A Ghost in the Mist Chapter 3: San Diego ノー·マンズ·ランド
(Stuck Down)
(A/N: Thank you all for reading and for your reviews! If you've made it this far and are bored with the Call of Duty Ghosts flashback, no worries you are in good company. The plot will deviate from the game in a couple more chapters.)
"Well fuck, this sucks." Were probably gonna be the last thoughts of Logan Walker as he pointed his empty pistol at the growling wolf, glancing at him menacingly ready to pounce.
They had just made it near the rally point, when Riley had unknowingly confronted a hungry pack of wolves. Hesh was on the ground across from Logan trying to get to him, but two wolves had gotten his attention, their razor sharp teeth nearly making contact with his exposed arm. Logan braced himself as the wolf took flight. Time slowed down as he saw Merrick grab the wolf out of midair, barrel rolling before throwing it away some distance, while shooting the other wolves near Hesh. The pack was now in full retreat and soon disappeared into the woods. Their savior offered Logan a hand.
"You look lost." he said eyeing both Logan and Hesh, another man joined him who Logan instantly recognized as Sergeant Keegan Russ.
"We're not lost. We were looking for you Captain Merrick." Relief and gratitude evident in Hesh's voice as he spoke. Logan too, stood straight, he knew they were in the presence of the Ghosts, their iconic masks commanding fear and respect.
"Walker, I believer you've got something for me." He held out his hand toward the pair. Hesh placed the tablet that Logan had used to record their encounter with Rorke in Merrick's open hand.
"Yeah. Some Feds were moving a guy to Firebase Charlie. He one of yours?" asked Hesh.
"Yeah, Ajax. All right, we don't have a lot of time. You can stick with us but you do what I say, when I say it. Understood?" Merrick's gaze shifted back from Logan to Hesh.
"Yes, sir." Hesh's voice was laced with a hint of reverence that his brother didn't fail to notice, which was something he shared. They were going to see the ghosts in action, it was a big deal for any soldier and they knew that this was their chance to shine in front of the best of the best.
They moved swiftly heading North, following the sounds of the moving federation squadron. Through the rough terrain and through the battles that lay ahead were the distant ruins of San Diego, where Ajax was waiting for them.
Further South, Present Time
The terrain suddenly became more and more rugged as Ren struggled to climb the path that was once called the Obsidian trail. Heading to San Diego had become an ungainly chore to merely satisfy his curiosity, but it had to be done. The mere suggestion of an American hostage had not only captivated his interests as to what the federation would want with him, since they normally executed any captive, but also to answer some questions about the elusive ghosts. He had heard of them, rumors of their existence had drifted on and off of the battlefield. A squad of elite warriors who battled the federation with a ferocity that no one had ever seen before. Finding info on the ghosts could prove valuable later on, "knowledge is power after all" his mother would often say.
His attention became diverted by the unsettling splash he heard as he walked through the grass. Blood. He hadn't run into any feds in a while, which could only mean that trouble was not far ahead. The trouble he found had already been taken care off, all throughout the trail ahead bodies lay strewn about. Surveyors and soldiers, judging by their uniforms, but what were they looking for?
Ren took out his machine pistol, making sure he had some ammo in his clip before reloading. He walked slowly with some caution, machine pistol at the ready as he rounded the path through a patch of brush. There amid the overgrown brush Ren could make out a statue. It was an angel, its arms held out in welcome to a once flourishing household. Further in Ren could make out what looked like a pool, if it hadn't been for the truck in the center, and even further back was the house itself. The sunlight peering through each gaping hole made the house look like Swiss cheese.
Without much though, Ren walked around the perimeter of the house. Normally, he would've taken a look inside the house to see if he could refurbish anything useful, but something told him to stay away. That going inside this house would be a decision he would regret. He couldn't exactly pin down a certain emotion or even a rational argument as to why, but he didn't think about questioning his instincts twice.
He flipped open his PDA to check his position, he still had a way to go to San Diego.
