Chapter 9:

Kingston could hear as Stone voice came over the radio. "Arcus One, this is Kopis One. Expect our guest, imminent arrival!"

"You hear the man, get ready, you wankers!" Kingston called out as he stood up and walked the few meters to the fifty cal, he would be manning.

After ten minutes, Kingston could hear the rumble of diesel engines, and they were getting closer.

Taking the level of safety and chambering a round in the M2HB.

A few minutes later a BMP-3 came in to view travelling after the road, it was at the head of a ten vehicle line. Next came a BTR-80, and an officer sitting in the open turret hatch.

"That is Andreev!" Titov said. He was holding a RPG-29, loaded with AT missile; his target was the BTR-80 which Andreev was onboard.

The rest of the convoy was made up of one more BTR-80, a single ZSU-23-4 and six BTR-50's.

Kingston kept the 50 cal on the lead BTR-50, his job would be to command and suppress the infantry in it, giving the AT operators chance to reload and destroy the trailing vehicles of the convoy.

The BMP-3, drove over two mines, one each under the belts, it exploded, jumping a meter into the air. It was still airborne when the AT operators fired the first round, two FGM-148 and two RPG-29. The two fifty cal and the 40mm grenade launcher opened up.

Titov's missile hit the lead BTR-80 just below the turret, exploding, killing everyone inside and sending the turret into the air with the force of a combined explosion of the missile and the ammunition. The unprotected body of Andreev was shredded in the explosion along with his crew and infantry.

A FGM-148 took out the rear BTR-80 and the other one took out the ZSU-23-4 behind Andreev's BTR-80, as it was tracking towards the woods. A single RPG-29 missile, hit a BTR-50 destroying it. The 50 cal bullet rained down on the rest of the BTR-50's, and a 40mm grenade were impacting the last BTR-50 as it tried to get it infantry out and maneuver. Its belt on the side of where the fire was coming from was destroyed, trapping the vehicle and the one in front of it.

A few infantry soldier managed to exit their vehicles, most to be only cut down by the 50 cal. Those that were not were firing ineffectively at the tree line which as out of their range.

The FGM-148's were fired again and two more BTR-50's were destroyed, leaving only one BTR-50 in one piece. Then a RPG-29 missile hit it, destroying the vehicle and killing the crew, but the twenty man infantry had managed to get out, into a living hell of machinegun bullets raining down on them and 40mm grenades added to the mix.

In less than five minutes, there were ten burning vehicles on the road, and the bodies of the infantry that had managed to escape the IFV's, littered the ground.

Kingston stood up and looked down at the carnage they had unleashed. Over two hundred Russian soldiers had been killed, in fact it was close to three hundred. It was a necessary sacrifice. "Pack it up, we have an appointment!"

Half an hour after since the first round was fired the team was carrying the weapons and equipment to the vehicles.

"Stilwell! Webber!" Kingston called out.

The two men came to him.

"I need the two of you to go down there!" Kingston said "It needs to be done!"

Stilwell and Webber ran off towards the burning vehicles.

Titov came up to Kingston, and nodded in the direction that Stilwell and Webber had take. "What's going on?"

"Unfortunate business!" Kingston replied.

A few minutes later, the distant sound of weapons fire could be heard.

After the two men had returned, the convoy of five vehicles headed off towards the Syndicate compound.

Nobody asked about what they had been doing.

"Kopis One, this is Arcus One, over!" Kingston called over the long-range radio.

"Arcus One, Kopis Two!" Atkins voice came back.

"Kopis Two, report that the party was a success. Arcus is on route, over!"

"Arcus One, copy!"

Stone was eating a MRE, when Atkins came over. "Yes, specialist?"

"Sir, Arcus reports. The party was a success! They are on route." Atkins was grinning.

Stone could now breathe a little lighter. "Thank you!"

After finishing the meat, Stone went looking for Lanov. He found the Russian sniper, finishing his own MRE.

"Sergeant, I am sending you along with four of my men to keep an eye on the compound."

"Alright!"

Stone clicked his radio on. "Kopis Seven, Eight, Hasta Seven, Eight. Meet me at the command RSAV!"

After giving the Russian sniper a hand in getting up, the two went to the command RSAV. Already there were the four men Stone had called for.

