One shot, One Kill
2:00 PM
Sam and Fisher approached the Warehouse that Niko had told them about. Sam had asked what would happen to Niko, not because he cared, just because. Fisher had informed him that he would be thrown back to the 15 with enough evidence against him to send him away for a very long time. The other guy would be extracted to his country of origin and serve time there.
They parked up. Fisher went to the back of his SUV and started getting some gear out. Sam was still in the passenger seat when Fisher bang on the hood to get his attention. Sam got out and came round. Fisher gave him a 'what the fuck' look. Sam looked a little sheepish, but Fisher's stare relaxed and he said
'OK, what is it, you want an update on Andy ?'
'No, why, why would I want that'
'Well I get the feeling that she's pretty important to you ..'
Changing the topic
'I was doing some research on the UAV, according to wikipedia they need a minimum of 85 meters runway.'
'So what'
'so, if they are aiming to launch it today, from within this city, thats what they have to be aiming for. They cannot just throw it off a roof'
Fisher looked at him. He was impressed. Part of him had thought that Sam was here just to protect Andy, and he was going to let himself do all the heavy lifting, he was wrong. Sam, like with John Doe was getting involved.
'OK, lets assume your right, what else would they need ?'
'A mobile coms van. The UAV needs some pretty hardcore tech to be controlled and somewhere quite to assemble it'
Sam paused
' They would also wait until it was dark to launch, so that would have the best possible cover'.
Fisher then added
'UAV's have limited range, so if they where to hit a major US city, they would want to get as close to the US as possible. Launch the UAV, and then fire the payload just as it was about to run out of fuel, getting the payload as far in to the US as possible'
Sam nodded in agreement. Fisher then continued
'OK, heres the game plan. We think they where at this warehouse, so you are going to go in and see what you can see'
'What about you ?'
'I'm going to provide over watch' Fisher said while taking out a large sniper rifle, a AW50 .50 caliber bolt action. He placed it on the trunk and tock out his LWRC PSD, and a duffle bag, and began putting magazines and other things into the duffle bag. Sam walked over.
'Go in suppressed. Right now your just a guy walking around, so forget about the UMP'
Sam tock off his Jacket, and picked up a MP7A1, which had a torch on the right and side, and a micro dot scope on the top rail. It was a neat little submachine gun, about the same size of large handgun. He placed it in a messenger bag along with 10 magazines, he then put his jacket back on and slung it the bag round his neck, pushing it to the his back.
Sam and fisher then spent the next 10 minutes planning his approach. Fisher made his way to and up a water tower that was around 400 meters from the warehouse, where he setup his sniper rifle, over looking the west side of the warehouse. When he was ready, he gave Sam the all clear using their com kits. Sam had screwed on the suppressor on to his Glock 21SF, and thrown 2 additional Glock magazines into his messenger bag.
He approached the warehouse from the north-west corner, walking normally, scanning for anything that was out of place. He felt awfully exposed as he did so, making a note of anything that could be used as cover. Which wasn't much.
As he got closer, he Sam kept him updated. There was no sign of life. Sam worked his way round the westside of the building. He looked inside and saw 8 to 10 guys on the first level packing away equipment. He noticed a few weapon cases, no one seemed to be armed. He told Fisher what he saw and heard Fisher mutter something about being too late. Sam was told to get back to the SUV, but he wanted a closer look. Ignoring Fisher, he went round the south side of the building, much to Fisher's protest. He was no out of site of Fisher and had no over watch. He spotted a staircase leading up to the second floor, outside the warehouse. He As he approached he didn't spot the guy behind some tries taking a little nape. He was about to make a move up the stairs when he a rough, eastern european voice said, from behind
'what are doing here ? who the fuck are you ?'
Sam turned around slowly and saw a large stocky man about 10 feet from him holding a handgun at him. The man repeated the question, this time waving the gun.
'its cold now in Spain, they have shorter public benches as well'
The large man just looked at him, confused. Sam continued
'when you eat a spanish omelet your meant to take it slow, because of the potatoes, except at Christmas when they have cherries on top which is fun' Sam flash his million dollar smile at the large man.
