The Decisive Human Failure - Chapters 1 - 5

Story contains Very Strong Language

"If you are going through hell ... keep going."

Chapter 1
The Silence of Shadows
The dim glow of the computer shown of f Roebucks face bathing it in pale light as he stared intently at the security cam feed, there had been reports of some suspicious activity somewhere off in sector Whiskey-Bravo9, but as far as anyone could tell those reports were just rumors coming from men with to much time on their hands. Roebuck had been at this task for the better part of five hours and, coming to the conclusion that everyone was right, and nothing was going to happen slumped back in his chair and fell into a light sleep.
He awoke with a start a couple minutes later with Frank standing over him holding a cup of coffee.
"Wake up sunshine!" said Frank handing Roebuck the small ceramin mug.
“Thanks Frank” said Roebuck taking the cup of hot coffee.
“Eh, it’s no problem Buck. Just be glad that the Sarge didn’t find ya first.”
“Yeah you’re tellin’ me. Where is that guy anyway?”
“Asleep, bastards been on the night watch for over a week. C.O. insisted that he get some shuteye.”
“Damn, I feel for the guy. I’ve been at this fucking job for a couple of hours and I can barely keep my eyes open.”
“Feel for him, that man doesn’t have feelings. He was assembled back at H.Q. outta the spare body parts of dead G.I.’s"
“That would actually explain a lot” said Roebuck laughing.
“And in any case he’s one of the only guys on this God forsaken base that can actually do this job.”
“What job? All we do is stare at the same damn clearing for hours on end waiting for something to happen.”
“Yeah, well then I guess he’s the only guy patient enough to actually give a damn.”
Roebuck took a sip of coffee and let the warm liquid rush down his throat giving him a warm home-y feeling. “Yeah well he can take my place anytime”
“I hear that, but I gotta get back to my post so I'll catch ya later.”
“Alright man thanks again for the coffee.”
Roebuck turned back to his monitors as Frank walked out of the security office just in time to see something off in the corner of the screen dash out of sight. Confused Roebuck started at the spot where he had seen the thing for the next couple of minutes, trying to figure out what it was. Soon he shrugged it off and decided that it was an animal of some sort and feeling his eyelids get heavier and heavier went back to sleep.
The sun broke over the horizon casting an orange-ish red glow over the entire countryside giving it a dream like state. Roebuck woke as the light of the morning shown in through the window lapping his face in its warm radiance. He sat there taking in the morning, listening to the slight breeze coming in through one of the cracked windows and the silent hum of the computes. Taking a deep breath he stretched, got up from his chair and walked to the coffee pot that sat in the corner of the room. He stood there still slightly dazed after having a restless night sleep, then smelling the coffee poured some into his mug.
Roebuck came back into coherence when the door to the security office suddenly flew open as Sergeant Carter walked in. Standing at attention Roebuck said “Good morning Sir!”
“Hey. How you doin’ Roebuck?”
“Eh, I’m a little tired. That night watch is a bitch.”
“I know whatcha mean. Anyway, see anything on the monitors last night?” said Carter scoffing.
“Nothing out of the ordinary, I mean I think I saw something at around 0400 hours, but the sensors didn’t pick up anything so it must have been an animal of something.”
“And you didn’t think to report this?!?”
“No sir, I didn’t think it was anything important.”
“We’re in a war solider! Everything is important! Now I want you to pull up the feed right now!”
“Yes sir!” stammered Roebuck as he scrambled back to his work station and pulled up last night’s fed and started to play it back.”
“Well…” said Carter “I don’t see anything.”
“Just give me a minute sir.”
“Hurry it up private!”
Flustered Roebuck sped up the tape to the point where he had gotten the glimpse of the creature and played the small five second section.
“What am I suppose to be looking at Private?”
“Top right corner of the screen sir” said Roebuck pointing to a small cluster of bushes.
“Alright, play that back, and this time slow it down a bit will ya.”
“Yes sir”
The second time around Carter could clearly see a shadowy figure quickly exit the top right hand side of the screen.
“Can you make that image any clearer private?”
“No sir, this is the highest resolution that we have.”
“Alright, well I still think that we should send a squad out there just to be on the safe side.”
