Humble

The sound of naturally running water, like a slow river or babbling brook, can have one of two physiological effects on a person. Most times, it is a calming, soothing experience that has been known to invoke relaxation and even put some people into a meditative state. For Major Colton Wayne, the other effect was kicking in, the growing stronger urge to go to the bathroom, thanks to too much coffee during the briefing.

As he sat in the turret with the commander's hatch open, he reviewed the objectives, as planned. Operation: Humble Hold had a forward platoon from his Company sitting on the north side of the Eastex Freeway bridges over Spring Creek, just to the left of his current location in Humble, Texas. If radio communications hold, they will report back any first contact information, such as identification and strength. If the odds are in Wayne's favor, he will hear a young and no doubt, excited voice yelling "Lightfoot," giving them the go ahead to advance and engage.  

However, should comms go down for any reason, a green flare shot from the forward position will signal the same message and Major Wayne will lead the reserves from their southern bank positions and cross the bridge, supporting the attack.


The words "Lost Cause" or a red flare will bring about a different course of action. Anything and everything that is capable of shooting from the south bank will open up and cover the platoon as they retreat back across the bridge. Then, preset explosive charges will bring the bridges crashing into the creek, effectively removing Interstate 69 and Highway 59 as routes into northern Houston.

Major Wayne knew to the west, stationed in Spring, Texas, Blue Company was charged with the same task, but with the bridges for Riley Fuzzel Road and State Highway 99, locally known as the Grand Parkway. To the east, in Atascocita, Red Company would repeat the procedure, with the FM 1960 Bridge over Lake Houston and West Lake Houston Bridge. All three units would rendezvous at the Sam Houston Parkway and await further orders.

His bladder couldn't take the strain any more and Major Wayne was forced to exit the Abrams tank. He climbed down and wandered over to a large bush and relived himself. With communications and electronic surveillance running into sporadic interference, the eyes and ears of this operation relied on "boots and the ground" recon. A slow process to collect information and relaying that back to the powers that be to make the big decisions, doubled again to get the right orders out to the field commanders if the electronics continue to be unreliable.

As he finished and climbed back up into the turret, he thought the plan looked good on paper as most plans do, until the shooting starts. The question was who would shoot first?