What would life be in the SRU if there's no action? Life wouldn't be worth living. So here's one, IEDs and all!

Taken

Six weeks after Spike's surgery, he was back on active duty with some restrictions! So long as he didn't do any heavy lifting, it was fine for him to get back in cool pants. When Sam heard the doctor's order, he cheekily said, "So, what's different? He never did any heavy lifting around here in the first place. All he ever did was practice playing the piano."

Raf added, "Just about the heaviest thing he ever carried 'round here is his Remy, which he hasn't fired away, useless sod!"

To add insult to injury, Ed Lane butted in with a smirk, "Hey, easy on the guy… remember we need him to man the Command Truck which, I don't know, has to be driven for him. Such a baby." Spike laughed along with everyone, he just rolled with it. He'll get him own back and he'd be mercilessly brutal about it.

Suddenly, he became aware Constable Kearns wasn't around, "Where's Leah?"

"Yeah, where's Leah?" seconded Raf.

The Boss, who was walking towards them, replied, "Away to attend to some family problems. I hear, you guys have been giving Spike a hard time." They all put on their poker face, "Who us?" said Jules.

"Noooo," they all said.

Spike said in a child-like manner they've all grown accustomed to, "Boss, they're lying. Send them to the Principal's Office." He got a head thump from Sam.

Team One didn't have to wait long for the first hot call of their shift. At around 4pm, a disturbance was reported involving an armed man, allegedly with a "semi-automatic." There were varying reports from witnesses. A couple said there was one armed man. A third witness said he was certain there were two. Uniforms were thrown into a spin when another witness fronted up to say there were definitely three, two armed men and a woman.

All they could agree on was that there's a gun in play; that's sufficient for SRU to get involved. The main concern for everyone was whether the witnesses were reliable. The location was a known haven for drug addicts. The warehouses had been abandoned a while back when the developers ran out of funds due to the global financial crisis.

The three abandoned warehouses were barricaded but minimal security arrangement meant druggies used this space with impunity to sell narcotics, inject, snort, smoke, you name it they had done it all here, with all sorts of weeds, pills and powder. It would be a huge undertaking because the subjects, however many they were, had to be flushed out; and that's not going to be easy considering the massive area that had to be cleared. In the end it was decided to make this a joint effort between Teams One and Three. Ed and Donna, Team Leaders of T1 and 3, worked well together. There's chemistry between them; and, like-mindedness both in tactics and values. It made for easy cooperation.

Donna led her team towards Ed's, "Right, Ed, how'd you wanna play this?"

Lane turned towards the confident voice, "Look who's here but the ever smiling Donna," he has a very relaxed attitude towards the first female Sargent in the SRU. When Donna first applied for the position, he recognized her talent immediately, his one recommendation to Greg three years ago was, "Boss, no one can touch her. No one. She is better than any of us."

After some serious discussion, they tactically decided to split the Teams into six pairs: Alpha, Bravo and Charlie One and Two. The search areas were split into six quadrants. Alpha One and Two were assigned to clear the first warehouse; the Bravos, the second; and Charlies, the third. Both Team Leaders estimated it would take "two hours" to clear the warehouses. Ed said, "Max, if there's no major drama".

Clearing hostile areas took a lot of time. Their actions had to be deliberate and measured. They had to be careful about trip wires, booby traps, and hidden bandits. Not to mention, explosive entries when required. Uniforms were put on stand-by to secure the perimeters and to cordon off areas that had been cleared.

Greg and Spike stayed in the truck as usual. He asked spike to liaise with Guns and Gangs to find out if any known gang-affiliated groups operated their base from this specific location. The call fell into the capable hands of Wordy, ex SRU T1. They were delighted to hear each other's voices. After a brief amiable chat, they were all business. Wordy's information was very helpful. The warehouses were known to be "East European controlled" specifically Croatian gang.

According to limited intelligence, this gang was led by someone referred to simply as "Maximo." Apart from this tidbit of info, there was not much else. Wordy was very forthcoming, "He's been very elusive; no existing photo has ever been taken of him. It's hard for us to know for sure if Maximo is an urban myth; or a real identity." In plain English, drugs law enforcement had not been able to successfully penetrate the gang.

