[A.H.] The Boys March On

[Nazgūl Killer]

Chapter One: Row, Row, Row Your Boats...

February 18th, 1945, 2300, The Pacific...

"Hey, Kip!"
"What?"
"Hand me a smoke, will yuh?"
"What? Smoke? I ain't got any smokes"
"What do you mean 'ain't got any smokes'? You always got smokes you liar, hand it over jackass"
"Screw you man, I ain't got any smokes I tell you!" I said, just as I finished one of the cannons let loose its shell, throwing it away to the island.
"Who got smokes?" Libgotte persisted.
"I don't know. Ask JayJay!" I yelled as another cannon boomed.

I looked toward the bombarded island, damn Japanese holed up in there like hell, waiting for us to arrive, god I hope these bombardments work.
"Sh--! Holy Sh--! KIP! KIP! LOOK!" JayJay screamed and pointed to the skies.
"Well I be damned" I said as hundreds of Hellcats and other fighters and bombers zoomed above and past us, approaching the island and letting hell loose.
Half of the Marines on board screamed and yelled in joy, the other half gave the passing planes the finger - I could swear I saw a Hellcat pilot giving me the finger... But, hell, could just be my imagination.
I put my fingers in my ears as the siren of the cruiser let loose its scream, and the cannons on the cruiser let loose its fiery hell, I could see the mushrooms of smoke and flame from the blasts rise over the island.

"Kip, this is it!"
"Screw it JayJay, you know we ain't gonna invade it yet. Been three days already." I yelled back.
"Don't matter man, just lock and load. Trust me, this is it!" He yelled back, excited.
As Midnight struck, I decided to down to the bunks and get some proper needed sleep, the night's skies had no stars, probably because of the smoke coming from Iwo there... Aside the booming cannons, it was also far too quite and the sea far too calm... I don't know... It just all contributed to this strange, chilling feeling. I couldn't help but feel that this isn't going to end well... But hell, what do I know? I'm just a Sergeant.

February 19th, 1945, 0700, The Pacific...
"Row, row, row your boats, steadily down the stream! Merrily merrily..." One of the soldiers at the back started signing, soon enough the entire squad started singing, I couldn't help but smile.
"Sarge!" The 'driver' yelled, I looked at him, he indicated with his fingers we only got twenty seconds.
"LADIES! LISTEN UP!" I yelled to the men on the boat, as I stood up on some sort of a metal ledge, probably wasn't too wise, but I would've done anything to get their attention.
"We just got twenty seconds until we land on Iwo! As we all know, this piece of sh-- of an island is crawling with Japs, I want you to stick together in pairs and watch each others' backs!
"We don't expect much resistance on the shore, but we all know what military intelligence is! GET READY!" I screamed as I loaded my rifle, the rest of the Marines yelled: "Oorah!" As they prepared for battle.

"Sh--... It's all gonna be all right... Just... Run forward..." I mumbled to myself as an artillery shot landed right next to the boat.
"THIS IS IT!" The 'driver' yelled, the ramp lowered.
"GO GO GO!" I screamed as I bolted out, I could feel a stinging pain in my shoulder, but I didn't know what it was - Nor did I care. I just needed to get the hell out of there.
"COME ON! COME ON!" I yelled and looked back, only to see that half of the Marines on my boat now lay in a puddle of blood and a machinegun trace is heading towards me.
I ran towards one of the rocks on the beach, as I reached it I was accompanied by two more of my soldiers;
"Fu-- me, Kip, this is insane! No way in hell are we supposed to get past this!" Libgotte said as he pointed to a trench-bunker stronghold spraying the beach.

"Libgotte, on me, you as well!" I told the two, I didn't recognize the other soldier, I didn't have the time for courtesy, and if he was insulted, well, tough luck. For some reason, that's all I could think about... Hell, mortars exploding next to me? Machineguns blazing at me? Planes bombarding? Who cares about that? I just wanted to be sure that if he's insulted, then that's his fault. I couldn't help but wonder how screwed up I am.
"Doc! DOC!" I yelled as I slammed with my shoulder into a large rock with the other two right behind me, a medic was patching up an already dead man behind it; "DOC!" I yelled again;
"WHAT!?" He screamed back at me, the guy was panicking.
"He's already dead you idiot! Go to the other guys! We got wounded men up there and we need you! This guy's dead!"
"He's not dead, HE'S NOT DEAD!" He yelled back at me, pushing me away.
"Screw this guy Kip, we need to keep moving!" Libgotte said.
"Damnit!" I yelled as I kept moving on, with the two trailing behind me. I jumped into a forsaken trench and told the other two to stay down as they jumped in as well. I peered up to see what about the medic back there, but the rock he hid behind was now nothing short of a pile of smoking dust. Must be a terrible fate to die so abruptly... But that's his fault.

