Chapter 2: Courtesy of the Western Coalition

  They arrived at the base, it wasn’t much. A metal fence with some sand bags and a ditch to avoid flooding, about 7 clicks from the city. Command shared an isolated office building that was refurbished into a livable place. The rest of the common rabble got to sleep in the big, green army tents that were set up all over. Davey didn’t mind. At least there were other people around him. Strength in numbers, they always kept repeating in basic. Strength in numbers. Getting off the truck he stumbled to his cot. He quickly fell asleep, and all fell dark around him. He dreamt of the hearty stew his mother used to make. The peace didn’t last long. He felt someone kick his boot, so he instinctively reached for his pistol. Half sleep-drunk he aimed it to his feet, but there came a voice from the blur before him. ‘’Sir?... Sir!? We’re leaving sir. You got 10 minutes ‘fore the convoy leaves. Do you understand sir? Hello, sir!?’’

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  Davey threw his helmet at the soldier, and it hit the man’s shin. ‘’I heard you the first time, dammit.’’ It was hard to keep his eyes open. He felt very tired, but he knew he could not stay in bed. Already the day felt hot. Begrudgingly he put on his clothes, and in his mind he cursed command for sending him on a mission in the middle of nowhere. What was he even supposed to fetch, that far from base. The only thing out there was jungle and darkness. He remembered when he first went to Cambodia, that he thought it would be like a movie. That he would be shot at 24/7, and that he would die before he’d even arrive at base. When the big war broke out, he expected the world to be blown into an uncountable amount of particles by the nuclear stockpile all released in an instant. Within the first few hours, that did not happen. Days passed, then he was drafted. Next thing he knew he was on a flight to Asia to fight the Chinese. Half of the forces went to Asia, and the others fought in Europe. He was glad that he was stationed in Cambodia, for it was told to him that the battles in Europe were hell on earth, and not the hot kind of hell, but a sort of cold and muddy one.