OCS Viewer Update: Icing On The Cake

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As mentioned in my previous blog, an update for the official OCS viewer is due to be out soon. Surprisingly, the update was released much sooner than expected! Yes folks, the much anticipated "patch" is here! Say bye-bye-bye to your "psychic" opponents who always seem to know exactly where you are! chuckles.

Some players have found a way around the absence of the radar-like "mini-map" by using the "main-map" as an alternative. Though not as convenient as having a permanent "beacon" on the corner of your screen, the main map can be quite useful as if having a "satellite navigator" at hand. Having to pause for a while for some location-hints have proven to be as effective as having the actual mini-map on. But as we will all know by now, those days are definitely OVER!

A ghost town? No troops? Not quite! The new OCS viewer disables the built-in-map's radar system, showing only an aerial topographical shot of the sim.

Say goodbye to all those psychic "playahs" (laughter) who seem to have the supernatural powers to shadow your every move hehehe. No more wall shooters... no more "x-ray visions"... and to those who love having immortality HUDs and shields, radars and bootleg OCS gear, no more room for you in the new Fulda Gap. Virtual combat has never been this fair... this exciting and this awesome as ever before.

As I attempt to be one of those psychics in FG (off-the game of course: chuckles), I foresee a day when more and more players would be encouraged to go head-to-head with top OCS gamers in Fulda Gap. Then again you need not be a psychic to know that. hehehe

My hat's off to all the Omega Concern people behind this remarkable OCS viewer!

A Secret Playground

Has any of you discovered that secret location in Fulda Gap yet? Just when you thought that everything we see in the new FG are the only things we would have to be contented with, here comes another interesting feature. Truly, there is actually a lot more in Fulda than meets the pixel eye! But getting there isn't as easy as you think, as a lot of that "thinking-out-of-the-box" may have to apply here: sentido común.

Okay! okay here are some tips for those unaware of this secret garden of delights (but they would have to be in a riddle):

a. The sun will shine and i hope you won't mind, me saying "Here's Johnny" on a street not aligned...

b. Rub that magic lamp and wish one song for me, singing "A whole new world" to a claustrophobic place to be...

Keep your eyes peeled. This labyrinth is an ambush haven. You'll never know what awaits around a corner.

Indeed it is a whole (or should I say a "hole" hahaha) new world as it would not be easy chasing (or be chased by) an opponent in a network of narrow tunnels, in which to the inexperience combatant may just end up a dead-end. I have seen a lot of pockets for ambushes, making this maze a perfect venue for CQC or Close Quarters Combat.

I am already hearing a lot of us here saying: "Where in the world have I placed that bloody crowbar?" hahaha

A dose of the Dual Sig Sauer P229 Handgun might just be helpful in tight situations like these as well. Time to test these babies! woot! woot!

I have also been hearing about a "vault" somewhere in Fulda, which I still have to find out for myself! Something with a secret combination was also being talked about within the OCS-FG community. Now that adds more excitement to the game's role play, don't you think? What exactly is inside it? More questions.. more riddles!


What The Heck Is A Laser Designator?

Ever wonder what that Laser Designator (LD) in our Sig-556 actually does? In my first few days in Fulda, I was able to try this motha-for-all-seasons feature in our ever-so-reliable Sig 556. I called it the "Hail Mary" as it activates a barrage of artillery from the sky. It lasts a good ten seconds (or even more), capable of eliminating a group of bogeys in the field with just one shot (yep, the holy grail!). It still should be active in Fulda though theoretically, a certain object (albeit also in a certain angle and time) must be specifically targeted. The stuff that involves a lot of "jargon-mathematics".

Eeeeep... x2 + y3 multiplied by z2 divided by the square root of 0.765 multiplied by the distance of 56 meters equals.... oh ugh my head hurts.... hahaha

However, it is also possible to try it out on a public sand-box which does not have a "no-push" restriction. Just make sure there is no sign that prohibits the use of any weapons. You will definitely be left in awe with this spectacular feature... totally a sub-freezing level in the coolness gadget meter! Promise!

Three heads are better than two! Pushing the stakes higher as the Sig-556 plays a vital role in supporting teamwork on the battlefield, with the pilot, gunner and designator coordinating each others' actions.

There is another reason why we have LDs featured in our Sigs. Think of the AH-Apache Longbow's APKWS Rockets... Ever wondered why they aren't laser activated from the chopper like its killer-Hellfire counterpart? That is where the Sig-556 LD steps in! OCS is pushing teamwork in FG further by encouraging coordination between team-mates situated in the air to the ones down below. Another step forward in eliminating individualism among players in Fulda.

