The Lost Soldier

Hey guys, sorry for the loooong delay, but I haven’t been able to write didely squat for some reason so I need to warm myself back up. One way I am doing this is participating in a competition, another is this chapter, it has nothing to do with the story and won’t have any ponies, and it’s just a warm up. Hope you enjoy and hold on tight, this is gonna be high speed combat (hopefully). Javier is the operator that PFC Nelson replaced in Chapter 11.

The advanced stealth Blackhawk, otherwise known to the Special Forces operators as a Ghost Hawk sliced through the air towards the cargo ship.

“Remember guys, this is a quick and clean raid. We get onboard, kill everyone, and then sink it. These guys are terrorists so no mercy or they will kill a lot of civvies.” Cassandra said over the communications system in their helmets.

Corporal Ray checked to ensure that his M7A1 Carbine was loaded and ready. The windy night provided the Ghost Hawk with enough cover to fly over the ship without being detected. The operators fast roped down onto the deck and split into three man teams. Ray, Hughe, and Corey took the far side of the ship while Cassandra, Janet, and Javier stacked up next to the door closest to the insertion point. Ray turned the wheel on the heavy door and opened to let Hughe and Corey take point. The thuds of suppressed weapons were barely audible over the strong wind.

“They’re all dead.” Corey whispered over the comms as they exited the room and moved onward in the ship.

“You could just say clear.” Ray whispered back.

“Where’s the fun in that? That just sounds so boooring.” Corey shot back.

“Noted.” Ray snorted.

Ray was on point as they pushed forward through a maze of cargo crates. He turned a corner and ran into a tango. Ray
dropped the carbine because even though it was short it wasn’t one inch short. He grabbed the handle of his tomahawk and swung it upward into his opponent’s abdomen. At the same time Ray reached forward and held his hand over the terrorist’s mouth. He quickly followed up by raising the small axe and slamming it into the neck of his opponent.

“Nice job.” Hughe said.

“Thanks.” Ray grunted as he dragged the dead body to the side and threw it over, “Can’t do anything about the blood but we should be okay if we keep clearing out whoever is ahead.”

The trio of operators silently glided forwards dispatching any more terrorists with clean headshots. Finally they reached the bridge and started to climb the stairs to the top. Many of the crew was sleeping, and the few that were on guard were not very attentive and half asleep. They cleared every room on their way to the bridge without incident and met up with the other team. The operators quickly stacked up on the door and prepared to breach it. Javier rotated the wheel on the door and opened it quickly to let the team flood into the room. The quiet pops of the suppressed carbines filled the cabin as they gained control of the bridge.

“All clear.” Ray whispered.

Corey stuck his tong out at Ray who was smirking.

“Oh grow up you two.” Janet teased.

“Lock it up. Javier, Corey guard this room and set the new course. The rest of us will go set the explosives and meet you
back here for exfil.”

The team split up to move below deck. Strangely they met no resistance on their way down and after several clear
hallways Ray glanced at Cassandra who silently agreed with Ray that something was off. They stacked up again on the last door to a cargo room where they would leave the charge. Ray turned the wheel quickly after checking their side of the door for traps. The door was blown off its hinges and knocked Ray back into the hallway. He pushed the heavy door off of himself and raised his carbine. Several dead bodies crowded the doorway, none of which belonged to his friends.

“Shit, how did they fit so many people in here?” He heard Hughe shout.

“Ray, get in here we need you!” Cassandra yelled over the comms.

“Moving up.” Ray said and dashed forward through the door and into a whirlwind of bullets.

He quickly dove behind the nearest decent piece of cover and returned fire.

“You okay Ray?” Cassandra asked over the chaos of battle.

“Yeah fine!”

“You sure?” came the reply.

“Just a bloody nose I think. Nothing broken and I can shoot fine so I’m good.” Ray said as he returned fire.

“Flashbang out!” Janet shouted and tossed out the cylindrical device.

The four operators ducked back into cover until the loud crack and flash of the flashbang filled the room.

“Push forward!” Cassandra ordered and the team walked forward, each covering a different area with their carbines until
the room was quickly cleared.

Finally they each paused to check their areas for any survivors and called clear when they found only dead bodies.

“Hughe, set the charge, everyone else lock this area down.”

Hughe quickly set the explosive charge and set it for a remote activation.

“We’re good to go.” He murmured.

“Let’s head back then.” Cassandra lead the team back up to the bridge where they linked back up with Javier and Corey.

“Have fun?” Corey asked.

“Oh yeah, loads.” Ray said as he tried to stop the blood flowing from his nose.

“Let’s radio for exfil and-” Flares launched up from the deck and lit the night in a red hue.

Several cargo containers now stood open as close to fifty terrorist fighters poured out onto the ship.

“Fuck, change of plans get back down to the deck.” Cassandra said as she pulled out the detonator.

“You’re not going to do what I think you’re going to do are you?” Ray asked as they raced down stairs and returning fire to
the large group of tangoes.

Cassandra only looked at him and grinned as she detonated the charge that was placed below deck. The ship listed aft
and cargo containers slid across the deck.

“Go, get over the edge!” Cassandra shouted and pointed towards the railing at the side of the ship.

Several terrorist fighters still fired upon the team but the sinking boat and the chaos of shifting cargo containers threw
their aim off. Ray stopped as a container slid in front of him and blocked him and Cassandra from the rest of the team.

“Keep going, we’ll find another way.” Cassandra said.

“Wow, that was close Cass.” Ray said.

“Don’t call me Cass.” Cassandra replied coldly.

“You’re welcome.” Ray responded.

They turned a corner and again Ray was face to face with another terrorist.

“I wish this would stop happening.” Ray said as he slammed the tomahawk into his opponent’s leg.

He quickly followed up with a blow to the neck that almost severed the terrorist’s head.

“You’re getting good with that.” Cassandra noted.

“Yeah well, it’s easier to learn than kendo.” Ray replied dully.

“I still think you should learn it Ray.” Cassandra said as they ran further up the tilted deck.

“It’s just so difficult and I never have the time.” Ray argued.

“Like that’s stopped you before.” Cassandra shot back, “I think it would really help in CQB if you used a sword.”

They reached the edge of the deck and grabbed onto the rail.

“Well we’ll see.” Ray said as he grabbed Cassandra’s hand and jumped into the ocean.

Five seconds of free fall later and they hit the icy black waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Ray kicked with his legs and pushed
himself and about seventy five pounds of gear to the surface.

“This is Ghost Actual calling for exfil.” Cassandra said over the radio.

“I thought we were picking you up before the ship sank. Did you forget us?” The pilot teased.

“Just pick us up.” Cassandra sighed as she turned on the IR strobe.

The Ghost Hawk flew over and let down a ladder for the operators to climb.

Hope you enjoyed, this wasn’t edited cause I wanted to get it out quick.