CONTENT WARNING: This chapter contains the events of the mission No Russian. While important to the story of Modern Warfare, it contains the depiction of terrorist attack where civilians are killed. If this content is disturbing to you, or is censored in your country, please skip the first section of this chapter. I kept it as clean as possible, but it still depicts tragic events. Reader discretion is advised.
"S' nami bog." Makarov stated as he let go of Kiril. The team all prepared their weapons, the redheaded Japanese woman, Minako, seeming to take extra glee in ripping back the charging handle to the M240 that clearly had her off balance. Nervously, Joseph Allen, currently Alexi Borodin, did the same, setting the LMG's hammer into battery. "Remember, no Russian." Makarov added. Joseph was scared for what was about to come, it was only natural. Weeks ago, Joseph was just another Army Ranger, fighting against the Op For militia, the Taliban, and the remnants of Al Qatala in Afghanistan and Urzikstan. Now, he was a CIA Deep cover operative embedded in an ultranationalist terrorist cell, The Inner Circle. The group had one goal, to make Russia "great" again. To do that meant sparking war between the country and its long standing rival, the United States, and that meant the unthinkable. The terrorists all stepped out of the elevator, coming face to face with a crowd of civilians and airport security. Joseph reluctantly pushed the charging handle on his M240 forward and raised it up. These people, he saw the terror on their faces, the lack of understanding of what was about to happen and why, and the realization of their fate. Surely, if there was a hell, Joseph was already there. Shutting his eyes, Joseph held down the trigger, the sound of screams mixing in with gunfire. He opened his eyes, immediately wanting to vomit. The corpses were all piled one atop the other, none of them having had a chance to survive. Joseph held his vomit in as the group kept going, even more so when he saw Minako gun down a surrendering civilian, a grin on her face. Whatever that woman was, it wasn't human. He pushed forward, his legs turning to rubber as they kept pushing through the airport, responding police officers and security officers falling before them. Joseph just dissociated for the rest of the attack, trying not to think about what he was doing. Soon enough, the terrorists made it to the loading bay where their escape ambulance was waiting for them.
"We sent a strong message with this attack, Makarov." Joseph stated, trying to keep himself from decking Makarov right then. Makarov picked Joseph up, pulling him into the ambulance.
"That was no message." Makarov stated, pulling a handgun out of his vest. "This is." Joseph fell onto the ground, realization sweeping over him as he began to bleed out.
"Nice try, American." Minako spat at Joseph.
"The American thought he could deceive us. When they find that body, all of Russia will cry for war." Makarov stated. The ambulance drove off as FSB arrived. An agent rushed over to Joseph, kicking his weapons away before checking his pulse. Joseph's thoughts were empty as he began to see a light.
"Oh Jesus." James grimaced as the humvee rolled forward. "That's just awful." Torres nodded, blankly taking a bite from a First Strike Bar.
"What's worse is that they know that Makarov was there, but they still blame us because Allen's body was there and they had American weapons." Torres explained. "But something's bothering me. How'd they know Allen was American? And why send Allen anyway? He was good, but not special operations good."
"What do you mean?" Dunn asked. "They just could tell he was American, that's it."
"I saw what he did to pretend he was Russian, guy was method acting, he could fool anyone." Torres started. "Hell, even a spec ops guy I know said he thought he was Russian. Someone had to tell them that Allen was American."
"You think it was an inside job?" James asked, a bit intrigued by Torres' conspiracy theory.
"Yep, had to be." Torres confirmed. "Either someone in the CIA leaked it, or this goes to the top."
"No fucking way General Shepherd would do that, guy's literally the patriotic poster boy." Morgan scoffed as he bit into a spoonful of MRE beef ravioli with meat sauce.
"Maybe that's why, 30000 marines died in Verdansk, could be vengeance for that." Torres responded.
"But how would killing an American lead him there, Specialist?" Dunn asked. "Sounds kind of counter intuitive."
