They Thought Raven Three Was Finished, Then She Took Command Again

Nora did not have time to diagnose the radio failure.

The lead vehicle angled toward the evacuation transports below. The infantry element had not yet seen it. Dust covered the road. Civilians still moved between the vehicles in loose groups.

Nora settled the rifle into her shoulder.

She chose the safest available point to stop the lead truck before it reached the open lane.

One controlled shot cracked across the valley.

The truck veered away from the convoy route and rolled into the ditch, blocking the vehicles behind it. The enemy column scattered across the opposite slope, forced to slow and reposition.

Below, Hale finally looked toward the ridge.

He saw the movement.

Then he saw Nora’s muzzle position.

Her shot had protected the transports.

It had also exposed her nest.

Heavy fire struck the rocks around her seconds later.

Stone chips snapped across her sleeves. Nora rolled behind a jagged outcrop, dragging the rifle close. She could hear hostile teams spreading beneath the ridge, using the distraction below to move toward her from the rear.

The communications failure made sense now.

Someone knew where she was.

Someone knew the convoy timing.

Someone had created silence around the only sniper protecting the evacuation.

Nora pulled the radio cable loose and checked it.

The unit itself was functional.

The signal was being blocked.

She reached for her sidearm, then heard gravel shift behind her.

One heavy step.

Then another.

She turned just as a large enemy scout came through the brush.

He did not fire.