Fifteen minutes later a small two person helicopter landed, and a man Jessica had only seen a handful of times and spoke too less then that stepped out.

“Stay sharp people!” Caldwell yelled over the radio. “Corporal Trager, do you have a clear shot to cover the General?” The radio reply was indistinct to Jessica, but the platoon commander seemed somewhat mollified by whatever the fireteam leader had said. “Lieutenant Brown, that staff of yours.” Caldwell pointed towards the sword and shield looking man who was still glowing slightly. “If that bastard tried something, do you think you can stop him from here?”

There were several protective spells she could cast at medium range, but she wasn’t sure the distance. “Can I get a range please?” She asked, and Max pulled up his range finder to his eyes. After a few seconds he confirmed the distance. “Possibly, that's at maximum range for Shield spells, and Instant Fortress, or even Deaths Knell, my most effective spells? I’d need to move up a bit. If we could find a way to get a bit closer, I could be sure of it sir.”

“I suspect that there is a similar range limitation on most spells.” Caldwell said, and Jessica nodded her agreement. “Bastards chose the perfect distance then. Suggestions?” Caldwell looked around the bunker at the NCO’s and fellow officers.

“Could gut crawl LT.” Menendez said from behind his massive machine gun. It had the tripod extended, and he had a solid and defensible spot where he could see nearly the entire fight outside. “Her and a fire team in support. Get close enough for her to do her thing.” Menendez wiggled fingers at the group of leaders and Jessica saw Caldwell fight a grin.

“Despite Menendez needing a good smoking for the next year.” The sergeant glared at the young PFC who dutifully went back to staring at the enemy lines down the length of his machine gun. “He’s got a point. Though a gut crawl might not be required.” The sergeant moved to a small port that Jessica had not noticed before at the base of the wall. The doggy sized metal door opened revealing tunnels that ran out.

"Maintenance tunnels?” Caldwell asked and the sergeant shook his head.

“No sir. Sapper holes for recan actions sir.” A recon action Jessica knew was Ranger speak for a search and destroy mission. Rangers didn’t do ‘recon’ like other units. If their ‘recon’ boys could destroy something and get away with it? They’d do it, and damn a little extra personal risk. Recon actions among the rangers involved small squad tactics. Send a few people out to damage enemy supplies, assassinate leadership, plant explosives, etc. When Rangers did that kind of thing in force, they called it Ranging.

Caldwell grinned like a kid in a candy shop. “How many of these things do we have?” The sergeant smiled his own wicked smile.

“Every bunker has at least one that I know of sir. Do you have something in mind?”

“Yes, but for now? Let's get Lieutenant Brown and the beta fire team up here in support. Need to make sure she and the general can get out if things get hot.”

“Lieutenant Caldwell sir.” Max said interrupting the man as he continued to issue orders.

“Yes?”

“I just need one other man sir. Say, Menendez there. Send him with me and we’ll secure both Lt. Brown and the general sir.” Caldwell thought about it for a long moment, before finally nodding in agreement.

Caldwell didn’t insult Max by asking if he was ‘sure’, he just gave the order. A few seconds later, the three of them, Mendez in the back swearing while carrying his heavy SAW, crawled forward into the darkness. Chemical red lamps stationed every few dozen feet were the only thing that gave them light.