Chapter 3: Run & Gun
Crimson Blade outpost 06:00 local time.
Inside the claustrophobic elevator, Fox closely watches the floor indicator. Countless thoughts tear into his mind, especially the thought of losing yet another close friend. As the years have gone by since the Lylat Wars he's lost dozens of his close friends, for him enough was enough. Not one more. And he's going to make sure of it.
"I'm going to get you out of here Katt. You have my word." Fox says to himself.
As Fox looked at the floor indicator again it would only be a matter of seconds before he arrives to the sixth level. He immediately readied a flash bang and took up fire position along the corner.
"Here we go again." Fox says as the elevator reached it location.
As the doors open up he could hear the sounds of multiple weapons being charged. Fox then peeked his head out just slightly and was able to an entire squad of troops in fire positions awaiting for him to make his move.
"Figures." Fox says to himself as he slowly pulls the pin of his flash bang.
"We got you cornered commando. You got no where to go. Drop your weapons and come out with your hands up." The squad sergeant orders.
"I think not." Fox says and throws the flash bang towards the crowd of soldiers and quickly recovers his position and shields his eyes and ears.
Fox's high yield flash bang disorients the entire squad. He then moves and and switches his carbine to fully automatic and unleashes a furry of lead on to unlucky terrorists. Having expended the entire magazine he at least killed all of them. Rather than changing mags his decides to switch to his pistol, figuring more troops would be bearing down on him with in seconds. He was correct as two more soldiers sprinted down the hallways towards him firing sporadically and not really aiming. Fox takes two shots at the closest insurgent, hitting her in the chest and the head. Before Fox was able to take any shots at the other solider he was able to feel the slight heat of a plasma burst zip past his left thigh only inches away, which distracted him for a brief second. He then followed up by taking three shot putting each into incoming insurgents chest killing him instantly.
After the last insurgent fall to the floor Fox spun around and checked his corners for any additional enemies. Once he knew the coast was clear his adrenaline died down and bit. He didn't realize before how much of a bloody mess the hallways ended up. Knowing that he needed to move on he quickly changes the magazines on his carbine and pistol. Fox quickly moves forward. He could see the next intersection ahead. Before he reached the corner he takes another look behind him just in case. He then peers around the corner and doesn't see any one but a large blast door that's been pried open about two and half feet.
"That's gotta be it. I just hope they don't pin me down here." Fox quietly says and moves closer to the door and notices fresh blood trickling down the edges of the jarred door. Seeing this makes his gut spin thinking his friend may be dead. As he squeezes though the door he sees with what little light coming from behind him the source of the blood, two insurgents lay dead on the floor, one with his weapon missing.
"Katt must have killed them but where is she now?" Fox asks himself and moves deeper into the dark surveillance room. He notices a radio on the floor he picks it up. He could tell by the frequency setting that it was Katt's radio.
"Don't be dead on me Ka..." As Fox was thinking he let his guard down and felt a pair of arms wrap around his neck attempting to choke him out. In retaliation Fox forced himself and his attacker backwards as hard as he could, smashing his attackers back against the wall rather hard, probably knocking the wind out the person. This gave Fox some slack; he then elbowed the attacker in kidney and throw the attacker to the ground like a rage doll and pinned the person face down. Fox pulled out his pistol and held it up against the attackers head.
"Where's Katt you son of a bitch!" Fox said with rage.
"Fox is that you?" The attacker said with a feminine voice.
"Katt?" Fox replied out shock.
"Yes it's me." Katt replied also in shock.
"I'm so sorry are you alright?" Fox asks as he gets back up. He then helps Katt up.
"I'm think I'm ok. But I think I'll be pissing blood for awhile. Sorry for jumping you. I couldn't tell who you where. It's good to see you. Thanks for coming to get me." Katt says as she rubs side.
"Don't thank me quite yet were only half way done. So where were hiding?" Fox asks.
"Up in the vents over there. We can get through most of the base that way." Katt replies.
"Excellent lets go. It won't take them long to figure out whats happened." Fox says.
"Right, help me up then." Katt replies. Fox then Helps Katt up into the vent and then pulls him up.
Once the two of them were finally up in the vents, Fox could hear foots steps heading towards the dark room. Katt froze in place while Fox silently glanced out the vent opening and saw a fire team of soldiers walk inside. The soldiers checked their downed comrades that lay dead on the floor. He then sees the team leader and pull out his radio.
"Control this Veta One, were are in the main surveillance room. We got two more dead here, no sign of the prisoner of infiltrator. Shall we remain to here to guard the computers or should we continue our search over." The panther corporal says.
