A few days later the day for the Kerman raid came. The team gathered up to be briefed. The Lt briefed the team. "Gentlemen, Nike, as you all know we'll soon be conducting an assault on Kerman airport. First we'll cover some of the basic layout and geography of the area, the layout of the airport, and then the plan itself." The Lt said, he then motioned to a map that was projected on a wall. Kerman is located in south central Iran on the outskirts of Kerman city. it's situated near the junction of two highways: the Kerman Western Bypass Expressway and Route 84. The airport itself is located west of the city. Three miles to the west of the airport lies the the Hazaran massif. The airport itself consists of two runways; one long and one short. With the terminals located to the west of where the runways intersect. To the north directly east of the long runway lie several staging areas. Each with several buildings arranged in a circular pattern. The plan is as follows, we'll split into two chalks. The first chalk will consist of Harris, Baldwin, Fuentes, and myself. The second chalk will consist of 2d Lt Johnson and Nike. We will also have two A-10's providing CAS for this operation. Nike and Johnson looked at each other, she nodded at him and he did the same, though noticeably less pronounced. It may have been the lighting, but Johnson's face looked slightly paler after he was informed that he was leading the second chalk. Chalk one will drop to the North near the North-most staging area near this cluster of buildings here. Chalk two will drop to the south of Route 84 near the Red Crescent society. Once everybody is set, the first A-10 will go on a bombing run, destroying all of the buildings in the staging area, and softening up the two terminals. This will then be followed by a strafing run North-South by the second A-10, while the second A-10 is strafing, the first A-10 will loop around and also do a strafing run. Next in Chalk two, Nike will open up with her 37mm destroying insurgent positions, with Johnson providing support with his SAW. Once insurgents have been suppressed you are to advance north to the smaller terminal on the south side of the runways. Simultaneously, Chalk one will advance south moving from staging area to staging area. Pushing down to the main terminal. Baldwin will be calling out targets of opportunity for the A-10's so if you see something worth hitting, Chalk two is to radio him the targets. The rally point is the main terminal, once the insurgents have been pushed out we are to harden our defenses there. There are two likely avenues for attack: One directly at the main terminal from Jomhouri Boulevard and the second from this road linking up with the smaller terminal. The airport is expected to be guarded by approximately 100 insurgents. The large force that initially seized the airport has been diminished, as several have withdrawn from the airport to attack the Army garrison still in Kerman. Once we have set up Baldwin will get the airport working for us again. There's a large contingents of troops ready to land via helicopter and secure the airport, from the west there's an armor column moving down 84 to link up with us. After we have seized the airport, the Army will launch an assault to re-take Kerman. Now if we are to suffer a major setback such as several of us being wounded or killed, or Nike being wounded or killed we are to withdraw immediately. In the beginning Chalk one is to move north and west, crossing Boulevard Havaniroz, and will exfil via Pave Hawk. Chalk two is to withdraw down route 84 and will exfil via V-22 Osprey. If we are in danger of being overrun after seizing the airfield we are to withdraw down route 84, and will exfil via C-130. Are their any questions? The team had none. They were all ready with each team member ready to use the training they'd endured to be SOF members. They were also all very nervous. Taking this airport would be no easy task. Nike The team kitted up, in the time between the training exercise and the raid, the Lt had managed to get a space where the team could kit up together, it even came with a privacy room for Nike to change and a MP3 sound system. Baldwin hooked his iPod to the speakers. "Really Baldwin? Faith No More?" Lt Seth said "You're a fucking cliché you know that" "What can I say sir I have a certain taste for the classics" responded Baldwin. They donned their armor and ready their weapons with each troop armed with something different to satisfy their specific roles in the mission. Nike kitted up in front of 2nd Lt Johnson who readied his SAW-K "All ready to go sir?" She asked readying her autocannon. "Yeah, just making sure everything's good" Johnson said re-checking his SAW "Sir I just want you to know