Joel, the leader of Team Seven, was taken aback and glared at Eileen with frustration.
Eileen just rolled her eyes, clutching her clipboard, and walked away.
Joel turned to his team, exasperated. “What’s her problem?”
A candidate whispered, “Heard she had a spat with Tom earlier. Now she’s got a major grudge against anyone from Command. Best not to mess with her; she’ll chew you up and spit out the bones.”
Joel was annoyed but held his tongue.
After a while, the sound of gunfire echoed from the valley below.
Joel’s eyes widened, and he quickly rallied everyone back!
As they moved, Eileen kept glancing towards the valley.
Suddenly, a red flare shot up into the sky!
Joel’s face turned grim. “That’s a distress signal! Gear up! We need to provide backup!”
Eileen slung her rifle over her shoulder and joined Team Seven as they headed down.
Reaching the valley, they found chaos — the place was a battleground.
Red and blue smoke filled the air.
The ground was littered with “bodies,” mostly from the Red Team, but some from the Blue Team as well.
Eileen spotted Tom, huddled behind a tree with several soldiers guarding him. The leaders of Teams Three and Four were positioned strategically, engaging in a standoff with the enemy.
Seeing Team Seven’s arrival, Tom yelled, “Flank them!”
His plan was for Team Seven to circle around and hit the Blue Team from behind.
Joel hesitated for a moment, then prepared to move his team.
But just as he took a step, someone grabbed his collar.
In the next instant, he was yanked back by a petite hand, almost losing his balance.
He steadied himself, ready to snap, “What the—”
“Bang!”
A bullet whizzed past where Joel had been standing just moments ago!
Stunned, Joel froze.
Eileen shouted, “Get down!”
Everyone in Team Seven dropped to the ground instantly!
Above them, a Blue Team sniper unleashed a barrage of bullets, their machine gun rattling as the rounds zipped overhead.
“Damn it, they’ve got a machine gun!” Joel cursed under his breath.
Eileen stayed silent beside him, scanning the surroundings.
Tom was still shouting from his cover, “Flank them! Flank them!”
Joel frowned. Tom must be too far back to see they were pinned down by the sniper.
He yelled back, “We can’t!”
Tom’s voice was edgy with impatience, “Why not? Haven’t you learned to flank? We’re barely holding on here!”
Joel was getting heated, “We’re compromised! Can’t flank!”
Tom retorted, “Useless!”
“Damn it,” Joel muttered, furious, “If you think you can do better, come on over!”
Tom, not expecting his subordinate to talk back in such a critical moment, retorted, “You’re demoted!”
Joel was so enraged he wanted to charge over and confront Tom.
But he wouldn’t get the chance.
Beside him, Eileen raised her right hand, aimed her gun, and fired a shot.
“Ahh!”
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