"Continue your search. Find both of them and bring them to me dead or alive. IS THAT CLEAR?" the anonymous voice brashly orders.
"Yes sir. Veta One out. Alright you heard the Colonel lets move." the corporal ordered and he along with the rest of his team exit the shadowy surveillance room.
"That was close." Katt says.
"Yeah I'll say. So whats the best way out of here?" Fox asks.
"If we can get to the western motor-pool on level one we should be able to swipe a truck or a speeder out of here. You do have a EVAC plan right?" Katt says.
"Of course. I kinda had the same idea. If we can steal a fast vehicle and get it out of range of the anti-aircraft batteries. I'll signal ROB to send down a gunship for dust-off." Fox replies
"Since when do you have a gunship?" Katt asks.
"I bought them about eight months ago, two Cornerian Army Raven-class on army surplus. I figured they would come in handy. They saved my ass more than once. Their also cheaper to maintain than Arwings and Landmasters. Anyways how far to the motor-pool? Do the vents even go that far?" Fox said.
"No we'll have cut out about 50-100m short. I would say we cut out at 100m just in case they have guards near the entrance." Katt replies.
"We both know they'll have guard posted at the entrance. So far of a crawl then?" Fox asks.
"About 100m ahead then we'll have climb down the shaft to the first floor, then it will be about another 500m or so." Katt replied.
"Great, this is going to suck, but I am impressed how did you get all this info anyways?" Fox asked.
"I've been a busy girl. Which reminds me here take this." Katt says handing Fox what looks like a flash drive.
"Is this a flash drive?" Fox asks.
"Yes It contains tons of encrypted Crimson Blade files. You'll have to have Federation Command decrypt them but the info should be vital." Katt replies.
"Thanks we really need this. Now what do you have for weapons and ammo?" Fox asks.
"Just this 4.6mm SMG and two spare mags that I picked up from that insurgent. I'll make due. l Now lets get out of this shithole." Katt says.
"Right lead the way." Fox says and lights up a couple of chemsticks and hands one to Katt. Katt just nods and the two begin their long crawl forward.
The first 100 meters of the crawl wasn't so bad for the two. The six story climb down was a real bitch. Both Fox and Katt nearly fell numerous times. Once they made down the shaft they began their extremely long crawl towards the motor-pool. The two only stop a couple of times. After nearly three hours of low crawling they stop near a opening of what look like a cleaning closet.
"Well I'm pretty much spent." Katt says rather tired.
"Yeah me too. That was probably my longest crawl ever. So how much farther?" Fox says.
"If we come out from this closet take a right continue down the rest of the hallway. That should lead right to the motor-pool. If we make out of here in one piece I'm going to buy you a drink." Katt replies.
"I'm going to hold you to that." Fox says with a sly grin and uses his knife to pop the vent cover off. The two then quietly climb down the ceiling. Fox jars the door open just slightly and peers outwards, knowing it was clear he signals Katt to move out.
"Let's move, they'll be heading this way soon." Fox says.
"Roger I'll watch our back. Lets kick some ass." Katt replies Fox nods and both exit the closet. The two then make a run for the motor-pool. Once the two reach the two glance inside and see nearly an entire platoon of heavily armed soldiers guarding the vehicles.
"I think were slightly outgunned." Katt says sarcastically.
"I think I have an idea." Fox says with a devious grin.
"This ought to be good." Katt replies.
"First we move nice and quiet like towards that crate over there. Once were in position, I got one HE grenade and one flash bang left. I'll lob both of them in the center of the complex. Then once they blow we'll pop out and unleash hell on them. Aim for the fuel tanks as well. Then we'll haul ass towards the nearest working vehicle, and get the hell out of here." Fox tactfully says.
"That's your idea of a brilliant escape plan. I like it. Lets do this." Katt replies with a grin. The two then silently moved forward behind the metal crate. Fox the pulled both grenades from his bandoleer. He gave Katt a nod, pulled the pins and let the grenades fly towards the unsuspecting victims. The blast alone killed several troops and wounded others.
"NOW!" Fox yells and he and Katt stand up and a deadly rain of gunfire, shooting anything and everything that moved. Fox also took some shots at near by fuel tank causing it erupt into a blazing inferno. Fox dropped back down to change his magazine.
"Katt head to the nearest vehicle and mount its gun. I'll cover you. GO NOW!" Fox orders and stands back up and lays down suppressive fire. Katt then sprints towards an all terrain gun truck nearby and climbs up on to the large Hvy machine gun, and starts firing on the remains of the troops inside.