"Great, well I guess I can enjoy the scenery for a bit longer. It seems pretty peaceful enough." Ren thought aloud.
San Diego, Present Time
Ajax, there he is. Logan got the remote sniper on standby, he had a view of San Diego Tsunami Stadium and its center was a huge enemy camp. Logan zoomed in on Ajax and the fed soldiers that were punching the crap out of him. He looked worse for wear, but Logan couldn't help but smirk when Ajax flipped off his captors after another round of punches.
"There moving him, we should go now." Keegan's voice is full of urgency, which goes unnoticed by Logan.
"We're going in there? What about back up?" Hesh asks, an incredulous look on his face.
"What do you think you're here for?" Merrick said as he picks up a grenade launcher and loads it with semtex rounds. The roar of truck engines brings the group to attention. Their plan was simple, tag the trucks and follow them to their base, detonate the charges to create an opening and then find Ajax.
Logan grabs a free MK32 grenade launcher and checks his ammo, making sure it's fully loaded.
"Pick your shots carefully, we'll have to trigger them to detonate. Here they come, tag the trucks." Merrick starts shooting, Logan shoots in sync with Merrick, each grenade making a subtle thump only heard by the ghosts.
"Convoy clear. Let's move." Merrick and Keegan go on ahead as Hesh and Logan do a quick check of their weapons and supplies. Gun in hand, the brothers went to join Keegan and Merrick. They couldn't ignore the hint of concern in Merrick's voice of the large amount of enemy movement that was coming out of the base.
"Alright let's load up." Merrick's voice boomed in the hollow garage. Logan went with Keegan, while Hesh with Merrick. Logan couldn't help but smile a little as he saw Riley waiting patiently for him to open the door. As he predicted Riley sat in between him and Keegan.
"Watch and learn kid." Keegan's voice brought Logan back into focus in the urgency of their mission. Both trucks pulled out of the garage slowly, tailing the trucks ahead. As they approached the gate, Merrick gave Logan the signal to detonate the grenades. Explosion after explosion opened a path for the ghosts into the middle of what was once the main field of the baseball stadium. Keegan busted the window with his fist and began firing at the turrets, while Logan focused fire on the soldiers near the tents. Logan was caught off guard in an instant as Keegan swerved both of their trucks crashed through the side gates of the stadium into the concession area. Merrick busted out of their truck firing grenades and detonating them spontaneously as he slid to a safe position to disorient the soldiers in the area. Fed soldiers were everywhere, on alert, and didn't hesitate to return fire. Logan dove behind a pile of rubble and began to return fire, Hesh and Keegan weren't far behind.
"Ajax is through the atrium. Move! Hurry, before more guys get here." Merrick said taking out three soldiers before ducking back to reload.
Logan ordered Riley to take out a soldier that was trying to snipe Merrick, while Keegan took out the soldiers near the hot dog stand. Hesh quickly moved in near one of the pretzel stands to cover Merrick and Logan as they moved forward.
"Keep firing! Keep pushing forward! Reinforcements coming in!" They pushed forward near the stairs before another squadron came busting through the double doors that led to the field. They didn't last long though, with Riley's agility caught the soldiers in front by surprise creating an opening for Logan and Hesh to clear the squad.
"Nice shooting, but we need to move. Ajax won't last forever." The interior of the stadium narrowed as they climbed higher near where Logan first saw Ajax through the remote sniper. They arrived to a pair of big oak doors that lead to the private box.
"This should be where they're holding Ajax. Check it out with the remote sniper." Merrick whispered.
Logan took out the pad and brought the remote sniper online. No sign of Ajax, but there were plenty of soldiers.
"We'll breach on your shot. On you." Merrick said. Logan picked a soldier nearest the door and took him out with the remote sniper. The resounding boom caught the soldiers off guard, Hesh, Merrick, and Keegan burst through the doors and quickly started firing.
"Runner on the left!" Hesh yelled, shifting his attention to the left side of the room, quickly reloading his gun.
