Like a bolt of lightning, Brown got behind the insurgent and slid his arm beneath the guy's chin, locking his jaw shut while simultaneously driving his blade into the man's heart.

With the blade still jutting from the man's chest, Brown released his hand, loosened his grip on the guy's neck, and began stuffing the guy's shemagh into his mouth.

The insurgent was still alive, beginning to bleed to death, and it could take a minute more before he lost consciousness. Knife wounds did not produce instant death the way they were portrayed in films and on TV, and Brown knew exactly what he was doing to keep the man quiet until blood loss took its toll.

"All right, let's go," Mitchell ordered.

Brown freed his knife, then hustled back to Vick, who slung his arm over Brown's shoulder, and they fell in behind Mitchell.

Ramirez and Saenz led the way out into the bitter cold and a more powerful wind that stung their cheeks.

They started down the hill, rallying back toward Diaz's position, but Mitchell found a little section of hill where a pair of snow-covered boulders provided exceptional cover. "Set 'em down here."

"Scott, what now?" asked Rutang, slurring his words.

"Just making sure we're not followed. Brown's staying with you. We'll be right back. Diaz, you reloaded and set?"

"Yes, sir."

Mitchell stole a moment to pull up intel from the UAV3 Cypher drone. He brought the drone back over the houses to confirm that of the twelve insurgents, only three remained. Two guys were in the center house, one in the first house.

"Drone's confirmed their positions. You seeing this?"

"Roger that," said Diaz.

"Got it, sir," added Ramirez.

"Okay. Ramirez and I got the center house. Diaz, cover that door of the first. That guy comes out, he's yours."

"Standing by."

Mitchell loaded a fresh magazine into his pistol, then said, "Ramirez? Move out!"

Boots digging deep in the snow, they drove up the hill and reached the middle house, entirely out of breath. They weren't wasting time with the lock now. Ramirez drew back and kicked in the door.

Mitchell rushed in, knowing that their targets were on the left side, near the fireplace. Both men had rolled over, sat up, and began screaming at Mitchell, who shot the first one even as Ramirez cried, "Shut up!" and silenced the second.

Diaz had the option of aiming via the reticle in her HUD or choosing the traditional method of sighting the target via her rifle's attached scope. The choice came into play now because the IWS allowed her to zoom in on the target and actually see him behind the door.

A flashing red outline appeared, indicating the insurgent's exact position despite the wood between him and Diaz. She had range, wind speed, and direction--and most importantly--the talent and desire to drop the very last man standing between them and completing the mission.