Rainbow Six Siege: Shattered Skies
The Sequel to Rainbow Six Siege: Undercover
Prologue
The Grim Sky Urban Tactical Response Unit, Rainbow's newest unit, felt uneasy about their mission. The details on what was happening in London were vague. All they could do was try to stay calm and focus on what was in front of them. The two Blackhawk helicopters plowed their way through the intense rain storm England had thrown at them. The first Blackhawk carried the Rainbow Six operators while the second carried a platoon of Royal Marines. Flashes of lightning spooked some of the operators looking out the open side sliding doors. Turbulence and wind jostled the helicopter around as it began to make its decent through the low hanging storm clouds. As the operators peered out of the helicopter through the night time and fog they began to see the lights of the London's skyline. The city's lights mixed with fog and rain storm made the city look haunted. The helicopters went into shallow left bank over the River Thames heading toward the upper west side of London. The dark silhouette of Big Ben could partially be seen through the dense fog and rain.
"2 minutes till touchdown." The pilot said.
Maverick glanced up at his squad mate Clash. She looked back at him with eyes full of determination. She loaded a clip into her pistol and gave him a nod of approval. Maverick smirked at her and loaded a magazine full of 50 caliber Beowulf rounds into his AR 15 and cocked the rifle.
She was always down for a good fight. It was her nature. Its what made her such a great riot control officer in the Scotland Yard.
Maverick looked around at the other operators taking part in the mission.
Diagonal from Maverick was Polish GROM operator Zofia Bosak who stared out the window of the helicopter at the bright city lights below. She looked uneasy. Ever since the death of her younger sister she hasn't been herself. The operators used to know her as someone who was confident and determined to take on a challenge. Now she was distant and didn't speak to anyone. She also had been taking less risks and operating with a more conservative approach then what the other operators were used to as if she were holding herself back for something.
Sitting next to Zofia was Israeli FBI SWAT operator Ash. Ash tapped her foot nervously on the metal floor staring at her boots. She appeared to be muttering something to herself in a different language. It sounded like Hebrew. Six had specially assigned Ash for this mission for reasons unknown to Maverick. Ash wasn't happy about the assignment and she felt even worse when she found out she would be team leader for the mission. She cradled her R4-C in her hands like she was holding child. Her breaching launcher hung loosely off the front of her vest. She looked scared. Maverick couldn't tell what the operator was afraid of.
Maverick looked at Ash with curiosity.
"What are you so afraid of?" He asked bluntly.
Ash slowly picked up her head and looked at the blonde-haired man dressed in Middle Eastern clothing. He couldn't see Ash's eyes from behind her black glasses, but he could tell she was looking him up and down judging him.
"If you've seen the things I've seen you'd be a little nervous before strange ops like these."
Maverick rolled his eyes at her comment.
"Don't act like you're the only person on this aircraft who's seen shit." He said arrogantly.
Ash shook her head in frustration and ignore him. They haven't even touched the ground yet and she was starting to hate the new operator already.
"For the new guy you have a lot of audacity to be talking like that." The Russian Spetsnaz and CBRN operator Finka said.
"I'm trying to make sure our team leader isn't going to cut and run."
Finka stared at Maverick with hatred and cracked her knuckles.
"It's not Ash you should be worried about. You should be worrying about yourself. I read your file before you joined Maverick. I know what you're capable of and where you've came from. You better not disappoint." She sneered.
Right back at you Lera. Don't think I know your secrets. Maverick thought to himself.
Maverick looked down at his feet. He could tell this was going to be a long mission by the way things were already starting to go for him. Maverick was skeptical about Fink's abilities as an operator. He was the best intelligence gatherer in the world and he wanted to get to know his team before he deployed with them. He did some digging and found classified information that Finka was struggling with a nerve disease that effected felling in her extremities, but he wasn't going to tell her he knew. It was classified information after all.
Next to Finka was the other CBRN operator but from the French GIGN, Lion. Lion played with the tablet attached to his wrist that controlled his own specialized drone. From what Maverick knew, the drone could detect enemy movement in the surrounding area which was going to help their team greatly for this mission. Maverick had heard a lot about Lion from word on the street. Nobody on Rainbow really like him because he had a shitty attitude but apparently, he was also a very effective operator in the field. Maverick would keep an eye on him through out the mission to make a true judging of his character.
