~Hunter's POV~

I didn't know when things got so out of hand on the patrol. Everything had been fine! It was quiet; nothing got sighted on our border lines for the base. That was the job; start at our battalion section exit and moved in smaller groups to check the perimeters and make sure no enemies were trying to launch an ambush on the base directly. Now, there were few and rare instances where no matter how much patrolling was done, an ambush that outnumbered a patrol group could happen. If such was the case, there was always two guards standing by a switch on a post half a mile from the base line.

This switch was the EAH or Emergency Ambush Horn. And the shortest definition for this alarm is that when it's flipped, the entire base will be notified that one of the baseline patrols has been ambushed by enemy forces that outnumber and needs the backup as soon as possible. The hardest part of something like this happening was that no moves could be made until the information was transmitted properly through the right channels. Now I'm stuck here in a fight I couldn't ever expect to win and since I called in the Code Black at 1:30 am, and no one had come yet.

~Normal POV~

Two companies and a platoon total from Dreki Battalion were making their way by air or ground transportation to Conqueror's locations. It was fifteen miles away, the choppers would arrive first, and that's why Harry had his company taking those. Last they heard, Hunter had Conqueror staying as together while doing what they could to fight back against the one hundred and seventy enemy soldiers who had them surrounded with guns, launchers, and grenades.

"Gods, I hope we're not too late," Treyden prayed aloud as Theo and and Andrew nodded to him. "Hunter's too tired fight, we never should have let him go,"

"It's not your fault boys. I shouldn't have asked him to take a second shift but I do wish you would have told me right away that you noticed he could be sick, You're right, he's not in any condition to be fighting an ambush off with sixteen others," Harry sighed and saw Treyden's worried face. "Don't worry, Treyden. We'll make it," he assured.

/Flashback; Just Before The Ambush/

~Normal POV~

At 10 pm, Hunter left with Charlie Conqueror to the base exit for Dreki Battalion and the patrol began. Hunter was tired, had a massive headache, and felt sick to his stomach but continued doing his job. Three hours in and things were quiet, Hunter checked in every two hours per protocol and he still had one to go before he radioed again. The group was moving through a small residential town with a few added on Iraqi friendlies who were stationed in that area on patrol as well. Hunter checked his watch, it was 1:27 am and he sighed lightly but then suddenly, something hit the ground in front of them; a grenade.

"Move! Hit the deck!" Hunter yelled out. Wasting no time, the group spread out and took cover behind something or threw themselves to the ground once farther away. The grenade went off, and a few suffered the smoke inhalation, when the initial blast died down, Hunter looked around to see where everyone was. "Is...everyone all right?" he asked.

"Yes, First Sergeant Haddock. We're all okay, moved just in time," replied one of the men closest to him. Of course, the relief Hunter felt after that didn't last as soon they were under fire.

"Take cover, watch each other's backs, stay within a four building radius until I figure out what the hell we're dealing with!" Hunter ordered while the soldiers for Conqueror quickly moved to find cover and try to see where the attack was coming from because it was hidden by the smoke from the grenade. Ten minutes later, Hunter managed to get high enough to see they had been ambushed by enemy forces and were severely outnumbered. "Fuck," he muttered.

Hunter didn't know how many they were up against but he was aware that his platoon of nineteen plus himself and the six friendlies weren't going to be enough to fight this. Shots were being fired from all directions, grenades were getting dangerously close to hitting their cover spots, and if any RPG's struck, they were fucked. Hunter got the walkie-talkie from one of the pockets on his vest after moving back when a bullet shot past the door frame he was standing near. =Code Black! I repeat, Code Black!=

Black meant that base line patrol was ambushed by enemy forces that reached one hundred and fifty or more. Code Black wasn't used over the first radio as there would be far too much confusion and so it was only alerted between the platoon leader on patrol and the guards at the EAH post. Everyone knew when there was a Black code; it was the only code that authorized the EAH alarm to be set off and when it sounded, everyone would be on alert and wait for orders.

Hunter carried two ways of communication with him; one was the main radio that changed channels to allow him to talk to his platoon, the company, and the Dreki Battalion officer, Lieutenant Colonel Corey Sullivan. However, there was also one set of walkie-talkies for each platoon because they were only used by the group on baseline patrol. The leader carried one, the guards standing at the EAH post took the other.

(EAH Post; Dreki Battalion)

=Code Black! I repeat, Code Black!=

As soon as the two soldiers on guard heard that on the walkie-talkie, one of them unlocked the clear bullet proof case with the key from around his vest then pressed a big red button. A second later the horn was heard blaring through the Draconia base since the post was only half a mile from the Dreki section's exit/entrance.

