“Phase one complete, Reapers One and Two standing.” He informed them of their remaining supplies and what took place during the first part of the operation.

“Copy that, Reaper Two. Phase two is a go.”

“Phase two is a go, Reaper Two out.”

Use hand signals or telepathy from here on out, Ryland commanded. We’re deep in their territory now.

Sam let out his breath and turned to look at the men he’d spent so much time with doing this exact same thing. They were a long way from home and had a long way to go before they were finished.

Tucker winked at him. Hell of a way to make a living and you with all those brains. Never know it, would you?

Sam couldn’t argue with Tucker’s assessment. Hunting bloodthirsty rebels in the middle of their territory didn’t seem like a genius idea right then.

Tucker snickered and took a swallow of water. Getting shot at is thirsty work.

They rested for a few minutes and then Ryland gathered them close again. The rebel camp is here. He tapped the map. The compound is set in rows. Troop barracks are the first three on the north side of AO—area of operation. The command building with coms—communications—and the leaders’ quarters is in the center. Vehicles and maintenance buildings are on the south side of the compound. Armine’s house is thirteen klicks to the west.

Ryland turned to Nico and Kadan. I want you to set up shop up here on this hill a hundred and fifty meters to the east side of Armine’s house and take him out.

Nico just looked at Ryland. He was a man of very few words, but his reputation was renowned. Kadan gave a short nod.

Simultaneously, the rest of us will work in two man teams. Kyle, you and Jonas will make your way here to the munitions dump. Keep in mind that we need to use their mortar shells and explosives to our advantage.

Gator nudged Sam. Kyle’s all happy now. You know he likes to blow things up.

Hell yeah, Kyle agreed. Doesn’t everybody?

As usual Ryland ignored the byplay. Sam, you’re going to blow this shit up here. I want all enemy coms down. Take out the entire building. Use your ability to teleport, and get all the equipment in that building, I want the building gone completely along with everything in it. Get on the roof and wire their equipment if possible.

Sam nodded, his stomach tightening. He was good at moving fast, but he would have to stay in one place to set explosives, and he’d be exposed on the roof.

Gator, you’ve got this small group of vehicles. Tucker and I will take this group here. He waited for all of them to nod understanding before continuing. While pulling off the objective, we will place thermite grenades in the muzzle of each mortar tube. Any vehicles we don’t have enough demo for we will place thermite on the engines.

The term they used for demolitions was demo, and Ryland had fallen into the familiar pattern of speaking when working.

Kyle looked pleased. Those things will burn straight through the whole engine.

Ryland nodded. That’s what we want. We’ll daisy-chain using det cord.

Daisy-chaining was a way of connecting several explosive devices by explosive cord to detonate off the same fuse so that they all blow at the same time.

We want at least five minutes of time fuse so we can clear the objective and be gone before the thermite attracts too much attention. Once you have the demo set, you move back to ORP—objective, rally point. It’s only a hundred meters from the objective, so noise and light discipline a must. If all goes according to plan, we are gone before they know we were ever here. At that point, we will make our way to the extraction point where the sniper team, Reaper Two at this point, will link up with us. From there we’ll catch a ride with Task Force 160 to the USS Ronald Reagan at sea in the Atlantic. We good?

Ryland always tacked that last on, and everyone had better damn well be good with his orders. Everyone nodded and he waved them to gear up. They moved out in single file again, edging closer to the compound. Nico and Kadan slipped into the jungle, heading for their hill overlooking Armine’s quarters. Everyone else, in designated two man teams, drifted through the thick vines to work their way in close to be ready for the signal to go.

Kadan’s voice moved through their minds. Reaper One, this is Two.

Ryland answered. Reaper Two, this is One.

Kadan’s voice was as calm as ever. Nothing ever seemed to shake him up. Two is in position, we have a good visual on Armine’s house. As soon as the f**ker pokes his head out, we’ll take it off.

Ryland replied. Happy hunting; once you’ve got him, get to the PZ.

Roger that, Kadan acknowledged.

Ryland gave the command they were all waiting for. Reaper One teams make ready. Go!

Sam took off on his pre-chosen route. Sam had gone over and over it in his mind, studying the path he would take to the communications building. He knew every bit of cover possible to get to the building. He needed to get to a window and see inside the building to teleport into it. He had to have an actual destination. He had chosen his window ahead of time. The building sat smack in the middle of the rows of dilapidated huts, basically open. The north facing window appeared to have the most cover.

He moved quickly, getting the sickening jar of his physical body parts trying to catch up with his spirit. He emerged right outside the window in a crouch. He had only seconds before one of the guards spotted him. He lifted his head cautiously to peer through the dirty, yellowed pane. He just needed a spot where he could teleport inside unseen.

Two men sat at a small, rickety table, with a radio in between them. Maps were spread out along one wall. Papers were strewn around the room. In one corner, dirty dishes attracted flies. His heart dropped when he looked in the other corner. Two girls lay in a bloody heap—both were tied up and they stared at the two men with swollen, dazed, hate-filled eyes. Neither girl could have been more than fifteen, if that.

