Part 2: Debriefing
[Takes place during the events in call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare]
Antonio didn't stay for the whole funeral. He couldn't bear it. It was his bad decision as a leader that Katherine now laid in a coffin. He never should have left Ghost-2 man the highway checkpoint on her own. Yet she had convinced Antonio that it was the most logical course of action. Ghost-2 could blend in, turn almost invisible, a true "ghost". She had a tan-complexion, so could be mistaken for someone of middle-eastern descent. No one would notice a lonely woman, by the side of the highway, selling fruit. So Ghost-1 let her go. In the middle of Lt. Shepard's Eulogy, he got up and left. Just as he entered the Hive, Samuel ran up to him. "You have to see this." He said, face solemn. He pointed to the TV behind them. On the screen was some Arabic new program. The bottom corner was the word "LIVE". The footage was showed three men, surrounded by multiple armed militia members. One man, who wore a red beret, was riling the crowd up. Antonio's Arabic was a little rusty, but he did pick up a few scattered words, "revolution," "lies," unjust". Another man to the right of the first one handed him a pistol, and Antonio recognized it as an Israeli-built standard-model Desert Eagle. Antonio instantly knew the man was Katherine's killer. When someone takes a friend from your life, you never forget their face. The first man pointed the pistol at the man tied up on his knees.
"Is that-"Antonio never finished, because then Al-Asad executed President Al-Fulani, live on national television.
Ghost-3 was the last to join the rest of Ghost team in the debriefing room. "Now, we can start." Ghost-1 said."Very well. First of all, welcome your new addition, Simon. He will be alongside you in this next mission." Lt. Shepard gestured to a man sitting at the table, adjacent from Aaron. Antonio studied the looks of his team. Though the masked their emotions well, he knew that they looked upon the new recruit as an outsider. Just less than a month from Katherine's death, and they already had a replacement. But his team needed to shuffle their emotions into the back of their mind. There was a job to do, regardless of personal feelings. "America has deployed their finest right now, looking for Al-Asad. As we speak the First Force Reconnaissance company is storming possible locations and safe houses. We will find him. But your target is this," He pointed at the screen. It displayed a medium-sized black case, about the size of a microwave oven. "We have substantial evidence to believe that this is a nuclear device. We also have reason to believe that is to be transported from Azerbaijan to an unknown location tomorrow morning. Your mission is to intercept the convoy transporting it, and get it into friendly hands. An SAS team has found a similar device on a Russian cargo ship, indicating that the device may be Russian supplied." He motioned again to the screen. "The convoy will be heavily defended by local militia. You are looking at MG trucks, armed foot mobiles, and, most importantly, about 3-4 BM2 armored vehicles." The tension in the room grew.
"BM2s? That's pretty heavy stuff for a local militia to have. Does the Azerbaijani government know about this?" Robert asked.
"They refuse to get involved. Tensions with them are at an all-time high. They denied our requests for any troop deployment on their soil." Lt. Shepard replied. "Which is why this is a stealth operation. You need to get in and out with little causalities possible. Just in case you are observed, you are going to be disguised as Georgian rebels. Securing this device is vital, because wherever it's going is definitely not good, especially if it puts US troops at stake. Suit up, you leave in 6 hours." Ghost team stood up, saluted, and left the room. The new recruit, Simon was his name, stayed and started talking to the lieutenant. He nodded his heads a few times, and then walked out the door. It was clear to Antonio that he did not want to be here. Antonio wondered about his past. Ghost team members were picked from select Britain and US Special Forces. They even recruited out of SAS and Navy Seal teams. He was curious as to where Simon came from. He buried those questions in his mind. He'd catch up with the soldier later. Now was the time to think, and prepare. Antonio walked out the room.