It was three in the morning, Mike starting looking over the open field from
the passenger side door of the van. Mr. Longstone had provided the
location of Red Scorn's base of operations. It was two and a half hours by
car south of Denver, on old farm of some sort. His fiancée had sent maps
and satellite pictures of the farm. Now he and the team were waiting for
reinforcements. Where were they, ugh, this was driving nuts.
"Would you stop tapping," Marcel bellowed.
Mike looked down at right hand and noticed he was tapping. "Sorry," he murmured, "Didn't even know I was."
"It's okay, they will be here," Linda added. "You did say between three and three-fifteen AM."
"I know, but those guys are always jacked for action and arrive early." Mike retorted.
Then, it started with one pop, then another and then a few more. Within a few seconds, members of the HRT and Concealment teams were walking towards them.
"Fun time" Mike told everyone, "Let's get everyone briefed."
Jim yelled to all in the field, "Over here everyone, gather around the van, you are all the next contestants on the raid is tonight."
"Ha ha, very funny, Randy Starson, HRT X-Ray Leader," Randy said as he stretched out his right hand to shake Jim's. He used his left arm to tap the man next to him on the stomach, "This is my second, Jim McCloud."
"Well, I am another Jim, Jim Mueller, First SIG." Jim smiled. Jim waved with his left arm, "Over there is Mike Kelley, I believe you already know him."
A tall woman with red hair and freckles walked over, "I know that bum." She continued, "Jill Tanner, Team leader, Fourth Concealment Team." "So, why am I being dragged out of bed at this ungodly hour?"
"Gather round boys and girls" Mike yelled so everyone can hear. "This morning, our mission, if we choose to accept it, which we already have, is to raid the Red Scorn, before they slaughter some noners." The crowd settled down quickly, Mike continued. "Now that I have your attention, let's get busy."
"Okay," Mike continued, "According to our prisoner, this is their set up." Mike turned on the magical projector with a flick of his wand. A large overhead picture of the ranch appeared to float in the air behind him. "Their ranch had a main house over here," while Mike was circling the house with his wand, and yellow circle appeared. "Over on the right, is the main target, the stables." While he was circling the stables a red circle appeared around them. "Further to the right some sort of supply shed." "If the raid goes south, get to the shed, the apparate, or portkey back to here."
"Okay, now back to the stables," Mike increased the inflexion of his voice to signal to everyone, this was important, listen fools. He flicked his wand, and the large picture of the stables replaced the ranch picture. "Now, there is a wall in the back, here," As Mike traced the back wall with is wand, it turned orange. "On the left side, there is a standard entrance door," Mike circled that, and it pink. "Lastly, there are three large double doors in front for the horses and their riders."
Mike increased is volume again, "Keep with me folks." "We are going to use the hammer and anvil approach." "In this case, there will be two hammers." "Hammer one led by Linda and Tom, will go through the side door." "Hammer two, led by Marcel and yours truly, will go through the center large door." "This is far enough away to corner them, and should be close enough for the two hammers to support each other." "Now the anvil will be the largest single group." "Mia and Jim will lead them" "Your task is to blow the wall, and create a staggered line, which the hammers will force the Scorners into." "Everyone got all that?" Mike asked, lifting his eyebrows and tilting his head, giving a questioning look.
Yeses, from close to everyone replied. Mike, went on, it was easier to have one person go through this rapid briefing, especially since some of it he was still going over in his mind. "We cannot pop in, they have warning wards and cameras, so that means we will have to hump it to the ranch so we can surprise them." "This is a cleared area, so before we break cover to surround the building, we have to make sure they are all in the stables." Mike kept changing his tone to keep from droning on, "Since, we do not have a positive count, we will wait till about seven minutes before their ceremony starts, then at three minutes we go in." Mike waited, and then added in, "I am hoping that at three minutes, they will be too into their party to notice us." "Any questions about this part" Mike requested.
"What is the guesstimate on their strength", a voice in the group asked.
"We are guessing about twenty bad guys, and about five to seven hostages." Mike replied. "BUT, I do not guarantee that."
"Of course not" said another voice. There was a chuckle that followed.
"Anyway, let's go over the approach." Mike switched the projector to a map of the overall area. "We will go in two groups, hammers in one and the anvil in the other." The anvil group will have to hook around the ranch and come to this Point Delta," as Mike pointed with his wand, red dot came up with Point Delta as its label. "The hammers will trek to here, Point Echo." Point Echo showed up on the picture, just like Point Delta. "Each hammer team will then go one at a time to their doors." "As for the other points, Point Omega is here, Point Alpha is the target, Point Bravo is the house, and Point Charlie is the shed." "If you hear go Charlie or go Point Charlie, that means to get to the shed hold the position so we can pull people out to here, Point Omega." "Got that?!" Mike almost shouted.
There was a chorus of yeses and yeahs. Everyone seemed to be paying attention. Maybe this will go down like earlier this evening, perfectly.
"Marcel, will provide overhead surveillance, until we go in." "I will take my invisibility cloak and provide point for the hammer group." "Jim", Mike looked toward him.
