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This podcast may not be suitable for
young listeners. Co name Wild Hunt,

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Operation Blood Eagle, written by Da
Roberts and read to you by Cameron Buckner.

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Chapter fifteen, Dogfight, zero hundred
hours, sixteen May, above Lake

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Nawelapi, Clark erupted from the end
of the underground runway, pushing to full

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throttle. He knew the other planes
were only minutes ahead of them, and

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they could only go as fast as
the JAU fifty two. They were the

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defenders of that transport and wouldn't leave
it. Clark smiled, knowing that P

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fifty one could fly circles around the
transport plane. He spotted the lights of

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the JAU fifty two heading south over
the lake. He banked to port and

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lined up on the lights and began
climbing. It was only going to take

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a few minutes before he caught up
to them. The BF one O nine

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s were in a diamond formation around
the transport plane. The moon was full

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and bright, giving Clark great illumination. Thunder God to asgard, said Clark,

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go ahead, thunder God said the
same female voice be advised, I'm

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in pursuit of five aircraft that have
lifted from the compound, said Clark.

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Say again, thunder God said Asgard
control surprise in her voice. How are

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you pursuing over? I'm in a
P fifty one Mustang flying over the lake,

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said Clark. We're heading south.
They have the high value targets on

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a JU fifty two transport plane with
four BF one O nine escort fighters.

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Henderman is flying the lead fighter.
Personally, I'm going to engage over,

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thunder God. This is Asgard to
actual boom the voice of General Dalton.

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We're calling in fast movers from the
USS Harry S. Truman. They can

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be on station in thirty minutes.
Keep them in sight until they arrive over.

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No can do, sir, said
Clark. If they go into the

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mountains, we'll lose them. Our
only shot is for me to engage.

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Get recovery teams on standby. I'm
going to splash as many of them as

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I can before they take me out
over. There was a long pause before

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Dalton spoke, use your best judgment, son, said Dalton. How good

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a pilot are you anyway? Well, I guess we're about to find out,

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Sir, replied Clark. Thunder God
out. Clark went into a steep

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climb, gaining over one thousand feet
in altitude above the group of planes.

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He had the advantage for now.
They had no idea he was in the

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air. That would change the moment
he attacked. He also knew he only

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had so much AMMO before or he'd
be out. He'd have to make every

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past count. He felt his heart
racing as the powerful aircraft responded to his

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every touch. It felt like an
extension of him instead of just a machine,

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like it was a living thing.
He decided that if he survived this,

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he was going to ask the General
if he could keep it. He'd

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have to survive first. He thought
about Amanda for a moment and silently whispered

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his goodbyes. He knew he didn't
stand much of a chance against five aircraft,

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and little to no chance once he
hit the water. For one,

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it was cold enough to kill him
in minutes. Also, there were the

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shark men to contend with. What
was it that Hines had called them die

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weeper high the white sharks somewhere below
him, More than a dozen great white

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sharks with the intelligence of a human, were watching and waiting for a fresh

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morsel to hit the water. Clark
shivered when he thought of what must have

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happened to the pilots of the apaches
that were shot down. He whispered a

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silent prayer for them, and won
for comfort for Amanda if he were to

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die tonight, Amen, he muttered, he was in position. Pushing the

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stick forward, he dove towards the
JAU fifty two, accelerating hard as he

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swept down from the sky toward his
unsuspecting target. Lighting up his crosshairs on

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the cockpit, he held us fire
until the last second. He was coming

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in from above and slightly to the
starboard of the transport. At the last

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moment, the coppilot looked out the
window and saw him. Before he could

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raise the alarm, Clark squeezed the
triggers, engaging all six fifty caliber machine

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guns. His rounds tore through the
fuselage and into the cockpit of the light

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transport like a hot knife through butter. He saw blood explode into the windscreens

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seconds before it too exploded into leith
little shrapnel for whoever was in the cockpit.

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Instantly, the plane keeled over and
went into an uncontrolled dive. The

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aircraft had three engines, one on
each wing and one mounted in the nose

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of the aircraft. The burst had
not only shredded the cockpit, but the

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nose engine was now bursting into flames. As the plane shot toward the water,

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Clark didn't see it, but at
the last minute, the wounded plane

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leveled off just enough to avoid the
water and then crash landed onto one of

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the larger islands in the lake.
There wasn't a fireball, but the plane

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was down, and it was highly
likely that some of the passengers had survived

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the crash. Clark couldn't watch the
plane's death. He had other problems.

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He pulled back on the stick and
brought one of the measure schmidts into the

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crosshairs as he began to climb,
ripping a quick burst. As he climbed,

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he saw the devastating effects of the
fifty caliber rounds shred one wing and

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part of the fuselage directly behind the
pilot. The wing caught fire, and

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Clark saw flames licking up into the
fuselage behind the pilot. He was going

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to have to ditch or die.
The decision was made in an instant as

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the pilot opened the cockpit and dove
away from the burning aircraft. Fuck yeah,

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shouted Clark as he climbed into the
night. Below him, Two of

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the BF one O nimes came after
him, while the other one banked away

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from the dying aircraft. Clark hoped
that the pilot of the plane was Henderman,

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but he couldn't tell what the flying
helmet and mask in place. If

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he'd already splashed Henderman and the transport, then the rest of this fight didn't

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matter. He'd already won. Well
done, edit, Clark, said Henderman's

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voice over the plane's radio. Clark
hadn't considered that all Henderman's planes would be

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programmed to the same frequency. Reaching
down, he grabbed the flight helmet and

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slipped it on. I know it's
you here, Clark, said Henderman.

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No other pilots that are familiar with
these vintage aircraft in this area. It's

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me, said Clark, activating the
calm. Sorry to hear you survived.

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I guess I'll have to rectify that, like you Americans like to say,

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said Henderman mockingly. You are welcome
to try. I'm unmatched in dogfights over

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this lake. Sure you are,
said Clark, because none of your flunkies

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would have the balls to outshoot you
for fear of being executed. You've never

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really flown against a pilot that wants
you dead. Well, welcome to the

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first time we shall see here,
Clark said Henderman behind him. Clark saw

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the two BF one o nines open
fire, and he instantly banked hard to

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port and dove for the deck.
They turned over and followed him, and

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once he had gained some air speed, he took a deep breath inside.

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I've always wanted to try this,
he hissed. Pulling back onto the stick,

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he swept into a steep climb.
Straight up, he pushed a full

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power and held his course. Come
on, baby, he said, feeling

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himself forced back into the seat with
a combined force of acceleration and gravity.

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The plane continued to climb, and
the BF one O ninees were right behind

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him, trying to match his maneuver. Come on, baby, he repeated,

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give me all you got. Clark
saw the first one and then the

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other BF one O nine fall away
while he continued to climb, but was

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slowing rapidly. When he reached his
applegee, he leaned back and pulled hard

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on the stick and then applied full
rudder to port. The plane flipped around

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and was now facing directly down and
started to accelerate rapidly. Hammerheads stall,

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bitch, he shouted, you fuckers
can't do that. Pushing the aircraft to

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her limits, Clark shot directly at
the nearest BF one o nine and raked

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it with his guns. It tried
to bank away, but he ripped through

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the starboard wing and sheared half of
it off. The stricken aircraft went into

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a spin, and Clark knew that
there was no way the pilot could eject

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if weeder shade, asshole, said
Clark. Most impressive, said Henderman.

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You shall pay for this. Two
to one now, replied Clark. I

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like these odds. Clark looked around
and saw one of the BF one o

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nine flying level toward the burning debris
on the surface of the lake that was

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the remains of another BF one o
nine. Clark considered attacking the aircraft,

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with the fault suddenly hitting where's the
other one? From above him and to

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his right, one of the BF
one o ninees came screaming out of a

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low cloud bank. It had to
be Henderman, having ordered the other plane

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to attract his attention so he could
make a surprise attack. Banking hard to

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starboard, Clark went into a steep
dive before a burst of machine gun fire

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ripped through his fuselage just behind the
cockpit. Clark kept diving but checked his

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gages. He didn't see anything serious. Some minor pressure loss in the hydraulics,

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but it wasn't significant. It could
get dangerous, but he was all

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right for now. The head had
been minor, and as he began to

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level out over the water, he
turned his head to check on Henderman.

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That's when he felt the pain in
his neck. He reached back and found

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that there was a piece of shrapnel
lodged in his neck where the trapezesa's muscle

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meets the spine, just above the
shoulder. He yanked it out and he

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felt warm blood oozing down. His
back wasn't bleeding a lot, so he

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ignored it. Glancing around, he
saw that the remaining two BF one O

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nine's were moving to catch him in
a pinser maneuver, not this time assholes.

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He whispered and dough for the water, pushing for all the speed he

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could get. He leveled out of
six feet off the water. He saw

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the two BF one on Nines approaching
at an intercept angle. He waited until

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he knew they were getting close enough
to engage their guns. Come on,

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you, bastards, he thought,
careful not to speak so that Henderman wouldn't

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hear him. He heard the machine
guns of both aircraft engage, and he

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saw the tracers streaking through the night
just ahead of him. Pushing the throttle

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down to almost nothing, he extended
all flaps and the Mustang responded by slowing

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instantly to half her previous speed.
The BF one O Nines overshot him and

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raked each other with machine gun fire. One plane began to smoke, and

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the other banked furiously away, going
to full power. Clark turned and went

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after the smoking aircraft, coming in
from behind to the starboard side. Clark

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targeted the BF one on nine's engine
and raked it with his guns and then

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cease firing. As he banked sharply
away. The already smoking engine burst into

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flames and completely engulfed the front end
of the aircraft. The pilot tried to

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eject, but his flight suit caught
fire as he was doused with burning fuel.

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He was immolated, and the man
fell screaming to the dark water of

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the lake. Clark turned hard and
raced away from the dying man to look

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for Henderman. Was your son of
a bitch, roared Henderman. Clark pulled

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a stick hard to port as Henderman
streaked toward him, firing his guns as

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he approached. Clark tilted and turned, but Henderman stayed right behind him.

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Henderman kept firing burst from his guns, but Clark was constantly jinking back and

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forth, narrowly avoiding the worst of
the deadly projectiles. One burst struck the

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back of the plane, and Clark
could see that he was now losing hydraulic

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pressure at a much faster rate.
Come on, baby, he whispered,

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thunder God to Asgard. Clark shouted, but didn't act activate his radio.

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I'm hit losing hydraulics. I'm going
to have to ditch in the lake.

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Over behind him, he saw Henderman
level off and accelerate, moving to finish

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off what he thought was a dying
aircraft, and Clark waited for him to

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get close before pulling back on the
stick and going to full power. The

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graceful P fIF one climb like a
homesick angel and powered into the night sky.

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Clark kept the stick back until he
was inverted, and halfway through a

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roll. He flipped the stick over
and hit the flaps, and he spun

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over and emerged from the climb facing
the other direction. He saw Henderman rapidly

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turning to port to get back behind
him, and Clark pushed the stick starboard

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and shoved it to the red line. At the current rate of turn,

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Clark would get Henderman in his sights
before he was in Henderman's I got you,

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you, son of a bitch,
Clark thought. Henderman didn't see the

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danger until it was too late.
Clark engaged the guns and strafed the BF

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one O nine. After just a
few seconds of fire, the guns fell

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silent. I'm out of AMMO,
he roared. Henderman's plane shuddered and smoke

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was now pouring from the engine.
He turned sharply away from Clark and headed

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for the mountain passes. Clark knew
that that meant he thought he could make

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it to a haven. It had
to be close by to reach it with

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a severely damaged aircraft. Oh no, you don't, snarl, Clark,

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banking after him. What are you
going to do to me? Mocked Henderman.

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You have nothing left. I would
live to fight another day. You

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cannot stop me. Now we'll see, whispered Clark. Pushing the throttle forward,

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he caught Henderman in seconds and climbed
slightly above him. He could hear

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Henderman laughing as he moved into position. Keep laughing, asshole, whispered Clark.

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Once in position, Clark pulled the
stick over hard, inverted the aircraft,

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and slowly he began moving in over
Henderman's aircraft. From the way the

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measure Schmidt was vibrating, Clark knew
that he couldn't maneuver or risk falling out

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of the sky. The BF one
O nine was barely staying in the air

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as Clark eased into place just above
Henderman. He held it with their cockpits

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less than six feet apart. What
are you doing, your stupid American,

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asked Henderman, looking up. With
one hand, Clark opened the canopy and

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felt the cold air rush into the
cockpit. He shivered involuntarily, but held

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his course. He took a moment
to lock eyes with Henderman. The older

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man glared back at him with all
the hate and malice that he contained in

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his long sense corrupted soul. What
do you want, demanded Henderman. This

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replied Clark, Drawing the fifty gi
glock on his right hip, he aimed

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and fired into the other cock pit. The first round shattered the plexiglass of

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Henderman's plane. The next three rounds
ripped into Henderman's torso in the final three

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went into Henderman's skull, exploding it
all over the cockpit. Audio's asshole,

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said Clark, slipping the pistol back
into his holster. He watched as the

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bfe O nine fell away from him
and dove straight into the dark water of

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Lake Noel Api, vanishing into the
abyss in seconds. Clark pulled the stick

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over and brought the plane back upright, and then banked and headed for the

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shore. He saw several black Hawk
helicopters already searching the water for bodies or

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00:16:40,399 --> 00:16:45,519
survivors. Another was landing on an
island to look for survivors of the JAU

203
00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:49,840
fifty two. Thunder God to Asgard
Control, he said into his mic.

204
00:16:51,639 --> 00:16:55,320
Go ahead, thunder God, said
General Dalton, what's your status? Over?

205
00:16:56,480 --> 00:17:00,919
Splashed all five aircraft, said Clark. Henderman is confirmed dead. There

206
00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:06,759
might be survivors on that island.
I've sustained heavy damage to my aircraft and

207
00:17:06,799 --> 00:17:11,039
I need to put it down most
ricky tick. I'm losing hydraulics and I'm

208
00:17:11,039 --> 00:17:14,880
low on fuel. Can you light
up a section of the highway near the

209
00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:18,880
village where I can put it down? Over we'll make that happen. Thunder

210
00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:23,680
God, said Dalton. Or should
I call you? Ace? You splash

211
00:17:23,839 --> 00:17:30,359
five enemy aircraft in a P fifty
one Mustang That hasn't been done since World

212
00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:33,240
War Two. I guess I'm going
to have to put you in for a

213
00:17:33,279 --> 00:17:40,799
Distinguished Flying Cross, Ace, said
Clark questioningly. Then his thoughts went to

214
00:17:40,839 --> 00:17:47,079
the card that Matthias had handed him
before the assault on an Alco started reaching

215
00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:49,799
into his pocket, he pulled it
out and there in his hand was the

216
00:17:49,839 --> 00:17:53,640
Ace of Spades. Why'll be a
son of a bitch, he said.

217
00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:59,960
Ahead in the darkness, he could
see the shimmering lights of the village.

218
00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:03,599
Along the highway, he saw lights
beginning to burn bright red. Someone was

219
00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:07,400
throwing out flares along the road to
light it up for him to land on.

220
00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:12,559
Thunder God to Asgard, said Clark. I see flares. I'm coming

221
00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:17,519
in, copy thunder God and said
Dalton, I'll see you on the ground.

222
00:18:18,319 --> 00:18:22,680
Firmative, sir, said Clark,
thunder God out. He lined up

223
00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:26,880
on the highway and brought his nose
against the wind. He began his descent.

224
00:18:27,039 --> 00:18:30,960
He hit the landing gear and he
waited for the thump as they locked

225
00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:34,759
into place, but there was no
thumb. He glanced at his gages and

226
00:18:34,799 --> 00:18:38,039
he knew that he had to put
it down now or he'd crash. This

227
00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:42,440
was his only shot at controlling the
landing. Shit, he said. The

228
00:18:42,559 --> 00:18:47,799
hydraulics can't lock the landing gear.
Not enough pressure. Come on, baby,

229
00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:52,640
let's bring this home. He cycled
the switch twice more, trying the

230
00:18:52,759 --> 00:18:56,319
landing gear. The ground was getting
steadily closer. He was only two hundred

231
00:18:56,359 --> 00:19:00,519
feet off the ground when the thump
came and the green light indicated the landing

232
00:19:00,559 --> 00:19:04,960
gear was now locked. That's my
girl, he said, patting the instrument

233
00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:11,200
panel. That's my baby. He
continued his approach and felt the engine begin

234
00:19:11,319 --> 00:19:15,720
to sputter. All those maneuvers and
pushing her to her limits had drained the

235
00:19:15,799 --> 00:19:21,279
fuel rapidly. He feathered the throttle
and brought her in and the tires barked

236
00:19:21,279 --> 00:19:25,880
softly as they contacted the pavement,
and he began powering her down, applying

237
00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:29,799
the brakes. Come on, baby, he whispered, holding the stick tightly.

238
00:19:30,279 --> 00:19:34,480
Seconds later, the tailwheel came down
and made contact, and he throttled

239
00:19:34,519 --> 00:19:38,519
back and he cut the power and
began to slow down. He laughed as

240
00:19:38,519 --> 00:19:44,440
he taxied off the highway and into
a familiar parking lot. He just pulled

241
00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:48,119
back into the driveway that led to
his hotel. He taxied to the front

242
00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:52,920
of the hotel and pulled under the
awning Fuck it, he said, grinning.

243
00:19:52,279 --> 00:19:56,359
Hector, can pour me a drink
while I wait. He cut power

244
00:19:56,400 --> 00:20:00,720
and climbed out onto the wing.
Welcome back, Sor, said Hector,

245
00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:06,440
as if airplanes pulled up to the
hotel every day. I need a drink,

246
00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:10,400
said Clark. Of course you do, sir, said Hector. Come

247
00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:15,480
with me. Clark headed inside.
Hector. When my friends show up looking

248
00:20:15,519 --> 00:20:19,160
for me, said Clark, please
send them to the bar. That's where

249
00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:29,079
I'll be very good, Senor,
said Hector. Enjoy your drink. Chapter

250
00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:37,240
sixteen shock Waves, Oh two forty
five hours, sixteen May via La Angostura.

