Don't own Chuck
Chuck had his men opened up with small arms fire as Nikolai's infantry began their move. Then he ordered them to fall back. Emin was elated inside his T-80 yelling over the radio that they should proceed at full speed to take the prize. However, his Tank commander a seasoned veteran from the Afghan and the Chechen wars wasn't so sure and was trying to caution Emin against being overly careless but he wasn't paying him any attention.
"Listen they should've hit us harder. Where's their artillery, heavy guns or armor? They should've rained hell on us by now. Emin, I don't like this we're walking into a trap."
"When do you call me by my first name? Your job is to run this tank. Nikolai put me in charge I'm the boss on this mission and I say move out. Keep your vehicles in a battle line. Cover the men as they advance those are my orders follow them or you can get out and walk home."
"Yes sir, guys you heard the boss let's head out." The Tank Commander wasn't happy and wondered why Nikolai put this idiot in charge. Then all of a sudden they lost two of their BTR. They went up like fireballs with debris taking out the nearby infantry troops.
"Christ, what was that," said Emin as the tank shook. The two BTRs became burning hulks consumed in flames dropping behind them as they continued their march forward.
"Will you listen now," said the Commander but Emin still wasn't hearing him.
"This is your fault for being hesitant. If you hadn't paused back there we'd have rolled over them and they wouldn't have been able to fight back." The Commander blocked out Emin's tantrum and radioed the other two T-80s.
"Red team leader, Blue team leader let's light up the road ahead," radioed the Tank commander as they began pounding what seemed to be Borz defensive line with their 125 cannons. Chuck had no idea how many rounds they had but he wanted them to waste most of them before they got to tent city.
Chuck noticed the command tank was sluggish like its commander was indecisive so he had to get them to move. He had two RPGs planted for him before he sent the rest of his men back. He shouldered the one then flashed. In his head he saw angle and distance. There was little he could do to the T-80s but the BTRs had only light armor. He grabbed a Mukha RPG-18 a short-range, disposable, light weight anti-tank rocket launcher. 'Mukha' translates to fly but this fly had a bite. Chuck lite up the two BTRs and ran as fast as he could across the flag stones. He crossed the open country fast.
"Casey," radioed Chuck, "I think I've got their attention." He ran as quickly as he could as the tanks concentrated fire where he was. Chuck's men laid cover fire to pin down the infantry. As he ran by he yanked on the zip ties the machineguns came alive spraying bullets about knee high behind him. The infantry commanders panicked calling the tanks for support fire to take out the machinegun nests. Until then they had to stop.
"Why have you stopped giving cover fire? We haven't taken the camp yet and our people are still taking fire. You stop when I tell you to stop."
"We don't have that much ammunition for the cannons left. Tell the infantry commanders they're going to have to do the job they're paid for. No one ever said this was going to be a walk in the woods or would you like us to run out of ammo first?"
"I don't know but…" Emin never finished as the tank to their right began to smoke then the crew abandoned before it erupted in a fireball then exploded. "What the hell just happened?"
"Jesus we've got a sniper somewhere with Raufoss rounds," said the Tank Commander as he radioed quickly to the other tank but as he was on the radio it did the same thing. "Halt," yelled the commander as the tank came to a standstill.
"Why are we stopping? What's going on and what happened to our other two tanks? Will someone please tell me what's going on I'm in charge."
"If you don't shut up you're going to in charge of getting us killed. How do you think Nikolai got these tanks? The Russian crews abandoned them in the war. We fought in T-80s in Afghanistan when we were in the Russian army so we knew their weakness and so does someone out there.
"What are you talking about weakness," said Emin thinking maybe he chose the wrong vehicle to be to run his command from.
We took a lot of the T-80s out of Grozny before they were pulled for the T-90s. These are gas turbine which means they run on a fuel mix based on gasoline. Guess where the armor is the thinnest on us. A Raufoss round is an armor piercing explosive round. So for your next question," said the Commander as he scanned the ridge above them. "Guess what happens when someone fires a round into your gas tank?"
"Chuck," radioed Casey, "I got two of your T-80s. They show me their butt and I kicked it but the other one has stopped. That guy is good."
"Maybe I ought to go over and say hi," said Chuck as he tapped the shoulder of one of his men. "Can you drop me a few smoke grenades around that tank?"
