Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49258 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49258 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
They moved through the woods noiselessly, stopping only when Koa located a new spot. As always, he studied Max’s skilled hands setting up the detonation charges. The large man’s dexterity impressed him. Koa would move from being the communications guy to another skilled position on the team as he gained experience. Rarely did a team need two bomb experts, but someone to help in a pinch was always a bonus.
The sound of gunfire echoed under the canopy of the trees. Birds flew in a flurry of sound and color. A specific firing pattern identified the attackers. The other half of Koa’s team pushed the enemy back toward the charges. They needed to finish their job quickly.
To Koa’s surprise, in the next location, Max thrust a supply of materials toward him and pointed to a large pile of rocks to their right. Koa didn’t hesitate. Following the steps he’d memorized watching training videos and seeing Max in action, Koa quickly set up a powerful explosion. When Max’s mass approached, Koa slid out of the way. Max altered Koa’s setup slightly and gave him a thumbs-up.
The trio moved out of the blast zone and waited, ready to surprise anyone who survived the explosions. The first flares went up, representing the first bombs igniting. Koa spotted a bunny running from his right. At his signal, the trio moved away, finding a better location. They didn’t question his input.
Being trusted felt good.
A small group burst into their recently vacated area. Koa didn’t have time to celebrate for heeding his intuition earlier. From their new sheltered location, Max, Jerico, and Koa eliminated them as Max triggered the last charges, sending up flares. That took out the last surviving attackers.
When the other team leader conceded their defeat, Koa’s team reunited without celebration. They weren’t arrogant or gloating. This training mission would hopefully prepare them to survive a real-life skirmish. The team would celebrate that win. Koa watched Caden and Jerico walk forward to meet with the other troop’s leadership.
“Any injuries?” Zale asked the team. When he had everyone’s assurances they were fine, Zale moved forward to help the other troop’s medic.
With fake charges and rubber bullets, the damage was minimal. The morale of the larger group that hadn’t succeeded in its mission took the biggest hit. Koa spotted a familiar face: a soldier he’d met in training who hadn’t landed a Special Ops position yet. He walked forward to greet him.
“You all dogged us,” Mark said, pulling Koa into a one-armed bro hug.
“That move to the side was smart. You almost got us there,” Koa shared.
“But not quite. Had I moved my section earlier, I would have had you,” Mark said.
“Maybe,” Koa hedged. The possibility he wouldn’t have noticed earlier existed—barely. “A bunny gave you away.”
“Fuck! Of course it did,” Mark laughed. Natives could always throw a monkey wrench into a great plan.
After debriefing the conflict thoroughly with the other troops, Caden called the team back together. “Let’s get out of here. Koa earned a beer on me tonight. But we’ve got miles to go yet.”
By the time they returned to base, everyone dripped with sweat. Koa shrugged off his pack and collapsed to the grass with the others. When they’d all drained the last of their water, Caden targeted Koa with an assessing look.
“What delayed you this morning?”
“I made a stop at the firehouse to apologize,” Koa said, striving for a casual tone.
“To apologize?” Max focused on that bit of information. “To whom?”
“My bet’s on the fire captain,” Jerico said.
“She was not into you at all,” Zale chimed in. “So, how did it go?”
“I apologized and hightailed it here to go hang out in the woods with you losers,” Koa answered, ribbing his team.
“But we weren’t losers,” Max said. “Good work on the explosives. Yours would have worked as you shaped it. Mine was just better.”
“Thanks. I’m trying to figure out whose job I’m coming after. I’d try for Jerico’s, but he’s in too many meetings,” Koa said.
“Speaking of… I have to shower and change before I go do battle over our budget. Maybe I need to learn to ‘shape’ explosives.” Jerico always kept his tone light, but the others on the team recognized how hard he worked to get the leadership to spring for what they needed.
“Here. I hid a candy bar in my pack for secret energy,” Koa said, pulling out a Snickers.
“Keep it. I need to watch my girlish figure,” Jerico said with a laugh. “I don’t want Aspen to start counting my gut rolls instead of my abs.” He eyed Koa’s flat stomach as if he noticed a few extra pounds.
“Get out of here with your buff body. I could beat you at sit-ups any day,” Koa challenged.
“Thanks, guys. I was just thinking about how we should train tomorrow. Old-fashioned calisthenics it is,” Caden announced.