Knife Fight

Modern Tactics Scenario #12

The medic had finished wrapping and assessing everyone. Some semblance of order was returning after a fast minute of murderous fire. No serious casualties, we don’t know who we killed, or even if we killed. We do know this was supposed to be a friendly visit.

I listened over the AN/PRC-117G as Lt called for a high speed evac. The pressure was mounting from the villagers now after us shooting up their shit, and my gut told me that it was about to go sideways unless Bruiser Actual got what he needs ASAP. The normally quiet and friendly locals had clearly had a change of heart. All the bullshit about reconstruction, money, and community was all smoke and mirrors.

Command was drinking the tea still however, and now lulled into a false sense of success, Lt Cotter was about to get his dick cut off, and probably all of us pasted if we don’t bug out ASF-ing-AP.

Three minutes ago an IED and ambush had failed to nail us. it was yet another clueless effort on their part. That said everybody had shrapnel tears, and cuts and 3 or 4 squaddies had to be patched up on the fly. Thankfully the IED didn’t fully trigger and the hajis merely poked guns over the tall compound stone stacked walls and sprayed and prayed. Dipshits. My boys ‘naded, fired back and pushed on the only to see the bastards do a quick fade.

I spat a wad of juice into the dust bowl that was center of the village, a thousand years or more of sandaled feet had ground everything to dust. All around were walled compounds, mini oases of green, and cool. Then further out fields of poppy, and some other crops.

Scanning through the zoomed ACOG a lot more of the villagers were gathering, moving about in small groups. Not a good sign, re orienting? Maybe they want another bite at the cherry?

‘PFC Franke, you are always recording your bullshit on that Go Pro. Spin it up and record those indigs. Get us some ‘hostile intent’ understood?’

I watched as Pfc Franke, pressed record on his chest mounted GoPro, smiled at me and popped the thumbs up. ‘Smile Sarge you gunna be famous.’ He got my standard issue issue hard Sarge reply. Death by staring.

Taking stock, this could end up less than optimal, time to put training to work, and bend the rules. Which means regs and ROE be damned, we will fight our way out back to Main St, then right across the whole damn village, time to get it on and cover our asses while doing it.

I called out to the squads ‘Ammo check, watch your shots and keep it real boys.’

I caught Lt Cotters eye; Bruiser Actual, as he pivoted off comms, and looked my way. He shook his massive head, blue eyes telling me all I needed to know, no help for now. Let’s not upset them any more than they already were, is what I imagined the other end of that JTRS was saying over comms. Figures.

‘All right, lets go bounding like you mean it; you know the drill, keep it smooth and tight, and lets hustle.’ Nods in the affirmative came back, or a quick click on the mic to acknowledge. We rolled across the alley way, keeping buttoned up, slow is smooth and smooth is fast, was the way, is the way, and always will be.

Sweat and dust mingled, every one was feeling the heat we were at the tail end of patrolling when they had tried to smack us. Key now was to keep the boys sharp, fatigue and 115 degrees for hours will slow you down. Every wall, door and corner was another potential trap.

Lt took 1 & ½ squads on my right, another 15 men brought up the rear and I had point with Pfc Grayless and Miller on my left.

We moved out.

Not 3 minutes later, I popped right fist up. Everyone froze and took sectors. ‘Lt we got Civvies blocking the way up head. We need to find another way.’

‘Roger, go.’ Was all he said. Terse did not explain the battle hardened Lt. Rumour had Lt was ex Ranger, not just the course qualified, but tabbed. Legit. He had not even told me much. But there was a story there for sure. He had skills. A wrong look from him could literally make a Pfc shit his pants. Why was he stuck as an Lt. Well that was his story to tell.

‘All right guys, see that compound, its ours, we are going through to avoid these fucking Civs, Go’. I covered while Grayless and Miller kicked in the gate, and the rest of the squad stacked up and went in hard, yelling at the occupants to put their hands up, in Arabic - arfaeuu ‘aydiakum, lots of waving, wailing and screaming. As Grayless herded them like the goat fuckers they were into one building. I transitioned to the gate for rear security and Lt and co flowed right by. Miller zip tied the males and kept them on their knees in the courtyard. No one wants a bullet in the back.

I could feel the amp kicking in. Everyone was on edge. Everyone was keen for some payback for the bullshit ambush earlier. The neighbors were edgy. Shit was going kinetic any second. So far we were keeping it together. More afraid of pissing me or LT off than letting it all fly with the hajis for trying to smoke us.