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Date Posted: 02:05:52 06/26/11 Sun
Author: asiacheetah
Author Host/IP: ppp-71-128-195-9.dsl.sndg02.pacbell.net / 71.128.195.9
Subject: Chapter 37 - Michael
In reply to: asiacheetah 's message, "The Recruit (working title) - Michael pre-LFN story" on 03:47:50 04/25/11 Mon

Chapter 37 – Michael

Operations: “Two days ago we intercepted a communiqué between an arms broker we’ve been tracking and a high ranking member of Crimson Storm. We believe the group is gearing up for a high visible target in order to inflict the maximum amount of civilian casualty. Intel has pinpointed a possible location of a substation. You will download data from the computers on site, obtain key hostages, and take out the substation. Any questions?”

With no responses from the operatives at the table, Operations continued: “Michael will be the team leader, Kendo will provide tactical oversight. Further information will be provided on your panel. You leave in an hour. You’re dismissed.”

Michael pushed back from the briefing table and walked toward Smitty’s station. Before he got to Munitions, Adam jogged up next to him.

“Hey wait up, Michael.”

He paused briefly while Adam made his way toward him, buttoning his jacket as he waited. Adam joined him, grinning from ear to ear.

“Looks like we get to be on the same team again.”

His words brought back memories of the disastrous training mission they were both on months ago. He responded: “Just make sure to duck this time when people are shooting at you.”

Adam clutched his chest in mock pain: “I like to think I learned a thing or two in the past few months.”

“Good. I don’t want to get shot again covering you.”

Adam chuckled in response. They made their way to Munitions where Smitty was waiting with their equipment.

“Michael, here is your panel. I have most of the equipment gathered, just need to get a few more things.”

“Sure.” Michael reviewed the panel while Smitty moved deeper into storage. Adam gathered his equipments and left to change into his mission gear. He looked up as Kendo joined him at the table.

“Michael, I made some changes to the mission profile. Make sure to review it before you go out.”

“Of course.”

As Kendo made to leave, he paused and turned around toward him. “Oh, keep an eye on your team members.”

He looked at Kendo calmly, alarm bells starting to go off internally: “Why?”

“No reason. You haven’t worked with this team before so I wanted you to be extra vigilant.”

It was unlike Kendo to make this kind of statement without reason. He betrayed none of his inner turmoil as he nodded in affirmative.

*****

Michael took a look at the profile changes on their way to the target location. Most of the changes were minor with additional information on the various ingress/egress routes. He powered down the laptop and sat back to study his team members.

There were 5 team members in addition to him. Alpha team will consist of himself and Adam. The other 4 operatives have a good mixture of experience and expertise, half of whom Michael had worked with or led previously. Most of them have stoic expressions indicating their readiness and the seriousness they take to the mission. Most that is except Adam, who gave him a thumb up when he saw Michael looking his direction.

Dusty’s voice crackled on over their comm sets: “T-minus 5 minutes to the target site.”

At the announcement, the atmosphere inside the van became visibly tense as operatives checked their weapons and ammo count. Michael did not give into the natural urge to check his weapon. Instead he stared blankly ahead, visualizing the mission sequence and various contingency scenarios.

Dusty: “T-minus 60 seconds.”

Michael stood up next to the van exit and stared impassively at his team members. He braced himself as the van lurched to a sudden stop. He pushed the door release and nodded at the team as they quickly unloaded from the van and fanned out in formation.

He was the last to exit the van and gestured to the two teams toward the directions he wanted them to take. He and Adam then jogged silently to their access point. They blew the door open with a low velocity explosive that made minimal noise.

The substation was located inside an old soviet era military bunker. It appeared the terrorists made minimal efforts to beef up the security around the perimeter. No alarm sounded as they made their way deeper into the complex, dispatching the few patrolling guards quietly and efficiently.

Michael peaked around the corner where Intel indicated their communication hub would be located, and frowned at what he saw. There were a few older model computer terminals and two Crimson Storm operatives smoking and chatting nonchalantly. He turned the corner and shot them with his tranq gun coolly before they could even bring up their weapons.

Adam guarded the ingress points as he moved toward the computer terminals. He inserted the thumb drive to download the data. As he waited for the data to download, his uneasiness grew as the level of opposition was much lighter than anticipated. He withdrew the disc and destroyed the computer equipments.

Suddenly, he heard distant gun fire being exchanged. The comm set crackled to life as Bravo team checked in: “We’re being ambushed!”

Michael evenly replied: “Can you get to the exit point?”

“Negative. They have cut off our egress.”

“Delta team, do you copy?”

Nothing but static was the response. “Delta team, do you read me?” Again, no response. “Dusty, we’ve lost Delta team.”

Dusty: “Copy that, Michael. I’m showing multiple hostiles heading your way from the northeast corridor.”

Michael gestured Adam away from the northeast corridor as he prepped a small explosive charge. He tossed the explosive down the corridor as he heard incoming hostiles. He and Adam took cover as the bomb went off, caving in the hallway and taking out the hostiles.

Dusty: “Michael, I’m showing more hostiles going toward your location from the southeast and northwest quadrants.”

They made their way down the only remaining egress route. He prepped another explosive and set it off behind them to block off access. According to the schematics, this corridor should lead directly to a secondary egress point.
They turned the corner and dived back, barely avoiding being shot by the eight or so hostiles waiting on the other end. They were trapped with no way out except toward the waiting terrorists.

They shot at the terrorists whenever there was a break in hostile fire, but there were too many of them and their ammo supply rapidly dwindling.

“Dusty, what’s the status of the Bravo team?”

“They’re gone, Michael. I see more hostiles coming your way, 12 in all.” He could hear the strain in Dusty’s voice.

Kendo: “Michael, back-up team is 20 minutes away.”

He ducked below another barrage of bullets and discharged his weapon, taking out 2 hostiles before diving back behind cover. He replied with a calmness he was far from feeling: “We don’t have 20 minutes.”

Kendo: “Do you have any more explosive charges?”

“One more; prepping it now.”

He indicated to Adam about the live charge and tossed the explosive toward the waiting mob. The closeness of the charge in such tight quarters knocked them temporarily off their feet. He jumped up as soon as he could and took out 4 more hostiles before they could return fire.

He ducked back as 8 more terrorists joined the fire fight. He didn’t allow himself to think of the hopelessness of the situation, just continued to shoot whenever possible. Adam, for once was completely serious, his face white and lips drawn in a tight line.

The terrorists tossed a concussive grenade down their corridor. They dived as far back as possible, but the close range and narrow hallway maximized the blast. The grenade exploded in a blinding light with a force that rattled their bones. The last thing Michael saw before the darkness claimed him was the sight of Adam’s unconscious form.

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