251
00:20:37,599 --> 00:20:41,599
Clark was on his second glass and
McCollen m single mault. When General

252
00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:45,160
Dalton walked in the room. Other
than the two of them, the bar

253
00:20:45,319 --> 00:20:51,599
was empty. Dalton walked over and
went behind the bar, stopping directly across

254
00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:55,519
from Clark, who was sipping the
whiskey in his glass and staring off into

255
00:20:55,519 --> 00:21:00,119
the distance. How's a Scotch,
asked Dalton, not bothering to hide it

256
00:21:00,279 --> 00:21:03,880
is stick Virginia accent. Clark shook
his head like he hadn't even realized the

257
00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:08,880
General was standing there. He started
to snap to attention. Relax Son said

258
00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:15,319
Dalton, keep your seat. Dalton
visibly relaxed, and then lifted his glass

259
00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:19,000
at the General. Damn good,
sir, said Clark. Best I've ever

260
00:21:19,079 --> 00:21:22,640
had. Hell, it's the best
I'll probably ever have. Couldn't afford a

261
00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:26,720
glass of this on what I may
let alone a full bottle. Yeah,

262
00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:32,839
that stuff's expensive, said Dalton.
I generally stick to Bourbon myself. I

263
00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:37,920
prefer my whiskey from Tennessee. I've
never been one for an expensive or fancy

264
00:21:37,039 --> 00:21:41,680
drink. I like Jack Daniels.
I like my coffee straight up, just

265
00:21:41,759 --> 00:21:47,319
like my daddy and granddaddy took theirs. However, if this stuff is good,

266
00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:49,759
enough for the man who killed Hitler. Then I reckon I can try

267
00:21:49,759 --> 00:21:53,920
it. Dalton grabbed a glass from
beneath the bar, and Clark filled it

268
00:21:53,960 --> 00:22:00,359
with a generous poor Dalton nodded his
appreciation. You ever decide to become a

269
00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:04,599
bartender, said Dalton, I'm coming
to your bar. You pour a real

270
00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:10,640
goddamn drink, not that barely a
sip stuff they do at most bars.

271
00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:15,519
Clark refilled his glass and lifted it
to the general. They clinked their glasses

272
00:22:15,559 --> 00:22:21,559
and they both took a long pull
before lowering them. That's smoother than silk,

273
00:22:21,839 --> 00:22:26,160
said Dalton appreciatively. But it'll put
fire in your belly. That's not

274
00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:30,079
bad. It was the most expensive
bottle they had, said Clark, grinning.

275
00:22:30,559 --> 00:22:34,279
All of this was charged to Henderman's
account, so I figured i'd celebrate

276
00:22:34,359 --> 00:22:40,200
a bit. Clark held up the
bottle, offering a refill. I'll leave

277
00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:42,440
the rest for you to take with
you, said Dalton. I want you

278
00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:47,559
to have some for later. Drink
up, sir, said Clark, refilling

279
00:22:47,599 --> 00:22:51,160
his glass. I'm not worried about
this bottle. I've got six more in

280
00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:56,440
my bag. Dalton chokled loudly before
accepting the refill, Clark lifted his glass

281
00:22:56,480 --> 00:23:00,880
and nodded at Dalton. To those
who didn't make it, said Clark.

282
00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:06,640
They clinked glasses again, and to
those who have gone before us, said

283
00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:11,079
Dalton. Clark nodded, and they
drank deeply. You feeling better, asked

284
00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:17,480
Dalton, eyeballing Clark closely. My
nerves were a bit shook when I landed

285
00:23:17,519 --> 00:23:21,400
the plane, said Clark. Honestly
didn't expect to come back from that,

286
00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:26,799
especially at five to one odds.
I got damn lucky. You might say

287
00:23:26,839 --> 00:23:30,599
you had an angel on your shoulder, son, said Dalton. I didn't

288
00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:33,640
expect you to come back either.
That was a hell of a thing.

289
00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:37,400
You should have heard the cheering and
the command bunker. How did the arrest

290
00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:41,920
of the assault on Enolco turn out, asked Clark. Well, we took

291
00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:45,559
it, said Dalton. We had
a few casualties, but less than I

292
00:23:45,599 --> 00:23:51,279
expected. We also found the survivors
of that film crew who went missing.

293
00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:55,640
They were all in cells beneath one
of the larger buildings. We're going to

294
00:23:55,680 --> 00:24:00,400
get them on a plane back to
Buenos Aire's in the morning. About the

295
00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:03,200
crews of those apaches, asked Clark, did any of them make it.

296
00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:07,920
We pulled all but two of them
out of the water, said Dalton.

297
00:24:07,319 --> 00:24:11,480
Either the cold or the sharks got
them. We couldn't find them. They

298
00:24:11,559 --> 00:24:15,720
might have ridden their birds to the
bottom of the lake, said Clark.

299
00:24:15,519 --> 00:24:21,359
Well we considered that too, said
Dalton. There were concealed anti aircraft guns

300
00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:26,240
hiding all above that cliff, goddamn
eighty eight flat cannons, just like those

301
00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:30,680
some bitches used on us in World
War Two. Once they fired on the

302
00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:34,000
apaches, we locked in on their
positions. The ghostwriters took them out.

303
00:24:34,839 --> 00:24:40,440
That's good, said Clark. Those
guns would have made rescuing those chopper crews

304
00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:44,799
impossible. Well, that's why we
took them out, said Dalton. You

305
00:24:44,799 --> 00:24:48,039
matter if I keep that P.
Fifty one, Sir, asked Clark.

306
00:24:48,839 --> 00:24:52,799
Well, I'd be shocked if you
didn't want to, answered Dalton. I'll

307
00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:56,799
arrange to have it transported back to
Fort Lennard Wood for you. I assume

308
00:24:56,839 --> 00:25:00,279
you'll want the same thing for the
Catalina. I might just fly that one

309
00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:03,839
home, said Clark. I'll take
part of the team and land it near

310
00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:08,119
my place on Table Rock Lake.
That's a good idea, said Dalton,

311
00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:14,119
But make sure you're all fully debrief
first, then I'm sure we'll be happy

312
00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:17,519
to let you have a few days
to recover. We've still got work to

313
00:25:17,559 --> 00:25:22,279
do before that, the shark men, asked Clark. Exactly, said Dalton.

314
00:25:22,759 --> 00:25:26,279
We know from the files that Bauers
sent us that there were twelve of

315
00:25:26,319 --> 00:25:30,839
those creatures. They were all males, so there's no chance of any of

316
00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:33,599
them are going to drop a baby. And when is Clinton supposed to arrive?

317
00:25:33,799 --> 00:25:38,240
Asked Clark. Do we think his
hydrophone thing will work? He came

318
00:25:38,279 --> 00:25:41,720
in right behind us, said Dalton. He and his crew had been setting

319
00:25:41,799 --> 00:25:47,599
up all night. They already cleared
Lake corn Toso. We set up a

320
00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:52,880
sonic beacon in the river that connects
corn Toso with Noelapi. They can't go

321
00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:56,920
back in there without tripping the sonics
and explosives. We know they're in Nowelapi.

322
00:25:57,200 --> 00:26:00,799
We've caught all twelve of them on
pass so onar at least twice.

323
00:26:02,559 --> 00:26:06,119
Are we going to try to capture
him, ask Clark, No, said

324
00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:11,960
Dalton. We already know the process
is irreversible. This group is uncontrollable and

325
00:26:11,039 --> 00:26:15,519
there'll only be a threat to whoever
they're around. We have to eliminate them.

326
00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:21,720
Well, how's Bauer, asked Clark. He's stable, said Dalton.

327
00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:25,599
We're flying him back to the state
so we can begin treating him. With

328
00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:29,720
the notes in the data that you
recover from Mingele's lab, we should at

329
00:26:29,799 --> 00:26:33,799
least be able to stabilize him and
give him the control that the other group

330
00:26:33,839 --> 00:26:37,480
couldn't get. Well, what's going
to happen to him after that, asked

331
00:26:37,519 --> 00:26:41,279
Clark. Well, that'll be up
to him, said Dalton. We'll either

332
00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:45,039
return him to Germany or offer him
a job with the team. I hope

333
00:26:45,039 --> 00:26:48,839
he takes this job. Having him
in control of his abilities and on our

334
00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:55,279
side would make one hell of an
underwater operative, agreed Clark. Bower's good

335
00:26:55,359 --> 00:26:59,839
man. I just hope this experience
hasn't broken his spirit. He might not

336
00:27:00,039 --> 00:27:03,599
want to do any of it anymore. Well, that's possibility, said Dalton,

337
00:27:03,759 --> 00:27:07,440
taking another long pull of the whiskey. Thank you, sir, said

338
00:27:07,519 --> 00:27:12,880
Clark for what, asked Dalton for
coming to check on me, said Clark.

339
00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:18,400
You didn't have to do that bullshit, said Dalton. When one of

340
00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:21,759
my men kills Hitler, I come
to see him and buy the man or

341
00:27:21,839 --> 00:27:26,079
drink. And by the way,
I wasn't kidding about the Distinguished Flying Cross

342
00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:30,000
you've earned it. We were watching
the entire thing from a drone camera.

343
00:27:30,519 --> 00:27:34,759
They're already calling you the last of
the Army Air Corps aces. By the

344
00:27:34,759 --> 00:27:40,559
way, here, Dalton tossed a
set of aviator wings on the bar.

345
00:27:41,279 --> 00:27:45,720
Those are just placeholders until I can
find the actual Army Air Corps version,

346
00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:51,400
said Dalton. I'm making a special
disposition for you. I just did what

347
00:27:51,519 --> 00:27:55,640
needed to be done, said Clark. We couldn't let those assholes escape.

348
00:27:56,160 --> 00:28:00,880
By the way, were there any
survivors? We pulled Canaris and Borman,

349
00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:06,200
along with a few staff members off
the island, said Dalton. Down it

350
00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:11,759
was piloting the JAU fifty two.
You took him apart with your guns.

351
00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:15,759
We were able to identify him,
but there was zero chance he was alive.

352
00:28:15,279 --> 00:28:18,960
You've got to have a complete chess
cavity for that to happen. Fuck

353
00:28:19,079 --> 00:28:23,559
him, said Clark, draining the
rest of his glass. Exactly, said

354
00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:30,000
Dalton. We're already interrogating Rommel.
The others will get their time in the

355
00:28:30,039 --> 00:28:34,039
box when they're released by medical Canaris
and Borman are both hurting the crash.

356
00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:40,640
Rommel was almost unscathed, and he's
offered to tell us everything for asylum in

357
00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:45,319
the US. He does not want
to go to Israel. We expect to

358
00:28:45,319 --> 00:28:48,599
get a lot of intel out of
them. We're already planning a joint task

359
00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:53,319
force made of the Special Ops teams
from several countries to be tasked with going

360
00:28:53,359 --> 00:28:59,119
after other Nazi facilities. And we
know for sure now that they have several

361
00:28:59,160 --> 00:29:03,119
others in South America and a few
other places. We're going to find and

362
00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:07,599
eliminate all of them. Clark poured
about two fingers of whiskey for himself and

363
00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:12,359
went to refill the general's glass.
Dalton placed his hand over the top of

364
00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:17,240
his glass and shook his head.
Good, said Clark. But I'm happy

365
00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:19,960
to let somebody else handle that.
I think I'm content to go back to

366
00:29:21,039 --> 00:29:26,039
hunting monsters, well the non human
type. Anyway, I've got a car

367
00:29:26,079 --> 00:29:29,880
standing by to take you to a
helicopter, said Dalton. I'll take you

368
00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:33,599
back to Valhalla to meet up with
the rest of your team. By the

369
00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:36,839
way, I don't know what you
said or did to Captain Nyan, but

370
00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:40,839
he's been singing your praises since the
fighting ended. I think you made a

371
00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:45,359
hell of an impression on her.
I can't imagine why, said Clark,

372
00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:48,519
shrugging. I barely spoke to her. Dalton shrugged and headed for the door.

373
00:29:49,319 --> 00:29:52,799
Nicely done, son, said Dalton. I'll talk to you later.

374
00:29:55,319 --> 00:29:59,960
Clark finished his drink and headed out
to the waiting vehicle. General Dalton's car

375
00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:04,200
had already gone. The young sergeant
that was driving the vehicles saluted as he

376
00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:10,319
opened the back door of the captured
antique Mercedes. He slid into the back

377
00:30:10,359 --> 00:30:14,759
seat and leaned back, and briefly
he wondered what had happened to Yokim,

378
00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:18,880
but thought it best not to dwell
on it. Still, it was a

379
00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:23,519
beautiful car, probably wind up as
General Dalton's staff car. They drove in

380
00:30:23,599 --> 00:30:29,160
silence until they came to an open
field with lots of team personnel moving around

381
00:30:29,599 --> 00:30:36,039
several black haw helicopters sitting on makeshift
landing zones. The sergeant drove Clark nearly

382
00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:40,799
to the helicopters and then stopped and
came around to let him out. Clark

383
00:30:40,839 --> 00:30:45,559
nodded his appreciation and slung the large
Sduffel bag over his shoulder, careful not

384
00:30:45,640 --> 00:30:49,279
to break the contents. As he
was heading for the flight line. He

385
00:30:49,279 --> 00:30:55,279
heard a familiar voice and turned to
look. The team that was providing security

386
00:30:55,319 --> 00:30:59,759
for the helicopters was none other than
Team or Ryan, and he saw most

387
00:30:59,759 --> 00:31:04,200
of the team too were present.
He spotted Gunnery Sergeant Miller sitting on an

388
00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:08,559
am O crate rubbing his knee.
Hey, Gunny, said Clark as he

389
00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:14,440
approached. Hey major, said Miller, starting to get up. Stay seated,

390
00:31:14,519 --> 00:31:18,799
guns said Clark. How's the knee? Well, let's fuck, said

391
00:31:18,839 --> 00:31:22,400
Miller toward the ACL and snapped a
couple of ligaments. Well can they fix

392
00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:27,680
it, asked Clark. Yes and
no, said Miller. The surgery will

393
00:31:27,759 --> 00:31:32,319
undo most of the damage, but
they say it'll put me off the team.

394
00:31:32,839 --> 00:31:36,039
I'll have to either take a desk
job or retire. I think I

395
00:31:36,119 --> 00:31:38,599
might just take the pension and go
if I can't be with the team.

396
00:31:40,519 --> 00:31:44,200
Shit, I'm sorry to hear that, Gunny, said Clark. Don't be

397
00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:48,160
said Miller. I've had a good
career, and what a fucking mission to

398
00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:51,920
go out on. I mean,
I'll never be able to tell anyone about

399
00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:55,240
it. But no, and I
helped put down Hitler in the Nazi inner

400
00:31:55,359 --> 00:31:57,680
circle. I can be happy with
my career, knowing I did that.

401
00:31:59,359 --> 00:32:02,680
Now join the team to fight monsters. Who knew I'd end up stopping the

402
00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:07,279
biggest monster ever and it wasn't even
a creature, just one evil, fucking

403
00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:12,519
human. Well you can be proud, said Clark. You did well,

404
00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:15,400
Thank you, sir, said Miller. Did you get those fuckers before they

405
00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:20,799
got away? I did, said
Clark. None of them escaped. Fucking

406
00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:23,960
ay, sir, said Miller.
Then it was a good day. Clark

407
00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:29,039
opened the bag and handed Miller a
bottle of the McCallan. Take this,

408
00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:32,880
said Clark. Have a drink with
your senior people. Is this good Scotch,

409
00:32:34,119 --> 00:32:37,839
asked Miller. Oh it's damn good, replied Clark. Is it expensive?

410
00:32:38,599 --> 00:32:43,440
Round six grand a bottle, said
Clark. Enjoy it. Your team

411
00:32:43,519 --> 00:32:46,559
earned it, Thanks Major, I
know just who to share this with.

412
00:32:47,359 --> 00:32:51,960
We'll have to pour a bit into
some canteen cups and have a drink later.

413
00:32:52,599 --> 00:32:54,920
Well, enjoy it, said Clark, turning his head for the chopper

414
00:32:57,079 --> 00:33:01,319
leaving already, said a voice behind
him. Clark turned to see Captain Knowing

415
00:33:01,599 --> 00:33:06,839
approaching with a smile on her face. I heard you barely brought that plane

416
00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:10,000
back in, she said, Are
you all right, had a few close

417
00:33:10,079 --> 00:33:15,039
moments, said Clark, but she
got me back down safe. They don't

418
00:33:15,079 --> 00:33:19,799
build planes like that anymore. Well, I'm glad you succeeded, said Nowang,

419
00:33:20,079 --> 00:33:22,720
smiling and brushing her hair back away
from her right eye. It was

420
00:33:22,759 --> 00:33:27,599
good working with you, you two, captain, said Clark, smiling.

421
00:33:28,119 --> 00:33:30,519
I gave your gunny a bottle of
whiskey for you and your senior people to

422
00:33:30,559 --> 00:33:35,920
have a glass. Thank you,
she said. You sure you won't stick

423
00:33:35,960 --> 00:33:38,960
around to have one with us.
I wish I could, said Clark,

424
00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:44,000
But all father is waiting for me
to come back to Valhalla maybe next time.

425
00:33:44,839 --> 00:33:49,200
Looking forward to it, she replied, have a safe flight. Thanks,

426
00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:52,079
said Clark, giving her a rare
smile before turning back toward the chopper.

