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Chapter 3
In a Foreign County

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Sami awoke in the infirmary. She slowly moved into a seating position on the long white bed. She turned and slid off the bed. She grabbed the over-blouse for her combat uniform. She had slept in her combat pants and the shirt she normally wore underneath the blouse. After putting the blouse on, she stepped into her boots.

"So, you're awake now, lass." Sami looked up to see Drake standing about ten feet in front of her.

"Yeah." She continued tying up her boots. "What time is it?"

"Seven in the mornin'." Sami picked up the traditional marine eight-pointed hat that had lain beneath the rest of her equipment. Drake turned and Sami followed. After they exited the infirmary tent, Drake turned back to her and smiled. "Time for breakfast, eh?" Sami nodded back.

She was hungry, very hungry. All she had had the day before was a chocolate bar. She followed him to the mess tent. They entered, got in line, received their food, and headed to a table. The tent was almost empty.

"This is a bit late to be eatin' here."

"I figured as much."

"Anyway, right now Eagle and Jess are talking to Nell. After you finish I'll take ya to them, lass." Sami nodded, and several minutes passed. "Done already, lass?!"

"I didn't get to eat a lot yesterday." Drake nodded at that.

"Well, c'mon. We gotta go see your boss, lass."

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"Sami, you'll be staying here to help Green Earth." Nell's voice encompassed the tent.

"Alright." The communication with Nell ended.

"We've received word that there are Black Hole forces in the Brynn Mountains. But we don't know what units they have," Jess began.

"Then I will take by air force and annihilate them!" Eagle stood, eager to leave.

"No, Eagle! For all we know they could have anti-air and missiles!"

"But if we stand back, they'll over take us! We can't let that happen, Red!"

"I know! But it'll all before nothing if we get defeated!"

"But we can't just sit here!" Drake moved to get between the two, but it was nearly impossible. They continued arguing in spite of him.

"Eagle! You don't know what you're talking about! That'll never work!"

"Like your plan is any better!"

"Will you two shut up?!" Sami forced her fists down on the table, the impact making a large noise. It startled Eagle and Jess out of their argument. "Sheesh, you're worse than siblings!" She took a deep breath.

"Now, here's my advice. Send out a small reconnaissance team and have them figure out what units are out there. Then you can decide who will take the field based on their specialty," she said matter-of-factly. Eagle and Jess both looked over at each other. Eagle was the next to talk.

"That-that's not a bad idea." Jess nodded.

"So, it's decided! We'll go with her idea." Drake nodded and smiled at Sami.

"But we don't have a reconnaissance team available…" Jess' voice trailed off.

"What?! I leave for a mission and nothing but incompetence happens while I'm gone!"

"You were the one who sent the last team out!" Sami sighed as they continued their spat. Her head was hurting, from the arguing and her injures. Many of the medics were surprised that her injures were so minor, seeing as she had fallen from a helicopter. Eagle injures were also minor, but he didn't land on the hard ground. No, he landed on top of her. She looked back up at the pair.

"Still arguing?!" She sighed again. Sami reached for a sheet of paper and quickly jotted down something on it. She slid it across the table to Drake. He grabbed it and read it. He looked back up at her and gave her a look as if to say 'Are you sure?' Sami nodded back at him. Drake set the paper down. He reached down and slid a radio across the table to her. Jess and Eagle were too busy arguing to notice Sami leave, let alone realize her purpose in leaving.

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