ammunition, and a small drag bag containing a spare upper receiver chambered in 5.56x45 and 10 – 30 round magazines loaded with standard issue 5.56x45 ammo, one Sig Sauer P226 pistol with detachable suppressor chambered in 9mm with 3 - 20 round magazines of subsonic ammo and 3 - 20 round magazines of standard ball ammo, one red and one green smoke grenade as well as two M67 fragmentation grenades.

James Wolford aka Wolfie – one standard M4 carbine chambered in standard 5.56x45mm with 10 - 30 round magazines, one Sig P226 and 6 standard 20 round mags of ball ammo, one green and one yellow smoke grenade, one M67 fragmentation grenade, one AN-M14 TH3 incendiary grenade.

Jerald M'bai aka Midnight – one AR10 semi-auto sniper rifle chambered in 7.62x51 (.308) with detachable suppressor, 5 - 20 round mags of subsonic ammo, 5 mags of standard velocity ammo, one Sig P226 and 6 standard 20 round mags of ball ammo, two M67 frag grenades, and drag bag that holds a spare carbine length upper receiver.

Sarah Lee aka Goldie – being the medic and commo specialist, the golden retriever carries the units sat-phone (satellite up-linked telephone), full medic field pack and a 9mm Sig P226 pistol with 6 - 20 round mags full of standard velocity rounds as well as two M84 stun (flash-bang) grenades.

All four mammals also draw standard multi-channel Team radios as well as nonstandard pawheld walkie-talkies and throat mics, equipped with civilian citizens band crystals. The reasoning behind this, as Nick explained it, was because Savage would most likely be monitoring all military freqs Since even the sat-phone was subject to possible hacking, an antiquated automated CEOI was issued to Nick with four days of recurring pass codes.

All four Team members were also issued two days' worth of new generation LRRP rations each, then a final trip to draw their breathing apparatus and glider 'chutes (parachutes) was made.

With plans made and arms and other equipment drawn, the Team members decided to head towards their barracks to catch a bit of sleep before their 0300 (3 am) wakeup call so they could at least get a bit of decent chow before their long flight overseas.

~0~

AN: military slang used:
Attention on deck – call to attention in the Navy and Marines.
CNO -Chief of Naval Operations
MACVSOG - Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group
Klick – kilometer, roughly .6 miles.
Tango - refers to a targeted individual. Instead of saying "I see a target" or "target down" the military says "Tango spotted" or "Tango down."
Numbers are generally spoken individually so as not to mistake a certain number or set. Mike – a measurement of time, one minute. Example- Two zero mikes equals 20 minutes.
Breaking a cherry – taking a new or fresh troop on their first live mission.
Milk run – easy mission.
LRRP - Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol
HALO - high altitude-low opening parachute jump
Freqs – frequencies
CEOI – Communications Electronics Operating Instructions

To my knowledge, there is no actual Mai Bae in either north or south Vietnam or Laos, the village is made up for use in the story.