"One minute folks. Welcome to paradise." The pilot said.
The operators moved to edge of the helicopter's doors. Ash scooched to the floor of the helicopter and let her legs dangle outside the helicopter. She loaded a breaching round into her grenade launcher and let it dangle off the front of her vest. Lion crouched next to her. He did the sign of the cross and switched his V308 off safe.
"Jager, try not to crash the helicopter like you did in New Mexico." Ash said with a sly grin.
"Ja, ja, whatever. 30 seconds people." He said annoyed.
The helicopters slowed to a hover just above the city streets. The clouds and fog obstructed their vision only allowing them to see a few feet in front of them. They could barely see the helicopter full of Royal Marines off to their side.
"Let's move." Ash commanded and slid out of the helicopter. She tumbled into a summersault when she hit the ground to ease her fall. The other operators followed close behind. She scanned the environment back and forth through the ACOG sight on her R4-C.
There were no signs of threats.
She turned back to Jager and gave him a thumbs up. Jager gave her a quick salute and flew away along with the other helicopter leaving Rainbow and the Royal Marines alone.
"Six, Rainbow and British Marines are on the ground." Jager said on comms.
"Copy."
The team stayed crouched in the streets listening to the environment around them. The city appeared to be a ghost town. The heavy rain drenched the operators. Gusts of wind blew trash around the streets and howled loudly between the buildings. Dense fog continued to obstruct their vision. In the distance they could hear small bits of gunfire followed by some explosions.
"Eliza, do you really think its them? Do you think the intel you were given is accurate?" A familiar voice said from Ash's right side.
Ash turned to see one of her old friends who had passed away a long time ago crouched next to her trying to peer through the dense fog. She was dressed in her usual battle attire but wore an olive drab hoodie to keep warm from the rain instead of her usual blue t shirt.
"I don't know Meghan. I'm praying to God it's not." Ash said frowning.
"The intel from todays briefing matched up with the intel I uncovered last time we dealt with this threat."
"I know. It matched up way too well and that's what worries me." Eliza said halfheartedly.
Ash lifted her hand gave a signal to advance down the street quietly. The operators and the soldiers moved quietly down the block of the street toward their objective. Clash took point with her shield fully extended. Ash followed with her R4-C aimed over Clash's shoulder using her as mobile cover like she normally did was Montagne or Blitz. The rest of the operators followed in a triangle formation. The Royal Marines trailed behind Rainbow.
"Zo, what do you think of the new girl? I think she's weird." Another female voice said.
Zo rolled her eyes.
"Ela, I'm not having this conversation right now."
Ela walked besides her sister with her hands stuffed in her jacket pockets.
"Look at her Zo. She looks so scary… and very bald."
"Ela please."
"I'm just saying. I mean where did Six find these new operators? The circus? That blonde headed guy is dressed like the terrorists I had to kill back Iraq."
"Hey, did you say something?" Maverick asked.
Zo looked away embarrassed. Ela giggled next to her.
"Oh… um… sorry Maverick. Just talking to myself." She said to him sheepishly.
"Cut the chatter and stay focused. We're supposed to be quiet." Maverick scolded.
"Yeah, sorry."
Zo gave Ela a dirty look. Her younger sister was going to be the death of her.
After several minutes of walking Ash suddenly put her hand up signaling to stop. She thought she heard a trash can fall to the ground.
"Enemy is front." She whispered over comms.
The operators and the Royal Marines raised their weapons ahead preparing for what lay ahead of them. Clash stood tall with her thumb over the trigger of the tasers on her shield. Ash looked through her scope trying to find a target, but the fog kept her from seeing anything. Zofia moved behind a car and rest her LMG on the hood. Finka followed Zofia's movements and took position on the opposite end of the street creating a kill zone in front of Ash and Clash. The platoon of Royal Marines behind the operators spread out creating a perimeter.
The units kept their sights trained ahead waiting and watching. There was more rustling of debris. Ash was about to give the word to open fire when a small Yellow Labrador puppy came scurrying out from the concealment of the fog.
