Terror in the Block
Sliding off my seat belt I grabbed my travel bag and headed off the plane towards the arrivals desk; I had been on the plane for about 15 hours and enjoyed stretching my legs before climbing down the tunnel. Twenty minutes later after getting through customs, providing all my paperwork to immigration and grabbing my suitcase; I headed to where my new car was parked in the lot across the road. This was my second trip to Toronto and would now be my home after passing the interview and required exams for my new role within the police force. Thanks to my military career back home, I was eligible to try for the role and successfully cleared the immigration checks.
It was 0400 local time and I wanted to get to my new apartment for a quick shower and wander about before heading to the office to sign the paperwork required for the transfer of roles; I was also meeting the rest of the team today as they had been on a call when the interview stage was held. Parking up an hour later outside my new apartment block, I grabbed my gear and headed up to the thirteenth floor and unlocked the door. The movers had been in, redecorated and transferred my basic belongings to the marked rooms. The SRU had been in as well and I found my locked cabinet for my firearm in my bedroom cabinet. Chucking down my bags on the mattress on the floor, I grabbed a bag and headed for the bathroom to clean up and change into more mobile clothes.
Half an hour later I was sitting on the balcony overlooking the city and enjoying the view and change of scenery. After watching the dawn rise over the city, I grabbed my repacked bag for today and headed off for a 'reckie' of the local area so I would have at least a rough idea of local hotspots. My meeting with my new team and boss wasn't until 7am so I had plenty of time and only lived about a mile from the new office, so plenty of places to visit before clocking in time.
At 6.30am the city became really active with people heading home after work and the usual buzz of a city waking up from sleep. I had been told this could be a hectic place to work in, and after seeing the nightlife I knew I was going to love it here. Taking a left I started back towards my apartment and get the car to work. Just before 7am, I parked up in the marked bays and grabbed my gear from the boot; I knew the other members were probably already here training and I was still nervous about meeting the new team. Heading to the main reception I cleared my bags and ID through the scans and headed up the corridor towards the meeting rooms where I was to meet my new commander and sergeant.
"Hi, can I help you?" the officer at the desk enquired.
"Morning, I'm here to meet Sergeant Parker. I have an appointment at 7am!" I replied passing her my ID.
Taking my ID she scanned it through the system and checked my photos and fingerprint ID card with the internal system and immigration records. Passing the ID cards back, she handed me a PDA to sign electronically.
"Welcome to SRU Corporal Frasier. Please make your way to the meeting room at the end of the corridor and I'll contact Sergeant Parker. They are just off a call though so it could be a while before they are done with their briefing." She replied kindly while directing me where to go.
"No worries Officer, thanks for the help!" I replied grabbing my bag and heading to the meeting room.
It must have been about an hour later that I heard footsteps coming along the corridor and I stood up to meet my new boss and Sergeant and was faced by a man I recognised from Afghanistan. We both stood in shock and surprise at seeing each other again.
"Oh my god, Mac…..what you doing here?" he half blurted out.
"I'm waiting to meet my new team and Sergeant; I transferred from military to civilian services after the exams and last tour. How are you?" I said back.
We gave each other a huge hug and I clocked the other team members come in with the Commander of the SRU Teams; I got a few stares from the girl on the team and I released Sam and stood back.
"Commander, nice to see you again," I said releasing Sam.
"Welcome to the SRU Corporal. Do you two know each other?" he enquired.
"From Afghanistan Sir," I replied in a tone that meant no more info.
The Sergeant had caught my meaning and sent his team to get cleared up and report back for full introduction in an hour. Nodding to them all, I turned to Parker who ushered me into the meeting room and pulled out the forms for me to sign. About thirty minutes later I had signed my name enough times to ensure I was due to get a stamp made with my signature on it. With a final flourish and sigh, I signed the medical form and then leaned back on the chair with a huge smile on my face.
"Corporal Mackenzie Frasier, welcome to SRU Team One!"
Shaking his hand he motioned for the rest of the team to come into the room to be introduced and for us to get a bit more acquainted before they wanted to take me on the obstacle course.
A couple of hours later I was suited and booted for action on the obstacle course and had been partnered with Spike to run the back wall and rescue the civilian hostages that were being played by Team three. Grabbing my full pack I strapped in across my shoulders and loaded up the tags for the firearms we were using. Getting into starter positions we clambered around the back of the wooded path and then around to the side survey point to get Intel on the hostage's whereabouts as the boss continued doing his negotiator routine. Taking cover behind the half stone wall, we awaited the call to enter the area and begin removing the hostages from our area.
"Best entrance from the roof, across the sky beam and down the loft. Intel suggests the hostages are being held in the two back bedrooms." Spike whispered doing a quick check of his PDA.
"Any wounded? If some are non-mobile then we need to keep them on level ground." I replied checking my own PDA that pinged.
"One possible with spinal injuries due to GSW to the lower back." He replied.
"Okay, so we clear out main area, secure it and then I need to deal with medical emergencies. EMS notified and awaiting instructions from Parker." I replied.
Seconds later the message came for us to enter the area and begin our co-ordinated takedown of the situation. Jumping over the small wall we climbed the steep slope to reach the house and started our accent to reach our goals.
Ten minutes later I was escorting a stretcher out with the EMS unit to a round of applause and a beetroot face; I had successfully taken down a rogue member of Team three that was an added inclusion for us. Spike had supposedly been shot in the stomach and I had to chase the suspect through the house, they didn't reckon on being street smart and I threw a curveball of my own which took out the suspect before he even got ten feet in front of me.
The guys and trainers were standing at the gate entrance and as I helped carry the stretcher out, Spike waved to everyone and lay quite happily pretending to go for a nap after a long day at the office. Laying him down on the ground I thanked the EMS unit and grinned at everyone.
"Excellent job Corporal seems the British Army know their training and how to adapt. Care to explain the SAS moves used on the rogue?" Ed asked.
"Brownies Sir! Dangerous bunch of highland wild child's running round the place learning skills," I replied grinning again.
Sam was laughing and shaking his head as Ed got the message loud and clear.
"Copy that. Alright team, head back to the barn for debrief!" he said to the group.
Leaning down to unstrap Spike from the stretcher and remove his neck brace I nodded to the members of Team three who were walking past me. Most of them were grinning and patting my shoulder as they passed in a job well done. Helping him off the ground and passing him his gear, I headed up the path with Spike back towards the barn.
"How did you enjoy the exercise this morning?" he inquired.
"Loved it, now I see why your team wanted to test me, it's a lot more different than army, and we have to stick within the rules of the game. I'll adapt as Sam did once he left Special Forces, just give me a chance?" I replied bluntly.
"Hey, it wasn't a test on you; that is a simulation that is adapted for every new recruit into our teams, nothing special in it. Why do you think it was a test specifically for you?" he asked back as he stopped me.
"The trap that was set for you, on the last medevac I was assigned to with the Commando unit, the same thing happened. Down to the smallest detail of what hit you and where. I assumed that Parker or the Commander had been made aware of what happened since I was injured in the incident and wanted to see how I would react under the same pressure again."
I started to walk up the path again and wiped away the tears in my eyes; Wordy had stopped and watched us from the top of the hill and watched me walk into the unit entrance near the range. Waiting for Spike, he walked back to the range with him and stopped him before entering.
"Is she alright? She was upset when she walked past me," he inquired.
"I don't know; I may have over stepped asking her something about her army days. She thought this was a test designed for her, to sort out a weakness apparently. I think I'll need to ask Sam or the boss about it, she clammed up quicker than Ed's trigger finger." He replied.