Page 16 of A Trident Christmas Baby

The sound of rotor blades cutting through the air snapped him back to reality. A black silhouette appeared through the frost-covered windows as the helicopter descended just outside.

Ace pulled on his gear and slung his rifle over his shoulder. “It’s time. Move out.”

The team stood as one, their movements fluid and synchronized. They filed out into the biting cold, their boots crunching on the snow-covered ground. The helicopter waited, its blades kicking up a flurry of white.

Ace led the way. His battle face firmly in place. This was what they trained for, what they lived for. And tonight, they’d remind the world what it meant to be a Navy SEAL.

CHAPTER SIX

Ace stood with the team. They were about a half mile from the compound.

The winds whipped through the land as the snow fell around them, limiting visibility to a few feet ahead, turning the world into a swirl of white, gray, and biting gusts that felt like shards of glass against any exposed skin.

Ace tugged his mask tighter as the icy air seeped through even the smallest gaps. He gathered his team close as they huddled around him.

Ace’s voice was low but steady and commanding as he went over the plan one last time. “Let’s fan out from here. Once everyone is in position, we will move forward with my order. Irish, you and Skittles are our eyes on the outside perimeter. Call it out if you see any movement we’re not ready for.”

The team nodded in unison, their eyes sharp and focused despite the bitter weather. Each man knew his role, but they all understood the stakes.

“Move quickly, stay low,” Ace continued, his gaze steady on each of them. “Our job is to catch them off guard and end this before they even realize what’s happening.”

“Let’s do this,” Potter said, his voice steeled with confidence.

As the group disbursed and the teams all went their separate ways, Ace crouched low, his breathing steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins like fire. The snow crunched beneath his boots with every careful step as he, Stitch, and Deigo crept through the frozen land. The north side of the compound was now visible in the distance.

Besides their white cold weather clothing and gear, the biting wind and snowfall helped conceal their presence.

He glanced at his watch. It was thirteen minutes until midnight. His grip on his rifle tightened as he motioned for Stitch and Diego to halt. Potter, Dino, and Frost signaled from their position near the front of the compound. Up on a hill to the northwest, Irish and Skittles maintained overwatch, their sniper rifles trained on the building.

“Positions,” Ace whispered into the comm.

A chorus of quiet confirmations followed, the calm professionalism of his team steadying the edge in his nerves. His heart pounded as his eyes scanned the surroundings, looking for anything out of place. The Russian compound was deceptively unassuming, nestled against the rocky terrain. But Ace knew better. The place was a death trap.

“Stitch, C-4 ready?” he murmured.

“Affirmative,” Stitch replied, his hands deftly setting the charge against the heavy metal backdoor.

Across the comm, Potter’s voice chimed in. “Front’s rigged.”

Ace rechecked his watch. One minute to go. “Standby.”

The seconds ticked by, each one dragging on for what felt like an eternity. The countdown reached its end, and Ace gave the signal.

“Execute.”

Twin explosions ripped through the cold night air, shattering the eerie silence. The doors blew inward, sending shrapnel flying as the teams surged forward.

“Move, move, move!” Ace barked. His voice was sharp as they stormed the building.

Inside, the layout was a labyrinth of narrow hallways and dim lighting. The initial sweep was met with gunfire as Russians poured out of hidden rooms, shouting commands in theirnative tongue. Ace pressed himself against the wall as bullets ricocheted around him.

“Multiple contacts!” Stitch called out, dropping one assailant with a precise shot.

“Keep pushing!” Ace ordered.

The team moved methodically, their training taking over. Potter’s group breached the front of the building, eliminating threats as they advanced toward the central corridor. Ace’s team cleared the rear, their movements synchronized and efficient despite the chaos.

Ace’s voice came steady through the comm. “Diego, cover left. Stitch, on me.”

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