The fog cleared up by sunrise. Instead of the gloomy and ever present cloud that washed over the forest, rays of sunshine blasted through. Isaac was able to tell the lush green was more vivid than previously thought. Tina's CADPAT wove right into the grass' colors. His uniform stood out more, looking like a dry patch of withered grass.
"Should've picked something a little more greener," Tina chuckled, noticing the way he stood out. He straightened out his pants, crossing his arms after.
"Excuse me for not being fashion savvy," Isaac smiled back. "Not everyone can be as aesthetically appealing as you."
A playful shove ended the conversation. Isaac checked the time, right then was the best time for clarity on the White Mask compound. He hiked up his backpack, and climbed out the foxhole. Frost followed suit, stepping along a newly paved path. The journey was silent hike on the rugged terrain, the focus on the mission only. The compound was a few miles away, making the focus on moving more important than small talk.
They finally approached the vicinity of the compound. Located in a clearing of the forest, the area was rather small. Only two decent size buildings with a shed near the southwest. It was surrounded by woods and small hills that provided the two the perfect cover for long range recon. They both went prone against a fallen log, pulling out their binoculars and a long range drone designed by Twitch back at base. A quick activation process led the camouflaged robot to scoot its way to the base.
"Area is in visual," Isaac harked. "Starting recon."
"I see a tango on the roof," Tina noted. "New guy, carrying a sniper."
"That makes five total," Isaac sighed. "This could be more than a scouting post than we previously thought."
"Should we move in?"
"No, we still don't know if there's civilians or more Masks inside."
Tina pointed to an open side on the building. The morons left a window open. "You got an entry point, left of the building face."
"Got it, moving in." the drone scooted along the grass silently, unnoticed by the guards making their rounds. It managed to slip in through an open window, scouring the insides of the building.
Nothing spectacular inside. Mostly just some folded tables and chairs set out holding what looked like to be weapon parts or bags of drugs. There was a an old HAM radio set up as well, an easy way to communicate without suffering through peering listeners. The drone flipped around and traveled to the next room. A small lab in the bathroom, filled with chemicals and a tub for making the drugs. "Drug lab spotted."
"So it's a trading post. They receive drugs, make or cut it, and sell it to the nearest city or town. Scumbags." Tina furrowed her brows. Isaac slipped the drone into an open vent, shutting off. "We should wait to see if there's a pickup so we can get some more intel."
He brought out his PDA and took notes on the situation, ready to send it back to HQ once he was able to. "Exactly what I was thinking." Isaac said
"Great minds think alike."
He chuckled. Tina went on with her spotters scope and found the tailpipe of a truck just behind the second building, covered from their angle. "I think there's a truck just behind the building, check it out with the drone."
"Got it." Isaac flipped the drone back on and scooted out of the vent to the outside. He cornered around the second building and spotted a functional pickup truck with the driver's door wide open.
"Get the license plate, we'll get a fix on who's delivering this stuff."
The drone went around the cars rear, but there was no plate. Isaac went to the front, a plate was found. There was something off about it, as if it's been reattached multiple times to the car. The scarring from screwdrivers and faded colors show its seen many years on the road. He frowned, realizing that it's a fake plate number with a Montana state designation.
"Bastards are using a fake plate, or one from another car. I've seen Cartel's do it when shipping drugs by car in the southern border. If we trace it back it'll probably be from the nineties."
"These guys are pretty intent on hiding their steps," Tina said. "Not like our usual guys."
"They must be working with a gang or mafia, protecting this lab for them," Isaac flipped on his PDA and took the license plate down for note. "What's the nearest major city here?"
"Van City, but we're nearly a two hundred miles from the nearest house. It'll take them hours for them to reach the city."
"A perfect guise. Let's pack up and head back before they get suspicious."
"You sure, I mean we have a lot of time—"
The sudden screen static on the long range controller was example enough. Through the spotters scope Tina saw a man yelling at the guards to search the area around the compound. "Yeah okay, let's get out of here."
They had the upper hand, already being a distance away from the area. Avoiding the guards was an easy task, making their way to the foxhole.
"This was a change of plans," Tina remarked. Isaac couldn't help but smirk, perched over the ground to see if they even manage to track them.
"You're telling me. Next time we go we have to move in, now that they suspect that there's someone watching them."
"Maybe I can use my mats for good use. Set them up along the perimeter, see if we catch us a White Mask." She laughed. "Get some intel, get a ride to the nearest airport and make our way all the way back to Hereford."
"Just when I was starting to tolerate you out here too, what a shame."
"And just when I thought you were rocking those cargo pants. You look amazing in green." Another short laugh, the bird's chipper only responding to the joke. There was a slight glance at each other, if there was another spectator one could see the stare. It lingered for a moment, before a sudden air of awkwardness washe Dover like a gust. Isaac cleared his throat, motioning out to the wilderness. "So, let's set up those leg traps, maybe some cams on the way too?"
"Sure," she replies, giving an awkward smile. "I can go alone, though."
That wasn't a response he expected. Isaac shifted under her gaze, a brow furrowed in some confusion. "Are… are you sure? I don't want anything to happen to you if I wasn't there."
Tina stared blankly at him before choking out a response and another awkward laugh. "Yeah! I mean, I can take care of myself Isaac. I know the woods like the back of my hand. All grown up y'know, thirty-two years and counting, don't need to be constantly watched."
That was a satisfying enough answer. Something told him that she didn't like the babying, so Isaac backed off. He nodded and agreed with her, positioning himself lower in the foxhole. "Alright then, just report when you're coming back so I don't accidentally shoot you."
"We wouldn't want that to happen now would we?" She smiled.
"Of course not, I don't want Buck to kick my ass."
That earned another laugh. Isaac always was known for a comedic personality. She waved goodbye carrying a rucksack full of her traps, walking off into mounds of earth.
A sudden thought crossed his mind. It was out of the realm of realism but it created an uneasy feeling in his chest. What if she was caught by the White Masks? No, she could handle herself in a fight. What if she was too badly wounded, unable to make back to the foxhole? If he had been there—
No, she is a perfectly capable operator. She's been doing this for years, what makes it any different than the hundreds of other recon missions she's done in the past years?
Maybe it was time for a smoke break, a little tasting of tobacco would ease this sudden heap of nerves. The process of lighting his pipe was mechanical, time consuming, and ultimately calming. The taste of the tobacco lingered in his mouth, puffing out the smoke with a sigh.
This was a strange feeling. He hasn't recalled feeling this worried about another person liked this for a while, especially in this sense of constant danger and risk. Isaac furrowed his brows. Maybe they could talk about it when Tina comes back.
Maybe.
A/N: the plot thickens. Heat is making me super tired lately and left me pretty unmotivated about doing anything really. I wish it would end already. Thankfully it's suppose to cool down next week so I'll be working at full force.
Like before, the other stories are slowly being built. Been trying my hand at drawing, so that's something new. Another possible OC story will pop up, haven't decided.
Say cool, hydrated, and golden.
-Mister Bombastic