4th and Maple Part 1/2 (Author: Jinkins)

Operation: Intervention

Day 23.

I hear a truck. Not military. I see it pass Maple street on 4th heading west, 100 meters away, crunching the cold, chill street under its tires. It’s a civi. Young kid. We’re not going to die yet. 

The wind blows in my face. I exhale. The cold air shows my breath blow southeast. Houses line either side of Maple street. Most deserted long ago. Old cars lay in the street with flat tires. Weeds grow up around them. I see one person enter a house. Civi. Old. A door clanks in the distance. A dog barks. The flagpole behind me pings in the wind.  

"Southeast wind. All’s quiet on the ground. For now." I say over the coms.  

"Roger, Saber Actual," replies Overwatch into my ear in a cool, calm voice.  

I look down at Saber-5 hunkered behind a car, blood trailing down his head. "You hanging in there?" I say.  

"Hell ain’t takin me yet," He replies without a grimace.   

"Good," I check the mag on my AAAR, (Anti Armor Assault Rifle). It has four of its 5 round capcity remaining. I feel my chest harness. One more mag. Good.   

Overwatch opens the coms, "Fifteen tangos inbound. You will have to eliminate or evade them before proceeding to the extraction site. Emergency exfil is inbound to the AO for pickup as scheduled. They’ll be at the LZ in 45."  

"Roger," I slip behind the car slinging the AAAR over my shoulder and taking up my AR. "You ready?" I ask.  

"Yes," replies Saber-5. He rolls to his belly and readies his DMR.  

"Overwatch, the rabbit is snared," I say over coms.  

There is the slightest hesitation, "Roger, the rabbit is snared, rotating Predator into position." replies Overwatch.  

"Wait for my confirmation," I say.  

“Understood.”  

Saber-5 racks the chamber on his DMR. I insert my last 32 round mag into my rifle and do the same.  

32 rounds/fifteen soldiers. 

I see two tangos appear on the left side of the street, "Two targets east side, by the yellow house," I relay to Saber-5. "taking the shot." I let out a three-round burst. I hit the first target and nick the second. 29/Fourteen. "One down, tagged a second." The wounded soldier returns fire, his shots landing wildly off target.  

"One target 60 meters." says Saber-5. He fires, "Target down," he relies to me. Thirteen. He racks another round. "Five west side. Low visibility under this car, please engage."  

I flip around and place my AR on the hood. two soldiers are taking up position behind a brick wall. I fire two three round bursts. I hit the first and miss the second. 23/Twelve. Incoming fire hits our car. Saber-5 fires, "Target down." Eleven. He fires again, "Target down," Ten. The two remaining tangos lay down suppressing fire as they back off.  

"They'll be back.” I say.  “Four more east side, 45 yards out."  

Saber-5 fires. "Target down." Nine. 

I let out a three-round burst. 20. A miss. Fire pings off the front of our car and I take cover. Saber-5 fires, "Target down." Eight. I rise back into firing position and let out a three-round burst. 17. They hit. Seven. Saber-5 fires, "Target down. Running low on ammo." Six.  

"I understand, same here, make em count," I say.  

"I'm doin fine, I was worried about you." Says saber-5.  

I curse under my breath.  

"Three more, on the street, behind vehicles," calls out Saber-5.  

"I see," I say.  

A nagging feeling like I’ve made a mistake forms in the back of my head. Something’s wrong. I ignore the feeling and take aim. Incoming fire peppers the vehicle and I take cover as Saber-5 fires, "Target down. 6 rounds left." The fire stops. He fires again. He misses. I peal out and take a shot right before the soldier reappears. 14. The target drops. five.  

"Who you worried about?" I say.  

"Officers." 

Saber-5 fires, window glass shatters. "Target down. 4 rounds." four.  

That feeling returns, but this time I have a revaluation, "Watch our six. I still haven’t seen those two who backed off earlier." I say. Saber-5 turns around and props himself against the passenger door. I see two more coming down the street. "Two coming in," I start tracking the leading soldier. 

Saber-5 fires. "Two for one. Targets down. Good call sir." Says Saber-5. three-two. Saber-5 re-positions himself. I let out a three-round burst. 13. Miss. Saber-5 fires, "Target down." One. Saber-5 fires. Miss. I fire a burst. 10. Miss. The target sprints across the street, Saber-5 following with his sights. He fires. Miss. "Damn, I'm out," He says wiping blood from his brow. 

I take cover and look at him. 

“How many you got?" He asks. 

"Ten rounds." I say.  

"Make em count." Says Saber-5 with a grimace.  

I pull up and take aim over the hood. The soldier appears and returns fire. I let out a three-round burst. 7. As his bullets ting around me, I hit him in the shoulder. He takes cover. I hear a pin bounce. Grenade. He steps out to throw it. I shoot. I hit his should and throwing arm. 4. He drops the grenade. The secondary pin flies off and its five second timer starts ticking down. He looks at me and then the grenade. He picks up the grenade with his better of the two hands and charges. I put in a two-round burst. 2. They hit his chest and he still keeps coming. I let out two more rounds. 0. He stumbles, died or alive a I do not know. I duck. The grenade goes off. Rubble rains down on us.   

"Well that was close," says Saber-5.  

“I made them count didn’t I.” 

Overwatch opens the coms, "Large heat, 100 meters out."  

I see a mech turning down 4th. I hadn’t heard it. "Why the late heads up Overwatch? Is it tip toeing on a foil blankie?"   

"No Saber Actual, its running cold cloak I and believe it came through the field south of you," replies Overwatch. "Another 30 tangos inbound from the west. Evac is 20 minutes out. Predator missile is still on location."  

“Can you get all 30 of them with the predator?” I ask.  

Several seconds pass, “No, I can neutralize the mech or 35 percent of foot soldiers, not both. Predator is unlocked and rea--”  

"Hold that," I reply.  

"Not advised Saber actual, you are sitting lame out there." Says Overwatch.  

"I got a plan. Just keep that missile ready." I say.  

"Roger saber actual," Says Overwatch.

The mech starts its way down the street. Saber-5 can't move. So, I do.  

“Sir?”  

"Keep your head down," I say to saber-5.  

"Are you mad," Says Saber-5.  

I look around at the shabby street then turn my gaze to the city on the horizon. Between the skyscrapers rises up a mushroom cloud, the remnants of our mission doomed to fail from the start. "Mad is out specialty, private." I say.

To be continued... 

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