G.I. JOE: America's Special Mission Force Chapter 9
Bern, Switzerland August 4, 2011
It was a sunny summer day at the Bern Institute of Reconstructive Surgery. The weather was wasted on the three people in the examination room. Dr. Adele Burkhart stood away from the two men at the table, the short blond clasping her hands behind her back nervously. Snake Eyes sat on an examination table, his face wrapped in bandages. In front of him, Dr. Hundtkinder leaned over to unwrap his face.
Snake Eyes stared at Hundtkinder's snowy white hair as the doctor worked. The doctor's thin, agile fingers made quick work of the bandages and he stepped away to look at Snake's face. He poked and prodded around the left eye and both cheeks.
"Well Herr Peter," Hundtkinder said as he continued the examination. "It looks like the cartilage work healed nicely. Along with your jaw and and nasal cavity. The skin has comeback somewhat though muscle regeneration has been slow. The first surgery will be to rebuild your supraorbital and temporal lines around your left eye. After that we will work on rebuilding your cheeks. Fortunately your maxilla are intact and most of our work will center on the zygomatric bones."
"After that is set we will reattach the muscles and begin regenerating the muscles, nerves and vessels of your face. This will require one surgery but the regrowth will take months."
"What procedure will you use for that?" Dr. Burkhart asked out of curiosity.
"A relatively new procedure using the cells from a pig to act as an attractant to his stem cells, which will then grow the required tissue and nerves. After that he will need to come back so we can check the growth and make any alterations."
"How functional will everything be?" She asked as she studied Snake Eye's scabbed over face.
"I can't really say, Doctor." Hundtkinder replied honestly. "This is an entirely new procedure. We are hoping for a seventy percent recovery. His face will never regain full feeling or movement. As for his features..." Hundtkinder paused as he considered what to say. The nod and steady gaze from Snake Eyes convinced him to continue. "His features will never fully return. Even after the regrowth he will be disfigured. Perhaps when the healing is completed we will be able to take further measures."
Big Horn Canyon, Montana August 5, 2011
Flint nibbled at a cinnamon bun from his first strike ration. The irony of the name had become annoying by the first afternoon and he tried not to think about it. He kept one eye on the view finder of his camera as he ate, though he knew their routine by heart. Ten in the morning was weapons training for the seventeen men in camp and today was no different. Everyday they exhausted fifty rounds of ammo for their M16 rifles. After that they would straighten up the camp before lunch.
Fifteen minutes past the hour and something different happened. A Ford Explorer pulled up to the gate and was promptly let in. Flint followed the truck with his camera, snapping photographs as it went. He centered on Vance Wingfield and Shelton Carruthers, the leaders of the First Strike militia, as they walked to the truck.
Flint held his breath as the man exited the passenger door of the Explorer. It was a face he had seen years ago when on another team with Duke. He snapped more pictures, realizing he had found the evidence Hawk wanted.
"Thank you for coming," former Gunnery Sergeant Vance Wingfield said as he shook hands with the newcomer. He was an average sized man with close cut salt and pepper hair.
"No problem, mate." Major Bludd said as he shook hands with the two men. "My employers like what you're doing here and want to help in any way."
"What we really need help with is the weapons you sent us," Carruthers said. He was around six foot and thin, his head completely shaved and covered with a camouflaged baseball cap. "The tracking system is a bit more complex than what we're used to."
"That will be easy enough. The system isn't as complicated as it looks. I've also brought some more rifles to fill out you armory. A present for agreeing to take on this mission."
"Thanks again," Wingfield said. "To you and your employer. While you're here, maybe you could go over our training regimen and offer some advice?"
"Gladly," Major Bludd smiled. "Let me get squared away and we'll get right to it."
Bern, Switzerland August 5, 2011
The anesthesia put Snake Eyes under quickly. Doctor Hundtkinder and his associates went to work on him with practiced efficiency, as Doctor Burkhart watched from the observation room.
Snake Eyes was miles away from the surgery when the first incision was made. His dreams were always of events after he awoke in Paris, his memories of previous life hidden even in his sleep. Usually he dreamed of the refugee camp in Dagestan, of the flaming liquid striking his face. This time was no different.