The only other intel Wordy had was that this Croatian gang was well-armed and well resourced. No doubt, their armory was funded from narcotics trade. Winnie heard it all – word for word. She felt very selfish when she thought, though briefly, that at least Spike didn't have to come face to face with Maximo and his gang. The truck is always a good place to be, she thought.

Two hours later, Alpha One, Raf and Sam, reported in. They had cleared their quadrant, no unknown armed men or woman was found. But the place was littered with used syringes and needles. Sam joked that this really was a job for the Hazmat Team. "It's deadly in there."

"Not only that, Boss, we found bits and pieces of materials that could have been used to make an IED," it was the deep baritone voice of Raf, SRU T1's rookie and musician extraordinaire. On hearing this, Spike's ears perked up, he instructed the uniforms to collect said bits and pieces in case an IED was indeed made. Residual materials could be used to match it should one ever come to light. Uniforms entered to cordon off the area. Raf and Sam returned to Command Post, established just 200 meters from the Truck.

The second pair to report back was Bravo Two, Jules and Ed, "All clear". Alpha Two and Charlie One returned to Command Post, "All clear". Something wasn't right. Ed and Donna said as much. Deep down, Greg was convinced Bravo One and Charlie Two would both return with nothing to report.

"Something's not right, Donna. Ed? What's your take on this?" Greg was asking the question even as he was still getting off the truck to join the Teams at the Command Post. That was all the gang was waiting for. While everyone was busy comparing information, two of Maximo's henchmen climbed on the truck. One started to drive off with it; while the other aimed a semi-automatic pistol at Spike.

The Tech's first thought were of the people he'd be leaving behind in case the gun goes off. This is not good. Not good at all. He thought of his mom, Bridget, Liley, Leslie, his Team and Winnie. I have so much to live for, with that thought he calmly asked the gangster to "please point the gun somewhere else." Sensing they need him alive, he said, "Your Boss will not appreciate it if you kill me by accident." This gift is a curse, referring to his skills in computing and hacking.

It was Sam who first saw the Truck being driven away. He shouted, "Spike!" in his head-set. Everyone turned to where the Truck was. All hell broke loose. Never mind the CAN$2M hardware in that vehicle, it's the human that worked it that's irreplaceable; and bloody hell, they were not going to lose him.

Winnie didn't know what to think at first. Am I hearing this correctly? Someone has driven off with the Truck with Spike in it. This is not happening. He can't possibly be in harm's way. No freaking way!

"Boss, what can I do?" she asked. Her knees felt very weak, it made her glad she was seated when it all went pear-shaped. "Call Commander Holleran, he needs to know. Now, Winnie." Commander Holleran didn't care to know what members of the SRU did for a living, he's very non-controlling this way, but when their lives were on the line he wanted to be the first to know.

The fact that materials were found that could have been used to make an IED, or IEDs for that matter, and an Eastern European gang was involved, a terrorist cell couldn't be discounted which meant CSIS would have to be brought into the picture. "Winnie, get Dir. Blake Hinton."

"Copy that." She sounded very professional but inside her stomach had knotted. Winnie remembered to breathe like Spike showed her. Now's not the time to be having a panic attack.

Teams One and Three scrambled to give chase. Ed and Jules were in the first SUV on the Truck's trail. They hit an IED, the explosion was deafening. The van rolled over four times before it landed on its roof. These vehicles were bullet-proofed and made of reinforced steel; thankfully, or the occupants would certainly be dead. Their chance of survival due to its construction was ten- fold if they were wearing seat-belts which thankfully they all did all the time.

Sam and Raf were on the second SUV, following closely. Thanks to his fast reflex, Sam was able to step on the brake in time, HARD. The armoured vehicle screeched to a halt; tires smoking. The ex JTF2 guy was out of the SUV before it stopped completely. His first thoughts were of Jules. Raf jumped out at nearly the same time and headed straight to the driver's side of the upturned vehicle to check on Ed. "EMS, get me EMS," it was Greg, shouting.

Winnie complied, "EMS on the way. And, Boss, I'm tracking the Truck's GPS." Good girl, thought Greg. Donna and the rest of Team Three continued on with the chase.

"Boss," although they were of the same rank, Donna had so much respect for Greg that she still addressed him Boss. "We will get Spike back, alive and well." The fact that Donna sounded so confident gave Winnie hope that Spike would be returned safe and whole. "Lord, please," she prayed.

Then the unthinkable happened, another IED exploded!