“Yes sir! Who did ya have in mind?”
“Um, Frank, Sanchez, Karas, Spyro and Ambrose, get them assembled and in front of the compound by 900 hours.”
“You got it sir. You think there’s actually gonna be something out there?”
“Well we’ll all know when you get their asses out there!”
“Oh, um, yes sir, I’ll go right now.”
“Good man.” The crackle of the com snapped on as Private Kyle’s voice came on over the intercom. “Sergeant Carter please report to company H.Q.”
“Well duty calls Roebuck, tell Ambrose that he’s in charge of this one and I want a full situation on my desk as soon as they get back.”
“Yes sir, I’ll be sure to tell him.”
Then Carter nodded turned around and walked out of the room. Roebuck, turning back to his full coffee cup and said “Man what a dick.”
After he finished drinking his coffee he put on his jacket and walked out onto the towers balcony and stared out over the vast landscape. It was a cool breezy morning and for a moment he closed his eyes and was reminded of his home, of standing on the beach letting the cool sea wind brush against his face. For a moment he was lost in his memories, of the peaceful times before the Great War uprooted him from his home and family and dropped him in this godforsaken place, sighing Roebuck opened his eyes. After taking a swing from his pocket flask he decided that he better get Ambrose’s recon team assembled before Carter became too impatient, so walking back inside he headed over to his desk and flicked on the intercom. The system crackled to life, and taking a deep breath Roebuck picked up the microphone and muttered, “Will Cpl. Frank Kurzman, Pvt. James Sanchez, Srg. David Karas, Pvt. Spyro Hugh and Cpt. Eric Ambrose please report to the security office ASAP.” Satisfied with his announcement Roebuck leaned back in his chair and pulled the nearest scrap piece of paper and started to sketch the distant mountains. He just started to shade in the rough outline of the majestic mountain line when the security office door opened to reveal the five fully armed men. Tossing his doddle aside Roebuck pushed himself out of his chair and headed over to the door and ushered the men into the center of the room.
“Alright men, at 0400 hours our security cameras caught, something, moving about near sector Alpha-Gama7. Now our wonderful C.O. Carter saw it fit to send you five men out on a recon mission of that area. Captain Ambrose you’re in charge of this one, get your men ready and head out.”
“Sir, what exactly are we looking for out there?” stammered Sanchez
“Well James that’s what you’re gonna find out”
“Let me get this straight, you’re sending us into a possible hostile situation with only a rifle squad. Meaning no offense sir but what the fuck is that!” yelled Kurzman.
“Yeah, I feel that this is a waste of valuable military resources” said Hugh with a slight grin across his face
“You think I want you guys to do this?” Said Roebuck “If it were up to me we’d all be out of the fucking place, I’m just following the orders Carter gave me. I suggest you do the same Private. Now does anyone else have a problem they’d like to voice, because I’m sure the Captain would love to hear them.”
“No sir, no objections here, we were all just wonderin’ is all” Said Karas.
“That’s what I thought, alright now we’re supposed to get this mission under way in less than an hour, so I suggest ya’ll go and get ready.”
“What’s the mission code name sir?” asked Ambrose
“Katharine. Now go wait in the staging area until H.Q. gives ya the all clear sign.”
A resounding “yes sir” came from all five men as they shot to attention throwing up a salute, Roebuck, slightly taken aback by these men’s enthusiasm swung his arm up to his head in what was supposed to be a salute and gave a slight nod of his head. Roebuck let his arm fall to his side as the men turned walked out of the office muttering amongst themselves. He stared at the backs of their heads until the door clicked shut, then taking a deep breath walked over to his desk, situated himself in his high back chair and placing his head set snug around his ears and bending his head down he folded his hands whispered a quick prayer for his friends. Then switching on his headset said, “Command, Operation Silent Thunder is underway.”

Chapter 2
Katharine
The sounds of heavy machinery and Jimmie Hendrix’s voodoo child echoed throughout the hallway when the five men walked through the hustle and bustle of the main base as they made their way to the staging area.
“Why do they always play that old crap Sarge?” asked Carter
“Watch what you say private, that old ‘crap’ is your history, better you appreciated it.”
