Chapter 2

Part one

350 miles south of Hong Kong

3:25 hours 18th July 2008

THE Osprey' altitude lowered suddenly sending my SC-20 slamming to the floor; I sat up straight to see Brunton still starring into his laptop's screen, he sat stiff in his chair tapping the occasional key. "Enthused?" I said as picked the rifle off the deck. He jerked in the seat and looked toward me startled; a smile ran across my face as I rubbed my eyes awake.

"Good your awake, we'll be there in twenty." He got up from his chair and pulled out two clips of ammo from an ammunition box at the rear end of the Osprey, walked over and handed them to me "We're keeping with the original plan, you're doing a drop." I nodded my head and stood up.

"Extraction?"

"We've got an agent aboard a small cruiser not far from the Island, when you need to get out, there will be a dingy waiting a few hundred meters from shore, which you'll use to get to the cruiser."

"What do I do with my gear?"

"When you get to the dingy there will be a duffel bag inside, with appropriate clothes for when you board the cruiser. As for the gear… inside the dingy will be a small buoy…" I gave a grin and looked at him sarcastically "James?" he gave a chuckle and continued "…there will be a buoy, with a wire attached to it, put your gear in the duffel bag and chuck it over board. We'll have a team retrieve."

"Organized…" I stepped over to my equipment stash and pulled out another pistol slotting it into the holster; I grabbed a clip of sticky shockers and placed them in my pocket, along with a clip of four airfoil rings.

Airfoil rings are a part of my LTL gear, fired into the head with great force knocking one unconscious, though used at too closer range they can be lethal; I've seen enough people shot in the temple with the AFR that I take great caution in using them.

I unclipped the ammo from my rifle and replaced it with the new ones, placing one in my right thigh pocket. I pointed to the ammo box and placed my hand on the butt of the pistol; James walked over leaning down a grabbing a clip of ammo.

"Sam, when you get back I might have a gift to add to your collection of gadgets," he said as he chucked the ammo into my chest.

"Oh Brunton, you shouldn't have…" I said as I filed the clip to my suit.

"It's not big but I think it'll make your job easier."

"Why not give it to me now?" I asked.

"I don't have it…"

I shrugged and slipped the head balaclava over my face leaving just my eyes revealed. "Of course you don't…" I nodded my head toward him and brought my arms to the zipper for the balaclava "Do you mind?" he nodded and walked over zipped the balaclava to the suit. I snapped the cog on the SC-20 and slipped it onto my back holster. Bird yelled out from the cockpit and waved his hand "Sam, you ready?" I nodded to Brunton and zipped the top of my tactical-suit up. "Ready!" the clang of metal and machinery sounded as the rear door opened, water and wind blew in soaking the inside of the Osprey. I grabbed my goggles and slipped them onto my head, the lock clicked and a piercing hum sounded as they powered up.

"Keep in contact!" Brunton yelled as he ran back to the cockpit.

The signal light changed green as the water slowly passed by; I snapped a lever and a UPE dropped in a splash, I slipped the re-breather harness on my back and slipped the mouth piece into the balaclava and slotted it in my teeth. I ran forward and crossed my arms to my chest leaping from the deck, pin dropping to the freezing cold ocean in a splash, I rolled back and kicked to the surface, the bubbles ran past my face as I ascended. The Osprey zoomed off into the darkness as the propeller hum grew dim. I caught the lightweight UPE in my hands and tapped my sub-dermal "Lambert, I'm in the water, about to proceed." Static hissed before Lamberts voice spoke up "Good, now, you know your objectives?"

"Yeah, footage, hostages, keeping it clean,"

Grim joined in "Hi Sam, just informing you that the Island doesn't have any form of alarm system, there are no cameras, sensors…"

"Grim, I'm cold…"

"Isn't your suit meant…?"

"…I didn't do the trousers up tight enough and it was a bit uncomfortable when I hit the water; and I get it, no alarm systems." Grim snorted in the radio and was accompanied by Irving, "No… but that probably means their numbers and awareness is high." She finished the sentence in a laugh.

"Lambert you shouldn't be laughing, you know what it would be like if you were in my position."

"But I'm not, am I?"

"Look, I'll contact you later."

"Ok, won't hold you up, we'll contact when you hit land."

"Fisher out," I brought the OPSAT to my face and toggled the modes; it showed I was 1600 meters from target.

