The Clock Tower

by Archive keeper

After a series of vivid visions of a world at war with itself, Elia and the rest of the 501st are transported to the MW universe where they have to fight to survive the invasion of America. They team up with Metal Team and the 141 in order to find a way home however nothing is as it seems as the fate of both worlds may be tied to the will of a single man re posted with permission

23. Chapter 23 bag and Drag

Bag and Drag

504th JFW Base Romagna

Pilot Officer Amaki Suwa

11:12 local time

Amaki pushed her glasses forward and sat down at her desk as she opened the old book that she had bought in town a few days ago. Amaki was usually not a bigger reader but she had a soft spot for ancient legends. This story was about the Three Hundred Witches. Legend has it that long ago a powerful Neuroi appeared and began attacking the people of Greece and a group of three hundred witches assembled from all over Europe to fight this Neuroi. After three days of fighting and the Neuroi on the verge of death it unleashed some kind of spell and it along with the three hundred witches vanished from this earth. Amaki smiled a bit; the story seemed a bit silly but it was still entertaining; though she did wonder now if the story was true where did the three hundred witches go? Could it be the same place that the 501st Strike Witches had vanished to?

"Amaki can you come here for a minute?" asked her commanding officer Flight Lieutenant Junko Takei. Amaki got up from her desk and started walking to the door. Perhaps now was not the time to think of such things.

"Coming!" Amaki shouted as she walked through the door promptly tripping on the door frame falling to the ground. But before she could hit the ground a set of hands grabbed onto her. Amaki looked up to see her loyal friend Nishiki Nakajima holding onto her.

"Careful Amaki you could hurt yourself." Nishiki told her. Amaki smiled to the fellow Fusoan witch who was like an older sister to her.

"Thanks Nishiki I guess I owe you one." Amaki told her. Nishiki smiled at her and shook her head.

"Think nothing of it; just be careful next time." Nishiki said to her. Amaki nodded and headed down the hallway to where Flight Lieutenant Junko Takei was waiting for her. Junko was waiting at her desk filling out some paper work.

"You wanted to see me Ma'am." Amaki asked Junko who looked up at her.

"Ah yes I wanted you to do a favor for me. I need this letter delivered to one of the forward supply bases in Gallia. Supply Base 303 to be exact; give this letter to Sergeant Hijikata." Junko told Amaki who nodded.

"Alright I will go and do that. Do you want me to return to base when I finish delivering the letter?" Amaki asked Junko who nodded.

"Yes unless they have anything else for you to do there I would like you to return to this base if possible." Junko ordered Amaki who nodded. Amaki saluted her commanding officer and walked out of Junko's office. Outside Nishiki was waiting for her.

"So you are going to be sent to Gallia then?" Nishiki asked Amaki who nodded.

"Yes but don't worry I won't be gone for very long. Maybe a few weeks at the most; you will see me again in no time Nishiki." Amaki claimed to which Nishiki smiled at. However Amaki at this time did not realize just how wrong she was about that statement, for unbeknownst to Amaki her nightmare was only about to begin.

Unknown

"The Survivor"

Unknown

"So you are sure this will work?" The Survivor asked both Reznov and Mason who were busy working on the machine that they had jury rigged out of the striker units they had retrieved from what lied between the dimensions. Reznov looked at The Survivor.

"Yes it should work. We will try and get you as close to the witches of the 501st as possible but you will probably have to seek them out yourself." Reznov told The Survivor which somehow did not reassure it.

"I don't want to end up in the Neuroi's home realm or worse yet in another pocket dimension so please don't send me there." The Survivor said as the machine began to power up and she stood on the transportation pad. Then Mason spoke.

"I am one hundred percent sure this will work right." Mason told her as he put his hand on the switch. Then he thought for a moment and flipped the switch. "Ok maybe more like fifty percent sure." He confessed to The Survivor as electricity shot all around it. Alarm filled its core as it began to shift dimensions.

"Wait what!?" The Survivor asked and tried to jump off the transportation pad; but it was too late The Survivor was violently flung between dimensions. Pain wracked her body as she hurtled through time and space. Then suddenly she saw blue skies and the ground fast approaching. She quickly levitated and stopped her rapid descent. It descended to the ground and took in its surroundings. She appeared to be in some kind of human dwelling area. As far as it could see there were nothing but homes but no one was around. The Survivor then drifted close to a human home and into the rear area of the home that was guarded by a fence. Strange why would they only have a fence in the back to keep out intruders shouldn't they have one guarding the front entrance? The Survivor thought. The Survivor saw a set of glass doors leading into the home; it used its laser at its lowest power to blow off the lock and enter the home. It wanted to see if it could get any information as to where it might be. The Survivor floated through the home and looked around. It saw a globe with different continents and country names than it remembered in the other human world. It was right it was in the other human realm the one where the 501st Joint Fighter Wing was in. The Survivor looked around eventually seeing a small computer terminal on a desk in one of the rooms. It examined the computer and found a USB port in the front of the CPU. The Survivor morphed one of its fingers into a USB cord and inserted it into the computer to see if it could download any information on the 501st from it. Instantly an electric surge filled its body and thousands of images of humans copulating filled its mind. The Survivor quickly pulled the USB cord from the computer and tried to process what it had saw. Nothing on the 501st but the images of all of those humans in the midst of mating… it seemed… it seemed liked they really were enjoying themselves. And it seemed like… fun… The Survivor quickly shook those thoughts away and tried to find any useful information as to where she might be. She looked around and eventually saw a human book detailing the wonders of the state of Florida. That must have been where The Survivor was in this state of Florida. But where were the 501st?"

