Turn 5 - For King and Country

Bill gave Sarah a reassuring smile. "I guess you would be the best here about now... " Bill looked around at the carnage with a tense look on his face. "When you get ready to go, let me know, I'll try to walk you home, or get someone to take you." Bill paused for a moment "Thanks for the evening.. it just didn't turn out as well as it started." A sad smile was on his face.

Sarah looked Bill in the eyes. "You saved my life. I won't forget that. And it wasn't your fault the evening ended up the way it did." She reached up, and kissed him on the lips. "Thank you. I have to go help the Medic now, but don't run off. We have unfinished business."

Carter was still sitting next to SGT Gideon enjoying his smoke, when Risov ambled down the street towards him. Carter nodded his head "Hey." he said in a nonchalant manner. "Man, I only followed the Captain because I thought, we all thought it was a good idea...." During the small talk . Carter could see that Risov had the shakes. He offered up a smoke as someone shouted his name. Looking around, Carter saw Captain Ramsey calling out to him. Damn! Carter thought, what's he want? "Gotta go." he said to Risov. Carter checked out the body of the RPK gunner as ordered then followed the Captain down to the convoy. At that moment, SFC McIntyre bellowed out in an alarmed voice. Carter ran behind Ramsey to the SUV. The door was open, peering inside Carter could see a wounded soldier. He went wide eyed, it was the General. Carter had a feeling of foreboding. He was present at a time of great importance, the Russians had just tried to assassinate General Bradley.

Angelica looked over at the woman who had volunteered her help. She was a really pretty gringa, maybe a few years older than Angel herself. For all she'd just seen and been through, Sarah didn't look too ruffled, so Angelica decided to use her. "Okay, Miss Sarah. I need lots of help since the Sergeant here can't dance," she grinned a bit at Gideon and snagged a few pressure bandages from his medkit. "We'll bring you something to do," she promised and stood up, looking around.

Gideon nodded, as ashes fell to the ground from the lit end of his cigarette. The sound of vehicles could be heard even louder now, getting a lot closer. "Sounds like the Cavalry is about to arrive. There should be some Medic's along with them. Find the senior Medic, and fill him in when they get here."

It was a mess; men down everywhere. People were still panicked and going every which way - a real circle jerk, as she'd learned to call it. Angelica doubted her ability to draft any of them into helping her, and decided it would waste critical time she could spend on taking care of patients. Better, no matter what Gideon said, to just pick a casualty and get to work. Only, where did you start when there were so many?

Idly, Angelica wondered where the blankets were that she'd brought, back in the mud probably, but it didn't matter. Someone else saw a soldier needed help and had the presence of mind to call for a medic. That person could be pressed into helping Angelica do her job. She continued to run towards the cry, headed towards the SUV. A man stood lit by the flames, pistol at the ready, near the vehicle.

When Ramsey got to the rear door, he recognized the General even without Mac's info. He turned, dropping the RPK at his feet. "Ma..Ma..MMEDIC! Officer Down!!" he shouted. He pulled his PMK, climbing into the back of the SUV . Ramsey felt for the generals pulse. He talked calmly to the General, "General Bradley can you hear me...... Stay with me....... Focus on my voice...... Where are you hit?"

"I got him," Angelica said carefully to the Captain and the SFC with the pistol. Sometimes people acted funny once the shooting was over and tended to want to keep on shooting. She doubted this was the case, but you only got one mistake. The SFC pointed into the SUV at a body tossed across the back seat and proclaimed, "We gotta save him. That's General Bradley!!!"

"Si, si. I said I got him, Sergeant," Angelica said, and gently but firmly pushed the man aside. With no regard for getting blood on her BDU pants, Angelica climbed inside and crouched between the front and back seats, assessing the old man's condition. To her surprise there were stars on his shoulder. Never seen a real General before.

Airway, breathing, circulation she thought and began her rundown. He was breathing, but with difficulty. Bright red, frothy blood stained his lips, and Angelica heard the gurgling hiss of a sucking chest wound. But he was breathing, so that was good. "Tear open a dressing and give me the plastic wrapper," she ordered Sarah as she pulled a battered pair of EMT scissors out and cut through the general's clothes. There, high on the left side of his chest, was an angry red weeping circle that bubbled and spit blood and air in equal amounts. "Hurry up!" she snapped even as Sarah gave her the plastic. Angelica waited till the General breathed out, then slapped the plastic over the hole as he inhaled. She reached to the side and all but drug Sarah into the SUV with her and put one of the gringa's hands over the wrapper. "Hold this flat and tight."

