FOB Blackhawk - There is deliberateness akin to how a surgeon works that goes into the planning of an artillery strike in the fire direction center, or FDC.

Except instead of using a scalpel to work, the center uses 155mm howitzers.

Attached to the 5th Stryker Brigade's 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, the artillerymen from 3rd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery provide the troopers with another dimension in combating the Taliban.

"We are still king of the battlefield," commented 1st Lt. Brandon Lapehn, the fire direction officer.

And recently, the king had something to say about reported Taliban activity.  The mission was H&I, or harassment and interdiction, according to Staff Sgt. John Gonzales, the FDC's top enlisted soldier.

"We want to deny the enemy the freedom of movement and sanctuary as well as collect signals (radio communication) intelligence."

Being targeted were six areas of suspected Taliban activity in the distant Tora Ghar Mountains.

"We think they have observation posts there, and we also want to disrupt their avenues of approach," added Lapehn.

The strike on the objective unfolded as follows.  Earlier in the day, a scout platoon from the cavalry squadron moved into the mountains to observe the targeted areas.

Once they had "eyes on" the objective, they transmitted information back to the fires and effects cell at FOB Blackhawk.

The cell took the information and fixed the coordinates - the exact spots - as to where the artillery rounds would be fired.  At this point, the data is then handed off to the FDC.  It is here that the data is both manually and digitally crosschecked to ensure accuracy.

"We call it a ‘double bump' to ensure accuracy," explained Gonzales.

The FDC also takes the grid coordinates and determines the deflection quadrant for the guns.  Deflection is the right/left movement of the howitzer's barrel, or "tube."  Quadrant is the up/down movement of the tube.

Also factored in is barometric pressure, temperature and wind direction.  These help determine the powder charge to be used in firing the shell.

All of this occurs in the time it took you to read this far.

Once the FDC completes its work, the data is relayed digitally to the four guns comprising Bravo Battery.

"OK, we've got a mission," yelled Staff Sgt. Peter Bazo, the section chief to Gun #1.

The king began to prepare.

As powerful as it is imposing, the M- 777 155mm howitzer is the largest gun in the inventory.

It is also deadly accurate.

"We hit what we aim at," commented Bazo.

Holding a digital fire control system computer in his hands, Bazo called out the deflection and quadrant readings to Spc. Jonathan Wilkinson and Spc. Paul Hawthorne.

As the barrel was brought up into position, Spc. John Walsh brought up long, plastic tubes containing five charges of gunpowder as Spc. William Goboff and Pfc. Jolicoeur Kirouac prepared to slide a 100-pound high explosive (HE) shell set to explode on impact into the gun's gaping breach.

In a nod to the artilleryman's "red leg" heritage, the ends of the powder charges are a bright red.

Then the king spoke.

Everything went white with the thunderous report of the Triple 7 as the earth moved and a shock wave rippled out from the gun causing the dust to fly.

Amidst the choking, white dust, the six man crew worked quickly and efficiently as it loaded and fired four more HE rounds downrange at a target well over 16 miles away.

The cavalry scouts downrange would wait and report back on any enemy movement.  If needed, they would request another strike.

In the meantime, the king waited secure in his power.