Yet again, I couldn't help but convince myself that nothing I did here was my fault... Then I realized I was still looking up, I immediately pulled myself down.
"Libgotte, you got a radio?"
"Sh--" He said; "I ain't got no radio, Kip. But Leroy here got one" He said.
"Leroy? Sh-- man, never seen you on my platoon. Get in touch with the Big E, tell them we need some help here, bombard that damn bunker!"
"Yes sir, I'll get right on it" Leroy said, and started calling up the fire mission.
"Libgotte, listen, I need you to stay here with Leroy, I'll be back" I said, Libgotte looked at me as if I was insane, and I started running away into the trench, I saw a couple of Marines rushing into it not too far away.
"Marines!" I yelled, as I approached them;
"Sarge, good to see you!" One of them said, we were still about two meters away - But just enough for me to feel the searing heat and jump back, as the two were burned alive.
"Sh--! Sh--!" I yelled and ran back to the other two.
"Well?" I asked Leroy.
"They coming, sir" He said, pointing up.
"Good, fina--" I was cut off but a huge explosion not far from us, I was knocked back into the other side of the trench and couldn't open my eyes...

I could feel my heart pounding... Dear god... I haven't even fired my rifle...
Sh--... I can't die like this...
Sh--... I WON'T die like this...

The End.

Next up: Chapter Two: Gently Down The Stream...

Stay tuned!

[Monarchist]

This is quite the ballet of chaos. What more can I say, other than: bravo? This isn't the time period I find most interesting, but kudos to you for representing it with horrible violence. Words are everything!

[Nazgūl Killer]

Thanks Monarch.

[Nazgūl Killer]

Chapter Two: Gently Down The Stream...

February 19th, 1945. 0814, Iwo Jima.

"Sarge..."
I heard the voice in the distance.
"Sarge..."
It came closer...
"Sarge!"
That annoying voice... My god... I just wanted to kill him... My head hurt...
"SARGE! WAKE THE FU-- UP!" Libgotte screamed at me as several Marines stood in the trench and opened fire at the unseen foe.
"What happened?" I asked, calmly. I was half deaf.
"Idiots bombed a bit too close, but the bunker's down. You're the higher NCO here Kip, we need you" He said, terrified.
I shook my head and looked around, assessing the situation; Leroy was dead. His face cut in half and his body a smoldering black corpse - Another two marines lay dead, one from a shot to the face and another from a shot to the throat, a marine lay wounded next to me as one of the medics took care of him.
A shooting squad of seven marines fired at a foe I could not see, and planes zoomed above... I couldn't help but wonder; How long was I out?

I tapped one of the shooting Marines on the shoulder, he looked at me; "Yes sir?"
"What's your name, Private?"
"Gray, sir."
"Gray, get that guy next to you to follow me and Libgotte" I said, pointing at Libgotte; "We're moving on" I ordered, and Gray hastily called the other Marine to action.
"Libgotte, take point. I lost my rifle. If it moves shoot it. If it keeps moving, shoot it again" I ordered, and he nodded.
We made our way through the trench, bullets zooming above, a single bullet grazed my helmet, I heard the loud 'bing' sound it made and took a sigh of relief - That was too close for comfort.
"Grenade!" Libgotte suddenly yelled as a grenade was chucked at us, hitting Libgotte's face, he looked at me and jumped on the grenade, no time to throw it back.

The grenade blew up and Libgotte let out a scream that I could not even begin to describe... Bone chilling scream... I just wanted to die as I heard it. Libgotte looked at me, his eyes bloody, he didn't die...
His guts were on the ground and his throat was wide open, he looked at me, terrified... Is this a hero's death?
Is this the death that awaits us all?
"Gray, give me your rifle, NOW" I ordered, he handed it over and I shot Libgotte square in the head. No one deserves a slow death. I handed the rifle back to Gray and took Libgotte's.
"Let's go, Marines. We got work to do" I ordered, I felt so cold inside... So distant... I lost hope. Screw it, I wanted to die.

We kept making our way up the trench, firing from time to time, and ducking under enemy fire - Dear god, it was like Hell itself walked the Earth... The explosions, the screams, the fire, the heat... I just wanted it to end...
We reached a ruined bunker at the end of the trench, and I ordered the two to take defensive positions and open up on anything coming close to us, they did as such, firing wildly into oncoming foes...
Sh--... I saw a Jap run to me... I don't know if I didn't react quickly enough, or I didn't want to react quickly enough... But I did nothing.
His bayonet came dangerously close, but here came the cavalry - His head was blown into pieces from a shot, probably from a BAR... Only that rifle can do that... I looked at the spot where the Jap was before, and where he was no more, I was awestruck, my mouth wide open, my face littered with drops of blood, I fell on my butt, on the floor, I just couldn't take it...

