Seeing no sign of an immediate follow-up to the failed second wave, Nathan turned his attention to the militiamen who were now loose in the building. Not wanting to allow them to dictate the terms of the coming fight, Nathan yelled over to his platoon sergeant. “Sergeant Gandulf. You and 2nd Squad stay here and cover the governor and the journalists. I’m taking 1st Squad and going after the people downstairs.”

Kneeling next to Nathan, Nancy thought about countermanding part of Nathan’s order. Instead of letting him go, she wanted to take Gandulf and a squad to hunt down the intruders. After a moment of reflection, however, she recanted. It was his platoon. He seemed to be in control and his actions so far had given her every confidence that he could handle this situation. With a nod she wished him luck and watched half of her small command scamper off in search of prey.

From his vantage point Staff Sergeant Lightfoot could not tell if the militiamen who had rushed the building had been lucky in choosing a point of entry that he and the 3rd Squad could not cover or if the militiamen knew of their presence and had intentionally avoided them. Regardless, he saw that the squad with him was doing no good where it was. Turning to the squad leader, Lightfoot ordered him to gather up his men and follow him. They needed to clear the militiamen who were sniping away at the capitol building.

Pounding down the staircase that led to the street, Lightfoot and the paratroopers following him didn’t stop to look around before spilling out into it. The National Guard NCO knew better. He understood that in a city fight it is important to look about before you move out into the open. But Lightfoot figured that everyone’s attention was oriented on the capitol building. Knowing that time was tight he took a calculated risk. It wasn’t until they were in the middle of the street, running for all they were worth, that he realized that he had made a terrible mistake.

The crew of a National Guard Bradley was also taken by surprise when they saw the cluster of heavily armed paratroopers suddenly appear in front of them. Unsure of who they were and what they were doing, the track commander and gunner held their fire. With momentum on their side this gave the paratroopers a chance to scatter. Even as the squad leader and Lightfoot dove into the same doorway for cover, the airborne staff sergeant caught sight of a second Bradley pulling up next to the first. “Now what the fuck do we do?” he shouted to Lightfoot as the two lay side by side and surveyed the situation.

Struggling to catch his breath, Lightfoot looked around. “My ancestors will surely curse me for saying so,” he told his fellow NCO with a straight face, “but we better start praying for the cavalry.”