The UPE' engine hummed to life; the UPE is an underwater propulsion engine used a lot in Navy Seal operations, for infiltrating undetected through deep waters at quick speeds. The 2 foot long and 1 foot wide engine is lightweight and quiet, Third Echelon has just introduced the UPE to our options of entry, and never goes wrong.

I pointed it to the direction of the Island out in front of my head. The speed increased on my goggles tactical screen 4.5 miles…5.7…7.9…10.3 miles eventually it reached 17.8 miles p/h; I kept my face to the sea bed as the force was strong, nearly tearing the goggles from my head.

The distance grew smaller and the bed began to rise. I switched the jet off and floated to a stop. I un-strapped the jet from my arm and let it sink to the sea bed. The goggles vision blurred as the water ran off the lenses, I switched my digital binoculars on pointing to the Island.

In the image appeared a cliff side and a small beach littered by rocks, the top of the cliff was dark and quiet, the occasional shadow moved, most likely a patrolling soldier. I switched the zoom to 8x and focused on the beach, it was clear and dark, and I marked it for my point of entry. I scanned the cliff again and saw the outline of a truck in the dark sky, I switched to IR but the distance was too far; so I then flicked off zoomed and started wading towards the shore.

Part two

3:40 hours

My feet scraped the sand on the sea bed; I fell to my stomach rubbing against the seaweed. The waves boosted me forward further onto the beach; I did an NV scan to see if it was clear. Nothing.

Rain poured down in an instant soaking the sand and the rocks, the droplets prodded my back as I laid there stiff; whilst on my stomach I crawled forward until I reached a rock sticking the SC-20 flat against it.

The beach lit up as lighting struck, followed by the deep raw of thunder, the storm clouds covered the night sky, followed by an eerie sound of the waves crashing against the rocks.

I crawled around the rock and headed towards the cliff face; I found a small space between two rocks and slipped in.

As I was removing the re-breather harness the sub-dermal buzzed in my ear, "Well done Fisher, how are you coping so far?" Lambert said.

"Meh… cold, stiff, nothing I can't bare." I said brushing sand from my suit.

Grim came online and started the conversation off as usual "Evidence of old age Sam,"

"I'm not old! Try… mature."

"I believe that's good enough for a nursing home."

"Why are you even talking? When I come across a retinal scanner along the cliff I'll inform you."

A snort came over the radio "Can't wait…"

"Lambert, has Brunton got anything other than me climbing the cliff face? It looks kinda slippery."

"One second, I'll put him on for you…" The static changed followed by the crackled voice of Brunton "Sam, if I'm right this Island was home to a smuggling operation out of China, now from the data and history of smuggling, there's most likely small caves around the cliff they use to use to get the job done, I don't have exact locations so you're gonna have to scout around; otherwise… cliff face."

"I'll keep an eye open,"

I pulled the mouth piece from the balaclava and placed it on the rock, my eyes caught a glimpse of what appeared to be wet footprints in the sand, I froze in silence hoping to here evidence of company, it was quiet and dark. I removed the rest of the harness and used my hands to dig a hole in sand; I put the gear in the sand and covered it back over.

The footprints led around a slight corner; I crab walked along the cliff and peeked my head around the corner, it was clear. But I noticed by the cliff was a small crevasse two feet wide, I stepped out and looked up the cliff for any company, before I walked over to the crevasse, I listened and heard the echoing of voices vibrating across the stone walls.

The goggles hummed as I switched to NV; squeezing my body into the crevasse crab walking along. The gap widened into a natural stair case of rocks leading to a small path big enough to fit through crouching; I mantled the stair case of rocks and took the path cautiously.

In a crouch I went along, the voices started up again but not as echolike. They spoke in accented in English as I stepped out into a dark cavern lit only by the glow of running water. In the centre of the cave was a deep wide crevasse with an old rickety bridge running to the other side. The soldiers stood across the other side fighting over whether the bridge is safe "It's safe, trust me."

"I don't know, it could break," he lent to the edge and then was joined by the other "It's a long way down I guess, but you're just chicken! It won't break. Chan just went across, it was fine!" he stepped back and shook his head "Well Chan is a twig, do what you want I'm not going across." He said as he walked out of sight into another cave "Fine, do what you like…" he shook off his backpack then walked to the bridge taking one step at a time. He held the rails firmly on each side, walking one plank at a time.

