"Angry Angels" (Patriot1971, RogueJedi, Sagittary, Aviationrox)
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Light =&gt; Light: Human Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: The American Patriot on 16-07-2008, 01:50:30</h2>
		<dl id="posts">
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>"Angry Angels" (Patriot1971, RogueJedi, Sagittary, Aviationrox)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>The American Patriot</strong> on <strong>16-07-2008, 01:50:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>11th Infantry Division (Air Assault) The Angry Angels</strong><br><br>With the aftermath of the September 11th Terror attacks, the United States Army realized that they would be unable to deal with a world-wide threat with the massive draw-downs of the Clinton Administration and requested permission to use the increase in recruitment to rebuild their strength to pre-Clinton Administration levels. But to best deal with the new threats the US Army chose to reinstate six airmobile Infantry Divisions that could be readily deployed to hotspots around the world. But several Senators chose to politicize the re-commissioning of these divisions by attaching riders that finally allowed women into the Combat Arms starting with commissioned officers in 2007 and Enlisted personnel in 2008. In 2006 the president reactivated those divisions that had been decommissioned during the Clinton Administration. Due to the increased threat levels around the world the US Armed Forces under went a renaissance that they had not seen since the Reagan Administration, growing not only in size, but in technological advancements. With the rising tensions between Venezuela and Columbia over the discovery that the Venezuela was now openly suppling anti-government rebels, the United States deploys the 11th Infantry (Air Assault) Division to provide support for the Columbian government. <br><br>One of the first divisions to be recommissioned to act as the testbed for female combat personell would be the 11th Infantry (Air Assault) Division 'The Angry Angels'. The 11th Infantry (Air Assault) Division 'Angry Angels' headquarters in Columbia has been nicknamed 'Camp Angel' since the 11th ID has such a high percentage of female personnel. <br><br><div align="center"><strong>3rd Platoon, Baker Company,<br>3rd-511th Infantry Regiment (Parachute),<br>2nd Brigade, 11th Infantry Division (Air Assault)</strong></div><br><br><strong>Platoon Headquarters Section</strong>: <br><br><strong>2LT Melinda 'Medusa' Rook, Platoon Leader</strong>: adult &lt;&gt; female <br><strong>SFC Phillip 'Phil' Hightower, Platoon Sergeant</strong>: adult Caucsaian male male&nbsp; <br><strong>SPC Jason Tall-Trees, Forward Observer</strong>: adult Amerindian male <br><strong>SPC Tabitha McCall, Radio-Telephone Operator</strong>: adult Caucasian female <br><strong>SPC Hogan, Combat Field Medic</strong>: adult Caucasian male <br><strong>Jessica 'Jessie' Chambers, Embedded Journalist</strong>: adult Caucsaian female <br><br><br><strong>1st Squad</strong>: <br><br><strong>SSG Jonathan 'Shep' Sheppard, 1st Squad Leader</strong>: adult Caucasian male <br><strong>SGT Lewis, Fire Team 1A Leader</strong>: adult African-American male <br><strong>SPC Simpson, Grenadier 1A</strong>: adult African-American male <br><strong>PFC Kane, Automatic Rifleman 1A</strong>: adult Caucasian male <br><strong>PV2 Elizabeth 'Beth' Rhodes, Rifleman 1A</strong>: adult African-American female <br><strong>SGT Paterson, Fire Team 1B Leader</strong>: adult Caucasian male <br><strong>SPC Fischer, Grenadier 1B</strong>: adult Caucasian male&nbsp; <br><strong>PFC Bailey, Automatic Rifleman 1B</strong>: adult Caucasian male <br><strong>PV2 Ichiro 'Itchie' Takahashi, Rifleman 1B</strong>: adult Asian male <br><br><br><strong>2nd Squad</strong>: <br><br><strong>SSG Anthony Williams, 2nd Squad Leader</strong>: adult African-American male <br><strong>SGT Tadeusz 'Tad' Wojcik, Fire Team 2A Leader</strong>: adult Caucasian male <br><strong>SPC Busch, Grenadier 2A</strong>: adult Caucasian male <br><strong>PFC Puller, Automatic Rifleman 2A</strong>: adult Caucaisan male <br><strong>PV2 Samantha 'Sam' Jefferson, Rifleman 2A</strong>: adult African-American female <br><strong>SGT Ward, Fire Team 2B Leader</strong>: adult Caucasian male <br><strong>SPC John Henry Reynolds, Grenadier 2B</strong>: adult African-American male <br><strong>PFC Ewing, Automatic Rifleman 2B</strong>: adult Caucasian male <br><strong>PV2 Debroah 'Lil' Debbie' Roth, Rifleman 2B</strong>: adult Caucasian female <br><br><br><strong>3rd Squad</strong>: <br><br><strong>SSG Oliver 'Ollie' Boothe, 3rd Squad Leader</strong>: adult Caucsian male <br><strong>SGT Edward Henderson, Fire Team 3A Leader</strong>: adult Caucsaian male <br><strong>SPC Nicole Carpenter, Grenadier 3A</strong>: adult Caucasian female <br><strong>PFC Simon 'Tiny' Fueunati, Automatic Rifleman 3A</strong>: adult Samoan male<br><strong>PV2 Keira Angelie 'Kat' Thomas, Rifleman 3A</strong>: adult Caucasian female <br><strong>SGT Jonathan Russell 'J.R.' Jessup, Fire Team 3B Leader</strong>: adult Caucasian male <br><strong>SPC James Michael 'Mike' Marbury, Grenadier 3B</strong>: adult Caucasian male <br><strong>PFC William Raymond ‘Billy Ray’ Smith, Automatic Rifleman 3B</strong>: adult African-American male <br><strong>PFC Daniel Howard 'Dan' Thompson, Rifleman 3B</strong>: