Chapter 24 Incoming!
INCOMING!
TEDDY
Teddy and Greystone stepped aside as President Garrison left the luxury suite en route to the field for the coin toss surrounded by a thick wall of Secret Service agents.
But the President broke through and, with a friendly smile, beelined toward him and Greystone. “Good to see you. Thanks for your protection.” President Garrison shook their hands. “Things running smoothly?”
Not exactly, but that wasn’t something they’d share with the commander in chief before escorting him onto the field.
“Excellent, sir,” Teddy replied.
The large group made their way to the elevators where two canine officers stood, their German Shepherds at the ready.
Minutes later, he and Greystone stood on the sidelines, flanking the President. The pre-game festivities were about to begin. Teddy glanced at Greystone, a knowing look passed between the brothers before they turned their attention to the announcer, positioned on the field at the 50-yard line.
“Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen,” he boomed through the mic.
“Welcome to a rivalry that dates back to 1890. The Army Black Knights versus the Navy Midshipmen. Today, we’d like to welcome the President of the United States, President Garrison, the First Family, and the President’s esteemed guests.
To the players, we wish you a strong and safe game played in the true spirit of the armed forces. ”
As the announcer continued his speech, Teddy glanced around the packed stadium.
In that moment, he realized it didn’t matter how many ALPHA Ops they had patrolling the stadium.
The number of law enforcement officers and undercover agents seemed insignificant compared to the sheer size of the crowd.
He turned toward the press box and his chest tightened.
In full view of everyone, Sydney and Caroline stood like pillars of strength. Two combat-ready women set apart from the thousands. They stood side by side, Sydney cradling one of the rifles, Caroline’s hand on her holstered weapon.
He spied Sin and Dakota—also in SWAT gear—guarding each side of the press box. If he and Greystone couldn’t guard the sisters, Hawk had picked the best BLACK OPS had to offer. Those two men would fight to their deaths to protect their teammates.
Working alongside these smart, hardworking, and trusted individuals filled Teddy with pride.
The President snapped him back to the moment when he pointed skyward. The Army’s Golden Knights were floating down to the cheers of the rowdy crowd. Teddy stepped onto the field, pressed the binos against his face, and scanned the parachute jumpers for anything suspicious.
Like the pros they were, they all had clean landings. Once they’d gathered up their chutes, they made their way as a unit to the sidelines where a game ball was handed off to a smiling referee.
When the raucous applause died down, the announcer directed everyone skyward again, and the Navy’s Leap Frogs appeared as dots in the late afternoon sky.
Looming larger by the second, Teddy cast his gaze upward as the flock of parachuters floated down to the field, making their own stellar landings.
Teddy homed in on the parachuter with the ball. He, and his fellow jumpers, deposited the game ball into the hands of a different ref, shook the man’s hand, waved big at the crowd, as the deafening cheers filled the stadium.
One glance over his shoulder confirmed that Greystone stood by the President, who wore an easy smile and a relaxed stance.
A swarm of people, wearing their Navy and Army dress uniforms, were escorted onto the field to sing the National Anthem.
They stood behind six microphones, then someone stepped forward to lead them off.
As their majestic voices filled every space in that stadium, Greystone saluted as Teddy placed his hand over his heart.
A patriotic moment that made him proud to be an American.
Most people in the stadium and on the field joined in as the choirs sang their hearts out. When he cast his gaze toward the heavens, an airplane caught his attention. A group of three tumbled from the craft and began their long fall toward earth.
“BLACK OPS,” Teddy said into the comm. “Look up. We’ve got incoming. Who are those jumpers?”
“They’re not on the agenda,” Dakota replied.
“I got eyes on them,” Sin said.
“Slash,” Teddy said as he peered through the binos. “Confirm their affiliation.”
“I’m already on it,” Slash replied through the comm.
He changed to the channel reserved for Sydney. “Sydney, do you see the jumpers?” He looked through the binos and found Sydney standing at the edge of the roof, her hand over her heart.
“Sydney, look up.”
He was met with silence, so he jumped back to the other channel. “Caroline, tell Sydney to look up.”
“Got it,” Caroline replied before she tapped Sydney on the shoulder, said something to her.
Seconds later, Sydney said, “I see them. Are they a late add?”
“I don’t think so,” Teddy replied.
Three parachutes opened and the skydivers’ rate of descent slowed. With exact precision, they steered their way toward the stadium field below.