“Yeah, well if the Asyyriak want to destroy this particular part of my history that’s fine by me” laughed Sanchez.
“Well why don’t ya ask them real nice like next time we see them, I’m sure they’d be happy to oblige.”
“Cut the chatter you three, we’re here” said Ambrose
The staging area was a huge auditorium with large metal crates placed haphazardly all about the floor, the contents of which were most likely ammunition and other various supplies. Men were running around every which way giving them an appearance of chickens with their heads cut off, and right in the middle of the room sat an M2kLRV, this was the special forces primary light reconnaissance vehicle, enough seating for 4 and a mounted .50 caliber semi automatic machine gun on the back giving the jeep the sinister look of a scorpion. Next to the jeep stood Captain Hugh looking at the team with a mixture of eagerness and impatience. When the men reached the middle of the room there was a slapping of feet and flinging of arms as the 5 men stood at attention.
“At ease men” said Hugh and the men relaxed a bit and started leaning up against the jeep and kneeling on the floor.
“Right, well I’m sure you all already know why you’re here” they all nodded “good, then I just need to go over the details. You men are going to take this M2kLRV…”
“Sorry sir, but wouldn’t it be better if we called the M2kLRV something, I don’t know, something shorter?” interrupted Kurzman.
“Hey yeah, like the puma” said Carter excitedly.
“What the fuck is a puma? Isn’t that the shoe company?” said Ambrose slightly confused.
“No a puma, it’s a big cat”
“We’re not calling it a puma, how bout the scorpion?” said Karas
“How the hell does it even look like a scorpion?” yelled Carter
“It looks more like a scorpion than a fucking puma ya dumb ass!”
“LOOK!” yelled Hugh “I don’t give a flying fuck what ya call the damn thing, I’m calling it the M2kLRV, now shut the hell up.”
“Yes sir” said Ambrose “I’ll try and keep my team in check next time.”
“Right” said Hugh with a hint of annoyance on his voice “As I was saying, you men are going to take the M2kLRV 5 clicks away from the Gama sector and set up a field position overlooking the camera’s field of range. After you’ve done that I want Hugh and Sanchez to set up a recon point at that position while the rest of you to comb through the area were we saw the, something, and see if you can find anything. After you’ve done all that I want a report back and we’ll assess the situation from there, any questions?”
After a moment of silence Hugh nodded with a look of approval on his face, “good, here are your contactors” said Hugh as he handed out 5 small black boxes amongst the men “these are already programmed to come through on all 5 of your contactors and the main link back here at the base, use these only in case of an emergency, and I mean a real one. Other than that I’ve had enough food and supplies to last you a couple of days so work fast.”
The crackle of the loud speaker broke the noise of the staging area as the C.O.’s voice boomed out of the speakers situated around the perimeter of the room.
“Katharine, I say again Katharine.”
As the loud speaker clicked off the five men jumped into the jeep and revved the engine sending plumes of black smoke billowing into the air as Kurzman yelled “Hell ya, fucking Katharine!” The laughs of the five men died off as the Jeep raced out of the hanger doors and into jungle that surrounded their base.

Chapter 3
Welcome to the Jungle
The sound of the engine roared as the jeep sprung through the forest avoiding stout African Baobab trees and large moss covered rocks with apparent ease, rolling over the uneven overgrown dirt road bouncing the men every which way. A roar of a distant waterfall and the call’s of Niam-niam parrots drowned out the sound of the jeep, giving the ride an oddly relaxing feeling. The smell of the early evening wafted over them as the jeep drove closer to the waterfall. A cool breeze streamed off the crystal clear water protecting them from the humidity that radiated off the rest of the jungle. The silence between the men was broken as the jeep made an unexpectedly sharp turn to avoid hitting a large mud filled pot hole in the middle of the road.
“Are we there yet Sarge?” said Kurzman in a childish tone.
“We get there when we fucking get there, that’s what I told you 10 minutes ago and it still applies now!” said Karas with an hint of annoyance laced in his voice.
