***** PLEASE BE ADVISED…this chapter contains graphic violence, injuries and death ******
Steve motioned to the men to move ahead and once they had the three dead men pulled off to the side and hidden under leaves and brush they moved forward to the edge of the camp.
Using binoculars, Aaron scoped out the site while the others took up their positions. Once his snipers, Frankie and Theo were in place Aaron radioed JJ. "Alpha, Bravo…..Charlie, Delta are in place…..I repeat, Charlie, Delta are in place"
JJ responded, "Move in 60, I repeat…..move in six-zero"
Aaron replied, "Roger"
Over their radios, Aaron and JJ prepared their men and soon the countdown began, "Ten, niner, eight, seven, six, fife, fo-wer, tree, two, one….MOVE MEN!"
The night skies instantly lit up as the team lobbed grenades towards their pre-ordained targets.
From SEAL Team 3's previous re-con they knew that the four larger cabins at either end of the camp were the sleeping quarters of Cepada's soldiers. They hoped to take out seventy percent of the enemy with the explosions from eight grenades.
Each of the four teams had a sniper in place and as the grenades exploded, their deadly bullets simultaneously hit the men who stood guard around the outskirts of the camp as well as the three who guarded the shed….the prison that held Ty and the others.
As Steve, Danny, Sam and five others moved directly towards the shed the other advancing team members fired at the cartel members as they emerged from their cabins.
Steve shot the lock from the shed as gunfire continued to erupt around them. As Steve reached for the door handle he heard Danny scream "STEVE DOWN!" a split second before Danny barreled into him knocking them both to the ground. Looking up from the ground they watched as two of their men, Javier Gomez and Mike Smith were hit by rounds knocking them back against the shed. They heard the tinging sound as bullets hit the metal shed and saw Sam throw himself to the ground while instantaneously firing his automatic rifle. Sam's shots took down both attackers with amazing accuracy and he was rising from the ground as Steve and Danny were pulling open the shed door.
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What they saw inside the shed caused them all to pause for a split second. Dino was lying in the corner of the shed, obviously dead. Ty and Owen were seated a few feet from each other on wooden chairs, much too small for them to be comfortable on. They were naked and their hands and feet were bound. Their bodies were dripping with sweat as the temperature in this small, enclosed space was sweltering. Both men had been severely beaten, burned and they had been slashed numerous times across their chests and arms with a sharp blade. They were both bruised, bloodied and unconscious and lying on the ground in front of them was the decapitated head and body of their brother, David Shreve.
The men moved with incredible speed and efficiency as Steve and Danny worked on freeing Ty while JJ and Dominic worked on Owen's restraints.
Sam was hollering at them from outside the shed, "HURRY UP MEN!" as Steve and JJ secured the injured men over their shoulders. The gunfire continued around them as they exited the shed and with Sam and Danny leading the way and firing at the cartel members, they made their way to the cover of the jungle.
Back at the camp, Aaron and Jak continued to lead the men in their assault on the cartel. Cepada had come from his cabin surrounded by soldiers in an attempt to flee the site. The four snipers again took aim and in less than a minute, Cepada and his inner circle all lay dead, or near death on the floor of the Colombian jungle.
Steve and his group were about a quarter of a mile from the boat when they heard the gunfire cease and Aaron's voice boomed across the radio. "Mission accomplished, secure and retreat…..secure and retreat"
When they were just a few minutes from the boat Sam cried out, "OH SHIT!" as he dropped to the ground.
Steve called out, "SAM, SAM WHAT IS IT SON?"
"A snake.…..a God Damned snake bit me in the ankle"
Steve caught a glimpse of the reptile as it slithered away, "It's a viper" Still holding Ty, Steve barked out orders, "Danny, use your belt and tighten it around his calf. Sam you hang on brother, we've got the anti-venom on the boat and we'll be there in a few minutes"
Doing as he had been instructed, Danny mumbled to himself as he tended to the leg, "Snakes…..snakes and sharks and God awful heat"
Sam inquired, "Sharks Danny?"
"I'll explain later buddy. How bad does it hurt?"
"Not bad, just stings a bit"
Danny stood and helped the young man to his feet as Steve added, "Danny, grab a branch for him. Sam…..try to keep your weight off that foot as much as possible"
"Yes sir" Leaning on a heavy branch and with his other arm draped across Danny's shoulder they began to move towards the boat.