Paris France

Staff Sergeant Derek Westbrook "Frost"

14:10 local time

"Any station, any station ODA 5-9-5 all civilians at the Louvre are dead! Requesting DECON units and Medivac! Shouted an American soldier located in the French National Art Museum.

"ODA 9-5-9 this is Helios actual. Negative. All US Forces in Paris are engaged. Triage the civilians and move your team upwind of the plume." Isabella told the American soldier as Frost's MH-6 Little bird touched down and he along with Sandman, Grinch and Minna got on deck. The second MH-6 touched down dropping off Erica, Eila and Sanya who had all worn their gas masks like he had to avoid contact with the deadly chemical weapon. Whatever Makarov used it was off the scale toxic the 141 operators had to equip full combat NBC gear to avoid contamination. This stuff seemed to be even worse than NOVA 6. Overhead Frost saw tracers light up the sky and Russian transport planes dropping paratroopers into the city. Then Sandman spoke.

"This area is still dirty from the chemical attack so keep your mask on people. He said as he cocked his weapon. Frost cocked his SCAR-H with integrated grenade launcher and ACOG scope. Minna then spoke.

"Alright we are all on the deck let's get a move on to the RV. Barkhorn, Yeager are you at the LZ?" Minna asked to two other witches who took a second to reply.

"Yes Commander we are at the LZ with a handful of surviving French soldiers we will hold here until you retrieve the package over." Gertrude replied to Minna.

"Roger that stay safe." She told them. Then Helios spoke to them.

"Metal 0-1, GIGN is pinned down at Palme d'or restaurant. Get there fast or we'll lose any chance we have of finding Makarov." Isabella told them as they proceeded to move down the stairs into a home. Frost saw someone who had been killed by the gas. All of the skin on his body had fallen off leaving only a bloody skeleton in its wake.

"Roger wilco." Sandman replied to Isabella as they moved forward. Minna looked at the corpses and nodded her head.

"It's just like what Captain Price told us. Makarov had gotten his hands on Neuroi Miasma." Minna told the group Sanya then spoke.

"I am just glad that Perrine is not here to see this. It would break her heart to see this city in such a state." Sanya said to everyone. Then Frost spoke.

"Yeah I would hate for her to see this shit." Frost replied. Then Grinch spoke.

"We don't have time to think about that now we have to focus on the mission." He told her. Minna nodded her head and followed after the group. Grinch then looked to Sandman and spoke. "595 sounds like they got hit hard. There were a lot of rooks in that unit." Grinch said to Sandman.

"No one is a rook today." Sandman replied to Grinch. As he walked over to a hole in the wall and moved some debris so the team could get passed it. Frost headed out onto the ledge and walked alongside it to the other room in the building.

"Watch your step Frost. I am pretty sure Hanna would kick my ass if you got killed." Grinch joked which promptly flustered the young Delta Operator.

"What… don't try and distract me with that." Frost stammered. Grinch laughed.

"Just saying we all know it's obvious you got a thing for each other." Grinch teased him. Then Minna spoke.

"Really I thought you and Perrine were an item now Frost?" Minna asked Frost which just made him even more embarrassed.

"What!? No we are just friends ok, nothing has happened between us ok!?" Frost quickly stated.

"I should hope not she is still a minor Frost same goes for Hanna keep it in your pants soldier." Sandman said to Frost who continued blushing. Before Frost could reply Isabella spoke over the radio.

"Metal 0-1 be advised the GIGN are taking heavy casualties. They won't last for much longer. You will need to double time it to the RV." Isabella told them as they entered into the other room.

"Patch me through to them." Sandman told Isabella.

"This is Saber how much longer!?" a GIGN commander said to Sandman with panic clear in his voice.

"Three minutes out just keep your perimeter secure. We're almost there." Sandman told the French commando.

"Please just hurry!" Saber replied. The Task Force moved through some of the wreckage of the building and Sandman spoke.

"This way. Let's move!" he shouted to them. Frost followed after his team leader and followed him up a ramp of debris. They turned down a hallway and headed down the stairs when bullets punched through the wall coming from the streets below. "Contacts down the street go loud!" Sandman shouted to the unit. Grinch tossed a grenade down to the street below as Frost ran down the next flight of stairs. He then saw a bookstore on the other side of the street. "Frost hit the bookstore you are with me!" Sandman shouted to him.

