For the people ... (Soldier Up Book 4)
Page 25
“Roger.” Said Colonel Warren and he turned and left.
Colonel Magnus didn’t really know what to expect when he got to Fort Indiantown Gap, he knew that one of the scout teams had gone missing, among others in the past that was supposed to be in the area. He figured now that they went and got themselves caught and spilled-the-beans on what was heading their way. His belief that there were men and woman here at Fort Indiantown that supported his cause sort of rang shallow for the time being, given the fact that the Fort had shut down and built up its defenses.
Colonel Magnus didn’t have any plan to assault the Fort as of yet he had hoped to avoid the loss of life on both ends. Looking back toward the main gate it was apparent that a frontal assault on the Fort would cause a greater loss of life to his troops then it did to the Soldiers on the Fort. They needed a plan. Colonel Magnus called over his aide and told him to get the senior staff together now and have them come to the TOC for a planning meeting. His aide, Captain Pandora, left immediately to round up the planning staff, all Captain Pandora really knew was the shit was about to get real and hit the proverbial fan.
There were six officers that were part of the battle planning staff, Colonel Magnus, Lieutenant Colonel Porter was representing the infantry, Lieutenant Colonel Grant representing the Engineers, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver representing Artillery, Lieutenant Colonel Munoz representing the Cavalry, and Major (Promotable) Greer from the Intelligence Company. On a large white board was posted a map that showed all of Fort Indiantown Gap, the map showed all of the positions of Colonel Magnus forces. The map also showed all of the tank traps and minefields they could see within the perimeter of the Fort. It also marked what they believed were various other type of defenses, machine gun emplacements, artillery, berms anything of value that they thought might be important.
By looking at the map they didn’t see anything that really stuck out and they could use as a viable plan, no doubt Colonel Magnus thought, they all went to the same schools. “What are we missing?” asked Colonel Magnus.
“Has anyone seen a live body anyplace?” asked Major Greer.
The thought of not seeing any Soldiers hadn’t occurred to anyone, they assumed everything was manned because someone had to have built the defenses. Major Greer looked around, nothing, “Can anyone here tell me when those defenses were built?”
Again, everyone assumed that the defenses were built in response to their approach. Major Greer looked around again, nothing. “Has anyone thought about talking to them?” No one said anything.
“What are you getting at Major?” asked Colonel Magnus. “Spit it out.”
“Sir I’ve looked over the reports that have come in from the field, no one has sighted any Soldiers, not a soul. There have been no vehicle sightings; although we think we have identified artillery batteries we can’t verify there are actually artillery pieces in them. I’ve been studying the tank traps, and bunkers around the Fort, many of the tanks traps aren’t maintained and are falling down. Many of the bunkers I can clearly see that the roofs have collapsed. In my opinion sir there’s no one home.”
“What about the minefields?” asked Colonel Munoz.
“I think those are real and we need to be careful there’s no telling how long they have been there.” Replied Major Greer.
“Fine then Major.” Said Colonel Magnus. “What’s your recommendation then?”
“Let’s knock on the front door and see if anyone is home.” Said Major Greer.
“In English.” Stated Colonel Magnus.
“Sir let me take a Humvee toward the front gate; we place a large white flag on the vehicle so it can be seen. We sit and wait. There should be some reaction.” Responded Major Greer.
“If there isn’t? Colonel Magnus asked.
“We have the Engineers clear the minefields around the front gate with the infantry looking on. So if there is any shooting we can respond.” Said Major Greer.
“Sounds awfully risky to me.” Said Colonel Porter.
“Sir anything we do will be risky, anything. Right now we’re only talking about risking my ass to go down there.” Said Major Greer.
“Alright let’s make it happen now.” Ordered Colonel Magnus.
Major Greer found the largest bed sheet he could find, tied it off on a pole used to put up radio antennae’s and strapped the entire thing to the left rear end of the Humvee he was taking. Major Greer entered the Humvee and slowly, drove down to the main gate, once near he slowed down even more coming to a stop a hundred yards from the gates entrance. Major Greer sat in the vehicle looking around, nothing happened. He thought to himself ‘ok let’s get out and see what happens’. He exited the vehicle leaving his M-4 behind, raised his hands and yelled “US ARMY US ARMY” still nothing happened. Major Greer lowered his arms and looked around, he dare not go any further, it was clear that the road in front of him had been dug up and mines laid.
Major Greer got back into the Humvee backed up another fifty yards and stopped. He exited the vehicle this time carrying a grenade. He pulled the pin and threw it hard toward what should have been the minefield. The grenade landed near the top of the field and exploded setting off a chain of explosions where one mine exploded after another, essentially clearing most of the minefield. Major Greer had ducked behind the Humvee but as the mines exploded the ground shook and he was being showered with debris. He managed to get back into the vehicle while in the midst of all of the mines exploding, driving away as fast as he could back toward the TOC.
Major Greer arrived back at the TOC and spilled out of the Humvee covered in dirt. “Looks like you might have been right Major.” Said Colonel Porter laughing.