Deafened by the continuous firefight, Major Ashley Ryan did not hear the small team flanking his nest of boulders. Pinned down, he and his two men did their best to hold their castle-picking off targets when they could, driving back raids and attempts to swarm them.
Bern's commandos had control of the valley floor, holding the entrance to the tunnel below. Ryan could not even reach his men's packs and extra ammo.
Then a sharp barking drew his attention back and to the left.
The alarm saved his life-all of their lives.
Ryan flicked a gaze in that direction. Spotted a shadowy trio of commandos slip low out of the dark tree line and race low toward his team's flank.
The dog leaped atop the boulder and bayed a challenge.
Ryan rolled, freeing his rifle from the boulder roost. He used the distraction caused by the dog to pop the lead assassin in the face with two rounds. The man went down. The other two commandos fired. The dog yelped, one foreleg shattering under him. The dog toppled off the boulder and hit the grass.
Motherf-
Ryan raised himself higher, exposing himself, and squeezed the trigger hard, strafing in automatic mode. By now, his two men had entered the fray, swinging around and firing. A brief barrage and the two commandos crumpled outside the castle of boulders. Their walls had not been breached, but it had been close. And they all had a problem.
"I'm out," Boydson said, discharging a smoking magazine from his rifle.
Marshall checked his weapon and shook his head. "One more volley then I'm spent."
Ryan knew he wasn't in any better shape.
Bern bellowed in German across the field, his voice rife with bloodlust. He must know their quarry had been beaten down, that they were running low on options and ammo. Ryan shifted forward again and peered out.
The enemy force-still fifteen strong-was readying for a final charge. Bern was going to lead it, standing exposed fifty yards away, fearless in his body armor and confident in his firepower.
A big arm pointed toward Ryan's position.
Ryan settled his cheek to his rifle.
Here we go.