Chapter 4 - The Backup Radio
Smoke cleared slowly from the ridge.
Morgan lay beneath shattered rock with her legs partially trapped and her hip burning with every movement. Her primary radio was destroyed. Her vision pulsed at the edges. Somewhere beyond the ridge, hostile voices moved closer.
She freed one leg and reached for her sidearm.
A fighter appeared around the boulder with his weapon raised.
Morgan reacted before thought could catch up.
Two controlled shots.
The threat dropped out of sight behind the stone.
She dragged herself toward the Barrett rifle resting several feet away and forced the heavy barrel onto the ledge. Down in the valley, the PKM gunner who had pinned the outpost was changing position.
Morgan steadied the optic.
One shot ended the machine-gun fire.
Then she scanned the lower staging area.
That was when she saw the rocket launcher.
It sat beneath a large camouflage tarp while several men worked around a fueling unit. The weapon was aimed toward the narrow choke point Convoy Copper would enter at 0600.
Eight unarmored supply trucks.
Forty American soldiers.
Sterling’s false report had left them exposed.
Morgan pulled Miller’s backup radio from her kit.
The casing was cracked but functional.
She keyed the channel.
“FDC, this is Staff Sergeant Morgan Vance at OP 2960. Do you copy?”
The response came after a burst of static.
“Vance? Captain Sterling reported you KIA ten minutes ago.”
Morgan tasted blood.
“I am alive, and the valley is occupied. Open your master log. Record every word and coordinate I give you. Do not stop recording.”
A pause.
Then the operator’s voice changed.
“Solid copy. Recording active. State your intent.”
May you like
Morgan looked toward the rocket launcher.
“I’m going to stop Convoy Copper from becoming a casualty report.”
