The Guardians Return by Hamilton Wilde

Author:Hamilton Wilde
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hamilton Wilde
Published: 2025-11-11T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

The intelligence continued building over the following days. Werner's

intercepts painted an increasingly detailed picture of the coming

assault. Multiple teams coordinating through encrypted communications.

References to "maximum impact operations." Discussion of Christmas Eve

timing when they expected reduced security and increased opportunity.

"They're not wrong about the timing," Simon said during a strategy

session. "Christmas Eve, most rangers are on leave or reduced staffing.

We're effectively the primary defense in our sector."

"Ten against potentially fifty," Frank said flatly. "Those are terrible

odds."

"We've faced worse," Mole pointed out.

"When? When have we ever faced worse than five-to-one odds?"

"Angola, 1987. Eight of us against an entire company. We survived."

"We were younger then. Faster. Less breakable."

"But smarter now," Hugh countered. "More experienced. Better

coordinated. We know these tactics because we invented half of them. And

we have something they don't—righteousness of purpose and defensive

advantage."

"Righteousness doesn't stop bullets," Trevor said.

"No, but proper preparation does. We have time to establish positions,

create defensive depth, force them to fight on our terms. That's worth

more than numbers."

Grace had been listening quietly. Now she spoke up. "What are the actual

survival rates for this kind of engagement? Five-to-one odds, defensive

positions, experienced operators?"

The team exchanged glances. They all knew the statistics. Nobody wanted

to say them.

"Historically," Simon finally said, choosing his words carefully,

"well-prepared defensive forces with significant experience advantage

can successfully defend against numerically superior attackers about

sixty percent of the time. But casualties on the defending side are

typical, even in successful defenses."

"So someone will probably be injured," Grace translated.

"Possibly. We'll do everything we can to prevent that, but Grace, you

need to prepare yourself for the reality that this might not be a clean

operation. People might be hurt. You might need to provide medical

treatment not just to animals, but to humans—possibly to us."

Grace's face was pale but determined. "Then I need to review trauma

protocols. Gunshot wound treatment, hemorrhage control, field

stabilization. Wendell, can you walk me through battlefield medicine

procedures?"

"We can do that," Wendell agreed. "Starting tomorrow. You should know

the basics, just in case."

"In case one of you gets shot trying to protect animals I care about,"

Grace said, her voice breaking slightly.

Hugh went to her, gripping her shoulders firmly. "Grace, if you want out

of this, if you want to evacuate before the operation, nobody would

blame you. This is beyond what we planned, beyond what's reasonable to

expect from a veterinary student."

"No," Grace said firmly. "I'm not leaving. You're staying, the team is

staying, the animals need protection. I'll stay too. But I need to be

prepared for whatever happens."

"Then we prepare you," Hugh said. "We give you every skill, every piece

of knowledge that might keep you safe and let you help if things go

wrong. That's all we can do."

"That's enough," Grace said. "It has to be enough."

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