XIV
With the custom replacement received, Al's new weaponry had been left in the capable hands of the Foundation's resident gunsmith. In the meantime, Nyromi had been notified of the upcoming mission and took it upon herself to gather the necessary area-intel prior to the mission briefing. Nyromi was now using this opportunity to give Alpha a lesson in mission assessment and recon.
"No, Al, an aerial drop will cause too much fuss."
"Is it the trees Omi?"
"Absolutely; though that's just the beginning. First of all, there's too much risk on the parachutes getting caught in the foliage. Second, a half-decent patrolman will notice something if too many birds fly off at once. Lastly, we can't see underneath foliage that dense. We could be dropping onto a rock formation or even a patrolman."
"Okay then, so no air drop. Then what about this creek here?"
"Interesting…"
"Since we have to cover our tracks, the creek will just wash whatever we leave after a good rain won't it?"
"Yes, especially if we fan out and step light. What I also like is the natural structure of this entry."
"What do you mean?"
"From what we can see, there are stones, logs, stumps, and fallen trees. They'll provide excellent cover should we need it. Good find, Al."
With a wide grin, Alpha basked in the approval of his partner.
"And not a moment too soon," Nyromi said glancing at her watch. "Briefing is in an hour. Al; go down to the armory and pick up your rifle and nine's, Jacque should be done with them by now. After that, take them to your room and lay out your gear. We might need to leave at a moment's notice so I need you to be ready.
"Okay 'Omi," Al said as he bounded off out of the cafeteria.
Watching the boy run off, Nyromi now had a minute to be nervous for the both of them.
"If there is a God," Nyromi spoke quietly to herself, "Please don't his first mission be his last."
"So, they have their first mission tonight?" Jean asked from his bed.
"Yes," Director Lorenzo answered sitting next to his bed.
"What are the mission parameters?"
"They are escorting a covert military unit and providing support."
"We're finally going after the Five Republics?"
"Yes, finally we'll be able to cut off the head and see them done."
"I wish I could be with them."
"I know, but you're in no shape to train much less be participating in a mission."
"Take no chances?"
"…Precisely."
"All units; hold your position," Nyromi said quietly into her com. "Alpha, tell me something good."
Looking through the scope of his newly refurbished Remington M24, Alpha scanned a clearing through a heavily wooded area. Sitting up high in a tree, Alpha noticed two armed men traipsing through the brush.
"Two hostiles spotted," Alpha responded. "Requesting permission to terminate…"
"Permission granted."
Targeting the one in walking ahead of the other, Al squeezed the trigger firing off a silenced .300 Whisper.
Through his scope, Al saw him fall a second later. The guard walking behind him laughed at his fallen comrade.
"Don't trip," Al spoke silently as he pulled back the bolt and loaded a second round with expert efficiency. When the second guard looked up from his fallen comrade, Al squeezed off another round. Looking around in fear, the second guard fumbled for his com when the round severed his spine upon entry and destroyed his trachea upon exit. "…Threat eliminated, entry route clear."
"Roger," Nyromi said in response. "All units proceed to entry point A."
"Roger," the team leader said as the sound of rustling grass could be heard.
"Can you follow from within the trees Alpha?"
"…Affirmative."
"Stay up there until we start the entry."
"Check."
Looking up Nyromi saw a slight rustle of leaves before starting off herself. Strolling through the shallow creek that would mask their entry and exit, Nyromi was hard pressed to control her frustration. By her assessment, this covert unit was a bit on the noisy side. Arriving at the small inlet, Nyromi called to Alpha once more.
"Alpha, give me a distraction."
"…On the way," Alpha said as he tossed an incendiary grenade at the far guard tower.
Within seconds the wooden structure was alit with flame and smoke. Confusion and disarray could be heard from within the compound as they hurried to put out the unexpected fire.
"West wall clear," Alpha said over his com.
"Bravo team," Nyromi called, "proceed."
"Roger; Omega," the Bravo team leader responded.
From behind Nyromi, a group of five men ran to an exposed basement door. Using a can of liquid nitrogen, they broke the lock and proceeded to infiltrate the basement. Stepping up from the embankment, Alpha dropped down from the trees on the other side.
"Alpha," Nyromi called.
"Yes; Omega," Alpha called back.
"When they get out of there, I want you to expend your rifle then provide suppression fire with both of your CZ's. Understood?"
"Yes, Omega; what are they doing there anyway?"
"We're not supposed to ask, but if they're assignment is even half of what I think; they're going to be coming out guns blazing. Be ready."
"Check," Alpha said taking cover behind a stump just as Omega had done.
The wait was agonizing to the two specialists as contact had been cut off with the main group. After approximately twenty minutes, shots rang out from the basement door. Not a moment later, Bravo team had emerged from the basement followed closely by a hail of bullets. After Bravo team was reasonably out of harm's way, Alpha and Nyromi fired a volley of their own at the thugs coming out of the basement. One by one, they fell to Alpha's Remington and Nyromi's Steyr. After firing a fifth round, Alpha shouldered his Remington and pulled both CZ's as Nyromi instructed. Out of the corner of her eye, Nyromi saw a stray bullet strike the fleeing Bravo leader.
"Alpha," Nyromi called, "on me!"
After reloading his CZ's Alpha slid down the embankment just as Nyromi had gathered the fallen Bravo leader.
"We only have another minute," Bravo leader muttered.
"Al, move now!" Nyromi yelled at her back.
Hoisting the Bravo team leader onto her back, Nyromi ran toward a downed tree as Alpha backpedaled behind her. Leaping over the log, Nyromi quickly deposited the Bravo leader behind the largest portion of the tree before pivoting on one leg. Just as Alpha leaped over the tree, Nyromi grabbed the Remington on his back and pulled him down. After covering Alpha with her own body, a series of explosions tore the landscape asunder with each one louder and harder than the last. When it was all over, Omega crawled over to the Bravo team leader to tend to his wound. Alpha had walked around the tree, curious as to what they had done.
The compound before him was now a smoking ruin filled with rubble and curiously smelling of burnt hair. Moans and cries soon accompanied the wreckage. Looking around him, Alpha found himself in the center of a field of carnage. The lucky ones died from the initial blasts. Those not so fortunate attempted to escape in their deformed bodies filled with debris and shrapnel. One man had managed to rise to his knees and made a futile attempt to climb the embankment. Walking over to him, Alpha placed his hands upon the injured man's shoulders. As he looked up, Alpha saw into eyes filled with fear and pain. From behind him, a shot rang true, prompting Alpha to pull his CZ. Seeing as the shot belonged to Nyromi's gun, Alpha lowered his weapon.
"Alpha," Nyromi called, "we are a covert unit and this is a black operation."
"Ma'am," Alpha responded.
"Nobody is supposed to see us and if they do, they must be terminated at the earliest convenience. Is that understood?"
"Crystal, Omega."
Reloading a single CZ with his last cartridge, Alpha looked at the downed man as tears began to erupt from his swollen eyes.
"Don't worry," Alpha began as he pulled back the slide. "This won't hurt."
Aiming the barrel between the eyes of his victim Alpha whispered, "I promise."