Chapter 4
Chinese Embassy
Xiamen, China.
12:15 hours 20th July
THE van parked in a back alley behind a wall of residential city apartments, one block east of the embassy. The alley was dark, conspicuous, and the last place anyone would want to walk down in the middle of the night. The alley was littered in rubbish: newspapers, cans, bottles, plastic bags ect.
Brunton checked the back of my suit and arranged the pockets. "Good, I've downloaded a GPS route to the embassy and its outside blueprint; contact will be a problem, the embassy has a system that reduces certain areas of the property from radio frequencies, don't ask why, probably for aspects such as 'us'. But if you want to talk, you have to be in the right position. So, Grim has given you a map marked with all the areas that won't be reachable by your sub-dermal, and all the areas that will." I nodded and checked my goggles, "Cool."
"Keep safe, and stay in touch. I'll be waiting." I jumped out and leant on the van roof looking inside "You do know I could go for that beer right about now."
"Offer is still open when you get back."
"'If' I get back," he chuckled and said "Huh, whatever Sam." then closed the van door slamming it to a shut.
I headed deeper down the alley, for another thirty meters. The alley went right, this time leading behind numerous empty commercial type buildings, like cafés and shops. The back doors were barricaded shut with security cages, along with all the windows. I followed the GPS further down until I reached a building with the rear doors covered with police crime scene tape. The tape ripped away revealing the door nailed shut with wood; the planks jerked out one by one before I chucked them aside. There were the remains of a door, charcoaled and missing the top half. I nudged the door open enough for me to enter; inside was empty and black with evidence of numerous tables and chairs, the building was a café that was recently burnt down after a gang of kids caught it alight.
I proceeded through the café and removed the planks at the front door revealing the twenty foot high stone embassy wall, toped with razor sharp wire; I peeked my head out and checked the street; nothing, the street was ghostly and sent shivers down my spine. I bolted across to the embassy wall and reached for a gap in the stones; the holds were small but enough to slowly pull myself up the wall. I reached the top and held myself steady reaching for a small pair of wire cutters in my back pocket. The wire was tough, but it clipped away nicely leaving a gap just big enough for me to scale my body over. The other side of the wall was dark, but lined with the odd camera every ten meters or so; I made sure I would be clear before I grasped the ledge and let my body hang; I relaxed and scanned my landing spot, it was dark and padded with wet grass from the embassy sprinklers. My grasp released and I dropped the height of the wall carrying my descent through bringing my position to a crouch as I landed softly to the grass.
That was another major feat in my training and Krav Maga, acrobatics, catching my weight and landing almost soundlessly to the ground with loosing balance or breaking a leg.
I spun around and flattened my back to the wall; the compound was large, with a paved driveway leading to the front entrance. At the front gates were two booths, only one was occupied. The perimeter was patrolled by two guards, their routes forty seconds apart.
I switched to EM and scanned the compound, I counted five cameras; two watched the gate, two watched the embassy's front door, and one watched the corner opening down its side. I tapped my sub-dermal and checked in "Ok, I'm in."
The static hissed and Lamberts voice came online "Well done, now on to your objectives."
"Roger. Grim, tell me about these cameras, they seem to like them."
"Be careful, the two at the gate are night vision equipped, the two at the door aren't night vision equipped but detect motion. And the one in the corner is fitted with IR." The cameras watching the gate would get a far amount of the compound in view, reducing my options.
"Damn!" The patrolling guards neared closer on my position, I dropped to the grass and waited; the crumbling of gravel passed by slowly, as each guard walked by. I moved slowly along the grass to the small corner and stopped out of the line of sight of the camera. I floor up the wall was a window dark on the inside. I realized that was my entry point. Another floor up was a lit window with an extendable fire escape ladder above it. I had an idea.
"I'm heading to the roof."
I pulled out my 5-7 and charged the OCP, I aimed it at the camera and clicked the button, and the camera whined and turned off. Not much time was available before it turned back on. This is another example of hours of training paying off and Krav Maga; I made sure no one was watching and stepped back before bolting forward stepping up the wall one step after the other 1… 2… 3… grab! I grasped the ledge and regain my breath. The camera would be out for another two minutes. I held on my right hand and pulled out the flexi- cam, sliding the window a centimeter open, slipping the cam in; my theory was right, a window sensor was fitted.
"Grim, I could use your help."
"I'm on it," a few seconds past and my arm strained. "Got it!"
The sensors clicked then shut off, I slid the window open and pulled myself up; I reached half way inside when the creak of a door sounded. I froze in the most awkward position. A man walked in with a coffee in one hand and a folder under his arm. He switched on the light and my heart stopped as he leant by a table and scanned a news paper that lay there. The camera was nearly back online and the sensor would activate again also. I had to wait longer… he looked around in search of an item. He glanced his sight past me and froze; we starred each other witless before his coffee and folder crashed to the ground. He bolted across the left of the room toward an alarm. Damn! I swiftly reached in and grabbed a grip before snatching out my pistol. I flung through the window coughing two through midair before crashing to the floor. He jerked twice head butting the wall as he fell. Quickly, I changed aim on the door and rolled out of sight behind a desk. 1… 2… 3… 4… I counted before I reached twenty. I jumped up and switched the light then shut the window. The roomed loomed in darkness and I slipped the goggles over my head switching to NV. The man was dead; the bullets penetrated the upper left of his back. I slid him over and shoved him under the desk. Damn. That was messy. I cursed myself and moved to the door.
