I turned the corner and was met with a large stairwell. I climbed up the flight of stairs to the third floor. I reach the third floor doorway, and stop for a moment. “I should probably check on Jasper and his squad.” As I open the door to the third floor, I turn to walk down the corridor I am greeted by a friendly face, it’s Jasper, he has his arms crossed, leaning on a wall outside the door of a classroom. He is looking inside, listening while staying out of sight. He instantly notices me and his eyes meet mine. He gives me a smile and motions for me to come over, but puts his finger over his mouth, signaling to stay quiet, and points to the door. I walk over slowly where I see the plaque above the door. “5A”. As i get closer, I begin to hear two voices

One was imitating a beat while the other was singing,

“So I'm gonna spin this…

Try for some violence because they ax me to end this…

Some trouble that I caught cause I was noisy

A nigga tried to take advantage because I'm the kamikaze…”

I look inside as I see Corbin's fireteam posted in the room. Private Smith and Corporal Corbin are at the back of the room. Smith holding his M249 sitting in the window while Corbin, using his rangefinder to spot any possible hostiles. All the while the two singing, Specialist Morris, who was the one laying down a beat, and specialist Owana was singing the lyrics.

“Hey Ow! Can you sing anything other than NWA?” Corbin said, taking a second to look from his rangefinders.

“Oh, come on Corbin! Why you always gotta hit me wit dat! You kno I luv dat sheit!” His deep Louisiana accent deeply covers every word he speaks.

“Ow, for someone from the Deep South you sure don’t like any of their customs!” Corbin says retorting

“Yeah, didn’t you literally grow up on the bayou wrestling alligators and shit?” Smith says with a smirk.

“Oh ya! And I’m sure you grew up at de red soocks stadoom. Probly used to gettin beat by yo dadday!” Ow quickly retorts and begins to laugh.

“Hey smith, I personally have a question for you, How does it feel to go to the bar and women mistake you for a cocktail table.” Morris said, beginning to chuckle himself.

“Oh, you wanna be wise guys! I ain’t gonna take this shit from a coupla monday bozos like you two now how bout you fuck off!” His southern Bostonian accent really showing with his anger.

At this point Jasper is chuckling to himself, entertained by the situation ensuing. I had heard enough and moved to stop whatever was about to start, but Jasper put his hand on my plate carrier, stopping me in my tracks. “Trust me.” He says with a wink. All the while the three men in the room reach a boiling point. Just then Corbin gets involved.

“Alright you three can that shit now, you all know better! I get Fink isn’t here anymore to keep y’all in line. Y’all have to remember that we are all friends here, so look! Ow, you need to get more material, Smith, stop being such a Bostonian, and on a side note cut it with that Monday shit! And Morris! Don’t get Involved with these two if they begin fighting, the only thing that happens is they get all riled up and then I have to deal with it. We are all on the same side here! I get it’s a stressful situation but damn. Grow up guys this isn’t highschool! It’s the Army! Now either act like adults, or fuck already. Jesus Christ the tension from y’all is so damn thick that I could shoot through it.” A stern, serious, yet somewhat comical Performance seems to have struck a nerve with the guys.

The three men look at each other and their faces start to turn from anger to humor. Chuckling,

“ow, I’m sorry man! I got a bit carried away, come on man you know not to bring the Sox into it!”

“An i'm sorry too!” Ow begins to laugh, “it’s all good brotha! You know I always got yo back!” Ow says with a smile.

“Same here Smith, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have gotten involved.” Morris said, walking over and reaching out his hand. Smith grabs his hand, Morris pulls Smith in for an embrace and they both chill out.

“See, I told you to trust me. Corbin has some big shoes to fill with Fink gone.” Jasper stretches then extends his arm down the hall “Now walk with me?” Jasper said with a smile. I nod my head and follow down the hallway. “So why exactly are you cov-“ Just then jets are heard flying overhead with large detonations all throughout the city. Suddenly the school shakes once again, staggering Jasper and I. The bombings are followed by large amounts of gunfire.

