Jul/25/04...

On the road...

4:00pm...

Seeing how I couldn't fall asleep due to obvious reasons, I sit up from my resting position and look ahead at the headrest of the driver seat. Then my mind began to do that thing when you try and remember some memories, but only for like two seconds until it flashes to the next. Sort of like a slide show.

I saw my house, freshly cut lawn with morning dew still laying on top. Mailbox out front with that white picket fence connected to it. And that small black gate that I always had trouble getting into.

Then the next were my friends Dave, Stanley, and Mike. Man I had some great times with those guys. Dave was always the wise ass that always tried picking fights with random people, just because he felt like it. Stanley was our shady guy of the bunch, never really showed his face in public, always stayed inside with his blinds shut. And when he did come out he wore glasses and a hoodie.

I think he may have done drugs, but whatever.

And Mike, my best friend out of the whole bunch. Now normally I don't chose my friends, but, mike was the best. Actually he and I were friends all through College. We were dorm buddies, but after college we got separated and didn’t really talk after that, then one day I found him hanging around with Stanley. We got back together and Stanley and I became friends as well.

Then, I saw the recruitment center and me signing my name on the dotted line. I remember that one that moment the most. The pen in my hand felt smooth. It was dark black with a little wooden bit near the golden tip. I felt the pen drag along the paper as it signed my name on the documents. I didn’t want to see anymore.

I shook my head and snapped back to reality just as a rock under the back tire, shook the humvee as we drove over it. I look out the window and sigh softly, trying not to break the silence that had swallowed the other marines. I just stared and began thinking to myself,

‘Look at me, a marine, one of the most feared people in the world, just sitting around, in a moving car, rumbling down a sandy road to god knows where.’ I put a hand to my face and cleared the clustered sweat that dripped from my forehead. ‘Why, why do I need to fight, I know I signed up for this, but, I never should have to fight in the first place.’ lowering my hand I look over to Michael. He’s doing the same thing I was, thinking, I could see it in his eyes. He was deep in thought, thinking about something that was making him zone out, just like me. I tapped him on the shoulder.

“Hey, Michael, you okay brother?” I asked trying to make conversation. The silence in the Humvee finally dropped. He looked over to me and gave me a strange face, like a mix between Frightened and sorrow. He wasn’t really responsive, but he spoke up.

“Oh uh, good I guess.” He said turning back towards the window while readying his rifle on the bottom part of the windowsill.

“Something bothering you, you seem out of it.” I asked still looking at him, trying to get his attention once more.

“Nah, I’m good, it’s just th-.” His voice cut out when the radio on the humvee’s dashboard crackled and a voice came out.

“This is Bravo 1-1 to all Bravo vectors, do read me? Over.” It was the lead car. The driver grabbed the radio and lifted it to his lips as all the as all the car began signaling off.

“This is Bravo 1-2, were reading you. Over.”

The lead car came back again. “Okay men listen up, this one is coming from the top. A few minuets ago before we pulled out, an outpost, not to far from where we are currently at, sent out a full company of Marines into a city called,” the radio stopped talking for a second, then the voice came back, I guess he was having trouble pronouncing the city’s name. “ A city called, Samawah. Unfortunately for them, they need some back up, and seeing how were the closest marines to the action, they called us out.” The radio turned off as the driver began his return ,

“Copy that Bravo 1-1, can we get an ETA?” He asked.

“Twenty minutes, get ready. Bravo 1-1, out.”

“Copy,” the driver hung up and turned his head around to us, a sort of smile was plastered on his face. “You ready to kick some ass guys?” He said with a bit of a hype in his voice. I looked at Michael, and he looked at me back, gun still resting on the sill of the window. He shook his head once, and I returned it, we were ready.

“Yeah we're ready… how about you?” Michael asked the driver, whom now had turned back toward the front window.

“Yeah I’m ready, it’s time to blow these damn “Sheet Heads” back to hell where they came from.” His enthusiasm was a little unsettling for my tastes, but, micheal sure as hell was on that band wagon. He smiled and gently shook his head as if he was agreeing with the drivers statement. And in some ways, so was I.

I held my rifle up and slid out the mag, checking for full, and it was, bullet in the chamber too. I look out the window and spot two AH-1W Super Cobras Riding parallel to us. The sound of the rotor blades were louder than the humming of the engine so I could here them clear as day as my body really felt the whooshing. It was intense. I slammed the mag back in and rested the underbarrel on the open window. I aimed down my scope. The green overlay blinded me as the red dot marked my killzone.

I watched the rolling hills pass me as we rode along our way, the fire fight growing closer and closer.

