Will Pearson ran away from home aged fifteen and joined the Royal Navy. Seven years and two world tours later, he won a scholarship to Ruskin workers' education college and then read Modern Languages at Oriel College, Oxford. After various careers, Will turned his hand to writing. His military experience and contacts led to a breakthrough book, the best-selling Tornado Down, written with the RAF's John Peters and John Nicol. He has also produced and scripted documentaries for Channel 4 and Discovery Channel and written for the Financial Times, the Daily Mirror, Africa Today and many other publications. Will lives in London with his wife and two children. Rusty Firmin was born in Carlisle in 1950. He joined the Royal Artillery at an early age and was posted to 49 Field Regiment RA and subsequently to the 29 Commando RA. Getting a taste for commando ops, Rusty passed the gruelling SAS selection procedure and joined B-Squadron 22 (SAS) Regiment in 1977. Following covert tours in Northern Ireland with the SAS, Rusty then led part of the iconic assault to rescue the hostages from the Iranian Embassy in 1980. Rusty lives in rural Herefordshire.