| |
“BOSS, WE’VE GOT A PROBLEM,” Coolio said, transmitting over a direct, secure frequency to Kruger.
“What’s going on?” Kruger asked as he held on while the helicopter maneuvered through a valley toward the train carrying Woody.
“Cowboy’s not-”
“One minute!” the pilot called out, interrupting Coolio.
“Say again? Make it quick. We’re approaching the LZ.”
“Cowboy was not at the farmhouse. The team grabbed two prisoners for interrogation, but one of them said he was given to the Chinese.”
“Copy. Focus on their exfil and our current mission and then you can work on finding him.”
“I think I can work on both-”
“Thirty seconds!” the pilot called.
“There’s nothing we can do about it anyway, Coolio. Just focus on this one. I’ve gotta go. We can talk more on the exfil.”
“Understood, boss, it looks like the LZ is clear for you guys,” Coolio replied. “I’m switching back to the main channel.”
Kruger looked to his left at Tuna who gave him a questioning look while mouthing Cowboy? He shook his head in reply and then looked across at the three SEALs across from them – Bud, Cecil, and Bullet. They were part of the eight-man team to go get Woody, including Tuna, Dusty, and an Air Force Pararescue Jumper that went by Donnie.
“You squids ready?” Kruger asked as he felt the helicopter slow as it approached the train. Before Odin and Project Archangel, Kruger had been a member of the Army’s SFOD-D “Delta.” Despite having been out for over a decade, his sense of interservice rivalry with the SEALs was still alive and well.
“Try to keep up, old man,” Bud shot back as he readied his rifle.
Kruger unstrapped and moved to the door as the helicopter stopped and did a pedal turn. The pilot gently set the main wheels down on the top of the car they had identified as the medical car. One by one all seven members exited and the helicopter took off again to provide overwatch with a fourth SEAL that went by “Rico” providing aerial sniper support.
Explosions rocked the front of the train as Spectre dropped CBU-87 cluster bombs over the troops that had dismounted and were in the open. The soldiers on board were scattering like ants, attempting unsuccessfully to fight back against the onslaught from the helicopter’s mini-gun and the A-10.
Dusty and Tuna went to work with their specially designed advanced handheld plasma cutters on the roof of the medical car as the rest of the team set up a perimeter around them. Kruger picked off a few soldiers with his suppressed modified H&K 416, but so far resistance was lighter than expected. The air support appeared to be occupying the North Korean soldiers’ attention.
It took them less than two minutes to cut through the steel and create an opening large enough for them to get through and return with the litter carrying Woody. Bud and his team stayed above to maintain the perimeter while Kruger, Tuna, Dusty, and Donnie went down into the medical car to retrieve Woody.
Kruger went down the newly made rabbit hole first and picked off an armed North Korean guard. The medical technicians and doctors fled as they saw the armed men enter from the ceiling. The ones that didn’t were flexcuffed by Dusty and Tuna as Kruger and Donnie proceeded to the makeshift intensive care unit at the back of the car.
As they reached the door of the sterile tent, a guard emerged holding his hands in the air. Kruger grabbed him and threw him to the ground, flexcuffing him before rejoining Donnie and entering Woody’s ICU tent.
Kruger’s heart sank as he entered behind Donnie and saw Woody hooked up to the ventilator. His face was bloodied and swollen and he had bruising all over his body. A nurse in a white uniform held her hands up as she stood next to his bed. Donnie grabbed her and forced her toward the door where Tuna and Dusty flexcuffed her and moved her out of the way.
“We’ve got three minutes,” Kruger said, looking at his watch.
Donnie shook his head and grimaced as he examined Woody. “I may need more time. This is a rat’s nest.”
“You’ve got three minutes, bub,” Kruger repeated.
“This is way worse than I expected,” Donnie said as he took his backpack off and went to work on Woody. “I’m not sure we’ll be able to move him.”
“We don’t have a choice,” Tuna said as he guarded the entrance to the tent.
“I’m just saying,” Donnie said. “I don’t know how long I can keep him alive in this condition. He may not make the flight home.”
“Just shut your manpleaser and get to work, bub,” Kruger snapped. He could feel the rage building inside him – from losing Natasha, failing to kill Il-Sung the first time, and potentially losing both Cowboy and Woody. His ability to compartmentalize his feelings was being overwhelmed by the growing rage.
“Hand me that Ambu bag,” Donnie said to Dusty as he started disconnecting tubes.
Dusty did as he was ordered and then Donnie stepped aside as he connected the Ambu bag where the ventilator had been connected. “Count to six, squeeze. Count to six, squeeze. Got it?”
Dusty nodded and squeezed the bag as Donnie continued prepping Woody for transport.
“Two-minute warning,” Kruger announced.
Donnie moved quickly and efficiently around Woody. As he pulled back the sheets, Kruger saw that Woody’s legs were broken and not splinted and there was dried blood all over the sheets. He knew Donnie had given his honest and professional assessment – Kruger just didn’t like it.
“Alright, let’s get the litter ready,” Donnie said.
Tuna removed it from his back and Kruger helped unfold it next to the metal bed.
“Okay, I’ll be at the head. Dusty, you keep bagging him. We’ll use the sheet to transfer. Any questions?”
“Chariot One will be inbound in thirty seconds,” the helicopter pilot announced over the tactical frequency.
“3...2...1...Lift!” Donnie said as they moved Woody to the litter.
“Nice and slow, let’s move him,” Donnie said as they started toward the opening thru which they had entered the medical car.
They reached the opening where Tuna and Dusty had assembled a collapsible ladder. The helicopter could be heard outside making its final approach to pick them up.
“Coming up!” Kruger yelled.
Bud dropped to his knees to grab the end of the litter. Down below, the team carefully lifted Woody up above their heads and walked him up the ladder. Bud helped pull him onto the remaining roof of the car just as the helicopter did its pedal turn and the crew chief exited to help carry Woody aboard.
The rest of the team climbed the ladder, leaving it behind as Dusty resumed his station at with the Ambu bag. They carried Woody onto the helicopter and then Dusty connected an IV and checked Woody’s vitals as the team loaded up.
“He’s not good, Kruger,” Donnie said as he pulled the stethoscope from his ears and the helicopter lifted off.
“Please...” Kruger said, dropping his gruff demeanor for the first time. “Please...Just keep him alive until we can get him across the border.”