"Roger!" Frost shouted to him as he exited the building. To his left a Russian paratrooper was reloading in the open. Frost quickly aimed down his sights and put two bullets into the Russian soldier's chest sending him to the ground. Frost got on the side of the doorway to the bookstore and leaned in spotting a Russian soldier running up the stairs. Frost put to shots in his back and then looked to the second level of the bookstore where a group of three Russians were taking position and opening fire at him. Frost switched to his grenade launcher and fired a single shot at the Russian's position blowing all three of them to bloody rags. Frost reloaded the grenade launcher and entered the bookstore. He saw a group of four Russian soldiers in the lower levels. Frost took aim and shot the first one with a single round through his forehead. He then took a knee behind some cover and shot the second one five times. At this point the remaining Russians were firing at him on full auto with their G36Cs. Bullets smacked into the piece of cover he was hiding behind chipping away at the hard wood. Then Minna rounded the corner of the bookstore and emptied all thirty rounds of 5.56mm on full auto from her MK.18 carbine shredding both Russians Soldiers. Sandman and Grinch headed up stairs with Eila and Sanya behind them. Frost followed after them, scanning for threats. When they reached the top floor a group of six Russians were waiting for them. Sanya fired her XM25 blowing two of them away while Eila activated her shield to cover Sandman and Grinch as the three of them emptied their weapons into the Russians killing the remaining four of them.

"Top floor cleared." Sandman said as they headed down the stairs. When they reached they checked their surroundings and Grinch spoke.

"Clear! The restaurant is at the end of this alley." He said as he stacked up on the door with Sandman.

"Saber, this is Sandman. Watch your fire from the North. We are coming to you." Sandman told the French commando.

"Copy that. Merde, we are glad to see you." The French commando said to them as they opened to doors to the alleyway. When they opened the door they saw three Russians getting gunned down.

"It's the GIGN!" shouted Grinch. There were only a handful of the commandos left and Grinch took in their number and spoke. "That all of them?" he asked aloud.

Paris France

Flying Officer Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen

14:25 local time

Eila entered the restaurant that the French Special Forces were using as a safe house. She looked at all of the dead and dying commandos who were lying on the ground. It was a depressing sight. Several of the soldiers were clearly exposed to the Miasma and were missing parts of their body from when their skin had fallen off. Sandman went to the leader of the GIGN and spoke.

"How many of you are left?" Sandman asked the GIGN commander who waited a second before replying.

"Seven of us are left standing." Saber told Sandman who nodded.

"Where is Volk?" he inquired of the French commando.

"The Russians launched the chemical attack from a staging ground in the catacombs. We believe that Volk is still there." The Frenchmen told Sandman who nodded.

"We got your six lead the way." Sandman replied and the French officer gestured for them to follow his unit. "Helios, this is Metal 0-1. Link-up complete. We are en route to the HVT's location now." Sandman told Isabella. They entered into the front of the restaurant which was heavily damaged by explosives and gunfire. Eila put a Russian paratrooper in her sights and pulled the trigger sending five .45cal rounds into his body tossing him to the ground. "We got to get across the courtyard. Frost and Grinch lay down cover fire. Sanya use your XM25 to take out any Russians in cover. Move! Move!" Sandman shouts. Grinch and Frost lay down fire from their rifles sending dozens of bullets into the Russian positions. Erica and Minna move up firing accurate three round bursts into the Russians each time dropping one that they saw. Eila followed after them spotting a Russian who was in the open running to get behind a car. Eila lined up his head in her Holographic sight and pulled the trigger sending two rounds through his skull. Eila moved out onto the street and saw to her left was a set of stairs leading further down the street. At the top of the stairs a Russian with an RPG fired his rocket narrowly missing the witches who were in the open.

"RPG top of the street!" Erica shouted to the others as she fired a long burst from her assault rifle into the Russian. Ten rounds hit the enemy soldier who tumbled down the stairs as he died. More Russians started to come down the stairs firing at them. Eila fired her SMG into them killing two of the Russians. Frost and Sandman opened fire at the charging Russians cutting five down. Sanya used her shield to deflect some of the bullets fire at her and retaliated with her XM25 killing the remaining two Russians. Eila moved up the stairs and reached the top scanning from side to side for targets. Down the street a Russian tank moved forward unaware of Eila. Saber went up the stairs and saw a damaged wall in an apartment complex and entered it.

"This way!" he shouted. Eila followed after him. From the other side of the street a Russian fired into their building with his AK-74U trying to score a lucky hit. Eila fired the remaining bullets in her magazine at him blowing the Russian's chest cavity open. Eila then continued to follow Saber who jumped down a hole in the floor and gestured for them to follow after him. Eila got out onto the street and saw more civilian corpses from the Miasma attack. It was so strange who did Makarov get his hand on a Neuroi weapon? Did this mean that her vision was correct and that Makarov might be in league with the Neuroi and if so to what end? Perhaps now was not the time to think about such things. She saw a set of stairs going down that she started to traverse when Grinch spoke.

"Boss we got bad guys inbound." Grinch told Sandman.

"How many are we talking about Grinch?" Sandman asked his XO who replied with some sarcasm in his voice.

"It looks like Moscow down there we are going to need some air support if we want to get through them." Grinch told Sandman who nodded.

"Warhammer this is Metal 0-1 requesting fire mission over." Sandman told the American pilot. Eila saw down the street a Russian armored car and a few dozen infantry were coming towards them firing their weapons. Eila put up her shield and took cover firing a long burst to keep their heads down.

"Roger Metal 0-1. Established orbit at four thousand meters. Full load mark your targets." The American pilot said to him.

"Frost mark the targets with smoke!" Sandman shouted to the young American commando who nodded.

"Roger that!" He shouted as he tossed a purple smoke grenade. Eila expected to then see one of those sleek American fighter planes streak overhead and deliver a guided bomb on target. Instead she say a flurry of heavy cannon fire decimate the Russians below. The Russians were ripped apart and confused as the rapid fire cannons shredded them. In a matter of seconds nothing was moving below.

