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The mood was tense the following day. Everyone realized that the chances of us encountering armed resistance had greatly increased. Weapons were cleaned and equipment double-checked. Mark and his troops would be on stand-bye near the helicopters, ready to lift-off at a moments notice.
The UAV pilot and two intelligence officers took their positions in the mobile command center as the convoy once again rumbled out the gates.
When we reached the two villages we’d visited the previous day the convoy ground to a halt. I went back to the command vehicle. It was near the rear of the convoy, as it had no anti-mine protection capabilities. The drone pilot made a couple of passes over our intended destinations, while I watched the scene unfold on a large monitor. Nothing seemed out of place,
