Chapter 12:
6th Fleet Staging Area
Black Sea
0330 Hours
The atmosphere aboard the aircraft carrier was quiet and yet solemn, the loss of Bobby Thompson had many a soldier in silence.
Giuseppe in particular was quiet in his bunk, staring at the picture of Aria that rested on the top of a letter that he hoped to write.
It was difficult for him to write, but after the death of his buddy Bobby, it weighed heavily like a weight on his conscience.
Thinking about some advice, he thought about his words as he went.
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"Dear Aria,
I hope that this letter finds you well, it's an unmistakeable feeling that I left you behind so that I could fight, but knowing I fight to keep you safe makes it a little better, maybe a little better.
But knowing when I'll get home to you, I can't answer that. I want to hold you in my arms every night, hold you whenever you cry, I lost someone last night, he's a buddy of mine, we've been friends since we were kids.
Our families were pretty close and he's a little older than I am.
We called each other brothers because of the patriotic service we've done for our country and what we did, what surprised people in general was how kind he was, how he thought of his friends first and foremost, it was like he was this superhero who wanted to do everything possible for the people that he loved the most.
I keep thinking it's my fault that he died, I've lost some good friends in my life, I've lost my blood in this war, but the more people I lose, the more I fear for the safety of my family, the men and I call family. My biggest fear is losing you most of all.
Just promise me, promise that you'll let me hold you whenever I get back, every time I get back, just promise I can hold you whenever I feel like I'm about to hit a breakin' point.
I'm yours forever,
With Love,
Giuseppe."
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Following the briefing of Lieutenants Brooklyn and Thomas's mission to Dubai, Giuseppe tuned his attention to Joseph Lafayette who was continuing the briefing alongside Lieutenant Michael Donarelli.
Joseph then turned to everyone and said, "We've also uncovered another base, thanks to Lieutenant Romanova's help in decrypting Russian radio channels, there's a base in Azerbaijan in the North, the ultranationalists currently commanded by this man, Colonel Gregovich Nevsky. One of Skorenzy's right hand men who fought beside him in the Soviet-Afghanistan War."
"Nevsky is the man who acted on orders of Skorenzy and planned the bombing of Pittsburgh, he sent Russians into our country and he murdered innocents. Let's show him what happens when he angers Americans." Joseph finished his part of the briefing.
Michael then took over, "Aim is to get Nevsky out of the picture, eliminate him at all costs, without Nevsky and Smirtine, we've cut the heads of the snakes off."
He then turned to Giuseppe and said, "Lieutenant Capelli, you'll lead a team consisting that off Sergeants Zelinski, Lynn, Rossi and Corporal Sokolov to attack the Ultranationalist base. Secure the perimeter and knock off Nevsky. We'll try to send help to you when we can, the Loyalist government thought it'd be kind to lend us some helicopter support for the mission."
Giuseppe nodded, "Got it, we'll hit 'em with everythin' we've got."
"That's the General idea, any questions before you all launch for your mission?" Michael had asked.
Everyone stayed silent, they all knew what had to be done and what was required of them.
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With that the meeting was dismissed, Giuseppe and the team assigned to him headed to the Armory, Adam equipped himself with a M4A1, Daniele and Lynn both grabbed M4A1 Carbines, last but not least, Bradley Sokolov picked up a M249 and an M1014 shotgun for close quarters.
Giuseppe and his team headed to the black hawk that had its rotors ready and were spinning up to get on the move, the team would fly to Azerbaijan via black hawk, then drop into the ocean.
Aerial surveillance indicated that the shore would be clear of Ultranationalist forces, but the village ahead, it would be crawling with ultranationalists. Once on the ground, they would be linking up with a Loyalist that Captain Baker of the SAS had fought alongside with.
When they got to the village, they would cause whatever hell needed to be done and search for any signs of Colonel Nevsky and see to it that he was either killed or arrested for his part in the plot to bomb an American city.
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Getting off the ground, the Black Hawk flew all the way to Azerbaijan, they were heading to the southern part of Azerbaijan.
Nearing the southern shore of Azerbaijan, Giuseppe and his team checked their weapons before jumping into the ocean, the men landed in water that reached up to the waistline.