The large man just looked at him, like he was nuts and begin to lower his gun. Because of Sam's crazy random talk his anger was subsiding and he didn't see Sam as a threat. As his gun lowered past waste level Sam saw his opening and quickly side stepped to the left, near some of the boxes, while drawing his suppressed Glock 21SF and firing 2 shots from the low ready, and 4 shots from the high ready. The large man tock all 6 shots, but as he dropped gun went off.
Sam could hear what he was thinking in his ear coms unit
'Fuck'.
Sam push himself against the side of the warehouse and quickly search the immediate area. He kept his Glock 21sf in the high ready and began working his way to the stair case.
Fisher saw 3 tangos coming out of the west entrance along with another 2 coming out of the south entrance. He quickly relayed this to Sam and then opened fire with the AW50. In quick succession the tock out the 2 of 3 to the west, then scanned for the 2 that had come out of the south entrance.
Sam kept checking his 6. He saw a assailant come round the corner and fired off 3 shots and hit him centre mass dropping him. He looked inside the warehouse and quickly ducked as a volley of shots came his way. He crawled towards the nearest door as more shots were fired and kicked it open, firing 3 at an assailant who was moving to a staircase to the the westside of the warehouse. He fired another shot at the general direction of the other shooters. He quickly ducked back and reloaded his 21SF. Another volley of shots came over his head, shattering glass and wood. Sam pulled the messenger bag around so hit was on his chest, tock out a flash bang and thew it into the window, to his left. The bang was deferring. He got up and ran up the staircase. When he reached the top, he placed his foot against the door to prevent anyone coming though and tock out he MP7A1, made sure that it was loaded. He flapped the top of the messenger bag round so that he had quick access to spare magazines. Re-tracking the stock of the MP7A1, he pulled the charging handle, a bullet flew out of the gun. He pulled down forward grip and and tock the weapon off safe and on to full auto.
Fisher had tracked the 2 other tangos to a van on the east side of the building . He was too late to drop them. Focusing on the van, he fired 12 shots at the van, going from left to right, having to reload 3 times. He knew that firing a .50 caliber at this range would ripe though the van. On the last shot a tango ran out and he nailed him. Just then he heard the unmistakable crack a bullet makes when it passes though the sound barrier. He rolled hard to the left, while bullets impacted around him. Laying flat, he crawled his way to the stair case of the water tower, which was a spiral case, on the other side, away from the incoming fire. He threw a smoke grenade to the front of the tower and ran down the staircase.
'Sniper, 3rd floor in the warehouse. Relocating' Fisher said into his coms unit.
Sam worked his way though the warehouse, taking out 5 guys on the second floor, and 2 on the first floor. He had expended 7 of his 10 magazines, using allot of ammo to keep heads down until he can get the drop on them. He heard Fisher's report of the sniper over his coms unit and instinct told him that it was the sam guy that had taken shots at him earlier that day. Why hadn't him covered his team instead of just fleeing was the only thought Sam could think of.
He shock his head and got back in the game. Working though the second floor, he had dropped another two guys.
He reached a staircase that lead to the third level. He worked his way up, slowly. he could hear the report of a large calibre sniper rifle being fired rapidly somewhere up there. He peak round the top of the staircase and saw a tall, built man wearing a long cotton black jacket shooting out of a window. Sam move very slowly, making sure not to make any sound. The third floor was sparse. there was a few tables and some boxes. He slowly made his way to the boxes to the left, posted up and sighted the sniper who was 50 feet away. Taking a breath, he shouted
'Drop the gun, now'
The sniper turned arms in the air. He scanned for Sam. When he found him, he just smiled. At that moment, while all of Sam's attention was focused on him, a 2nd assailant, came from the right. Sam heard the floor boards creak, and quickly ducked behind the boxes as burst of shots peppered the. He heard another burst from the rear of the building and then in a british accent
'Sir get out of here, I will cover you'.