(Dreki Battalion Office)

Harry was racing down the stairs of the battalion office ten minutes after the horn sounded when he was radioed by Corey Sullivan along with the other seven company leaders that made up Dreki Battalion. Reaching the conference room he was told to come to, Harry found himself to be the last one there. "My...apologies, Lieutenant Colonel," Harry panted a bit.

"All company leaders for Dreki present, Major General Malone," Corey said after taking the phone off mute. The Division leader was Oliver Malone, a rank of Major General. For things like this, they used a conference call to connect the base leaders to the battalion where the signal came derived.

"Lieutenant Colonel Sullivan, the signal came from the Dreki post. Who is on your baseline patrol this evening?" questioned Oliver.

Corey looked at the seven company leaders standing before him, and Harry stepped forward. "It's the Conqueror platoon for Plasma Fire,"

"I thought you said Lieutenant Holgerson had left for a personal matter. Is he not the leader for Conqueror?" asked Corey while arching a brow.

"Holgerson is away; I asked one of my other platoon leaders to fill in since their platoon already did a shift. Haddock is commanding Conqueror in Asher's place," Harry explained.

"Haddock? Isn't he the seventeen-year-old boy on Hooligan platoon that we sent on the level seven?" Oliver mentioned.

"That is correct, Major General," Harry replied. They were wasting time! Conqueror was in trouble, that meant Hunter was too and the lad hadn't taken part in any code black ambushes thus far. "All do your respect, sir. First Sergeant Haddock has never been in an ambush of this level. There are nineteen soldiers who have been in that mess for half an hour. I'm getting Plasma Fire ready to fight" Harry said quickly before he grabbed his radio and turned it to the company channel. =Code Black! I repeat, Plasma Fire has a Code Black. All troops gear up and report to the Dreki Battalion baseline!= he ordered.

/End Flashback/

Twenty-five minutes of flying and they were able to see the fires and smoke, the sounds of the weapons were heard too. There were three choppers holding soldiers. Striker One and Two used two of them, then one squad from Sunflare used the third. The medical helicopter stayed back and landed outside of the fight range. The rest of the soldiers would be coming by ground vehicles. It was almost an hour later since the ambus started and they hoped that everyone was still okay.

"You four go find Conqueror and make sure their all right. The rest of us will offer cover from up here until the other groups arrive!" Harry yelled over the engine and whirling blades to Theo, Trey, and Andrew.

"Got it. Give us Hayes, Radco, and Manning for ground spotters," Trey replied as Harry nodded and the chopper got lower to let them out, when they were down, it returned to the sky to strike any enemies with their guns from the helicopter. The seven on the ground from Striker One moved together, fighting or taking out any enemies they saw for twenty minutes.

"We don't know where they are taking cover," Zander reminded.

Trey held up Hunter's phone and sent a walkie signal to the number that Hunter used earlier from the other phone. Within a minute, there was a return signal. =Hunt! We're here,= Trey asked.

=By the post office. Sending coordinates,= Hunter informed. The seven looked around while still keeping an eye for enemies.

=Got it. We'll be there soon, hang in there, Hunt,= Trey tried.

=Just hur-= Hunter's voice cut after someone screamed and a gun was heard.

=Hunter?= No answer. =Does anyone hear me?! What happened over there?!= Treyden asked. Nothing still. Moving as fast as they could and following Hunter's directions, they made it to the post office to see the fight that had broken out, but Conqueror was giving it right back to the enemies; having already defeated fifteen alone and still going against fifteen more in hand combat. Theo pointed out the newer soldiers coming in from up higher to make sniper shots, so they now had to step in.

"Nik, radio Andersen. Zander, Conner, take out the high contact soldiers and the three of us will handle down here," Treyden ordered. With an affirmative nod, it began. After fifteen minutes, Harry arrived with the rest of Striker One and Two to help out. With those thirteen assisting, they were able to push back the thirty-seven Iraqi soldiers into a retreat by 4:20 am.

"Good work, Hooligan, and Conqueror teams! Sunflare and Boomspark are working on the rest, we'll be joining them shortly after I make sure everyone is okay here," Harry praised the two platoons from his company, proud that Conqueror was able to hold their own for so long even against the odds. "And Haddock, when we get back; you and I are going to have a serious conversation about you not telling people when you're sick," he added to the group. However, there was no response.

Looking around at one another, no one saw Hunter, and that raised concern. "Haddock?" Andrew called out louder. Nothing again.

"Where is First Sergeant Haddock?" Harry asked while glancing over Conqueror.

"He was...right here with us when the attack started while he talked to Treyden," stated one of the girls.

"Spread out and look for him, he could be hurt and unconscious," Harry ordered quickly. Ten minutes went by, and there was no sign of Hunter, but Theo was able to find the phone he'd been using.

"Found the phone he was contacting us with! Over here," Theo told them. While making their way over, Treyden was the one to see something coming at them and let the others know. As it neared, the group could see that it was two figures. Finally, in full view, it was revealed to be Hunter with his arms bound by rope in front of him and held by an enemy.