427
00:33:53,400 --> 00:33:57,880
As he was walking away, he
heard Miller say something to her that

428
00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:00,400
made her laugh. He didn't make
it out, but he had the feeling

429
00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:05,400
that they were talking about him.
You ready, sir, asked the crew

430
00:34:05,480 --> 00:34:08,559
chief, as Clark approached the chopper, Yeah, Chief, said Clark,

431
00:34:08,679 --> 00:34:14,800
take me to Valhalla. Clark sat
in silence as the chopper spooled up and

432
00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:19,280
lifted off. Soon they were climbing
over the village as they headed north toward

433
00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:22,840
Valhalla. It was only a short
ride and they landed in a large clearing

434
00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:28,199
that was serving as a base of
operations for the Midwest Division of the Wild

435
00:34:28,280 --> 00:34:31,920
Hunt. It had turned into a
military encampment since the last time he'd seen

436
00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:37,400
it. There were tents in rows
and perimeter wires strung around the edge of

437
00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:42,000
the clearing. Patrols were moving with
dogs, and several larger tents were set

438
00:34:42,079 --> 00:34:47,119
up for senior personnel Conscertina wire and
fencing had been put in place at the

439
00:34:47,199 --> 00:34:52,639
edge of a large encampment. Thanks
Chief, said Clark, slipping out of

440
00:34:52,679 --> 00:34:57,480
the chopper and ducking low to avoid
the rotors, he no sooner cleared the

441
00:34:57,480 --> 00:35:00,400
makeshift landing zone. When the chopper
lifted off off and headed back south,

442
00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:07,239
he quickly found his way to the
GP Medium tenth that was the field offices

443
00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:13,480
for Team Odin. Ducking inside,
he found Saunders, csm Hammond, Specialist

444
00:35:13,599 --> 00:35:19,119
Wilder, Gideon, Gregel, and
Murdoch all inside. They all looked up

445
00:35:19,159 --> 00:35:22,239
when they saw him walk in.
Greetings, said Clark, Why aren't we

446
00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:28,239
set up inside Valhalla. That's the
offices of Colonel Boudreau and his staff.

447
00:35:28,320 --> 00:35:31,719
Said Saunders. We're out here.
Well, he's missing out, said Clark.

448
00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:37,360
Why is that, asked Hammon.
Because he might have the climate controlled

449
00:35:37,400 --> 00:35:43,000
mimic units, said Clark, But
we have something he doesn't have. What

450
00:35:43,119 --> 00:35:47,079
did you bring, asked Hammond,
giving Clark a sly look. Five bottles

451
00:35:47,119 --> 00:35:52,559
of McAllen m said Clark, grinning. Clark said Hammond, getting slowly to

452
00:35:52,639 --> 00:35:57,800
his feet. If you're messing with
me, I swear I'm gonna shoot you.

453
00:35:59,039 --> 00:36:01,840
Clark handed him bag, which he
quickly opened like a kid with a

454
00:36:01,880 --> 00:36:07,559
present on Christmas morning. His eyes
lit up when he looked inside the bag.

455
00:36:07,159 --> 00:36:12,519
Holy shit, Levi said Hamming.
This is the real deal, like

456
00:36:12,559 --> 00:36:16,360
a five grand, a bottle six
and some change, said Clark. You

457
00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:20,320
could put a hell of a down
payment on a house with what's in that

458
00:36:20,440 --> 00:36:23,760
bag? Was that Daniel Clark?
I just saw walk in here, asked

459
00:36:23,800 --> 00:36:29,559
a booming voice from the entrance to
the tent. Clark turned around and saw

460
00:36:29,559 --> 00:36:32,960
a bear of a man entering the
tent. Built like a powerlifter. He

461
00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:37,599
had dark hair that was starting to
go gray on the beard and at the

462
00:36:37,719 --> 00:36:44,079
sides. Clark recognized him instantly.
Clint Bruce, you dirty old bastard,

463
00:36:44,119 --> 00:36:47,119
he said, heading for the newcomer, how the fuck are you? As

464
00:36:47,159 --> 00:36:51,599
Clark approached him, they could see
that he was far bigger than Clark.

465
00:36:52,119 --> 00:36:54,760
Instead of a handshake, he reached
out and picked Clark up like a small

466
00:36:54,880 --> 00:36:59,760
child and gave him a massive bear
hug. Put me down, you crazy

467
00:36:59,800 --> 00:37:02,400
son of a bitch. Wee's Clark. Hey, you leave my mother out

468
00:37:02,480 --> 00:37:07,239
of this, countered Bruce, dropping
Clark from about a foot off the ground.

469
00:37:07,719 --> 00:37:09,719
Why, asked Clark, grinning.
Does she still ask about me,

470
00:37:10,280 --> 00:37:15,599
you asshole, said Bruce, laughing
and throwing his arm around Clark's shoulder.

471
00:37:15,639 --> 00:37:19,960
Hey, let me introduce you,
said Clark, turning to the others.

472
00:37:20,719 --> 00:37:24,719
This is our Clint, Bruce said
Clark, biggest dick head the Navy Seals

473
00:37:24,760 --> 00:37:29,760
ever turned loose on an unsuspecting world. He's a hell of a guy,

474
00:37:29,840 --> 00:37:31,559
and I try to get him to
come out of retirement for the team,

475
00:37:31,599 --> 00:37:36,760
but I'm fairly sure his wife would
murder me with a cast iron skillet.

476
00:37:37,280 --> 00:37:42,239
You and me both, brother,
said Bruce. This is Lieutenant Colonel Levi

477
00:37:42,480 --> 00:37:46,599
Saunder, said Clark, pointing that
crusty old bastard in love with the whiskey

478
00:37:46,679 --> 00:37:52,400
is command, Sergeant Major David Hammond, a Sergeant Major John Gideon, Lieutenant

479
00:37:52,559 --> 00:38:00,400
Nathaniel Murdock, First Sergeant William Gregel, and specialist Katie Wilder. Good to

480
00:38:00,440 --> 00:38:04,480
meet you all, said Bruce.
Have we met before? He was looking

481
00:38:04,519 --> 00:38:08,480
at Gideon. You look familiar,
said Bruce. Maybe, said Gideon.

482
00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:14,480
I've been in the marine since god
was a lance corporal. I understand you're

483
00:38:14,519 --> 00:38:17,840
here to help us with our shark
problem, said Saunders, changing the subject.

484
00:38:19,400 --> 00:38:23,039
That's the plan, said Bruce,
grinning. Everyone grab a canteen cup,

485
00:38:23,199 --> 00:38:28,360
said CSM Hammond. Let's have a
glass of whiskey like civilized folk.

486
00:38:29,719 --> 00:38:34,400
Canteen cups were produced, and Hammond
poured a generous measure into each one,

487
00:38:34,559 --> 00:38:37,719
emptying the first bottle of the McAllen. Once they were all served, they

488
00:38:37,840 --> 00:38:43,320
raised their cups in silent tribute,
an unspoken toast for the ones who had

489
00:38:43,360 --> 00:38:46,239
been lost in the battle. Afterward, they all took a long sip.

490
00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:52,599
WHOA, that is good, said
Hammond. It is, agreed, Saunders.

491
00:38:52,719 --> 00:38:55,960
Tastes expensive. I've had it once
before, said Bruce, but I

492
00:38:57,039 --> 00:39:00,599
have to admit this is the first
time I've ever had Scotch this good out

493
00:39:00,639 --> 00:39:05,840
of a canteen cup. This is
a first. I've drunk far better out

494
00:39:05,840 --> 00:39:09,159
of far worse, said Gideon with
a shrug. Clark chuckled as he calasted

495
00:39:09,159 --> 00:39:13,760
at Gideon, but he said nothing. So when are we getting started on

496
00:39:13,800 --> 00:39:17,360
the shark problem, asked Murdoch.
Well we already have, said Bruce.

497
00:39:17,960 --> 00:39:22,960
We planted ultrasonic hydrophones in parts of
the lake. The sharks are sensitive to

498
00:39:23,039 --> 00:39:29,400
loud noises because of the overdeveloped tim
paddic membrane, and once we activate the

499
00:39:29,480 --> 00:39:34,320
hydrophones, they'll haul us away as
fast as they can swim. We've got

500
00:39:34,320 --> 00:39:37,719
them position from the far end of
the lake. At regular intervals, I'll

501
00:39:37,840 --> 00:39:40,880
drive them this way, and once
they've been pushed to the far end of

502
00:39:40,880 --> 00:39:45,840
the lake, we'll use a specialized
team to force them to the surface.

503
00:39:45,280 --> 00:39:50,079
Then it's up to your team to
finish them off. Well it sounds easy,

504
00:39:50,199 --> 00:39:54,840
said Murdoch. Too easy, said
gregel. Getting them to the surface

505
00:39:54,960 --> 00:40:00,000
might be easy, said Bruce.
But I'm given to understand that these things

506
00:40:00,119 --> 00:40:02,519
aren't easy to kill. So you're
going to leave that to us, said

507
00:40:02,559 --> 00:40:07,000
Clark. Not going to get your
hands dirty. That's not like you.

508
00:40:07,719 --> 00:40:10,000
I never said that, said Bruce. If you can hook me up with

509
00:40:10,079 --> 00:40:15,159
some gear, I'll be happy to
go fishing with you. Clark looked at

510
00:40:15,159 --> 00:40:20,840
Saunders. Well he is a highly
decorated Navy seal, said Clark. All

511
00:40:20,960 --> 00:40:23,239
right, said Saunders. Let's get
him some gear. We might need the

512
00:40:23,280 --> 00:40:27,960
help anyway. We've got quite a
few people in the med bay. But

513
00:40:28,039 --> 00:40:31,280
when do we get started, asked
Clark. The equipment's already in place,

514
00:40:31,440 --> 00:40:36,559
said Bruce. We go on your
command. Colonel. It's been a long

515
00:40:36,639 --> 00:40:39,039
day, said Saunders. Let's give
the team a few hours to rest.

516
00:40:39,599 --> 00:40:43,760
We'll go once the sun is up. We should all try to get some

517
00:40:43,880 --> 00:40:47,079
rest before then. Fair enough,
said Hammond. It's not a bad idea.

518
00:40:47,199 --> 00:40:52,440
We've been running and gunning for hours. Let's go have a drink in

519
00:40:52,440 --> 00:40:55,199
my tent and catch up, said
Bruce to Clark. I don't know,

520
00:40:55,440 --> 00:40:59,559
said Clark. Last time I went
out drinking with you, I woke up

521
00:40:59,599 --> 00:41:02,519
in a walter with a tattoo on
my ass and I still don't remember getting

522
00:41:04,360 --> 00:41:07,360
That's fine, said Bruce. Once
it's over, I'll break out the private

523
00:41:07,400 --> 00:41:12,480
stash for all of us. That
sounds good, said Clark. Honestly,

524
00:41:12,559 --> 00:41:15,280
I'm exhausted, I'm gonna go crawl
in a sleeping bag and catch some sleep.

525
00:41:16,079 --> 00:41:20,159
I'll show you where we put up
your tents, sir, said Gregel.

526
00:41:20,920 --> 00:41:22,880
I'll see you in the morning,
said Bruce. They gave me quarters

527
00:41:22,920 --> 00:41:28,960
inside the mimic unit briefing here in
the c Q ten at eight hundred hours,

528
00:41:28,960 --> 00:41:32,119
said Saunders. We'll be there,
Levi, said Hammond. I'll have

529
00:41:32,159 --> 00:41:38,840
the coffee ready, said Wilder.
Everyone's scattered, Gregel and Clark headed down

530
00:41:38,920 --> 00:41:43,760
the line of tents. There was
a group of people from Team two gathered

531
00:41:43,760 --> 00:41:49,119
around the campfire, eating MRIs and
laughing. Clark nodded at Gregel, and

532
00:41:49,199 --> 00:41:53,119
they stepped to the fire. How's
everyone doing, asked Clark. We're all

533
00:41:53,239 --> 00:41:57,840
right, said Valkyrie, smiling.
Nice of you to join us, Sir,

534
00:41:58,719 --> 00:42:00,840
I just got back a few minutes
ago, he replied. It's been

535
00:42:00,920 --> 00:42:06,039
a long night. Can anyone tell
me who got hurt on the team?

536
00:42:06,559 --> 00:42:09,360
Eagle took a round through the shoulder, said Valkyrie. He's in the medical

537
00:42:09,480 --> 00:42:14,840
unit at Asguard Control. Probably be
out of action for a few weeks.

538
00:42:15,440 --> 00:42:20,400
Anyone else, asked Clark. We
got lucky, said shield Maiden. Most

539
00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:23,480
of our injuries were minor. CADUSI
has took a round through the meat and

540
00:42:23,559 --> 00:42:28,880
his calf. He's bandaged and he's
fine. He won't be able to run

541
00:42:28,920 --> 00:42:31,719
for a while. Margolin took a
piece of shrapnel, but I pulled it

542
00:42:31,760 --> 00:42:35,760
out and stitched him up. He's
going to have a nice scar. But

543
00:42:35,840 --> 00:42:38,960
other than that, he's fine.
That's good, said Clark. What about

544
00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:44,920
you, asked Valkyrie. Are you
okay? Just really tired, said Clark,

545
00:42:45,039 --> 00:42:47,239
rubbing his neck. And I took
a piece of shrapnel to the back

546
00:42:47,239 --> 00:42:52,800
of my neck during the dogfight.
It quit bleeding, though. Sit down

547
00:42:52,880 --> 00:42:55,840
and let me take a look at
that, said Valkyrie. Clark started to

548
00:42:55,920 --> 00:43:00,719
protest, but she gave him the
same look that Amanda gave him when he

549
00:43:00,800 --> 00:43:04,239
was at home and didn't listen to
her. You don't get to give me

550
00:43:04,320 --> 00:43:08,679
that look, said Clark, grinning. We're only fake married. She grinned,

551
00:43:08,679 --> 00:43:13,159
and he took a seat on a
log, digging out her medkit.

552
00:43:13,320 --> 00:43:15,239
She got up and again looking at
the back of his neck with a small

553
00:43:15,280 --> 00:43:20,760
flashlight. Damn, she said,
this should have had stitches. It's pretty

554
00:43:20,800 --> 00:43:24,199
deep. Well, it's not bleeding
now, said Clark. True, but

555
00:43:24,280 --> 00:43:29,079
the back of your shirt is covered
with blood. She said. You lost

556
00:43:29,159 --> 00:43:31,920
quite a bit of blood. Well, it's not bleeding now, Clark repeated

557
00:43:31,960 --> 00:43:37,360
stubbornly. This is gonna hurt,
said Valkyrie, probing the wound with her

558
00:43:37,360 --> 00:43:42,480
fingertip. Clark tens but didn't make
a sound. I think there's still a

559
00:43:42,519 --> 00:43:45,079
piece inside the wound, she said. She old maid, when you get

560
00:43:45,119 --> 00:43:49,199
your kit and help me clean this
out. Sure, said she ol,

561
00:43:49,280 --> 00:43:52,599
Maiden, grabbing her pack. Within
minutes, they had reopened the wound and

562
00:43:52,639 --> 00:43:58,119
were digging around with a pair of
tweezers. Valkyrie pulled out three shards of

563
00:43:58,199 --> 00:44:01,960
plexi glass before she was intent that
the wound was clear of any more shrapnel.

564
00:44:02,840 --> 00:44:06,960
They cleaned out the wound and put
in eight stitches to close it,

565
00:44:07,639 --> 00:44:12,360
packing it with antibiotic ointment. They
covered it with a large bandage. There

566
00:44:12,440 --> 00:44:15,239
you go, said Valkyrie. You're
good as new. I'll change that for

567
00:44:15,360 --> 00:44:19,280
you a couple of times a day
for a few days. We can take

568
00:44:19,320 --> 00:44:22,639
the stitches out in a week or
so. She handed him a handful of

569
00:44:22,679 --> 00:44:28,599
ib profen and he swallowed them without
water. That's for the headache you're going

570
00:44:28,679 --> 00:44:31,719
to have by the morning, she
explained. Thanks, said Clark, we

571
00:44:31,760 --> 00:44:36,360
should get some rest. We've got
a job to finish in a few hours.

572
00:44:36,920 --> 00:44:40,280
You got it, boss, said
Valkyrie. Clark got to his feet

573
00:44:40,320 --> 00:44:45,400
and nodded at Gregel. They headed
off into the darkness until they reached a

574
00:44:45,480 --> 00:44:47,599
small tent at the end of the
row. This is yours, sir,

575
00:44:47,840 --> 00:44:53,800
said Gregel. Thanks will, said
Clark, much appreciated. Gregel nodded and

576
00:44:53,840 --> 00:44:58,880
headed off into the darkness. Clark
crawled in the tent and lit up a

577
00:44:58,920 --> 00:45:04,280
small flashlight, illuminating the interior.
All his gear was there, including what

578
00:45:04,400 --> 00:45:07,800
he'd left behind when he jumped into
the P fifty one. His weapons were

579
00:45:07,800 --> 00:45:13,239
all there, including his bounty knife, which he'd come to love. There

580
00:45:13,280 --> 00:45:17,079
you are, he said, checking
the blade. He kicked off his boots

581
00:45:17,079 --> 00:45:22,480
and shrugged out of everything except his
T shirt, pants and socks. He

582
00:45:22,559 --> 00:45:24,920
crawled into his sleeping bag, and
he stuffed the corner of his pack under

583
00:45:24,920 --> 00:45:30,320
his head for a pillow. True
to the nature of professional soldiers, everywhere

584
00:45:30,480 --> 00:45:36,559
he was asleep. In moments,
he found himself reliving the battle in the

585
00:45:36,639 --> 00:45:40,159
air, seeing things as if in
slow motion. Only this time the guns

586
00:45:40,159 --> 00:45:45,000
were empty, and he was doing
everything in his power to avoid being shot

587
00:45:45,079 --> 00:45:50,719
down by the other planes. He
banked and turned and fought hard to stay

588
00:45:50,760 --> 00:45:53,360
out of the enemy's sights. But
it was a losing battle. There were

589
00:45:53,400 --> 00:45:58,599
too many of them and he had
nowhere to run. Then the guns of

590
00:45:58,639 --> 00:46:04,400
Henderman's plane tore into his and he
felt the plane tearing itself apart. He

591
00:46:04,519 --> 00:46:07,760
was losing control, but he fought
like hell to keep the plane in the

592
00:46:07,800 --> 00:46:12,519
air. The fire was leaping from
the engine compartment, and he could feel

593
00:46:12,559 --> 00:46:16,519
the flames licking up beneath him and
into the cockpit, and smoke was everywhere

594
00:46:16,519 --> 00:46:21,199
and he could barely see. He
had to hold on to reach the shore

595
00:46:21,519 --> 00:46:24,679
or he'd go down in the frigid
lake. He pulled back on the stick

596
00:46:24,719 --> 00:46:29,000
with all his might. He felt
the nose start to come up when the

597
00:46:29,039 --> 00:46:34,039
stick suddenly went slack in his hand. The linkages had all broken. It

598
00:46:34,159 --> 00:46:37,679
was a dead stick and he had
no control at all. The plane began

599
00:46:37,760 --> 00:46:43,239
to spin as it spiraled toward the
dark water below him. He was only

600
00:46:43,280 --> 00:46:45,960
one hundred yards from shore. If
he could get clear of the plane,

601
00:46:45,960 --> 00:46:50,639
he might be able to make it
before the shark Man got to him.

