The Turkish sun beat down mercilessly as Top made his way across the dusty base toward the PX. Flanking him were two members of his elite special ops unit: Jaz, their sharp-eyed sniper, and McG the team's medic and resident wiseguy.
"Remind me again why we couldn't send the new guy on this supply run?" McG grumbled, squinting against the glare.
Jaz rolled her eyes. "Because Amir's still learning the ropes, and Top doesn't trust your handwriting on the supply list."
"Hey, my chicken scratch has character," McG protested with a grin. "Besides, Amir could use the exercise. Guy's been cooped for days."
Top chuckled, shaking his head at their banter. "Maybe next time, McG. For now, I need your expert opinion on our medical supplies."
"Expert opinion, huh?" McG waggled his eyebrows. "Careful, Top. Flattery might get you everywhere."
Jaz snorted. "Don't let it go to your head, McG. He just means you're the only one who can decipher those weird medical terms."
As they approached the PX, Top noticed a group of unfamiliar faces gathered near the entrance. His instincts, honed by years in the field, prickled with unease.
"Heads up," he murmured to his team. "Looks like we've got company."
McG's easy grin faded, replaced by a more cautious expression. "New faces. Joint training exercise?"
Top nodded. "Probably. Stay sharp, but friendly. We're all on the same side here."
Among the group stood a tall, broad-shouldered man with captain's bars on his collar. As Top drew closer, he recognized him as Captain Jake Hawkins, an old acquaintance from his early days in the service. Hawkins was deep in conversation with a ground force commander, his expression intense.
One of Hawkins' companions, a stocky sergeant with a buzz cut, nudged him. "Hey, Jake, isn't that the team you were up for when their sniper retired?"
Hawkins turned, his eyes narrowing as they landed on Top and his team. Something flashed across his face – surprise, then a fleeting expression that looked unsettlingly like anger.
Top nodded a greeting as they drew near. "Jake. Didn't expect to see you here. You in for the joint training exercise?"
Hawkins' smile didn't reach his eyes. "Adam. Yeah, just got in. Funny running into you like this." His gaze slid past Top, lingering on Jaz. "This your team?"
"Part of it," Top replied, keeping his tone neutral despite the growing tension. "Sergeant Khan, Sergeant McGuire, this is Captain Hawkins."
Jaz nodded politely, while McG offered a perfunctory "Sir" that lacked his usual warmth.
The buzz-cut sergeant leaned in, his eyes fixed on Jaz. "So, which one of you is the hotshot sniper we've been hearing about since we got here?"
Before Top could intervene, Jaz spoke up. "That would be me"
The group fell silent for a moment, exchanging glances that set Top's teeth on edge. Hawkins recovered first, his smile turning sharp. "Well, isn't that... interesting. Guess times really are changing, huh, Adam?"
Top felt McG stiffen beside him, but he kept his voice level. "Sergeant Khan is one of the best snipers I've ever worked with. We're lucky to have her."
"I'm sure you are," Hawkins replied, his tone dripping with innuendo. He turned to Jaz, eyes raking over her in a way that made Top's fists clench. "How about a little turn for us, sweetcheeks? Let's see what you're made of."
McG took a half-step forward, his voice low and dangerous. "I'd watch your tone, sir. That's our teammate you're talking to."
Hawkins raised an eyebrow. "Easy there, big guy. Just having a little fun. No harm meant, right, Sergeant Khan?"
Jaz, to her credit, didn't flinch. Her voice was ice when she replied, "I'd rather show you on the range, sir. If you think you can keep up."
A tense silence followed, broken only when the ground force commander cleared his throat. "We should get going, Hawkins. Lots to do before the exercise starts."
Hawkins nodded, his eyes never leaving Jaz. "Looking forward to seeing you in action, Sergeant Khan. Should be... enlightening."
As Hawkins and his group moved away, Top could feel the anger radiating off McG in waves.
"Top," McG hissed, his fists clenched at his sides. "You can't let them talk to Jaz like that. This is going to be trouble, I can feel it."
Top sighed, running a hand over his face. "I know, McG. But we can't go starting fights, especially not with another team here for joint exercises. We'll deal with it, but we'll do it smart."
Jaz, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, spoke up. "It's fine. I've dealt with worse. Let's just get what we need and get out of here."
McG turned to her, his expression a mix of concern and frustration. "It's not fine, Jaz. Those guys are way out of line. We shouldn't have to put up with that crap, especially not from our own side."
"McG's right," Top said quietly. "It's not fine. But Jaz is also right – we need to play this smart. For now, let's focus on why we're here. McG, you and I will handle the medical supplies. Jaz, can you grab the rest of the items on the list?"
Jaz nodded, seeming grateful for the task. As she moved away, McG turned to Top, his voice low. "We can't just let this slide, Top. You saw how they were looking at her. It's not just disrespect – it's dangerous."
Top placed a hand on McG's shoulder. "I hear you. And we won't let it slide. But right now, we need to gather intel. Figure out exactly what we're dealing with before we make any moves. Can you do that for me?"
McG took a deep breath, then nodded. "Yeah, I can do that. But if those guys step out of line again..."
"Then we'll handle it," Top assured him.
As they made their way through the PX, Top couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in his gut. He'd known Jake Hawkins years ago – they'd even been friends, of a sort. But the man he'd just encountered was a far cry from the Jake he remembered.
"Hey, Top," McG called from the next aisle. "We're running low on QuikClot. Should we stock up?"
Top joined him, grateful for the distraction. "Yeah, grab a couple extra. Better to have it and not need it."