adult Caucasian male <br><br><br><strong>Weapons Squad</strong>: <br><br><strong>SSG Hector Rodriguez, Weapons Squad Leader</strong>: adult Hispanic male <br><strong>SPC Holt, MG Gunner A</strong>: adult Caucasian male <br><strong>PFC Isaac 'Ike' Stein, Assistant MG Gunner A</strong>: adult Semitic male <br><strong>PV2 Ford, MG Ammo Bearer A</strong>: adult African-American male <br><strong>SPC Gardner, MG Gunner B</strong>: adult Caucasian male <br><strong>PFC Bremer, Assistant MG Gunner B</strong>: adult Caucasian male <br><strong>PV2 Heather Anderson, MG Ammo Bearer B</strong>: adult Caucasian female <br><strong>SPC Gunn, MG Gunner C</strong>: adult <br><strong>PFC Pittman, Assistant MG Gunner C</strong>: adult <br><strong>PV2 Gina Cobb, MG Ammo Bearer C</strong>: adult African-American female <br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: "Angry Angels" (Patriot1971, RougeJedi, Sagittary, Aviationrox)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Avi</strong> on <strong>17-07-2008, 02:27:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The steady thud of helicopter blades filled the air as the small contingent of Black Hawks and Little Bird escorts cruised in formation just above the treetops, speeding across the landscape of northern Colombia.&nbsp; Each helicopter was armed to the teeth with two 50 cal. machine-guns, with the Little Birds having an additional pair of mini-guns.&nbsp; The trees below flashed by in an ever-changing collage of various shades of green in the glow of the setting sun. <br><br>Sitting on the right side of the third helicopter in line, PFC Dan Thompson looked out over the trees, a quiet sigh of resignation escaping his lips.&nbsp; Here they went again.&nbsp; First Afghanistan, then Iraq, and now it was time to bail out the Colombians.&nbsp; In the past few weeks, the news circuits had been buzzing with the growing tensions between Colombia and Venezuela, and now, with the murder of Congressman Hanson still fresh in the mind of his fellow politicians, it seemed as if a war with Hugo Chavez and his militias was all but inevitable.<br><br>"I can hardly believe it, but I wish I was back in Wisconsin," Thompson thought to himself as he looked down to check his M16 rifle.&nbsp; At least in the Dairy State, you could breath the air in July, here it was like he was walking through water even sitting down.&nbsp; "Damn FARC bastards... why did they have to pick a fight now, of all times?&nbsp; I could have been at a barbecue, drinking a beer, for God's sake..."<br><br>Glancing to his left, Dan eyed the other riders in the chopper, his eyes finally coming to rest on the newest member of Third Squad.&nbsp; What was her name?&nbsp; Kat?&nbsp; Poor girl.&nbsp; The first deployment she gets is to the crappiest hell-hole on the planet.&nbsp; And on the brink of a war, just for kicks!&nbsp; Ah, the joys of international politics.&nbsp; Catching her eye, he gave her a bit of a smile, nodding in recognition.&nbsp; Hopefully, she could hold her own when the shit hit the fan.&nbsp; He didn't want to have to watch another squadmate die.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: "Angry Angels" (Patriot1971, RougeJedi, Sagittary, Aviationrox)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>The American Patriot</strong> on <strong>17-07-2008, 04:15:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				CW3 Spaight looked as if he was intently engrossed with the magazine that he was holding in his hands, but the reality couldn't be further from the truth. He was covertly studing each of the men and women in the Blackhawk. He wasn't to happy with his current assignment that GEN Paine had given him. To act as an advisor for some new <em>Secnod Lieutenant,</em> all because some bloody US Senator had decided to take a interest in their career... Politics really should be kept far away from a military career. <br><br>CW3 Spaight grimaced at the thought that during an election year that politicians would use the lives of soldiers as pawn peices to get extra votes. The majority of them only took an interest in the men and women in uniform when it was politically expediant for them to do so. <br><br>While CW3 Spaight had no problems with women in combat, he found the way that SEN Clinton had spearheaded the implimentation of the EFCP (Evaluation of Female Combat Personnel) Program as repulsive. It was bad enough that he remembered then-President William Jefferson 'Bill' Clinton's meddling with the investigation of over a hundred homosexual rape cases while he was actively attempting to change policies that would allow openly Homosexuals to be allowed in the service. While CW3 Spaight didn't have a problem with homosexuals in the service, the underhanded way that then-President Clinton had went about it just rubbed him wrong.