Angelica's eyes and hands roved the General's upper body, sliding through the blood and over his skin as she searched for more wounds. Her left hand found a wound in the upper right shoulder and she took the dressing Sarah had unwrapped and still held from the woman and put it over the bullet hole, then strapped it into place. The General had lost a lot of blood and was in real danger of dying from hypovolemia. "Hope they didn't hit the sub...subcl...subclavian," she said, having difficulty enunciating the word, "artery."

"Hey, General, you going to be okay, hear?" Her hand gently slapped his cheek, leaving a bloody red handprint as she tried to rouse him. "Talk to him, Sarah. Try to wake him up and keep him focused on you." Making a fist, she scrubbed her knuckles hard across the old man's sternum, rubbing it in another attempt to bring him back to consciousness.

"Sergeant!" she called, half leaning out of the SUV. "We got an ambulance Hummer out there." A blood smeared hand came out of the door and Angel pointed. "There's another Medic, Staff Sergeant Gideon, over there. He's hit in the leg but he can tell you where it is. Go get it and bring it here so we can move the General and the other wounded."

Angel turned her attention back to Sarah, carefully studying the white woman's face. "You okay here? There's more wounded I need to go to." Screams and moans underscored Angelica's words as the flickering flames lit a scene out of Hell outside the SUV's windows.

When Angelica looked up from tending the General there were more troops around than she'd thought were on liberty. Sarah seemed competent enough. In fact, Sarah's bedside manner was better than Angelica's but then, when do people get shot in bed? Still, the gringa nurse was doing a good job, so Angelica left the General in her care. She wiggled out of the SUV, now surrounded by people anxious to gawk and guard the fallen General Bradley. Elbows and her K-pot helped cleave a path through them.

"Mac!" Ramsey said, seeing his first Sgt in shock. Ramsey reached quickly out to him. "First Sergeant, I want security around this vehicle NOW! No one comes close to him until we have him moving. You get those two that were with us and that Staff Sgt we will be the personal security for the General all the way to the Hospital."

Shaking visibly, Ramsey bent down and picked up the RPK. He checked the clip again, and walked to the rear of the vehicle, watching the road and the response vehicles coming in. "Lieutenant! Get this area cleared except for the security team!" Ramsey yelled to the LT from Bravo Company. He turned and started to give commands. "Carter! Check that M60 and get it loaded. Keep a look out. Sergeant Johnson, I want that cross road checked where the last ambusher ran off. Everyone stay sharp! No one gets close to the Blazer! Understood?" Ramsey moved the RPK to port arms, and waited.

SFC McIntyre bent down, picking up an M16 from the body of a dead soldier killed in the truck blast. He pulled the charging handle to the rear, and leveled his gaze at CPT Ramsey. "Understood," he replied. He turned, facing down the street, with the M16 at the ready. The look in his eyes was Death Incarnate.

Risov was not a compassionate person, but when he heard of the person's condition and identity, it galvanized him into action. He approached the Blazer, hoping that what he was seeing was a dream, a hallucination, or just not true. The events played out like a movie around him, and Risov was not able to do much to influence his surroundings.

One slug to the chest was bad. Two was more than doubly bad. What was this all about? The big CO ambushed, his life hanging in the balance. What would happen now? Strange how the attack happened when everyone was away from there posts, at the Coho. And that the MI people were back at the base, nurse-maiding all the equipment and weapons. That bastard MI person, LT Smith, said that things would be changing, sooner than anyone would know. Now, if that didn't put him in the middle of this...

The Ambulance pulled up to what was left of the convoy, screeching to a halt just a few feet from the SUV. Lt. Courtney jumped out from behind the steering wheel, and ran to the back, pulling out a stretcher. "Give me a hand!" he shouted to the group, as he ran over to the Blazer.

As Carter gawked inside the SUV, he was shocked to see how old the general looked. The Russians, probably Spetsnaz commandoes, had shot him up real bad. Two medics got inside the vehicle, well one medic and the singer from the Coho. Both had started first aid. They cut open the generals shirt and he could see a hell of a lot of blood, the old man must have been hit in the chest.

