Chapter 5- A Ghost is Born
Operation Golden Lily is a go - General Shepherd
LOCATION: Prince Faisal Airbase, Jordan, July 2022
Alice Dennison codenamed Hammer had just finished talking to AFO Tram Spear. The mission was proceeding just as planned but with additional hostiles converging on their position. She had to get the QRF to them ASAP. She just needed to figure out who to send as well as find out who these unknown hostiles are. Then she thought of the platoon of Army Rangers that arrived with them.
"Col. Marshall, this is Major Alice Dennison, the intelligence officer attached to the special operations force that rode with you. They are in need of QRF ASAP. They're taking contact from a group of unknown hostiles. Talk to Col. al-Sharifi of the Jordanian Special Operations Forces for transport. Send in your best team of Rangers''.
"Read you loud and clear ma'am! I have a squad codenamed Hunter Two-One. It's led by Staff Sergeant. Foley. Patching him to you now".
"Ma'am, this Hunter Two-One Actual. Tell us where you need us to go over". (1)
"Hunter Two-One Actual this Hammer. Read you loud and clear. The helicopter will take you to the Syrian Village of Al-Shajara. You will then relive our special operations team and get them out".
"Roger that Hammer. Foley out".
After getting the QRF spun up for their operation. She looked at the UAV in the air and saw the convoy moving toward the compound at high speed. It looks like a PMC hit team and the vehicles look like Lomax-Fairrow Industry (2) vehicles that have been sold to multiple Private Military, Security Companies, as well as the CIA. She just hoped they could hold out long enough for backup to arrive.
LOCATION: Zarza Compound, Syria, July 2022
Clay was glad he had the 50 Cal. Anti-Material Rifle with him. He can shoot the engine of the first vehicle and grind the convoy to a halt. But he has to wait for the order to fire. Below him the rest of the team prepared a fallback position in the room where the HVTs were shot. They went to the armory to stock up on weapons and ammo. Captain Brent found some 5.56 ammo for his weapon. Dallas along with his primary weapon took a PKM and set up a makeshift machine gun nest near a window facing the courtyard while Coyote found an AT4 single shot rocket launcher to use against the convoy. Coyote found another window on the second floor that faced the road and waited for the signal to attack.
Brent crouched down and got a UAV out of his assault pack. The UAV was the newest model of Cypher drones known as the UAV6a (3). It has a wide array of high-tech sensors as well as thermal and night vision modes. Getting the frisbee sized drone connected with his Cross-Com was easy and sent it toward the convoy to get a proper read at the situation at hand. Each Ghost AFO Team has one UAV drone for support with either the leader of the team or another trusted member controlling it via Cross-Com or a specialized tablet computer that special operations forces use.
As the drone went out of the window and picked up altitude. He was able to see the convoy and effectively give accurate information to the rest of his Advanced Force Operations team. The unknown vehicles were getting closer and the window of opportunity for the ambush was growing narrower by each passing minute.
"Commence the Ambush in three, two, one! Execute"!
Black Tusk Kill Team, Syria, July 2022
Bardon Schaeffer was in the third vehicle going over the plan once again with his group of Black Tusk Operatives. Get in, kill Zarza and get any Intel implicating Black Tusk and get out. It sounded easy, but Schaeffer knew that plans rarely went well. Then out of nowhere the lead vehicle which was called the Landscape Mk. II burst into flames and a loud explosion was heard. An ambush he thought to himself. The vehicle swerved right and everyone got out as bullets were coming from the compound. As he looked around, his men were falling one by one. He heard the sound of another rocket hit the vehicle he was taking cover behind and the force of the impact flung him with little effort and his vision slowly turned to black as he was knocked unconscious.
LOCATION: Zarza Compound, Syria, July 2022
Once Captain Brent had given the order to initiate the ambush he could see via Cross-Com through the drone what was happening. Coyote immediately fired his AT4 at the convoy and Clay fired his Barrett at the first vehicle which spun out of control when the bullet hit the driver.
Clay looked through his sniper scope and found that all the hostiles wore black tactical gear and mostly used NATO weaponry. As well as other advanced gear. He wondered who these guys were and why they were after Zarza. These were questions that could be asked later. Another one of enemy fighters was in his line of sight and he took him out. He kept firing but he started taking fire.
"Ghost Lead this Clay. Taking heavy fire. Moving back inside the building". Clay said
"Roger that. Get another weapon and continue fighting. It looks like the shock of the ambush is starting to wear off. Looks like 9 of the hostiles are KIA. The rest are headed our way". Ghost Lead stated.
"Roger that". Clay responded
As clay went down the stairs he saw the others firing their weapons. He went to the armory and found an AK-74. He saw that coyote was firing his weapon and took cover on the left side of the room facing the open courtyard waiting for the hostiles to pour in.
