Chapter 10:
Moscow, Russia
Giuseppe was heading back to the insertion point of where he entered to get into the Kremlin, the sounds of battle neared closer as he got out of the sewer line.
Bringing up his weapon, he neared close to the gun battle that raged between Brooklyn Zelinski's side of the team and the Russian soldiers. Concrete flew everywhere, the Russians fired with their weapons on the Americans as Giuseppe cooked a grenade off and rolled it towards the unknown Russian soldiers.
It went off and Giuseppe charged forward killing those in his path. Brooklyn appeared from cover and fired as well, leading the men towards Giuseppe.
Once the men finished the battle, they joined up as Brooklyn said, "Good timin', Lieutenant."
"Couldn't leave any of you behind, Nat's taken the others and they're heading to find the Master Sergeant's team. We better get on the move if we're to find 'em." Giuseppe said.
Brooklyn nods furiously, "Let's not waste time, team. Let's get movin'."
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Leading the team forward, Giuseppe and Brooklyn advanced along the streets. Nate Dempsey got on the radio and said, "Overwatch, this is Alpha 0-5. I need a status update of 0-3 and 0-7?"
"This is Overwatch, 0-5, we've currently got eyes on Alphas 0-3 and 0-7, they are currently heading to the Otradnoye District, from your position it'll be at best a 5-hour walk, if you have transportation, you could cut it down at least." Joseph Lafayette's voice rang through the radio.
Brooklyn looked at Giuseppe who shook his head, "Not an option, we can't exactly ride up there and expect those Russians to turn a blind eye."
Brooklyn nods, "So we're on foot, then?" "It'll have to do." Giuseppe says.
Dempsey looks to Brooklyn and finds an answer, he nods as Dempsey keys his radio, "Overwatch, we can walk it from here, but with the number of Russians here, we might have a slight problem of getting through enemy lines. Streets are locked in fierce house to house fighting."
Mike Donarelli's voice filtered through the radio, "Acknowledged, we'll have immediate info for you when we get it. Stay safe, keep your weapons loaded." "Hoo-yah, Lieutenant, solid copy, out." Nate Dempsey had said.
Brooklyn signalled for the team to continue moving as they made their way along the street, keeping an eye out for any unwelcome contacts.
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In the underground of Moscow, Junior Lieutenant Natalia Romanova, led the team consisting of herself, Adam Zelinski, Dimitri Sokolov and the unconscious CIA agent.
Adam carried the unconscious CIA agent who was wrapped in blankets and other items to keep her warm, Adam had said, "How far till we reach the others?"
"It's just along this line, we've gotta be careful though. There were rumours of traps set along here, by loyalists or ultranationalists." Dimitri said.
"Joy, so we've got no idea what we're facin'." Natalia had said.
After walking a few miles, Dimitri signalled the team to a halt as he said, "We've got landmines. Looks like a 3-meter spread, we can't shoot 'em, but we've gotta be careful, watch your step, these things will activate on you stepping on one, it'll be the last thing you ever do."
"Follow me, but watch your footing." Dimitri had said.
The team moved carefully through the minefield; Adam had to adjust his pack so that he could carry the CIA agent that was unconscious in his hands. Natalia held back at the rear and once her comrades were through, she began her perilous trek through the minefield, she blanked out everything and focused on what really mattered.
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She made it through miraculously as she joined her team, they continued on their way, when they made it topside. Dimitri then signalled to Natalia to make her way to a nearby structure, the rest of the team would follow behind her.
Dimitri looked around, he felt it was too quiet, having grown up in Russia as a kid, everyone knew first hand his knowledge of the language. But Dimitri hadn't been back in Russia before now, what a welcome home he had gotten.
It was not much different when he had been living in the Soviet Union, the constant snow and the cold remained with him.
Seeing Natalia signal to him that the way was clear, he and Adam moved forward as they helped the CIA agent with them.
