Chapter 4

"Looks like they ambushed them, killed them and stole their uniforms." Sequoia kneeled next to one of the bodies as she examined it. She made a slight face because of the smell. She put the back of her hand to her nose to try and mask it. Jungle conditions sped up decomp and it was worse than a "doggy bag".

"Stole the uniforms and waited," Keegan muttered as he shook his head.

"That would mean they would have to know about this place," Harris pointed out as he looked at what was left and took pictured for command. He looked at the others, "That means a traitor."

Everyone paused in what they were doing. Sequoia swallowed slightly. It was starting to look more and more like that. She stood up and sighed as she adjusted her rifle in her hands. "We don't know that," she countered.

"You really want to go that route?" Harris looked at her with a narrowed look. "I mean look at where we are."

Sequoia sighed. It seemed that while Harris was glad to be on the job with her again, there was tension there that she couldn't put her finger on. It seemed to be focused on Hesh at times and then not. She looked at the others and at Hesh. He was giving her a look stating that she could answer and that he wasn't going to interfere unless necessary. Looking at Harris she replied, "We don't know if we have a traitor, which is worst case scenario. Next worst case is that one of our patrols was taken and tortured for the road information. Scouting and waiting would have followed." She took a couple of steps towards him and continued, "And that could be the case. They got lucky that it was an asset."

Harris looked like he was going to say something but Hesh stepped in, "Alright. We really don't know if that is the case. What we do know is that our guys here were killed and their uniforms and gear were used to lure the convoy into a sense of security. Until we know more…" He looked at Harris with a warning look.

Harris looked back at Hesh. He took a breath and nodded before moving off to check the perimeter. Hesh waited until he passed before saying, "Keegan, radio in a pickup for the bodies."

"Got it." Keegan looked at the situation before cueing his radio and calling in a pickup and giving a sitrep on the mission.

Hesh sighed as he took off his helmet and ran a hand through his hair. He surveyed the area and wrinkled his nose. The stench was overpowering and the bodies looked pale, devoid of life. It was grotesque and he had seen plenty of dead bodies and caused some of those. Just stopping and thinking about it was… Clearing his throat, he put his helmet on and continued looking around. He came across Sequoia as she looked at the road.

Sequoia was aware of Hesh behind her. She could tell by the way that Bear reacted even though he was on the job. She was busy though looking at the scene where the firefight began. She knew that the stripped uniforms were to put the convoy at ease. In her mind's eye she could visualize what might have happened, what Charlie Leader would call in and…

"You okay?"

Sequoia shifted to look in the way that the convoy would have gone. She replied as she looked down the road and the area the shooting started. "Harris was only voicing worst case scenario and to tell the truth, that is probably what Command is thinking."

"Harris is…" Hesh didn't know what to say.

"He could be an ass just like any other soldier on base." Sequoia shifted to glance at Hesh and gave a smirk. "I mean you were a couple of times and even Logan when you weren't looking."

Hesh cleared his throat, "And you let me have it."

"Only because I liked you and I didn't know it then. No regrets though." Sequoia smiled. She then turned and looked at the road. "Charlie didn't buy the ruse."

Hesh frowned slightly at that but snapped to attention. He knew she was telling him that she had been thinking about it and that it was a possibility. She just wanted to think the least of the worst case scenarios first before getting to the worst of the worst. It wasn't a confidence issue at all but more trying to look at things rationally before it became an issue. He watched as she stepped forward, "What do you mean?"

"I mean that bastard didn't fall for the ruse," Sequoia replied. She walked towards a tree and ran her hand on it. "See this?"

Hesh joined her after doing a check himself. He knew that Bear was on the alert since that dog was watching everything. He walked up to where Sequoia was pointing at. He peered at it and thought he knew what it was but he felt the need to ask, "Yeah. What is it?" He looked at Sequoia for the answer.

"This doesn't look like something living in the jungle made." Sequoia shot Hesh a smirk and he grinned slightly at her. Turning back to it, she ran her hand on the damage and looked at the road. "Charlie would have shot first and had the driver gun it, which he did." She trotted down the road slightly and paused as she stared down the road. She pivoted and looked at Hesh, "I think he would have made a break for Kranz."

