Chapter 2: Desert Fox
In the skies of Papetoon 05:20 local time, two hours and forty-five minutes later.
It's been less than fifteen minutes since the massive carrier exited warp and made it's decent into the atmosphere, so far there seems to be no issues or threat. The GreatFox itself is now holding position high above the clouds over the terrorists base. Standing at the far end of the hanger just shy of the bay doors, Fox suits up and makes final preparations for HALO (High Altitude jump w/ Low Opening canopy). Despite the risk, Fox personally admits that he's rather excited for this. He hasn't done a HALO jump in years.
"How are we doing ROB?" Fox over his wrist com as he puts on a oxygen mask.
"GreatFox is currently holding at fifty-thousand feet AGR (Above Ground Level). Chance of enemy detection is minimal. Current time is 05:20, the sun has not risen yet. Wind-speed is at 45 km due south. Surface temperature is 85' Fahrenheit. Conditions for HALO are optimal." ROB reports.
"Good, open bay doors." Fox orders while he slings his carbine. As the doors slowly open, Fox feels a slight rush of wind pushing him back about a foot or so. After he repositions himself he does one final Pre Combat Check (PCC).
"Weapons check, grenades check, ammo check, Med-Kit check, Hi-Def Display check, O2 check, altimeter settings check, armor check, chute check..I sure hope at least. OK ROB final checks are complete. We are a go. After I jump proceed directly into orbit, but have the gunship on stand-bye for immediate dust-off. I have a feeling this might get messy. Watch for enemy aircraft." Fox says.
"Affirmative, you are clear to jump. Good luck Fox." ROB replies.
"Thanks, I'm gonna need it. Here goes nothing." Fox says and sprints towards the door and makes his leap of faith.
The dark morning sky makes it difficult for Fox to see as he soars downward. The rush of air makes it difficult for him to remain stable, but he makes due. As he continues what seems like and endless free-fall, he closely monitors the altimeter gauge on his wrist com. One false move could be the end. At the ten thousand feet counter Fox readies himself to deploy the chute for approximately six thousand.
"Nine thousand...Eight thousand...Seven thousand...NOW!" Fox thinks to himself and deploys his chute without any issues.
"So far so good." Fox says to himself as he glides slowly to the ground below. As he glides down, he tries to get somewhat of a visual of the surrounding terrain, but still being a few thousand feet in the air and still somewhat dark yet, he has little luck.
With in a few minutes Fox could now tell he was only a couple hundred feet in the air, and was now preparing to touch down, little does he realize whats below him.
"Alright, get ready to touch down, um wait..What the hell is that? Aw son of a bitch." Fox says as tries to guide the chute away from the anomaly, unfortunately he was too late, and ends up in a tree.
"FUCK, the one tree in a hundred GOD DAMN meters, and I get caught in it. Well I suppose it could worse. It doesn't look too high up." Fox thinks himself rather annoyed, now dangling from the tree. He then removes his oxygen mask and pulls out his twelve inch carbon steel combat knife, and starts cutting himself free. After he manages to cut himself free, he lets himself ungracefully fall to the ground. Once he regains his composure he dusts himself and his carbine off and pulls out his Hi-Def Display to scout out the area.
"Let's have a look at our buddies. OK I got two insurgent walking the perimeter. Distance 500m, one is armed with a blaster rifle the other with 9mm SMG. No entrance spotted. Hvy Machine gun nest 100m left on the ridge, avoid at all costs. Don't see any sniper towers. Ah here we go, one guard by that hanger, distance 450m, looks like he has an assault rifle. Doesn't look like he's paying much attention either. That's my ticket in." Fox thinks to himself calculating the best area of approach. He then secures his Hi-Def Display to his bandoleer, and pulls out a 30rnd 6.8mm magazine and loads his carbine.
"It's show time." Fox quietly says and eagerly charges his carbine and turns on its reflex sight. Like a wraith, Fox quickly and silently moves in and around the perimeter defenses, towards the terrorist stronghold.
Outside the secondary hanger a lone lynx Crimson Blade insurgent impatiently passes back and forth in front of the main doors, desperately waiting for his shift to end.
"I fucking hate the night shift." The lynx says and takes a quick look through his binoculars.
"Gee what do ya know, not a damn thing out there. What waist of my time." The lynx sarcastically says and takes out his hand held radio.
"Control this sentry twelve. There ain't no sign of that pink bitch. When are we changing the..." The insurgent is then interrupted by what sounded like a whistle.
"Control wait one." The lynx says and begins walking towards the sound.
"Who's out there? Is that you Vic?" The insurgent walks out a bit further and falls dead to ground as a perfectly thrown combat knife, flies out of the shadows and straight through his left cornea. Fox then appears from night and recovers his bloodstained knife and the guards radio.
"Guess again?" Fox says to the lifeless corpse and sets the radio to Katt's frequency. All he do is now is hope that she's still alive.
"Katt this is Fox. Do you copy, over?" Fox says hoping his old friend would reply.