"Yes sir," said the man as he launched a few smoke grenades.
"Thanks, now drop back with the other men," said Chuck as the man gave him a look. "Don't worry I've got this. Go back with the other men."
The smoke did the job; causing confusion among Nikolai's men. Chuck grabbed a couple axe handles, flashed, then made his way through the line. Knowing where the stones and planks where he was able to run through bashing and beating his way across slashing a hole through the enemies line until he was standing in front of the tank. Chuck paused then waved before he ran off.
"Kill him, kill him now," yelled Emin. "That's the Kolonel. That's the one Nikolai wants dead. Don't let him escape or you'll all answer. Shoot, shoot!" The gunners opened up but Chuck out ran them as they mowed down their own men.
"Hold your fire, hold fire," yelled the Tank Commander. "You idiots you're killing our own people. Can't you see that's what he wants?"
"Out of the tank," yelled Emin as he pulled a gun. "You've interfered for the last time. Get out or I'll kill you on the spot. Driver move take us around I want that man now I won't give you the choice."
"The tank is yours," said the Commander as he started to get out but as he did he grabbed Emin's weapon taking it from him. "I'll go but my men come with me."
"I'm going to have you killed for this. Nikolai's going to make you pay for this. You can't do this I don't know how to drive a tank.
"And you don't know how to lead either," said the Commander as he climbed out with his men leaving Emin alone.
Chuck saw the tank crew abandon the tank then he got an idea.
"Casey, cover me," radioed Chuck as he ran over jumped on the tank then dropped inside. Emin crouched in a corner then charged but Chuck side stepped him then banged his head off of one of the steel supports. His head made a metallic ping then he was out cold. Chuck looked at the 125 mm then flashed he loaded a round then turned the turret around and fired at the BTR hitting just ahead but close enough to disable it without hurting the occupants.
"Chuck, why are you still playing nice? They aren't," screamed Casey in the radio as he opened up on the last of the BTRs. Already the forward momentum was gone Chuck had taken out the steam now they were stopped.
"Borz," radioed Casey. "Unleash hell."
Suddenly shelling started rounds landed around the tank but Chuck was protected inside. He started it up then took off moving towards the gorge's entrance. Driving as fast as he could rounds dropped around him finally he made it to the line. There Chuck found Borz waiting.
"Call off the shelling it's over," yelled Chuck over the noise of the explosions behind him. "They'll surrender if you give them an opportunity. Borz it's over. There's no fight left in them."
"But there is in us. You're right this ends today and we'll make sure it's over because they're all be dead. Have you seen Emin?" Chuck was about to lie but he saw the men who bailed out of the tank being lead over to be executed.
"Hold up, I've got a deal for you. You give me those men and I'll tell you where Emin is." Chuck realized what he was doing. He didn't like it but in the long run the guys in the tank tried to stop the killing Emin hadn't. "They were leaving trying to stop the killing so really you can't put them in the same boat as everyone else."
"Doesn't seem very fair three for one," said Borz as he looked over at his men who were shaking their head. "I have to save face you see."
"But Emin's the one you want. Did they do anything that could match what he did to you, to your daughter," said Chuck playing on Borz anger. "They'll promise to leave here and you'll never see or hear of them again. Remember Deshi."
"You're right I want him," said Borz as he paused for a few minutes thinking. "Okay, let those guys go," yelled Borz. His men reluctantly cut the tank crew loose. "Now I want Emin. And Kolonel I don't think I need your help anymore."
"He's in here," said Chuck as the crew ran back and climbed on board. The same crew shoved Emin out. The last Chuck saw of Emin was when he landed face first in the mud in front of Borz. Chuck ducked down inside to talk to his crew.
"Thanks Kolonel, you saved our lives," said the Tank Commander as his men took up their positions. They thought they were about to the buy the farm but now things were looking up or they thought. "Where do we go?"
"I'm going to take this back to its owner and you might be thanking me a little bit too soon. But if you don't want to come along you're more than welcome to get out." He had no takers so then he popped his head out. "Borz, you can follow us once you've had enough bloodletting."
"I can't expect you to understand. You're not one of us," said Borz trying to justify the massacre. "But my people need this to move on."
"No this isn't moving on it's moving backwards and you're right I can't understand and no I'm not one of you but maybe that's a good thing at least for me that is."
