Sergeant Shillans Mk3 Charger buggy sped along the dried up river bed at high speed.

He was pushing his Charger Eyes of the Lord hard and continually checking that his new squadron member Lance-Corporal Nints was keeping up in his buggy Guidance. Shillan was a 15 year veteran on buggies and was something of a legend in the 34th Recon Battalion. Nints on the other hand was still in his first six months driving buggies and was still struggling to learn everything that Shillan was trying to teach. Shillan was disappointed to note that Nints still had his buggys stowage tied down in the same way that he had his. He had hoped that by now the boy would have at least tried to switch things around, no matter how wrong he got it. Everything okay back there Nints? enquired Shillan over the personal radio. Looking good back here Sarge responded Nints. Youre lagging a bit too far back for my liking boy stated the sergeant. Ease your pedal down a bit further, she can take it. Will do Sarge replied Nints, irritated by the use of the word boy. He was 22 and had 4 years soldiering under his belt but that didnt matter to Sergeant Legend. The name boy seemed to have stuck for now with the other recon guys using it. He was eager to shake the moniker at all costs. Taliscar up ahead Nints called Shillan, breaking his juniors train of thought. Throttle back and take up combat spacing like weve practiced. Yes Sarge responded Nints. Combat spacing in effect Sarge. Good lad, now remember we want to gain as much info as possible without compromising our safety and location Yes Sarge came back Nints. Dont want 2nd Platoon to spot us like last time do we Sarge? grinned Nints. We certainly do not boy Said Shillan testily. 15 years in recon doesnt prevent you making the odd mistake thought Nints, thinking back to the last exercise when Shillan had driven his buggy in to a well placed ditch that 2nd Platoon had dug to defend their previous objective, an ammo dump outside the town of Girncust. Lets do this one by the book Shillan called from his buggy. Imaging shows theres a ridge near the town that we should be able to hide the buggies behind and use to scan and pict the towns primary and secondary buildings. Looks like its up on the left Sarge responded Nintes. Good eyes boy said Shillan impressed. Well make a recon man of you yet

Shillan brought his buggy to a halt at the base of the ridge with Nints stopping his vehicle a few metres away. Theyd positioned their buggies to take them back the way they came in case they had to make a quick exit. Both men grabbed their las-carbines and kit and proceeded carefully up the rocky slope. Reaching the crest of the ridge the pair dropped on to their bellies to prevent silhouetting themselves and giving their position away. They knew that 2nd Platoon would have Taliscar tightly guarded with men keeping a watchful eye for their recon patrol. Sergeant Shillan pulled his magnoculars from their pouch and started scanning the town whilst Nints set up the portable pict recorder to enable them to record footage for playback to command. From the ridge 2nd Platoons dispositions could be seen clearly and Shillan noted the fine placement of the platoons heavy weaponry by the young Lieutenant Conlar. The young officer was proving to be a quick learner and a sound tactician. All primary and secondary targets along with troop disposition and deployment recorded Sarge advised Nints. Ive even recorded the pics of the penal work party mending the road. Good man replied Shillan. Lets gather our kit and head back to base to file our report. Should I plant the Remote Observation Camera Sarge? he asked. Good thinking Nints complimented the sergeant. Ill be with the buggies when youre done. Nints set about planting the ROC whilst the sergeant slithered down the ridge to the buggies. He chose a spot between a couple of rocks that would assist in hiding the camera from any prying eyes. He knew that the signal could be continued to be received for 7 days and he marked its location on his map chart so that it could be found again if they needed to replace its batteries. As he was gathering his kit together he felt a cold chill run down his spine and had the feeling that someone was watching him. He took a last look through the pict-recorder at the town to check that he hadnt been spotted but the only person who seemed to be facing his direction was a shackled penal prisoner in the work party. Nintes put it down to being in that nervous, crucial extraction phase of the mission but he couldnt shake the feeling that he was being watched as he headed back down the slope to his buggy.