602
00:46:51,320 --> 00:46:54,440
He reached up and grabbed the canopy, and it wouldn't open it was stuck

603
00:46:54,519 --> 00:47:00,440
closed and there was no escaping the
dying plane. He grinted his his teeth

604
00:47:00,480 --> 00:47:04,880
and he braced for the impending impact. The fire was now coming through the

605
00:47:04,920 --> 00:47:08,400
control panel and into the cockpit.
At least the water will put the fire

606
00:47:08,440 --> 00:47:13,480
out, he thought fatally. I
think I'd rather drown than burn to death.

607
00:47:14,960 --> 00:47:17,960
The plane hit the water with tremendous
force, and he felt his legs

608
00:47:19,000 --> 00:47:22,440
both snap at the knees. There
was a stream filling the cockpit now as

609
00:47:22,480 --> 00:47:28,719
the flames were extinguished and the plane
began to sink rapidly. The cockpit was

610
00:47:28,760 --> 00:47:34,079
now swiftly filling with water. He
couldn't move his legs, and he knew

611
00:47:34,119 --> 00:47:37,079
that there was no chance of swimming
to shore with broken legs. And as

612
00:47:37,079 --> 00:47:40,679
the plane began to sink, he
knew the plane was going to serve as

613
00:47:40,719 --> 00:47:45,599
his water. He coughing on a
one way ride to the bottom of Lake

614
00:47:45,719 --> 00:47:52,760
Nauelapi. Then he heard something tapping
on the plexiglass canopy. His heart raised

615
00:47:52,840 --> 00:47:55,039
with hope, thinking divers were about
to pull him out of the wreck and

616
00:47:55,119 --> 00:48:00,880
take him to safety. The plane
was now far enough underwater that only small

617
00:48:00,960 --> 00:48:05,679
bubbles of air in the cockpit was
keeping him alive. The water was too

618
00:48:05,760 --> 00:48:09,079
dark to see more than a few
feet from the plane. He turned towards

619
00:48:09,079 --> 00:48:14,239
the sound of the tapping and found
himself face to face with the grinning face

620
00:48:14,280 --> 00:48:17,199
of death. One of the shark
men had found him and was about to

621
00:48:17,239 --> 00:48:22,800
pull him from the wreckage and devour
him. He reached for his pistol,

622
00:48:22,800 --> 00:48:25,559
and he considered trying to kill the
creature, but he thought better of it.

623
00:48:27,079 --> 00:48:30,360
At this depth, the bullets wouldn't
go far in the water, but

624
00:48:30,400 --> 00:48:34,719
they would shatter the canopy. With
thoughts of his wife, he put the

625
00:48:34,719 --> 00:48:38,559
pistol beneath his chin and closed his
eyes, screaming, he pulled the trigger.

626
00:48:38,960 --> 00:48:44,639
Nothing happened. He racked the slide
again as the shark man shattered the

627
00:48:44,679 --> 00:48:49,800
plexiglass and reached for him, yelling. He felt strong hands gripping by the

628
00:48:49,840 --> 00:48:55,079
shoulders. He felt himself being violently
shaking, and then there was a sharp

629
00:48:55,159 --> 00:49:00,559
crack of pain on his face,
and he was jolted suddenly awake. When

630
00:49:00,599 --> 00:49:05,920
his eyes focused, he wasn't looking
at the face of the dreaded shark man.

631
00:49:06,159 --> 00:49:09,920
He was looking into Valkyrie's blue eyes. She was hanging onto his shoulders

632
00:49:09,960 --> 00:49:15,800
tightly, saying something that he just
couldn't hear. Slowly, he focused and

633
00:49:15,880 --> 00:49:20,119
heard her words. When he quit
screaming, It's okay, she kept saying,

634
00:49:20,400 --> 00:49:23,440
it was just a dream. You're
okay, I've got you. Clark

635
00:49:23,480 --> 00:49:28,840
shook himself fully awake. He felt
the wave of embarrassment rush over him.

636
00:49:29,679 --> 00:49:34,280
Everyone here looked to him for leadership
and inspiration, and here he was losing

637
00:49:34,320 --> 00:49:37,719
it. Are you all right,
she asked gently, Yeah, he said

638
00:49:37,800 --> 00:49:42,880
softly. That was a hell of
a nightmare. I feel like an idiot.

639
00:49:43,239 --> 00:49:46,360
I never get those. It's fine, she said, smiling. We

640
00:49:46,480 --> 00:49:51,599
all get them occasionally. I heard
you screaming and I came to see who

641
00:49:51,639 --> 00:49:54,480
it was. Must have been a
bad one. Are you sure you're okay?

642
00:49:55,159 --> 00:50:00,320
Yeah, he said, smiling.
He looked at his watch and noticed

643
00:50:00,360 --> 00:50:04,679
that he'd been asleep less than an
hour. However, with the adrenaline still

644
00:50:04,760 --> 00:50:08,079
rushing through his veins, he wasn't
going back to sleep anytime soon. I'm

645
00:50:08,119 --> 00:50:12,719
fine, he said, trying to
reassure her. I'm not going back to

646
00:50:12,760 --> 00:50:15,920
sleep anyway. I'm not sure I
could now. If you want me to

647
00:50:15,960 --> 00:50:20,480
sit with you, I will,
she said. I'm a bit worried about

648
00:50:20,519 --> 00:50:23,559
you. I'm okay, he said, forcing a smile. I need some

649
00:50:23,639 --> 00:50:28,199
coffee and something to focus on for
a while. I'll be all right.

650
00:50:29,880 --> 00:50:34,280
Valkyrie stared at him for a moment
before she spoke, all right, boss,

651
00:50:34,400 --> 00:50:37,599
she said, but if you change
your mind or just want to talk,

652
00:50:37,880 --> 00:50:40,840
you know where my tent's at.
Thanks, said Clark, climbing out

653
00:50:40,840 --> 00:50:45,519
of the sleeping bag. I appreciate
that. It was a hell of a

654
00:50:45,639 --> 00:50:49,880
day, just a lot to process, but I think I'll be okay if

655
00:50:49,920 --> 00:50:52,239
you say so, she said,
sliding back out of the small tent.

656
00:50:54,519 --> 00:50:59,880
Clark grabbed his boots and started putting
his gear on. He could hear Valkyrie

657
00:51:00,079 --> 00:51:02,760
walking away, and he felt bad
for not taking her up on her offer.

658
00:51:04,800 --> 00:51:07,239
Right now, the only person he
wanted to talk to was his wife.

659
00:51:07,880 --> 00:51:12,880
Even then, he just hold her
until he felt better. He never

660
00:51:12,920 --> 00:51:16,239
talked about any of it to anyone, and deep down he knew that wasn't

661
00:51:16,239 --> 00:51:22,639
a good thing, and eventually he'd
have to talk to someone. He climbed

662
00:51:22,679 --> 00:51:24,840
out of the tent. He did
a quick check of his weapons and made

663
00:51:24,880 --> 00:51:30,840
sure everything was in place. He
checked his blades, the bounty the gunners

664
00:51:30,920 --> 00:51:35,480
made on his hips. They were
quickly becoming his favorite tools to carry.

665
00:51:36,280 --> 00:51:39,239
He made a mental note to look
up scalleywag Tactical when he made it home

666
00:51:39,320 --> 00:51:45,519
and order a bunch of blades.
The night air was crisp, and he

667
00:51:45,559 --> 00:51:49,440
knew there would be a pot of
coffee going on the fire. Heading for

668
00:51:49,480 --> 00:51:52,840
the fire pit, he found only
one person was sitting there. He took

669
00:51:52,840 --> 00:51:57,599
a seat on the opposite side,
and he found himself looking through the flames

670
00:51:57,599 --> 00:52:01,119
at get in you all right,
as Gideon, I will be, said

671
00:52:01,199 --> 00:52:07,000
Clara. He dug out his canteen
cup and filled it about halfway up with

672
00:52:07,079 --> 00:52:10,440
the hot black coffee from the old
metal percolator sitting on the wire rack.

673
00:52:12,159 --> 00:52:15,599
He could smell it before it reached
his face. This was brewed, rough

674
00:52:15,639 --> 00:52:20,159
and strong, just what he needed
to get him through the rest of this

675
00:52:20,400 --> 00:52:23,719
night. Wheren't you get your blades, asked Gideon, nodding at the bounty.

676
00:52:24,440 --> 00:52:29,199
It was a gift from Runestone,
said Clara, drawing it and handing

677
00:52:29,239 --> 00:52:32,719
it across the fire. Gideon took
the blade and felt the weight and flipped

678
00:52:32,760 --> 00:52:37,079
it around a few times. It's
heavy, said Gideon, tapping the steel

679
00:52:37,119 --> 00:52:40,840
with his fingernail. It's good and
metal, and the balance is nice.

680
00:52:42,599 --> 00:52:45,519
This bastard is made for chopping off
limbs and heads. I like it.

681
00:52:46,360 --> 00:52:51,199
I'll get you one when we get
back, said Clara. No thanks,

682
00:52:51,239 --> 00:52:54,719
said Gideon. I'll keep my Gladia. I'm rather fond of it, just

683
00:52:54,800 --> 00:53:00,119
out of curiosity, said Clara.
That's not your original one, is it,

684
00:53:00,360 --> 00:53:05,000
I mean from the Legion? No, said Gideon. I've had several

685
00:53:05,039 --> 00:53:08,079
from the Legion at different times,
but the first one, that one's in

686
00:53:08,159 --> 00:53:14,320
my collection. I'd like to never
use it unless I didn't have a choice.

687
00:53:14,440 --> 00:53:17,159
The steal is old and likely brittle. Now I'll keep it as a

688
00:53:17,199 --> 00:53:22,079
memento, but it's earned its retirement
many times over. I bet you could

689
00:53:22,079 --> 00:53:28,119
tell some stories, said Clark,
As could you, said Gideon. To

690
00:53:28,320 --> 00:53:32,559
say, said Clark, The dreams
will pass, said Gideon, What ask

691
00:53:32,679 --> 00:53:37,920
Clark? The dreams? Said Gideon, they'll pass. Don't let them break

692
00:53:38,000 --> 00:53:43,400
you. You're a sword, and
swords come under a great deal of stress

693
00:53:43,480 --> 00:53:47,360
during battle. A sword that doesn't
give will shatter. If it gives too

694
00:53:47,440 --> 00:53:52,880
much, it'll ben and be useless. The trick is in the forging of

695
00:53:52,920 --> 00:53:55,599
the blade. The core of the
blade is just as important as the edges.

696
00:53:57,039 --> 00:54:00,920
It's perfect harmony is required to make
a perfect sword. The Japanese knew

697
00:54:00,920 --> 00:54:05,920
this better than anyone. I've ever
seen. No one to cut, no

698
00:54:06,000 --> 00:54:09,400
one to bend. Find that balance. You're a warrior as true as any

699
00:54:09,400 --> 00:54:15,760
I've ever fought Beside. Clark thought
about his words for a long moment before

700
00:54:15,800 --> 00:54:21,639
speaking. Thank you, said Clark. That's good advice. Gideon nodded and

701
00:54:21,679 --> 00:54:27,039
said nothing further. He just stared
into the fire, occasionally absent mindedly taking

702
00:54:27,079 --> 00:54:30,400
a sip from his coffee. Clark
let the silence hang in the air.

703
00:54:30,920 --> 00:54:36,960
It didn't feel like talking, and
Gideon wasn't pressing him. After several minutes,

704
00:54:37,000 --> 00:54:39,800
Gideon finally broke the silence. I
was there, you know, he

705
00:54:39,880 --> 00:54:45,159
said softly. Clark almost didn't hear
him. He thought of asking where,

706
00:54:45,280 --> 00:54:49,760
but he didn't want to interrupt Gideon. It was rare that he spoke of

707
00:54:49,800 --> 00:54:54,599
his past. I was at the
fall of Constantinople, whispered Gideon. I

708
00:54:54,800 --> 00:55:00,880
was a Byzantine drawing Garios, in
command of the drugos of four hundred of

709
00:55:00,920 --> 00:55:06,239
the bravest men I've ever served with. When the Stratigos fell, I found

710
00:55:06,280 --> 00:55:09,800
myself in command of the last line
of defense. Our job was to fight

711
00:55:09,840 --> 00:55:15,119
the retreating action to get Emperor Constantine
out of the city before it fell.

712
00:55:16,000 --> 00:55:20,400
We failed, but the deeds were
done that day, and they will resonate

713
00:55:20,519 --> 00:55:25,920
eternally. Clark felt himself being drawn
into the story and completely forgot the dream

714
00:55:25,960 --> 00:55:31,719
he'd had. He felt himself there
fighting the desperate battle against the overwhelming forces

715
00:55:31,719 --> 00:55:37,599
of the Ottomans. Blood made the
hilt of his sword slick and hard to

716
00:55:37,599 --> 00:55:40,880
hold on to, and all around
him was violence and death. As the

717
00:55:40,920 --> 00:55:47,199
city fell, one thing kept him
fighting. Gideon stood behind him, smiling

718
00:55:47,280 --> 00:55:52,360
in the face of certain death.
He found himself doing the only thing he

719
00:55:52,360 --> 00:56:00,360
could do, smiling, and he
braced himself for the Ottoman attack. Chapter

720
00:56:00,440 --> 00:56:08,360
seventeen oh seven thirty hours, sixteen
May, Team odin command tent, Clark

721
00:56:08,440 --> 00:56:13,559
walked into the command tent and saw
that it was mostly empty. He looked

722
00:56:13,599 --> 00:56:16,800
around and found the only specialist,
Wilder, sitting at the folding desk.

723
00:56:17,159 --> 00:56:22,360
Where is everyone? He asked?
Looking around, Colonel Boudreau decided that the

724
00:56:22,400 --> 00:56:27,559
briefing was going to be in Valhalla. Sir, she replied, I think

725
00:56:27,639 --> 00:56:30,519
everyone already headed in there. Nice
of them to let me know, said

726
00:56:30,559 --> 00:56:34,800
Clark. Well, that's why I'm
here. She said with a smile.

727
00:56:35,199 --> 00:56:38,000
However, I'm not invited to the
briefing. But don't feel too bad,

728
00:56:38,119 --> 00:56:45,000
said Clark. Boudreau's meetings are rarely
exciting, but she laughed and then caught

729
00:56:45,000 --> 00:56:50,119
herself and regained her composure. Colonel
Saunders said almost the same thing. She

730
00:56:50,199 --> 00:56:53,719
said. He's not wrong, said
Clark. Hell the only enjoyment I ever

731
00:56:53,800 --> 00:56:58,800
get out of his meetings was watching
Stratton roll her eyes every time they said

732
00:56:58,840 --> 00:57:02,880
something good about tea. I never
understood why that woman hates us so much.

733
00:57:05,039 --> 00:57:08,559
The flap to the tent opened and
Lieutenant Murdoch ducked inside. He looked

734
00:57:08,559 --> 00:57:13,440
flushed, like he'd been running major. He said, they want you in

735
00:57:13,519 --> 00:57:17,880
command bunker inside Valhalla. Immediately.
Something's come up, dude, he calls,

736
00:57:19,039 --> 00:57:23,039
said Clark, nodding at Wilder,
I gotta go. Clark motioned for

737
00:57:23,159 --> 00:57:28,639
Murdoch to lead the way, and
they quickly exited the tent. Murdoch looked

738
00:57:28,639 --> 00:57:32,800
at Clark with a questioning look,
and Clark nodded. Both men broke into

739
00:57:32,840 --> 00:57:37,519
a quick pace, heading for the
mimic units more than two hundred yards to

740
00:57:37,599 --> 00:57:40,920
the south. When they cleared the
last of the tents, they broke into

741
00:57:42,000 --> 00:57:45,800
a sprint for the last seventy five
yards. Clark pushed hard the last twenty

742
00:57:45,880 --> 00:57:51,280
yards and managed to beat the younger
Murdoch about a step. They arrived at

743
00:57:51,280 --> 00:57:54,559
the door to Valhalla, and the
arm guards at the door saluted then opened

744
00:57:54,599 --> 00:58:00,320
the door for them. Clark returned
the salute and stepped inside, and as

745
00:58:00,360 --> 00:58:05,280
soon as Murdoch entered, they closed
the door behind them. Clark reached up

746
00:58:05,320 --> 00:58:07,639
and pulled off his green beret,
and as he duck through the door into

747
00:58:07,679 --> 00:58:12,519
the command center, he saw that
it was set up vastly different than before.

748
00:58:13,440 --> 00:58:16,199
This wasn't a feel command center like
they were used to using. This

749
00:58:16,400 --> 00:58:21,639
was set up for handling the logistics
of large numbers of troops in combat,

750
00:58:21,920 --> 00:58:27,599
a full command and control tactical center
with real time satellite and drone feeds and

751
00:58:27,719 --> 00:58:31,440
direct line communication to Asgard. This
is why he wouldn't let us set up

752
00:58:31,440 --> 00:58:36,559
shop here, whispered Clark as he
slid into the chair next to Saunders.

753
00:58:37,519 --> 00:58:40,480
Murdoch headed for the coffee pot and
looked at Clark. He was about to

754
00:58:40,480 --> 00:58:45,480
say yes when Hammond hit him on
the arm and shook his head. You

755
00:58:45,519 --> 00:58:50,639
don't want that coffee, whispered Hammond. It's some Namby Pamby government vanilla cinnamon

756
00:58:50,679 --> 00:58:57,039
bullshit. It tastes like hipsters smell. Clark glanced back at Murdoch and shook

757
00:58:57,079 --> 00:59:00,599
his head negative. Murdock shrugged and
poured himself a cup, and as he

758
00:59:00,679 --> 00:59:05,840
was starting back to the chairs,
he took a sip. He froze midsip,

759
00:59:06,039 --> 00:59:07,880
spit it back into the cup,
and turned around and poured it down

760
00:59:07,920 --> 00:59:13,000
the train, tossing the cup in
the trash. He came back sat beside

761
00:59:13,039 --> 00:59:15,840
Clark. I don't know what kind
of anilla bullshit that is, sir,

762
00:59:16,000 --> 00:59:21,519
said Murdock. But it ain't coffee. Please tell me I didn't just sprout

763
00:59:21,519 --> 00:59:25,760
a man butt. It's the new
battalion exec's personal favorite, whispered Saunders.

