Open Play

The weather supposedly was to be rain today. Well, that didn't happen, but thanks to the mild weather the last couple of weeks, the field was soupy. Wet, muddy, mucky. Soupy.

First game of the day we had a bit of five-on-five going. And while it wasn't raining, it was windy, so we hit the woods instead of the field around the island. Myself, Snapdragon, Fodder, Dwome, and Lucky going up against Goblin, Buckman, Raptor, Sparky, and Carpenter. The game, Center Flag. Our team starts at the Deer Stand, the other team Pine Stadium. The flag was put at the bottom of the berm in the Archery Range.

It's fairly close quarters shooting when your in the woods. Sure there are a few spots where you can end up with open lanes and some field area to toss some long balls across, but for the most part your shots are gonna be in the 50-75 foot range. So I decided to go in scalled down. I took my usually 50 round hopper and put it on my 98 Custom, then instead of my 14" barrel I went for the stock barrel. A lil 8 incher that I've only used a handful of times before. To top it off, or would that be bottom, I screwed on a four ounce tank. Two pods on my belt and I was good to go.

The exchange of whistle calls and the game was on. Fodder was in the lead down the trail, his goal was to get to the backside of the berm and let them come to him. Snapdragon and Lucky were close behind, Dwome and I were following, but as we came to the entrance of the Back Alley, we let them go to the berm and broke off to the right a bit, with Dwome heading into the Rabbit Hole, a spot that would give him clear angle on the flag.

Before we even got up there fire was already being exchanged, and by the time Dwome was in position someone had slipped around the far side, made their way in to the Back Alley and had taken Fodder out, and unfortunately Snapdragon was not far behind him.

Some more fire was exchanged, pushing Lucky back across the trail that marks the start/end of the Back Alley, and about this time Dwome took a hit. I was at the opening to the Rabbit Hole, which meant I could get a shot off along either back side, or the front side of the big berm there. Unfortunately it also meant I was a target from either side.

After a few exchanged shots, mostly on the Archery Range side of things, I could see Lucky falling further back. It was obvious they were going to push up the backside, come out the end of the Alley and blaze up the trail to the Deer Stand. I dropped up and to the right, taking cover behind a small mound about four feet high and a dozen feet long that had a slight depression in it that let me keep out of sight of anyone that may still be on the Archery Range side. Now, the astute reader may have noticed by now that I haven't mentioned any of the other team going off the field. That's cause they hadn't yet. We're down to two against five. Gotta love those odds!

A few shots came flying over my head from the left as I dropped down there, then I heard them calling for a push. And from what I heard of the shots popping off, it sounded like they were pushing my way! I crawled back to the mouth of the Rabbit hole, hugging the ground I peered around the end of the mound and popped of a dozen or so shots at a pair of bodies I saw coming around a large pine. Hit! Hit! What a sweet sound.

Sparky and Raptor walk up the trail just past where I was and the others who were out were hanging back there watching the action still going on. I had to move back to my right to keep from getting hit, and pulled out one of my pods. I was actually going to need a refill, something usually rare for me. I got my hopper filled, spilling only a couple dozen from the pod. Then I managed to poke up over the mound at just the right moment to tag Goblin in the shoulder and belt pack before a volley of paintballs came whizzing my way.

Then I felt it.. grazing across the top of my head. Damn! I reached up feeling around the top of my head, then looked at my hand, no paint, but I couldn't be sure, and since there were five others just standing there I decided to call for a paint check. Dwome came over and looked, said I was clear, but by that time Carpenter and Buckman (with the flag in case I failed to mention that point earlier) were already halfway up the trail to the Deer Stand, I could here shots popping off and was hoping Lucky had done what I thought and fallen back to guard the stand in case they did get by me.

I rounded the corner of the trail and could see Carpenter shooting in to the trees ahead of them as they moved, then Buckman spotted me and sent a volley back my way. I ducked in to the trees to my left and tried to catch up, but I knew the only way I would is if Lucky was back far enough to slow them down for a minute.

No such luck, if she'll forgive the pun, as she was deeper in the trees to the left on Horseshoe Island and the other pair had made it to out base by the time we came across each other.

Oh well, you win some, you lose some. I took out three of them with just over 50 rounds, and had a hell of a time doing it.

And we would get them back the next game... but that's a whole nother story.

March 11, 2006
Fort Ahlman - Morristown
As told by "Panther" - Master Sergeant