Chapter 4 - Ninety Seconds
The Chinook needed ninety seconds on the ground.
Rachel did not believe the SEALs had ninety seconds.
She circled above the extraction zone with one engine burning and hydraulic pressure falling.
The control stick pulled toward the western wall.
Noah’s voice broke through the static.
“Movement on the north shelf. East of the broken tower.”
Rachel searched through smoke and dust.
“Landmark.”
“Dead tree shaped like a hook.”
She found it.
A mercenary rose behind the rocks with a missile launcher resting against his shoulder.
Below, the Chinook descended through the storm.
Its rear ramp opened.
The surviving SEALs began carrying their wounded toward it.
Rachel attempted to turn toward the launcher.
The damaged controls locked halfway.
The missile fired.
Its white exhaust climbed toward the helicopter’s right engine.
Rachel pushed the remaining throttle forward and released every flare she had left.
Then she drove the burning A-10 between the missile and the Chinook.
The missile shifted toward the hotter target.
The explosion struck beneath Rachel’s left wing.
The blast rolled the aircraft almost onto its back.
Metal tore free.
Her shoulder slammed against the harness.
For several seconds, the canyon became rock, sky, fire, and rock again.
Rachel forced the control stick back.
The A-10 leveled just enough.
“Rescue One, status.”
“We’re intact.”
“Then get them aboard.”
The Chinook touched down.
Rachel remained above it while bullets struck the underside of her aircraft.
One round tore through the cockpit and crossed her thigh.
She kept flying until Noah’s boots left the ground and the rear ramp closed.
Nine men escaped.
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Rachel finally turned south.
That was when Kessler ordered her not to approach any American military base.