"You're thinking too narrowly." Torres responded. "Think, for a moment, an American is found dead at the scene of a terrorist attack in Russia. He's an active duty member of the military, and he was one of the attackers. Russia and the US go to war, what happens in the US?"
"People go and sign up to fight in the war." Dunn mused.
"Exactly, and what do those volunteers do?" Torres asked.
"Kill the Russians, who were the ones who killed the 30000 marines in Verdansk." James answered. Torres clapped, pointing at James.
"Bingo. Thus, Shepherd gets his revenge." Torres stated. "I'm glad you see it, Ramirez."
"Ya'll are mental." Foley grumbled. "These guys aren't just terrorists, they're ultranationalists, they have resources, one of their leaders is ex KGB for god's sake."
"Technically, these guys aren't ultranationalists, they're Inner Circle." Torres corrected. Foley groaned.
"Hell's the difference?" Dunn asked.
"Quiz time, Ramirez, what's the difference between the Ultra Nationalists and Inner Circle?" Torres responded, volun-telling Ramirez to speak up.
"Uh, well, the Ultra Nationalists just want Russia to reign supreme, The Inner Circle aims to reestablish the USSR." Ramirez explained before adding something extra. "There's also rumors floating around that The Inner Circle is connected to Perseus.
"What the hell is Perseus?" Foley asked.
"I can take this one." Torres stated. "Cold War spy network, most dangerous one to boot. They split off from Soviet High Command, apparently their leader had his own plans for the country. They came close to nuking Europe and blaming the west, apparently one of their own betrayed them then rejoined them, which is why they failed to drop the bomb. They all went into hiding after the USSR disbanded, no one knows what happened to the vast majority of them. But, one of them was found dead in Pripyat, and another one was working with Makarov in Verdansk last year."
"How do you know all this?" James asked, quite intrigued.
"I know a few guys in Task Force 141." Torres answered, a grin on his face. Was that supposed to mean something to James? The others started laughing.
"You seriously still believe those 141 fairytales?" Dunn chuckled.
"Yeah, cause I led them once." Torres dryly stated.
"Then why ain't you with them? Oh yeah, they aint real!" Morgan laughed.
"They're real, and they're going to take down Makarov and Arisato, you'll see." Torres scoffed as he turned away to finish his MRE. James did the same as the rest of Hunter 2-1 calmed down. This was certainly an interesting group, that was for sure.
Ryuji sat down in the briefing room, right between Ghost and Soap. Everyone was dressed in MODS, that being No.8 Combat Dress pants and a tan undershirt, so clearly this was going to be a quick briefing. Ryuji gave Ghost a fistbump and Soap a nod as he sat down. The room was filled with everyone in TF141, meaning this was going to be big.
"Room attention!" A man in the back called out. Everyone stood and saluted as Lieutenant General Hershel von Shepherd III entered the room. He signaled for everyone to sit back down.
"You already know who Minako Arisato and Vladimir Makarov are and what they're doing, so I won't waste time with that." General Shepherd stated. "We're going to stop them, no matter the cost. Infiltrating them was a bust, so we're going to attack them. Teams Alpha and Charlie, you're all going to be doing counter smuggling and safehouse raid operations. Bravo, you get the fun stuff. There's a gun runner called Alejandro Rojas, he manages the guns and finances for The Inner Circle. He's working out in the Favelas of Rio De Janeiro, Bravo team, you're going there to capture him and his assistant. From there, you will interrogate both of them and act on any intel they give you. Dismissed." Ryuji got up, stretching his arms out as he prepared for the operation. The team went to their locker room and got geared up.
"So, what do you think this guy knows?" Ryuj asked as he changed into a pair of jeans.
"Probably knows where some VIP is." Roach commented. "That or who knows where the VIPs are."
"Follow the money." Ghost laughed as he put a new mask on and rolled up the sleeves of his tan long sleeve shirt.