"Shit what was that." Erica said to no one in particular.

"AC-130 Specter gunship, armed with a 25mm Gatling cannon, a 40mm auto cannon, and a 105mm howitzer. That is what that was." Frost said as he started down the stairs.

"Do the Russians have any of those?" Erica asked him.

"No." he simply replied.

"Good I would hate to be on the receiving end of that thing." Erica replied. Eila nodded her head. She doubted even her shield would have been able to withstand such a heavy and rapid fire bombardment.

"This way down the alley!" Saber shouted to the group as they followed after him. they got down to street level and took a right when two Russian helicopters flew overhead and ropes dropped down indicating that they were going to fast rope some soldiers down to the street. Frost tossed a smoke grenade down where the choppers where hovering and a rapid fire machinegun cannon shredded both helicopters. Then a Russian APC drove down the street and started to shoot at them with its rapid fire cannon.

"Frost enemy BTR down the alley mark it with smoke!" Sandman shouted to Frost who tossed another smoke grenade at it. A single artillery shell smacked into the Russian vehicle blowing it apart in a spectacular explosion. The streets were silent as they moved forward.

"Metal 0-1 we are bingo fuel. Give us ten mikes to gas up and return on station." Warhammer told Sandman.

"Roger that; thanks for the assist Warhammer." Sandman said to the pilot of the AC-130. They moved down the street eventually finding a manhole in the street. Saber pointed to it.

"There this is the entrance to the catacombs!" He told them as he opened up the entrance and slung his weapon over his shoulder. Frost pointed his gun down the manhole and gestured to Eila.

"Ladies first." He said to Eila who rolled her eyes and started down the ladder.

Paris France

Commander Minna Dietlinde-Wilcke

14:40 local time

Minna was the last one down the ladder and her eyes struggled to adjust to the lack of light. Sandman was using a device to scan the air quality around the area.

"Hold up I am checking for toxins." He said to the group. After a few seconds the device beeped. "Ok we are clear masks off but keep your eyes peeled." He told the group. Minna took off her gas mask and checked her weapon again. "We need to minimize our signature only one light source." He said to the group. Saber nodded.

"Roger." He said as he turned on his light and scanned the tunnels looking for Russians. Saber looked back to the group. "Follow me and stay close." He told them. Minna nodded and followed after him. Then Isabella spoke into the radio.

"Metal 0-1 blue force tracker lost a fix on your position." She told Sandman.

"We are in the catacombs proceeding to possible target location." Sandman replied as he followed after Saber. It was so dark and quite down here. The only way she was able to tell that above them a fierce battle was being fought was the fact that occasionally the tunnels shook when an artillery shell hit the ground above.

"Roger that Metal 0-1 we are sending a Ranger QRF to your position now. Mark your route with flares so they can locate your position." Isabella said to Sandman as they proceeded down a flight of stairs.

"Roger your last. 0-1 out." Sandman said as he tossed a flare down. They continued to move down the catacombs still not finding any targets. Then Grinch spoke.

"It smells like shit down here." He simply stated.

"Yeah but at least it won't kill you." Frost replied to Grinch who nodded. They got to the end of the hallway and Saber stood over a set of railings.

"All clear. Move up." He simply stated and continued on.

"Where is the rest of the GIGN?" Sandman asked Saber who was still scanning for targets.

"A chemical strike hit our barracks in Satory last night. Most of my men died within minutes." Saber told Sandman with a twinge of sadness in his voice. Minna felt for the GIGN commander. She could only imagine what it must have been like to watch his comrades die such a horrible death.

"A friend of mine was at Satory." Sandman said to Saber.

"Je suis desole… this is why this Volk must pay for what he has done." Saber said to Sandman.

"He will I will see to that." Grinch said to Saber. Saber nodded as he found a metal door with a deadbolt lock on it. Frost used a pair of bolt cutters to snap the lock and Saber kicked the door in.

"Bienvenue." Saber said as they entered the next chamber of the catacombs.

"Stay sharp." Sandman said as he checked his surroundings for hostiles. Minna ducked under a piece of rebar and entered the next chamber. Saber went to the end of the hallway and checked his surroundings before waving the group forward.

"This way." He simply stated. Minna followed after him. "Approaching expected location of HVT; one hundred meters." Saber said as he moved forward. Minna used her magic to sense if anyone was ahead. She got faint signatures from her magic.

"Volk is up ahead he is with four of his men." Minna said to the group. Saber looked back to Minna.

"How do you know this?" he asked her. Minna pointed to her wolf ears and spoke.

"Because of my magical ability it allows me to detect people who are near me without me having to see them.

"Magic?" Saber asked her. Then Sandman interjected.

"We don't have time to explain Saber we will have to tell you later." Sandman says to the Frenchmen who nods and moves forward. They enter a room filled with the bones of people who had died over the years.

"Damn that is a lot of bodies. How many do you think are buried here?" Grinch asks Sandman.