Hesh studied the same areas she had. There was a lot of disturbance. The damage done to the brush couldn't have been done by any animal. He was going to say something when Keegan came up and stated that a transport was being sent for the bodies. He motioned for the man to come up and pointed out, "See that?"

Keegan glanced at Sequoia who was waiting but also keeping an eye out for anything. He looked at the area and the damage. "Looks like the convoy put up a fight."

"Hawk was in the same mindset."

It was nothing personal. Everyone trusted Sequoia's judgment but it had to appear that all avenues were explored and properly. Keegan trusted it especially but he understood the position Hesh was in and it was doubly hard since he knew the kid was in a relationship with her. He was making sure everything was within protocols and the older man knew that Hesh would do anything, even give up his career to keep her. Not that she would allow it.

Keegan inspected the damage. "Well Hawk knows Charlie Team. What does she say?"

"That Reed wouldn't have fallen for the ruse and hightailed it for FOB Kranz," Hesh replied. He shifted on his feet. "You know this is the same shit we pulled to get info on the Fed missile program."

"Crossed my mind."

Hesh nodded. A thought entered and given what they had found there was the distinct possibility that they might find something if they kept up the chase. "How far would you say it would be to FOB Kranz from here?"

Keegan, getting where Hesh was going with this replied, "Three klicks at most."

"Meaning that our objective is between here and Kranz."

"Or they were taken at Kranz if the same thing that happened here happened over there," Keegan pointed out. "Kranz is not a full operations base. More like an outpost but plenty of room for transport."

"I agree," Hesh confirmed. He shot a look at Keegan and turned to radio in, "Stalker 6-4, this is Ghost 2-2."

Go ahead Hesh.

"Merrick, we found the handoff and called it in. Bodies were stripped. Looks like Charlie got away. Were there any call ins from FOB Kranz?"

Negative. There has been no contact from Kranz.

Hesh looked at Keegan as he said, "Possible HVI taken either at Kranz or between here and there."

Orders were clear Hesh. Investigate and retrieve asset.

"Roger that." Hesh shifted and looked at Keegan while sparing a glance at Sequoia. He adjusted his gun and said, "Looks like we're going for a walk, Keegan."

"Copy that."

Hesh keyed his radio, "Logan, grab Harris. We're going for a walk."

Copy that.

Hesh called for Riley and the dog came out of the brush and stood next to him. He looked at Sequoia who was waiting while Logan and Harris joined them. He noticed that Harris was looking a little sullen. Ever since the whole thing getting Sequoia back from Rorke, the man was sullen and often borderline insubordinate. Hesh knew that it was between him and Harris but seeing the way how he behaved with Sequoia, it made his protective instincts want to beat up the guy but he restrained himself because they worked together.

Hesh had been lenient and they were shorthanded but he knew that he had to have a conversation with Harris in the future. If it got worse then he would have to have Harris removed and while he didn't want to since the man was a good operator, he couldn't have the team subjected to more reasons that had Command looking and breathing down their necks. Once they came he relayed, "From the looks of things Charlie Leader managed to get out and headed towards FOB Kranz. We've had no report from them so we're going to take a little walk."

If he were being polite, Hesh would have left the door open for questions. As it were, their mission was clear and he wasn't going to take any lip from Harris if he had any. He did give the man a warning look before looking at the others and giving the order, "Move out. Logan, take point with Hawk. Use Bear. Harris, cover fire."

Logan nodded and moved up to join Sequoia. They shared a look before she tapped Bear on the shoulder and signaled him to move ahead. He heard Riley give a slight bark behind as he stayed with Hesh. He took in the area and noticed the damage to the foliage. Yeah there was more to this and more than likely Charlie Leader put up a fight and probably won. He may not like the man but like Sequoia, he admitted that the man was a good soldier.

"Come on, Sungmanitu. We've gone on longer runs than this."

Logan glanced at Sequoia and saw her smirk. "You so did not bring up that 5k run you had us do."

"Yes I did."

Logan made a slight sound at that. "You know that you were just showing off."

"Maybe a little but you have to admit that you like the endurance training."

