24: Operation Nightfall
Disclaimer: I don't own 24 or any of their characters mentioned in this story.
This story is my version of the events taking place during Operation Nightfall. No major plot spoilers in this chapter.
Chapter 4
Teri woke up before her daughter Kim. She was feeling really woozy, but did remember what had happened. After her wooziness had subsided a bit, she noticed she was in a small windowless room with one door. It was quite dark it the room. There was one small lamp in the room for light but it didn't emit much. She tried to stand up, but was still feeling the affects of the chloroform and she just sat back down. She noticed her daughter Kim was still asleep on the floor beside her. She woke her up.
Kim was also feeling really woozy from the chloroform. She recovered enough after a few minutes and remembered what had happened. In fear she tried to quickly stand up but she fell back over right away. "Don't try to stand yet Kim" Teri told her daughter. She crawled over to Kim and they embraced. Tears began to appear in Kim's eyes and it wasn't long before they were streaming down her face. Teri's eyes began to water too. "It's okay Kim" she tried to assure her daughter. "We will find a way out of here". She assured Kim.
A few minutes later, Teri was able to stand up. She walked over to the door but as she expected she wasn't able to open it. Teri had to admit to herself that it didn't look good. She wasn't about to let her daughter know that though. Kim was very scared and Teri could see it.
Just then, a man opened the door. It squeaked as it swung open. He walked into the room. Teri and Kim had their attention directly on him. "My intention is not to hurt either one of you. However, I will if you don't co-operate. Do you understand?" asked the unknown man. A few seconds later, Teri nodded. "Good, for now I just need you to be quiet" the man added and he left the room locking the door behind him.
After he left the room, the man picked up his cell phone. Victor Drazen answered and the man replied "I have the wife and daughter. Call me with instructions when you're ready" and he hung up.
*****
Jack had just arrived back at NSA the next day to meet the team. He had the opportunity to sleep in that morning but he didn't take it. The plan was that he would get to bed early that night as the plane left Andrews Air Force Base at 8AM in the morning. This way he won't have any trouble sleeping. From Jack's experience, Air Force flights weren't exactly the most comfortable flights around. He wanted to be ready to go once they got off the plane in Kosovo. He quickly headed up to his office checking for any phone messages or emails before heading to the conference room. He had received one email from Robert Ellis stating that he wanted to see him once he got to his office. He left his office and walked down the hall to Ellis' office and knocked. After hearing Ellis reply, "Come in", Jack opened the door and walked in, closing the door behind him. "Hello, Jack, thanks for coming to see me." Ellis said. "Of course, what's going on?" Jack asked. "I just wanted to give you your final instructions. Once you arrive in Dakovica, you will be meeting with Agent Saunders at the airstrip. You will be given appropriate transportation to the location of Drazen's compound. Otherwise, everything is in order." After Ellis finished his explanation, Jack left the office.
Jack walked back down the hall past his temporary office and opened the door to the conference room. Shelton had already arrived with the rest of the team. Jack apologized for his lateness and Shelton introduced Jack to the other team members Brice Gardner, Haj Illijec, Gary Graham, Roger Voss and Fred Peltzer. After greeting everyone they got down to business. Jack explained to everyone in detail what would happen once they got on the ground in Kosovo. They would go to the location and perform reconnaissance to ensure that Drazen was in fact in the building. Once the confirmation was made, they would call an airstrike on the compound and would be then be extracted by chopper. They ended up spending a couple hours working out all the final details. It was about 2PM when they left the conference room. Jack reminded everyone that the plane was scheduled to leave Andrews Air Force Base at 8AM and to make sure they were not late.
Jack went back to his office and did some final desk work. He filed everything needed and made sure that everything was in order for the mission. He finished at about 5 and he headed out for the night.
Jack arrived back at the Watergate at about quarter to 6. He went to the nearby coffee shop and grabbed something to eat before heading back up to his room at about 7. Jack eventually called for a 5:30 AM wake up call and turned in at about 9.
*****
Victor Drazen was working out all the final details with his sons Andre and Alexis who had returned home to the compound. They had asked for a leave of absence from the Serbian Army to deal with family issues. Once everything was in order they left the compound at about 11AM in Kosovo.
*****
Jack woke up to his wake up call at 5:30. He crawled out of bed a few minutes later. After showering and doing his morning routine. He headed downstairs at about 10 after 6 and checked out before grabbing some breakfast. He had arranged for someone to pick him up at 6:45 to take him to the Air Force Base. To his surprise, Robert Ellis was at the Watergate to personally take him. "Hello Jack, I thought it best to pick you up myself." Ellis explained. "The smaller the information circle, the better." He added. Jack and Ellis headed out of the hotel and they entered Ellis' silver Mercedes.
Andrews Air Force Base was located about 8 miles east of D.C. in Prince George's County, Maryland. It was named after Prince George of Denmark, the brother of King Christian V. The Air Force Base itself served as host to over 20, 000 people including those active in the military, civilian employees as well as family members. The base was opened in 1943 as Camp Springs Army Air Base. It was later renamed to Andrews Field in 1945 after Lt. General Frank Maxwell Andrews.
Jack and Ellis arrived there at about 7:15. The rest of the team arrived by 7:30. They loaded all the necessary equipment on the aircraft waiting on slightly longer of the two runways. Ellis wished Jack and his team luck before they boarded the aircraft. It was a Lockheed C-130 Hercules. This particular aircraft was the main tactical aircraft for many military forces worldwide. They all found a seat and fastened their seat belts. After taking one last look outside at the Air Force Base, the plane picked up speed and took off on schedule at 8AM.
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