My huffing breath moistened the black mask over my nose and mouth.

Footsteps crunch on the brown pine needles, carpeting the forest floor, as we rush to get into position.

The equipment I'm wearing makes me slower than I want to be. I'm not yet used to it, and I envy some of the more experienced guys who move in the gear like it's nothing.

It's not the first time I've worn the entire get-up out in the real world, but it feels like it is.

Every other time has been on missions where I don't even come close to combat.

Before that, I was in training.

Tonight, it's virtually guaranteed that I'll have to use my rifle.

The moonlight beaming through the canopy of pine branches overhead

gives the landscape a muted silver tinge that's just enough to see by without night optics devices. Plus, our intel says, the village

has lanterns all around. Still, we all have a pair of nods perched on top of our helmets ready for

use. As my squad moves up a low hill and a line, rifles up and ready, I catch my first glimpse of the

village through the crowd of tall but skinny pine trees.

I find a decent-sized tree trunk, a kneel behind it, keeping my weapon aimed ahead.

To my left and right, the other members of my squad do the same.

Sergeant Lowen's voice comes through my earpiece.

Charlie in position.

Copy, stand by. This breathless and terse reply comes from 2nd Lieutenant Cortez, who is with Alpha Squad,

currently getting into position on the other side of the village.

I scan the area between my squad and the village, looking for any cave entrances in the ground

big enough to fit a person.

Our intel says there are caves all around this area.

I don't see any yet.

...