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Suddenly, a gunshot rang out and hit the ground near Adam, Dimitri and him took cover as they tried to get an angle on the shooter. 3 more shots fired close to where Adam and Dimitri were as the sniper bracketed the team.
Adam improvised a mirror of sorts as he tried to find a sort of flash from the sniper scope.
To Adam's silent joy, there was one and it came from the 5th floor of the apartment building ahead of them.
Adam soon said, "Sniper on the 5th floor, one of us could get up there while we provide cover fire."
"I can do it, give me cover and I can get through." Natalia strategically said.
Adam nodded as he said, "Alright, me and Dima provide cover fire, run as fast as you can, got it?"
"Got it." Natalia said.
On three, Natalia ran as fast as she could with Dimitri and Adam providing cover making sure that they didn't hit the sniper, their plan worked when Natalia had made cover to the entrance of the apartment block.
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Ramstein Airbase
Germany
After arriving at the Airbase in Germany, the Force Recon Marines had gotten Bobby Thompson to a medic and were beginning to do medicals on him, but because of the severeness of his wounds, the men had to wait to hear news of Bobby's predicament.
John Capelli is pacing like a madman, trying to keep faith that Bobby will be fine, and would come back to them. Their field medic was out of the room and staying with Bobby trying to keep an eye on his condition.
The rest of the team held haunted gazes in their eyes. Ronda more so was hurting because of the fact that it was her squad leader badly injured.
After 30 minutes of waiting for answers, John had finally gotten up and said, "Right, I'm gonna go find some answers."
"Will you hang on? We don't know what's happening. We just gotta wait and be patient. Bobby's tougher than all us here combined." Cole had said. Cole deep down however was keeping faith that their brother would miraculously survive and come back to them.
Suddenly alarms started blaring as John looked in worry and concern as he stopped one of the nurses and asked, "Excuse me, what's goin' on?"
"Let me get back to you on that, please wait." The nurse had said.
Everybody looked around in worry and concern. Their fear went up several notches and they knew that this was one of those worse case scenarios they had all hated to face.
After about another hour, Daughtry entered the waiting room, everybody looked up to walk over to him, as they asked various questions overcrowding one another.
John and Cole could see the distressed look on Daughtry's face as the pair soon said, "Everybody hol' it, hol' it! Will you give the man some space, he can't breathe or think with us all crowding with expectant looks!"
Daughtry nodded his thanks to the two older Marines, John noticed Daughtry's expression and asked, "Where's Bobby?"
"Is he okay?" Cole asked.
Daughtry took a shaky breather as he explained what went on.
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Moscow, Russia
Natalia made her way inside the apartment building making her way up the stairs, clutching her dual Glocks in her hands, she knew she was not alone.
Clearing each floor, she didn't find any of the loyalists or any unfriendly contacts, it looked as if this part of the capital hadn't been touched by the fierce battle.
Getting up through the stairwells advancing to the 5th floor, she moved quietly and quickly as she could. She stopped nearby as she stood outside a room, Natalia nudged the door open as she saw a lone figure standing with a sniper rifle.
Natalia aimed her Glocks at the sniper as she said, "Don't do anything stupid, tell your buddies to stand down."
The sniper looked at Natalia, he had brown hair with dark eyes as he said, "You made a bad mistake to come here alone."
"I brought friends." Natalia smirked.
Right behind Natalia Adam Zelinski stormed in aiming his rifle at the team as he looked with widened eyes before saying, "Alex?"
"Adam? What in the hell are you doin' here?!" the soldier known as Alex asked.
Adam lowered his rifle slowly as he said, "What does it look like, we're savin' your ass."
"You picked a helluva time to get here." Matthew Lafayette had said. There was another man who wore an Army green shirt, custard coloured trousers with knee and elbow pads, he had brown hair and blue eyes. This one had said, "What about Dad? We need to get to him."
"We'll get to him, Bradley. You can count on that." Matthew had said.
