Page 27 of Love and Loyalty

She heard a voice call out to her, “Good morning, Major.”

She turned to meet Jack, Smith’s co-pilot. He seemed a bit down. “Good morning, Jack. Is everything alright?”

“Yeah. It's just that Smith isn't feeling too well.”

“Smith isn't well? But she was at the briefing yesterday, right?”

“Yes, she was. She had a high fever this morning and was taken to the medical center. I wish I could stay there with her.”

“I'll excuse what you just said, considering this isn't a good time for you. But you should know no matter your ties or friendships with anyone here, it shouldn't affect your job as a soldier. You cannot let your emotions cloud your judgment, okay?”

“Yes, ma'am,” he said, trying to lighten up.

Drew thought about her own words. Here she was, dishing out advice to a lieutenant, advice that she couldn't seem to take herself. She gave a wry smile as she watched Jones walk away, his head bent.

“Jack?” Drew called out, smiling as she hurried over to the young man. Jones stopped, his forehead wrinkling.

“Yes, Major?”

Drew stopped beside him. “She's going to be fine. She's a tough nut to crack. Not even this can hold her down.”

She watched Jack's face lighten as her words chased the storm clouds from his face. “I know she will.” Drew nodded, and Jones walked off.

When she arrived at the command center, all the soldiers were already gathered and the supplies had been loaded in the Thunderbolt.

Isabel was at the podium talking all tall lean lines and beautiful dark eyes and dark hair. Drew felt her heart jump at the sight of her, but she pushed her feelings and desire for her back down. This was not the time to be thinking about fucking Izzy. Or about coming in her lovely mouth.

Both of those were sweet sweet thoughts she needed to save for late at night in her own quarters.

Izzy reemphasized the purpose of the mission, their different positions and roles, and lastly, their evacuation. She ended by saying, “We have to do our very best, officers. About five thousand lives depend on us. Let's do this!”

Drew watched her scanning the crowd until Izzy’s eyes settled on her. She tried to stay professional, but it was near enough impossible. Their eyes met for just a second, filled with emotion before Drew looked away.

She had to stay focussed. Everyone’s lives depended on it.

Soon the team was on their way. They flew fast and landed away from the village. This allowed them to go into the village quietly and stealthily. Izzy stepped down and beckoned to the EOD specialist and the rest of the team to come with her, leaving about four people in the craft for cover.

Just before she left, she called out to Drew, “Be very careful, Major.” Drew noticed her voice had a subtle tremor of worry.

“Yes, ma'am, I will,” she reassured. She watched as they moved quickly. The farther they went, the smaller they became.

Drew was supposed to wait for the signal announcing they were inside the village before moving. Jones was beside her, and he seemed scared.

“Major, we're positioned inside the village.” Izzy’s voice ranged over the intercom.

“I’m on the move, Lieutenant Colonel.”

Drew lifted the helicopter off the ground with ease, the rotors whirring smoothly as she guided the aircraft into the clear blue sky. The mission was simple, and Drew had flown on this route countless times before. She felt a sense of comfort and familiarity as she banked the helicopter to the left, following the winding river.

The flight was uneventful, with only a few scattered clouds dotting the horizon. Drew's co-pilot, Captain Samantha Lee, chatted idly with her, discussing everything from their favorite foods to their plans for leave. Drew smiled and laughed, feeling a sense of camaraderie with her fellow pilot.

But as they approached the extraction point, Drew's instincts began to twitch. Something didn't feel right. She scanned the horizon, her eyes narrowing as she searched for any sign of trouble.

Without warning, the helicopter shuddered and lurched to the side. Drew's heart skipped a beat as she saw the flash of gunfire from the ground below.

"Incoming fire!" Captain Lee shouted, her voice tight with urgency.

Drew reacted instinctively, banking the helicopter hard to the right as bullets whizzed past the cockpit. But what caught her off guard was the direction of the fire. It was coming fromunexpected angles, as if the enemy had set up a perimeter around the extraction point.