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ERIC NYLUND
165
At 0545 they made it to the clearing designated as their ex-
traction LZ. At 0700 hours they were supposed to meet CPO
Mendez. Of course, the Chief rarely let them get off this easy—
so John had planned for Blue Team to be here as well... only
they would remain hidden. Linda and Fred would post some-
where in the treetops and cover Red Team until they were sure it
was safe.
Red Team hunkered down in the brush and waited. They
weren't safe; John knew that. Tango Company would be looking
for them, and this is when his team would get anxious ... when
they would want to talk and brag about their successful mission,
or look at the captured flag. To their credit, Red Team stayed still
and silent. And Blue Team was nowhere to be seen.
At 0610 the thunderous roar of a Pelican's engines filled the
air and the craft slowly descended and landed in the clearing.
The aft hatch popped open.
Fhajad started to move, but John set his hand on his shoulder.
"Too early," he whispered. "When is the Chief not perfectly
on time?"
Fhajad, Kelly, and Sam grimly nodded.
"I'll go," John said. "You guys back up Blue Team."
They gave him a thumbs-up. Sam patted him on the back and
whispered, "Don't worry, I won't let them do anything to you."
"I know," John whispered back. He pulled the flag from his
shirt and handed it to Sam. "Thanks."
John crawled away from their position. When he was thirty
meters from his team, he stood and approached the Pelican—
which was almost certainly a trap.
He halted halfway across the meadow and waited.
A figure appeared on the exit ramp of the Pelican and waved
him forward. "Come on, son. Haul ass!"
"Negative, sir!" John shouted.
The figure turned and muttered to someone inside, "Crap." He
sighed. "Okay, so we do it the hard way."
Four men jogged out of the back of the Pelican. They quickly
spread out in a semicircle and moved toward John, their assault
rifles aimed directly at him.
John held up his hands.
"He's giving up," one of the soldiers said disbelievingly.