A scene of things to come! Ground troops guiding the AH-64D Apache Longbow for bogeys. Communication and coordination will be a major factor in winning against opposing forces.

But before we go jumping off our seats, ripping our shirts off and flexing those biceps (well the ladies can stop after the ripping of shirts and forget the biceps... we'll be fine with that hahaha) giving out a loud "grrrrrrrr haarrrrrrr"... bare in mind that these things are currently in the works and are still being tested by our friends at the Omega Concern. Believe me they have heaps and truckloads lined up for all the zealous OCS maniacs like me! hahaha...


STOP! Hummer Time!
da-da-da-dum... ta-dum... di-dum... should touch this!

While the vehicle production of big name companies around the world has been hit by recession, The Omega Concern is optimistic that the pending release of a new DOZOR/HUMMER ( High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle aka HMMWV or Humvee) would just beat that! A leaked photo by insiders (shhh don't tell April!) have seen the manufacture of an improved and updated version of the military vehicle. Rumour of another version installed with a top mounted .50 caliber machine gun is also in the works. Looks like the good times are about to roll in Fulda Gap!

I want one! ... or four for that matter! Just another amazing installment for us OCS kids! 2009 looks bright after all!

Well folks, that is just the tip of the iceberg as I have been told that there are a lot more surprises waiting for us in the couple of months (if not weeks) to come. Finally, no more reason to whine about cheats and all the good reasons for Olympus to have a break from baby-sitting us kids.

Don't you just love a happy ending?

The Omega Concern: Muscle Behind OCS

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One cannot truly say they have had the ultimate virtual combat experience until they have actually lived the Fulda Gap role play in SL. It has been my inspiration for some of the (fictional) short stories featured in my blog. It has also been a benchmark for other combat simulators in Second Life. Fulda Gap is synonymous to the OCS combat system, the most popular combat system to date with more and more combat enthusiasts jumping into the bandwagon. OCS is one of the many combat systems available in Second Life, though OCS seems to be the most preferred choice among serious players due to a lot of its amazing factors and features.

Entering Fulda Gap: After joining the Fulda Gap group, make sure you have at least one official OCS weapon and an official uniform. The MARPAT (featured in picture) is available at the Omega Concern shop. Nothing beats a good camouflage and gear in virtual combat survival.

OCS is "probably" the only combat system with an online record that keeps track of your progress in rankings. It is simply saying: The more you "hit" (better than saying "kill" in my opinion lol) the more points you get. And the more points you get, the higher level you reach.

Think of Level 1 as being a new recruit-cum-trainee and whoever reaches the top rank would be seen as Fulda Gap's five-star general. There is no limit on how much points you keep, it is infinite as the game never ends.

OCS Creame dela Creame! The Top 10 combatants! Dare to be on top?

Why bother with the points and rankings?

Simple, the higher your ranking is, the more accurate and deadly your aim will be. Which would make it possible for you to get a hit with just one shot: the Holy Grail in OCS combat. Much like in real life war, the longer one stays in the battlefield the more skillful and knowledgeable the troops becomes. Think war veteran... your style and technique would evolve with you as you get to know the weapons and the simulator (sim) better.

The online OCS Player Standings will also reflect your last "hit" as well as the weapon last used. This would give you more than enough hints that the OCS server does keep track of any OCS activity when the official OCS HUD is worn (well it is compulsory that you wear it to make OCS work hahaha). So cheats (yes kids they are everywhere) who use illegal and bootleg weapons and/or troops who are keen on "rezzing" out scripted prims from their inventory, beware the Gods of Olympus are watching! (laughter)

The New Fulda Gap 2009 from afar. Last year we were given an urban and rural combat setting. This year were going on woodland warfare were camouflage would play a crucial role in a troop's survival.

Fulda Gap is simulated in a Class5-high-performance sim with its own dedicated server and albeit even its own exclusive system which helps keep the game spontaneous and lag-free. At the start of the year, April Heaney who is the brainchild and pioneer of the OCS combat system has rebuilt Fulda Gap with an all-new environment. This would give new players the same leverage as the established veterans in getting to know the new Fulda better.

Whatcha fancy mate? Urban combat or jungle warfare? The new Fulda Gap sim: you don't have to teleport to another sim to have a different setting, when you can have them both in one go! And the next big question is: Will you be the hunter or the hunted? Go figure that one out!