Carter climbed up on to the Humvee and unceremoniously dumped the dead gunner inside the vehicle. He peered inside the cupola looking for any more ready belts of ammo, so that he could reload the weapon and then remove it from the mount. Carter was now atop the Hummer the M60 locked and loaded. He smirked, Rambo.....

A column of troops and vehicles suddenly appeared around the corner, an M113 leading the pack. Within a minute, the street was sealed on both sides by APC's. Troops dismounted from the vehicles, running to cover all possible exits. Another group of soldiers started kicking in the doors that lead onto the street, searching for any remaining attackers. A Humvee with a .50 caliber machinegun mounted on top pulled up to the group, flanked on either side by a platoon of soldiers. The group all wore the same patch, the sword and lightning emblem of the 201st MI Battalion.

Angelica emerged on the outside of the huddle and saw soldiers beginning to set up an impromptu concertina corral around the SUV. Angelica had no idea why they were doing it, but didn't really care. There were plenty of wounded men still on the street. Breaking into a trot, she headed for a gap in the not quite complete enclosure, already picking out her next patient.

Ramsey moved to the door of the SUV, even before Smith got there. "That sounds fine to me, Lieutenant." Ramsey said calmly. "I will escort the General, with my group here, back to the MASH unit. This nurse and the medic here have been doing a good job. They can keep him stable until we can get him to one of our doctors. You take over getting things tied down here," Ramsey said, never letting his gaze move from the dark killers eyes. The fire in Ramsey's met the cold death in the LT's. Both understood that the other had killed. One because he has had to, the other because he liked it. "Mac! Help Lieutenant Courtney load the General in the Ambulance. Sarah, you and the medic stay with the General inside. Mac, you ride up front with the LT.. Bill and I will ride in the back for security. Risov! Carter, you boys can take the running board or find a spot," Ramsey yelled to the others, over Smiths head.

As the SS began the flanking movement, Bill tracked them, trying to avoid being blind sided by any of them. His eyes flashed fire, almost daring someone to start the dance. "Come on.. let's get the General out of here, before he bleeds out for Christ sake!!" Frustration and concern were evident in his voice. His eyes never left the SS troopers. Bill was too concerned with the condition of the General, lack of concern by the SS for the situation, and the flanking SS, to notice the Cap talking to the LT. You could cut the tension with a saw, not a knife.

Ramsey leaned in and quietly said, "LT, not allowing us to get the General to safety and the MASH unit could be construed as an implication in this ambush. Maybe the 201st, or you yourself wouldn't like to see him running things anymore. But too many people love him, you would start something here you don't have the power to finish. Not yet, anyway," Ramsey said, dead pan.

Before Angelica could get outside the perimeter that was taking shape faster than a toddler could build a fort from Lincoln Logs, some officer had to step in and screw her plans up. She debated 'not hearing' the Captain's orders, but decided that with the hassle Gideon had caused back at the field hospital already she better not push her luck. Angelica turned to face the Captain and walked closer to him.

Her face lit darkly by the flames, she spoke. "Captain, the nurse, Miss Sarah," Angelica pointed to where the young woman was still caring for General Bradley. "She's good. She's a nurse too. I'm just a medic. She can take care of the jefe okay...better than me. I got wounded out there, Captain. Let me go help them, please."

Carter missed the initial conversation, but both officers seemed deadlocked over some point. He walked close enough to hear what was going on between the two men. Carter moved the heavy weapon over his shoulder and stood a few meters away, watching the conversation unfold. Ramsey ordered everyone to get into the ambulance with the general. Then he lent in closely to whisper something to Smith. Carter couldn't hear what was said, but he could feel the tension in the air.

LT Smith stood silently for a full 20 seconds, nose to nose with CPT Ramsey. His eyes never wavered, or blinked. Then he nodded, with small smile on his face. "This isn't over, Captain. Not by a long shot," he whispered. He turned to his men and shouted, "Make a hole in the wire for the Ambulance." He turned back to Ramsey. "A Group of my men will escort you there. Once the General is at the Hospital, you will all make yourselves available to be questioned about what happened here. And that is NOT open to debate. As for the wounded, we have our own medics, they are coming up now. I want this group together, where we can keep an eye on you." He spun on his heel, and walked back to his Humvee, grabbing the radio from the driver, and talked quietly into the handset.