I dropped back down one step and peered over the ledge; he approached the end of the bridge and leaped the last few planks. "Ha! Made it!" he yelled. He walked left and looked down into the gorge. I mantled up the step and snuck up behind the soldier; he leaned out and peered over the edge. I drew my pistol and stood to his height; he held his rifle beside him with the safety on, the arm strap scraping the rocks. Raising the pistol to his head I reached forward and gripped the back of his neck firmly. He gasped in pain as his body shot up in shock. The silencer pressed against the back of his head and I whispered in his ear "Long way down isn't it…you weren't going to jump, were you?" I pressed my thumb into his neck causing him to let out a slight cry. "Ah… no!" he said softly

"Cause if you were, I'll be happy to assist," I looked at his G-32 automatic assault rifle and pushed the pistol harder. "Drop it." He stood there firmly grasping it in his hand "Now!" I jerked his head and the rifle dropped in a clang tipping forward over the ledge, it spun in the air and splashed to the stream. "Now, keep quiet or you'll join it. Where are the two hostages located?" I said. His voice hesitated before

"Try the storage rooms at the bottom of the lighthouse; I think that's where they are."

"Keep it up, where is the footage your goons recovered?" I asked.

"What are you talking about?"

"Listen, I hear that far too often, it gets kinda old. Now it seems you're desperate for your gun, most likely to shoot me… do you want it?" he shook his head in my grip and breathed aloud. "Now, try again. Make it quick I'm short on time."

"Try the communications centre, I'm not entirely sure, but that's the most guarded area. I swear that's all I know…" he finished his sentence before echoed steps approached; I squeezed his neck and stepped back against the wall into darkness. The previous guard walked out from a gap walking to the ledge "Teng, Teng?" Teng? I thought. He searched around before walking to the bridge, he hesitated and started on. He took his steps carefully one step at a time; he reached half way and looked over the rails.

I changed my grip to a head lock providing me with a better position, the guard scanned and stopped his sight in our direction, he squinted his eyes and drew his pistol "Teng, is that you?" I squeezed off his air as he tensed in my arm. The soldier walked further another two planks; I brought the pistol in line with him slowly bringing my finger to the trigger "Fisher!" Lambert said with hesitation. "It'll be clean and quick. Its unlikely he'll be found." I slowly tightened my grip on the trigger "You know your rules of engagement!" he took one step more "Fatality or the mission sir!" the line went quiet providing me with the answer I needed; I was about to fire before I changed my aim on the bridge cable; the pistol bucked in my hand and the rope snapped free. The bridge leaned one side instantly throwing him off the edge, his scream echoed numerous times before his body slammed into the rocky stream below. "It'll look accidental… good enough?" I said as I brought the pistol back to the hostage. He wriggled in my grip trying to free himself.

"Good thinking."

"The bridge wasn't sturdy, could have happened any time."

"Get a move on Fisher, we're low on time."

3:50 hours

I holstered the pistol and pulled hard on his neck, he gasped for air pulling on my arm, his grip weakened before he went limp. I placed him on the ground and pulled out a 'memory dart' as the name was chosen for simple use by me; when coming in contact with an unconscious victim, it releases a serum that causes memory loss twenty to thirty minutes from the present time. I scraped it against his neck and shoved him over the ledge. The body slammed down the natural staircase with loud thumps, before resting in the darkness on the last step.

I stepped up to where the bridge was hanging and looked for another route; the space was six meters across and twelve meters down. The bridge couldn't hold much longer wiping that from my choices which now stuck nil.

A rock lip snuck out four or more meters below the opposite ledge, taking a moment to ready myself I cleared my mind; I stepped to the rope holding the bridge up, then un-sheathed my knife cutting it free, it crashed to the opposite side dislocating the occasional plank.

Taking deep breathes I stepped back for a run up, bolted forward and leapt from the edge, gliding through the air reaching out with my hands; I landed my feet on the lip and caught a slight hold with my hands, though I hit the wall at too greater force. My feet slipped from the wet lip, shooting me down from the hand holds. I snagged the lip in my right hand and hung there swinging; my shoulder sockets and wrists were aching from the catch, I stabled myself with my left hand and took a breath. One pace at a time, I shimmied right towards the bridge. I tugged on one of the planks checking its stability; bringing my feet the bridge and then my body I started up testing each plank as I went until I reached the top.