With an established reference point for role play present in the game, supplemented with a player's own mini-biography or story (reasons for being in Fulda Gap) makes the game even more appealing and exciting: adding more depth and character to the avatar.

Normally a new player would start as a Partisan (neutral troop), and you can chose which side you would want to belong to: EUFOR (European Union Forces) or the N.E.B. (New Eastern Bloc) - after submitting your role play profile to April Heaney.

Starting as Partisans not so long ago, Lizzy Mornington, N71 Aeon and Ellynore Lisle now fight under the EUFOR banner.Who would be next to join the two main factions?

The Official OCS Viewer

Leaping forward in keeping the promise for a real combat experience, April has helped develop the first ever OCS Viewer in Second Life. It is custom built to rid the game of its little gremlins: the common cheat features which are built-in the standard viewer. Mind you, this is a Linden Labs viewer so any fear of "undesirables" being installed in your PC would simply be ridiculous.

There is nothing more exciting than playing combat in a pitch-dark environment, radically changing the way we play virtual combat. It gives new meaning to the phrase "bloody adrenaline rush".

The benefits of having to use the official OCS viewer means no more bloody "mini maps" and overriding of default environment settings. That means night combat would be done at night as the way it really should be. The Ctrl-Shift-Y (or N) features are disabled as well as the Advance Menu from activating the "Admin Status".

If that is not enough to tickle your combat fancy, name tags that usually give away your exact location (with that obvious placard floating above your head), even if standing too-close behind walls have also been disabled. Technically speaking, no one should know exactly where you are... or wont they? Excited already aren't you? hahaha

The OCS viewer was basically a year and a half in the making, but it was surely worth the wait! I imagine more updates for the viewer soon as the level of game play would be raised.


The Omega Concern: One Stop Armory

Discovering Fulda Gap was only by chance as Ellynore Lisle who was also a Wilder Skies pilot like me at that time (yep she was so good at it I would not last a minute in the sky! hahaha) had Eichenzell featured on her "profile picks" (did I just admit there that I snoop on someone else's profile? Oooops!). A simple innocent question about Eichenzell brought us both to Omega Concern. The first sight of Omega's glowing dome struck me with awe... much more upon seeing all the amazing weapons on display!

The rendering and the presentation of each weapon was non like no other. It was love at first sight for me with these babies and they have just converted me from originally being a pacifist to a die-hard combatant! yeehaw!

You will never end up more confused than I was the first time I tried choosing for my first weapon. With so many on offer, it would be hard to decide which one to get!... you would simply want them all!

Elly was so cool enough to patiently explain to me everything what is to know about FG. I have to admit, it was information overload as she tried to immerse me with all the technical details on "the hows, the whos and the what" in Fulda Gap within just 10 minutes (laughter)! Not to mention that I spent most of the time asking the same questions over and over again (pssst.. and I think this was the first time I irked her off... lol).


My First True Weapon

Forget all your freebie weapons, they do not compare **** to these babies! The details and resemblance to the real McCoy is uncanny. Among the many choices on offer, I took the Sig-556 Assault Rifle. Apart from a built-in grenade launcher, the features and gizmos that come along with it commands its asking price. And in spite of it being the most expensive rifle in the Omega arsenal, it still remains the most popular weapon of choice among the OCS zealots.

For more details about this weapon: http://sl.theomegaconcern.com/manuals/34-ocs/83-sig-556-assault-rifle-with-gl-5010-manual

Apart from the Sig, I would recommend for beginners to also get the M67 Fragmentation Grenade and the M16A2/ M21 Mine Pack. These would be sufficient enough to help you "last longer" in combat but does not guarantee that you would be invincible. Weapons only becomes effective when the user uses common sense and a lot of guts when playing in the field. Just make sure you throw your grenades far away from where you are, and avoid stepping on your own mines! hahaha


Hitting Hard While Charging Less

I have also discovered that the XM-109 Sniper Rifle can be a powerful weapon in spite of it costing less than the Sig. Its function is straightforward: aim... shoot... and kill. It can hit a mark even at great distance making it one of the most feared weapons in the OCS armory. Combatants with higher levels in ranking make this rifle their preferred weapon of choice.

For more details about this weapon: http://sl.theomegaconcern.com/manuals/34-ocs/84-xm-109-25mm-sniper-rifle-manual

The Big Mommas

They are the first thing that will catch your eye upon entering the Omega Concern. The only three vehicles that can be used in Fulda Gap:

The Dozor Utility Vehicle, the M1A1 Abrams Battle Tank, and the AH-64D Apache Longbow

Please bear in mind that other types of vehicles and crafts (apart from the ones mentioned above) are not allowed to be used in Fulda. Believe me, you would not want the Game Managers (GMs) breathing behind your neck! hahaha You will surely get more than just a slap on the wrist... really!