“What about now?” Said Kurzman in a joking fashion
Karas remained looking ahead knowing that if he responded he’d be giving Kurzman exactly what he wanted. But alas Kurzman had a smug feeling of accomplishment at annoying the Sarge to the point of getting the cold shoulder. Satisfied with his work Kurzman leaned back in his seat and letting the cool night wind lick his face he felt his eyes get heavy fell asleep to the distant call of a bird that he cared not name and the soft hum of the jeep as it went ever deeper into the forest.
As they drove deeper and deeper into the forest it became harder and harder to avoid the obstacles placed before them to the point where all five men were starting to get whiplash from the sharp turns. Then the jeep skidded to a halt sending dust flying into the air and scaring the birds from their nearby perch’s scattering every which way into the evening sky. As the dust settled around the jeep a clearing came into view slightly to the right of the jeep and a little behind the clearing loomed a huge hill that over looked gamma sector.
“This should be the place” said Carter looking at the onboard GPS system. “Yeah we’re exactly where we need to be.”
“Alright men lets go ahead and get the base camp set up before we go on our recon missions” said Karas jumping out of the jeep his feet sinking slightly into the soft soil.
“Oh, and since we don’t know what we’re dealing with out here if you have to talk about anything to do with our mission try and use phonetics” said Carter
“YankeeEchoSierra SierraIndiaRomeo” said Sanchez
“Dumbass” said Carter laughing
By the time the men had set up their base camp the moon was high in the sky bathing the jungle in a soft blue light. The sounds of cocking MP5’s and M4A1 Carbines broke the still silence of the clearing as Sanchez, Carter, Karas, Ambrose and Kurzman finished their pre-mission equipment and weapon check. After every one gave the thumbs up Karas switched on his night vision goggles and standing up said,
“Let’s get this party started.”
Then the five men jumped up and ran into marbled shadows of the trees quickly being swallowed by the shadows of the jungle.

Chapter 4
Mission FUBAR
The early morning haze settled over the jungle as the sun broke over the horizon casting an orange glow over the entire Jungle. Birds from a nearby tree scattered as Carter broke a twig on the ground. The five men had been walking for the better part of five hours and to no one’s surprise haven’t found anything.
“I told you we weren’t gonna find anything” said Ambrose
“Yeah well we still have a ways to go before we can call it quits” said Karas
“Ah come on Sarge, you know we’re not gonna run into anything. This mission was FUBAR from the beginning.”
“Turn the volume down on that bitching Ambrose, we have orders and we’re gonna follow them to the letter.”
The men continued bickering amongst themselves until they finally broke the cover of the trees and came upon a steep cliff overlooking a lush valley. In the distance a small clearing could be seen with small concrete buildings dotted among it.
“What in Sam hell is that?” said Kurzman
“I’m not sure, hey Ambrose let me get your goggles” said Karas
“Sure thing” said Ambrose digging in his pack and retrieving a pair of jet black goggles.
“Thanks” said Karas as he hit the dirt and started crawling toward a better vantage point of the camp. Once he reached the edge of the cliff Karas slipped the goggles onto his head and flicked them on, the entire clearing came into focus as the goggles adjusted themselves to the low level light.
“Ok let’s take a look see” said Karas. As he scanned the small camp he noticed a few men with AK-47’s walking around and a couple of guard towers around the perimeter of the camp.
“Hey Carter I think we found what we’re looking for” said Karas waving him over.
“No foolin’” said Carter as he crouched next to Karas
“See for yourself” handing him the goggles. Carter slipped the goggles onto his head and laid down on the ground.
“Shit, they got a whole platoon down there Sarge.”
“Kurzman get on the horn to Command, tell them that we found what we were looking for and get our orders” said Karas as he stood up and dusted himself off.
“Yes sir” said Kurzman and he walked back to the clearing, jumped in the passenger seat of the Jeep and pulled out the small radio attached to the dash. As Kurzman talked to Command, Karas, Ambrose, Sanchez and Carter started scouting ways down from the cliff and into the valley below. About ten minutes later Sanchez came about an old cattle trail twisting and turning down the steep rocky cliff face and disappeared into the canopy of trees below.
“Sir I found us a way down” Karas and Carter came up to Sanchez and looked at the path that he had found.
“Good work Private” said Carter giving Sanchez a pat on the back.