My body dropped to the ground, and I regained my breath.

A path followed off right into darkness, with the slight glow of light at the end. I crept down clearing ahead with NV, it merged left into an alley leading to a room lit by the orange glow of lanterns; the room was bare with the occasional box in the corner. I crab walked along the wall until I reached the door; the room was clear and bright, in the center of the right wall was a ladder that ascended out of sight. I walked over to the ladder and looked up the access tunnel. The ladder ascended fifty to sixty feet into darkness. I scurried up ten feet and checked for directions "Brunton, where am I headed?" the static hissed in my ear. "The layout of the Island was hard to get and very basic; You'll need to head to the communications centre first to retrieve the footage, you're in an access hatch thirty meters away from where you need to be heading, the main way to get there will be heavily guarded and almost impossible to infiltrate."

"Alright, run me through it,"

"Well, you're not taking that route, I've got an other idea that I'm pretty sure will work,"

"Always does,"

"You'll need to reach the surface and scout around for an aerial leading from the communications centre; now judging from the tech, the aerial will be pretty basic, meaning that there will most likely be a maintenance hatch running along it for repairs. That will be your point of entry."

"If there's no hatch?"

"Hard route…"

"Take me two it…"

4:05 hours

I proceeded up the ladder past numerous openings "Keep on going until you reach the top," Brunton pointed out.

I climbed the last twenty feet and reached the roof lit by a dim red light; rain belted the wooden hatch and breached the sides, I pulled out my three inch flexible snake camera, nicknamed 'flexi cam'; I released it from my belt and slipped it through the crack of the opening.

The OPSAT's screen breathed to life, an image appeared of a large dark clearing, paved by old uneven stone, in the background a lighthouse shown forth beaming the light through the dense rain. The camera shifted left showing a tower of crates and a light on a post swaying back and forth shining on the wet ground. A figured past the crates and stopped by a small sentry stone wall that lined the edge of the cliff, leaning up against it. I shifted the camera to the rear which showed a dark weapons cache covered by a tin roof. I moved the camera to the right and saw a large mountain like rock with a small opening at the side leading to a dark smugglers tunnel lit by the occasional lantern hanging from the wall. Soldiers patrolled the large clearing; one carried with him a flashlight causing pain for my job.

The hatch would open up into a large dark shadow which I could take to the cache of weapons in the darkness; the centre of the clearing was lit by the glow of the moon and the occasional flash of lightning. The clearing was surrounded by walls: a large one to the rear of the hatch which followed along until the tunnel, a sentry wall to the left that overlooked the sea side and beach, and finally one directly ahead with a large gate way in the middle leading up across a narrow pathway to the lighthouse. In the right off centre of the courtyard was another tower of boxes along with an over head light. To the south east, right of the light post, was a tent colored in green camouflage, light glowed through the stitching and a slight radio hummed.

I scanned once more and placed the flexi cam back in my belt; the hatch creaked open and the rain pelted down. The hatch was open just big enough for me to slip through onto my stomach. A fling of metal sounded to the left, the soldier brought the cigarette to his mouth and cuffed the flame from the wind and rain. I lay there still, imagining my next move countless times. Move on! I thought.I slowly shuffled backwards behind the hatch, and counted to twenty… 17…18…19…20, then started moving again keeping my eyes locked on the soldier as well as the surroundings. The rain lightened as my body started entering the cover of the tin roof; I squeezed backwards in between two crates and brought myself to my knees. I peered around the crate in source of other soldiers; apart from the guy with the cigarette the closest soldier stood by the tunnel guarding its entrance, and was passed by the patrolling guard.

I estimated the time before the patrolling guard returned to be forty seconds.

"I've reached the surface, where now?"

"The antenna is located eighty feet south east from your position, get to it and I'll give you further instructions."

4:10 hours

"We haven't intercepted anything from the Chinese, which gives you more time to finish the mission, but that doesn't mean you can take it casually. If either one of those hostages are dead, they've got hell to pay." Lambert said over the sub-dermal.

"Lambert, I don't like the sound of your voice,"

"That's because if those hostages aren't back in twenty four hours, the presidents going to take action!"

"You mean push the button?"

"That's right…"

"The 'big red' button?"

"Afraid so…"

"That's a bit over the top isn't it, I don't think two hostages is a good enough excuse to go to war, we don't even know there intentions. What if it's a governmental subgroup working out of authority?"

