Luna quickly input the code to gain access to the satellite and was able to zoom in to about a mile above them. She scanned thearea around the ruins and identified the heat signatures for each of the team members, with the exception of Boone and Lucas, who were too deep within the ruins. The GPS signals being sent from each of their bio-patches matched what she saw on the screen.
“GPS signals functioning properly.” She moved her finger over the roller ball on the mouse and tapped it twice.
Son of a bitch!
“Four tangos, moving in quickly, approximately two klicks from the southeast.” No matter what she tried, she couldn’t get a better look of them.
She zoomed out a bit further for a broader view.
“Four additional tangos at about three klicks, approaching fast from the east.”
“I’ve got eyes on four,” Viking whispered.
“I’ve got eyes on the other four,” Calliope confirmed.
Thank goodness, Emily always made sure the teams had the most powerful scopes on their rifles.
Luna watched the eight green blobs closing in on her friends and desperately wanted to hear Boone’s voice. Of course, she understood that wasn’t possible and would sooner die than bring danger down on any of them. Instead, she took a deep breath to calm herself, tapped into the inner strength he’d helped her recognize, and focused on providing the team with the best information possible.
“Four tangos moving along the row of rose bushes on the north side, now crossing through the cleared path.” She recognized it from the photo Cole had sent her. “Eddie and Cole, theother four are approximately one klick behind you now.” She continued, “They’re all spreading out and—”
What the hell?
“I lost one of the heat signatures. About fifty yards from the northwest side of the ruins.” She zoomed in, enhanced the image, but still couldn’t locate it.Dammit.“Cole and Eddie, the other three tangos are still moving in your direction.”
“We’ve made it to the main burial chamber.” Boone’s voice echoed off the stone walls, and his flashlight beam circled the room. “There appear to be five separate openings.”
“This one is collapsed in on itself and is totally blocked.” Lucas pointed his flashlight at one and moved closer so Luna could see what they were dealing with.
From what little she could see, it looked like the cave-in happened a long time ago.
“There’s no way the girls are behind there.” Boone verbalized what she’d been thinking.
“Keep looking.” Cole’s direction was deadly calm. “We’ll take care of our visitors.”
“Roger that.” Lucas faced Boone, and his flashlight illuminated part of his face, and she found it oddly comforting. “It might be faster if we split up.”
“You start with that one. I’ll start here.” Boone pointed his light toward one on his left, then to the one on the right. “If we don’t find anything, come back out and move to the next one.”
They were just heading into their respective tunnels when gunshots rang out.
Luna’s attention flew to the body-cam monitors.
“Returning fire.” Cole’s tone remained level, as if he were sitting in his living room watching television instead of engaging in a firefight.
Thwip. Thwip.She heard the distinctive sound of suppressed fire from a sniper rifle.
“Two down, one heading toward the front of the tomb.” Calliope’s matter-of-factness was a testament to her skill and training. “Shit, I don’t have a shot.”
Thwip. Thwip. Thwip.
“Three down,” Viking said. “Fourth guy is heading your way, Hawk.”
“I see him.” He pivoted in the direction of the threat with his gun raised in front of him and waited. The bushes rustled and a man appeared, holding a rifle of some sort. Hawk whistled, and the man spun toward him.
Boom! Boom!
The force of the shots threw the tango back against a tree, and he slid to the ground.
