[right][i]Somewhere near Rehberg, West Germany
5 April 1985[/i][/right]
[h3][b]TF Payne[/b][/h3]

“Saber Zero Six, this is Saber Six Niner, over,” the radio crackled in his headset. 

Major Payne only needed to key the mic to respond. “Saber Six Niner, this is Saber Zero Six, go ahead over.”

“Saber Zero Six, Saber Six Niner, I have two BRDMs moving west along primary road. They will be on my position in minutes. Request smoke on my hill over.”

“Saber Six Niner, Roger that.” Major Payne then called to the Fire Direction Center for his own mortar platoon. “Saber Seven Two, this is Saber Zero Six, fire Tango Romeo Papa Zero Zero Fife, India Sierra, follow a three hundred fifty-degree impact pattern, over.”

“Saber Zero Six, this is Saber Seven Two, fire Tango Romeo Papa Zero Zero Fife, India Sierra, three hundred fifty-degree impact pattern, out.”

With the Incendiary Smoke falling along the hill to his front, he knew the scout sections deployed would need this to conceal their position. Once the thought left his mind, the radio crackled again. “Saber Zero Six, this is Saber Six Niner, over.”

“Saber Six Niner, this is Saber Zero Six, go ahead, over.” The Major knew the game was about to begin. These were the opening moves of an overly dramatic chess match.

“Saber Zero Six, this is Saber Six Niner, “Two BRDMs moving north along primary road heading into Schollbrunn, over.” Staff Sergeant Ronaldo Cortez clicked off the handset and called to his driver over the intercom system, “fire up this beast. Ivan is going to be here any minute. I don’t want to get caught with my dick hanging out!” Staff Sergeant Cortez was from East Los Angeles, California. He lead a hard life on the streets of LA and didn’t care much for school. He seemed to squeak by enough credits to graduate. Since college wasn’t in his future and any other opportunity evaded him, he opted to join the Army. He found life in the Army ideal for him. After eight years in the military, SSG Cortez was serving as a Section Sergeant in a mechanized infantry battalion’s scout platoon. He was on track to make Sergeant First Class in another year. Sooner depending on the outcome of this Field Exercise.