An hour later, as the sun was slowly setting, Bravo team headed over to where the ambush had taken place. As the got out of their Humvee, the smell of ammo and blood was still vivid. They slowly walked over toward Emily's Humvee, rifles at point, ready to shoot if needed. They knew it was risky to come here, but they had managed to convince the General to go along with two other units.
Upon arriving at the epicenter of the chaos, Jason looked around and turned on himself. Ray looked at Jason and knew exactly what was going through his mind.
"Clay, check in the ditch on the left. Trent, you on the right".
Jason knelt and touched the ground. He rubbed his fingers together and blood".
"Clear", said Clay and Trent as they came back next to Jason.
Jason pushed on his radio button. "HQ this is Bravo 1".
"Go ahead Bravo 1".
"We've got three bodies. There is no sign of Captain Blackburn or Officer Quinn".
"Please repeat Bravo 1".
Jason sighed. "HQ, Captain Blackburn's and Officer Quinn's bodies are not here".
Ray looked at Jason. "You think they took their bodies as a trophy"?
"I don't know, but they left the others".
After a few minutes, the radio came to life. "Bravo 1 this is General Goodwin, return to base camp".
When they arrived at base they went directly to the operational HQ and met up with Eric, Joey and General Goodwin.
"We need to come to terms with the eventuality that Captain Blackburn and Officer Quinn might still be alive", said Goodwin.
"If they are alive, what do we do now"?
"They are potential war prisoners. She's the highest in rank, so it's more probable that they are going to use her as an incentive to make us leave the country and start their civil war". He paused for a brief moment and then looked at Eric. "Or use them as an example".
Eric's face was grim, he knew what they meant, that they would be either tortured or simply executed on TV or internet. He was far from being naïve.
The General turned to Campbell. "Reach out to the President Ouattara and General Folami as well as our contacts and get as much intel as you can as to where they would have taken Blackburn and Quinn. Any lead is worth following. I'll update the Pentagon and our President of the situation".
"Yes General"! replied Joey as he headed to the communication center of the operational HQ and called some of his men over to assist him.
Jason let himself sink in the chair. They were alive, it was unbelievable and almost a miracle, but he knew the battle wasn't over.