Carter was nervous. Captain Ramsey and Lieutenant Smith stood nose to nose, facing each other off. A platoon of 201st guys surrounded everybody with weapons ready. Sergeant Johnson was all fired up, looking like he hoped something would happen. Carter grimaced, the goddam revolver in his belt was sticking uncomfortably against his groin. He so much wanted to adjust everything, but dared not move his hands down near the pistols, in case someone misinterpreted the move and shot him. Finally, Lieutenant Smith relented, allowing Ramsey to take the General to hospital. 'Lucky for us,' thought Carter. He repositioned the revolver, ahh.. that felt better. The Captain ordered everybody into the ambulance. The medic didn't seem keen to leave the other wounded behind, but she angrily obeyed. Carter hesitated, looking around to see what Risov was doing.

Sergeant Johnson backed towards the vehicle holding his Uzi at the ready. Carter decided then that he would too. Moving to the other side of the Humvee, he got inside. 'I bags the window,' he said to himself. Lieutenant Courtney was at the wheel. Carter nodded, "Hey LT." Carter placed the M60 between his legs resting the stock on the floor. 'What now,' he thought?

As the Cap told them to load up, Bill backed to the door, never taking his eyes from the SS, his UZI held in a ready position. Only after he got in and shut the doors did he put the UZI on safe . "Everybody OK?" Bill was more than a little upset with the situation, first being caught in the ambush, then finding out it was the General they ambushed, then finally being accused of being involved in the ambush.. it was almost too much for the stressed out grunt NCO.

The smile that touched Ramsey's face was not one most people would relish. Giving quick hand signals, he got the people moving to the vehicle. Turning to Angel, he said, "I know you want to help the boys. But things are a little out of your hands. Sorry, mount up and help the Nurse tend to the General."

Angel stood there for a moment, stunned that he'd deny her going out to keep men from dying. Angel didn't give a shit if it was the General or some poor Spec 4 who got cut down in the SUV; he already was patched up as best as possible and had a nurse, a real honest to Dios nurse, tending to him. Officers are so... "Chinga! she exclaimed and turned on her heel.

And ran smack into the rifle and chest of one of the goon squad MI boys. Angel almost fell, and only a quick half step to the side kept her from landing on her butt. The soldier smirked and she looked up at him angrily. "Get the fuck out of my way," she said and shoved him hard with one hand...

As Ramsey got into the Ambulance, he watched LT Smith speaking into the handset. "This is going to be rough," Ramsey thought. As he closed the doors, he turned and called up front, "Lieutenant, get us out of here! And I don't care if you lose our escort." As the vehicle moved out. "OK people, as the saying goes, we were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Did anyone get a good look at the assassin's?" Ramsey asked.

Bill was sitting on the floor, as much out of the way as possible in the cramped interior, as the medicos worked feveriously to save the Generals life.. "Sorry Cap, it was pretty dark, the only ones I saw were the one I capped in front of the Coho, and the one I took the Uzi off of on the west side. It went down pretty quick. Whoever did it knew the General was gonna be there for sure."

"I'm sorry to say I didn't take time to. And I have a feeling that the MI battalion may have had something to do with it. I want you to keep this to yourselves. This Lieutenant Smith will more than likely show up to question us. He is also going to look to blame it on someone internal, maybe. You just give your accounts like it happened. Call them Russian, that is what most of us thought until now! But I need everyone that turned over a body or has a weapon to dig deep into their memory about those assassins," Ramsey said. He started to replay the last few minutes of events during the fighting. "What did that machine-gunner really look like? What was he wearing, boots? The boots! Ramsey thought. "Shit! Carter! Can I have my pistol back!"

Carter looked over at Lieutenant Courtney. The 201st just tried to kill General Bradley. Carter wasn't so sure about that. Who else could it be but the Russians, just because they weren't waving the hammer and sickle around. Spetsnaz guys were commandos and commandos did all kinds of that Spec Ops secret stuff. But the Captain seemed pretty certain. One thing Carter did understand was that he was stuck in the middle of it all. And if the Army needed a scapegoat, blame always traveled straight down. Carter hadn't heard of many officers who were busted to privates. Reaching down, he got the revolver and passed it through to the Captain "Here you go sir." 'Have to buy myself a holster,' he thought, and maybe some ammo for the Luger.