The door crack at the floor was too small for the cam; I turned the knob and gently opened the door, I peeked out to a hallway lit dimly at the door. The floor was carpeted red and the walls were lined with brass gold lights. At the end of the hallway to the right were three doors at an intersection, guarded by a single camera scanning the hallway. I knew I was out of sight but I still jumped, closing the door slightly. The left of the hallway turned right and out of sight; I needed to know of presence. I slipped the SC-20 of the back holster and inserted a sticky cam, firing at the wall turning off; I closed the door and hid safely, switching the mode on my OPSAT to sticky cam.
A picture fuzzed and snapped to life; an image of the hallway I previously was in appeared, I shifted the image right and focused down the hallway. The hallway was empty from personnel; the end wall had a camera also scanning the numerous doors that I suspected led to other offices and computer rooms.
I stepped out and opened the door examining the camera again. Grim was out of radio contact and I needed her now, though she probably couldn't help. I took a risk. I slid the 5-7 from the holster and spun my hand out from the door and gained a perfect shot on one of the lights. It shattered with noise, but not enough that I hoped would draw attention. I waited and took out the other, the one more. The hallway went pitch black, I stepped out and scurried down it to the end; the doors were: an office, a bathroom and a staircase. I took the latter.
The stairs were dark and empty of security; I proceeded up one floor slipping the cam under the door, it was another hallway identical to the other, only the space where the bathroom was continued on past other offices. At the left end of the hallway, a lone guard was stationed sitting on a seat with his 77-KK Hound at his side. He watched the hallway occasionally giving a yawn. This time of night was quiet and inactive, leaving most of the embassy in lockup and perfect for infiltrating. Above my door was another light. I thought for a moment then took action. I loaded the pistol with a dart and opened the door enough to fit the suppressor of the 5-7; the pistol coughed sending a dart to his leg, he looked surprised then slumped in his chair. I checked the hallway once more then attached to the wall and peeked my small periscope around the corner, empty, except for once again a camera. He sat in a slight shadow that would be good enough for me; I reached out and snatched the dart from his thigh to cause simple lack of awareness when he wakes up; though all will be ruined when they find a body with two bullets jammed underneath a desk. I checked then entered the room identical from the floor below switching the light out as I went, passing the desk with a single lamp and computer with overflowing paperwork. My radio contact was still unavailable to Grim leaving me with no security help. I approached the window and scanned outside; the two guards passed and started passed the entrance. I couldn't move the sensor on the window; otherwise my whole stealthy approach will be screwed. I pulled another device out of my suit used by most Special-Ops and Seal forces; it's an extendable glass cutter that slices then injects a high dose of a fuming form of gas that burns away at the sliced groove creating a perfect circle big enough for my liking.
The suction grip tugged the window and I pulled freeing a hole big enough for me to slip through. I placed the glass on the floor and slipped out above the cameras line of sight then shot upwards tagging the extendable ladder with both hands climbing up slowly stopping whenever the guards did their rounds.
The ladder passed two more windows before it reached the roof. I pulled myself to the last rung and peeked over the edge; a single guard was patrolling the perimeter of the roof, taking the time to stop and occasionally look up at the bright starry night. Over his shoulder an MP-60 was slung, he gripped it ready for instant use. The roof was graveled and spaced with numerous electrical rooms and breakers. I waited until he disappeared behind an electrical compartment, and then pulled myself up to a crouch creeping to the compartment, sticking flat against it. The guard continued and moved anti-clockwise around the compartment and I did the same. I checked no one was looking before I crept up slowly and unsheathed my Sykes. He stopped and reached into his pocket pulling out a packet of cigarettes. I moved slowly inching my hand to his head; he flicked the lighter and lit the smoke in his mouth. I gripped my arm around his neck knocking the cigarette out; he gasped and dropped the MP-60 trying to release my grip. He stopped struggling when I touched the cold blade of the Sykes against his throat. We stepped around and into a shadow that suited my liking then contacted Grim "Grim, I'm on the roof."
"Cool, this is good, the building below was well occupied and awake, but the building where Otomo's room is, is much quieter. See you got some company?"
"I got lonely."
"Of course, I understand due to our lack of communication, you missed me."
"I highly doubt that; can this guy be of any assistance?" I asked.
"Sure, there are a few voice scanners in the next building, might come in handy."
"Totally," I brought my mouth to his ear and whispered "Nice night. I need you to talk to a certain pain in the butt, can you do that? Nothing stupid." I brought the OPSAT to his mouth, "Say something…"
"What do you want me to say?!" the OPSAT beeped and Grim thanked.
"That'll do. Now tell me something that'll stop me from chucking you over the edge." His eyes widened "No, please! I can tell you that there are cameras,"
"No… really? Don't be stupid, it's a long way down."
"What about lasers? Yeah, they installed lasers, that's good isn't it?"
"Lasers, hmm… what else?"
"I don't know! Sensors, voice locks, checkpoints? I… I can give you a code to the staircase door. Its nine-five-five-three." he stuttered.