"We were wishing that was the case, but the entire Chinese government has made accusations that we have made threats and that they were acting in self defense."

"What did they say about the hostages?"

"Denied everything. But they did wish to know our intentions of taking that footage."

"Throw them a bone; tell them what they want to hear: the crew acted out of authority received illegal footage, we were going to take action against the crew and then say sorry."

"We have… but if the Chinese wont admit the disappearance of those reporters, that's a good enough threat for the president. That footage must contain something they don't want to reveal."

"Its ok, no pressure."

"Fisher, I don't like it anymore than you do, you can not fail!"

"Never do,"

The guard finished his patrol past the lighthouse wall, and started down the northern side. I waited for the right moment to move… the guard stopped occasionally in twenty second intervals, looking through the sentry spaces located every three meters along the wall to the beach below.

The other soldier stamped the cigarette with his foot and moved off the wall; he walked over and pulled open the hatch disappearing into the ground.

That was good, but I still had the guard by the tunnel to deal with.

With my SC-20 flat up against the crate I waited, the shine of a flash light appeared on some crates and foot steps grew louder thudding on the stone pavement. The guard passed by and stopped a few feet in front; he was dressed bulkily and was covered in a drenched rain coat. He slotted the G-32 over his shoulder and reached into his pocket pulling out a handkerchief blowing into his nose. I crept forward and brought my fist back, I moved swiftly bringing my hand to his shoulder and slamming my fist into the back of his head. He rag-dolled sideways crashing to the pavement. I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him behind some crates. I pulled off his rain coat and slipped it around myself then walked on slowly by the small wall occasionally looking over the side to the crashing of the waves. The guard was unaware as I walked on, I approached the northern wall and passed by some barrels and rolled up piles of rope. I proceeded past the gateway to the light house where two guards stood at dull attention; as I approached some crates and the large military tent which was surrounded by shadow, I scanned for movement around the tent, there was none apart from the shadow that moved on the inside. I shredded the coat and stuffed it in a loose crate; the guard by the tunnel lost consciousness against the wall crossing his feet. The tent revealed an IR view of three men: two sitting down at a table playing what appeared to be cards, and the third bending over a map pressing his glowing mug against his lips.

Concealing myself in the corner behind some barrels I contacted Brunton

"Brunton, I'm at the coordinates you gave me, I don't see any antenna."

"I'm sorry, the antenna is actually on the other side of the south wall your near. It over looks the rocky cliff face and sea."

"You couldn't have possibly told me this before I got here could you? Cause there's no way I'm getting over that; it's at least forty foot straight up."

"It's ok, if I'm right you should be right near a trapdoor that opens up to the maintenance hatch, now Grim says there are no alarms installed so you shouldn't have to worry."

"My trust in you is starting to weaken, I wish to know one hundred percent of the plan from now on, and it might give me different options in going about my objectives." I said angrily.

"Boy, I know not to wake you next time." He said as the radio crackled

"It's ok James, just his age." Jennifer added.

"Grim, still no scanners!" I said sarcastically.

"Right… sorry." She said

I moved around in search of the trapdoor, I flipped the trident goggles over my eyes and switched to EM, or electro magnetic, which reveals any form of power source in a light blue fuzzy appearance. I checked the ground and looked through crates; a small faded light blue picture appeared through the bottom of a crate. I switched off EM and shifted the crate quietly to the side. A wooden trapdoor two foot by two foot was imbedded into the pavement with a small ring handle on the end.

"Got it,"

"Good…" the sub-dermal crackled followed by Lambert's rushing voice "Sam, we've just intercepted a call, a Chinese General is heading your way by helicopter. He's what they've been waiting for, your time has been reduced, he'll be arriving at 4:40 hours; that leaves you with twenty minutes Fisher!"

"Better move!" I said.

The door was stiff, so I helped it along with my Sykes; my Sykes is a top of the line military knife which I have carried with me through many conflicts, razor sharp, serrated on one side and smooth on the other, the blade is Teflon coated for electrical situations and gives me an almost bloodless clean cut.

The door creaked open and stood to the side; foot steps sounded followed by the shuffling of the tents curtains. I froze in a crouch and waited, he spoke up sending my hairs on my neck stiff "Hey, you got any cigarettes?" I didn't respond "Hey what are you doing… look are you deaf? ciggy's!" I couldn't ignore it; I spun around bringing the SC-20 from the holster and raising it to his height. His eyes widened before I shot the secondary trigger, the air foil round shot out of the under-barrel in a thump; it struck him in the forehead knocking him flat to his back.