"I don't know; let's just make sure that we don't join them." Sandman replied. They followed Saber who entered another hallway and moved up. Just then a metal door fell on Saber and a Russian soldier aimed his weapon at the Frenchmen. Minna put a bullet through his head as more Russians started to flood through. "Shit go loud!" Sandman shouted as gunfire echoed throughout the hallways. Minna then fired at the Russian in front of her killing him. She headed down the hallway weapon at the ready when a flash bang grenade landed at her feet and detonated. She was blinded and deafened by the grenade Minna staggered to the ground and put up her shield feeling bullets impacting against it. When Minna's vision returned she saw Volk firing a machine pistol at them and a few Russians soldiers were taking up positions in the room he was in. Minna triple tapped the first Russian and fired a single round through the next ones head. Saber entered the room and shot the next one in the head. Erica entered the room and killed the remaining one. "Helios HVT spotted we are going in hot purist." Sandman shouted to Isabella as they ran after him.

"Roger Metal 0-1. Remember we need him captured alive. Volk has the only actionable intel needed to capture Makarov." Isabella replied as they ran after Volk. Minna went up to flights of stairs with bullets fired from Volk impacting around her. Minna then entered a hallway where two Russian soldiers were covering Volk as he escaped. Minna emptied her magazine down the hallway killing both Russian soldiers. Minna then headed down the hallway and saw a ladder that Volk had used and climbed up it. She then entered a small room with an exit to the left which she went down. Minna then saw that it led to the street where Volk had entered a grey car and drove off.

"Volk just got into a grey Sedan!" Grinch shouted as they entered the street where several Russians were waiting for them. Minna aimed down her ACOG sight and fired five rounds into a Russian soldier dropping him. Sanya fired her grenade launcher shredding another two who were behind cover. Sandman then pointed to a blue delivery van down the street.

"Quick we got to get to the blue van move!" he shouted as they went down the street then Saber spoke into the radio.

"You go I will cover you!" he shouted as he fired his G36C at the Russians who fell under his gun. The group headed down the street and got into the van as two Russian armored cars blocked the route in front of them. Sanya fired her XM25 twice destroying both cars. Frost got in the front seat of the van and smashed out the windows of the van and readied his weapon. Minna then got into the back seat and readied her weapon.

Paris France

Staff Sergeant Derek Westbrook "Frost"

14:55 local time

Frost cocked his SCAR-H and aimed down the street where the destroyed UAZs were located. Three Russians soldiers had taken up positions by the wreckage and were using it to provide cover for them while they shot at the Task Force. Frost aimed down his sights and fired into the first two killing both of the Russian soldiers. He then switched to the third target but before he could take a shot Grinch gunned the engine and smashed into the vehicles blocking their way and crushing the Russian soldier under the wheels of their vehicle. Sandman then spoke to Frost.

"Frost I need you back here with me!" He shouted as gunfire struck the van. Frost moved to the back area of the truck with the Witches and aimed from side to side. Sandman opened the doors and Frost saw speeding after them was an enemy UAZ. Frost switched to his integrated grenade launcher and he fired a forty millimeter grenade into the enemy vehicle's engine block destroying it. Then from around the corner an enemy T-72 rounded the corner and fired its cannon narrowly missing them.

"Shit that is a fucking tank!" Erica shouted.

"Yeah I noticed. Grinch step on it." Sandman said as the tank began to chase them. Frost fired at the tank's machine gunner killing him with three direct hits to the forehead. Frost then reloaded and fired at one of the infantry with an RPG on the street killing. The tank fired again and Grinch swerved away just in time. The van smashed into a store front and stopped in its track. An enemy soldier tried to board their van but Sandman emptied an entire clip into him turning his torso into a fine red mist. The vehicle started up again and headed down the road. Grinch took a hard left and ended up driving parallel to one of the canals. An enemy UAZ drove after them the roof mounted fifty cal blazing. Frost took aim at the gunner and put a bullet into his head. Just then an enemy Hind flew over the canals firing its cannon and rockets at them just narrowly missing them.

"Enemy helicopter eleven o'clock!" Frost shouted as it went after them. Grinch then turned to the right and smashed into the front doors of a building. The Hind went after them.

"That Helo is making another run at us." Sandman said as Grinch turned left and gunfire from the enemy attack helicopters smashed into the ground behind them. Sandman then looked to Frost and spoke. "Frost ride shot gun." He ordered Frost who nodded and went up front. Grinch smashed through an iron gate and turned right. Frost saw in front of tem Volk's sedan and took aim.

"There he is dead ahead!" Grinch shouted as Frost tried to line up a shot Volk's car turned to the left. Frost swore under his breath as Grinch followed after him.

"Frost take the shot!" Sandman shouted to Frost as he aimed down his ACOG sight and put the rear left tire of Volk's vehicle in his sights. Frost pulled the trigger and a single round smacked into the wheel of Volk's car sending it swerving from side to side. Grinch smashed into the back of Volk's car which caused it to smash into a wall and continue down a side street out of control. Then Grinch smashed into the side of the car causing it to start to roll further down the street. Just as Volk's vehicle was about to stop Grinch hit the car again causing it to smash into a wall. "Rabbit's vehicle is down! I repeat Rabbit's vehicle is down!" Sandman said as he jumped out of the rear of the car. Frost looked into the passenger compartment of the vehicle and his heart sank. There was no movement in the vehicle and a lot of blood was dripping over the hood of the car. Sandman went to the front of the car and pulled Volk out. "Fuck!" he shouted as he examined Volk's corpse. "Helios this is Metal 0-1 Volk is KIA I repeat Volk is KIA." Sandman said with clear frustration in his voice. Then Sanya spoke.

