2117 - Operations Room, Delta Co. CAF*
"The barn door has been closed. The wolves are on the prowl. Request immediate extraction."

Captain Walker asked the RTO* to read the message again. He did not like it. This operation was only supposed to have an extraction if the operative was compromised and was unable to shake his pursuers. "Who do we have available"?

The private frantically checked the roster for available personnel. "Sir, the most complete squad is Sergeant Catone's. He has five personnel on site at this time. All the others are either out on missions or have signed out with only one or two personnel available."

That was not good either. Sergeant Catone's squad was fresh out of advanced squad training, with no missions under their belts. Captain Walker wondered who planed this mission anyway? It had taken him almost fifteen minutes to learn of operation "Mind Eraser". Apparently a scientist had decided he had had enough of the plush life Capitol was providing him, and wanted to sell out to Cybertronic. Probably in exchange for some really good neural wear, and practically an eternal existence. The mission was to prevent the release of sensitive material to the rivals, and now apparently the operative was in need of extraction. "Better get Catone's squad in the mission room. I will arrange for the Guardian, and brief them in five minutes."

2121 - 3rd Platoon, Enlisted Living Quarters
"Hutch, Richards, we have a mission. Get your gear and be in the Company briefing room in three minutes!" With that Sergeant Catone disappeared back out the door to their room, and could be heard going down the hall gathering up the rest of the squad.

John Hutch jumped down from the top bunk and went over to his equipment locker. Looking back to the set of bunk beds he noticed that Mic was still asleep. He could sleep through a war. "Mic, get up! We have a mission. Briefing is in three minutes! Get a move on!"

This was supposed to be a relaxing weekend. John and the rest of his squad had just completed their advanced squad training for the Capitol Armed Forces and were not slated to go on duty until Monday. Even then the squad had not been issued any weapons yet. What could be so all fired important that they would rustle up a green light infantry squad?

2125 - Company Briefing Room
John and Mic arrived, spilling their equipment on the floor, just as Captain Walker arrived from the Operations Room. John looked around. Anderson, Cole, and James were missing. They must not have returned from leave yet.

Just then the Captain spoke up; "We have an easy first mission for you all. You will be the security element for a solo extraction. The man has been on the ground for forty-eight hours and has called for an extraction. There is a Cybertronic presence, but it is unknown what type or quantity. There are no other support elements or friendlies in the area. Once the soldier is identified any other movement in the area is to be considered hostile. You will be transported via a standard Guardian transport both in and out. Once at the AO* you will secure the LZ* perimeter until the solo element arrives. Once the area is secure, and the solo arrives, call for the helo - that will be waiting three minutes out - and proceed back here to base. Any question?"

With a tinge of concern Sergeant Catone spoke up, "Captain, my squad has not been issued any Rifles yet, and three of my men are still out on leave". The rest of the squad was too green to have any questions. What more could there be? It's a simple in and out mission. No problem. What better way to get their feet wet?

"Your new Rifles, along with the ammo, are waiting at the helo-pad. Due to the expected threat we have issued you your M50's with MkI's. Do not let me think I wasted our precious resources on green troops. These will be permanently issued once you return. As for the men on leave, there is no time. You will have to leave without them."

"But sir, Anderson is my machine gunner. Wouldn't the M606 be of use in securing the LZ?"

"It should not be needed. The solo advised that he has already evaded his pursuers and is making his way to the LZ. You should not have any resistance. Dismissed!"

On the way to the helo-pad John could have sworn he heard Sergeant Catone mumbling something about being told that before, and that's how Smitty bought it. Maybe this was not going to be such a cakewalk.

2133 - Inside the Guardian helicopter
Sergeant Catone looked worried. He had the squad double and triple check their weapons. Function checks, armor inspections, weapon loads all went under intense scrutiny. His "motivational speech" did not help matters much.