"It'll have to do. Nice doing business with you." I pulled hard on his throat incapacitating him after a short gasp. He went limp and I placed him neatly in the shadow jabbing him with both the tranquilizer and memory dart. I secured a small perimeter of the roof near me before contacting Grim "The Chinese are stepping down in tech if you ask me." a piercing voice came online "Why do say that?"
"Well with all the techno junk they make, you'd expect something better than lasers. I mean, lasers are so…"
Grim cuts me short, finishing the sentence "…Nineties?"
"…Well, actually, I was going to say seventies, will you stop making me feel old!" I said, feeling myself tense up.
"Got bad news for you Sam, you are old." I gave a chuckle and moved on. The staircase from the roof was lit by a single light and guarded by a camera. I didn't want to go down, not yet. I secured my area and continued until the roof dropped down one level, that was reached by a small ladder. I fell to my belly and crawled to the edge of a three meter drop. The space below was small, with a large chrome ventilation system centered in the middle. It over looked a large courtyard that led to another large building with which Otomo and the server would be found; the courtyard had a large fountain running along the middle. The outskirt of the courtyard was lush in flowers and ferns, with a footpath running in between. The courtyard was lit by several lights on poles spaced evenly along the footpath.
To my right on the level below me was another door, this time code locked as the guy said. When I was sure it was clear, I slipped over the edge landing in a crouch. I peered over the edge to the drop into the courtyard; I switched to EM and searched for cameras, I found several; three were on the walls on the current building, two were in the courtyard hidden with the lights, and another two on the opposite building. I fell to my stomach again, and peeked directly over the ledge; below me some six meters, was a balcony; I decided that was my route. I pulled the rappel from belt and clipped it to a pole by the vents then slid over the ledge upside-down stomach first. I pressed the release button on my OPSAT and I descended slowly. I descended just enough for me to peek into the room; I grabbed the doors seal and looked in to find a lounge room with a man sitting on the couch, mouth wide open. "Perfect." I mumbled. He tossed and turned before jumping up, yawning, then scanning for an item. Below me was a pack of smokes sitting on the ledge; I quickly snatched them up and ascended a few centimeters. I dropped the smokes to the ground then whistled lightly. He walked out curiously and picked up the smokes, leaving himself venerable. I knew it was a risk but I took it, I descended slowly and gripped around his head with both my arms, lifting him off the ground. He jerked furiously, before he weakened then died out, he dropped to the balcony unconscious with a thump.
I unclipped my rappel and somersaulted to the balcony. The room was furnished with expansible gear. It appeared to be an off-duty lounge room lit by a single light and the watery glow of a large fish tank imbedded in the wall occupied by numerous tropical fish. I checked for cameras, none; then scanned the blueprints. I needed to get to the other building, and the courtyard was my only route. Grabbing the body by the collar I shoved him neatly in a nearby cupboard and locked the door; then scanned over the balcony for camera positions; the cameras scanned left and right, leaving no part un-guarded, I watched for a few minutes and memorized there separate routes. It was going to be hard, leaving no chance of mistake; I was about to move when speaking sounded, then clunks of power starting up, the courtyard was soaked in light as numerous spotlights and garden lights came online. Three men walked out of the current building and walked across the yard; one looked familiar, the Chinese General on the island! The other two were probably just guards. I snapped a picture with my OPSAT as they passed a card through the door then entered. A few seconds passed and a single room in the other building lit up, shadows of the General and guards entered the room, joined by who I presumed was Otomo. I switched my goggles to microphone then zoomed in on the glass; a small microphone is implanted in the system, which can record normally or pick up the vibrations on the glass then synthesize them to English through my sub-dermal.
The speaking started muffled before it came online "…is ready." The voice was the General,
"Good, he will be pleased." Otomo.
"What now…" static "…the Americans are getting curious; we're taking a risk even talking about it here. We must act now!" Chinese General.
"I know, I will get my orders soon enough! Huh, the Americans won't see it coming…" phone rings and Otomo picks it up "Hello? Yes, ok… What? Crap! I will be careful sir. But is this a secure line? Good. Thank you sir… of course, I will give them straight away, bye." A few seconds passed before Otomo speaks up "These are your orders, take them and be careful."
"Yes sir," a door closed and the room was quiet, there were more footsteps before it appeared that he picked up a phone "Jackie? I'm going to bed now, lock the place up when they leave, I want to sleep soundly in my bed. Thank you." Another moment passed before the room went dark. The General and his two guards crossed the courtyard and entered the building; the door closed and metallic locks crunched. The courtyard loomed into darkness apart from the dim garden lights, the fountains constant trickle of water stopped, leaving the embassy spookily quiet. From my building a guard walked out and shone a torch across the yard then entered the other building locking it closed. My building would still have presence, due to late night workers. I mantled over the railing and dropped quietly to the ground behind some bushes making sure I was not seen by a camera; they were most likely NV equipped, so creeping to the other side would work; I practiced my movements in my head a couple of times, then scanned the balconies to make sure I was alone. I waited for the precise moment, then it came; a blind spot ran directly beside the fountain for eight seconds, in a low crouch I scurried across the yard directly along the fountain, I counted the seconds in my head and new I wouldn't make it; I dived to the ground and rolled as close as I could to a bush and laid there motionless. I was stuck and freaking out that I got spotted by the camera.
