Turnabout
Chapter 6- Maneuvers
0830 hours, Day 2 in-country
The Baroness paced across the floor of the small stone house like a caged animal. Her thoughts were racing, but kept returning to one point: what would her beloved do when he found out her secret? It was getting harder and harder for her to maintain the ruse, as James knew her well enough to know something was amiss.
She had to come up with a way out of this mess before someone talked. She could only see two solutions to her problem, neither of which left a good taste in her mouth.
0853 hours
Torpedo had been asleep for about 20 minutes when an urgent hiss from the back of the small shelter they were wedged in snapped him fully awake. Shipwreck motioned him over and showed the Chief what he had found. Grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat, Shipwreck did his best Vanna White impression as he stepped aside to reveal a small concealed door in the rock formation, which opened onto a small tunnel.
"Boss, Depth Charge and I have scoped the first hundred meters or so out. This doesn't seem to have been used in a while."
"Any ideas as to where it might lead?"
At that, Depth Charge popped his head through the doorway and added, "We took readings both off the GPS and our wrist comms while down there and all indications are that the general heading is in the direction of Sinjar."
"I'm not sure being trapped down there is such a good idea," Torpedo lamented. No sooner did the words leave his mouth did Wet Suit come padding up from the mouth of the tunnel where he was on watch.
"We've got trouble times three, Chief," he whispered. "Snakes are heading this way, and it's not a type I've seen before."
"ETA?" Torpedo asked.
"Less than three."
The SEAL team leader made a snap decision and hissed out orders. "Let's go, ladies! Clean it up and get into the tunnel. We'll make for the first exit we find and get our bearings again."
The other sailors didn't respond aside from rushing to follow the directives Torpedo issued. They scrambled to shoulder their packs and hastily covered their tracks, each man diving through the small opening, weapons at the ready.
"The only easy day was yesterday," Torpedo muttered under his breath as he followed his men into the unknown territory of the tunnels, hoping they had covered their trail well enough to buy a few moments' worth of a head start.
0859 hours
*skkkrit*
"005-have confirmed visual of booted track heading North/Northwest towards small fissure known to contain escape tunnels. Grid location C241 by L619."
*skkkrit*
"022 and 013 on the way."
*skkkrit*
"005 awaiting arrival."
The other Sand Vipers arrived moments later to inspect what their comrade found, and they all came to the same conclusion.
"Form on me, pyramid kill-zone. Let's go bag some grunts," 013 said. The three killers strode purposely across the rough stone, cresting a rise and looking straight into the mouth of the cave where the Joes had been just moments before.
"Let's liven things up a bit," 013 said as he plucked a fragmentation grenade from his harness. Pulling the pin, he popped the spoon and counted to three before lobbing the explosive device into the small cavern. As soon as the grenade detonated, the three warriors were on their feet and rushing the cave, their G36 assault rifles gripped in ready hands.
It was only a matter of moments before they determined the Joes had already evacuated the chamber, and mere seconds after that to find the door leading to the tunnels hanging off its hinges from the force of the explosion.
0901 hours
A low rumble reached the SEALs' ears as they hustled through the tunnels looking for an exit.
"Looks like our boys arrived right on time," Wet Suit mused. "I hate being right all the time."
"It sucks to be so damn good, eh, Brian?" Shipwreck chided. The use of Wet Suit's first name was a sure sign the older sailor was on edge.
"Enough chatter. Let's work on finding an exit. I don't want this place to become a mausoleum," Torpedo stated. The men traveled another 100 yards and came to a 'T' intersection. He consulted his wrist comm and took the left tunnel. After another 50 yards, the sailors found a line of ladders, two leading up, two leading down.
"SHIT!" Depth Charge exclaimed. "What the fuck do we do now?"
The sound of boots running down the corridor and the splashes of light coming towards them answered the question prematurely.
"Pick one and go! Worry about our bearings later. If we sit here, we're dead!" hissed Shipwreck. Depth Charge grabbed one of the descending ladders and slid to the bottom, MP5 at the ready.
"10 foot drop," he yelled up.
Wet Suit followed, then Shipwreck. Torpedo took an extra second to make tracks in the dusty floor at each of the ladders before jumping down into the hole his teammates disappeared down.
As the SEALs played their tac-lights across their surroundings, they found themselves in what appeared to be a barracks room, long since abandoned. Torpedo used abrupt hand motions indicating the team should kill the illumination and switch to night vision. With a flick of two fingers he gave the 'move out' signal and the team quickly crossed the room towards the exit.
