Marine Corps Stories: Saber Noise

The funeral followed the day after the strike. Iranian top commander Lieutenant General Aqib Abdallah fell from a blast sent by the United States. The news of this killing rocketed around the world as Iran foamed at the mouth for more war against the US. The Marines remained in various stages of emotion.

“We got the bastard! Yes!” Sergeant Thompson Porterville exclaimed.

Staff Sergeant Frida Wittingham moved to curb the sergeant’s enthusiasm. “Let’s stay on mission, Thompson.”

“But I am. I mean we took out one of the worst men in the world. That’s something to celebrate,” Porterville said.

“I don’t know,” Lance Corporal Sutter Davos said. “I’m saying that this could be a meaningless victory in the long run.”

“Are you crazy?” Porterville retorted. “This is huge!”

The lance corporal shifted in his seat. “Yes, but I think that this is just a pinprick. I mean we need a strategy to take out the entire apparatus and allow for the remaining people to spark a revolution. That way, they can start afresh. Isn’t that why we’re fighting anyway?”

Frida said, “We’re fighting to safeguard American lives and property. But you’re right Davos. The institution of a new government would in fact be a boon to that goddamn region that we call the Middle East or Western Asia. It would be tremendous.”

Davos leaned back in his seat and put his hands behind his head. Frida noticed this. “Don’t get too comfy back there, Davos,” she said. “We’ve still got a long road in front of us. Literally and figuratively. What we know about this current administration is that we have a president with the balls and backbone to do his damndest to keep us safe while in harm’s way. He could unleash a torrent of hellfire down upon not only Iran, but Saudi Arabia as well.”

A silence pervaded the vehicle like the idea of a spectre haunting a house. Then, Porterville said, “I know one thing. I’m going to ensure that all of these vermin are executed with precise rounds down range. Whatever saber noise that the Iranians or the Saudis want to make does not account for the lives that have been destroyed or damaged because of these hostile regimes.”

“Iran didn’t want a war with us, but that’s what they got. We took out one of their top military leaders. Yay for us. But the real question is, who is going to topple the entire structure of the Iranian government?” Davos asked.

“We will. We’re going to have enough ground troops and air support to extinguish anything even resembling the region as it stands and see if the bureaucracies in these two States can adopt Western values,” Porterville said.

“I hear you talking, Sar’ent,” said Davos. “I agree with you. We can just level the cities of these two places, step back, watch them clean it all up, and see if they’ll take on rational ideals.”

“It’s a stretch. This is the best way to show that we finally got around to destroying the death-wishers.”

Frida interrupted. “Again, Let’s stay on mission. We’ve got to enter Tehran and hook up with Marines who have captured a palace it seems.”

“Yes!” Porterville exclaimed once again.

The armored vehicle traveled in such a way that it drove the minds of its occupants. Though they exhibited different moods, the three of them thought about what this mission entailed in the quiet that had returned. The ever present sand made for a difficult time for the driver to see out through the windows. But, the vehicle came equipped with a special wiper and fluid that far outpaced previous innovations. Through all of this, the Marines charged forward to meet up with their brothers and sisters in arms.