"Haddock, are you okay!" Andrew asked.

"For now," Hunter replied as the soldier jammed the barrel into his back more. Hunter wasn't though, and they could see that easily. Hunter's headgear was gone, so was his vest, gloves, outercoat and handgun holster. Hunter was only in a gray undershirt, his dog tags, boots, belt, and ACU pants. There were some cuts on his face, a bloody lip, and blood dripping down the side of his head too. The Archi soldiers could tell that the enemies had Hunter since the fight broke out because he'd been beat on now being used as a hostage.

"What does he want for you to go free?" Harry stepped forward.

"You all have to toss your weapons, call off the counter strike from the other teams and let them finish off this neighborhood as it's filled with soldiers who betrayed them and work for us," Hunter responded. "And turn over the six friendlies we have," he added

"All right. Let him know I'm just reaching for my ra-" Harry stopped when Hunter shook his head.

"No, you toss your weapons first, and he'll get the radio for me to call it off," Hunter said sternly while using his fingers to make the symbol for gun against a palm and Treyden understood. This enemy had a gun to Hunter's back, and if the didn't do as they were instructed, he would kill Hunter. Trey took off his automatic rifle, then removed his handgun and dagger before tossing them to the side. Andrew and Theo caught the hint too, so they did the same. Soon, the rest followed suit as the soldier motioned for Harry to come forward.

Harry moved ahead with his hands up and close enough for Hunter to get the radio from Harry's belt. "Espere a que la señal, a continuación, correr a los helicópteros y obtener en el aire. Si no estoy fuera en cinco minutos; Abortar la misión y salir. No esperes y no vuelvas por mí, pase lo que pase. Simplemente dile a mi familia que lo siento y que los amo siempre," Hunter whispered in spanish while the enemy was preoccupied on his own radio talk. (A/N; Don't worry! This gets translated little lower down!)

Harry didn't say anything, Hunter took the radio from Harry and gave him a nudge in the back to start walking, when he reached the group, all of them just stared at Hunter with worry. Harry understood what Hunter had said and wouldn't not do as he asked. The enemy moved the gun to Hunter's head as everyone tensed up. The man said something to Hunter who started lifting the radio up while Harry watched for whatever signal Hunter was talking about. Suddenly, Hunter's eyes narrowed as he adjusted his arms and elbowed the enemy in the chest, then slammed the bottom of the radio in an uppercut fashion to the male's throat hard enough to make him gasp for air and drop his gun. Hunter threw the radio back towards Harry just as eight more enemies made themselves visible and held grenades in hand.

Harry grabbed the radio, and the grenades were being thrown at them, so they were forced a step back or kick them away, Harry saw the look in Hunter's eyes and understood. "Back to the choppers, all of you!" Harry ordered while moving quickly to avoid the grenades which started going off a little too close to Hunter.

"What about Hunter?!" Treyden argued, Harry paused only a moment then closed his eyes.

"He'll catch up, let's go! Hunter is giving us a chance to escape; he already told me so move it! That's an order," Harry commanded firmly. No longer having a choice, they ran leaving Hunter to deal with grenades and enemy soldiers alone while utterly defenseless. Reaching the choppers, Harry checked his watch, two minutes left before he made the call to abort.

"Explain, now...What did Hunter tell you?" Theo panted when they were on the choppers and ready to go in the air, Harry was just watching the time.

"Wait for the signal then run to the choppers and get in the air. If I'm not out in five minutes; abort the mission and leave. Do not wait and do not come back for me, no matter what. Just tell my family that I'm sorry and love them always. Hunter knew it was another trap set to ambush all of us, so he attacked his captor to make the others reveal themselves and let us escape," Harry said slowly.

"Y-You mean that he's willing to sacrifice himself so we can get back without being attacked?" Amber asked. Harry nodded to them looking at his watch once more. Five minutes came to an end as Harry lifted his radio.

=Hooligan and Conqueror to Sunflare and Boomspark, all units retreat. Return to the base,= Harry ordered.

=Roger that, Hooligan and Conqueror. Boomspark is retreating,=

=Sunflare copies those orders,=

As the chopper holding Striker One peered at the place they were minutes ago, all they could see was smoke rising over the buildings. Flashes could be seen within, this signified gunshots being fired. The group sat there in silence, a prolonged sense of sadness among them. Hunter...was gone. He sacrificed his life to save them, all of them. Hunter died a hero saving three hundred and eight people from being killed by the attack these enemies were going to set off. The Amil District was getting farther away with the high the chopper got to turn around and return to Draconia base, they couldn't believe they were leaving Hunter behind. And what of his family, this was going to crush them. In this moment, they all closed their eyes for a silence to honor their fallen comrade and friend.

