Empty Sands

"Any questions gentlemen?...............then that will be all, good luck out there and I will see you when you get back." At the very back of the 'Operations' tent Corporal Andy Luckhurst of 45 Commando Royal Marines, looked deep in thought as he snapped his note book shut and slid it into the map pocket of his combat trousers. Andy had only arrived in Kuwait just two days before due to him being on a training course, his unit had deployed to the desert ahead of him. He was already lucky enough to be nominated as the commander of the lead vehicle in a logistics convoy. Its purpose to resupply a forward base just established across the border in Iraq, it was once an Iraqi Air Force base now in control of the British forces. Andy turned towards his good friend Corporal David McLennon "So what do you think Dave?" he asked "About our resort? I mean the food is not too bad but the entertainment really sucks." Dave said with his big friendly grin. "You know what I mean!" replied Andy trying not to encourage him, "Well, I got to be honest, I am not too crazy about going without armour, I mean every convoy I have seen as had the escort of armoured fighting vehicles or at least a bigger protection force." Andy paused for a moment before responding "Yeah well they weren't Royal Marines." they both smiled at each other before turning and leaving the tent and headed off to brief the rest of their guys.

It was 2 PM and the convoy was lined up at the assembly area, all present and in the correct order. Andy knew that he was not the only one that was about to cross the border into Iraq for the very first time and there was a definite tension in the air. Opening the door to his vehicle he grabbed his rifle, instructed his driver to stay put and walked down the line of vehicles to attend the convoy commander's briefing. Sergeant Greg Wallace was that commander and wasted no time delivering his briefing, clearly keen to get things moving. The plan was to have a 'shakeout' when they reached the buffer zone before crossing into Iraq, where they would make the weapons ready, do any final checks before crossing into the combat area and receive any last-minute orders. Andy Quickly checked that everything was good with his top gunner Private Mike Smith before climbing back into his vehicle. He carried out a communications check using his radio and instructed his driver Lance Corporal Brian Knowles to move off.

The convoy had been moving for around an hour when they approached the buffer zone, there was a clearing with a large number of weapon loading points. This was where convoys and patrols made their weapons ready before crossing the border, prior to that they will be loaded but not made ready. The men were instructed to get out of their vehicles, move over to the points and make the weapons ready. It was eerily quiet, just the sound of the occasional distant crack of gunfire and the odd gust of desert wind. Amongst the men too there was a certain nervy silence, no-one really spoke much at this point. Having made their weapons ready and completed their final checks the men gathered around for Sergeant Wallace's final orders. "Right guys this is it, make no mistake about it we are at the sharp end now. If we come into contact return fire and await my orders, make sure you all have your finger on the pulse out there, especially those of you on top cover. Vehicle commanders, make sure your guys are on the ball, remember your training, let's get the job done and get back, any questions?" Again there was nothing but silence just the glancing of some very nervous looks between many of the younger guys. Andy walked over to his mate Dave "so what's for dinner when we get back?" He said, Dave looked thoughtful before responding "Fish, chips and mushy peas with sticky toffee pudding for afters." Andy laughed "I fucking wish!" the pair shook each other's hands, wished one another luck and returned to their vehicles.

