Part II: Chapter 5
The sun baked through the windows of Baghdad International Airport. People shouted words and aerobic. Vendors lines the walls attempting to sell their goods. A baby could be heard crying in the distance somewhere. Overall, it was usual sounds one would hear at the airport. Nothing out of the ordinary. Iraqi soldiers carrying AK-47s milled around the airport as security. Bandit, Valkyrie, Ela, Thermite and Thatcher weaved through the masses of people keeping their heads low to prevent attracting any attention to themselves. Valkyrie wore black pants with a long blue jacket. She also wore her signature shemagh around her head like a head dress. Strands of her blonde hair peaked out from the front. Ela wore black pants as well with a tan shirt. She also wore a tan shemagh around her head like Valkyrie. Bandit wore almost the exact same clothes he normally wears on missions. He wore black sneakers with his semi ripped jeans and a grey hoodie under his black and yellow striped jacket but there were no GSG 9 patches or insignia on it like there normally was. His beard was long and dirty blonde colored. His hair shaggy. He wore black aviators to partially hide his face. Thermite wore tan khaki pants with a red button down and tan Timberland boots. He, like the rest of the men in the group had a long beard and wore sunglasses. Thatcher was dressed similarly to Thermite, but he wore jeans instead of khakis, black boots, and a black shirt. The urban areas of Iraq have become very westernized over the years. The Iraqi citizens in the city dressed somewhat like how Americans and Europeans dress except the clothes weren't as nice and flashy. As the operators would venture further and further into the Iraqi backcountry, the more traditional dress will start to be seen. They all carried luggage carrying the equipment they would need. The operators stopped in the large open lobby at the front of the airport scanning their surroundings.
"Any sign of Vanguard?" Thermite asked softly as he took a seat on a nearby bench.
"Nein." Bandit said leaning against a wall by Thermite.
Valkyrie took a seat next Thermite.
"Intelligence said Vanguard would know all of our movements in the airport and he'd find us." Valkyries said also in a low voice.
"I say we go outside. Maybe he's out there." Ela said motioning to the front doors.
"Yeah I agree with the lady." Thatcher said squinting his eyes to see what was outside.
"Alright let's do it then." Thermite said getting up from his chair and began to make his way toward the door.
The operators walked outside to a large pick up and drop off area. Buses and cars streamed past the front of building picking up and dropping varieties of people. The air felt hot and smelt foul. The operators began to walk through the crowd sticking together. They took glances at faces in hopes finding Vanguard even though they had no idea what he or she looked like. They continue walking blindly down the sidewalk toward the end which turned to road leading toward the roadway exit of the airport.
"Think Vanguard will be a no show?" Valkyrie asked.
"No." Bandit said and abruptly stopped walking. "He's here. We're being watched. I can feel it." He turned to look for Ela who had been straggling behind the group.
Ela distanced herself from her team to take in the environment. She tried to take Timur's advice and find the beauty in a place she didn't want to be. She suddenly felt an arm wrap around her from behind. Before she could react, she was being hugged by what looked like an Iraqi man. He wore black aviators, a black leather jacket with a white shirt underneath, and blue jeans. His hair was long and slicked back and his beard was well trimmed. He laughed and smiled as he hugged her. Ela tried to pull away, but he wouldn't let go.
She suddenly felt something cold point into her back.
"Don't move." The man said in Arabic.
Ela put on the fakest smile she could. All the civilians were completely oblivious to the man grappling her. It probably looked like a friendly hug from behind by a boyfriend or something.
"Is that a pistol poking my waist or are you just happy to see me?" Ela said in Arabic.
Ela heard the man draw back on the pistol. The man smiled an evil smile.
"Its dangerous for a woman to walk alone in these parts." He said still in Arabic.
Suddenly the man felt an iron grip on his shoulder. The man began to wince in pain.
"Think very carefully about your next move mate." Thatcher said from behind the man strengthening his grip on the man's boney shoulder. Ela was beginning to figure out why Six sent the old man as their muscle.
Bandit walked casually up to Ela and the man flanked by Thermite and Valkyrie to either side of him.
"Vanguard is this how you welcome your guests?" Bandit said sternly.
Valkyrie and Thermite exchanged glances with each other.
Is this really Vanguard? The thought to themselves.
"So, you're the band of misfits that are supposed to be working with me?" He said in perfect English still wincing in pain from Thatcher's grip.
"I wouldn't say misfits but yes." Bandit shrugged.
Vanguard loosened his grip on Ela. Thatcher did the same to Vanguard.
