My name is Bear. Part of a special ops team known as Alpha Pack, formed after the beginning of the occupation of the United States. Made up of SEAL members who had lost their previous teams. All of us were given code names, linked with an animal. The year is 2037. The GKR, known by some as KPA, have the upper hand, and it is out duty to change that to the best of our ability. We have been fighting for a while. Seen action on the line. The only difference I see is the scale being larger.
Minneapolis, 22:17, 18th March 2037, Bear's POV
Could this storm above get any worse? I asked that question back at base. That's probably why they call me the jinx of the team sometimes, since it's a thing I end up doing. A lot. Before we left, the rain was soft. There was no thunder, no lightning. The wind was soft against me. Didn't blow anything over. Except for piles of dust and ashes from fires recently extinguished. Sure, the leaves were going a little crazy on the trees, but that was nothing like when we left.
The storm swept over, bringing with it winds that belonged on highways, enough lightning to put the hairs on the back of my neck on end, and rain that caused a the water to reach knee deep on even ground. The old water was enough to make the skin on my legs grow numb, the insides slowly doing the same. It's a funny thing to happen, since I had been trained to resist the cold. So why couldn't I resist this? Guess my body just wanted to make me hate it. Or the weather. Whichever one it was, I didn't care. I was more worried about the spotlights scanning the area near me and the two others. Beams of light that are the banes of the stealthy type of soldier.
We ducked behind a wrecked Sedan, missing all it's doors. Possibly scrapped by some survivors looking for somethings to piece together for shelter. Some of the color had been scratched off by wear. But most of it was intact, besides the doors. And the headlights. It wasn't an odd thing to come across, since many resources were quite scarce. But obviously, this happened around maybe a year after the occupation began. That was my guess.
The search light passed over. Only a bit of us was illuminated, although not enough to spot us. These spotlights aren't like the average ones, with only a single light-bulb. No, these were a special type. They sense movement, sense when something organic stands in it's path. They were used with automatic turrets. The type of turret with enough firepower to shred a man in heavy armor to nothing more that a few bits of stringy flesh. Or just a body full of holes. No doubt there were some nearby. Not something I wanted to be caught by. And not only were they our only danger, but the constant patrols of hovering drones and helicopters, searching for something to put some led into. Something to add some action into their day. Too bad that their wish would be granted, giving them a little too much to handle.
One of my other team members made hand signals for 'move forward'. More specifically, our team leader. With my silenced M4 with ACOG, I scan the windows for any passing snipers or other troopers moving by. My squad-mates are armed with a holographic-sight Super V SMG silenced, and the other an M16 with a ACOG and a silencer. All of us had combat vests with all sorts of gear, such has flash-bangs and frags. With masks over our heads. And we had the skill set necessary to fight with those weapons and gear. When the sound of a chopper nearby is heard, which directs my sight to the sky. Luckily, there is none visible. Doesn't mean it would be soon, though.
Once the others two were in the clear, I followed, covered by them. Wading through the waist-high water. Not my idea of fun. It was going to be a while before we reached a suitable entrance into the three-story building that had little to no guards on the prowl. We made it to a semi-truck, two of us behind the trailer and the last next to the truck itself. And so far, nothing signaled to us that the enemy knew of their presence.
The lightning continued to flash here and there, giving off some silhouettes of a few soldiers walking along the roof with their weapons in hand. Snipers, assault rifles, RPG's and some other large weapons. None of them were even looking down! Not a single one! Just strolling like they were in some side-scroller. How I longed to play one of those. Any video game would be fine with me, but they were scarce these days. But seriously, who trained these guys? The ducks from those carnival games? They were just waiting to be shot. But I wasn't a trigger happy guy, and neither were my team mates, or from what I could tell they weren't. Although, they must have found it odd too. Then again, I didn't know them well enough, since I'd only been with them since last week. This was our first op together. And I guess those soldiers up there were better than having Stalkers. For us, that is.
Once given the clear, we did the same thing, except my M16 buddy stayed back this time and I moved forward with Super V guy. We waited to here gunfire, and heard none of our position. I lifted my hand, and curled my fingers back in forth. That was the 'Come here' hand signal. He waded threw as quickly as he could, trying to avoid making too much sound as possible. Of course, I did the stupidest thing I ever could have done. I thought to myself: "Could be worse." Oh, how wrong I was.
A huge gust of wind came by, pushing a couple of dumpsters caught in a wall away. A wave double the height of the water level we were in swept by, carrying the dumpsters with it. I would have alerted the guards if I had yelled to him to take cover, but it would have been too late anyway. One of them hit the truck, while the other slammed right into his side, dragging him with it. The spotlight darted to the truck, as we went as fast as possible to our allies' side.
Once we came to him, we found he was conscious still. No blood was visible, although it was dark. In my quietest voice, I asked, "You okay?" He gave a thumbs up, with a pained grunt. I trusted him, as did the leader of the group. But we couldn't leave him here. The water was rising, and soon he'd be caught under. We had to move the dumpster. I shouldered my weapon, and I gripped one of the side handles.