<br><br>Right now he was trying to get his mind ready for the mission at hand. He was to carry out a deep penetration raid with 3rd Platoon, Baker Company, 3rd of the 511th Infantry Regiment (Parachute) as back-up for he and his Delta Detachment. This would not only be the first combat mission for 2LT Rook, it would be her first command. It was a requirement that SEN Boxer demanded that Rook and her platoon be placed in a position that would get a great deal of positive publicity for the Evaluation of Female Combat Personnel Program. CW3 Spaight hated to be used for political gain for anyone. <br><br>But he had a secondary mission. One that had been assigned by GEN Paine to find out exactly just what the hell that Rep. Hanson could have been possibily upto that&nbsp; would have done that got him and his entire family murdered by FARC Operatives. Something just wasn't adding up... And it was such a quandry that GEN Paine had taken him from his assignment to try and find out just how large an organization that the international terrorist network "The Righteous Path" had become. The Righteous Path been created as an affliate of Osama bin Ladin's al-Qeada terror network, using non-Muslims and those Muslims that didn't look Arabic.<br><br>Ever since it was learned that Venzeulean President Hugo Chavez had started to fund the modernization of the weapons, equipment and training of FARC, the Pentagon realized that war was on the horizon... Sooner, rather than later. And with the United States Armed Forces spread thin fighting the Global War on Terror. <br><br>CW3 Spaight had just spent three weeks in the Democratic Republic of Calstinopa ("República Democrática de Calstinopa") tracking down leads about the leadership of 'The Righteous Path' ("Trajeto de Righteous") operating their under the charismatic leadership of Dr. José Vasquez, Ph.D. <br><br>At one time, Dr. José Vasquez had been a popular idealistic university professor who taught history and philosophy at the University of Calstinopa. But over time Dr. Vasquez had become disillusioned with the Roman Catholic faith, and turned his classes into a soapbox to speak out against the power of the Catholic Church. But it did not just stop there, he started to speak out against when the Calstinopan government, and publicly started to lead protests against the Calstinopan government's participation in the American Global War on Terror. <br><br>Dr. José Vasquez became associated with Osama bin Laden thanks to Halik Mossa, an American Muslim who has became one of the most wanted international terrorist organizers. And it appeared that "Trajeto de Righteous" had contacts here in Columbia that was supplying them with funding. But what frightened CW3 Spaight was the possiblity that "The Righteous Path" had started another branch in Columbia... Using the Drug Cartels as a means to raise the money to fund their operations around the world. Funding that no one could be able to track back to Osama bin Laden and his other money men.<br><br>CW3 Spaight looked around the passenger compartment of the Blackhawk and smiled. "Well kids," he said to the rest of the men and women. "It looks like we have arrived at Camp Angel..." 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: "Angry Angels" (Patriot1971, RogueJedi, Sagittary, Aviationrox)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>JadeCore</strong> on <strong>18-07-2008, 08:50:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Rook was either dead or sleeping. Given the general state of ease in the helicopter, one would be forgiven for guessing the former. It took the swaying and shaking of the helicopter to betray the life within her as her body remained stationary, counter-swaying through every dip and jerk. One hand rested in the classic broken wrist pose on the grip of her M4 while the other seemed to be caught half way between reaching for the utility knife at her hip and lifting the barrel of the rifle towards the hatch of the helicopter.<br><br>Half-asleep and half-awake, Rook could have slept through an earthquake but awoken at the someone slipping out a knife during a rock concert. The art of catnapping was a trick most soldiers learned quickly. Better for her, she seemed to have a good internal clock (or her body was just attuned to the motion around her) and had already awoken fifteen minutes before they were ready to land. Since then, she'd allowed herself to drift in and out of light slumber while the politics of the situation, or at much as she had been told and found out, flashed behind her eyelids.<br><br>History, they said. The first females in a combat role. Not support, not auxiliary, but direct combat. A politician she'd never heard of had talked to a general she'd never seen and gotten her an assignment she'd never asked for. The newspapers had nicknamed her The All-American Girl, in part for her looks, in part for her history, and in part because she had the kind of mass appeal story that people liked. That's what the cadets down at the psychological warfare department had said anyway; it was mildly comforting to know that the Army's digital artists and graphic design jockeys sympathized enough to gave her a straight answer.<br><br>She was no stranger to pressure and scrutiny. The kind being given to her now was new, though, as every one from her instructors to the quartermaster had something to say on it. Do us proud. Don't mess up. It's an honor. Women don't belong in combat roles. You have to prove that women can do anything that the men can. And in the craze of attention, somehow someone had forgotten to tell just what exactly her command was suppose to be. That, out of it all, irked her the most. She hated doing something without all the information especially when that information was easily available. The best Melinda had gotten was that she was heading to South America for an anti-terrorism operation. Everything else, she'd have to read once she had a chance.