The UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter swung low over the ridgeline and stopped to hover behind a small hill. The pilot gestured once to the lone passenger inside the crew compartment as the heli's gunners looked out into the darkness, alert for any signs of trouble. They were manning 20mm miniguns whose mounts could swivel 180 degrees and spit out thousands of rounds per minute. More than enough to cut a man in half if anyone was foolish enough to point a weapon in their direction. Once their passenger exited the vehicle, the pilot lifted off and sped back towards friendly airspace. Not once did he envy the man he dropped off. Thank God I'm an aviator, the pilot thought to himself.

Chris Jacobs watched the Blackhawk as it flew away. He stood very still and listened for any indication that the North Korean Army was aware of his presence. The 7.62mm RPK light machine gun with its 100-round drum magazine was a reassuring weight in his hands. He knew that his odds of survival were slim to none if the NKA either saw or heard his arrival. The element of surprise was his only ally right now and he needed to keep that advantage.

When he was satisfied that no one had witnessed his arrival, the ex-Green Beret took out his ExOps secure PDA. He pressed a couple of buttons and called up his location on the GPS screen. Then he flipped the cover shut. Chris took inventory of his equipment. Flash-bangs. M26 Fragmentation grenades. RPG-7 launcher and reloads. Okay, he was ready. He headed into the woods and disappeared from sight.

Half an hour later and several kilometers from his insertion point, Chris was peering out into the darkness with his NVG. Through the gloom he could see several North Korean soldiers milling about a small camp. He noted that they were mostly armed with the local copy of the 7.62mm AK-47 assault rifle. There were a couple of soldiers who stood near a RPG. As for vehicles, there was a single deuce and a half transport truck and a Sungri Scout. The Sungri was your basic jeep with a light machine gun mounted in the back.

Both vehicles sported the North Korean flag. Might be useful in the near future, the mercenary thought to himself. He lay flat on his stomach and activated his Bluetooth wireless headset. Chris needed to check in with the front office.

" FREELANCER to CONTROL. Incoming Sitrep. "

SATCOM links usually had thirty second delays, especially if the system was encrypted. Chris continued to keep an eye on the camp below while he waited for a reply. He didn't have to wait long.

" CONTROL to FREELANCER. Ready to receive Sitrep. "

CONTROL was a beautiful, blonde Brit by the name of Fiona Taylor. Ms. Taylor was ex-MI6, the Secret Intelligence Service. She was the highest ranking case officer and special projects manager until she was recruited by Executive Operations. Highly intelligent, her skills as an analyst were second to none. Chris had worked with her before and, though he wouldn't admit it, trusted her instincts. Her voice was very reassuring on this operation.

" CONTROL, be advised I have located the perimeter guards. I will engage and neutralize this threat. Advise AN assault force ETA. Over. "

" Roger that, FREELANCER. You are cleared to engage. ETA of AN assault force is twenty minutes. Watch your six. Out. "

Chris clicked off his headset. He didn't know what these guys were having for dinner, but it was going to be their last supper. He racked back the bolt on his RPK light machine gun. It's time to rock 'n roll…

TO BE CONTINUED