764
00:59:27,119 --> 00:59:31,039
I'd keep my opinions quiet, gentlemen. Clark looked around the room and saw

765
00:59:31,079 --> 00:59:36,800
the heads of all the Midwest teams
in attendance. He caught Major Nick Slayton's

766
00:59:36,840 --> 00:59:39,719
attention, and when he looked back, Clark scratched the corner of his eye

767
00:59:39,760 --> 00:59:45,960
with only his middle finger extended.
Slayton, the commanding officer of tim Uller

768
00:59:45,039 --> 00:59:50,559
chuckled and shook his head. Clint
Bruce got up from his chair at the

769
00:59:50,559 --> 00:59:52,840
front of the room and came back
to sit beside Clark and the others.

770
00:59:53,519 --> 00:59:59,679
He handed Clark a stack of styrofoam
cups with a large black thermous. Here

771
00:59:59,719 --> 01:00:04,159
you go, brother, said Bruce. Real coffee already had a cup.

772
01:00:04,880 --> 01:00:08,480
Oh you're a life saver, said
Clark, opening the thermos and inhaling the

773
01:00:08,519 --> 01:00:14,199
aroma of the strong, dark liquid. Strong as fuck, said Bruce.

774
01:00:14,639 --> 01:00:19,480
Heavy caffeine's needed for heavy shit.
Bless you, said Hammond, nodding in

775
01:00:19,599 --> 01:00:24,000
appreciation. Clark began handing out cups
to the rest of his teammates and then

776
01:00:24,039 --> 01:00:30,920
began pouring. Slayton slipped over and
Clark gave him a cup. Muchos graciass,

777
01:00:30,159 --> 01:00:34,880
said Slaton, grinning. Just remember
who's got your back, Slaton,

778
01:00:34,960 --> 01:00:38,400
whispered Clark. I'll get you back
in the monthly poker game, said Slaton.

779
01:00:39,000 --> 01:00:42,639
I've got to get back to the
front, said Bruce. They might

780
01:00:42,679 --> 01:00:45,400
want me up there to explain what
we're doing. Thanks, Clint, said

781
01:00:45,440 --> 01:00:50,440
Clark. Bruce just gave him a
wink and the thumbs up, and then

782
01:00:50,519 --> 01:00:53,480
headed back up front. They all
leaned back in their chairs, sipping the

783
01:00:53,519 --> 01:00:58,519
strong coffee while Murdock felt the top
of his head. Just to be sure,

784
01:00:59,599 --> 01:01:02,960
Ladies and gentlemen, said Colonel Boudreau. Let's get the briefing started.

785
01:01:04,000 --> 01:01:08,000
Now that everyone has arrived. The
big display board changed to an overhead view

786
01:01:08,000 --> 01:01:14,239
of the area that could see the
area centered around in Nalco. Clark thought

787
01:01:14,239 --> 01:01:16,599
it was just an image until he
saw a car driving down the highway.

788
01:01:17,159 --> 01:01:22,119
It was a real time feed,
almost likely from a high altitude drone.

789
01:01:22,159 --> 01:01:27,400
This is our target area, said
Boudreaux. We're going to attempt to force

790
01:01:27,440 --> 01:01:30,719
the sharp men into this area.
He lit up a spot on the map

791
01:01:30,800 --> 01:01:37,119
near the beach in front of a
Nalco. With the implementation of the sonic

792
01:01:37,159 --> 01:01:42,199
devices put into place by mister Bruce
and his team, said boudreu, we

793
01:01:42,360 --> 01:01:45,639
believe we can drive them to this
area. Once they are contained, we're

794
01:01:45,639 --> 01:01:49,760
going to attempt to force them out
of the lake and on to the shore.

795
01:01:50,519 --> 01:01:53,719
Once that is accomplished, we will
eliminate them with an intense strike.

796
01:01:54,800 --> 01:01:59,519
We don't intend to risk the lives
of our team, so we will be

797
01:01:59,599 --> 01:02:06,199
deployed to contain only the strike will
be carried out by drones. Clark bristled

798
01:02:06,239 --> 01:02:10,599
but said nothing the way Boodreu said, mister just didn't sit right. Then

799
01:02:10,639 --> 01:02:15,679
there was the fact that this was
unlike any previous operation. Something was different.

800
01:02:16,519 --> 01:02:22,480
They were suddenly playing it cautiously when
the objective was within sight. He

801
01:02:22,559 --> 01:02:25,639
looked over at Sanders and he saw
the same look of bewilderment on his face

802
01:02:25,679 --> 01:02:31,000
as well. Why, asked Clark, standing up. Excuse me, Major,

803
01:02:31,159 --> 01:02:35,480
said Boudreau. Can I help you
with something? Yes, sir,

804
01:02:35,599 --> 01:02:39,320
said Clark. Why are we changing
protocols? Drone strikes are messy and in

805
01:02:39,440 --> 01:02:44,960
the resulting explosions and smoke, we
could lose one or more of the creatures.

806
01:02:45,440 --> 01:02:49,199
We need boots on the ground to
verify they're all dead. I mean,

807
01:02:49,480 --> 01:02:53,400
drones are good, but nothing replaces
precisions still on target that you get

808
01:02:53,440 --> 01:02:59,880
with the field team engaging the creatures. That's why we train. Boudreau looked

809
01:02:59,920 --> 01:03:02,559
at angry, but took a deep
breath and excel slowly. Sit down,

810
01:03:02,679 --> 01:03:07,559
Major, said Boudreau in a low
and menacing tone. Slayton stood up.

811
01:03:08,159 --> 01:03:13,400
I agree with Clark, said Slaton. This is a huge change in protocol.

812
01:03:14,119 --> 01:03:16,480
If even just one of these things
gets away, we might never catch

813
01:03:16,519 --> 01:03:20,880
it again, and there are dozens
of lakes in this area for it to

814
01:03:20,960 --> 01:03:25,039
hide in. Saunders and CSM Hammond
stood up, along with the commanders of

815
01:03:25,119 --> 01:03:30,199
Team Scottie Tire and Freyer. Boudreau
looked like he was about to have a

816
01:03:30,239 --> 01:03:35,840
stroke when the main monitor changed.
I'll take this question, if you don't

817
01:03:35,880 --> 01:03:39,360
mind, Colonel, said General Dalton
from the large screen. Yes, Sir,

818
01:03:39,519 --> 01:03:44,920
said Boudreau, stepping back away from
the podium and glaring daggers at the

819
01:03:44,960 --> 01:03:51,880
assembled officers and senior staff. Ladies
and gentlemen, said General Dalton, please

820
01:03:51,920 --> 01:03:55,480
take your seats and I will do
my best to answer your question. Everyone

821
01:03:55,559 --> 01:04:00,239
looked around at each other and then
sat down to hear the General out.

822
01:04:00,760 --> 01:04:05,800
A large cache of intel was retrieved
from the Lalco Manor House by Lieutenant Colonel

823
01:04:05,880 --> 01:04:12,519
Saunders and his team. We began
pouring through it immediately and discovered something that

824
01:04:12,599 --> 01:04:18,920
directly affects our operational security for the
entire mission. Everyone exchanged concerned glances,

825
01:04:18,960 --> 01:04:25,119
but didn't interrupt the General. We
found a list of operatives that had been

826
01:04:25,199 --> 01:04:30,199
infiltrated into different governments and militaries by
the Nazis, said Dalton. We immediately

827
01:04:30,239 --> 01:04:35,440
began dispatching teams to take them all
into custody. One name stood out from

828
01:04:35,440 --> 01:04:42,280
the others. Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth Stratton
was listed as an operative in place.

829
01:04:43,159 --> 01:04:46,960
I contacted the Air Force Chief of
Staff to have her detained and found that

830
01:04:47,000 --> 01:04:50,320
she was gone. She's in the
wind, and we have no idea where

831
01:04:50,360 --> 01:04:57,519
she is. Clark frowned and saw
Saunders greeting his teeth. That fucking bitch,

832
01:04:57,679 --> 01:05:02,159
whispered Saunders. Matters worse, said
Dalton. We have it on good

833
01:05:02,159 --> 01:05:09,559
authority that the real Elizabeth Stratton died
at birth and this person assumed her identity.

834
01:05:10,320 --> 01:05:13,679
Her parents were both dead, and
she was able to pass a rigorous

835
01:05:13,760 --> 01:05:17,800
background check because no one thought to
check for death certificates under that name.

836
01:05:18,719 --> 01:05:24,440
We failed to identify her before she
could infiltrate this team, and we have

837
01:05:24,559 --> 01:05:30,000
to consider everything we've done to know
to be compromised at this point, no

838
01:05:30,079 --> 01:05:33,119
offense general, said Clark, standing
up. But who the hell is she?

839
01:05:34,880 --> 01:05:39,719
If these documents are to be believed, and it appears they are legitimate,

840
01:05:39,840 --> 01:05:45,400
said Dalton, then she is Henderman's
daughter. Murmurs. Rumbled around the

841
01:05:45,480 --> 01:05:49,000
room as the shock of that statement
set in. We have to assume that

842
01:05:49,079 --> 01:05:55,760
she has already compromised this mission,
said Dalton, Sir said Clark. Yes,

843
01:05:55,920 --> 01:06:00,199
Major, said Dalton. You canned
her before we were briefed on this

844
01:06:00,360 --> 01:06:03,039
mission, said Clark. She might
have found out where we were going,

845
01:06:03,119 --> 01:06:05,840
but it would have been too late
for her to do anything about it.

846
01:06:06,320 --> 01:06:13,000
She was already removed from our clearances
and security protocols Dalton looked like he was

847
01:06:13,079 --> 01:06:17,039
considering it for a moment before he
scratched his chin and nodded. I believe

848
01:06:17,079 --> 01:06:21,920
you're correct, said Dalton. I
did relieve her of command before briefing you.

849
01:06:23,840 --> 01:06:28,000
By the time you landed in Florida
to refuel, I had already walked

850
01:06:28,000 --> 01:06:31,400
her into the Air Force Chief of
Staff's office. It would have taken her

851
01:06:31,480 --> 01:06:35,360
days to figure out where we sent
you. Then let us do our job,

852
01:06:35,480 --> 01:06:40,239
Sir, said Clark. General,
if I may, said Bruce,

853
01:06:40,840 --> 01:06:45,199
I think Major Clark is correct.
This will require precise targeting of these creatures.

854
01:06:45,280 --> 01:06:48,760
If this is going to work,
If they get away from the trap,

855
01:06:48,800 --> 01:06:53,119
they won't fall for it again.
The best we'll be able to hope

856
01:06:53,119 --> 01:06:57,000
for is to drive them away from
an area. They won't allow themselves to

857
01:06:57,039 --> 01:07:00,599
be funneled into a small area.
Again, honestly, I think we're going

858
01:07:00,639 --> 01:07:04,119
to get one shot at this.
I'm willing to go with them to make

859
01:07:04,159 --> 01:07:10,119
sure this works all right, Commander
Bruce said Dalton. If you feel that

860
01:07:10,280 --> 01:07:14,039
strongly about this, you can go
with Team Odin. Odin will be the

861
01:07:14,079 --> 01:07:17,559
tip of the spear directly on the
beach at Analco. The other teams will

862
01:07:17,599 --> 01:07:23,559
be placed where they can engage should
the sharp men attempt to come ashore unexpectedly.

863
01:07:24,440 --> 01:07:27,840
We need to get the teams in
position before setting off the sonics,

864
01:07:28,000 --> 01:07:31,400
said Bruce. They also need to
remain out of sight. If they sense

865
01:07:31,440 --> 01:07:35,360
a trap, I doubt they'll come
ashore. The sonics are painful, but

866
01:07:35,440 --> 01:07:41,599
they still won't knowingly walk into something
that they know could kill them. You

867
01:07:41,719 --> 01:07:45,239
heard the man, said Dalton.
How long will it take to sequence of

868
01:07:45,320 --> 01:07:49,400
sonics to drive them this direction?
The sonics are already in place, said

869
01:07:49,400 --> 01:07:55,559
Bruce. Give the word and will
initiate. It will take approximately an hour

870
01:07:55,679 --> 01:07:59,079
to drive them the length of the
lake. We don't want to push too

871
01:07:59,159 --> 01:08:02,320
fast, or we risk pushing them
onto the shore long before we're ready for

872
01:08:02,360 --> 01:08:06,519
them. Let's get the teams into
positions, said Dalton. As soon as

873
01:08:06,519 --> 01:08:11,119
they're in place, activate the sonics. Yes, sir, said Bruce.

874
01:08:12,079 --> 01:08:16,800
Everyone said Dalton, your positions and
deployment locations are being uploaded to your risk

875
01:08:16,880 --> 01:08:24,600
computers. Now let's move dismissed.
The briefing broke up, and Boudreau was

876
01:08:24,640 --> 01:08:29,640
still glaring darkly at Clark, but
said nothing. Clark had a definite feeling

877
01:08:29,680 --> 01:08:33,479
that Boudreau was still angry over Stratton. That was always the possibility that he'd

878
01:08:33,520 --> 01:08:39,840
been turned by her. Hopefully General
Dalton had already thought of that, but

879
01:08:39,920 --> 01:08:43,880
Clark intended to keep an eye on
him regardless. So what do you need,

880
01:08:44,119 --> 01:08:47,079
asked Clark, nodding at Bruce.
Give me all of your guys who

881
01:08:47,079 --> 01:08:53,239
are steal qualified or have underwater experience, said Bruce. You're not planning on

882
01:08:53,359 --> 01:08:57,319
going in after them, are you, asked Clark. If you build a

883
01:08:57,359 --> 01:09:00,920
trap, you got to have bait, said Bruce. Don't have a choice.

884
01:09:00,159 --> 01:09:03,479
We'll get one shot at stopping these
things. We've got to make it

885
01:09:03,560 --> 01:09:09,560
count, Murdoch, said Clark,
glancing to his left. Yeah, boss,

886
01:09:09,640 --> 01:09:14,640
said Murdock. Give me the following
people, said Clark, Runstone,

887
01:09:14,760 --> 01:09:19,199
Reard, Bedford, Palermo and the
Brett Atkinson. Got it, boss,

888
01:09:19,279 --> 01:09:24,920
said Murdoch, heading for the area
where Tima Odin was gathering. Five.

889
01:09:25,319 --> 01:09:28,720
Asked Bruce. I guess we can
make it work with the six of us.

890
01:09:29,560 --> 01:09:31,800
I can pull from the other teams
too, said Clark. Well,

891
01:09:31,840 --> 01:09:34,840
I'd prefer to have at least ten, said Bruce, if you can swing

892
01:09:34,920 --> 01:09:41,920
it. Hey, Hernandez shout at
Clark. Captain Philip Hernandez from Odin's team

893
01:09:42,039 --> 01:09:45,359
four looked up and headed for Clark. What's up, major, asked Hernandez.

894
01:09:45,880 --> 01:09:49,920
Can I borrow your seals? Asked
Clark, Sure, said Hernandez.

895
01:09:50,039 --> 01:09:55,640
Can I ask why? Special underwater
team, said Bruce. Looks like we're

896
01:09:55,640 --> 01:09:59,760
going to have to go in after
these things, got you, said Hernandez.

897
01:10:00,039 --> 01:10:02,640
I'll round them up and send him
your way. I'll ask Saunders to

898
01:10:02,680 --> 01:10:08,000
send his two, said Clark.
Thanks, brother, said Bruce. Have

899
01:10:08,159 --> 01:10:13,560
everyone meet me at the c Q
ten in fifteen Roger Wilco, said Clark,

900
01:10:13,680 --> 01:10:18,239
turning and heading off to fine Saunders. Fifteen minutes later, there was

901
01:10:18,279 --> 01:10:24,840
a group assembled from tim Odin's team. There was Chief Petty Officer Hector Garcia,

902
01:10:25,520 --> 01:10:30,760
From Team two there was Senior Chief
Petty Officer Samantha Alvarez Runestone, Petty

903
01:10:30,760 --> 01:10:38,079
Officer first class Thomas Reardon, Petty
Officer first class Chuck Bedford, Petty Officer

904
01:10:38,199 --> 01:10:44,520
second class Gilbert Palermo, and petty
Officer Harry Atkinson from the British Special Boat

905
01:10:44,600 --> 01:10:49,840
Service. From Team three there was
Senior Petty Officer Damian Reynolds and Chief Petty

906
01:10:49,840 --> 01:10:56,720
Officer Max Brewer. From Team four
there was Petty Officer second class Joseph Rains

907
01:10:56,760 --> 01:11:01,560
and Petty Officer first Class Tim Lane. Nicely done, said Bruce, looking

908
01:11:01,600 --> 01:11:05,119
over the crowd. Ten plus me. We can make it happen. With

909
01:11:05,199 --> 01:11:10,359
that, we could probably round up
a few more from the other teams,

910
01:11:10,359 --> 01:11:14,560
said Clark, if you need them
for some reason. We don't get a

911
01:11:14,560 --> 01:11:17,239
lot of seals trying out for the
teams. We'll get far more Marines and

912
01:11:17,399 --> 01:11:21,880
Army than anything else. Well,
don't bother, said Bruce. There has

913
01:11:21,920 --> 01:11:26,840
to be someone left to try again
if we fail. Also, I'll put

914
01:11:26,840 --> 01:11:30,680
the word out in certain circles and
see if I can't change the demographic on

915
01:11:30,720 --> 01:11:33,920
the seals with your team. Well, let's just not fail, said Clark.

916
01:11:34,199 --> 01:11:39,279
If you need me. I'll go
no offense, brother, said Bruce.

917
01:11:39,319 --> 01:11:45,000
But no thanks. You're scuba certified, not rated on a dragger rebreather.

918
01:11:45,800 --> 01:11:48,680
You're also not a combat diver,
so stay here and lead your people.

919
01:11:48,880 --> 01:11:53,880
We'll do our part. Then let's
get in place, said Clark.