"If he is dead how are we going to find out where Makarov is?" She asked him. Sandman sighed and spoke.

"I don't know Sanya." He simply stated with clear disappointment in his voice. Then Eila spoke.

"I know how." She simply stated holding up the deck of Tarot cards she kept in her vest.

Paris France

Flying Officer Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen

15:10 local time

"I think I can use my magic to read Makarov's fortune that might be able to tell us where he is at." Eila explained to Sandman who nodded.

"Are you sure that will work Eila?" he asked Eila who nodded.

"Yes it is likely that it will work." Eila said as she sat down. She summoned her familiar and asked the cards about where Makarov was and the first card she saw was one titled "The Hotel" the Eila's consciousness was ripped from her body.

Unknown

Flying Officer Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen

Unknown

She stood in front of the Clock Tower once again. Its frame drenched in blood and the hour hand at eight o'clock. She then saw a city; one that she had seen before. Its architecture was rather familiar. She saw a building with the name "Hotel Lustig" she then saw the Russian flag flying proudly over the city and civilians being rounded up and lined against walls and shot. She then saw a column of black SUVs and BTRs moving towards the Hotel Lustig. Out of the middle SUV Makarov stepped out of the car and walked into the hotel. Eila followed him up the stairs down the hallway and into a large room where several men in business suits were waiting for him.

"Gentlemen our time will soon be at hand. We will soon have power unlike anything we have ever imagined at our finger tips and not only Russia but the entire world will be at within our grasp for the taking." He told them. The other men in the room grumbled in agreement. Makarov smiled like a crocodile. "Soon when our allies have been awoken from their eons of slumber no one will be able to stop us. Not the U.S. Military, not Task Force 141 and not even the witches will be able to stop us from obtaining our ultimate goals." He said with a smile on his face. Then Eila saw from out of the window a church. This church had a perfect vantage point on the hotel the perfect place for someone to snipe Makarov.

Then she was back to the Clock Tower more blood ran down its frame. And this time the clock had turned to nine o'clock. Then Eila regained Consciousness.

Paris France

Flying Officer Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen

15:14 local time

"I saw something. A hotel named "The Hotel Lustig" does that mean anything to you Sandman?" Eila asked the American commando who nodded his head.

"Yeah it does. There is a hotel in the capitol of the Czech Republic called that." Sandman told her.

"I saw Makarov meeting with his top advisors there I think that is where we can get him." Eila said to Sandman who nodded.

"Alright I guess then its Price's show I will contact him immediately." Sandman said to Eila as he pulled out his Satellite Phone.

Aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean; current destination Western Europe

2nd Lieutenant Lilia Kjellberg of VMFA-318 "Black Knives"

21:00 local time

"Alright listen up people here is the situation." Commander Jack Bartlett callsign Heartbreak One said to the assembled pilots of the USS Abraham Lincoln. He stood in front of a large projector with his RIO Nastasya V. Obertas standing beside him. Commander Bartlett points to the projector and a map of Europe appears showing the movements of the Russian army. "As of twenty four hours ago a state of war has existed between the United States and the Russian Federation. The reds have hit our boys in the EU hard with chemical weapons that we believe may be and advanced strain of NOVA 6. Most of our forward units garrisoning the EU were killed in the initial attack along with tens of millions of Europeans. The Russians then invaded Europe with naval, air and ground forces attack every major country simultaneously. Our orders are to move towards the coast of Spain and provide air support for allied forces on the ground. Now I know most of you haven't seen any combat experience yet but I have faith in your abilities to perform in the face of adversity." He told the assembled air group. He then switched slides with a list of squadrons and assigned duties. "VMFA-536 Bloody Nightmares I want your squadron to be loaded up with bombs and get ready to strike high value targets inside Europe; supply bases and FOBs." Captain Bartlett addressed the other squadron of Marine Corps F/A-18Cs. "I want VFA-153 Sky Knights and the VF-212 Banshees to be providing CAP for our Carrier." Jack addressed the squadron of F/A-18Fs and F-35Cs. "Next I want VFA-133 Raging Buster to be loaded up with AGM-65 Mavericks. You boys and girls will be running anti-armor missions as soon as we get to Europe." Captain Bartlett told the Navy Squadron of F/A-18Fs "My Squadron the Jolly Rogers will be providing mobile AWACS support and engaging any incoming bombers and missiles as far out as we can from the carrier. Everyone else for now you are on standby more orders will follow upon our arrival in Europe. Any questions?" Captain Bartlett asked the pilots. When no one raised their hands Jack spoke again. "Alright people, remember this will be America's first Alpha Strike mission since Desert Storm we are gambling everything on this attack so, give it your all and kick some Russkie ass out there. Alright you are dismissed." He simply stated and everyone got up to leave. Lilia looked to her three wingmen. First there was their commander Colonel Graham Rosenberg a 33 year old Marine Corps veteran with four tours in Afghanistan and one tour in Russia. During the Second Russian Civil War he scored one kill in a dogfight over Moscow. Then there was the XO Captain Daryl A. McManus she was a 29 year old Marine Corps pilot who had served two tours in Afghanistan before she was deployed stateside after the Yemen debacle five years ago. She was a tough woman with short red hair and a stern face. That being said she was very understanding and was rather reasonable most of the time. Then there was 1st Lieutenant Wilbert D. Collins who like Lilia had no combat experience. He was a 25 year old Marine with short brown hair, deep blue eyes and a firm toned build. Lilia thought he was stunningly handsome and he was very gentlemanly to boot. She shook her thoughts from gushing over him and started to follow her wingmen as the four of them headed towards the recreation room. Lilia and the other members of The Black Knives' Bravo Flight had been on training maneuvers in Nevada when the Russians had invaded; and during the invasion the other eight members of the Black Knives were shot down during the battle of New York. Lila and her unit were left out of the fight and had only recently been assigned to this carrier.

