"Ya want another Sarge, I only have four left, one in the tube,”
Ryan scanned the enemy. The fire was slackening, Viet Cong diving for cover under the effective suppressing fire from Derricks and his beloved Jack Johnson. The grenade had done its work as well, shredding one Charlie and putting two others out of commission.
“Negative,” he called to Dodgers. “Save ‘em. Switch to your rifle, help Derricks pin ‘em down!”
He quickly evaluated the situation. The left flank had been decimated, most of the enemies near the grenade blast having scuttled towards the right side of the line. The Cong there were effectively pinned down. If he had more men and more ammunition, he’d have kept the squad in place and continued whittling away at the enemy, but he didn’t have that luxury. Their guns would run dry sooner rather than later, the M60 in particular, and that would spell disaster. It was time for a calculated risk.
Fire-and-maneuver was a mainstay of the US Army infantry, and something they drilled constantly in training. If they were to have any hope of seeing the World again, risk had to be weighed against reward. It would be dangerous, but if they were quick and vicious and used the trees as cover, they'd have a clear shot at the enemy from their unprotected right flank. Executed properly, it would be a close-range slaughter.
Ryan took a breath, fighting down the flutter of fear that twisted his gut, then quickly bear-crawled to his right. He hauled himself upright behind a thick, solid tree, then began calling commands.
“Hoffman! Stay put, keep picking targets! You, Doc!” he pointed at the tall medic, easily identifiable by the med-bag on his back. “Stay in cover, but start putting rounds down range. Help suppress them.”
He scanned his remaining men, then pointed at the other tall newcomer, the one with the Irish lilt.
“You, you’re with me. Pope, you too! Get over here to my position, we’re gonna flank these motherfuckers. Derricks, once we head off give us a five-count, then hit Charlie with a 40-round spray; I want full suppression! Then slow down and pick your targets, start spraying at individuals who poke their heads out. Barnes, you come with the flanking team. Let’s put that shotty to use. Move it out, gents, we need to end this now!”