"Go! Go! Clear left!" Merrick yelled as he fired his gun, backing up Hesh.
"Clear Right!" Keegan yelled as he quickly whipped his gun around and took out another soldier. Logan downs the last of the soldiers before switching off the remote sniper.
"Room secure! He's not here!" Merrick says as Riley spots a wounded fed soldier, yelling in fear and pain while desperately trying to get away.
"Where is he?! Where did you take up?!" Keegan shoved the fed soldier up against the wall, knife to the jugular.
"I don't know where he is!" the fed soldier's voice was filled with fear and desperation as if he was speaking to death incarnate. Riley's ears perk as he barks to Hesh and runs off.
"Riley's got his scent." Hesh holds Riley's collar giving him a quick pat.
"Let's go." Merrick says as he gives a signal to Keegan, who slits the fed soldier's throat quickly killing him. Logan quickly follows behind Keegan, an explosion almost catches Logan as he swiftly dove out of the way. More rockets fly by their way, nearly catching Hesh this time in the explosion.
"Ambush! Use the remote sniper to take out those RPG's!" Logan had already loaded the remote sniper the moment he heard Merrick's voice and was trying to find the source of the rocket fire. They were hiding up near the upper balcony, Logan focused his attention to the one nearest the balcony edge. He took him out quickly and took out the other RPG's out before they had a chance to take cover.
Merrick gave the all clear after a moment silence, and Hesh released his grip on Riley.
"Stick with Riley, he'll lead us to Ajax." Logan was only seconds behind Riley as they descended into a depression that took them from the middle balcony toward the locker rooms. They regroup near one of the shutter doors, which was slightly ajar. Through the gap, Logan spots two soldiers, probably a patrol.
"Enemy patrols. Probably a dozen guys total." Keegan says as he squats down to take a better look through the gap through the shutter.
"We don't have time for this. Gas masks on." Merrick says as he puts on his mask.
Logan tossed a couple of tear gas canisters under the shutter as he fitted his mask. The soon the air is filled with tear gas and it isn't long before fed soldiers bust through the adjacent door seeking fresh air, only to be cut down by the ghosts' bullets. Hesh holds Riley back as the air clears, while Keegan, Merrick, and Logan take the lead. They were right inside of the practice area, Logan could see some fed soldiers taking cover near the batting cages. He tossed more tear gas canisters toward their direction, the gas taking effect almost instantly. Once Logan had them in his sights, he downed them without much of a struggle. Riley's barks soon alerted the group that Ajax was close, very close. He sped off before Logan could react, Hesh and Merrick were close on his tail, cutting through more feds as the caught up to Riley.
Ajax, hang in there. We're coming for you. Logan thought as he stabbed a fed soldier with his combat knife before regrouping with Keegan and tailing Hesh and Merrick.
-A Ghost in the Mist-
Blood. More blood. Ren never got used to seeing blood, even in his profession, he knew the difference between a well-planned hit to a straight out slaughter. This was definitely a slaughter, a very one sided one. The path that lead away from the abandoned house Ren had stumbled upon earlier was littered with bodies. All of them were fed soldiers, and with each body Ren was piecing together a fighting style, a combat strategy, a possible lead.
Definitely skilled, whoever they are. Not even much of struggle, clean gunshot wounds all in vital areas. Ren thought. Whoever they were they were good, but then again no stragglers ever survived long in No Man's Land according to the reports he read. He took a quick scan around the area, so far all he had seen was forest, but now he saw the first signs of a fed camp.
"They didn't even have time to recover their dead, something had them running. I wonder who?" Ren thought aloud as he wandered through an abandoned trailer. He scoured through the papers that were left scattered haphazardly on the floor and the desks. Nothing much, except for orders to recover any specialized mechanical parts. Ren exited the trailer and into a literal field of bodies that lead up the hill. He spotted an ammunition crate to which he gratefully helped himself to any ammo he might need later. The ringing of his PDA quickly got his attention. He took another look around to make sure the area was somewhat clear before flipping it open.