"You are going to keep an over watch on the compound, Lanov here will take to two op's. Hasta Seven and Eight will be in the first op, Kopis Seven and Eight will be in the second with Lanov." Stone looked at each man in turn.

Watching as the five men left the camp, heading towards the op's to keep an eye on the compound, Stone wished that he was going with them. But his responsibilities prevented him from doing that, he was the leader and needed to let others do the work.

Kristiansen walked behind Lanov, the Russian sniper was leading them to the second op, after leaving Carlson and Alanis at the first. Behind him was Alekseev, Kristiansen partner. They were experience snipers, all three.

After getting to the second op, they took up watch on the compound. Radio contact with Stone, would be kept to a minimal, only in dire situation. Or if the situation change within the compound.

Stone watched as the five vehicles which Kingston was in command of came into the camp. After the vehicles were stopped, Stone went to greet them.

Kingston walked towards him with Titov trailing behind.

"So how did it go?" Stone asked.

"There were ten vehicles approaching, we destroyed them all. We estimate that there were over two hundred soldiers in the convoy, all dead." Kingston replied.

"Da, all destroyed. And the bastard Andreev was killed!" Titov added.

"So Titov, how long until command begins to wonder about the missing personnel and vehicles?" Stone asked.

"It is not unusual that units operating in the area to be out of contact, I would say two day's until command asks another unit to check it out." Titov said after a moment.

"Two days, I was hoping for a little longer but I will take that!" Stone said.

"The unit which command will ask is my unit!" Titov added. "If I say we are in the southern edge of our patrol area, it will give you two more days, before I am forces to report."

This was better news, four more days to take down the rest of the defense of the Syndicate compound, and find its secrets. "Keep a man with the radio, do what you must to delay them, alright!"

"Da, we will do our best." Titov nodded.

"Get something to eat and then rest. Tomorrow we will begin to pick the Syndicate compound apart." Stone clapped the two men on the shoulders.

Patrich walked into Hammond office, and sat down in front of the Air Force General's desk. "So got here early or working late?"

Hammond grinned at the question. "Late! You?"

"The same. Stone has reported, first two step of the operation was successful. The air defense at the compound is destroyed, and the Russian Army operating in the area is neutralized, except for the unit which is working with Stone and his group." Patrich said with joy and sadness fighting on his face.

"I will alert Flashpoint, the F-302 will be in the air within ten minute from receiving the go-ahead from Stone. It will be loaded with two thermobaric bombs in an internal bay. It will be over the compound in less than an hour." Hammond said as he lifted the receiver on his phone.

After finished the phone call, Hammond looked at Patrich.

"Who is the pilot of the 302?" Patrich asked.

"Lt Colonel Cameron Mitchell, the squadron leader of the 201st Space Fighter Squadron. He is one of the best." Hammond said.

"Does he know that he could be force to drop the load on friend-lies?" Patrich asked.

Hammond hesitated before answering. "No, and I don't want him to know that unless absolutely necessary."

"George, how many 302's will be used?"

"Just the one, why?"

"Send a flight!"

"Four of our top secret Space Fighter!" Hammond asked in disbelief of the request. "Why not just send the X-303, while we are at it!!"

"And have them armed to the teeth!" Patrich added.

"Zach, is there something you are not telling me?" Hammond felt compelled to ask.

"No, George. Let's call it a hunch, nothing more! There is a feeling I have not been able to shake, there is something we are not accounting for with the Siberian compound." Patrich looked torn at his friend.

"Alright, Zach. I will have a flight ready, and have the crews placed on alert status, tell them that it is training. They can use it, anyway!"

Stone came to the ridgeline overlooking the compound; it looked the same as when he had last seen it, except the fires from the burning vehicles and building had gone out.

Taking out his binoculars, he studied the compound. The bodies of the fallen mercenaries had been left lying where they had fallen, Stone counted ten bodies. That left at least twenty-seven mercenaries, and any number of Syndicate thugs.

"Kopis seven, this is Kopis One! Report!"

"Kopis One, there have been no movement outside, a number of people inside!" Kristiansen's replied.

"All snipers, you are free to engage target of opportunity!"

Stone had placed all the snipers at his disposal in the woods surrounding the compound; they had strict orders to no engage until ordered to. A minute passed, then a shot rang out.

"Hasta Seven, target eliminated, building four third floor!" Carlson reported

This continued for the rest of the day, no resistance was put up, after the first hour.