Bill sat replaying the events of the ambush over in his mind... recalling he was concerned with Sarah's safety more than who the ambushers were, but his combat instincts and training were ingrained.. "One thing for sure, the shooter in the front of the Coho was sure surprised when he saw us.. don't think they expected anyone to be on the street." Bill looked at the Uzi in his hands in the dim red light of the ambulance interior.. "Why would Ivan be using Uzi's? An AK would have been a better choice.. punch through the thin skinned vehicles better."

Alexandre hung on for dear life, as the vehicle was somewhat heavily loaded, and he anticipated a higher-than-normal rate of speed. "Roger that on both items -- the guy I capped had his back to me, and was standing in the middle of the walk waiting to get shot. Who knows who they were, but I kinda doubt Spetznaz -- they would've been set up a little better, fought harder, and not standing around scratchin' 'em while waiting to be shot. Those guys were Gomers..."

"I wouldn't doubt it was the 201st, tho'. That LT said something strange to me in the bar -- something like that old Dylan tune -- 'The Times They are a Changin'. He's been trying to pluck me out of my unit for some pet project for awhile now." He hesitated for a moment. "I'm Jack Risov. I came from a Russian - American household, and I speak Russian fluently..." Then to Carter: "When you called out to them in Russian, did they answer, or act like they understood?"

Carter thought for a moment, "I dunno, the guy was wounded. I only asked him not to move." So Risov reckons it's the 201st behind it as well. Carter would need a lot more convincing. These were pretty serious things to be saying. He sat quietly up the front, listening to the others. Carter thought it best not to bring up the fact that he'd actually served with the 201st for a few months.

Sarah looked around at the men inside the Ambulance. "I don't understand. Are you saying that those soldiers tried to kill the General? Why would they do that? They're Americans, why would they help the Russians?" She looked bewildered, as well as scared.

McIntyre leaned over to Sarah. "Ma'am, there's things goin' on here that you don't know about. I don't think those bastards are workin' for the Russian's. But I'd bet my next paycheck that they'd like to be runnin' the show. And I don't think they give a damn about us."

As the Ambulance sped toward the MASH unit, Ramsey sat thinking over what had just transpired. He looked up, and gave a sad smile to the medic. 'Damn, she just wanted to help our people. Save lives.' As he thought that over, his look became more pained. Then LT Smith's words came slamming back to him, Crystal Clear! 'This isn't over yet!' "Damn, he so much as admitted it!" Ramsey said, with venom enough in his voice to get everyone's attention. As he looked up, he saw that he had spoken out loud. Shaking his head, he called to the LT, even as he looked out the back window. "Lieutenant Courtney! Can you lose our friend's for a minute when I tell you?"

LT Courtney yelled back over the noise of the engine, "I don't think we're going to have much luck losing these assholes. Take a look." He pointed out the front window at a Humvee that had pulled in front of the Ambulance. It had a Mark-19 mounted, pointing forward, but the gunner was facing the rear. A second Hummer pulled in behind them. The message was clear, they were being kept under a close watch.

Looking at Bill, he said, "Sergeant Johnson, if we lose our company, do you think you can get loose and gather your company together? And I want you to get the rest of Charlie company as well. I don't know, but I think we are going to need good people. And soon! Then I want you to check on the Commander. I hope they haven't decided to go after the top brass of each unit. Hopefully it was just General Bradley. If they have gone after each of them, then they must have someone in place to take over. The two oh first can't be in this alone. And I don't know why they are trying this power play." Then to everyone. "But you can be sure the two oh first is up to their eyes in this assassination attempt, and I bet a lot more." As he finished, his face had changed to one of stone cold contempt for what has transpired to involve him. When we have a great weight across the river, just waiting to be let loose and crush us, Ramsey thought.

Bill looks up at the Cap, his head cocked and chews on his lip a moment.. "Yeah, I can try Cap.. but a lot of the boys were at the Coho.." a pained look crosses his face at the thought.. "I don't know how many of them made it, somebody has to get them rallied though, and fast. Any idea where the Colonel and his staff were tonight? It wasn't the Coho."

