The morning mist clung to the evergreens of Everon like a damp shroud. Corporal David Armstrong adjusted the strap of his M16, the cold plastic biting into his shoulder. For months, the rumors of Soviet movements across the Malden islands had been nothing more than radio chatter—ghost stories for soldiers bored of patrolling.
Armstrong crawled toward a discarded LAW launcher, the screams of his squad echoing through the valley. He knew that if they didn't hold this ridge, the path to the village would be open. He took a breath, popped the sights, and waited for the lead tank to crest the hill.
"Keep your eyes on the treeline, Armstrong," Sergeant Berghoff barked, his breath blooming in the chill air.