"Mind if I get one of those masks one of these days bro? We both would work for the mask, we do have similar callsigns, Simon." Ryuji asked, slipping his vest over his head and shoulders.
"Tell you what Ryuji, if we ever go to two different countries, you get dibs on a mask." Ghost answered. Ryuji nodded.
"I like that answer." Ryuji stated. "Roach, you know what you're taking in the country? weapons wise, that is."
"Well, I like those UMP45's, I'm taking one of those bad boys with me. A machine pistol too, those are useful on occasion." Roach stated. Ryuji nodded.
"Solid choice." Ryuji affirmed. "I'm missing home a bit, so I'm taking a Type 20." Ryuji pulled his personal rifle off it's rack as he said this, racking the rifle.
"You aren't SAS? I thought that Bravo team was all SAS." Roach asked, quite confused.
"He's been with us since Verdansk." Ghost explained. "Our old Captain liked him, and decided he wanted him as part of 141. Only problem was that the JSDF wouldn't give anyone to 141, so we made a deal, he'd be SAS, and have dual citizenship."
"Doesn't Japan not give dual citizenship?" Roach asked. Ryuji sighed as he clipped his helmet on.
"They don't, but mine's special, it's diplomatic." Ryuji explained as he clipped his NVG mount onto his helmet. He didn't actually mount any on, he just liked having the mount because it looked cool and he could easily put NODs on them if he actually had to use some.
"Why'd you decide to join the military anyway?" Roach asked.
"Better question is why I stayed." Ryuji answered. "Short version, I decided it was the right place for me. Long version, I realized that I needed structure, discipline, all that in my life. Plus, I discovered it was my calling. I had a few part time jobs in my last year of school, usually ending in a week because I got violent over a work dispute. When I was in the military, not only did it give me a way to control my anger, but it let me use it. I'd go into the battlefield, take my rage against injustices in this world, and fuck shit up with it. Plus, I found my family in TF141, not the first time, but they're family to me, and I wanted to stick with my newfound family."
"I see." was all Roach had to say.
"C'mon, we got a gun runner to grab." Soap stated, raking his FN SCAR. Ryuji smirked as he raked the pump of his second, non sidearm weapon, a Mosberg 590. It was time to get shit done.
"Target spotted." Ryuji said into his mic as he observed the deal across the street from him. Ryuji was sitting in a cafe, in full gear, somehow not drawing attention to himself. He assumed that, unfortunately, it was normal for the people in the favelas to see armed, fully kitted police and military. Rojas wasn't there at the moment, but his assistant would have the information 141 would need to find him. Currently, he hadn't noticed the specops group, continuing to converse with two militia members outside a hotel.
"Copy, I see him too." Roach informed the 141. "He's still outside the hotel, looks like those militiamen ain't too happy."
"Solid copy, move in to execute capture order." Soap stated. Ryuji slapped a few dollars down on his table and approached the group, Roach's van inching towards them as he did so. Ryuji pulled his Type 20 off his kit, preparing to strike. Just as the van arrived, the militia fired at it, leading to the assistant escaping and a firefight breaking out. Ryuji held off the militia before rushing after the assistant, twisting and winding down the alleys as he pursued the gun runner's number guy. Ryuji was almost certain it would end in failure, but Roach pulled in with the clutch, firing a single shot into the assistant's leg.
"Good work, Ghost and I will interrogate him, might take awhile." MacMillan explained. "Skull, MacTavish, lead Royce, Meat, and Roach into the favela proper and hunt down Rojas."
"Copy that, good luck." Ryuji responded.
"On me." Soap stated, signaling the team to follow. They climbed a fence into a shanty town, occupied by civilians and Militia alike.
"Crap, can't fight if there's civies present." Meat mumbled.
"What now?" Roach asked. Ryuji faced Soap, who nodded at Ryuji. Ryuji raised his shotgun, firing two blasts into the air, making civilians flee into the buildings, leaving only militia.
