Chapter 10: Once...
Сouple of weeks later.
Radiance patrol squad was moving down the road covered with the huge lay of snow. Three people with brand new automatic rifles were on their duty. It was the last day of their job, but they had no idea about it.
The evening's silence was broken with the three muffled gunshots. All of the mercenaries were shot through their heads, but it was not special for the sharpshooter. Shooter stepped out of the dark woods, clutching a sniper rifle in her hands. She just barely whistled, when another three soldiers stepped out of woods, turning off their stealth camo suits. Leader was to the right of the marksman busy with pulling down her scarf and pointing to some visible point at their visual interface. It was the closest safe place on their way to Radiance headquarters.
"Let's get going," she ordered, pulling the scarf back on her face. Weather in Siberia was shitty as always.
Ghosts were following the order from their leader, so soldiers continued their way without a single word bypassing dead bodies of the mercenaries. Ghost leader stepped over one of the body and searched him to get some useful things. She took a quick look at her TASFU interface; that is to say, she was trying to calculate time until the snowstorm.
"Not enough for us..." she muttered, counting the amount of time they could waste to reach the point. Ghost lead showed her fist to everyone else before she stopped to expand her TASFU interface. Blue screen appeared in air, giving everyone an access to satellite images. As she flipped through the images of headquarters leader stopped her eyes at quickly approaching snowstorm. Based upon TASFU algorithm, Ghost lead glanced at her soldiers to hurry them up.
"We don't have much time, so move fast!" she gestured with her hand. Ghost squad moved forward, leading with anger for their friends, who were in hands of notorious Russian terrorist, general and murderer Mikola Razumovsky.
It was around the fifteen minutes before snowstorm; it means a full lack of communication and some problems with their stealth systems. Although, snowstorm had many pros, just like every other soldier without stealth suits would be practically invisible. Also, silence on the radio because of death of 'Radiance' patrol squad would be accepted like an aftermath of the snowstorm. Besides, ghosts would be more effective against the enemy without tactical interface; it was a piece of cake.
A couple of minutes ago Ghosts occupied the point, sending a coordinates of their location to the other marines group. Actually, this operation was a suicide mission, but everyone knew about it. The plan of this mission was rather complicated than it need to be, but no one could suggest something better. The whole point was problem of transporting a squad of soldiers with ghosts in lead. Girls even took a submarine of USA army to make their plan come true. In the beginning ghosts thought about using C-130 Hercules, but when they found out the places of Russian air defense, general Minami quickly suppressed that idea. If air defense guns detected the enemy airplane, they didn't even hit the ground. However, submarine could pass all kind of sonar systems and shipborne patrols, letting a few squads of marines with Ghosts in the lead hit the West Siberian beach. It was possible because well-known stealth system that ghosts decided to put on this submarine. Of course it costed a lot of money, so Datu Kozen and his billions of dollars in all around Austrian banks were their cups of tea. From there, USA soldiers fell in the protected zone, which was under control of PMC 'Radiance'. Four Ghosts went to scout an area, eliminating everyone, who stood in their way. They had some clear area, so their marines wouldn't have problems to reach the special squad.
Four girls decided to take a cover from strong wind and snow in half-destroyed building of Soviet era. Brutally kicking the front door out, Umi scanned the area first, as ghost lead should; Honoka taught her about being leader for sure. Once she finished her searches for the signs of enemy, she whistled and her friends came inside irritated by bad weather. Maki nodded to Umi and placed herself near the rear window to have a detailed look at the landscape of this hole. "What a perfect view… Forest, another forest and… forest. Great…" Marksman shivered because of cold, but continued to look at the area through the sniper sight of her rifle. She was protecting her squad, when they tried to get some fire in collapsed building.
"Damn, it's freaking cold!" Rin complained, jumping at her place to warm herself a little. Rin had a warm cap on her head, this girl really loved caps. Sadly, but even warm cap could not save the warm of her body.
"It is better to help us to get fire, once you're cold, isn't it?" lieutenant snapped tiredly because of Rin's whines. Umi looked at Maki, who stared in the sight of her rifle with silencer. It seemed like marksman got stuck in another world. Only steam, coming out of her mouth reminded that sergeant was still breathing. Truly, it was clear. Her closest friend was somewhere close, but Maki could not do anything to help her. Umi felt the same but somehow she tried to act cool. Especially, after the bar, where Maki has done some crazy things to bring her up. Blue-haired girl quickly shook a head to clear up her mind. Umi gazed at Hanayo, who seemed to be tired because of rough road to this point. It was okay; physical training of CIA agents was not enough to take a role of a member in the most secret squad of the whole USA army. Umi could understand how she felt even because of the accident at the City Hall, when Hanayo got her ankle shot. "Are you okay, Hanayo?"
