Part 2 Chapter 6
Meghan's alarm sounded at 4:30am. She silenced it and rubbed her eyes.
Day 1 in paradise. She told herself.
She untangled herself from her sleeping bag and jumped into her morning routine. She looked at herself in a small shattered mirror. Dark circles were under her eyes. Once Meghan felt she looked somewhat presentable she went downstairs to eat. She shuffled past Jordan, Mike, Dominic, and Vanguard who were awake and eating their MREs.
"Mornin'" she said as she rifled through her rucksack for an MRE. There was no sign of Ela. She assumed she was still sleeping. She felt a box in her rucksack and pulled it out. The box read "oatmeal." She groaned at her bland breakfast choice and made herself a cup of coffee.
"Excuse me, ummm, …" Vanguard snapped his fingers trying to get Meghan's attention. Clearly he'd forgotten her name already.
Valkyrie glanced up at the CIA agent.
"Meghan…" She said completing his sentence.
"Yes! Meghan! Where is your other teammate?" Vanguard asked politely.
"Probably still asleep." Valkyrie said with grogginess still in her voice. She didn't get a good night's sleep.
"Could you be a dear and wake her up? I'd like to get the ball rolling on our briefing." He asked politely.
"Yeah, yeah I got her." She went upstairs and walked into Ela's room. Just as Meghan predicted Ela was bundled up in her sleeping bag past out cold.
"Liz wake up. We have a briefing." Meghan said shaking her.
"One more hour." She muffled and rolled over ignoring her order.
"Don't make me drag your ass out of bed." Meghan said losing her patience. She never would have thought one of the most lethal defensive operators of Rainbow Six could act like such a child.
"Bet." She said testing the little patience her friend had left.
That was all it took. Meghan grabbed a fist full of Ela's sleeping bag and dragged her out of her room down the stairs. Ela was one of the lighter operators on the team, so it took her no effort at all to drag her. Ela cursed her out in Polish as her body clunked down each step. She placed Ela down in a heap in front of the guys. Vanguard stared at Meghan wide eyed. Dominic and Jordan almost choked on their food from laughing so hard.
"I see day 1 of our mission is going rather smoothly" Mike said face palming.
"Mike are those two always like this?" Vanguard asked concerned.
"Eh sometimes. More Elizabetha than Meghan."
"Wonderful. Now that everyone is here, let's begin."
After some quick introductions of each other, the briefing consisted of Vanguard's experience in country so far, and the intel he's collected and what he knew so far about the White Mask. Vanguard went by the name of Miles Almasi. He was born in Baghdad and moved to the United States. Miles also discussed different aspects of Ramadi like the geography, streets, no go zones, U.S. military strongholds, tactics, patrol patterns, operator roles, and the hot beds for enemy activity.
"I've heard through the grape vine that there's a chance for a possible attack on the town market. It's a major social hub for the city that keeps everyone interconnected with each other. I'm not sure when this attack will be carried, but apparently it's soon." He said with a serious vibe.
The operators took notes as he spoke.
"Where did you receive this intel from?" Jordan asked.
"A bar in Baghdad. Members from the IS love to go to it. The IS and the White Mask have been focusing more and more of their efforts on Ramadi which is why I relocated here. This attack on the market is apparently going to be pretty big."
"Is the source reliable?" Ela asked.
"Yes."
"So, what does this attack on the town market have to do with us?" Mike asked.
"We try capturing one of the IS members during the attack. Interrogate him for information. Find out who the White Mask is overseeing in the Ramadi sector. Interrogate the White Mask. Work our way up the food chain to the head honcho."
"Okay. But we have no idea when they're carrying out the attack. That's if there even is an attack. I don't think your sources are as reliable as you think." Dominic said.
"That's why we'll recon the market. Keep an eye out. The attack we'll carried out in the day time. They need to conduct their attacks during the day because that's when there's the most amount of town activity. They try to send a message with each attack."
"If you can take me to the market I can set up my Black Eye cameras in various locations around the market. It'll be easier to keep tabs on the area." Valkyrie said handing him one of her Black Eye cameras.
"Jordan and I can scout the area for an overwatch position." Mike chimed in.