920
01:11:54,279 --> 01:11:59,479
We'll set the snare, you just
bring them to us. Clark headed off

921
01:11:59,520 --> 01:12:03,359
toward where tem Odin was waiting while
Bruce prepared the seals. They gathered their

922
01:12:03,399 --> 01:12:06,880
gear and headed for a pair of
Blackhawks that were waiting to take them to

923
01:12:06,960 --> 01:12:12,640
their staging area. Listen up,
boys and girls, said Bruce. Nothing

924
01:12:12,680 --> 01:12:16,520
brings a shark to dinner quite like
live bait. Welcome to Team Bait.

925
01:12:17,399 --> 01:12:21,560
I think Team Chum has a better
ring to it, said Runstone. You

926
01:12:21,640 --> 01:12:27,800
might be onto something there, said
Bruce with a chuckle. Once everyone boarded

927
01:12:27,800 --> 01:12:31,640
the choppers, they lifted immediately and
turned toward it Almalko. It was only

928
01:12:31,680 --> 01:12:36,000
a few minutes away. By aaron. They arrived without incident. There was

929
01:12:36,039 --> 01:12:41,600
a security team from Team Oriyan in
place to make sure that no one tried

930
01:12:41,640 --> 01:12:45,600
to retake this place. Bruce found
himself hoping that none of them were left

931
01:12:45,640 --> 01:12:51,239
to try, but he knew that
was just being naive. The Intel had

932
01:12:51,279 --> 01:12:56,520
already told them that there were others
out there. Justice would be coming for

933
01:12:56,640 --> 01:13:00,319
them all very soon. Get your
shit on, roared Bruce. As they

934
01:13:00,479 --> 01:13:05,760
hit the deck, the black Hawks
lifted off and headed back toward Valhalla.

935
01:13:06,520 --> 01:13:10,960
The Sonics are already going off,
shouted Bruce. We need to be in

936
01:13:11,079 --> 01:13:15,680
place, in place where, asked
Runestone. If you'll all check the bags

937
01:13:15,720 --> 01:13:19,039
we set out for you, said
Bruce, with a grin. You'll find

938
01:13:19,039 --> 01:13:26,159
the latest metallurgical technology. The shark
suits in these bags are made of titanium

939
01:13:26,199 --> 01:13:30,960
alloy, capable of withstanding three times
the bite pressure of previous suits. That

940
01:13:31,159 --> 01:13:36,000
means you can withstand the bite of
a great white shark. I don't recommend

941
01:13:36,039 --> 01:13:41,640
it, but it can't bite through
it, Yeah, said Palerimo. It'll

942
01:13:41,640 --> 01:13:45,479
still fucking crush the bone under the
suit. Ding ding ding, said Bruce.

943
01:13:45,600 --> 01:13:49,920
Give that man a prize. Oh
awesome, said Palermo. What do

944
01:13:50,039 --> 01:13:56,319
I get a date with? Runestone, said Bruce. Aw shit, muttered

945
01:13:56,319 --> 01:14:00,560
Palermo. I got the consolation prize. We all laughed as they prepped their

946
01:14:00,640 --> 01:14:04,960
suits and started putting on their gear. We're going in the water, said

947
01:14:04,960 --> 01:14:09,960
Bruce. We have limited time because
of the coal. Make sure your dry

948
01:14:10,039 --> 01:14:14,319
suits are sealed properly. These are
state of the art. We should have

949
01:14:14,399 --> 01:14:18,479
plenty of downtime to finish this.
I heard a team of Argentine's Special Forces

950
01:14:18,600 --> 01:14:23,560
was taken out by these things,
said Bedford. That's true, said Bruce,

951
01:14:23,640 --> 01:14:27,720
but we have an advantage. They
didn't the suits, asked Palermo.

952
01:14:27,920 --> 01:14:32,319
Grinny that in the fact, we're
US Navy, fucking seals, roared Bruce.

953
01:14:33,000 --> 01:14:39,239
The men thundered their approval. We've
got more new choice, said Bruce.

954
01:14:39,439 --> 01:14:44,039
You're all familiar with the standard bang
stick, well, emphasize the bang.

955
01:14:44,399 --> 01:14:47,159
You're going to get more bang for
your buck with these bastards. Six

956
01:14:47,199 --> 01:14:53,680
feet of aluminum titanium shaft with a
rotating barrel on the end, using a

957
01:14:53,760 --> 01:14:58,880
twelve gage magnum rounds loaded with double
locked buck shot and chunks of pure potassium.

958
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:03,920
Resulting boom should cripple or kill your
target. Bruce had now the rapt

959
01:15:03,960 --> 01:15:09,640
attention of the entire team. Hit
this lever on your end of the pole,

960
01:15:09,840 --> 01:15:13,840
said Bruce, and it cycles over
and gives you another shot. You

961
01:15:13,960 --> 01:15:16,960
get five, Now make them count. Oh yeah, one other thing.

962
01:15:17,640 --> 01:15:21,239
If the ship really hits the fan. You can hold the grip down and

963
01:15:21,319 --> 01:15:26,199
hit the trigger at the same time, and it fires all five rounds at

964
01:15:26,239 --> 01:15:30,399
once. I don't recommend it.
I tried it on the range and nearly

965
01:15:30,399 --> 01:15:34,239
broke my fucking arm. It hurt
for two weeks. He began tossing the

966
01:15:34,279 --> 01:15:40,399
bangsticks to everyone. Now listen.
Reloading is easy, said Bruce, but

967
01:15:40,439 --> 01:15:44,560
you'll have to service to do it. You replace the entire cylinder on the

968
01:15:44,720 --> 01:15:48,319
end. Don't take a spare.
It's not a fast reload and it's heavy.

969
01:15:48,800 --> 01:15:54,600
Concentrate on using your five shots.
Well, okay, who the team

970
01:15:54,720 --> 01:15:59,520
roared. You'll all find an odd
looking pistol with your gear, said Bruce.

971
01:16:00,039 --> 01:16:03,520
Looks like a grenade launcher that shoots
around with an air bag and an

972
01:16:03,560 --> 01:16:08,840
air canister. When you kill one, hit it with that pistol, the

973
01:16:08,920 --> 01:16:13,399
bag will inflate and take the body
to the surface. It holds five shots.

974
01:16:14,119 --> 01:16:16,399
We need to recover all the bodies
to verify they're dead, and to

975
01:16:16,439 --> 01:16:20,960
be sure we got them all.
Everyone nodded and clipped the strange pistol to

976
01:16:21,000 --> 01:16:27,479
their chest harnesses. Last thing,
said Bruce. In addition to the amphibious

977
01:16:27,600 --> 01:16:31,079
version of the glock, seventeen.
You'll be carrying one of these. He

978
01:16:31,199 --> 01:16:35,840
brought out an odd looking rifle that
looked like a strange version of the AK

979
01:16:36,000 --> 01:16:43,439
forty seven. This is a Russian
APS underwater rifle, said Bruce. You

980
01:16:43,479 --> 01:16:47,920
can reload these underwater. It holds
twenty six rounds of one hundred and twenty

981
01:16:48,079 --> 01:16:55,239
millimeter long by five point five six
millimeter caliber bolts. It's got much better

982
01:16:55,399 --> 01:16:59,880
range than the spear guns we all
trained with. Shoots like a fucking ag

983
01:17:00,760 --> 01:17:04,479
and I know damn well all u
assholes know how to use those. Gotta

984
01:17:04,560 --> 01:17:11,319
love the goddamn Russians for sticking to
a simple design that works. Once everyone

985
01:17:11,359 --> 01:17:15,439
had their gear in place, Bruce
led them to the water's edge. According

986
01:17:15,479 --> 01:17:19,720
to sonar, we've got about ten
minutes until those things get here. We're

987
01:17:19,720 --> 01:17:23,880
going to get in the water and
hide in the rocks on the west side

988
01:17:23,920 --> 01:17:28,560
of this lagoon. But do not
engage until I give the order. We

989
01:17:28,600 --> 01:17:32,119
want them contained and to drive them
onto the shore, and then tim Odin

990
01:17:32,199 --> 01:17:38,520
will rock their shit unless we do
it first, said Runstone. I love

991
01:17:38,600 --> 01:17:43,920
that attitude, said Bruce. All
right, Colm's check. Everyone slipped their

992
01:17:43,960 --> 01:17:47,840
dive helmets on and connected them to
the dragger rebreather on their chest. One

993
01:17:47,880 --> 01:17:53,560
by one, they all checked in. Everyone checked clear, and Bruce motioned

994
01:17:53,560 --> 01:17:57,000
for them to follow him into the
water, and as they were submerging,

995
01:17:57,119 --> 01:18:00,159
he saw two chin Uk helicopters landing
on the forest out of the main building.

996
01:18:00,920 --> 01:18:05,439
Clark and Team two had just arrived
on the scene. Bruce smiled and

997
01:18:05,479 --> 01:18:12,680
slid into the water backward beneath the
surface. It was surreal. The cold

998
01:18:12,760 --> 01:18:16,159
water prevented a lot of vegetation from
growing, and it seemed more like they

999
01:18:16,159 --> 01:18:20,960
were on the surface of another planet
than in a lake on Earth. Bruce

1000
01:18:21,039 --> 01:18:25,279
motioned for the group to follow him, and he led them to the group

1001
01:18:25,359 --> 01:18:30,279
of large boulders. Once they were
behind them, it would be almost impossible

1002
01:18:30,319 --> 01:18:35,039
for the sharkmen to see them come
to Papa, thought Bruce. Across the

1003
01:18:35,079 --> 01:18:40,119
compound, Clark was the first set
of boots on the deck. He immediately

1004
01:18:40,199 --> 01:18:44,359
motioned for all of them to fan
out using hand gestures, and he sent

1005
01:18:44,439 --> 01:18:46,920
part of the team to the east
corner of the building while the rest went

1006
01:18:46,960 --> 01:18:53,479
to the west. Four people on
each team were carrying special compressed air launchers

1007
01:18:53,680 --> 01:19:00,880
that fired arrows attached to steel cables
so they could recover the bodies for Valkyrie.

1008
01:19:00,079 --> 01:19:04,880
Himdall Scald de la Cruz to come
over to him. All right,

1009
01:19:04,920 --> 01:19:09,239
said Clark. I want you both
on the balcony on the second floor of

1010
01:19:09,319 --> 01:19:12,920
the main building. It faces the
water and gives you a clear line of

1011
01:19:13,000 --> 01:19:16,399
fire. Himdall, you're spotting for
both of them, got it, boss,

1012
01:19:16,560 --> 01:19:20,920
said Heimdal. Make your shots count, said Clark. We can't let

1013
01:19:20,960 --> 01:19:26,840
any of these goddamn things get away. We won't miss fa said Skald.

1014
01:19:27,119 --> 01:19:31,479
We've got your back. Valkyrie just
gave Clark a concerned smile. Go,

1015
01:19:31,760 --> 01:19:36,119
he said. We don't have much
time left. He looked at his wrist

1016
01:19:36,199 --> 01:19:42,079
computer and Clark checked the feed from
Asgard. Seven minutes until they arrive,

1017
01:19:42,199 --> 01:19:45,000
said Clark. Get in position and
watch for friendlies. We've got a team

1018
01:19:45,039 --> 01:19:49,960
in the water. Clark headed around
the west end of the building while they

1019
01:19:50,039 --> 01:19:55,479
ran inside to get to their positions. Clark took his place at the front

1020
01:19:55,479 --> 01:19:59,079
of the group, knowing Murdoch was
doing the same on the other side,

1021
01:20:00,119 --> 01:20:03,359
stepped up beside Clark and nodded,
I'm right beside you. Major, said

1022
01:20:03,399 --> 01:20:09,840
Beer. Kodiak was standing a short
distance away, checking over his many gun

1023
01:20:10,479 --> 01:20:14,960
Rayon was beside him, wearing a
duty uniform but no armor or weapons.

1024
01:20:15,680 --> 01:20:19,159
Clark knew she planned to shift forms
that they needed her. She wasn't a

1025
01:20:19,199 --> 01:20:25,079
military combatant, and Clark couldn't help, but wonder how Gregel Kodiak and Rayan

1026
01:20:25,119 --> 01:20:29,399
would fare against the shark men out
of the water. In the water,

1027
01:20:29,479 --> 01:20:34,239
it wasn't even a contest. The
sharkmen owned the water. Clark checked the

1028
01:20:34,279 --> 01:20:39,319
load on his AA twelve. He'd
gone back to it since it would fire

1029
01:20:39,439 --> 01:20:43,439
under almost any circumstances, even if
he had to go in the water.

1030
01:20:44,079 --> 01:20:47,760
It was almost unstoppable as a weapon. It was even loaded with the flatget

1031
01:20:47,840 --> 01:20:53,560
rounds, which Sergeant Hall had altered
to use directly against the shark men.

1032
01:20:54,720 --> 01:20:59,680
The process that created them was based
on the same shape shifting ability that Rayan

1033
01:20:59,760 --> 01:21:03,319
had. She was more than happy
to give blood samples so they could figure

1034
01:21:03,359 --> 01:21:10,720
out how to hurt them silver mixed
with tincture of aconite commonly known as wolf's

1035
01:21:10,800 --> 01:21:15,760
bane below the surface. Bruce checked
his computer. They had four minutes.

1036
01:21:16,479 --> 01:21:20,880
Temperature gages were good, and they
still had plenty of down time. The

1037
01:21:20,960 --> 01:21:25,640
draggers made certain that they wouldn't run
out of air for a long time.

1038
01:21:26,319 --> 01:21:29,640
They were only forty feet down,
so they wouldn't have to worry about coming

1039
01:21:29,720 --> 01:21:34,039
up too quickly or having to decompress
beside the thunder God, said Bruce.

1040
01:21:34,560 --> 01:21:40,119
Go Poseidon, said Clark. Four
minutes till game time, said Bruce,

1041
01:21:40,279 --> 01:21:44,239
We'll try to save you a few
copy that, said Clark, just don't

1042
01:21:44,279 --> 01:21:48,079
get eaten. I'm not explaining that
to your wife. Bruce laughed into his

1043
01:21:48,279 --> 01:21:53,439
mic me either, said Bruce,
I'm more scared of her than these sharp

1044
01:21:53,520 --> 01:22:00,159
things. Siding out, Bruce checked
his wrist computer. Three minutes remaining for

1045
01:22:00,359 --> 01:22:04,399
twelve of the deadliest predators in the
world anyone had ever seen were in attack

1046
01:22:04,560 --> 01:22:10,720
range. His heart raised in anticipation, and he had to force himself to

1047
01:22:10,760 --> 01:22:15,079
calm down. It was an old
breathing trick he learned years ago. Divers

1048
01:22:15,079 --> 01:22:19,399
had to find their zin or risk
burning through their oxygen too fast, and

1049
01:22:19,479 --> 01:22:28,399
he knew he was going to need
every second of it. Chapter eighteen,

1050
01:22:29,359 --> 01:22:35,079
Blood in the Water, eight thirty
seven hours, sixteen May late Nawelapi.

1051
01:22:36,439 --> 01:22:41,560
Clark felt the buzz of the alarm
on his risk computer. It was signaling

1052
01:22:41,680 --> 01:22:45,479
that the shark men were now in
range of the dive team. Clark at

1053
01:22:45,520 --> 01:22:48,239
the coms for the entire team.
They're here, folks, he said,

1054
01:22:48,439 --> 01:22:54,920
look sharp above him. Valkyrie took
the covers off her scope and began sweeping

1055
01:22:54,960 --> 01:22:59,479
the surface of the water. Skull
did the same, while Heimdahl began glassing

1056
01:22:59,520 --> 01:23:03,000
the surface with his powerful spotter's scope. So far, they hadn't seen so

1057
01:23:03,079 --> 01:23:09,640
much as a ripple on the surface. Clark's risk computer vibrated again. He

1058
01:23:09,840 --> 01:23:15,680
just received a message from Bruce.
It read simply visual contact. Fuck,

1059
01:23:15,840 --> 01:23:19,640
whispered Clark, tightening the grip on
his weapon, reaching for his mighty sent

1060
01:23:19,720 --> 01:23:25,199
a quick command. Thunder God to
tire, said Clark. Move into the

1061
01:23:25,239 --> 01:23:29,840
trees and advance toward the water.
Stay out of sight, over copy,

1062
01:23:30,039 --> 01:23:34,800
said Murdoch. Take point, said
Clark, nodding at Beer. Beer began

1063
01:23:34,880 --> 01:23:39,920
moving rapidly toward the trees. Once
inside the tree line, he found the

1064
01:23:39,960 --> 01:23:45,319
patrol trail and began leading the team
toward the water. Clark followed close behind

1065
01:23:45,359 --> 01:23:49,000
Beer, with Kodiak right behind him. Margoline moved up next to Clark and

1066
01:23:49,039 --> 01:23:54,359
glanced at him. Clark couldn't remember
the last time he'd seen such a serious

1067
01:23:54,399 --> 01:23:59,039
look on his face. I fucking
hate sharks, he whispered as he fell

1068
01:23:59,039 --> 01:24:02,439
into step next to Clark. Wait
till you see these out of the water,

1069
01:24:02,720 --> 01:24:06,239
said Clark. I saw the ones
in the tank, said Margolin.

1070
01:24:06,880 --> 01:24:11,880
That was Gen two, said Clark. Gen one is bigger and less human.

1071
01:24:12,199 --> 01:24:15,279
I think that's why they couldn't control
them. Well, fuck me,

1072
01:24:15,600 --> 01:24:20,439
whispered Margolin. Beneath the water,
Bruce watched the darkness for signs of movement.

1073
01:24:20,960 --> 01:24:25,359
He'd gotten a glimpse of one when
he'd message Clark, and then nothing.

1074
01:24:26,119 --> 01:24:29,840
According to the passive so our feed, they were close. It was

1075
01:24:29,880 --> 01:24:33,199
almost like they were sensing the trap. Where are you, you bastards,

1076
01:24:33,279 --> 01:24:39,800
he thought. He didn't dare risk
using the radios. Water conducted sound far

1077
01:24:39,880 --> 01:24:43,800
better than air, and even a
faint noise would travel a long way.

1078
01:24:44,399 --> 01:24:47,840
They also had to contend with the
fact that these shark men had extremely sensitive

1079
01:24:48,000 --> 01:24:54,199
tempanic membranes. They could hear even
the smallest sounds from a great distance.