"Well there you go, more wood for the fire." Ramsey said. "Lieutenant, don't worry about losing our guests. Just get us as quickly as you can to the MASH. Our first priority is the safety of the General." Ramsey called forward. A plan was slowly hatching as his brain moved back into a scout and combat mode. He turned back to SSG Johnson, "OK, Johnson I really don't want you throwing yourself from this ambulance. So when we get to the Mash unit, you and I take this end of the stretcher. When we pass into the Mash OR, you cut loose and I will finish getting the General in with who ever is on the back side. Head straight across and out the back or side away from our company. Lieutenant, Mac I need you to just block the company coming in for just a minute. Giving Sergeant Johnson a minute to scoot," Ramsey called up front. Then he turned back to Johnson, "Then Bill, you go get some friendlies that will help keep our asses dry and safe. No one has to worry about this coming down on you. I was in command and I directed the actions on the assassins and here." The Captain finishes by turning and saying the last bit. Looking at each of the people eye to eye. His eyes show concern for the people with him. He is going to look out for them, that they all could tell.

Angel knelt beside the rack the General was resting upon. It was cramped inside the ambulance with so many ambulatory people about. Well, might as well put them to use, she figured. Her fingers found the chain around the General's neck and she pulled his dog tags to her. They were stuck together with gluey drying blood, thick as pudding but not half as tasty, and she wiped them clean on part of the General's cut-open shirt.

One after another shook their heads. LT Courtney yelled back again, "Did you say O Negative? That's my blood type, but my hands are a little full at the moment. I could pull over and hand the wheel to somebody else, but we're almost there. Can the General hold on for another minute or so?"

"A minute? Si. Much longer would not be good," she stated and stuffed the tubing back into her bag. Her fingers strayed to the general's neck and found the pulse there. Angel looked over at Sarah and exchanged a worried, knowing expression. "The chest wound is not so good, Miss Sarah. His lung could be collapsed, or filling up. They better work quick with him at the field hospital." Angel's voice was raised on purpose, so it would carry clearly to everyone over the noise of the Humvee.

Angel leaned closer and whispered, "I want to go back and help the others. When they take the jefe out, I'm going to try to get lost in the confusion and head back there. Cover for me. Be loud or pushy and get everyone's attention." She reached out with her free hand and squeezed Sarah's wrist. "They need me back there, Miss Sarah. Please."

Sarah squeezed Angelica's hand in return. "I'll try, but please be careful," she whispered back. "I don't know if what these men are saying is true, but those soldiers back there frighten me, I thought for sure that they were going to shoot us. The one that was in charge, I've never seen such cold eyes in my life. Promise me you'll stay out of his way."

Ramsey was sitting right next to Angel, as Bill had somehow gotten the seat next to Sarah. Ramsey turned to Bill, ignoring the medic. He knew how much she wanted to help the men. 'You don't want to stop someone that good from doing their job,' Ramsey thought. He looked around the Ambulance, counting the weapons. Risov and Mac had M-16's, LT Courtney, he couldn't make out if he came on board with that AK. Bill had his 45 and that Uzi. Carter had the M60 with a fresh belt, and he had the RPK and his side arms. Angel, yeah that is what she said her name was, she had a sidearm, but I doubt she would use it unless someone was going to harm one of her charges. Yeah, definitely a good medic, Ramsey thought.

"How much farther, Lieutenant?" Ramsey asked, while looking out the back at the vehicle tailing them. The look that crossed Ramsey's face as he looked at the troopers of the 201st was not one of friendship or camaraderie. It was a face that only people who were about to die ever saw. His face cleared as he turned back to those inside. His eyes were still hard, but unlike LT Smith, they held compassion in their depths.

Capt Ramsey turned to Bill. "You good with this plan, Sergeant Johnson? Do you have any other thoughts? Does anyone have any other thoughts? Speak now, because we are going to be pulling in shortly, and then we'll have no time for debate," Ramsey said, opening discussion for what was about to happen. He had already made up his mind.

