A New World: Awakening by John O'Brien Read Free Book Online Page B

My ATL responded.
    “What’s the situation there?”   I asked.
    “Tangos are moving to the tree lines and infiltrating north.   It looks like they’ll link up with the north line soon,” he responded.
    “Any place still clear?   I’m on my way out,” I asked.
    “It looks like the Northeast corner is still clear if you hurry,” he answered.
    “Okay.   I’m leaving my radio here and on my way.   Don’t fire and meet me twenty-five meters inside the tree line,” I told him.
    “Copy that.   Viper Five, out.”
    I took off my radio and handed it over.
    “See you on the other side,” I said.
    “Cover Fire!”   Sergeant Connell shouted.
    The intensity from our side picked up considerably and the return firepower diminished to a degree.   I rose and started running in a crouch towards the Northeast.   I just as suddenly stopped with my boots almost skidding across the torn up field.   Returning, I plopped back down next to a rather startled Sergeant Connell.
    “Mr. Walker, or whatever you are, the woods are that way I believe,” she said pointing in the direction I was headed.
    “Yeah, I came back to ask for your number and see if I could treat you to dinner sometime,” I said even surprising myself.
    “You’re kidding, right?!”   She responded with an incredulous look on her face.
    “No, I’m quite serious,” I replied.
    “If I give you my number, will you then get the fuck out of here?”
    “Yep.”
    She gave me her number right then and there.   I reached down, pulled my knife from its sheath attached to my lower leg, and scratched her number into the crane stock of my M-4.
    “And your name?   I mean besides Sergeant Connell,” I asked hesitating with the point of my blade against the molded plastic.
    “Lynn.   Now get the fuck out of here,” she said shaking her head.
    The sound of the firing was intense.   Yells from the soldiers nearby added to the field filled with sound.   Green and red tracers streaked across the battlefield.   I began my run once again.   Bullets impacted the ground at my feet and I heard the occasional zip as others passed close by my head.   I concentrated on only the run and the trees to my front.   It seemed like there was no way my body could fit in the open field without coming into contact with the steel filling the air but I made it and plunged deeper into the dense undergrowth of the jungle to be greeted by a boonie hat rising above a large patch of fronds.
    We made our way around to a position behind enemy soldiers inside the tree line to the north.   We found one end of the line and, with ourselves on line, began to systematically roll them up from behind.   Our suppressors weren’t heard and they had no idea we were there.   We stayed back in the jungle until we cleared most of the north line.   It wouldn’t be long before they realized that the north end wasn’t firing so we didn’t have the luxury of time to roll them up entirely.
    “Atlas 21, Viper, over,” I said taking our spare radio.
    “Viper, Atlas 21, go ahead,” Lynn responded.   The firing through my earpiece when she had her mic open was loud in the background.   It mixed with the firing we were hearing but slightly out of sequence.
    “The way is clear.   Move your folks.   We’ll cover the flanks and fold up behind you.   Head north to the LZ,” I said.
    “We’re on the way.   Atlas 21, out,” she replied.
    They made their way across the field and through our flanking line.   We folded up behind the fast moving soldiers.   Enemy soldiers ran across the field in pursuit and we heard others crashing through the jungle to either side.   Setting short-timed fuses in claymores, we put these to the side and rear to slow any advance and make them think twice about running after us.   We then took off on the tail of Atlas 21.   Bullets smacked into the trees around us as fire continued to be directed our way.   Five loud, ground shaking explosions filled