The grenade went off with a “crack” and there was a small secondary that blasted dust out of the door and a hole in the right wall.

“They put IEDs in the door,” Cady said, glancing over his shoulder at Gregory as he darted into the dust. “You either do a close check or you try to detonate it.”

“Got it, Top,” Gregory panted as the stack moved into the room. He knew the first sergeant had been at the front of the column when the ambush went off. How in the hell he’d suddenly appeared, the sergeant couldn’t understand. He kept doing that, just appearing out of nowhere. It was uncanny.

The room beyond was empty of anything but junk and cobwebs with an open door on the far side. That led to a narrow corridor but just beyond the door there was a staircase that led up.

“Specialist Thomas,” Gregory said, tapping the soldier directly in front of him. “Secure this location with primary direction of security…”

“Follow me, Sergeant,” Cady interjected. “Bring your squad.”

The first sergeant bounded to the first landing in two massive strides, turning to cover the top as fire started to die away upstairs.

“Oh, no you don’t,” Cady said. “You’re not getting away from the Gazelle.”

* * *

“Romeo Three-One… this is Echo Two… Five.”

Captain Gries sighed and picked up the mike.

“Johnny, this is the CO. We’re encrypted. Go plain.” The third platoon leader was a butterbar and this was only his second firefight. He tended to get flustered.

“Sir, we’ve performed entry on the side of the building,” Second Lieutenant John Crevasse said nervously. “The first sergeant entered with my second squad. First squad is in support.”