"M-m-m…ar-I mean, yeah! I'm just tired a little, don't worry."
They could not say that this week was simple, no. In true, it was the hardest week in a time. Hanayo had some problems with her lungs and she was under the medical supervision. Ghosts were planning the whole operation and they spent a lot of time to get everything they need. The most difficult thing was a request to have an access to four squad of US. Marines out of 4th Marine Division, which was a reserved division of U.S. Army. Request for a submarine was hard too and access to the satellite and weapons and gear, and ammunition. In short, everything was freaking difficult. Fortunately, Colonel Parker and General Minami pushed their request further so Ghosts could get everything out of their list. Whole four squads of US. Marines were sent under the wing of Umi Sonoda. Army gave them some kind of carte-blanche to get a victory in this operation. Girls just had to kill Razumovsky, save their friends and get rid of cruel mercenary company. Ghosts had to eliminate everyone, who were in 'Radiance' to get their friends out of that nest of vipers. It was funny, but everyone put saving Honoka and Nico above some illusions about saving world from danger.
"I'm not surprised. It was really tough weeks to all of us." Umi nodded, finally got some fire. She blew some air to it and soon flame covered every single branch. Umi sat closer to the fire and called Rin closer to her. She didn't need to say it twice, ginger quickly jumped over to the fire, warming her hands up.
"It's one hella freezing place, when our marines will come here? I don't want to freeze myself to death." Rin said with fatigue in her voice. In a respond, Maki just smirked and came to the fire to be closer to everyone. She was nervously swinging her M9 Beretta, checking its magazine, flicking safety on and off and aiming at the nearest targets like a wall. Hanayo was nervous because Maki was nervous, brunette tried to look at Maki, but redhead caught it. Hanayo quickly looked away, pretending like there was an accident because Maki looked scary. It did not help her, though.
"What?" Maki asked her distracting from her thoughts and trying to start a conflict between them. Hanayo literally jumped.
"N-nothing…" she said uneasy. They didn't need to continue this dialogue.
"Rin thinks that everything will be okay and we will save everyone, nya!" ginger cried out, totally forgot about staying calm and quiet. However, Rin always was acting like that, so there was nothing to speak about it. Rin was Rin.
"Let's not propose, we should ask gods for luck." Hanayo smiled wryly leaning on Rin's shoulder. It seemed like these two decided to press their bodies together to save more warmth.
"I hope we'll survive." Maki said without an idea to look at her squad mates. Their friends were in a cell in a short distance from them. Ghosts could not even think about leaving their beloved friends in hands – rather in hand – of some Russian terrorist.
"There is so much of optimism in your voice, sergeant." Umi noticed with a nod. It would be a hard mission with such a spirit of her subordinates. Maki lifted her head up and put her eyeglasses from her eyes upwards to her helmet. She fell in laughter.
"I'm speaking the truth, do you want to say that I'm wrong? Maybe you want to say that these folks won't try shoot all of us? That we would save Nico and Honoka without casualties. A half of these marines that you chose didn't have a combat experience and you know what…" Maki shouted at Umi standing up and gesturing a lot. It seemed like she lost her temper and she wouldn't stop in a while. Maki worried too much about Nico, but these words reached Umi. They wouldn't defeat Radiance without troubles.
"What? Come on and tell it, you punk ass…" Umi also stood up looking straight into Maki's eyes. Bluenette was ready to firght. Maki clenched her fists with her eyebrows twitching. Marksman let out a sigh and closed her eyes. "You speaking like a lady, Nishikino I'm tired, you know that."
"But you continue to make fun of me…" They both said in unison. How many times Maki heard this phrase from Umi, so she perfectly knew what bluenette had to say a moment ago. Maki and Umi were friends, of course, but their personalities were entirely different.
In this moment, four squads of marines already were near the building with ghosts inside. Soldiers without a moment to hesitate ran in the building taking an aim at four girls. Ghosts quickly reached out for their guns, also taking their aim. Silence fell upon them all. Marines were following the instructions to be careful. US. Marines were armed with modernized M16A4 rifles; in addition, every group had their sharpshooter with sniper rifle – who was covering the group –, and soldier with machinegun.
Marines slowly looked at ghosts and recognized them. Maki had her Beretta aimed at the leader of 1st group. In ghosts turn, Umi lowered her ACR Masada rifle and gestured to her squad with a fist. She meant to lower their guns too. Marines quickly lowered their guns, coming closer to ghosts.
Maki coughed a couple of times, and cleaned her glasses from snow. She reached out for her Beretta and holstered it. Maki whispered some curses and looked at Umi, who was chatting with leader of marines.
