"Just Like Old Times":
"I'll wait for you at the exfil point," Nikolai said as Price and Soap materialized from the desert sand. "Three hours."
"Don't bother," Price replied. "This was a one-way flight, mate."
"Then good luck, my friend," Nikolai said before switching to Russian. "Thank God."
Nikolai's plane was quickly lost in the blowing sands.
After a few seconds, Nikolai turned on the autopilot and leaned back in his seat, running a hand down his face. Price and Soap are on a suicide mission. He leaned forward and gripped the flight controls. I was never meant for that world. I'm a pilot and a spy, not a soldier. Not anymore.
Nikolai kept the com on, unwilling to abandon Price and Soap completely. He closed his eyes and listened to the communications intercepted from Shepherd's Shadow Company.
Nikolai listened as Price and Soap began to fight their way through enemy territory.
"Negative," a soldier eventually stated. "Gold Eagle wants those charges hot in less than three mikes. Get it done. Out."
Nikolai froze.
Shepherd's voice came over the com less than thirty seconds later. "All units be advised, this is Gold Eagle. The site has been compromised. I'm executing directive one-one-six-bravo. If you're still inside, your service will be honored. Shepherd out."
Damnit. Nikolai shut off the autopilot and turned the plane around.
Seconds later, Nikolai saw explosions in the distance from miles away.
Nikolai kept an eye on the radar. The explosion must have been bad. Nobody's shooting at me.
Nikolai flew toward a small landing strip at the edge of the base. I won't be able to extract them in this plane.
As he flew overheard Nikolai opened the ramp and grabbed an emergency parachute. After taking a deep breath, he jumped out. The plane crashed into the mountain behind him seconds later.
Nikolai landed close to a small, three-man helicopter. It was perched on a landing platform overlooking the desert that lay stories below.
Nikolai shrugged off the parachute and ran forward.
The pilot turned as Nikolai yanked the helicopter's door open. Nikolai punched the pilot in the nose before hauling him out and throwing him over the cliff.
Nikolai jumped in and started up the chopper.