"Heya Hong Kong, how's the wilderness treating you? You haven't chimed in a while." Ada's whimsical voice echoed through the speaker.
"Sorry to make you worry chief, I've just been taking in the sights and stretching my legs." Ren said, hand on hip and a voice matching the Ada's whimsy.
"Well now that you've been able to appreciate the flora and fauna, anything to report?" Ada's face became slightly quizzical and serious in contrast from a moment earlier.
"I found a fed camp earlier. There wasn't anything useful in their manifest, but I've come across another came like it here. This one looks like a dig site too." Ren stated, a bulldozer in sight and a couple of abandoned cargo trucks in the distance.
"A dig site you say? You're near San Diego right? I wonder… It couldn't be…" Ada's voice hinted a bit of concern, last part of her sentence almost a whisper.
"Something on your mind chief?" Ren asked.
"It's just a hunch…they say it landed in the ocean, but we can't be too sure of that can we?" The thought had crossed Ren's mind before, it certainly seemed to fit the mold of what he and Ada knew the Federation was capable of. They wouldn't feel any remorse of shooting a man when he's done, especially if its the same gun.
"Better to side with caution I suppose. I'll let you know if I find anything. Is there anything else?"
"Nope. You're extraction already is on its way. Waiting on you for coordinates. I'll expect a call from you when you get back from Hong Kong." Ada's face dimmed as the signal cut out. Ren flipped his PDA closed and slipped it back into his pocket.
Good to know that my ride's on the way, but I'm not quite done yet. I hope that American hostage has a ride coming for him, but I don't mind playing hero if I have to. Ren resumed his task, following the bodies to San Diego. In the distance Ren could make out the San Diego skyline, with burnt spires and the worn out facade giving a feeling of impending gloom. Ren spotted an AK-12 assault rifle, equipped with a red dot sight, near a dead fed soldier. He picked it up, peering down the sight and checking its modifications. Having a little more firepower wasn't a bad thing, it would certainly come in handy if he ran into a large squadron. He took out a polyester strap from his tactical bag and attached it near the hook of the barrel and near the stock, making a makeshift sling. Definitely a handy trick, he made a mental note to thank Sherry when he got back.
-A Ghost in the Mist-
"Ajax!" Keegan's flashlight focused on the fallen soldier near the back of the room. Riley had lead them to the San Diego Tsunami's main locker room, where they encountered a number of fed soldiers throughout the offices and practice areas. They took each squad down with quick and deadly precision as they closed in on Ajax. Logan surveyed the space around Ajax, looking with disgust at the bloodied baseball bat and the still smoking car battery.
Keegan was instantly at Ajax side, holding him firmly while checking his injuries. He brushed off the urge to wince at the severity of Ajax's wounds. Had they had gotten there sooner… He pushed those thoughts aside and focused on trying to keep Ajax conscious.
"How is he?" Hesh asked concerned, moving beside Merrick as he peered over Ajax.
"Not good." Keegan says as Ajax let's out a cough as he tries to breathe. Riley let's out a soft whine as he places his head near Ajax's feet.
"Son of a bitch. Hang in there Ajax." Merrick reaches behind to his back tactical bag trying to get out some medical supplies. He's stopped mid reach by Ajax's hand.
"It was Rorke. He's targeting… look… the wall…" Ajax's speech weakened with each word. The last of his strength left him, his eye's gazing off in a blank stare, his grip on Merrick's arm going limp.
"C'mon! Hang in there Ajax!" Merrick's voice rings loud and clear to everyone's ears, except Ajax. Keegan shakes his head, laying Ajax down on the ground.
"Dammit!" Merrick slams the ground with his free fist as he frees his hand from Ajax's. It was times like this he knew they had to be strong, that they were made of a different cloth from everyone else. But they were ghosts, they were no longer just soldiers, they were a part of a special brotherhood, and every loss is always felt.