All vehicles blow up when hit beyond its damage limits. So drive or fly them with care! These vehicles are HUD or Menu driven.

The Apache Longbow is by far the most sophisticated aircraft in Second Life... BAR NONE! Nothing comes close to this eagle as being the most interactive attack craft, consistent with role play. Missiles fire away from hardpoints (weapon stations) and actually show them getting depleted, unlike missiles mounted on other crafts that remain static.

Flying this bird can be quite a challenge especially with the OCS HUD on. A crash will cost you your life so flying with care is advised.

Getting this chopper (or helo if you are an airman) is worth the investment. I am very certain that April's creation had sent ripples across the crafting of virtual helicopters in Second Life. Expect a lot of changes on the way SL helicopters are made, and at least owning the first one ever created should give you enough prestige to last until the next best thing arrives.

Thanks (and kisses) a million to my Lizzy-babes for giving me one as a present and of course to April for finally bringing this one out of the hanger... making me the first ever to own one! Good things happen to those who patiently wait. wehey!

Oh my goodness mate... don't just look at it, get one!

To Join or Not To Join? Is that a question?

There isn't a good enough reason not to visit Fulda Gap. The membership is now free, the Official HUD cost just 1L$ and neither do you have to pay for the Official OCS Viewer. Initially, you don't have to own weapons to enter the sim. But do be advised that if another troop gets a visual, you just might end up getting shot! hehehe

Don't fancy being a soldier but want to still be part of the role play? Apply to become part of the Civilian Faction, but please be neutral and non-partisan unless you wish to become an outlaw! Now that's another story!

For more details about the Omega Concern and Fulda Gap: http://sl.theomegaconcern.com/fuldagap

Things to comply to before entering the barrier: 1) wear your group tag 2) wear your OCS HUD 3) use the official OCS viewer 4) be nice and play fair 5) don't bloody cheat, well not that you can with new safeguards installed.. but if you do, see you in your third life hahaha


The Omega Concern main shop, where all combat dreams come true... less the Blue Fairy of course! http://slurl.com/secondlife/The%20Omega%20Concern/195/37/24

Escape From FG: The Apache Longbow

(rev07062009)

N71's (aka En) search for his parents ended in grief as he discovered through Gen. Slade (Brazilian Special Forces) of their ambush on the outskirts of Kierman. To make things worse, renegade Partisan troops have returned to Fulda, bringing back terror in the towns of Eichenzell and Neuhoff.

The renegades had regrouped after having been driven out Fulda by loyal Partisan and EUFOR troops. With most of the European Forces at the end of their Tour of Duty, the outlaws had taken advantage of the lull in operations, wresting back control of the besieged towns once more.

The death of both his parents may have rendered his fight for the liberation of Fulda a lost cause. The Eufor troop come to terms with the loss of the two senior M16 agents.

New buildings and an invigorated forest have given Eichenzell a new image. A newly built-up civilian Psychiatric hospital (rising from the ashes after it was completely destroyed in the war) towers the Fuldanian landscape. The institution would help rehabilitate towns people suffering from the trauma brought about by war. Its multi-purpose rooftop has been designed to function as an emergency evacuation facility and an attack helicopter landing pad.

Just when the rehabilitation of Fulda was nearing its completion (with a new bridge restoring links to and from the towns around Eichenzell), chaos once again has threatened to hamper the progress which the city have so far accomplished.

Heaney Air Force Base, Fulda (HAFB)

With a squadron of Apache Longbows now stationed at Heaney Air Force Base (HAFB), will taking back control of the city from rogue elements be an easy and effortless task?

Operation Tiger Whip: In case troops violate any of the articles of war in Fulda, then will they realise the true meaning of fire from heaven.

High caliber M198 Howitzers cannons are on stand-by at the AFB to support troops in clearing the land of hostile enemy forces. Locals call it Malebolgia's Megadeath as no one has ever lived to tell the tale of Beelzebub's slumber party.

AH-64D Apache Longbows patrolling Fulda skies as troops rehearse themselves for the actual battle. Pilots and Gunners do their best to put their acts together. Just the perfect recipe for effective combat and survival in the event a full-scale encounter with the enemy breaks out.

EUFOR get their Apaches Ready.