<br><br>Her left eye opened. Spaight's words were right on cue at about fifteen seconds after she was fully awake and aware. The storm cloud of her eye caught his in silent acknowledgment before sliding to a spot an inch over his left shoulder. After amusing herself by decapitating the Delta Force operator using her blind spot, Melinda opened her other eye to look around at the rest of the soldiers and allow her eyes to adjust to the light. It was like graduation all over again; she had her picture taken more times at the ceremony than she had in the past twelve years combined.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: "Angry Angels" (Patriot1971, RogueJedi, Sagittary, Aviationrox)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>The American Patriot</strong> on <strong>18-07-2008, 10:53:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				CW3 Spaight looked at the men and women in the passenger compartment and smiled. "Well kids," he said. "It's been fun, now just pay attention to what your sergeants tell you and you'll be fine... Keep your heads down, and you'll be fine. Don't do anything stupid, and you'll be fine."<br><br>CW3 Spaight waited while the rotar blades slowed to a stop and then stepped out of the landed helicopter and looked around and sighed. He hated the jungle almost as much as he hated the desert that he had actually become accustomed to. "Just another day at the office," he muttered as he headed towards where the division duty officer's office should be located. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: "Angry Angels" (Patriot1971, RogueJedi, Sagittary, Aviationrox)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Avi</strong> on <strong>18-07-2008, 19:28:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Dan quietly observed Spaight and Rook, stifling a little laugh as he could tell Rook was messing with the poor guy mentally.&nbsp; He was taking a liking to the new lieutenant already.&nbsp; The quiet ones were usually those who made the best leaders&nbsp; As the "operative", the common military name for Delta guys, stepped from the chopper, Dan spoke up, just loud enough to be heard over the dying whir of the rotors.<br><br>"Take care of yourself too, sir.&nbsp; This whole powder-keg seems primed and ready to blow up in our faces."&nbsp; He threw Spaight a quick salute before looking back toward the other men and women in the chopper.&nbsp; His eyes came to rest on Rook once again, silently assessing her in spite of himself.&nbsp; After another couple of seconds, he looked away again, focusing on his customized M4, checking the magazine and making sure a round was chambered and ready to fire on a moment's notice.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: "Angry Angels" (Patriot1971, RogueJedi, Sagittary, Aviationrox)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>The American Patriot</strong> on <strong>19-07-2008, 05:57:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The new arrivals mustered up infront of the Divisional Duty Officer's office, the divisional duty officer called out each person's name, rank and last four of their social security numbers. As each of them responded to their name he had them sign in, and looked over their orders before he gave each of them directions to their respective company orderly buildings to report in to their company commanders.<br><br>"2LT Rook, Privates Thomas and Thompson," the Duty Officer said has he looked over their orders, and confirmed they were indeed who they were. "Congradulations are in order. The three of you are going to 3rd Platoon, Baker Company, 3rd of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment..."<br><br>"CPT Hinkley has really been looking for the three of you getting here," the Duty Officer said as he pointed to the direction of their battalion's cantonment. "He's not been able to deploy 3rd Platoon in the standard patrol rotations, and it's put a hell of a strain on the rest of Baker Company. You three are the last replacements that will bring 3rd Platoon back-up to full strength." <br><br>"The three of you can get a ride with some supplies that is suppose to be delivered today if you hussle," he said indicating a deuce-and-half cargo truck that looked as if they had just finished loading it. "Good luck ladies and gentlemen."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: "Angry Angels" (Patriot1971, RogueJedi, Sagittary, Aviationrox)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>RogueJedi</strong> on <strong>19-07-2008, 16:08:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Private Keira Thomas, known as Kat to her small group of friends as well as during basic, sat on the chopper trying to mind her own business.&nbsp; She was young, and she looked it, just barely out of high school and eighteen years old.&nbsp; She had signed on with the army in order to get away from her hell hole of a home town and the trailer park she had spent her entire life growing up in.<br><br>The fact that she was a mediocre student in school combined with not really having a desire for any specialization meant that she was also a prime candidate for the new female combat arm of the US Army.&nbsp; As it was, her instructors in basic had figured out she could fight better than many of the other females and used her anger and bitterness at her home life to encourage her to perform even better.