The First Call

“With a quiet clank, the steel bulkhead slid apart, separating the hangar from the rest of the ship’s compartments. Sergeant Jackson barked at the paratroopers at once, and they slowly made their way toward the open hatch of the landing craft. And he himself looked at their squad leader, Lieutenant Karpin, with irritation—again, a Russian. Curse him! Why does it always end up this way for him?! They couldn’t find an American or European officer for this mission, could they? Let it even be someone from a caliphate—just not Russian or Israeli. The first were known for their demanding, uncompromising ways, and the second for their carelessness—and, oddly enough, for their professionalism. Jackson didn’t understand how that could be combined in one person, but it was. So, if there was a choice, the sergeant preferred not to deal with Israelis. And he just didn’t like Russians…”