With that Sam left lose a burst from the MP7A1 in the direction of the second shooter. He ducked back as they returned fire.
'Sniper engaged on the 3rd floor. Do not kill him, I repeat do not kill him' Sam shouted into the com unit.
Fisher had made his way to the Van. After ducking below the van, he confirmed that he had taken out one of the guys hiding behind the van. The seconds corpse lay a few feet away, with a .50 caliber size hole though there chest. Fisher heard Sam over the coms and began to lay down random fire at the 3rd floor.
The .50 ripped though the 3rd floor. Sam saw as it was ripped apart. He spotted the second guy getting ready to reposition. He empty the last mag into the boxes covering the second shooter, noting that the sniper was hidden behind a turned over table to his north. Dumping the MP7A1 and drawing his Glock 21SF, he inched closer the edge of his cover and said in a low voice, to himself
'come on show me your eyes'
The second shooter then popped out to fire a burst, but Sam beat him to it, firing a single shot, hitting him dead on in the head. Sam then switched to the sniper. .50 cablers where still ripping though the 3r floor. Sam said into his coms unit
'Stop firing fisher'
Fisher tock this as a sign that everything was under control. Instead of heading to the warehouse, he rain back to his black 4x4, dumped the AW50 and the LWRC in the back seat. He drove it to the front of the warehouse and parked it by the east entrance. Grabbing his LWRC PSD and a few spare magazines, he worked his way into the warehouse and up to the third floor.
'Drop your gun, there is no way out' Sam shouted at the sniper. The sniper fired off 4 rounds from a handgun and the picked up sniper rifle and began firing at Sam. The rounds ripped though his cover. All he could do was hug the ground, Glock 21SF in hand and just hopping this guide did not have a loyalty card for 'ammo r us'. He crawled to the left side of the boxes. 10 more shots ripped apart his cover. On the 10th shoot, he dropped out and fired 8 shots at the snipers legs, hitting him 3 times. He got up, walking towards the sniper. The sniper tried to reach his rifle, but Sam fired at the rifle. Switching back to the sniper who had tried to draw a pistol, Sam fired off a single round, knocking the gun from his hand and taken at least 2 fingers with it.
'Where is the UAV ?' Sam shouted at the sniper.
The sniper just looked at him, with a stern express, while cradling his damaged hand. Moving closer he circled the sniper checking for anymore shooters. Happy that the area was clear, Sam spoke into his coms unit
'third floor clear'
Sam tock a knee next to the sniper, patting his pockets for weapons or anything that could be useful. He kept the his gun high, close to his body pointed at the snipers head.
'Where is the UAV ?'
'What do you care, your just a cop'
'What?' Sam side quickly looking at the sniper
'Sam Swarek, former undercover cop with the 15 now working the beat' the sniper said while spitting up blood ' Your a fucking joke'
'How do you know me, who the hell are you?' Sam shouted.
The sniper looked at him. Sam looked straight at into his eyes and put the muzzle of his Glock to his head, placing his finger on the trigger. The sniper looked at him realizing that what he had been told about Sam was wrong. He was no beat cop, he was one them, a hardened professional. He blinked, taking in a deep breath,
'Antone Hill put out a hit on you a few months back. Something about tying up lose ends' cough, blood spat out of his mouth ' I was planning on doing the job, but then got this offer, more money'
Sam looked at him. Although on paper he knew they had nothing in common, there was something in his eyes and his voice, something that Sam saw in himself.
Fisher put his hand on Sam's shoulder. Sam looked up, and then looked back at the sniper. He stood up and tock a few paces back. He did a tactical reload on his Glock and looked around. Sam's mind was racing. If Hill had put a hit out on him, then it was a matter of time before he was dead, or worse someone close to him was hurt, his mind flashing back to Andy. He needed this day to end, and end fast.
'Sam, proper him up on a chair and cuff his hands behind his back, we need answers now'.
