CHAPTER TWO
“Why the fuck are we out here again?” asked Menzies.
“According to the messages we received, intel is saying that Mogdani and his men are in that school, holding the children hostage,” said Logan.
“How is that possible, brother? Those kids are going in and out of there, laughing, eating their fruit, for fuck’s sake, they’re singing. No one is being held hostage in that school,” said Forrester.
“Brother, we’re Green Beret. We follow orders,” said Star.
“I don’t follow orders that make no fucking sense,” said Logan. “I don’t give a shit about the consequences. Those are kids in there. Kids and young women who are teaching. There are no tangos in that building.”
“I agree brother, but what do we do about it?” asked Forrester.
Logan stared at the building, looking intently to see if he’s missed anything. Not only were there no signs of distress, but there were also no men near the building at all. Just young girls playing and laughing, along with female teachers.
“Base you read?” asked Logan into comms.
“We read. Do you have the tangos in sight?” Logan recognized the voice of command and cringed at the sound of him. He despised the man and thought him to be an incompetent leader.
“Command, there are no tangos. This is a school. A school with happy children and no signs of distress anywhere. I repeat. This is a legitimate school.”
“We know what our intel says. Tell your men to take cover, Anders.”
“What the fuck is he doing?” asked Star.
“I don’t know but we can’t let him do what we think he’s going to do. Those are children for fuck’s sake,” said Forrester.
“Command, I repeat. Mogdani is nowhere to be found. This is the wrong location!” said Logan.
Logan heard the sounds in the distance on comms. Someone had left the link open as command was ordering for them to fire the missiles.
“HQ! HQ do you read?” he said over comms.
“We read.”
“Those are not tangoes! I repeat those are not tangoes! That is an orphanage and school. Do not engage! I repeat, do not engage!” he screamed.
“It’s too late. Missiles fired.”
“Intercept them! I repeat intercept!”
There was silence on the line. Nothing as he watched in horror. Too far to give them warning and not able to do anything from his position.
“Do you read?” he asked again.
“We read loud and clear,” said a familiar voice. “There are tangoes hiding in that building and we will eliminate them.”
“You’re mad. You’re all mad! You’re murdering children!”
“Careful, Anders. You’re making accusations of a military leader. Someone who holds your career in the palm of his hand,” whispered the voice.
He knew exactly who it was and why he was doing this. He was a man with a lot to hide and somehow, he knew that Logan knew his secret.
“Take my fucking career and shove it up your ass.”
The explosion behind him was deafening. The poorly constructed building crumbled into pieces, no doubt leaving no survivors. The men to his right were in disbelief.
“He killed them, Anders. He killed those kids and those women. They were innocent. They’ve done nothing wrong!” said the man beside him.
“No. They did nothing wrong but he damn sure did.” Logan stood and started walking away.
“Where are you going?” asked another man.
“To a place where I can get the help we’re going to need. If you’re interested, follow me.”
“Help? Are you fucking crazy? You just told command that they fired on innocent lives. Do you really think they’re going to let us walk away from this?” asked Forrester.
“We will and if you want to live, you’ll come with me,” he said moving back down the mountain from their location. No doubt their transportation wouldn’t show and they’d be up a fucking creek without a paddle. But they’d find their way home.
“Logan? Logan do you read, it’s Hiro.” Logan let out a long sigh of relief and actually laughed. He tapped his comms.
“I read, brother.”
“Logan, I have it all recorded. All of it. His side and yours. We’re sending a chopper for you now. Find a place to hide until we can get there.”
“Roger that,” he said calmly.
“Who the fuck are you talking to?” asked Star.
“Family. If you want to live, come with me.”
“Isn’t that a corny line from a fucking movie?” asked Menzies.
“Probably. But it’s the truth right now. Follow me. I’ll explain as we go.”
It would be two days of evading capture and avoiding their own military but Logan and his team finally met up with the only people who could help them.
“What the fuck is that?” growled Star.
“That, is my father,” he grinned as Rush walked toward him with several other men. “Hi, Dad.”
“Hello, son. Men,” he nodded. “Nice to meet you all. Let’s get you the fuck out of here.”
“Dad, we have to fix this,” said Logan.
“We’re handling it right now back home. Command put out a notice that they’d killed Mogdani which was immediately debunked by local authorities. They very graphically and openly shared the photos of the strike and the bodies of the young girls and women.”
“Fuck me,” muttered Logan.
“He tried to blame all of you. He said that you ordered the strike even though you didn’t verify the tangos,” said Rush.
“That’s a fucking lie!” said Star.
“We’re aware,” smirked Rush. “As I said, we had it all recorded. It was sent to the POTUS and Pentagon. Right now, they’re searching for the command staff, or at least the three that were in the room when the order was given. Seems they decided to take a vacation.”
“Well, that’s good, right?” said Forrester. “I mean, we’re off the hook. Are we going back to base?”
“No,” said Ham stepping forward. “The command team has said in no uncertain terms that you’re all dead men. As of right now, you’re on leave and will be protected by us.”