‘Good question,’ said Abbott. All quiet on the enemy’s walkie-talkie. The word pinging around his head was ‘anniversary’. He had this image of them all inside in party hats, McGregor and Cynthia Doyle included. But that couldn’t be. That just wasn’t possible, was it? McGregor was Doyle’s right-hand man. Any celebration and he would have known about it, and if he had known about it then he would have told Abbott. The last thing they wanted was a major concen tration of the enemy all in one place, because then it went from being a stealthy incursion to a full-on firefight.

Abbott gave an intel update to the rest of the team over his radio, making them aware of the situation, confirming his intention to carry on regardless. It remained a DA unless the enemy became aware of them. After all, the enemy weren’t expecting an attack – especially not one initiated by a former SF team – it was just another night for them.

Together they came up on the factory. The entrance was a large metal roller-door inset with a smaller door. There was a fire exit to the right-hand side of the entrance which would be the entry point, obscured from Brace’s field of view. Abbott and Miller moved either side of the door, Abbott provided cover while Miller went to work, confirming the position of the hinges and placing three horseshoe-shaped charges around each, ensuring the detonators were firmly in place. He moved down the side of the building, unravelling the shock tube which would initiate the dems. The other side of that door, armed men. No idea how many. Also, innocents, usual scenario.

And then he heard it over the enemy squawk: ‘All right, boys, party’s over.’ A snigger. ‘Get back to your positions.’

At the same time Brace was in his ear. ‘Main door’s opening.’

‘Confirm target,’ said Abbott.

‘Enemy. Definitely an enemy.’

The main entry roller-door shutter rattled, about to open. Abbott and Miller remained still in the shadows, crouched low. It was time to go.

‘All call signs stand by, stand by. GO.’

Ward cranked off the distraction and it did what it needed to do. A crack and thump followed by the flash of flames as the petrol tank of the car lit up the night sky, illuminating the entire complex.

Almost instantaneously, Miller initiated the door charges, peeling the door clean off its hinges and at the same time blowing the enemy coming out the main door out onto the loading bay.

The complex came to life as doors opened and the enemy started to spill out into the open, confused and in shock, a sniper’s dream.

Brace picked them off, men dropping like puppets with their strings cut. Abbott and Miller were now through their entry point and engaging the enemy as they moved through the building, making their way to their objective, in flow and working at ease. Peace in war.