With that Chuck drove out of the gorge behind him the valley looked like it was fire. He could still hear the whistling sound of rounds flying through the air followed by explosions. If he was ever asked if he believed in hell he'd have to say he'd already a glimpse of it in a nameless gorge in the Caucasus Mountains.
"John, meet me at the mouth of the gorge I have a plan you're probably not going to like."
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This was Admiral Greene's, now Senator Greene's her first day on Capitol Hill. Her chief of staff showed her around her offices and introduced her to everyone who was on the in. She was introduced to the other members of her party and a senior member invited her over to a cocktail party where she'd get to meet some of the real powers players in Washington.
"Thank you gentlemen I'd love to come over," she said eager to show that she could swim in the tank too.
"Call me John please," said the Senator. "There's no need in being so formal. We're all colleagues here on Capitol Hill."
"What time would you like me to show up?" said Greene beside herself thinking she was finally on her way. But as he was about to tell her that he'd send a car her phone rang.
"You should really leave that with your Chief of Staff. That's what he gets paid for to shield you from being bothered when you shouldn't be. Carrying that around is just unprofessional and it can be used to track your whereabouts when you don't want to be tracked. Not to mention the NSA has a nasty habit of listening in. Come to think about it maybe this cocktail party is too soon. Let's let you get acclimatized first."
"No, it's okay… This is my old office at the JCS but I'm free so there's no problem… really there's no problem," said Greene as her phone kept ringing persistently.
"Then you should answer it and I just remembered I'm not free but I'll have my office get in touch with yours soon I promise," said the man as he quickly ran away. She blew that one, she thought to herself as she answered. "I hope this is important because you just screwed up an important meeting I was having. … What? Let me put in my earpiece. Okay what are you saying Vyacheslav is missing? When did this happen?"
"I found out from our contact in the Russian Embassy that he was recalled two days ago. I expect he didn't call you because he didn't want you to know he was being called for obvious reasons."
"Crap where's he now? Do we know and more importantly can we get at him?" said the Admiral as she smiled as her Chief of Staff walked in. "This is important. What's going on?"
"I just wanted to tell you not to worry about that incident. I'm working now with the senator's staff to smooth it over. It might take a day or two but the man does this crap all the time. It's his way of making everyone understand he's the man."
"Good handle it for me," said the Admiral as she waited for her Chief of Staff to leave and close the door after him. "So he thinks he's the man well he hasn't met the woman."
"Admiral," said a voice in her ear. "Admiral, can you hear me? Admiral, what do you want me to do?"
"What? Oh yes, find him, find Vyacheslav begin by looking in Moscow. The first place to start with would be Lubyanka square."
"There's something else you need to know. Agent Montgomery was seen in the Moscow airport and later he was seen going into the FSB headquarters in Lubyanka."
"Well there's your answer. That's where your Russian diplomat's at. Just to be clear Agent Montgomery has served his country with honor. Now it's time for him to retire from active duty."
"Roger that I'll get the word out."
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Vyacheslav was brought out of a safe house near Sokolniki then driven around the third ring road to Olimpiyskiy prospect turning on teatralnyy into Lubyanka square. He was met outside by Stefan who whisked him off the street then led up stairs As Vyacheslav crossed the lobby with its beautiful parquet floors and pale green walls Stefan kept a wary look out for anyone approaching that looked suspicious. He cleared people out of the way holding his service weapon down by his side. Anatoly waited at the elevator holding it open so they wouldn't have to wait. Then when they arrived at their floor Anatoly stepped out of the elevator first before they brought Vyacheslav to Igor's office.
"Sit please," said Igor as he motioned of him to take a seat. "I'm sure you're wondering why you were recalled to Moscow and all this security."
"Yes, Director," said Vyacheslav as he looked around the room. He recognized almost everyone except the one man in the corner. "Is something wrong? Am I in danger?"
"Do you think something is wrong? Do you feel you're in danger?" said Igor as he began playing cat and mouse baiting the diplomat. "If you were, could you guess why?"
"I don't know I didn't do anything but I…well I assume… You're a busy man so if I'm here and there's all these guards then something must've happened? If no why am I here?"
"Maybe I just wanted to talk to you about your conversation with the new American Director. I understand you shook him up a little and he went to his president."
