Chapter 18 - The War of the Iron Reef
Muzzle flashes erupted along the stone battlements of Iron Reef,
illuminating the swirling fog and dark lake waves in brilliant bursts of orange light.
Gideon fired with lethal,
unshakable accuracy,
his heavy rounds severing two tactical climbing ropes and sending the mercenaries plunging down onto the jagged rocks sixty feet below.
The surviving Vanguard operatives returned fire with heavy suppressive bursts,
their armor-piercing bullets chipping away massive blocks of granite from the lighthouse walls.
"Boss!"
Lucas yelled over the roaring wind,
firing his submachine gun from behind a stone parapet.
"They're using thermal breaching charges on the lower sea-cave doors!"
"They’re trying to blow a hole directly into the generator room!"
Gideon sprinted down the winding spiral stairs,
taking six steps at a time as the entire lighthouse shuddered from a heavy explosion below.
Smoke and the acrid smell of burnt thermite filled the stone staircase as Gideon reached the lower basement level.
The heavy steel sea-cave door had been blown off its hinges,
and four Vanguard mercenaries were charging through the breach,
their tactical lights blinding in the dark.
Gideon dived behind a stack of heavy iron supply crates,
firing his sidearm through the smoke.
Two mercenaries fell instantly,
their tactical vests pierced by Gideon's custom high-velocity rounds.
The third mercenary attempted to prime a grenade,
but Gideon closed the distance with terrifying speed.
Gideon slammed his fist into the man's throat,
disarming him in a fraction of a second before driving the mercenary back against the cold stone wall.
Standing at the entrance of the sea cave,
holding a heavy combat rifle,
was Colonel Vance Sterling.
Vance Sterling was fifty years old,
his face scarred by decades of military warfare,
his eyes filled with a cold,
psychopathic hatred.
"Gideon Crosswell!"
Sterling shouted over the blaring security alarm.
"You murdered my brother Thomas!"
"Your brother died because he served a monster named Viktor Vance!"
Gideon countered,
his gun aimed directly at Sterling's heart.
"Thomas chose his path,"
Gideon added,
"just as you chose yours!"
Sterling sneered,
a wicked grin twisting his scarred face.
"My brother was weak,"
Sterling spat,
"but Lord Montgomery is eternal!"
"While you were playing soldier on this rock,"
Sterling gloated,
"Lord Montgomery’s primary war-yacht,
The Sovereign Titan,
anchored three miles off this island!"
"He is watching this battle live through satellite feed,"
Sterling revealed,
"and as soon as I clear this bunker,"
"he will personally take the child!"
Gideon didn't waste another second with words.
He pulled his trigger,
firing three shots in rapid succession.
Sterling dived behind an iron pillar,
returning fire before scrambling backward into a high-speed extraction boat waiting in the dark sea cave.
The boat’s engines roared to life,
speeding out into the open lake before Gideon could reach the water's edge.
Gideon stood at the edge of the cavern,
watching the wake of the boat disappear into the foggy night.
He reached into his vest,
pulling out his long-range tactical radio headset.
"Lucas,"
Gideon commanded,
wiping sweat and soot from his face,
May you like
"prep the assault interceptor."
"We are taking this war directly to Lord Montgomery’s flagship."
