The narrow alley twisted through the ruins like a scar carved into the town.
Tony sprinted at the front of the formation, his HK416 held tight against his shoulder as he moved from cover to cover. Broken walls and rusted vehicles lined the passage, offering brief moments of protection as the team pushed deeper into the maze of collapsed buildings.
Behind them, the roar of engines echoed through the night.
The militants were still coming.
Gunfire cracked from the alley entrance as several fighters turned the corner and opened fire.
Tony stopped instantly.
His rifle came up.
Three controlled shots.
Three militants dropped before they even understood what had happened.
"Keep moving!" Tony ordered.
Atlas turned briefly and unleashed a violent burst from the M249 SAW, filling the alley entrance with a wall of bullets that forced the pursuing fighters back into cover.
"Little busy back here!" Atlas shouted.
The giant machine gunner backed away slowly while continuing to fire, his massive weapon chewing through ammunition belts at an alarming rate.
Saint ran beside Cipher, constantly checking over his shoulder while clutching his M4A1 carbine.
"Still with me?" Saint asked.
Cipher nodded breathlessly.
"Laptop's still safe."
Ghost reached the next intersection first.
He slid behind a shattered wall and peeked around the corner.
Then he cursed.
"Raven… we've got company."
Tony stepped beside him and looked.
The alley opened into a wider street.
And parked directly across it were two militant pickup trucks filled with fighters.
One of them was already swinging a mounted machine gun toward the alley.
"Not ideal," Atlas muttered.
Tony's mind moved quickly.
They couldn't retreat.
The militants behind them were already pushing forward again.
"Ghost," Tony said.
The breacher grinned.
"Say no more."
Ghost pulled two frag grenades from his vest and tossed them into the street.
The explosions rocked the intersection.
Before the smoke cleared, Tony stepped out from the alley.
His HK416 barked rapidly.
One militant collapsed behind the machine gun.
Another dropped near the truck door.
Atlas followed immediately.
The M249 SAW roared again, bullets tearing through the pickup trucks and shredding the fighters scrambling for cover.
Within seconds the street was silent.
"Clear!" Atlas shouted.
Tony scanned the rooftops quickly.
The helicopter searchlight suddenly swept across the street again, illuminating the team in harsh white light.
And a voice from the sky shouted through a loudspeaker in Arabic.
More militants were closing in.
Tony exhaled slowly.
The enemy had overwhelming numbers.
And now they had air support.
"Raven," Viper's voice said over the comms.
Tony paused.
The sniper had remained on the original rooftop to provide overwatch.
"What's your position?" Tony asked.
"Still covering you."
Tony shook his head.
"That bird's heading your way."
Viper was silent for a moment.
Then he said calmly,
"I know."
Tony understood immediately.
The sniper was buying them time.
"Negative," Tony said firmly. "Fall back."
But Viper replied quietly.
"Too late."
A burst of gunfire echoed faintly over the comms.
Then the sharp crack of the M110 SASS fired several times in quick succession.
More distant gunfire followed.
Then silence.
Tony's jaw tightened.
Atlas lowered his head briefly.
"Damn."
But there was no time to mourn.
Another rocket screamed through the air.
BOOOOOM.
The explosion tore apart the building behind them.
Debris rained across the street as militants began pouring into the area again.
Tony's voice hardened.
"Move!"
The team ran deeper into the ruined town.
Gunfire echoed from every direction now.
The militants were closing in from all sides.
Ghost stopped suddenly beside a narrow passage between two collapsed buildings.
"This way!" he shouted.
The alley was barely wide enough for two men to pass at once.
Perfect for a defensive stand.
Ghost turned toward the team.
"Go."
Tony knew exactly what he meant.
"Ghost—"
But the breacher shook his head.
"I'll slow them down."
Atlas slapped Ghost on the shoulder as he passed.
"Save us a seat at the bar."
Ghost smirked faintly.
Then he pulled the last of his breaching charges from his pack.
Tony forced himself to move.
Saint and Cipher followed him through the passage while Atlas provided rear cover.
Behind them, Ghost's MP7 erupted into rapid fire.
Militants rushed the alley.
Then came the explosion.
The breaching charges detonated violently, collapsing half the building and sealing the passage behind them.
Ghost's last stand bought the team precious seconds.
But the cost was clear.
Raven Team was falling apart.
Tony pushed forward through the ruins, his heart pounding.
They were almost out of ammunition.
Almost out of options.
And still surrounded.
Atlas suddenly stopped running.
Tony turned.
The machine gunner had dropped to one knee beside a concrete barrier.
The M249 SAW rested across his lap.
Atlas looked at the nearly empty ammunition belt.
Then he looked at Tony.
"Go," Atlas said.
Tony didn't argue this time.
He knew the reality.
Someone had to hold the line.
Atlas smiled faintly.
"Tell the story right."
Tony nodded once.
Then he grabbed Cipher and Saint and forced them forward.
Behind them, the M249 SAW began firing again.
Louder.
Harder.
A thunderous wall of gunfire echoing through the ruins.
Atlas' final stand.
Tony didn't look back.
Not this time.
Because if he did…
he might not keep moving.
And someone had to survive.