1…2…3…4… I counted until I reached ten. The soldiers' shadows still appeared in the tent as they went on playing. I holstered the rifle and dragged his body behind some crates stabbing a dart into his neck. "I'm moving."

The space was small as I shuffled past a small light and electrical conduit. The path veered off right leading into another access hatch lined with a small ladder; I slipped through and snagged the first rung. The space was small with all the water pipes and conduits leading to the bottom; the tunnel descended down seventy feet lit by dim lights spaced two meters from each other. A mesh like cage followed the ladder down; inside the cage was a large white conduit which that followed the ladder and veered off through the wall out of sight.

"I've reached the maintenance tunnel."

"Ok, proceed down thirty feet and stop."

"Moving,"

4:30 hours

The OPSAT's display showed ten feet and lowering

8f… 6f… 4f… 2f…

Destination reached…

"Ok, Brunton what now?" the static hissed.

"To your direct front is what?"

"A cage, conduits, a light?"

"What's inside the cage?" I changed my view to see a vent letting off slight vibrations through the air.

"Antenna conduit, and… a vent."

"Gotch'ya!" the vents were located every ten meters throughout the shaft to stop over heating. "That vent leads directly to the command room, and communications."

"I thought the blueprints you had were basic?"

"I upgraded. How big is the space? You reckon you could fit?"

"It'll be tight, but yeah… just." The vent was roughly 1.5 foot high, and 2 feet wide.

"That's your entry point."

"You know Brunton, it would be awfully difficult to make repairs in these shafts,"

"That's because they weren't purposed for this, they were originally escape routes in WWII."

"Well that explains a lot."I checked my OPSAT, it said nine minutes till arrival. From my harness I pulled a "burn tie", an eight inch magnesium primacord. Once ignited, magnesium will burn hot and fast at five thousand degrees Fahrenheit, cutting through absolutely anything like a scalpel through jelly.

I molded it onto the cage in the shape of a circular hole just big enough for me to pass through, and then pushed off the ladder leaning my back against the conduits closing my eyes shut tight. I pushed the button on my OPSAT, a sizzle sounded before a piercing scrape of metal. I sensed the bright blinding light through my eye lids and smelt hot burnt metal rise up the shaft. I pushed firm on the circular cut dislodging it from the cage. Leaning in the hole I un-sheathed the Sykes and started unscrewing the screws, once done I jerked the cover off and lodged it in some pipes. The fit was tight, especially when you carried with you: an SC-20 assault rifle, a pistol, three forms of grenades, utility belt equipped with ammo and stock for the guns, a bullet proof "rhino-plate" vest, and a dozen pockets full of gadgets that make my life easier. Though it may seem like a lot, it really doesn't slow me down, each object is placed in spots that won't interfere with movement, the vest is one inch in thickness but stops an AK-47 a point blank range; my rifle is thin and lightweight but cocks a punch from any distance. And my pistol, well if I didn't have it in my gear; I would not be laying in a confined air vent five floors down in the middle of a piece of rock, who knows where off the coast of China. So, in the long run, I shouldn't be complaining.

I shuffled along a few meters and stopped by an intersection "Brunton, what way?"

"Left," I went left and followed it along for a few meters winding left and right. An opening grew near, the air freshened and a breeze passed by. On the ground the shadow of a fan appeared slowly twirling round. I came out underneath it and looked up to the small light at the top of an almost endless shaft "Brunton please tell me I don't have to get up there,"

"Ok, you don't. Just keep heading forward." I did just that.

The time was now four minutes and descending; I kept moving on for another minute until I reached another fan, this time it descended, moving at a far greater speed. I felt the suction try to pull me in with force "You have to go down there." I leant over the edge and squinted "You're kidding?"

"Afraid not…"

"Unless you wanted me to turn up as shredded meat, that's not wise."

"It's ok, I think I can help you out, I should be able to access the Island's security system and shut off the air vents, not for long though," Grimsdottir said as she joined in.

"How long are you talking Grim?"

"Um… twenty three seconds approximately."

"I can't see past the first, how many fans do I have to pass?"

