My departure from the UK was very subdued.
If I had expected a goodbye party, I would have been disappointed as no one came to see me off, not even Colonel Henry Stanton, which was a complete relief. Left all alone I simply looked around the camp one last time before loading my bags onto the transport that would take me on the 3-hour drive to Brize Norton.
Taking off from the aerodrome in Oxfordshire the second leg of my journey was a five-hour flight by an Airbus A400 transport plane out to Cyprus. My few companions on the trip were of absolutely no interest to me, or me to them, so, remaining my usual distant and aloof self, I spent the time reading rather than engaging anyone in conversation.
Once we reached the Mediterranean, I had a boring six hour lay-over at the RAF base at Akrotiri waiting for my next flight. Grabbing something to eat from the mess I had little else to do other than rebuff the overtures from a Flight-Lieutenant who was interested in getting my number.
For the final leg, I took a second plane out to my destination in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
As expected, the Hercules C130 aircraft was fully loaded but as well as several tons of supplies there was also, to my surprise, a small number of troops.
Paying perfunctory attention to them I boarded and took a seat alone, away from the soldiers, before strapping myself in.
I was sitting quietly minding my own business when he dropped into the seat across from me. Immediately the disturbance caused me to glance up, our gaze meeting, and I found myself barely able to breathe as I stared, mesmerised, into a pair of hypnotic grey-blue eyes.
"Morning ma'am." He smiled at me and I found my pulse rate jump alarmingly.
"S.... Sergeant." I could feel the colour rising to my cheeks before, taking a deep breath, I replied as calmly as my flustered mind would let me.
Not bothering to introduce himself further he tipped his head back and closed his eyes as he, apparently, started to doze off leaving me free to discretely study him.
Around 6' or so he was broad shouldered with untidy brown hair and captivating eyes. Deciding he was undoubtedly cute, what I found most disconcerting was my reaction to him. I had never met anyone who could set my heart pounding like a jackhammer with just a smile.
It was impossible to tear my attention away from him, as he sat there unconcernedly napping, and I found my mind wandering as I let my imagination run riot about him. I was still staring when he opened his eyes and looked straight at me, his face breaking into a sexy lop-sided grin which sent shivers of excitement down my spine.
Unable to stop myself I felt my cheeks turn a brilliant shade of scarlet as he winked at me.
"Everything ok.... ma'am?" he didn't stop staring directly into my eyes as he spoke.
"Err... yes... I...err yes fine... thank you." I stammered trying to think of something else to say.
"That's good. If I were you though, I'd get some sleep? It's a six-hour flight." He smiled disarmingly before closing his eyes again.
'For god's sake stop it girl. What's wrong with you?'
I thought to myself as I looked away and tried to get my heart rate under control.
The flight was indeed several hours in duration, just as he had said, and despite my perplexing interest in the mysterious soldier I eventually did as he suggested and dropped off to sleep, like the rest of the passengers.
It was a long and tiring 22 hours after departing the UK that I finally stood on the tarmac at camp Bastion in Helmand province watching as my travelling companions, the Sergeant included, collected their kit and marched off into the base.
"Captain Upson-Marsh?" a Corporal saluted and enquired if I was the passenger he sought.
I returned his salute "Yes, that's me Corporal."
"I've orders to show you to your quarters ma'am and then to the Brigadier's office."
Already perspiring in the heat and humidity I stowed my bags in the back of the land rover before climbing in beside him for the short drive to my billet.
The Corporal was particularly uncommunicative and, apart from what he had already said, simply told me that Brigadier Hyde would be waiting for me in his office once I had had a chance to clean myself up.
My room was basic, just a bed, a desk and some storage but it did have the luxury of a tiny private bathroom, courtesy of my new rank. After looking around, which took all of a minute, I dumped my bags on the bed and just took out a change of uniform with the necessary toiletries before stripping off to take a, much needed, shower.
Thirty minutes later, still feeling tired but a lot cleaner and slightly refreshed, I headed across to the base offices that the Corporal had pointed out to me earlier.
"I'm Captain Upson-Marsh, here to see the Brigadier." I announced myself to the soldier sitting at the front desk.
"Oh yes ma'am." He jumped to his feet and saluted, "I'll let him know you're here."
I took a deep breath and waited pensively to meet the next man who's bed I would likely be sharing.
'What would he expect from me?'
I wondered as I stood there.
"He'll see you now ma'am." The young private smiled knowingly, interrupting my thoughts, and held the door open for me.
Marching straight into the office I stood at attention and saluted "Captain Upson-Marsh sir."
"Ah yes, yes Natasha isn't it." he waved to the chair in front of his desk, "Please, take a seat. It's lovely to finally meet you in person. How was your journey?"
"Err... fine thank you sir. Long and tiring but otherwise fine." I sat down and, putting my hands in my lap, studied the man opposite me.
I guessed Brigadier Hyde to be in his late forties or early fifties, a short dapper little man with closely cropped grey hair and a thin grey moustache. Looking every inch a senior officer in his pristine fatigues he took the opportunity to do likewise and look me over as I sat in front of him.
"I've heard a lot about you Captain." he gave me a knowing smirk, "I believe you know an old friend of mine, Colonel Henry Stanton?"
"Yes, I do, sir." My heart sank at the mention of my former CO's name and I didn't take a lot of imagination to guess exactly what he had said about me.
"But I imagine you're tired from your journey so I won't keep you now. I just wanted say hello and let you know you'll be reporting to Colonel Moresby at FOB Arnhem tomorrow. She'll be allocating you your regular duties."
'Her!'
His use of the female gender came as a surprise to me, as was the fact that I was being posted off base. I had envisioned myself spending most of my time at camp Bastion fending off the Brigadier's unwanted attentions.