Le sergent de première classe Davis conduisit ses hommes rapidement mais prudemment à travers la jungle, se tenant à couvert lourd et naviguant par le bruit des coups de feu plutôt que par la vue directe. Tirer d'une bonne manœuvre d'accompagnement exigeait une approche rapide et invisible, et était régi par les trois règles de la tactique d'embuscade : la vitesse, la surprise et la violence d'action.
Ils couvraient rapidement le chantier entre leur escouade et le Viet Cong, et Ryan tirait ses hommes à court de vue. Il s'est exprimé rapidement et discrètement, énonçant le plan d'attaque de base.
Automobile complète. Garder à l'abri, et utiliser des rafales courtes et contrôlées. Pas de pulvérisation et de prière. Je veux que vous regardiez votre cible avant de tirer. Barnes, tu prends ceux qui sont les plus proches de nous, et tu les frappes dur et rapide. Je veux que tu tires les 12 comme ta bite après un sort sec. Tous les autres, choisissez des cibles au milieu de la distance et mettez-les durement. Pas de grenades, nous en aurons peut-être besoin plus tard. Laissez-nous boucler ça.
Il a attendu, puis a entendu Derricks se détacher avec son souffle suppressif et a avancé jusqu'à ce que l'ennemi soit en vue. Ils se cognèrent derrière leur couverture, s'exposèrent complètement de l'angle de son groupe, et Ryan souleva son fusil.
"Prenez-les," il a grondé, puis a ouvert le feu sur un homme s'accrochant désespérément à un AK-47 à environ 20 mètres de distance. L'explosion de cinq tours a pris l'homme dans le côté et la poitrine, et il est descendu dur au milieu d'un jet de cramoisi. Les soldats du Cong s'évanouissaient dans la terreur, en baissant dans leur langage incompréhensible, tandis que Ryan et ses soldats s'y déchiraient avec un feu brutal et précis. Après quelques secondes assourdissantes, il était fini, les formes enduites de noir se sont effondrées et brisées.
"Cessez le feu, cessez le feu!" Ryan a crié, attendant les rafales du reste de son équipe pour s'en aller. Il a tenu un moment dans le silence soudain, regardant les corps pour tout signe de mouvement.
Très bien messieurs, bon travail. Vérifiez les corps pour tout ce que nous pouvons utiliser; surveillez les survivants, et si vous en trouvez un, mettez-lui une balle. Je ne veux pas qu'un martyr de dernière minute nous fasse sortir. Nous avons deux minutes pour nous réarmer, alors bougez vite mais intelligemment. Si vous êtes faible en munitions, prenez un AK et autant de magazines que vous pouvez porter. Ces M-16 ne durent pas pour toujours.
Name:Ryan Davis
Age:33
Gender:Male
Rank:E-7 / Sergeant First Class
Ethnicity/Nationality:Scotch-Irish American
Physical Description:SFC Davis stands at roughly average height, and weighs in at 190lbs. His dark brown hair is kept in a neat medium-fade, per Army uniform regulations, and when time allows he ensures that his jaw is clean-shaven in compliance with accepted military standards. Despite his rigid adherence to military uniform protocols, his blue eyes often sparkle with good humor. His has two tattoos; the 17th Infantry buffalo on his left shoulder, and his “meat tags” on the right side of his ribcage. Shrapnel scars mar his right thigh and shoulder, courtesy of his trip to Korea.

Skillset:This is Ryan’s third tour to Vietnam and his fourth combat tour in all, so he has a wealth of experience and practical knowledge to draw upon. The various leadership courses he’s attended give him a solid grasp of tactics, and his 15 years in the grunts have made him a solid marksman. His most valuable “skills” are his ability to keep a cool head under fire, and to appear confident and collected even when he isn’t sure of himself.
History:Born in 1934, Ryan was raised in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, hiking and hunting as soon as he could hold a rifle. High school was uneventful (thanks to a veteran father who kept him under a tight but fair rein), and he spent most of his free time in the mountain trails or riding his Harley with his dad and uncles. There was never any doubt that he’d end up in the military. His father had fought the Nazis in World War II, and when Ryan enlisted in 1952 he threw himself eagerly into the Army life. He served in the final days of Korea as a young soldier in 1953, and was involved in the hellish campaign for Pork Chop Hill with Kilo Company, 17th Infantry, where he was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his actions during the battle. His first ‘Nam deployment came in 1963, his second in 1965. Now, as a Platoon Sergeant for the 1st Cav, he’s four months into his third tour. Ryan’s personal leadership method of “loving aggression” with his troops has led him to success so far; he treats his men fairly but accepts no half-assing, preferring to lead with a firm hand rather than the iron fist often employed by Staff NCOs.
Equipment: 
M16A1 with spare magazines
Colt M1911 .45 pistol, often issued to machine gunners and medics, and standard issue for Staff NCOs and Officers.
US Army Gerber Mark II fighting knife
Standard troop fair (rations, towel, canteens, etc.) and his helmet (unadorned, per Army regulation
3 M26 Fragmentation Grenades
Map and compass with map pens, and a notebook containing his “Platoon Sgt Cheat Sheets” for calling artillery, air support, and the like.
A picture of his wife and two daughters, carried inside his helmet.
One of his younger brother’s spare dog tags, worn on the tag chain next to his own. His brother is a Marine, currently deployed near Da Nang.
 A piece of shrapnel about 2 inches across, kept as a good-luck charm from Korea.
Several cans of Copenhagen. Sometimes he thinks it's the only thing keeping him from choking out his more unruly men.