that I got your back out there, I'll protect you." Johnson nodded in response, he took a deep breath "Thanks Nike, I appreciate it." "Everyone ready?" Lt Seth asked. "Alright lets go." The team boarded a C-130 waiting for them it was somewhat cramped for Nike but doable. She sat Indian-style on the floor of the C-130 while the team sat on the jump seats. Within a few moments they were wheels up heading east into Iran. Nike observed each of the airmen, Lt Seth was calm sitting relaxed in his seat drumming his fingers, Harris was double and triple-checking his weather equipment, Fuentes was reading a book occasionally checking his watch, Baldwin appeared to be meditating, and lastly there was Johnson. Johnson seemed to be attempting to do a combination of Lt Seth and Fuentes, he'd sit back in his seat drumming his fingers but in a nervous rapid manner and every now and then he'd spring up and check his watch. His face looked even paler in the dim lights of the C-130. Nike was unsure what to do to calm him down, she decided to start with small talk. "So Lt Johnson where are you from" She politely asked. "Pennsylvania he said, I grew up in a small town called Kempton." He replied. "Where did you go to college?" She asked. "Penn state" He said "I majored in International Relations and got a minor in Arabic." "Oh nice I majored in Forestry" Nike replied. "You went to college?" Johnson replied "Yeah University of Georgia, though I was raised in North Carolina" Nike replied. "Why didn't you try and be an officer?" Johnson asked, somewhat curious. "Well the HFG's don't have officers yet so I enlisted once I got my degree." Nike replied. "Oh....If you don't mind me asking why'd you want to become a HFG?" Johnson asked. "Well why'd you want to become a STO?" replied Nike. "Well...I liked the mission and I wanted to become one of the best. I also figured it was the best way to serve my country" Johnson replied. "I went in for similar reasons" Nike said "I liked that HFG's provide support to regular troops, I want to use my strength to help you guys." Nike said. "But.....aren't you nervous? I've seen the casualty rate for the HFG's......it's pretty insane." Johnson said "People often ask me that, but to be honest not really, way I see it is this: like any military unit, if we are used incorrectly we of course have a really high chance of death." But if we do the job we're meant to do our casualty rate isn't much higher than normal." She said. "And to be honest, I'm more concerned about you guys." "Why?" Johnson asked "Well, if something happened to any of you I couldn't forgive myself. My job is to protect you, even if it means dying." Johnson looked taken aback at her statement. He opened his mouth to respond but at that moment Lt Seth shouted "One Minute out!" The O2 masks that had been hanging by their faces as they talked were then hooked on to heir helmet; they put down their NODs, and in the green light Nike noticed that Johnson seemed too look less pale than before. The cargo bay door of the C-130 opened revealing the dark Iranian night. Chalk one stood up and walked towards the bay door, Johnson also stood up. A few seconds later, Chalk one leapt out into the night, disappearing quickly in the darkness. Johnson them motioned at Nike who scooched forward with her legs first. She got door and felt the cool desert breeze. A few seconds later, Johnson jumped. Nike waited ten seconds and then pushed herself out of the C-130 taking care to avoid the loadmaster. She descended, eagle spread towards the earth. In her NVG's she saw Johnson around 50 feet below her. She motioned to his side, so that should her chute deploy late she wouldn't collide with him. She deployed her chute, due to her weight she needed extra altitude to slow down to make a safe landing. A few seconds later she saw Johnson deploy his. She guided her chute to be on his right. They descended silently, the airfield was rather dim with a few fires smattered throughout the airfield. They touched down gently, landing 20 meters apart, and advanced towards the Red Crescent facility. Over the radio they heard Lt. Seth's voice. "Chalk one in position" They cleared the immediate area of the facility, the buildings were empty. Nike crouched down behind the right most building with Johnson standing on the opposite corner to her six. "Chalk two in position" Lt Seth Lt Seth's chalk moved into position they advanced quickly in the night. Taking cover behind a wall on one of the northmost buildings in the staging area. From here sent Baldwin and Fuentes to the East of his position. Harris readied his 240L, and Baldwin got on the radio. "Warhammer Warhammer this is Stalker bomb on target....." As Baldwin directed the A-10's Lt Seth scanned the area. From