<br><br>Now she was on a chopper on her way to some other hell hole, but at least such places were familiar to her.&nbsp; She didn't really pay attention to the goings on around her on the chopper, preferring to keep her own counsel.&nbsp; When CW3 Spaight announced that they had arrived at Camp Angel, Kat just shrugged.&nbsp; She gathered her gear and followed the Lieutenant and the other private to the Divisional Duty Officer's office.&nbsp; She responded quickly when called and signed in, handing over her orders to report here.<br><br><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"2LT Rook, Privates Thomas and Thompson," the Duty Officer said has he looked over their orders, and confirmed they were indeed who they were. "Congradulations are in order. The three of you are going to 3rd Platoon, Baker Company, 3rd of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment..."<br><br>"CPT Hinkley has really been looking for the three of you getting here," the Duty Officer said as he pointed to the direction of their battalion's cantonment. "He's not been able to deploy 3rd Platoon in the standard patrol rotations, and it's put a hell of a strain on the rest of Baker Company. You three are the last replacements that will bring 3rd Platoon back-up to full strength."<br><br>"The three of you can get a ride with some supplies that is suppose to be delivered today if you hussle," he said indicating a deuce-and-half cargo truck that looked as if they had just finished loading it. "Good luck ladies and gentlemen."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>Kat saluted and waited for the others before moving over towards the truck.&nbsp; Her petite frame not showing any kind of strain with all her gear, and she wouldn't show any weakness anyways.&nbsp; Though she was sure the others thought her to be quiet, especially for a private away from home for her first tour, she didn't particularly care to speak unless it was important that she do so.&nbsp; Besides, she had grown up hating the giggles and gossip and talking from the rich popular girls, why would she debase herself by being like them in the least?
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: "Angry Angels" (Patriot1971, RogueJedi, Sagittary, Aviationrox)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Avi</strong> on <strong>19-07-2008, 17:57:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Dan saluted along with Kat and stepped back outside, wincing a little as the glare of the setting sun hit him right in the eyes.&nbsp; It took him a moment to re-accommodate to the thick tropical air, then he sighed, hefting his duffel bag up over his shoulder and quickly following after her.&nbsp; It was surprising to him how such a small woman could carry everything she had on her person, but she did, and he really wasn't going to ask any questions right now.&nbsp; Throwing his bag up into the truck, he climbed up the side and swung his legs over one by one to land in the compartment.<br><br>Turning back to the other two, he smiled a little and offered them both a hand up, first doing so for the new lieutenant, his inner gentleman coming into view in spite of the tense situation.&nbsp; "I suppose it wouldn't be too good to keep the Captain waiting much longer, lieutenant."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: "Angry Angels" (Patriot1971, RogueJedi, Sagittary, Aviationrox)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>JadeCore</strong> on <strong>19-07-2008, 20:37:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The routine of filing out of the helicopter and checking-in was a blur of habit and reflex. Look there, stop here, salute, and move. Ask her later and she'd remember only the important details, names not withstanding. Names never came to her well until someone had stood out or stood by for a time. Faces. Faces she remembered and deeds.<br><br>Rook pulled herself up on to the back of the truck. The metal boxes and wooden crates were warm and moist from the sweltering jungle sun as was Thompson's hand which was neither ignored nor waved away. It was simply there and something she did not need. She didn't think of herself as a woman needing to prove herself, a gung ho macho woman, or one of the guys. Those sorts of attitudes were trained out of her long ago and underwritten by watching the way Captain Wright had treated those in his command. Lead by example; don't ask or take what you would not do on your own. Eat, sleep, and fight as a team which mean handling the same sort of hardships that everyone else did.<br><br>As the humidity seeped into her clothing and equipment, a bead of sweat rolled down her nose and hung at the end. A sparkling jewel in the bright sun. Another dangled off an eyelash, stinging slightly in her eye. Rook only bothered to wipe either one away after counting heads and banging the side of the truck to signal the driver. Dust and dirt kicked up as the back end of the truck dug into the ground, jostling everyone as they crossed over berms and small ditchs worn through the underbrush.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: "Angry Angels" (Patriot1971, RogueJedi, Sagittary, Aviationrox)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>The American Patriot</strong> on <strong>19-07-2008, 23:26:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				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."