12:35 hours
Thirty second passed before I was certain that wasn't spotted; I slowly crawled along half inside the bushes for a few more meters slowly checking the position of the cameras. I was hoping that the NV on those cameras weren't high-tech, meaning that my dark figure in the bushes wouldn't be noticed. I took the chance. The bushes ended three meters from the entrance; I looked by the entrance and saw a large bin. I slowly crawled centimeter by centimeter until I reached the bin then worked my way around it until I was out of sight. I looked along the outside wall of the building and figured my only way in was the door. On the blueprint, showed that I was in a contactable zone, I radioed in "James, I'm at the building, any ideas on getting in?"
"The door is the only entrance."
"Damn, ok I'm on it. Grim you reckon you could distract those cameras? There's no way I can get in unnoticed."
"Hold on… yeah I can do it, not for long though." She said.
"Gonna have to beat my record on lock picking then."
"Say when," Ipulled out my lock picks and took a deep breath "When!"
"Go!" I ran to the door and went to work, jiggling the picks in my hand feeling the occasional click of a door pin opening. I contained my sweat and relaxed knowing that panic will slow me down. The door clunked, a little too loud for my liking. I swung the door open and stepped in to a dark corridor. I released my breath and contacted Grim "I'm in," the slight glow of red lines occupied the open air, from one side of the corridor to the other. They were positioned horizontally and diagonally.
"I've found the lasers,"
"What, those 'way out of fashion' lasers?" She giggled.
"Yeah, those ones… I'm moving on."
Brunton spoke up "Ah, Sam, contact me when you you're the foyer."
"Got it."
The hallway was pitch black, leading to a door of what I presumed was the main foyer. I weaved through the lasers slowly, stretching muscles I didn't even know I had; occasionally dropping to the floor and sliding on both my back and stomach. The lasers were hardly visible, a dim line would pierce the air and bounce off particles of dust, leaving a basic idea of there positions. I past the first set of laser and a few office doors, all in which were empty; I continued along following the blueprint toward the main foyer.
The walls were glowing in dots when I changed to EM; the vision is blurry and not good enough to proceed on. I turned off EM and pulled out a spray bottle giving the air a good spray, it revealed more lasers scattered in different directions. Again, I squeezed through them slowly until I reached the large foyer door. The last set of lasers were lined roughly forty centimeters apart forming a security wall; I dropped to the floor and slid through running my body up the door, there was no space to turn around, so I tried the door knob. Locked. Picking the lock wouldn't be impossible, but damn hard. I pulled out my flexi-cam and pointed it at the door, slowly bringing the OPSAT to my face; I turned it to IR on the OPSAT revealing a slight reading, the room was cold and there were no personnel present to my knowledge. The flex-cam slid back to my belt and I un-sheathed the Sykes, inserting it into the lock; one hard jerk was all it took. The door's lock snapped loudly and the door creaked open. I grabbed the knob preventing it from swinging, opened it enough for me to turn around then peered the flexi-cam through the opening.
The foyer was large and lit by a large domed skylight in the ceiling, to my left were half a dozen doors: a set of male, female toilets, a door with a staircase picture on the front and the rest I presumed offices. To my right were a reception and another door. Directly ahead of my door were two large staircases carpeted in red carpet; I could never figure out why red it such a popular color in embassies. The stairs mirrored each other spiraling up to the next level.
I walked in and hid in a shadow along the wall, the scanned for more lasers, none, apart from a few dozen by the skylight and windows. Then, I froze and became invisible, the guard from before came walking down the steps yawning as he went; he walked across the black tiled floor and in the room by the reception. The light flicked on and his shadow under the door stopped. I slid along the wall out of the cameras line out sigh and approached the reception. These cameras had no NV meaning there area covered was minor, straying into the center, would provide a good enough outline to sound an alarm. I scanned the room with the cam then entered slowly; he sat there concentrating on the CCTV footage, back to the door. I pulled the 5-7 from the holster and crept up behind his chair; I gripped the back of his neck tightly and rammed the suppressor against his temple. At first he struggled and tried to break free, but that stopped, I pushed his head forward into the desk knocking off his coffee.
He was a big guy, 6'5"… 6'6" maybe. A guy you wouldn't want to tick off at a late night pub.
"How's your nose? I'm not gonna kiss it better."
"What are you doing here?" he said muffled as his fat cheek was squashed against the wet desk.
"I ask the questions. Your security's pretty tight, can I expect anymore on the upper floors?"
"You really think I'm going to tell you that?!"
"Yeah, I do…" I pushed the suppressor harder.
"Ok, yeah, there are more lasers and voice locks. I've told you what you want now let me go!" he said.
"Now why would I do a stupid thing like that?"
"So I can properly introduce myself!"
"Feisty," I kept my aim perfect and touched record on my OPSAT "Talk,"
"No!"
"Thank you. Now, is Otomo al…" he surprised me well and suddenly, knocking me off balance. He pushed off the table and sandwiched me into the wall winding me. I slammed the butt of the pistol into his head of rock… nothing. He pushed out and elbowed me in the cheek with a whopping blow. I fell to the ground dazed but aware. He ran for the alarm but I locked up our legs tripping him to the floor. We got up quickly to our feet, myself in his route to the alarm.