“I see an emblem on their chutes,” Sin bit out, “and it’s not good.”
“What is it?” Teddy asked.
“Two assault rifles creating vertical lines, a series of grenades for the horizontal line connecting them… and forming a capital H. Like in Haqazzii.”
“On all three?” Teddy asked.
“We’re checking,” Dakota replied.
“I see two,” Caroline said.
“All three,” Sin replied.
“Confirmed,” Dakota said. “All three have the same insignia on their chutes.”
“Sydney—” Teddy started.
“Confirmed?” Sydney asked, her voice calm and steady.
“Yes,” Teddy replied. “Sydney, you’ve got confirmation. It’s three Haqazzii lieutenants.”
Using the binos, Teddy watched as Sydney tapped both comms to silence them. With the rifle positioned against her shoulder, she pointed the high-powered weapon toward the skies.
Here we go…
SYDNEY
This is it.
“You got this,” Caroline murmured.
Sydney focused her full attention on the jumpers as they closed in on the stadium.
She lasered-in on the first one and recognized him as one of the three remaining Haqazzii terrorists.
After a quick sweep of his clothing, she couldn’t confirm if he was wearing explosives, but she did see an assault rifle cradled in his arms. The faster she could take him out, the better.
She had to account for the breeze, for his continual drop and sway. She had to shoot with one-hundred-percent accuracy. If she missed, the bullet could pierce a spectator.
As soon as she calculated how the terrorist would counter the wind, she settled into her ready-position, aimed at the location she expected him to be, and she fired.
BANG! BANG!
A half-second later, the bullets tore through his chest and the flyer went limp. Her standard procedure was to deliver two more kill shots. But this situation called for her to address the remaining threats. BLACK OPS on the field would deal with the one she’d shot.
The crowd started screaming. Even with her comms switched off, she could still hear their cries, but she’d already homed-in on the second terrorist, soaring closer to the field. If she got caught up in the mayhem, it was all over.
They were all as good as dead.
The second jumper must’ve seen what happened to the first one, and his flight path became erratic.
C’mon, c’mon, slow down.
The flock of Army Apache helicopters zoomed overhead.
The wind from their rotors sent the terrorists bobbing and weaving in the now turbulent air, but even so, it appeared as if her second target was trying to fly away from the stadium.
She had to shoot him before he drifted beyond the range of her rifle.
Again, she steadied herself, inhaled slowly, and released the breath.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
She hit him twice in the back, once in the head, and he slumped forward.
A tender tap on her shoulder. Caroline pointed toward the third jumper. He was just above the stadium’s upper tier, mere seconds from landing. If she missed, she’d kill an innocent for certain.
Her skin tingled, her breathing slowed. This was it. She had to take her shot.
She positioned the rifle against her shoulder, watched as the terrorist pulled a semi-automatic rifle into full view.
Now.
She opened fire—BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!—and the terrorist went slack, the rifle slipping from his hands.
She dropped to her knees. She didn’t need to turn on the comms. She could see the reactions on the faces of the spectators. The hounds of Hell had fallen from the now gray skies.
And she had taken all three of them out.
Her job was done, her mission accomplished.
Tank and several other BLACK OPS charged onto the field. Slash appeared from the other sideline, along with Cooper and Danielle. The team raced toward the three terrorists, their bloodied bodies a horrific sight.
Pandemonium erupted in the stands as the students and other spectators began fleeing toward the exits.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” roared the announcer. “Please remain seated. Everything is under control.”
No one wanted to stay in that stadium. The hounds of Hell were upon them, and they were afraid. They were very, very afraid.
“Midshipmen and Cadets,” yelled the announcer, “you’ve received direct orders from your commanders to sit back down.”
An eerie hush filled the stadium as the students returned to their seats. Sydney and Caroline exchanged glances.
“Are you okay?” Caroline whispered.
Despite the intensity of the situation and the fact that she’d just taken out the last of the Haqazzii lieutenants, she felt solid.
“I’m good,” she replied. “I never want to end a life, but—”
“They had assault rifles,” Caroline said. “They would have taken out thousands.” She pulled her sister into a hug. “You did good, Sissy. You’re an American heroine.”
“No.” Sydney shook her head. “I’m just doing my job.”
“Sydney,” Tank said. “The crowd is showing you some respect.”