The Project 01 - White Jade

re just outside the entrance to the building in the center of the ruins. I hear vehicles. "
    " All right, I see you on satellite right now. There are four vehicles approaching, three trucks and a command car . You ' ve got company. "
    Her voice was distorted, fading in and out. There was a lot of interference from atmospherics.
    " I ' m having trouble hearing you. Can you call in a strike? " He waited for the delay.
    " Not without starting World War III. I ' ll call for extraction. I can see what ' s happening and let you know what the Chinese are doing , but y ou ' ve got to handle this yourself. "
    In Washington , Elizabeth watched the three members of her team duck back inside the building. On the western edge of the complex, the Chinese convoy halted . Soldiers jumped from the trucks and began to deploy. An officer gestured and pointed. Elizabeth zoomed in. Rank insignia of a Senior Colonel. Wu, she thought.
    " Nick, about thirty bodies plus an officer, I think Wu. They ' re deploying along the west of the ruins and to the south. They ' re cutting off access to the valley. Now they ' re beginning to move into the complex. "
    Ronnie and Selena could hear Harker in their headsets. They knew what was happening.
    " Okay, Director. Keep talking. I won ' t be answering much. "
    He looked at his watch. Six minutes until the charges blew. From the archway where he stood he couldn ' t see any troops over the rubble beyond the courtyard. They still had a little time.
    " We ' ll go out low and fast to the east ," he said. " There ' s plenty of cover once we ' re out of the square. Selena, stick close to me, stay low. I ' ll take the point, Selena in the middle, Ronnie, you bring up the rear. "
    They dropped low.
    " All right, let ' s move. Go ! "
    They ran across the open courtyard and behind some large standing stones without getting shot at. His earpiece crackled.
    " Good move, Nick. They ' re across from you to the west and below to the south. Half of them are moving toward the center, you should see them soon, the others are working their way along the wall. "
    The transmission was clearing up.
    A dozen soldiers scrambled over the rubble and ran toward the entrance to the temple. Ronnie tracked them with his weapon. Selena looked worried, but she had her MP-5 ready.
    Quietly, Carter said, " Hold your fire . " He laid his hand on her arm. " Remember, short bursts. Try to keep your breath easy. " She nodded.
    I can do this, she thought. I can do this.
    More soldier s appeared in the square and fanned out along the perimeter of the courtyard.
    Nick signaled. They moved away from the square, zigzagging between clumps of stone and half standing walls, working eastward. Harker ' s voice came loud and strong over the link.
    " You are still clear to the east. Soldiers are entering the central building. Wu is on the edge of the square directing them in. There are ten hostiles moving toward your position. "
    Carter looked at his watch. Thirty seconds to detonation.
    " Get ready, " he said. " When it blows everyone ' s going to be busy for a few seconds. Make a run for it, over there. " He pointed to a gap in the outer wall, thirty yards away.
    Ten seconds. Five. The explosion was big. Maybe he ' d used a little more C-4 than he needed. There was no time to look.
    They ran full out. Rocks and chunks of stone from the explosion rained down around them . Ten yards short of the gap t he distinctive chatter of Chinese QBZ-95 assault rifles sounded behind them . Chips of stone sprayed around the team as they dove through the opening.
    Swirling black smoke and yellow dust rose high over the courtyard. The tall pyramid roof of the temple was gone . Ronnie was firing, shiny brass cases ratcheting from his H-K and bouncing off the stones . Selena looked stunned. Nick reached around the corner of the gap and fired blindly, risked a glance, fired at a soldier as he tried for cover and brought him down. Ronnie ejected a magazine , jammed another one in.
    Harker ' s voice came through.
    " Still three in front of you. More coming around from the south. They ' ll see you in a minute. Extraction team is in the air, ETA sixteen minutes. "
    Nick took out a grenade, pulled the clip and the pin, let go of the handle and threw it over the wall. He heard screams as it went off.
    " Ronnie, go! " He pointed and Ronnie took off along the wall for the northeast corner.
    He pulled Selena to her feet. " That way. "
    A Chinese soldier came over the wall and