I cuddled up into a ball, holding my knees close to my stomach, and I started to cry... I didn't know what to do... I didn't know what to do...
"Sergeant!" I heard the voice.
"Sergeant!" I heard the voice.
"SERGEANT LEXINGTON, GET ON YOUR FEET!" I heard the voice of my CO, the Lieutenant, but I couldn't do anything. I was no longer in control, my body was no longer my own, I was simply an observer of that sad, pathetic excuse of a Marine, clenching his knees and sobbing.
I felt the kick in the back. "GET, UP!" He screamed once more... I got up and looked at him, dazed.
"Good. Now get out there, and kick their a--es you coward, or I'll have your stripes!" He ordered, I took up my rifle and nodded shortly. I was still sobbing. I was in no position to command.

"Sarge, what do we do?" Gray asked me, as he and four other Marines looked at me, the Lieutenant was long gone.
I shivered and wiped a tear; "We kill" I ordered and gave them a hand signal to follow me as I sprint out of the trench and into the field, screaming; "CHARGE!!!"
I ran the field, rifle with bayonet at hand, and about a dozen Marines behind me, firing wildly, I could feel a searing, stinging pain at the side of my throat, the same one that I felt in my shoulder, but fu-- if I care. I just kept running.
"KILL THEM ALL!" I screamed as I jumped on one of the Japs, my bayonet reaching his brain through his eye; "SPARE NO ONE! KILL THEM!" I screamed as I slashed my bayonet at another's throat, relishing the sound of him choking, falling to his death, I fired a few shots, saw a Jap in the distance fall to his death, and I couldn't help but feel happy... Maybe it was the Adrenaline... But I just wanted to kill them all... All of them... I didn't care... All of them...
I fired a few more shots and one of the Japanese soldiers fell, dead.

I kept squeezing the trigger, but nothing came out.
"What the HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS RIFLE?!" I screamed and dropped it to the floor, jumping on it and stomping it; "WHO THE HELL MADE THIS PIECE OF SH--!? FU----- PIECE OF WORTHLESS JUNK!"

"Sarge?"
"WHAT?"
"Are you okay?" Gray asked me, crouching behind a rock, and I stood wide in the open.
"I'm fine, jackass. Why are you hiding you stinkin' coward? Get up and fight!" I yelled and pointed at the mountain we were supposed to take, but then the pain struck me.

Oh god, so much pain...
I felt as three wounds opened up in my body... Dear god this sucked... Just when I was starting to have fun?

The End.

Next!
Chapter Three: Childish Glory

[Katsumoto]

Agh, the font hurts my eyes Make it a bit smaller Other than that, great story, try not to use any cliches though, I can see some popping up

[Nazgūl Killer]

No war scene is complete without any cliches
But yeah, I try as much as I can to refrain from them.

EDIT:
Fixed the font. Hope this is better.

[Katsumoto]

Yeah, much easier on the eye now, thanks

[Nazgūl Killer]

No problem. I just liked it with Italic because it looked close to Cursive, but I figured it'd be hard on the eyes

[abbews]

Nice and chaotic! And the best time period!

[Perkele]

""We don't expect much resistance on the shore, but we all know what military intelligence is! GET READY!" I screamed as I loaded my rifle, the rest of the Marines yelled: "Oorah!" As they prepared for battle."

Yes they would. Japanese doctorine was to resist on the shore, and to counter-attack on the shore. The fact that this was not done on Iwo Jima came as a surprise to Americans. "Letter's from Iwo Jima" is a good movie and a good book, worth looking into.

[Nazgūl Killer]

""We don't expect much resistance on the shore, but we all know what military intelligence is! GET READY!" I screamed as I loaded my rifle, the rest of the Marines yelled: "Oorah!" As they prepared for battle."

Yes they would. Japanese doctorine was to resist on the shore, and to counter-attack on the shore. The fact that this was not done on Iwo Jima came as a surprise to Americans. "Letter's from Iwo Jima" is a good movie and a good book, worth looking into.

This is exactly why it's Historical Fiction
Historical Fiction basically means that the main setting stays the same, but small details may be altered as you wish.

Nice and chaotic! And the best time period!

Thanks


By the way - For all who read this, I KNOW the first two chapters don't make any sense, I focused ONLY on the chaotic side, but the explanations come shortly

[Perkele]

This is exactly why it's Historical Fiction
Historical Fiction basically means that the main setting stays the same, but small details may be altered as you wish.

That's not a small detail however, as it is a complete change to the real history. Then again, reading on it doesn't matter since it's a simulation.

[Nazgūl Killer]

Chapter Three: Childish Glory...