The convoy had been moving for around two hours towards its objective, Andy stared intently out the window the sun was starting to set in the light was fading fast. He turned to his driver "So Brian, are you still planning on leaving when you get back from this hole?" Brian smiled and let out a chuckle "well, yes I think so I just feel it's time you know?.... I need to move...........what the?" His attention shifts to something coming up in the headlights of his vehicle, instinctively Andy reaches for his rifle and rests his finger over the safety catch. He shouts up to the top gunner "Swing round to 12 o'clock Mike!" Straining his eyes he begins to make out the outline of a figure stood right in front of the vehicle on the tracks made by previous convoys. Brian slows down the vehicle as he reaches down to unclip the retaining strap that is holding in his pistol. As the figure looms into full view of the headlights, Andy makes out the American uniform, almost breathing a sigh of relief he orders Brian to stop the vehicle and the convoy stops behind them. Although the American uniform certainly looks genuine something is not quite right, and he sees the soldier has no weapon, nor is he wearing any body armour or helmet. Scouring around the immediate area can not see any other sign of American soldiers or vehicles, this guy seemed to be completely on his own, what the hell was he doing there without all of his kit? Andy orders his top Gunner to cover the soldier and opens the door of the vehicle before carefully making his way towards the lone American soldier. He looks around surrounding area looking for signs of some kind of ambush but can't see anything, who knows what could be lurking in the dark. His heart is pounding out his chest, is this some kind of trap, some kind of elaborate plan to lead them into an ambush. He glances quickly down at his feet checking for any trip wires as he slowly walks towards the guy wearing the uniform of an American soldier, suspicious of everything at this point. His adrenaline is pumping and he can literally hear is heart thumping in his chest, He rests the thumb of his left hand on the safety catch of his rifle whilst the trigger finger on his right hand is ready to squeeze the trigger. He gets as close to the guy as he dare, "who are you? What are you doing here?" The stranger stares back at Andy for what seemed an eternity, "Cpl Ross Barnes, US Army!" He answers in a clear American accent, this reassures Andy somewhat but doesn't drop his guard. "What happened to you? Where is your kit?" Again another long pause from the American "I..... I don't know.....I lost my guys, I lost my unit." Andy relaxes his weapon and walks up to the American "I am Cpl Andy Luckhurst Royal Marines." offering is hand, the American receives it and shakes his hand with a firm grip. Andy offers to take Ross to the next checkpoint along the route and Ross agrees and climbs onto the back seat of Andy's vehicle.

The British logistics convoy is making slow but steady progress, winding its way through the desert like a giant metal snake. Andy is navigating his way to the next checkpoint and in between checking his bearings he is trying to get information out of the lone American who is giving very little away. Corporal Ross Barnes doesn't seem to want to give anything away to do with why he was there out what unit is with. Andy decides to switch his line of questions "so whereabouts in the States are you from?" Another pause "Pensacola" he replies. They are interrupted as they approach a fork in the track "Which way?" Asks Brian, Andy quickly checks his map, "we need to go right." Just then Ross leans forward quickly and rests his hand on Andy's shoulder and says, "No man, we need to go left." Andy looks back at Ross for a moment "Thanks Ross but I'm pretty sure we need to go right here." The expression on Ross's face changes looking deadly serious he leans forward again "trust me we used to patrol here all the time, we need to go left!" There is a moment's silence as Ross and Andy stare at each other. He can't quite put his finger on it, He knows he probably shouldn't but Andy can't help but believe Ross....... Andy orders Brian to turn left and the whole convoy follows. Ross relaxes and sits back in his chair as the vehicle rumbles on through the empty desert into the darkness. Andy can't help but feed his curiosity "So Ross, where exactly is Pensacola?" Ross replies "Pensacola is in Florida." Andy's face lights up as he turns towards Ross "Really you know I've always wanted to go to........ Ross?" The back seat is empty, Ross Barnes has disappeared, "What the fuck!?" Brian reacts by bringing the vehicle to a sudden halt and turns round to look at the back seat, Brian and Andy look disbelievingly at each other before they are interupted by a radio message.

Andy jumps out of the vehicle and looks around but Ross is nowhere to be seen, he turns and runs down the convoy to Sergeant Wallace. Greg Wallace is studying his map "Andy, you have taken us the wrong way mate." turning the convoy around would be a nightmare. Greg spots an alternative route much to Andy's relief, they agree on it and Andy runs back to his vehicle, all the time his eyes combing the surrounding area looking for Ross. What the hell happened to him, he thought did I imagine the whole thing? Andy climbs in and look at Brian "I didn't imagine picking that guy up right??" Brian still looking a little puzzled replied "No, I don't think you did." Andy receives a radio message to move on and tells Brian to drive on "But what about the..." Andy cuts him short "Just do it Brian!" he relents and follows the order. The rest of the move to the forward base passes without incident and to everyone's relief the whole convoy rolls into Shaiba Airbase. Andy and the rest of his force protection team break away form the logistics element of the convoy and unload their weapons. David and Andy leave the guys to fuel up the vehicles and get them parked up while they attend a de-brief. "Everything ok?" David asks him, "Everything is fine!" Andy snaps, David knows not to push any further, he has known Andy for 12 years now, they have seen service together in Bosnia and Northern Ireland, he knew to leave Andy alone when he is like this.

