Midnight Patrols though the Saharan deserts were tough for any other soldier but for a Level 36 Corporal it was a breeze. My team and I could find a needle in an area the size of once great United Kingdom.
"Corporal Brace?" The young private tried to get my attention.
"Yes Lance Corporal" I knew what he was going to ask and how I'd have to answer him.
"Do you happen to know when we're heading home?" I do try to forget how young these guys are and that this was for the most part some of the men's first time out of the country.
"When we get back to base, I'll ask but if we're asked to stay we'll just have to make the most of it"
"Get in a bit of grinding can't we Boss?" Corporal Vernon Brace scowled at Private Kent.
"For a level 14 mate, you need all the help you can get" He responded to the young man.
With every mission we'd undertake our weapons record how much ammo we use, how accurately we shoot and how many kills each man gets. "Trust me buddy, I wanna get home too" at level 36 I'm a Senior Corporal which means on achieving Level 37 I'll be sent to the Sergeants Board."
"I bet your buzzin lad"
"Hardly, its only so at level 40 i can get my first prestige" Vernon spoke with determination.
The four man fire team continued to their final checkpoint before being lifted back to base.
"Did the old french foreign legion really train here, way to much sand fella" Private Coopland stated as he wiped his goggles.
"What do you mean "old" shit head?" Vernon asked.
"Anything that happened before 2026 is classed as old now Corporal" a faint noise can be heard in the distance.
"Is that an Aircraft?" Vernon enquire as he moves closer to the window. "Someone chuck me my NVG's" The second in command through Vernon's night vision goggles to him. "Ay Darren, come look at this" the youngest of the Privates Darren Kent comes over to the window and takes the goggles from him.
"That's not one of ours mate" Darren handed them back to his boss before checking over his load out, which was made up of an AR15 and a Beretta M9 Pistol and was standard for all soldiers in the Reconnaissance teams.
"We're getting loud then" Corporal Vernon Brace puts to the men. The Aircraft approaching was a AC-130 covered in SSR paint. "Fucking Russian gunship" i thought as i hear the other men figuring out what to do.
More noise could be heard getting closer but this time it was on the ground. Vernon took one more look out of the window. "Someone sold us out" He says under his breath. Vernon had been on countless tours here as it was easy to get missions completed for the level ups he needed to distance himself from the grunt work he was on now.
"What have we all got men" Vernon's second asks them all.
"Four mags, three grenades and a few flash bangs mate" Private Coopland answers.
"Three and two" Private Kent was confused. "Where'd you get them flash bangs from?" He asks. And before the other private could answer Corporal Vernon Brace steps in.
"We should have the target painter shouldn't we?"
"Yeah but we've not got the kill streak yet" The Lance Corporal says in a panic. for certain perks to be active at least one soldier amongst the group needed to have killed six combatants in order to activate this particular perk.
Vernon went through his pack to find the pocket sized laser device. "Someone get on the radio to command, we are using this or we're gonna get arse raped by some big Russian lads" He ordered. With all the training he'd had with operating this bit of equipment he knew that in certain circumstances that the system could be bypassed. Vernon fumbled around with the device managing to get the light working.
"How did you manage that boss?" Vernon ignored his second in command. Private Kent switched on the radio setup he'd been burdened with back at base.
"Queen Anne this is Blackbeard over" his voice was shaking. "I say again, this is Blackbeard over." there was a fifteen second delay with messages going through.
"Blackbeard this is Queen Anne, we hear you loud and clear Send message over" the female voice could barely be heard over the sound on the aircraft overhead.
"We need to unlock the laser device for an ordinance drop over"
"The requirements don't appear to be met Private Kent" The women replied in the most apathetic tone ever. Vernon who could hear this all going down stomped over to where Private Kent was sitting and put his hand out.
"Queen Anne with is Corporal Vernon Brace, we have a large enemy force advancing on our position. we need access, target painted" Vernon was not fucking around.
"Corporal Brace the requirements have not been met, there is nothing i can do"
"Whoever you think you are, i wasn't asking for permission. i telling you...scramble a fucking jet now" Vernon was more of the asking for forgiveness type than to seek permission. "Bitch" he said whilst still holding the button.
The Vehicles were getting closer, the AC-130 was circling the team like a vulture. Vernon was getting sick of waiting around. "Get set up towards them" He barked to his team. a noise could be heard coming from the radio which not even Vernon could tell what it was.
"Blackbeard Blackbeard this is Queen Anne" A male voice spoke.
"Go ahead" Vernon answered.
"Fast jet coming from Ghana is on route, approximately three minutes out" Vernon knew that was going to be too late.
"Can it not get here quicker" Vernon asked trying not to push this guy too much. "Is this it?" Vernon didn't join up to have his life over as quick as turning off a light. He didn't appear to be getting a response. Vernon closed his eyes, took a deep breath held it for a few seconds then released it. "GET READY!" as Vernon ordered his men once more the gunfire from the heavens began raining down upon them.
"FUUUUUCCCCCKKKKK!" Private Coopland took a round to his leg which nearly took it clean off. That is when the land forces started firing at them. the AC-130 seemed to have turned around for whence it came. Bullets flying overhead. Vernon knew his situation wasn't ideal but still managed to clip a couple of the attackers. Vernon scrambled for the radio.
"MAN DOWN! MAN DOWN!" He screamed. He could hear words but not what he was being told. A sonic boom could be heard overhead...