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his watch, his arm slowly rising as he looked at it.
    Maddock continued, speaking rapidly. “Let’s split up in case they do try to shoot us in the open. Bones and I will meet up at the base of the tower. Professor and Willis: you two prowl the boulder field, separately. Stay in comm. Sound good?”
    All three men gave one syllable answers indicating their agreement. Then the commander’s voice came over the megaphone, loud enough to be heard by the other teams in the rocks, painfully so for Green Team.
    “Green Team cleared for go in three...two...one...now. Engage!”
    The report from Bones’ P226 served as a starter pistol for Maddock and Professor, each of whom set out in opposite directions toward the boulder field. A shouted curse followed by the words, “I’m hit!” told them that his round had found its mark. Per the rules of engagement, the Blue Team member who had been shot placed his hands in the air and began walking back to the cargo net.
    Bones’ pistol spat again, multiple rounds this time, and a member of Black Team who had been bouldering on the near perimeter of the rock field froze when struck by Bones’ paintball, and then slid to the ground. Two men now took the walk of shame across the open plain to the commander.
    “Six left. Let’s find that thing.” Bones thumped Willis on the back and rolled off to his right, aware that standing now would present a higher profile to those seeking to return fire. Willis dashed straight ahead toward the boulders, keeping his considerable frame low to the ground, moving almost crab-like at times as he sought whatever low, rocky cover he could find.
    A paint round splattered a squat barrel cactus next to Maddock as he took the longest, most off-center route to the rocks. He raised his radio to his lips and hit the transmitter. “Taking fire, still moving.”
    “Copy that, under fire,” came the grunted reply from Willis, already on the move himself, straight toward the rocks.
    Bones, meanwhile, had just holstered his pistol and taken the first few steps toward the rocks when he saw a bright blue spot bloom on the hard-packed dirt in front of him. Blue Team was shooting at him. He dropped and rolled before transitioning into a low crawl behind a mesquite bush for cover.
    “I made the rocks.” Professor’s voice boomed over Green Team’s channel. Even though Maddock, Bones and Willis still needed to get there, the news buoyed their spirits. Running the gauntlet could be done. Maddock’s voice came over the comm channel in panting rasps.
    “Copy. Anybody still taking fire?”
    Three replies in the negative greeted Maddock’s ears.
    “I made it, too.” Willis’ voice informed them over the radios.
    “Me three. I’m in a small boulder cave. Nice and cozy. ” Bones sounded almost happy, like there was nothing else he’d rather be doing.
    “I see a man on the tower wall,” Professor reported.
    “Copy that, I see him too,” Maddock sucked in a deep breath. “I just reached the rocks, east end.”
    Maddock was formulating his next sentence when they heard a shot.
    “Oh! He’s down. Picked off the wall!” Willis reported.
    Blue or Black, you know?” Maddock asked.
    “No bino’s in this kit and I can’t see from here.”
    “Only five guys in our way now, whatever color they are. Green 1, ready for tower approach?” Bones’ voice traveled through the comm system.
    “Affirmative, Green 2. Contact when the base is in sight, over.”
    “Copy that, dude.”
    Out of sight from each other, Maddock and Bones began bouldering toward the central rock spire. The going was treacherous and demanded their full attention; turning an ankle or falling and shattering an arm would be an easy thing to do. For the outlying boulder field, neither Maddock nor Bones required the assistance of climbing gear. Both SEALs were experienced mountaineers and had bouldered this type of terrain many times. Still, the added element of active shooters in the environment