For those of you who read the WIP that I posted a while back welcome back. What we have right here is the Prologue to my story that I'm writing called First Deployment. Now I know it's short but it's purpose is to set the tone of the story and introduce some our characters of Outlaw Company from the 101st Airborne. Here we meet Specialist Hildern recounting a night raid he had participated in. Please sit back and enjoy as we start our journey though the eyes of a soldier deployed to a war zone where religion and traditions are the driving force for the population. Any questions and comments are welcomed so please enjoy.

04/02/08 21:40 Khost Province Afghanistan, Wazyan Village

            I was riding in the back of the MRAP with two other guys from my fireteam, there was Corporal James the team leader, PFC Donnahue a rifleman and our squad gunner Specialist Keating was riding up on the turret behind Sarnt Greyson our squad leader. We were riding into the village of Wazyan with a convoy of three MRAPS plus one Buffalo in case we ran into a IED threat. Our mission tonight was to hit a suspected Taliban compound in the village, detain anyone who was inside and bring them back to FOB Salerno for questioning. The village itself was about three and a half miles South West of FOB Salerno, so getting there was no problem with the MRAPs. We were coming in down the main road from the North East. Once we entered Wazyan we had the Buffalo pull off and return to base with once of the other MRAPs as an escort. We laughed softly in the back cause we knew Outlaw 2-2 Charlie had the short end of the stick and were ordered to escort the Buffalo back to the FOB. "Haha man, Charlie always gets to baby sit EOD." I shook my head at Donnahue. "Beats looking at your ugly mug all day bro." I said. We both laughed a bit.

              Sarnt Masters chirped up over the radio in the MRAP. "Vic Two, Vic One. Making a left turning and stopping. Target building reached." Sarnt Greyson replied. "Roger Vic Two, we're about forty meters on your six break. We'll continue down the road and park on the North side of the compound how copy over?" I loaded a fresh mag into my M4 and pulled back the charging handle. "Lima Charlie Vic Two, we're dismounting at this time and breaching from the North East, Vic One out." Our vehicle pulled up on the North side of the compound just as 2-2 Alpha breached the compound. Sarnt Greyson hopped out of the MRAP and took up a position watching the East with our driver Private Felix while Cpl. James took Donnahue and I to watch the West. We heard shots being fired inside the hut followed by shouting "Hands, Hands, Hands! Get on the ground now!" Suddenly a Afghan male bursted through the hole that 2-2 Alpha made in the compound wall. "Sarnt we got a runner! Hands motherfucker hands!" I shouted while aiming my M4 at him. He turned to the left and took off running. "Shit!" was all I had time to shout as I took off after him. Donnahue and James followed close behind me as we chased him down the road. "2-2 Alpha this is 2-2 Bravo in pursuit of one individual break! Heading South down the road exiting the village!" We were having a hard time keeping up with all the gear we were carrying. What really weighted me down was the damn pack radio I was carrying.

                Finally we managed to get within inches of this fucker after a six minute chase. I put a hand on his shoulder and threw him down to the ground, once he was down I got on top of him and pressed the muzzle of my rifle against the back of the male's head. Cpl. James got on the squad net. "2-2 Bravo, target apprehended over." We all panted heavily as we took a minute to catch our breath. "Can't believe.... this fucker.... made us chase him." "Damn Donny.... You're out of shape bud." "Fuck you Hildern." I picked up the male and zip cuffed his hands together. "Let's go fucker." Our fireteam started walking back to the MRAPs, suddenly someone shouted over the net "RPG!" We saw Two Alpha's MRAP take the RPG to the top of the cabin just in front of the turret which knocked Cpl. Toya off the gun and into the vehicle. Sarnt Masters ran over to the MRAP and hopped inside with the rest of Two Alpha. The we heard Sarnt Greyson over the net. "Move your ass Two Bravo we're rolling!" We hauled ass to the MRAP and loaded up with the prisoner riding in the back with me and Donnahue. "Outlaw 6, Outlaw 6 this is Outlaw 2 over." Rounds were pinging off the vehicle as our little convoy started pulling out of Wazyan. "This is Six send traffic." Sarnt Greyson replied, "Six be advise, target secured Outlaw 2 is RTB break." Suddenly a RPG impacted against the side of our MRAP, thank god these things were built for that otherwise we'd have been fucked. "In contact North East of Wazyan. Requesting CAS how copy over?" There was a pause between Sarnt Greyson and our CO back at the FOB "Affirm Two, Gladiators are spooling up, ETA two mikes over." "Copy that Six, Outlaw 2 out." We all could breath a little easier knowing we had Apache Gunships inbound to pull our ass out of the fire.

               Donny patted my helmet reassuring me we're gonna be alright. I nodded as the vehicle was suddenly lifted off it's wheels and rolled onto its side. Everyone in the vehicle was launched to the left side inside. There was smoke in the vehicle and everything was hazy, I couldn't really hear anything at that moment except for a really annoying ringing sound. I looked around as I was coming two and could barley make out what was being said over the radio. "Six this is Two Alpha, Two Bravo's MRAP was just hit by an IED. Where the fuck are those Apaches?" "They'er one mike out Two Alpha, secure the zone and check for survivors." I groaned softly as I tried to get up, it wasn't happening. I looked around for a moment before slowly passing out. Last thing I remember seeing was another soldier get on top of me and look me over. His voice was muffled but all I heard was "Stay with me Hildern, you're gonna be alright. Stay with me."  

(To Be Continued...)

I once knew a friend who wrote these kind of stories, military themed, too. Got some copies of his a few years back but I lost contact with him, wish I could find him somehow , your work reminded me of his. Nice job, by the way.

Thanks man and sorry if this reopened a old wound, wasn't my intention

lol Nah, he was a good friend to have. It's just that I lost contact with him somehow.

Ah ok lol, well thanks for the praise though, I'll be posting Chapter 1 some time in February, still got some kinks to work out.