Not Just a Soldier

Chapter one: Arrival

I tripped out of the helicopter, dragging the crate out behind me. Twisting my head back as there was a thud besides me I saw another marine tossing out my bags as the helicopter took off again. Waving my thanks I turned. Before me stood the COP (combat outpost) I'd be spending my next year at. I just hoped I was in the right place, no, I mean we. The military wasn't always straightforward, we had to get here on our own, only receiving the slightest guidance from the United States Marine Corp.

Hopping from foot to foot, I sucked in the cold, crisp air. Here I was, Hanna Ross, with my partner, in a bone chilling night at (hopefully) Tangi Valley, Afghanistan.

I tensed, the sky was dark and it seemed as if we were in a bowl, jagged mountains surrounding this base. I felt as if I could be in 50 different peoples crosshairs right now, just waiting to be killed. In this Death Valley, there were a few tent like buildings sprawled out in front of me with a few HUMVEEs parked at the left side of the so-called base.

Glancing down at my watch, which read 3:00 AM I shook my head. Though it was early and dark, I was wide awake and had no idea what to do.

Leaning over the kennel I slowly opened it, peering in at my partner, Roja. She was snoring. I laughed wondering how such a loving yellow lab could be a highly trained, able to kill, United States 'secret weapon'. Well, that's how the kennel master put it. Our 'secret mission' in Afghanistan was to detect IEDs (improvised explosive device) and bombs before they could blow and harm US troops. Sadly this mission wasn't secret anymore. The Taliban, the enemy, had caught on. Now, they tried, and succeeded to kill our dogs. I shivered, wondering if when it all counted, I'd be able or up to defend Roja, even if it meant my own life.

Shrugging the thought off I clicked my tongue softly. Roja's ears twitched. "C'mon sleepy head!" I cooed. Roja lifted her head and her jaws parted to form a large yawn. Chuckling I reached inside the kennel and stroked her head. She crawled out drowsily, panting her soft doggy smile. Only a handful of people joined the Marines, only a few got my job, an MWD team, even fewer women, I was one of them.

Pulling my hair out of its bun I fixed it into a loose pony tail that stretched to my shoulders. My blond hair glowed a ghostly white in the moonlight. I put on my helmet.

Reaching out to Roja, I gripped her collar with one gloved hand and dug her vest out of one of the bags with the other. Roja broke away from my grip and bounced away, tail wagging, tongue lolling. "Hey!" I laughed. "Get back here you!" Her yellow/gold pelt glowed in the dim lights of the base not far away.

Grinning, I lunged at her. Roja jumped at me, her paws colliding with my shoulders, her force bending me backwards, my back on the ground. She let out a gleeful yip and barked a little too loudly. I sat up on my knees hearing shouts in the distance. Roja tensed and I wrapped my arm around her neck.

"Who's there?" A gruff voice shouted. I couldn't see them in the dark.

I opened my mouth to respond when a loud growl escaped Roja's throat. I froze, listening for a reply, the night was still.

A gunshot broke the silence and I dove on top of Roja. More gunshots followed.

"DON'T SHOOT!" I screamed, blood pumping in my ears. Fear gripped at my chest, I didn't want us to be killed by friendly fire before we'd even seen combat. "DON'T SHOOT!" I repeated, pressing Roja into the dirt as she thrashed madly.

The bullets stopped and I scrambled to my feet, Roja's collar in one hand as she lunged and snapped violently at the air. Cursing myself as I looked at my rifle on top of Roja's crate... Just a few feet away. I could grab it if I needed it, I decided.

"ROJA! OUT!" I commanded as the figure came closer. Once Roja settled down, I wiped my sweaty hands on my pants. The man was close enough for me to see him now.

His rifle was aimed out in front of him. He was wearing a US military uniform and dark eyes peered out from beneath his helmet. "Damn." He muttered lowering his rifle, grinning. "We got ourselves a dog team!"