Operation: Black Sheep

I'd left the hospital room an hour ago. Now, I sat on an old park bench. Birds chirped in the air, bringing little life to the hollowness I felt. Emerald green grass danced in the wind as people trudged along the paths. Thoughts embedded themselves throughout my head like fissures. What am I going to do? How do I stop both of Blackwatch's plans? How do I take care of Mercer, and that other kid, whoever they are? I hung my head low, hands clasped tightly to my head. I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration. Then they fell to my legs. My elbows sat firmly on my thighs, hands holding each other with determination.

Lost in thought, I didn't hear the approaching footsteps of a squad mate. Without a word, I felt small, delicate hands grasp mine. I felt them being lifted up, my eyes following my hands. My eyes then met with Yumi, a smile on her face. Still holding my hands, she sat down on the bench next to me. Our eyes were locked on each other. Some of her hair fell in front of her eye. "What's on your mind?" She asked me. Was it that obvious? I thought to myself.

Reaching a hand out to her face, I told her, "You got something in your face." My hand brushed her hair up behind her ear.

"We both know that's not all." She said with a hint of sweetness in her voice. "I meant before I came over here. You seemed really distracted."

"I was just thinking." I lied to her.

"So you just don't wanna talk about it, huh?" I felt myself hands tug lightly on hers. As I leaned in, she did as well. With our faces drawn together, I stared directly into her eyes. I could feel nervousness draw my stomach tight. I could almost see it in her as well. As we began to draw closer, the radio crackled to life in both of our ears. Taking the chance to let that nervous feeling leave her, she pulled back to listen to the message.

"A message to all units, report in to the nearest checkpoint for a debriefing of the next operation. I repeat, all units are required to report." Then the radio went quiet. She immediately stood up.

"Well, let's go." She said, tugging on my arm.

"But—" I started.

"You heard them, the faster we move, faster we'll be done." She gave me a light peck on the cheek. Her cheeks turned bright red, after pulling back, as did mine. Then she grabbed one hand and we started off. We walked across the street to the library, in which the basement was being used as a military outpost. We made our way through the main building and into the back stairwell. The walls were plain concrete as we descended the old steel steps into a large basement.

The bookcases down here held incredulously old tech and leather bound books. In the back was a podium with a projector. On the wall was the projected image of a nearby neighborhood. The room was filled with at least 50 Marines, including the rest of my squad. But now someone new stood in the place of the woman. This was also a female, her face covered by the mask with a blue visor over her eyes. I could only tell she was female by the build of her body. Yumi released my hand as we approached them. "So," I asked, "who's the newbie?"

Odd looked at me, opening his mouth to answer, when a loud whistle pierced through the air. We all turned and stood attention immediately. A single soldier stood behind the podium. He was without helmet, buzzed, dark hair exposed. Emerald eyes peered over the see of attentive faces. "Alright!" He barked out. "Intel has gathered information on an operation soon to be preformed by Blackwatch. This mission is known to them as Operation Good Shepherd. The closest reference we have to a movement on this scale would be the Final Solution." Taking out a ruler, he slapped it against the wall, pointing at the map. All of these circled areas are refugee camps marked for mass evacuation today. There were 3. "And those are just the one's in this area. Over the country, 837 are marked to move within the month, 50 today. Marines are being deployed across the country to intercept this mass exodus of innocent lives under Counter Operation: Black Sheep."

The man running the projector changed images. The new image was of a cargo truck. It was designed similarly to our trucks, but with a large, white metal crate with a light blue pin stripe down the side. The one behind the podium continued. "This is the truck that we'll be searching for. They will be all over the city. When engaging, take out the tires and/or the driver. This will ensure the survival of anyone that may be in the trucks." Another Marine ran up to him, handing him a slip of paper. His eyes darted over the paper, scanning with deadly efficiency. "After taking a head count, there are 60 Marines in this room. Deploy into groups of 20, then secure the camps. You may end up with squads from other posts. Work together to protect the people." Then, he ended, clearing his throat before yelling, "Move out!"

