ICBM

Not really much to see in Heather base except for the basement and some of the recreation areas for us.

"So, sir, how long are we going to patrol around this sector?" Sergeant Heumann asked me.

"About 15 minutes left Sergeant," I replied.

"It's been a year, hasn't it?" She replied.

"Yup, it's been a year master," I teased her.

"Master? Quit it, sir, we've long left that calling, right?" She said as she walked around the corner of one of the buildings.

"I will head for sector A-B5," I said to Communication post using my com.

"Copy," The CP replied.

First of all, the sector was divided into 10 different parts, which were sector A-J.

Sector A is the sector where I will patrol on.

I walked there with the FNC on my hands. As usual, the situation is good as it's should be. No surprise, though, since deviancy is impossible here. Though, I think Wilson doesn't limit human feelings here since I saw people "Dating" sometimes on a dark alley.

Most of the time, the one who is doing that is the privates, and they are usually scolded by the non commissioned officers like us.

I walked to the nearest alley and searched for that phenomenon, which I didn't found today.

"Weird, this usually the usual spot for that thing to happen," I peeked to the alley.

Andrew: "Alpha team Lead to Bravo team Lead, anything unusual there?"

Natalie: "Everything conducive as usual, sir."

Andrew: "Continue by heading to sector Delta. After that, go to floor B20 sector Echo over and out."

I continued to walk in the sector. It looks like everyone in the base was cleaning it because, as they said, "spring cleaning."

Occasionally, I looked at my subordinate and also my former master, Sergeant Charlotte Heumann. We grew up together after all, so there is no way that I don't come to like her. Her somewhat dark hair now coupled with the cool eyepatch just make her better.

"Sir, why are you looking at me?" She asked me respectfully.

"What? I'm looking at the tank behind you," I said as I pointed my index finger.

"Respectfully, are sir sure about that?" She asked me again with an embarrassed tone.

"Well, Sergeant Heumann, I'm sure about that," I tried to come with a good excuse.

One of the specialists on my team drove an APC, I opened the door and marked the end of our patrol session. Free time after this, of course.

I sat on the back seat next to her and the other privates. It's a well-known secret that we were in a relationship, but most of the base and my XO supported it anyway.

"Sir, where we will be going after this?" Corporal Rales asked me.

"Good question, we will go to sector E on floor B20. Our second Liteunant will meet us there," I replied.

"The silo?" He asked.

"Yup," I replied.

I stick my head out from the stryker hatch and enjoy the breeze of cool air from the air conditioner of the base.

15 ramps later

After twenty minutes, we finally arrived at our destination. The huge ICBM stood tall in front of us. The glorious ICBM from the new USSR. The R-89M Rokita, NATO reporting name SS-72 "Satan 4." Capable of carrying thirty nuclear warheads and a hundred decoys and has the speed of Mach 50. This ICBM is one of the secret weapons that our SDF has. It is one of the clean bombs, so there won't be any radiation on the ground.

"ATTENTION!" our commander shouted.

We aligned and forming a line in front of him. Then he asked us, "Does anyone know what is this?" He asked.

Everyone raised their hands, and the commander pointed his hands at me.

I moved in front of him.

"Sir, that's an ICBM called Satan 4. Made in New USSR," I answered him, and I moved back at my line.

"Thank you, Sergeant Collins. So apparently our top brass has rewarded this ICBM on someone in our platoon," He said while walking in front of us.

"Sergeant Gallagher," He shouted.

"Sir, yes, sir," she replied.

"Come here, please," he said as he grabbed a black box from his pocket and the key for the box on top of it.

She walked to the second lieutenant then stood in front of her. The second lieutenant grabbed a piece of paper, and I left with one fireteam from the other squad to grab something.

"Sergeant, this is a note from General Alexson, please read it aloud," he said as he handed her a piece of paper.

"THIS IS A REWARD FOR YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE.." She took a deep breath as I grabbed a firehose with the others and attached it to a fire hydrant.

".. I PRESENT THIS ICBM," She looked surprised and touched at the same time. Meanwhile, I was putting the wrench on top of the hydrant, and the other aimed the hose at her.

"PREPARE YOURSELF TO GET WET??" She said with a while raising her eyes.

"SERGEANT, THAT'S THE SIGNAL," the corporal that was holding the hose said.

"COPY," I turned the wrench, thus high-pressure water flow to the hose and sprayed her clothes and wet it.

"What??" She said at the last moment until she got sprayed by the water hose.

The whole platoon laughed and started to sing the song that our commander told us to sing.

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy Birthday Sergeant Gallagher, Happy birthday to you," the whole platoon sang as a cake was brought out from the APC.

One of the corporals that were holding a blowtorch light up the candle and marked the eighteen birthday of Natalie.

"Make a wish, Sergeant," One of the female soldiers said.

"I wish my parents were still alive," she said as she blew the candle.

While the other was busy with Natalie's birthday, I was summoned by the second lieutenant.

"Staff Sergeant Collins, do you know what day it is now?" He asked me.

"It's Sergeant Gallagher's birthday, sir," I answered dumbly.

"I have a reward for you, the top brass also force promote you to the second Liteunant, and you will be sent back to the academy with the other teenager soldiers," he said as he poked my back.

"Respectfully, sir, are you joking?" I asked him in surprise.

"No, I'm not. You will go there with Staff Sergeant Gallagher and Heumann, make me proud, buddy," he said to me.

"I understood," I said as I headed for the small party.