where they were they couldn't see the Red Crescent facility. He hoped Johnson and Nike were okay. Johnson was definitely nervous after finding out that he would be on his own. Yet he'd seen Johnson in training and seen him perform. He was a good STO, Seth had confidence in his abilities, but new firsthand the effect of nerves on one's ability to perform in combat. "Sir, the hogs are 1 minute out" Baldwin said. "Alright, everyone get ready." Lt Seth said. The low whine of the A-10's could be heard in the distance the first jet flew over dropping GPS guided smartbombs. These bombs detonated all around. Destroying all buildings in the staging area and partially destroying both terminals. Next came the gun runs. The first A-10 let out two burst of fire rocking the insurgent positions. The second A-10 followed delivering three short bursts. Lt Seth smiled at the roar of the A-10's cannon. BRRRRRRT BRRRRRRRT BRRRRRRT The insurgents were yelling running away from the buildings in the staging area, trying to run away from the airfield. Harris opened up with the 240, mowing them down. The rest of the team started picking off the insurgents with their weapons. Lt Seth noticed a large group running away and fired a shot from his M79. Killing the entire group. In the distance they heard Nike's 37mm along with Johnson's SAW. "Baldwin! Fuentes! Move up!" Lt Seth through the radio. Baldwin advanced first, with Fuentes soon following. They ran quickly through the open terrain to the next building as Harris's machinegun fire and Lt Seth's rifle fire covered their advance. "Covering, move!" Fuentes said over the radio. "Harris go!" Lt Seth yelled. Harris sprinted across the open terrain, huffing and puffing with his machine gun. He reached the position safely and started laying down covering fire. "Im set! Move sir!" He said over the radio "Moving!" Lt Seth said, sprinting from his position. Lt Seth sprinted hard, his M79 bouncing on his back he heard a few bullets whizz by and increase in bursts from Harris M240. The team took defilade behind road in the airport and laid down fire. They heard Nike over the radio. "I got eyes on 4 technicals heading north I'm marking them with my my IR." She said "Roger that" Lt Seth said over the radio "BALDWIN DID YOU HEAR THAT?!" Lt Seth shouted over to Baldwin. "YES SIR!" Baldwin responded "Warhammer Warhammer I got 4 technicals heading due north marked by IR how copy....."Understood" "SIR WE GOT A GUN RUN COMING IN ON THOSE TECHNICALS IN 20 SECONDS!" Baldwin shouted to Lt Seth. "ROGER THAT KEEP PUTTING THE PRESSURE ON THEM!" Lt Seth shouted back. The as the A-10's came in for their run the team opened fire mowing down the insurgent force in front of them. They saw several explosions in the distance. "Sir the technicals have been destroyed!" Baldwin hollered into the radio. "Roger" "FUENTES PUSH FORWARD!" Lt Seth hollered Fuentes again took off running across several hundred meters of open terrain to the blown out remains of a building. "I'm set!" He yelled into the radio. "YOU'RE UP BALDWIN" The Lt shouted over the din. Baldwin picked up his rifle and sprinted to Fuentes. "Sir hold tight! I got a mass of insurgents coming up from the south east." Baldwin said into the radio. "Understood, holding" Lt Seth replied. Him and Harris still laying down fire. The A-10s came in once again poised to make a strike. However a bright light emanated from the main terminal rising into the sky rapidly. The A-10's suddenly broke off popping flares and cutting hard left and right. "Sir the A-10's are receiving anti-air missile fire from the main terminal!" Baldwin reported. "I saw!" Lt Seth replied "Johnson, Nike, are you in position to hit the main terminal to let the A-10's make that run?" "Yes sir" Johnson said into the radio. "Alright Baldwin, get the hogs set up for another gun run. Nike on my mark lay into the main terminal!" The Hogs were came in low, the Lt waited for them to get close "MARK!" A long burst of heavy cannon fire was heard from the south. The A-10's were successfully able to complete their gun run. "All hostiles neutralized, you can push forward sir!" Baldwin reported. "Alright Harris go." the Lt said. Harris got up and sprinted across the long stretch of open terrain once again. The Lt was glad that their covering techniques were working. "Alright I'm set sir, go!" Harris said in the radio. Lt Seth sprinted across the field as he was running he was hit in the chest and went down hard. He crawled into a ditch for some defilade. "Sir?! SIR ARE YOU ALRIGHT" Baldwin said in the radio. The Lt checked under his armor, he was lucky, the round hit his plates. "Yeah I'm good, I'm gonna need you to cover me again alright" he said into the radio. "Understood sir....ALRIGHT GO" Lt Seth