Operation Zulu Redemption: Collateral Damage - Part 1

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Welcome to Operation Zulu: Redemption—Part 1-Collateral Damage!

As you may have discovered,
Operation Zulu: Redemption
is a serial novel and a unique reading experience. The story is told in five parts that can be compared to a mini-series on television--complete with cliff-hangers, plot twists, and plenty of action. You’ll want to be sure you’ve read Overkill: The Beginning and then read each part in order. This way you won’t miss any of the heart-stopping action or an important key to the story.

Here’s when to look for each part—

Overkill: The Beginning – Available Now!

Part 1: Collateral Damage – Available Now!

Part 2: Out of Nowhere – Coming July 25, 2014

Part 3: Hazardous Duty – Coming August 1, 2014

Part 4: Act of Treason – Coming August 8, 2014

We encourage you to pre-order all the parts at your favorite ebook retailer or visit
www.teamzulu.com
and sign up for reminders…plus you’ll find contests, prizes, and more.

Enjoy!

Zulu One: Annie Palermo

aka Ashland Palmieri

After the tragic mission in Misrata, Annie became Ashland Palmieri, renting a small house on Lake Wapato and working at a sub shop in Manson, Washington. But the intrusion of a handsome former Navy SEAL, Sam Caliguari, threatens everything she’s worked to build and protect.

Zulu Two: Téya Reiker

aka Katherine “Katie” Gerig

After Misrata, Téya became Katherine “Katie” Gerig, embracing the quiet life of her Amish grandmother in Bleak Pond, Pennsylvania. She’s at peace for the first time in her life and is set to take the faith and start a relationship with David Augsburger.

Zulu Three: Jessica “Jessie” Herring

aka Jamie Hendricks

After Misrata, Jessie became Jamie Hendricks and fell into many of the vices of “Sin City”—Las Vegas, Nevada. The tragedy in Misrata fractured her psyche, and she could never pull herself back together. She’s a computer specialist, and despite orders not to, she continued researching what happened in Misrata.

Zulu Four: Candice Reyna

aka Charlotte Reynolds

After Misrata, Candice became a park ranger at Denali National Park in Alaska, who goes by the name Charlotte “Charlie” Reynolds.

Zulu Five: Keeley Shay

aka Kendall Shine

After Misrata, Keeley Shay became Kendall Shine, a dive instructor on Little Cayman Island.

Zulu Six: Nuala King

aka Nyah Kesebi

After Misrata, Nuala King became Nyah Kesebi, who works at a lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina.

LTC Trace Weston

Lieutenant Colonel Trace Weston was a Special Forces operator and team leader who assembled the Zulu team. He is now a colonel working for U.S. Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM).

CWO2 Boone Ramage

Chief Warrant Officer Boone Ramage is Trace Weston’s former right-hand man. He helped train the Zulu team.

SFC Rusty Gray

Sergeant First Class Rusty Gray is former Special Forces operator, who helped train the Zulu team.

Lieutenant Francesca “Frankie” Solomon

Frankie Solomon, daughter of Brigadier General Haym Solomon, works for U.S. Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM).

Houston Plunkett
is an Information Systems Specialist working with Trace and Boone to protect and vindicate Zulu.

ACUs
– army combat uniform

DOD
– Department of Defense

Glock 17
– a semiautomatic handgun

INSCOM
- U.S. Intelligence and Security Command

JAG
– Judge Advocate General

JBER
– Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson

MP
– military police

M4A1
– an assault rifle

NVGs
– night vision goggles

PIT maneuver
-
pursuit immobilization technique

RPG
– rocket-propelled grenade

RTB
– return to base

SAIC
– special agent in charge

SOP
– standard operating procedure

SOCOM
– Special Operations Command

Unforgiving branches dragged their gnarled, sharp fingers against her cheek. She winced at the slice of pain but plowed onward. Through the brush. Deeper into the darkness and shadows. Fighting branches, fallen limbs, stumps, and her rancid fear. She shoved a branch aside. A green, monochromatic hue guided her. The specter of darkness stole into the mountains, draping the thick, hilly foliage in a blanket of fog.

Three minutes. She just needed three minutes.

Nuala King plunged on, focused on one goal—getting to her spot. Ignored the shouts back at the remote lodge. Shots rang through the still, oppressive night. She refused to allow herself to think about what was happening back there. Whether Coleman Carson would survive the two men who’d shown up at the lodge, acting like hikers lost in the mountains. If the men were both butchers and rapists—would Sonja survive unscathed?

Nuala knew better. So did Coleman, which is why he’d been reaching for his gun beneath the counter as soon as the men shut the door. They’d seen enough hikers and trackers to know the difference.

And she had seen enough special ops soldiers to recognize one. Or in this case, two.