"I relayed your message like you told me," said Vyacheslav as he looked around the room. "I don't know maybe he took it the wrong way. Did he say something? He was actually rude leaving before we finished eating."
"I'm sure he was. Don't worry about it you're free to go," said Igor as he dismissed him. "Have a good day and we'll make sure the word gets known in the SVR that you were completely cooperative."
"Wait a minute there's no need in report to my superiors that I was completely cooperative. I don't think that's necessary," said Vyacheslav thinking if the word got back to Hydra that he was cooperative they'd think he sold them out and it would mean a death sentence.
"Why not? You have been cooperative, haven't you? I just think people who do a good job ought to get the credit they deserve."
"No really I don't deserve it… Okay maybe I might have told the American director that we'd call a vote in the United Nations if the chip was used any more on Russian soil."
"Why would you say something like that? That wasn't what I told you to say," said Igor keeping the hammer back.
"I don't know. I think I just wanted to put the Americans in their place. I'm sorry I guess I got angry at him with his condescending attitude."
"I've met him and I agree he'd got a personality that takes some getting used to and he's not a very good listener like me."
"I agree director you are a much better listener. I was telling my friends just the other day that you were the ideal listener."
"Your friends, you say would those be in the SVR or in Hydra," said the Director as he pulled the carpet out from under Vyacheslav.
"Hydra? I don't know any hydra I know a fire hydrant but that's about it," said Vyacheslav as he looked around the room but everyone was staring at him.
"My dear Vyacheslav you said you told the American director 'if the chip was used any more on Russian soil.' Who told you the weapon was a chip? We were careful not to let that information out. The only people who know is Hydra and the Americans along with a select group of other people. So I ask you, how do you know the weapon is a chip?" Igor had given Vyacheslav enough rope and he had hung himself with it.
"I'd prefer not to," said Vyacheslav as he sat back in his chair realizing it was all over.
"I'm sure you would but you see Petro is here to take you downstairs to help you over that," said Igor as Stefan and Anatoly searched him taking his phone and weapon along with his personnel effects. "Petro take him away and don't go easy."
Petro led everyone out into the hall and Igor was about to offer Roan something to drink when they heard a commotion in the hall. When they got there Vyacheslav was dead with Petro, Stefan and Anatoly standing over the top of him.
"Crap what happened," asked Igor. He was not happy. This had been a part of Chuck's plan to smoke out Hydra infiltrators but they were hoping to get intel from them on their operations.
"He had a cyanide capsule hidden in one of his back teeth. He bit into it I guess… and well he's dead," said Anatoly. "What do we do now?"
"There's not a lot we can do. Run his phone and personals through our tech people. Let's see if we can't find something. Do a background investigation; check his bank accounts and the whole nine yards, leave no stone unturned."
"What was going on in there? It was as if you were sure he was working for Hydra before he even walked into your office."
"In a certain way I was. Okay I guess I can tell you now. I might've been contacted by Chuck the evening that he disappeared in Kotor. He and I came up with his cover story and then we talked how to smoke out some high ranking Hydra moles. He apologized for thinking we had anything to do with the hit on him and his wife and he thought his agency had moles that were feeding information back to Hydra. He also thought we had some too and as you can see he was right."
"So you came up with all this to do what? Get the people back in that region to the negotiating table and what Chuck goes after the people who put a hit out on Sarah and him?"
"And his daughter. I know what you're thinking what a great SOB. And you'd be right but our man here is proof of the pudding."
"Is in the eating," said Anatoly everyone looked at him strangely. "The full saying goes 'the proof of the pudding is in the eating."
"Sirs," yelled Igor's secretary as he came out into the corridor then made a disgusted face seeing Vyacheslav lying there. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but we just got word, Borz's forces decimated Nikolai's."
"Good but no word of Chuck?" asked Igor. The man shook his head. "Well he'll report in soon I'm sure. Roan in the meantime we've got you a room in the hotel Nikol'skay Kempiniski in the square."
"I appreciate it I'll get a little sleep there tonight but I need to be off in the morning. I need to brief my Director as soon as possible before he thinks I've defected."
"And we can't have that," said Igor as they laughed.
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"Agent Montgomery is staying in the hotel Nikol'skay Kempiniski. I want this to be not only his last night in Moscow but his last night in this world."
"Roger, I'll engage the target and terminate with extreme prejudice."