"So what did you think of the briefing?" Wilbert asked everyone. Lilia was the first to reply.

"Well at least we are going to get to see some action this time. We got left out of the fight when the reds hit our homeland and I want some payback." Lilia replied. Lilia was born in Sweden to a single mother. Her dad was apparently a member of a biker gang and had gotten himself killed in a gangland shoot out. Lilia's mother had always said that she had taken after her father and that Lilia had some Viking in her. Maybe that was why she was such a tomboy. She was always more into guns and military equipment then she was with Barbie and teddy bears. So it was only natural that when she turned twenty she left for the United States and joined the Marine Corps as a pilot.

"Wow slow down slugger; don't get to over eager I don't want you getting yourself killed." Daryl said to Lilia who nodded.

"I know ma'am it's just they killed our fellow countrymen and they wiped out the other members of the Black Knives… now it is just the four of us and I want to avenge our fallen comrades." Lilia told her. They continued walking towards the officer's recreation room as they talked.

"I understand but you just have to realize that if you get all worked up and angry you are just going to do something stupid and get yourself killed." Daryl told her. Lilia nodded.

"Right when you go into battle you have to have a level head and keep your mind focused on the mission all other things need to be pushed to the back of your mind." Wilbert told her. Lilia looked to Wilbert.

"I know but it's just hard… I mean I just thing about all of the things those red bastards have done to us and I…" Lilia trailed off. Then Graham nodded and spoke.

"It is alright you got a lot of fighting spirit in you Lilia. I would expect nothing less from the land of Vikings." Graham told her as he scratched his head. Lilia smirked at that comment. No one in her unit would let her forget that she was originally from Sweden the "land of Vikings" as Graham always called it; not that Lilia minded all that much she was proud of her national heritage and part of her still considered herself a Swede rather than an American. Wilbert then started to speak.

"Anyways so what kind of resistance do you think that we should expect when we get to the frontlines?" Wilbert asked the group.

"Probably a lot of Mig-29s and Su-27s the reds don't have any PAK-FAs online and they only have a few Super Flankers which will probably all be focused on Germany or the defense of the motherland so I think we will probably be evenly matched." Daryl said as they walked into the recreation room. Sitting by herself in the recreation room was a young looking Indian girl from Australia named Melvina Vidya Advani a US Navy Petty Officer and the Abraham Lincoln's Communications Officer and personal friend to Lilia and the other members of the Black Knives. Melvina looked to Lilia and the others and smiled.

"Hey everyone; how are you guys!" Melvina said excitedly to them as she got up and promptly latched onto Lilia with a hug. Lilia smiled and returned the hug before replying.

"We are alright just coming back from a briefing. How about you?" Lilia asked her friend who smiled at her.

"Oh I just was relieved from my post for the night: it was nothing but another slow day in the office for me." Melvina giggled. Melvina was a attractive 19 year old girl who had emigrated with her family to America a few years prior. She had a petite frame and coffee colored skin with beautiful sea green colored eyes and long black hair that currently had some traces of purple in it. Lilia noticed this and ran her fingers through Melvina's hair and examined it.

"Hey what is with the purple in your hair Melvina?" Lilia inquired to her friend who smirked and took a step back.

"Oh that… well a few days ago I felt like dying my hair purple so I did. Well needless to say when I started my shift Admiral Alston saw me and told me that if I didn't have the dye out of my hair by the next day he would shave my head himself. Damn near had to spend the entire night trying to wash the dye out of my hair." Melvina pouted. Daryl then rolled her eyes and spoke.

"Seriously Melvina, you dyed your hair again? You know one of these days if I catch you doing that shit on tour I am personally going to shave your head." Daryl said with mock anger to the younger girl who looked to the red haired Marine pilot with mock sadness in her eyes and went over and hugged Daryl tightly catching the Marine off guard.

"But Onee-chan Daryl that would be so mean… you wouldn't really do that to me would you?" Melvina asked with puppy dog eyes to Daryl who rolled her eyes before smiling.

"Alright, alright no I wouldn't but seriously one of these days you are going to piss off Admiral Alston enough that he will force you to shave your head. You should just count yourself luck that he lets you have your hair down past your shoulder blades." Daryl replied to the young girl who smiled and nodded. Melvina was a bright young girl, who graduated at the top of her class in basic and quickly rose to the rank of Petty Officer Second Class and was assigned as a Communications Officer. However that being said Melvina had a rebellious streak in her ten kilometers wide. She enjoyed pushing the boundaries of Military regulations and often was able to get away with it because of her young age and as Admiral Alston put it "She is the mascot of the Abraham Lincoln Battle Group". Then Graham spoke.