Walking out of the water, the team cleaned their weapons of water before reaching the shore.
Giuseppe signalled for the men to form up on him as Giuseppe told them. "Alright boys, objective here is to cross off an ultranationalist base, this isn't goin' to be easy, expect the area to be defended. Watch your corners and check your 6, these aren't Russian thugs, these guys were former Spetsnaz once upon a time, you can bet they're goin' to be quick on the trigger."
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The team nodded as they spotted a flash behind their team leader, "Lieutenant, I think our contact's here!" Adam had said.
Giuseppe looked to see a Russian soldier as he crouched over to the man and said, "You our contact?"
"I'm Pozharksy, Ivanovich. Private in the Russian Army." The loyalist had said. Giuseppe nodded, "Alright, do you know where Nevsky is?"
Pozharksy nodded, "In the village, he's been in coordinating his defence. He's also slaughtered the villagers as well, he's not human, nor is his Spetsnaz men."
"Well they kill one man, we put all their guys in a fuckin' mass grave that's unmarked." Giuseppe growled. He signalled to the men to move forward, he then asked the loyalist, "Any air support?"
"961's our air support." Pozharksy said.
Giuseppe nodded and said, "Call 'em in, and tell 'em to hit the house ahead of us."
The loyalist did as he was ordered and the team watched him do it, Adam looked at the loyalist with a look of distrust on his face.
When Adam pulled alongside Giuseppe he said, "Somethin's off about Pozharksy, I don't like it."
"Loyalists are our allies today, tomorrow, they'll be our enemies. You heard the old saying, 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.'" Giuseppe explained.
Adam nodded, "Copy that."
Helicopter support arrived and the team advanced as they were covered by Daniele Rossi and Bradley Sokolov.
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When the helicopter finished its run of the target, Giuseppe threw a flashbang as he said to Lynn, "Take the basement!"
"Right." Lynn had said.
Giuseppe signalled to Adam and the loyalist to take the upstairs.
Up the stairs, both Adam and the Loyalist aimed their rifles upwards in the event that the ultranationalists would appear from their holes.
Suddenly an AK-47 fired off from a closed door as Adam fired into the door, it pushed open to reveal a dead ultranationalist, they cleared the rooms and checked any closets as well, there was nobody else as Adam keyed his radio, "Capelli, we're all clear! No sign of Nevsky!"
"Regroup downstairs, we gotta clear the rest of the village before we confirm that there's no official sign of Nevsky!" Giuseppe had said.
Proceeding throughout the village trying to secure it, working in tandem with helicopter air support, they methodically clear out all the buildings within the village, the only one left was a farmhouse located at the west.
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Advancing across the field, the team are met with a rear guard of ultranationalists, Giuseppe and Bradley lay down suppressing fire. Rossi and Lynn move on the left flank whilst Adam and the loyalist move on the right flank, both flanks toss grenades after cooking them off.
The team pushed forward with a synchronised strike overwhelming the enemy on three fronts. Giuseppe heard a radio go off as Adam translated what was said, "Looks like our target wants to know if we've been destroyed."
"Tell him he's next." Giuseppe growled.
Adam nodded speaking in Russian through the radio. After doing so, Adam said, "How do we do this?"
"Hit 'em through that doorway, take two men, the rest of you, with me." Giuseppe had said. The team positioned themselves as Giuseppe and Adam prepped flashbangs.
They opened the doors and tossed them inside before quickly closing them.
When they went off, Giuseppe and Adam fired shots into the men guarding Nevsky.
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Giuseppe then tackled Nevsky to the ground and started to beat his face in.
Dragging him to a chair, Giuseppe interrogates him by beating him bloody, he then asks, "Why'd you do it?!"
The Russian colonel grunts every time he is hit, Giuseppe decides to change tactics as said to Rossi, "Give me the torch!"
Rossi hands over the blowtorch as Nevsky asks mockingly, "You think you'll make me talk with toys?"
The blowtorch turns on letting out a blue flame as Giuseppe snarls, "Trust me, trust me when I say this, bitch. You fucked with the wrong Army."
Giuseppe pulls Nevsky's shirt and begins to push the torch close to Nevsky's chest, the burn is agonising for Nevsky who begins to let off a scream, the darkness surrounded Giuseppe who looked as if he didn't care about rules or regulations but made everything personal.
