Read Bones of Angels for Free Online Page A

Titan Global, Titan Six was considered its most elite tactical force. Michael Hawke, former member of Force Recon in the U.S. Marines, headed Titan Six and was known as Hawkeye. Team members included Shooter, the ebony-skinned sniper from the Caribbean; Gator, former Army Ranger and machine gunner; Pyro, Japanese-born expert in ordnance and explosives; and Tank, Hawke’s younger brother and second-in-command of Titan Six.
    The team regularly trained in Shotgun Alley, a holographic training simulator located in the ship’s vast Armory. Any scenario in any location could be duplicated by the sophisticated holographic computer displays.
    Hawkeye was leading Titan Six in a training mission simulating urban warfare in Bangkok. Hawkeye and Shooter were facing off against Tank and Gator. Pyro was in sickbay getting a check-up by Dr. Grace Nguyen, who administered the team certain nanobot injections (among others) to give the team enhanced strength, as well as heightened awareness for all five senses. The enhancements were part of Titan’s BioMEMS System, which could also cause cells to release naturally-occurring chemicals when the body was injured or in distress.
    Shooter and Hawkeye crouched low behind an overturned city bus in the back alleys of the thriving Asian metropolis. Other vehicles, burned or vandalized, were scattered on the street. It was midnight, and the sodium vapor streetlamps cast eerie shadows on the scarred cityscape.
    A barrage of bullets punched holes in the roof of the bus as Gator opened up his SAW, an M249 Squad Automatic Machine Gun. The weapon produced rolling thunder, which reverberated between the buildings on either side of the street.
    From his position behind the undercarriage of the bus, Hawkeye lobbed two grenades down the deserted street towards his mock-enemies. Safety protocols were engaged in Shotgun Alley, although battles fought there felt, sounded, and smelled like genuine combat. The computer also allowed direct hits to knock the combatants to the ground with considerable force. Holographic enemies, on the other hand, could be vaporized by any number of weapons.
    “Advance!” ordered Hawkeye.
    Breathing hard, Shooter and Hawkeye raced from behind the bus. Tank and Gator charged into the street from flank positions, surprising the team leader and his world-class sniper.
    Tank engaged his brother, grabbing his arm and flipping him on his back. Tank’s agility made the two-second maneuver a blur as his brother spun through the air.
    “Damn!” Hawkeye shrieked. “I think you broke my collarbone.”
    “That’s called heat!” said Tank triumphantly. “And this is the kitchen. Recall that old saying?”
    Hawkeye sprang to his feet and lunged at his attacker. Tank tried to grab Hawkeye by the wrist, but Hawkeye threw his elbow hard against Tank’s jaw, driving the soldier back three paces. Dizzy, Tank fell to his knees.
    “Seeing stars yet?” Hawkeye asked his brother. “Remember that old saying?”
    “I could use some help here!” Shooter called out.
    The young sniper was pinned to the ground by Gator.
    Tank was on his feet again, and Hawkeye was already moving aside while simultaneously driving his left leg into Tank’s gut with a knee-high power kick. Tank tumbled sideways and once again was reacquainted with the broken asphalt street. Tank coughed, wheezing. The wind had been knocked from his broad, muscular chest.
    Shooter shot Hawkeye a quick, pleading glance. “Are we partners or not?”
    “I’m engaged at the moment,” Hawkeye announced.
    Shooter jabbed Gator’s jaw with her fist while rolling from beneath his shoulder hold.
    “Pray for victory, Shooter,” Hawkeye said. “Maybe say a rosary or two. I see you sneaking into the ship’s chapel from time to time.”
    Shooter grabbed her assault rifle, wheeled around, and struck the side of Gator’s head with the butt. Stunned, the gunner recoiled in surpise.
    “Damn, lady!” yelled Gator. “You pack a mean