Jacked Up Part 7
Inspecting the ground in front of me I saw that there was a nice big tank just off to my right and a closer truck to my left with a couple of other trucks beyond that. The trucks were tempting but there was space underneath them where bullets could easily take out your legs.
Beyond the tank it was a straight run to the door of the barn. The only real obstacle was a water hazard. The ground either side of this was clear and I knew it was another trap for the lazy. It looked as if I was going to get wet today. I popped my head up and then dropped again to the ground, hoping that I would not get shot at again. I then did the ‘trench periscope’ thing with the helmet cam and did not see any other targets that had popped up.
Getting up on my knees I braced myself for a sprint to the tank, with a bit of zig-zag thrown in. As I launched the first of the explosions happened in a depression to my right. This was supposed to draw my attention because, as I looked to the left, I saw three targets pop up and incoming rounds that seemed to assume that I was heading for the first truck. As I ran for the tank I fired several two-shot bursts at the targets, being grateful that I saw the last one fold down as I reached the lee of the tank. I reloaded the rifle with a new magazine but kept the old one in a pouch. All the time now there were spouts of dirt flying up around me as the mock shelling carried on.
I didn’t stop but set off again straight for the water hazard which only proved to be a foot deep and also the right way to go as the space either side of it erupted in explosions. As I cleared it I saw a couple of targets pop up on one side of the barn so I took these out on the run. As I got to the side of the barn I allowed the rifle to be carried on its sling while I pulled a grenade and my sidearm. I pulled the pin from the grenade and tossed it through the door, following it after it had gone off. Inside there was a stack of straw bales and a guy in a bullet-proof suit and a balaclava was at each end, both looking a little hazy. I did not hesitate and fired two into each body which knocked them on their backs. Those wad cutters did not penetrate but they did have a hell of a kick to them.
Just then I heard Major Quinn call out for me to stand down as the task was over and he walked out of a side door taking off his ear protectors. He had one of those big grins on his face that says that he was enjoying this and I found out why when we helped the other two to their feet and they took off their balaclavas. One was the Range Officer and the other was the Commanding Officer – I had shot a two-star General! A couple of troopers followed Major Quinn and he ordered them to take all of the weapons from us and give them a clean before returning them to the armoury. The one who took my weapons gave me a big wink as he did so. I guess that the new legend of the General-killing dame was just about to start the rounds of the camp. I should think that everyone would know about it before we even got out of the barn.
The Range Officer and the General were both having a hard time hearing; I guess that they did not expect to be sharing a room with a grenade. While Major Quinn fussed over them I took time out to inspect my own body. As to be expected I was wet to the knees and the dust had collected there as well. I had dirt covering most of the rest of me and, when I took off the flak jacket, I noticed nicks and tears where I had been hit with bits of shrapnel. I had a few nicks on my neck below the helmet rim but, otherwise, came through it unscathed. I waited quietly until the officers were able to get some idea of what was going on and the first words the General said was “That is the last time you talk me into these games, Q, my reputation will be mud by now and I may have to take some stick from the guys at Elgin when they hear about this. You, Major Jackson, are death on legs and I bow to your skill. I am just glad that we were behind the hay bales when that grenade dropped in our laps, I think that I need to go now and change my underwear. Come and see me in my office tomorrow at Ten Hundred and I will give you the gist of what I have been told about your future task.”
We saluted him as he made his way through the door leading to the back of the barn and his waiting transport. The Range Officer then held out his hand for me to shake and said that the morning had given him almost enough winnings to retire on but none of it had been as good as seeing a decorated General being knocked on his arse by a wad cutter in the chest. “We are both going to have some livid patches for a couple of weeks, thank you for not putting a round into our heads.” He then gave us both a salute as he followed the General to his own transport.
Major Quinn looked at me and we both broke down laughing. “Oh, shit!” he exclaimed “this has been the funniest couple of hours I have had in a long time. Those two had been Unit Commanders in Afghanistan but I don’t think that either of them had looked at death so closely before. ‘Mad Bull’ Johannsen is going to have a hard time living this down and there are a few around this mans’ army who will be happy to bring it up whenever they can. Today made it worth signing on for another five years. Now, J, how about I drive you back to the hospital so you can have those cuts looked at and then you had better go to your quarters and change into hot weather camos and get your breakfast, I am sure you will need it by then.”
“Thank you, Q,” I said, “I will take your advice. What is my schedule for the rest of the day?” “You get the rest of the day off but I suggest you go to the base library and look up all you can find on the Middle East, especially terrorist activity, for the period between 2017 and 2023, because that is the base of what you will be told tomorrow” he said “I do not know of the detail but that is the subject matter that we have been told to teach whoever got this far.”
We went out to his Humvee and he drove me to the hospital, telling me to leave the helmet and flak jacket in the vehicle as I got out. He drove off and I walked into the reception where a nurse took me by the arm and said “I have touched a legend!” before leading me to a side room to check me over. When I left I had some band aids on the cuts and some liniment where we could see I would bruise, especially on the elbows and knees. I walked back to my quarters carrying the bullet-proof vest. The shirt had gone in the bin. I had a good shower and redressed in clean kit and then went to the mess. When I walked in there were about twenty troopers there who all stood up and applauded me. I grinned and gave an exaggerated bow before going to get a hearty breakfast.
Thankfully, they left me in peace while I had a well-deserved feed. It didn’t stop them throwing me salutes as they slowly left, leaving me alone at my table. It was then that another soldier walked in and came up to my table. Although he didn’t have insignia, I could tell, by his aura, that he was high ranking. I made to stand but he waved me to sit again and then asked if I wanted another cup of coffee as we would be having a little chat. I said I would and finished the one I had in front of me and put the mug on my empty plate. He went to the counter and an orderly rushed out to take my plate, giving me a smirk as he did so. This was getting a bit much!
Before he came back with our drinks, the officer had a few quiet words at the counter and we were suddenly alone in the mess. He sat down and offered me his hand and we shook. “Major Jackson” he said “I am General Xaviour from Military Intelligence. The boys all call me X. I sometimes think that I am a bit actor in a bad version of Men in Black around this place, with Q and M that you have already met.” When I said, “M?” He said “General MacMurtrie, the Range Officer. He has a soft spot for you now as you have made him a tidy sum in bets, much to the dismay of several others on this base. There was not an officer here who thought that a Yellow Peril Permit holder would make it past the first morning, let alone ending up shooting two battle hardened Generals.”
Taking a sip of his coffee he went on “Of the list that we were given, you did not even get considered to be brought here until you survived that blast in Detroit. We have ‘entertained’ six others before you, all gung-ho rebels who were friends of the Yellow Ones’ family. Most of them could not hit a target if it was a foot in front of their face and one even fainted when he fired his first shot. You, on the other hand, have gone through to now like a thirty year veteran. This leads me to believe that there is more to you than meets the eye, perhaps extra skills that you may have gained from Jack Ryan, who was a thirty-year veteran. Are you really Jack Ryan?”
I contemplated lying but thought better of it. “I am not Jack Ryan, as anyone can see; but I did get his memories when he died.” “Yes” he said “I believe the Switcher killed him. We have been kept in the loop from the FBI and they told us that the Switcher was no longer a threat after that explosion.” He took another sip of his drink and then asked “I believe that what the Yellow One has in mind for you is to tidy up a few loose ends, especially in regard to odd bombings that he actually instigated to kill off people who were a threat to him. One bombing was the one where your parents died.”
Marianne G 2021