"Elizabetha and I can do patrol the market once Valkyrie's cameras are in position." Dominic said.
"Alright, then its decided. Let's get to work. Jordan and Mike, I'm sure there's rooftop access down the block. You should be able to walk along the rooftops all the way to the market." Miles said.
"Then that's what we'll do." Jordan said as he rose to get his gear assembled.
"Everyone load up. We're going for a walk. Meeting adjourned." Dominic said.
Meghan changed into her blue t shirt, OCP pants, and OCP vest. She tied her shemagh around her head like a hijab and put her Oakley sunglasses on top of her head. She reached into her rucksack and unfolded her MPX submachine gun. She inspected her weapon and filled her magazines. She took her Desert Eagle pistol and put it in her thigh holster. Meghan added her final touch to her look. She took black eye paint and spread it just below her eyes to protect them from the sunlight like a baseball player would. She took a robe that an Iraqi woman would typically wear and wore it over top her gear. Her folded MPX swung from her vest.
Miles came out in tan military pants, an olive drab shirt with a tan tactical vest, tan boots, and sunglasses. He carried a folded up FMG 9 like he was carrying a brief case and a Sig Sauer pistol on his hip. He also wore traditional robes over his gear.
Jordan wore light blue tactical pants, tan work boots, a grey jacket, a green shemagh around his neck, black baseball hat, black tactical vest and sunglasses. His red bag full breaching equipment swung loosely around his shoulder. He loaded a fresh magazine into his suppressed 5.56 carbine.
Mike wore black pants, a black jacket with the sleeves rolled up, black tactical vest, black boots, and his knife on his left wrist. He carried his suppressed L86 with him.
"I'll watch your camera feeds from my computer here. Keep in contact through comms." Ela said setting up her equipment.
"Roger that." Valkyrie said.
All the operators put ear pieces you'd see the secret service wear into one of their ears.
"See you when you get back." Dominic said with a wave.
Jordan, Mike, Meghan, and Miles walked out the front door. It was still early in the morning so there wasn't much activity in the streets. A stray dog roamed freely in the streets. A light breeze blew past their building.
Meaghan put the lower part of her shemagh over her mouth and nose concealing the lower half of her face. She took Mile's arm to pretend that they were together. Mike and Jordan hustled down an alley way staying out of sight looking for the rooftop access that Miles had informed them of. Since Mike and Jordan were only providing Overwatch for the operators there was no need for them to wear disguises. They'd out of sight for the entirety of the mission. They found a fire escape down the block that led them to the rooftops. A beautiful voice came onto the town intercom beginning the Muslim call to prayer.
"Mic check 1, 2, 3. All operators check in." Dominic's voice said in their ears.
"Thatcher checking in."
"Thermite checking in."
"Valkyrie checking in."
"Vanguard checking in."
"Ela checking in."
"Comms check confirmed. Green light on objective proceed as planned. Bandit out."
Vanguard and Valkyrie continued down the streets toward the market. They wanted to get there before the shops opened. Dogs barked from alley ways. Voices could be heard from the insides of houses as citizens started with their mornings. The operators started to pick up their pace toward the market. The market was a wide-open area near the center of town surrounded by tall buildings. It was filled with a maze of stands for vendors. It looked like a giant flea market.
"Guardian 2, this is Recon 1 checking in. We've reached the market 1.5 kilos from station beginning our recon, break." Valkyrie whispered into her mic.
"Copy your information Recon 1. We should be at the market in 1 mike from Northeast 3 division up. Proceed with your mission." Thatcher responded.
Valkyries and Vanguard scouted the maze of vendor stands for a few minutes. People were starting to enter to set up their shops for the day, so they'd have to work quickly and quietly.
"I have 3 cameras. I was figuring we put one on the northside, one on the south side and one on that flag pole in the middle of the market." Valkyrie said pointing with her eyes at a flag pole a few meters in front of them that stood in the center of the market.
"Sounds good to me." Vanguard said.
Valkyrie reached into her robe and pulled out a Black Eye camera and primed it. The camera glowed blue and swiveled around wildly inside of its shell.
