Chapter 1

The new group was growing and amazingly there were no conflicts, everyone got along better than anyone could have expected. We were off to Kazakhstan were there were three more missile silos with active warheads. The groups were shifting again, as we added Anatoly and Kaasa. We moved people around to make a better disbursement of people and equipment. It seemed some of the women were interested in different group arrangements. Nobody had any bad feelings; in fact, most were happy that everyone was happy!

Anatoly showed his leadership role quickly, when he suggested, switching towing duties to free up both Hummers and FAV 1&2, MRAPs pulling FAV 3&4 would allow the crew to dismount, disconnect and mount their FAV. The RVs could pull the trailers and Medical having the water trailer made sense, leaving Command to pull the fuel trailer.

Anatoly took over Command of HUM1, so Daryl went to gunner and Jessica stayed driving with Helena as a trooper or dismount. I was still Cdr of FAV1 Tammy Driver and Tia gunner; FAV2 Geof Cdr, Ben D, Jamie G; HUM2 Kaasa Cdr, Karmen D, Colette G, Karen T/D; MRP1 Steve Cdr, Meghan D, Dana G, would pull FAV3 which Gogi Cdr, Briana D, Adriana G would mount; MRP2 James Cdr, Jasmine D, Lauren G, pulling FAV4 which Kenneth Cdr, Riley G, Katilina D; RVMed Emily Cdr/Dr, Laura D, Yvette and Mirell Medics; RVCmd Ivan Cmd&Control, Mike Cdr, Tatiana D, Danny, Shirley and Mika T/D.

Two days and we were at the first silo, the military personnel quickly and very happily assisted in taking it off-line permanently. Given the choice of joining our group or going home everyone went home.

It took three days to get to the next silo, mostly because we had to zig-zag around obstacles both man-made and natural. This silo was not as bad as the initial conflict, but weapons were pulled, and threats were made. But, in the end cool calm minds prevailed and it too was taken off-line. This time we had almost a dozen men load up in a 5-ton truck and join our group. The rest went to their homes.

The last silo was only a day and a half away, and we pulled up just at lunchtime. It appeared to be abandoned. Just as Kaasa, Gogi, Geof, Karen, Helen and I reached the main entrance, gunfire erupted hitting most of the vehicles, the few soldiers that were standing at the back of their truck, and our group.

Yeah, I was in big trouble, since I had been hit in the right thigh and lower back body armor, Geof was hit in the side armor plate, Helen had her helmet shot off and was knocked out, Gogi took two rounds to the back of his body armor and was also knocked out, Kaasa was hit in the left forearm and left hip. Those were the only wounded we received, however, the three soldiers that were standing at the back of their truck were killed and so was one in the back. The other soldiers were simply scared.