[Radio static crackles, the rumble of Victors on the M.S.R. sets the gritty scene] [spoken word] [male 1] Radio check... [spoken word] [male 2] Good Radio... [spoken word] [male 1]: Assassin Two-Six, solid copy. (...) We’re Oscar Mike from LOD. Ten klicks to MSR Tampa. Break—no contact, Shamal’s picking up. Over. [spoken word] [male 1]: Copy. Stay frosty. Watch your glass. Rooftops left side. Last time we ran this A.O., Haji was painting us with a Pec-thirteen. Over. [spoken word] [male 1]: Roger. Glassing now. Got one rooftop open, shadow movement—could be a laundry line, could be an RPK. Interrogative: Are we cleared hot if they light up? [spoken word] [male 1]: Negative. R.O.E. still tight. No P.I.D., no trigger. Danger close to civvies. Maintain eyes-on, report Sit-Rep every three mikes. Out. [spoken word] [male 2]: Man, if I get one more mouthful of this damn dust, I’m filing a Cas Evac for my tongue. [spoken word] [male 1]: That’s what you get for breathing, POG. [spoken word] [male 3]: Yo, you think if we die out here, PX’s got virgins in the afterlife, or just bootleg DVDs? [spoken word] [male 1]: Negative. Only thing waiting for you is Godfather telling you you didn’t clean your weapon. [spoken word] [male 3]: Godfather thinks you better start repenting. [spoken word] [male 2]: Man, Godfather is God. At least he talks like it. [spoken word] [male 1]: Assassin, be advised: Helo-hot north grid, one klick off MSR. We’re holding posture. Glassing for B.D.A. now. [spoken word] [male 1]: Copy. Interrogative: friendly or haji? [spoken word] [male 1]: Looks like Cobra pass. No secondary. No ass spotted. Probably R.T.B. Will advise. [spoken word] [male 2]: Y’all ever think about how we throw Forty Mike-Mikes into a house and just… keep rolling? [spoken word] [male 1]: S.O.P., baby. We’re in the A.O.E.. Feel bad later, shoot straight now. [spoken word] [male 3]: Maybe Haji’s got a PX too. One with cold Rip-Its and no N.J.P.. [spoken word] [male 1]: Shut it down, Gunner. This ain’t a philosophy class. Save it for the chow line. Eyes on rooftops. [spoken word] [male 2]: Affirm. Still—556 may take a soul, but it can’t save one. [spoken word] [male 1]: Copy that. But it keeps ours in our chest long enough to get home. Stay sharp. That’s the only gospel I know. [spoken word] [male 1]: Hitman Two-One, new tasking. Divert one klick west, check bridge integrity on alternate M.S.R. LAVs spotted possible I.E.D.. You’re lead on this. Break—report findings, then R.T.B.. How copy? [spoken word] [male 1]: Copy all. Diverting now. Victors shifting bearing west, estimate five mikes. We’ll let you know if we find a gift box. Out. [spoken word] [male 3]: Bet it’s just another dead goat with a cell phone up its ass. [spoken word] [male 1]: Either way, don’t poke it unless you want to meet Chaos early. Clear left, pushing up. [spoken word] [male 1]: Stay frosty, marines. Whole damn desert’s listening. [Radio static fades, the desert’s eerie silence engulfs the convoy’s hum]
