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The first team’s F-22 Raptor made it down the runway safely and was easing along the short-ragged strip in preparation for take-off before disaster struck. Gunfire echoed suddenly through the air, and the insurgents seemed to be attacking the base from all directions.
Anna watched several members of base security rush across the field. But when one of the men was hit, she raced towards him, seizing the rifle that’d dropped from his hands while quickly taking aim.
One by one, each of the five offenders was contained before the insurgents could reach the runway. It happened so fast, and all Anna heard was the order to shoot to kill. In less than five minutes, Anna had killed three of the five men while the two who were wounded were taken into custody, but not without a fight. Although she was certain there’d been at least another half a dozen men approaching, they’d apparently slipped away.
The injured security team member was still laying on the ground, writhing in pain from the bullet in his shoulder, and Anna waved toward the hangar, yelling, “Someone get out here quick—we have a man down.”
A medic and mechanic approached, carrying a lightweight stretcher.
Surveying the scene from near the hangar, Airman Neil Harrison approached Anna with his mouth gaped open.
Shaking his head looking dazed, he laid his hands over her shoulders, staring into her eyes. “You’ve got some serious skills there, Ace. But are you alright?”
Anna nodded imperceptibly. She was aware of the number of casualties resulting from their bombings, but this was the first time she’d ever shot to kill, and she was feeling numb. “I’ve never…”
“I understand,” he muttered softly. “Maybe I should walk you back inside the hangar?”
“Nah, there are at least a half dozen others,” Anna answered, as her mind went back on full alert while motioning towards the edge of the base. “Someone needs to be here.”
Looking toward the remaining security team members, who were still in the process of restraining the two insurgents, Airman Harrison shouted out, “Hey, we need another man over here on duty. We might still be targeted because Drummond sighted more of them.”
As the security detail went back on full alert, chaos suddenly ensued across the runway. The raptor which had been ready to depart exploded, apparently hit by gunfire, and moments later fire erupted from the second bomber, while its pilot was preparing to proceed.
As she and Airman Harrison began approaching the runway, Captain Matthews roared, “Hold back! That’s an order.”
They weren’t the only ones trying to assist. The three remaining men from team one had moved away from their planes and were each ready to jump into action.
But there had already been one casualty; Hawk Benton, the pilot of the raptor that had just blown up.
Anna watched in shock as the fire seemed to spread in a heartbeat, and the second bomber in line became engulfed in flames.
Captain Matthews rushed across the airfield and attempted to assist the pilot struggling to escape from its cockpit.
Airman Luke Bryant was already working frantically to open Zach Logan’s cockpit door as Anna and Neil stood helplessly and watched.
“Damn,” Neil muttered. “The fire must be screwing up the instrument panel.”
Somehow, Luke finally managed to wedge open the cockpit, while the captain held back the burning cockpit door.
But a loud crack resounded, and Anna and Neil watched in horror as the left wing piece caught fire. Suddenly, it broke apart from the bomber and dropped to pin down Luke.
As she saw Captain Matthews pull Zach away from the plane, Anna decided she couldn’t stand by and watch any longer.
Apparently, Neil and at least a dozen others had decided the same thing. The wing piece appeared to have crushed one of Luke’s legs and it took three of them to remove Luke from under the burning fuselage. They half lifted and dragged Luke over the field so he could be tended by the medics, laying him next to Zach, who also appeared to be unconscious.
Activity surrounded them as the remaining pilots rushed to move the closest bombers away from the fire into safety at the opposite end of the airfield.
Anna glanced at Neil, who was staring at Captain Matthews with apparent concern. “Sir, we need to get you over to the medics.”
It was then Anna noticed the Captain was bleeding heavily and realized his left hand had been critically damaged.
What hand?Anna thought grimly.
Captain Matthews was staring numbly at the mangled, bloody mass of bones as he collapsed onto the ground.
* * *
The remaining members of the squadron would be delayed from departing for at least a couple more days in order to clear the airfield of obstructions and debris.