Twenty Minutes later…

“Bravo 1-1 Pulling off the road, were here, get ready.” Came the radio, we were here. Knots began forming in my stomach as the sound of gunfire reached my ears as the choppers pulled away to edge the Insurgents in the city.

“Bravo 1-2, following in suit.” The Driver said as we began to turn to the left and slow down.

“Bravo 1-3, Following,”

“Bravo 1-4, Following too.”

“Bravo 1-5, Following in suit.”

“Bravo 1-2, dismount.” Yelled the Lt. in passenger side. Once we came to a stop, I threw open my door and exited the car, rifle in hand. The sound of the doors slamming shut filled the air, as the Marines on the city side came running around to my side, I rested my rifle on the end of the Humvee and waited for everyone to get to safety. I looked left to right, everyone was pushed up against the Humvees, accept for the gunners who were stationed on the 50. Cals.  

“Bravo 1-1 giving command to Charlie 1-1, head of the trapped Marines.” The radio went silent for a while until the radio came back with static and gunfire.

“This is Major Strew of Charlie Company, I am currently with Charlie 1-1 we are pinned down with 1-2,1-3,1-5. 1-2 and all the others are gone, we need back up now!!”

My heart began to beat louder and faster, my ears began ringing, my face went pale. Everything seemed to slow down for me as I replay the radio traffic over and over again.

They only have 4 squads left… out of a company of Marines. That means 16 squads are gone. One squad has four Marines. 16 multiply thats by four…

“They lost, 64 Marines…” I said out loud after the radio switched off. The Cobras from earlier were beginning to engage as the sound of rockets screeched across the sky and slammed into buildings making huge dust clouds that spread across the air.

I look Michael, and he looks at me, a terrified look on his face. He knew.

“Major, we are currently south of your current location, are we cleared to move into the city by highway, if we take the Highway in, we will get there faster?” The radio came.

“Negative, the highways are covered in IED’s, take the nearest off ramp, and snake through the streets.” I looked down the line of Bodies to the radio operator, he stood up and looked to the highway that was to the left of us.  

“Major, are you sure about the IED’s?” It went quiet, my heart raced skipped a beat as I waited for the answer.

“We aren’t 100% sure, but, when we pulled in here, most of my Marines died on the highways leading in to the streets from IED’s, don’t take any chances, I repeat don’t take any chances.” When the radio turned off, I whipped my head around to see our CO giving the command to mount up and roll out. I did as I was asked.

“Roger that, were rolling out now, stand by, we should be there in a flash.” Came the radio once more. I yanked open the door and sat down, resting my rifle up on the window, my stomach still turning from the number crunch.

July/25/04

4:00pm…

Canterlot Castle…

I guess today was going to be the day. Today, we will begin our little experiment. I’ve trained with my sister for nearly over a week now and, through countless mistakes and frustration, I was able to see into the minds of ponies in the daytime. Celestia stuck with me through the entire training process till the point where I could cast the spell like my dream seeing spell.

But today is not a training day, today, i’ll be watching these humans in the daytime, for the first time. And In real time too. I guess you could say I’m a little anxious, but at the sametime excited. And as I make my way to celestia’s bed chamber, my stomach could have jumped and left my body and I wouldn’t have even noticed.

Closing in on the door, I pause and take in the surrounding area before placing my hoofs on the metal handles that open the gate like barriers. My mind filled with possible scenarios the humans could be in. All of which, I could only imagine for the fact that my answer will soon be meet.

I push open the doors and walk into the much brighter and open room. Closing the doors I fix my attention on my sister who now comes in from the balcony.

“Ah Luna, Glad to see you, do come in.” She says, her mane shines off the sunlight as the glass doors shut, shining a mixed array of colors that become cast on the opposite wall. I smile and walk closer to her bed.

“Sister, I am ready.” I say, as if saying that sentence could usher forth the demons of hell. She climbs onto her bed and pats her hoof on the top sheet,

“Then come, join me and we shall begin.” Still having a smile on her face. I move over and climb onto the mattress. The mattress she had was much better than mine, It was much large to fit the size, and was much softer.

Now sitting up straight, I look her dead in the eyes, he smile warming my slightly weak heart.

“Now, Luna, please listen.” My ears perk up. “When we begin, well, “watching”  We will be watching thru his eyes, not from birds eye view. We’ll see what he and he alone sees. Are you still ready?” I look away and try to weigh my options. Watch a blood bath and understand another world, or, sit back and do nothing. I look back up and say with a straight face.

“Yes.” She nods.

“Okay, then here we go.” As soon as she says that, he eyes shut and so do mine. And the spell gets cast.

Iraq…

As the rest of the doors shut, I felt the rumble and roar of the engines as the Humvee started up. Then I stopped feeling and looked around, as a protocol of my own kicked in. ‘Who has what.’ I asked in my head.