Logan narrowed his eyes slightly but said nothing. She was right and it wasn't like he had anything to complain about. They had been training together in between unit and her MWD training. She worked with him on his ability to use the hand ax she had given him. Their sparring session were one of the few bits of entertainment for the rest of the troops on base. It became something of a game for the FNGs that flew in to goad them into challenging her in close quarter combat. He and the rest of the Ghosts didn't do that but they didn't stop it. There wasn't a point since the FNG goaded and wouldn't stop until she said yes. Then they got a lesson and their ass handed to them.

Looking at Sequoia as they walked side by side, he bumped her with his elbow. She smirked at him and gave one back. He replied, "Alright, you made your point."

"And what was that?"

"That a three klick walk is nothing."

Sequoia chuckled at Logan as she shifted to glance back. She saw Riley and Hesh along with Keegan and then bringing up the rear was Harris. She sobered since she couldn't understand why Harris was being so hostile. Some days were good and others he just pushed and that was mostly to get a rise out of Hesh. She wasn't going to interfere with it since Hesh was team leader but she couldn't help but feel responsible and it pushed forward the idea about being transferred, one that she thought about but never voiced to anyone, not even Hesh and for the reason that she didn't want to leave him behind. Swallowing she turned her attention back to the front.

"Hey, Harris will get over what's eating him. Or Hesh will give him a talking to."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

"Looks like an RPG got em."

Logan looked at what Hesh was looking at. They had found the truck that was theirs. It was on its side where it landed after it had been run off the road by an RPG hitting it. The truck landed upside down and on its side since it was against a hill. The gaping hole in the side was the telltale. He pointed, "Looks like near the fuel tank. A wonder it didn't blow sky high."

"Yeah." Hesh looked over at the crash site. He made a face at the scene, seeing the bodies left there.

It didn't take a genius to figure out that their guys had been executed. They had nothing save their Kevlar vests and ACUs and that was it. It was sight no one could get used to. Hesh called it in, "This is Ghost 2-2. We found the convoy."

Survivors?

"Negative. Four dead. All Charlie Team."

And the PC?

"Checking on that now. Standby." Hesh motioned to Harris and Logan to check the bed of the truck.

It looked like it was difficult since the truck was at an odd angle. Harris found a place where they could squeeze in and started making a hole big enough for Logan to crawl in. Logan grunted as he slid in. It was like being a kid and wriggling to hide under the bed and it was a wonder that he was able to fit through the hole Harris made with his gear on. He fell in, narrowly missing a box but it still was an awkward fall.

"You okay?"

Logan peered up to where Harris was peeking through and signaled with his hand. "I'm good."

"Good since I don't want to haul your ass out of there." Harris grinned at Logan.

"Yeah well fuck you Harris," Logan replied as his voice took a low tone. He began inspecting the crate and discovered that it was a transport crate the military used. In a loud voice, "Found the crate."

Hesh heard his brother and asked, "What is it?"

Logan frowned as he looked for the locking mechanisms. He found them and popped the seals. It wasn't exactly locked like it was important so his supposition was that it was for decoy purposes. He pulled off the lid and peered inside. What he found had him frown and had him surprised. He reached in to get a better look. "Well I'll be damned."

In the meantime, Hesh was waiting for a report from his brother. He keyed his radio, "Keegan, any word from Kranz."

Just got through. Looks like they had problems with communications relay. It was conveniently down when Charlie went missing.

"Convenient my ass," Hesh muttered before replying, "Fill them in. Need to clean up here."

Roger that. This is shit.

"Tell me about it." Hesh dropped his com and turned to see Sequoia looking at the bodies. He walked towards her.

She was staring at the bodies. From a distance it looked like she was looking like she would when she went in for the kill. It hid the fact that she was absorbing what she was seeing and no doubt talking herself down like they all had. Hesh approached slowly since Bear wasn't too far away and he was poised and alert. He didn't want to give the dog any reason to do his job.

As he approached, he heard Sequoia saying something in her people's language. When Elias died, he had heard her sing a song of mourning for him. She wasn't singing but he got the gist of the words. She was saying something and probably a prayer for the dead. He paused and stood there as she looked down at the bodies before she placed her right fist over her heart. He waited until she stepped back to say, "That was nice."

"Nothing I wouldn't do for any of our guys," Sequoia replied as she looked at Hesh. "They were warriors."

