August 20, 2006- Iraqi Desert
Mason came to face-down in the desert sand. He felt disoriented and was not entirely sure of what happened. However, when he looked up to see the grizzly image of the Delta Force agent's broken body with a leg and most of his arm blasted off from the explosion which had knocked Mason senseless, he was quickly reminded of the events which had transpired. He reached for an M4 Carbine which had been dropped by one of the dead agents and pulled himself into a prone position. The mountain where the caves were located was out of range, but the telescopic scope provided him a good view of it. There was nobody there, now. They had likely relocated. They were not Mason's biggest problem right now, however--it was the fact that he was stuck in the Iraqi desert with his communications equipment rendered useless by the blast. Finding himself very thirsty from having baked in the desert sun, Mason opened his canteen and took a few swigs of water. He sighed and collapsed back onto the ground.
Mason came to face-down in the desert sand. He felt disoriented and was not entirely sure of what happened. However, when he looked up to see the grizzly image of the Delta Force agent's broken body with a leg and most of his arm blasted off from the explosion which had knocked Mason senseless, he was quickly reminded of the events which had transpired. He reached for an M4 Carbine which had been dropped by one of the dead agents and pulled himself into a prone position. The mountain where the caves were located was out of range, but the telescopic scope provided him a good view of it. There was nobody there, now. They had likely relocated. They were not Mason's biggest problem right now, however--it was the fact that he was stuck in the Iraqi desert with his communications equipment rendered useless by the blast. Finding himself very thirsty from having baked in the desert sun, Mason opened his canteen and took a few swigs of water. He sighed and collapsed back onto the ground.
A low humming sounded in the distance. Mason immediately shot up, rifle in hand. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw what was causing it. A Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter was slowly easing its throttle down to land. Mason rushed forwards as a battlefield medic and several soldiers hopped out to meet him.
"What happened?" shouted a sergeant over the roar of the rotor blades.
"There was a bomb," said Mason, still in shock, "They knew we were coming. Everyone's dead."
The sergeant nodded. "We'll make sure there are not more explosives, then we'll recover the bodies." Then he took notice of what Mason had said. "You say they knew you were coming?"
Mason nodded plaintively. "Yeah. Somebody gave us away." The sergeant swore.
"You just come with us--we'll patch you up. Then we'll need to get to the bottom of this."
August 21- FOB Sykes
When Mason awoke the next morning, an soldier was standing by his bed. He jerked his head to tell Mason to get going. After quickly throwing on a black shirt and camo pants, Mason followed the man outside. It was blisteringly hot--hotter than it had been in the past week, and Mason soon began to sweat. The blast of cool air from a fan in the briefing room relieved him as he entered. Seated at the table were several men Mason did not know, save for MSgt. Hank Daley, Mason's section commander. Mason stood at attention at the doorway.
"At ease, Pierce, and take a seat," said Daley, "We were just waiting for you."
"Yes, sir," Mason replied, pulling himself a chair.
"These are David Carter and Patricia Nelson from the CIA. Mr. Carter is from the Directorate of Intelligence, and Nelson is from Military Affairs. Coincidentally, they arrived yesterday to investigate a certain Pvt. First Class Adam Lissenger, who they have suspected is collaborating with Al Qaeda. However, Mr. Lissenger has since disappeared, confirming their suspicions. However, we're still going to need to track this man down, so I've approved a mission to extract him. We'd like you to come along."
"Well, Sir, I can say I'd be gl--"
A Private rushed into the room as a siren blared. "Sir, the base is under attack!"
"What happened?" shouted a sergeant over the roar of the rotor blades.
"There was a bomb," said Mason, still in shock, "They knew we were coming. Everyone's dead."
The sergeant nodded. "We'll make sure there are not more explosives, then we'll recover the bodies." Then he took notice of what Mason had said. "You say they knew you were coming?"
Mason nodded plaintively. "Yeah. Somebody gave us away." The sergeant swore.
"You just come with us--we'll patch you up. Then we'll need to get to the bottom of this."
August 21- FOB Sykes
When Mason awoke the next morning, an soldier was standing by his bed. He jerked his head to tell Mason to get going. After quickly throwing on a black shirt and camo pants, Mason followed the man outside. It was blisteringly hot--hotter than it had been in the past week, and Mason soon began to sweat. The blast of cool air from a fan in the briefing room relieved him as he entered. Seated at the table were several men Mason did not know, save for MSgt. Hank Daley, Mason's section commander. Mason stood at attention at the doorway.
"At ease, Pierce, and take a seat," said Daley, "We were just waiting for you."
"Yes, sir," Mason replied, pulling himself a chair.
"These are David Carter and Patricia Nelson from the CIA. Mr. Carter is from the Directorate of Intelligence, and Nelson is from Military Affairs. Coincidentally, they arrived yesterday to investigate a certain Pvt. First Class Adam Lissenger, who they have suspected is collaborating with Al Qaeda. However, Mr. Lissenger has since disappeared, confirming their suspicions. However, we're still going to need to track this man down, so I've approved a mission to extract him. We'd like you to come along."
"Well, Sir, I can say I'd be gl--"
A Private rushed into the room as a siren blared. "Sir, the base is under attack!"
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