With that we immediately fell into groups of 20, ready to move out to the nearest camp. Three trucks pulled up. The first two filled to 7, the last one to 6. I got up on the truck last, sitting in the very back, across from the new girl. She watched me, or at least I think she did. Her face was directed straight forward, but her eyes could be watching Odd, who sat next to me, for all I knew. We then rolled out. I looked down at the people, who cheered us on. As the trucks rolled down the street, vehicles parted to the sides of the road, and the people would clear the sidewalks to let drivers off the road.

"So," I started. "Any thoughts?"

Several shook their heads, Odd even looked down towards the truck, still stricken from the last job. Then Yumi spoke up. "Yeah…I was thinking about Hiroki. I haven't heard from him, but I know he's in one of these camps."

Odd looked up, then turned left towards me. "I also remember Millie and Tamiya went with Hiroki to the same camp."

Then the new girl piped in, her first words. "What about Jeremy and Aelita? I remember they were also out with the rest, and Jeremy was trying to sneak in his computer. If he was caught with that contraband, he would already be dead." Several nodded in agreement, including myself. Anything beyond a smartphone was contraband that had be handed over when you entered the camp. Even then, there was no point without public access to electricity before we came into the picture. I was sure they were fine though, at least in my mind.

Then the trucks squealed to a halt. Unprepared, most of us fell towards the front. I stood up and walked to the front. Peering over the cab, I saw what we stopped for. Four cargo trucks were leaving the camp, with a Tank at point and an Apache gunship overhead. "Holy shit." I said at a near whisper. The truck slowly came up to traffic speed, following the convoy at a healthy distance.

"Any plans?" The driver asked me.

I looked around, seeing that none of my squad carried explosives of any kind. Looking at the other trucks, I saw the other two squads both had two Rockets, as well as a Grenade launcher, shotgun, and two assault rifle point men. "I've gotta get these guys specialized in something." I whistled loudly, then motioned them to pull over. The three leaders got off their trucks, me, a ginger male, pale as a ghost, with a muscular build. In his hands was a semi-auto shotgun. The other was woman with auburn hair in a bun hidden poorly under a cloth cap. She carried a grenade launcher. "What?" She asked. Her voice was firm, but with a hidden passion.

"I've got an idea." I said.

"Let her rip." The man said. His voice sounded with a rough texture, but was still kindly in nature. Kind of sounded Irish.

"My truck takes point, drawing attention to us. Then you guys pound the Apache. Then split up, taking out the drivers and hopefully commandeering the trucks."

"What about the Tank?" The man asked.

"We'll get there when we get there." I told them. Before one could object, I rushed back to my truck got up on the back of the bed, slapped my palm against the cab, and we rolled out. Then the others fell in rank behind us. As we grew within a few dozen feet of the rear truck, we fell into a V-formation. I in front, the others on either side and behind me. Emily and Jim, sitting in the front, fired at the rear tires of the truck. Sparks flew as the rear axle was reduced to rims.

The Apache then turned around towards us, releasing two missiles immediately. The two rear trucks both fired two rockets. The two rockets met the missiles mid air, casting balls of fire in the air. The others struck the gunship. The first struck the stabilizing arm, causing the entire rear to be split from the gunship. The second struck the main propeller motor. The cockpit fell from the sky like a rock. The rear cargo truck swerved right as the carcass nearly struck them. Riding up on the sidewalk, they jerked to the left to dodge a dead tree. Without the rear tires though, the fishtailed towards the left sidewalk. This made it incredulously difficult to turn back right. The driver's side struck the truck, buckling the cab and lifting rear of the vehicle into the air and swing to the left. The tree began to collapse on the sidewalk as the truck came back to earth. The odd angle of the truck caused it to fall on its side. Smoke brewed from the busted engine compartment. The truck behind to the right pulled off to the side of the road to get back on its wheel.

The other truck pulled up by us. The Irishman called for me. I walked over to the side of the truck. "So what now?" He said.

"We can't afford to tip another truck, or it'll be one truck against two cargo trucks and a Tank." My truck tried to pull forward, but the Tank turned the barrel and fired straight back at us. The driver stomped on the brakes, jerking us all forward as we were again side by side with the other truck. As the missile whizzed by, I followed its path with my eyes, seeing it strike a small shop. Glass blew out the windows as well as tattered pieces of cloth and flaming balls of yarn.