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: "Angry Angels" (Patriot1971, RogueJedi, Sagittary, Aviationrox)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>JadeCore</strong> on <strong>20-07-2008, 07:38:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Melinda slid off the back of the truck, sinking a little into the loose dirt. Rapping the truck again to catch the driver's attention, she flashed him a peace sign in appreciation of the ride across the base before turning towards Hinckley and the other soldiers. A snappy salute came almost as soon as Melinda came to a stop. The formal exchange of orders came soon after.<br><br><div align="center">----</div><br>They were doing it again. Doing stuff for her. Of the many things one could do, there was one thing that irked Melinda and that was doing things for her and giving her things. Melinda had been given things as a youth and, as she matured and came about worldly experience, came to hate when people gave her anything significant unless she specifically asked. Still, she knew better than to bruise egos or give an poor first impression by insisting she carry her own bags and coming across as cold and aloof. The Army had a thing about respect, at any rate, and one way of engraining that value was assisting your fellow soldiers.<br><br>"Good to meet you too, Sergeant," Rook said, voice strong if a little dry from having been quiet throughout the helicopter ride and shook Hightower's hand. Hinckley and Hightower no doubt had much to catch her up on as the three of them walked towards the Orderly tent. She held her tongue and paid rapt attention as they launched into a quick report on what she had been thrown into.<br><br>Funny that Hinckley mentioned Vietnam. Captain Wright, an officer she had worked with as a cadet, had mentioned the same thing in context of Iraq and Afghanistan. It had been both a good and bad thing. On one hand, multiple tours of duty had given troops experience at war and with the culture that aided in General Petraeus's new strategy to deal with the insurgency. On the other hand, the cost in people and time was straining as that experience was often hard won and occasionally bloody.<br><br>Though as the officers filled in the details, the situation hardly seemed the same. The FARC, backed by the Venezuelan government and trained by experienced professionals, was more than just an insurgency hiding among the populace. Making deals and winning over enemies did not seem like a viable strategy, at least on a large scale. The people in Washington had come to the same conclusion, apparently. One doesn't send in a Special Forces team with a two-month long plan to exploit a weakness and attack leaders of the opposition in order to turn enemies in to allies.<br><br>Military career. Strangely, as they entered the Orderly tent, Melinda realized she had never really thought about being in the military as a career. Career made it sound like it was a office job where you talk around water coolers, get promotions by coming up with ways to increase profit by 10%, and attend company retreats to Aspen. The military for Melinda had always just been about her purpose and about her team, at least in the course of doing her duties. With a little bit of chagrin, the current slogan of "Army Strong" came to mind.<br><br>"I'm not going to test my luck and say I hope I don't let the General - or you - down," Rook said, self-consciously brushing away some sweat slicked hair away from her eyes. There was that scrutiny again by people far away she didn't know about. At least she had met the Captain, cementing him for the moment as far more important than General Hart. Promise or politics, all Melinda wanted was to just do her duty, bring order to chaos, and make sure everyone got home. She lacked the Machiavellian streak to excel in politics; as Rook absorbed the information, she hoped she wasn't getting too caught up in something. For that matter, she hoped she wasn't missing some political piece of the Columbian puzzle.<br><br>"This brouhaha is probably worse for the Delta team than it is for me, anyway," She left it unspoken that she was talking about the heavy 'endorsement' by Senator Boxer and remembering Spaight from the helicopter, "I'm going to guess they don't like much publicity. What are my orders until Delta Lead tells us what the plan is? Is there anything else can you tell me about the situation?"<br><br>She paused briefly before remembering the orders she had been given from General Paine. Digging into her pocket to touch the sealed envelope addressed to General Callahan to make sure that it was still there, Melinda added as she pulled the partially crumpled envelope out, "I also have orders to give this to General Callahan."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: "Angry Angels" (Patriot1971, RogueJedi, Sagittary, Aviationrox)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Avi</strong> on <strong>20-07-2008, 17:21:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The blur of salutes, counter-salutes, and greetings all molded together for Dan.&nbsp; His mind tended to wander whenever his actions devolved into routine or procedure, and his thoughts turned once again to his family for a moment.&nbsp; As CPT Hinckley dismissed himself and Kat, he gave his superior officer a former salute before turning smartly to face his three new squad members.