"Ela from Valkyrie."
"Send your traffic Valk." Ela responded.
"Preparing camera feed 1. Pick up my connection. Call contact."
Valkyrie heard typing on a computer through her ear piece.
"Contact." Ela said.
Valkyrie and Vanguard looked around to make sure no one was looking. People were starting to pile through the front gates to set up their stands. She looked at the top of the flag pole.
Vanguard looked at her with doubt.
"You really think you can hit the top of that…"
"Shut up and let me concentrate." Valkyrie hissed at him.
"k."
Valkyrie winded up and threw her camera. It arched through the air and landed right at the top of the flagpole. Vanguard looked at her stunned.
"Camera deployed." Valkyrie said confidently.
"Good deployment of camera. Feed is good. Nice throw." Ela said.
"Recon 1 from Guardian 2 we've taken up surveillance on a brown abandoned apartment complex Northeast of your position. I do have a visual on you. Nice throw by the way Valkyrie." Thatcher said on comms.
Valkyrie and Vanguard looked to the Northeast across the market. In the distance they saw the abandoned building. On the roof they could just barely make out two muzzles barely hanging over the edge of the building. She could feel Thatcher and Thermite eyes watching her. She winked at the direction of the building and gave her overwatch a quick flashy smile before pressing on.
Valkyrie and Vanguard continued through the market to find the next camera position. They went to the south section of the market. The market was now fully active. The air was filled with the chatter of people. It became so crowded that Valkyrie and Vanguard had to start pushing their way through people waiting at stands. She was starting to understand why this place was a target for terrorism.
"Recon 1 from Guardian 2. Got eyes on 15+ uniforms guarding the south side of the market by your position, break." Thatcher said.
"Guardian 2 this is Ela confirming Guardian 2's call out on camera. I think I also see an APC alongside the uniforms, break."
As Valkyrie and Vanguard approached the south side of the market she saw US Marines walking through the market. An APC with a bushmaster machinegun stood guard a few meters back. Valkyrie kept her head low as one of the soldiers walked by her.
These guys may be Americans, but they're not on our side. Valkyrie reminded herself.
"Recon 1 solid copy on all. Guardian 2 continue to report uniform's position every 10 mikes how copy?" Valkyrie said confirming the information
"Solid copy Recon 1 we will report uniform's position every 10 mikes."
A large apartment building loomed over the south side of the market providing a good place for a Black Eye camera, but it was heavily guarded by the Marines.
"Vanguard, building 12 o'clock 30 meters. Let's put the second camera there." Valkyrie said pointing with her eyes at the building.
"There's a uniform looking right at us." Vanguard said motioning at a Marine keeping watch in front of their desired building. He was scanning the crowd in their general direction. If she threw a camera, the Marine would spot her.
"Distract him." Valkyrie said reaching for her next camera.
Vanguard gave her a dirty look.
"Go. I'll give you the signal." She said shooing him away. She primed the Black Eye camera. Vanguard positioned himself to side of the Marine a few meters away. He waited for Valkyrie to give him the signal.
"Ela from Valkyrie. Connect to my second feed call contact."
A few seconds of silence past.
"Contact."
Valkyrie gave Vanguard a nod.
"Hey! Excuse me sir!" Vanguard called out to the Marine.
The Marine and several other bystanders looked away from Valkyries position toward Vanguard. Valkyrie casually underhand tossed the camera sticking it to the side of the building.
"Camera in position." She said.
"Copy that. New feed is up and running." Ela responded.
Vanguard returned to Valkyrie.
"Good distraction." She said smiling at him.
"Thanks." Vanguard said rolling his eyes.
"We have one more camera to go but I want to try something before we place it."
"What do you want to do?" Vanguard dared to ask.
"Let's see if we can patch into their comms." Valkyrie said staring at the group of Marines walking through the market.
"How do you plan on doing that?"
"I have a special antenna we can use that can connect to their radio waves. I'll show you, cover me." She said taking a seat on a nearby bench. Vanguard took a seat next to her. She reached into her robe and pulled out what looked like a small remote control with a small antenna. She leaned onto Vanguard's shoulder to hide what she was doing. Vanguard wrapped his arm around her shoulder to look casual. Her body tensed at the gesture. Vanguard understood her feeling uncomfortable with what was going on, but they had to keep up their fake identities as a normal couple out shopping.