“Sergeant!” said Kurzman “I just got off the horn with command.”
Karas turning around to face the clearing yelled back
“What are our orders Frank?”
“We’re suppose to recon the camp from a closer vantage point and access the situation and then report back to command to see if we can get the green light for an raid on the camp itself.”
“Alright, men grab your gear we’re moving out!”
The men picked up their packs and started to make their way down the narrow dirt path. It took well over an hour for the five men to make it to the base of the cliff. Under the canopy of think leaves lay a whole other world. The dark damp jungle gave the men a foreboding feeling and a constant twilight plagued the earth as a thin layer of mist covered the ground. Other than the random cawing of a distant bird the jungle laid deathly quiet.
“I got a bad feeling about this one Sarge” said Kurzman in a slightly shaky voice.
“Man you got a bad feeling about everything”
“I’m serious sir; I have a sixth sense about this stuff.”
“Frank … Move out.”
“Yes...” a huge explosion blew the men back slamming them against the cliff face behind them. After the shell shock wore off the men dived into cover as automatic rifle fire tore thru the jungle whizzing past them.
“Oh shit Kurzman got hit!” yelled Ambrose as he swung up from his cover and emptied his clip into the darkness.
“Fuck how bad is he” yelled Carter ducking behind a small boulder as AK-47 fire whistled over past him sending bits of the rock every which way.
“Ah man he’s fucked up Car”
Karas sprinted over to Ambrose’s position and slid into his cover.
“Where is he Private?”
“Over there Sarge” and he pointed to the point where the small crater still smoked from the recent explosion. Under a nearby tree laid Kurzman taking deep slow breaths. Looking down Karas saw that Kurzman’s legs had been ripped apart by shrapnel, the pale white bone shown thrown the bloody stumps of his legs as blood slowly formed pools on the charred ground as a large deep cut on his neck was gushing blood spattering the dead leaves in the warm scarlet liquid.
“KURZMAN!” yelled Karas. Kurzman kept moaning softly and started shifting around thus drawing enemy fire.
“Kurzman we’re coming for ya, hold on!” Yelled Karas as he shot an Asyyriak in the chest 3 times with his MP-5 “We’re coming for ya, just stop moving.” Kurzman looked at Karas and a few seconds later a bullet blew thru Kurzman’s head spattering the tree behind him with blood and bits a skull and brain. Kurzman’s hand fell limply to his side as his lifeless body crumpled to the ground.
“No! You fucking sons of bitches” Yelled Karas as he emptied his clip into a charging Asyyriak sending him flying backwards. “Come on men don’t let up!”
“Come on ya mother fuckers, come get some!” yelled Carter as he shot three Asyyriak grunts thru their heads sending blood spilling out all over the ground.
Ambrose pulled out his radio and switching it on yelled into it
“Command this is Delta squad, we have a man down I repeat we have a man down!”
“What’s your mission standing Delta” crackled the radio.
An Asyyriak who managed to get thru the crossfire of the squad jumped over Ambrose’s cover. “Oh shit” yelled Ambrose and he reached for his gun laying next to him, but before he could grab it the Asyyriak kicked it out from under his hand and rammed the butt of his AK-47 into the side of his head knocking him backwards. The Asyyriak approached him and started pulling out a long machete covered in dry cracked blood, but before he reached Ambrose Carter ran up beside the Asyyriak and, pulling out his .45 side arm, shot him straight in the temple splattering Ambrose with blood.
“Thanks Carter, I owe you one” said Ambrose as Carter helped him up
“That’s what I’m here for buddy” and turning around ran back to his original cover and started to spray shoot the slowly approaching enemy. The radio that had been knocked out of his hand was crackling
“Dammit come in Delta squad!”
Ambrose grabbing the radio from the blood soaked ground said “Sorry about that Command.”
“What the hell is your mission standing Private?”
Ambrose, looking around and seeing the Asyyriak gaining more and more ground and Kurzman slumped on the ground covered in blood and black flies yelled into the radio “Mission is FUBAR sir, I repeat mission is FUBAR.”

