January 23, 2003
Polish Military Academy 23 miles outside of Warszawa (Warsaw)
The bell rang throughout the school building awaking the girl from her morning nap. She glared up at the teacher as class started. She hated school, making her wear stupid uniforms, not to mention the fact that she constantly got-
A piece of paper flew across the room hitting her face as soon as the teacher turned his back. She grumbled to herself softly as she opened it up. She should have known, the words, "Spoiled bitch" were written in pencil. She flattened the paper out but did not write anything. Instead the motions her pencil made on the paper served a different purpose. As class continued on a detailed, shaded picture of one of the other students in a situation that should never be drawn emerges with the caption, "She'll do anything that moves," written in Polish over it. The bell to change classes rings and the girl grabbed her bags and the paper. As she walks through the hall she makes a brief stop at the school bulletin board and posts the picture putting it on display for the whole school. Then she continues on her way as if nothing happened.
A few minutes later the second bell rang and class began only to be interrupted by a schoolwide announcement, "Elżbieta Bosak report to the disciplinary office immedietly," Ela rolled her eyes and stood walking calmly out of the classroom to the office.
After her leisurely stroll through the school she arrives at the office and sat down in front of the Principal of the school, "Elżbieta, did you draw this?" the man sets the drawing down on the desk.
"So what if I did? Do you have any proof?" Ela responds calmly remaining defiant of the school's ways.
The principal sighed and looked at the drawing, "You understand you are on thin ice after this? If your father was anyone other-"
"Do not talk about my father. You haven't earned that right," she glares at the Principal.
"I can not keep them from expelling you forever. Luckily this was a minor incident that may go relatively unnoticed."
Ela wanted to gag at the abuse of authority. She stood up and walked out of the room, "Tread lightly Elżbieta," the man says sternly.
Polish Military Academy Expulsion Hearing Conclusion – This Document is to contain statements from all interviewed witnesses of the altercation occurring between two students, Ms. Elżbieta Bosak and Anastazja Nowak on January 24, 2003.
Statement I – Mr. Aleksy Lisowski (Faculty)
"I was walking to my car at the end of the day when I noticed a commotion going on near the courtyard outside the Girls Dormitory. This was normal for the boys but a rare occurrence for the girls so I decided to investigate. As I approached the crowd parted to let me through and I saw the altercation occurring. There were two students fighting…. Very violently…"
Inquiry Committee – "And which students were involved"
"Elżbieta Bosak and Anastazja Nowak. I arrived in time to see Ms. Bosak kick Ms. Nowak in the head, causing Ms. Nowak to collapse on the ground. I knew the hit was very dangerous so I immediately called the nurse and she called the police and medical authorities. Unfortunately they were too late, and Ms. Nowak had succumb to her injuries.
Statement II – Ms. Elżbieta Bosak (Defendant)
"I did it. I kicked her in the head after I hit her multiple times, and she died, because she wasn't strong enough."
Inquiry Committee – "Ms. Bosak. You are aware that this is an expulsion hearing? You have six months before you graduate. This is not a time for jokes."
Ela got a confident smirk on her face as she leaned forward in her chair, putting her arms against the table, "Who said I was joking?"
The rest of this document is classified. Please present authorization.
February 20, 2007 (4 years later)
The sky over Habbaniyah Lake, Iraq (50 miles outside of Baghdad)
Ela sketched some drawings in her notebook as the C-130 Hercules approached the drop zone. She was working for the Sabine Bridge Services Group, or SBSG. It was a private military company that did any and all operations as long as the money was right. "Alright people listen up," the distinct voice of her boss, Joseph Shepard, boomed through the cargo bay, "Our job is to pick up and secure the package this is a definite HVT no matter what we cannot let it escape. It is a package the size of a small suitcase and must not be damaged, we believe it is on a boat traveling up the lake in an attempt to get it out of the country, this cannot be allowed to happen. Check your targets I don't want any civilians injured. Clear?"
The other operatives in the helicopter all called out "Yes sir," but Ela had a question as she put her notebook down making a few notes, "Commander," she spoke in English and her Polish accent was very strong, "Why are we going after a Russian Suitcase Nuke? The American's are already doing that."
The transport fell silent, "We're going after it because the Americans, and all their lovely toys, are banned from the country. They can't get a presence in here to extract any nukes they find, which is why they called us. It's called-"
"Yes, yes plausible deniability. I'm ready, sir."
Ela grabbed her sub-machine gun and checked it for any problems, her commander continued, "We will be dropping over the lake along with two Zodiac rafts. In addition, we will be dropping as close to the target as possible. Stick together. Watch each others backs, and above all," Shepard glared at Ela, "don't do anything stupid."
Ela smirked and tightened her parachute, "Over the drop zone now, check radios," Shepard said.
Each of the operatives checked in as the door at the back of the transport opened, "Ready," the lights inside the plane turned green, "Go! Go! Go!" Ela and the other five men jumped out of the aircraft as the two Zodiac's led the way towards the lake.
Ela's breathing calmed, the wind hit her face as she mentally regulated her thoughts. She patted her chest pocket for luck, a habit she picked up from carrying around a piece of her grandfathers old paratrooper uniform from the war. "Shepard, which boat has the package on it?"
"It's a pleasure yacht, they're hoping to smuggle it out on a civilian vessel. The boat is about 70-80 feet long painted white-"
"I see it, approaching target." Ela adjusted her free fall to get her closer to the yacht.
"Do not attempt to land on the target vessel, I repeat do not-"
"1000 feet," Ela said calmly.
"Everyone rendezvous at the Zodiac's. We're going to infiltrate from the water. NOT the air."
"800 feet."
"All units deploy parachutes."
Everyone except Ela deployed their parachute and followed the Zodiacs down.
"600 feet, deploying parachute, closing in on target."
Ela's chute deployed and she approached the yacht silently while Shepard was yelling over the radio at her.
"Hostile's spotted, not engaging, searching for package."
Ela silently landed on the top of the ship cutting her chute and letting it fall into the water unseen. She crouched down and slowly made her way across the decks avoiding hostiles. As she tried to cross an open section of the deck an Iraqi turned the corner and Ela sprinted up to him kicking his gun out of his hands and butting him in the head with her sub-machine gun. knocking the man out. She dragged his body and hid it behind some crates. "One hostile down."
"Ela you disengage and wait for assistance this instance."
"Negative Shepard. Target in sight." Ela saw three enemies guarding a crate with radiation trefoil on it. "Three armed hostiles near the target. Port side of the ship. Main deck."
"Ela you cease fire or you're out of a job!" Shepard hissed over the radio.
"Sir. I have a clear shot at the objective may be the only one we get."
"Dammit... Secure objective, alright guys new mission. We have to defend Ela from enemy units and extract her from the engagement zone."
Four yes sir's echoed through the radio and the sound of Ela's suppressed sub-machine gun pierced the night and three guards fell, one for each burst. Ela jumped down and quickly pried open the container. She looked in and her eyes widened, "Abort mission there is no package!" Ela saw the Zodiacs pulling up to the yacht and heard the rumbling of a jet, "Go! Get in the water!" Ela jumped over the edge as a jet flew over and the yacht exploded. Ela felt something hit her side and screamed in pain. Water filled her lungs and she tried to ignore the pain and swim up to the surface. She broke the surface and coughed hoarsely. Screaming in pain she tried to find anyone from her unit. "Shepard? Shepard! Shep..." Ela passed out floating on the lake.