If he was military trained and spent most of his time at the gym, he could pummel me, I just hoped he wasn't. He jumped forward and I positioned my legs; he took a swing and I ducked, then another, then another. His swing were powerful enough to take me out in one blow, he took another but I blocked it with my arm then countered; I went for the knee cap kicking it with my foot. He gasped then fell to one knee, the effect wasn't what I wanted, and his body was made of steel. He shot up and charged for the door, I bolted after him as he went for an alarm. I caught up quick, though he turned to face me; I ran to the wall and sprang towards it kicking off with my left foot diving him to the ground. He most likely broke a rib but got back up. Damn. He took a less powerful swing; I grabbed it then hammered his head into the reception desk. He went limp and lay there soundlessly. I rubbed my cheek and congratulated him for actually laying a 'rare' punch on me. The security here chooses their men wisely I thought.
I hoped this show wasn't caught on camera; otherwise half of China's police will be marching in that door.
I dragged his body behind the reception and took a breather, then checked the blueprints for the main archives room. It was below in a basement, which can be accessed by a staircase.
"Well that went well, I mean look on the bright side, not many people your age can do that." Lambert said.
"Is there a compliment in there somewhere, or are you trying to get a point across sir?"
"Sorry Sam, but you're getting too old for this type of thing."
"Stop listening to Grim, if you go by her definition of old, you'd need to issue diapers with every set of goggles…" I said annoyed.
"And if I keep listening to you, it'll be senior undergarments." He said with a deep chuckle.
"That was cruel…"
I jabbed him with a dart then went back into the security room; there were multiple screens flicking from different cameras in the building. Then I pulled out a computer bug and crawled under the desk; there were multiple cords, I picked the right one then cut back the rubber with the knife then tapped the bug to the appropriate wires. This means that Grim and the agency will have full footage of the security cameras in this part of the embassy, might come in handy. I got up then pulled out a special flash drive from the OPSAT then plugged it into the port on the computer. The drive is will copy every file in the computers memory, hopefully giving us the records on who has been here recently.
The OPSAT beeped, and disconnected the drive.
I walked to the door with the stair sign, checked then entered. Directly above me was a camera, to my right was a voice locked door with a bullet proof window in the center. Above the door said 'computer mainframe'; I contacted Grim in help "You fixed up those voices yet?"
Jennifer came online "Um… yeah, I've loaded them to your OPSAT."
"Thanks,"
The OPSAT beeped twice and I pressed 'receive file', then walked to the door and put the OPSAT's speaker to the lock; when I copied the files, a few names came up that showed who had clearance for certain areas, and Grim is clever enough to make entire sentences out one word, for instance a name.
I pressed 'sound' then the voice came out "Kori Heshan." The door unlocked and I thanked Grim. The staircase proceeded down to another door, a large metal one with a keypad lock. I switched on my tactical-light and examined the keys closely; the keys used would be reasonably clean, whilst the unused keys would most likely contain a layer of dust. Key seven, six, three and two had the heaviest layer of dust, whilst eight, four, one and nine where reasonably clean. I typed the numbers into the OPSAT and chose 'possible combinations' then sent a copy to Grim. A tone of combinations popped up "Damn," I said.
"Damn," Grim added.
"How many attempts will be allowed before an alarm is sounded?" I asked.
"Three…"
"Damn. Do you know how many digits are needed to create a code?"
"Hold on I know where you're going… five, on the dot. That lowers our possibilities, but it's still not good enough, I'm going to try hacking each of the men on the list personal records, it might contain some form of code or clue."
"How many men are on the list?"
"Five."
"Brunton, I've got a job for you, find out any information on the men on the list; addresses, dates, birthdays, anything with a digit of five."
"I'm on it."
"Grim, can you find out who set the code?"
"Sure, I'll try." Ten minutes passed, I killed time exploring a little bit more around the embassy, setting up numerous sticky cameras in tactical spots of the foyer and other areas. I returned to the door just in time for the guys to contact me "Got it! James rounded up some birthdates and joined them with my info I received."
"And…"
"The man who made the door code is named 'Yorik Masu', he had a daughter whose birth date is the fourteenth of the ninth, eighty-eight."
"See, I knew you bugged me for a good reason." I type the keys in correct order and was about to enter when Grim startled me "Wait! As soon as the doors open the power comes on in the room, you'll need to bolt to the opposite side of the room to avoid detection, there are two cameras in there, ones at the door, another at the archive; bolt pass the first and I'll deal with the second."
"Ok. I'm going!" I opened the door and machinery started up, then sounds of a generator started. I bolted passed numerous machinery and computers before hurdling a few steam pipes, the lights behind me flicked on following my footsteps "Quick!" I wasn't going to make it; I scanned ahead and brewed an idea. I leaped into the air grabbing some conduits in my arms then tied my legs around them. The whole room was now lit up brightly, the humming of computers was loud and the buzzing of the camera scanning the floor below me. I swung my body around and squeezed between the pipes and the ceiling then shuffled along until I was directly below the archive's computer, "Grim, think you can shut off that camera now?"
"Sure, tell me when. You'll have forty seconds, that'll be plenty of time to retrieve the files."
"Now!"
