Page 37 of Ground Zero

Mike says, "Vehicle two is a blue refrigeration truck with a picture of a red crawfish on the side with the words "Fresh from the Louisiana Bayou" painted in large white letters. There are two additional perps."

I give the count. "Copy that. We now have seven bad guys and eight hostages."

Nina tells us. "Overwatch has pictures of the vehicles. Scanning now for registration information."

The lights around the perimeter of the house come on, and the perps casually head to the back door. I turn the night vision off on my scope and identify them with the low light, but I can't.

I announce, "No visual confirmation."

When the perps knock, the interior lights come on. The back door opens, someone steps into the doorway, speaks to them, then backs back inside, and the group follows them in.

Jack keys up his comm. "Three here. I have visual confirmation on Pimp Number One."

"Good copy, three."

The exterior lights go off. I turn my night vision back on. "Prepare to move to the secondary target location."

Nina updates, "Six pimps are standing in the living room. One pimp going to the bedroom…." She pauses then adds, "Violent confrontation."

I instruct the team. "Move forward."

From my vantage point, through my sniper scope, I watch my team in stealth mode creep across the yard and take their breach positions.

Nina continues her play by play updates. "Seven pimps and one hostage in LR[living room]. Seven remain stationary."

Zane, with his K9 Batman, Brody, and Justin, takes their position at the front of the house. Mike, Jack, and Jocko with Lucifer post at the back.

Nina, "They appear to be arguing."

"Three, do your thing. Copy?”

“Good copy." His voice is low. He steps up to the back door, squats down, and sets his charge. Then he backs away and shields himself from the blast. He counts down for us. "Three, two, one."

Boom! The door falls off its hinges and into the house.

Batman begins barking.

Zane shouts, "Sheriffs department. Drop your weapons."

Mike, Jack, Jocko, and Lucifer surge inside.

Nina relays, "Two and Three to LR. Four to master. Shots fired. Three perps down. Dead. Four perps fleeing. Front door. One perp and one hostage kneeling in LR."

I turn my scope on the front of the house.

Zane controls a lunging Batman.

Justin stands ready at the door.

The first man charges out, and Zane releases Batman. The K9 leaps and takes him down. The man's scream is blood curdling.

Justin grabs the second man out and throws him to the ground, dropping two-hundred-thirty pounds of SEAL onto the perp's back as he aims his weapon at his head.

Nina updates, "Four's in LR. Lucifer released."

Brody faces off with man number three. The butt of his weapon pressing into the man's forehead. The perps arms fly up in surrender.

The fourth man falls out of the door with Lucifer attached. His blood-curdling screams join the first man's.

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