As they continued their shopping, Top noticed McG's gaze constantly scanning the store, his body tense as if expecting trouble at any moment.
"You okay there, McG?" Top asked quietly.
McG's jaw clenched. "Just keeping an eye out. I don't trust those guys, Top. The way they were looking at Jaz..."
Top nodded, understanding his concern. "I know. And I appreciate you having her back. Having all our backs. But we need to stay focused. We can't let them get in our heads."
"Yeah, well, they're already in my head," McG muttered. "And I don't like what I'm thinking."
Before Top could respond, Jaz rejoined them, her arms full of supplies. "Got everything on the list. We good to go?"
Top nodded, noticing the tight set of her shoulders, the carefully neutral expression on her face. "Yeah, we're good. Let's head back."
As they made their way to the checkout, Top noticed Hawkins and his team lingering near the exit. He felt McG tense beside him, saw Jaz's knuckles whiten as she gripped the supplies tighter.
"Easy," Top murmured. "We're almost out of here."
As they passed Hawkins' group, the buzz-cut sergeant called out, "Hey, sweetcheeks! Don't forget to give us that turn later!"
McG spun around, his face thunderous. "What did you just say?"
Top grabbed his arm. "McG, stand down. That's an order."
For a moment, it seemed like McG might disobey. But then he took a deep breath, his muscles relaxing under Top's grip.
Hawkins stepped forward, a smirk playing on his lips. "Problem here, Dalton?"
Top met his gaze steadily. "No problem, Hawkins. We're just here for supplies, same as you."
"Good to hear," Hawkins replied, his tone making it clear he meant anything but. "Wouldn't want any... misunderstandings between our teams. After all, we're going to be working closely together."
The threat in his words was thinly veiled, and Top felt his team tense around him. He kept his voice calm as he replied, "Looking forward to it. Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got work to do."
As they finally exited the PX, McG exploded. "Can you believe those guys? The nerve of them, talking to Jaz like that! And right in front of us, too!"
Jaz sighed. "McG, it's fine. Really. I can handle a few Neanderthals with fragile egos."
"It's not fine!" McG insisted. "It's not just about you, Jaz. It's about respect. It's about being professionals. It's about-"
"It's about a lot of things," Top cut in. "And we're going to address all of them. But not here, not now. Let's get back to our area and regroup."
The walk back to their part of the base was tense, each team member lost in their own thoughts. By the time they returned, the Afghan sun was at its zenith, baking the earth and raising shimmering heat mirages across the dusty landscape.
Outside their team's hut, Amir and Preach were locked in an intense game of horseshoes, their competitive banter a welcome distraction from the earlier confrontation.
"About time you guys got back," Preach called out. "Thought we were going to have to send a search party."
Amir, ever observant, picked up on the tension immediately. "Everything okay? You all look like you've seen a ghost."
Top set down the supplies with a sigh. "We ran into the team that's here for the joint exercise. It... didn't go well."
As Top filled them in on what had happened at the PX, Preach's usually calm demeanor darkened, while Amir's eyes flashed with anger.
"This is unacceptable," Amir said, his voice tight. "We cannot allow such behavior to go unchecked."
Preach nodded in agreement. "Amir's right. This kind of attitude doesn't just go away. It festers."
Top held up a hand. "I hear you. All of you. And we're going to deal with this. But right now, I need everyone to take a breath. We've got a job to do, and we can't let Hawkins and his team throw us off our game."
McG, who had been pacing back and forth, spun to face Top. "So what, we just pretend nothing happened? Let them keep disrespecting Jaz, disrespecting all of us?"
"No," Top said firmly. "We don't pretend anything. But we also don't give them the reaction they're looking for. We do our jobs, we do them better than anyone else on this base, and we watch each other's backs. Understood?"
There was a chorus of reluctant agreement.
"Good," Top continued. "Now, I'm going to contact Deputy Director Campbell, let her know what's going on. In the meantime, I want everyone to stay alert but not paranoid. If Hawkins or his team try anything, you report it to me immediately. No lone wolf stuff, got it?"
As the team dispersed to their various tasks, Top couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a much larger problem. He'd seen the look in Hawkins' eyes – this wasn't just about Jaz or even about women in special ops. There was something deeper, something personal driving the man's animosity.
Top headed for the communications tent, his mind racing with possibilities and potential outcomes. He'd fought alongside Jaz in some of the most dangerous places on Earth, trusted her with his life more times than he could count. The idea that her gender could be used against her, could potentially jeopardize everything she'd worked so hard for, made his blood boil.
But anger wouldn't solve this problem. They needed strategy, intelligence, and above all, unity. As he reached for the secure phone, Top took a deep breath, centering himself. Whatever Hawkins and his team were up to, whatever larger forces might be at play, they would face it head-on.
The phone rang once, twice, before Patricia's crisp voice came through the line. "Campbell."
"Patricia, it's Dalton. We've got a situation here..."
As Top began to outline the events of the day, he couldn't help but glance back towards the team's quarters. He could see McG hovering protectively near Jaz as she worked on cleaning her rifle, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by watchful concern. Preach and Amir were deep in conversation, their expressions serious.
Top knew that this incident had struck a nerve, reopening old wounds and insecurities that each member of his team carried. But he also knew that they were stronger together than any force that might try to tear them apart.
As he continued his conversation with Patricia, strategizing and planning their next moves, Top made a silent vow. Hawkins and anyone else who thought they could undermine his team based on outdated prejudices and small-minded thinking were in for a rude awakening. Because when it came to protecting their own, there was no force on Earth more formidable than the men and women of his unit.