Chapter 69

Season 6 is here guys! Wow what a premiere! So ready for some good Jandy this season. I don't think it'll be all easy for Jason, but it'll be good! Thanks for all the support on my stories. Glad you continue to enjoy them. I honestly have no idea how many chapters til the end and just write what comes to me. Anyways, enjoy another new chapter!

"We believe the ambassador's family is being held here," Mandy said, pointing at a map on the screen as she stood at the head of the briefing room.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that just over a mile from where you and Ray nearly got blown up into pink mist?" Sonny asked raising his hand.

"Seriously Sonny?" Trent rolled his eyes. "Pink mist?"

"He's not wrong," Mandy shrugged as everyone turned to give her a look. "What? Too soon?" Mandy rolled her eyes as she turned back to the screen. "As I was saying, this building is in the heart of the city. Going in during the day is risky as we already have tension about outside forces coming into the area to operate."

"So, night op," Jason concluded as he studied the info in front of him and looked up at Mandy.

"Yes, that's what we're thinking," Lisa responded. "We only have one problem though."

"What's that?" Jason asked.

"With the explosion from early, comms are really spotty in the area and a lot of enemy activity," Blackburn answered.

"Meaning?" Clay asked confused.

"Having a connection to us here in HAVOC may be spotty at best or not available," Mandy said.

"No overwatch," Sonny shook his head.

"There is one option," Mandy stated looking over at Lisa, Blackburn and her Dad.

"We setup HAVOC in town at this building," Blackburn clicked the remote to change the screen. "Seems like the area is low on traffic and the building hasn't been used in a while."

"Wait, wait," Jason said getting up. "Didn't you say you thought Roman was here?"

"He could be," Mandy replied preparing for an argument.

"Let me guess, you're going to be at this makeshift HAVOC," Jason asked as Mandy shook her head yes. Jason looked at the map again as everyone waited on bated breath. "Okay," Jason said turning back to the maps on the table.

Mandy opened her mouth ready to argue but stopped, "That's it? Okay?"

"I know you well enough to know I can't convince you otherwise," Jason turned. "Doesn't mean I like it."

"Wow," Brock said aloud. "Boss going soft?" he joked as the guys chuckled and Jason threw a pencil at him.

"Let's get to work on a plan guys," Jason ordered.

Mandy walked across base towards the weapons building where the guys were getting ready for the night op. As she got closer, she saw the rest of the team leaving to get some rest before the op.

"Hey," Mandy said standing at the door looking over at Jason.

"Hey," Jason smiled back as he finished putting his gear together. "Looking for a naked Trent this time?" Jason smirked.

"I had someone else naked in mind," Mandy said stepping towards Jason with a smirk as he pulled her in for a kiss and then lifted her onto the counter in the center. "Are you really okay with this plan?" Mandy asked breathlessly.

"No, but I know if you're going to take him down, this is what you gotta do," Jason sighed as he moved her hair behind her ear.

"Don't die," Mandy and Jason said at the same time to each other. "I'll try," they both said again chuckling.

"I didn't go through all that work to save you for nothing," Jason smirked.

"Ummm, I think Ray and I were doing just fine without you," Mandy joked. "But you are my knight in camo."

"Camo does it for you, huh," Jason smirked as he pulled her to the edge of the counter.

"Oh totally," Mandy smirked back as they got lost in each other.

Mandy, Lisa, Blackburn, and Troy all headed out before the guys to their abandoned building to get their HAVOC base set up. Jack stayed behind on base and would watch it all. In case anything went south, he wanted to have direct lines to any resources needed.

"Bravo one, this is HAVOC, do you copy?" Lisa asked over comms.

"HAVOC, this is Bravo one, good copy," Jason replied. "How's ISR looking?"

"ISR is clear for now," Blackburn passed on.

"Seems quiet," Clay said as the guys moved through the night.

"Now why would you say that," Sonny complained. "You're not supposed to say the Q word."

"Is there any superstition you don't believe in?" Trent asked.

"Hold," Jason said holding his hand up before Sonny could reply back to Trent.

"See what you did?" Sonny muttered as he looked around for any threat.

"Four doors down is the target building," Ray said looking down the street.

"HAVOC, this is Bravo one, passing Toto," Jason checked in.

"Whose bright idea was it for dog names?" Sonny muttered.

"Cerb is down right now. Mandy thought it was a clever idea," Brock replied.

"Spook's got a soft spot for animals apparently," Sonny said. "Never would've guessed lethal Mandy Ellis was really just a big old teddy bear."

"Yeah, something tells me you better not let Mandy hear you talking like that, or you'll meet lethal Mandy yourself," Trent replied.

"Heads on a swivel," Jason called out as they got closer to the building.

"Perimeter check is clear," Troy and Blackburn confirmed after a patrol around the building.

"How are our boys?" Blackburn asked.

"So far we're on point," Lisa said watching the screen.

"Thermals on our area are up too," Troy said from his setup of screens. "So far, no movement in the area it seems. Got a couple trip wires set up where we talked about too."

