“Looks like the locals have some buddies in the mountains,” said the muscled Sergeant who stood over three men, circled around the fire.
“More caves, yeehaw,” said the private sitting beside him at the smokepit.

“If it makes you feel better, Umberger, we’re going with company.  Command is sending in some tag alongs with us.  Big timers it looks like,”’ said the Seargeant.  His tag read Humphries, the wear on the tag told you he had been through his fair share of combat.  He was a tall imposing figure, young but not in the ways of war.
The private next to Umberger gave his superior a curious look.  His dark skin contrasted with his light skinned compatriots, though both wore the same look of curious indignation on their faces.

“Higher ups?  Who are we going after Sarge?” asked the young soldier.

“The devil himself?”  Umberger chimed in.
“Out here.  Possibly,” the Sergeant said, he took a sip of his coffee.
“Or just Bin Laden, or Baghdadi, or a dozen others but it’s somebody big,” said a corporal, rising to his feet. “Lots of devil’s out here.  Feel free to shoot any of them.  You noobs ever been up in these caves?”  The corporal’s name tag read Mathis; a name well known by everyone.  The two men he was talking to were new to squad, but Mathis was a living legend everywhere there were ears to hear about him.

“Caves, yes. These holes in the wall, I don’t think so.  But they all start to look the same,” Umberger said, finishing his cigarette. “Having been around a while I assume you aren’t asking for directions.”

The corporal laughed, giving the Sergeant a gentle strike on the shoulder.

“Get a load of this kid,” Mathis said with a wide smile.

“We’ll be the GPS for you kid.  May not be your first time in combat but we’ll be glad to show you around the playground. Speaking of which, here comes a few of our new playmates,” said Humphries.  Three figures in green berets approached, all of them noticeably of high rank. The two young Rangers stood, joining Mathis and Humphries in a salute.  The salute was returned by the three newcomers, before the chiseled lead waved them off. 

“At ease boys “said the clear lead, wearing a Colonel’s insignia and taking the lead position at front. He extended a firm hand to Humphries. “Colonel McCready. These are Captains Jaeger and Hsu,” he said motioning to a blond haired blue eyed giant to his right, and a pensive looking Asian man at his left. “Good to meet you all.  We have been following our target, hear you have been up in these hills quite a bit as a unit so looks forward to having you aboard. Heard good things about you,” he said. He was a taller man, dimpled chin, screamed special forces by his build Umberger thought to himself. By his estimation the man was close to his forties one side or the other. Black ops Umberger thought to himself, but he knew he wasn’t the only one who could intuit what he saw in the men standing before him.

“Didn’t hear too much then I gather,” Umberger said.  With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the butt of the cigarette away.

“Hey, you don’t repeat what people say about us, we won’t repeat what we hear about you,” McCready said with a smile. “Caves here go on for miles but they’re only passable for so long. I know you are all wondering, we are looking for Baghdadi.  Locals seem scared more than compliant, for both sides.  Been leaving food at the mouths of this one set of caves for some time.  Months.”

“Didn’t Baghdadi disappear from Helmand a few weeks ago?” Seargent Humphries asked in a confused voice.

“He sure did.  Intel though is telling us he joined up with someone back here when we began chasing him. We got close two weeks ago and he scooted back here to Kandahar,” McCready’s chest rose as he prepared to continue speaking. “Keep your eyes open when we go in.  That’s what I will say,” McCready said.  His voice went flat as he finished speaking.  Nobody could quite put their finger on it, but they knew something was odd.  Military intel often told even commanders the bare minimum or put them between a rock and a hard place when it came to what they could share. “This target and this terrain, you keep your eyes open.  We’ll give you the full briefing at 1600 hours.  Take off at 0800 in the morning.  See you boys then.”

“What was that about Umberger?” asked his dark-skinned companion.  “Sending us in with Green Berets?  High ranking Green Berets?”

“I don’t know McNair. A Colonel for goodness sakes, they only do that for something special.  Something more going on?” he asked. “Looks that way doesn’t it Matty?”

“Looks like they think so,” Mathis said, dumping out what was left of his coffee.  “Can’t imagine you can say so either huh Sarge?” Mathis stood upright, the sun beating down fully now on his frame. The Sargeant just blinked, standing there silent for a moment.
“Briefing is at 1600 hours.  Keep your eyes open,” he said.

The Mountains Of Kandahar Part 4: What’s in the Dark