"When we hit the ground I don't want any of you lard assess lagging behind. We have a mission to perform and I expect to bring you all back. Hutch you have 12 o'clock, Richards 6 o'clock, Bell 3 o'clock, and Lang 9 o'clock. Harper you are with me in the center. Cybertronic is not to be played with. They take a licking and keep on coming. If they don't drop when you first hit them, hit `em again! Once this spook gets identified I will call the chopper back and we will be on our way. Any questions?"

Well John was only slightly concerned before, now he was beginning to worry. The Captain said this was a simple in and out mission. What could go wrong? Why was Sergeant Catone so all fired worried about Cybertronic? The DI's* in basic said that they were nothing but half-breed computer wannabes, just this side of a total shutdown. How hard can this be? If the Sergeant's face was any indication this has all the makings of a long night.

Sergeant Catone's head turned slightly to the side as if trying to hear a whisper in a thunderstorm. "One minute to touch down. Safeties off, and stay alert!"

With that the doors slid open and the world below was a blur. The sun had already set behind the horizon, and it's light nothing but a glow in the far off sky. John leaned out and tried to see the LZ. What were those flashes of light ahead?

The pilot began to tilt the nose upward and the helicopter began to slow dramatically as the ground approached. In the next instant Sergeant Catone was shouting for everyone to get out.

2133 - Extraction Landing Zone
The sniper peered through his scope at the defector. He looked like he hadn't a care in the world. If only he could feel the infrared dot and cross hairs on the back of his head.

With this mission he would be able to restore his name and return home with an honorable war record. The General that had approached him for this mission even said that he would have that little part about his selling equipment to the local pawnshop erased from his record. "All the boys are doing it"; his squad mates had told him. What a crock! Those internal investigators were just looking for a fall guy. Oh well. Since "joining" the Free Marines he has managed to excel. They are a tight bunch, always looking out for each other. It was the only reason he was still alive. Now this. "I should have capped him back before he joined up with these cyber-goons. Now I will need the back up just to get away.

He was close enough to them now that he could almost hear the conversation in the cool evening air. He pulled his eye off the scope to scan the entire scene before him. The Chasseur squad had taken up a defensive screen, but it was obvious that they were not expecting any trouble. Although they had a good perimeter set up; they had not assumed any sort of defensive posture. They just stood around waiting to move out with their new prize. The scientist and squad leader were exchanging pleasantries when the faint rhythmic beat of the inbound helicopter began to be heard. The cyborgs began to examine the sky in all directions trying to determine where the sound was coming from.

With that the sniper smoothly placed his eye back on the scope, centered the sight picture once more...*BANG! *. With that the scientist was no longer a threat to share Capitol secrets. The surprised Chasseur sergeant caught the now lifeless body of the scientist before dropping it to the ground. Immediately the sniper was up and moving towards the extraction point. Those infantry boys would be on station any minute and he did not want to be caught in this building with the Cybertronic squad between him and the chopper. He cleared the stairs in the rear of the building two at a time, bursting threw the door he paused to look back towards the direction the cyborgs would be coming from. Not good, they had already cleared the corner and were heading down the street right towards him. One of the Chasseurs was leveling a very nasty looking machine gun at him. He spun and managed to place a round right on the breastplate of the abomination, distracting it just enough and the rounds from the machine gun bounced harmlessly off the wall nearby. The other cyborgs were not so distracted and began to respond with some shots of their own. Several rounds impacted the sniper. Most bounced off, but one had pierced his armor and blood began to pour out of a wound to his shoulder. He took cover behind a nearby dumpster. He looked towards the LZ. The helicopter was on final approach with the doors wide open. He risked a look around the corner to get an idea of where the Cybertronic squad was. He barely felt the bullet that struck him square in the chest. As he fell back he glanced towards the now grounded helicopter only 10 meters away. So close. Then everything started to fade...

2140 - Mission extraction point
As Hutch and the rest of the squad cleared the chopper Sergeant Catone was already broadcasting over the Comm. "Forget the defensive perimeter. Man down in the street at 3 o'clock, with enemy in close proximity."

