Chapter 1 - Still Up
The enemy fighter slammed Master Sergeant Nora Vance against the rock wall hard enough to shake dust from the ridge above them.
His hands locked around the front of her tactical vest. Her shoulder struck stone. Pain flashed through her ribs, but Nora kept her eyes fixed on his.
Behind him, two American soldiers rushed along the narrow mountain trail.
Sergeant Hale saw how close the two bodies were and immediately raised one hand.
“Hold fire! She’s too close!”
The fighter shoved harder, trying to crush Nora against the rock.
She planted one boot against the uneven stone, trapped his wrist beneath her forearm, and twisted her body sharply beneath his grip.
“You picked the wrong ridge.”
She ducked under his arm and drove him sideways into the rock wall, creating just enough space to break free.
A distant mortar impact struck somewhere beyond the ridge.
The mountain trembled.
Dust and small stones rained across their gear. Hale dropped low. Corporal Briggs shielded his face with one arm.
Nora staggered toward the rifle lying among the rocks.
Briggs stared at her.
“Raven Three is still up.”
Nora dropped to one knee, pulled the rifle against her shoulder, and looked directly at Hale.
“Get the civilians moving.”
Hale nodded.
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In that moment, everyone on the ridge understood the same thing.
Nora had not survived the ambush so someone else could take command.