"Not arguing with that." Hesh took a couple of steps forward. He looked at the bodies. "You collected tags or you want me to?"

"I got it." She held out her hand with the tags she took. There was one left with each body for when the transport arrived to collect them. She put them in her belt to give to Hesh later since he was team leader. "Charlie Leader and Garrison are not among the dead. So at least I'll be able to lay it on him when we find him."

Hesh recognized it for what it was. It took time but eventually he got that while Sequoia and Reed didn't like each other and said the worst things imaginable, they respected one another. He didn't believe it fully but was willing to give a little since he didn't really forgive Charlie for bringing her in like a prisoner. The rest of the Ghosts weren't so forgiving either. "You okay, Hawk?"

Sequoia turned to look at the bodies in a thoughtful expression. "Not really," she replied honestly. She shifted to look at Hesh. "Not okay that the possibility that I have to seek and destroy is becoming more evident."

"Then don't think of that as such. You didn't earlier."

Sequoia gave a knowing look. "Only to prove a point but what good is it if the one trying to make the point doesn't completely believe in it?" Her expression became a bit pensive as she finished saying that. "But it does look like I'll be judge, jury, and executioner if the worst comes."

"And we won't let it."

Sequoia smiled slightly at that, "I really want to believe that, Shappa, but…" She looked at the bodies, the mangled truck and she recalled what they found at the drop off. There was something about it that had her not feel right. She shook her head, "What do I know. We don't even know if Kranz is okay." She offered a slight smile before clearing her throat and started looking around trying to process her thoughts.

"Keegan just got a call in. They had communications problems." Hesh frowned at the change in demeanor but didn't question it. There were a lot of things that he didn't know. He just hoped that if it were bothering her enough that she at least talk to him. He stepped closer and whispered, "Thečhiĥila." He caught her eye before moving away.

Sequoia looked at him and the expression he gave. She was moved by that look of faith he gave her. And his declaration of love… It made her feel more in love with him since he learned how to say it. He wasn't claiming to understand but he was there to support her if she asked. She looked around and sighed as she stared in the direction of FOB Kranz.

There are two things a warrior should know my little Hawk. What they should know and what they need to know.

Why do I need to do this? I'm not a warrior.

You are my little Hawk. You are a warrior. It is in your blood.

Sequoia sighed as she remembered the lessons that her father had taught her growing up. She never hated the lessons, at least she didn't think so. There were times that she didn't want to do them and thought her father cared more about the training than her but in the end… It was for one reason only and that was because she was his daughter and he loved her and her mother like a precious jewel. He taught her to be able to protect herself when he couldn't and she knew that he would have done everything to protect her mother the day ODIN was turned against them.

There are things that are dark in this world my precious little bird. What I am teaching you will help you survive but it can also be used in the hunt. There are those that will want to use that. While they train as warriors… they are not warriors born like you. They will not understand.

"Hey got something!"

Sequoia turned to see a box being pushed out of the truck and it was caught by Harris who placed it on the ground before helping Logan out. She frowned as she moved away from the bodies to get a closer look. She shifted to cast a survey along the road and the surrounding area before diverting her attention to what Logan was hovering over.

The case looked nondescript but it was obvious that it was important. Sequoia frowned at the case as Logan hovered over it. He cursed, "Damn. It's locked."

"Any way of opening it?" Hesh moved to take a look at it.

Logan looked it over, "Doesn't seem like there is." He turned it over to show a symbol. It was clearly theirs but the other stuff…

Sequoia made a tiny sound in her throat when she saw it. Of course. SOP. Sighing she walked up and excused herself to move Logan out of the way. She kneeled in front of the case and pulled off her gloves and felt along the edges until the key pad appeared. Pursing her lips in a knowing fashion, she entered the code that she had been told to memorize from day one. She wasn't surprised that it popped open like it did and ignored everyone's looks as she reached in and pulled out a drive.

"What the…"

Sequoia sat back on her heels and held up the drive and looked at it. She gave a slight smirk and shook her head. Of course he would do that. She looked at the rest of the Ghosts and said, "This is what Command was waiting for."

A/N: The Ghosts found the truck and the bodies but it looks like something else. Looks like Hawk knows more than they do. Stay tuned for next time on Freefall...