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John ran. Behind them came the staccato report of machine-gun fire—just as they entered the safety of the forest.
John smiled, panting. "Good work, everyone," he whispered. "I think those guys were using live ammo this time."
Kelly held up a brass case from a 7.62mm round. "Yep," she said. "No doubt."
"Come on," John said, "let's not stick around. If they weren't before, they're pissed now."
Red Team slinked through the forest. They kept to the shad?ows, and took cover under logs when a Pelican roared overhead looking for them.
ERIC NYLUND 165
At 0545 they made it to the clearing designated as their ex?traction LZ. At 0700 hours they were supposed to meet CPO Mendez. Of course, the Chief rarely let them get off this easy— so John had planned for Blue Team to be here as well... only they would remain hidden. Linda and Fred would post some?where in the treetops and cover Red Team until they were sure it was safe.
Red Team hunkered down in the brush and waited. They weren't safe; John knew that. Tango Company would be looking for them, and this is when his team would get anxious ... when they would want to talk and brag about their successful mission, or look at the captured flag. To their credit, Red Team stayed still and silent. And Blue Team was nowhere to be seen.
At 0610 the thunderous roar of a Pelican's engines filled the air and the craft slowly descended and landed in the clearing. The aft hatch popped open.
Fhajad started to move, but John set his hand on his shoulder.
"Too early," he whispered. "When is the Chief not perfectly on time?"
Fhajad, Kelly, and Sam grimly nodded.
"I'll go," John said. "You guys back up Blue Team."
They gave him a thumbs-up. Sam patted him on the back and whispered, "Don't worry, I won't let them do anything to you."
"I know," John whispered back. He pulled the flag from his shirt and handed it to Sam. "Thanks."
John crawled away from their position. When he was thirty meters from his team, he stood and approached the Pelican— which was almost certainly a trap.
He halted halfway across the meadow and waited.
A figure appeared on the exit ramp of the Pelican and waved him forward. "Come on, son. Haul ass!"
"Negative, sir!" John shouted.
The figure turned and muttered to someone inside, "Crap." He sighed. "Okay, so we do it the hard way."
Four men jogged out of the back of the Pelican. They quickly spread out in a semicircle and moved toward John, their assault rifles aimed directly at him.
John held up his hands.
"He's giving up," one of the soldiers said disbelievingly.
166 HALO: FIRST STRIKE
"Should we just shoot him?" another man said.
"No," the one leading them hissed. "Payback first." He stepped up to John and punched him in the stomach.
John doubled over from the blow.
The man hauled him up and patted him down. "We gotta find that damned flag or the Captain will have our asses in a sling. Where is it, kid?" He shook John. "And where's the rest of your pack?"