Mandy stood silent looking at Troy's screens and then over towards Lisa's. She was normally cool and calm for the most part on an op, but this one felt different.

"Breathe," Blackburn said suddenly near her..

"He's here, I just know it," Mandy breathed out. "I'm worried he knows the guys are heading for the ambassador's family. He could be setting them up for all we know."

"Any op could be a set up," Blackburn tried to reassure her. "Let's focus on one thing at a time," he added as Mandy shook her head.

"Is that movement on the roof top?" Lisa asked as Blackburn and Mandy quickly went to her side.

"Bravo one, this is HAVOC," Blackburn called over comms. "Be advised there is movement on a roof top one hundred feet ahead of you. Building across from target building."

"Copy HAVOC," Jason confirmed.

All of Bravo stopped moving and looked around for cover. Jason and Sonny ducked in between buildings while the others went behind cars.

"Anyone got a line of site to that roof top?" Jason called over comms.

"I got nothing," Ray said.

"Clay and I might have something, but we can't make out if it's a threat or not," Trent relayed.

"Alright, we split the team," Jason decided. "Bravo four and six, watch the roof while the rest of us make it to the target building. You take them out if they make a move."

Jason and the rest of the team started making their way down towards the target building as quickly as possible. They reached a window and Jason looked in. He saw at least three tangos inside but caught a glimpse of the ambassador's family.

"HAVOC, this is Bravo one, hostages confirmed inside target building. Passing Wishbone," Jason relayed. "At least three tangos inside. We each get one," Jason said as he let them take a look and call for one. "Breach in one, two, three, execute, execute, execute."

Mandy, Lisa, and Blackburn all watched as Bravo breached the building. Mandy had her eye on the possible tango on the roof top though.

"Movement on the roof," Mandy stated watching the person move towards the edge.

"Bravo four and six, be advised movement on roof top towards target building side," Blackburn relayed.

"We got movement of our own," Troy said watching his screens.

"Where?" Mandy asked rushing over. "You guys watch Bravo. We'll work the problem here. TOC this is Flyer one, we have movement on site," Mandy called in on a separate channel.

"Good copy Flyer one, we've got eyes over you as well," Jack replied.

"There," Mandy said pointing at a building. Thermal is picking up two possible tangos.

"We got one lone tango over here," Troy said pointing at another screen. "What is that?" Troy said as they saw movement of something being unpacked. "Shit."

"We gotta move soon," Mandy said as she went to grab a sniper rifle. "I'll see if I can take them out and buy us some time."

"Copy," Troy said watching his screens.

"Mandy," Blackburn called out and handed her a vest. "Be careful," he said with his signature Blackburn look and Mandy nodded back.

"Do me a favor and hold off on telling them. We gotta get that family out and keep them focused. I know Jason is mission focused but even I know if he finds out I'm remotely in danger so soon he'll freeze for a second that could cost them all," Mandy said.

"You're the one that'll have to deal with him," Blackburn smirked.

"I think I can handle him just fine," Mandy smiled back as she turned to leave.

Bravo had entered their target building quickly. Just as they entered, a shot rang out towards the entrance. Just as the shot at the target building went off, Clay took a shot at the roof top.

"Bravo one, this is six, rooftop tango cleared," Clay said over comms. "Headed your way."

As Clay relayed his and Trent's situation, the rest of Bravo had cleared and taken out any tangos in the building. The ambassador's family was tied up and blind folded behind in a room nearby.

"It's okay, it's okay," Jason reassured them as he took off their blindfolds. "We're here to rescue you."

The husband and kids looked at him in fear still and Jason slowly untied them trying to let them calm down. Jason reached into a pocket and brought out a couple glow sticks for the kids; they took them hesitantly as the husband started thanking them profusely.

"We gotta move," Ray said coming back into the room after clearing the rest of the building.

"HAVOC, this is Bravo one, jackpot. Headed for exfil," Jason said over comms as Trent checked everyone out.

"All good to travel," Trent confirmed.

"Bravo one, this is HAVOC, good copy," Lisa replied.

"Alright let's move," Jason ordered.

Mandy crept along the roof top as she made her way to a position to take out the two tangos.

"Flyer two, this is one, any movement?" Mandy asked as she crawled along.

"No movement on anything," Troy relayed as Mandy set herself up.

"In position," Mandy said over comms.

Mandy took a deep breath as she looked through the scope and zeroed in on the possible tangos. She couldn't just take the shot without confirmation that they were a threat though.

"Flyer one, be advised you need confirmation of a threat before any shot is taken," Jack said over comms.

"Copy," Mandy muttered.

"We're just gonna be sitting ducks here?" Lisa asked.

"For all we know, they could be civilians just loitering around. The last thing we need is being in the news for murdering innocent people when the ambassador already tried to pin one on Mandy," Blackburn said. "We focus on making sure Bravo makes it out."

"Shouldn't we tell them?" Lisa asked.

"Not until completely necessary. We need them focused on the mission," Blackburn said watching ISR.