Chapter 5
Tragedy or Statistic
The aftermath of the firefight with the Asyyriak was one the men hoped to soon forget. Bloodied bodies were strewn across the entire forest and the heat and humidity of the mid-day caused a stench so fierce the men could hardly breathe. Ambrose and Carter had started striping the dead Asyyriak soldiers of anything useful that they could use, so far they had recovered 6 AK-47’s and a couple of M4-Fragmition grenades.
“God Dammit these guys are heavy” said Ambrose as he heaved yet another dead corpse onto the pile, then standing up and wiping the sweat from his forehead turned and walked toward Carter who was leaning against a tree.
“Hey, how’s he doin’?” asked Ambrose pointing over to Karas who was kneeling over Kurzman’s body.
“Not too well” said Carter taking a deep draft from his canteen.
“One of us should go talk to him” suggested Ambrose looking sideways at Carter, who after a while got the idea and said “Fine I’ll do it.”
As Carter walked up to Karas he tried to come up with something consoling to say to him, which turned out to be harder than he thought because when he walked up behind him and placed his hand gently on Karas’s shoulder all he that came out was “Well … at least he didn’t feel anything, when he died I mean. That was a clean shot ya know.” Karas stood up and turning to face Carter yelled “fuck off man, he was my best friend and I don’t give a rat’s ass if he didn’t feel anything when he died the point is that he did die and it’s my fault that he did!” Carter stood there for a little while as Karas stormed off and took a seat next to Sanchez who was about to light to pile of bodies on fire. Then taking a deep sight Carter thought to himself “hell at least I tried”
Later that night the four men were huddling around a small makeshift fire that they had made out of some dry twigs and branches and strips of soft kaki cloth that they had torn out of the Asyyriak’s uniforms. The small fire barely put a dent in the cold night air but it was better than nothing. The silence between the men was broken as the soft put putting of a distant helicopter caught their attention.
“Is that Raven 5?” asked Ambrose standing up and pulling out his pair of goggles. Sanchez rummaged in his pack and pulled out his handheld radio and said “Raven five this is night crawler do you read me over?”
“Loud and Clear night crawler, how may we be of assistance to you boy’s tonight?” Crackled the jovial voice of Raven fives pilot.
“We need an immediate dust off at location Alpha-Whiskey-Tango.”
“Ten-Four night crawler, we should be there momentarily.” And few minutes later the light burst through the thick canopy of leaves as Raven Five ripped through them making its way down to the men below. Dirt, leaves and ash got thrown into the air as the immense helicopter touched down on the damp Jungle floor, the men put their arms up to shield their eyes from the flying debris. After getting the all clear sign from the pilot Carter crouched low and ran over to the cockpit and yelled over the sound of the motor “We have a K.I.A!” The pilot looked where Carter was pointing and saw where Kurzman lay and looking back to Carter nodded and said “alright bring em’ on board and I’ll take him home.” Sanchez and Karas heaved Kurzman’s body onto the helicopter and taking one last look at his mangled friend shut the door and stepped back. The pilot sealed to door to the copter and after giving them a quick salute he started to rise from the ground and a few seconds later broke the canopy and diapered from sight.
“What do we do now Sarge” asked Sanchez who was still looking at the gaping hole the helicopter had left.
“We still have a mission to complete Private” said Karas who had already turned around and was walking away from the rest of the group.
“But Sir” said Ambrose “We just lost a guy, I don’t think …” But before he could finish his sentence Karas turned sharply around and said “I don’t fuckin’ care what you think Ambrose! We continue on with the mission.”
“Sarge is right” said Carter “We have a mission to complete. Frank’s death was sad yes but it’s a statistic in this war. Just another name on another tombstone and just because he died doesn’t mean that this war is gonna stop. We have to complete our mission so that we can prevent any future tragedies like this from happening.” Carter jogged up beside Karas and putting his hand on his shoulder said “I’m with ya till’ the end Sarge.” Karas gave a slight nod of appreciation to Carter and turning around to look at the rest of the men said “Any of you men want out now’s the time, everyone else follow me.” Carter and Karas started to make their way through the thicket of bushy undergrowth, Sanchez soon followed after leaving Ambrose in the clearing all by himself who a few seconds later yelled “Ah fuck me, wait up guys” and sprinted after them into the dim glow of the jungle.