The leader of the team shouldered his Super V with the leather strap on it and started making hand signals. Unlike my last team, they seemed to not like words very much. But all these signals, I knew. In the end, he lifted three fingers. By each second, he put one down. His other hand rested on a handle on the side of the dumpster. On three, we pulled with all our might. There was a muffled groan from under the water as it began to slide. Only for the damn current to push it back, ramming it into him again. He grunted, holding back a scream of agony. I could see the pain all over his face. The poor guy.
We did the same thing again. Same result. So, as many say, third times the charm. And it truly was. The current slowed, and we managed to pull the massive metal bin off him, releasing him from the wall. He gulped in a massive amount of air, then let it out and a few quiet exhales. Though it didn't stay good for long. We ducked down as a squad of KPA troops ran by the windows inside. We had a guess where they were headed, which meant we had to clear out of the area. Another reason for that was that the water had risen halfway up our chests.
Me and the other two waded through, not bothering with cover as the searchlights were still fixed in that area before. Though when the squad passed by, we dived under, waiting for them to go on. Once they were gone, we stood up and continued on. We hadn't been under for too long, so our lungs didn't hurt from holding out breath. Soon, we found out why it hadn't taken too long for the troops to come by. As it turned out, there was an entrance closer than we thought. One that wasn't on the map. Literally a hole in the wall. Someone had just blown a hole in the wall.
Me and M16 were first in, swiping our weapons back and forth to cover the area. Just an empty classroom was all it was. Some overturned desks and chairs, a black board with words scratched on with chalk too hard. A door with a smashed window. And a flickering light. Talk about ominous. The only other light we had was coming from the hallway and the fires outside. However, the sounds outside dimmed down. The thunder, distant gunfire. All of it. Finally, some quiet.
Which disappeared when we heard chatter close by. We took positions on either side of the door, while the team leader waited behind an overturned desk, weapon leveled out over the top edge. The talking drew closer and closer until their shadows were cast on the walls ahead of them. My body tensed up, hands readjusting themselves on my rifle. Then...they passed by. Not even looking inside. How stupid were these guys?!
I glanced at the others. They looked back with no emotion. I guessed we all had the same idea. The guards here were utterly stupid. I shrugged it off. Once again, luck had returned to our side. But we had to continue on. Super V stuck his head out, along with his weapon. Sweeping it from side to side. Then, he held up an open hand, then flicked it forward. He left, we followed.
In some areas of the ceiling it was like a mini waterfall. Sparkling water turned a little more murky from all the dirt on upper floors. The ground floor flooded slightly, enough to cover one's toes. I walked through one of the mini falls. It may have been dirty, but it felt nice, for some reason. Even though I had just been standing in the rain. And also I bet it would have looked cool for anyone on the other side. Just seeing someone go slowly through a sheet of water, like someone walking through steam.
The others moved forward. So much for my dramatic entrance past the water. I move with them, gazing into every room on the way. Amazingly, all were empty. Until one where the others stopped by. A closed door, light peeking out from underneath. Super V took the opposite side to me and the M16 guy. I grabbed a flashbang in one hand, and waited for Super V's countdown on his hand to hit one. On the one, he opened the door a little, and I tossed in the grenade. He quickly closed it in time to muffle the shouts and screams inside, before a loud bang.
Super V kicked the door in, and I followed the other guy in. Already, I spotted my targets. Two out of the five inside. All of them were rubbing at their eyes, or clasping hands against their ears. I lifted my rifle to my shoulder. Aimed at my closest target. As did the other two. And fired, two bullets for each. Blood sprayed from their heads and chests. They fell to the floor and against the tables.
Super V made the signal to 'clear room'. I swept my rifle across the right side, finding no more left. I gave the 'clear' hand signal. Turning back, the same came from M16 guy. I lowered my weapon, going over to the table and looking over it. Unluckily for us, what we were looking for wasn't here. Instead, there was a deck of cards in the middle, some drinks around and a couple of metal plates with food on them. In other words, we had just interrupted a group of soldiers entertaining themselves. Ah well. Not our fault. Just wrong place, wrong time.
I caught a glimpse of something just outside the window, and I could tell so did the others. We all moved toward the window at the back. Just by looking outside, I knew we had gotten inside in time. A large convoy of tanks, trucks, Stalkers, troops and other armor went by. We knew where they were headed. To the front lines.
The team leader led us out of them room, clearing the hallway. It was empty. It was a good thing we fired first, or otherwise they would have brought everyone in the building onto us. We were lucky enough with the dumpster incident outside.
Ahead was a set of stairs. Seeing the stairs in a school brought back memories of my school years. I was such the daredevil, skating down the rails. It saddened me that no children of this generation would be able to experience what I had. None of them would be able to experience the spacious classrooms, playing on the playground at lunch time with not a care in the world. They will always have to look at the sky, wondering when the next bombs will drop. Gazing across the roads, waiting for their mothers and fathers to return from the line. This was not the life for a child.
