Acquiring Trouble

launcher ready to disable a n approaching caravan of terrorists. Their intel told them that the middle car in the three - car caravan held the daughter of the Secretary of State who was kidnapped while her college archeological group dug for Bronze Age artifacts near the Afghanistan and Tajikistan bo rder.
    Miles and Cade had been sent in as members of the elite Delta Force on an unsanctioned mission to destroy the terrorists and rescue the hostage. Cade was to take out the first truck . Miles was to take out any terrorists that came out of the third truck while Cade reloaded the rocket launcher to take out the third vehicle. Then they’d converge on the second vehicle and rescue said hostage.
    Miles trained his scope on the road and watched as two covered trucks and one Subaru WRX STI appeared on the horizon. The covered trucks probably carried supplies, guns , or rebels. The beast of off-road racing, the Subaru, was probably where Mariah Brown was being held . He signaled to Cade who readied the launcher. Miles gave one last sweep of the area and stopped at the rocky terrain beside Cade. Something bothered him, but he couldn't tell what it was. He slowly scanned the area and then saw it. A slight reflectio n of the sun off a scope caught his attention .
    "Cade, we have company," he said into his com .
    "Where?"
    "The rocks . 300 yards to your right."
    "How many?"
    "I don't know. I only saw one with a sniper rifle."
    "What do you want me to do?"
    "Hold on." Miles scanned the ar ea as the caravan approached and detected more movement. Men with automatic rifles and machine guns started to get into position.
    "I count eight men. All with automatic weapons. Abort. Abort. I think we were set up. "
    He watched as Cade turned quickly and fired int o the rocks. The explosion was violent and took the eight terrorists by surprise . Cade turned and ran for the rocks that hid Miles. T he caravan slammed on the brakes and men spilled out of the back of the trucks.
    "Shit ! You got twenty men on your tail. Move dammit!" Miles took a deep breath, let it out and began to pick off the terrorists one by one. "Dump the la uncher, it's slowing you down."
    Miles changed the clip and a hail of gunfire erupted around him as they tried to pinpoint his location.
    "Man approaching on your left flank," Miles told Cade as he took out the man on Cade's right.
    Cade had pulled ou t his pistol and fired on the me n, but they were coming too fast now. Cade was taken down hard . Miles fired when he was sure he wouldn't hit Cade and watched as his brother fought for his life. He was helpless three hundred yards away as Cade was hauled to his feet and beaten by the ten remaining men .
    Mi les watched as a battered and bleeding Cade surrendered. He looked right at Miles and winked his swollen eye as much as he could. It was their sign for the remaining team members to fall back, regroup , and then attempt a rescue mission when and if they were able. There was no way that was going to happen. He'd rath er die than leave his brother behind .
    He looked around the rocky terrain and ga u ged the best way down the hill without being detected. Shouting drew his attention back to his brother. One of the men had pulled a pistol out of his holster and was pressing it against Cade's head. The man was quickly losing his temper as Cade refused to talk.
    Miles felt as if the wor ld slowed on its axis. He moved without conscious thought from behind the rock. With the rifle secure against his should er he fired as he ran down the slope. His feet slid on the loose rock, but all he could see was the gun pressed against his brother's temple. He took down man after man who made the mistake of not divi ng for cover.
    Miles slowed as he came within twenty-five yards of the man who had hauled a now unconscious Cade in front of him, using him as a human shield. There were only three of them left now. Two behind a rock and then the lead man holding Cade hostage.
    "Let him go," Miles shouted in Dari.
    "Release an American spy? You'd have to kill me first." The man grinned and tightened his hold on Cade.
    "You made your choice." Miles fired without hesitation, hitting the man in the forehead.
    He released his hold on Cade who fell to the ground. Before he could run to his brother's side the two men emerged firing at Miles. One laid cover while the other ran for Cade's body.
    "No!" Miles shouted as he ran forward firing his weapon. He never felt the bullet that r ip ped