Hesh took out a flare, striking it against the ground to get a fire going, its eerie bright, red light illuminating the room. Pictures of soldiers were pinned on the wall, several with red thread connecting them to another picture. Some of the soldier's faces were crossed in red, probably a hit. He felt his brother's presence beside him as his focus drifted to the desk right below the pictures. Papers, all of them with detailed information about each soldier and their mission.
"Merrick! You gotta take a look at this." Hesh calls over. Merrick stands up giving Ajax a quick glance before telling Keegan to get him ready to move. He strides across the room beside Logan, his face becoming tense as he scans the wall.
"It's a kill list. Rorke's targeting ghosts." He says grabbing a mask that's pinned near Ajax's picture, stuffing it into his tactical vest.
"Who the hell is Rorke?!" Hesh asks, his tense tone not missed by Logan. In truth it scared him a little to know that there was someone out there who could bring down a ghost with such direct ferocity, but it gave him all the incentive to become one to hunt down Rorke. He and Hesh could do it, he thought.
"No time to explain kid." Merrick says. For a moment Logan could swear that he sees Hesh huff in frustration, not sure whether it's because Merrick called him a kid or the denial of any further info. A gun shot rings in the background and the four of them can clearly hear the commotion that's just outside of the locker room on the field.
"They're coming in. We need to move. Keegan, bring him. We leave now!" Hesh and Logan ready their guns as Merrick makes his way back to Keegan and Ajax ready to cover the both of them.
"You boys did ok, but you need to get back to L.A. now." Merrick says as he reloads his rifle before opening fire near the entrance.
"Incoming, get down!" Keegan yells as a couple of stray bullets nearly hit Hesh in the middle of reloading. Logan instantly loads the remote sniper and begins immediately taking out targets.
"Give us some cover fire!" Merrick and Keegan rush on ahead on to the field, Logan seeing them on the monitor and focused his fire on the soldiers and turrets around them and their target helicopter, he doesn't let up until they board the helicopter.
"We made it, thanks. Taking off." Merrick's voice on the radio gives him some relief as they take off, but now he and Hesh had to escape. He powers down the remote sniper and readies his Bizon, quickly catching up to Hesh whose already taking out feds on the field. He spots a fed copter with full crew just on the brink of takeoff.
"Our ride's leaving! Riley!" Hesh yells. Riley gives a quick bark before jumping into the cockpit and mauling the pilot grounding the helicopter back onto the ground and ejecting both Riley and the rest of the crew. Riley gets up unharmed and unaffected by the maneuver, a quality which Logan and Hesh think is bad ass.
"Alright! Let's get to the chopper! Clear through!" Hesh says, needless to say easier said than done. Fed soldiers seemed to be coming out of every nook of the field, reinforcements must've been sent while they were searching for Ajax. When they get to the chopper Logan jumps in front making sure Riley makes it in back. Hesh immediately hops in the pilot's seat and checks the controls before booting the engines.
"Cover us with the remote sniper so we can take off." Hesh's voice almost muted by helicopter's engine, Logan already reading his mind begins to reboots the remote sniper. He spots a couple of LMG's near the edge of the field and begins to pick them off one by one. They narrowly dodge an RPG, Hesh quickly jerking the cyclic stick to move them away from the missile's path. Logan catches them in mid reload and takes them down with the remote sniper.
"Command, this is Viking, we've acquired an enemy helo and are RTB from South of the wall. Do you copy?"
"Hesh, Logan, can you hear me?!" Their dad's voice blared through their comm units.
"Dad?!" Hesh said and Logan thought, something was up and from the tone of their dad's voice it didn't sound good.
"We've got a full Federation division moving on Fort Santa Monica! You boys have to get back here quick!" The signal went dead after that, only static echoed from the radio.
(A/N: So...I realized I made a mistake with Ada's and Ren's conversation and I made some repairs. I'll have more chapters out soon, that's a promise!)