CHAPTER 6
COP ROMEO
July 7th, 2018
"Reveille, Reveille, Reveille!"
Zidar and Chevy rubbed their eyes and stretched themselves awake. The time was 05:37, the sky was barely lit by the sun. Everyone rose up from bed, except for Rocky, who was resting from his injury. They all got dressed, before going to the mess for breakfast. There they met Corporal Taylor, their new section commander.
"Morning, guys." He greeted
"Good morning." Said Chevy and Zidar
"We've got breakfast cake rations, help yourself." He pointed. The men grabbed their meals and sat themselves opposite Taylor
"Sorry to hear about the Sergeant's death." He consoled
"Much appreciated, Corporal. I've got to say, e got lucky in Qarya Sakhra. It could've been far worse." Zidar noted
"Damn right it could've been. We're going back there again today." Taylor informed
"How come, Corporal?" Zidar asked
"Drop that corporal crap, Zidar. Just call me Taylor." He insisted respectfully
"Charlie squad's been stationed in Qarya Sakhra, they've reportedly found a large Taliban opium stash." He disclosed
"Okay, so what's that got to do with us?" Zidar asked, crossing his arms. Just then, Alice walked into the mess hall,
"Help yourself to a breakfast cake." Corporal Taylor offered
"Thanks." She said, grabbing a square-shaped slice
"What're you guys talking about?" She queried, joined them
"Charlie squad found an opium stash in the village." He recapped
"How would drugs be useful for the Taliban? Are they drug addicts or something?" Zidar asked, before double taking his own question. His mind was foggy from having just woken up.
"No, idiot. They sell that shit." Answered Chevy
"Ah, right... then they smuggle it into Pakistan, right?" Zidar stated, rubbing his eyes.
"Yeah. That's why combat outpost Romeo was built here, in an attempt to cut off their trade routes. It's also why there's so many damn ambushes and such heavy casualties." Chevy conveyed, with a hint of frustration.
"I see... but I thought Pakistan was big on drugs. Aren't smugglers dealt with the death penalty?" Zidar wondered,
"They export to other countries too. Pakistan has the Anti-Narcotics Force, or ANF. They work around the clock to apprehend smugglers, but there's simply too many to keep track of." Answered Alice, recalling her past research.
"I mean, how many people could there be?" Chevy wondered
"The Taliban have bought plots of land across parts of the border to hinder government intervention, and have also sent hundreds of their men holding small amounts of opium, greatly minimizing the chance of the majority getting caught." She informed
YOU ARE READING
War Spirit - Lead Leopard
ActionMeet Rok Jekai, a combat engineer serving in the Australian Defence Force. Stationed at combat outpost Romeo in Korengal Valley of Afghanistan, disaster strikes when a massive Taliban force swiftly overruns the base, leaving destruction in its wake...