Everybody in Thomas and Brooklyn's teams now made it personal, because of the death of Bobby Thompson.
Deciding not to speak, Nevsky spat in Giuseppe's face as he snarled, "You think you're tougher than me, Lieutenant? I fought cowards with more honor than you."
Giuseppe let out a low growl before grabbing Nevsky hauling him to a nearby bucket, he grabbed a rag and placed it over Nevsky's mouth before waterboarding the elder man.
Giuseppe let the man up after 3 minutes and punched the man in stomach who dry-heaved water and his own blood.
Walking over, Giuseppe gripped Nevsky's throat before saying, "You know what you did, you sent men to bomb an American city, made us think it was the Russians. I will stop you and your ultranationalist cowards and we're gonna kill every last one of those men you call friends."
"Oh, we'll do what you plan to do us. You're already too late." Nevsky laughed. Giuseppe snarled as he pulled out Nevsky's cell phone and spotted Skorenzy's number.
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The phone dialled just as it picked up, Giuseppe listened to the caller as he put it on speaker for Adam.
Listening to the call, Adam's expression turned from shock to horror as he signalled to Daniel Lynn to get outside. Giuseppe took the phone and pulled out his sidearm and executed Nevsky, point-blank execution style.
Adam then said, "Victor Skorenzy's sent two infantry regiments on the way, an armoured unit is on the way too. That loyalist who's helping us, he's aligned with Skorenzy, they just murdered a Captain Baker of the 22nd SAS."
Giuseppe's eyes widened as he walked out of the barn, they saw Pozharksy who was held at gunpoint by Daniel Lynn as Adam said, "You lying bastard."
"I'm just doin' what is right, for my country, for Mother Russia." Pozharksy had said. Adam grabbed the man and pulled his sidearm on him as he said, "I really hope that I get to kill you because nothin' would make me feel better than pullin' the trigger."
"I'm already dead, come tomorrow, you and your friends will be dead and my people will rule victorious." Pozharksy spoke with frightening passion.
Adam snarled, "That ain't happenin', we'll bury you and your friends." "Good luck asshole." Pozharksy had said.
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Adam let go off Pozharksy and executed him in the head, he turned to Giuseppe and said, "It felt good."
"Good, we need to keep watch of the perimeter. No tellin' if we'll get reinforcements or air support."
"I'll make a call." Daniel had said.
Giuseppe nodded, "Get it done. The rest of you, eyes open and watch your sectors, tally your ammo as well."
Daniel pulled out a radio as he spoke into it, "Overwatch, this is Bravo 0-3, can you copy, over?"
"Readin' you loud and clear Bravo-3, what's your status?" Joseph asked.
Daniel spoke into the radio, "Overwatch, we've just kicked in the hornet's nest, every ultranationalist in Skorenzy's pocket is gonna show up at our doorstep to claim what's left of Nevsky, we need back up and some air support."
"Overwatch copies, we're workin' on getting air support to you, but at this time it could be difficult, we're however workin' on getting Lieutenant Donarelli's unit to your location, they should arrive by 0400, hang tight." Joseph had said.
"Solid copy, tell 'em to land at the farmhouse." Daniel said.
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The ensured reply had Daniel breathing easy, but it wasn't a reassured breath.
Giuseppe walked over as Daniel then said, "Lieutenant Donarelli's on the way, they should arrive by 0400."
"Zelinski says that the Ultranationalists should arrive by late morning, could be earlier. They don't know." Giuseppe says.
"What's the plan?" Daniel asks.
Everyone hustled on Giuseppe who had said, "Right now, we've got every one of Skorenzy's men here to kill us, we're now in the shit, this means we've gotta hold this place. If we do this, we can maybe break the back of the Ultranationalists and give us a fightin' chance, we're all working together."
He then stopped for a breather as he said, "If anyone has issues with this, speak now."
Nobody didn't say a word they all looked at Giuseppe as Daniel said, "Set up defensive positions?"
"Set 'em, lock and load too." Giuseppe ordered of his men. Seeing his men follow the orders given to him, he knew that they wouldn't let him down, but they would follow him to hell and back if he asked them to do so.