The hostile soldiers that poured in looked to be armed with some serious firepower and looked to be well trained as well. Clay took aim with his AK and fired. One enemy fell to the ground while the other's opened fire.
"Coyote, I'm taking fire here. Need some assistance".
"On you Clay! Man, we need a nickname for you". Coyote shouted
"Who the hell are these guy's anyway"? Clay asked
"Don't know, but we have orders to bring one alive once the Rangers come grab us".
LOCATION: Jordanian Special Forces Helicopter, Syria, July 2022
"All right Rangers. Listen up. Command needs our squad to rescue some SF guys in need of saving. Remember your training! Rangers lead the way"! Shouted SSgt Foley.
"Rangers lead the way"! Shouted the rest of the squad which included PFC's Allen, Ramirez and Morgan, CPL. Dune, and SPC. Logan Walker. There squad happened to be short a few members due to the fact that they were recruited into a highly classified multinational special operations unit codenamed One-Four-One (4). That didn't matter to the members of Hunter Two-One. They were Rangers and they lived for the fight. As the helicopter got closer to the objective they heard explosions coming from the compound. They made it to the compound and the chopper gunners opened fire on the hostiles in black.
LOCATION: Zarza Compound, Syria, July 2022
Captain Alexander Brent heard the helicopter with Jordanian markings on it and thought that finally the Ranger QRF was here to bail them out. So much for a simple mission.
"To the Special Forces Commander on the ground. This is SSgt. Foley of Hunter Two-One codenamed Hunter Two-One Actual. We're landing on the ground and proceeding to your position". SSgt. Foley said
"Roger that SSgt. Foley. This is Captain Alexander Brent of Ghost Recon. I'm sure you'll keep this classified and between us". Ghost Lead responded
"Of course Captain".
"Anyway, Staff Sergeant. I want your squad to capture a downed and unconscious hostile we have. We need him for intelligence to understand what group he's affiliated with. He's over by the burning vehicles. All hostiles should be KIA, but be on guard anyway".
"Roger that Captain".
"All right. Clay, Coyote, Dallas. All hostiles are down and the Rangers are getting our prisoner. I want you guys to continue SSE. We leave in 10 minutes".
LOCATION: Jordanian Special Forces Helicopter, Jordan, July 2022
They left the compound with all the Intel relating to the Green Poison as well as a list of buyers and shipping manifests that contain weapons. Team Rainbow and Fourth Echelon will have a field day with the intel. Especially the prisoner they had captured.
Clay had finally completed his first operation as a Ghost Recon Operator. He felt like he was making a difference. Though he did wonder how Bravo Team was doing. In the months after he left DEVGRU. He reconciled with Sonny and they are now on good terms. Clay felt that they might fight those strange soldiers again. But this time he would be prepared to face the threat that these guys posed. He won't let them attack his friends and family. He closed his for a few seconds then felt a tap on his shoulder. They had landed back at Prince Faisal Airbase. He thanked the Rangers for their support and they went their separate ways. The Rangers are going to continue their joint training with the Jordanian's. While the Ghost's with the HVT will head back to Fort Bragg.
A Few Hours Later, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, United States
The C-130 landed on the runway and the operator's were met by LTC. Mitchell and a woman with red hair.
"Gentleman. This is Deputy Director Anna Grímsdóttir of Fourth Echelon. She'll be taking the prisoner for questioning". Mitchell said
"You guys did a fine job, getting that Intel and eliminating that arms dealer. We'll share any Intel we get with the prisoner and send it to Major Alice Dennison" said the Deputy Director.
She left with the prisoner in an unmarked black SUV that'll travel to Fourth Echelon's mobile headquarters known as the Paladin. An upgraded C-147B Military Transport (5).
"All right you all deserve some rest. Go to the armory and put away your equipment. Take a few days off. I'll be in touch". Mitchell stated.
Captain Alexander Brent just nodded and proceeded to walk toward the barracks.
"Good work team. We did well today. Clay, I have a new nickname for you. Your new codename will be Dolphin. There's a special ghost recon face mask for you as well. You'll usually wear that on missions".
Clay stood in shock. He knew about the coveted face mask that Ghost Recon Operator's receive. Just as Navy Seals get there Trident, Rangers get the tan beret, and the Green Beret's get the green beret, Ghost Recon Operator's get specialized face masks. In Clay Spenser's case it's a mask with a Dolphin on it.
Day's later. Fort Bragg, North Carolina, United States
LTC. Mitchell was sitting in his office when he heard a knock at the door. He was currently going over the Intel that was shared with him from Fourth Echelon. He also told the new Six of Rainbow Team about the weapon shipments that are in Pakistan and other countries. As well as the name of the buyers and the groups there associated with.