"Go!" I rolled out and landed beside the computer network. I scanned around for the drive port entrance and dislodged the cover, then inserted the upload cord from my OPSAT into the computers port. The OPSAT flashed as it received the files and reported the percentage of the uploading. It reached one-hundred percent and the said done; I snatched the cord away, placed the cover back then moved on. Twenty seconds left before the second camera would be online. My OCP was still recharging, the only downside.
"Think you can try the other camera now?"
"Yeah… ok move!" Bolted to the door and ran inside closing it quietly. The lights died and the room went dark.
Lambert spoke up as I entered back into the foyer "Good work, we've got men working on decrypting the files as we speak, wont be long now on whether to worry or not."
"Moving on to give Otomo nightmares."
"Good, if he's a liability, take him out, we need to end this now. No mistakes."
"Roger."
I continued up the right side spiraling staircase and along a corridor to another, smaller staircase, which led to another hallway passing several more sets of lasers and cameras. The hallway turned right to a series of doors; the blueprints read that Otomo's room was three doors ahead on the right I walked along and did a flexi-cam scan under the suggested door. The room was dark and quiet, in the corner next to a balcony door was an occupied bed. Otomo. I tried the door, locked, then wriggled the camera around to face the top of the door, there was an alarm that was similar to the one at the previous window; I moved the camera to the side and saw a keypad. On my side of the door was also a keypad. I though then looked down the hallway, checked the other room and found one without an alarm. I entered the approached the balcony and picked the locks, surprised that there was no alarm, exited and felt the nice cold breeze hit my face; below me was an alley that ran belong side the building that was fitted with more alarm systems than the building itself; on the opposite side of the wall led down to a small river that was usually patrolled by men with guard dogs, and, more cameras; the reason why I infiltrated where I did. Behind the embassy is their private trucking and storage yard, where most of there guards are located, again scrubbing infiltration.
Otomo's room was two balconies away; I mantled the railing and swayed for my rhythm then leapt snagging the cement railing in my arms, crossed the small balcony and did the same.
Otomo's room was still silent, I approached the door and Grim temporarily disable the alarm, I picked the locks, entered then approached the bed. Horishi was sleeping there, rolled on his side snoring slightly; I checked his bedside dresser and took out his personal sidearm revolver and chucked it on the couch, then checked the footage of the sticky-cams in the foyer through the OPSAT for company, none. In the drawers was a portfolio, I scanned through it and noticed something interesting, 'Trojan horse, Lanzhou.' I filed it in my pocket and contacted Irving.
"Lambert, ready?"
"Damn right I am!"
I walked to his dresser and pulled out my pistol, tapped a few times on the drawers then stepped aside. Otomo groaned and sat up curious, he noticed the curtains swaying from the balcony doors being opened; he jumped up and searched through his bedside dresser. He stopped and panicked then searched the other draws. I walked out of the darkness and approached him from behind, grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him to face me, then punched him in his now-broken nose. He moaned in pain as he covered his nose, grabbing him by the collar I chucked him against the wall and held him against it, pushing the pistol firm against his forehead. I slid him up the wall until his feet left the ground; his cowardly face starred at me in fear.
"Who the…" he said.
"Shut up," I say "for your sake. You're a wanted man Otomo, and I was lucky enough to receive the privilege of bringing you down."
"Who are you?"
"I ask the questions, you answer them! You ordered the death of two American reporters, two civilians, that's a good enough reason to kill you, cause trust me; I wouldn't hesitate to pop a bullet through that hollow head of yours right now where we stand!"
"Go on! Do it! I'm not going to tell you anything!"
"Oh, I've had that said many times, never works. What was on that footage that gives you a reason to murder?"
"I said I'll tell you nothing!" I didn't blink, just put the pistol to his right shoulder and fired pfft! He yelped and squeezed his eyes shut to divert attention away from the pain.
"Answer my question!"
"Some form of chemical," he choked "I'm not one-hundred percent sure. It helps with weaponry or something… ah!"
"You don't sound very sure…"
"I'm not, I'm not in charge!"
"Now we're getting somewhere, if you're not than who is?" he looked at me and stopped struggling to free my grip. He eyes hesitated and flickered and I got impatient "Who's giving you…" Grim's panicked voice pierced in my ear "Sam we've got movement in the building's foyer!" my neck hairs stood straight as the courtyard snapped to life with lights; the hallway was pounded with footsteps and my heart stopped as numerous alarms sounded. The door flew inwards; I grabbed Otomo by the color and spun him to my front as a human shield. A few heavily armed men dashed in and acted swiftly; Otomo's body jerked as the room was barraged in fire. I felt three thumps on my tac-suit, two hurt, and the last caned! I dropped the body and charged for the window; the men's reactions were slow, for the room was dark, and they were mostly taking heavy pot-shots. The window shattered as I crunched my body up; the fall was large and taking forever to descend. I positioned my legs to catch the fall, though the height was too tall, three stories. My legs turned to jelly as I slammed into the ground, my chest burst into pain from where I presumed the bullet pierced the suit. I rolled trying to gain momentum stumbling as I got back up; a guard burst out from the building and let a fusion of pistol shots off at my highly visible, presumably freaky figure. Another guard popped out from behind me and let a burst of rounds off also; I zigzagged over bushes and past the fountain hoping to give a hard target. The balcony was too high up and would give enough time to brew a perfect shot, rubbing that from my options. The guard by the entrance was still firing rapidly at my dashing figure, huh. I charged toward him and shoved him aside to the ground, I kicked in the door as half a dozen bullets whizzed passed my head and ripped up the wall inside. Ahead was a bullet proof, see-through door with three guards charging towards it; I pulled out the 5-7 and let four shots rip at the door hoping to gain some time, the guards dropped to the floor and jumped to the side as the window cracked from the impact.