"I read you loud and clear. It's good to hear a friendly voice. Where are you at?" Katt replies.
"I'm in the eastern hanger. Where are you?" Fox asks.
"I've sealed myself in the main surveillance room on the sixth level. Hold on one sec, OK I have a visual on you now." Katt replies.
"How far am I from you?" Fox asks.
"Take the right door on the end of the hanger. Then follow the hallway all the way down and take a left. You'll see an elevator not far from there. Take the elevator to the sixth floor. I'll guide you from there." Katt advises as she closely monitors the computer screen in front of her.
"OK now how many troops are wondering this hallway by chance?" Fox asks thinking this sounds too easy.
"I see one solider by the elevator, and it looks like two more are searching for me in the adjacent hallway. Most of troops seem to be in the upper floors. Their probably on my trail. All I have is a 9mm pistol that I stole from one of the prison guards. If they trap me here, I won't be able to hold them for long. You have to hurry Fox." Katt replies.
"Roger that, I'm on my way. Keep in touch. Fox out." Fox says and begins to move across the hanger. Once he reaches the door he activates it and stacks up on the wall beside it. The two insurgents down the hall take notice and begin moving towards it.
"Who's there? Identify yourself now!" One of the insurgents orders. In a flash the intruder pops out and fires a quick five shot burst, that tears through his comrades chest and returns to his cover position. The insurgent then opens fire with his SMG towards the corner of the door that Fox was hiding behind, and unloads his entire magazine. Fox then seizes the opportunity and comes out and unleashes a single shot. The last thing the insurgent sees is the muzzle flash of Fox's carbine, before a single 6.8mm slug punches straight through his skull.
"Nice shooting sure shot." Fox sarcastically says to the dead trooper and proceeds down hall further hoping that no one heard the shooting. As Fox nears the first intersection two insurgents appear from each corner. Fox quickly dives to ground.
"SHIT, I thought Katt said there was only one more." Fox thinks to himself as had puts three shots into each of the soldiers chests. No sooner after Fox gets up does his radio go off.
"Fox you need to get to that elevator and fast. I think more enemy troops are moving down stairs." Katt warns.
"Oh Great, alright hold I'm almost there. How many soldiers we talking now?" Fox replies as he sprints around the corner towards the elevator.
"At least a squad, maybe two... Um wait one..." Katt says rather nervous for the computer screen turns red.
"Whats up Katt? Katt give me a Sit-Rep. Talk to me." Fox says as he stops in front of the elevator.
"Oh shit." Katt says and frantically start typing.
"What do you mean oh shit? That can't good. What is going.." Before Fox finishes the hallway lights turn red and the alarm and automated emergency voice over protocol kicks in."Emergency, Intruder alert. All personnel prepare for combat. Security and base lock-down now in affect. This is not a drill."
"Fox they locked out me of the system. I can't do anything or see anything right now. All the screens are blank. Get on that elevator NOW! It should still work, but you have to hurry." Katt orders.
"I'm there, I'm just waiting for it come down. It's almost here." Fox replies, as he eagerly waits he starts to hear numerous footsteps coming towards him from both his left and rights sides.
"Not good. HURRY THE FUCK UP YOU DAMN ELEVATOR!" Fox thinks to himself. As the footsteps from right side become louder, Fox starts to sweat. He knows he's got to fight, acting on his commando instinct, he quickly backs away and turns towards the incoming enemy and drops to one knee. In his mind he counts five insurgents, and fires controlled bursts at the enemy, killing all of them. At the corner of his eye he then sees the elevator door open.
"It's about damn time." Fox thinks to himself and notices the footsteps behind are getting much closer. He then sprints to inside the elevator and pulls out one of his grenades.
"Try this on for size." Fox says and lobs the explosive out of the door towards the enemy just before the door shuts. It is unknown to Fox whether the blast killed anyone or not, but it at least slowed down the enemy for the moment, and that's all he cares about now. Once the elevator starts to move upwards, Fox lets out a sigh of relief and changes his empty 6.8mm magazine.
"That was too close." He thinks to himself and grabs the radio." OK Katt on the elevator. I'll be up there momentarily. What's your status and who do I get where you are from here?" Fox says.
"Ok once you get off the elevator there's three-way intersection. Go straight ahead approximately one-hundred meters then should be a right turn. Its the large heavily secure doorway." Katt replies.
"OK that shouldn't be too hard to find. How much resistance are we talking now?" Fox asks as he watches the elevator's level screen.
"A lot so be careful. I would say at least... Wait.. Oh God. Fox they breaching the door. I have to go. PLEASE HURRY." Katt frantically says followed by several gunshots, then nothing.
"KATT, DO YOU COPY? KATT?" Fox yells over the radio, but receives no reply.
"This is not good at all." Fox thinks to himself.
Authors notes: Lots of shooting and only more shooting to come. I know you all like it when the bullets fly, and believe me their will be plenty. And before you ask the reason Katt was captured will be revealed with in the next few chapters along with more info about the enemies themselves. Hope you've enjoyed and thanks for reading and reviewing.