1080
01:24:54,720 --> 01:24:58,680
They could also smell blood in the
water for miles. They keyed in on

1081
01:24:58,720 --> 01:25:03,479
the sounds of distress, things that
didn't belong in their environment. Deliberately slowing

1082
01:25:03,479 --> 01:25:08,600
his breathing, Bruce fought to keep
his heart rate under control. While he

1083
01:25:08,680 --> 01:25:13,119
doubted that they could hear his heart
beating, he knew that staying under control

1084
01:25:13,399 --> 01:25:18,039
meant everything underwater. Any loss of
controller judgment could get them all killed.

1085
01:25:18,640 --> 01:25:23,720
Bruce wasn't going to let his brothers
down. Come on, Clint, he

1086
01:25:23,800 --> 01:25:29,840
thought the only easy day was yesterday. The familiar mantra calmed him and he

1087
01:25:29,920 --> 01:25:33,600
focused like a laser on the task, and once he resumed his rigid self

1088
01:25:33,680 --> 01:25:39,720
control, he noticed something he was
missing before. There were dark shapes in

1089
01:25:39,760 --> 01:25:43,600
the water just at the edge of
their vision. They were swimming back and

1090
01:25:43,720 --> 01:25:47,199
forth, looking over the entire lagoon. That meant they were coming toward them.

1091
01:25:47,239 --> 01:25:53,119
As they methodically searched for any sign
of a trap, the tension was

1092
01:25:53,199 --> 01:25:56,439
building in all of them, and
Bruce knew that something had to break.

1093
01:25:57,359 --> 01:26:01,199
Inspiration struck him and he tapped out
a on his wrist computer, sending it

1094
01:26:01,239 --> 01:26:05,560
to everyone on the dive team and
Clark, get ready, it said.

1095
01:26:08,079 --> 01:26:11,800
Taking out his dive knife, he
reached slowly over to the rock and tapped

1096
01:26:11,840 --> 01:26:15,520
on it with the steel. Immediately, he saw the dark shapes turn toward

1097
01:26:15,600 --> 01:26:20,920
his direction, but they didn't approach. Tapping twice more, he saw them

1098
01:26:20,960 --> 01:26:26,520
begin to move slowly in their direction. Slipping the knife back in the scabbard

1099
01:26:26,560 --> 01:26:30,760
on his leg, he prepared his
bangstick. All right, assholes, he

1100
01:26:30,880 --> 01:26:36,359
thought, come to Daddy. Slowly
and menacingly, the dark shapes crept closer

1101
01:26:36,479 --> 01:26:42,439
until they were able to start making
out details. They were built like sharks,

1102
01:26:42,520 --> 01:26:46,319
but had both arms and legs.
The fingers and toes were webbed with

1103
01:26:46,399 --> 01:26:51,199
claws on the tips, and the
legs and arms acted as fins. They

1104
01:26:51,199 --> 01:26:56,159
had large dorsal fins like the great
white, and a long tail, but

1105
01:26:56,239 --> 01:27:01,239
there the similarities ended. From straight
on, the monsters faces looked almost human,

1106
01:27:01,800 --> 01:27:06,960
almost, and as they got closer
the similarity faded away and they were

1107
01:27:08,000 --> 01:27:13,880
revealed as the deadly predators they were. Bruce felt his blood go cold at

1108
01:27:13,880 --> 01:27:17,399
the sheer size and power of the
creatures. They were massive, easily ten

1109
01:27:17,439 --> 01:27:21,319
feet long or more. They moved
like sharks, but they seemed to have

1110
01:27:21,359 --> 01:27:26,920
a presence of mind that you don't
find in true sharks. These things were

1111
01:27:26,960 --> 01:27:30,920
not only reacting to their surroundings,
but they were studying it, observing it,

1112
01:27:31,079 --> 01:27:36,640
and adjusting their approach based on what
they saw. The biggest one was

1113
01:27:36,680 --> 01:27:41,319
at the center and he appeared to
make a few hand gestures, which caused

1114
01:27:41,319 --> 01:27:45,520
the others to fan out. On
the biggest one's arm was what appeared to

1115
01:27:45,520 --> 01:27:49,439
be a tattoo. They all had
the same tattoo, and Bruce recognized it

1116
01:27:49,479 --> 01:27:56,439
from the file he'd read. They
were from the German Kriegsmarine. Game time,

1117
01:27:56,680 --> 01:28:01,479
whispered Bruce. As the sharkmen's swam
slowly toward them. Bruce realized they

1118
01:28:01,479 --> 01:28:06,239
were in formation, like a military
patrol. The creatures remembered enough of their

1119
01:28:06,319 --> 01:28:13,119
humanity to use tactics. Well fuck, he thought. One of the creatures

1120
01:28:13,119 --> 01:28:17,159
swam forward and seemed to be looking
at something to Bruce's left. He held

1121
01:28:17,279 --> 01:28:23,600
still as the creature drifted closer and
closer, watching the spot with intense focus.

1122
01:28:24,520 --> 01:28:28,239
Bruce flicked his eyes that way and
saw a large fish moving among the

1123
01:28:28,359 --> 01:28:31,640
rocks, eating something on the ground. The shark men realized it was a

1124
01:28:31,640 --> 01:28:35,920
fish and started to back off,
but he'd gotten too close. Now,

1125
01:28:36,119 --> 01:28:43,600
snapped Bruce, driving his bangstick into
the beast's head just behind the black eye.

1126
01:28:43,720 --> 01:28:47,159
The bankstick made a dull crump under
the water, and instantly the beast's

1127
01:28:47,239 --> 01:28:53,680
head exploded as the buckshot and the
potassium reacted with the water flesh and brain.

1128
01:28:54,760 --> 01:28:59,720
The creature thrashed violently before going still
and floating dead in the water.

1129
01:29:00,399 --> 01:29:04,680
All around him, Bruce saw his
team go to work with their aps rifles,

1130
01:29:04,720 --> 01:29:11,600
firing into their targets using control shots
instead of auto fire. He could

1131
01:29:11,640 --> 01:29:15,760
see the trail of bubbles made as
the high speed bolts shot through the water.

1132
01:29:16,199 --> 01:29:20,279
Two more of the creatures stopped moving
as the other creatures scattered and put

1133
01:29:20,319 --> 01:29:26,359
distance between themselves and the seals.
Bruce shot one with a canister and it

1134
01:29:26,479 --> 01:29:30,479
instantly inflated, taking the body on
a rapid rise to the surface. The

1135
01:29:30,520 --> 01:29:35,840
others quickly followed suit and sent a
total of three monsters up for recovery on

1136
01:29:35,920 --> 01:29:40,800
the surface. When the three creatures
popped to the surface, they were shot

1137
01:29:40,880 --> 01:29:45,000
with barbed arrows attached to steel cables, and once the arrow was secure,

1138
01:29:45,439 --> 01:29:50,079
they used a winch to haul them
to shore. Nine Togo, said Bruce,

1139
01:29:50,399 --> 01:29:55,920
tapping a set of commands on his
Wrisk computer. They all heard the

1140
01:29:55,960 --> 01:30:00,720
sonics increase, forcing the shark men
deeper into the harbor and to the shore.

1141
01:30:00,279 --> 01:30:05,079
Move it ordered, Bruce pushed him
into the shallow water, breaking cover.

1142
01:30:05,199 --> 01:30:09,439
The team began swimming in an arc
to block the deeper water from the

1143
01:30:09,520 --> 01:30:14,760
shark men. It was a dangerous
ploy, but a necessary one. The

1144
01:30:14,840 --> 01:30:17,359
sonics were painful, but the shark
men could fight through it and die for

1145
01:30:17,439 --> 01:30:21,840
deep water. If that happened,
they might never have another chance to catch

1146
01:30:21,880 --> 01:30:26,479
them, and they would go on
hunting these water for many years to come.

1147
01:30:27,520 --> 01:30:30,359
No one in the area would be
safe, especially since the creatures could

1148
01:30:30,359 --> 01:30:35,319
come onto land as well. As
they moved forward, one of the creatures

1149
01:30:35,359 --> 01:30:40,960
suddenly appeared from the darkness below them
and grabbed Palermo by the legs, biting

1150
01:30:41,000 --> 01:30:45,840
into his left thigh. They didn't
see blood erupt so they knew the shark

1151
01:30:45,920 --> 01:30:49,800
suits held. Palermo screamed, but
pulled out the canister gun and jammed it

1152
01:30:49,840 --> 01:30:54,079
through the gills on the side of
the beast's neck, and then pulled the

1153
01:30:54,119 --> 01:30:59,760
trigger. The creature released its grip
and began to dig frantically at its neck

1154
01:31:00,079 --> 01:31:04,520
for the airbag inflated, forcing its
eyes out of their sockets and distending the

1155
01:31:04,720 --> 01:31:10,560
entire head. It rocketed toward the
surface, still digging at its face.

1156
01:31:11,800 --> 01:31:15,119
Palermo said, Bruce, what's your
status over? I think that thing broke

1157
01:31:15,199 --> 01:31:18,479
my fucking leg, he said,
trying to hold his position in the water.

1158
01:31:18,880 --> 01:31:23,600
I can't move it, Bedford said, Bruce, get him out of

1159
01:31:23,640 --> 01:31:28,239
here. He needs a medic on
it, Boss, said Bedford. As

1160
01:31:28,239 --> 01:31:31,920
he swam for Palermo, Bruce saw
a creature materialize out of the darkness behind

1161
01:31:32,000 --> 01:31:36,399
him. Before he could shout a
warning, the creature gripped Bedford's helmet and

1162
01:31:36,560 --> 01:31:42,000
ripped it off. Bedford tried to
hold his breath, but the creature snapped

1163
01:31:42,039 --> 01:31:46,960
forward and bit his head off.
Motherfucker, snapped Bruce, swimming hard toward

1164
01:31:47,000 --> 01:31:53,520
the creature. It turned toward Bruce
with an evil grin on its nearly human

1165
01:31:53,640 --> 01:31:59,279
face. The grin vanished when Bruce
drove the bankstick into its throat and discharged

1166
01:31:59,359 --> 01:32:04,159
all remained charges. The resulting explosion
tore the head apart, leaving it hanging

1167
01:32:04,239 --> 01:32:10,000
onto the rest of the body by
the thinnest of strands of flesh. Palermo

1168
01:32:10,119 --> 01:32:14,159
put a canister into the beast's back, and it was pulled toward the surface,

1169
01:32:14,319 --> 01:32:19,239
trailing blood and soft pieces of tissue. Five down called Palermo, grabbing

1170
01:32:19,279 --> 01:32:27,319
Bedford's headless body and activating his emergency
vest as it inflated, Palermo pulled Bedford

1171
01:32:27,359 --> 01:32:30,800
along with him, and Bruce knew
they had to buy them time to be

1172
01:32:30,920 --> 01:32:33,520
recovered before the sharp men picked them
apart. In the water from below,

1173
01:32:34,840 --> 01:32:40,640
one of the creatures shot to the
surface in pursuit of Palermo. It stuck

1174
01:32:40,680 --> 01:32:44,720
his head out of the water and
looked around. Before it could even focus,

1175
01:32:44,840 --> 01:32:49,159
valkyrie put a forty five seventy explosive
tipped round through its forehead, brains

1176
01:32:49,199 --> 01:32:54,920
and tissue, and an eyeball flew
into the air. As it rolled over

1177
01:32:55,079 --> 01:32:59,720
onto its back in the water,
an arrow streaked out and stuck deep into

1178
01:32:59,800 --> 01:33:02,920
it chest. The line went taut
and began hauling it to the shore.

1179
01:33:04,279 --> 01:33:09,359
At the shoreline, Palermo was waving
and trying to pull Bedford onto the beach.

1180
01:33:10,199 --> 01:33:13,319
His legs still wouldn't work, and
he was pushing as hard as he

1181
01:33:13,359 --> 01:33:16,399
could with the one that still worked. He was in less than three feet

1182
01:33:16,439 --> 01:33:20,000
of water, struggling to pull the
body of his friend when one of the

1183
01:33:20,039 --> 01:33:25,880
beasts erupted out of the water and
reached for him. It let out an

1184
01:33:25,960 --> 01:33:30,680
ear piercing shriek that was not human. In the slightest the creature stood nearly

1185
01:33:30,800 --> 01:33:34,840
eleven feet tall, and its tail
was thrashing in the water behind it,

1186
01:33:34,880 --> 01:33:41,880
stirring the surface into a white froth. It grabbed Palermo by his bad leg

1187
01:33:42,000 --> 01:33:45,920
and twisted, and Palermo screamed in
pain and began digging his hands into the

1188
01:33:45,920 --> 01:33:49,800
soft soil of the shore to keep
the beast from pulling him back below the

1189
01:33:49,880 --> 01:33:57,640
surface. It wasn't even a close
contest. The beast pulled him without effort,

1190
01:33:57,840 --> 01:34:01,560
and Palermo could hear it laughing mockingly
as it taunted him, And just

1191
01:34:01,600 --> 01:34:05,560
as he was about to go back
under, another roar split the air,

1192
01:34:06,439 --> 01:34:12,479
Kodiak slammed into the shark Man with
the force of a freight train, sinking

1193
01:34:12,520 --> 01:34:15,720
the massive canine teeth of his bare
form into the back of the shark Man's

1194
01:34:15,800 --> 01:34:20,079
neck. Kodiak dragged it, shrieking
and kicking, out of the water and

1195
01:34:20,199 --> 01:34:26,880
up onto the shore. Now it
understood how Palermo had felt when all its

1196
01:34:26,920 --> 01:34:31,800
strength was for nothing against the juggernaut
that was Kodiak. As it slashed a

1197
01:34:31,880 --> 01:34:38,800
Kodiak with its horrendous black claws,
Rayon snarled and dove onto its chest and

1198
01:34:38,920 --> 01:34:44,359
slashed out its throat with her claws. Kodiak released his hold on its neck

1199
01:34:44,399 --> 01:34:47,600
and then sank his claws into the
gill slits just below the head and pulled.

1200
01:34:48,520 --> 01:34:53,039
There was a wet, tearing sound
as he ripped it off and threw

1201
01:34:53,079 --> 01:34:59,279
it nearly one hundred feet up the
hill toward Amalco. Another creature leaped out

1202
01:34:59,279 --> 01:35:02,399
of the water and dove onto Kodiak's
back, and as it tried to bite

1203
01:35:02,520 --> 01:35:08,000
into his massive shoulder, a bullet
struck it in the open mouth and exploded

1204
01:35:08,079 --> 01:35:12,760
out the back of its head.
Scald was now on the scoreboard, making

1205
01:35:12,800 --> 01:35:16,640
it one to one for the snipers. Mano de Dios whispered, Skald,

1206
01:35:16,880 --> 01:35:24,079
crossing himself blow the surface, Reins
and Lane engaged another creature. It grabbed

1207
01:35:24,119 --> 01:35:29,640
Reins by the shoulders and began viciously
biting onto its helmet. Water bubbles began

1208
01:35:29,680 --> 01:35:33,960
appearing as the LExEN face shield began
to crack. The Lane jammed his bangstick

1209
01:35:34,000 --> 01:35:41,520
beneath the creature's left arm and cracked
off five rounds. The resulting explosion shattered

1210
01:35:41,520 --> 01:35:45,960
the creature's chest cavity and sent Lane
spinning off into the water. The beast

1211
01:35:46,079 --> 01:35:50,680
released rains and started to float away. The rain, shot a canister into

1212
01:35:50,720 --> 01:35:58,039
the beast's exposed torso, and it
quickly rose to the surface. Brewer and

1213
01:35:58,119 --> 01:36:02,199
Renolds circled another creature as it moved
toward lane. The Renolds moved into Jabbett

1214
01:36:02,239 --> 01:36:05,920
with his bainstick, and the creature
whirled in the water, snatching the weapon

1215
01:36:06,000 --> 01:36:12,079
away from him. It drove the
tip of the weapon into Brewers dragger and

1216
01:36:12,239 --> 01:36:16,439
detonated it. The resulting explosion drove
him backward, but Renolds could see it

1217
01:36:16,479 --> 01:36:21,640
hadn't punched through the shark suit.
Brewer pulled his emergency cord and flated his

1218
01:36:21,760 --> 01:36:28,319
vests, rocketing him to the surface. As the creature watched a Brewer rising,

1219
01:36:28,680 --> 01:36:31,720
Renolds switched to his rifle and dumped
a full burst into the creature's back

1220
01:36:31,760 --> 01:36:38,000
at almost point blank range. The
creature spasled as the bolts dug deep into

1221
01:36:38,079 --> 01:36:44,199
its flesh and the silver aconite blend
took hold. It began to go slack,

1222
01:36:44,319 --> 01:36:46,319
and Reins hit it with a canister
shot, sending it up in a

1223
01:36:46,359 --> 01:36:53,119
flurry of air bubbles. A few
yards away, another creature swam directly at

1224
01:36:53,119 --> 01:36:58,399
Atkinson. His training in the Royal
Navy's SBS kicked in and he drove his

1225
01:36:58,520 --> 01:37:01,800
hand into the beasts, now forcing
it to his right, and as the

1226
01:37:01,800 --> 01:37:08,399
beast started to move around him he
reached out to grab him. Atkinson rolled

1227
01:37:08,479 --> 01:37:13,199
onto the creature's back before it could
grab him, using the beast's dorsal fin

1228
01:37:13,479 --> 01:37:16,920
to help hold himself in place,
and as the beast tried to whirl around,

1229
01:37:17,000 --> 01:37:21,560
Atkinson pulled out his canister pistol and
shoved it into the creature's mouth,

1230
01:37:23,199 --> 01:37:26,880
and as it tried to bite down
on his arm, he fired twice and

1231
01:37:26,920 --> 01:37:31,640
the air bags began to inflate as
they tore the beast apart. Atkinson held

1232
01:37:31,680 --> 01:37:36,800
on and rode the beast to the
surface. I think that's all of them,

1233
01:37:36,880 --> 01:37:43,640
said Rains. Everyone get to the
surface, said Bruce. Nicely done.

