“Long knife 6 this is Red 2 I need immediate medivac to my position and close air support to my North North/west.” I screamed over the automatic gun fire.

Everything was going perfectly until O’Conner stepped on the pressure plate that sent the whole world into a bright light. I was just coming to my knees when automatic fire started coming in from 3 different positions as if they were waiting for us to push in.

“Sir we can't stay here.” I heard Morris shout over Covs m249 returning controlled burst fire on the position directly in front of us. “Keep pressure on that position Cov. I need to check O’conner and Ricks out” I shout back ignoring the obvious from Morris.

As I leap into the row next to me pushing to Ricks position I spot movement on the mountain behind us.

“Red 6 this is Reaper 2 we are showing mass troop movement to your south, Close air support is on route but will not arrive in time for you to exfil to your back recommend you push to target building and hold tight for quick reaction team”

“Fuck” I screamed as I jump another wall.

“Ricks and O’conner are down. Morris, get your ass over here.” I yell over my shoulder as I start the process to get a tourniquet on Ricks mangled right leg. Luckily the pain seemed to put him out as he wasn't responsive. God, I hope that his brain isn't that scrambled. I could use another gun to watch the door when we are inside.

Morris runs up next to me in shock. “Morris, get your shit together and grab O’Conner hes gone but we are not leaving him in this fucking feild. Cov keep that fire up i'm moving Ricks to the front and i'm going to clear our courtyard and push into the house.”

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I drag Ricks over to the front using the handle on the back of his plate carrier as I take a quick scan of the entryway in front of me. “Bang out” I scream as I toss one of my hand grenades into the open gate. One, two, three, Boom. a loud explosion rattles my head and spits dust and debris into the dirt street in front of me. I push as fast as I can through the killfunnel that I know has a muzzle or two aimed at.

As I clear the entry I notice 2 bodies prone on the right side of the courtyard obviously a little too close to the door where my present landed. I put a round in each of them as I rush to the door behind them leading into the main house.

Like most compounds in the country the house has no windows facing the courtyard entrance only the doorway into the building. “Courtyard clear” I yell back hoping Cov and Morris hear me over the gunshots to move Ricks and O’Conner into the now clear yard providing better cover as they fight the assholes in flip flops with Aks outside.

I take in the front room and the rugs that sporadically decorate it as if in slow motion. Combat veterans always talk about things seeming to slow down when experiencing that life or death moment, where the next action you take could spell the end or the continuation of your life. As if possessed I raise my rifle and place a couple controlled shots into the wooden door that leads off to the next room. The man who falls through it gives me all the incentive I need to continue to fire through the portal of shit being thrown my way. I take cover behind the wall and shout for Morris through the first door. “Yeah” he yells back. “I need a 203 HEDP through the door way in here can you do it?” I yell while putting a couple rounds through the new guy who runs out the next room. “Fuck youre a little close arent you Sir?” I can hear the worry in Morris voice as I scream back “Just fucking do it Morris” and like a good southern boy he follows through with a perfect shot from his underbarrel 203 into the next room.

The Thump of the round hitting the back wall sends a concussion through my body as I force my way up and towards the door. Inside is a mess of bodies as 4 more rounds leave my rifle while I ensure all 4 are dead. “Morris, Cov move them in and hold the door. I'm going upstairs”

The compound we were holding was a target package we trained on for over a month. 4 weeks ago intel came down that the number one bomb maker ISAF was searching for was holed up in our AO and the guinness top brass decided to put a forward Recon Scout element on it. My lucky butter bar ass just happened to be the Lt in rotation. The layout was a simple walled in 2 story mud house with a front courtyard with a stream running through the northeastern corner wall. We knew from watching it the last couple days that the second floor only had 1 room like a great room. It was that exact room I found myself staring down the last person I expected to see.