“Rebel forces have corralled the survivors of their ambush campaign into the center of the compound. At count, there are fifty, including some military personnel. There is evidence of torture on some, as well as a grave pile just outside. They haven’t moved on,” Wolf said.
The large SEAL had hit the ground running and immediately went on recon the minute his team touched down. Welsh stood next to Mozart and Abe as they hovered over Wolf’s hand drawn map. Glitz sat next to Heim while Big Boss leaned next to the wall beside Snake and Cry Baby. Cookie, Dude, and Benny, who’d been on recon to the compound, were on guard duty to keep Rose and Lacey secure while they discussed a plan for infiltration.
“Tex filled us in on the details for the ambush plan, and Vixen got us information from SAS. It seems Abd doesn’t have direct reach, but his cell is plotting revenge. There are a few propaganda videos about Goddess and Katya’s capture and their link to the U.S. military. Also, they’ve taken credit for a MSF medial facility attack that housed a U.S. SOST on the premises,” Wolf added.
“Fuck. They’re taunting us. They want us to know they are still coming after us,” Welsh said.
“Seems that way. At least revenge is easy to understand, and a much more direct approach. They’ve suffered a major blow after we weeded out their connections in the military. At this point, they are shooting wide to capture us.”
“But how did they know we’d be here in the first place?” Heim asked.
In exchange for leaving with the impending med evac helicopter, he was to be involved in all planning of the mission. Welsh’s team leader was chewing nails to be taken out of the action, but he understood how important it was.
“Let me answer that, fellas. They didn’t know you were coming. They have connections to the Balkans with their Russian ties for the cell. Supporting the rebel action keeps the area destabilized,” Tex explained.
“Destabilization equals recruits,” Abe agreed.
“Are you saying they hit us on accident?” Snake asked, his disbelief evident in his voice.
“In a nutshell. They are forwarding their own agenda, with a wider net, since Abd was cut off. The plant was there even before you guys were put on mission. You can choose see it like it was an unfortunate break for you guys, or a lucky stroke that you are here to protect these people,” Tex said.
“Either way, we need to get these people to safety and get things cleared out. Once we go in, we take no prisoners. If any of them get back to the cell, they’ll disclose that the SEAL team was here on mission. It’ll be a boon for them,” Wolf said.
“Agreed. We need to go in hard and fast. With two SEAL teams, we should be able to get in there, disable and remove the threat, as well as provide rescue. If we can get the hostage out of the center of the compound and bunkered down, we would have a clear battle area,” Snake explained.
“Cookie and Dude can be on rescue. Big Boss and Snake can be on snipe. Glitz, you haven’t been cleared from the possible concussion, so you stay here to keep an eye on Rose and Lacey. The rest of us will split into Alpha and Bravo team for an ambush. The faster we get them pressed out and away from the hostages, the better,” Wolf directed.
“Hooyah!”
“We leave at 0300 hours, gentlemen. Get ready.”
At Wolf’s parting order, Welsh was more than eager to end the terror the rebels had been raining down on them. He finally had someone to return to.
*
Welsh checked his rifle one final time as they fanned out just outside the dark zone of the compound. Garish lights running on generators illuminated the tied survivors, each linked to one other by their necks. It made his blood run hot just to see it. These were medical professionals, not hardened soldiers who knew how to fight. The military personnel who’d been in residence weren’t visible now, and that worried Welsh.
“Big Boss and I are in position,” Snake announced over the mic.
“Alpha team set for entry. Bravo for exit and cleanup,” Wolf added.
“I’m picking off rapidly, and when I go, the fireworks will start,” Big Boss told them.
“Hooyah!”
It started with a single blood-splattered shot. Chaos ensued, and the SEAL team didn’t have the advantage of surprise. With all the lights, they couldn’t risk being seen. Welsh caught the tail end of Cookie disappearing behind a mound as he and Dude headed toward the hostages. Welsh, on Alpha team with Wolf, Mozart, and Abe, slipped up from the darkness, weapons drawn. They cut a path with gunfire, dodging back and forth between hiding spots as they pressed steadily forward against the retreating enemy.
More shots rang out, and the large overhead lights exploded into a show of sparks. The hostages screamed, but Welsh kept his head on the mission. The sooner they got the rebels out of there, the faster they’d have everyone saved. A rebel slipped on the ground, firing wildly into the air. It gave enough time for Welsh to bum rush him, knocking his weapon from his hands and gripping him by the neck. With no room for hesitation, Welsh snapped his neck and gripped his weapon once more.
“The path behind is clear,” Welsh called.
“I’m moving the initial line of hostages out, give us cover,” Cookie returned.
Wolf came back to Welsh’s left while Abe took up his position on the right. They were larger targets that way, even in the dark, but it helped draw attention away.
“Switch to infrared sight,” Wolf ordered.
The blazoned red and orange dotted Welsh’s vision as he switched his visor to see body heat in the darkness. Bright-white light zipped across the open field, bullets represented only by the color of their heat.
“They’ve got a lot of fire power. We need more, Big Boss,” Welsh called.
“I’m on it.”
The three SEALs moved forward, maintaining their scopes to take down any rebels in the way.
“Second set of hostages en route,” Dude mic’d.
“Almost clear,” Wolf said.
“Bravo team has ten targets pinned down. Requesting assistance,” Cry Baby added.
“On our way,” Wolf replied.
Wolf tapped Welsh’s shoulder, and they lined up, coming out wide before pinching back in toward Cry Baby’s position. There they found him braced against a wall, shooting cover fire for Benny as he tossed a grenade into the fray.
“Take cover!” he yelled.
He didn’t have to say it twice. Welsh covered Cry Baby as the men hunkered down against the blast. He closed his eyes to block out the bright light from the explosion and then jumped up, ready to start again. But the world was quiet, the eerie silence after a battle has been won and the mind hasn’t registered it yet.
“Tex, tell Heim he’s about to get flown out with us, and let Glitz know he can bring Lacey and Rose back in.”
“Will do, SEAL.”