"Come in" Mitchell said
A man with a beret came in and sat down.
"Ah. LTG. Shepherd. I was wondering when you would show up".
"Spare me the pleasantries. You're boy's did a good job in Syria. General Massey's pissed that your Ghosts did another operation in his turf. Especially after the incident with Walker".
"Well, I don't answer to General Massey. I answer to you. You are the head of Joint Special Operations Command. General Keating did a good job with picking a replacement after his retirement".
"Well, I didn't come to talk about the past or what some General in Syria thinks about your Operators. I'm here about forming a task force. Especially with what Fourth Echelon found out from Bardon Schaefer. Apparently he's apart of an organization called the Black Tusk Special Unit (6). An elite PMC that the CIA has used from time to time for special black operations that the Ghost's can't do". stated Shepherd
"Wait, so you're saying that these are Americans that we were up against"?
"Yes. I don't like it any more than you do. We're trying to get more information and why they went freelance and who leads them. I'm sure Fourth Echelon will get more Intel. The Pentagon and White House are on edge. Homeland is preparing for the activation of SHD under Directive 51 instituted by President David Bowers in 2007 (7)".
"SHD, that's when you know shit has hit the fan. Hopefully Fourth Echelon gets more Intel ASAP. Especially with these biological weapons on the loose. You mentioned a new task force being formed but don't you already command Task Force 141"?
"They are currently doing operations against the remnants of AQ led by Al-Assad. Speaking of the 141, I want one of your operators to join my unit. (8)".
"Which operator sir"?
"I want Dingo to be a part of Task Force 141. His work in Honduras impressed me and Captain Price of the SAS" (9).
"Consider it done Sir. What will this new task force be called and who's a part of it".
"As of today, Task Force Stalker (10) is born. This unit will be composed of four of your Ghost Teams, a team of Delta Force Operators, a team from DEVGRU, some Air Force Combat Controllers, and finally a team of Force Recon Marines. I'll be in charge of the unit with you as the Deputy Commander. Our goal is to stop Black Tusk and whoever is financing then".
"Yes Sir. Let's begin planning. Which specific Ghost Teams do you need"?
"I'd like AFO Team Alpha, the team that dismantled the Santa Blanca Cartel, I also want teams Predator, Hunter, and Spear".
"So, you'd like our best teams? That can be arranged".
"Let's get to work. Operation Golden Lily starts now" LTG. Shepherd responded
Unknown location
"Ma'am! My recon team found Schaefer's platoon. It looks like they were all wiped out. Zarza couldn't have known we were coming. This is someone else's work. Possibly the American's or Team Rainbow. The compound looked like it was hit by a drone strike. It looks like someone didn't want to know they were here". Replied the leader of the recon team.
"Hmm. It seems the American's are going against us again. No matter. Our plan is still in motion. They won't know what hit them. Good work Mr. Brenner. Your mission has been accomplished. You and your team are needed elsewhere. Info will be given to your ISAC (Intelligent System Analytic Computer) (11). Good luck in Pakistan". Said Natalya Alexeyevna Sokolova
"Roger that ma'am"!
Natalya cut off communications with the ground team and started another call. Things hit a little snag but all was mostly proceeding as planned.
"Hello. How is your meeting with the separatists in the Caucasus"? Asked Natalya
The voice on the other end responded.
"It's going well, NATO and the west don't know that most of Zarza's weapons are with our allies in the region. Their leader is a man named Carlos Neste. He's ready to form the Forgotten Army should we fail. Our associates in the Kremlin are also supporting him as well" (12). Replied Viktoria Antsyforova also known as Snegurochka. An individual wanted by most government's for acts of freelance terrorism.
"Excellent. Though we had a problem in Syria. Bardon Schaefer's team was killed and the compound was destroyed. We don't know what the Americans know. Mr. Schaefer is missing and we need you to locate him and silence him. He must not talk to anyone about our plan".
"Of course. Ms. Sokolova".
So another chapter is in the books. Things are getting serious. This chapter also introduces Fourth Echelon and Rainbow Six to my fanfiction universe. Get ready for the prologue of my Rainbow Six Fanfiction as well as a Splinter Cell Story.
References
1. The ranger team from the original MW2
2. The company that referenced in Ghost Recon Breakpoint
3. The drone UAV is from Tom Clancy's EndWar: The Hunted
4. Reference to the special operations team in both modern warfare games
5. Reference to Splinter Cell Blacklist
6. Main enemy faction in the division 2
7. Reference to the Division series
8. Reboot MW timeline
9. Dingo is my character from a Ghost Recon Roleplay
10. Task Force Stalker is the official name for the Ghost's in COD Ghosts
11. ISAC is in the Division 1/2
12. Reference to the EndWar Game/Novels
