“Good bombs,” Carpenter said. “Be advised, we have a MEDEVAC mission inbound, callsign Pedro 71.”

“Cajun copies. Be advised Cajun 35 is off station to the tanker at this time,” the A-10 flight lead said.

“Copy that. Request armed overwatch while we secure the perimeter and ready the patient.”

The A-10 pilot acknowledged as he orbited high above. The sun was beginning to set, leaving an orange halo over the ridgeline. It was eerily quiet. The shooting had stopped with the destruction of the mortar position. Carpenter pulled his Night Vision Goggle case out of his tactical bag and prepared them for the upcoming night ops.

“Carpenter!” Maj Hilton barked as he walked up to him. “What’s the ETA on that helo?”

Carpenter checked his watch. It had been ten minutes since their proposed launch time. They should be checking in with him in the next five to ten minutes.

“They should be on station within ten, sir,” Carpenter replied.

“Good. I’m sending my team out now to sweep the LZ for any IEDs. Let them know to land on the west side. West side only, you got that?”

“Yes, sir.”

Maj Hilton turned and walked back to the litter team that was prepping Gomez. When the Pave Hawk helicopter landed, they would meet the Air Force Pararescuemen and hand off Gomez and the other soldier who had gotten shrapnel wounds from the last mortar.

“Sandman, Cajun 34,” the lead A-10 pilot called.

“Go ahead,” Carpenter responded as he walked back to the HUMVEE.

“I’ve got several personnel approaching from the northeast on foot, looks to be about a dozen or so.”

“What’s the range?” Carpenter asked as he pulled out his night optics and began looking in the direction the pilot had just called.

“From your northernmost vehicle, about one hundred meters,” the pilot replied.

“Copy, standby,” Carpenter responded. He turned and waved for Maj Hilton who was still giving directions to the litter team for their upcoming extract.

“What do you have, Carpenter?”

“Sir, fighters report a dozen individuals in that treeline about one hundred meters northeast. That would make them danger close,” Carpenter responded. Due to the possibility of friendly incapacitation and fragmentation injuries from friendly aircraft, declaring an enemy “danger close” required special handling and ground commander initials for the aircraft to employ ordnance.

Maj Hilton paused and considered his next move. The sound of the HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters became apparent in the distance. They MEDEVAC helicopters would be checking in soon.

“Could be locals or it could be hostiles. If they start shooting, my initials are Sierra Hotel. Otherwise, monitor them and we’ll deal with them if they come within fifty meters.”

As if on cue, one of the other soldiers yelled, “RPG!” Carpenter and Hilton hit the ground as the rocket-propelled grenade the MRAP next to them, sending sparks and metal fragments everywhere. The gun turrets on the MRAP and dismounted troops immediately returned fire in the direction of the RPG attack.

“Sandman 41, Pedro 71, we’re checking in, flight of two, ten miles to the east,” the Pave Hawk pilot called over the radio.