Brothers Of War

Chapter 1: Diamond In The Rough

1

Diamond In The Rough

On an airbase in Afghanistan everything seemed calm. The runways were empty. Inside one of the makeshift living quarters made of plywood were the PJs, elite pararescue jumpers. PJs are called to action when individuals are wounded to get them to a safe place and evacuate them from the area. Staff Sergeant Ryan A. McLaughlin took a stroll around the base every morning before his men woke up, enjoying the fresh air and overlooking the desert area outside the base. He was the team leader of his element in the 33rd Special Tactics Squadron, one of the best squadrons in the 79th Special Operations Group stationed out of Hulburt Florida.  He was making his way back to the bunks until a young recruit stopped him.

"Sergeant McLaughlin?" the boy asked holding a hand out to halt the officer. He was young, possibly still a teen. The boy wore simply his ABUs and bore an airman's insignia on his arm.

"Yes?" He asked confused. He didn't know why the airman was asking for him, usually the younger kids on the base were too intimidated to speak to him. The boy looked him in the eyes with his head tilted upwards since McLaughlin's height surpassed his own.

"The commander requests your presence A.S.A.P."

"Thank you," the captain acknowledged and the boy dismissed himself. He wondered what the commander wanted with him. Things have been quiet for the past few months, no one had departed for a while. The war was still going on, but nobody had needed for this particular unit. As he made pace toward the commander's office, he noticed that more people were awake and working. Odd since everybody had another hour of rest. When the captain reached the commander's building he gave a deep breath and opened the door. It was probably just another ass chewing for one of his men acting up. Inside smelled like buttermilk candy and old wet paper. The furniture was neatly arranged to look like a traditional style living room except for the desk with a large window behind it at where the older well-fed man, Commander Jack Wilson sat. The commander had his reading spectacles on and overlooked a sheet with the sergeant's name on it. "You wanted to see me sir?" McLaughlin asked standing at attention.

The commander looked up. "yes, I did." The commander once again laid eyes on the paper. He spoke without looking up. "Sergeant Ryan A. McLaughlin, call-sign Jackal. TL of the 33rd Special Tactics Squadron and commemorated for his brave acts of valor on the battlefield. Your file makes a good name for you son." The commander stood and turned his back to him, looking out the large window with his hands held behind him.

"I don't understand sir," the McLaughlin said confused, "is this why you wanted to see me?" The commander turned around again and placed his large hands on the desk. McLaughlin suddenly became suspicious at the commander's behavior. The commander noticed his mood towards the summoning and walked around the desk towards him.

"Sergeant, you have been very valuable here on this base. I just want to let you know that you have done good." The commander placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled. "You've done real good son. Now get your men in the briefing room in thirty minutes. I've already spoken to your CO. Time to get back into the action."

Outside the office Ryan wondered why the base commander was acting so weird. Telling him how good he had done did not seem like the tough fat man the commander was. The same man who had nearly ripped his throat out several times at the bar. But there was no time to think, his men were still asleep and they had a briefing in half-an-hour. That's not much time to wake up and get ready for a mission. A mission, he thought to himself, it had been a while. The words still rang in his head. You have been very valuable. Did the commander not think he was going to return? McLaughlin shook this thought out of his head and started to jog back towards the beds. It was just a briefing, they probably weren't even going to have to go. The sun was rising, casting a long narrow shadow from the command tower across the base. The sunlight reflected off of the sand, casting an orange glow along the sky. When he entered his building he banged on the wood wall, creating a loud vibration that rang throughout the big box of a sleeping area. Numerous moans and complaints rose from the lumps on the many bunks inside their rooms.