"Three, each one is two meters apart. Think you can do it?" Grim asked.

"I'll give it a shot."

"Cause Sam, looks like their tech here is better that we though, cause if fail, that'll be our last shot. The base has a back up generator that's separate from the main computer network. I can't hack into that."

"Than it looks like I don't want to get stuck in the middle." I reached in to my harness and pulled out two magnetic hand grips, roughly the size of my palm; then placed them on one side of the vent; I unraveled a rappelling rope from my harness and weaved it through the hand grips before clipping it back onto the rope "Ok Grim ready when you are,"

"Stopping vents in three…two…one… go!" The fans slowed suddenly with the clunk of metal on metal, I crawled over the side and let my legs dangle, and I released the rope with the release clip jolting my way past the first fan "Fifteen seconds!" Grim yelled. I released it fully listening to the rope running through the belay. I past the second fan fast; I halted at the last as a series of clangs sounded. Keep moving! I ordered myself. Once I passed the last fan I would have to release myself from the rappel and regain another grip in the shaft with my legs and body, otherwise it would be a twenty foot drop straight down. The fan paced my face before I stopped just below the last fan. More clangs sounded and the slow hum of engines started "Times up!" the top fan started moving catching the rope as it went; I felt the jolt on my rope as it started shifting me around the shaft bouncing me off the walls. The twirling jolted me around making it extremely difficult to gain a grip in the space. The movement started pulling me up the shaft, the second fan started up slowly tying the rope in the fan pulling me up quicker. The harness caught and wouldn't release, I had to make a decision otherwise I would end up as that meat. The rope would release, I pulled out the Sykes and cut my body free. It snapped with force sending me down the shaft fast. My legs caught the walls sending me upside down, I knew it was going to hurt; I was heading to the ground and was going to land on my back. I flexed my muscles and closed my eyes as I hurtled toward the ground. My back snapped forward sending my knees to my chest. The vents echoed with a bang as the rifle hit down, followed by the goggles that got forced off on the way down. My head lent up against the wall, and my body ached in pain. The fans were at normal speed sending particles of the ropes onto my face. A faded voiced passed by my brain, I tried not to fall unconscious forcing my eyes open.

"Sam, Sam?! Are you ok sir?!" I groaned and slowly straightened my body.

"No…"

"Few that looked painful."

"It was…" I sat up and unzipped my balaclava removing it from my head; the breeze past through my black military cut hair as I ran my fingers through it.

"Two minutes left Fisher, you had better keep going."

"I'm fine, no really I am… no don't worry about it, I'll live, thanks anyway."

"Sorry, are you ok?"

"Huh, fine." I sat my body up and placed the goggles back into place. "Ok Brunton. Left or right?"

"Uh… you have to go left."

"You know that bang was loud, so they probably no I'm… I'm here." Squeezing my body back down I forced my body back into the crawling space, the OPSAT said 40 seconds till arrival. I had to move faster.

I kept on going through the vents for ten or more meters, the sound of the vents changed from a solid shuffle to a hollow shuffle. "Brunton, where am I?"

"You're directly above a hallway leading to the communications and command rooms. I'd keep noise to a minimum if I were you."

"I'm a ghost."

An IR view showed lights directly below the vent spaced three meters apart, a red and yellow figure past below and stopped at the end leaning against the wall. I past several pylons located across the roof and approached an air ducted shining light through the dusty air. Underneath me I passed by the guard, my OPSAT read ten seconds till touch down. The static of a radio buzzed below followed by the muffled voices of a two way "The General has landed, he'll be down in a second. Open the doors as he comes!" the radio clicked off before he replied "Ok, we'll be waiting."

"Sam, he's arrived," Brunton stated.

"I heard." I replied.

"Keep moving the take a right to the command center."

The vent crossed an intersection leading left and right; I took a right and followed it to an air ducted, I slipped my flexi cam in the grating waited for the image. The room was small, and brightly lit by fluorescent lights that lined the edges of the walls. In the centre of the room was a large table covered in strategic maps of what appeared the surrounding area, and the occasional folder and A4 sheet of paper. I wriggled the cam around further to see a guard at attention by the door; next to the guard was a black phone attached to the wall along with an overflowing corkboard.

An echo of doors opened through the vent followed by loud footsteps approaching the room. The door swung open and the guard stepped to attention, a Chinese General entered the room, chucking his leather jacket to the table. An airman followed in behind holding with him a laptop computer and a metallic briefcase.

