Page 6 of Trigger Discipline

Gabriel continued going over the map. As he took in the cross streets and narrow alleys, he realized just how inadequate their force was. Irving had no idea if other private companies were sending in reinforcements or if a pocket of their military was still functioning and able to mobilize.

Gabriel and his men might be the only cavalry they were going to get.

The pilot called that they were getting ready to hit the drop zone. Gabriel stood up.

“Listen up,” he said over the comms as his men got ready. “We’re more than likely outmanned, outgunned, and going up against an enemy who thinks we’re no better than the gum on the bottom of their shoe.”

The sun finally peeked over the horizon, and they caught their first glimpse of the city.

Flames licked the sky, smoke billowed, and ash clouded the air. Occasionally, the sun broke through, casting a glow like a dimmed spotlight on the destruction below.

“Now, I don’t know what the enemy looks like. I don’t know why they’re here, and I don’t give a damn. We are the last line of defense, and by god, we’re going to make it count. If they came here to conquer, then we’re going to show them they have a fight on their hands.”

Judd and Phin lifted their fists, bellowing cheers. Gabriel hoped their adrenaline would be enough to carry them.

“Protect the innocent. Honor the sacrifice. Avenge the fallen.”

Phin stood, sliding his massive gun over his shoulder. “I just hope there’s enough fuckers for all of us.”

Gabriel didn’t think that would be a problem.

CHAPTER 3

BAG YOUR BANDIT

“Clear!”

Gabriel moved forward in a crouch. Gravel and broken glass crunched under his boots as he swept the destroyed street. The M4 felt familiar in his grip. It was hardy and easy to use. Efficient. Finger resting beside the trigger, he took point as they advanced north.

It was quiet in the way a city shouldn’t be. In the distance he could hear muted explosions and the occasional crack of gunfire. Whatever fight had occurred here had long since moved on. He was struck by how easy it was to forget that he was on home soil. Washington, DC currently looked like every other warzone he’d ever been dropped into.

And there had been so many.

Beside him, Phin breathed heavily. The man was far from winded, but he was carrying twice the weight Gabriel was. As his heavy weapons specialist, Phin was carrying a 5.56mm light machine gun. Belt-fed and capable of piercing armor, it weighed 18lbs. Phin carried it like it was nothing. He could fire it from his shoulder with alarming accuracy, too. It wasn’t even the heaviest gun he used.

His heavy breathing had nothing to do with the weight.Phin was struggling more than Gabriel thought he would. This wasn’t easy for any of them, but Phin had seen some things. He didn’t talk about it—at least not willingly, but he’d seen heavy combat while serving. Gabriel knew some of the specifics, what he could drag from Phin on the nights the man teetered on the edge, and what he screamed in his sleep. But most of the incidents were hidden behind black lines in confidential files—and in Phin’s nightmares.

Gabriel caught his eye. Phin’s eyebrows twitched, and he jerked hard enough that his helmet shifted. That was as close to a conversation as they could have. Not that Phin would talk to him in different circumstances.

They’d come a long way from the days of a shell shock diagnosis, but PTSD was still a taboo subject. It didn’t seem to matter how hard the higher ups worked to get their men and women to acknowledge it. It was still seen as a weakness. A broken arm? Sure. Rest it up. But a broken head? That was harder. How could the soldier at your back trust you if he thought you’d freeze up at the last second?

Judd was to his left, picking over the rubble and broken glass. For a man with a mouth the size of Texas, he could be silent when he wanted to.

A police cruiser was flipped on its side. Half the paint had burned off, and the windows were melted into the interior. Judd stepped up to peer inside. He eyed the two bodies in the front seat and didn’t bother to check for a pulse. With a quick shake of his head, he rejoined formation.

There were bodies everywhere. They were hard to look at—mangled, burned, shredded. And all very dead. Gabriel had to keep his eyes up, alert for movement. It was better than seeing the body of a mother shielding her child.

He stepped over an upended bag of groceries, careful not to rustle the plastic with his boot. Somehow, seeing the bag of groceries was almost worse than the bodies. It was so normal. He could picture someone walking home with their purchase.Maybe it was a quick stop after a night shift, or an errand between clients. Whoever had carefully picked out some oranges and a gallon of milk had no idea what would happen the moment they stepped out onto the street.

The street in front of them was wide. Red bricked buildings—mostly offices and storefronts—classy. The minimal landscaping had been nice at one point. Now, most of it was ashy ruins and pits where bushes had been ripped free. Cars were parked haphazardly. Some still where they had been left before the fighting broke out, others thrown about carelessly, like toys on a child’s playmat. It was hard to imagine something strong enough to toss cars with ease.

Gabriel couldn’t tell what kind of weaponry had been used by the enemy. Occasionally, he saw brass glinting in the early morning sunlight. Expended shells that looked like they could be anything from 9mm to the larger rounds from a truck-mounted gun. There had been a standoff here.

He caught Phin and Judd’s eye and signaled for them to stay close. With the radios out, it was impossible for them to communicate. Maintaining a line of sight was imperative, especially with their small numbers.

As they came abreast with an alley, he nodded for Judd to clear it. The soldier scurried forward, gun raised as he rounded the corner. His quick sweep indicated nothing. They kept moving.

The need for speed made them risk being out in the open like this. Normally, they would have at least waited until dark for better cover. But that was when they were facing a known enemy. One with identified weaknesses and motivations.