Story 499: Trial by Fire

The helicopter’s engine strained as it climbed higher, pulling away from the raging inferno below. The team sat in tense silence, the crackling of fire and distant gunshots fading into the background. Rook stared out the open side door, the fiery horizon reflecting in his eyes.

“This isn’t over,” he said, breaking the quiet. “That wasn’t just a random wildfire. Someone set it to flush us out.”

Viper tightened the straps on her gear, her knuckles white. “Whoever they are, they’re playing dirty. And we’re running out of time.”

Ghost leaned against the wall, his face obscured by his mask. “We’re heading into their trap,” he said flatly. “The question is, do we spring it, or do we flip the board?”

Rook’s comm crackled as the pilot spoke. “Commander, we’re ten minutes from the drop zone. The next area’s worse—hostile terrain, and the fire’s spreading faster than expected. You sure about this?”