<br><br>Their energy was infectious, and Thompson felt the boredom and tedium of the whole process fading as he grinned back at Itchie and the others.&nbsp; "It's good to meet you three.&nbsp; I'm Dan... Dan Thompson.&nbsp; I guess I don't really have a nickname, per se.&nbsp; Comes with being a farm boy, I think."&nbsp; He paused to let Kat introduce herself as well, his gaze wandering around the tent before they got moving once again.&nbsp; There were a couple questions he wanted to ask, but he decided to let those wait until they were done getting settled.<br><br>Dan listened quietly to SSGT Boothe as he explained the procedure of getting settled and checked in, then watched him leave as he listend to Jessup and Eddie.&nbsp; As they explained why the SSGT was so anti-social, a faint frown came over his face, and he nodded slightly.&nbsp; "I know the feeling..." he muttered, sighing a bit.<br><br>As they get their fireteam assignments, he flashes his leader a brief grin, nodding in acknowledgement.&nbsp; Once dismissed, he picks up his duffel bag and follows Kat into the barracks.&nbsp; He made quick work of organizing and putting away his personal effects before walking back outside to join the two sergeants.&nbsp; He leaned against the tent pole and looked at SGT Henderson.&nbsp; "Forgive me for asking, but... just how many men did you lose in that ambush?&nbsp; I still see a lot of empty cots in there."&nbsp; A part of him still felt the dull ache of seeing the emptied cots after a mission went bad and a good person died.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: "Angry Angels" (Patriot1971, RogueJedi, Sagittary, Aviationrox)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>The American Patriot</strong> on <strong>20-07-2008, 18:12:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"We lost most of 3rd Squad," SGT Henderson said softly. "Janson and Hobbs were killed the first couple of seconds of the ambush. Colby, Ripley and Hannity were medevaced back to the states. We were told they took them to Walter Reed to get better. But Colby is gonna be getting a medical discharge." <br><br>"If it hadn't been for Lieutenant Grissom alot more of us would have been killed or tore up just as bad," Henderson said. "He had ordered the rest of the platoon to try and encricle the damn bastards that was shooting the hell out of is. He had them charge right into the center mass of those fuckers and had the grenadiers lobbing beehive grenades right into them... He was standing right in the open giving orders so he coudl coordinate everyone... That was when he caught a bullet right in throat. But he got back up and kept issuing orders... He didn't give up, and neither did we. We lost six people, and had eight wounded. But we killed over fourty of those bastards."<br><br>"We gave better than we took," Henderson said sadly. "But when the smoke cleared we found something really good... We were able to capture their gear. Brand spanking new Chinese hardware, that the Chinese swear to God that they sold to Venzeulea... Not to anyone else."<br><br>"It's taken us a while to get reinforcements to get the platoon back up to full strength," Henderson said as he leaned back on his cot.<br><br>"Now with you two and the Lieutenant getting here," Henderson said. "The platoon is back up to speed. The reason no one else is here right now, is that they've all headed to the chow hall. They're making roast beef today for lunch, and no one wants to miss that." <br><br>"SSG Boothe had us waiting for your arrival," Henderson said as he got up form his cot. "But don't worry, this afternoon you'll get to spend time socializing and getting to know everyone before we got out on patrol tomorrow." 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: "Angry Angels" (Patriot1971, RogueJedi, Sagittary, Aviationrox)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>The American Patriot</strong> on <strong>20-07-2008, 23:15:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				CPT Hinckley looked and 2LT Rook and nodded silently. "If GEN Paine sent them with you instead of official channels it means something that he doesn't want to get out," he said as he turned to 1SG Clay Abernathy. "Clay, I need you to get MG Callahan to come down here... Tell him it's about the Argentine Dogos that he gave my family, and i've got a few questions for him on obediance training..."<br><br>"He'll know what it means," Hinckley said as the company's first sergeant picked up the phone and started to make the call. "Phil, why don't you get the chow hall to bring us our lunches..." <br><br>"Yes sir," SFC Hightower said as he headed out the door of the Orderly tent. <br><br>"Well Lieutenant," CPT Hinckley said smiling. "I hope you realize that the cloak and dagger routine is just part of how GEN Paine has been working lately. This isn't the first, nor last time the General has had to resort to this measure to get special orders to General Callahan. There is someone in the State Department who has been leaking our plans to the press, and to FARC agents. We don't know who it is yet, but we know that they are somewhere in the State Department."