Chapter 4

"I'm thirteen," Amelia told Alex

"Cool, how are you finding the training?"

"All right, challenging." They had a chat together, and then Wolf came up to them.

"Time to go,"

"Geesh, I only just got here,"

"Come on Cub, you know the rules!" he got up lazily and walked to the door in his combats and webbing.

All six of them were lined up in a straight line in front of the sergeant, ready for their latest assignment.

"You will, take a forty mile hike to the top of the West Beacon and then do a snap ambush, you will stay there for, how long, Fox?"

"One hour Sergeant!" he shouted.

"Yes, you will then set up a PBH (1) for the night. You will have to retain from using fire, as I might send out another patrol, I don't know yet, but anything could happen."

"Yes, sergeant" they all shouted simultaneously.

"Off you go then, I need you back by this time tomorrow at the latest."

Wolf immediately took control.

"Cub, Kitten. You need to be in the middle. Eagle you can be scout, you know where you're going?"

"West Beacon,"

"Ok, Fox, Tail End Charlie. And Snake behind Kitten."

Kitten had been chosen by Snake for Amelia's code name.

Five minutes later they had set off, Eagle using his compass to guide the patrol to the West Beacon. Alex was quite surprised at how long Kitten was able to keep up. When he first came here he would have certainly have at least slowed by now, but not Kitten, she was fit and amazingly kept going for the majority of the forty mile hike.

It got dark quickly come four o'clock, but they could see the West Beacon in sight. Eagle must've heard a faint whisper as he halted the patrol, Fox, Eagle, Snake and Wolf each had an SA80, loaded with blank ammunition, which they silently cocked after going into some cover. Thankfully before they left they had camed up (2). That was the whole idea of fieldcraft. To see but not to be seen. They could all see another patrol out, who hadn't notice them, which was good. They were the 'enemy' that the sergeant was talking about sending. Automatically they open fire.

Kitten and Cub lay there, not particularly knowing what to do. Kitten tapped Cub on the shoulder.

"What do we do?" she mimed. Cub replied by putting his hand to his lips and using his had to mime to stay down. Once the fire fight was over, they knew they had to be more careful, and in totally and utter silence.

Finally they got to the top of the West Beacon and found some long grass to set up their PBH. They all took it in turns during the night for Stag Duty. They were relived when morning came as it had been a cold night. Even with a base layer on, Alex had still been shivering throughout the night.

They stood to as normal for half an hour before going back to base, where a nive warm shower would hopefully be waiting for them.

Hpoe you're enjoying it so far... please R&R...

1-PBH- patrol Base Harbour- a place they set up camp for the night.

2-Cammed Up-using cam cream to camouflage them selves in to the surroundings.