jumped up and sprinted like a madman across the open area and finally got into cover. "Jesus we thought you were a goner sir!" Harris bellowed as he returned fire. "Meh I thought it would've been a good opportunity for me to get the Medal of Honor." Fuentes quipped. "Eh fuck you Fuentes, what's the skinny do the pilots see any more insurgents?" "No sir, there appears to be just a contingent at the main terminal." "Alright let's keep pushing." Chalk one advanced a short stretch of terrain to the east, then advanced across two more open areas going south. As they neared the main terminal the sun started to rise. "Fucking finally I can see the terminal" Baldwin moaned exhaustedly. "One more push and we'll be in an ideal position to take it, get the A-10's ready to clear those two sets buildings directly north of the terminal" Lt Seth replied. "Understood sir" As Baldwin was about to call the A-10's Johnson's voice came on the radio. "SIR, SIR!!" Johnson frantically yelled into the radio. "Johnson? What's going on" Seth replied back "It's Nike! She's been hit she's down!" Nike Several Minutes earlier Nike and Johnson took cover behind the right most building in the Red Crescent facility, poised for attack. The A-10's came in first dropping bombs and then strafing the airfield. They strafed within 300 meters of Johnson and Nike. After the air strike Nike opened up with her 37mm. Her gun roared as laid into the southern terminal supported by bursts from Johnson's SAW. "Alright....let's push forward! Nike push into the southern Terminal!" Johnson bellowed. "ROGER MOVING!" Nike shouted in response, stood up and sprinted forward at a whopping 30 miles per hour, tearing across Route 84 and slammed into a building in the south, partially destroying part of the building. Undeterred she opened up with her cannon. "COVERING, MOVE SIR!" She yelled into the radio. She looked briefly to see Johnson huffing and puffing as fast as he could across the road to Nike's position. He ran forward and took cover next to her boots. "Nike we got to clear out this terminal!" Johnson said. "Most seem to be in the main terminal sir!" Nike said peeking over the top of the building. "I see a few on the rectangle building to our direct front and a bunch in the big L-shaped terminal 150 meters ahead!" "Alright! let's light those bastards up!" Johnson yelled putting rounds into the near building with his SAW as Nike pounded the far building. In face of such overwhelming firepower in such close range, the insurgents attempted to escape to the north, getting in 4 technicals and speeding away into the night. "Shit they're heading right for Chalk One!" Johnson exclaimed. "I got them! I got for technicals headed North, I'm marking them with my IR" Nike said over the radio peering over the left side of the building. "Roger that" Lt Seth replied. Nike continued marking the targets. A few rifle rounds hit her helmet but were absorbed by the thick titanium. The A-10's came in low destroying the technicals in a fantastic explosion. Nike and Johnson pushed forward, first briefly stopping at the large rectangular building, laying down fire. They then pushed forward. Johnson peeled out moving to a small L-shaped building in front of the terminal. Nike followed suit, running around the building they were covering behind and mounted over the building in front of her entirely, landing next to Johnson much to his surprise. "Jesus christ!" he yelped. "Sorry about that Sir!" Nike said. "Damnit I should've warned him before I did that" She thought to herself. She laid into the building directly in front of them while Johnson laid down suppressive fire. "Nike I got a bunch of guys in this building to my front! SHIT RPG!!!" Nike ducked as an RPG whooshed over her head. Exploding behind them. She answered this insult with a long burst from her 37mm, leveling the building. This rapid dispense of firepower caused several insurgents to flee from the southern terminal to the main terminal. The A-10's came in for another gun run but banked away popping flares as a bright light came from the terminal bursting skyward. "Shit they got they got anti-air missiles!" Johnson shouted "I saw!" Nike replied back. "Johnson, Nike, are you in position to hit the main terminal to let the A-10's make that run?" Lt Seth said over the radio. "Yes Sir" Johnson replied. "On my mark........MARK" Her cannon rounds ripping through the buildings and turning once proud industrial symbols into rubble. The A-10's strafed the remaining insurgents outside. "They're down" noted Nike "Alright let's keep pushing!" Nike and Johnson advanced through the Southern terminal into position. Setting up just south of the main terminal, waiting for Chalk one as they made the long trek down to the