Jack and Web had returned from the uneventful watch just under an hour ago. Now all six men were huddled in a circle in the small hut, quietly going over the mission one last time. Details had already been memorised but Jack liked to do a final check, just like one would do of an equipment pack; Jack didn't see this as being any different.
They had ended the watch sessions, they were too secluded to be seen, especially since the sun had set, enveloping them in darkness. They double checked the radio frequencies as they began to prepare, fast and quietly. They were all slightly nervous about what they were about to do, but knew that once they got out their and did it, they would feel the familiar rush, as they adrenalin would thrash through their veins with the enjoyable buzz in the pit of their stomachs.
Chris and Mark would be carrying the explosives with the timing devices. They would have preferred to use a hand trigger device, but their kind were very specific, and if something should go wrong, the government did not want the equipment to lead back to the U.S., so they would have to use a second priority device. Still, they were positive it would work just fine, taking out the entire compound as planned.
Each man checked his custom built radio, similar to the device Russia and Germany were known for using. It was a simple two frequency device, on the first channel the men were able to communicate with one another, and on the second, the men in the choppers were able to contact them and listen in. The two choppers which would pick them up contained only a medical team and Richard Walsh, a key player in the organisation of the operation. The radios allowed the team to contact him if something were to go unplanned.
They organisers of the mission had gone to great measures to make sure the equipment couldn't be linked directly back to the U.S. They were using minimum, for starters, and all weapons and ammunition had has the serial numbers scratched away. The night vision goggles had been shipped in from England, another red herring. The body armour could be found anywhere.
Nobody suspected the mission would get to a point where men or equipment could be captured; it was all precaution work. Once they were ready to go they did a quick service check of the equipment. Each man had night vision goggles strapped onto their heads, it was pitch black outside, and with the terrain, they were instrumental to the success of the mission. Ear pieces and radios were all in place. After the quick check the men set off into the darkness.
The moved in single file, Jack in the lead. The movement was slow, as it was a hard journey. They climbed over broken trees, brush, mounds of mud trying not to trip over tree roots or stray branches. The brush got thicker and thicker as they moved onwards, the trees closing in on them, grabbing out at their clothes as they climbed on, whipping at their arms and legs.
Suddenly rain began to fall. It came down heavily, and as it did so, the loud rumbling sound of thunder got louder. The men looked at each other uncertain, but continued onwards.
Jack tried to push the thoughts of the rain out of his head, it was just a coincidence. Hours before he had spoken to Web about how it had probably been months since rain last fell. Now here they were, and a storm was brewing.
The journey became much more difficult due to the harsh rain that lashed down on them. It made the land marshy and slippery, making the men stumble every so often. It also dimmed and blurred the view through the night vision goggles; but they were blind without them.
Still, they continued forward; until they finally reached their first checkpoint, where they would split up to survey and secure the area. Each man checked his ear-piece before they silently split up into separate directions, each person knowing exactly where they were supposed to be. Jack silently headed to the West of the area, and could just make out the compound through the rain. He could see the old stone structure, and the fencing surrounding it. He moved slowly, his eyes searching for anything, the rain was drowning any sounds out.
It took him twenty minutes to complete a search of his section, finding nothing at all. Not a shred of security; Drazen was over confident about his reputation. He flicked the radio onto frequency one and spoke. "This is Bauer, area 1 clear." With that he crouched down against a large tree bark, his weapon steady in both hands as he patiently listened to each man radio in.
"This is Bauer we are good to go."