<br><br>"It's almost as bad when we found that there was someone in the CIA who had been passing some very sensative data to the press in an attempt to discredit the administration," CPT Hinckley said shaking his head. "I swear, assholes who put their political affiliation over the good of the country really pisses me off." <br><br>1SG Abernathy came into the main room of the Orderly tent and smiled. "He's on his way sir," he said. "I'll go get Pogo from your office, that way anyone who might be watching will see him working with you and Pogo outside before he comes in to speak to Lieutenant Rook."<br><br>"Good thinking Clay," CPT Hinckley said smiling. <br><br>They had ate their lunch and dealt with the Battalion Duty Officer during the thrity minutes that had passed before MG Callahan and his driver arrived at the Orderly tent. PFC Thompson and PV2 Thomas had checked in with the Battalion Duty Officer and headed down to the Chow hall for their lunch with SGT Henderson, allowing the two enlisted servicemebers to get their lunch in a much less tense situation. <br><br>MG Callahan and CPT Hinckley went through the paces of the general showing the captain some of the obediance lessons that the young Argentine Dogo seemed to need. Then the Major General and Captain entered the Orderly tent with the dogo in tow... <br><br>"Hello Lieutenant," MG Callahan said as he exchanged salutes with the young second lieutenant. "I believe that you have something for me?" 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: "Angry Angels" (Patriot1971, RogueJedi, Sagittary, Aviationrox)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Avi</strong> on <strong>21-07-2008, 04:57:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Dan nodded, looking toward the mess hall where he could hear the bustle of meal time.&nbsp; "I should have figured... I'm sorry for your losses, I'm sure they were good men and women."&nbsp; He crosses his arms, idly checking his sidearm before he does so, sliding the catch back to make sure a round is chambered before flipping the safety off and on again.&nbsp; "This is one hell of a time for FARC to get rowdy... it just seems like an odd thing for them to do.&nbsp; They usually don't pick fights if the U.N. is involved."<br><br>He sighed and shook his head.&nbsp; "I just have a bad feeling about the whole situation... this has a good chance of turning into a bloodbath, and getting lots of people, innocent or combatants, killed needlessly.&nbsp; It feels a little bit like Fallujah, to be perfectly honest."&nbsp; As he mentioned the infamous former-insurgent stronghold, his thoughts turned to his squad mate and friend, Peter Gordon.&nbsp; The fighting in the city had claimed his life on the second day of battle, the victim of an RPG hit on a Humvee.&nbsp; "I just don't want to see anyone else killed."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: "Angry Angels" (Patriot1971, RogueJedi, Sagittary, Aviationrox)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>JadeCore</strong> on <strong>24-07-2008, 07:04:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She met the news of a mole with an impassive look though her heart and mind took a start. The world of intelligence was a strange thing. Every one knew it happened - in part because everyone did it and usually took advantage of them to feed poor information - and yet at the same time, everyone always seemed surprised when the mole was revealed. Spies and special forces were at least honest in their occupation; finding out that the person you've worked with for eight years was really your enemy? It was something anyone would find intimately wounding.<br><br>"We'll do our best with what we have."<br><br>It wasn't a consolation as much as she wanted it to be. Melinda wondered if making history as a female would get caught up in making history by getting caught up in a mole's schemes. One did not seem conductive to the other, she noted wryly, or to the Delta operators. The little blurb history books usually noted something quick number about how many died and then swiftly moved on to the consequences.<br><br>Captain Hinckley proved a better lunch time conversationalist than he was bearer of news. He talked of his men with a clear sense of pride, skirting drama and violence in favor of embarrassing stories fit for a parent. The others had the humility to manage looks of friendly chagrin in front of Melinda.<br><br>The young lieutenant watched the two men play with the dog in silence. Look carefully and one would have spied the smallest of smiles or smirks curling one corner of her mouth. Animals seemed to bring out the best in soldiers and had she closed her eyes, she might have thought the two men playing in the park while their wives sat at a picnic bench talking about baking and soccer. Callahan had lost five years off his face by the time he came to address her, the playful energy still fluttering in his eyes.<br><br>"Yes, General sir," She said, perhaps a bit more formally than necessary, before holding out the envelope.
			</dd>
		</dl>
		<div id="footer" class="smalltext">
			
			<span class="smalltext" style="display: inline; visibility: visible; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?action=credits" title="Simple Machines Forum" target="_blank" class="new_win">SMF 2.0.19</a> |
 <a href="https://www.simplemachines.org/about/smf/license.php" title="License" target="_blank" class="new_win">SMF © 2021</a>, <a href="https://www.simplemachines.org" title="Simple Machines" target="_blank" class="new_win">Simple Machines</a>
			</span>
		</div>