I jumped into an office door and weaved in and out of numerous rooms. Guards were on my tail and the door was locked, I shot the lock apart then barged in to an awaiting guard; he let off the first round skimming my right leg, before I got the better shot off coughing him one in the chest, he fell to the ground knocking off numerous office appliances. I charged to the right and ran through a door into a corridor; the door opened up into the main entrance foyer to the embassy, there was a wall of soldiers aiming down the corridor. I jumped in my skin as I dived through the opposite door before a sudden explosion of shots was let off. The room was a dead end, and I was sure that I was doomed. I pulled out a flash-bang and opened up the door lobbing it into the center of the foyer. A high piercing bang sounded as the foyer was en-gulfed in a sudden burst of blinding light. Moans sounded and I chucked a smoke as well, made sure it was working then charged into the foyer with IR. A dozen men covered theirs eyes and rolled on the floor; a single pistol shot skimmed the back of my neck cutting the suit. I smashed through the embassy doors into an awaiting military truck and men. The gates were closed and the wall was too high to scale, and I was about to eat led. I pulled out the SC-20 and let a round of shots into the truck hoping to cause them to take cover, they did. I charged for the truck as more bullets from the foyer guards zoomed past my head. I scaled the bonnet of the truck and jumped onto the roof bolting towards the gate. I fired a single shot into an un-expected soldier before leaping for my life to a crash landing on the tarred road outside the embassy. I got back up and yells sounded from the embassy "Get that gate open!"
Two more military trucks sped around a corner a few hundred meters ahead; I jumped to the side into the shadows, turned left down the street and barged into the café as the guards ran around the corner. I ran down the alley and saw Brunton standing beside the van waving me in, I bolted towards the van and my heart started to beat once more.
I was thirty meters away before my face turned pale; the windows shattered as the alley was engulfed in a large fireball. The shockwave blew me off my feet and pushed me back a few meters. A tremendous bang echoed through my head and across the city. Large chunks of metal shot over my head and imbedded into nearby walls.
I sat up to see a small crater in the pavement of where the van used to be and hundreds of cars pieces littering the alley; the slight crackle and glow of the fire stopped my heart again.
I sat there in horror for a moment in unbelief that this just happened, a moment that felt like hours. My blood boiled again just like when Sarah died, I promised this wouldn't happen again, but it did…
I jumped up and ran my hands through my hair cursing myself continuously, and then sprinted to the wreckage, shifting doors and wheels to one side. The cockpit was occupied, two bodies charcoaled from head to toe. I searched around for James and found him lying under a chunk of engine. Half his face and body was bloody and burnt as he struggled to stay awake. I bent down and gently lifted his head "Stay with me, you're going to be alright!" I yelled. He starred at me before letting out two bloody chokes. "Brunton!" I snatched him up and ran to a parked car, smashed the window, put Brunton in the back then hotwired the car and sped off. A dozen emergency vehicles flew by towards the embassy.
I tapped the sub-dermal and contacted Lambert "Lambert! I'm on my way! Get an emergency team ready now! We've got a problem, half the Chinese army just showed up at the embassy, I don't think I let them off. It's a setup!" I sped around a corner and flew down the main street.
"Damn, you're not the only one with problems. The Chinese…" the reception hissed and Lambert went off line "Lambert?! Lambert?! Damn!" Brunton choked and a gasped for air. I slammed on the brakes and jumped in the back "Come on!" I yelled signaling James to keep eye contact "Stay with me!" I pulled out a syringe of morphine and jabbed it into him then grasped his hand. His breathing lessened as he let out a slight gurgle of words. Tears drowned his eyes before he could finish his sentence. The grip weakened before his hand let go.
"I'm sorry…" I whispered "sorry." I closed his eyes than ran my fingers through my hair and took a long deep breathe. "Damn!" I muttered; then took off towards the American embassy.
* * *
12:50 hours
Over the residential buildings, the glow of fire through smoke smothered the air; I drove down numerous streets toward the embassy before an urgent message came through the OPSAT:
'Big problems, head to safe house, we'll be waiting. Explain more on the way.
Grim,'
I span the wheel sharp right and drove down an alley towards the safe house; I noticed the roads out of town were blocked by Chinese military and the streets were littered in National Guard.
I pulled up a block away from the safe house and walked the remainder on foot, making sure I wasn't followed. I ran in with Brunton in my arms the walked in to Grim and a few men; they were racing around packing up files and computers, I was confused but I had a general idea of what was happening. "Grim?" I said. She looked back and saw Brunton in my arms, her face went white "Oh no…" she ran over and I shook my head. She burst into tears and sat down on the lounge. "Jennifer?" I asked "Where's Lambert? What happened?" she got up and turned away from me and wiped the tears from her eyes. "His fine; the Chinese just declared war on the U.S, they hit the embassy killing fifteen men, Lambert and a few others were able to get away, we're meeting them out of town at a rally point. Some one spoke."