"Report about the situation in your group." Umi ordered to the leader of marines. Soldier told her about their way to this point, about what they saw there. The group had eight soldiers with various gear. It was a thing, but 'Radiance' was much stronger than they were. Sonoda wouldn't amaze if mercenaries has armored vehicle or even tank inside of their HQ, don't speaking about drones. It was their headquarters, not some country town in Siberia (well, ghosts could argue with that). Umi also asked about enemy patrols on their way, but soldier said that everything was clear. Finally, some good news.
It was a great opportunity to gather her thoughts and Umi stood up, asking everybody to come near her to hear well. Soldiers followed the order submissively, making a circle around Umi. The best of them stood closer to lieutenant, someone just smoked their cigarettes. Everyone were busy trying to kill some stress. Maki scratched her back and came closer to marine, who was smoking. Redhead hesitated at first, but then she nudged him.
"Hey, can you give me a cigarette?" marine nodded to her, taking out another cigarette. Marlboro Red, nice choice Maki thought. Marksman thought that Marlboro cigarettes were from all those cowboy stories. Also the red color reminded Maki about her childish dream to meet Santa and other stuff like that. She smiled, but nobody saw it because a mask covered her face. Soldier, who gave her a cigarette, lighted it up and Maki pulled her mask down a little, uncovering her mouth. "Thanks."
"No prob, serj." He nodded to Maki and quickly left her alone.
"Listen very carefully, soldiers. I will not repeat twice. All of you are good soldiers and good men, it's true. Today we will put everything at risk, but it was our choice to do this. Our enemy is the cruelest general Razumovsky and his damned watchdogs. If we eliminate them, we can end the tyranny of fucking private military companies. The tyranny of fucking Russian private military companies." Umi slowly looked at the crowd of soldiers, but she didn't find a fire in their eyes. Lieutenant took a breath and decided to tell them the truth about this operation. "These guys' mercenaries had kidnapped two soldiers of our squad. Captain Kousaka and Nico Yazawa, our recruit. Maybe you don't know them, but we do. We can't let them just die in cells like some dogs."
"Nico was a second sharpshooter in our squad. Mercenaries had wounded me and kicked me outta high hill in deep jungles. They. Must. Die." Maki said with anger in her voice.
"Hell yeah!"
"Fuck mercenaries!"
"Let's return them boys!"
"Guys, guys hold on! We will split to three groups. Since you have no stealth camo suits it would be a lot of harder for you. In a few minutes the strongest snowstorm will hit the whole area. All kind of instructions' been given to the leaders of your squads. Do you have some questions, soldiers?"
"When are we going to start the operation? We want to kick their asses, lieutenant, you know that." Some of marines fell in laughter, when Umi flashed them a smile. It was necessary to joke in a right time and it was perfect time to joke a little.
"We need to wait until snowstorm. Hiding in the snow, we need to get closer as we can. They realize that we get control all over their base, when it will be too late to do anything. So, if you have no questions, then you must do something useful. I don't know, you can pray or smoke some cigarette to kill your nerves. Guys, you know it better than me."
Umi was interrupted by the incoming call to her communicator. Moving aside from the soldiers and ghosts, the bluenette answered awaiting caller to speak.
"Umi, is that you?" Shy and clear voice said on the second line. It was Kotori Minami.
"Kotori? I mean, lieutenant Sonoda Umi is speaking." Umi's official reply made ash-haired girl fell in giggling. After a moment, silence fell on the both lines and Umi started to worry. Clearing her throat she asked Kotori with "Are you still there?"
"I'm sorry; you have so serious tone, Umi-chan. So it made me laugh." Kotori giggled again, more out of worry for her blue-haired friend. Umi really liked her giggle, because it was slightly similar to bird's sounds; but Umi was afraid to declare her feelings. What a shame. "Umi, I got some news. Snowstorm should hit you in minute, and then it will set for an hour. Don't forget about plus-minus modifiers. I hope it will be enough to save them."
"Thank you, Kotori. I… No, we appreciate your help."
"You're welcome. I am here because of you guys." Kotori sighed sweetly and giggled, trying to lift Umi's mood up. "Umi… be careful, okay? Please, don't let them kill you."
"Kotori… I…" Umi stuttered. "Of course, everything will be okay. Don't worry, we will come back home. Sonoda out."
"Good luck!"
Kotori's phrase was interrupted as Umi pushed the 'end call' button. The bluenette gave her subordinates a look and found happy faces of people, who could sacrifice their life for the life of another person. All of these marines, who were chatting with everyone else, Rin, who hanged on poor Hanayo. Poor Hanayo, who was busy trying to break free from Rin's claw, and Maki… who was smoking a cigarette with sad look on her face. All of them were pure heroes. Heroes were just about to put an end to this story.
