Amphibious Assault
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The time has come H - hour On the horizon many ships watch and wait silhouetted by the soft gray light of dawn A lone craft moves toward the enemy shore line, sole vehicle of the assault The craft, an amphibious landing type, has a ramp gate in the bowl for the unloading of men and equipment onto the beach At the back, above the level of the ramp gate is a large glass - enclosed structure with a million fleece rug and cocktail lounge furnishings A party is in progress inside the glass room The room is swirled with heavy military bodies Decorated with bright colored ribbons and medals Stewards dart about with trays of ors d'oeuvres and Champagne cocktails, There is music and laughter. It is a merry party and it continues as the craft moves forward Now the craft touches the beach pushing a wave before it The merriment subsides for a moment, and all in the glass room look casually toward the ramp gate The ramp goes down A single soldier clad in combat fatigues carrying an infantry pack and riffle rushes up over the ramp gate onto the beach The soldier runs very hard and fast (a shot is heard) It is over, quickly He is killed by one shot fired by the enemy The soldier lies crumbled, face down, on the sand He is the only blemish on the smoothness Slowly the ramp gate begins to rise The craft withdraws from the beach The conversation and laughter in the glass room resumes |