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Date Posted: 21:38:36 09/03/06 Sun
Author: Mary
Author Host/IP: 70-33-152-247.agstme.adelphia.net / 70.33.152.247
Subject: Chapter 16 - Lisbon Mission
In reply to: Mary 's message, "Just Knowing - Chapter 15+" on 12:53:00 09/02/06 Sat

Chapter 16 – Lisbon Mission

Michael entered his office, locked the door and sat his cup of coffee on the desk. He had a few hours of sleep and now it was time to review the Lisbon mission tapes. Jason had obtained the tapes just before Michael was granted access with his reinstatement. Walter and Simon both wanted to view the tapes also but Michael declined their requests. He needed to see this, study it, feel it alone first. Part of the reason behind Nikita’s current state was on these tapes. The other reason’s…well, Michael had a feeling about that but he needed additional intel and he had his contacts working on it.

He typed in his password and watched as the mission briefing came up on his screen, her image before him, and hearing her voice again after so many years. He had to pause the playback. Then he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He had to focus on what happened, every detail, when all he wanted to do was to drink in the sight of her. But he knew the best way to help her was to focus on the mission.

He restarted and watched as Nikita gave the briefing to the team. Her voice washed over him, “We’ve just been informed that one of our remote cell teams in Lisbon has a location on Ranat del` Chaco.” She pushed a button and his face appeared on the hologram. “As some of you know, prior missions to acquire Ranat have not been successful, that will not be the case here. His ties to terrorists funding in the Southern Hemisphere has Oversight very interested in the intel that he can provide us. We will get Oversight that intel.”

Jason continued the briefing, “We have Ranat directly tied to over thirty acts of terror including the fatal plane crash in Venezuela two weeks ago, the bombing in Mozambique that killed hundreds, and the assassination of the Prince and his family in Skhira, Tunisia. And that just touches the surface of what he is capable of, his indirect involvement is impossible to trace, even for me. This guy and his organization are tightly contained.”

Nikita shot a glance at Jason and Michael could see how she tried to maintain her emotionless demeanor and not smile at Jason’s arrogant remark. “Obtaining Ranat is our top priority. Considering the criticality of this mission we have classified it as a level ten. We own it. Tyler will lead the teams, Jason and Quinn on Comm. Get your panels in Systems. You leave in two hours.”

With that, the briefing was over. Michael had already traced back some of the intel and it was not the remote cell in Lisbon that had Ranat’s location. He was looking for the true source of the intel now.

He continued to watch as the mission went live. He split his screens to be able to watch both Nikita in Comm and the mission playback at the same time.

The teams were onsite in Lisbon at the Se` Patriarchal Cathedral. Tyler was running Tactical onsite in the van and Quinn was with him. Jason was in Comm with Nikita.

Quinn’s voice was heard from the van, “Perimeter is clean. There are four hotspots in the ambulatory. Don’t know if they are hostiles.”

“Intel is still solid, Ranat should be onsite. He’ll be in one of the chapels in the ambulatory.” Jason was clear and all business. Nikita watched on.

Tyler’s voice, “Ok, Teams One and Three enter from the west. Team Two from the east point. Signal, one pulse, on sighting Ranat. Do not engage until we have confirmation that he’s there. Then wait for my order.”

Nikita added, “Team Four check the main chapel. Sweep for innocents.”

The teams fanned out as directed. Each reporting in as they moved. Michael watched as all the chapels were carefully swept by the teams. Then Team Two reported that they had primary target in sight. Five hostiles had to be taken out. Tyler directed First Team to assist with Securing Ranat and cleaning the area.

He heard Quinn, “Additional hostiles are approaching from the northeast corridor.”

First Team Leader reported, “We have them.”

Then he heard Team Four Leader report, “We have innocents on site in the main chapel.”

Tyler replied, “Numbers?”

Quinn responded, “I estimate forty may fifty in the main chapel. Team Four, can you verify?”

“Yes. It looks to be a children’s choir and parents.”

Michael heard Nikita whisper, “No one was supposed to be there.”

Then Tyler, “Secure Ranat. Keep hostile engagement in ambulatory, use west point as egress. We’ll take him over water. Engage now.”

Gunfire was heard, shouting, and Michael watched as the Section teams took out the hostiles. “We have Ranat. Is perimeter clean for egress?”

Jason responded, “Yes. Perimeter is prepped. Backup team, prepare for transport to River.”

“We’re on it.”

Nikita smiled and then said, “We got him. Jason, open a line to Oversight…”

Then it happened. There was a huge explosion at the Cathedral and it vibrated throughout Section.

Tyler’s urgently called to the teams, “Status! What is happening?”

Jason looked at his monitor and knew that this was not good. There was no answer to Tyler’s inquiry

“Quinn, Jason? What does thermal show?”

Jason replied, “Thermal is cold.”

Nikita stood perfectly still, “Run it again.”

“I already have run it three times. It’s cold.”

Michael watched as Tyler exited the mission van, after he called the backup team for an assist, and he ran to the site. The entire Se` Patriarchal Cathedral lay in ruins, smoke climbing in the dark night sky illuminated by the fires that were burning. Nikita and Jason were watching as Tyler tried to find anyone alive. They saw backup arrive and they looked for the teams.

Finally sirens could be heard in the background. The operatives had to leave. Tyler made the final call, “No survivors. Mission is aborted. All remaining ops to egress.”

Michael paused the playback and zoomed in on Nikita’s face. Anyone else looking at her would realize that she was upset over a failed mission and loosing so many operatives. But Michael saw much more. Her personal pain, her abhorrence of the situation was buried in her eyes. The pain was devastating and Michael had to look away for a moment, her agony hit him so very hard. He had always been able to read her by her eyes. In that picture she was so overwhelmed by the devastation before her.

Michael panned the image and saw what she was looking at. It was the shoe of one of the children, and she couldn’t tear her eyes away from it.

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