main terminal. Nike and Johnson didn't let up, focused fire on the main terminal leveling several of the buildings. "Shit we're taking fire from the east!" Johnson yelled panickly. Nike went around to the southern tip of the building they were covering behind. She peaked out from around the side. All of a sudden an RPG came whizzing by, it ricocheted off her helmet: stunning her briefly and exploded the building behind them. "OH FUCK OH FUCK OH FUCK!!!!!" Johnson screamed "SIR SIR!! NIKE'S DOWN" Johnson yelled into the radio. Lt Seth "NIKE'S DOWN" Johnson yelled into the radio again. "Oh god......Oh GOD" "Jesus Christ Johnson calm the fuck down!" Lt Seth said into the radio They were in the worst possible position, the unit was split up, their heavy gunner out of the fight, with both Chalks very far from their exfil points. There was still a lot of enemy very much in the fight. "Fuck it! Baldwin, call in the A-10's have them blow those fuckers in the main terminal to kingdom come! Let's push to Johnson's position and bug out down route 84!" Lt Seth barked "Sir what about Nike?!" Fuentes asked. "Unless you got a way to hual 4 and a half tons out of here we got no other choice but to leave her" the Lt said with a grimace on his face. "Fucking hell this is bullshit!" yelled Baldwin "Warhammer Warhammer I need to you level the mai-" "WAIT" Lt Seth said because in the distance he saw Nike standing up, and she. looked. pissed. Nike Nike's eyes opened, the rising sun briefly dazzled her eyes, her ears were ringing she moved into cover and saw Lt Johnson. He was partially covered in rubble, his SAW at his side, shaking. Nike moved close to him, he seemed to be okay, and her attention was diverted to the building where the RPG came from. Those. Mother. FUCKERS. Nike was beyond pissed and had no more fucks to give. She wasn't gonna let that gunner blow up Johnson, and she was gonna make sure that this airfield was taken. Before she knew it, she was standing up and sprinting towards the enemy's position with only an intent to kill. She charged full bore at the building, it was a small two story building. She saw the RPG gunner look up at her, eyes wide and start running the opposite direction. "Not today buddy" she thought. She plowed hard into the building, toppling it. She heard screams as the insurgents inside were crushed under the rubble. She saw more insurgents reading RPG's and PKMs in the main terminal. She wasn't even going to let them get a shot off. She charged forward firing her 37mm. Fuck three to five round bursts she was burning through this entire belt. She pulverized the building, disintegrating it into pieces of rubble. She advanced further through the main terminal. These bastards were going to pay. Lt. Seth "Jesus Christ" Chalk one said collectively "She's going at it....." said Baldwin with his mouth hanging open "Tearing right through them" said Harris in awe. "Baldwin, make sure the A-10's don't hit the main terminal, rest of you....STOP STARING WITH YOUR MOUTHS OPEN AND COVER HER." Lt Seth exclaimed "Yes sir!" said the team frantically. Baldwin called off the A-10's and Harris and Fuentes opened fire. Alright, you two cover us, Baldwin you're with me, let's go!" Lt Seth bellowed as he leapt out from behind the building, with Baldwin following close behind. They ran past their initial cover point sprinting towards a road just in front of the main terminal, taking defilade behind it. "Alright Harris, Fuentes get your asses over here. Johnson can you hear me?" The Lt said into the radio. No response. "Fuck just support her!" The Lt said opening up with his M4. Harris started picking off targets with his SCAR. "Sir I got a large cluster of insurgents by those two water-tower things! Baldwin reported. The Lt readied his M79, ranged it, aimed, and fired. The round found it's mark creating a fantastic explosion as the two tanks detonated. "I guess those weren't filled with water." The Lt remarked. "I guess not sir....." Baldwin said as he shot an insurgent. Fuentes and Harris dropped next to them they wasted no time laying down suppressive fire. "Alright let's move into the terminal, Nike we're moving in! Hold your fire to the North!" "Understood Sir" Nike said into the radio they then saw her turn westward and start shooting at fleeing insurgents. Chalk One moved hard and fast, most of the buildings had been destroyed by Nike. They found only a few dazed insurgents left, who they immediately eliminated. "Cease fire! Nike where'd you see Johnson last?" The Lt asked Those two Blue buildings over there sir" Nike replied, pointing south. Alright, Nike, Baldwin, Harris you three harden this position. Prepare for a counter attack! Fuentes, you're with me!" "YES SIR!" Said the team collectively.