"Yes sir.. as soon as we get to the hospital, I'm out the back way and regroup the 1/5.. locate the Colonel and his staff, and reform at the hospital. Might take a while, but I will be back here {looking at his watch} by midnight.. good Lord willing and the creek don't go dry." Bill sat in deep thought as the ambulance continued on the way to the hospital. He looked at the General with a look of deep concern, but remained quiet, sitting on the bench chewing his lower lip.

The Ambulance pulled in the parking area at the rear of the Hospital. A medical team was standing by with a gurney, someone had obviously radioed ahead. They weren't alone, however, a group of soldiers stood at the rear of the building as well, with their weapons held at port arms. Any other time, they might have been taken as an honor guard, now it was obviously something else entirely.

Lt Courtney parked the Ambulance, and switched off the ignition. The two Humvee escorts had pulled in behind the Ambulance, blocking any escape. The LT turned in his seat, "We're here, and we ain't alone boys and girls. Let's get the General inside." He opened the driver's door and stepped out, and headed to the rear of the vehicle.

"Quick, get the general inside. Who is the Surgeon on duty? Get him here. You!" Ramsey pointed to the guards at the door, "Make way, and give the medic team room to get through. Help them in, Sergeant," Ramsey said to Johnson. Then raising his voice, "Lieutenant Courtney, you and the First Sergeant have the front door. No one gets in. Risov, Carter you will be outside the OR. Move people!" He then turned to the soldier who looked to be commanding the 201st, "Are you here to help or hinder? Doesn't matter. Get me a radio and put me in touch with the Colonel, right this minute," Ramsey said, with his don't FW me voice. 'Well, time to see where the Colonel stands in all this.'

Bill slung the Uzi, and grabbed the end on the stretcher, heading into the hospital with the General. As the medical staff arrived with a gurney, he helped set the stretcher onto the gurney, then moved off into a side corridor away from the ER, looking for a back or side exit to the hospital.

As casually as possible, Angel blended in with the rush of people trying to unload the General's stretcher. Everyone wanted to be important, it seemed. Then, in the thick of it, when everyone was stepping on themselves and concerned solely with moving the old man, she looked at Sarah one last time. Angel smiled a bit, then stepped around the side of the ambulance and towards the front of it, moving at a normal pace and fiddling with things in her medical bag, head slightly down, as if she was on her way to do something she'd been told to.

Angel had no idea how she was going to get back to town; shank's mare she supposed, but at a jog she could be back there in eight, ten minutes tops, and still be of some use. With that thought in mind, and the screams of the wounded men she'd been told to leave behind, Private Brijalba headed away from the Hummer and towards the closest tents, intending to slip between them and then make her way to the gate to go back to town.

Carter opened the passenger door of the Hummer and stepped down. Some guys from the 201st were already here, and they had covered the rear of the hospital as well. So much for sneaking out the back door. Medical teams scrambled to the general. Above the din, Carter heard Ramsey order him and Risov to guard the front. From what?, Carter thought. Our own guys? All these conspiracy theories could get him killed. A shootout at the front of the hospital with Military Intelligence was not the best way to prove your innocence, especially considering the MI wanted to question them.

Reluctantly though, Carter obeyed, he grabbed the M60 out of the hummer. He looked around at the assembled MI men, and then shrugged his shoulders. "Man, I need a smoke," he said to himself. As Carter put the sixty on the hood of the ambulance, some of the MI guys tensed. Carter stepped back from the machine gun, the palms of his hands raised towards them. "Hey, just getting a smoke." Reaching into his top pocket and withdrawing a cigarette. He briefly looked at the medic as she made her way past him, head down in her medical bag. Carter turned away and placed his boot on the front wheel of the Hummer, resting his elbow on his knee. "Well Jack, what are we going to do now?

The medical staff pushed the gurney carrying the General down the hallway. A doctor quickly looked him over, and spoke up loudly, "Sucking chest wound, prep him for surgery Stat. Type and cross match him for a transfusion, and get an IV hung right now, I don't want his volume getting too low." He turned to the rest of the group, "We'll take it from here. All right people, let's move!"

As the General was rolled into the OR, the sound of heavy footsteps could be heard behind them. As they turned around, they saw Lt. Smith, backed up by a dozen or so troopers from the 201st. "Well, the General is in good hands now. Time for all of us to have a little chat. Follow me." The look on the faces of the men backing him up left little doubt as to what consequences refusing to do so would bring.