MI - In Transit

Day 716, 07:50 • Published in USA USA • by Heather Fuchs


Part One:

Lieutenant Edward Earle unfolded the paper from his vest pocket again. Like he had done at least a dozen times before. He was proud of his men and knew it was because of their dedication that Bravo 5 had been selected for this mission. He read it to himself again slowly:

"Lt. Earle- Your platoon has been selected for a mission that will require stealth as well as raw power. Command feels the unique mix of soldiers you have been training in Bravo Five are ideally suited for the task.

Intelligence contacts made during our recent excursion into NW Croatia identified a key enemy military figure that is willing to come over to our side, IF he can be extracted safely. You and your men will drop into the area, meet this contact, and see to the extraction. More information will be provided at a briefing tomorrow morning at 0600 hours."

The Stratolifter hit a small area of turbulence just as he finished the note, which brought him back to his present surroundings. He carefully folded the instructions and put it back in his pocket. Someday after he retired he would look at that note again with great pride just as he had today. Scanning up and down the hard benches of the ship were the men he would stand by in any battle, any circumstances, any hardship. He had trained with them long enough to develop that bond, that trust that allows yourself to face great danger knowing your back is covered. And he knew they all felt the same.



"Hey Adel, you look good in that shirt!" Lt. Earle joked. Ramez Adel had on the traditional red and white check pattern seen on so many civilians around Croatia. "But I swear McFarland if you get lucky with that stupid 'Kiss Me I'm Croatian' shirt on I'll kick your butt when we get home." he laughed out loud this time. "Only wearing what I was issued Lieutenant." Max McFarland grinned back.

They were a strange looking lot sitting in the back of that airplane that's for sure. Not one hint of military camo, no sign of the typical MI suit, and no weapons to be seen. Although their XO comandokiller noticed the bulge of the pistol hidden in levi's boot was a little too visible so he leaned over and adjusted it for him. All eight of them were dressed as "common" Croats, with their cover being they were students at the University in Zagreb out on a field trip.

"By the way Sir, can I pretend I'm the Professor?" Diegomalo chided. "Bite me D, I want to play professor." quipped back Koolaid37. They all broke out laughing at the craziness of this whole idea. Half of them spoke fluent Croatian, and they had all been deeply briefed on the culture and current events of the area, but passing themselves off as civilians would challenge them all. They were going to walk into Ogulin, a major city in the northwest, to meet their intelligence contact. If anyone slipped up in this first phase there was no way their mission could succeed and they all knew it.

Another rough spot of air jostled the soldiers for a few minutes and they realized the plane was lowering altitude in preparation for the drop. Andrew Folkert had just finished counting a sizable stack of Kune, and began passing the money out to each member of the squad. "Tell me again how many Lipa are in a Kuna." Ramez asked. "100 - just like pennies in a dollar, but the Kuna is only worth about the same as our quarter." Andrew replied expertly.

The '30 seconds to drop' light came on and all the soldiers, as civilian as they currently looked, still knew the dangers in getting to the ground undetected. They quickly lined up, and as the drop hatch opened, Lieutenant Edward Earle proudly and in his best Croatian shouted over the roar "Na Odskočiti!" Whatever the language, once again MI was on the bounce.

...to be continued next week

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Respectfully submitted
Colonel Dania
Mobile Infantry Press Officer

"We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home". ~Edward R. Murrow

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