It was a dark and somewhat stormy night.

2026, October 20. 9:27am. Austin, Texas.

Nothing very new to report. Reports of enemy activity over the city last night did not appear to be accurate. Sporadic shelling of our positions continued on a regular basis -- about every 2 hours a new barrage hit the compound.

"When do you think we're going to be rotated back to the battalion area, Captain?" asked PFC Ayala. "This crap is getting old, sitting here in the squad area, humping around the zone 12 on, 12 off, this really sucks."

"As you were Ayala" I shot back. "Get your head back in the game. Keep your damn eyes on the threat sensors. I want double sweeps of the boards today - it's too damn quiet. Those sneaky bastards are up to something."

"Aye sir." Ayala grumbled "I'll keep my eyes open."

"You do that, and someday you might just make Corporal, and you might walk out of this alive."

I went back into the bunker to relace my boots. Damn things still hurt my feet. Seems like every time I climb aboard the armored fighting vehicle (AFV) my feet go to sleep. I really need to head back to battalion to visit the PX and some new boots.