However, the moment was short-lived when the gunfire seemed to get closer. Treyden opened his eyes first to look as he saw three enemies chasing and shooting at another figure who was running from them. Treyden grabbed his binoculars and zoned in on who was running. It was Hunter!

"Holy Odin's fucking ghost, I don't believe it..." Treyden found a smile.

"What is it, Treyden?" Harry asked.

"It's Hunter! Down there, we gotta go back for him!" Trey exclaimed. Harry confirmed it was Hunter himself and ordered the pilots to slow down and turn back. While they did this, Theo and Andrew hooked up the rope ladder and lowered it down. Treyden made his way down and hung there until they were right over Hunter. "Hey, need a lift?" Hunter looked up to see Treyden offering a hand to him, Hunter reached his up, and the two gripped one another tightly as Trey pulled him up onto the ladder.

Hunter panted hard with a smile still, "I...owe...you,"

"Thank me later, come on. Let's get the hell out of here," Treyden began making his way up and finally into the helicopter. Hunter wasn't far behind until a bullet shot past his arm causing him hiss in pain, start bleeding. "Hunter!?" he said quickly. Hunter cringed in pain from where he got hit, the bullet didn't imbed in him, but it tore him open and was going to need to be stitched for sure. Fighting through it, Hunter continued to climb then he felt something pierce his arm. Hunter's eyes opened wide as there was no audible sound coming out of his mouth but it could be easily insinuated that he was in a lot of pain. Hunter lost the feeling in his arm as it let go of the rope.

Instinctively, Treyden leaned over the edge of the helicopter and grabbed Hunter's good arm by the wrist. "We gotta help," Andrew said as he moved down the rope a bit and hooked his arm around Hunter's back and brought him closer to the top so he wouldn't fall. Andrew was able to see his arm now, and he gasped. "He's been shot in the arm! No exit wound and bleeding," he called up.

"Get him up here," Harry ordered. Between Andrew and Treyden working together, Hunter was brought in the chopper and laid placed on his side where Theo was already working on getting the shirt out of the way so they could see better.

"Bullet from a handgun for sure, rifle ammo would have gone straight through him with how lean-figured he is. From what I can see now, it looks like a superficial wound and probably didn't hit anything vital. There isn't too much blood but still need to keep the pressure on it until we get back so the bullet can be taken out and the wound treated properly," Theo informed Harry. Andrew got a few rags and what not for them to stop the bleeding with some pressure or at least that was the hope. Harry helped out in doing what they could to ease the pain by giving him a shot of Ketamine, a drug used to numb pain much as Morphine did.

Harry was checking other things such as breathing, and if there were other injuries, they couldn't see at the moment. Harry noticed Hunter felt a little warm, but he had been running so perhaps too soon to check if he was sick. "Come on, Hunt. Stay with us now; everything is gonna be okay," Treyden told Hunter who was slipping in and out on consciousness. "Did I tell you I got through to your family at 1 am? They're...so relieved you're okay so...don't you go makin' a liar out of me by dying," he tried to laugh a little.

"We-Were th..ey ma-mad I...hav..en't ca-call...ed?" Hunter panted in whispered breaths. The wound wasn't life-threatening but being grazed, then shot, on top of all the running, lack of sleep, and probably being sick had a role to play in this.

"No, no. Not at all. Theo and Trey will confirm that too. Everyone just wanted to make sure you were all right since we had been called back a day early. I told them you'd call soon and with all this now, you'll have some free time from work. Right, Major?" Trey mentioned.

"Oh, absolutely! Yes, you're gonna get a good two or three weeks with stitches, wrapped, and in a sling! You'll have plenty of time to make calls home if you can get through," Harry replied now seeing that Treyden was trying to keep Hunter awake until they got to the base which was still a twenty-minute flight.

"You just...stay awake and take it easy. We'll be back soon," Treyden smiled. Hunter managed one back and that's how it was for the flight.

(Draconia Base)

After they returned; Trey, Theo, Andrew, and Conner carried Hunter to the infirmary, the combat support hospital wouldn't be needed for the wound care as the medic informed after she checked Hunter's arm. Harry went off to tell Corey, Kyle, and Oliver what happened. After everything was said and done, the time was 7:30 am and everyone was exhausted. The medic informed Harry and Trey that Hunter was going to be okay, as expected his heal time would be around four weeks in a sling. Stitches could come out during week two, then wrapped in the sling for the third week and the last week would be just working the arm to get it used to moving again. Also, she mentioned that he was feeling a bit warm and discovered he had a temperature so she gave him something for that and now he was fast asleep.

Harry and Trey said it was okay because Hunter needed it. The two of them returned to their respected areas and got to sleep themselves around 8 am. Everything was good at the moment, and that was one of Hunter's last thoughts before he'd drifted to sleep, he felt a lot better about rest and recovery knowing everyone he cared about was safe.