Sam did as Fisher said. The sniper struggled, and moaned in pain, as Sam put him in the a chair and cuffed him. Fisher was busy gathering weapons and magazines from the downed shooters and putting them in a duffle bag. Sam asked fisher what he was doing and Fisher replied
'call it a gut feeling'
He then addressed the shooter.
'You know who he is' , looking at Sam 'but you have no idea who I am'
The sniper looked at fisher and started to do a quick assessment of what had happened in the last 20 minutes. Yes Sam was a cop, but where was backup team, in fact where were the police. He saw Sam, but that was it, this Fisher guy could be anyone. He also noted the lack of police badges and the equipment that Sam and Fisher had. None of it was police issue.
Fisher saw the sniper thinking and added
'so far no one knows about you expect me and you, and as far as I can tell you haven't actually killed anyone that I know of. There have been no notes, no photos, nothing that says you were even here'
The sniper nodded understanding.
' All we want is the location of the UAV, and your free to go, one professional to another'
Sam looked at Fisher when he said this and realized that he was no longer living in a black and white world of cops and robbers but in the grey area where two bad's do make a right.
Fisher tock out a pack from his duffle bag, taking a needle out and stabbed it into the snipers thigh. The sniper flinched, but then after a minute realized what it was. Morphine. He nodded to Fisher.
' They plan to launch the UAV from Pier 4. They are in final prep now. Should take them 2-3 hours before they can launch. They left here about 40 minutes ago'
'Where are they now ?' Sam said
'I don't know, the plan was for them to stay mobile until last minute. They have three vans and two cars, but they mostly will switch out to new vehicles if I didn't check in'
'when are you meant to check in?' Fisher asked.
'10 minutes ago'
Fisher looked at Sam looked at the table to his left, picking up a cell phone, waving it to the Sniper. He nodded and said
'speed dial 4'
'Anything else ?' Fisher said
The sniper nodded his head in a no fashion. Fisher was happy that he had got everything that he needed and walked away, getting on his cell phone to his people trying to put it all together.
The sniper looked at Sam.
'You know that little rampage you went on a few months back, legendary. You really took the city apart'
Sam looked up, no saying anything.
'This thing with Hill, if you ever want it to end, you know what you have too do' he said in a matter of fact fashion. Sam nodded knowing too well what he meant.
10 minutes later Fisher came back to Sam.
'Ok, we are good to go. I have my people looking at satellite footage from this area, going over the past hour or so but its going to take time' Fisher looked at the sniper and added ' what do you want to do about him ?'
'We take him with us, dump him at a local hospital and let them deal him'
The sniper looked at Sam, shocked at the sudden level of compassion he as showing him. Fisher looked at Sam
'We don't have time for that' He then used his cell phone.
'Hi, I was just walking my dog and heard what sounded like automatic gunfire ... yeah, I am at warehouse 16 near Rosewood estate... yeah, me oh I don't wanna get involved in any gang madness, please hurry I can hair more gun fire'
Looking at Sam, Fisher said in a semi patronizing manner
'Ok, police and a ambulance is on his way, happy' Fisher then tossed a medical kit on the floor next to him. 'Lets go' Fisher said Sam.
Fisher began to leave. Sam walked behind the sniper and cut the plastic cuffs off him and then followed Fisher out of the warehouse and to his 4x4. As Sam approached Fisher's 4x4, he noticed Fisher was was leaning against the car, smoking a cigarette. He had a feeling he was in for a lecture. Fisher tossed the pack to Sam, who tock one out, lit it and threw the pack back to Fisher.
'My team is working up the info we got from the sniper. Its going to take sometime, maybe 1 hour'
'whats our next move ?'
'Lunch'
Sam smiled. 'I'll drive'
'Some where close to Pier 4'
They both got in the car, Sam driving Fisher in the back reloading magazines and checking what equipment they had left. He had also dropped the duffle bag of guns they had got from the warehouse into the back seat and was going though them.
INDEX -
AW50: .50 caliber sniper rifle designed for extreme long range/punching though objects, like cars.
MP7A1: compact modern submachine gun. It is small enough to fit into a laptop, or can be hidden under a short sports jacket.