Free Sic Semper Tyrannis by Marcus Richardson Page A

on this and report what you have told me to the Supreme Leader.  You are sure this plan will work as conceived?  I don’t think I need to remind you of the consequences of failure.”
    “Absolutely.”
    “Very good.”  The Undersecretary stood. 
    Po Sin scrambled to his feet and quickly stuffed the remaining files into his expensive Italian attaché case.  He bowed.
    “See to your conquest, Po Sin.  And thank you.”
    “Of course, sir.”  He turned and started to walk out of the room, exhaling more smoke in his wake.
    “Oh, and Po Sin?” called out Shin Ho, already re-seated and shuffling through papers on his desk.
    “Sir?” Po Sin asked with a smile on his face as he paused at the door to the Party Undersecretary’s palatial office.
    “Don’t ever smoke in here again.”  He looked up and fixed Po Sin with a gaze that sent a chill down the Army Chief’s spine.
    So you have claws after all?  Well…I’ll deal with you soon enough , he thought.
    Out loud he said, “As you wish, sir .” 
     
    ROB COLLAPSED JUST BEHIND the brush-covered crest of the last ridge overlooking the ambush site.  His heart thundered in his chest, sweat poured down his neck, and he was dangerously out of breath, but he had arrived before the ambush.
    “ Two, you in position? ” his radio squawked.
    Rob adjusted the volume of the ear piece and closed his eyes, trying to calm his heart rate and catch his breath.  He worked the action of his Winchester as he lay on his back, sucking in a lungful of the thin mountain air.
    I am getting too old for this shit.  He frowned.  Even his thoughts came in gasps.
    “ Roger.  I see you, RAF-3.  The strangers are moving up the ravine to your right.  See the lead man?  Sounds like a moose in heat …”
    A tinny chuckle played out in Rob’s ear.  “ Yup, I see ‘em.  Alright boys, you know the drill.  Get in positions .”
    Rob keyed his mic.  “RAF-3, Two, this is One.  I’m in position on the north ridge, your left flank.  I’ll provide overwatch support.”
    “ Dammit, One, what the hell are you doing out here? ”  Lance’s voice was sharp, but Rob could well imagine the smile on his old friend’s face. 
    “Heard there was a party about to go down and I didn’t want to miss out on any fun…”
    “ Well, glad to have you, One.  You want to make the call? ”
    Rob peeked over the ridge.  He could see the members of RAF-3 spread out along the far ridge.  His gaze shifted down and soon he was able to spot a few of Lance’s men.  But there was no sign of his friend and second-in-command. 
    “Negative, RAF-3.  I’m here to support.  You boys run the show.”
    “ Roger that, One ,” the team leader whispered.  “ All right, people, stay frosty, they’re coming in to range.  Two, we move on your call. ”
    “ Stand by…I’ll give you a signal… ” replied Lance’s voice in a hushed tone.
    Rob raised his old Winchester and took aim at the third Chinese soldier emerging from the ravine.  “Come on, Lance…give us a shout or something…” he muttered.  He could imagine the other Regulators thinking the same thing as they all picked targets and began tracking.  The longer Lance waited, the more Chinese moved into the open, but the greater the chance someone would miss an easy shot.  The Regulators were not, as a rule, young bucks right out of the service anymore.
    Movement caught Rob’s eye and he unconsciously followed it—Lance stood up out of his hiding spot almost directly below Rob’s position.  He was between two well-spaced large spruces and raised his carbine up in one hand.  There was no way the Chinese could avoid seeing him.
    “ WOLVERINES!!!!”
    Rob had to force himself not to laugh out loud as he swung his gaze back on target.  Before he could twitch his trigger finger, shots rang out along the ridge and destroyed the silence of the forest.  Birds squawked and exploded from the conifer canopy above him.  There was