"Seriously ladies don't coddle her she is a member of the United States Navy and she should act like it." Graham said to Daryl and Lilia. Then Melvina pressed herself up against Daryl and shot Graham a look.

"Don't be a jerk I just want to have fun." Melvina said in mock anger. Graham put his hands on his hips and rolled his eyes.

"Then stop disrespecting a superior officer." Graham replied. Melvina then nodded her head.

"Ok I am sorry sir." She said to Graham who smiled back at her.

"It's alright Melvina." Graham said to Melvina who then let go of Daryl. A sudden wave of discomfort filled Lilia as she sat down at one of the chairs in the recreation room. It was Lilia's jumpsuit that was bothering her, for some reason her suit always seemed to be uncomfortable. She unzipped the top and peeled off the top part revealing her white undershirt underneath and then undid the pony tail tying her long blonde hair up down. Lilia noticed Melvina's eyes light up when she looked at Lilia's breasts which caused Lilia to blush a little bit but she ignored it.

"Alright then well I think that we should start to refresh our memories for Anti-SAM maneuvers. Now who wants to tell me the best way to avoid a short ranged SAM that is fired from a mobile launcher?" Graham asked the Black Knives. Lilia rose her hand and Graham nodded to her.

"Well the first thing you want to do is… Yaaugh!" Lilia yelped as Melvina went behind her and grabbed Lilia's breasts.

"Ah who cares about that? We can worry about that when we get there. Right now I am more concerned with how you got such big breasts Lilia… you drink a lot of milk products don't you?" Melvina said as she fondled Lilia's breasts. All Lilia could do was yelp in embarrassment.

"What, Melvina stop that!" Daryl said with scorn in her voice. Wilbert grabbed Melvina by the collar and pulled her off Lilia.

"Down girl." He simply stated. Lilia's face was bright red and she held her arms close to her breasts as she looked at the energetic young Australian girl who now had a pouty look on her face.

"Seriously Melvina you can't do crap like that… what do you think this is some kind of weird high school comedy?" Daryl looked to Lilia and spoke. "Lilia do you want to press charges against her?" Daryl asked Lilia who was still blushing. Lilia looked to the young girl and shook her head.

"No ma'am its ok she didn't have any ill intent." Lilia said to Captain McManus. Then she looked to Melvina. "Besides I don't mind if someone touches me there as long as they ask permission first." Lilia said to Melvina whose eyes lit up.

"Oh ok then… permission to touch Lilia?" Melvina's said as she made a groping gesture in the air while having a gleam in her eyes.

"Maybe in private." Lilia replied with a blush still on her face. With that comment Melvina practically jumped for joy and Daryl shrugged.

"Ok well we probably were just going to give her a slap on the wrist anyway considering the present situation." Daryl replied. Wilbert let go of Melvina and shook his finger at her.

"You be good ok?" Wilbert told the young girl who nodded enthusiastically. Melvina then looked to Lilia and spoke.

"Well I will see you next time we get shore leave Lilia; maybe then we can continue our little show and tell then." Melvina said with a mischievous grin. Lilia blushed then nodded; as hot blooded as Lilia could be the twenty three year old marine still had her weak moments. Melvina then looked to Daryl.

"Hey Captain I am going to play some arcade games you want to join me?" Melvina asked Daryl who shrugged.

"Sure why the hell not." Daryl replied as they headed off to play a video game leaving Wilbert and Lilia alone.

"So want to get a soda?" Wilbert asked Lilia who nodded. They got their soda and sat down at one of the tables. "So tell me how are you really taking this?" Wilbert asked Lilia as he opened up his soda. Lilia cocked her head.

"Huh what do you mean?" she asked in genuine confusion.

"I mean how are you taking the overall war. How do you feel about everything that has happened?" He asked her. Lilia peered down into her drink before speaking.

"Well to be honest I am pissed. First the Russians invade the country I am living in and am now a citizen of and then they invade my home country. I… still have friends who live in Stockholm and I don't even know if they are living or dead." Lilia confessed to Wilbert. Stockholm was one of the cities the Russians hit with their chemical attack and after the invasion started the Russians carpet bombed the city before sending in their tanks. The satellite reports from the frontlines were bad it is unknown if anyone in the city survived the attack. Lilia was just glad that her mom was living with her in America now otherwise she might have been amongst the dead. "How fucking cowardly are these Russians both times they invade sovereign nations they do so unprovoked and with no warning. Its beyond dishonorable how can they even call themselves soldiers if they are willing to do such a thing?" Lilia asked Wilbert who nodded.

"I know it is pretty cowardly. It just doesn't make sense why would they invade Europe they had nothing to do with the war we were fighting against them." Wilbert said to Lilia.

"I know I wish I could find the bastards responsible for this atrocity and put a bullet in them myself." Lilia said as she clenched her fists in rage. Wilbert looked at her for a moment before patting her on the shoulder.

"You never know you might soon get your chance." He said to her. "And no matter what just know that I got your six Lilia." He said to her with a smile. He really did have a great smile. Lilia blushed a little and smiled back.

"Thanks will you know that I got your back to no matter what." She replied. Lilia didn't know it at the time but those words were about to be put to the test.