"There's no way to get up and steal the trucks with that Tank." Yumi called over.

"Then what do we do?" the Irishman asked.

"I got this." I said. "Fall back behind our truck." Then I slapped the cab again. We moved forward, getting directly behind the second convoy truck. The other truck fell in behind us. I leapt up onto the cab.

"Be careful!" Odd squealed behind me. Ignoring him visually, I jumped for the truck. My hands clamped like vices on the back of the truck. My feet pressed against the door, and pulled myself up. Taking a running start, I then leapt from the cab onto the next truck. Standing up in a flash, I turned the rifle around towards the cab. The passenger started to pull out a rifle, but the windshield shattered long before the rifle was even in the air. The car swerved to the left, striking a few fear-filled civilians and shop glass. The rear of the vehicle jerked in the air, then slammed against the ground. The truck behind my squad's slowed down to let a Marine off, then sped up behind the other troop truck. I turned and jumped onto the front truck. Turning to take out the driver, I heard a loud bang behind me.

A missile whipped by my head. I could feel the heat as it passed me by. Then I heard a barrel rotating. Dropping to my stomach, I watched several bullets from a Vulcan pass over me. I crawled forward to the cab, then returned to my feet. Another missile whipped towards me. I jumped over it and onto the Tank. The entire structure rocked back, and then forward. A Blackwatch had the hatch open, watching me. As I approached, he started to close the hatch. My boot however met the face of the soldier. I couldn't see the destruction under the mask, but I could hear the crackling within the mask. With a quick hand, I caught the hatch, then jumped down in.

It was dark, with a crew of about 4. My fist struck the first one in the back of the head, knocking him out cold. Another turned to meet the butt of my rifle. The other two had already turned and pulled up a shotgun and rifle. I slapped the shotgun to the left just before he fired, splattering the other one. As his corpse flailed, he fired bullets into some of the controls. As the Blackwatch soldier pointed at me again, I put the rifle against his head. His hands went up in surrender, then the voice entered my head again. It sounded raspy, as if not my own. Do it. Consume him. Feed the frenzy. You'll feel alive. I don't know where the voice was coming, but I refuse to follow its guidance.

Then another thought entered my head. I don't exactly know how to control a tank. Then the raspy voice entered my head once more. That's right. Do it. Learn to drive, then to feed. Left with no other options, I grabbed onto the Blackwatch soldier. The tendrils extended from my body to his. As I punctured his flesh, screams echoed within the tank. I saw them crawl beneath his flesh towards his eyes. Then began to look up into the air. Two black snakes pierced back out of his body under his eyes, as well as his ears. Then each one effortlessly punched into his flesh. His head lurched a few times, then submitted. As more came out to entangle and destroy his body, a bright light flashed before my eyes.

When it cleared, A line of Blackwatch troops were standing abreast. One in a commander's suit, with simple black fatigues that had a yellow stripe down the side was pacing before them. The sun was high in the sky. Behind them sat three kinds of tanks. One was very clearly the APC, the other was a Tank like what I sat in now. The third was even larger than the second. It held barrel about 1.25x larger. Instead of a Vulcan on the left side though, it had two immense black steel tubes even larger than the main barrel on either side. I couldn't tell who was who, as they all were covered by their masks. Then the commander began barking out his lecture. "Alright cadets! You have requested vehicular training, and you will receive. Behind me are the three models of tanks that you'll be trained two. Everyone will learn the APC and mainline tank. Only the best of the best will be selected to learn to pilot the new model. By the time we are done, you will know each and every piece of these vehicles, how the work, and how to repair them. IS THAT CLEAR!?"

"Yes sir!" the cadets barked back. Then, more memories flashed past my mind. These were all shots of different controls, how to operate them, as well as schematics that displayed every piece that went into these things, and demonstrations on how to repair them. Then the bright light flashed again. When it faded away, the corpse was already gone. I immediately grabbed onto the controls and stopped in my tracks. The first truck screeched behind me, and I heard it crash. The other whizzed by, chased by the last truck. I could see a metal watch-post with a pair of Blackwatch standing on a roof. I fired the shell. It ripped the metal supports from the ground, as well as tossing both Blackwatch soldiers over the side of the building. It tipped over the side, cascading for the streets. It literally dropped directly in front of the truck. They tried to avoid it, but were instead thrown from the cab as they struck it. I climbed up and out of the cab.

