Page 6 of Love and Loyalty

“There are things poking up,” Sophie, a first lieutenant, said naively.

“Yeah, some men set up cameras to welcome us. We're celebrities,” Drew chipped in sarcastically. Lieutenant Colonel Oakley threw her a look.

“There are about three machine guns up front and two missile launchers, ma’am,” Jonescalled over the intercom.

“I can see that. It's best if we enter from the north. Low and steady. Smith, are you with me?”

“Affirmative, ma’am. I hear you loud and clear.”

Drew circled to the back, flew a few feet, and landed in a small area of bush. Smith followed suit. Lieutenant Colonel Oakley stepped out of the plane and scanned the environment.

“We're clear,” she said, and the rest of the crew gathered behind her.

“Mitchell and Smith, you're to move not more than 10 feet from the craft. Stand by and be ready to take off as soon as possible.”

“Sergeant Thompson and the medical team, you're with me; Jones and half the team will be on the lookout; the rest of you, get as many supplies as you can carry and head into the village.”

“Let's do this quickly and quietly," she said, and everyone shuffled to their various positions. Everything seemed to be going according to plan. The villagers were given water, snacks, energy drinks, and antibiotics.

The medical team, led by Lieutenant Colonel Oakley, checked the children and women first before administering first aid to those who needed it urgently.

Each family was given blankets, basic supplies, and words of encouragement. Drew heard Isabel’s voice on the radio- passing messages, giving commands.

Then all of a sudden, Drew heard gunshots from the eastern side of the village. Isabel’s voice crackled through the radio immediately. “We’ve been compromised. I repeat, we've been compromised. Fall back and head to the take-off point immediately. Ready the aircraft for take off.”

The soldiers jumped into the craft and were about to take off when they heard an explosion from the other side. Drew heard Isabel groan. “I need to ascertain where the missile is coming from. Hold up, Drew and Smith.”

“We can't wait, Lieutenant Colonel. We need to leave right away or we may not be able to. Jones and the others can shoot them down.”

“We are already low on…” Her voice was lost to the heavy gunfire from the insurgents.

Drew took off slightly from the ground and moved toward some of the enemy combatants.

“What are you doing?” Lieutenant Colonel Oakley screamed at her. “They’re coming from the front. I command you to turn back now.”

“It's more dangerous back there, ma’am,” she shouted over the flight deck and flew toward the machine guns. The soldiers fired back as much as they could.

Drew skilfully maneuvered through the approaching insurgents and attacked as she went. She knew that was their best chance of making it through. but luckily made it through the village and headed for base.

“Smith, are you there? Do you copy?” Lieutenant Colonel Oakley asked over the intercom, clearly agitated.

“Affirmative, ma’am. We're safe and good. We believe there were some explosives at the back of the village. If we had gone through, we wouldn't have made it,” Smith replied, breathing heavily.

Drew glanced round at Isabel in triumph but was surprised by the stern look she received. The Thunderbolt was quiet, as everyone was trying to calm themselves after the near-death experience.

When they arrived back at base, Isabel alighted from the plane and pulled off her helmet. Her medical team shuffled behind her.

“You’re all dismissed. Major Mitchell, to my office, now!”

They had barely made their way into the office before she slammed the door. Drew could see the anger blazing in her brown eyes which now looked almost black.

She looked sexy when she was angry- Drew couldn’t help but notice.

“You had no right whatsoever to defy my orders and put us in danger. I understand you were trying to defend and protect your comrades, but what if we had missed the targets or were shot down?”

Drew kept her head down. Aside from the fact the question was rhetorical, she was angry too. She had just saved the day, but instead of gratitude, she got this.

“I took a risk, sure. But it paid off.” Drew said, standing firm by her belief.