Eufor troop "En" awaits for his gunner as aerial sorties over Fulda were given the all-clear by the squadron commander.

Troops marvel at this state-of-the-art killing machine amid its capability to precisely fire laser guided AGM-114L Hellfire missiles and APKWS Rockets. Overpowering enemy positions with incinerating rounds has never been this easy and exciting for a pilot.

The M230 chain gun seems to be the primary weapon of choice for most gunners as a very experienced Apache marksman can take down enemy forces hiding in a heavily populated area with ease, avoiding any civilian casualties.

It is compulsory for pilot to have a gunner (as a co-pilot) to effectively operate the Apache Longbow during combat. Two heads is always better than just having one.

Sophistication beyond imagination, the gunner's cockpit.

A gunner's responsibility is to make sure no enemy threat would be left standing. As well as striking the enemy first before they establish themselves a strategic position, they also must avoid a blue on blue with allied troops.

Maneuverability and agility, the pilot's cockpit.

The pilot's responsibility on the other hand is to ensure that both he, the gunner and the chopper arrive to base safely, as well as no civilian or troop-mate getting caught in the crossfire.

Communication between both the pilot and the gunner would be the most important and effective "weapon" one could ever mount in the Apache.

It would mean the difference between returning to base in one piece, or retrieve the chopper back as a total wreck. A very costly mistake as one may put it.

The dreaded chain-gun can fire simultaneous rounds, leaving little time for the enemy to retaliate. It is said that you have at least 3 seconds to react with the right type of weapon or you end up facing the sky with the back of your head.

With eight (8) AGM-114L Hellfire missiles and forty (40) rounds of APKWS Rockets at the gunner's disposal, the Apache Longbow is one deadly force to reckon with as it has the capability to attack with utmost precision.

Hovering above Neuhoff, Eufor Headquarters, while keeping an eye for hostile troops encroaching the buffer zone. An enemy AT-4 rocket launcher can easily burn Eufor HQ to the ground, as well as the planting of mines within the convoy route have proven very effective against any Eufor deployment to Eichenzell. However, Apache sentries patrolling the skies have deterred any encroachment attempt by rogue Partisans or the stealthy N.E.B. (New Eastern Bloc) troops.

The Apache's Achilles' Heel.

Though seemingly an invincible bird of steel, the Apache does seem to have a weak spot. Long arms fire to the rotor could effectively destabilise hovering, and eventually bring the chopper down. Direct hits from an M1A1 Abrams tank have also been responsible in bringing down several choppers in combat.

The flight of the Valkyries. Apache Longbows seemingly looking invincible in Fulda skies, suffered one of Eufor's worse aviation disaster in history since the 2008 Black Hawk crash in Neuhoff to which ten (10) of its troops were killed.

Burning flame! One of the choppers shot down by a yet "unknown weapon". Witnesses from the ground described it as something similar to a mobile "Stinger", a notoriously sophisticated surface-to-air missile (SAM). The Apache wreck burns next to N.E.B. HQ, condemning the notorious group as the prime suspect to the latest atrocity.

Crash landing. Both the pilot and the gunner ejects to safety seconds before the crash, as they encountered landing problems due to a damaged rotor blade. Not known to many, the rotors have seem to be the Apache's Achilles' heel.

It always boils down to the coordination between the pilot and the gunner. As with such great power comes bigger responsibilities. The pilot is responsible for both his and the gunner's life, and the gunner must be certain that no civilians casualties would be involved in the crossfire.


A Thorn On The Chief's Side.

It is rumoured that Stingers may have already been offered to dealers in the arms black market, ahead of its official release to EUFOR troops. The SAMs (surface-to-air missiles) have yet to see some action in Fulda, and how effective they really are remains to be seen.

A manhunt dubbed: Operation Jenny E against a notorious civilian outlaw group was successful in ending the radicals unlawful activities. Both Eufor and loyal Partisan troops have encountered in the past - civilians discharging unspecified weapons against them, who then would blend with the crowd to avoid capture.

The outlaws had claimed at least the lives of three (3) Eufor soldiers as well as wounding several others with their modus operandi of hit-and-run, reminiscent of the N.E.B.'s guerilla tactics.

Target sighted. A row of hideouts being used by rogue Partisan troops were identified by Eufor soldiers on the ground scouring the area formerly used by the N.E.B. as their headquarters. At least three houses were thought to be utilised by the outlaws.

The Apache's chain guns have riddled the structures with its M230 30mm rounds rendering them useless and inhabitable.