"Hey!" I called out. "I need some help working this thing!" My squad immediately fell out of the other truck, then getting in with me. I drove, Yumi sat next to me, Odd and Jim worked the cannon. Emily sat in the back, checking her medical equipment while the new girl was peeking out the top, machine gun ready to open fire. My radio crackled.

The Irish man's voice came to life in my ear. "So what now?"

"How about the your squad spreads out between the two trucks, taking point. The two cargo trucks will be moved behind that, and we'll bring up the rear in the Tank." Yumi suggested.

"Sounds as good as any plan." The other leader answered. With that, we were on the move again. It was quiet, too quiet even. I mean I could hear gunfire all around us from immense firefights that broke out along the border anyway, but it we didn't see hide nor hair of anybody the entire trip. The other two trucks were already parked on the park's tennis courts. The doors were opened, and terrified people were sitting with legs dangled over the back as well as others standing, shivering with fear, or of starvation, it was hard to tell from such a distance. I stopped at the entrance with the two troop trucks as the cargo trucks pulled through and then stopped next to the other two.

I popped open the top, crawling out with the others. We sat on top of the tank and watched the others. As the backs opened and people poured out of the truck, I could see these much better. Several had tattered rags for clothing, exposing deep bruises with bloodied hands. Most were nearly skin and bones, others had to be taken out on stretchers, whether it be from exhaustion or a corpse. Women and children were just as bad off. No one was spared from the Blackwatch's wrath. But among the sea of faces, none of them I recognized. "Where are they?" I whispered under my breath. I could see the same despair contort the faces of my friends. Yumi seemed the most worried. But of course, her brother was at one of those three. Then something else came to mind. In the whole place, there was only the 4 trucks we stopped.

I jumped down onto the sidewalk. I walked up to a Marine who was helping a older man out of the truck. He had been standing off to the side since before we arrived. "Where's the rest of the refugees?" I asked.

"You guys are the only one of the three to have brought back anyone, or even return."

Is there anything we can do to help?" I asked.

The Marine finished with the old man. Then he pulled out a tablet. He stared at it for several seconds, mumbling under his mask and squinting his eyes. "Alright." He placed the tablet back into his pocket. "You can. One group arrived before the Blackwatch, like seconds before, and are pinned inside the camp. Casualties are climbing. The other group ran into a large Blackwatch force and are in a firefight about a block away from the other camp." He looked back at the tank I had come from. "You should probably help clear out the camp that Marines are trapped it. Marine and civilian casualties are mounting."

"Got it." I said as I turned back towards the tank. Leaping back up on the Tank, I then slipped right into the cockpit. The tank roared to life once more, then rocked forward as it backed up. Rolling down the streets, I could feel the raw power of the engine running through my veins. Soon we were back in Blackwatch territory. I could tell this only because along the streets, we could see burn marks, as wells as torn up trees and dropped possessions. As we passed an alleyway, I could see the piles of corpses haphazardly tossed back there.

As we came around a corner, I heard what sounded like screaming, followed by a bang. Then I saw it. Just down the road, entrance facing out to us was the next camp. A tank sat at the entrance, completely blocking people from leaving, barrel pointing inwards, smoke rolled up from the end of the barrel. Two trucks were parked outside, facing us. The other two were inside, with Blackwatch using it for cover. An Apache gunship hovered over the camp. It turned slightly to the left, then fired a missile directly into the camp. The thunder of the explosion echoed through the streets. "Take out that chopper first." I told Odd. He put a thumb up with a smile.