"Yes, illustrious leader?" Jim said in a mocking voice.
Mike recovered from his snicker, and responded, "You will be point for the anvil group, I assume you can still remember how to become your canine self?"
"On, you command sir, I am ready to go."
"Coolen", Mike smiled, and turned to the concealment team. "Linda or I will call you in." "Bag and tag the bodies, interview and then memory charm the noners, and then start looking for any magical items or evidence." "After you are done with that, take the noners back home." Mike turned to the HRT, "I want you guys to round up the prisoners, and escort them back to the Denver Detention Center, if there is any doubt, about who is who, take all of them back to the center as well. We can sort it out there" Mike then flipped around and looked at his team, "First SIGers, after the raid, I want you to go through the bad guys' wands and help the concealment team look for evidence and magic items." "If all goes well, we will be done by around 7 AM."
Mike turned to the group as a whole, "Time check!" he yelled, holding up his watch. "I gots 3:27 AM, now." "We move out at 4 AM, at Points Delta and Echo by 4:45 AM, 4:53 we are around Point Alpha, 4:57 AM we give the Red Scorn the surprise party of their lives."
"Okay everyone, let's get geared up" Linda announced. "And remember, no lethal force unless you have too" Linda paused, "and that means no magic bullets unless you have no other choice, this is just a reminder."
The crowd of aurors broke up. Each one getting physically and more importantly mentally prepared for the raid.
Mike watched as his team put on their magical body armor, while he pulled out his pistol and low rider holster from his gear bag. "Where's the 9mm ammo?' Mike asked casually.
"In the weapons trunk over there," Mia mentioned, pointing to a medium sized black trunk with six locks. "I think it is the third lock." "BUT, I thought we were not supposed to use them?" Mia questioned.
"Take them just in case, remember JIC or get JINEX." Mike replied. "Anyone else need ammo?" Mike raised his voice and asked the rest of the team. A round of yups followed. "Okay, I'll be back!", Mike spoke in his best Arnold impersonation.
Mike, open the third lock with a tap of his wand, and started pulling out clips, when he noticed Starson standing next to him. Starson was in full raid gear, magical armor, helmet, gloves, his back up wand on the left hip, and his pistol low riding on the right.
"I don't like having my team spilt up." He grumbled quietly, "Especially under strange leadership."
"Sorry, but this is the best we can do today, I am certain, it will all work out." Mike said, keeping his voice low. This was a leadership talk, not for the rest of the common folk. "They will live."
"I hope you are right."
Mike walked back his team and handed out the ammo. Jim asked, "What was that about?"
"He is all bent out of shape that his team is being split up."
"Tough, that's the plan."
"I told him that, he have to get over himself." Mike turned to everyone else, and said loudly, "It's 3:50 we leave in 10!"
"Would you stop tapping," Marcel bellowed.
Mike looked down at right hand and noticed he was tapping. "Sorry," he murmured, "Didn't even know I was."
"It's okay, they will be here," Linda added. "You did say between three and three-fifteen AM."
"I know, but those guys are always jacked for action and arrive early." Mike retorted.
Then, it started with one pop, then another and then a few more. Within a few seconds, members of the HRT and Concealment teams were walking towards them.
"Fun time" Mike told everyone, "Let's get everyone briefed."
Jim yelled to all in the field, "Over here everyone, gather around the van, you are all the next contestants on the raid is tonight."
"Ha ha, very funny, Randy Starson, HRT X-Ray Leader," Randy said as he stretched out his right hand to shake Jim's. He used his left arm to tap the man next to him on the stomach, "This is my second, Jim McCloud."
"Well, I am another Jim, Jim Mueller, First SIG." Jim smiled. Jim waved with his left arm, "Over there is Mike Kelley, I believe you already know him."
A tall woman with red hair and freckles walked over, "I know that bum." She continued, "Jill Tanner, Team leader, Fourth Concealment Team." "So, why am I being dragged out of bed at this ungodly hour?"
"Gather round boys and girls" Mike yelled so everyone can hear. "This morning, our mission, if we choose to accept it, which we already have, is to raid the Red Scorn, before they slaughter some noners." The crowd settled down quickly, Mike continued. "Now that I have your attention, let's get busy."
"Okay," Mike continued, "According to our prisoner, this is their set up." Mike turned on the magical projector with a flick of his wand. A large overhead picture of the ranch appeared to float in the air behind him. "Their ranch had a main house over here," while Mike was circling the house with his wand, and yellow circle appeared. "Over on the right, is the main target, the stables." While he was circling the stables a red circle appeared around them. "Further to the right some sort of supply shed." "If the raid goes south, get to the shed, the apparate, or portkey back to here."
"Okay, now back to the stables," Mike increased the inflexion of his voice to signal to everyone, this was important, listen fools. He flicked his wand, and the large picture of the stables replaced the ranch picture. "Now, there is a wall in the back, here," As Mike traced the back wall with is wand, it turned orange. "On the left side, there is a standard entrance door," Mike circled that, and it pink. "Lastly, there are three large double doors in front for the horses and their riders."
