Chapter 26
Back at it again. Hope everyone is still enjoying the story. I hope it's not too boring. I hope we get some new episodes before year end. I honestly don't even remember all the shows I watched before the pandemic lol. Can't believe we're entering the last quarter of the year already! Anyways, hope you like this update. Also, I know nothing about military ops or the fast and furious movies.
As the chopper flew out into the night, Ray looked over at Jason. Ray, along with the rest of the team, had seen that departing kiss to Mandy. The two were pretty private when it came to their personal lives. Ray knew there had always been a spark between the two. They went at each other when they were angry yet supported each other when either was in need of it. They challenged each other and didn't let the other get away with running away. Ray knew Jason had never cheated on Alana but when thing had started going downhill with their marriage he knew the line between Mandy and Jason had gotten blurry.
Besides himself, Mandy was the only other person who could get through to Jason. Most people tended to back away from Jason when he was brash but he knew Jason. He liked Mandy. She had become a close friend of his and his wife. The two could tell how lonely she seemed to be sometimes and often tried to include her so she wouldn't lose herself in work so much. Ray had heard plenty from Naima about how "fun" Mandy was on nights they happened to go out.
"You good," Ray asked catching Jason's eyes.
"Yep," Jason replied back with smile and twinkle in his eye.
"Whew. That was some parting there Bravo 1," Sonny whistled.
"You know what they say, kiss for good luck," Jason chuckled. "Heads on a swivel when we get out there."
"Mandy say something?" Ray asked. "We expecting any other guests on this trip?"
"There's been reports of Roman out in Europe but it's better to be safe than sorry," Jason replied easily switching into his role as team leader.
"Five clicks out," the pilot called out as the guys made sure their weapons were ready and all their gear was intact.
Before they knew it, the chopper was landing and the guys were jumping out ready for their trek to intercept Al-Hazred's family.
Back at HAVOC ISR was tracking the chopper's route.
"What was that kiss all about?" Lisa teased to Mandy.
"Breakfast," Mandy replied simply with a smile. "Looks like their almost ready to land."
"Looks like there isn't any extra activity in the area so far," Lisa replied looking at the screen as everyone in the room monitored part of the mission.
"Let's hope it stays that way," Mandy muttered. "I think we've had enough excitement this week."
"HAVOC this is Bravo 1, passing Han," Jason said over the airways.
Mandy looked over at the board and watched Blackburn mark off the first check point. She studied the names on the board trying to figure out why they looked familiar. When she saw the name Hobbs, she rolled her eyes.
"Who chose the theme?" Mandy asked knowing the answer.
"Jason. Little surprised, didn't realize he was a Fast and Furious fan. Why?" Lisa said.
"Inside joke," Mandy replied thinking about that night at the bar when they talked about the banker she had tried going out with and how the guys loved his Fast and Furious movies.
The team continued their trek and eventually came upon an area of road where intel said was where the family would be passing through.
"HAVOC this is one, passing Toretto," Jason relayed.
"One this is HAVOC, passing Toretto," Lisa replied back. "Target is approximately ten clicks out from your location."
At HAVOC, everyone continued to watch the convoy with Al-Hazred's family get closer to where the team was. The team got into their positions and waited for the convoy to arrive. They all kept checking their surroundings and checking in with each other to make sure nothing out the ordinary was happening.
"You think maybe there won't be a fight to get these guys?" Full Metal said over the comms.
"Well now you jinxed us," Sonny grumbled.
"Six, this is one, how's it look up top?" Jason said.
"One this is six, so far all clear," Clay replied.
Back at HAVOC, they saw the group of vehicles about to come into sight of the guys. They continuously checked for any unexpected heat signatures in the area. The area had some hills and mountains which could shield anyone.
"One this is six, target in sight," Clay said.
"Copy six. HAVOC, this is one, target in view. Anything we need to know about?" Jason relayed.
"One this is HAVOC, copy. Checking now," Lisa replied back.
Lisa and Blackburn anxiously looked at the ISR feed and did not see anything out of the ordinary. Just as Lisa was about to reply, Mandy sat up straight in her chair.
"What's that?" Mandy said seeing faint heat signatures appear on the mountains area.
"Maybe it's Al-Hazred's over watch for his family," Lisa replied.