"Sh--! This always fu----- happens! God-freaking-damnit!" I yelled as I got out of the simulator; "Stinkin' piece of sh--... It's so damn realistic..." I kept mumbling to myself as I trundle down to the observation room, straightening my helmet.
I opened the door to the observation room and enter, closing the door behind me and following to stand in attention, there were three people in the room, my CO, the Captain - A war hardened bulky man with a terrifying face to look at, wearing glasses and a hat indicating his rank. My XO, the LT, wearing a cowboy hat of sort and sunglasses, even though the room was almost pitch black. And finally, my platoon leader, Sergeant Major Moodey, wearing nothing but his regular military outfit, he did not have the luxury the Officers have of dressing the way he wanted to.
"Corporal, could you please tell me, what the hell happened to you back there?" The Captain asked, annoyed.
"I have no explanation, sir"
"We trained you better than this. You're supposed to know not to succumb to your stupid emotions, Marine" He said, getting more and more annoyed; "There is a very fine line between just a regular soldier out there, AND A MARINE!" He boomed; "You're supposed to keep your cool, you're not supposed to freak out like this. What will you do when we DO go into battle? What then? Huh?"
"Sorry sir, I couldn't help it"
The Captain sighed and looked at me, removing his glasses and wiping them with his shirt; "You're an idiot, Lexington. I hope you know that" He continued; "And you will always remain an idiot. But one thing's for sure, you ain't a coward" He said, handing me the Sergeant stripes; "Congratulations, Kip. You just made Sergeant" He said, now smiling.
My eyes flew wide open as did my mouth, and finally I formed a smile; "Thank you sir!" I snatched the stripes from his hand and looked at it.
"Stand at attention, Sergeant!" Moodey screamed at me.
I quickly went back to attention, using every mental power I had to stop myself from smiling.
"Atta boy, Kip. Now let's go, we need to go see Libgotte" He said, smiling. We left the room, the Captain and the LT started talking about something... But I didn't really care about what.

"Sir, how'd I get this? I mean, I died. Heck, I was literally in pieces back there" I said.
"You think this was normal, Kip?" He asked me, looking at me with his cynical look.
"It wasn't?"
"Hell no! You actually died last, by a margin of something like ten minutes! When they saw that you were still alive, they upped the difficulty, implemented some friendly fire and some heavy images, like little Leroy there, but hell, you continued on. Not only that - You actually lead two other soldiers and destroyed an enemy post, you did good, Kip. You did good." He said, patting me on the shoulder.
I couldn't help but smile again, I was the best guy in the platoon!
We kept walking down the hall as finally we opened the doors of the Barracks, and we started to head out, walking on the paved narrow road towards the training tents.
"Wait, sir" I said, coming to a realization as I put my coat on, shielding myself from the freezing rain.
"What is it, Kip?" He said, turning to me as we stopped.
"The LT, he helped me out, didn't he?" I asked, remembering him.
Moodey burst into laughter; "The LT? That uptight little prick? Sh-- no! That was the Captain, he was the one who got you back up!"
"The Captain? Why?"
"Because he figured you got unlucky, he wanted to see what you could do, and hell - Killing three enemy soldiers and taking a position after suffering a mental blow like that... Sh--... I wouldn't be surprised if they made you Officer by Christmas!" He exclaimed, chuckling; "Now can we go? I'm freezing my as- off."
"Yeah, sorry sir, where 'we headin'?"
"Libgotte. He's getting a promotion to Corporal as well. Guy acted like a damn hero and a damn fine leader there, even though he panicked a bit"
"Why, what'd he do?"
"Well, after you went down from the friendly fire, he ran back to the shore and carried a wounded guy into the trench, ordering seven other guys to run with him into the trench. Man, he was almost as good as you were! But his brainwaves were all over the place, so they decided to take you instead... You all-right?" He asked me, looking at me as I gazed at the stripes in my hand.
"Yeah, why?"
"You're pale man. You need to get some hot coco" He said, mimicking an old lady and chuckling.
"Yeah... That or some sleep" I said as we entered the warmth of the tent.

"ATTENTION!" I yelled as we entered the tent, all the soldiers quickly jumped out of their bunks and into attention, aside for another Lieutenant there, checking on one of the soldiers.
"Libgotte! Front and center!" I yelled, and Libgotte jogged towards us. Moodey looked at me, noticing the cliche, I shrugged - I always wanted to say that.
"Yes sir?" Libgotte asked as he approached.
"Kip, you do the honors" Moodey said as he handed me the Corporal stripes, I couldn't help but smile as I handed them to Libgotte;
"Congratulations, Lib. You got promoted" I said.
"Sweet" He said, holding the rank in his hand.

"'Aight you two, I need to get going, sow those ranks up and suit up, we're going on a jog soon" Moodey said as he left the tent, letting the cold chill rush in one last time.
"Ranks?" Libgotte asked, emphasizing the plural S.
"I'm a sergeant, bit--" I said, laughing.

The End.

Next!
Chapter Four: The Burden of Command.

Stay tuned!

