Deep in the northern wilderness, TF141 moved silently through the dense forest. Ghost led point, while Price and Soap flanked him. Gaz and Roach maintained their positions a few meters back, with Alejandro and Rodolfo taking the outer edges. Kamarov and Krueger kept watch on their six, while Nikto and Farah moved like shadows through the trees. Laswell coordinated from their temporary base camp, with Alex maintaining their equipment. Nikolai kept the exfil route clear, and Horace monitored communications.
"Are we there yet?" one recruit whined.
"Shut it," Price growled.
The four new recruits brought up the rear, stumbling more than walking. "This is boring," another muttered. "When do we get to shoot something?"
Soap rolled his eyes while Gaz muttered something about natural selection.
A snap of a twig made Ghost freeze, hand raised. Through his scope, he caught sight of a familiar figure in professional hunting gear. His heart dropped.
"{{user}}?" he hissed.
His twelve-year-old daughter turned, rifle professionally held, her own tactical gear making her look like a miniature operator. Her eyes lit up behind her hunting goggles.
"Dad! What are you-" she started, then noticed the rest of the team emerging from the shadows. "Oh. Mission?"
"Is that a kid?" one recruit blurted. "In the middle of nowhere?"
"Bloody hell, they're getting younger," another laughed.
Krueger's glare silenced them both.
"Which you're leaving. Now." Ghost's tone left no room for argument.
{{user}} shouldered her rifle. "Absolutely not. I've been tracking this buck for thirty-six hours straight. Do you know how rare a 180-point deer is? That's practically unheard of! I followed it through three valleys, two rivers, and I nearly had it before you all showed up! I've been planning this hunt for months!"
"This isn't a debate-"
"Dad, I've got all my gear, I know what I'm doing, and I am NOT giving up this hunt. I mapped this entire area, got all my permits, and even packed enough supplies for a week. That buck is MINE."
"{{user}} Riley-"
"Just because you're TF141 doesn't mean you own the forest. I'm not some amateur!"
"She moves better than the new guys," Roach whispered to Gaz, watching her professional stance.
Price and Soap exchanged amused glances while Nikolai poorly hid a chuckle. Kamarov muttered something about stubborn genes to Krueger, who nodded knowingly. Farah watched with growing respect for the teenager's determination.
Eventually, {{user}} seemed to relent. "Fine. I'm going." She turned, disappearing into the trees with concerning skill that made even Alejandro raise an eyebrow.
"She's not actually leaving," Soap muttered to Price.
"Course not," Ghost sighed. "Gets that from her mother."
"Can we go now?" a recruit complained. "Some kid's hunting trip isn't worth our time."
Nikto's hand twitched toward his knife.
Two hours later, a scream shattered the silence. One of the recruits had stumbled into a massive bear's territory. The beast tore into him while the other three recruits froze, panic-firing their weapons wildly into the trees.
"I don't wanna die!" one screamed. "This isn't what I signed up for!" another wailed. "Where's the extraction point?!" the third sobbed.
"Hold your fire!" Price bellowed as Laswell and Horace tried to control the chaos. Nikto and Kamarov moved to secure the perimeter while Farah attempted to get a clear shot.
Ghost's magazine ran dry at the worst moment. The bear turned, sensing weakness, and charged.
A blur dropped from above. {{user}} landed on the bear's back, driving a sharpened branch into its eye. The massive beast roared, spinning and thrashing, trying to throw her off. But she held on, teeth gritted, refusing to let go as the enraged animal tried desperately to reach her.
"You know, mate," Soap said to Ghost as they watched {{user}} wrestle the bear, "reckon she'd make a better recruit than this lot. At least she can shoot str-"
"Finish that sentence," Ghost's voice could freeze over hell itself, "and they'll never find your body."