The group slipped from tree to tree, their confidence growing as they moved more rapidly with no shots were fired in their direction.
“Perhaps the explosion killed their sniper?”
Ali shook his head. “Or he is leading us into the open so that he can kill us all.” He grimaced and waved the men forward. “Either way, we must have al-Abadi.”
The team reached the edge of the trees and had no choice but to step into the clearing. Ali bent low, hoping the tall grass would conceal him. “Move! Now!”
His group of soldiers slowly advanced, cutting wide figure-S shaped swaths in the grass. Ali caught movement from the corner of his eye and saw his second group advancing from the other side of the clearing. He smiled to himself as he realized that soon he would be standing at the front of the compound, al-Abadi firmly in his grasp.
33
Camp Deric, South of Dallas, TX
DARREN CHESTERFIELD FROZE and stared at the off-white drone hovering over their staging area. “What the…”
“They got eyes on us!” The team leader drew his sidearm and took three shots at the hovering device. The drone quickly ducked, weaved and shot away at low altitude.
“If that thing has a camera…” Darren stammered.
“We’re on it.” The team leader hit his throat mic. “Converge on me. We’re taking this place now!”
Darren slid against the tree he had been hiding behind and stared at his hands shaking. “This can’t be good.”
“Move your ass, pencil pusher.” The team leader grabbed him by the chest and half dragged him up the hill behind the bunkers. “This was your baby, remember?”
Darren tripped over himself as the pair advanced.
Camp Deric, South of Dallas, TX
ALI BIN-HAMZA waved his second group forward, his eyes scanning the bunkers for signs of movement. “Shoot on sight,” he ordered into the radio.
When no resistance was offered, he slowly advanced his own group, closing the distance between their position and the front of the bunkers. He waved his second group to the farthest bunker while he and his men converged on the first.
They lined up along the outer edge of the berms and staged for a breach. He waved his munitions men forward and prepared for them to place breaching charges when he caught movement from the corner of his eye.
Men dressed in black tactical gear poured around either side of the three bunkers. “Shoot them!”
Ali aimed his AK and began laying down suppressive fire while backing away from the bunker, praying to find some place to take cover.
He watched as his men opened fire, their training tossed out the window as most sprayed and prayed that they might hit something.
Men in black crumpled to the ground but others appeared almost immediately, their weapons belching fire and hot lead at his soldiers. Ali felt his guts tighten as his men fell. Some screamed, clutching ruined limbs. Others fell, their lifeless eyes staring into the great beyond.
Ali bin-Hamza dropped to the ground and peered through the tall grass. He fired at the advancing men and prayed that Allah would find him worthy of a successful hunt. He had to kill al-Abadi to prove himself to his masters.
Camp Deric, South of Dallas, TX
JAY WATCHED THE battle ensue just meters away from his position. He ducked his head low and prayed that none of the stray bullets would find him. He knew that his ghili suit offered no protection other than from view.
He fought the urge to break and run for the cover of the trees, but he knew that once his position was spotted, he couldn’t rely on the concealment to work again. He tucked his arms tightly to his body and continued to pray as rounds erupted into the soft earth around him.
He felt the concussion of a grenade and nearly shit his pants. It was entirely too close for comfort. He could feel the heat from the blast and the debris that fell over him sounded wet as it splatted the outside of his ghili suit.
“Fuck me! Who’s bright idea was this again?” he practically yelled into the coms.
“Sorry boss. I was hoping they’d duke it out on the backside of the bunker.” Deric had to yell to be heard even through the earpiece that Jay wore.
“Runners!” Bobby announced. He focused on the rearward jihadists and began to drop them systematically, working his way forward when a round erupted near his head, spraying his position with bits of splintered wood and bark.
Bridger tilted his rifle and laid it flat on the ground, ducking behind the stock as more rounds erupted above his head. “I’m made!”
Jay flipped the ghili up and peered through the wreckage of bodies. He couldn’t spot the shooter gunning for Bridger until another shot rang out. He saw the muzzle flash in the grass and aimed for where he assumed the shooter was lying.
He sent three rounds in the general direction then hopped up from his position, exposing himself, as he made his way into the stand of trees to his right. He felt the blast from numerous rounds as they splintered the trees in his path.
He found a small rock outcropping and dove behind it, his rifle coming up and resting across the top of the makeshift cover. “I’ve got limited view here guys. Bridger, you better bug out. I’ll cover your six as best I can.”
He saw the bushy man roll to the side then come to his feet, rifle in hand. Jay tracked Bridger’s rear flank as he beat a quick retreat and disappeared into the woods.
Jay sighed once Bridger disappeared into the shadows but quickly ducked when a round ricocheted off of the rock he was behind. He keyed his throat mic again. “I’m pinned.”
Camp Deric, South of Dallas, TX
ALI BIN-HAMZA fired at the mound of grass that had to be one of the infidels in disguise. He barely noticed the puff of smoke that came from the mound of grass,