"Damn," I said placing James on the couch.
"How'd it happen?" I looked up at her and replied "The van was hit, exploded right in my face."
"I'm sorry,"
"If they new about the van, they probably know we're here, we've got to move!" I said hoping to divert her attention. I grabbed my 5-7 and tossed it to Grim, she looked up and nodded. "Your own safety," I picked Brunton back up and we all went down stairs to the garage; inside there were two cars, a white Ford Laser, and an old blue Toyota Camry. Grim jumped in the Laser with three of the men, one was William Redding, and I put Brunton in with Grim then jumped in with one guy into the Camry. We memorized the rally point and headed towards them going separate directions. We took a dirt road out of town to avoid the roadblocks then headed along a small road in the outskirts of town. The Camry cruised along a sixty mile an hour and the destination was getting closer. Ahead were numerous lights of military trucks heading for town, I lowered the speed and acted innocent; the trucks got closer and I merged further to the side as they were coming with pace.
The trucks light were focused on the Camry, I shifted right even more almost hitting the gravel, but the truck was still heading for us. The trucks was too fast to avoid, "Brace yourself!" I yelled. I banked left smoking the tire but the truck still collided. The force felt like it broke my neck and my face was nearly torn to shreds from the shattered glass. The Camry crumpled like a tin can as the headlights of the truck shown right in my face. The car flew into the air spinning multiple times before landing upside down with a crumpling blow. The car slid to a stop with sparks; I sat there upside down half conscious, blood dripping off my nose. I didn't even need to check if the other guy was alright; hitting his door at that force would have crushed him instantly. I suddenly noticed that was no accident, I unclipped the seat belt and dropped to the roof, then squeezed out the now 'miniature' window. Two trucks screamed to a stop and soldiers jumped out of the back than bolted towards the car. I unclipped a grenade and tossed it inside then apologized to the man inside. I crawled a good enough distance away into the forest and watched the remainder of the car shrapnel to pieces. The men were blown off there feet to the ground in shock, rubbing there heads. They argued whether to search the bushes, and then finally agreed to; three men walked towards me with automatic weapons held firm. I crawled to the closest truck and scanned with IR to confirm that it was empty. I waited until I had a clear shot than bolted to the cockpit and jumped in. A moment passed when no one saw me enter until I put it in reverse and took off. The soldiers yelled in Chinese then pointed, I stuck my head down and flattened the accelerator. The windows were littered in perfect holes before it shattered to the floor. Numerous 'tings' came from the bonnet, one piercing through just missing my foot. Pulling the SC-20 of my back and pointing it out the window with one arm, I let off a dozen bullets causing the soldiers to dive for cover, while the shots weren't aiming for a particular target one soldier's leg snapped beneath him and he fell to the ground in tears. A soldier ran for the other truck then jumped in signaling another too as well. I inserted a grenade into the launcher and aimed at the truck then fired; the truck burst into flames and charcoal as it fireballed up into the sky knocking men off their feet. I spun around and took off down the road towards the rally point in unbelief of what just happened, wiping the pouring blood from my torn up face.
"Lambert, if you can hear me, we have a problem…"
I had to get rid of the truck; half of China's army will come waltzing down that road any minute now. I found a dirt track that seemed hardly used and I traveled down it. The overgrown scrub slashed up against the truck, flicking through the broken windscreen. I killed the lights and flicked on night vision until I found a suitable spot to park. I jumped out and checked the direction of the rally point; checked my wounds and wiped them clean with a cleansing cloth. The bullet entered then exited through my lower right belly, the pain was strong but I could cope.
I ran through the jungle toward the destination, stopping every now and then to cross a road. A strong static hiss came through the sub-dermal "Sa… Sam… get… Oto… don't…" I pressed the sub-dermal but the message got worse "Lambert? Lambert, come in. I can't hear you! Say again!" the message just went to complete static. "Damn!" thinking of the possibilities, I cleared my head free and continued to the rally point, hoping my thoughts were wrong.
* * *
The flat clearing a couple of 'k's into the bush was deadly silent, an IR reading revealed nothing except for a few minuet bullet shells scattered over the ground. I walked into the clearing where I met three dead bodies, one Chinese; the other two, agents. The bodies were slightly warm, only enough to read with IR when up close. I examined the car ruts in the mud and figured all up that there were four vehicles; two looked like truck ruts; the other two, cars. The two bodies where laying by a car a few meters away, half out the exit, with the windows smashed, doors opened and a few bullet holes in the side. It was the Ford Laser Grim was in. Damn. I searched the car for anything useful, and found nothing except for Jennifer's computer shoved under the seat. I sat down in the front seat and opened it up; a satellite GPS tracker was showing on the screen, in the middle was a flashing blip leading out of town "Jennifer, you beauty!" I typed in a six digit code 3-3-8-4-1-6, then unclipped a chip from the hard-drive and inserted it into my OPSAT; the screen flashed and numerous loading screens flicked on, before a detailed GPS came online with the same blip moving further and further away.
I closed the doors then smashed the rear brake lights before checking the seats for the keys; the engine coughed to life, I killed the lights and navigated through the forest tracks with NV, making my way closer to the blip.