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Making his entrance, Dimitri stood in the doorway right behind Adam as he said, "Not to worry, I return and I bring much-needed help."
The leader of the team had laughed, "Sonofabitch, good to have you back Dima." "Thank Giuseppe and these two Steve, they saved my life."
"Capelli's here?" the man known as Steve asked. Adam nodded, "Came with a small team, Nomad's leading with him including Nate Dempsey and Joe Lafayette Jr, Jameson's along for the ride."
"Guess we can thank Nomad for the Gunfire we heard across the city; patrols have been roving round these here parts but left after hearing the battle near the Kremlin." Alex had said.
Adam and Natalia shared a look, "That may have been what we heard coming through the underground."
Steve then said, "You guys are our ride outta here?!" "Yeah, we may have to get moving. We found a CIA agent, but she's in bad shape." Dimitri had said.
"Looks like you are too, buddy." Another soldier had said. This one had blonde hair, a beard round his face, he had blue eyes and was average height. Dimitri held a hand up as he said, "I can keep up and hol' my own, Daniel. Didn't get this far based off my charmin' personality."
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Every soldier in the room laughed as Steve then said, "Let's not waste time, you get us a bird outta here and we can hustle our asses to meet our brothers."
"One chopper outta this hellhole, comin' up." Adam said. He keyed his radio and spoke into it, "Overwatch, this is 0-7, can you hear me, over?"
"Roger 0-7, this is Overwatch, what do you need?" Joseph Lafayette's voice filtered in over the then asked, "We need an exfil, we've linked up with our Undercover boys, I've got Alex over here."
Adam pulled his radio tossing it in Alex's direction as he picked it up, "Big brother, that you?" "Hey little brother glad to hear your voice, pal." Joseph had said.
Alex smirked, "Feelin's mutual. How 'bout getting us a ride outta this hell hole?"
"Exfil's goin' to be at your direct location. On the roof of the apartment building you're at." Joseph Lafayette replied.
Adam nodded, "We'll be there. How long till the bird arrives?" "ETA's 15 minutes. Nomad called the bird in. They're inbound to your location." Joseph had said.
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Adam checked the watch as he heard explosions and gunfire close by. The team went to the window as they saw what looked like their friends running for cover and firing at unknown enemies.
Steve then said, "Looks like 50, maybe 200 guys. Some Armour as well."
"Is there a better position with cover?" Adam asked. Alex nodded, "Rooftop, we can use the rooftop and provide cover."
Steve nodded, "Adam, Alex and Natalia, take Dimitri and Bradley, get to the roof provide sniper fire. The rest of you, with me. Provide cover fire and give those boys a chance."
Adam unhooked the rocket launcher as he passed it to Daniel saying, "You'll need that."
Everyone prepped their weapons as they moved to positions.
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On the ground floor, Brooklyn and Giuseppe were behind cover with the rest of their team, running low on ammunition, they didn't exactly have any anti-tank weapons seeing as Adam had the rocket launcher.
Brooklyn peered from cover and fired on the Russians knocking two of them down. But returning fire immediately had them in cover as Brooklyn reached for his radio, "Alpha 0-7, we're takin' heavy fire, where the hell are you?!"
"Alpha 0-1, we're on the rooftop, providing a little help from above. Cavalry's on the way." Adam replied.
Brooklyn rolled his eyes as he returned fire, he changed his magazine as he said, "Last mag, make every shot count!"
Coming in were the 'Cavalry' consisting of Matthew, Steve, Daniel, they had fired their weapons as Steve said, "Blue, Blue!"
"Fuckin' good to see you, Red Rider!" Joseph Jr shouted. Steve smirked, "You look as if you don't have it under control."
Giuseppe flipped off Steve as he said, "Hit that fuckin' technical or we're dead!"
Steve shouted, "Lynn, drop that Technical or we're dead!"
