Chapter 8: Anonymous
Velikan watched as Price snuck up behind the Russian FGF Operator and shot him in the back of the head with an M17. Price put a cigar in his mouth and lit it, blowing out smoke. Rogue drove a Tactical Rover around the corner behind the parking building, stopping next to Price and Ghost, who emerged from cover. Rogue told his team to enter the vehicle, which Velikan knew when he nodded his head to the side opposite of Price and Ghost. The two entered the vehicle and Rogue drove it away. Velikan grabbed his tablet and messaged his CO.
"'Is the next clue planted?'" Velikan wrote, waiting for a response, which came soon after.
"'Yes. They have all been planted, waiting for discovery.'" His Commanding Officer replied in text.
Velikan put away his tablet and pulled the motorcycle laying on its side next to him onto its wheels, mounting it. Velikan drove the motorcycle after Bravo team's Tac Rover, wanting to keep an eye on them from the shadows.
*line here*
Rogue parked the Tac Rover near the crashed plane, the occupants exiting the vehicle to inspect it. Ghost entered the plane's fuselage as Price and Rogue's tablets vibrated. They grabbed them and each found a message from an anonymous source reading, '1400 hours EST at Verdansk Stadium. Don't be late'. Price and Rogue glanced at each other's tablets, finding the same message on the other's device.
"Hey, I can't search this plane alone!" Ghost said, walking out of the fuselage. "Is what I would've said if this was at all hidden."
Ghost held up a paper reading in big red ink, 'Search Arklov AFB'. Rogue checked his Fitbit, and the time read 1:54 Eastern Standard Time. It was then that he realized that they had spent fifteen minutes at the Verdansk Airport. He grabbed his tablet and found an image attached, an image of a ridge overlooking the stadium. Bravo team returned to the Tac Rover and Rogue occupied the driver's seat. He drove the vehicle South, through the woods and over a ledge. The vehicle landed near a group of storage units and Rogue continued down the gravel road.
"Where are we going?" Ghost asked Rogue as he continued down the road.
"I received a message from an anonymous source telling me to be at Verdansk Stadium at 1400 hours Eastern Standard Time, and it's 1:54." Rogue told Ghost. "Price, I think we might need backup."
"All teams, this is Price. Mobilize near the Verdansk Stadium, we may have a lead." Price said into his radio.
Shaffer gazed at the picture inside of his daughter's locket, looking at his family. Him, his wife, Sasha, and his daughter, Melissa. He was going to avenge them. Light shone on the flatbed car and Shaffer closed the locket, pocketing it. He glanced at Gaz to his left and Krueger, along with Talon, to his right.
"All teams, this is Price. Mobilize near the Verdansk Stadium, we may have a lead." Price's voice said over the comm.
"Understood." Gaz said into his radio, Stalker team standing up and looking East, towards the Stadium.
Krueger, Talon, Shaffer and Gaz leapt off of the train, combat rolling onto the ground and rushing towards a nearby Little Bird helicopter. Talon entered the cockpit while Shaffer, Krueger and Gaz entered the passenger area. Talon lifted the helo off of the ground and flew it to the East. They saw another Little Bird helicopter rise from outside of the Tavorsk District city hall as they flew near it, and Shaffer saw Alex inside. A rocket flew from the ground surrounding the Stadium, locked onto Alex's helicopter.
Charly landed the Little Bird in the heart of the WHC camp as Mills, Mara and Iskra exited the middlemost building. They slowly and calmly approached the helicopter, Charly watching them the whole time.
"All teams, this is Price. Mobilize near the Verdansk Stadium, we may have a lead." Price's voice said over the comm.
Mills turned around slowly, looking at the Stadium to the South. He watched four Little Bird helicopters approach the building, two from the East, two from the South. Mills watched as a rocket soared through the air, hitting a helicopter, the flaming husk falling to the ground. Mills rushed back to the helicopter, Charly lifting it off of the ground once he was inside. Charly flew the helicopter towards the Stadium and what Mills saw on the roof was unbelievable. The roof was lined with C4, more being placed. It was rigged to blow.
Alex stared at the computer's screen, not believing what he was seeing. His tablet vibrated, and Alex grabbed it to find that he had a message from an anonymous person reading, '1400 hours EST at Verdansk Stadium. Don't be late'. Alex put away his tablet and continued to ponder what was on the computer screen. The hostiles in the Airport during the attack were friendlies. He looked at the bottom right corner of the screen and found that it was 1:54 Eastern Standard Time, so he slung Hadir's Sniper Rifle around his shoulder and grabbed the AK-47 that he scavenged. He grabbed the radio on his chest and pressed the broadcast button.
"Roach, Volker, I'm coming to pick you up, maintain your positions." Alex told them.
"No need, Volker and I have commandeered the Blackhawk on the Scrapyard helipad. Just make your way to the Stadium and rendezvous with Price." Roach told Alex, confusing him. "Price told me to mobilize my team near the Stadium over the radio, and I guess that you get a head start."
Alex chuckled and let go of his radio, rushing out of city hall and back to his helicopter. He entered the cockpit and lifted the vehicle off of the ground. He found himself nearby another Little Bird helicopter occupied by Stalker team, and the two helicopters flew towards the Stadium together. Alex heard a beeping from his helicopter and discovered that he was getting targeted by a missile. Alex tried to pop the flares, but they sputtered, jammed. Alex kicked open the cockpit with his right leg and leapt out of the helicopter as a rocket flew towards it. Alex grabbed Hadir's Sniper Rifle and aimed down the scope, finding the hostile who fired the rocket, firing at him and killing him. Alex opened his parachute, gliding down to the concrete surrounding the Stadium, wincing when he hit the ground.
Rogue checked his Fitbit, watching the time turn to 1:59. One minute left. Rogue twiddled his thumbs, eyes locked on the Stadium as two helicopters flew away from the buildings, to the North and the West, while two helicopters to the South continued towards the building. Rogue, Ghost and Price all stood on the ridge near an extinguished campfire. Price fiddled with his Israeli Galil, removing the mag and checking the rounds inside before returning it to his weapon, pulling back the cocking mechanism.
"So, what's going to happen?" Ghost asked Rogue.
"I don't know, I guess we'll fi-" Rogue started, but was interrupted by his Fitbit beginning to buzz.
All of Bravo team's members turned their attention towards the Stadium, silence enveloping them. The buildup was driving Rogue crazy, causing him to think. Was this all for nothing? Was this some big joke? Was nothing ever going to- Rogue thought, but his thoughts were interrupted by the occurrence of something unbelievable.
The Stadium's roof exploded.