May 14th - Camp Rawhide
Another mission begins on short notice. Captain Wilson wants a team to re-enforce a Northern base that had been raided for weeks by insurgents, hit-and-run attacks. Captain stated that the base was a critical location for the current operation and it would later be established to form a checkpoint for surgical strikes against the rebel bases on the area. The mission also needed another patrol to gain intel of the enemy activity on the sector. US forces have had good relationships with the mountain villages for a while now and chances are that some knock-and-talk could result some vital info. It was not a combat mission, but any wandering enemy was told to be considered hostile and dealt with accordingly. We reported in.
There’d be no transportation to the actual base ‘cause of insurgent activity. The plan included a drop on a safe area in the nearby valley, where we would began our patrol towards the target zone. Although Captain had led the operation succesfully and made right decisions so far, I had a funny feeling of patrolling through rough mountain slopes swarming with enemy fighters.
We packed our stuff, silent but eager and studied sector maps. Scenery wasn't too bad, the trip wouldn't take long if we could avoid problems.
May 15th - Touchdown
Boots hit the ground, sand whirling around us furiously. Men spread out to secure the drop zone, bird takes off. Our translator survives his first helo drop ever. So far it’s all screwby.
A nearby village lies on a mountain cliff and we need to stay frosty when closing in. Although Army infantry has been there before, the welcome might not be warm this time. Feelings change and the trust of these people ain't earned easy.
We proceed, ready and vigilant. Observing the valley, we spot a herd of sheep. A sign of human activity and the nearby settlement we're looking for. Promising.
First sign of the village. Huts resembling bee nests surrounded by dirty paths. We count eleven structures, two of them having small gardens. Our team begins cautious advance towards the settlement and our translator calls out for the elder of the village while we await nervously. There's a slight possibility that we might be greeted by automatic rifle fire. A single figure wearing ascetic clothing emerges from a hut. This is our man.
Both sides of the meeting seem to be quite anxious. Our sergeant shakes hands with the local leader and offers him a cigarette. Quality American blend seems to relax the atmosphere a bit and we exchange first words with the help of our translator. Discussion advances as we sit down, and at some point we finally get to it. Elder manages to reveal the piece of information we were looking for, intel of the insurgent movement on the area. The description matches the one given by our Recon team at Bravo. We let the old man have what's left of the cigarettes, thank graciously and roll out.
Now as we have our direction adviced by the locals we move more determined deeper into the valley. Careful advance takes time, but this is not a situation to take any risks. Gazing through our sights we scan the slopes and cliffs for any suspicious movement. The chance of being ambushed is certain. As dusk approaches, we find a stash which finally and ultimately is a solid proof that we're on their trail. It's a poorly hidden and camouflaged pit of shells, small arms and wrecked pieces of American rifles probably taken as victory symbols. Those Haji motherfuckers.
Nightfall. We stop for some shuteye. On my watch something happens. The recognizable roar of an AK wakes us all from our dreams as we leap for cover. Slamming mags in the rifles we return fire where muzzle flashes can be seen in the darkness. Sarge directs us forward and we take fire positions behind boulders. Hot shells pour to the ground for a blink of an eye that the shooting last. The situation is over as quickly as it begins; the enemy force disappears almost instantly. Probably they were scouts, not expecting our resistance. They now know we're here. We kit up with haste, the traces could still be warm and our team might track the insurgent mob.
May 16th - Dawn
We don't have to wait much longer, the trail takes us right to the actual threshold of the insurgent base. Armed men storm out from their hiding places, manning positions on the cliffs. We take cover, keeping our heads down to avoid the deadly rain fired down upon us. We're heavily outnumbered, but we can count on our training and gear to get us out from this hell hole. Our counter attack begins swiftly, our machine gunner covering our advance as we seek higher ground. I can see menacing shadows peeking behind boulders and rocks, sending fatal but inaccurate bursts in our way. We keep going with sheer determination and finally reach the cover we were aiming for. I can still remember my exact thoughts when our sarge contacted the support units. "Oh yeah, bring it and get some!" We rise to return fire once more, knowing that the aircraft is inbound and it's only matter of seconds. As I hear the roar of the warheads over machine gun and small arms fire, training kicks in. I don't need to wait for sergeant to yell "Incoming!" from the top of his lungs, I throw myself against the ground and close my eyes waiting for the show to begin.
Explosions. Hot air floods over us, pebbles and sand flying everywhere around us as the might of the missiles slam to the cliffs. Everyone who has witnessed a full scale Air strike knows it leaves no room for coincidence. No chance in hell.
The smoking ruins of the insurgent base lie below us utterly destroyed. Some of the enemy might have fled, but this has been a major success for both the life in local mountain villages and the operation of the Army on this sector. I know we can be proud.
Cheers,
-Frenzy
Äijät laskeutu selvästi ekana Marsiin ^^