Mike increased is volume again, "Keep with me folks." "We are going to use the hammer and anvil approach." "In this case, there will be two hammers." "Hammer one led by Linda and Tom, will go through the side door." "Hammer two, led by Marcel and yours truly, will go through the center large door." "This is far enough away to corner them, and should be close enough for the two hammers to support each other." "Now the anvil will be the largest single group." "Mia and Jim will lead them" "Your task is to blow the wall, and create a staggered line, which the hammers will force the Scorners into." "Everyone got all that?" Mike asked, lifting his eyebrows and tilting his head, giving a questioning look.
Yeses, from close to everyone replied. Mike, went on, it was easier to have one person go through this rapid briefing, especially since some of it he was still going over in his mind. "We cannot pop in, they have warning wards and cameras, so that means we will have to hump it to the ranch so we can surprise them." "This is a cleared area, so before we break cover to surround the building, we have to make sure they are all in the stables." Mike kept changing his tone to keep from droning on, "Since, we do not have a positive count, we will wait till about seven minutes before their ceremony starts, then at three minutes we go in." Mike waited, and then added in, "I am hoping that at three minutes, they will be too into their party to notice us." "Any questions about this part" Mike requested.
"What is the guesstimate on their strength", a voice in the group asked.
"We are guessing about twenty bad guys, and about five to seven hostages." Mike replied. "BUT, I do not guarantee that."
"Of course not" said another voice. There was a chuckle that followed.
"Anyway, let's go over the approach." Mike switched the projector to a map of the overall area. "We will go in two groups, hammers in one and the anvil in the other." The anvil group will have to hook around the ranch and come to this Point Delta," as Mike pointed with his wand, red dot came up with Point Delta as its label. "The hammers will trek to here, Point Echo." Point Echo showed up on the picture, just like Point Delta. "Each hammer team will then go one at a time to their doors." "As for the other points, Point Omega is here, Point Alpha is the target, Point Bravo is the house, and Point Charlie is the shed." "If you hear go Charlie or go Point Charlie, that means to get to the shed hold the position so we can pull people out to here, Point Omega." "Got that?!" Mike almost shouted.
There was a chorus of yeses and yeahs. Everyone seemed to be paying attention. Maybe this will go down like earlier this evening, perfectly.
"Marcel, will provide overhead surveillance, until we go in." "I will take my invisibility cloak and provide point for the hammer group." "Jim", Mike looked toward him.
"Yes, illustrious leader?" Jim said in a mocking voice.
Mike recovered from his snicker, and responded, "You will be point for the anvil group, I assume you can still remember how to become your canine self?"
"On, you command sir, I am ready to go."
"Coolen", Mike smiled, and turned to the concealment team. "Linda or I will call you in." "Bag and tag the bodies, interview and then memory charm the noners, and then start looking for any magical items or evidence." "After you are done with that, take the noners back home." Mike turned to the HRT, "I want you guys to round up the prisoners, and escort them back to the Denver Detention Center, if there is any doubt, about who is who, take all of them back to the center as well. We can sort it out there" Mike then flipped around and looked at his team, "First SIGers, after the raid, I want you to go through the bad guys' wands and help the concealment team look for evidence and magic items." "If all goes well, we will be done by around 7 AM."
Mike turned to the group as a whole, "Time check!" he yelled, holding up his watch. "I gots 3:27 AM, now." "We move out at 4 AM, at Points Delta and Echo by 4:45 AM, 4:53 we are around Point Alpha, 4:57 AM we give the Red Scorn the surprise party of their lives."
"Okay everyone, let's get geared up" Linda announced. "And remember, no lethal force unless you have too" Linda paused, "and that means no magic bullets unless you have no other choice, this is just a reminder."
The crowd of aurors broke up. Each one getting physically and more importantly mentally prepared for the raid.
Mike watched as his team put on their magical body armor, while he pulled out his pistol and low rider holster from his gear bag. "Where's the 9mm ammo?' Mike asked casually.
"In the weapons trunk over there," Mia mentioned, pointing to a medium sized black trunk with six locks. "I think it is the third lock." "BUT, I thought we were not supposed to use them?" Mia questioned.
"Take them just in case, remember JIC or get JINEX." Mike replied. "Anyone else need ammo?" Mike raised his voice and asked the rest of the team. A round of yups followed. "Okay, I'll be back!", Mike spoke in his best Arnold impersonation.
Mike, open the third lock with a tap of his wand, and started pulling out clips, when he noticed Starson standing next to him. Starson was in full raid gear, magical armor, helmet, gloves, his back up wand on the left hip, and his pistol low riding on the right.
"I don't like having my team spilt up." He grumbled quietly, "Especially under strange leadership."
"Sorry, but this is the best we can do today, I am certain, it will all work out." Mike said, keeping his voice low. This was a leadership talk, not for the rest of the common folk. "They will live."
"I hope you are right."
Mike walked back his team and handed out the ammo. Jim asked, "What was that about?"
"He is all bent out of shape that his team is being split up."
"Tough, that's the plan."
"I told him that, he have to get over himself." Mike turned to everyone else, and said loudly, "It's 3:50 we leave in 10!"