I looked in front of me and saw the driver, the Lieutenant, he had a standard M4 with an ACOG sight and a M203 on the bottom rail, ‘Okay, the grenadier.’

Looking to the right of him was the Corpsman of my squad. He carried a M16A2, a burst round rifle, and upon looking next to me at my friend, had one too. Both had a Standard, so not attachments, ‘The riflemen.’

Of course I was the one with just a M4, of course, I wasn’t complaining. ‘The short riflemen.’

Then looking up at the Gunner, that manned the 50.Cal, I felt a little outgunned. Not only was he mounting a machine gun that fired 50 Cal rounds, but to the fact that he was also the man that had the M249. ‘The gunner.’

By the time I had finished the counting, the mission was already underway.

“Charlie 1-1, were on the off ramp right now, stand buy, ETA ten minutes.”

“Roger that Bravo 1-1, we await your assist,over and out.” The radio’s went silent for a while as the rumbling was the only thing I heard besides the gunfire and explosions. Then an unfamiliar voice came on the frequency.

“Attention Bravo 1-1 and all Bravo teams, this is Charlie 2-1 and Charlie 2-2, we are finished out first assault and are swinging around for a second pass, you got a target, you let us know, copy?” It was the Cobras. My troubled heart lifted, the reassuring fact that, we had eyes in the sky. I went to look around for them, but as I went to, my vision blacked out.

My heart raced as the sound of gunfire seemed to sound louder than before as I tried everything to clear my eyes. I panicked as I began looking around faster trying to catch a glimpse of something, something other than darkness. I covered my eyes trying to see if my eyes were closed. But they weren’t. I shook my head trying frantically out of options.  

But, just like that it cleared.

My vision came back just as the two Cobras passed over the gunner hole and off into the distance, nearly missing the highway we were recently on. Even with my vision back, I could still see a very faint bit of blackness.

Well not really blackness, but, more of a dark blue.

But, it didn’t matter, the gunfire re jumbled my mind and I focused on my Squad mates. When we pulled off from the ramp, the setting changed. It became tighter and much more, well, closer quarters. Tan and grey buildings rose up on the right side of us along with telephone poles and rubble from trash and explosions. Fences lined the left side as the highway rode along with us before disappearing down the street when it made a left turn.

“Sharp turn here.” Came the driver. We followed the lead car as we pulled into a wide two sided street. The buildings became taller and much more modern looking as the continued on. Street lamps lined the sidewalks and abandoned cars were parked in the middle of the road.

“Check the Alleyways, prepare for an ambush.” The Lt. came once again. Michael adjusted himself so that his rifle was in a much more proper firing position, and he aimed down every alleyway, or side street.

This entire time, my eyes were darting left and right, up and down, and any other way possible, checking every inch of the area.

‘I swear if a spider landed on me, i'll have to try and not freak out.’ I said in my mind, trying to calm my nervous with a little comedy relief. It didn’t work.

“Jacob.” Someone called. I turn around and looked at Michael. He made rose two fingers and pointed out the window.

“Look.” I moved over and looked out of his window. What I saw put me into a panic and shocked state.

Two Humvees sat in a wide side street, both engulfed in flames. The original tan paint job that was given to them, was now charred and melted in one way or another. The fronts of the engines were completely

blown apart. The doors were missing or broken off as the dead bodies of passed Marines lay in front of them.

Some of them were burned or shot or even half gone, the blood and the carnage mixed together in painting of war. It looked like something out of a news reel. Then the reality kicked in and hit me hard.

“That, could be us.” I said. Michael who was looking too, looked to me. He patted me on the back and said,

“Maybe, maybe.” I couldn’t look at it anymore. With the image burned into my mind, I looked away and sat back in my seat and rested my rifle back onto the window. My eyes were wider than normal as I searched even harder for the enemy.

“Attention all Bravo teams, making a hard right here, the road up ahead is blocked, moving into a close area, eyes peeled.”  Announced the lead humvee. I felt the turn as my eyes refocused on the closer walls of the street.

“Hang on, were gonna snake this shit.” Came the Lt. as we began moving in between cars that littered the street like trash. The buildings on either side of me seemed taller as everything became enclosed. Then a problem arose, we were trapped in this alleyway, traveling at two miles an hours, while moving through a maze of cars.

“Lieutenant?” I said, speaking up.

“Yes Corporal?” He said while trying to navigate a tight right turn around a turned over bus.

“I don’t mean to tell you something you already don’t know, but, this area is a ambush alley, the Taliban could be hiding anywhere.” The Lt. taking in what I said looked around at the surrounding buildings.

“Yeah, it does, but, we don’t have any other choice but to go through here…”