With that sorted out and in motion, Reeves took the major by the arm and gave him further guidance. The corporate exec turned colonel explained that it was his intent to use the major’s vehicles as a screen behind which he would have the freedom to organize proper combat units. “Buy me some time, Major,” Reeves admonished, “until we can put together a coherent force that will be able to conduct a proper, well-organized counterattack.”

The major hesitated. “But what about the follow-on forces, sir? There’s got to be another wave coming this way sooner rather than later.”

Reeves smiled. “Hear that?” he asked as he cocked his ear over to where the Air National Guard A-10s were parked. “Those jet engines whining to life belong to our brothers in blue. While I was making my way through headquarters I dropped a bug in the ear of the senior Air Guardsmen on duty. They’ll deal with any more uninvited guests.”

“Are they armed?”

“Of course not. Like us, the A-10s are going to bluff their way to victory.”

“Do you think they’ll fall for it, I mean the pilots of the incoming transports?”

In a flash the smile that Reeves had been sporting disappeared. “That’s not your concern, Major. Now, get a move on, Major, and make it happen.”

Like his troopers, Andrew King had been watching the ominous massing of combat vehicles across the road from where his company was frantically digging in. While none of the Guard tanks or Bradleys had yet to cross the road as the lone M-1 had, it was clear that such a move would come sooner or later.

Only the continuous rattle of small arms fire to the east where the XO, Dixon, and the 3rd Platoon had landed diverted King’s attention from the growing menace before him. Frustration upon frustration piled up as King’s RTO announced sheepishly that he was unable to contact anyone over there.

Without taking his eyes off of the eastern horizon, King snapped, “Damn it! Keep trying.”

It didn’t take Nathan long to figure out that the position he had managed to seize single handedly was going to have to be abandoned. When the Guardsmen in the other pit along the east-west road found out that their companions had been overrun, they had shifted the fire of the caliber .50 machine gun and begun hammering away at him. The sandbags that had refused to yield to the small arms fire of Nathan’s 1st Squad were being shredded by the huge half inch slugs that ripped the nylon bags open and kicked up clouds of sand all over Nathan and the wounded RTO. Looking about, he caught sight of the squad that had followed him. Like the 1st Squad they were pinned by fire.