[Deux]

Aww I nearly died with dissapointment when he stepped out of a simulator NK! You rescued it well though fair play, nice dialogue skills you got there. How big is that font? (+)

[Monarchist]

I wonder if every single soldier in every American war said "damn" every ten seconds.

[Nazgūl Killer]

Trust me, soldiers curse a LOT. Guess it's some way to take the edge off.

[Nazgūl Killer]

Chapter Four: The Burden of Command...

After borrowing some sowing gear from Libgotte, I started sowing in the new ranks after removing the old... Man, I can't believe I'm a Sergeant - Me, of all people. Who knew I was even remotely charismatic?
"Hey, Kip" Libgotte called out to me as he was sorting his combat gear for the full-equipment jog, as was every other soldier in the tent.
"Yeah?"
"I was wondering, did they tell you why they decided to make you Sergeant and me Corporal?" He asked, continuing to organize and asses the inside of his backpack; "I mean, I'm not complaining, but did they tell you why?"
Remembering the talk I had with the Captain and afterward Moodey, I started running a story in my mind, I didn't want to tell him why they decided to make me a Sergeant and him only a Corporal, I thought he deserved it more than I did; "No idea why. Doesn't matter, just enjoy it man!"
"Sergeant Lexington!" The LT yelled as he entered the tent.
"Atte-" I started ordering.
"At ease men. That won't be necessary. You got fifteen minutes until we head out. Lexington, get over here." The LT ordered with his rugged, scary voice as he stepped outside, I quickly followed, after adding the finishing touch to the rank.
"Yes sir?"
"As you know, I'll be jogging with you guys today, as I have every other day, but Moodey won't be." He said as he lit a cigarette.
"Sir?"
"Scratch that worried look off your face, Sergeant. He won't be dismissed yet." He said with disgust, the guy obviously hated Moodey. "You'll be replacing him. This means, gear discipline, line movement, perfect running and motivation, you will have to run in front of them, behind them, motivate them, yell at them, insult them... You are the bad guy this time" He said, smiling.
"Yes sir" I said, imagining how awesome it would be to run them during that huge trail.
"Now listen, I'm planning a surprise drill today for them" He said, lowering his voice nearly to a whisper and approaching me so I can hear him but no one else can; "There will be an exercise today, platoon vs. platoon - You will be facing up with Easy platoon"
"Easy platoon? Oh man... Wait, won't we be firing real bullets?" I asked, worried.
"How dumb exactly are you?" He said, shaking his head. "No we won't be firing real bullets! Laser sights will tell us who got hit and where, we put blanks in the rifle. Enough for recoil, but nothing comes out" He said, annoyed.
"Oh, sorry sir. Should I tell the men?"
He shook his head again. "There's a reason why it's called a SECRET exercise, Lexington. Now go back in there and make sure they're ready."
"Yes sir." I said, and he walked away. Soon enough as I made sure he wouldn't look back, I gave him the finger and moved back into the tent, mumbling to myself of how much of a prick that guy is.


"LIBGOTTE! GET YOUR AS- OFF THE GROUND!" I screamed at Libgotte as he fell to the floor; "JayJay, move it move it! Don't make me shove my rifle up your as-!" I ordered, using Moodey's favorite analogy of something being shoved up someone's as- to get them moving.
"Sir, yes sir!" He responded.
"Harring, MOVE IT!" I yelled and hit his butt with the butt end of my rifle, not too hard but not too softly, making him move on.
"Marines, OORAH!" I yelled, and they responded.
I kept running up, passing them and then started running backwards, slowing the pace and watching them.
"All units, all units, commence drill" I heard the Captain's voice on the radio.
"ECHO PLATOON! DEFENSIVE POSITIONS!" I screamed and half the platoon, around fifteen men, went to the left side of the trail, and another fifteen to the right side of the trail. The LT approached me;
"Good work Lexington. Now get off the road, you're a part of this exercise, remember?"
"Sir, yes sir!" I yelled and moved to the right side of the trail.
"Echo platoon, on me" I whispered into the radio, and all of the men converged on the right side of the trail - And into the thick forest, the LT walking behind us. "All right, listen up, we're up against E2, Easy platoon, there's going to be only one winner today, and, sh--, if you guys win, beers are on me next time we're back home" I said, jokingly, the men seemed too tense to even care.
"All right, Libgotte, take third squad and follow me on the left" I ordered him to take around 10 men to the left. "Grim, take second squad and follow me on the right" I ordered the other Corporal. "First squad, on me" I ordered as I started to move out.
"Noise discipline!" I whispered into my radio as one of the soldiers stepped on a bunch of twigs as we continued on, slowly but surely.