The squad spread out to cover both sides of the alley. Harper, Hutch, and Richards moved up behind the dumpster on the left where the sniper had gone down. Sergeant Catone, Lang, and Bell moved around to the right, behind an old burned out car. The Chasseur squad had already tried to shoot at the chopper, but did not have a good angle. The pilot wasn't going to wait around either and was airborne before anyone had even registered the incoming fire.

Harper went right to work on the sniper. "Man! There's a lot of blood here. Sarge, we might be dragging a body back with us!" The rest of the squad began to return fire.

"I got one!" yelled Bell across the comm.

"Keep your mind on business", returned Sergeant Catone. "There's more than one!"

Hutch snapped off a couple of shots. There was a cyborg holding the biggest machine gun he had ever seen in his life, and it was just looking for a target. Just as Hutch was about to take a shot it took cover, so he leveled his sights on the area that he disappeared behind and waited until it showed it's head again. There was only so much room in the alleyway. It had to come back out from the some place. The entire squad was now fully engaged. "Here he comes"; thought Hutch as the barrel of the machine gun began to come from around the corner. Once the cyborg was insight John let loose with a burst from his M50, and hit the trooper square in the chest. It seemed to pause for a moment as if trying to determine if it was really hit and then began to fall over! Just as John was about to tell everyone the sergeant was back on the comm.

"Man down! Harper, get over here. Lang's been hit!"

"Be right there! This guy's is starting to come around! Hutch, make sure he's all right." With that Harper took off running right across the alley! Didn't even pause to look for traffic! That guy is gonna buy it if he is not more careful.

Hutch looked down at the now conscious Free Marine. He was picking up his rifle and making sure it was not damaged. "You gonna make it?" Hutch asked.

"I've been worse. Let's clean up so we can get back for some chow."

Hutch was skeptical of the sniper's condition, but there were other things to attend to. Hutch jumped as the sniper began to return fire from his sitting position. All of a sudden it was unnaturally quiet. There were no shots being fired, no movement could be heard. Hutch was beginning to think it was from the ringing that now pervaded his ears, but Sergeant Catone was back on the comm.

"Move forward in teams. The pilot says he won't come back till we are sure the area is secure."

Hutch thought he heard the Sarge say something about those cowardly bastards, but he wasn't sure. The squad spread out and began advancing. Almost in unison they all chambered an AP* round in the MkI grenade launchers nestled under the barrels of their M50's. It was almost comical. Five grown men trying to sneak up on a pile of barrels that had been discarded long ago. All eyes were fixed and wide open, trying to see through the barrels to the other side. If a cat, or rat, had darted from behind them it would not have made it a meter. Instead two cyborgs came up in unison with their assault rifles at the ready. They never stood a chance. All five infantrymen opened up with their grenade launchers, and then it was quiet again.

The squad continued to advance down the alley. In all there were six Cybertronic Chasseurs and one dead guy in civilian type clothes. The Sarge had Bell and Hutch perform "clean-up" on the dead troopers. Mostly making sure none of them were playing possum, and to search for anything that the Intel guys back at base might find useful.

Lang didn't make it. Harper said that the bullet had taken his heart and most of his lungs. There was nothing he could do for him. Harper had picked him up by himself and carried him back to the chopper. And when the squad got back to base Harper was the one who made sure Lang was taken care of.

The sniper made it back to base in one peace. Once the chopper set down he was off, never to be heard from again. That's gratitude for you.

AO: Area of Operations
AP: Armor Piercing
CAF: Capitol Armed Forces
DI: Drill Instructor
LZ: Landing Zone
RTO: Radio, Telephone Operator

Writer's notes

Walker - Captain - ex CO
Catone - Sergeant - ex Sqd Ldr
Harper - Medic - Russ
Hutch - me
James - Jim
Richards - Rick
Anderson - Scott
Cole - Brian
Bell - Bruce
Lang - nobody - KIA
Collins -nobody