"Fisher, run this through!"

"One step ahead of you," I changed the flexi cam to record on my OPSAT and flowed the image back to base.

The General signaled the airman and he walked over placing the laptop on the glass table. The General opened the laptop and pressed some keys. The screen faded black and flowed with writing before it faded and then appeared to an image of a man sitting in a room lit by the glow of a wood fire and red curtains with first class furniture.

The General signaled the airman once more; he walked over and placed the brief case on the table then left, closing the door behind him.

The computers speakers let out a fuzzy voice "General," the man said.

"Sir," the General replied.

"What is the situation?"

"The crew of the crash escaped," the face snapped up. "We captured two of the men that took the footage, they're not speaking, and the other was killed."

"How much do they know?" the voice said angrily.

"A lot, I have with me the footage," he reached down and unclipped the brief case, pulling out a disk "Do you want to see?" the face nodded. He slipped the disk into the laptops tray then pressed a few keys; the screen showed a progress bar that read the percent of download. The man's face went serious as he looked into his computer. The room was silent before the footage ended; he looked to the screen again, and folded his arms.

"What should I do with it?"

"Destroy it," I stiffened and hesitated. "We can't have the Americans find this, they know too much already, and they also know that we have something to hide, and they know about the hostages."

"What should I do with the hostages?"

"Kill them," I went pale and wanted to send a bullet through there heads, the General stepped back and leant up against the table "If they find out…"

"Make sure they don't then,"

"Yes sir," he tapped a key and the image died, he walked to his radio and talked into it "I have my orders, kill them." He went back to the desk and flicked through a folder, I zoomed in on the files, though it was hard to read, my Chinese was good enough to notice three words underlined by his finger- 'Trojan horse, Lanzhou.' I filed it into my OPSAT and went back to work.

I closed my eyes and held back my anger "Sir, I can't let him do it!"

"Hold back you feelings…" Lambert said, but it was too late, the muffled crackle of gunshots came over the radio. The General put the radio back on the table and knocked on the door. An airman entered the room and handed him a computer chip; he slotted it into the side of the laptop and closed the screen. Sparks and smoke rose from the laptop, entering the vents. The General left the room and closed the doors.

"Sir…" I closed my eyes and breathed heavily.

"I know… there's nothing you could have done,"

"Maybe not but I could have tried!"

"No, what you did was right, the outcome couldn't be changed." Lambert said.

"Two civilians died doing what they thought was right. And I sat here and watched. I could have freed them first!"

"Fisher… Sam, you did try. You helped by continuing what they started."

"I don't think they had 'a bullet to the head', as part of their plan… That footage is fried; even I know I can't fish out the leftovers."

"Grim, think you can get something out of it?" Lambert said.

"No. Fisher's right, the footage is fried." Grim answered.

"My mission's been a failure Lambert… what now?"

"Now, extraction,"

"That's it? No assassination of a certain General?"

"I know how you feel Sam, but I've got another mission brewing up for you."

"I feel as though this has been a waste of time."

"No, that's not true; you've given us more incentive to investigate the matter. Brunton will now run you through extraction." The static changed again "Ok Sam, I've been running over the islands schematics numerous times, trying to find the best route." Brunton said as the slight sound of

"What have you got for me James?" I said.

"The vents are scrubbed from the picture due to the back up generator, so here are your options:"

"Fire away."

"You can take the hard route out, passing through multiple checkpoints, patrols and then take the only route up: a guarded elevator."

"Any other options?" I said with hesitation.

"Hoping you'd say that, I just noticed a small tunnel leading out three floors below your feet into the ocean, it's small but should be suitable for ex-filtration."

"What's the tunnel used for?"

"Um… well, it's a sewer system,"

"Will it be submerged?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I can't, I don't have my re-breather harness, and I left it on the beach."

"Oh, yeah…" There was a slight pause followed by shuffling through the microphone. "Well, you have one more option: Grim says that the vents fans were run on the back up generator, so if you could tamper the generator or even just turn it off, the base should be dark and powerless; just what you like."

"Then take the vents back up, through the shaft, over the wall, onto the beach and then through to extraction."

"Exactly,"

"But there's got to be a kink in the plan somewhere, it's never that easy?"

"Well, this time it is."

"Really… Let's go then,"

"Let's,"