"Good work Lexington, good work. Keep moving" The LT said, calming me a bit. Hearing praise from a high ranking officer, especially the LT, is always a special occasion, and there's no better compliment to a soldier in E Company than getting a compliment from the LT - The most uptight bastard in this entire base.
"Everyone, down" I ordered calmly as we came to a halt in front of a small hill, all of the soldiers prone or crouched behind cover, awaiting further orders and surveying the area.
"Libgotte, Grim, get over here" I ordered.
"Yes sir?" Grim asked as he approached me, Libgotte quickly approached from the other side.
"All-right, listen, that hill is the most important stronghold we can have, I want you" I said, pointing at Grim "To take your squad and flank it from the left, securing my approach. Libgotte, you do the same from the right, I want you to form a circle around the hill, I'll move in with first squad and take it." I ordered, looking at each one at turn, each of them nodding. "Get to it" I ordered and they ran to their squads to give out the orders.

"Everyone set?" I asked.
"I'm ready" Libgotte claimed.
"Yes sir, good to go" Grim replied.
"All right, swiftly, but quietly. Move it." I ordered and we started moving.
Just as the squads began moving, we heard distant firing. E3 and E4 must've encountered each other, this wasn't a good sign, we'd probably run into E2 any time now.
I moved at the spearhead of the squad and in a sort of cursive formation, as we reached the top of the hill, I looked around to see movement, and there it was.
E2, Easy Platoon.
"Sh--! Gunners! Set up your MGs up on the top of the hill, 12 o'clock low, E2's there! Go go!" I yelled to the soldiers behind me and the machinegunnners sprint up to me. "Grim, Lib, I just got visual on E2, get ready. We're gonna open up on them and they're probably going to rush to us, they're directly 12 o'clock from us, get yourselves ready, we'll cover you from above. Make sure they don't flank us!" I ordered and heard their positive replies as they set their squads into position.
"Hold..." I ordered on the radio, E2 hasn't spotted us yet, but they were still behind thick cover.
"Hold..." They left thick cover, but only five or so of them were still visible.
"Hold!" I ordered into the radio again, this time about ten of them left cover.
"Kill them all!" I yelled and the entire platoon opened fire, I got up and fired single shots with my rifle, hitting at least one, the machinegunners opened up with everything they had, and the E2 soldiers went down like pieces of paper under the wind.
It wasn't long until they spotted where the fire was coming from and returned fire, I heard one of the guys near me yell: "Sons of bit---- got me!" and chuckled, but then I was shot in the shoulder, I heard the beeping sound and the Heads Up Display dropped in front of my right eye, showing me that I was hit in the shoulder. With that, I ducked quickly.
"Hold your fire! Hold your fire!" I ordered into the radio, seeing that no more E2 soldiers were outside. "Count them up" I said to the gunner next to me, and he started counting the downed soldiers.
"Lib, you all good? Grim?"
"Yeah, I'm fine here. Got one man killed and two injured" Libgotte responded.
"Three killed here" Grim said.
"Sir, they're twenty seven of them" The gunner said, finished the counting.
"Command, this is Sergeant Kevin Lexington, from E1, reporting that E2 has twenty eight visible casualties and possibly more, I claim victory for E1, can you confirm?" I asked into the radio, and heard some chatter.
After ten seconds or so, the response came; "Negative E1. E2 still has several men alive and kicking. Search and destroy" The operator ordered.
"Yes sir." I replied.
"Harrington!" I yelled, ordering a soldier to me.
"Yes sir?" He said as he crouched behind a rock next to me.
"Take care of this position, ask before you shoot and make sure no one comes up on this hill before identifying himself" I ordered.
"Yes sir" He said, nodding.
"Libgotte, Grim, assemble your squads, I'm coming down" I ordered into the radio as I rushed down the hill and finally met up with them.

"What's the plan?" One of the soldiers asked.
"Command says E2 still has several men alive and kicking, I bet that it's their Staff Sergeant and two other Marines, but like I know their SS - He will be a bit-- to take down" I said, nodding towards them. "So here's the plan; Libgotte, you take second squad and spread out through this entire road, run to the other side of the road as quickly as you can and secure it.
"Grim, you take third squad and flank to the right, move to the road there to our right, along it and enter the treeline, giving as wide a spread as you can possible give, and secure it.
"We'll then all move in, completing a sort of square search on the area, I bet they're all wounded, so they'll be easy prey. I'll be going with Libgotte" I said, the men nodded.
"Questions?"
"Uh, sir, wouldn't it be smarter to just go all of us together?" Libgotte asked.
"No. If they set up claymores? What then? We need a flanking assault" I said, and they nodded.
"All-right, MOVE OUT" I ordered and ran with Libgotte and his squad to the other side of the road, helping secure it. Grim and his squad were far out of sight.

"I'm ready" Grim said, I nodded at Libgotte, he nodded at me.
"Move in" I ordered, and we started to move in, slowly, hiding behind trees at times and scanning the ground.
"Sh--! Sh--!" Grim yelled into the radio as shots were heard.
"GO!" I yelled to Libgotte, pointing at the origin of the shot, and we started running.
"Hold!" I ordered the squad.
"Open fire!" I ordered, pointing at the spot from which the fire came, and I opened fire myself.
"When you run out of ammo, stop, reload, and HOLD YOUR FIRE!" I yelled into the radio, and everyone complied, stopping the fire after running out of ammo.