Finishing touches. Gunner extraordinaire Ellynor Lisle reduced enemy hideouts to rubble with a Hellfire missile.

The European Defense Agency (EDA) is said to be funding the construction of a multi-storey residential building over ground-zero in accordance to E.U. plans to integrate Fuldanian refugees displaced by the war, a move which was welcomed by the city council.

Mission accomplished? Apache choppers land at Heaney AFB after clearing Eichenzell of persistent outlaws. For how long the would peace last is unknown, as history would show that there never was a truly lasting peace in the city.

Eufor have seen rogues flee town only to find out later of their return. "How can you fight an insurgency when the enemy has no face?", a frustrated Eufor troop was quoted saying.

"In the lessons of past and present wars, it is always difficult fighting the enemy when the enemy are the very same people you have sworn to protect," added the squadron commander.


Always On Active Stand-by.

Eufor Pilots and Gunners brace themselves for the possibility of skirmishes in the cloak of darkness. The battle has taken an even more nasty turn as rogue Partisans who have taken the reigns of a sleeping N.E.B. use new tactics in trying to get around the Eufor dragnet.

From militia-style ambushes to pockets of insurgency, the opposition will not stop trying at anything in their desperate attempt to succeed at their bastardly plans.

EUFOR's upgrades the Apache Longbow. With the addition of a large EUFOR flag painted on the sides of the chopper as well as pulsar signal lights installed on its wings and pylons, mid-air collisions during night time sorties would be a thing of the past. Pilots and gunners upgrade their skills and capability to effectively engage the enemy in night-time combat.

Infra-red (IR) diode-based searchlights are installed on the Apache's underside producing enough lighting to reveal targets hiding in total darkness. Making the Apache deadly in night time as it is during daytime.

It is a never ending battle between good versus evil as Fulda illuminates the evening sky with burning houses. Scores of houses torched by the insurgents have left the city in ruins as an Apache helicopter hit enemy positions with its missiles.


Epilogue: What next for N71 Aeon?

With the death of both his M16 parents, the big question now is: What next for the EUFOR soldier? Apparently not all is lost for the Englishman as having to follow an Australian contact from Melbourne to Fulda had created a special bond between the two.

Escape from Fulda. With cases of Post Fulda Gap Syndrome (PFGS) on the rise among the FG veterans, the two troops have decided to escape the German city for a place less stressful and a lot more peaceful.

"It's doing my head in Babes." Lizzy Mornington tells En.

"Well, you know that it is time for you to move on when you no longer feel welcome anymore. I guess it is time for us to go Hun." En tells Lizzy with a grin on his face.

He switches on his Ducati patrol bike and drives across the bridge of a town that once welcomed them with open arms. Lizzy holds on to En's blood-soaked jacket and reflects on the day they first stepped foot in Fulda.

She looks behind her as the city slowly disappears from sight.

Heading up north to the town of Bremerhaven on a hijacked speedboat, the two hoped to escape the internal madness of a once thriving German city.

The river channel (frequented by smuggling syndicates operating an oil cartel) will lead them to the open sea, but what lies ahead of them is still uncertain.

"Where to?" the woman in En's life asks her man.

"We cross the English channel to Hartlepool, and from there we drive back to London." En answers Lizzy back with the sound of an even more relieved and hopeful soldier.

"I have a friend there whom we can borrow a car from." En continues on saying.

"Then we can have that English breakfast we have both been craving for!"

Lizzy sat speechless for a moment with the look of excitement beaming on her face, accompanied with the most reassuring smile as they travel across the German countryside.

"It is so lovely here Babes." Lizzy sweetly tells En.

"There's more of that from where we are heading to Hun.", he answers back pulling her towards him - rubbing her by the shoulders. Their boat throttles across the serene river which seems to get wider and deeper as they go further and further away from Fulda.

Old habits never die as the two lay in bed ever more relaxed, with their Sig 599 and XM-109 slung on their backs. Is it out of habit that they decide to sleep with their weapons on... or is it just something they have gotten so accustomed to having fought endless battles in the streets and the woodlands of Fulda Gap?

For the first time in so many months since arriving in Fulda, the two can now both close their eyes as they sleep together on their last night in German soil.

The end of their Tour-of-Duty serving the European Forces would surely pave way for them to spend more time together. To escape the chaos and uncertainty that befalls the towns of Eichenzell and Neuhoff was the next best thing since sliced bread (and English countryside butter with home-made raspberry jam of course).

... and so a brand new chapter begins as En can be heard mumbling in his sleep the words: "trout... carp... bait... cast..."

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