The explosions rocked the ground as he and Dr. Burkhart ran with the kid. He sensed the mortar shell coming and pushed the doctor and girl to safety; as someone tackled him to the ground.
"That was close, Snake." The voice said as he was pulled to his knees. Snake Eyes turned his head to see the face of young Japanese man in desert camouflage.
"Tommy, Snake," He recognized Stalker's voice calling to them. "You guys okay?"
"Yeah Sarge," The Japanese..Tommy called back. "Just had to save Snake again."
Snake looked around for the doctor, and realized he wasn't in Dagestan. The hills looked familiar though and then he thought Afghanistan, though he hadn't been there since joining Hawk. He reached down and picked up a boonie hat that seemed like it belonged to him.
"You know I'm not always going to be around to save your sorry butt, Brother." Tommy said smiling. "They've got us pinned down pretty good."
Snake placed the hat on his head and started aiming down the sights of his M249 SAW. He saw Stalker, Sergeant Wilkinson, off to his side. In front of them Collins, Escobar and Sapperstein were spread out under cover. They were in a small rock strewn valley, surrounded on three sides by hills. He could see movement on the one directly in front and then the memory of this struck him. This had started as a routine patrol in the Shahi-Kot Mountains in the Spring of 2003. The Mortar attack had come out of nowhere, immediately killing three of the nine Rangers.
Big Horn Canyon, Montana
Flint had stayed still through the afternoon, taking as many pictures as he could while he waited for dark so he could slip away. Once again the militia followed routine and sent out a two man patrol to sweep the area as evening came on.
"Hell," Flint muttered as he saw a second team leave. This one had a large black dog, that looked like it was a rottweiler mix. He pulled his shotgun close as he said a silent prayer that the dog didn't catch his scent.
The two patrols circled the camp and the first went back inside. The second started to head in when the dog's stuck his nose up and started to pull his handler. The two men followed the dog as it headed in a straight line toward Flint.
"What is it Sergeant," the man without the dog said just loud enough for Flint to hear.
"Probably a rabbit," the handler said. "Stay back aways and cover me."
Flint placed his finger on the trigger of his shotgun as they came nearer. He lay perfectly still as they came within sight, the dog beginning to snarl. He raised the barrel of his gun as his eyes locked with the surprised handler.
Paktika Province, Afghanistan 2002
"Snake, give us some covering fire so we can get to that ravine!" Stalker called from his perch behind a boulder. Snake started firing in bursts as Stalker and Tommy ran forward to join the survivors of the patrol. They started firing as Sapperstein and Collins took off for the small ravine to their left.
Snake ran to Stalker and Tommy as Escobar headed to the ravine. He began firing again, covering the last two as they took off. Then he was off, dodging bullets and sliding in beside Stalker. Sapperstein, Tommy, Escobar and Collins started firing as Snake Eyes loaded a new two hundred round box into his SAW.
"Think they're out of mortar shells?" Tommy asked as he ducked down to reload. "Or did we screw up their angle?"
"Probably out," Snake Eyes said before raising up and spraying the hillside with 5.56mm bullets.
"He's right." Stalker said, after trying to raise headquarters on Escobar's radio. "Unless there's a base around here, they have to be out of shells."
"So you got a plan yet?" Snake asked as he dropped down.
"It would help to know how many are up there."
"I counted eleven."
"Fourteen," Tommy said. "You missed the three hanging back."
"We can't stay bunched up here," Stalker said. "Our best bet is to take the fight to them."
"I saw a path going around behind the hill." Tommy told him. "Snake Eyes and I can take that up behind them."
"You think you can do it?" Stalker asked. Tommy and Snake Eyes both shot him looks that said no problem. "Okay, we'll hold here until you're in position. Pop a green smoke grenade when you open up and we'll start attacking from below."
Tommy and Snake Eyes nodded and crawled to the path. Then they hit it running, staying hunched over to make it harder to see them.