"Or Roman's crew tying up loose ends," Mandy said.
"One this is HAVOC, approximately two clicks east from your location there's unknowns emerging from the mountains. Proceed with caution."
"HAVOC this is one, copy," Jason replied looking towards the east side. "Two, find high ground and you keep an eye on the east. Six, cover the target sight."
Clay and Ray confirmed their orders and everyone else got ready to intercept the convoy.
"Execute, execute, execute," Jason said once the convoy came within striking range.
The team descended onto the convoy. The first car stopped, and guys got out trying to shoot before Brock and Jason took them down. The third car was flanked by Sonny and Full Metal who took out the combatants there.
Ray meanwhile looked through his scope and was starting to get a better view of the unknowns. He could see a couple people just over some rocks loading up a rocket launcher and knew he had to warn the team.
"One this two, unknowns are preparing to launch rockets at you guys. I don't have a shot at the moment," Ray said.
Jason heard him but couldn't acknowledge him as the team on the ground was approaching the middle vehicle where the family should be. They could see two guards up front contemplating what their next move would be. Suddenly, the driver moved quickly throwing a grenade towards Jason and Brock's side.
"Grenade!" Brock yelled as he grabbed Jason by the back of his vest, and they dove to the ground as far as possible.
On ISR, HAVOC saw an explosion occur at the target site. Mandy scooting up in her chair staring at the image and sending a silent prayer that everyone was okay.
"What was that?" Lisa said seeing the explosion.
"Looks like it came from the car," Blackburn said. "One this is HAVOC, do you copy?"
Meanwhile, Full Metal and Sonny took out the two guards. In the back seat they could see an older woman who was probably Al-Hazred's mother as well as a younger woman, who was probably the sister.
"HAVOC this is three, securing the target and checking on one and five," Sonny said.
"Copy three," Blackburn answered back.
Brock and Jason were on the ground and had just started to get there bearings back. Jason shook his head trying to clear the haziness.
"Brock," Jason called out.
"I'm good, you?" Brock answered as Sonny came to their side while Trent and Full Metal secured the targets.
"You guys good?" Sonny asked.
"Just got our bells rung," Jason grunted as Sonny helped him up. "Everyone else good?"
"Yeah, seems like it," Sonny replied.
"One this is two, clear the area. Unknowns look to be ready to launch a rocket you guys and I still don't have a clear shot," Ray said over comms.
"HAVOC this is one, we've got Jackpot. Passing Shaw," Jason said.
Mandy let out a breath hearing Jason check in but knew they were not out of danger yet.
"Six, do you have a shot?" Ray asked.
"Negative," Clay responded.
On the ground Jason and the guys got the mother and daughter out of the car and had started moving away so they could head towards exfil.
"HAVOC this is one, headed for exfil, passing Hobbs," Jason relayed.
"You guys better hustle," Ray called over the comms.
Jason looked up just as they heard a rocket launch, "Incoming!"
Everyone on the ground started running and was able to get behind some rocks for cover. At the same time both Clay and Ray were finally able to get their shot and neutralize the threat.
"Unknowns are down," Clay called over while making his way to join the rest of the team.
"Let's move," Jason said as they all started again for exfil.
As the team all re-grouped and headed back to the exfil point they could hear the chopper waiting for them.
Once they got onto the chopper Sonny spoke looking at Full Metal, "See you jinxed us. Just had to open your mouth. Didn't ya?"
The rest of the team laughed as they headed back to base.
"We got them," Lisa said letting out a breath and looking over at Mandy.
"Yeah, let's hope this pans out," Mandy replied.
"Nice work everyone," Blackburn added.
"You okay?" Lisa asked Mandy quietly.
"Yeah," Mandy sighed. "It's different now. You know? I mean I've always worried but now it feels a little more intense."
"Yeah, I know what you mean," Lisa replied thinking back to when she was with Sonny. "You guys will get through it though. You both are tough and professional."
"Yeah, thanks," Mandy smiled. "Now we need to come up with a game plan for these interrogations."
"What do you have in mind?" Lisa asked as they started to plan the different avenues they could go.
They were both confident they could get a location on Al-Hazred again and capture him once and for all. Then they would continue to hunt down Roman. For now, they had to fight one battle at a time.