1234
01:37:43,760 --> 01:37:45,800
As they all began to emerge,
Bruce began to do a quick head

1235
01:37:45,840 --> 01:37:51,880
count with Palermo and Bedford on the
shore. Everyone was accounted for. Just

1236
01:37:51,920 --> 01:37:56,600
as he was about to motion for
everyone to head for shore, the big

1237
01:37:56,640 --> 01:38:00,319
One emerged right in front of him, grabbed him by the helmet, and

1238
01:38:00,359 --> 01:38:04,239
lifted him out of the water.
Using him as a shield. The creature

1239
01:38:04,319 --> 01:38:10,239
kept Bruce between itself and the snipers. It looked into Bruce's eyes, and

1240
01:38:10,279 --> 01:38:13,880
he knew that it was about to
kill him. It only seemed to be

1241
01:38:14,000 --> 01:38:18,159
considering how Bruce could hear. The
helmet began to groan and the LExEN was

1242
01:38:18,239 --> 01:38:23,720
cracking as the beast began to tighten
its grip, fuck snapped, Clark,

1243
01:38:23,800 --> 01:38:28,600
dropping his gear and racing along the
shore. In seconds, he reached the

1244
01:38:28,680 --> 01:38:32,000
rocky outcropping that was nearly thirty feet
above the surface of the water, and

1245
01:38:32,039 --> 01:38:35,720
he drew his bounty and he held
it in both hands and he leaped from

1246
01:38:35,760 --> 01:38:42,319
the cliff, holding the blade edge
down. He dropped the distance and slammed

1247
01:38:42,359 --> 01:38:46,840
into the creature's back. The blade
embedded itself to the hilt, and Clark

1248
01:38:47,000 --> 01:38:50,920
used his weight and the sharpness of
the blade to begin cutting his way down

1249
01:38:50,960 --> 01:38:57,399
its torso. Hitting the ice cold
water, Clark felt the sensation of a

1250
01:38:57,479 --> 01:39:01,680
thousand needles sinking into his flesh all
at once. He ignored the pain and

1251
01:39:01,800 --> 01:39:06,359
concentrated on the task of killing this
creature. He had to save his friend.

1252
01:39:08,800 --> 01:39:13,079
As the beast released Bruce with one
hand, it tried in vain to

1253
01:39:13,159 --> 01:39:16,439
reach Clark, who was now cutting
past the dorsal fin and moving toward the

1254
01:39:16,520 --> 01:39:21,680
tail. Before the creature could reach
Clark, Bruce drew his knife and plunged

1255
01:39:21,720 --> 01:39:28,039
it into the creature's throat. Snappy
gets attention back to Bruce. The beast

1256
01:39:28,079 --> 01:39:30,920
gurgled and threw him into the rocks
at the edge of the water, and

1257
01:39:30,960 --> 01:39:35,199
spinning around, he grabbed Clark and
pulled him free. The beasts back was

1258
01:39:35,199 --> 01:39:39,880
cut open, but it was already
beginning to heal. W you just do,

1259
01:39:40,479 --> 01:39:45,159
rumbled the beast. I had tortonshen
replied Clark, driving the bounty into

1260
01:39:45,199 --> 01:39:51,279
the monster's neck. The beast howled
in pain, and Valkyrie put around through

1261
01:39:51,319 --> 01:39:56,520
the back of its head, exploding
the cranium in a fountain of bluish blood

1262
01:39:56,560 --> 01:40:00,279
and brain matter. That's two,
she said. The skulls shook his head

1263
01:40:00,319 --> 01:40:04,000
as Heimdall chuckled. I told you
not to bet with her, said heimdel

1264
01:40:05,560 --> 01:40:10,640
The creature slid over backward, and
Clark released his grip on the bounty.

1265
01:40:10,680 --> 01:40:15,319
It was still embedded in the monster's
neck. His fingers were too numb to

1266
01:40:15,359 --> 01:40:18,399
hold onto it now anyway. He
tried to swim ashore, but his arms

1267
01:40:18,399 --> 01:40:23,359
and legs were cramping. He felt
like he was just going to slip beneath

1268
01:40:23,399 --> 01:40:28,039
the water and down into the depths
when strong hands grabbed him from behind.

1269
01:40:29,479 --> 01:40:31,880
I've got you, brother, said
Bruce. We got all of them.

1270
01:40:32,279 --> 01:40:38,560
Us go home. Hauling Clark to
the shore, Bruce walked out and did

1271
01:40:38,560 --> 01:40:42,920
a physical count of the bodies.
All twelve were lying dead on the beach.

1272
01:40:43,680 --> 01:40:47,399
They were taking no chances with these
creatures. Binding their arms and legs,

1273
01:40:47,439 --> 01:40:51,760
they put a bullet through their heads
just to be sure. Once they

1274
01:40:51,800 --> 01:40:58,000
were bound, they were rolled onto
cargo nets for transport. The fuck,

1275
01:40:58,239 --> 01:41:03,520
said Clark, his teeth chattering.
That water's cold. Thank you for saving

1276
01:41:03,560 --> 01:41:09,319
my ass out there, said Bruce, removing his cracked helmet, where even

1277
01:41:09,600 --> 01:41:15,760
muttered Clark, you pulled my ass. Sure you didn't have to come after

1278
01:41:15,800 --> 01:41:19,119
me, said Bruce. I would
have figured something out. Yes I did,

1279
01:41:19,359 --> 01:41:24,079
said Clark. I wasn't going to
be the one to tell your wife.

1280
01:41:27,880 --> 01:41:35,039
Epilogue twenty one, thirty hours nineteen
May Steve's Pub and Grub. Clark

1281
01:41:35,079 --> 01:41:39,520
was sitting at the bar, sipping
a large mug of hot coco, his

1282
01:41:39,560 --> 01:41:44,199
wife sitting beside him with her arm
looped through his. The dog, Sam

1283
01:41:44,239 --> 01:41:47,079
and Dean were lying beside them on
the floor. I didn't think you were

1284
01:41:47,119 --> 01:41:51,319
the hot cocoa type, said Gideon, sliding onto a bar stool next to

1285
01:41:51,399 --> 01:41:56,680
Clark. Normally I'm not, said
Clark. I've had a chill since I

1286
01:41:56,720 --> 01:42:00,279
was in that fucking lake. I
know I'm not cold, but that was

1287
01:42:00,319 --> 01:42:04,119
bone deep cold. What you need
is a week on the beach, said

1288
01:42:04,119 --> 01:42:09,840
Amanda Sanchez Clark grinning, no,
thank you, said Clark. I'm not

1289
01:42:09,920 --> 01:42:15,319
going anywhere near Sharks for a while. Everyone laughed. So what did you

1290
01:42:15,359 --> 01:42:19,159
guys bring to hang on the wall
this time, asked Steve. Usually that's

1291
01:42:19,239 --> 01:42:24,840
Margolin's thing, said Clark. But
this time I brought you something. He

1292
01:42:24,920 --> 01:42:30,079
handed Steve a square bundle wrapped in
cloth. Steve took it and examined it.

1293
01:42:30,560 --> 01:42:35,039
Open it, said Clark. Steve
unwrapped the painting that Henderman had given

1294
01:42:35,119 --> 01:42:40,800
Clark and Valkyrie as a wedding gift. This isn't bad, said Steve.

1295
01:42:41,239 --> 01:42:45,640
Who is Augustus Henderman? Ah,
no one special, said Clark with a

1296
01:42:45,680 --> 01:42:48,159
shrug. I picked it up in
a little place on our last deployment.

1297
01:42:48,840 --> 01:42:53,479
It's an interesting landscape, said Steve. I'd like to see this place in

1298
01:42:53,520 --> 01:42:58,920
real life. Where is it?
It's late Novelapi and Argentina, said Clark,

1299
01:42:59,039 --> 01:43:01,640
sipping his cocoa. I'll get a
hammer and nail and hang it,

1300
01:43:01,680 --> 01:43:06,279
said Steve, walking away. Are
you going to tell him he's hanging a

1301
01:43:06,399 --> 01:43:13,800
painting by Adolph Hitler, asked Gideon
Hitler asked Amanda shocked. I'll tell you

1302
01:43:13,960 --> 01:43:15,760
later, babe, said Clark.
And no, I'm not going to tell

1303
01:43:15,840 --> 01:43:21,199
him. Probably for the best,
said Gideon. Rachel emerged from the kitchen

1304
01:43:21,279 --> 01:43:25,800
and sat a large portion of shepherd's
pie in front of Clark, and a

1305
01:43:25,840 --> 01:43:30,199
plate of breaded fish filets with steamed
vegetables in front of Amanda. Thanks,

1306
01:43:30,359 --> 01:43:34,960
said Clark. Can I get what
he's having too, ask Gideon. I'll

1307
01:43:34,960 --> 01:43:40,119
bring it right out, said Rachel, smiling. This is the best Shepherd's

1308
01:43:40,119 --> 01:43:43,359
pie I've ever had, said Clark. I get it every time I'm in

1309
01:43:43,399 --> 01:43:47,560
here. Rachel beamed with pride and
headed back into the kitchen. So what's

1310
01:43:47,680 --> 01:43:53,079
next, boss, asked Gideon.
We trained for the next mission, said

1311
01:43:53,119 --> 01:43:57,680
Clark. We prove the success of
the international team model. We're going to

1312
01:43:57,680 --> 01:44:01,159
be getting more people from other countries. Now, what about Stratton, asked

1313
01:44:01,199 --> 01:44:05,520
Gideon. Have they found her yet? No, said Clark. They lost

1314
01:44:05,560 --> 01:44:10,159
track of her in an airport in
Bolivia. She managed to slip the tail

1315
01:44:10,239 --> 01:44:13,720
that was on her. We know
she's in South America, but that's it.

1316
01:44:14,439 --> 01:44:17,439
They'll find her, said Gideon.
The Israelis are looking for her now,

1317
01:44:18,399 --> 01:44:21,880
then she better hope we find her
first, said Clark. That's a

1318
01:44:23,000 --> 01:44:27,359
fact, said Gideon. Even I
would be worried about being captured by them.

1319
01:44:28,199 --> 01:44:31,960
Damn, said Clark. General Dalton
is practically chewing steel and spitting nails

1320
01:44:31,960 --> 01:44:38,000
over this. He's restructuring the entire
upper tiers, shaking out all the career

1321
01:44:38,079 --> 01:44:41,880
officers who only want the slot,
not to actually be part of the team.

1322
01:44:42,560 --> 01:44:46,680
I think the drop into Patagonia showed
him just how woefully unprepared some officers

1323
01:44:46,680 --> 01:44:51,399
were for an actual mission. I
think you mean Boudreaux in the new Battalion

1324
01:44:51,479 --> 01:44:57,399
exec Lieutenant Colonel McDermott said Gideon.
Well, I can't confirm her. Deny

1325
01:44:57,479 --> 01:45:01,359
that statement, said Clark. Taking
a sip from mus Coco. Any news

1326
01:45:01,359 --> 01:45:05,319
on the German diver, asked Gideon
Bower. I think was his name.

1327
01:45:06,479 --> 01:45:12,079
He stabilized, said Clark. He's
doing well and he was granted permission by

1328
01:45:12,079 --> 01:45:15,199
the Germans to join our team.
I don't know where he's getting a signed

1329
01:45:15,279 --> 01:45:19,680
yet, but I hope we get
him. Clark scanned the room. He

1330
01:45:19,720 --> 01:45:24,920
could see that all the new team
members were there. They were sharing food

1331
01:45:24,960 --> 01:45:29,840
and drinks and laughter. They'd earned
their places on the team. Steve's Pub

1332
01:45:29,920 --> 01:45:33,199
and Grove was now the official after
mission stop for all the Midwest teams,

1333
01:45:33,279 --> 01:45:39,720
which meant the place was almost always
packed. Steve was thrilled at the business,

1334
01:45:39,800 --> 01:45:44,600
but only Tim Odin could hang stuff
on the walls. Rachel set a

1335
01:45:44,640 --> 01:45:47,439
play to Shepherd's Pine in front of
Gideon, and he nodded his gratitude.

1336
01:45:48,000 --> 01:45:53,319
Gideon began eating immediately, and Clark
watched the older man's eyes roll back in

1337
01:45:53,359 --> 01:45:57,680
his head with pleasure. Oh Lord, said Gideon. You weren't kidding.

1338
01:45:57,840 --> 01:46:01,560
This is amazing. I told you, said Clark. Best I've ever had.

1339
01:46:02,439 --> 01:46:05,359
Cody, Eak, and Rayon were
sitting at a table with Gregel and

1340
01:46:05,399 --> 01:46:11,880
his wife Sarah. They were laughing
and eating with Runestone and Raven. Clark

1341
01:46:11,920 --> 01:46:15,239
smiled at the scene. They were
his team and his family. They'd gone

1342
01:46:15,239 --> 01:46:20,319
through hell together and emerged stronger out
the other side. Congratulations, by the

1343
01:46:20,359 --> 01:46:26,680
way, said Gideon, for what
asked Clark. The distinguished flying Cross,

1344
01:46:26,800 --> 01:46:30,560
said Gideon with a shrug. Another
bit of ribbon, said Clark. That's

1345
01:46:30,600 --> 01:46:35,079
not why I do this, then
why do you do it? Asked Amanda.

1346
01:46:36,319 --> 01:46:41,680
For them, he said, gesturing
at the festivities going on around them.

1347
01:46:42,479 --> 01:46:45,279
That my friend, said Gideon,
placing his hand on Clark's shoulder,

1348
01:46:45,720 --> 01:46:50,640
is the right answer. That's why
we'll follow you into Helen back. Thank

1349
01:46:50,680 --> 01:46:56,439
you, said Clark, meeting the
older warrior's gaze. It's my pleasure,

1350
01:46:56,560 --> 01:46:59,680
sir, said Gideon. Now,
if you'll excuse me, I have a

1351
01:46:59,760 --> 01:47:04,199
day with whom asked Clark, grinning. Believe it or not, said Gideon.

1352
01:47:04,399 --> 01:47:09,359
That rather attractive emissary from the Vatican
wanted to take me to dinner.

1353
01:47:09,920 --> 01:47:14,439
Magdalena and I are driving to Saint
Louis for a few days. Well,

1354
01:47:14,479 --> 01:47:17,520
good luck, said Clark. If
she's anything like her brother, she's going

1355
01:47:17,560 --> 01:47:21,640
to be a handful. I'm counting
on that, said Gideon with a smirk.

1356
01:47:23,920 --> 01:47:27,560
Gideon walked away and headed for the
door. He stopped at the table

1357
01:47:27,600 --> 01:47:31,800
where the Giovanni triplets were seated and
held out his arm. Magdalena took it

1358
01:47:32,000 --> 01:47:36,159
and they left. Mattia still glared
daggers at him, but said nothing.

1359
01:47:38,640 --> 01:47:42,760
Now, said Clark, turning to
face Amanda, you and I need to

1360
01:47:42,800 --> 01:47:46,279
have a little talk about you and
Valkyrie. I kind of thought you'd say

1361
01:47:46,319 --> 01:47:50,239
that, she said, don't be
too mad. I just wanted to know

1362
01:47:50,279 --> 01:47:55,319
if she could tempt you away from
me. Now I know she can't.

1363
01:47:55,760 --> 01:47:59,720
Clark shook his head. He had
been tempted, but he wasn't going to

1364
01:47:59,720 --> 01:48:03,399
say that to her. That was
something best kept to himself. He wasn't

1365
01:48:03,439 --> 01:48:06,880
sure how either of them would take
it. So what do you want to

1366
01:48:06,920 --> 01:48:12,319
do while you're on leath, ask
Amanda. I was thinking that if you

1367
01:48:12,359 --> 01:48:15,399
didn't mind, said Clark, would
drive up to Saint Louis and visit my

1368
01:48:15,560 --> 01:48:19,359
sister. Well, that's fine with
me, said Amanda. We haven't seen

1369
01:48:19,399 --> 01:48:24,920
her since the wedding. The front
door opened with a thud, and they

1370
01:48:24,920 --> 01:48:29,159
could see a large truck backing up
to the entrance. What the hell,

1371
01:48:29,399 --> 01:48:34,239
asked Steve, delivery for Major Clark, said a man in dark coveralls.

1372
01:48:34,399 --> 01:48:41,279
General Dalton sends his best. They
opened the double doors and wheeled in a

1373
01:48:41,279 --> 01:48:46,600
beautiful antique piano. What is that, asked Amanda. That's a boasting door

1374
01:48:46,640 --> 01:48:50,920
for Grand piano, said, Clark, remind me to thank the general.

1375
01:48:53,319 --> 01:48:57,920
Steve directed the delivery crew to a
corner where the acoustics would be good.

1376
01:48:58,600 --> 01:49:02,439
No one really sat there because the
lighting was terrible. He dragged two tables

1377
01:49:02,479 --> 01:49:05,479
out of their way so that they
would have room to set up the piano.

1378
01:49:06,479 --> 01:49:11,840
Will you play for us, ask
Amanda. She didn't expect him to

1379
01:49:11,880 --> 01:49:15,279
say yes. He was reluctant to
play, even at home. Yeah,

1380
01:49:15,439 --> 01:49:20,199
he said, smiling, I think
I will. Heading over to where they

1381
01:49:20,199 --> 01:49:25,399
had placed the piano, Clark took
a seat behind the keyboard and adjusted the

1382
01:49:25,399 --> 01:49:30,600
bench. Everyone in the crowd went
silent as he sat down. Valkyrie put

1383
01:49:30,640 --> 01:49:35,800
her hand to her mouth and her
eyes went moist. Clark closed his eyes

1384
01:49:35,840 --> 01:49:41,640
and started playing. And while most
of the crowd thought the song sounded familiar,

1385
01:49:42,039 --> 01:49:46,600
they just couldn't quite place it.
Valkyrie recognized it as Zombie by the

1386
01:49:46,640 --> 01:49:55,079
Cranberries. This has been cod named
Wild Hut Operation Blood Eagle. Written by

1387
01:49:55,159 --> 01:50:00,560
Da Roberts, read to you by
Cameron Buckner. Print copy Da Roberts,

1388
01:50:01,079 --> 01:50:09,479
Audio production copyright by Cameron Buckner.
Reproduction of this audio is prohibited in any

1389
01:50:09,640 --> 01:50:15,439
form without written approval under the US
copyright laws. Stay tuned to the Dixie

1390
01:50:15,479 --> 01:50:17,760
Crypti podcast for more full length audio
books.