Once they arrived at the water's edge Steve asked, "Sam are you doing okay?"
"Yeah Steve…..I'm fine"
Steve then said, "Danno you carry him, he can't put that foot into the river water"
Danny replied, "No problem"
Sam said softly, "I can walk Danny"
"Hey don't argue kid. SuperSEAL's right. That water's filthy…..come on, let's go"
"Yes sir" Tossing the branch to the side Sam allowed Danny to scoop him into his arms and the three men carried their injured comrades through the water to where their guide assisted in getting them onto the boat and below deck.
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Danny helped Sam onto one of the bench seats, placing the injured foot up onto it. He then moved quickly setting blankets and pillows onto the ground as make-shift beds. Danny helped ease Tyler and then Owen onto the ground.
Both men remained unconscious and their bodies were shivering horribly. The daytime temperatures were in the mid-eighties and inside that shed Steve figured the temp had risen to 107 or 108. It had been absolutely stifling in there and the oxygen levels were very low. Carrying Ty through the jungle he had literally felt his son's body temperature drop with every step he took. It was only about sixty degrees outside now and they had to warm these boys up….and fast.
In the light of the boat Steve was able to see the extent of the boys' injuries and he knew that it didn't look good. They had clearly been tortured and as he looked down at his only son he knew that even if Ty survived the physical injuries he had endured, the mental torture would never leave him. He had now watched two of his brothers' die before his eyes….one of them being be-headed. As thankful that he was that his boy was alive, he knew Ty would never again be the same and his heart broke for him.
Tucking blankets tightly around the boys, JJ went to get the first aid gear while Steve moved over to check on Sam.
As he drew near he knew the boy was in trouble as his eyes met Danny's. "Steve, he's having trouble breathing"
Danny moved aside as Steve knelt at his side. "Sam, listen son try relax…..your throat is swelling. We're going to take care of you buddy…..relax…" Steve turned and called out, "JJ we need the Polyvalent Antivenom right away brother!" He then turned back to Sam, "I'm going to help you lay down Sam…Danny I need you to elevate his foot for me"
Danny grabbed several pillows and propped his foot while Steve continued to try to calm him down. Sam was now lying flat on the hard bench and Steve squeezed his hand tightly, while massaging his throat with his other hand. JJ arrived with the anti-venom and with Danny's help they removed the belt from his calf and then removed his jeans. JJ then injected the anti-venom into Sam's thigh and Danny again tightened the belt around his calf. The ankle had swollen and the bite was very red and inflamed.
As the drug coursed through Sam's veins Steve instantly felt the boy's throat relax under his fingertips "That a boy Sam…..breathe nice and easy son" As JJ and Danny splinted the ankle and wrapping it tightly to secure it, Steve asked, "How are feeling Sam?"
"I'm good Steve…how are Ty and Owen?"
"We're warming them up right now. They're still unconscious"
"Go take care of them, I'm fine"
"Danny will stay with you" He smiled down at his son's best friend, "We got him out of there buddy...…we did it. You rest now"
Steve and JJ moved back to the two injured men who still lay motionless on the hard floor of the boat.
Danny sat on the floor at Sam's side and watched as the SEAL Commanders worked in tandum to treat the injured boys.
JJ pulled out two small portable oxygen tanks and in moments masks were over their faces and their lungs were being filled. Well both were still shivering slightly their body temperatures appeared to be rising as Steve and JJ pulled back the blankets to examine the wounds.
Both men had at least fifteen to twenty knife slashes and although most of them were superficial and the bleeding had stopped, they had to be very painful. Owen had one gash about seven inches long on the outer part of his right arm that was still bleeding slightly and JJ cleaned and bandaged.
Steve examined Ty's wounds carefully now and what he saw nauseated and infuriated him. Along with the slashes, the left side of his chest and his ribcage were bruised horribly and he also had numerous burns on his chest and genitals. This was his son, his flesh and blood and these animals had brutalized him. He was most concerned with the chest bruising as the coloring was dark and the flesh was firm which indicated internal bleeding. Placing his ear against his son's chest he could hear rattling in his lungs.
JJ inquired, "What is it Steve?"
"He's bleeding into his lung…damn it"
"Hey, keep calm brother. You know what you've gotta do…..just do it"
Steve tipped his head back and closed his eyes as he prepared himself mentally for what had to be done.
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