"Come on Fox!" Katt yelled. Fox then sprinted towards the truck, unbeknown est to him another squad of reinforcements began to storm the area.
"FOX GET DOWN." Katt orders as Fox hits the dirt, Katt started to unleash the fury of the mighty fifty on their new arrivals. The massive .50 BMG rounds tore the squad into a bloody mess. After Katt finished them off, Fox quickly moved towards the truck and started it up. As he started to move out he then hears Katt fire off the again. He pays it no mind and focuses on getting of the motor-pool, and puts the throttle to the max. As Fox drives towards the end of the bay he sees two more insurgents appear by the massive door way and they start firing recklessly at him. With Katt preoccupied Fox pulls out his pistol starts firing while still moving forward. A few rounds from the insurgents hit the bulletproof wind shield and cause it to crack. Fox takes two more shots and hits the one the soldiers in the heart. As for the other insurgent Fox just decides to run him over. Fox couldn't help but laugh a bit. The truck burst out of the motor-pool and into the endless desert of Papetoon. They were free for the moment.
"Keep up the good work Katt. I'm going to contact the GreatFox. " Fox says.
"Got it. I'll keep these bastards busy." Katt replies. Fox then bring up GreatFox's frequency.
"ROB This Fox. Get that gunship down here ASAP. I'll try to get us clear of the AA guns. But hurry we need extraction immediately." Fox orders.
"Roger that Fox. I have your position located. Dispatching gunship now, ETA ten minutes." ROB replies.
"I copy ROB, Fox out. Katt Ten minutes until pick up." Fox says.
"Got it." Katt replies.
The truck speeds along the desert sand for about five minutes with no real trouble until Katt get sight of three armed dune buggies bearing down on them fast.
"Fox we got company!" Katt yells out and starts firing. As the trucks started to close in Katt hits the driver of the center buggy straight through the chest and causes the truck to loose control and crash in to the its comrades on the right side, destroying both vehicles.
"SCREW YOU." Katt said victoriously.
"Nice one Katt." Fox said witnessing it through the rear view mirror.
The shots from the remaining buggy were closing in on them. One of the shots manages to hit the drivers side mirror.
"Two minutes Katt. we should be clear of the AA guns now." Fox says.
"Lets hope so I'm low on ammo." Katt replies. She then aims the massive machine gun towards the last truck and commences fire. With the last of her ammo she manages to hit the gunner on the enemy buggy in the upper chest, completely mutilating him. But the truck still wasn't out of the fight yet for in the passenger seat sat another solider wielding an assault rifle started taking pot shots towards them. Katt acting quickly as she could reach down for her SMG. As she was about to take aim the rifleman on the other now firing off burst gets of a luck shot. The slug ripped right through Katt's chest just missing her heart and spine.
"AAAHHH!" Katt screamed and fell off the gun platform and on to Fox's lap almost falling out of the truck completely not too mention nearly cause Fox to lose control of the truck as well.
"KATT!" Fox yells but she didn't respond. She was unconscious and losing a lot of blood. Fox put one hand over her wound while he kept driving. Now vulnerable the amount of enemy fire increased. All Fox could do now was hope that the gunship would arrive in time.
"Where's that fucking gunship." Fox said to himself as a bullet zipped past his head. Fox speed onwards until he could finally see the gunship overhead. The gunship closed in on the two trucks until it got a lock on enemy and fire an anti-tank missile. The small buggy was nearly disintegrated by the powerful projectile. After the enemy truck was totaled Fox stopped and signaled the gunship to land. Once it landed Fox made haste and quickly carried his severely wounded comrade into the rescue ship and signaled it to take off. Rather than taking manual control of the gunship he knew he had tend to Katt the best way he could with what limited first aid supplies he had on him.
On board the GreatFox fifteen minutes later.
No sooner when they landed Fox rushes towards the Med-bay, hoping to keep his friend alive long enough to get her proper medical treatment. With out it she was as good as dead. Fox brings up his PDA while rushing through the corridors of the GreatFox.
"ROB set course for Corneria ASAP, max warp. Katt has been wounded really damn badly. We need to get her to a hospital in the safe zone immediately. She should be alright in the Med-bay for now." Fox orders.
"Affirmative Fox." ROB replies and powers up the FTL drives.
As Fox reaches the Med-bay he gently set Katt down on the bed and put and oxygen mask on her. He then changes the field dressing on her wound and hooker her up with an IV.
"Hold on Katt."
Authors notes: Sorry it took so long, but hey crap happens right. So what did you think of that? That was a hell of a shoot out. More action and more plot soon to come. Thanks for reading and for your reviews.