I shook my head to clear it. Had to focus on the present, at my location. Not elsewhere. And just in time to see the team leader grapple with a lone guard coming around the top of the stairs. He had grabbed his arm, and I had come back just in time to hear the snap of the arm as his knee bent it the wrong way by the elbow joint. His other hand was other the guards mouth, his sub-machine gun hanging from it's strap. The soldier's muffled scream barely reached my ears. The gun in the hand of his broken arm fell to the ground. Hard. Then, my ally drew a combat knife and stabbed it into his back, slowly lowering the soldier against the wall. Now it looked like he was on break. Besides the blood pooling from his wound. Super V took back his knife before wiping it on his sleeve, then putting it back in it's sheath. I was a little surprised at how he showed no emotion as he just killed a man.
Super V stood up and took a step back from the corpse, as if admiring his handiwork. Then gripped his weapon and started to walk off. I looked to M16 guy, wondering if he was having the same feeling I was. Instead he had the same as our leader. Nothing. So I just decided to move along. Ignore the body. Just like I had done many times before.
Once more, we found more empty rooms. The entire hall we followed was empty. So we went down another hallway. And that's where we found it. A room full of talking. We held our position a doorway over. Using what I knew about Korean, I made out some words and knew this was the right room. I gave a nod to the leader. He muttered something through the radio on his shoulder, then gave the 'move forward' command. This was it. Our objective was inside. We took positions on one side of the open doorway. Super V ducked down, peeking around the corner. I assumed no one was looking in his direction when he made it to the other side with some quick steps.
Once more, he made the countdown. Three...Two...One.
I tossed in a flashbang. Some shouts were heard, and the sound of a large object smashing against something, then the loud bang and bright flash. We breached, only to be caught in a burst of fire. I rolled to one side, bullets narrowly missing me. I could imagine the sting if one did hit. Not very fun to have that happen.
"Weapons free!" shouted the team leader. So now he finally talks, only when things got loud. He was running to cover while firing his weapon. Streaming bullets along with him. M16 took pot shots at whoever dared to poke their head above the long flipped table. I could now see why some were unaffected by the grenade. They had helmets that protected them from such affects. Smart bastards. Others were laying on the ground out harm's way.
After I was sure I was safe in cover, I analyzed the situation. Nine targets. One of them got hit in the chest in the fight's beginning. He had fallen back. I made a shot to add to the body count. And succeeded, the bullet smashing right through the glass visor of one of their helmets. But then I was fired at by a spray from two rifles. This fight was going nowhere. They had managed to pin us down...But not for long.
One of the glass windows shattered as a bullet shot through. Before going on to pierce a KPA trooper's chest with a spray of red mist. That would be thanks to out sniper. Another came through, ending another man's life. Taking my chance I fired my M4 at the table. Riddling it with bullet holes. Shells hit the floor with clinks. And hitting another target in the process. Super V and M16 did the same. Soon the table was nothing but a holey piece of red wood. And the wood wasn't made of red wood.
We stood up from our cover, just waiting for someone to stand up. No one did. "Clear!" I shouted. No use being quiet now.
"Bear, cover exit. Fox, help me here." Fox let his M16 dangle from the strap then got on his hands and knees, sifting through the sheets all over the ground. The team leader did the same. I held my M4 to shoulder height, aiming through the holographic sight. From all around I could hear the echoing shouts and footfalls. We had to get out of here, or be swarmed.
"Better hurry guys, cause we are about to get attacked by a lot of guys." Fox must have heard what I said, because he started to quicken the pace. Good thing he did, since he was the one to find it. A folder, with the KPA's battle plans. Fox pocketed it in his backpack.
"Move out!" Wolf shouted, standing and making a run for it. We followed, going as fast as we could.
From ahead I could hear more footfalls and orders being thrown about. We dove into another room, and just in time as a squad of KPA guards ran by. We waited until we were sure they all passed by. I could swear there were at least fourteen of them going by. Glancing around, I found no more. But we were still on guard as we continued on to the roof. No more were seen along the way, until we reached the rooftop. Four guards. Wolf took out two, Fox one and I one. We had an evac plan, but we planned to use it if things went the way we wanted it to. That would be if it had been silent, which it hadn't. Now we only had one choice as the squad we passed before came up behind us. We ran forward, ignoring the hailfire of bullets. Ignoring everything, only focusing on what was ahead. Then, at the rooftop edge...and we jumped. Into the flowing river of floodwater below.
Somehow, we had managed not to break anything. It was quite deep for us to make it. And the KPA must have known that, as they started firing down at us. We let the current carry us along. To me, this wasn't even one of my worst missions. It was actually one of my best. And in my books, a success.
Here you go. Another chapter. It would have come earlier, but we've been unpacking everything with the move, and going out as a family, it's busy when we move. So to make it up to you, I made this chapter of the next story arc. Didn't expect multiple arcs, did you? Yeah, that's because it was a new idea. Also, expect the older chapters to change. Some big changes, some little. But none will affect this story arc.
Also, for those who read my Star Wars fic, I updated that at the same time. Minor changes here and there, and another chapter. Hope you enjoy, and leave a review, please.