“Son of a bitch! Don’t they know where the fuck we are? I mean shit! I like a good shaking but this is ridiculous! That shit is danger close!” Jasper said, as he reoriented himself. He quickly turned to me with a concerned look on his face. “Lieutenant, I thought the briefing said that we weren’t using heavy ordinance, just small ordinance jdams and light laser guided munitions? Why the hell does it sound like operation rolling thunder two-point-oh out there?”

I staggered back to my feet, then I realized he was absolutely right. I looked at him and said “Yeah, I guess Big Army had a change of plans.”

He stretches back and exhales. “Well that’s just… Great! When the hell are we even supposed to move from this position. When is Op Start again?”

I lift my sleeve and look at my black digital watch and read the time. The red pixelated numbers presented “8:34 PM”. Well considering the bombings weren’t supposed to be this close to the step off point. Or the fact at the bombings were supposed to be surgical strikes against “special circumstance” targets, I have no idea.” I raise my hand to my brow, we were supposed to move out at 9:00pm but I don’t even know if that’s still the plan. Warchief has been so damn tight lipped I can’t get anything out of them.” I lean back against the wall of the hallway.

“Jesus Christ, Fuck it, you figure that out, I got this.” Jasper quickly grabs his radio and calls out. “This is Saber 1-2 actual, calling on platoon net. I need a wellness check, now! Over.”

A few moments pass as then the radio lights up, “This is Saber one-one, we are green, just a bit shaken up. Over.”

“This is Saber one-three, we’re green. Over.”

“Roger, Saber One-two out.” Jasper, angered by the explosions, looked at me. “Yeah! Welcome to Elkhart, Pennsylvania! Come see our amazing nightlife, sprawling population, and cluster munitions DETONATIONING IN THE FUCKING STREETS! God damn it! Have you gotten to command yet?”

“Man, I’m trying, you should hear these comms, shit is going wild everywhere.” I retort.

“War Chief, this is Saber One-Six. How copy over.” While listening to the other platoons scream over the comms net, gunfire constantly heard.

“Saber one-six! This is saber Two-seven, we need immediate support!” The sounds of gunfire and groaning is audible from his transition. “Five of my men are down and saber two-six is KiA. I repeat we need immediate-“ the comms quickly went silent.

“”Saber two-seven? Say again, over?” I waited a few moments then tried to call them again “Saber Two-Seven where are you? we will move to support! Two-seven do you-“ just then I was cut off by the sound of a response.

“Saber one-Six, this is Warchief, solid copy send traffic over.”

“ Warchief, Interrogative, Why are we using cluster munitions in the city? Has the operation commenced? What is going on? Should Saber One move to support Saber Two? Over.”

“Saber, the main operation is still set for twenty-one hundred. The gunfire is nothing to be worried about. Saber two is not of your concern, remember your mission and Be prepared to move out. War chief out.” The Radio quickly shuts off, as I rush to find out any information.

Footsteps could be heard behind me, “Lieutenant Thane! What is going on? What’s with the heavy bombing?” Jackson walks up, looking towards myself and Jasper. He quickly stopped to look at me. “Jesus Christ, Thane, why are you covered in blood?”

“That’s what I’m asking?” Jasper quickly says as he looks at me.

“Guys, I have no idea. I-I’m just not sure. Warchief said “it is nothing to be concerned about. Remember our mission and be prepared to move.” Then cut the comms. And the blood is from the BZ earlier I called over the radio. Which reminds me, you do have men checking the halls again, right Jackson?”

“Yeah, I do, Patterson has it handled, but what the hell is going on.” Jackson says.

“Lieutenant, I heard what sounded like shouting and gunfire from your headset, what the hell is going on? And did you say something about two-seven? Is second platoon okay?” Jasper asked.

“Wait, second? What’s wrong with them?” Jackson asked, trying to figure out what was going on.

“Will you two just shut up a sec-“ I stopped, realizing the silence.

“What happened to all the gunfire?”.