Falling Through Time: Basking in Firelight: Book 2

Stitches and Seams

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Warnings: Blood and Injuries

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"Phase Two," Hamilton said, turning back to the squad, "Everyone knows where you're going to be?" Everyone affirmed. "Good, let's move."

The base may be completely gone, but they still had to get the rebel forces out, if they couldn't do that, then the entire mission would fail. Hamilton loaded a flare gun, just in case things fell through. Mulligan and Peggy had already disappeared, Burr and Lafayette just vanished into the trees. Jefferson walked up to him, clapped him on the shoulder, "Good luck Hamilton," he said before walking past him and disappearing into the shadows with Madison, sniper slung across his back. Hamilton watched him go.

"Ready?" Laurens asked.

"Yeah," Hamilton said distractedly, staring at where Jefferson disappeared, something didn't feel right. He shook his head to clear it, "Let's go." He and Laurens charged off into the trees. "Check in," Hamilton said into his radio.

"Bravo 1 on the move," Jefferson's voice came through.

"Bravo 2 on the move," Madison said.

"Charlie 1 on the move," Burr answered.

"Charlie 2 on the move," Lafayette said next.

"Delta 1 on the move," Mulligan replied.

"Delta 2 on the move," Peggy said.

Laurens didn't bother checking in because he was running right next to Hamilton, so there was no point. After several minutes, Hamilton and Laurens split up and headed for their positions on opposite sides of a road, they could still see each other. Their job was to keep any Governmentals from coming down this road to cut off the rebel retreat.

"Team Alpha, in position," Hamilton said over the radio. Team Charlie would have the same exact position as them but on the opposite side of the compound. Delta would be covering the path the rebels would be walking down any minute. Bravo team was split up, Madison was covering Charlie and Jefferson would be covering them, team Alpha.

"Team Charlie, in position," Lafayette said.

Hamilton waited for a couple more minutes before Peggy's voice finally came on, "Delta, in position." 

Several more minutes passed. "Bravo 1, in position," Jefferson said.

Almost immediately, Madison's voice followed, "Bravo 2, in position."

Everyone was ready. Now all they had to do was wait. The minutes stretched by. "Friendly contact, rebels have reached checkpoint Delta," Peggy informed.

Still no sign of enemy forces. Everything was going great.

***

Everything fell apart.

It seemed as if the entire governmental army descended on the roads protected by Charlie and Alpha, Hamilton and Laurens, and Lafayette and Burr. Charlie's defense broke. Their voices had come over the radio shouting that they were in full retreat. Hamilton's own defense broke minutes later, as his position was overrun, they were just so badly outnumbered.

Hamilton was running. He had no idea where Laurens was. Enemy soldiers stepped in front of him and then drop as a bullet tore through their skull. Jefferson was still holding up his end with his silenced rifle. "Delta, fall back and warn the rebels that they're about to be pinned on both sides," Hamilton shouted over the radio. Tree bark exploded next to Hamilton's face as a bullet embedded itself in the trunk.