1 IRAQ

2:56pm: *Bang* across the street as we hear the deafening car blow up on the tank Infront of me.

Darren was watching as the top gunner and brawled in pain as the sound in his ears squealed and beeped.

Steve who was looking through the thermal viewer prepares for a suicide bomber. Not your average though. The ones who put explosives on cars and had armor put on

for protection of bullets. there were 30 of our US tanks but now 29. The last fleet was a disgusting failure although that was expected and we were prepared. I was told

many weren't injured and most of the troops were fine although since last month we haven't heard from them. This was brought up in one specific city called Baghdad.

The city was large and destructive. many troops had been rumored to be ambushed. Although our mission was to proceeded to the city and capture it. 20 kms

away and a hard night for us today. It would take around 25 minutes to get there, gave everyone time to gear up and check that their gun was reloaded.

Well f it I'd have so much spare time to watch a YouTube video on the new iPhone 3. "George!" i hear a voice calling me as i snap back to reality and turn my coms on.

"Yes Colton?"

"we are sending in a uav to check on the city to check for the amount of people in the area."

"Alright I'll turn the map to 25km radius."

"Thank you, keep in touch when we approach."

3pm: The com disconnects and i check the thermal uav camera flying overhead. Turning the speed to 0.08x. Uav's flew fast predictively turning the speed down helped me out. Enemies were scattered across the city although many spots were unprecedently unauthored. The numbers were large but only in the occupied areas.

20 mins later of checks we approach the city. Gunners go up to their position Drivers stay focused and top gunners watch the surrounding area. The plan was to approach from the left side of the city with a quarter of the squadron allocated to four sides 7 tanks each side and we would all move at the same time. I was allocated to sector 3. a narrow area where most of the danger was. Driving through and meeting in the middle to bring the top gunners on foot. 5 mins later of going around the outside of this small city we engage. I was the fourth from the front and as a top gunner was actually quite safe. I was in the middle and if people were to shoot it would be the back or the front. "This is red 1: You are safe to proceed in t minus 5,4,3,2,1. Engage." blue one starts to move and increases to 30kms an hour keeping a light speed. I and other tanks follow on keeping in a tight line throughout the streets. I check the most updated version of the uav scan as enemies were scattered around. On a roof 500 meters away. Although the meeting point was 5kms away. We kept our eyes out. "Blue 4." a radio transmission comes in and Darren replies. "This is blue 4 what do you request?" There was a slight pause as blue 1 Breathes in through the radio. "split up you all are going to be on ground combat. Keep the tank safe in a good position and Go out on foot. A weapon drop will proceed at coordinates 33.3145° N, 44.3624° E

Coordinates given moving to area. "Shit. You guys heard that." fear ran through my spine. "Of course, I did." Alright coordinates are behind this house here so time to split up.

3:45pm: We take a left turn onto a sandy road. The tank sinking into it. Moments later We reach the destination and stop. "Alright men bring your guns lets wait for the drop." I get out first grabbing the Ammunition and an m4a1 Which was provided for all of us soldiers. It was heavy weighing about 5kg and a wet black oozy skin over it for use during the dark. I get distracted looking up at the sky as a plane passes by. A cargo drops to the floor. Smashing as the sand reflects and splashes all over my uniform. Darren looked at me suspiciously wanting to know the containments in the cargo. I grab the top of it looking around to find any clips. That held it together. A metal glossy clip appeared in my sight and I push it down, the top flies open nearly hitting Colton. His eyes widen in fear. They gather around me looking inside as the glow of 3 snipers and a bucket load of magazines shine into my eyes. "Those are M40A5's if im not mistaken." Coltan asks. I nod my head as I was still surprised these were our weapons we could use. They had camo of yellow and light brown mixed in to fit the building colors. Suddenly my radio beeps and I hear the sound of an interested man come through it. "This is blue 1. Blue 4 do you copy?" The voice sounded strange and not legit. It was crooked and mystique nor confident. I didn't want to help myself in getting fired so I pick it up. "This is blue 4 what are your requests." I say clearing my throat as shivers went down my spine. "Abort the mission. UAV had a misfunction and was not correct." Darren shakes his head and Colton follows by. "Why did the enemy call us and not anyone else?" I think wondering and find out as an imaginary lightbulb appears above my head. "They hear through the coms noticing our ground combat situation. Now the coordinates they know of so let's watch our sides." Everyone nods and an instant half circle was formed. Me at the front, Darren on the left, Colton on the right. They knew that we had to walk to a position as I point towards the big building up front. It was the main building of Baghdad and a large one too. Windows framing from nearly every angle. Glass broken everywhere; A roof full of good spots. Great opportunities for snipers. We get moving sneaking to the position.