I heard the cannon being loaded. Then the turret rose slowly. I felt the entire tank rock as the shell erupted in fire and smoke from the barrel. The chopper rotated around to fire another missile, but never saw ours coming straight at them. Glass spewed from the cockpit as immense pressure ripped the cockpit apart. It then buckled. In a cloud of black death, the pile of scrap metal collapsed to the earth. The tank immediately turned towards us, then let out a shell itself. I jerked the controls, and the tank rolled to the left. The shell struck the earth we were at a few seconds ago. I shuddered as another shell ripped from our tank. I could hear our chain gun open fire after the shell. The round struck the turret of the Blackwatch tank. The turret stopped in its track, forcing the tank to move after us. The Vulcan rounds sliced through the tank's treads, leaving it dead in its tracks as well. Then another shell punched the tank in the side. A fireball ripped up and out of the turret, which was reduced to spare parts. Only a flaming carcass remained from the tank. We then rolled towards the entrance, shoving the wreckage from the path with our tank as we moved.

Blackwatch behind the trucks turned to us. Bullets bounced off the ceramic plating. As we rammed into the parked truck. It rocked to about 30 degrees, then I pulled back. Corpses slumped up against the truck. A missile struck the side of our tank. Two of the gears running the treads on the right side shorted. I carefully started turning to the right. The Vulcan opened fire onto the Blackwatch soldiers. I watched as a pair of bullets spliced a man in half at the waist.

All it took was a few seconds, and the grounds had grown quiet. Only the deathly hollowness of the urban noise and gunfire echoed through the bloodied camp. I climbed up out of the tank to go meet with the Marines. Only now that silence rung in the air could I see the carnage that had gripped the concrete beneath my feet.

Most shacks were riddled with holes. Dead bodies were scattered across the pavement I could see dozens of corpses of civilians. That was only the ones out on the pavement. As I walked by shacks, I had seen where bullets sliced through the tin roofing and then through people that hid in their homes. A dead mother sat slumped forward in the middle of the house, her daughter in her arms. Read stained blonde hair blew lightly in the draft created by bullets. Both were barely recognizable as human. I came around to the other side of the housing, I saw several Marine bodies. Most were protecting civilians, who died right behind them.

Just as I was ready to turn back, I saw movement. It was in my peripherals. Just beneath pair of Marines corpses, I saw what looked like a hand, carefully pushing an arm covered in coagulated blood from their face. I carefully turned and started walking towards the person. They didn't move, but as I approached them, I could see a terror filled face. It was soft, with light, short brown hair caked in dried blood. The face was tear stained. Lips were trembling. It was just a kid. In fact, a boy. As I got within a few feet of pile, I knelt down. As my hand approached his face, he squeezed back further under his cover of corpses. With the softest voice I could muster, I whispered, "I'm here to help you."

A tight, scratchy voice answered back, "That's what they said."

"And who told you that?" I asked.

Without words, his hand first pointed up at the Marines he hid under. Then he motioned over across the camp, meaning the Blackwatch. "One took my brother a few weeks ago. He never came back. They told me they just wanted to help him."

"What was wrong with him?" My hand then grabbed his. I struggled to fight back tears.

"He had been having a fever, with a bad cough. About two days before he was taken, he started acting…strange. He was aggressive, and spoke very little to anybody." Blacklight. I thought. The poor kid was infected. I gave a light tug, then pulled him out of the pile of bodies. His clothes were mere rags fashioned into a patchwork coat. Under it he had a plain green shirt. His pants were old and ratty, shoes no better.

"What's your name?" I slowly turned towards the tank, and took a few steps. The boy followed close in tow.

"John." He answered. I looked up towards the tank, seeing my crew had already gotten out, and were searching the camp as well.

"How old are you?"

"Nine."

"And where's your parents?" His head immediately turned to the pavement at the sound of those words.

Without looking back up at me, he said, "I don't know. We were separated when we first got here." I lead him up to the tank. Grabbing with both arms, I lifted him high in the air. Then I sat him on the tank. I raised my name and called out for Odd and Jim. They both popped out of a hut with a small group of men and women. I could see like eight people, 3 girls and 5 men. One man and woman were black. Two men were deeply tanned, and one woman was Nordic in appearance.

"Hey." I said to them. "Get in the tank and watch for anyone that comes in. Then we need to move with the survivors."

Yumi and Emily came out of an abandoned to building that was used for wall. They both had a few people with them. "Is that everybody?"

"Yeah." Yumi answered. Emily nodded in agreement.