Spotting no movement in the corridor just outside the barracks room, Torpedo assumed the point position and led his troops down a small corridor which ended abruptly in a ladder leading up. Tapping Depth Charge on the helmet, he motioned the kid to go up first, Shipwreck and Wet Suit to follow, and he would take up the rear.
Depth Charge scampered up the ladder, pistol in hand just in case there were any surprises waiting for them at the top.
0901 hours
Destro slammed his hands down on the small table, his scowl emphasized by the beryllium mask he wore. Both Scrap Iron and the Baroness held their breath, waiting for the imminent explosion. Suddenly, Anastasia's lover stopped dead in his tracks, a broad smile creasing his features. He turned to Scrap Iron, who returned the smile halfheartedly and awaited what the larger man would say.
"Scrap Iron, wasn't this area once used as a staging ground for our friend Saddam's Baath party?" Destro asked.
"I believe so, yes," Scrap Iron replied. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Everything, my dear boy. Everything. Anastasia, gather the Alley Viper squads. Tell them we've got some rats in the tunnels we need to flush out," Destro commanded. The Baroness rushed to do as she was bidden, barking out orders as soon as she cleared the door.
Scrap Iron looked at his employer quizzically, asking "Did I miss something? What's this about tunnels?"
"Ever since Saddam took this country over many years ago, he's been digging underground tunnels which served as bunkers, staging areas, and escape passages. This country is littered with them, and I'd wager my corporation the Joes are planning on using these passages to exfiltrate our beloved traitor," Destro explained.
"How do you know that's where they went?"
"Because it occurred to me that the only way my devices would have stopped transmitting is if they were shielded somehow."
"Like under several feet of rock?"
"Ever the astute one, Scrap Iron."
"Let's go see what we can flush out, shall we?"
"I need you to stay here and keep an eye on the Ba- things while I'm away," Destro said, his eyes gazing off into the distance. "I'll be back tomorrow after I settle an old score." He pulled back the slide on his Desert Eagle, making sure a round was chambered.
"Will do, Destro. Happy hunting. And give Sharrome a little kiss for me, would you?"
Chapter 6- Maneuvers
0830 hours, Day 2 in-country
The Baroness paced across the floor of the small stone house like a caged animal. Her thoughts were racing, but kept returning to one point: what would her beloved do when he found out her secret? It was getting harder and harder for her to maintain the ruse, as James knew her well enough to know something was amiss.
She had to come up with a way out of this mess before someone talked. She could only see two solutions to her problem, neither of which left a good taste in her mouth.
0853 hours
Torpedo had been asleep for about 20 minutes when an urgent hiss from the back of the small shelter they were wedged in snapped him fully awake. Shipwreck motioned him over and showed the Chief what he had found. Grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat, Shipwreck did his best Vanna White impression as he stepped aside to reveal a small concealed door in the rock formation, which opened onto a small tunnel.
"Boss, Depth Charge and I have scoped the first hundred meters or so out. This doesn't seem to have been used in a while."
"Any ideas as to where it might lead?"
At that, Depth Charge popped his head through the doorway and added, "We took readings both off the GPS and our wrist comms while down there and all indications are that the general heading is in the direction of Sinjar."
"I'm not sure being trapped down there is such a good idea," Torpedo lamented. No sooner did the words leave his mouth did Wet Suit come padding up from the mouth of the tunnel where he was on watch.
"We've got trouble times three, Chief," he whispered. "Snakes are heading this way, and it's not a type I've seen before."
"ETA?" Torpedo asked.
"Less than three."
The SEAL team leader made a snap decision and hissed out orders. "Let's go, ladies! Clean it up and get into the tunnel. We'll make for the first exit we find and get our bearings again."
The other sailors didn't respond aside from rushing to follow the directives Torpedo issued. They scrambled to shoulder their packs and hastily covered their tracks, each man diving through the small opening, weapons at the ready.
"The only easy day was yesterday," Torpedo muttered under his breath as he followed his men into the unknown territory of the tunnels, hoping they had covered their trail well enough to buy a few moments' worth of a head start.
0859 hours
*skkkrit*
"005-have confirmed visual of booted track heading North/Northwest towards small fissure known to contain escape tunnels. Grid location C241 by L619."
*skkkrit*
"022 and 013 on the way."