4:20pm: This was it the flank of the year. The thing that will make the world go crazy. Cameras on gentlemen. Darren lockpick that door, would you?" Looking around the carpark checking for any scatters of enemies. None to be seen only the sight of a car that would be useful later on.

4:25pm: Darren unlocked the door pushing it open walking in one by one. The place was very fancy for the city's previous destruction. The floor creaked as I stand over it walking along to a large set of stairs that would lead to the roof. Full glossy wooden floors to be exact.

4:30pm the end of the stairs and a roof door came into view the relief came to my head and I smiled. But that wasn't it yet so I check the door. Grasping onto it with my sweaty palms from holding the two guns for too long. I swing it anti clockwise as it was unlocked. I quickly close it again not expecting it to be unlocked. A thought comes to my head. Why was it unlocked? Was anyone up here? I look back just to check the other two behind me confused. I crouch down and tell the others to come right next to me as I whisper. "alright someone could be up here so we got into the semi-circle." They nod as we stand up opening the door once again. The creaking sound and wheezing metal opens. I crouch down looking around the 180 degrees roof and see 3 men with snipers mounted onto the sides of the building. Crouched but not prone. They were civilians with no armor and just clothes. All were dark skinned and used a type of sniper I had never seen before. How could we eliminate these people? Boxes were scattered around but they would be useless. They were not alarmed by us so I grab out a knife and point over at each one of them. I didn't want to kill them but know why they had weapons at this spot. W Sneak over to one each and I pull the hand signal for arrest. Darren takes in the first and we follow by as I grab the man by the waist pulling him back over my head and onto the ground back facing me. He drops his sniper. "F*ck you man." One of the men say being held down by Colton. He knew English. Weird? "Why are you here and why did you f*ck up the door and keep it unlocked you would've had a chance to kill me if it wasn't." Colton shouts interrogating the suspect. I snigger grabbing a bit of comedy from this man. I grab out the handcuffs from my pocket in the uniform trousers and handcuff the man before he could escape. The others followed on. We pick the men of the ground letting them stand up. "Who here set you up." as I point my knife to the man's neck as violence drips down my body sinking in and letting itself do the work. "Tell me who did the work or else the second level will be activated." He stares at me and lets his words go. "It was me. I set this whole thing up the government doesn't want you here and he doesn't appreciate your welcome so we were set here to kill you all." The man was a fast talker and I could nearly hear him mumbling. "Thats all the information we need thank you. As I smile trying to calm down the man and keep him happy. We let go of our victims and let them go. They run down the building still in fear as we gather up the snipers and analyze them.

4:50pm: "So let's put to conclusion that this was a complete f*ck up." I nod letting Colton express. "Colton don't get me wrong but that interrogating was some funny crap. Did you see the face that mine was making? AHHH. Please don't hurt me." We all laugh as his interruption was one, I liked. Darren had his good jokes and in reality, a lot of them were legit an event. The ones where he jumps of a building and just somehow saves himself with a parachute that no one expects. Last time he did it he pissed off the general which I wouldn't be surprised especially for his age. A sudden transmission comes in on the radio and we pick it up. "Blue 3 here do you copy blue 4?" Blue 3. I thought they were only allowed to talk on emergencies. "Yeah what is it?" I ask accidently rudely. "Uhm we have RPG's to the right of us around 200 in front. Blue 1,2,5 are destroyed so we will need some backup with the snipers." My eyes widen and we look around at the city from over the edge of the roof trying to spot the tank. "copy." I quickly say before I forgot. We run to different sides of the building trying to locate the tank in this quiet city just a bit "too" quiet. Colton spots the tank as I run over to his side of the building. The tank and a few others were in a line moving. I scope down my sniper finding the enemies up ahead. They were on a small house roof prone probably trying to stay there because all it was made of was rusty sand and tiles that from the explosions could fall off any minute. 2 of them, both with specialised sand camo on and fairly dark skin colour. Darren comes over and asks me to take the lead and asks me to pull the trigger on go and at the left person who was fully armored so the best way was at the head. "3,2,1... GO. I push the trigger and a loud bang emits into the air and the smell of smoke takes to the skies. Two men lay on a roof Heads blown, bodies missing. "Mission complete men... "Blue 4 thank you for the help. Part 1 of the mission complete. Colton raises a brow confused. "What's next?" I smile slightly to the left and put on my deep voice. "Bring down the statue. It'll secure a quick win for the US troops." The two looked at me seeming, satisfied by what i said. I grab my radio turning it on and holding down the side button. "Hello is the