AN: I'm introducing a very special character today... Mostly because it was requested in a review of Countdown to War. Say hello to...
You can't say civilization don't advance... In every war they kill you in a new way. -Will Rogers
Chapter 14
Rio de Janeiro, 4:01 PM
"MARCO! CARLOS!" Eva called.
"KIDS! COME OUT NOW!" Rafael screamed.
"Come on! Come on! We have to go!" Nico shouted into the Toucans' hollow.
"Daddy!" A small toucan shouted and hugged his father.
"Sofia, where are your brothers and sisters?" Eva asked.
"Over there, in the bush. We're playing hide and seek!" Sofia said cheerfully.
"We have to high-tail it outta here! It ain't safe!" Pedro said, seeing the approaching yellow-green gas.
"Stay with your mother!" Rafael said and flew over to the bush.
He looked around and saw a pair of eyes quickly duck out of sight.
"Kids! We have to leave! Come out this instant!" He said.
Some of the toucan kids came out of the bush. Rafael counted fourteen.
'Fifteen, along with Sofia... Where is the other three?!' Rafael thought frantically.
"Rafey! The gas is almost here! We don't have much time!"
Boarder of Panama and Colombia, U.S. Army camp, 4:11 PM
The team walked through a door to the command room.
"We're here." Said an exhausted Michael.
"Welcome-" Overlord said, before looking at the team. "PFFFFFFT-" He sprayed his coffee on Zack.
Zack put his gloved hand over his face, trying to wipe off the coffee.
"You guys look like battered s*it! What the hell happened?"
"Well, Sierra killed Johnson." Hicks said.
"I already knew that."
"We crashed the boat on a beach." Safi said, still trying to get the sand out of her sleeves.
"That explains it." Overlord said and got back on his seat. "Here's the sitrep."
Overlord pressed a key, and a window popped up on the big screen.
"During Brazilian president Nascimento's visit in Rio, chemical attacks were unleashed in the city. Masked men currently roam the city for unknown reasons. The president is safe and is headed towards a safe house. It is still unknown weather the attacks are a random act of terrorism or a declaration of war."
"S*it..." Fernando mumbled, pulling a bottle of Brazilian ale from his vest.
"Take a shower, re-arm, and re-equip yourselves for chemical warfare." Overlord said.
******Twenty Minutes Later******
The team boarded an Osprey piloted by Safi and a co-pilot. The rest were in the back, fixing up their masks and checked their gear. The two did some final checks on the avionics and was about to raise the throttle when-
"WAIT! WAIT!" A voice called out.
"WAIT UP!" Another voice shouted.
"WHAT?! WE GOTTA LEAVE!" The pilot shouted, attempting to close the gate.
"Don't! Let's see what they want." Safi said.
"Hey! You mind if I come along?" A familiar voice asked.
"And me too?"
"...Austin?" Doc said.
"Yup." Austin replied.
"AUSTIN! How've you been?" Hicks asked.
"Good! Thanks."
"Where have you been all these months?" Sierra asked.
"Looking for you, actually."
"...Okay then... Who's your friend?"
"Corporal Garrett, navy seals." The man said.
"Well, welcome on board! Get a mask, and cover all exposed skin. I see you've finally gotten rid of that M16?" Tom asked.
"Yeah. The thing keeps jamming if I don't oil it every few hours."
The co-pilot closed the back gate, and Safi raised the throttle and the Osprey took off.
"Hey, Sierra! I heard you got some bird friends over in Rio!" Safi shouted.
"What?!" Zack exclaimed.
"You say it like they aren't worth being friends with!" Sierra shouted back.
"I never said that! I hope they're still alive!"
"...Yeah... I hope so."