Daniel pulled out the AT-4 rocket launcher as he prepped it, he aimed at the BTR in front of them and fired with devastating effect.
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Everybody came out from cover as they suppressed the enemy, Daniel brought up an M240 machine gun as he fired into the Russians whilst holding the ammo.
Steve then said, "We've gotta get to the roof. Exfil's inbound in 9 minutes."
"I'll lay down suppressing fire, and give you guys enough time, do the same for me." Daniel asked of his comrades.
Daniel laid down covering fire allowing the men to retreat right behind him, seeing he was almost to be overrun, he then did the same thing and turned to retreat.
He tossed a smoke grenade to cover him as everyone returned the favour. Making their way to the rooftop, the Russians had not followed in their pursuit thanks to snipers on the rooftop, the chinook helicopter had arrived as both teams got on board.
Giuseppe keyed his radio and said, "Overwatch, this Alpha 0-2. We've linked up with Bravo 0-1, all eagles are aboard."
"Solid copy, Alpha. Great job, get yourselves to the carrier, any injuries?" Mike Donarelli asked.
"We need medical for 2 CAT Alphas. Get those medics ready by time of our arrival." Giuseppe said. Mike then said, "Roger that, get 'em to the carrier and we'll sort 'em."
Giuseppe acknowledged before letting go of his radio, the teams all shared looks of worry focusing on the CIA agent.
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6th Fleet Staging Area
Black Sea
After both combined Special Forces teams linked up with the undercover American team and they evacuated the area with help from a chinook that landed outside of Moscow and had been waiting patiently for them.
When they made it back to the Aircraft Carrier, they were soon met by the medical team who had gotten Dimitri Sokolov to the infirmary.
Thomas, Mike and Joseph Lafayette stood in waiting, they walked over to their brothers in arms as Thomas shared a nod with Alexander Lafayette who said, "Good to have ya back, November."
"Good to be back, brother, good to be back." Alexander had said.
Every one of the American team shook hands with their brothers as Brooklyn asked, "What's goin' on, Deadeye?"
"We've heard news from Ramstein, it's Bobby…" Thomas began to say.
Everybody's attention was on Thomas who looked with a frown but had sadness in his blue eyes.
The men waited eagerly as Mike spoke up, "Bobby Thompson's dead."
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Those three words had everyone in shock, hearing that their best friend Robert Thompson had died was not what they had wanted to hear, not personally anyway.
They looked to Mike and Joseph whose looks confirmed the same thing. Brooklyn paced like a madman as he shouted, "Fuck! Those fuckin' Russians!"
"Son of a bitch, how bad was it?" Steve asked.
Nobody knew how to respond but Alex and the others already guessed. Alex then asked, "What happens now?"
"We've been offered a chance to stand down, 12 hours will be all we get." Thomas said.
Giuseppe was curious as to whether Bobby's unit had taken the offer to stand down, he then asked, "What have the Marines in Ramstein said?" "They're goin' back in; Bobby was their brother. They're doin' right by him, I guess." Mike had said.
Every one of the men in both special forces' teams including Natalia looked at each other, while the offer had been tempting, but payback had to be on the cards for their fallen brother in arms.
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They also knew that the CIA had done them wrong as well by sending out guys like Steve, Alexander and Matthew Lafayette, Daniel Lynn, Bradley and Dimitri Sokolov. Those men had been best friends with Thomas's team for years and their blood debts to each other had made them more than friendly soldiers, they had been made friends. Brothers. Family.
Everyone stood together as Giuseppe said, "When do we get back out there?"
Thomas and Joseph looked at each other as Thomas asked, "You don't want to rest or say a few words?"
"Let's put it this way, if we lost any of you in the fight and we were given the choice of standing down, we wouldn't do it." Brooklyn replied.
"We're family, brothers and sister." Alex had said.
Matthew then finished, "That's all that matters, we do right for our family."
Thomas smiled as did Mike and Joseph as they all nodded, "Then let's do right for our brother."