"Congratulations, E1. E2 has been eliminated" I heard the operator from command announce.
"Good work, Lexington. Get your men back home" I heard the LT said, from right behind me, startling me. I nodded and told the men to pack up...

The End.

Next!
Chapter Five: Retaliation.

Stay tuned!

[Nazgūl Killer]

Yep.
The whole point was to surprise them and drive them insane - So, some details can be altered.
And actually, a BIG detail would be "We landed in Tokyo, not Iwo Jima!" - But saying "We don't think there will be much resistance" isn't really THAT big of a change.

[Nazgūl Killer]

Chapter Five: Retaliation.

March 1st, 2005, 1656, Iwo Jima.

"Welcome, Sergeant." Said the Captain as I entered the Captain's office, soon accompanied by the LT.
I quickly took a salute, but he dismissed it; "At ease. There's something very concerning about today's exercise, Sergeant." The Captain continued, "Even though you won a whopping success against E2... It is quite evident that the success is short lived." He said, twisting the computer screen next to his desk to me.

The computer screen stood atop a fine-pine-desk which was rather large and filled with files, documents and random papers. The walls were also of fine pine and were in a neat wood color that glint upon the sundown's glimpse. There were three awards on the wall, addressed to Captain James Foley for extraordinary service and amazing command abilities, alongside them were pictures of the Captain's late family who perished in the bombardment of Washington last year.
"Can you read the statistics, Sergeant?" He asked, calm.
"No sir, I have never seen that before and I do not know how to read it" I said, quite nervous. I knew what the statistics said.
"Oh, in that case, let me read it to you, it says: 'Ser-geant Lex-ing-ton is an IDIOT!" He yelled pointing at each different diagram after each abrriviation, when he yelled the word 'Idiot', he hit me over the head with one of the files from his desk. "We may have been far too rash in making you platoon leader now - I must say that your achievements were quite extraordinary, except for this" He said, pointing at one diagram, that I knew all too well what it meant. "Do you know what it says, Sergeant?"
"Yes sir"
"Read it to me then, boy" He said, annoyed.
"It says that E1 suffered 12 dead soldiers and 19 injured" I said, once again nervous.
"Wait, so that means... 31 soldiers hit or down... Out of 31! Oh my, who would've thunk it?" He said, paused for a second and then hit me over the head with the file again. "Sergeant, read me this little note here, as well" He pointed to a line underneath the diagram.
"Seventy nine percent of the casualties were of friendly fire" I said, ashamed.
"That means, that 25 of the soldiers under your command were hit by YOUR OWN FIRE!" He screamed. "What would you do in a real war? Point your gun at your superior officer and blow his head off? You might have been better off doing that than leading THIRTY ONE MEN INTO THEIR DEATHS!" He screamed, hitting me over the head with the file again.
"Sorry sir"
"Your idiotic movement of an L-Shaped attack caused over half of your platoon to be injured and the rest killed! You, Sergeant, are an IDIOT!" He screamed, hitting me over the head with the file, yet again.
"Get the fu-- out of my sight. You're lucky you get to keep your rank." He said, and I motioned to leave the room. Just as I reached the door, he started talking again; "Oh, and Sergeant."
"Yes sir?"
"Toilet duty, three months" He said, smug.
I quickly left the room, leaving the LT and the Captain to talk it out.

Ashamed of myself, I opened the door to the barracks, only to be met by a hit to the head by someone's open hand. I quickly looked to the direction, and Moodey stood there;
"How much of an idiot exactly ARE you?" He asked me, talking with his Texan accent.
"I know, I know... Go easy on the head, he hit me like fifty times there..."
"Oh, okay." He said, punching me in the back of my head. "Feel better now?"
"I messed up! I know! Sorry! Sheesh!" I blurted out.
"It's fine. It's our fault too. Shouldn't have let you lead the platoon this early... But hell, you did a good job at first. Until your dumb L movement" He said, looking at me jokingly. "Well, I gotta go." He said, still smiling. "I told the squad you got them killed - Also, by the way, the three months toilet duty? My idea" He said, laughing and walking away.
I shook my head and walked down the narrow paved road towards the tents.

As I entered, everyone started clapping and whistling, smiling at me.
"What?" I asked, "What is it?" It was the most unexpected result I had foreseen for this day.
"You got us off toilet duty. Thanks man!" Libgotte said, smiling. "You do three months of toilet duty - And a day after those three months we'll be shippin' out!" He yelled, the rest of the platoon responded in 'Oorah!'.
I couldn't help but smile of the thought we'd depart of this place soon...