"We do that." Ryuji stated, rushing into the battle, swapping to his sidearm, an HK45. Sure, he had it loaded with hollow points and it was much less powerful than a shotgun or a rifle, but that was the point. Many handgun caliber bullets don't overpenetrate, and combined with hollow points that almost never overpenetrate, it made for the perfect weapon in a tight, civilian heavy environment such as the Favela. Ryuji and the team rushed through, fighting off militia as they ran, eventually finding Rojas.
"After him, don't let him escape!" Soap yelled.
"I'll take the high road, you guys stay ground level!" Ryuji stated, climbing onto a rooftop. On the rooftop, Ryuji weaved through Militia forces, pursuing Rojas in a dash for survival. Eventually, he had him cornered. Rojas stood in front of a balcony, pistol to his head, knowing he couldn't escape. Ryuji wouldn't let him take the easy way out. Ryuji dived into Rojas, plunging the two into a car below. Other than Ryuji's bad knee buckling, he was unharmed, especially since Rojas took the fall.
"Too bad I don't have car insurance, would have left a note." Ryuji chuckled as he ziptied and hooded Rojas, his knee acting up. "Gah, fuck, my knee."
"Rest that knee, Skull, don't want you lagging behind at evac. Nikolai's going to have to pick us up." Soap stated.
"Ah, Nikolai, love that guy." Ryuji laughed. "He did take me out of Verdansk. What's the catch though?"
"We're fighting our way to him after questioning Rojas." Ghost answered. "The US can't pick us up right now, war's broken out."
"Just another day in our little war without end." Ryuji sighed as he slammed a fresh magazine into his handgun. Just when he was looking forward to a break.
Naturally, the fight out of the Favela was a nightmare. Close quarters, bullets flying, can't tell enemies from civilians, the usual. What wasn't usual was Roach having to jump for the pave low. Roach certainly earned his name of invincibility, that was for certain, maybe he could have been a trackstar and test subject if he didn't join the military. In the chopper proper, the team received a briefing. There was a man in a gulag that had information that could topple the Inner Circle if it was used, but the 141 alone couldn't take him on. Nikolai gave them the services of Chimera free of charge, but that wasn't enough, they needed more. Fortunately, there was a solution. The US and UK had a mutual interest in taking down Makarov, meaning they would offer support from DEVGRU if the 141 helped with an operation. There was an oil rig where Inner Circle were holding Americans as hostages, and if the 141 helped free them, DEVGRU would help them raid the gulag their person of interest was being held. Naturally, the 141 took the deal. As Ryuji prepared his SOPMOD M4A1 and his UDT gear, however, he noticed two people he recognized. One was a woman who had a general form he recognized as having tailed him in Verdansk and lightly assisted in his escape, the other, however, was more recognizable. Ryuji remembered him as having helped keep him alive before he fell in his coma, but he could have sworn that he was familiar from somewhere else. He had long, barely kept dirty blonde hair, one eye covered by an eyepatch, and a beard that clearly hadn't been shaved in a few days. He stood with a presence that told Ryuji that the mercenary would rather slip into the shadows than stand out. The mercenary clearly wasn't Russian like most of the other mercs, seemingly coming from Japan, if Ryuji recognized his mannerisms correctly. Ryuji knew he saw him somewhere other than Verdansk, but he just couldn't put his finger on it. Ryuji sighed as he returned to working on his gear. Something told him this wouldn't be the last he'd see of this mercenary.
A/N: Yeah, glad to get that out of the way. I appologize for making No Russian the first part of this chapter, but I wanted to get it done and out of the way. I tried to keep it as far from being a graphic depiction of it's events as possible, but if I need to make edits please PM me and I'll make the necessary changes. Moving on, the next chapter will kick off the events of the Russo-American War from Ramirez and Torres' perspectives, and touch on what's happening at home for Ryuji. As for those mercenaries working with Nikolai? Well, I don't want to spoil too much, but they will play an important role later. Well, as usual, I hope you enjoyed, and have a wonderful day!