Ash exhaled a sigh of relief and lowered her weapon.
"Hold your fire is just a dog." She said lowering her weapon.
The operators called out down the line that noise was just a dog.
The puppy ran up to Lion looking for attention. Lion lowered his weapon and picked up the puppy.
"What are you doing out here fella?" He said petting the dog.
"Put the dog down Olivier." Finka hissed.
Lion gave her a look of disappointment. Ash took a knee in the street next to Clash. She took advantage of the small break to pull out a map of the area and get her bearings.
"What are you thinking Ash?" Clash asked glancing down at the map.
"With all this fog I can't tell if we're moving in the right direction. I don't want to commit our squad to the wrong direction."
"I see."
"This is a good position to stop and get Lion's drone set up. We can split up. I'm gonna stay back with Lion and Finka. I'll get Lion to set up his drone while I try and get our bearings. There should be a community square about 3 blocks north of here if my directions are correct. Take Maverick, Zofia, and the Royal Marines three blocks north of us and do some recon. Establish a perimeter if you can and give me a size up. If you can find that square, then it means we're moving the right direction. If you run into any problems fall back to me. Don't get cut off from us. Let Maverick lead. We'll be in contact. Move it."
"Roger that." Clash turned to the rest of the troops. "On me. Let's move. Maverick get behind me, I'll continue on point."
"Eliza, are you sure you want to split up your group?" Meghan asked over her shoulder.
"They can handle it Meghan. I need Lion's drone airborne before we can move any further and I want to keep everyone moving around."
Meghan silently protested in her head.
Ash began to plot a course while Finka helped Lion with setting up his drone.
…
Clash, Maverick, Zofia, and the Royal Marines walked slowly up the foggy streets. Rain beating in their faces. The wind passing over their wet bodies made them feel cold.
"Maverick, you see anything?" Clash asked.
"Can't see shit." He said peering through the fog.
They walked a few more yards up the city streets. The buildings began to open up into a larger more open area. It must be the community square Ash was talking about. That meant she was leading them in the right direction.
They moved up toward the square. The area was covered in debris, shattered glass, and garbage. There were park benches to sit and big statue in the middle. Maverick began to hear what sounded like someone crying.
"You hear that?" He said raising his weapon.
"Yeah I heard it." Zofia said raising her weapon.
"Stay frosty." Clash said from behind her shield.
Clash stopped moving and raised her hand for everyone to hold their positions.
"Clash, whatcha got?" Maverick asked.
"12 o'clock. It's a little girl against the statue."
Maverick looked past Clash's shoulder to see a little girl against the statue crying softly.
"I see her." He said lowering his weapon.
Zo lowered her LMG and casually walked toward the girl.
"Zofia, get back here." Maverick hissed.
"Establish a perimeter and cover me." She said and continued to walk to toward the girl.
Maverick shook his head in frustration and motioned for the Royal Marines to establish a perimeter.
As Zofia walked closer to the girl she could see she was surrounded by bodies of police and military. She knew something was terribly wrong. The enemy couldn't be far if they were finding bodies. She squatted next to the girl. The girl turned away from her acting shy.
"Hey, no need to be scared we're here to help you. What happened?" She asked placing a hand on her shoulder.
"They're here. Its not safe." She said between sniffles.
"Who's here? I don't understand."
Zofia checked her surroundings and began to feel butterflies in her stomach. They completely exposed on all sides surrounded by midrise buildings that were easily accessible. They could also barely see from the fog. It was a perfect place to launch an ambush and box in an opponent.
Ela crouched down next to Zo.
"Zo, I see movement in the buildings. You need to get out here right now. It's a trap." Ela whispered in her ear.
Maverick jogged up to Zofia. He looked angry.
"Zofia what the fuck are you doing? You're holding us all up. We're not here for fucking children." He said angrily.
"Maverick, get the men ready to move out. I don't think we're alone. Tell Ash we found the community square but we're falling back to her position." She said with a panicked voice.
"What do you mean we're not alone? I don't hear anyone. We can establish a perimeter and wait." He said looking around but all he could see were the shadows of the surrounding buildings.