June 1st 2005, 2323, The Pacific.

"So, did they tell you where we're heading?" Sergeant Libgotte asked me.
"You forgot to say 'sir', Libgotte" I said, smiling.
"Give it a rest man. Where are we heading?" He asked again.
I laughed; "I can't tell you that. Sorry" I said, shrugging.

I was now the platoon's Staff Sergeant, second in command to Moodey - Now a 2nd Lieutenant, the entire division was heading, with ships, to retake China - Poor Chinese never saw it coming. Now most of the world's countries are helping them fight back - I couldn't wait until we land in Hong Kong.
"Incomiiiiing!" I heard someone at the bridge yell.
Immediately, the entire Cruiser lit up, search lights and radar along with SAM sites and machineguns pointed to the skies.
"Here they come, TAKE COVER!" I screamed as one of the fighters zoomed above us, firing a few shots but missing completely - I took my rifle up and opened fire at it, just at the same time as all the machineguns opened fire around us and the SAM sites fired some missiles to the skies.
Under the night's gloomy darkness, I could now see the full intensity of the fleet - At least 15 Cruisers, 50 Destroyers and 3 Aircraft Carriers all on their way to China - Those were the numbers... But seeing them, with their searchlights and gunfire... One could not help but feel proud.
Another fighter zoomed right past us, lighting up in flames as the machinegunners got him - I saw several explosions in the skies, hoping those were enemy fighters, I kept firing.
"Kip! KIIIIP!" Libgotte screamed, sliding across the deck to my position.
"What?!"
"The LT's down!"
"Which one?"
"Cranmire!"
"Oh sh--!" I yelled, "DOC! THE LT'S DOWN!" I screamed to the medic on the other side of the deck under the blazing gunfire.
"Which one!?" He responded.
"Cranmire! Go up there and fix him up!" I screamed, and he quickly ran to the LT.
Another fighter quickly zoomed towards us, firing its blue firey death at us - Hitting the deck and killing several soldiers on it in a massive explosion that knocked me off my feet.
I talked into the radio as I was down; "Everyone who can, get your rifles and get up here, shoot these little motherfu----s down!" I ordered, receiving back gibberish and chatter of dozens of soldiers claiming they're coming.
I got up again and aimed my rifle at a nearby fighter, and opened up at it - But it was too late, it already fired its shots at another destroyer and made it explode in a mushroom of smoke and flames - A shrapnel of the ship's deck flew right past me and cut my cheek - More shrapnel killed the machinegunner next to me. I quickly pushed him out of the way and opened fire at the oncoming foe - Short steady bursts.

"They're here!" Someone said over the radio, and the ominous screams of powerful engines were heard - The bombers were here.
Dozens and dozens of U-shaped vessels, about three times the size of an F16, appeared above us - Firing at us with blue-white colored death.
"Sh-- sh--, SAM sites operators, FIRE AT THOSE DAMN THINGS!" I screamed into the radio, and the SAM sites fired their payload at the bombers - Making two of them burst into flames.
Several ships that were in angle of firing upwards to the skies at the hovering bombers let loose their loud shells and made several other bombers burst into flames and explode - Sending shrapnel to us men down below.
A shot from one of the bombers scored a direct hit at the deck-extension next to me, destroying three machinegunner positions and killing well over seven men, I kept on firing at the fighters zooming about.
"Fleet, this is Romeo-17, we are on our way. Hang tight. ETA: thirty seconds" I heard that female voice in the radio, and took a sigh of relief as I kept firing.
One of the fighter's shots hit my machinegun, made it explode and melt into nothing short of liquid metal - I could feel my leg burning. I quickly jumped off and looked at the burn on my leg, shaking my head.
I quickly reloaded my rifle and opened fire yet again, not letting up.
"Here we are. Miss us boys?" Romeo-17 asked as several bombers burst into flames and detonated - Dozens of F22 and Eurofighter Typhoon fighters appeared in the skies, the exact number... I can't tell. But what I can tell - Is that they ripped the enemy fighters and bombers to shreds, forcing them to quickly retreat.
A fighter zoomed right past our cruiser, behind him was an F22, letting out two rockets - One swerved to the right and destroyed another fighter, and the other one hit the other fighter's cockpit - I felt overjoyed. It was over... But damn... That surprise attack really did a number on us...
"Kip! Get over here!" Libgotte yelled over the radio, I quickly climbed on the deck and sprint towards him - Just as I did that, a fighter let go of its fiery payload, hitting the ship dead in the center, blowing up several sections and sent me flying into the stairs, all I could remember was someone yelling over the radio; "The Sarge is down! The Sarge is down!" and the taste of blood in my mouth as I blacked out...

The End.


Next!
Chapter Six: Here We Are.

Stay tuned!

[Nazgūl Killer]

If you liked this chapter guys, the next chapter will provide some more information