Big Horn Canyon, Montana
Flint's finger tightened on the trigger of his Mossberg 590 shotgun as his eyes connected with the eyes of the man controlling the large black and brown dog. He held his fire as the man knelt and pulled the dog close.
"Easy," the man whispered stroking the dog. He licked his bushy black mustache as he stared at Flint. "Easy there fella. I work for Agent O'Hara. So lighten up on that trigger."
Flint eased back, but still held the gun in place. The man kept stroking the dog and it began backing off.
"Tell her that the families will be leaving on the ninth." The man whispered again as Flint and the dog calmed down. "They need to raid this place between then and the twelfth when they return. Something big is going down. We've been getting all kind of weapons in; including some high tech anti-air missiles."
"Everything all right Sarge," the dog handler's partner called from below.
"Yeah, just a squirrel." The man called back, then continued whispering to Flint. "O'Hara knows how to signal me. Tell her I can cut the power for ninety seconds before the backups kick on."
The man stood up and pulled the dog back. "C'mon Junkyard, let's go get some chow."
Paktika Province, Afghanistan
Snake Eyes and Tommy ran along the path as it wound up the hill. They both stopped suddenly as three men popped their heads over the hill. The two took cover on either side of the path as the men came down it, all holding AK-47 assault rifles. As they passed Tommy grabbed the one in back and slit his throat as Snake Eyes covered the mouth of the middle one and did the same. Then they pulled the two dead men back under cover.
The lead man looked back and saw he was alone and raised his gun. Tommy and Snake Eyes came at him from both sides. Snake grabbed the gun, making sure to block the trigger, as Tommy made quick work of him with a knife. They hid the body with the others and started back up the hill.
They crawled over the top and took cover on a rock strewn overhang. Looking down they saw eleven Taliban insurgents spread out and working their way towards Stalker's position.
"Looks like we took care of the three hanging back," Tommy whispered.
Snake Eyes nodded and then tilted his head toward a boulder a little ways down the hill. "I'll set up there."
"Gotcha, I'll stay here since I have the scope." Tommy replied, removing the dust cover on the ACOG scope mounted to his M4 carbine. "We'll pick off the guys in front to turn the others around."
"Then I'll pop the smoke so the others can hit them from behind." Snake Eyes finished. He worked his way to the boulder and lay down flat, lowering the bipod on his M249. He sighted in on the lead man and waited for Tommy to start things.
He saw one of the insurgents go down and opened up, firing in quick bursts. Between the two of them five insurgents went down and the other six turned and took cover. Snake tossed a green smoke grenade down away from the firefight and continued firing short bursts.
Stalker, Sapperstein, Escobar and Collins ran up the hill, taking the remaining men with close shots. Snake Eyes and Tommy worked down to the others as Escobar finally made radio contact with headquarters. Then Sapperstein and Snake Eyes set up for guard duty as the others went to recover the bodies of their fellow Rangers. Once the bodies were brought up, the six men set up guard positions and waited for the Blackhawk helicopter.
Billings, Montana August 6, 2011
Flint made it back to the FBI offices around two in the morning, and found Agent O'Hara waiting for him. She ushered him into her office and shut the doors.
"What did you find," she asked as she handed him a cup of coffee.
"I need to get in touch with my CO." Flint said as he sipped at the hot liquid. "I found what he wanted. And your man on the inside had a message for you. He said that the families will be gone from the ninth to the twelfth. And that the group was planning something big. He also said that he could kill the power for a minute and a half when you need it."
"That was Specialist Stanley Perlmutter." O'Hara told him. "Officially he's listed as AWOL, unofficially he's on loan from Army Intelligence."
"According to him they've had a large weapons build up, including anti-air missiles."
She perked up at the mention of this. "I can get authority to raid the place by the eighth. Though my assault team here is pretty inexperienced."
"If you'd like, I can have my commander send a few men to back us up."
"Us?"
"You don't think I'm the type of guy to walk away and leave the job unfinished?"
"We'd gladly take any assistance you can offer," She said; not letting herself flirt with him. "My line here is secure, if you want to contact your CO."