"Follow me then." He said. He looked around to make sure the coast was clear and proceeded to walk.
Vanguard turned and began to walk toward a parking lot near the airport. He continued to keep a tight grip on Ela. The rest of the operators followed his lead. They walked to blacked out mini van sitting in the middle of the parking lot.
"Get in." He said unlocking the door to the van and releasing Ela.
The operators loaded their gear and piled into the car. Vanguard started to engine and before the operators knew it they were on the open road. The operators sat in silence while Vanguard drove. They had no idea where they were going. Thermite was the first to break the silence.
"You mind telling me what that was all about Vanguard?"
"Insurances."
"What do you mean insurances?" Ela chimed in.
"I needed to make sure you were who you said you were."
"You think we were phonies or something?" Thermite asked.
"Yes. Something like that. The White Mask have undercover operatives who scout out areas to plan attacks. I think I might have compromised myself in one of my missions a few weeks ago but I'm not completely sure. I thought you guys were disguised White Masks looking for me, so I couldn't take any chances."
Thermite gazed out the window pondering the shitty situation they just got thrown into.
"Where are we going?" Valkyrie asked.
"Ramadi."
Valkyrie slumped back in her scene with a sigh. She was all too familiar with Ramadi. She looked over to Ela who was sitting next to her with a grimacing look.
"Why Ramadi?" Valkyrie continued even though she really didn't want to.
"It's one of the few hot beds in country. The United States and the Islamic State with the help of the White Mask have been duking it out in Ramadi for a while now. If we want to find information on the White Masks and how they operate then its best, we start there."
"Sounds good to me." Valkyrie said leaning her head against the window to fall asleep.
Ela sat with her old sketchbook she used from Operation Orange Sky. She flipped to a blank page and began to take in the desert stretched out in front of her. She looked over to Valkyrie who was almost asleep. She began to sketch her sleepy friend with the desert stretched out behind her.
Bandit sat in silence while Thermite and Thatcher made small talk with Vanguard until they arrived at city. It was dusk and city activity was mellow. They could hear the Muslim call to prayer being played from loud speakers around the city. The sound woke up Valkyrie in a cold sweat. The music haunted her mind.
"Jeez Valk relax its just music." Ela said placing a hand on her shoulder trying to calm her down.
"Sorry." She said rubbing her eyes.
"Jesus Christ…" Thatcher said staring out the window at the war-torn city.
Buildings laid in ruins. Few were left standing. Trash and craters littered the streets. The operators thought they saw a body laying in an alley way. The city had a nauseating stench of garbage and death. The hot air tasted sour. US Army soldiers patrolled down some of the streets heavily armed. They heard a Blackhawk helicopter fly overhead.
"As you can see, things are pretty shitty here. We're almost at the safehouse." Vanguard stated as they slowly maneuvered through the streets of the city.
"What's the situation on US activity?" Asked Bandit.
"US military patrol these streets unwelcomed. Army, marines, you know how it is. They think they have a grip on the city, but they are far from it. Most firefights with them are just acts of guerilla warfare and it's starting to wear down on them. I heard that special forces are being deployed to this area to help with holding the city."
Special forces? Like Navy SEALs? Rangers? Valkyrie pondered her thoughts. Last thing she wanted to do was face her old unit in combat. They were dangerous people and this time they weren't on their side.
The van pulled up to an old brick house surrounded by larger buildings. Some of the windows were boarded up. There was graffiti on one side of the house. The smell of rotting trash was a little bit weaker. Dust blew around the streets. They could hear dogs barking from somewhere in the distance. Night was beginning to fall.
"Welcome to the 5 Seasons." Vanguard said placing the van in park.
The operators piled out of the van with their gear and stared at their new home.
"Not bad. I was expecting worse." Thermite said before heading inside.
The others exchanged looks with each other before going inside. The house was completely run down on the inside. There were holes in some of the floorboards. The paint on the walls was peeling and cobwebs were in some of the corners. There was living room with old sofas, adjacent to it appeared to be a kitchen and a big table. The table was full of maps, photographs, computer, and anything Vanguard was using to carry out his mission. In the corner was a staircase that lead to the upstairs. The upstairs had 2 bedrooms and a bathroom. The quarters were tight, but they didn't have much of a choice for living. The operators began to unpack all their gear and settle in while fighting the jet lag. The girls went to the two rooms upstairs. The men would crash downstairs. After a few hours of unpacking the operators settled in acquainting themselves with the area and tried to get some sleep. Their work would begin in the morning.