"Flyer one, we got movement on two possible tangos," Troy suddenly said.

Mandy focused her scope to the building looking at the windows for any movement. As she checked each window, she suddenly saw something move and went back a window. Mandy saw through the crosshairs two men standing and looking towards their building while talking.

"Two tangos visible," Mandy relayed. "I don't see any threat," Mandy stated.

"HAVOC, this is Bravo one, passing Lassie," Jason called over comms as they made their way out of the town.

Mandy was still watching the two tangos closely when she suddenly saw them hoist an RPG through the window.

"RPG insight," Mandy called as she got ready to take the shot. "Incoming!" Mandy called out as she pulled the trigger and so did the tango.

"Copy Bravo one, passing-," Lisa repeated back to Jason before she heard Mandy call for taking cover.

Blackburn grabbed Lisa as Troy got up to run and take cover under something sturdy. Before they knew it, a blast was heard on part of the building making it rumble.

"Everyone good?" Blackburn called out.

"Yeah," Lisa called out as she coughed from the dust and smoke now moving into their part of the building.

"Flyer one do you copy?" Troy asked over comms as he made his way to his screens and tried to get any visual of Mandy.

"HAVOC, this is Bravo one, do you copy?" Jason could be heard over comms.

"Good copy, Bravo one," Blackburn said trying to keep the cough out of his voice. "Head for exfil."

"Copy HAVOC," Jason replied but had a feeling something was off.

Suddenly another explosion went off nearby shaking the building.

"Start shutting down everything," Blackburn ordered Lisa. "Anything from Mandy?" he asked Troy.

Suddenly someone entered the room coughing heavily. Troy and Blackburn immediately grabbed a gun only to realize it was Mandy.

"Mandy!" Blackburn said assessing her.

"Took them both out but couldn't stop the first RPG. Then the third tango started taking shots at me. Barely got out of there before the second RPG came. We gotta move," Mandy reported as she helped take down their set up.

"Flyer one to home base," Mandy called back to base. "HAVOC has fallen. Headed for exfil."

"Copy, we've got Bravo covered," Jack passed on.

"Something is off," Jason said as they drove to exfil.

"What do you mean? We got the family. Mission success," Sonny stated.

"We lost HAVOC back there," Jason said.

"Comms are spotty down here. Nothing new about that," Sonny tried to reassure Jason.

"Blackburn sound normal to you?" Jason asked.

"Jason, everything is good. Take the win. You'll be with Ms. Spook in no time," Sonny joked but Jason's gut told him otherwise.

"Ready to move?" Blackburn asked.

"Let's go," Troy confirmed as they headed for an exit.

Mandy walked out first with her gun drawn and looking all around. Lisa was just coming behind her when Mandy saw something shine in a window. Mandy suddenly dived for Lisa and pushed her back into the building.

"Lisa, you hit?" Mandy asked frantically.

"I'm good, I'm good," Lisa reassured her as the shock of almost being shot started to sink in. "You?"

"I'm good," Mandy said. "Someone is still shooting at us."

"Smoke?" Troy suggested as Blackburn and Mandy agreed.

Mandy opened the door again and just as it opened another shot came through causing her to back as close to the wall behind the door as she could. Mandy uncorked a smoke bomb and threw one and then another out. The four of them started making their way out towards a car they hid nearby. As they moved, they continued to use smoke as a shield so the sniper wouldn't find them so easily.

Troy started the car as everyone loaded up. Before they could leave, the building they'd just come out of was suddenly pummeled with multiple hits making several large explosions echo in the area. Troy stepped on the gas and sped out of the area as shots could be heard bouncing off the car. Mandy did her best to look for where they were coming from and throw a couple more smoke bombs out to buy them some time. They continued to drive towards their exfil hoping no more obstacles were coming.

"Base this is Flyer two, copy?" Troy called over comms. "Think our comms is out."

"Just keep driving," Mandy ordered as everyone kept their heads on a swivel.

Bravo had arrived back on base and watched as the ambassador embraced her family. She thanked the guys for saving them.

"Just doing our job ma'am," Jason replied.

"Is it just me or is that a lot of activity over there by command," Sonny asked as he gave Jason a side glance.

Jason looked up and saw the activity as well. That nagging feeling came back to him that something was wrong. He started making his way towards the command post with Bravo following behind him. Jason walked into command only to be met with the main screen showing a building with a lot of smoke billowing around it.

"What's going on?" Jason asked hoping his fears weren't going to be confirmed.

"Jason," Jack said calmly. "We lost contact with them a little while ago. The smoke is blocking a lot and we don't know their status."

"What do you mean you don't know their status?" Sonny asked as he thought about Lisa. "Send us back out there to get them."

"Their last call was that they were headed for exfil," Jack said trying to keep it together. "We wait to see if they make it, and we'll go from there. Until then, we're trying to see if they made it out."

Jason looked at the screens and couldn't believe he was already re-living this nightmare. He'd lost count of how many times he prayed to whatever higher being there was to bring Mandy home to him again. They were never going to catch a break, were they.