"No. We need to get out of here. Look at the bodies."
Maverick recoiled back noticing the bodies on the ground.
"Maverick, that'll be us if we don't move." She said pleading with him.
There was the sound of multiple footsteps running on pavement. They began to hear what sounded like voices.
There was a scream from somewhere in the Royal Marine platoon.
"WHAT THE FUCK THEY GOT THOMAS!" One of the marines screamed.
"WHERE DID THAT COME FROM!" Another marine yelled.
"WHAT WAS THAT?!"
"SIR, THEY GOT US BOXED IN!"
There was another scream. The square suddenly erupted with gunfire as the marines fired wildly into the fog as a firefight began between Grim Sky and their own targets. Large groups of silhouettes danced like ghosts in the fog moving between the platoon picking off one marine after the other.
Maverick keyed up on comms.
"Ash, Ash, this Grim Sky team 2…" Maverick stopped mid-sentence when he saw a silhouette moving toward him. He pulled out his pistol and fired at the target, but it moved into cover behind a bench.
"Maverick say again you're unreadable. Team 2 this is Team 1..." Ash said trying to communicate with him.
Maverick ignored Ash's hails and looked at the chaos that surrounded him. He had led his team into a trap and now they were completely boxed in. He watched as one marine after the other hit the ground covered in their own blood not moving.
They had to run or they'd all be dead in seconds.
"GRAB THE WOUNDED! BREAK CONTACT! FALL BACK! GET BACK TO ASH'S POSITOIN! COVER FIRE! GET BACK TO ASH'S POSITON! COME ON!" Maverick screamed fearfully through the deafening sound of gunfire and other soldiers screaming hoping his team would listen. Zofia picked up the girl and began to withdraw back to Ash's position.
Maverick's turned around and ran as fast he could with the survivors of his team back the came they came with the enemy right on their heels.
"COVER FIRE! COVER FIRE!" Maverick screamed as they ran for their lives back toward Ash.
…
Ash let out a stream of curses at Maverick because he wouldn't reply to her hails. She turned to Lion.
"Lion, is your drone ready?" Ash asked.
"That's correct. Drone is in the air."
Ash, Lion, and Finka perked their heads up to the sound of gunfire.
"Is that Maverick's team?" Finka asked.
"Team 2 this is team 1 do you copy?" Ash keyed up on comms hoping he'd answer again.
"ASH THIS IS TEAM 2 WE FOUND THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND ARE RETROGRADING BACK TO YOUR POSITION UNDER HEAVY CONTACT! I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE FUCK WE'E FIGHTING BUT I JUST LOST HALF MY TEAM!"
Ash felt impending doom inside her.
"Lion. Drone it." Ash commanded.
"Big brother coming in for overwatch." Lion said pressing a button on his wrist computer.
The ground began to vibrate as the drone began to scan for movement. The image that showed was something out of nightmare. A small group of white outlines appeared to be running back toward Ash's position. In pursuit of them were 100 different outlines in red charging straight at them.
"Holy shit…" Ash muttered.
Finka looked at her waiting for orders. Ash stood frozen unable to make a decision.
"Ash what do you want us to do?" Finka asked staring at her. The sound of gunfire was getting closer.
"Eliza." Meghan said appearing inches from Ash's face blocking her view of the red outlines that were almost at their location.
"Eliza look at me." Meghan said again.
"Meghan, its them… I can't believe it… I thought we…" Ash stuttered. Cold sweat dripped from her face.
"I know Eliza now get your act together and lead your unit. You have to get out of here."
Ash took in a deep breath.
"Okay." She whispered to herself.
She turned to Finka and Lion.
"Guys we stand our ground here. Finka, give us an adrenal boost. This is about get ugly."
"Incoming surge!" Finka screamed squeezing the button on her glove.
Ash keyed up on her comms.
"Six this is Grim Sky."
"Go ahead."
"Intel given by the English were correct. Its them. Same thing as last time. The upper west side is a dark zone and we're now under heavy contact. We're going to make our stand here. We'll continue to stay in contact."
There was a moment of silence from Six.
"Good luck. God help us all." Six said.