She sailed over a fallen oak. Hit the ground and kept moving liked a seasoned runner. Upward and to the east. She’d done it a million times. Could do it blindfolded, although she’d really rather not. Dark with NVGs made it tough enough.

Each step rammed her heart farther up her throat, strangling oxygen from her. She was getting closer, but if the snapping branches and shouts were any indication, so were the assassins.

Bark and leaves exploded twelve inches to her left.

Biting back an expletive, Nuala ducked and threw herself right. Didn’t slow as she zigzagged through the green-bathed terrain. A pair of eerie gold eyes popped up as an animal—Deer? Big cat?—lifted its head. Bolted in the other direction.

Breathing hard now, Nuala dove through the brush and weaved through a thick copse of pines, allowing the craggy fingers to trace her path. Pushing through the dense foliage slowed her a little but also hid the path she’d taken in the dense litter. As she ran, the slight incline of the hill weighed on her endurance. Altitude pressed on her lungs. But she kept going.

Run or die.
Those were her only options.

Needling pines smacked her face, evidence of another gun blast.

Nuala cursed herself for slowing down. But her legs were aching. One thing she hadn’t counted on in her three dozen test runs was the adrenaline that sent her heart into overdrive. It sped her but also tired her.

“This way! I saw her!” came a shout way too close.

Almost there. She’d make it. Had to.

A weight rammed into her back. Sent her sprawling. Nuala landed with a thud, twigs and rocks digging into her abdomen and chest. Her head rammed down, pinned.

“Kill her and get it over with.”

Using a knifehand strike, Nuala slammed the fleshy part of her hand into the man’s side.

He grunted and his hold slackened. Not a lot. But enough. With all her strength, she threw herself to the side, flipping him. Shots exploded the leaves and dirt. Nuala landed on top of the guy, all too aware the other had given up on his comrade and probably had a bead on her.

She coldcocked the attacker. He went limp beneath her.

Nuala hopped up, bullets peppering the area around her. She tossed herself to the side—and saw the cleft. Relief surged through her but also the acute awareness that she wasn’t out of this yet. She rolled, avoiding more gunfire, and thudded against the rocky cleft. It was a small overhang at the base of a massive rock formation that dug into the mountain. Moss and leftover nests softened the ground as she crawled into the spot. Back to the chilled rock, she knelt, cocooned in the cleft. The overhang barely shielded her. Groping in the dirt, she watched the footpath. Watched for the second attacker. As she did, she spotted him crouch-running about ten yards away, zipping in and around trees.

Something to her left, farther back, drew her attention. Another man.

A third?
Where had he come from? Maybe he’d been waiting outside. Why hadn’t she noticed him before?

Keep it together. You can do this.

Her fingers grazed the draw cord. Pulled it. The long rectangular object came free from the dirt and leaves. Nuala tugged open the neck and slid the Remington from the nylon sleeve. Slowing her breathing even as she took up position, she lifted the rifle to her shoulder. Cheek pressed against the stock, she peered through the sight. Zeroed it in. Waited for the man to step into the crosshairs of the reticle.

Vrrrrrooooppp!!

Nuala twitched at the sound of the trap she’d set being sprung. If one got caught up in the trap, another still lurked in these woods. Waiting to kill her. She would not deviate from this mission.

Breathe.
Slow. In. Out. In. Out. Like some weird time warp in a movie, she saw the glowing green man step from behind a tree.

In. Out.

Attuned to the wind and the location of the target, she calculated the right settings.
Wind right to left, six miles an hour, hold one-quarter mil left.

Nuala slid her finger into the trigger well. Eased it back.

The tiny sonic boom signaled the fire.

Glowing Green Guy stumbled backward.

She let out a long, slow breath. Closed her eyes and asked God to forgive her for taking another life. Scooting out of the hiding spot, she eyed the large capture swinging from a Mossy Oak. Weapon up, Nuala stalked toward him, swinging around, verifying they were alone, verifying someone wouldn’t put lead in the back of her head.

Nuala came around the copse of trees, the six set in a circle—the spot she’d chosen specifically for that reason—and watched as the man dangled upside down, both feet in a noose. He used a large blade to saw at the rope.

But then—she saw the swirl along his right bicep and forearm. Her throat tightened. “Boone?” she called.

He spun around, dropping back down.

She wanted to laugh, but there was nothing to laugh about tonight. “
Boone
?”

“Hey, Noodle.” As the swinging slowed, he eyed her. “Thought I’d take a look around.”

With a sigh, she walked over to the counterbalance and severed the cords.

“No!”

Phffvvvvvvttt!

Thud!

Groaning and arching his back, Boone lay on the ground.

Nuala stood over him, wishing she felt free enough to throw herself into his arms. Adrenaline bottomed out, and she felt her limbs trembling. “You almost broke my favorite tree.”