Chapter 21- When the Hunters Become the Hunted

Shadow sat by the window, chewing the granola bar he had just taken a bite of. He heard Mutt yawning upstairs, and he couldn't blame him. Almost eleven hours had passed since they had arrived and it was beginning to get unbearably hot. The most exciting thing they had seen was a goat herder crossing the road, and they didn't feel like bothering him. Suddenly, Mom was heard on their radios.

"Icarus is out of the field. I'm taking over as your eyes." he explained.

"Anything on Habeeb?" asked Shadow as he glanced down the sight of his rifle.

"Guy is just pacing around the room talking to the same guy. I haven't been able to tap into the call." explained Mom as Shadow got up from his position and moved over to a sleeping bag to get some sleep and let Ute take over the position.

"Just let us know if anything changes, we might head out on a patrol soon." responded Shadow. Suddenly, Mom's tone changed to one of panic.

"He's off the phone and heading outside. I'm pulling up satellite images. Jesus Christ, they're getting mobile. I don't know where they are headed yet, but I'll try and find out." exclaimed Mom as Shadow ran over to a window. He aimed his DMR outside before responding.

"Do it quick. I don't want to be overrun by a bunch of AQ all of the sudden." he said before hanging up the call. He ran over to Bear and patted him on the shoulder. He began ordering the team around, "You get the front. Ute, get that side window!" The two moved to their positions as Mutt jumped down the stairs to grab his pack and DMR. Before he could run back up the stairs, Shadow grabbed his arm. "Remember you can only use those rounds on the trucks." Mutt nodded before heading back up the stairs. Bear quickly checked the drum in his SAW before scanning the area. Shadow took up his position. "Mom, where are they headed?"

"They just started rolling. But they are armed to the teeth, so they are expecting a fight." explained Mom.

"Well we're ready for one too." Shadow responded.

Mom quickly tried to bring Shadow's cockiness down. "You aren't ready for this, Shadow. Get out of there ASAP. They are headed your way right now."

"Mutt!" screamed Shadow at the sniper. The sniper was quick to respond.

"What do you need?" asked the sniper.

"You see any trucks and you fire on sight!" ordered Shadow.

Mom was quick to assert his position. "Charlie, you're gonna get one of your brothers killed doing this." Shadow continued to ignore his old team leader as he continued to set up the positions. "Charlie, listen to me…" he was once again cut off by Shadow screaming orders.

"Boss! Two trucks coming up the road! 1,000 or so meters!" screamed Mutt. He stared down his scope at the approaching trucks and aimed for the engine of the lead truck.

"Take them out!" Shadow yelled as Mutt placed his finger on the trigger. He began to steady his breathing as he tracked the truck and lead the shot. The sniper applied steady pressure to the trigger and the rifle sounded with a roaring boom. The large 20mm round flew down range toward its intended target, which it hit dead center and began ripping the engine block apart. The engine ignited and flames began to spread through the truck. Insurgents began jumping out of the truck, but it was too late for the driver as he was engulfed in the flames. Mutt held back the urge to fire on one of the men.

"Permission to fire on the insurgents?" Mutt asked as Shadow continued to pace the room.

"Boss, U.S. technically never signed the treaty. We merely observe it." grinned Bear as he glanced back at his team leader.

Shadow looked up at his sniper. "Smoke 'em" he ordered gruffly. Mutt aimed his rifle as he watched one insurgent take cover behind a small rock. Mutt placed the crosshairs on the man's head and began to pull the trigger. With another loud bang, the second bullet was sent toward its target. Mutt watched through his scope as the man's head disappeared in a cloud of pink mist.

"One down." Mutt reported as he pulled the bolt back, ejecting the spare shell. He aimed down range until he saw something which caught his eye. He aimed his scope up and found the danger. "Tank!" Mutt yelled, warning the rest of his team.

"Shoot it! Shoot it!" screamed the leader as bullets began to hit their position sending everyone into cover. Mutt aimed his rifle at where he thought the bullet would hit the crew, but before he could the tank fired a round heading toward the sniper's position.

"Oh shit!" Mutt yelled as he dove down the stairs just in time to avoid the round which destroyed his position and sent debris flying through the house. Mutt tumbled down the stairs, landing on the back of his head while the rest of his team took cover from the debris. The blow had stunned Mutt for a minute, but he quickly came back to his senses and jumped up.

"We got to get out of here, LT!" yelled Ute at the top his lungs while returning fire against the insurgents. The tank fired another round, this shot flying over the building. Ute went into cover, with Bear taking over his position with the SAW. He unleashed a heavy barrage on the determined enemy, dropping a large number of them, but more kept coming toward their position. Bear dropped the empty drum and loaded a full one.

"I'm trying to get an extraction for you. Get out of there now." Mom ordered. Shadow glanced out the window before making his decision.

"Ute, get the truck started. We'll cover you." he ordered. Ute nodded and went out the back door to the truck. His teammates covered his exit as he opened the truck door and tossed his DMR. Ute inserted the key into the ignition and turned, starting the engine.

"Truck's ready, Shadow." Ute spoke over the radio as Shadow pulled out a smoke canister. He pulled the pin and tossed it out the window. He waited for a second until the cloud of white smoke began to cover the house, Shadow motioned the guys outside. Mutt tossed his sniper rifle into the bed of the truck and then jumped over the side into the bed. Shadow ran around and opened the passenger door as Mutt pulled Bear into the truck.

"Go, go, go!" ordered Shadow as Mutt reached in and grabbed Ute's DMR. "Mom, where is the extraction?"

Mom crackled on the radio. "There's a Pelican callsign Duckling 3-5-7, 10 miles west. Collins just informed me he wants you guys to debrief him personally."

"Sounds good. I'll bring up Habeeb's connection stateside." Shadow spoke as he looked behind the team and watched the house disappear from site.

"Just watch your words brother." Mom explained "You don't need the big shots in Washington investigating in the middle of ops. Remember the last time that happened?"

Shadow shook his head. "You mean the time Chimera Team nearly getting killed when two S.A.D. operators panicked. Yeah that was not a pleasant day." He spotted a Pelican flying overhead and got back on his radio. "Duckling 3-5-7, I got eyes on you."

"Copy that. I see you boys in the truck. Coming in for landing" the pilot said as the Pelican began to descend. When the transport was low enough it lowered the ramp. Shadow realized there was not enough room to fit the pick up so they decided to ditch it, grabbing their packs and weapons. Shadow glanced up at the ramp and quickly put together the best words he could for when he had to face Collins in the debriefing. The General was not the best person to explain a failed mission to, but also the fact someone stateside was communicating with two known terrorists.