CPT Lawrence Hinckley and SFC Phil Hightower were standing by the supply tent when the truck pulled into the Cantonment of the 3rd of 511th Infantry Regiment (Parachute). The three arriving soldiers also noticed that there was three other junior enlisted men who had been sitting nearby, but were in the process of getting up as the truck aproached.<br/><br/>"Lieutenant Rook," CPT Hinckley said as the truck came to a stop. "I hope you had a good trip getting down here. This is Sergeant Hightower, he is your platoon sergeant and will get you up to speed around how we do things here in Baker Company. These three young men are in your platoon, and will take your bags to the tent you'll be staying in. Our Orderly building is right over there beside the battalion's morale and welfare center, and we'll head over there right now since the Battalion Duty Officer will be stopping in to talk to us in about five minutes."<br/><br/>"Privates Thompson and Thomas you'll get shown to the tent were 3rd Squad sleeps," SFC Hightower said. "Staff Sergeant Boothe is there right now giving the men and women of the squad an inspection. After you have gotten your gear stowed he'll bring you to the Orderly building as well so you can check in with the battalion duty officer."<br/><br/>"After that you'll get to go get some thing to eat at the chow hall," SFC Hightower said as he collected their orders and official paperwork.<br/><br/>"I'm PFC John Henry Reynolds," PFC Reynolds said grinning, his white teeth contrasted with his dark brown skin. the tall, well built African-American Private First Class looked more like a football player than a soldier. "I'm in 2nd Squad, this is PV2 Ichiro Takahashi, but we call him 'Itchie.' He's from 1st Squad. And this is PFC Isaac Stein, he goes by 'Ike'. He's in the weapons squad."<br/><br/>PV2 Takahashi was a small Asian man who looked as if a strong wind would have no problem blowing him away, while PFC Stein looked more like the average man on the streets of a city in Israel. His swarthy skin and black hair made him look dark and handsome.<br/><br/>"Hi," PV2 Takahashi said grinning as he held his hand out to both Dan and Kat. They could tell the young Japanese-American man was a freindly and easy going kind of guy. "We volunteered to be the welcoming committee, to help get you two settled in. John Henry and Ike are suppose to take the new Lieutenants gear over to her tent in officer's country. I'll escort you two to 3rd Squad's tent so you both can get your gear stored. Then I'll show you to the Company's Orderly tent before heading to the chow hall. They're making roast beef for lunch today, and I don't want to miss that!"<br/><br/><div align="center">----</div><br/>As PV2 Takahashi showed the two privates off to their squad's tent, the other two privates started unloading Melinda Rook's bags and hefting them onto their backs. "Don't worry ma'am," PFC Renyolds said with a sharp professional salute. "We'll take good care of your gear while we get it to your tent."<br/><br/>"It's really good to finally get to meet you Lieutenant," SFC Hightower said smiling as he offered his hand to 2LT Melinda Rook as the two privates disapeared with her bags, and PV2 Takahashi escorted the two new arrivals off to their squad tent. "We've been looking forward to you getting here, now 3rd Platoon can get back into the patrol rotation, and the rest of the company won't have to deal with shouldering the bulk of the partols of the country side."<br/><br/>"3rd Platoon took alot of losses after we discovered a large force of FARC troops," CPT Hinckley said softly as the three of them started to walk to the Orderly tent. "As you already know, 3rd platoon got spanked hard. We lost almost everyone in 3rd Squad. But we did learn that FARC has become a major force to contend with."<br/><br/>"Intelligence that we've got now says that FARC recieved alot of training over the past three years," SFC Hightower said. "We learned that they have been taught by some veterans of the Viet Cong, who has been teaching them how to organize their forces into a main force and local forces. The local forces are just like the FARC of old, but the main forces are more professional, better armed and equipped... And they are a hell of alot better trained."<br/><br/>"We sent reports up the chain of command that if we don't do something fast," CPT Hinckley said. "Columbia will become the 'Vietnam Conflict' of the 21st Century. Right now we are spread so thin that the Army can only spare one division, that's us, to try and hold things together. But during last nights briefing with the battalion commander, he is getting worried. He feels that all we are doing right now is prolonging the final outcome. He feels that we are going to need a hell of a lot more troops on the ground to do anything that will give FARC a significant defeat."<br/><br/>"But he thinks we just might have the opening we need to knock FARC out of the fight." CPT Hinckley said as they entered the Orderly tent. "And that is were you and your platoon will be coming in. You did really well at West Point, you did so many extra curicular activities that they feel that you are going to be going far in your military career."<br/><br/>"MG Hart has his eye on you," CPT Hinckley said. "He's said that you have a lot of promise, and that's why he has sloted you and 3rd Platoon for a very special mission. You're going to be providing backup for a five man Delta team, they've been running missions non-stop since getting here three months ago. Their team leader just got back from a briefing in Washington, and we aren't to sure what happened during that briefing... But the rumors are ripe that they worked on the plans for the next two months of operations to finally deliver a fatal blow on the leadership of FARC."<br/><br/><div align="center">----</div><br/>PV2 Takahashi escorted Kat and Dan to the tent that housed 3rd Squad, when they arrived the inspection being given by SSG Oliver Boothe had just finished. But they could tell that the inspection did not go entirely well. SSG Boothe was talking outside the tent with the squad's two fire team leaders. The two sergeants looked at the two newest members of the squad as they stood at parade rest. Staff Sergeant Boothe stood as the PV2 Takahashi gave introductions and gave the young Asian private permission to leave.<br/><br/>"I'm Staff Sergeant Boothe," SSG Boothe said as he looked over the two young privates. "You'll find your cots inside, and you'll also find some footlockers that you'll be able to use. They delivered them yesterday, so they are your property and responsiblity now... get your gear stowed, and SGT Henderson will take you to the Orderly tent so you can get checked in with the battalion duty officer."<br/><br/>"Dismissed," he said as he nodded to the two sergeants and walked away.<br/><br/>"Howdy," SGT J.R. Jessup said extending his hand to the two privates, his thick Texan accent was unmistakable. "I'm J.R. and this is Eddie, but don't let anyone here you calling us that. Ya'll have to call us Sergeant Jessup and Sergeant Henderson, but when off-duty we do it a little more relaxed. When Ollie get's use to you, he'll also let you in. He's not to keen on getting to close to anyone right now. The ambush really left him kind of distant. We lost some really good friends."<br/><br/>"Let's get you settled in," SGT Henderson said as they entered the tent. The tent had four cots against each wall, facing each other with footlockers at the foot of each cot. "The right side of the tent is my fire team, while the left side is SGT Jessup's fire team."<br/><br/>"PV2 Thomas you'll be in my fire team," SGT Henderson said as he indicated the two empty cots that were opposite each other. The thin mattresses where rolled up to the head of the cots, while the bedding was folded at the foot. "PFC Thompson you are in SGT Jessup's fire team. Go ahead and get your bags stowed under your cots, and any personal items you want to, secure them in your footlockers. You can make your cots when you get back from lunch. We don't have anything planned for this afternoon, so you'll have all that time to get things squared away then."<br/><br/>"When you are ready," SGT Henderson said. "I'll escort you to the Orderly tent."