This is a one parter although I might have a series of stories like this.
Hope you enjoy...
Drop Zone
She was leaning against her truck, endlessly adjusting her helmet, utility belt and jacket. The wind blew relentlessly on this exposed knoll and she was ironically thankful she was required to wear the bulk of the uniform. In the east the sky was turning dark, midnight blue now, the first streetlights starting to twinkle in the growing gloom. Regular people, civilians, were getting home from their normal nine to five jobs, a thin line of white lights slowly moving down the far off highway. West, the sky was orange and yellow, the sun had set only moments ago. Another knoll rose above where she stood, a line of trees dividing the two. The trees were black silhouettes against the orange canvas, the innumerable branches entwining with neighboring trees, thick trunks buried in the earth. Just to the left of the tree line sat two UH-64 Blackhawk helicopters, rotors spinning, red lights blinking incessantly, the low roar of the engines floating on the wind. Ths sight of those two massive machines made goosebumbs sprout on her skin, she hid a small smile from the group of men around her. It would still be another hour and a half before she could have her ride in the Blackhawk. There won't be anything to do, but she was certain they would be performing some mindless task to pass time.
Finally, they were lined up on a dirt road, squad leaders were pacing the line, checking and rechecking their soldiers and gear. Her teeth chattered in anticipation, conversation was limited due to their close proximity to the birds. Her eyes were adjusting to the growing darkness, the excitment in the air was palpable. Most of them had never rode on a helicopter, with the exception of their one day of training last week. The risk of the mission was minimal, no one would be shooting at them when they disembarked. So most were smiling and laughing, but she didn't join them. The constant roar, now it was so loud earplugs were required, made for a strange sort of silence. All she could hear were her own thoughts, trying desperatly to keep up with and record all the new sights and sensations.
Suddenly they were moving, a blind rush to the helicopter and each soldier struggled to quickly fasten the unfamiliar five-point belts that would hold then secure during the flight. She caught the gaze of someone, he smiled warmly at her then turned to high-five a buddy. The crew checked to make sure they were all in and then shut the doors. She was able to get close to the window although the world was now engulfed in darkness. They lifted off, it was so smooth and noisy. They flew low to the ground, only a few hundred feet from the deck, the training grounds they flew over were dark. But there, a red tracer and another, a small arms range active for a night fire, red tracers painting streaks in the black void. She was still unfamiliar with the base, not certain where she came from and where she was going. It was exhilirating just the same, she could gradually make out the faint line between earth and sky, the dim outline of treetops and the rolling landscape of the American Midwest. The helicopter banked to her left, the bird's right as she was facing backward, they were almost ready to land.
After a slow circle, the aircraft began its careful descent to the ground, they started unbuckling the restraints and prepared to exit the craft. There was a sudden jolt as they touched down and then the door gaped open, she clutched her pack to her chest and ducked out, mindful to keep her head down. They fanned out in a semi circle, waiting for the bird to once again lift off. The forceful wind created by the spinning blades made it difficult to see, the force pressing against her body. The sound was deafening.
Then it started to recede, she looked back to see the two silhouettes fading into the night, the red lights blinking goodbye. She thought of the books she read and the movies she'd seen of men going into battle, delivered by flying war machines. She felt the infinite lonliness of being left behind, the comfort of the noise replaced by an unnatural silence. Her squad still lay on the ground, barely visible in the tall grasses, trying to gain their bearings. The treeline beckoned her, it offered shelter. She felt so naked lying in the grass.
Hope you enjoy...
Drop Zone
She was leaning against her truck, endlessly adjusting her helmet, utility belt and jacket. The wind blew relentlessly on this exposed knoll and she was ironically thankful she was required to wear the bulk of the uniform. In the east the sky was turning dark, midnight blue now, the first streetlights starting to twinkle in the growing gloom. Regular people, civilians, were getting home from their normal nine to five jobs, a thin line of white lights slowly moving down the far off highway. West, the sky was orange and yellow, the sun had set only moments ago. Another knoll rose above where she stood, a line of trees dividing the two. The trees were black silhouettes against the orange canvas, the innumerable branches entwining with neighboring trees, thick trunks buried in the earth. Just to the left of the tree line sat two UH-64 Blackhawk helicopters, rotors spinning, red lights blinking incessantly, the low roar of the engines floating on the wind. Ths sight of those two massive machines made goosebumbs sprout on her skin, she hid a small smile from the group of men around her. It would still be another hour and a half before she could have her ride in the Blackhawk. There won't be anything to do, but she was certain they would be performing some mindless task to pass time.
Finally, they were lined up on a dirt road, squad leaders were pacing the line, checking and rechecking their soldiers and gear. Her teeth chattered in anticipation, conversation was limited due to their close proximity to the birds. Her eyes were adjusting to the growing darkness, the excitment in the air was palpable. Most of them had never rode on a helicopter, with the exception of their one day of training last week. The risk of the mission was minimal, no one would be shooting at them when they disembarked. So most were smiling and laughing, but she didn't join them. The constant roar, now it was so loud earplugs were required, made for a strange sort of silence. All she could hear were her own thoughts, trying desperatly to keep up with and record all the new sights and sensations.
Suddenly they were moving, a blind rush to the helicopter and each soldier struggled to quickly fasten the unfamiliar five-point belts that would hold then secure during the flight. She caught the gaze of someone, he smiled warmly at her then turned to high-five a buddy. The crew checked to make sure they were all in and then shut the doors. She was able to get close to the window although the world was now engulfed in darkness. They lifted off, it was so smooth and noisy. They flew low to the ground, only a few hundred feet from the deck, the training grounds they flew over were dark. But there, a red tracer and another, a small arms range active for a night fire, red tracers painting streaks in the black void. She was still unfamiliar with the base, not certain where she came from and where she was going. It was exhilirating just the same, she could gradually make out the faint line between earth and sky, the dim outline of treetops and the rolling landscape of the American Midwest. The helicopter banked to her left, the bird's right as she was facing backward, they were almost ready to land.
After a slow circle, the aircraft began its careful descent to the ground, they started unbuckling the restraints and prepared to exit the craft. There was a sudden jolt as they touched down and then the door gaped open, she clutched her pack to her chest and ducked out, mindful to keep her head down. They fanned out in a semi circle, waiting for the bird to once again lift off. The forceful wind created by the spinning blades made it difficult to see, the force pressing against her body. The sound was deafening.
Then it started to recede, she looked back to see the two silhouettes fading into the night, the red lights blinking goodbye. She thought of the books she read and the movies she'd seen of men going into battle, delivered by flying war machines. She felt the infinite lonliness of being left behind, the comfort of the noise replaced by an unnatural silence. Her squad still lay on the ground, barely visible in the tall grasses, trying to gain their bearings. The treeline beckoned her, it offered shelter. She felt so naked lying in the grass.