David is waiting for his friend Andy outside the Mess tent, the smell of freshly cooked food fills his nostrils, making him feel even hungrier, straining to see through to the hotplate wondering of the delights that await him. He see's Andy approaching in the distance but his attention is drawn to the Operations tent, there seems to be some raised voices and some rather frantic activity, a runner appears from inside the tent clutching a sheet of paper and runs off towards the Headquater area. "I wonder what that's about." he says to Andy as he makes it to the Mess tent, "Never mind that, lets eat, I am starving." Andy replies. The two marines are enjoying one of the very few pleasures available to them whilst in the desert, food...the others being mail and sleep. Sergeant Wallace walks into the Mess tent, looks around, he spots the two marines and strides purposefully toward them. Andy see's him coming "Oh shit.....here we go." Andy grumbled. "Andy, can I have a word?" said Wallace. Andy knew it wasn't good and followed him outside, Sergeant Wallace turned to him and began to speak "Andy, I don't know what the hell happened with the American and I am not sure I want to know but why did you take down the wrong route? You know the possible consequences of being off route." Andy of course knew that being off route would mean their progress and whereabouts could not be tracked by the HQ element, meaning rescue would not find them if the shit hit the fan. The last thing Andy wanted to admit to was that he took advise from an American who then vanished on him, he was just about to speak when Wallace piped up again "Andy, C Company's patrol was hit last night, an explosive device took out the lead vehicle and they were ambushed, there were multiple casualties." Wallace paused to allow Andy to process what he just said. "They were on Route Juno between RV point 3 and 4." Andy's blood ran cold "But that's exactly where we should have been." said Andy "Yes and C Company's lot were only 30 Minutes behind us. I have no idea why you took us off route but you did and it has probably saved your life and the lives of your vehicle crew. their lead vehicle completely destroyed and you saved the lives of a few more of our convoy, hell maybe even mine.....Thank you.....thank you so much!" Wallace held out is hand and Andy still miles away shook it without words.

Lance Corporal Brian Knowles and his top gunner Private Mike Smith are cleaning out their vehicle in a Transport compound. "Do you think he will tell them about the American on his de-brief Brian?" Mike asked, "I think he will look crazy if he does." Brian replied. Mike stops still for a second with a puzzled look on his face, "What's wrong?" Brian asks. Mike leans into the foot well behind the driver seat and emerges holding a set of American Dog Tags, Brian snatches them from him and reads the name on the tags out loud "Barnes, Ross, Corporal, US Army." Just then Andy enters the compound and shouts "Have you two not finished yet?" Brian turns to him and is about to reply when he see's a US Army Sergeant Major intercept Andy. "Are you Corporal Luckhurst?" barked the sergeant major "Yes Sir!" Andy replied, "Cpl Luckhurst apparently you picked up one of my guys last night and yet you returned without him!" Andy began to reply before being cut short by the American "Yes Sir, we were...." was as far as he got "Corporal, do you have any idea how this looks?" Andy was struggling to come up with a response when Brian appeared, he held out his hand toward the American and said "Sir, I think you might want these, your guy must have dropped them when he was in our vehicle." The sergeant major took the tags, he read them and there was an awkward silence before Andy attempted to explain "Sir, we stopped..." he was rudely interupted again by the rather annoyed American "Corporal, is this some kind of a fucking joke to you?" Andy tried again to respond but was once again cut short as the American looked at the tags and read aloud "Barnes, Ross, Corporal, US Army." he glares at Andy before continuing, "Ross Barnes was shot and killed 4 days ago whilst on a patrol, we flew his body back to the States yesterday, Corporal Luckhurst....I don't know who you think you picked up last night but it wasn't Ross Barnes." The Sergeant Major turns and strides away into the distance leaving Corporal Andy Luckhurst and his men staring after him dumbfounded. Andy had absolutely no explanation for what had happened but he did know, that somehow someone or something had probably saved the lives of himself and his vehicle crew and others and for that, well he didn't really care about the details he was just grateful that his crew and himself were still alive.