*skkkrit*
"005 awaiting arrival."
The other Sand Vipers arrived moments later to inspect what their comrade found, and they all came to the same conclusion.
"Form on me, pyramid kill-zone. Let's go bag some grunts," 013 said. The three killers strode purposely across the rough stone, cresting a rise and looking straight into the mouth of the cave where the Joes had been just moments before.
"Let's liven things up a bit," 013 said as he plucked a fragmentation grenade from his harness. Pulling the pin, he popped the spoon and counted to three before lobbing the explosive device into the small cavern. As soon as the grenade detonated, the three warriors were on their feet and rushing the cave, their G36 assault rifles gripped in ready hands.
It was only a matter of moments before they determined the Joes had already evacuated the chamber, and mere seconds after that to find the door leading to the tunnels hanging off its hinges from the force of the explosion.
0901 hours
A low rumble reached the SEALs' ears as they hustled through the tunnels looking for an exit.
"Looks like our boys arrived right on time," Wet Suit mused. "I hate being right all the time."
"It sucks to be so damn good, eh, Brian?" Shipwreck chided. The use of Wet Suit's first name was a sure sign the older sailor was on edge.
"Enough chatter. Let's work on finding an exit. I don't want this place to become a mausoleum," Torpedo stated. The men traveled another 100 yards and came to a 'T' intersection. He consulted his wrist comm and took the left tunnel. After another 50 yards, the sailors found a line of ladders, two leading up, two leading down.
"SHIT!" Depth Charge exclaimed. "What the fuck do we do now?"
The sound of boots running down the corridor and the splashes of light coming towards them answered the question prematurely.
"Pick one and go! Worry about our bearings later. If we sit here, we're dead!" hissed Shipwreck. Depth Charge grabbed one of the descending ladders and slid to the bottom, MP5 at the ready.
"10 foot drop," he yelled up.
Wet Suit followed, then Shipwreck. Torpedo took an extra second to make tracks in the dusty floor at each of the ladders before jumping down into the hole his teammates disappeared down.
As the SEALs played their tac-lights across their surroundings, they found themselves in what appeared to be a barracks room, long since abandoned. Torpedo used abrupt hand motions indicating the team should kill the illumination and switch to night vision. With a flick of two fingers he gave the 'move out' signal and the team quickly crossed the room towards the exit.
Spotting no movement in the corridor just outside the barracks room, Torpedo assumed the point position and led his troops down a small corridor which ended abruptly in a ladder leading up. Tapping Depth Charge on the helmet, he motioned the kid to go up first, Shipwreck and Wet Suit to follow, and he would take up the rear.
Depth Charge scampered up the ladder, pistol in hand just in case there were any surprises waiting for them at the top.
0901 hours
Destro slammed his hands down on the small table, his scowl emphasized by the beryllium mask he wore. Both Scrap Iron and the Baroness held their breath, waiting for the imminent explosion. Suddenly, Anastasia's lover stopped dead in his tracks, a broad smile creasing his features. He turned to Scrap Iron, who returned the smile halfheartedly and awaited what the larger man would say.
"Scrap Iron, wasn't this area once used as a staging ground for our friend Saddam's Baath party?" Destro asked.
"I believe so, yes," Scrap Iron replied. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Everything, my dear boy. Everything. Anastasia, gather the Alley Viper squads. Tell them we've got some rats in the tunnels we need to flush out," Destro commanded. The Baroness rushed to do as she was bidden, barking out orders as soon as she cleared the door.
Scrap Iron looked at his employer quizzically, asking "Did I miss something? What's this about tunnels?"
"Ever since Saddam took this country over many years ago, he's been digging underground tunnels which served as bunkers, staging areas, and escape passages. This country is littered with them, and I'd wager my corporation the Joes are planning on using these passages to exfiltrate our beloved traitor," Destro explained.
"How do you know that's where they went?"
"Because it occurred to me that the only way my devices would have stopped transmitting is if they were shielded somehow."
"Like under several feet of rock?"
"Ever the astute one, Scrap Iron."
"Let's go see what we can flush out, shall we?"
"I need you to stay here and keep an eye on the Ba- things while I'm away," Destro said, his eyes gazing off into the distance. "I'll be back tomorrow after I settle an old score." He pulled back the slide on his Desert Eagle, making sure a round was chambered.
"Will do, Destro. Happy hunting. And give Sharrome a little kiss for me, would you?"
