Dented Iron (Hiatus)

Missing

Afghanistan – Day of Ambush

Rhodey glances out at the smoldering remains all evidence that something horrible has happened, the smell of burnt metal and flesh resonates through the air. While the General calls for a rescue chopper the remaining soldiers scramble looking around for any sign of danger.

Blood has seeped into the sand staining it, while small fires still burn charcoaling the ground beneath, the sound of helicopter blades fills the air. Rhodey looks up for a brief second before his gaze returns to the destruction before him.

"All Clear" a soldier calls out when they have finished searching the area, deeming no immediate danger though they are all still alert.

"The immediate area is clear of heat signatures" the pilot calls out informing the group that the only sign of life is them. Even the bodies on the ground have decreased in temperature signifying the lack of survivors, however he does not give up hope yet, Rhodey refuses to believe that Alex is dead. The group maintains searching the bodies and placing them in bags preparing to be shipped home.

"Sir." One of the young soldiers' salutes to the group that had gathered surrounding the commanding officer.

"we have checked all the bodies and there are no survivors" Rhodey's breath catches. He may have not been in charge of these soldiers, but he felt equally responsible for them. He watched as the medics continue putting the bodies in bags, they checked their tags before labeling the bags and checking names off of a list.

By the time they had collected all the bodies, guns, and equipment the sun had begun to set. Rhodey had assisted in storing the weapons while he waited for the body count to announced, he knew that there currently were no survivors but a large part of him hoped that Alex had escaped and was holed up somewhere.

The helicopters circle the area expanding the search zone, but as time goes by the chance of finding anyone else decreases. Slamming of doors draws the attention of all the soldiers and airmen who had been working diligently. The general grabs the clipboard that the medic had handed him, it was at this moment they would find out if all of their friends had been killed or if some where alive.

"All of the bodies have been accounted for... All except for one" the General pauses taking a glance at Rhodes before continuing his announcement. The air filled with suspense soldiers hoped their friends were alive.

"all except Stark" the bombshell had been dropped, Rhodey looked around at the remains of the bloodbath that had been committed just this morning. With only one person missing he understood the true extent of this attack, it wasn't a random act but rather a preplanned event. It would take some time for the autopsies to clarify the enemy in this case, the bullets could help them figure out who was responsible.

"Something's not right" Rhodey said to the General as everyone gathered into the Humvees, preparing to head back to base. The convoy was on high alert but Rhodey was certain they had gotten what they came for, Alex, and they wouldn't risk it again.

"looks like a standard hit and run" the general responded; they were in an active war zone ambushes were not rare. He also knew that despite Colonel Rhodes position in the military he was still human, and he was not too willing to admit this was random.

"Sir, I'm telling you, this was a snatch and grab. A perfectly executed linear ambush. As soon as they got what they wanted, they melted away." Rhodey tried to stress his point, a simple and random ambush wouldn't ensure that everyone except one person was dead. There would either be some injured but alive or none at all. A simple hit and run wouldn't result in someone missing and Alexandra wasn't just any person, she was a Stark.