Stone kept the sniper's at it, the entire day and the night, both as suppression and as cover. Covering for the assault team that was approaching the compound from the south.

Stone was leading them sixteen man assault team, they were approaching the compound from the south, since early evening the people had crawled towards the fence, covered by guille suits, the journey was slow and dangerous.

Stone had sent four of his people along with two of Titov's men to drive the vehicles and place them on the road leading to the compound, effectively blocking any escape that way. That is if anyone was stupid enough to try and escape.

Coming to the first fence line, Stone looked up at the buildings, there was no visible movement. Inside the fence, Stone could see the tips of landmines.

Signaling for the fence to be cut, three of the assault team crawled forward and started to cut the fence.

"Arcus One, this is Kopis One. We are at the first fence. Open up with the machineguns on the buildings, once we have breached second line, on my mark, copy!" Stone said into the mike as the men finished cutting three holes in the first fence line.

"Kopis One, Arcus One copies!" Kingston voice replied.

It took close to an hour of clear three paths through the mine field between the two fence lines, the sixteen members of the assault team went through the field slowly, it was close to daybreak once all were through. The team was using the bunker close the fence for protection.

Stone stove the ghillie suit and checked over his equipment, gripping the 416 firmly, his finger off the trigger. Crouching at the corner of the bunker, Stone leaned forward and looked at the main building. The windows were all broken, and there were fire damage on the outer walls. He could see no signs of defenses.

"Get ready, team one!" Stone ordered. "Go!"

Stone ran forwards, with Erikson, Grant and Tolinev, behind him. The hundred meter sprint, seem to have went unnoticed. As Stone and his team made it to the main building without getting shot at, as the team two with Arrson.

Stone lead the way, going in the building through the basement door. The door was heavy steel and swung out, Stone was hugging the wall, opening the door with his left, and in his right was the 416 with its 10 inch barrel. Easing the door open slowly, looking for explosives, seeing none, Stone left the door open an inch. Pulling out a telescopic mirror, to look around inside.

Seeing nothing that could be seen as a threat, Stone eased the door open further, but kept in cover. As the door was open halfway, someone inside opened up with an AK, the bullets from it open the door completely.

Taking out MK3A2 grenade, Stone pulled the pin and let the handle fly, the concussion grenade was low thrown into the room. The four second fuse of the grenade ran out and the shock wave could be felt.

The dust filled the air as the team came in at ready, Stone could see three men lying on the floor, they were in camouflage and armed with AK-107 assault rifles, blood was pouring from their ears and noses. The grenades shock wave had killed the three. But just to be sure, all three were shot in the head.

Continuing into the basement, the team used the standard line as they moved forward.

A roar from AK's and 416's, split the air.

Crouching down, Stone call on the radio. "This is Kopis One, report!!"

Arrsen voice replied. "Ardus One, we have run into a makeshift barrier, at the North entrance. Looks like at least ten individuals armed with assault rifle and light machineguns."

"Can you move forward?" Stone inquired.

"Negative, Kopis One, the best we can do is keeping them occupied!"

"Understood, Kopis One, out!" Stone got up again and continued advancing.

There were two doorway from the basement they were in, taking the southern one, Stone went to the wall besides the twofold door, pushing the door open with his 416, there was not fire. Glancing down the hallway, Stone saw it was about five meters wide and three meters high, and was about hundred meters long; ending in another doorway, there was no cover the hundred meters.

Stone turned to Erikson, who had a M320 grenade launcher on his 416. "Fire one hellhound down the corridor!"

The SEAL aimed his 40mm grenade launcher, and fire the grenade down the corridor.

As soon as Stone heard the explosion he advanced down the corridor, at a full run. The 416 was at his right shoulder, the barrel pointed down at a 45 degree angle, ready to come up if any threat was detected.

Stone and Erikson, dropped to cover on the left side of the door, Grant and Tolinev were on the right side. The door was blown completely in. On the floor were two more men in small pieces, they had been waiting within the hallway, planning to use the doorway as cover as any enemies advanced down the hallway, they had just not counted on the grenade launcher.

The hallway split in two directions, going left and right. Stone peaked down the right side, only seeing four doors on the side facing him. Looking at Grant, Stone signaled what he saw, and received that Grant saw the same.