Detachment Delta by Don Bendell

that old eagle.
    â€œThere was a loud crash and a blinding light as the lightning bolt tore through Egbert’s body, which was now tossed off the cliff by the powerful winds, to simply become just one more piece of muddy ruins on the canyon floor below. He was not dead though. He was in frightful pain, but before he crashed onto the rocks at the cliff base, he remembered how many times the wise old eagle had helped him learn and grow before. With his last strength, he started flapping his wings harder than ever before. Still scared, he looked up at the black skies all around him, but he closed his beak tightly, determined to survive. He would think of everything that old eagle ever taught him. Right before he hit the ground, a big swirl of wind caught under his wings and lifted him up. Worn out and still frightened, he smiled and said, ‘Oh.’
    â€œIn the meantime, the wise old eagle sought out the most powerful winds in the storm and used their fury to lift him up higher and higher, until he emerged into the sunlight thousands of feet up, high above the killer storm below. He felt very badly for Egbert, but knew the best way to keep teaching eaglets how to be mighty eagles was to first always be one himself. Even stronger than before from the struggle, the wise old eagle soared above the storm, watching the ferocious winds below as he dried out in the sunlight and swirled in the warm blue skies, his majestic wings reaching out and brushing the cheek of God. He heard a noise and saw Egbert approaching.
    â€œFlying by his old mentor, Egbert smiled, saying, ‘I’m sorry I did not trust you.’
    â€œThe old eagle grinned. ‘That is how we get scars. When they heal, you will be even stronger.’
    â€œOn the horizon, they spotted a sun-drenched snow-capped range and decided to soar over and admire its beauty. That, Weasel, is the end of the story.”
    Everybody looked at Weasel and grinned as he, seemingly oblivious to them, wiped away a tear from his eye and said, “I love you, Poke.”
    Everybody laughed and Pops said, “I think we had last call already. Come on, Top, I’m driving you home.”
    Weasel looked up slowly and said, “That was a wonderful story, Boss. Did you hear it?”
    Pops laughed and said, “Sure did, Top. Let’s saddle up.”
    â€œYes, sir.”

CHAPTER EIGHT
    Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men
    CHARLIE opened his eyes and looked out the window at the very first rays of morning sun piercing through the glass above his head. He closed his eyes, half awake and half asleep, remembering back to an incident in training that really put Charlie’s name and face in everybody’s mind for some time.
    Charlie had, like many men in Special Forces, a varied background in the martial arts, starting in childhood. He held black belt ranking in freestyle karate, had studied Brazilian jujitsu long enough to earn a brown belt, and had trained for two years in Muay Thai kickboxing. He had also been a star middle linebacker in high school, making all conference his junior year and all state his senior year.
    At the time, he was a sergeant first class with the 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg and had just returned from Afghanistan. He was volunteered for an assignment to the JFK Special Warfare Center, where he was to help out as an “aggressor” for Special Forces trainees going through Small Unit Tactics and Training exercises.
    An Operational Detachment-A consisting of twelve trainees was to search a group of buildings that were set up for this exercise. The buildings contained hidden aggressors armed with industrial-strength red-paint guns. The trainees also had paint guns and were to breach doors, enter buildings, and kill, or preferably capture, aggressors hiding therein. To that end, the team commander, a young captain, carried a couple pairs of flex cuffs to restrain captives with.
    The customary breach was to set up an