"Guardian 2 from Recon 1."
"Send your traffic Recon 1." Thatcher's voice came on comms.
"Hacking into uniform's comms. Going to assign it to channel 2. Monitor the channel how copy."
"Solid copy monitoring channel 2."
Valkyrie began to work on connecting the device to the marine's radio waves. Jordan switched his radio to their second channel and listened intently through the static.
"Hunter….. checking…. grid… 47792…. Do you copy?" A voice started to come into ear shot between the static. After a minute Jordan could clearly hear the Marine's comms.
"Recon 1 from Guardian 2 solid copy on uniform's comms."
"Copy that. Proceeding south toward your position." Valkyrie said putting away her tablet.
"Copy."
Valkyrie brushed Vanguard's arm off her and her way toward the south side of the market to Jordan and Thatcher's position. A telephone pole stood a few meters in front of their abandoned apartment building. Valkyrie radioed to Ela about the camera and deployed it. There mission was over.
"Bandit from Recon 1."
"This is Bandit."
"Camera's deployed we're RTB."
"Copy that." Bandit acknowledged.
"Guardian 2 also RTB." Thatcher said.
The operators made their way back to their apartment building. When the operators arrived, they removed their robes and body armor. They were all drenched in sweat from the Arabian heat. Valkyrie looked at the cameras she deployed on Ela's computer.
"We have full view of the entire market place. We can monitor the area for suspicious activity. From here. I was also able to hack into the US military's comms, so we can monitor their activity and movements. I assigned their frequency to channel 2."
"Great. We'll monitor the market every day. You monitor the cameras while Ela and I patrol the market. Jordan and Mike can provide overwatch from their abandoned apartment complex overlooking the area." Dominic said.
"Job well done you guys." Vanguard said.
You have a child?!
That's correct.
And you never thought to tell me?
….
Don't give me that face. Why didn't you tell me I was an aunt?
…
Say it to my face.
Ela, stop this.
TELL ME WHY!
FINE! BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT FIT TO BE AN AUNT!
I'm not fit to be an aunt?
Yes. You're not fit to be an aunt. Look at yourself Ela. Your life is a disaster. You're mentally unstable.
A disaster? Mentally unstable?
Yes! And that's why you'll never meet your niece for as long as I live!
I hope you fucking die Zoe.
See. Mentally unstable. Focus Ela.
Focus?
Ela?
What?
ELA!
"Ela!"
Ela brought herself back to the sick twisted reality of Ramadi, Iraq.
"I see you daydreaming over there." Bandit said through her earpiece.
Ela turned to the north side of the market. Under the shadow of an awning she could just barely make out Bandit's silhouette leaning against a wall with his head down. She could feel his eyes glaring at her.
"I wasn't daydreaming." She responded looking down at her feet.
"Sure." Bandit said sarcastically.
"Recon 1 from Guardian 2, reporting no suspicious activity and no suspicious uniform movement break." Jordan's voice interrupted through their ear pieces.
"All units from Valkyrie, all video feeds showing no signs of hostiles."
"Copying all, 1100 hours." Bandit responded.
We've been at this for weeks and haven't found shit. We're chasing ghosts. Ela griped to herself.
Ela crossed her arms and leaned against a post to a vendor stand. She watched the chaos of people buying and selling product. US Marines stood by the southside entrance of the market keeping a close eye on the crowds of people. The market seemed to have more vendors than usual today. A little boy, about 11 years old, played with a big red kick ball near the group of Marines. She smiled as she watched him play. She had a soft spot when it came to children. He bounced the ball and it careened toward her. Ela put her foot on the bowl and kicked it back to him. He gathered the ball in his arms with a somber look on his face.
Ela knitted her eyebrows. Why the long face little guy?
"Hey little man!" One of the Marines said approaching the boy.
The boy turned away from Ela to the Marine.
"I hate to bother you, but could you play with your ball over…."
The Marine's words were cut off by a blinding light and fire.