"Alright, let's split up and get these people to safety." I said. I looked back at John. "Ok, you need to go with those other people." I motioned to the other survivors. "Get into one of those trucks so we can take you to safety. Can you do that for me?" He nodded his head, then plopped down to the ground. Then he ran over to the other survivors, whom Emily was getting over to a truck. "Here's what I want. Odd and Jim, stay in the Tank. Emily, get in back with the people and administer medical attention as needed. Yumi, you drive, and new girl, do what you do."

I climbed back onto the tank, then got inside. The new girl went over and manned the Vulcan. Yumi watched Emily help people in, then she got into the cab herself. Still nobody I recognized. I hope I find them soon. We aimed at the other truck, which Odd and Jim destroyed. After exiting the camp, the Vulcan ripped through one truck's grille, while I turned sharply to the right, tearing out a chunk of the cab with the tank as I went. The other truck fell in behind me. We traveled through the same streets again. This time though, shop glass sat cracked and bodies were strewn across the street. Within a few minutes, we had again pulled into the tennis courts.

I stopped and got out, waiting for Emily to get into the tank. The same man walked up to me. "Where's the rest?" He asked.

With a solemn voice, I told him, "Those were the only survivors from the camp. All Marines were KIA." Emily walked over to me.

"Alright then, we got an update the third camp. Due to arriving Blackwatch reinforcements, the Marines were forced to fall back a few blocks. The Blackwatch continued on to the camp, now escorted by something that we've never encountered before now."

"Any description of this new enemy?" Emily asked.

"Based on what I gathered from the Marines, they look just like normal Blackwatch soldiers, except they're genetically engineered to be tougher. They've got super strength, incredibly resistant to physical trauma, and while just as tall as other Blackwatch soldiers, they also have body parts twice the diameter of normal grunts."

"Thanks. We'll be on the lookout for 'em." I said. Then, I ran back to the tank, followed by Emily. Once we were inside, I took off for the last camp. It was only a few minutes before we passed the site of the firefight. The street was cracked and covered in black scars. Vehicles abandoned along the road looked like Swiss cheese from bullets. Assorted Marine and Blackwatch corpses were sighted along the street, and buildings looked like a small war had erupted in the streets. When we were within two blocks of the camp, I stopped. It was just one more block forward, then half of one to the left.

"Why we stopping?" Odd asked. I opened the lid, then climbed up out of it. Looking down into the cockpit.

"I'm gonna go scout out the location. Keep your radios active." I touched the earpiece, which the others immediately followed with. Tendrils hid me for a second as I switched to my street clothes. My eyes darted up towards the roof of the office building next to me. Squatting down, I then sprung up into the air. A hand grabbed tightly into the bricks. Both my shoes jabbed into the brick. Then I started running up the wall. Then my foot stepped up onto the roof. Seeing over the camp's walls were of no problem. The camp was based in the parking lot and park like area of an apartment complex. The windows and doors were barred with wooden planks. Several windows were shattered. All the civilians were gathered outside in a block formation. Several Blackwatch stood all around them, weapons bared. Two tanks were sitting along the wall pointed into the crowd. A chopper had also landed on a nearby rooftop, soldiers watching down at the civilian block. One was pacing back and forth in front of the block.

I ran towards the edge of the building, charging a jump. Without looking down, I rocketed over the street. My feet touched the roof as I tucked and rolled. Popping up, I saw something I hadn't seen before. Covered in earth colored rags, I hadn't seen a rather small person lying on their stomach. A scoped, bolt-action rifle sat on a bipod, which was gripped tightly in his hands. Earth colored fingerless gloves covered his hands. One hand, which was gripped around the trigger, was clearly flesh, but the other, which wait at his waist with a walky-talky, almost appeared plastic, with movements that seemed stiff. His face was completely shrouded, revealing only his eyes. These darted over to me, then widened.

His head turned towards me, asking, "Ulrich? Is that you?" His voice was mid-ranged, and it cracked mid-sentence. He seemed familiar, but I couldn't place a name.

"Do I know you?" I asked him.

"You mean you don't remember me?" He said, then he asked a question that irked me. "Could you at least tell me how my sister's doing?"