Bile rose in his throat. He shoved down the anger. It wasn’t as if this was the first time he’d seen such things. If he left them there, they were going to die in the ensuing explosions. If he tried to rescue them, he was putting not only himself but his entire team in added danger. Swearing under his breath, he made his decision. If one of them made a sound, he’d kill them both and then do his job. But if he could, he’d get them out of there.

He took a breath, chose his spot, and moved with blurring, wrenching speed. He found himself in the corner, crouching behind a rusty water barrel, just a few feet from the girls. He made the smallest of movements, just enough to attract the nearest one’s attention. He’d already planned his move if she screamed. He’d be across the room, slashing the two men’s throats before he turned back to the girls. The compound had to be used to them screaming for a moment or two.

He had one finger to his lips, but he didn’t hold out much hope. He knew he looked like another monster raiding their farm, killing their families, and subjecting them to a life of abuse and rape. The girl nearest him turned her head, her eyes widening until she looked as if only the whites of her eyes were showing. He shook his head, keeping his finger over his lips.

She swallowed hard and nodded, turning her head to press her lips against the other girl’s ear. She whispered. The other girl jerked, her gaze jumping to him. Immediately she began to shake. For a moment time stood still while she battled for control. He willed her to be silent. She swallowed several times, and pressed her lips tightly together.

Now, he had no choice at all. He had to get the women out when they ignited the thermite, not before. He couldn’t risk the other members of his team. He took a breath and moved, a knife in each hand. He was on the men before either girl could blink. He slammed the two knives simultaneously into the base of their skulls, severing spinal cords and killing them. Neither man ever saw him. He knelt to plant charges on the radios and added a few more to the structural beams holding the hut up for good measure.

Gator’s voice came into his head. Charges set, ready to drop thermite.

Kyle was next. Charges set, ready to drop thermite.

Sam sighed. Compromised. Cleaning up the mess. Go. I’ll catch up.

Not what I want to hear, Knight, Ryland snapped.

Go. Get it done. I’m right behind you, Sam assured.

Ryland answered. Charges set. Drop thermite and fall back to the ORP.

Kadan’s voice slipped into their heads. Reaper One, this is Reaper Two. Target neutralized with extreme prejudice. Reaper Two en route to PZ.

Ryland answered him. Solid, copy, Reaper Two, Reaper One oscar mike—on the move.

The thermite triggered and all hell broke loose. From his window, Sam could see the explosion killed one of the guards and brought the entire compound to life. Rebels flooded into the vehicle holding area, trying to figure out what was happening. The charges on the vehicles and those in the munitions dump detonated together, sending a giant clap of thunder reverberating through the jungle and shaking the earth.

Sam slit the ropes binding the two girls fast, yanking the two of them to their feet, and indicating they had to leave fast, to stay behind him. He went out the door, triggering the thermite as he did, which only gave him two to four seconds. The two girls stayed close on his heels as the communications building lifted up off the ground. Wood, mud, and debris flew everywhere. Vehicles shattered. Munitions detonated, sending shrapnel in all directions. The flames, concussion, and flying chunks of white hot steel tore into flesh, searing many and leaving the few survivors too stunned to do anything. The two girls held hands, one moaning low and constantly, but they ran, barefoot, half naked, staying very close to Sam.

Reaper One, this is lost Knight, oscar mike—on the move. Sam reported to Ryland.

The GhostWalkers raced away from the war zone in two man teams. Sam used the cover of the chaos and mayhem of the explosions to make it into the trees. He stepped back to indicate the girls should run—and they did, in the direction opposite the one he wanted to go. He could only assume they had someone left to run to. He had to hightail it out of there before someone assumed leadership. He’d taken two steps when a bullet whistled past his ear and he heard it hit something solid. He dropped, spinning, just in time to see a rebel go down behind him.

Haul ass, Tucker advised.

Once everyone was back at the objective rally point, they moved out in single file, hurrying as fast as the jungle permitted, staying in cover, absolutely silent while the compound behind them roared with orange and red flames, lighting the night, heading for their pickup zone and their ride home. They were exhausted by the time they made it to the appointed clearing.

Ryland spoke into the radio while the others took up guard positions. “Valhalla, do you copy?” There was ominous silence. He waited a few heartbeats and tried again. “Valhalla, do you copy?”

Absolute silence. No static. No response. His eyes met Kadan’s. “Kadan, try your radio. Mine doesn’t seem to be working.”

The men exchanged uneasy looks.

“Valhalla, this Reaper, over. Valhalla, do you copy, over.”

Again there was that ominous silence. Adrenaline flooded their bodies as realization dawned.

Ryland shook his head. “The satellite link is down.”

“That can’t be,” Gator said. “Those f**kers burned us.”

“Forbes,” Sam said. “Duncan Forbes. I should have killed him while I had the chance. He went running back to his master and Whitney pulled the plug on us.”

Ryland scowled. “We were afraid this would happen and we’ve got a backup plan. It’s just going to take us a little longer to get home. Sam, contact Azami.” He sent the men a small smile. “She’s got a freighter off the coast waiting for us and a company jet in Turkey. We’ll make it home,” he assured.

“The coast is a long way off,” Kyle said, “and there’s bound to be a few really pissed off rebels looking for us.”

“We’ve been here before,” Ryland reminded with a small, resigned shrug.