IFP

“It might be good to go in with full strength through the front door with so many unknowns. So first things first. We need to take out those two guards in front. Maldonado, come with me.”
It was tedious work for me and Maldonado to stay hidden in the tree line in order to get around to the side of the building where the guards couldn’t see. But when we did get into position, everything happened perfectly.
Maldonado leaned out from the corner and threw a rock over the guards heads and the rock landed to their left. Each of them turned and looked towards the rock with guns raised and level. Now that their backs were to us and their attention focused elsewhere, we both sprang into action. I took the one closest to us. I reached him and slipped my right arm around his neck and violently yanked up and to the side. I heard a satisfying pop as his neck snapped and his body went limp in my arms. Maldonado had done the same to guard two. With both of them out of commission, the rest of the squad moved up to meet us.
“Alhabid is inside. Were almost done. We don’t know what to expect so keep your wits about you. Let’s get this thing done and go home.” I told them.
They all nodded and checked to make sure their weapons were loaded and the safeties were off. When they were all set we made our move. We busted in through the door and took up covering positions immediately. There were several unmarked crates scattered throughout the room. There was no legitimate second floor. It was only a series of walkways and one suspended room towards the back right corner. There were no less than 6 men on the walkways above us and who knows how many hidden in the maze of crates that were in on the bottom. It was bad, they had the high ground and better knowledge of the layout. We were sitting ducks.
The men up above spotted us first and opened fire. Everyone dove for cover behind the wooden crates. Except for Maldonado who had been farthest from a crate and took a bullet in the gut. He fell to the ground grasping his wound, but continued to fire. He managed to take two of them out up above before more bullets impacted his exposed body and claimed his life.
The remaining members of my squad continued to trade shot for shot with the terrorist. We managed to take out a few, but it occurred to me that this was a battle we couldn’t win, they simply had too big of an advantage. I was about to order everyone to fall back when a bullet punctured my lung. I stood for a moment in a daze. Everything seemed to slow down. I looked over at Winslow. He yelled something out to me, but I couldn’t hear anything. Then my vision went black, and I knew no more.